Football

Genoa's late heroics denied Roma their first Serie A victory of the season, as the hosts snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw in the dying seconds at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.Roma had taken the lead through Artem Dovbyk's 37th-minute strike, but Koni De Winter's towering header in the sixth minute of added time rescued a point for Genoa. The result leaves Roma languishing in 15th place with just two points from their opening three matches, while Genoa climb to ninth with five points.Genoa's resilience has been a hallmark of their impressive start to the campaign. After stunning champions Inter Milan in their opening fixture, they have now earned another late home draw, this time against a Roma side that had been expected to challenge for a top-four finish.Roma's frustration was evident as they failed to capitalize on their early dominance. Dovbyk's goal had given them a deserved lead, but they were unable to build on their advantage and were ultimately punished for their profligacy.Genoa, on the other hand, showed great character to fight back from a goal down. They never gave up hope and were rewarded for their persistence when De Winter rose highest to meet a cross and send the home crowd into raptures.The draw leaves Roma with plenty to ponder ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Atalanta and Udinese. Genoa, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their positive start and will be looking to continue their impressive form when they travel to Empoli next weekend.

The Champions League, Europe's premier club football competition, embarks on a new era with an expanded format and increased matches. UEFA, the governing body, has introduced a 36-team league phase, with each team playing eight matches against different opponents.The expanded format aims to address the predictability of the traditional group stage and prevent the formation of a breakaway Super League. The top eight teams from the league phase will advance directly to the last 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in a play-off round for the remaining berths.The opening week of the competition features several high-profile clashes, including Real Madrid vs. VfB Stuttgart, AC Milan vs. Liverpool, and Manchester City vs. Inter Milan. The draw has also produced intriguing matchups such as Paris Saint-Germain vs. Arsenal and Manchester City, and Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, and Milan.While the expanded format promises more excitement and unpredictability, concerns have been raised about the impact on player workload. The additional matches come at a time when top clubs are already facing a congested schedule, including the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.Global footballers' union FIFPro has expressed concerns about the lack of rest and recovery time for players. The union argues that the increased number of matches could lead to injuries and burnout.Despite the concerns, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin believes the new format will benefit the competition and make it more interesting. The expanded Champions League promises a fresh start, but it remains to be seen whether the increased workload will ultimately prove beneficial or detrimental to the players and the sport as a whole.

Real Madrid extended their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 37 matches with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on Saturday. The Spanish champions moved within a point of league leaders Barcelona, who face Girona on Sunday.Despite missing injured midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid started brightly. Kylian Mbappe forced Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro into a smart save, while Vinicius Junior also threatened. However, it was the hosts who hit the woodwork three times in the first half, with Luka Sucic, Sheraldo Becker, and Sucic again all coming close.Real Madrid took the lead in the 58th minute when Vinicius Junior converted a penalty after Sergio Gomez handled Arda Guler's drive. Mbappe doubled the advantage just minutes later, sending Remiro the wrong way from the spot after Jon Aramburu stood on Vinicius' foot.Real Sociedad continued to press for an equalizer, but Madrid held firm to secure the three points. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and commitment, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti."It was a tough game, probably we didn't deserve to win because Real Sociedad played very well... but we bore it out, we suffered, we were committed in the tough moments of the game and I value that a lot," Ancelotti said.Mbappe now has three goals in five La Liga matches for Madrid, although two have come from the penalty spot. The French superstar has formed a dangerous partnership with Vinicius Junior, who has also scored three goals this season."They are linking well, creating a lot of danger," said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. "In open play they're lacking goals a bit, but with them we have a lot of danger up front and we will score a lot of goals."Real Sociedad have just one win from five games this season, but Imanol Alguacil's team played well against Madrid."We had a great first half, we had a lot of chances, the game was alive," said Real Sociedad's Igor Zubeldia. "In the second half we started well but the penalty was a tough blow... we were comfortable, it changed the whole game for us."

Chelsea secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a late winner from substitute Christopher Nkunku.The Blues endured a challenging first half, with Bournemouth hitting the woodwork twice and Robert Sanchez saving a penalty from Evanilson. However, Chelsea's depth proved crucial in the second half.Jadon Sancho, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United on deadline day, made an impressive debut as a half-time substitute. His incisive pass found Nkunku, who slotted home the winning goal in the 86th minute.The match was marred by a record-breaking 14 yellow cards, surpassing the previous high of 12. Despite the fractious nature of the game, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his team's resilience."You cannot come here and win without getting your shirt dirty," said Maresca. "We had to battle through our lack of cohesion, but we showed great character."Sancho expressed his delight at making his Chelsea debut. "It's amazing to make my debut for Chelsea," he said. "I've been working hard for this moment, and I'm just happy that I got my chance."Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola lamented his team's missed opportunities. "We had more everything, more shots, more corners," he said. "But at the end, what really matters is to score, and they did it at the end."Chelsea's victory lifts them to seventh in the Premier League standings with seven points from four games. Bournemouth, meanwhile, remains winless after four matches.

AC Milan's emphatic 4-0 victory over Venezia on Saturday served as a resounding statement ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash with Liverpool and next weekend's Milan derby. The Rossoneri, under pressure after a disappointing start to the season, responded with a dominant performance that showcased their attacking prowess.Theo Hernandez opened the scoring within two minutes, followed by Matteo Gabbia's header in the 16th minute. Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham converted two soft penalties to put the game beyond Venezia's reach before the half-hour mark. Abraham's goal marked his first for Milan since joining from Chelsea.Despite Venezia's valiant efforts, they were unable to overcome Milan's relentless attack. Francesco Zampano's consolation goal was ruled out for offside, and Joel Schingtienne's rash challenge on Rafael Leao resulted in a red card.Meanwhile, Juventus stumbled to a goalless draw at Empoli, leaving them with a temporary lead in Serie A. Thiago Motta's team struggled to create chances, with Dusan Vlahovic's shot straight at the goalkeeper being their closest attempt. Federico Gatti's goal-saving tackle in stoppage time prevented Empoli from snatching a late victory.The draw was a disappointing result for Juventus, who will face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday. Coach Motta acknowledged the need to improve their performance, emphasizing the importance of being at their best against the Dutch side.Elsewhere, Bologna's Samuel Iling-Junior rescued a point for his team with a late equalizer in their 2-2 draw at Como. The Rossoblu, who will make their Champions League debut against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, have yet to secure a win this season.

Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to Inter Miami on Saturday night, leading the team to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union with two goals and an assist. The Argentine superstar, who had been sidelined since June due to national team commitments and an ankle injury, showed no signs of rust or lingering effects from the injury.Messi's first goal came in the 26th minute, leveling the score at 1-1 after Philadelphia had taken an early lead. He received a short pass near the large area, outmaneuvered Union defender Kai Wagner into the box, and converted a shot that landed inside the left post. Four minutes later, Messi received a crossing pass inside the box and beat Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick with a 15-yard shot.Luis Suárez also had a strong performance, assisting on Messi's first goal and clinching Miami's win with a strike on Messi's assist during second half stoppage time. It was Suárez's 17th goal of the season.Despite Messi's absence, Miami went 8-2 and clinched an MLS playoff spot. With the victory, Miami (19-4-5) took the lead in the Supporters Shield table with 62 points."It's nice to see that his injury has healed and that he's as effective as he was before," said Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel.Messi's return has boosted Inter Miami's hopes of making a deep playoff run. The team has been in impressive form this season, with Messi's contributions adding another dimension to their attack.

Nottingham Forest pulled off a stunning upset on Saturday, September 14, 2024, as they defeated Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield. The victory marked Forest's first at the iconic stadium since 1969 and sent shockwaves through the Premier League.Liverpool dominated the opening half, but their profligacy in front of goal proved costly. Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai both came close to breaking the deadlock, but their efforts went wide. Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels also made a series of crucial saves to keep the Reds at bay.The second half saw a more determined Forest side emerge. They pressed Liverpool high up the pitch and created several chances of their own. In the 72nd minute, substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi received a brilliant crossfield ball from Anthony Elanga and curled a superb effort past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.Liverpool threw everything forward in search of an equalizer, but Forest held firm. Virgil van Dijk's late header flew over the bar, and the Reds were left to rue their missed opportunities.The victory was a major statement of intent from Forest, who have now won their first three league games under new coach Arne Slot. Liverpool, on the other hand, were left to lick their wounds after a disappointing performance.

Five years ago, Vinith Venkatesh was a mere ballboy, witnessing Bengaluru FC's Indian Super League campaign from the sidelines. On Saturday, he etched his name into the club's history, scoring the match-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over East Bengal FC.Making his debut at the iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the 19-year-old Venkatesh emerged as the hero. In the 25th minute, Edgar Mendez's pinpoint assist found an unmarked Venkatesh inside the box. With a deft first touch and a powerful low strike to the far post, he sent the home crowd into raptures.Senior statesman Sunil Chhetri, a veteran of Indian football, rushed to celebrate with the local lad. Venkatesh, who joined the club academy at the tender age of eight, had come full circle.The match was a scrappy affair, with nearly 12,000 spectators witnessing a physical and cynical encounter. Six players received yellow cards, while East Bengal's Lalchungnunga was sent off for a second booking. Tempers flared at times, forcing referee Crystal John to intervene.East Bengal remained in the hunt for an equalizer, pressing forward with intent. Their best chance came late when substitute Cleiton Silva fired over the crossbar from close range. In the first half, Jeakson Singh tried his luck from long range, but Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh was up to the task.Mendez, making his BFC debut, nearly got on the scoresheet with a crisp shot that narrowly missed the target. A few minutes later, Mendez and Venkatesh combined to ensure that Bengaluru FC started its ISL season on a winning note.The result: Bengaluru FC 1 (Venkatesh 25) bt East Bengal FC 0.

Kerala Blasters, despite losing their top scorer from last season, Dimitrios Diamantakos, have been in impressive form in the pre-season and the Durand Cup. Their Moroccan forward, Noah Sadaoui, won the Golden Boot award in the Durand Cup, and the team is hoping that he and Spaniard Jesus Jimenez will continue their fine form in the upcoming ISL season opener against Punjab FC."We have been pretty solid so we are absolutely ready but the games in the ISL will tell us where we stand. It will be a hard game but hopefully we can beat them," said head coach Mikael Stahre.Punjab FC, who beat Blasters 3-1 in Kochi in their debut ISL year last season, and drew 1-1 in the recent Durand Cup, are also confident of a good performance."We have a new coaching staff, new foreign and Indian players and that is the biggest difference from last season," said Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis. "This season we will try to better the performance from last year and qualify for the playoffs."