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Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters

Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck scores their second goal against Newcastle United during their FA Cup match in Newcastle on Sunday. (Reuters)
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Updated 02 March 2025

Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters

Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters
  • The Seagulls have never lifted the Challenge Cup and last reached the final in 1983

NEWCASTLE: Danny Welbeck sent Brighton into the FA Cup quarterfinals as his extra-time strike clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against Newcastle in a stormy clash scarred by red cards for both teams.

Alexander Isak’s penalty put Newcastle ahead in the fifth-round tie at St. James’ Park.

Former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh equalized before the break, setting the stage for an explosive second half.

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off for violent conduct in the 83rd minute after shoving Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke in the head.

Brighton were also reduced to 10 men late in the second half when Tariq Lamptey was dismissed for a second booking.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side emerged victorious thanks to Welbeck’s strike in the closing stages of extra time.

Brighton have never lifted the FA Cup and last reached the final in 1983 when they lost in a replay against Manchester United. The Seagulls have won five successive matches since their 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest.

They are through to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons after winning at St. James’ Park for the second time this season.

It was a bitter blow for Newcastle, who haven’t won a domestic trophy since landing the 1955 FA Cup, while their last major trophy was the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Unless Newcastle appeal against Gordon’s three-match ban, they will be without one of their key players for the League Cup final against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley on March 16.

Newcastle made a vibrant start as Harvey Barnes lofted a pin-point cross to the far post, where Isak blazed over from close-range after his initial effort was blocked by Adam Webster.

Isak tested Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with a long-range drive before Newcastle took the lead in the 22nd minute.

Minteh conceded a penalty with his rash challenge on Tino Livramento. Isak confidently lashed the spot kick into the top corner.

It was Isak’s 22nd goal in all competitions this season and the Sweden striker had the ball in the net again with a ferocious blast, only for an offside flag to curtail his celebrations.

Newcastle looked in complete command when Anthony Gordon cut inside for a curler that Verbruggen saved at full stretch.

But Brighton snatched an equalizer against the run of play in the 44th minute.

Joao Pedro’s superb pass picked out Minteh inside the area and the Gambian’s shot took a deflection as it flashed past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka.

It was a sweet moment for Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle last year in a £30 million ($37 million) deal.

Gordon saw red with seven minutes left in normal time, the England star lashing out at Van Hecke as they challenged for the ball after play was stopped for offside against Isak.

Lamptey followed Gordon down the tunnel in stoppage-time after the Brighton defender’s rash foul on Jacob Murphy.

Fabian Schar thought he had volleyed Newcastle’s winner in stoppage-time, but the defender was ruled offside after a VAR check.

Brighton came on strong in extra time. Dubravka made a fine stop to keep out Diego Gomez’s rocket from the edge of the area.

Newcastle had wilted and Welbeck won it for the Seagulls in the 114th minute, racing onto Solly March’s defense-splitting pass and clipping his shot over Dubravka.


Ohtani, Dodgers chase repeat in Blue Jays World Series showdown

Ohtani, Dodgers chase repeat in Blue Jays World Series showdown
Updated 13 sec ago

Ohtani, Dodgers chase repeat in Blue Jays World Series showdown

Ohtani, Dodgers chase repeat in Blue Jays World Series showdown
  • The star-studded Dodgers lineup start as the clear favorites to win a ninth World Series crown, and their third in five years
  • Japanese ace Ohtani is the centerpiece of an expensively assembled team which critics have accused of “ruining” baseball, which unlike many professional sports in North America, does not have a salary cap
  • In Ohtani, the Dodgers have the reigning MLB Most Valuable Player, a pitching and hitting unicorn who is inarguably the best player on the planet, possibly even of all-time

LOS ANGELES: The Shohei Ohtani-powered Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to become the first team in 25 years to win back-to-back World Series on Friday when they face a Toronto Blue Jays side determined to end a decades-long title drought.

Twelve months after outgunning the New York Yankees in a blockbuster Fall Classic, the Dodgers are on the cusp of a second straight Major League Baseball championship.

The Blue Jays head into Friday’s Game 1 at Toronto’s Rogers Center with home advantage in the best-of-seven series due to their superior regular season record.

But the star-studded Dodgers lineup start as the clear favorites to win a ninth World Series crown, and their third in five years.

Japanese ace Ohtani is the centerpiece of an expensively assembled team which critics have accused of “ruining” baseball, which unlike many professional sports in North America, does not have a salary cap.

The Dodgers, who spent lavishly to improve their roster following last season’s World Series victory, are happy to be cast as villains.

“Before this season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quipped after his team completed a 4-0 sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers to book their World Series berth. “So let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball,” Roberts added.

Few would bet against Roberts and the Dodgers following through on that promise.

In Ohtani, the Dodgers have the reigning MLB Most Valuable Player, a pitching and hitting unicorn who is inarguably the best player on the planet, possibly even of all-time.

The 31-year-old electrified Dodger Stadium in last Friday’s series-clinching win over the Brewers, belting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in what many have described as the greatest single performance in history.

The Dodgers offensive firepower also includes former former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, while on the pitching mound, the team’s starting rotation of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamato and Tyler Glasnow, along with Ohtani, have dominated since the playoffs got under way.

“The Toronto Blue Jays are a very, very deep team,” said Derek Jeter, a member of five New York Yankees World Series-winning teams between 1996 and 2009, and the last side to win back-to-back titles.

“But the Los Angeles Dodgers are a juggernaut. They’re playing as well as I’ve seen any team play in years. It’s going to be competitive. Toronto’s going to give them problems. But the Dodgers are as good I’ve ever seen.”

‘Got to beat the best’

Toronto manager John Schneider, though, insists his team are relishing the challenge of taking on the champions.

The Blue Jays advanced to the World Series for the first time in 32 years on Monday after defeating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in a thrilling game seven duel in Toronto.

In Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays have the most in-form slugger of the postseason with the 26-year-old blasting six home runs in the playoffs.

George Springer, who hit the winning home run in Monday’s win over Seattle, also offers offensive power, as well as experience of victory over the Dodgers, having been a part of the Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series triumph that was tarnished by the sign-stealing scandal.

“To get to where you want to go, you got to beat the best,” Schneider said of facing the Dodgers. “They’re a damn good team. They’ve got Hall-of-Famers up and down their lineup. And they’ve got really, really good starting pitching and really good relievers.

“I truly think that the best two teams are left standing for a variety of different reasons, and I’ll never count my guys out of any series. They’re going to be up for it.”

The cross-border nature of the World Series match-up also comes at a time of heightened geopolitical relations between Canada and the United States following the election of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for Canada to become the “cherished 51st state” of the United States since his return to power.

Schneider was hesitant when asked if the series could become a politically charged “Canada v USA” sporting confrontation.

“We’ll see,” Schneider said. “I know it will be the Blue Jays versus the Dodgers. That’s kind of how we’re going to look at it, knowing that we have a whole country behind us. But I’m not quite sure how that will unfold.

“But I know that these guys in there know that they’re representing the country too.”

The series gets under way on Friday, with Game 2 in Toronto on Saturday. Games three, four and five will take place in Los Angeles starting from next Monday, before the series returns to Toronto for games six and seven.


Liverpool end losing streak with thumping win at Eintracht Frankfurt

Liverpool end losing streak with thumping win at Eintracht Frankfurt
Updated 55 min 11 sec ago

Liverpool end losing streak with thumping win at Eintracht Frankfurt

Liverpool end losing streak with thumping win at Eintracht Frankfurt
  • Liverpool came into Wednesday’s match staring down the barrel of their worst losing run in 73 years dating back to 1953-54, when they were relegated from the top flight

FRANKFURT, Germany: Liverpool broke a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Hugo Ekitike scoring for the English champions against his former club.
After Ekitike levelled for Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all grabbed goals, the latter two assisted by Florian Wirtz on his return to Germany.
Liverpool came into Wednesday’s match staring down the barrel of their worst losing run in 73 years dating back to 1953-54, when they were relegated from the top flight.
“We’re Liverpool and if we win a game of football it’s not that we’ll celebrate until tomorrow, but I’m pleased we were able to win,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot told DAZN.
The Dutchman benched the out-of-form Mohamed Salah and Liverpool conceded first for the fifth straight game when Rasmus Kristensen scored on the counter.
The Reds soon kicked into gear however, scoring three goals inside 10 minutes to take a 3-1 lead at half-time.
Wirtz, who had no goals or assists in the Premier League or Champions League since his big-money arrival at Anfield, laid on second-half goals for Gakpo and Szoboszlai to put the match to bed.
While Wirtz broke his goal contribution duck, Alexander Isak again was subbed off at half-time for Federico Chiesa.
“He had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit,” Slot told TNT Sports of Isak’s withdrawal.
“That’s a pity. I’ve said many times, it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed three months.”
The win will do Liverpool’s confidence as a whole the world of good but Slot’s side will face bigger tests than Frankfurt, who have now conceded 23 goals in their past six games.
“We know what quality we have in the team — all world-class players,” Wirtz said. “We didn’t start well but we came together and turned the match around.”
“I can do much, much more,” Wirtz added of his assists. “I’m satisfied we won and that I finally laid on some goals.”

- Liverpool roar back -

With 26 minutes gone, Nathaniel Brown picked Wirtz’s pocket before Frankfurt thundered up the field, Mario Goetze finding Kristensen who swapped to his preferred right foot and hammered home the opener.
Frankfurt were pushing for a second on 35 minutes when Andy Robertson won possession and played a superb long-range pass from deep to the breaking Ekitike.
The former Frankfurt forward collected the pass, advanced goalwards and slid it under Michael Zetterer, before raising his palms to apologize to the home fans.
“I had to score,” a smiling Ekitike said of his return. “It was a great feeling and something special to come back.”
The goal came against the run of play but sent a jolt through Liverpool.
The Reds were two up just four minutes later when Van Dijk powered past his helpless marker, the slight winger Ansgar Knauff, to head in a Cody Gakpo corner.
One minute before the interval, Van Dijk’s center-back partner Konate repeated the trick, again powering past Knauff to head in a corner.
Wirtz had a mixed opening half but looked more assured when Liverpool got on the front foot.
The Germany midfielder set up Gakpo for the fourth with a perfectly-weighted ball across the face of goal in the 66th minute.
Szoboszlai then put the icing on the cake for Slot’s men when he received the ball from Wirtz and arrowed in a raking finish from distance with 20 minutes remaining.
“We started well, took the lead but at this level you need to be there for 90 minutes. It hurts,” 2014 World Cup winner Goetze said.


Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds
Updated 22 October 2025

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds
  • Morocco became the first Arab country to win the tournament
  • The players were driven through the streets of Rabat on an open-top bus

RABAT: The Moroccan team were greeted by thousands of fans in Rabat on Wednesday for a parade to celebrate their historic victory in the Under-20 World Cup last week.
Morocco became the first Arab country to win the tournament with a 2-0 triumph over favorites Argentina in Sunday’s final in Chilean capital Santiago.
Before the parade, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan presided over a ceremony in honor of the team at the royal palace.
The players were then driven through the streets of Rabat on an open-top bus, to the delight of jubilant supporters and to the sound of vuvuzelas.
“It’s a great achievement, they filled us with joy and waved our country’s flag high,” Youssef, a 34-year-old salesman, told AFP.
Yassir Zabiri, who plays for Famalicao in Portugal, scored twice in the final to end the tournament as the joint top-scorer with five goals.
“The future of our football is in good hands. Well done guys, U20 world champions,” Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, who helped the senior team reach the 2022 World Cup semifinals, posted on social media.
Morocco will host the Africa Cup of Nations later this year and will be co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.


Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt
Updated 22 October 2025

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

Osimhen double guides Galatasaray to 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt
  • Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead
  • Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error

ISTANBUL: Galatasaray made the most of a litany of errors by Norwegian visitors Bodo/Glimt as they cruised to a 3-1 home win in the Champions League on Wednesday, with striker Victor Osimhen netting twice for the Turkish side in the first half.
Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead, sweeping a sumptuous first-time finish past Nikita Haikin in the third minute as the Norwegian side was quickly punished for giving the ball away cheaply in midfield.
Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error. Under pressure as he ran infield, Bodo left-back Fredrik Bjorkan inexplicably passed the ball straight to Osimhen in a central position, and the forward gratefully tucked the ball away.
Bodo created some decent chances of their own but were made to pay again on the hour mark as center-back Haitam Aleesami was robbed just outside his penalty area by Osimhen, and Yunus Akgun was able to score at the second attempt to make it 3-0.
Osimhen had plenty of opportunities to complete his hat-trick but he was thwarted by keeper Haikin, and Bodo substitute Andreas Helmersen was able to head home a close-range consolation goal in the 76th minute as his side finished strongly.
With seven games kicking off later on Wednesday, the win leaves Galatasaray on six points from three games, while Bodo/Glimt have two points ahead of their home clash with Monaco of France in two weeks. Galatasaray are next away at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.


Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern
Updated 22 October 2025

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern
  • Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, breaking a record set by Musiala
  • Karl sprinted to the corner to celebrate with a knee slide

MUNICH: Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl was handed his first Champions League start and made the most of it.
Within five minutes of kickoff against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, breaking a record set by Jamal Musiala.
Karl picked up a pass in midfield from Jonathan Tah, dodged past defender Brandon Mechele and surged to the edge of the Brugge box before hitting a swerving left-foot shot which went in over goalkeeper Nordin Jackers.
Karl sprinted to the corner to celebrate with a knee slide before Bayern striker Harry Kane and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rushed over to hug their young teammate.
At 17 years, 242 days old, Karl breaks a record set by Musiala, who was 121 days older when he scored against Lazio in a round-of-16 game four years ago, UEFA said.
Karl wears the same shirt number, 42, that Musiala wore in that game.
It’s Karl’s first senior club goal in his 10th Bayern appearance in all competitions.
He made his debut at the Club World Cup in a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in June.