Dominant Flamengo beat Esperance 2-0 at Club World Cup
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group D - Flamengo v Esperance Sportive de Tunis - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 16, 2025 Esperance Sportive de Tunis' Youcef Belaili shoots at goal IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Kyle Ross REUTERS
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group D - Flamengo v Esperance Sportive de Tunis - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 16, 2025 Flamengo's Bruno Henrique in action with Esperance Sportive de Tunis' Mohamed Amine Tougai IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Kyle Ross REUTERS
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group D - Flamengo v Esperance Sportive de Tunis - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 16, 2025 Flamengo's Luiz Araujo scores their second goal past Esperance Sportive de Tunis' Ben Said REUTERS/Lee Smith
PHILADELPHIA - Flamengo began their Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis in their Group D opener in Philadelphia on Monday thanks to goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Luiz Araujo.
The Brazilian side dominated from start to finish on a chilly evening at a half-empty Lincoln Financial Field, with Esperance managing only two attempts on goal.
Flamengo opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Guillermo Varela surged down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross to Luiz Araujo, who cushioned the ball into the path of Arrascaeta to fire home.
Esperance struggled to get a foothold on the match, with Flamengo enjoying 80% possession, but they enjoyed their best moments after the break with Youcef Belaili providing a rare spark.
After curling a shot narrowly wide in the 63rd minute, Belaili forced Flamengo goalkeeper Augustin Rossi into a sharp save with a close-range effort five minutes later.
However, Flamengo quickly reasserted control to silence the lively Tunisian support behind the south goal and in the 70th minute they doubled their lead through Araujo.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho played an incisive through ball for Araujo to break the offside trap and after cutting inside he curled a precise left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
The win puts Flamengo level on points with Chelsea at the top of Group D, after the London club also secured a 2-0 victory over LAFC earlier in the day.
Flamengo and Chelsea meet on Friday in a match likely to determine the group winner. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
All Blacks Tuipulotu, Lienert-Brown out of second Argentina test
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox New Zealand lock Patrick Tuipulotu and centre Anton Lienert-Brown have been ruled out of the second test against Argentina after suffering head knocks in the opener in Cordoba, coach Scott Robertson confirmed on Tuesday. Tuipulotu was taken to hospital and failed a head impact assessment after the All Blacks' 41-24 win last Saturday while Lienert-Brown had a late head-on-head clash with Santiago Chocobares which earned the New Zealander a yellow card. Robertson's squad has cover in both positions, with Josh Lord a potential replacement at lock and former Fiji under-20 player Timoci Tavatavanawai a midfield option. Robertson said loose forward Wallace Sititi and prop Tamaiti Williams should be available for selection for Saturday's second test in Buenos Aires after missing the Cordoba opener and the entire France series due to leg injuries. With a few uncapped players in the squad including halfback Kyle Preston and flanker Simon Parker, Robertson suggested changes were on the table to build depth. "We have got, obviously, a few big tests in a row and we haven't played for a month," Robertson said. "Some guys need football and they need to play together to get high cohesion ... And you need to give guys opportunities to build depth for now and this rugby cycle." REUTERS
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Evergreen Monfils to defend Auckland title in 2026
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Jul 27, 2025; Toronto, ON, Canada; Gael Monfils (FRA) hits a ball to Tomas Barrios Vera (not pictured) in first round play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images/ File Photo The ageless Gael Monfils will return to the Auckland Classic in January to defend his title, a year after becoming the oldest player to win an ATP Tour crown. The flamboyant Frenchman, who turns 39 next month, beat Belgian Zizou Bergs in the 2025 final, making him the oldest player to win a tour-level title since Ken Rosewall triumphed in Hong Kong aged 43 in 1977. Monfils, a 13-time ATP champion and former world number six, is the first player confirmed for the 2026 tournament, organisers said on Tuesday. "I love the game. I love to compete," Monfils said in a statement. "This title means a lot to me. It was definitely a week I will not forget." The tennis showman remains a huge crowd drawcard, capable of pulling off big wins in his inimitable style. Monfils dumped fourth seed Taylor Fritz on a run to the fourth round of the Australian Open in January. REUTERS
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Swiatek downs Paolini to claim first Cincinnati Open title
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Aug 18, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) kisses the Rookwood Cup after defeating Jasmine Paolini (ITA) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Iga Swiatek captured her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-4, with the Pole third seed sending a powerful message ahead of the U.S. Open. The six-times Grand Slam winner did not drop a set on her way to the title and was clinical in the final, converting all six of her break points to secure her 11th WTA 1000 crown and first since last year's Italian Open. The win also ensures Wimbledon champion Swiatek will climb back to world number two, securing the second seed for the final major of the year at Flushing Meadows, where singles action begins on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz claimed the men's title after top seed Jannik Sinner retired in the first set. REUTERS
