Man Utd fightback ends Liverpool’s quadruple quest in FA Cup classic

Man Utd fightback ends Liverpool’s quadruple quest in FA Cup classic
Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, right, celebrates with Manchester United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana at full time of the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP)
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Updated 17 March 2024
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Man Utd fightback ends Liverpool’s quadruple quest in FA Cup classic

Man Utd fightback ends Liverpool’s quadruple quest in FA Cup classic
  • Twice Erik ten Hag’s men had to stage late comebacks to reach the last four

MANCHESTER: Manchester United ended Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple of trophies in Jurgen Klopp’s final season after Amad Diallo’s winner edged a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final 4-3 after extra-time.
The Ivorian winger was sent off for a second booking after taking his shirt off in celebration at the end of a chaotic 120 minutes that kept United’s chances of ending the season with silverware alive.
Twice Erik ten Hag’s men had to stage late comebacks to reach the last four.
Two goals in three minutes from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah toward the end of the first half swung the game in Liverpool’s favor after Scott McTominay opened the scoring.
Antony’s first goal at Old Trafford for more than a year kept United alive to send the game into extra-time.
Liverpool edged in front once again when Harvey Elliott’s deflected shot found the bottom corner.
But Marcus Rashford, who had missed a glorious chance to win the tie deep into injury time, made amends by drilling home to make it 3-3.
Diallo then scored just his second ever United goal in added time of extra-time at the end of a breakneck counter-attack from a Liverpool corner, led by the impressive Alejandro Garnacho.
United trail Liverpool by 17 points in the Premier League and having made an early exit from both the Champions League and League Cup, the pressure was on Ten Hag if he is to remain in charge for a third season.
The home team started like a side who knew their season depended on victory as they flew out of the traps and got their reward.
Garnacho’s effort was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher but only looped up for McTominay to blast home his ninth goal of the season.
Liverpool have had a far more intense schedule in recent weeks than United as they remain in three competitions, having already lifted the League Cup last month.
Klopp’s men took half an hour to awake from their slumber, but once they did were far more effective in the final third.
The visitors turned the tie around in the dying embers of the first half as Mac Allister’s deflected strike had too much power for Andre Onana.
Three minutes later, Liverpool led as Salah struck once more against his favored opponents.
United pleaded in vain for a foul on Bruno Fernandes by Joe Gomez and Salah was left with a simple task to knock in his 13th goal in 14 games against United after Onana parried Darwin Nunez’s initial effort.
Liverpool enjoyed far more control of the game after the break but they were also guilty of not taking their chances to kill the game off.
Onana kept his side in the game by parrying efforts from Dominik Szoboszlai and a piledriver from Nunez.
United were blunt and lacking ideas going forward as they chased the game until Antony became an unlikely hero.
The Brazilian had scored just once in his previous 38 games but showed no sign of a lack of confidence as he spun and fired into the far corner three minutes from time.
Liverpool nearly responded immediately as Elliott’s miscued cross came back off the post.
At the other end, Rashford should have completed the comeback as, after taking a brilliant first touch to cushion the ball into his path, he slotted wide with just Kelleher to beat.
A frenetic encounter continued to rage from end-to-end in extra-time as Elliott’s deflected effort looked set to again put Liverpool into the last four.
But United did not lie down as Rashford was more deadly when handed a second chance after Nunez gave the ball away deep inside his own half.
And as Liverpool sensed the chance to win it form a corner at the death, Garnacho broke clear and timed his pass to Diallo to perfection before he fired in off the far post.


Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list

Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list
Updated 06 December 2024
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Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list

Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list
  • “Serge won’t be there, Manu won’t be there,” Kompany told reporters, explaining “Manu has rib pain“
  • Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list, which includes England captain Harry Kane, Joao Palhinha, Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito

MUNICH: Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer and forward Serge Gnabry will miss Saturday’s clash with Heidenheim, coach Vincent Kompany said Friday.
“Serge won’t be there, Manu won’t be there,” Kompany told reporters, explaining “Manu has rib pain.”
The 38-year-old goalkeeper failed to take part in training on Friday, and Kompany did not indicate when he would return.
Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list, which includes England captain Harry Kane, Joao Palhinha, Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito.
Neuer picked up the first red card of his 866-game career in Tuesday’s German Cup loss to Bayer Leverkusen after a first-half collision with Jeremie Frimpong.
Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz replaced Neuer in the 17th minute, making his Bayern debut.
With usual back-up goalie Sven Ulreich still missing due to personal leave, Kompany confirmed Peretz would take the field on Saturday.
Kane injured his hamstring in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund and missed the loss to Leverkusen, but returned to individual training on Thursday.
“It looks good,” Kompany said of Kane’s recovery.
“The way it’s going now, it looks like he could play one or two games in the calendar year, if everything goes well.”
Before going down with injury, Kane scored 20 goals in 19 games in all competitions for Bayern this season.
Despite Tuesday’s German Cup elimination, Bayern are unbeaten in the league and are currently four points clear of second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the top of the Bundesliga table.


Tottenham joins list of top Premier League teams to lose at Bournemouth as fans jeer Postecoglou

Tottenham joins list of top Premier League teams to lose at Bournemouth as fans jeer Postecoglou
Updated 06 December 2024
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Tottenham joins list of top Premier League teams to lose at Bournemouth as fans jeer Postecoglou

Tottenham joins list of top Premier League teams to lose at Bournemouth as fans jeer Postecoglou
  • Bournemouth climbed to ninth — a point and a place above Tottenham in the standings
  • Alex Iwobi scored goals early and late in the game to lead Fulham to a 3-1 win over Brighton

LONDON: Manchester City, Arsenal, and now Tottenham.

The list of top Premier League teams beaten at Bournemouth this season is growing.

Dean Huijsen took advantage of Tottenham’s weakness at set pieces to head home a 17th-minute winner in Bournemouth’s 1-0 victory on Thursday.

After the game, some Spurs fans appeared to vent their frustration at manager Ange Postecoglou when he went over to the away contingent following his team’s insipid display.

“They are pretty disappointed, rightly so, and I got some pretty direct feedback as to how we are going,” the Australian coach said, “and that’s fair enough.”

Bournemouth climbed to ninth — a point and a place above Tottenham in the standings — and underlined its penchant for surprising high-profile visitors to Vitality Stadium.

Man City’s remarkable four-game losing run in the Premier League started with a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth, while fellow title contender Arsenal’s first loss of the season also came at the Vitality, 2-0 on Oct. 19.

This was Spurs’ sixth defeat of the campaign. They now have as many wins as losses, highlighting the inconsistency blighting their season, and their seven away results so far make remarkable reading: aside from a 3-0 win at Manchester United and a 4-0 thrashing of Man City, Tottenham has lost four and drawn the other at relegation candidate Leicester.

“We’ve got to get out of this space we’re in at the moment where we’re just not able to get a real grip on our season,” Postecoglou said.

An inability to defend set plays continues to hurt Postecoglou’s team. A week after Roma scored twice from them in a 2-2 draw in the Europa League, Huijsen roamed free in the area at a corner and headed home unmarked.

Postecoglou said in May said he “wasn’t interested” about his side’s fallibility while defending set pieces, and said after losing 1-0 to Arsenal in September — after a goal from Gabriel at a corner — that “it’s my burden to carry and I’m happy to do that.”

“We started well and conceded a really poor goal,” Postecoglou said after the Bournemouth game. “It’s a difficult place to come when giving the opposition the opportunity to play in the manner they want.”

Iwobi double

Alex Iwobi scored goals early and late in the game to lead Fulham to a 3-1 win over Brighton.

The Nigeria winger intercepted a stray pass out from the back by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and slotted into an unguarded net for the opener in the fourth minute and curled home Fulham’s clinching goal in the 87th.

Carlos Baleba equalized for Brighton in the 56th before Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley – a former Fulham academy player – deflected the ball into his own net from a corner to put the home side back in front.

Fulham climbed to sixth in the standings, a point and a place behind Brighton.


Messi and Inter Miami to open Club World Cup against Egypt’s Al-Ahly, while Real Madrid face Saudi club Al-Hilal

Messi and Inter Miami to open Club World Cup against Egypt’s Al-Ahly, while Real Madrid face Saudi club Al-Hilal
Updated 05 December 2024
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Messi and Inter Miami to open Club World Cup against Egypt’s Al-Ahly, while Real Madrid face Saudi club Al-Hilal

Messi and Inter Miami to open Club World Cup against Egypt’s Al-Ahly, while Real Madrid face Saudi club Al-Hilal
  • Real Madrid will face the Saudi club Al-Hilal in Group H
  • Emirati club Al-Ain and Morocco’s Wydad AC will face English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City and Juventus in Group G

MIAMI: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will open the Club World Cup against Egyptian club Al-Ahly, with Palmeiras and Porto also part of that group for the tournament that will take place in the US next year.
Real Madrid will face the Saudi club Al-Hilal in Group H — a showdown of superstars, with Kylian Mbappé for Real Madrid and Neymar for Al-Hilal.
The draw was held Thursday in Miami, with the 32 teams finally finding out their first three opponents in the newly expanded event.
Emirati club Al-Ain and Morocco’s Wydad AC will face English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City and Juventus in Group G.
The tournament will be held in the US from Jun. 15 to Jul. 13, using 12 stadiums in 11 different cities. The final will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same stadium that will play host to the 2026 World Cup final.
Among the powerhouse clubs in the field are: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
There’re also the four highest-ranked teams from South America: Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate and Fluminense.
And Messi’s team, as a representative of the host nation, get the distinction of playing the first match. It’ll happen at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“It’s about inclusivity, it’s about bringing clubs from all over the world, the 32 best clubs and best players from all over the world together,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
Some would argue it’s not the 32 “best” clubs. Inter Miami’s selection was widely panned by critics, the volume of that only rising after the team that won the Supporters Shield as the best MLS team in the regular season — with a record-setting point total — lost in Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs.
“There’s no controversy,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said.
Major League Soccer got two teams: Seattle and Inter Miami. The Sounders qualified for the field, and Inter Miami was placed into it as the host nation’s representative.
Other opening matchups include: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atletico Madrid and Brazilian club Botafogo playing at Seattle in Group B, Monterrey against Inter Milan in Group E, and Real Madrid facing Al-Hilal in Group H.
The club competition uses the traditional 32-team format used by the World Cup from 1998 to 2022. Eight round-robin groups of four teams each were drawn Thursday, with the top two from each group advancing to a knockout bracket of 16.
Europe got 12 spots and South America six to lead the field, while Africa, Asia and North America all got four — with Inter Miami essentially a fifth from North America since it has host status. Oceania got one spot.
“There is no rule that said the MLS Cup winner needs to be in the Club World Cup,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “I have no interest in anything other than what I think is going to be best for the showcase, best for our league. I am supportive of the decision that FIFA made and I’m excited to put Miami and Seattle in a global media deal and be shown around the world.”
Mas said Inter Miami getting the privilege of playing the opening match of the tournament at home is “a testament to our community, the soccer culture that’s here.”
“Who would have told us five years ago, with no club, that we’d be here today at a draw with the best teams in the world,” Mas said. “That’s what we aspire to. That’s what we dream of.”
The groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.


Neuer banned for two German Cup games after first career red

Neuer banned for two German Cup games after first career red
Updated 05 December 2024
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Neuer banned for two German Cup games after first career red

Neuer banned for two German Cup games after first career red
  • A German FA (DFB) disciplinary committee said Thursday a “two-match ban” was the usual penalty
  • With Bayern out of the competition, Neuer would not serve the ban until next season’s German Cup or Super Cup

MUNICH: Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer was on Thursday hit with a two-game ban in the German Cup after receiving the first red card in his 866-game career.
Neuer was sent off in the 17th minute of the defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 as the 38-year-old goalkeeper rushed out of his goal and collided with an advancing Jeremie Frimpong.
With Bayern reduced to 10 men, Leverkusen won 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from Nathan Tella.
A German FA (DFB) disciplinary committee said Thursday a “two-match ban” was the usual penalty for “preventing an obvious goal-scoring opportunity for a foul without a goal being scored.”
The 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper apologized to his teammates for the red card on social media after the defeat.
With Bayern out of the competition, Neuer would not serve the ban until next season’s German Cup or Super Cup.
Neuer’s contract at Bayern expires at the end of the current season, meaning he would avoid the ban should he retire or leave German football.


The draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup is coming up

The draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup is coming up
Updated 05 December 2024
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The draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup is coming up

The draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup is coming up
  • The tournament will take place in 11 US cities from June 15 to July 13 in an expanded format with 32 teams instead of the previous seven
  • Europe got 12 places, South America six, while Africa, Asia and North America got four each

GENEVA: Soccer’s biggest ever global club tournament is coming to the United States next year and the 32-team group stage will be drawn Thursday.
European powers Real Madrid and Manchester City, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, recently crowned South American champion Botafogo and top clubs from Asia, Africa and Oceania are among the teams who are in the draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup.
The tournament, which used to be played annually in December, will take place in 11 US cities from June 15 to July 13 in an expanded format with 32 teams instead of the previous seven. Going forward the Club World Cup will be played every four years – just like the World Cup for national teams, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
Here’s what to know about the Club World Cup draw, which is made in Miami at 1 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Thursday.
What is the Club World Cup?
FIFA and its presidents have long coveted a prime piece of club soccer content.
The 2025 Club World Cup is FIFA’s most ambitious project, creating a month-long tournament in a mid-June to mid-July slot historically used by the men’s World Cup, which draws the biggest audiences in global sports.
The new club competition uses the traditional 32-team format used by the World Cup from 1998 to 2022. Eight round-robin groups of four teams each, and the top two advance to a knockout bracket of 16.
In allocating 32 entries, FIFA tried to balance getting the best and most watchable teams with giving all the world a chance to compete and develop.
Europe got 12 places, South America six, while Africa, Asia and North America got four each. One place went to Oceania and one to the host nation that should change for each edition.
Teams qualified by winning their continental championship from 2021 through 2024, or ranking highly with consistent results across those four seasons. Countries are capped at two entries unless more won titles. Brazil will send four different Copa Libertadores winners and Mexico three champions of the CONCACAF region. The other North American champion was Seattle Sounders.
Who will play?
Storied and wealthy European names are in: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. The current leaders of most of Europe’s strongest leagues miss out: Liverpool, Barcelona, Napoli and Sporting Lisbon.
Salzburg earned the last European entry last season based on FIFA’s ranking system though it can hardly be considered among Europe’s top clubs: it’s currently 32nd in the new 36-team Champions League standings.
Argentina’s big two clubs, River Plate and Boca Juniors, are in. The Brazilian and Mexican entries include, respectively, Fluminense and Pachuca, both currently 16th in their national league standings.
Africa’s entries include Al Ahly of Egypt — three times champion of Africa in the last four years — and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, which is owned by FIFA vice president Patrice Motsepe.
Saudi Arabia sends Al-Hilal, the 2021 champion of Asia, which won the domestic league last season despite losing Neymar to a long-term injury.
If they stay fit, the tournament will feature a new generation of stars such as Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will be there, with a FIFA thumb on the scales in October to give the team the host nation’s entry. Two other stars from Messi’s generation will miss out: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and Barcelona with Robert Lewandowski failed to qualify through their continental Champions League competitions.
Why is Inter Miami playing?
The previous version of the Club World Cup kept an entry for the host nation’s champion. But this time FIFA did not wait for the MLS Cup title game on Saturday, when LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls. Neither will be in the draw Thursday.
Instead, Inter Miami, with the star power of Lionel Messi on the field and co-owner David Beckham, was given the Club World Cup place in October based on regular-season standings. It will play three group-stage games in Florida, including opening the tournament at the Hard Rock Stadium.
What are they playing for?
Money and a trophy. Which is more prized by club owners is a debate to be had.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money, with reported guarantees of $50 million to top European teams, though it is currently unclear where from.
FIFA signed a global broadcasting deal Wednesday with streaming service DAZN to make all 63 games available for free. The value of the deal was not disclosed, and allows the streaming service to sell on rights to public broadcasters.
DAZN has close ties with Saudi Arabia, which promotes and stages top-level boxing title fights.
The new gold trophy has been fashioned by Tiffany and has Infantino’s name engraved on it twice. Plus his signature.
What is the tournament’s history?
Traditionally, the champions of Europe and South America played for the Intercontinental Cup. From 1980 to 2004 the game was played in Japan and usually in December.
FIFA launched a Club World Championship in 2000, played in January by eight teams in Brazil. It was not held again for nearly six years.
From 2005 through last year, the annual FIFA Club World Cup was played each December, settling on a seven-team knockout format: the six reigning continental champions and the host nation’s domestic champion. Hosts rotated between Japan, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, Qatar and, for its final edition last December, Saudi Arabia.
This annual event was unloved in Europe. The UEFA Champions League winner typically arrived for two games in four days and took home the trophy. Chelsea in 2012 was the only European team to lose in the past 17 years.
When first elected in 2016, Infantino spoke of FIFA’s need for a bigger, more attractive and lucrative club event.
In his previous job as UEFA general secretary, he helped organize the Champions League, in peak years of Messi winning the title at Barcelona and Ronaldo with Manchester United and then Real Madrid.
First, Infantino had a secretive $25 billion deal for new tournaments including a 24-team Club World Cup worth $3 billion every four years from 2021. That was blocked by European soccer officials.
Agreement was reached to play an inaugural 24-team tournament in June 2021 in China. Europe was to send just six teams.
No broadcast or sponsor deals had been announced by early 2020 when the tournament was scrapped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The June 2021 slot was needed for the postponed Euro 2020 and Copa America.
After the failed Super League project in April 2021 rocked European soccer, FIFA found agreement for a 32-team Club World Cup.