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Lionel Messi scores on free kick to lift Inter Miami over Porto

Lionel Messi scores on free kick to lift Inter Miami over Porto
Lionel Messi scores. (AFP)
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Updated 20 June 2025

Lionel Messi scores on free kick to lift Inter Miami over Porto

Lionel Messi scores on free kick to lift Inter Miami over Porto

ATLANTA: Lionel Messi connected on a free kick in the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over FC Porto in a Group A match of the FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday afternoon.
After Porto struck first on Samu Aghehowa’s penalty kick in the eighth minute, Marcelo Weigandt assisted on Telasco Segovia’s game-tying goal in the 47th.
Miami found its second goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half against Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos as Messi scored on the 68th free-kick goal of his illustrious career.
Each team netted their first goals of the tournament after Miami tied Al Ahly 0-0 on Saturday and Porto suffered the same result against Palmeiras on Sunday.
After VAR review confirmation, it was determined that Miami’s Noah Allen committed a tripping penalty in the box against Joao Mario, leading to Aghehowa’s penalty goal that was deflected by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and in for the game’s first goal in the eighth minute.
Aghehowa, 21, had 19 goals in 30 Primeira Liga matches for the Portuguese side this past season.
Miami knotted the score at one less than 90 seconds into the second half, as Weigandt’s cross into the center of the box was finished by Segovia, who fired in the equalizing goal past a sprawling Ramos.
Miami then continued its great start to the second half, as Porto’s Rodrigo Mora’s foul led to Messi’s successful free kick — perfectly placed in the top right corner in the 54th minute.


Fleetwood and Lowry confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return

Fleetwood and Lowry confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return
Updated 10 sec ago

Fleetwood and Lowry confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return

Fleetwood and Lowry confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return
  • Duo will join Rory McIlroy for the opening event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs on Yas Island in November

ABU DHABI: European Ryder Cup heroes Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are the latest stars confirmed for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from Nov. 6 to 9 at Yas Links.

The duo will join reigning Masters champion and career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy — along with fellow 2025 Ryder Cup stars Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Hojgaard, Robert MacIntyre, and vice captain Alex Noren — for the opening event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs.

World No. 5 Fleetwood, an Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner in 2017 and 2018, heads to the UAE in spectacular form. Last week at the DP World India Championship, he fired a sublime final round 65 to secure a two-stroke triumph over Keita Nakajima for an eighth DP World Tour title.

The 34-year-old has enjoyed a career-defining season, highlighted by his emotional maiden PGA TOUR victory at the TOUR Championship in August, where he also claimed the FedExCup.

In doing so, Fleetwood became only the second Englishman to capture the season-long trophy, following in the footsteps of Justin Rose.

At the Ryder Cup, Fleetwood was the standout performer in Europe’s historic 15-13 victory over the US, marking the first time an away team has won the event since 2012.

Fleetwood delivered when it mattered most, winning four matches with just one defeat across all five sessions, finishing the week as the leading points scorer in the biennial contest.

“It’s always special to play at home in the UAE, and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is a tournament I look forward to every year,” said Fleetwood, who has lived in Dubai since 2022.

“Yas Links is a great golf course and the atmosphere is always incredible. I’ve had some great memories here over the years, and starting the DP World Tour Play-Offs in front of family and friends gives me that extra bit of motivation to finish the season on a high.”

Lowry sparked emotional scenes at Bethpage Black as the Irishman secured the vital half-point to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe on a tense Sunday singles session.

The 38-year-old is no stranger to success in the UAE.

He lifted the Falcon Trophy in 2019 with his win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which proved the springboard to one of the greatest years of his professional career that included winning the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Lowry’s inclusion on Luke Donald’s historic European Ryder Cup team has secured his spot in the penultimate Rolex Series event of the season, with 2025 Ryder Cup players exempt and included in the field, in addition to the leading 70 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

“Abu Dhabi has always been a great place to play golf and I’m really looking forward to being back at Yas Links in a few weeks,” said Lowry.

“The DP World Tour Play-Offs are always an exciting end to our season and it’s great to have the opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world. I’ll be giving it everything to finish the year on a high.”

Staged by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the DP World Tour, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is the first event of the tour’s end of season showpiece. This event leads straight into the DP World Tour Championship where the Race to Dubai champion will be crowned.

The top 70 available players on the Race to Dubai will battle it out at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which returns for its 20th edition in 2025. The top 50 qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.


American guard Rejean ‘Boogie’ Ellis signs for Dubai Basketball

American guard Rejean ‘Boogie’ Ellis signs for Dubai Basketball
Updated 46 min 49 sec ago

American guard Rejean ‘Boogie’ Ellis signs for Dubai Basketball

American guard Rejean ‘Boogie’ Ellis signs for Dubai Basketball
  • 24-year-old joins from Alba Berlin on a contract that runs until 2027

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball and Alba Berlin have agreed on the transfer of American guard Rejean “Boogie” Ellis. He will join the Dubai team for the rest of the 2025-2026 season with his contract running through 2027.

The 24-year-old comes after starting the season in Germany. Before that, he had a strong college career at Memphis and the University of Southern California, and played in the NBA G League, where he became known as a consistent scorer and reliable backcourt player.

Ellis, who is 1.88 meters tall, is a quick and explosive combo guard with strong scoring skills and the ability to create his own shot. At Alba Berlin he made an impact in international competitions, often scoring in double figures.

“Boogie fits perfectly with our vision — young, hungry, competitive and already tested at a high level,” said general manager Dejan Kamenjasevic. “He brings immediate impact, creativity, and pace to our backcourt, helping us get through difficult moments when multiple players are sidelined with injuries.

“He was somewhat under the radar, and we believe players like him can truly make a difference in European basketball. He has the capacity to grow alongside our core and elevate the team’s identity in the coming years.”

On his move to the Middle East Ellis said: “Dubai is building something exciting on a global stage, and I want to be part of that journey. I’m ready to give everything for this team and connect with the fans from Day 1.”

Dubai Basketball will face Partizan Belgrade for the second time this season after a monumental win in their EuroLeague debut.

Following a two-week away stint, Dubai return to home soil to compete against the Serbian giants — this time in the ABA League — on Nov. 3 at Coca-Cola Arena.

 


Spurs’ Wembanyama scores 40 in triumphant NBA return

Spurs’ Wembanyama scores 40 in triumphant NBA return
Updated 23 October 2025

Spurs’ Wembanyama scores 40 in triumphant NBA return

Spurs’ Wembanyama scores 40 in triumphant NBA return
  • He set a new Spurs franchise record for most points in a season opener, dominating his matchup with Dallas forward Anthony Davis, who led the Mavs with 22 points and 13 rebounds
  • Philadelphia’s third overall draft pick VJ Edgecombe made a stellar NBA debut, scoring 34 points with seven rebounds and three assists in the 76ers’ 117-116 victory over the Celtics in Bosto

LOS ANGELES: Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points in a sensational NBA return on Wednesday, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 125-92 season-opening victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

The 21-year-old French star hadn’t played since he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder that required surgery in February.

But he launched his third season with a dazzling display on both ends of the floor, adding 15 rebounds, a steal and three blocked shots.

Already known for his combination of size and agility, Wembanyama showed off new strength and was virtually unstoppable at the rim.

He connected on 15 of his 21 attempts, including seven of eight in the second half.

“All dreams are allowed now,” he told broadcaster ESPN. “I’m just glad to be back.”

He set a new Spurs franchise record for most points in a season opener, dominating his matchup with Dallas forward Anthony Davis, who led the Mavs with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, who followed in Wembanyama’s footsteps in winning Rookie of the Year honors last season, added 22 points.

But it was a sometimes rocky NBA debut for Dallas’s 18-year-old No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, who had zero first-half points but finished with a respectable double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Edgecombe shines

Philadelphia’s third overall draft pick VJ Edgecombe made a stellar NBA debut, scoring 34 points with seven rebounds and three assists in the 76ers’ 117-116 victory over the Celtics in Boston.

Edgecombe’s points were the most in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain’s 43 in 1959 and the third-most in a debut game ever.

He broke Allen Iverson’s franchise record for points in a debut of 30, his 14 first-quarter points breaking a record of 12 set by LeBron James in his debut game in 2003.

“It’s just having confidence,” Edgecombe told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “My teammates keep passing me the ball, telling me to shoot it, so why not?“

Edgecombe’s heroics, coupled with 40 points from Tyrese Maxey, helped the 76ers erase a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.

The Celtics, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White the only remaining starters from last season’s 61-win team as Jayson Tatum recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, had a final chance to seal the win but Payton Pritchard’s jump shot didn’t fall.

Philadelphia’s oft-injured big man Joel Embiid, limited to 19 games last season, scored four points in just over 20 minutes on court.

The New York Knicks opened the season under new coach Mike Brown with a 119-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a battle of teams expected to contend for the Eastern Conference title.

OG Anunoby scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Jalen Brunson scored 23.

Donovan Mitchell scored 21 of his 31 points in the third quarter as the Cavs erased a 15-point halftime deficit to take a one-point lead.

But the Cavs, who had the best record in the East last season but fell to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals, couldn’t keep the pressure on as they felt the absences of injured Darius Garland and Max Strus.


4 championships on the line at ‘PFL MENA Finals: All or Nothing’ at Dhahran Expo

4 championships on the line at ‘PFL MENA Finals: All or Nothing’ at Dhahran Expo
Updated 23 October 2025

4 championships on the line at ‘PFL MENA Finals: All or Nothing’ at Dhahran Expo

4 championships on the line at ‘PFL MENA Finals: All or Nothing’ at Dhahran Expo
  • Mohammad Alaqraa meets Badreddine Diani for the PFL MENA welterweight championship in the main event
  • ֱ’s Hattan Alsaif makes her professional MMA debut against Haidy Ahmed

ALKHOBAR: The Professional Fighters League has announced the full fight card for “PFL MENA Finals: All or Nothing,” at the Dhahran Expo in Alkhobar on Dec. 5.

The final event of the PFL MENA’s second season will have four champions crowned, with each taking home $100,000.

In the main event, Kuwait’s Mohammad Alaqraa (9-1) makes his return against Morocco’s Badreddine “Dreamchaser” Diani (10-3) for the welterweight title.

Alaqraa is coming off a 21-second technical-knockout win over Ayman Galal in the semifinals, while Diani earned a spot with a hard-fought split decision over Amir Fazli.

In the co-main event, Salah Eddine “Supersalah” Hamli (10-0) of Morocco takes on fellow undefeated Mohammad “Soulkeeper” Fahmi (6-0) of Iraq for the lightweight belt.

Hamli grappled his way to a spot in the finals by choking out Souhil Tairi in the semifinals. Fahmi also scored a submission win to move one step closer to capturing PFL gold.

Featherweight and bantamweight titles will also be on the line. Egypt’s Islam “Egyptian Zombie” Reda (14-1) faces Yanis “The Desert Warrior” Ghemmouri (12-3) of Algeria for the featherweight belt.

And Jordan’s Nawras “The Honey Badger” Abzakh (14-6, 1 no contest) clashes with Egypt’s Islam “Moksha” Youssef (7-2) for the bantamweight crown.

Also on the card, ֱ’s women’s MMA pioneer Hattan Alsaif makes her professional debut against Egypt’s Haidy Ahmed (2-1).


Argentine star Intense For Me makes first seasonal appearance in Riyadh

Argentine star Intense For Me makes first seasonal appearance in Riyadh
Updated 23 October 2025

Argentine star Intense For Me makes first seasonal appearance in Riyadh

Argentine star Intense For Me makes first seasonal appearance in Riyadh
  • It will be the second Riyadh outing for the Group 1 horse following Saudi Cup debut earlier this year

RIYADH: Several cup races take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse this week but many eyes will on one of ֱ’s highest-rated horses, the South American Group One star Intense For Me (Argentina), who reappears in race eight on Saturday.

The 2,000-meter Open contest has attracted a classy field of nine-runners. But the standout is the Argentine import who has his second start for trainer Abdulaziz Meshref having been snapped up by Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb at the beginning of the year.

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini winner was bought last year to compete in The Saudi Cup and the 114-rated son of Fortify (US) may again have the world’s richest race on his agenda after finishing down the field in the 2025 running on his sole start in the country.

The chief danger would be Saudi Cup ninth Wootton’sun (France) who goes for the trainer-jockey combination of Abdullah Al-Kahtani and Adel Alfouraidi.

The horse is one of two runners for Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, with the Red Stable also sending out the Nawaf Almudiani-ridden Derevo (Britain).

Red Stable also have two good chances in the 2,400-meter Eastern Governance Region Cup.

This is with Alfouraidi’s mount Jack Red Cloud (Ireland) — who contested the Red Sea Turf Handicap last February — and Motafared (US), who beat Jack Red Cloud in the Taif National Day Open and has since changed ownership.

Saturday’s second race, an Arabian Horses Open, has a strong entry with 19 declared but the 1,600-meter event is a fascinating rematch between two runners who dead-heated in the King Khaled Racecourse Championship last month.

Angad Al-Khalediah (ֱ), who carries the colors of Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz & Sons and will have the assistance of Tariq Almansour, again tackles Anouar (France) under Nawaf Almudiani after the pair crossed the line in unison on the final day of the Taif season.

One of the features on Friday’s card is the 1,600-meter General Intelligence Presidency Cup which will see the once highly-regarded Defunded (US) bid to reignite his career after failing to fire at the end of the previous Riyadh season.

Trained by Abdulaziz Meshref and ridden by Fahad Alfouraidi, the 7-year-old has been beaten in the last two Saudi Cups having arrived with a tall reputation from Bob Baffert’s California yard.

He faces 15 rivals in the 10th race and they include Carmel Road (US) and Electability (US) for the White Stable of Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz & Sons, with Thamer Aldaihani sending out Ajwadi (Britain) and Uncle (Britain).

Nine runners will go to post in the 1,800-meter Africa Cup for local-breds.

The exciting Yaroa (ֱ) reappears after winning all three of his career starts last season culminating with victory in the Local G1 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup under Camilo Ospina.

He is joined by other White Stable runners Mafroodh (ֱ) and Mayhamah, with the Red Stables represented by the strong stayer Mashmookh under Luis Morales and the Abdullah Alkredis-ridden Alghadaf, all from the Kingdom.