Espérance claims first Arab victory, Bayern Munich secures FIFA Club World Cup qualification
Yousef Belaili scored in the 70th minute, and Espérance Sportive de Tunis beat LAFC 1-0 Friday night in the FIFA Club World Cup to remain in contention to advance and eliminate the California MLS team.
LAFC had one final chance to tie it in the 99th minute on Dénis Bouanaga's right-footed shot off a penalty kick just in front, but goalkeeper Béchir Ben Säid smothered it.
After a back-and-forth pace, Belaili came through with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner through goalkeeper Hugo Lloris' legs.
In another match in the same round, Bayern Munich came away with a strong performance against Boca Juniors, the famous and historic Argentine club, 2-1, in the FIFA Club World Cup. This means that Bayern has qualified for the Round of 16, and that it is the first club to successfully defeat a South American club in the competition.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi clubs gear up for Pro League season
14 Aug 2025 00:39 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)As the countdown goes down to the start of the ADNOC Pro League's new season, clubs are burning the midnight oil to pick up players even though the transfer window remains open until October clubs are trying to get their new signings into the country as early as possible while the season's opening fixtures are set to unfold on Saturday and Sunday, marking the 18th staging of the league in its professional season's launch was preceded by a formal draw event held at ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by dignitaries, including Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC CEO, as well as Abdulla Al Jneibi, Chairman of the UAE Pro League and First Vice President of the UAE Football the draw introduced a novel AI-driven schedule mechanism, designed to distribute high-profile matches evenly across rounds, avoid clustering matches within the same city, and respect clubs' continental commitments. The first round has ensured easy match-ups for the top-table clubs from last year's standings, thus expecting a flying first round will feature the following pairings: Shabab Al Ahli vs Al Dhafra; Dibba vs Sharjah; Al Ain vs Al Bataeh; Ittihad Kalba vs Al Nasr; Ajman vs Al Wahda; Khor Fakkan vs Al Jazira; and Al Wasl vs Bani clubs based out of the Abu Dhabi emirate, Al Jazira have bolstered their squad by securing Brazilian defender Willyan Rocha from CSKA Moscow in their latest addition. He joins the 'Pride of Abu Dhabi' club, comprising foreign players such as Egyptians Ibrahim Adel and Mohamed Elneny, French playmaker Nabil Fekir, and the Argentine forward Roman Merez. Rocha's arrival underscores Al Jazira's ambition to enhance defensive depth while maintaining creative midfield and attacking Ain will commence the season against newly promoted Al Bataeh. The leading club from Al Ain Region strengthened their squad in June by recruiting Houssine Rahimi on a four-year contract; the midfielder comes from Raja Casablanca and joins his brother, Soufiane, at the Wahda, another prominent Abu Dhabi-based side, will face Ajman in the opening Yas executed a flurry of transfer activity in recent days, adding several foreigners to their roster. They signed Brazilian midfielder Kaiki Pereira (25), previously with Botafogo and Spartak Subotica; UAE international Mackenzie Hunt (23), from Fleetwood Town in England; and Tunisian playmaker Oussama Abeid (23), from Étoile du Sahel. The club complemented these with other signings and who were presented in front of iconic local backdrops. Uzbek player Akmal Muzgovoi was announced via visuals at Yas Marina Circuit, Mali's Mahamadou Camara was introduced through heritage-themed content, and Ivorian striker Ismaël Touré was revealed using footage from Zayed International Bataeh, meanwhile, signed Guinean midfielder Omar Keita, 22, on loan from Shabab Al Ahli. Al Dhafra have added Moroccan striker Karim El Berkaoui, 30, on a free transfer for one season. Among the Dubai clubs, Al Wasl have unveiled their marquee acquisition, Sergio Pereira Andrade or Serginho, from Cape Verde. He joins from the Danish club Viborg. The signing for the club, nicknamed Emperors, was publicised through a creative video produced at the Jebel Ali racecourse – colloquially called the 'Yellow Track.' The distribution of matchups through the AI-based draw system aims to set an even competitive tone in the initial rounds. Clubs will aim to deploy their enhanced rosters effectively in order to commence the season with results that reflect their aspirations.
Sport360
3 days ago
- Sport360
Take control with Skechers SKX_2 football boot launching across the GCC
Skechers Football returns to the pitch with the next generation of its signature boot – the Skechers SKX_2. The boot features an evolved design to help players take control of the ball and control of the game. Fans around the world got a preview of the SKX_2 when Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane wore the white and turquoise boot on the main stage at the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals in the United States. The SKX_2 drops today across the GCC region as part of the new Skechers Football CTRL^ pack that celebrates the comfort of a good first touch. 'It's the best feeling when you get that touch where everything comes together perfectly and you're just in the zone with total control focused on the goal – and Skechers gets me there,' said Kane. 'The SKX_01 is a brilliant first boot for Skechers. 'With the SKX_2, you can feel the evolution—it's quicker, sharper, and even better tuned for my game.' 'As we enter our third season in football, we continue to innovate, evolve and improve our offering so Harry Kane and all athletes can perform at their best,' said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. 'From the elite pros to the young academy players, we've listened to their feedback when designing the SKX_2; it carries over what they love about the original with incremental precision-engineered advancements to deliver comfort that performs when you need it most.' Skechers Football offers a complete range of styles with options for every type of player and surface including the new white and turquoise CTRL^ pack. The new SKX_2 Elite is designed for players who require precise strike control with a custom last meticulously crafted to optimize comfort and deliver a perfect fit for enhancing touch on the pitch. It features a resilient Hyper Burst Pro® sockliner, lightweight Skechers Fitknit upper, and a multi-directional outsole for incredible traction over multiple surfaces. The Skechers Razor 1.5 Elite is a lightweight speed boot with an explosive track-inspired design to maximize acceleration and energy return. It features a carbon-infused soleplate for responsive power and agility during play. The global launch campaign for the SKX_2 and CTRL^ pack will feature Harry Kane and a roster of Skechers pros including winger Barış Alper Yılmaz from the Turkey National Team, West Ham United and Ghana National Team winger Mohammed Kudus, Real Betis and Spanish National Team midfielder Isco Alarcón, AS Roma and Italian National Team midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, AFC Bournemouth and Colombia National Team winger Luis Sinisterra, and Brighton & Hove Albion and Danish National Team midfielder Matt O'Riley. Beyond football, Skechers also offers performance footwear for elite and casual athletes in basketball, golf, cricket, pickleball, padel and running. The new Skechers SKX_2 boot and the full Skechers Football collection is available at select Skechers stores across the region. Football fans can get behind-the-scenes access to Skechers Football product launches and more by following @skechersconnect on Instagram and TikTok.
Khaleej Times
07-08-2025
- Khaleej Times
MLS expects Korean wave after 'global icon' Son joins LAFC
South Korea star Son Heung-min said he was "here to win" on Wednesday as Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC welcomed the arrival of the "global icon" from Tottenham. The 33-year-old will reportedly cost an MLS record $26 million transfer fee, according to ESPN and The Athletic, after a decade in the Premier League where he became a household name. "I'm here to win, and I will perform," he said at an introductory press conference at BMO Stadium that was packed with US and South Korean media, fans and luminaries, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. He was already itching to get to work with his new teammates, after watching them beat Mexican club Tigres UANL 2-1 in a Leagues Cup match on Tuesday night amid rabid support from fans energized by rumors of his signing. "It was just, like, insane," he said. "I just wanted to run onto the pitch and show my performance." An emotional Son announced on Saturday in his homeland that he would be leaving Spurs, just months after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League as captain. He leaves as Tottenham's fifth-highest goalscorer of all-time with 173 goals in 454 appearances. "Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football,' said LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington. "We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career." Son said it was Thorrington who sold him on LAFC. "If I'm honest, it was not my first choice," he said. "But first call, when I talked to John after the season finished, he just changed my mind. He changed my heart. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be." Son said that in departing Tottenham after a decade in which he "gave it all" he felt like he needed "a new chapter... a new challenge". Thorrington declined to discuss the reported terms of the deal, which would surpass the $22 million Atlanta United FC spent in February to acquire the rights to forward Emmanuel Latte Lath. But he said he'd had his eye on Son for years, believing his mix of charisma and humility are "what we aspire to be." In addition to Son's prowess on the pitch, LAFC can also expect him to be a massive draw among Los Angeles's large community of Koreans and Korean-Americans. His imminent arrival drew crowds on Tuesday to Los Angeles International Airport with fans waving South Korean flags and messages of support. "He means a lot to me, just what he's been able to achieve," said Justin Huh, a 26-year-old Korean-American software developer who lives in LA's bustling Koreatown. "Now that someone who is Korean like me is here, and he's going to have a cultural impact, I just want to be part of that wave," added Huh, who has already bought match tickets to watch Son. Huh thinks Son can have the same kind of impact that the Dodgers' Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani has had in baseball. Josh Lee, co-president of the Tigers Supporters Group based in Koreatown, said Son is a player for all fans to cherish. "Son's arrival here is not only big for Korean people," Lee said. "Koreatown is for everyone so Son is for everyone. "He's one of the important players in the world," said Lee, adding that the group's social media following was increasing and membership was rising already. Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham. "He's back to my captain so I have to say something nice about him because otherwise in the locker room he's gonna kill me," Son quipped of Lloris, adding that he was delighted to be reuniting with a teammate he called an amazing player and an amazing human being. He said speaking with Lloris also helped him make up his mind about the move, which coincidentally will allow him to familiarize himself with life in the United States as South Korea prepares to compete in the 2026 World Cup hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada. Son looked relaxed as he met the press wearing understated grey and black, and after taking questions posed for pictures with his new black and gold number seven LAFC jersey. Los Angeles are currently sixth in the MLS Western Conference standings, 10 points behind leaders San Diego but with three games in hand.
