Football

Diego Rossi's second-half heroics propelled the reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew to a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champion Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup round of 16 on Tuesday. The Uruguayan forward's brace overturned a 2-0 deficit, sending the Crew into the quarter-finals against New York City.Inter Miami, led by the absent Lionel Messi, took an early lead through Matias Rojas and doubled their advantage with Diego Gomez's goal. However, Christian Ramirez's strike in the 67th minute ignited the Crew's comeback. Rossi equalized in the 69th minute and sealed the victory with a decisive goal in the 80th.In other quarter-final matchups, New York City rallied from a goal down to defeat Tigres 2-1, with Santiago Rodriguez scoring the winning goal. Philadelphia Union overcame Cincinnati 4-2, with Tai Baribo netting a brace. Mazatlan advanced to the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout victory over Cruz Azul.The quarter-final fixtures are set for Saturday, with the Crew hosting New York City, Philadelphia Union facing Mazatlan, and the winner of Toluca vs. Colorado taking on either Club America or St. Louis. San Jose will travel to Los Angeles FC, with the winner visiting Seattle.

The upcoming Premier League season promises to be a captivating spectacle, with Manchester City aiming to extend their dominance, Arsenal emerging as a formidable challenger, and Liverpool embarking on a new era under Arne Slot.Liverpool's Transition:Jurgen Klopp's departure leaves a significant void at Liverpool, and Arne Slot faces the daunting task of filling his shoes. Despite a successful pre-season, the Reds have yet to make any signings, raising concerns about their ability to maintain their high standards.Arsenal's Title Ambitions:Arsenal's impressive performances last season have fueled their belief that they can challenge for the title. Mikel Arteta's team has strengthened their defense with the addition of Riccardo Calafiori, but their lack of a prolific striker remains a potential weakness.Ten Hag's Pressure at Manchester United:Erik ten Hag's job security remains precarious despite Manchester United's FA Cup triumph. The club's poor league finish last season has put him under pressure to deliver immediate results. United have been active in the transfer market, but injuries to key players have cast a shadow over their preparations.Ipswich's Return to the Top Flight:Ipswich Town's return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence is a testament to Kieran McKenna's managerial prowess. However, the Tractor Boys face an uphill battle to avoid relegation, as history suggests that promoted teams often struggle to adapt to the top flight.Chelsea's Selection Dilemma:New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faces a selection headache as his squad has swelled to over 50 players. The Italian must find a way to balance his desire to implement his style of play with the need to keep a large squad happy.

Thierry Henry, the legendary French striker, has finally tasted managerial success after guiding the French Under-21 team to a silver medal at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. This triumph marks a significant milestone in Henry's career, which has been characterized by both extraordinary highs and lows.As a player, Henry achieved unparalleled success, winning numerous domestic and international titles, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and UEFA Champions League. His exceptional talent and prolific goalscoring ability earned him the admiration of fans and critics alike.However, Henry's transition to management proved to be a challenging one. After a brief stint with Arsenal's youth squad, he joined the Belgian national team as an assistant manager under Roberto Martínez. Despite Belgium's impressive third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, Henry's role was short-lived.His subsequent appointment as manager of AS Monaco ended in disappointment, as he failed to meet the club's expectations. He then moved to Major League Soccer, where he coached Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal). However, travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to step down and return home.Undeterred, Henry reunited with Martínez and the Belgian national team. He played a key role in the team's performances at the 2020 Euros and the 2022 Qatar World Cup. However, Belgium's inability to live up to its potential in both tournaments led to Martínez's departure and the end of Henry's Belgian journey.With his managerial career at a crossroads, Henry accepted the challenge of leading the French Under-21 team. This decision proved to be a masterstroke, as he guided the young Les Bleus to a historic silver medal on home soil.Despite the absence of senior players due to club commitments, Henry's team displayed remarkable resilience and determination. They won all three group stage matches, edged out World Champion Argentina, and beat Egypt in extra time to reach the final.In the final, France faced a formidable Spanish team that was enjoying a resurgence. Henry's men fought valiantly, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to equalize in injury time. However, Spain's class ultimately prevailed, as they netted two more goals in extra time to clinch the gold.Nevertheless, Henry hailed his team's performance as "magical." He praised their unity, spirit, and unwavering belief. The silver medal represents a significant achievement for French football and a testament to Henry's managerial abilities.As Henry reflects on his journey, he acknowledges the challenges he has faced. However, he remains optimistic about the future. With his wealth of experience and unwavering passion for the game, he is confident that he can continue to make a positive impact on the world of football.

Mohammedan Sporting Club secured its first victory in the 133rd Durand Cup, defeating Indian Navy FT 1-0 in a Group B match at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on August 13, 2024. Midfielder Sujit Singh scored the solitary goal of the match midway through the opening half, securing three points for Mohammedan Sporting.The victory propelled Mohammedan Sporting to second place in the group, while Indian Navy FT finished at the bottom after losing all three of its matches. Inter Kashi tied with Mohammedan Sporting on points but fell to third place due to an inferior goal difference.In Group F, Nepal's Tribhuvan Army FC defeated local challenger Rangdajied United FC 2-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. Both goals were scored by Tribhuvan Army forward Gillespye Karki, who found the target once in each half.This was the first win for the Nepalese Army team, which finished third in the group with three points. Rangdajied, which replaced Hyderabad FC after it failed to turn up, lost all three matches to finish at the bottom of the group. Host Shillong Lajong FC and FC Goa occupy the top two positions in the group with six points each and will meet on August 17 to decide the team qualifying for the last-eight stage.

East Bengal FC, a storied Indian football club, is poised to make its long-awaited return to the international stage when it hosts Turkmenistan's Altyn-Asyr FC in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) Preliminary 1 tie at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.After a six-year absence from continental club competitions, East Bengal is eager to qualify for the group stage of ACL Two. The Kolkata-based club has not played in any international tournament since the 2014-15 season.East Bengal will be counting on the vociferous support of its home crowd as it looks to overcome the challenge of the formidable Turkmenistani opponent. The Red and Golds will be hoping that the team will raise its performance under the guidance of Carles Cuadrat, the Spanish head coach who is rebuilding the side."Clearly we are the underdogs but we will fight and hope that the crowd helps us in our stadium," said Cuadrat. "I am a very pragmatic coach and know what I am doing. Altyn Asyr was a very tough team for us when Bengaluru FC played them in 2018. They won 5-2 against us in two legs. Plus this will be a first match for a lot of our players in an AFC competition and they have many players who have played over 20 games," he added.East Bengal, which has started the season winning both its Durand Cup group league matches, will be looking to continue the momentum against Altyn-Asyr. A win will definitely boost the Red and Golds spirit ahead of a long season.Being runners-up in the Turkmenistan Higher League in 2023, Altyn-Asyr will be looking to come up with its best and find a place in the group stage. The Turkmenistani club has a strong track record in continental competitions, having reached the AFC Cup semifinals in 2018.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair, with both teams eager to make a statement in the competition. East Bengal will be hoping to use its home advantage to its advantage, while Altyn-Asyr will be looking to prove that it is a force to be reckoned with.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. has become the latest target of Saudi Arabia's ambitious sports investment strategy. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has reportedly approached the Brazilian forward with a lucrative offer to join the Saudi Pro League (SPL) on a five-year contract.The offer, which arrived before Real Madrid's UEFA Super Cup clash with Atalanta, is said to be worth over one billion euros, including a fixed salary of 200 million euros per season and bonuses. Additionally, Vinicius would become an ambassador for the FIFA World Cup 2034, which Saudi Arabia is bidding to host.According to Reuters, Vinicius is open to considering the offer, which would make him one of the highest-paid players in the world. The 24-year-old has not dismissed the move and has allowed PIF to approach Real Madrid.Vinicius' camp believes that the offer should be carefully considered, despite his contract with Madrid running until 2027. The Saudi league has recently attracted several high-profile players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.PIF's interest in Vinicius is part of a broader strategy to invest in Saudi Arabia's sports sector. The fund owns 75% of the capital of the country's four premier clubs and has been actively pursuing top talent from around the world.If Vinicius accepts the offer, it would be a major coup for Saudi Arabia and a significant loss for Real Madrid. The Brazilian has been a key player for Los Blancos, helping them win the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles in recent seasons.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami's Leagues Cup knockout match against reigning MLS champion Columbus on Tuesday due to an ongoing right ankle injury. Messi sustained the injury during Argentina's Copa America final victory over Colombia a month ago and has not yet resumed training with his Miami teammates.The Leagues Cup is a tournament featuring MLS and Liga MX Mexican clubs, with Messi playing a pivotal role in Miami's inaugural title triumph last year. The showdown between Columbus, the 2022 MLS champions, and Miami, the current league leaders, is one of eight matches scheduled for Monday and Tuesday to determine the quarter-final pairings on Friday and Saturday.The round of 16 kicks off on Monday with the Seattle Sounders hosting Mexico's Pumas, a team they defeated in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final. Other knockout matches on Tuesday include Philadelphia at Cincinnati, Cruz Azul against Mazatlan, Tigres against New York City, Toluca at Colorado, Club America at St. Louis, and San Jose at Los Angeles FC.Messi's absence is a significant blow to Inter Miami's hopes of retaining their Leagues Cup title. The 35-year-old forward has been in impressive form this season, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists in 19 MLS appearances.Despite Messi's injury, Inter Miami remain confident in their ability to overcome Columbus and advance to the quarter-finals. The team has a strong squad featuring experienced players such as Gonzalo Higuaín, Blaise Matuidi, and Kieran Gibbs.The Leagues Cup provides a unique opportunity for MLS and Liga MX clubs to compete against each other in a meaningful tournament. The competition has grown in popularity since its inception in 2019 and is expected to attract a large audience this year.

Manchester City's impending hearing regarding alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations could be expedited to September, according to The Times. The hearing, initially scheduled for November, is now expected to commence in mid-to-late September and span approximately 10 weeks. A verdict is anticipated in early 2025.The Premier League and Manchester City have refrained from commenting on the matter.The Times also reported that the outcome of a separate legal case initiated by City against league regulations governing sponsorship and revenue deals with businesses linked to club owners is expected within the next two weeks. This development could pave the way for the hearing into the 115 charges against City to be brought forward, assuming no further legal obstacles arise.Abu Dhabi-owned City faces allegations of violating financial regulations between 2009 and 2023. If found guilty, the club, which recently secured its fourth consecutive English top-flight title, could face severe penalties, including points deductions or even relegation from the Premier League.The charges stem from an investigation launched by the Premier League in 2018 following the publication of leaked emails by German outlet Der Spiegel. The emails allegedly revealed financial irregularities and potential breaches of UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.Manchester City has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The club has also expressed confidence in its ability to clear its name and maintain its status as one of the most successful clubs in English football.The outcome of the hearing will have significant implications for Manchester City and the Premier League. If City is found guilty, it could set a precedent for stricter enforcement of financial regulations in football. Conversely, if City is exonerated, it could raise questions about the fairness and transparency of the Premier League's financial oversight.

Fabio Carvalho, a promising 21-year-old Portuguese forward, has made a significant move from Liverpool to Brentford on a five-year contract. The transfer fee remains undisclosed, but British media sources estimate an initial payment of £22.5 million ($28.7 million, €26.3 million), with potential add-ons of £5 million. Liverpool will also receive a 17.5% sell-on fee for Carvalho, whom they acquired from Fulham for £5 million two years ago.Carvalho's contract includes an optional one-year extension. Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, highlighting Carvalho's versatility and attacking prowess. "He can play in all of the front three or four positions in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1," Frank said. "His best position is probably as a number 10 or coming in from the left."Frank praised Carvalho's technical abilities, including his dribbling, passing, and chance creation. He also emphasized Carvalho's work ethic and cultural fit with the Brentford squad. "His ability and mentality to work hard in the pressure is also very, very good," Frank added.Carvalho spent the previous season on loan at RB Leipzig in Germany and Hull City in England's second tier, where he scored nine goals in 20 appearances. Brentford, who finished 13 points clear of the relegation zone last season, will kick off their Premier League campaign at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday.