Messi scores 10th hat trick as Argentina wins World Cup qualifier

Messi scores 10th hat trick as Argentina wins World Cup qualifier
Messi added goals in the 84th and 86th minutes. The 37-year-old is second on the career scoring list behind the 133 of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. (REUTERS)
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Updated 22 October 2024
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Messi scores 10th hat trick as Argentina wins World Cup qualifier

Messi scores 10th hat trick as Argentina wins World Cup qualifier
  • Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat trick to raise his career total to 112 goals
  • Messi added goals in the 84th and 86th minutes

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat trick to raise his career total to 112 goals and also had a pair of assists to lead Argentina over Bolivia 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
After missing a pair of October qualifiers while recovering from a right ankle injury sustained in the Copa America, Messi played the entire match before raucous fans at Estadio Monumental who chanted his name after he opened the scoring in the 19th minute.
Messi added goals in the 84th and 86th minutes. The 37-year-old is second on the career scoring list behind the 133 of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rival Brazil and under-pressure coach Dorival Júnio got some relief with a convincing performance in a 4-0 home win against Peru.
Argentina leads South American qualifying with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay, which earlier had a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil have 16 points each, with the Uruguayans in third place on goal difference.
Ecuador and Paraguay follow with 13 points apiece, with Ecuadorians fifth on goal difference.
The top six teams secure automatic berths in the 2026 World Cup. The seventh-place team, currently Bolivia, will play in an international playoff for a spot in the tournament.
Two more rounds will be played in November.
Messi in strong form on return
Messi’s first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed Messi to run freely and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra. Messi assisted on Lautaro Martínez’s 43rd-minute goal and gave a decisive pass once again Julián Álvarez scored in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Thiago Almada in the 69th minute off a low cross by Nahuel Molina before Messi had great finishing touches from the edge of the area.
“We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina,” said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play in the next World Cup in 2026. “This could be one of the last (matches in front of the Argentinian crowd).”
Bolivia, which is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, remains in contention with 12 points.
Brazil reappears under Júnior
This month’s rounds of South American qualifying were important for coach Dorival Júnior. His team was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the latest Copa America and was struggling against rivals it used to beat easily, such as Paraguay and Venezuela.
Júnior’s chances of success seemed low in matches against Chile and Peru due to injuries affecting several of his starters; goalkeeper Alisson, defender Éder Militão and striker Vinicius Júnior were all out. But a last-minute win against the Chileans and a convincing display against the Peruvians will give the Brazil coach some relief.
Raphinha scored from the spot twice to put Brazil in front in Brasilia, the first in the 38th minute and the second in the 54th.
Substitute Andreas Pereira made more than 60,000 fans at the National Stadium gasp when he scored with a volley in the 71st minute. Another substitute, Luiz Henrique, scored for the second consecutive match for the national team with a classy shot from the edge of the box.
“These were two matches that we controlled well,” Raphinha said. “We are far from perfection, but we are on the right track.”
Chile in last place
Chile’s loss to Colombia has placed the job of coach Ricardo Gareca at risk. Davinson Sánchez, Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán and Luis Sinistierra scored the goals for Colombia. Chile is in last place in the qualifying group with only five points.
Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1 and moved into a qualifying position in the standings. Jon Aramburo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, but striker Antonio Sarabia came off the bench to win it for the hosts with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.


Dakota Ditcheva poised for ‘massive statement’ at PFL World Championship in Riyadh

Dakota Ditcheva poised for ‘massive statement’ at PFL World Championship in Riyadh
Updated 29 November 2024
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Dakota Ditcheva poised for ‘massive statement’ at PFL World Championship in Riyadh

Dakota Ditcheva poised for ‘massive statement’ at PFL World Championship in Riyadh
  • Loughnane takes on Khizriev for men’s featherweight title in the headline bout
  • Ditcheva faces Santos for the women’s flyweight championship in co-main event

RIYADH: Dakota Ditcheva said she is ready to make a “massive statement” on Friday night when she faces Taila Santos for the PFL Women’s Flyweight Championship in Riyadh and hopes an impressive performance can help inspire more women to pursue mixed martial arts.

Ditcheva, one of the most exciting talents in global mixed martial arts, puts her 13-0 unbeaten record on the line against the experienced Santos (22-3) when they meet in the co-main event of an extraordinary PFL World Championship event at King Saud University.

Six world title fights will take place on Friday to conclude a thrilling 2024 PFL season, headlined by the featherweight championship bout between 2022 champion Brendan Loughnane (30-5) and unbeaten Timur Khizriev (17-0). Each winner will walk away with the belts and $1 million in prize money.

Ditcheva has been making major waves since swapping a world championship-winning Muay Thai career for MMA in 2021. Her enormous potential was spotted by the Professional Fighters League and she was signed in 2022 after five victorious MMA bouts.

Since clinching the PFL Europe women’s flyweight title in 2023, the English-Bulgarian fighter has made the step up to world level look easy, claiming two regular season wins and a semi-final victory in 2024 — all by first-round stoppage.

Now she faces the toughest challenge of her career against experienced Brazilian Santos, who has also impressed since joining the PFL with three straight wins this season.

On what a win over Santos would mean, Ditcheva said: “A massive statement, I feel like. I don’t know whether it will still gain the respect of the people on the internet, but that’s not something I’m worried about.

“Beating Taila would be massive; she’s someone I used to watch in the UFC and someone I have a lot of respect for so I’m just excited to put on an amazing fight. It seems to be a fight that’s got everyone excited, so I’m hoping we can both bring it on the night and put on a great performance.”

Ditcheva’s bout against Santos is another significant moment for women’s MMA as the second professional bout to be staged in Saudi Arabia. It comes nine months after boxing superstar Claressa Shields fought Kelsey DeSantis in the PFL vs Bellator event in Riyadh in the first professional women’s MMA fight in the Kingdom.

“Being a female over here in Riyadh, it can motivate a lot of other women probably and being one of the first ones to come over and show you can still fight, you can perform in such an amazing country, it’s just nice and hopefully motivating for other women,” Ditcheva said.

Among the bouts on the night is one featuring Hattan Alsaif, a rising MMA talent from Saudi Arabia who aspires to follow in Ditcheva’s footsteps and become a global PFL fighter. Alsaif’s inclusion in the event highlights the growing opportunities for women in the region to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

Ahead of the fight, Ditcheva took in the many sights of Riyadh, which included attending a Saudi Pro League match to watch Al-Nassr and their superstar captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Everyone knows I’m a big football fan and my brother is a massive Ronaldo fan, as I’m sure everyone is. It was just amazing that I was able to go and experience that,” she said.

“That’s what I love about this sport; it takes you all over the world, you get to experience different sports, meet different people. It’s probably not something I would have had without this sport, so I feel very lucky that I get to do that.”

The 26-year-old will be well supported on Friday night and will have her family by her side, including her mother Lisa Howarth, who was a world champion kickboxer and is a lifelong inspiration for the MMA star.


Abu Dhabi to host FIM World Supercross Championship finale

Abu Dhabi to host FIM World Supercross Championship finale
Updated 29 November 2024
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Abu Dhabi to host FIM World Supercross Championship finale

Abu Dhabi to host FIM World Supercross Championship finale
  • WSX returns to the Etihad Arena for 2024 season showdown

ABU DHABI: The stage is set for the finale of the 2024 FIM World Supercross Championship, as the world’s top riders prepare to battle under the lights of the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 4.

After a hard-fought season, including the historic double-header in Perth, there are several championship scenarios that could still play out.

Fresh off a dominant performance in Perth where he claimed seven out of eight possible race wins, Eli Tomac (CDR Yamaha Supported by Star Racing) heads to Abu Dhabi with a commanding 46-point lead in the WSX Class. However, two-time defending champion Ken Roczen (Pipes Motorsports Group) is not mathematically eliminated yet, setting up what could be one of the most dramatic comebacks in supercross history.

For Roczen to pull off the seemingly impossible and secure his third consecutive WSX title, he would need to win every race in Abu Dhabi (GP Race 1, GP Race 2, GP Race 3, and SuperFinal); Tomac to finish outside the top 10 in several races; and make up an average of 11.5 points per race.

Adding another layer of intrigue to the finale, Joey Savatgy (Fire Power Honda) — the only rider to beat Tomac in a race at Perth — is just six points behind Roczen. With a total of 105 points available in Abu Dhabi, the battle for second in the championship could yet be the night’s most intense storyline.

“The mathematics might be in my favour, but this is supercross — anything can happen," said championship leader Tomac. “Abu Dhabi presents a completely new challenge for everyone, and we’ll be pushing until the final chequered flag.”

The SX2 250cc class has its own compelling narrative as Shane McElrath (Fire Power Honda) looks to convert his 57-point advantage into a championship victory. However, the emerging rivalry between Coty Schock and Enzo Lopes, separated by just two points in their battle for second place, could deliver one of the highlights of the night in Abu Dhabi.

For either Schock or Lopes to have any chance of unseating McElrath, they would need to win every race while hoping for multiple DNFs from McElrath; outperform each other consistently, as neither can afford to lose points to their rival; and overcome McElrath’s near-perfect form that earned him six wins in Perth.


Three Emirati jiu-jitsu champions line up for Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship in Al-Ain

Three Emirati jiu-jitsu champions line up for Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship in Al-Ain
Updated 29 November 2024
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Three Emirati jiu-jitsu champions line up for Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship in Al-Ain

Three Emirati jiu-jitsu champions line up for Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship in Al-Ain
  • Khaled Al-Shehhi, Shamma Al-Kalbani, and Omar Al-Fadhli will step into the cage on Dec. 6

ABU DHABI: Three Emirati jiu-jitsu champions will bring the heat at the eighth edition of the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship at the Adnec Centre in Al-Ain on Dec. 6.

Khaled Al-Shehhi, Shamma Al-Kalbani, and Omar Al-Fadhli will step into the cage to face some of the biggest names in combat sports.

Emirati jiu-jitsu athletes have in recent years excelled at local and international competitions, adding gold medals, podium finishes, and global rankings to their achievements.

Organised by International Vision Sports Management in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, ADXC is known for its innovative competition format, elite-level competition, and vibrant atmosphere for fans. Previous editions have featured top Emirati athletes, including Al-Kalbani, Balqees Al-Hashemi, Zayed Al-Katheeri, and brothers Omar and Mohammed Al-Suwaidi.

“Competing in the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship has been one of the highlights of my jiu-jitsu journey,” said Al-Kalbani, who will take on China’s Peiqin Ge in a bantamweight jiu-jitsu clash.

“When I participated in ADXC 4 in Paris, I faced Lina Grosset and earned a decision win. It was unforgettable, raising the UAE flag in the heart of Paris. That match pushed me to refine my skills in areas like control and submissions. It also showed the incredible support the UAE gives to women in sport, empowering us to reach our full potential.

“For ADXC 8, I’ve been focused on refining my techniques, staying sharp mentally, and building my fitness. Every training session is a chance to grow, and I’m excited to step into the cage again and proudly represent my country. The support from fans here means everything. it motivates me to give my best.”

Al-Fadhli, meanwhile, will go toe-to-toe with Chilian Nicolas Ponce in a lightweight jiu-jitsu bout. “I’m really excited to compete in Abu Dhabi Extreme for the first time. I’ve been training hard, working on techniques and strategies to make the most of the cage environment,” he said.

“This is a completely new experience because of the unique rules, but it’s a challenge I’m ready to take on. Winning here would mean so much. It’s not just about the title but also about proving myself on a global stage. I feel prepared and can’t wait to show what I’m capable of.”

Hometown hero Al-Shehhi will face Brazil’s Thalison Soares in a bantamweight bout, looking to build on his victory at ADXC 4 in Paris.

“In Paris, I fought Leonardo Mario from Brazil and came out on top after five tough rounds. Now, competing in Al-Ain is something special. It is home. I am eager to put on a performance that makes the city proud. ADXC has helped me grow as a fighter, especially in mastering cage control. I am ready to deliver a fight the fans will remember,” he said.

“I want to give the fans here a performance they can be proud of, especially with Al-Ain’s deep love for sports. ADXC has helped me grow as a fighter, particularly in understanding how to control the fight in the cage. I’m ready to deliver something special for my hometown crowd.”


Four Saudi drivers gear up for GT4 European opener

Four Saudi drivers gear up for GT4 European opener
Updated 29 November 2024
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Four Saudi drivers gear up for GT4 European opener

Four Saudi drivers gear up for GT4 European opener

JEDDAH: Four Saudi Arabian drivers will line up on the grid for the final round of the GT4 European Series, the most competitive and professional motorsport series in Europe.

The Saudi drivers in this championship will race the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 of Comtoyou Racing — Fahad Al-Gosaibi and Bandar Alesayi will participate in Pro-Am, while Reema Al-Juffali, winner of the Crowd Strike 24 Hours of Spa category, and Ahmed bin Khanen will participate in the Am category.

The participation of Saudi drivers is part of Saudi Vision 2030, established to empower Saudi youth and integrate them into international championships and enhance their capabilities and potential to represent the Kingdom in the best possible way in local, regional and international forums and championships.

The four Saudi drivers have proved themselves in several races, in 2019, Al-Gosaibi won the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy Championship, and also placed well in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

For his part, Alesayi participated in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, where he finished third on three occasions in 2009/2010, and second in 2011/2012.

Bin Khanen came to prominence in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, and in 2018/2019 he participated with the Saudi Racing Team as a professional driver in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy electric car championship.

Al-Juffali, the first professional female racing driver in Saudi Arabia, was the first Saudi woman to compete in the British Formula 3 Championship, and the first Saudi woman to drive in an international race in her country when she participated in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy Championship.

Al- Juffali, who switched her focus on GT competitions in 2022 and quickly made a name for herself in GT3 racing in the International GT Open as well as GT World Challenge Europe, made a return to single seaters in 2024 when she entered the F1 Academy season opener at her home track in Jeddah.


Hojlund scores 2 for Manchester United to give Amorim winning home debut in Europa League

Hojlund scores 2 for Manchester United to give Amorim winning home debut in Europa League
Updated 29 November 2024
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Hojlund scores 2 for Manchester United to give Amorim winning home debut in Europa League

Hojlund scores 2 for Manchester United to give Amorim winning home debut in Europa League
  • Amorim: I see what everybody sees: good moments, difficult moments
  • Tottenham continued to show inconsistent form as they were held 2-2 at home by struggling Roma

Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Manchester United fought back to beat Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday to give new manager Ruben Amorim a victory in his first game at Old Trafford.

Hojlund also set up the opening goal scored by Alejandro Garnacho in the opening minute of the game, but United still had to stage a comeback in order to stay unbeaten in the competition with two victories and three draws.

“I see what everybody sees: good moments, difficult moments,” Amorim told TNT Sports “There was some confusion in the end, trying to hold on to the result, but the lads did a great job. They ran, they pressed, they tried to do the things we have worked on in the last three days and we won.”

After the visitors took a 2-1 lead, Hojlund equalized just before halftime and then scored the winner five minutes into the second half from close range, tapping in a cross from Manuel Ugarte.

After leaving Portuguese leaders Sporting Lisbon to replace the fired Erik ten Hag as United manager, Amorim made his debut in charge of United in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich in the English Premier League with Marcus Rashford scoring 81 seconds into the game.

In the Europa League, the goal came even sooner.

Hojlund intercepted a back pass to goalkeeper Nikita Haikin to allow Garnacho to put United ahead in the fist minute.

Hakon Evjen equalized in the 19th minute with a perfectly directed first-time left-foot strike from the edge of the area and Philip Zinckernagel gave the Norwegian champion the lead, finishing off a fast counter after Tyrell Malacia failed to stop him. Malacia made his first senior appearance in 550 days and was substituted at halftime by Diogo Dalot.

Tottenham continued to show inconsistent form as they were held 2-2 at home by struggling Roma. Tottenham lost 3-2 to Galatasaray in the previous round, then beat Manchester City 4-0 away in the Premier League, and gave up a late equalizer against Roma.

Captain Son Heung-min gave Spurs an early lead with a fifth-minute penalty but Evan N’Dicka pulled Roma level in the 20th. Brennan Johnson restored the lead for Tottenham in the first half but the hosts couldn’t hang on as Mats Hummels salvaged a draw in stoppage time.

Earlier, Athletic Bilbao cruised past Elfsborg 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday to join Lazio and Frankfurt at the top the 36-team standings,

Lazio missed a chance to remain the only team with a perfect record after five games as they were held 0-0 by Ludogorets at Stadio Olimpico. In Spain, Adama Boiro, Benat Prados and Gorku Guruzeta all scored for Bilbao.

Frankfurt, the 2022 Europa League winner, won 2-1 at Midtjylland.

Like in the new-look Champions League, the top eight teams after the eight-round league phase advance directly to the round of 16 in March, and teams placed from ninth to 24th enter a playoffs in February.

Among other results, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce rebounded from their first defeat at Alkmaar (3-1) with a 2-1 win at Slavia Prague, Rangers won 4-1 at Nice, Ajax lost 2-0 to Real Sociedad and Braga eased past Hoffenheim 3-0.

Galatasaray drew 1-1 away at AZ Alkmaar after Victor Osimhen equalized for the Turkish club before halftime with his third goal in his last two Europa League games. Sven Mijnans scored early for Alkmaar, which finished the game with 10 men after substitute Kees Smit was sent off in injury time.

Georges Mikaukadze scored two goals while substitute Corentin Tolisso and Malick Fofana added one each for Lyon to rout host Qarabag 4-1.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv ended a four-game losing run with a 3-1 victory over Besiktas in a game that was played at a neutral venue in Debrecen, Hungary, after Turkish authorities decided not to host match.

That decision followed unrest after Maccabi’s recent Europa League game in Amsterdam, where at least five fans were injured in violent street attacks, after their team’s 5-0 loss to Ajax.

The game was played without fans at the request of Hungarian authorities.

Gavriel Kanichowsky, Dor Perets and Weslley Patati had a goal apiece for the Israeli team, while Rafa Silva netted for Besiktas.

Dynamo Kyiv lost its fifth straight game, this time 2-1 to Viktoria Plzen. The consolation goal for the Ukrainian team, scored by Vladyslav Kobaiev in stoppage time, was the first for Dynamo in the competition.

Conference League

Chelsea have been cruising the the third-tier Conference League with the fourth win from four after beating Heidenheim 2-0.

In a matchup between two teams that were perfect, Christopher Nkunku broke the deadlock in the second half from close range before Mykhailo Mudryk roofed the second from inside the area.

Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei received his second yellow card in stoppage time and was sent off.

Legia Warsaw remained the only other perfect team after a 3-0 win at Omonia.