Football

Inter Milan maintained their pursuit of Serie A leaders Napoli with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. Lautaro Martinez's 60th-minute strike proved decisive, as Inter closed the gap to two points behind Napoli, who also secured a 1-0 win at Empoli.Inter's victory was built on a solid defensive performance, with goalkeeper Andre Onana making several crucial saves. Roma, on the other hand, struggled to create clear-cut chances, despite dominating possession for large periods of the match.The match was played in a strange atmosphere, with Roma's hardcore fans protesting outside the ground for the first 15 minutes. The fans are unhappy with the club's direction under American owner Dan Friedkin and the sacking of club legend Daniele De Rossi.Despite the off-field distractions, Inter showed great determination and resilience to secure the victory. Simone Inzaghi's side will now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they face Young Boys on Wednesday.Napoli continued their impressive start to the season with a 1-0 win at Empoli. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute. Napoli have now won four consecutive matches in all competitions and are looking like serious title contenders.Fiorentina moved up to fifth place with a thumping 6-0 victory over 10-man Lecce. Danilo Cataldi and Andrea Colpani both scored braces, while Lucas Beltran and Fabiano Parisi also got on the scoresheet. Lecce's Antonino Gallo was sent off in the 35th minute for a foul on Dodo.Atalanta eased to a 2-0 win at bottom side Venezia, thanks to goals from Mario Pasalic and Mateo Retegui. Retegui, who has scored eight goals in Serie A this season, is currently the league's leading scorer.

Inter Milan kicked off their Champions League campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade at the San Siro on Tuesday. Hakan Calhanoglu's stunning free-kick in the 11th minute set the tone for the match, as Inter dominated possession and created numerous chances.Marko Arnautovic doubled the lead on the hour mark, rolling the ball into an empty net after Mehdi Taremi dispossessed Rade Krunic. Captain Lautaro Martinez added a third in the 71st minute, before winning the penalty that Taremi converted to complete the rout.The win moved Inter into the top eight positions of the new league phase of the Champions League, which sees teams qualify directly for the last 16. It was a much-needed victory for Simone Inzaghi's side, who had drawn their opening match against Manchester City.Red Star, on the other hand, are in 32nd place after losing their first two matches. Coach Vladan Milojevic lamented his team's error-strewn performance, saying, "We gave away four goals, I said after the Benfica game (lost 2-1) that we can't concede those sorts of goals... when you make these kinds of errors you can't do much else."Despite the arrests of leading figures within Inter and AC Milan's hardcore ultras fan groups for a variety of crimes, the atmosphere in the Curva Nord section of the San Siro was electric. Inter's fans roared their team on from the first minute, and the whole stadium was on its feet after Calhanoglu's beautiful free-kick.Inter continued to dominate proceedings, with Arnautovic and Denzel Dumfries both coming close to scoring. Henrikh Mkhitaryan also wasted two great chances to add to Inter's lead, but it was Arnautovic who eventually doubled the advantage after Taremi robbed the ball from Krunic.Red Star crumbled in the second half, and Martinez scored his third goal of the season after another fine assist from Taremi. Taremi was given a gift from his Argentine strike partner as thanks for his sterling work up front, which helped Inter secure a fine win.

Argentina emerged victorious in the 2024 Copa America, defeating Colombia 1-0 in a thrilling final at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This triumph marks Argentina's 16th Copa America title, surpassing Uruguay as the most successful team in the tournament's history.The match was marred by crowd trouble, delaying the start by over an hour. However, once the action got underway, Argentina dominated possession in the first half of extra time. Despite their dominance, it was Colombia who looked more threatening.The game took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when Argentina's talisman, Lionel Messi, was forced off the field with an apparent leg injury. Messi had been struggling with discomfort throughout the tournament and his departure was a major blow to Argentina's hopes.Despite Messi's absence, Argentina continued to press forward. In the 111th minute, Lautaro Martinez received a pass from Giovanni Lo Celso and fired a shot past Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas to secure the victory.Argentina's triumph is a testament to their resilience and determination. They overcame adversity, including Messi's injury and the crowd trouble, to claim their second consecutive Copa America title.

Argentina's Copa America campaign got off to a flying start as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Peru in Miami on June 29. Despite the absence of talisman Lionel Messi due to a sore hamstring, Argentina showcased their depth and resilience to secure a comfortable win.With coach Lionel Scaloni serving a one-game suspension, Argentina made nine changes to their starting lineup. However, the makeshift team displayed impressive cohesion and control throughout the match. Peru, on the other hand, struggled to create any meaningful chances, managing just one shot on goal.Lautaro Martinez emerged as the hero for Argentina, scoring both goals to seal the victory. His first came just after halftime, when he latched onto a sublime through ball from Angel Di Maria and calmly lifted the ball over Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.Argentina had a chance to double their lead in the 72nd minute when Jesus Castillo handled the ball in the area, conceding a penalty. However, Leandro Paredes' spot-kick crashed against the woodwork, leaving the score at 1-0.Martinez then grabbed his second in the 86th minute, latching on to a long pass forward before finishing past Gallese. Replays indicated Martinez may have shoved defender Aldo Corzo in the build-up, but referee Cesar Ramos waved away Peru's protest and the goal stood."It was tough in the first half because they were defending deep, but the first goal opened up the game," Martinez said afterwards. "There's a lot more to come from us."Argentina's victory ensures their place as Group A winners and a spot in the quarterfinals. They will now face the runner-up from Group B in Houston next Thursday, most likely either Ecuador or Mexico.In Saturday's other Group A game, Canada held 2015 and 2016 Copa America champions Chile to a 0-0 draw in Orlando, which was enough to see the Canadians into the last eight. Chile needed a victory to leapfrog the Canadians into the knockout rounds but were left with a mountain to climb early in the game when Gabriel Suazo was dismissed for a second yellow card after only 27 minutes."It took a lot of hard work -- it's our first time in this competition and it's not easy," Canada captain Alphonso Davies said about his team's advance to the last eight. "There's a lot of good teams in this competition and a lot of good players. But we stuck to our plan and we played well. We showed a lot of fight. We had to show our teeth at times, but overall we did well."Canada will play the winners of Group B in the quarterfinals.

After nearly 90 minutes of relentless dominance, Argentina, led by the enigmatic Lionel Messi, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chile in the Copa America quarterfinals. The match, played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, was a testament to Argentina's unwavering determination and Messi's enduring brilliance.From the outset, Argentina asserted their authority on the game, controlling possession and peppering the Chilean goal with shots. Messi, despite being a day past his 37th birthday, was at the heart of every attacking move, weaving through defenders with ease and creating numerous scoring opportunities. However, the Chilean defense, anchored by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, stood firm, denying Argentina a breakthrough.As the match wore on, the tension mounted, and the frustration began to show on the faces of the Argentine players. But just when it seemed like the game would end in a stalemate, a moment of brilliance from Lautaro Martínez broke the deadlock.In the 88th minute, Messi's corner kick found its way to Lisandro Martínez, who headed it towards goal. The ball fell to Giovani Lo Celso, who wrestled with Chile's Nicolás Fernández. The ball ricocheted off Bravo and landed at the feet of Igor Lichnovsky, who tried to clear it. However, Martínez, who had entered the game as a substitute just 15 minutes earlier, calmly slotted the ball into the net, sending the Argentine fans into raptures.The goal was a fitting reward for Argentina's relentless pressure and a testament to their never-say-die attitude. It also marked Martínez's second goal of the tournament, solidifying his status as one of Argentina's most promising young players.Argentina's victory sets up a mouthwatering semifinal clash against Ecuador, who upset Brazil in the quarterfinals. Messi, who is chasing his first major international trophy with Argentina, will be determined to lead his team to glory and cement his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Defending champions Argentina kicked off their Copa America campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Canada in Atlanta on Thursday. The match was a tale of two halves, with Canada impressing in the first half but Argentina dominating the second.Canada started the match brightly, pressing high and creating several chances. Alphonso Davies was a constant threat down the left flank, while Jonathan David and Cyle Larin both had good opportunities to score. However, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was in fine form, making several key saves to keep his team in the game.Argentina gradually grew into the match and began to create chances of their own. Lionel Messi was at the heart of everything, and he played a sublime pass to Alexis Mac Allister in the 49th minute. Mac Allister rounded Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and slotted the ball into an empty net to give Argentina the lead.Canada pushed hard for an equalizer, but Argentina's defense held firm. Nicolas Otamendi, who came on as a substitute in the second half, added some much-needed stability to the backline. In the 88th minute, Messi played another inch-perfect pass, this time to Lautaro Martinez, who made no mistake from close range to seal the victory for Argentina.The win was a hard-fought one for Argentina, but it was a deserved one. They showed their class in the second half, and they will be confident of going all the way in this tournament. Canada, on the other hand, will be disappointed with the result, but they can take heart from their performance in the first half. They have a talented squad, and they will be hoping to make a deep run in the Copa America.

Inter Milan are on the cusp of securing the Serie A title, needing just a victory over Cagliari at the San Siro on Sunday to set up a potential title-clinching derby against AC Milan. Davide Frattesi's late winner at Udinese on Monday kept Inter 14 points clear of their city rivals, who have won their last five league matches.Inter's dominance has been evident since the turn of the year, with only one dropped point and no league defeats since late September. They are also on the verge of breaking several league records, including the all-time points tally, wins, and best defense in a 20-team season.However, Inter will be without suspended top scorer Lautaro Martinez, while Cagliari have shown resilience in recent weeks, pulling four points clear of the relegation zone after losing just once in their last seven matches. Claudio Ranieri's team will need to maintain that spirit to avoid the drop, with a challenging run-in that includes matches against Juventus and Milan.Juventus, currently third in the standings, will aim to strengthen their grip on a top-four finish with a local derby against Torino. Massimiliano Allegri's side are trying to fend off Bologna and Roma, who are both within striking distance.Bologna, chasing a Champions League berth for the first time, are four points behind Juve in fourth, while Roma are a further three points back. A top-five finish should be enough for a spot in Europe's premier club competition, as Serie A is in contention for an extra place in next season's revamped tournament.Napoli, despite their disappointing Champions League campaign, remain in the hunt for a top-five finish. Victor Osimhen, who scored a stunning header in their win at Monza last weekend, will be crucial to their chances. Napoli still have to face Roma and Bologna at home, and with Roma's schedule also including Juve, Bologna, and Atalanta, Osimhen's form could be decisive in determining Napoli's fate.