Dubai Basketball claim dramatic late victory over SC Derby in ABA League

Dubai Basketball claim dramatic late victory over SC Derby in ABA League
Dubai Basketball defeated SC Derby of Montenegro 87-86 in ABA League. (Supplied)
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Updated 04 November 2024
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Dubai Basketball claim dramatic late victory over SC Derby in ABA League

Dubai Basketball claim dramatic late victory over SC Derby in ABA League
  • 7 different Dubai players scored double digits in 87-86 win in Montenegro

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball extended their winning streak to four games with a nail-biting 87-86 win over SC Derby in the ABA League, improving their overall record to 6-1 for the season.

Isaiah Taylor’s free throw with 10 seconds remaining proved to be the difference on a thrilling night in Montenegro.

Dubai dominated for long periods, leading by six points with less than 90 seconds on clock, but were forced to continually dig deep against a side that posed a constant threat throughout the night.

Ahmet Duverioglu was top scorer for Dubai with 14 points, backing that up with a team-high eight rebounds and three steals. But the key to Dubai’s victory was their team-first mentality, finding the open man when it mattered most. Incredibly, seven different players on Dubai’s roster scored double digits — the first time that has happened this season.

Dubai Basketball’s head coach, Jurica Golemac, said he knew it would be a tough game from the outset but that his team ultimately deserved the win.

He said: “For sure, it was a difficult game, but that’s what we were preparing for. We had to win this three or four times. They play fast, great basketball and have great quality.

“We led for 35 minutes and the victory was deserved, but this is an indication that we still have to work and train a lot.”

Despite Dubai having a 9-point lead at halftime they were forced to contend with American Eric Neal, who was sensational for the home side. Neal dropped 34 points on the night, more than double his season average — shooting an outstanding 8-for-10 (80 percent) from three-point territory — to keep his team in contention. In previous rounds, Neal had struggled beyond the arc, shooting 6-31 (19.35 percent).

Dubai’s lead would stretch to as many as 12 points midway through the second quarter, but in the third the home side would rally again, cutting the difference to two points with ten minutes remaining.

A Nate Mason three, and a free throw from Duverioglu gave Dubai an eight-point lead in the fourth, before a late surge from SC Derby evened the game at 86-86 — thanks to another Eric Neal three with 33 seconds left on the clock.

Like a flashback from their Round 5 victory over Spartak, the ball — and the game — was placed in Isaiah Taylor’s hands with 10 seconds remaining, as he drove to the rim but was fouled on the play. Taylor would convert his second of two free throws to give Dubai the lead, but with time left SC Derby still had the opportunity to answer back.

With a few ticks of the clock remaining, solid defense by Davis Bertans and Awudu Abass forced SC Derby’s star, Eric Neal, to lose the ball, making a game-winning attempt impossible while closing out the win for Dubai.

Next, Dubai Basketball face ABA League giants Partizan Mozzart Bet, in Serbia on Nov. 10 in what some experts are calling a defining test.

After three games on the road, Dubai Basketball will have been away from their home fans for almost a month when they return to the Coca-Cola Arena to face Krka on Nov. 17.


Corner kings Arsenal beat Man Utd to close gap on Liverpool

Corner kings Arsenal beat Man Utd to close gap on Liverpool
Updated 10 sec ago
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Corner kings Arsenal beat Man Utd to close gap on Liverpool

Corner kings Arsenal beat Man Utd to close gap on Liverpool

LONDON: Arsenal worked their set-piece magic to beat Manchester United 2-0 on Wednesday, ending Ruben Amorim’s unbeaten start to life in the Old Trafford hotseat and closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
United frustrated the home side and kept the crowd quiet at the Emirates in a cagey first half but Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock from a corner after the break and William Saliba repeated the feat.
The win leaves Arsenal in third place in the Premier League, behind Chelsea on goal difference and seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
Amorim made six changes from the team that brushed Everton aside 4-0 at the weekend, dropping in-form Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford from his starting line-up.
Gabriel was a significant absence from Arsenal’s defense, joining Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori on the injury list.
Amorim traveled to London with two wins and a draw from three matches in all competitions, keenly aware that Arsenal would be his biggest test yet.
The Gunners hogged possession in the opening moments and had the ball in the net in the fourth minute through Gabriel Martinelli, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Mikel Arteta’s men should have been ahead just minutes later when Thomas Partey skewed his header wide from a corner.
Martinelli flashed just wide from another corner midway through the first half as Arsenal continued to look dangerous from set-pieces.
United were content to bide their time when they had the ball but they looked blunt in attack.
The visitors could have gone in ahead at half-time had Diogo Dalot not steered just wide with a right-footed shot in the 43rd minute.
The two teams, both in goalscoring form, produced a combined five shots in the opening 45 minutes, with none on target.
The game picked up tempo at the start of the second half, with Diallo replacing Tyrell Malacia for United.
Feeding off a more vocal crowd, a re-energised Arsenal put United under pressure, finally breaking the deadlock when Timber headed his first goal for the club from a Declan Rice corner.
Amorim reacted quickly, bringing on forward Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee and handing French teenage defender Leny Yoro his United debut.
Diallo won a free-kick after fine work on the right in the 66th minute and Arsenal were grateful to goalkeeper David Raya, who pushed away a powerful Matthijs de Ligt header from Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick.
Arsenal doubled their lead from a Bukayo Saka corner in the 73rd minute when Partey’s shot hit Saliba and beat Andre Onana.
Arsenal have scored more goals from corners — 21 — than any other side in the Premier League since the start of last season.
Onana got down well to save a Kai Havertz shot as Arsenal threatened to cut loose.
United just about managed to keep them out but Amorim will know that he has a big job on his hands.


Mbappe pays penalty as Bilbao beat Real Madrid

Mbappe pays penalty as Bilbao beat Real Madrid
Updated 14 min 53 sec ago
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Mbappe pays penalty as Bilbao beat Real Madrid

Mbappe pays penalty as Bilbao beat Real Madrid
  • The defeat and Mbappe’s penalty miss will heap further pressure on to the former Paris Saint-Germain striker’s shoulders after plenty of criticism in recent weeks

BILBAO, Spain: Kylian Mbappe missed another penalty as champions Real Madrid fell to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Wednesday.
A week after the French superstar failed from the spot in the Champions League against Liverpool he endured further misery from 12 yards as Los Blancos allowed league leaders Barcelona to retain their four-point advantage.
Alejandro Berenguer fired Bilbao ahead early in the second half, with Jude Bellingham levelling for Madrid after Mbappe’s penalty miss.
However substitute Gorka Guruzeta snatched fourth-place Athletic victory in the 80th minute after a Fede Valverde mistake.
The defeat and Mbappe’s penalty miss will heap further pressure on to the former Paris Saint-Germain striker’s shoulders after plenty of criticism in recent weeks.
Madrid were hoping to build on three consecutive wins in La Liga, despite missing Vinicius Junior and other injured stars, with coach Carlo Ancelotti bringing French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni back into the starting line-up.
Thibaut Courtois made an important early intervention to deny Spain winger Nico Williams, with his brother Inaki Williams lurking dangerously.
It was a first half of few clear chances but played with intensity before a packed San Mames stadium.
Mbappe found the net but the goal was ruled out for offside and the referee reviewed a Rodrygo penalty appeal but decided the Brazilian winger went down too easily.
At the other end Berenguer should have put the hosts ahead but blasted high over the bar after Inaki Williams’ clever backheel teed him up.
The forward made amends early in the second half by bundling home from close range after Courtois could only palm an Inaki Williams cross into his path.
Mbappe had the chance to level for Madrid from the spot when Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala barrelled into Antonio Rudiger.
After missing his penalty against Liverpool, Mbappe agreed to let Jude Bellingham take one against Getafe on Sunday.
However this time the French forward stepped up himself but his weak effort, again to the goalkeeper’s left, was at a comfortable height for Agirrezabala to parry.
Mbappe did play a part in Madrid’s equalizer, though, with a vicious drive from distance that the stopper could only push out into the path of Bellingham, who finished tidily for his fourth goal in his last four league games.
Madrid were only level for two minutes before Bilbao regained the lead through Guruzeta, who stole the ball as Valverde prepared to pass and fired low past Courtois.
Mbappe cut a deflated figure in the final stages, with one attempt to break in down the left quickly shut down by the Athletic defense to raucous cheers from their jubilant supporters.
Barcelona thrashed Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday to move four points clear of Madrid, who have played one game fewer.


De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak

De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak
Updated 41 min 53 sec ago
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De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak

De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak

MANCHESTER: Manchester City snapped a seven-game winless streak as Kevin De Bruyne played a starring role in a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The Belgian created Bernardo Silva’s opening goal and then scored the second before Jeremy Doku rounded off a much-needed victory for the English champions.
City’s barren run included six defeats to leave them 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool before kick-off.
However, De Bruyne’s return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months helped resume normal service at the Etihad Stadium.
City move back into the top four and within nine points of Liverpool after their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola had to shoot down suggestions of a rift with De Bruyne on the eve of the game after bedding him back into action slowly with a series of substitute appearances.
The 33-year-old showed what City have been missing as he rolled back the years and could well have had more than just one goal.
Guardiola reacted to Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool by making four changes as Josko Gvardiol, Doku and Jack Grealish also came into the team.
It took just eight minutes for City to make the breakthrough.
Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was headed back toward goal by De Bruyne and Silva was in the right place to tap home from centimeters out.
Guardiola claimed pre-match that Ederson remains his number one goalkeeper but the Brazilian was again benched in favor of Stefan Ortega.
The German made a big save to deny Morgan Gibbs-White before Forest missed a glorious chance to put the Etihad crowd back on edge.
Chris Wood’s fine goalscoring form has been the catalyst to a fabulous season so far for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
But the New Zealander was wayward as he fired wide with just Ortega to beat.
De Bruyne settled City nerves on 31 minutes when he collected Doku’s pass inside the area and coolly slotted into the top corner.
Erling Haaland has now failed to find the net in his last three Premier League games.
But the Norwegian did play a part in the third goal with the assist for Doku, who cut inside and fired into the far corner.
De Bruyne saw a free-kick curl just wide and was then denied a second by his international team-mate Matz Sels.
He was given a standing ovation when he departed 15 minutes from time.
City spectacularly collapsed from 3-0 up to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League eight days ago.
However, there was never any sense of a repeat as they controlled the closing stages to add a clean sheet to an all-round restorative night for Guardiola’s men.
Defeat leaves Forest still in sixth but now four points off the top four.


Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller

Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller
Updated 45 min 26 sec ago
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Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller

Schar punishes Kelleher blunder as Newcastle hold Liverpool in thriller

NEWCASTLE: Liverpool’s seven-game winning run came to a dramatic end as Fabian Schar’s last-gasp equalizer forced the Premier League leaders to settle for a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday.
Arne Slot’s side were seconds away from wrapping up yet another victory in a dream start to the season after Mohamed Salah scored his second goal of the game in the closing stages.
But, in keeping with a testing evening on Tyneside, Liverpool were unable to hold on as Schar punished a mistake from Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Alexander Isak’s first half rocket had put Newcastle ahead before Curtis Jones levelled soon after the interval.
Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s lead before Salah’s double took him to 15 goals in all competitions this season, including nine in his last seven league games.
Dropping points for the first time since a 2-2 draw at Arsenal on October 27, Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table is down to seven points.
After impressive 2-0 wins against Real Madrid and Manchester City last week, Slot’s men were hailed as champions elect in England and leading contenders for the Champions League.
Failing to kill off spirited Newcastle won’t change that status, but Slot will have noted the flaws in his injury-hit defense ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park.
With 18 victories in 21 matches this season, it was a surprise to see Liverpool rattled by Newcastle’s tenacious high press.
Despite their erratic opening, Liverpool couldn’t be completely subdued and Alexis Mac Allister’s snap-shot from distance drew a fine save from Nick Pope.
Again Mac Allister was inches away from the opener moments later with a low drive that clipped the outside of the post.
In the absence of the rested Trent Alexander-Arnold and the injured Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool remained unusually vulnerable at the back, an issue vividly illustrated as Jacob Murphy smashed a fierce shot off the far post from an acute angle.
It was a warning Liverpool failed to heed as Isak opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
Surging into Lewis Hall’s pass, Isak took a clever touch that wrong-footed Virgil van Dijk 20 yards from goal, opening space for a blistering strike that flashed into the roof of the net.
Gordon should have doubled Newcastle’s lead after Joe Gomez’s miscued clearance, but the forward’s hesitant shot was straight at Kelleher.
Liverpool were ragged and Slot threw his arms up in frustration after another Gomez mistake allowed Murphy to blast narrowly wide.
Yet in the blink of an eye, Liverpool conjured an equalizer five minutes after half-time.
Anonymous in the first half, Salah burst into life with a superbly measured cross toward Jones, whose run was perfectly timed to meet the Egyptian’s delivery with an emphatic close-range finish.
Newcastle were back in front after 62 minutes as Isak’s deft pass sent Gordon galloping into the area and he cut back inside before planting a composed finished beyond Kelleher from 10 yards.
But Liverpool’s resolve was unshaken, thanks in large part to the presence of the sublime Salah, as well as Slot’s decision to send on Alexander-Arnold.
Having set up Liverpool’s first goal, Salah hauled them level in the 68th minute, capping a flowing move with an instinctive close-range shot from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
That was the signal for a late Liverpool siege and the visitors thought they had stolen the points in the 83rd minute.
Probing away patiently on the edge of the area, they pounced when Alexander-Arnold slipped a pass to Salah, who finished with typical aplomb.
However, there was a painful sting in the tale for Liverpool in the 90th minute as Kelleher completely misjudged a cross and Schar slid in to poke the loose ball into the net.


Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri

Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri
Updated 04 December 2024
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Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri

Football is ‘the new religion,’ says former Argentinian president Mauricio Macri
  • The World Football Summit wraps up in Riyadh, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans and the passion propelling it to become a global football hub
  • Experts discuss the evolving fan experience and lasting legacy of football in the Kingdom

RIYADH: The second and final day of the World Football Summit provided an exciting platform for football leaders to share their insights on the sport’s evolving role in society.
One of the most engaging discussions came during the closing ceremony from Mauricio Macri, executive chairman of the FIFA Foundation and former president of Argentina, who offered his perspective on the power of football to bridge cultures and unite people.
Macri emphasized that we are witnessing the dawn of a new era — what he called the “Expectations Revolution Era.”

“Football will continue to be more and more in our lives. People are more and more interested in their teams and the players, and social media has created a new engagement between the idols and the fans,” he said.
He pointed to Saudi Arabia as a prime example of a country using football strategically to boost its international influence.

“We see a country called Saudi Arabia, crashing in with a very aggressive strategy … but under that, there is an intelligent strategy, especially at the academic level. People are increasing their engagement and their passion, and this is wonderful because football unites the world,” Macri said. “So many countries have disputes, and now they dispute over kicking the ball. That’s much more friendly than using weapons. Football is the new religion of the world,” he added, echoing FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s famous sentiment.
Macri also shared a humorous story about his experience in Saudi Arabia following the country’s historic World Cup win over Argentina.

“I had an appointment with my friend Yasir Al-Rumayyan the day after the first match. I couldn’t believe it. I had to travel here to Saudi Arabia. When I entered the airport, they saw my passport. Everybody was laughing at me. The day after Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina, I have never seen such happiness in this country like that day,” he laughed.
Turning to the subject of social media and its impact on players, Macri advised athletes to focus on their true identities.

“Focus on who they are,” he said, highlighting the importance of authenticity in the digital age.
He also offered a comparison between running a popular football club and leading a country, suggesting that managing a football club could be even more challenging: “Running a very popular football club is more difficult than running a country — and I have been in both situations! Nobody cares about politics, but everybody cares about football.”
Recalling the goals Saudi Arabia scored against Argentina, Macri praised the second as “wonderful” and likened it to a Messi strike: “The first one was from an angle that was impossible. The ball pounded twice just before the hand of the goalkeeper,” he recalled.

Macri’s broader vision for the FIFA Foundation is ambitious, with a focus on empowering the next generation of young people. His goal is to reach a million refugee children and teach them digital skills, education, and robotics.

“They will build their own robot to play football among other kids,” he said, highlighting the potential for football to inspire and teach life skills to young people worldwide.
Meanwhile, in a panel discussion titled “Fan of Tomorrow: How is the stadium experience changing with the times,” speakers explored the role of technology in enhancing fan engagement.
They discussed innovations such as integrating public transport systems to provide seamless journeys for fans, and the use of augmented and virtual reality technologies to create emotionally engaging stadium experiences.

Data integration was also a key focus, with panelists stressing the importance of creating a 360-degree view of sports infrastructure to help plan cities and enhance the fan experience.
One of the key initiatives discussed was the creation of a one-stop platform to track sports infrastructure and venue availability in Riyadh.

Yazeed Al-Rasheed, chief marketing and communication officer at the local organizing committee of AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia, reflected on lessons learned from the 2023 Club World Cup.
“The Club World Cup that we hosted last year in Jeddah was a great exercise for us, even to test ourselves, and our capabilities,” he said.

He also highlighted the significance of the experience in preparing for future events, including the 2027 AFC Asian Cup: “We are investing in ourselves and our people, our teams, to be educated, to be aware, to try to see. By 2027, we will have a full-fledged system with services, airports, and airlines. It’s going to be totally different,” he said.
Alrasheed’s comments were echoed by Turki bin Oudah, general manager of the sports sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, who discussed the city’s plans to create a comprehensive, user-friendly platform for residents and visitors.

“We have the database now that is ready. We are at the phase of developing that dashboard or tableau for residents and visitors. This will be a one-stop shop that gives you a 360-view of all the sports infrastructure in the city of Riyadh,” he said.
Bin Oudah also touched on the broader legacy of Saudi Arabia’s sports development, emphasizing that the real legacy of hosting major events would be the lasting impact on the people. “Our main legacy is the people,” he said. “We are going to deliver a huge document of legacy for the next competition, not only for 2034, but we have a lot between 2034 and 2027 — not only sport, not only football, but winter games, Asian games, all of these big events are going to take advantage of the legacy we are going to leave behind.”
As the World Football Summit in Riyadh drew to a close, it was clear that Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global hub for sports and innovation.