Troubled Man City held by lowly Everton, Chelsea title bid rocked

Troubled Man City held by lowly Everton, Chelsea title bid rocked
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (3R) reacts after having his penalty saved by Everton's English goalkeeper #01 Jordan Pickford (C) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 26, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 27 December 2024
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Troubled Man City held by lowly Everton, Chelsea title bid rocked

Troubled Man City held by lowly Everton, Chelsea title bid rocked

LONDON: Erling Haaland had a second-half penalty saved as crisis-torn Manchester City failed to end their dismal run with a 1-1 draw against lowly Everton, while title contenders Chelsea suffered a first home defeat against Fulham since 1979 on Thursday.
Champions City have just one victory in their last 13 games in all competitions as their Christmas schedule started in disappointing fashion.
Bernardo Silva put City in front early on before Iliman Ndiaye salvaged a point for Everton.
City are languishing in seventh place and sit five points adrift of the top four, with their astonishing decline showing no sign of ending.
City boss Pep Guardiola conceded ahead of the game that his troubled side are at risk of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 15 years and their latest setback was another blow to that target.
“Of course we need results and we didn’t get it. The team played really good again in all departments and unfortunately could not win,” Guardiola said.
“We accept it. It is life. We did not expect it to not win games many times. But what do you have to do? Continue.”
Everton had kept five clean sheets in their last six games but were breached after just 14 minutes.
Jeremy Doku fed Silva and his effort across goal deflected off Jarrad Branthwaite and looped beyond the helpless Jordan Pickford.
Everton levelled when Manuel Akanji sliced an attempted clearance into the path of Ndiaye, who fired into the top corner for Everton’s first away goal in over two months.
Seven minutes into the second half, Haaland had the chance to end his longest goal drought at the Etihad but Pickford dived low to his right to make the save.
At Stamford Bridge, second-placed Chelsea were stunned by Fulham’s late fightback for a 2-1 win in a dramatic west London derby.
Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead after 16 minutes, the England forward drilling home from the edge of the area after weaving through the Fulham defense in dazzling style.
But Fulham levelled with eight minutes left when Antonee Robinson’s cross was headed down by Timothy Castagne and Harry Wilson nodded in from close range.
Chelsea were furious, claiming Alex Iwobi had fouled Pedro Neto in the build-up to the goal.
But there was worse to come for the Blues in stoppage-time when Rodrigo Muniz converted Sasa Lukic’s pass with a clinical strike.
Chelsea are four points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand and host Leicester later on Thursday.
Nottingham Forest climbed to third place after a 1-0 win against spluttering Tottenham at the City Ground.
Forest went ahead in the 28th minute when Anthony Elanga raced onto Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass and stroke a composed finish past Fraser Forster.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo had just 17 games in charge of Tottenham before being sacked in 2021.
But Forest’s fourth successive win was sweet revenge for Nuno, whose former club had Djed Spence sent off in the closing moments for a second booking.
Tottenham are stuck in 11th place as the pressure mounts on boss Ange Postecoglou.
Newcastle swatted aside 10-man Aston Villa 3-0, moving up to fifth place after winning three consecutive league games for the first time since 2023.
Anthony Gordon struck with a superb curling strike after just two minutes at St. James’ Park.
Villa’s Jhon Duran was sent off in the 32nd minute for violent conduct after stamping on Newcastle’s Fabian Schar.
Alexander Isak made Newcastle’s numerical advantage count in the 59th minute as the Swedish striker tapped in his seventh goal in his last six appearances.
Joelinton wrapped up the points in stoppage-time with a curler from 18 yards.
Jarrod Bowen’s 59th-minute goal gave West Ham a 1-0 win at bottom of the table Southampton after the visitors saw Guido Rodriguez’s red card overturned by VAR.
It was a frustrating start for new Saints boss Ivan Juric, who has replaced the sacked Russell Martin.
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace shared a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium.


British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown

British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown
Updated 10 February 2025
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British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown

British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown
  • Newmarket-based handler has enjoyed remarkable success in the region

LONDON: British trainer George Scott is making waves in the Middle East with a string of impressive victories across Bahrain and Dubai, and soon, he hopes, in Saudi Arabia.

The Newmarket-based handler has enjoyed remarkable success, most notably guiding Isle of Jura to a historic Bahraini Triple Crown in 2024 for Sheikh Nasser Al-Khalifa’s Victorious Racing.

Scott’s winning form has continued into the 2025 season, with Phantom Flight securing victory in The Crown Prince Cup, the first leg of the Bahraini Triple Crown. The gelding is now poised to follow in Isle of Jura’s footsteps.

“Phantom Flight has gone from strength to strength physically and mentally in Bahrain. He’s thrived there and has taken a big step forward on his last start. I am very much looking forward to HH Sheikh Nasser’s Cup in a few weeks’ time and then The King’s Cup. Hopefully he can follow Isle of Jura,” Scott said in comments to Great British Racing International.

Reflecting on his successful campaign in Bahrain, Scott praised the teamwork behind his achievements.

“I’ve loved my season in Bahrain. It’s been an incredible success so far; all credit goes to my staff out there and my owners Sheikh Nasser and the City House boys. Those horses have been selected for that purpose and it has gone well so far.”

Scott’s winning touch has also extended to Dubai, where West Acre stormed to victory in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint. The three-year-old sprinter is now being primed for Super Saturday, with hopes of securing a place on the prestigious Dubai World Cup card.

“West Acre has always been a horse that we held in very high regard at home. It’s been well documented that he picked up an injury in the spring last year which meant he could not have a conventional two-year-old campaign. Last time he gave us one of those moments that rarely happens on the racetrack; he really impressed me with his turn of foot,” Scott said.

Looking ahead, Scott has high hopes for his charge on one of the biggest nights in global racing.

“He will go to Super Saturday now and then onto the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night, all being well. He’s shown a liking to the track at Meydan and we are all hoping he can repeat that performance again, because if he does, he will be a Group 1 sprinter. We will then consider long-term plans for him, but the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs (1,006 meters) at Royal Ascot is in the picture.”

Scott’s Middle Eastern campaign extends to Saudi Arabia, where Prydwen is set to make his debut in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap on Feb. 22 as part of the Saudi Cup meeting. The seven-year-old, who won the German St. Leger last year, recently finished fourth in a Group 3 contest at Meydan, beaten by just a length.

“Prydwen took a little time to acclimatize to life in the Middle East and I was much happier with him going into his second race. He’s come forward again for that run and I am looking forward to the Red Sea Turf,” Scott said.

“It will be my first runner in Saudi, something that I’ve always wanted to do. We are under no illusions as to how difficult a race it will be but he should enjoy the conditions and the trip. It will be an interesting first runner for us and hopefully we will spend more time there in the future,” he added.

With major targets on the horizon in Bahrain, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, Scott’s presence in the Middle Eastern racing scene is growing stronger by the day. His continued success highlights the increasing global footprint of British trainers and the strength of British-trained horses on the international stage.


How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh

How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh
Updated 10 February 2025
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How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh

How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh
  • Saudi Sports for All Federation sees record-breaking numbers for the 2025 Riyadh Marathon, meeting Ministry of Sport target for Vision 2030

RIYADH: More than 40,000 people of all ages and abilities took part in the 2025 edition of the Riyadh Marathon at the weekend, staged by the Saudi Sports for All Federation — a Ministry of Sport arm targeting mass participation.

With separate races for elite and amateur participants, including family runs and a number of distance options, this year’s marathon saw the largest number of participants and attendees than all previous years, setting a new record for mass participation sports in the Kingdom.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Prince Khaled bin Al-Waleed bin Talal Al-Saud revealed that the race’s four categories — the full marathon (42 km), half marathon (21 km), 10 km and the highly popular family 4 km race  — were fully subscribed.

“We can’t look only at the number of participants; we need to assess it through the lens of the wider sports ecosystem it feeds, builds upon, enhances. Every person who hits the pavement is contributing to the crown prince’s vision of Saudi Arabia, to Vision 2030 itself,” said Prince Khaled, the Saudi Sports for All Federation president, on the sidelines of one of the Kingdom’s most international events.

“Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has paved the way for success with his support and guidance during our planning and execution stages; the Ministry of Sport was even engaging in real time on the social channels. I loved seeing the ministry call out our heroes and cheer them on,” he added, referencing the many posts on X featuring key moments from the event.

Among the thousands of marathon-related posts tagging Prince Khaled on Instagram and X, the mother of Allyn Al-Oraifi declared that her three-month old baby would see the prince and the SFA team “at the finish line,” as officially the youngest participant in the country’s flagship annual running event.

Other posts lauded the prince’s efforts to get people moving and making the marathon accessible for all.

“This is what Sports for All stands for at our core: No matter how young, old, no matter your ability, we are designing programs that make you part of the fabric of success for physical activities and health in Saudi. It is an international event, with an organic and spontaneous celebratory feeling to it,” said Prince Khaled. “Just look around — this is history being made.

“You can be part of Vision 2030; you can lead the way. Just join us and take one step after the other. Bring your kids, bring your parents, start something at your company like our many community sports groups. Whatever the sport or activity, we are here to help you and see Saudi take mass participation to the next level,” the SFA president said, adding that the work of the federation’s managing director, Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, had been crucial to managing the many different stakeholders of the marathon.

The marathon routes were planned along important Riyadh landmarks, including Boulevard City and Wadi Hanifah, while the event start line was around Boulevard World and finish line near Kingdom Arena. Various entities created bespoke experiences around the marathon, such as a special Riyadh Marathon drink by Joe & the Juice.

Prince Khaled attributed much of the success to the core and supporting sponsors of the event. “Saudi Awwal Bank was the presenting partner for a second time, with ASICS and Tawuniya as headline sponsors for both the SFA Expo and the Riyadh Marathon. We are proud to work closely with these community-minded entities to grow Saudi’s health and wellness achievement metrics,” Prince Khaled said.

And for next year’s event?

“Marathon planning basically starts the day after the marathon and goes on for the entire year. Partners play such a crucial role in getting people excited for the event; our community sports groups are the best at this,” said Prince Khaled.

“Every post on social media, every time you tag a friend — we see it and we want you to know that we know you are the people lighting it up.

“Keep going. Let’s move on this momentum together.”


Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city

Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city
Updated 10 February 2025
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Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city

Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city
  • After six successful seasons in Diriyah, the all-electric racing series will now compete on a specially adapted layout of Jeddah Corniche Circuit

JEDDAH: Drivers will compete on a revised version of the record-breaking Jeddah Corniche Circuit in a double-header weekend when the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship comes to Saudi Arabia this weekend.

After six successful seasons in Diriyah, the all-electric racing series will now compete on a specially adapted layout of the circuit, the fastest in the world, as the championship moves to Jeddah for the first time on Feb. 14-15. 

The newly modified three kilometer track will have 19 corners, offering a new challenge for drivers and teams as they navigate high-speed turns along the Red Sea coastline.

The Jeddah E-Prix’s circuit layout has been tailored exclusively for Formula E, featuring four new chicanes placed to enhance overtaking and show off the agility of the electric vehicles.

The track diverges from the traditional Formula 1 route just before Turn 4, before rejoining at the Turn 21/22 section. Two additional chicane complexes have been installed between Turns 25 and 26, leading into the final corner and on to the pit straight.

These modifications were completed in just 30 days, with a dedicated 120-member team working around the clock to transform the circuit.

“Delivering a brand-new track layout at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in just 30 days was an immense challenge, but one that our dedicated team of 120 track specialists tackled with incredible skill and determination,” said Angus Miller, senior track and overlay manager at Formula E.

Samer Issa-El-Khoury, managing partner of CBX, the promoter of the Jeddah E-Prix, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the project.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of CBX, the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation, and Formula E, we have adapted the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to create a track that will deliver thrilling electric racing for fans and drivers alike,” he said.

Formula E will also introduce Pit Boost, an innovative mid-race feature, at Jeddah’s opening race.

This new strategy element grants drivers a 10 percent energy increase (3.85kWh) via a 30-second, 600kW ultra-fast energy boost in the pitlane. The feature is designed to shake up race tactics.

Saudi Arabia is a key destination on the championship’s calendar, and the move to Jeddah aligns with its Vision 2030 strategy to develop world-class sporting events throughout the Kingdom.


Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
Updated 10 February 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
  • Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus
  • Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition

RIYADH: Padel continues to capture the attention of global sports icons, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the spectators at the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1, enjoying the top-level action on the court. The Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus, who secured their place in the main draw with an impressive performance in the final qualifying round.

Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition. Last year, Neymar Jr. attended the Riyadh Premier Padel P1, while other football greats including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Leandro Paredes, and Paulo Dybala have also shown their passion for the sport by recently attending tournaments. Beyond football, combat sports icons Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ilia Topuria have also attended Premier Padel tournaments. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2024, sporting legends including Novak Djokovic, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, footballers Luis Figo and Marco Materazzi, and basketball’s Tony Parker attended a sporting legends tournament during the event, further highlighting Premier Padel’s appeal.

The Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 is the first tournament of the 2025 season, following an exceptional 2024 campaign that featured 24 tournaments across 16 countries. As part of Premier Padel’s continued global expansion, the event brings world-class padel to Saudi Arabia, with top international players battling for valuable ranking points and the first title of the season.


Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
Updated 10 February 2025
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Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
  • Breetzke scored 150, the highest score by any batter on his ODI debut, to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s 133 won the match
  • Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final

LAHORE: Star cricketer Kane Williamson hit a brilliant century to take New Zealand into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win on Monday, overshadowing South African opener Matthew Breetzke’s record score on debut.
Breetzke scored 150 — the highest score by any batter in his first one-day international — to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s unbeaten 133 proved match winning at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The tri-series is a warm-up event before the eight-nation Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final at the same venue on Friday.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, center, celebrates with Glenn Phillips after winning the tri-series ODI cricket match against South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Williamson hit his first ODI century in nearly five years on Monday and was ably supported by opener Devon Conway who missed his century by just three runs.
The pair added a solid 187 runs for the second wicket after Will Young was dismissed for 19, steadily setting New Zealand’s second win in as many games in the tri-series.
“You need partnerships to chase targets and it was an outstanding knock from Conway and that partnership between him and Kane that led us to the win,” said New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.
Williamson was so assured of finishing the game that the loss of Daryl Mitchell (10) and Tom Latham (nought) did not deter him as he hit the winning boundary to seal the win in 48.4 overs.

South Africa’s Mathew Breetzke, right, celebrates after scoring 150 runs as teammate Wiaan Mulderafter smiles during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Meanwhile a new record for the highest ODI score on debut was clinched by Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, topping the 148 scored by Desmond Haynes for West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 1978.
South Africa’s skipper Temba Bavuma said the record was among “some positives” in the match.
Breetzke hit New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke for a boundary to reach three figures off 128 balls, becoming the fourth player from his country to hit a century on ODI debut.

South Africa’s Tbraiz Shamsi, center, bowls as England’s umpire Richard Illingworth watches during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

South Africa were forced to give four debuts in this match as their top players were either active in a Twenty20 league back home or recovering from injuries.
New Zealand brought in Conway for Rachin Ravindra who got injured in team’s 78-run win over Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday.