US head coach Gregg Berhalter upbeat despite loss to Slovenia in friendly

US head coach Gregg Berhalter upbeat despite loss to Slovenia in friendly
Slovenia forward Nejc Gradisar (11) celebrates his goal with teammate Matija Kavcic during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against the US in San Antonio Saturday. (AP)
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Updated 21 January 2024
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US head coach Gregg Berhalter upbeat despite loss to Slovenia in friendly

US head coach Gregg Berhalter upbeat despite loss to Slovenia in friendly
  • Berhalter’s camp and the friendly also doubled as an opportuntity for some of the players who will feature for the US in the men’s Olympic tournament at Paris 2024 in July
  • The next test for the USA will be the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four in Dallas in March

MIAMI: An inexperienced US team lost 1-0 at home to a second-string Slovenia in an international friendly match in San Antonio on Saturday but head coach Gregg Berhalter was pleased with the showing from his young team.

Berhalter had his MLS-based squad in a training camp for a week and the friendly, outside the international window, was a chance for him to take a look at some of his future options.

The decisive goal came in the 26th minute when right back Shaq Moore was robbed by Danijel Sturm who burst down the left and fed Nejc Gradisar who smartly slotted home with the outside of his right foot.

The US responded well, pushing forward quickly but when Brian White slipped a ball across the box to Bernard Kamungo his low shot was well saved by Igore Vekic.

Berhalter gave 11 players their debut appearances throughout the game and his team went close again in the 57th minute when Moore’s shot from a tight angle forced Vekic into action.

Attacking midfielder Diego Luna, of Real Salt Lake, was one of the most impressive of the new faces, with the 20-year-old showing urgency and creativity in the center of the park.

Berhalter’s camp and the friendly also doubled as an opportuntity for some of the players who will feature for the US in the men’s Olympic tournament at Paris 2024 in July.

Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, another of the debutants, did well to keep out a well-struck free-kick from Sturm in the 75th minute.

New England Revolution’s 18-year-old winger Esmir Bajraktarevic made a strong impression after coming on as a 61st minute substitute, creating several openings.

Twice John Tolkin found himself with time and space at the back post but to the disappointment of the 9,191 crowd he was off-target on both occasions.

“We wanted the result, part of what we represent is winning, so we’re disappointed not to win but you can’t fault the effort, the intensity and the drive to continue to perform and try to get the goal,” said Berhalter, who highlighted some individual performances.

“Esmir (Bajraktarevic) came in and made a little bit of a difference, he’s got some unbelievable individual ability. I think Diego (Luna) all game was trying to show what he can do and Jack McGlynn showed his passing range when he came in,” added the USA coach.

Berhalter was particularly pleased to see Bajraktarevic and Luna being willing to dribble and take players on.

“If you think about it, in world soccer right now it’s very difficult to find one-on-one players, so it’s nice when you see that type of quality. What we do as coaches is encourage that. We’ve asked them to take playhers on and be aggressive combining and getting into the penalty box. So, happy with their performances,” he said.

The next test for the USA will be the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four in Dallas in March as the team step up their preparations for the Copa America which the country will host in June.

Despite having few of his regular Europe-based starters, Berhalter said the traditional January camp and friendly remained worthwhile.

“When these get this chance to see what the national team is like, it is worth it. Moving forward, when we have the full group, we have some big events coming up in the spring and summer and we’re really looking forward to how we perform in those,” he said.


Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe

Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe
Updated 26 September 2024
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Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe

Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe

BARCELONA: Robert Lewandowski continued his fine form and earned La Liga leaders Barcelona a 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday.

The Polish forward struck from close range in the first half to maintain Barca’s 100 percent record in the league so far this season with their seventh victory.

Barcelona dominated despite not being able to add to their lead and restored a four-point advantage on Real Madrid, who beat Alaves on Tuesday.

Coach Hansi Flick started Inaki Pena in goal for the stricken Marc-Andre ter Stegen, out for months with a severe knee injury, and brought Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde back into the side.

The reserve goalkeeper, who conceded 32 times in 17 matches across all competitions last season, heard his name chanted supportively by fans behind his goal and saved an early header from Carles Perez.

By contrast his opposite number David Soria’s weak touch on Jules Kounde’s cross led to Barcelona’s opener on 19 minutes, the ball falling perfectly for Lewandowski to finish from close range.

The 36-year-old striker has seven goals in La Liga this season and leads the scoring charts, seemingly rejuvenated under Flick after struggling at times last season.

Teen starlet Lamine Yamal might have doubled the lead moments later when Raphinha played him in, but he nudged inches past the post.

Soria made a good save from Raphinha, who collected the August player of the month award before kick-off, and soon sent another effort skidding wide.

Yamal almost bent home a delicious curling strike from distance before the hour, but Soria tipped it over the crossbar.

The Getafe goalkeeper also palmed a dangerous Raphinha free-kick around the post as Barcelona pushed for a second to put the match to bed.

Spain’s Euro 2024 hero Yamal clipped the top of the crossbar with a vicious effort from distance, as Barca started to grumble about Getafe’s persistently heavy challenges.

Raphinha missed a golden chance in the final stages, heading wide after a clever dart into the box but Barcelona were not punished for their profligacy.

Getafe, 19th, are still winless and wasted a fine chance of their own at the death when Borja Mayoral failed to get a shot away when well placed and free inside the box.

The leaders next travel to face Osasuna on Saturday, before second-place Real Madrid face rivals Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday.


France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup

France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup
Updated 25 September 2024
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France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup

France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup
  • Les Bleus and Iran played an indolent first half before Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a soft opening goal in the second half, triggering angry reactions from other teams.

PARIS: France brushed off allegations of match-fixing after their 4-1 defeat against Iran sent them into the softest part of the draw at the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.
Les Bleus and Iran played an indolent first half before Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a soft opening goal in the second half, triggering angry reactions from other teams.
“Iran and France, coaches and players alike, have disgraced my sport. You are a disgrace to the world,” Thailand coach Miguel Rodrigo wrote on X.
Retired Brazil great Falcao was quoted by French media as saying: “It shows a lack of respect for the World Cup. The match was clearly fixed from the first minute.”
Both France and Iran were already qualified for the last 16 but the result meant that world number 10 France, second in Group F, will take on Thailand, ranked ninth before a potential quarter-final against 13th-ranked Paraguay.
Iran, the world number four, will be up against sixth-ranked Morocco ahead of a possible last-eight clash against world number one Brazil.
“It was Iran’s responsibility to be in charge of the game. The draw is more open for us but our main goal was not to get booked and to avoid injuries,” France coach Raphael Reynaud said.
The French football federation and world governing body FIFA were not immediately available for comment.


Son says Spurs team-mate Bentancur ‘almost cried’ over alleged racial slur

Son says Spurs team-mate Bentancur ‘almost cried’ over alleged racial slur
Updated 25 September 2024
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Son says Spurs team-mate Bentancur ‘almost cried’ over alleged racial slur

Son says Spurs team-mate Bentancur ‘almost cried’ over alleged racial slur
  • Bentancur was charged by the Football Association earlier this month with an alleged misconduct breach in relation to a media interview on Uruguayan TV
  • Bentancur apologized to Tottenham captain Son, who said his team-mate had “made a mistake“

LONDON: Son Heung-min said Tottenham team-mate Rodrigo Bentancur “almost cried” when he apologized over an alleged racist remark about the South Korean.
Bentancur was charged by the Football Association earlier this month with an alleged misconduct breach in relation to a media interview on Uruguayan TV.
The former Juventus midfielder had been asked in June by the host of the Canal 10 show for a Spurs player’s shirt, to which he replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
Bentancur apologized to Tottenham captain Son, who said his team-mate had “made a mistake.”
But because the wording of the charge refers to an “aggravated breach,” he could reportedly be banned for six to 12 domestic matches.
Son, speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League home tie against Qarabag, said he could not say much at the moment because of the “FA process.”
“But I love Rodrigo, I love him. We’ve a lot of good memories, we started playing together when he joined (in January 2022),” he said.
“He knew. He apologized straight afterwards when we had holiday. I was at home. I didn’t even realize what was going on. He sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.
“When we came back for pre-season, he felt really sorry and he almost cried when he apologized publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.”
Son is one of only two players, along with Ben Davies, left at Tottenham from the squad that reached the Champions League final in 2019.
Defeat in Madrid to Liverpool extended the club’s trophy drought and it now stands at 16 years, but the South Korean forward is determined to end the wait for silverware this season.
“Yeah, it’s a dream. There is no hiding this. That’s what we work for,” Son said.
“Obviously, we are looking for another big competition that everybody wants to win. It’s going to be tough, a tough competition, a lot of games and a lot of traveling, which makes it even harder.”


Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league

Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league
Updated 25 September 2024
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Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league

Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league
  • Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo also scored for Madrid, who extended their unbeaten run in the league to 39 matches
  • Sevilla midfielder Saul Niguez was carried off the field on a stretcher with an apparent leg injury early in the second half of Sevilla’s 2-1 home win over Valladolid

MADRID: Kylian Mbappe extended his scoring streak with his sixth goal in five matches as Real Madrid defeated Alaves 3-2 to move closer to leader Barcelona in the Spanish league on Tuesday.

Mbappe’s seventh goal since joining Madrid was a beauty, with the France forward starting a give-and-go with Jude Bellingham with a heal flick and then picking up the pass inside the area and using a nifty move to clear a defender before finding the net in the 40th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Mbappe asked to be substituted in the 80th because of a muscle ailment, according to Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who said it was not serious.

Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo also scored for Madrid, who extended their unbeaten run in the league to 39 matches — with 29 wins and 10 draws going back to last season. Alaves made a late charge by scoring with Carlos Benavídez in the 85th and Kike García in the 86th but couldn’t find the equalizer despite chances in the final minutes.

“We played a great match for 80 minutes, but we suffered more than we should have in the end,” Vázquez said.

The victory moved Madrid within one point of league leader Barcelona, who will go for their seventh victory in a row to start the season when they host winless Getafe on Wednesday.

Mbappe now has seven goals in nine matches with Madrid in all competitions. He has five goals in the Spanish league, one behind leading scorer Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona.

The France star who signed as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, also had a goal disallowed for offside in the 22nd. Arda Guler came in for Mbappe in the 80th.

Vazquez had put Madrid ahead one minute into the match with a shot from inside the area after a nice run by Vinicius Junior through the left side of the area. Rodrygo added to the lead after a long run in the 48th.

Ancelotti, in his 300th match with the club, used most of his regular starters and did not immediately rotate his squad despite a congested schedule.

Vazquez started as a right back in place of regular starter Dani Carvajal, who was rested with fitness issues.

Teenage Brazil forward Endrick replaced Rodrygo in the 69th, his earliest appearance off the bench, and a couple of minutes later struck the post from inside the area.

Madrid complained about yellow cards to Vinicius, Federico Valverde and substitute Luka Modric for protesting in a match in which Madrid felt their players were often subjected to tough tackles.

“There is a different standard now and we have to adapt,” Ancelotti said. “We have to stop protesting.”

Alaves, whose players were not shown any cards, complained that a red card should have been given to Endrick after the Brazilian appeared to kick an opponent away from the play.

Madrid’s next match is the city derby against Atletico Madrid at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium.

Sevilla midfielder Saul Niguez was carried off the field on a stretcher with an apparent leg injury early in the second half of Sevilla’s 2-1 home win over Valladolid.

Chidera Ejuke scored the winner in the 85th minute for Sevilla’s second victory in its past three league matches.

Valladolid’s only win this season came in its league opener against Espanyol.

Valencia followed up their first win of the season — 2-0 at Girona — with a 0-0 draw against Osasuna.

Osasuna had won two of its last three matches.


Man City win in League Cup two days after feisty Arsenal match. Nkunku hat trick for Chelsea

Man City win in League Cup two days after feisty Arsenal match. Nkunku hat trick for Chelsea
Updated 25 September 2024
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Man City win in League Cup two days after feisty Arsenal match. Nkunku hat trick for Chelsea

Man City win in League Cup two days after feisty Arsenal match. Nkunku hat trick for Chelsea
  • Villa won 2-1 at third-tier Wycombe and Leicester triumphed 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw at fourth-tier Walsall
  • The last 32 of the competition is being spread over two midweeks to accommodate the expanded Champions League and Europa League

MANCHESTER: Playing just two days after a feisty Premier League match against Arsenal, Manchester City fielded a heavily rotated team and still had too much for second-tier Watford in the English League Cup.

City won 2-1 thanks to first-half goals by Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes at Etihad Stadium as the third round continued Tuesday with fellow top-flight teams Chelsea, Aston Villa and Leicester also advancing.

Chelsea thrashed fourth-division Barrow 5-0, with Christopher Nkunku scoring a hat trick and celebrating by inflating a blue balloon and holding it between his lips. Villa won 2-1 at third-tier Wycombe and Leicester triumphed 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw at fourth-tier Walsall.

The last 32 of the competition is being spread over two midweeks to accommodate the expanded Champions League and Europa League. Manchester United and Tottenham were among those to advance last week, while Liverpool and Arsenal play their games on Wednesday.

City manager Pep Guardiola won the League Cup four straight years with City from 2018, but said he isn’t going to take it seriously this season and will use the matches to give rhythm to some fringe players.

“We are not going to waste energy on this competition, for sure,” he said.

Doku was one of just two Man City players — along with Kyle Walker — to start both the dramatic 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday and against Watford. The Belgium winger put his team ahead in the fifth minute by shooting home from just inside the area after City seized on a misplaced back-pass.

Nunes added the second in 38th with a low, left-footed shot for the Portugal midfielder’s first goal since joining from Wolverhampton in the offseason on 2023.

Tom Ince — the son of former England midfielder Paul Ince — scored for Watford in the 86th.

Chelsea also rotated their lineup, making 11 changes from the team that started the 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.

Nkunku scored the opening two goals by the 15th minute and rounded off the scoring in the 75th. In between was an own-goal and a tap-in by Pedro Neto for his first goal for Chelsea.

Colombia forward Jhon Duran continued his brilliant start to the season for Villa by scoring the team’s second goal — from the penalty spot in the 85th — to add to Emi Buendia’s opener in the 55th.

The 20-year-old Duran has netted four times in five league matches so far this season, all off the bench.

Wycombe’s consolation came in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Walsall was unable to complete an upset over Leicester after taking their Premier League opponent to spot kicks at home.

Leicester converted all three of its penalties, while Walsall failed with their first three attempts to bring the shootout to its earliest possible conclusion.