Football

Fulham's Harry Wilson emerged as the hero on Monday night, scoring two dramatic stoppage-time goals to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over Brentford in a pulsating west London derby.The Bees had taken the lead against the run of play in the first half through Vitaly Janelt's thunderous strike. Fulham dominated possession and created numerous chances, but they were unable to find a breakthrough until the dying moments.With time running out, substitute Wilson flicked home an equalizer from Adama Traore's cross. Moments later, the Welshman struck again, this time with a fortuitous header that wrong-footed Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken."It was an amazing feeling to come on and get the two goals to win the game," said Wilson. "We deserved it, we kept them pinned in throughout."The victory lifts Fulham to ninth in the Premier League standings, just three points off the top four. Brentford, who had been eyeing a top-half finish, remain in 12th place.Fulham started the match brightly, with Reiss Nelson testing Flekken early on. However, Brentford gradually grew into the game and took the lead through Janelt's stunning strike.Fulham continued to press for an equalizer, but they were frustrated by Brentford's resolute defense. Emile Smith Rowe missed a golden opportunity to level the scores just before halftime.After the break, Fulham continued to dominate possession, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances. It took until the 25th attempt on goal for the Cottagers to finally beat Flekken, with Wilson's inventive effort looping over the Dutch goalkeeper.Moments later, Wilson completed the comeback with a fortunate header that flew into the top corner."They both went in but not how I would have wanted!" Wilson admitted. "The first one I just helped it on to the back post and the second one was more lucky. I was trying to head it into the other corner but it hit my shoulder and went in."Fulham's late show was a testament to their never-say-die attitude. The Cottagers have now won three of their last four Premier League matches and will be looking to continue their momentum when they face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns over his team's mounting injury crisis ahead of their Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. The English champions have suffered consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Bournemouth, ending their 11-month unbeaten run in the Premier League.Guardiola's squad has been depleted by injuries to key players, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and John Stones are also sidelined.Kevin De Bruyne could make his first appearance in seven weeks but is unlikely to start, while Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho are also not fully fit."You know the situation with Rodri, nominated the best player in the world," Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference. "We know we will struggle, and we have to accept that, and it is fine.""The games will be difficult; in previous seasons it was smooth. Personal reasons, injuries, we won six Premier Leagues in seven years. Things change, we have to accept that."Guardiola will face one of his future rivals as Sporting boss Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before beginning his role as Manchester United manager.The sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League when City romped to a 5-0 victory in Lisbon and on aggregate."They have changed players but have the same manager and the same mentality," added Guardiola on the challenge Sporting provide. "Winning the league for the first time in 20 years and then doing it again last season shows what a good job he has done."Bernardo Silva scored twice in City's 5-0 win over Sporting two years ago on his return to Lisbon, where he began his career at Benfica. He urged City not to make excuses despite their injury woes."With a full squad, we are stronger, there's no denying that. We have a lot of unbelievable players missing," said Silva. "We have not been able to count on Kevin for six weeks. Rodri is out for the season and other players out shorter times. But we never find excuses. This club was never about that."Both sides are unbeaten in the new Champions League format with seven points from their opening three matches.

Arsenal's sporting director, Edu Gaspar, has resigned after three years at the club. The Brazilian, who played for the Gunners from 2001 to 2005, returned to the club in 2019 as technical director before being promoted to sporting director in 2022.During his tenure, Edu played a key role in Arsenal's resurgence under manager Mikel Arteta. He oversaw the signings of several key players, including Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Thomas Partey, who have helped transform the team into Premier League title contenders.Edu's departure comes as a surprise, as he was widely seen as a key figure in Arsenal's long-term plans. However, the club has stated that it respects his decision and will begin the search for a replacement immediately.In a statement, Edu said: "This was an incredibly hard decision to make. Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club's history. ... Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best."Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke said: "We respect Edu's decision and thank him for his immense contribution and dedication to drive the club forward."Kroenke added: "Change and evolution is a part of our club. We remain focused on our strategy and winning major trophies. Our succession plan will reflect this continued ambition."Edu's departure is a significant blow to Arsenal, but the club will be confident that they can find a suitable replacement who can continue the progress that has been made in recent years.

Lazio's relentless pursuit of Serie A's top four continued with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari on Monday. The match at the Stadio Olimpico witnessed a dramatic turn of events, with Cagliari finishing the game with nine men.Mattia Zaccagni emerged as the hero for Lazio, converting a crucial penalty in the 76th minute. His goal propelled Lazio to fifth place, just a goal difference away from the coveted Champions League positions. The victory marked Lazio's eighth win in nine matches across all competitions, putting them within striking distance of league leaders Napoli.Cagliari's hopes of an upset were initially boosted by Zito Luvumbo's equalizer just before halftime, canceling out Boulaye Dia's early opener for Lazio. However, their fortunes took a nosedive after Zaccagni's penalty.Yerry Mina's second yellow card for a seemingly innocuous foul on Valentin Castellanos sparked a chain reaction. Michel Adopo's furious protests earned him a second booking and a red card, leaving Cagliari with only nine players on the field.Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli made his long-awaited Serie A return for Genoa, who secured a vital 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Parma. Andrea Pinamonti's goal with 10 minutes remaining proved decisive, lifting Genoa out of the relegation zone.Balotelli, now 34, made his first Serie A appearance in four years as a late substitute. Despite limited playing time, he managed to pick up a yellow card in stoppage time. Genoa now sits one point above the drop zone, level with Parma, Cagliari, and Como.

Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal maintained their perfect start to the AFC Champions League Elite with a 3-0 victory over Iran's Esteghlal on Monday, thanks to a hat-trick from Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serbian striker scored twice in the first half to give Al Hilal a comfortable lead, before completing his treble in the second half.Brazil's Neymar made his second appearance in two weeks for Al Hilal, coming on as a second-half substitute. However, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star appeared to suffer a thigh injury and was replaced after just 28 minutes.Al Ahli, another Saudi Arabian side, also secured a victory on Monday, defeating Al Shorta of Iraq 5-1. Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice for Al Ahli, while Feras Al Buraikan added another.Elsewhere in the AFC Champions League Elite, UAE's Al Wasl were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Al Sadd of Qatar, while Iran's Persepolis and Qatar's Al Gharafa played out the same scoreline in Dubai.Al Hilal now top the standings for West Asia with four wins from four, while Al Ahli are second with 12 points from a possible 12.

Neymar, the Brazilian football superstar, suffered another injury setback on Monday during his second game back from a year-long absence. The incident occurred in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Neymar's Al-Hilal faced Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League Elite.Neymar, who recently recovered from a torn ACL, came off the bench after 58 minutes. However, the 32-year-old forward was forced to leave the field with three minutes remaining after appearing to pull up after stretching his leg out for the ball in the penalty area.Despite the injury, Neymar has time to recover before his next game, as he is not registered for Al-Hilal's matches in the Saudi Pro League. The next fixture in the AFC competition is scheduled for November 25.Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Serbian striker, stole the show for Al-Hilal, scoring a hat trick to lead the four-time Asian champion to a 3-0 victory. Mitrovic's goals came from close range, with the first coming after 15 minutes, the second just after the half-hour mark, and the third with 16 minutes remaining.Al-Hilal remains top of the 12-team group, with the top eight teams advancing to the Round of 16. They are ahead of Saudi Arabian rival Al-Ahli on goal difference after Al-Ahli thrashed Al-Shorta of Iraq 5-1, with former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino scoring twice in the first half.In other AFC Champions League matches, Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates drew 1-1 with Qatar's Al-Sadd, while the game between Persepolis of Iran and Al-Gharafa of Qatar ended in the same scoreline.

Chennaiyin FC unleashed a goal-scoring onslaught to secure a resounding 5-1 victory over Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League on Monday. The Marina Machans dominated the match from the outset, showcasing their attacking prowess with five different players finding the back of the net.Irfan Yadwad opened the scoring for Chennaiyin in the sixth minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Jamshedpur. The youngster doubled the lead in the 22nd minute with a stunning solo effort, leaving the Jamshedpur defense in his wake. Connor Shields added to the tally two minutes later, hammering home a left-footed strike after a clever one-two with Yadwad.Chennaiyin continued their relentless attack in the second half. Wilmar Jordan Gil extended their lead in the 54th minute, pouncing on a loose ball and slotting it past Albino Gomes. Lukas Brambilla sealed the victory in the 71st minute with a curling effort that left Gomes stranded.Jamshedpur managed a consolation goal in the 81st minute through Javi Hernandez, who converted a penalty after Yadwad handled the ball in the area. However, it was a mere footnote in an otherwise dominant performance by Chennaiyin.The victory marked Chennaiyin's third of the season, moving them up to sixth place in the standings. Jamshedpur, on the other hand, remained in 10th place with just one win from their first five matches.

Son Heung-min's inclusion in the South Korean squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers has sparked concerns over his fitness, with coach Hong Myung-bo vowing to prioritize the Tottenham Hotspur star's health.Son missed several weeks of action with a hamstring injury and was substituted off in Tottenham's recent 4-1 victory over Aston Villa as a precautionary measure. Despite his return to action, Hong emphasized the need to manage Son's playing time carefully."We will monitor his playing time in the next two matches for Spurs and use that information to prepare for the November games," Hong said. "It's not appropriate to push him too hard on the national team just because he's back for his club."Hong acknowledged Son's desire to represent his country but stressed the importance of protecting his well-being. "I understand he wants to play for the national team, but our priority is his health," Hong added.South Korea currently leads their group in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, with three wins and a draw. Son's inclusion in the squad for the upcoming matches against Kuwait and Palestine is a testament to his importance to the team.However, Hong's cautious approach suggests that Son's playing time may be limited in these qualifiers. The coach's decision is likely influenced by the fact that Son has a history of hamstring injuries and is approaching the latter stages of his career.By managing Son's workload, Hong aims to ensure that the forward remains fit and available for both Tottenham and South Korea in the long run.

Australian Rules Umpire Suspended for Osama bin Laden CostumeAn Australian Rules umpire has been suspended for dressing up as Osama bin Laden at an end-of-season function, sparking outrage and condemnation. Leigh Haussen will miss the first round of the 2025 season as punishment for his insensitive and offensive costume choice.The incident occurred at a private room in a restaurant in September, where the theme of the function was "characters from the 2000s." Haussen arrived at the venue in his costume, complete with a mask, which he removed shortly after.The Australian Football League (AFL) swiftly condemned Haussen's actions, stating that his costume was "completely unacceptable" and "offensive to the victims and families of the September 11 terrorist attacks." The league also emphasized that Haussen's behavior violated its code of conduct.Haussen has since apologized for his actions, expressing regret for his poor judgment. "I never intended to offend anyone," he said in a statement. "I made a mistake and I am deeply sorry."AFL umpires' boss Stephen McBurney acknowledged Haussen's apology but stressed that his actions were unacceptable. "Leigh understands the inappropriate nature of his costume," McBurney said. "He has reflected on that choice and understands that it was a poor decision."Haussen's suspension comes amidst a wider crackdown on inappropriate behavior at AFL functions. Last month, six Greater Western Sydney players were banned for periods of up to four matches and seven others fined for their participation in a "controversial couples" themed event.The AFL has made it clear that it will not tolerate offensive or insensitive behavior from its players or officials. The league's code of conduct requires all participants to act with respect and integrity, both on and off the field.