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Tag: Semi-Final

  • Argentina 2023: Israel dump Brazil out of U-20 World Cup

    Argentina 2023: Israel dump Brazil out of U-20 World Cup

    Debutant Israel came from behind to defeat five-time champions Brazil 3-2 in their 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday night.

    A tightly contested encounter saw Israel come back from behind twice before grabbing the shock victory through Dor Turgeman’s brilliant solo strike. The Israelis will face either Uruguay or the United States in the semi-finals.

    Marcos Leonardo’s excellent strike with his weaker left foot put Brazil ahead at the start of the second, but Anan Khalaili equalized with the header of this tournament.

    After a scoreless first half at the Bicentenario stadium, Brazil, five-times winners of the tournament, broke through in the 56th minute on Marcos Leonardo’s superbly-taken, first-time left-foot shot.

    Anan Khalaili brought Israel level, rising at the back post to angle home a header from a pinpoint El Yam Kancepolski cross in the 60th minute, delighting a largely pro-Israel crowd in the stands.

    But Israel’s hopes dimmed just 20 seconds into extra time, when Andrey Santos set up Matheus Nascimento to restore Brazil’s lead.

    Just two minutes later, however, Hamza Shibli equalized, tapping in a low ball from Ilay Feingold at the back post to make it 2-2.

    The decisive goal came, near the end of the first period of extra-time, when Turgeman collected the ball on the edge of the box, jinked cleverly past two defenders and then fired past Kaique Pereira.

     

     

  • Man Utd dumped out of Europa League

    Man Utd dumped out of Europa League

    Manchester United were dumped out of the Europa League quarter-finals following a dreadful second-leg performance in defeat to Sevilla.

    United were well below their best – creating almost nothing going forward, overrun in midfield and making two terrible mistakes in defence – as they exited Europe with a whimper.

    The Spanish side were gifted the lead after eight minutes when Youssef En-Nesyri finished following an awful error from Harry Maguire, and Sevilla doubled their advantage shortly after half time with a looping header from defender Loic Bade.

    Sevilla’s win – and United’s humiliation – was complete nine minutes from time when En-Nesyri again capitalised on a shocking mistake, this time from goalkeeper David de Gea, to complete the win.

    Having been 2-0 up and cruising in the first leg at Old Trafford, Erik Ten Hag’s side contrived to concede five times in the space of 90 minutes – two late own goals in Manchester and three times in Spain – to throw away their chance of European success.

    This was the first of a series of potentially season-defining games for United – they take on Brighton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday and face a key Premier League match at Tottenham on 27 April – and they completely failed this test.

    Sevilla meanwhile will play Juventus in a two-legged semi-final on 11 and 18 May. The Italian side beat Sporting 2-1 on aggregate in their quarter-final.

    BBC

  • Courtois, Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s Club World Cup semi-final game

    Courtois, Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s Club World Cup semi-final game

    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has a selection headache for the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final with Egypt’s Al Ahly on Wednesday.

    This is because he will be missing several key players due to injuries.

    Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, forward Karim Benzema and defenders Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy will not make the trip to Morocco on Monday.

    But the first three may be available for places in a possible final match on Saturday if Real Madrid advance.

    Vazquez and Mendy have been out for several games with long-term injuries.

    But Benzema and Militao, who were substituted with leg injuries in Real Madrid’s LaLiga win against Valencia on Thursday, are not expected to be sidelined for too long.

    Courtois, who suffered a groin injury during the warm-up for Sunday’s surprise defeat at Real Mallorca, does not have a long-term problem going by medical examinations on Monday.

    Courtois, Benzema and Militao will stay in Madrid for treatment but are expected to join their team mates in Rabat later in the week if their treatment goes as planned.

    Real Madrid are struggling lately, having won only one of their last three LaLiga matches, allowing FC Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of the standings to eight points.

    They have to worry about all the injuries and a packed schedule over the next few weeks.

    The FIFA Club World Cup is quickly followed by a UEFA Champions League clash with Liverpool and Copa del Rey showdown against FC Barcelona, as well as LaLiga matches.

    But coach Carlo Ancelotti says they will go for glory on all fronts.

    However, the Italian did urge the authorities to look at fixture scheduling in the future for the sake of player welfare.

    “We will not throw any tournaments away, we are very close… In the (Spanish) Cup semi-finals, last 16 in Europe, Club World Cup semis,” Ancelotti said last week.

    “We don’t ever want to throw matches away… (but) the schedule is just remarkable, it doesn’t stop.

    “LaLiga wants its share, FIFA wants its share, UEFA wants its share, Spanish FA wants its share… They won’t allow us to have a day to rest.

    “I get bored when I get days to rest, but the players get tired…

    “We’re always looking forward to fight for every title but we’re going beyond our limits with the schedule as it is. Between all of us we need to do something to avoid this situation.”

    The winners of the Real Madrid versus Al Ahly game will in the final match face either Brazilian side Flamengo or Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

    Both sides play in the second semi-final in Tangier on Tuesday.

  • Qatar 2022: Ezekwesili drums support for Morocco against France

    Qatar 2022: Ezekwesili drums support for Morocco against France

    The former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has called for support from Nigerians to give support to the Atlas Lions of Morocco ahead of their semi-final clash against France.

    The former Minister made the call via her social Media page today, Wednesday,

    Ezekwesili made the call on Wednesday in a post via her verified Twitter handle.

    She said all other African countries are also Moroccans, even beyond the field of football.

    She wrote, “We are all Moroccans and playing on that pitch in Doha @ #FIFAWorldCup today.
    For as long as you can check up the map of the world and find the country called Morocco on the continental territory known as Africa, we all are Moroccans today. It’s not just about Football.”

    The highly anticipated match between Les Bleu and the Atlas Lions will take place tonight at 8 pm at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

     

  • Qatar 2022: Soccer pundit, Piers Morgans predicts World Cup winner

    Qatar 2022: Soccer pundit, Piers Morgans predicts World Cup winner

    Former CNN host and soccer pundit, Piers Morgan, has predicted the outcome of the two semi-final games of the World Cup and the eventual winner on Sunday in Doha.

    South American side, Argentina will slug it out with Croatia today in semi-final 1 whilst Morocco will trade tackle with defending champions France for the other semi-final clash on Wednesday.

    Defending champions France then plays Morocco in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

    The winners of both games will play for the World Cup trophy on Sunday in Doha.

    Morgan tweeted on Tuesday: “PREDICTION: Croatia will beat Argentina, France will beat Morocco, and France will beat Croatia in the final to win the World Cup.”

    France has won the trophy twice in the past, with 1998 being the first time they lifted it when they hosted the tournament.

    Croatia and Morocco are yet to win it, while Argentina has claimed it twice times before.

  • Qatar 2022: Morocco shocks Portugal, grabs semi-final ticket

    Qatar 2022: Morocco shocks Portugal, grabs semi-final ticket

    Morocco has qualified for the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup presently holding in Qatar following their slim margin win over Europe power football house Portugal in Al Thumama stadium.

    The Moroccan side had much of Africa and the Arab world behind them as they played their heart out to ensure they become first African side ever in the history of the World Cup to reach the last four of the Mundial.

    Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi have led a team that has only conceded one goal all tournament and it was an own goal conceded in the game against Canada.

    In the 42nd minute, Morocco Ounahi finds Attiyat-Allah down the left, he curls in a high cross, En-Nesyri leaps like a salmon, gets there first and nods into an empty net for the first and the only goal of the thrilling encounter.

    Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa,  came for the ball  but didn’t get it, leaving his goal exposed.

    High-profile forward Ronaldo, 37, was left in tears at the final whistle, as he stormed down the tunnel in the knowledge his last shot at the global title is almost certainly gone.

    The result meant that Morocco will play the winner of the match between France and England to anticipate playing in the final.

  • AITEO Cup: Tornadoes, Heartland clash in semi finals in Ibadan

    AITEO Cup: Tornadoes, Heartland clash in semi finals in Ibadan

    Giant-killers Heartland FC of Owerri will square up with Niger Tornadoes of Minna in the first semi-final of this year’s AITEO Cup competition. The match will hold at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Sunday, 14th of August.

     Tornadoes, who had bumped Dreams FC, Tornadoes, who had bumped Dreams FC, Enyimba FC, and Green Beret on their way, walked over Lobi Stars of Makurdi, who failed to show up for their quarter-final clash in Jos on Wednesday. and Green Beret on their way, walked over Lobi Stars of Makurdi, who failed to show up for their quarter-final clash in Jos on Wednesday.

    Heartland, conquerors of Enugu Rangers on a penalty shoot-out, and who also edged Dakkada FC on penalties, saw the back of Katsina United at the Kwara Sports Stadium, Ilorin after another penalty shootout. The Owerri landlords won 4-1 in the shootout after both teams ended it 0-0 in regulation time.

    Kogi United, who walked over Kano Pillars in Makurdi, were programmed to meet the winner of the clash between Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United. Both the Solid Miners and the Tourists failed to turn up in Kaduna. On that score, Kogi United are through to next week’s grand finale, to play the winner of the semi-final tie between Niger Tornadoes and Heartland FC.

       The grand finale of this year’s AITEO Cup competition, for both the men’s and women’s events, will hold at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Wednesday, 17th August.

  • Commonwealth Games: India cause pain for Nigeria’s table tennis team

    Commonwealth Games: India cause pain for Nigeria’s table tennis team

    India has defeated Nigeria by a 3-0  margin to reach another Commonwealth Games doubles final.

    Meanwhile, another  Indian  Sharath Kamal defeated world number 15, Aruna Quadri in the Men’s single competition.

    G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai defeated Olajide Omotayo and Abiodun Bode in the opening doubles match in straight games. Then, the 40-year-old Sharath cruised past  Quadri in the important second singles encounter to give India a significant advantage.

    He defeated Quadri by 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, and 15-13 to progress in the competition.

    At the NEC arena, the fourth match ended up being the most entertaining. Everyone was on the edge of their seats throughout the long, rapid rallies. Late in the contest, Quadri won the greatest rally (19 shots) by a score of 9-8. By using the body smash, Sharath was able to tie the game at ten. Despite Quadri’s successful backhand, the Indian had the last laugh.

    Sathiyan, the highest-ranked player from India, eventually defeated Omotayo 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, and 11-8 to seal Nigeria’s defeat at the hands of India.

    Team Nigeria will take on England in the third-place match at the NEC 3 court. Team India will also face Singapore in the final after the third-place game.

  • Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon semi-final

    Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon semi-final

    Rafael Nadal’s hopes of completing a rare calendar-year Grand Slam ended on Thursday when the Spaniard withdrew from his highly-anticipated showdown with Australian Nick Kyrgios with an abdominal strain.

    “I have to pull out of the tournament as I have been suffering with pain in the abdomen,” said the 36-year-old, the holder of a men’s record 22 Grand Slam titles.

    Nadal had triumphed at the Australian and French Opens this year and had been hoping to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar-year slam.

  • WAFU B U17 TOURNEY: Six-pointer Eaglets qualify for semi final

     Nigeria reached the semi finals of the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana on Tuesday after a 3-1 defeat of Togo’s Junior Sparrowhawks handed Ugbade’s wards six maximum points from two matches in a three-team pool.

     Hosts Ghana, who received a 4-2 plastering by five-time world champions Nigeria on the opening day, can now not earn more than three points with their only remaining game against the Togolese on Friday. The Togolese have similar arithmetical chances in the campaign. Either can only come second behind the rampaging Eaglets.

     On Tuesday, the Golden Eaglets took off from where they ended against the Ghanaians, also three-time world champions, when Kevwe Iyede beat goalkeeper Komlan Ignace Kiti for Nigeria’s first goal in the 10th minute.

     Captain Precious Tonye Williams added another in the 22nd minute, and that was how it ended in the first half.

     In the 75th minute, the Togolese cut the deficit in half, but Light Eke, who also scored Nigeria’s last goal in the 4-2 trashing of Ghana on Saturday, struck with nine minutes to go to ensure a handsome win for Nigeria.

     The semi final matches will be played on Tuesday.