Football

Chris Wood's brace propelled Nottingham Forest to a resounding 3-1 victory over Leicester City in a thrilling East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium. The New Zealand striker's goals condemned his former manager, Steve Cooper, to defeat in his first encounter with Forest since his dismissal in December.Forest seized the initiative early on, with Ryan Yates capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Leicester to curl a low strike into the bottom corner. However, the Foxes responded swiftly, with Jamie Vardy equalizing from close range after a teasing cross from Harry Winks.The second half witnessed a flurry of action, with Wood restoring Forest's lead with a deft finish after controlling Elliot Anderson's pass. Leicester's appeals for a penalty were waved away, and Wood punished their poor defending once more, heading home a long punt from Matz Sels.The victory marked Forest's second consecutive win and lifted them into fifth place in the Premier League standings. They have lost just once in nine league games this season, vindicating their decision to replace Cooper with Nuno Espirito Santo.Cooper, who spent two years in charge of Forest, guiding them back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence, expressed disappointment with his team's performance. "It's self-inflicted, no doubt about that," he said. "We made poor mistakes for the goals."Nuno, serving the second game of a suspension, watched from the press box as his team secured a memorable victory. "Chris deserves his plaudits," he said. "He's done an amazing job. He's very honest and he gives everything on the pitch for us."

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has implored captain Reece James to assume a more prominent leadership role within the team. James, who recently returned from injury, has been urged to demonstrate greater influence both on and off the pitch.Maresca emphasized the importance of James' leadership qualities, stating, "I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room. He's on the way, he's doing well, he's progressing, but I expect more."The Italian manager believes that James, as captain, has a responsibility to set an example and inspire his teammates. "For me, because you are the captain, you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest," Maresca explained.James' leadership role has been limited due to his injury absence and the presence of Conor Gallagher as captain for much of last season. However, Maresca is seeking to develop leaders from within the squad and has had positive discussions with James about his expectations."He's understanding that we're expecting more from him," Maresca said. "He's our guy from the academy. It's one of the reasons why he has to show more in terms of personality."Maresca acknowledged that James is a reserved individual but believes that he can develop the necessary leadership qualities. "When you don't have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don't have a proper leader. We need to build them. Reece is one who is on the way but he's not there. He needs to make an effort."James is expected to feature against Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday, and Maresca will be looking for him to demonstrate the leadership qualities he has been demanding.

Former Brazil Defender Ze Carlos Passes Away at 56Former Brazil full-back Ze Carlos, a member of the 1998 World Cup runner-up squad, has passed away at the age of 56. The cause of death has not been officially disclosed, but local media reports suggest it was due to cardiac arrest.Ze Carlos, born Jose Carlos de Almeida, played for Sao Paulo from 1997 to 1999. He was a surprise inclusion in the 1998 World Cup squad, replacing Flavio Conceicao. Despite being uncapped at the time, he made his international debut in the semi-final against the Netherlands, replacing the suspended Cafu. Brazil won the match on penalties, but Ze Carlos was an unused substitute in the final, a 3-0 defeat to France.Ze Carlos's only other international appearance came in a friendly against Yugoslavia in 1999. He retired from professional football in 2005.Sao Paulo FC released a statement expressing their condolences: "It is with great sorrow that Sao Paulo FC announce the death of Jose Carlos de Almeida, Ze Carlos, this Friday in Osasco, near Sao Paulo."Ze Carlos's passing is a sad loss for the football world. He was a talented defender who represented his country with pride. His contributions to the 1998 World Cup squad will always be remembered.

Kylian Mbappe's transition to Real Madrid has been a gradual one, with the French superstar yet to fully establish himself as a pivotal figure in the team. However, Saturday's La Liga Clasico against Barcelona presents an ideal opportunity for Mbappe to showcase his brilliance and accelerate his adaptation to life in the Spanish capital.Mbappe's move to Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in June was a long-awaited dream come true, but the 25-year-old has not yet reached his peak performance level. With eight goals in 13 matches across all competitions, Mbappe has shown glimpses of his potential, but he has also struggled to find his place in Carlo Ancelotti's tactical setup.The Clasico is a stage where heroes are made, and a standout performance from Mbappe could propel him to new heights. Should he score against Barcelona and help Real Madrid match the Catalans' record of 43 consecutive La Liga matches without defeat, it would be a significant step forward in his integration into the team.Ancelotti has expressed satisfaction with Mbappe's contributions, acknowledging his goalscoring prowess. However, the coach believes that Mbappe is still finding his feet and has the potential to improve significantly.Mbappe's predecessor at Madrid, Jude Bellingham, set a precedent for the Frenchman last season, scoring twice on his Clasico debut and netting a last-minute winner in the second league clash against Barcelona. Ancelotti has emphasized Mbappe's goal-scoring abilities, hoping that he will take on the mantle of the team's primary attacking threat.Despite his goal-scoring exploits, Mbappe has faced some challenges in recent weeks. He was not on the scoresheet in Real Madrid's 5-2 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund, and he has been embroiled in off-field controversies, including a rape investigation and a dispute with PSG over unpaid wages.The Clasico will not erase Mbappe's problems, but a dazzling performance would shift the focus back to his footballing abilities. He has scored six goals in four matches against Barcelona, all in the Champions League for PSG, and he will be eager to add to that tally in the iconic fixture.Mbappe's role in the Madrid team is still evolving, with the forward often drifting to his favored left side and swapping positions with Vinicius Junior. The Clasico will be a test of his adaptability and his ability to make a decisive impact in a high-pressure environment.If Mbappe can deliver a standout performance against Barcelona, it would not only boost his confidence but also silence the critics who have questioned his impact at Madrid. The Clasico is a stage where legends are born, and Mbappe has the opportunity to etch his name into the annals of the rivalry.

Bengaluru FC ended their two-year winless streak in Kochi with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday night. Substitute Edgar Mendez emerged as the hero for the Blues, scoring twice in the second half to secure the win.The match started with both teams trading blows, but it was Bengaluru who drew first blood. Argentine forward Pereyra Diaz pounced on a loose ball in the box and lobbed it over goalkeeper Som Kumar to give the visitors the lead in the 9th minute.However, the Blasters responded well and equalized through a penalty in the 45th minute. Kwame Peprah was brought down inside the box by Rahul Bheke, and Jesus Jimenez stepped up to convert the spot-kick.The second half was a more open affair, with both teams creating chances. Mendez, who had come on for Diaz in the 60th minute, made an immediate impact. In the 73rd minute, he pounced on a loose ball after Som Kumar fumbled Noguera's free-kick and slotted it home to give Bengaluru a 2-1 lead.The Blasters pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes, but Mendez had the final say. In the 90th minute, he raced forward and found Som out of his goal, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net to seal the victory for Bengaluru.The win was a much-needed boost for Bengaluru, who had struggled for form in recent weeks. It also ended their two-year wait for a win in Kochi, where they had previously lost three consecutive matches.

Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce held his former club Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Mourinho received a red card in the second half, but his team managed to secure a point against a superior United squad.Erik ten Hag's United took an early lead through Christian Eriksen's 15th-minute goal. However, Fenerbahce equalized in the 49th minute when Youssef En-Nesyri headed home from close range after a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin.Mourinho was sent off after his team was denied a penalty in the second half. The Portuguese manager expressed his frustration with the referee's decision, stating that his players had performed admirably despite facing a stronger opponent."My boys played an amazing match," Mourinho told TNT Sports. "We played against a team that is at a superior level to us. We finished the game with a center-back playing at right-back and a right-back at left-back. We had to do a crazy puzzle, but our performance was extraordinary, and I couldn't ask for anything more from the players."Mourinho led United to the Europa League title in 2017 during his 2½ years at Old Trafford. He took the Fenerbahce job in the past offseason.Elsewhere in the Europa League, Richarlison scored a 53rd-minute penalty for Tottenham to beat Alkmaar 1-0. Tottenham's Son Heung-min sat out the match due to a minor injury.Anderlecht and Lazio stayed perfect with 2-0 victories, with both opponents reduced to 10 men. Anderlecht beat Ludogorets at home after Caio Vidal was sent off. Lazio took home three points from Twente when goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall was sent off in the 11th minute.Porto's Samu scored his fourth goal of the campaign, and Tiago Djaló added another one for Porto to beat Hoffenheim 2-0 for the Portuguese club's first win of the campaign.Václav Černý scored two goals to lead Rangers to a 4-0 rout of FCSB, while Lyon was upset 1-0 at home by Besiktas.Roma needed a penalty to beat Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 for its first Europa League victory under new coach Ivan Jurić. Summer signing Artem Dovbyk converted from the spot in the 23rd minute to get the Italian team in the win column after a draw and a loss in the second-tier competition.Ajax beat Qarabag 3-0 in Baku after the home team was reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute when midfielder Júlio Romão received a straight red card. Kenneth Taylor scored some 20 minutes later. In the second half, Wout Weghorst converted a penalty, and substitute Chuba Akpom put the result beyond doubt in the 77th. Two minutes later, Qarabag went down to nine men when Elvin Jafarguliyev also saw a red card.Eintracht Frankfurt, the 2022 Europa League winner, got a late goal from substitute Hugo Larsson to edge Latvia's RFS 1-0. PAOK came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Czech side Viktoria Plzen in Thessaloniki. Real Sociedad earned its first win, 2-1 away to Maccabi Tel-Aviv in a game played in Belgrade, Serbia due to the regional conflict.In the Conference League, Chelsea routed Panathinaikos 4-1 in Athens to make it two wins from two. João Félix scored twice, with the first one set up by Mykhailo Mudryk in the 22nd minute. The visitors added three more in the first 14 minutes of the second half through Mudryk, Felix's second, and Christopher Nkunku's penalty. Facundo Pellistri netted for Panathinaikos in the 69th.Jonathan Ikoné's two goals led Fiorentina past St. Gallen 4-2 in Switzerland, and Real Betis played 1-1 with Copenhagen. Iceland's Vikingur beat Belgium's Cercle Brugge 3-1 to record its first victory in Europe.

Champions League: English Clubs Dominate, Barcelona Stuns BayernWednesday's Champions League action witnessed a resounding night for English clubs and a historic triumph for Barcelona.Liverpool and Manchester City extended their perfect records to three wins, while Arsenal and Aston Villa also secured victories. The four English teams have conceded just one goal combined in the competition so far.Barcelona, led by captain Raphinha, pulled off a stunning 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich, ending the German giants' six-match winning streak against the Catalan club. Raphinha scored a hat-trick, while Robert Lewandowski added another for Barcelona.Liverpool edged Leipzig 1-0 with a goal from Darwin Nunez, while City routed Sparta Prague 5-0 with Erling Haaland scoring twice.In other matches, Lille upset Atletico Madrid 3-1, while Inter Milan scraped a 1-0 win at Young Boys. Celtic held Atalanta to a 0-0 draw, while Benfica lost 3-1 to Feyenoord.

Manchester United's struggles under Erik ten Hag have drawn attention from former manager Jose Mourinho, who believes the club has the potential to succeed despite their recent setbacks. Mourinho, now in charge of Fenerbahce, will face his former club in the Europa League on Thursday.Mourinho expressed confidence in United's long-term prospects, stating, "They have a better team than the results are showing." He attributed their struggles to a lack of patience from the club's hierarchy during his tenure. "They kept faith with the coach, they support the coach, who is staying season after season," he said of Ten Hag's situation.Mourinho also highlighted the high quality of the Premier League, which he believes sets it apart from other European leagues. "The Premier League is a different level of quality, intensity, pace, tactical culture -- a different level of everything," he said.Despite United's recent struggles, Mourinho believes they remain one of the favorites to win the Europa League. "If I have to say now which are the two biggest candidates to win the Europa League, I think it's easy -- Manchester United and Tottenham," he said.Mourinho's comments come as United prepare to face Fenerbahce in Istanbul. The Portuguese manager expects United to field a strong team despite their recent setbacks. "One thing are the results that Manchester United are having and another thing is the potential of the team," he said. "The potential of the team is high."

The Indian U-17 boys' team unleashed a dominant performance, crushing Brunei 13-0 in their opening Group D match of the U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The Blue Colts asserted their superiority from the outset, with Vishal Yadav opening the scoring in the eighth minute. Md Arbash doubled the lead via a penalty 16 minutes later, and Yadav extended India's advantage with a goal from a corner. Bharat Lairenjam and Mohammed Kaif added to the tally before halftime, giving India a commanding 5-0 lead.After the break, Yadav completed his hat-trick, while Ngamgouhou Mate and Manbhakupar Malngiang also found the net. Hemneichung Lunkim, Azlaan Shah, Mahmad Sami, Sumit Sharma, and Usham Thoungamba Singh contributed to the goal fest, sealing an emphatic 13-0 victory.The Indian team's relentless attack and clinical finishing overwhelmed the inexperienced Bruneiese defense. The Blue Colts' dominance was evident in their possession and passing accuracy, as they controlled the tempo of the game throughout.Coach Ishfaq Ahmed utilized the opportunity to test his bench strength, bringing on substitutes who made an immediate impact. The victory sets the tone for India's remaining matches in the qualifiers, as they aim to secure a berth in the U-17 Asian Cup.