Indiana Fever waive DeWanna Bonner, re-sign Aari McDonald
As the Club World Cup nears knockout rounds, South American fans, particularly Boca Juniors and Palmeiras supporters, have electrified venues like Miami's Hard Rock Stadium with their passionate displays. Their fervor has garnered admiration from European coaches, highlighting a cultural shift in soccer fandom. Upcoming matches, especially the Palmeiras vs. Botafogo rivalry, promise intense competition and excitement.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F
A 36th-minute goal from Daniel Svensson was all Borussia Dortmund needed to put away winless Ulsan HD in a 1-0 Group F win in Cincinnati on Wednesday. HT Image With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup's round of 16 in Atlanta with an opponent that has yet to be determined. Fluminsense, which could have won the group with a victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, also moves on to the knockouts as the group's No. 2 seed. While the score indicates a close match, Dortmund dominated the pitch, putting 11 shots on goal among their 28 overall attempts. Compare that with Ulsan's three shot attempts, all on goal and all occurring within a 16-minute period in the second half. Dortmund put the pressure on early and often to open the match, ripping off 20 shots -- eight on goal -- in the first half. While Ulsan didn't even get a shot off during the first 45 minutes plus stoppage time, goalkeeper Jo Hyeon- woo continued to deny Dortmund with seven saves. That included a seven-minute stretch midway through the first half during which BVB put four shots on goal, only for Hyeon-woo to turn away each attempt. Dortmund did not relent, however, and it paid off in the 36th minute as Svensson collected a touch pass from Jobe Bellingham in the box and put a left-footed shot past the keeper to put BVB in front 1-0. Both Serhou Guirassy and Bellingham had prime chances to add to that advantage in the closing minutes of the half. Again, though, Hyeon-woo stood his ground to keep Dortmund from extending its lead. Ulsan strung together their first strong chances at goal early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Kang Sang-Woo's attempt from the right side of the box was saved by BVB's Gregor Kobel. The goalkeeper was tested again in the 60th and 64th minutes as Kobel saved left-footed blasts by Lee Jin-Hyun and Ko Seung-Beom, respectively, to maintain the one-goal edge. That was all that Ulsan (0-3-0, 0 points) could muster, however, as the South Korean side wrapped up Club World Cup play last in Group F. Hyeon-woo finished the day with 10 saves. --Field Level Media
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Pro League run a wake-up call for Indian hockey
CHENNAI: The men's team lost seven on the bounce. Coach Craig Fulton dropped the 'f' (the one that rhymes with duck) bomb on live TV ("we are not here to ducking lose..."). Senior pros made mistakes which wouldn't have been out of place in school hockey. One senior, Lalit Upadhyay, announced his retirement. When they left for the European leg of the Pro League, the team had one agenda. Securing the World Cup berth on offer. When the dust settled, they finished ninth, just one spot above Ireland and relegation. It's kind of fair to say their best laid plans didn't come to fruition. But there's two ways of looking at the last month or so they have had in Europe. The simplistic, more rudimentary way of looking at things is this. In an earlier era, losing seven on the bounce would have led to instant hand-wringing, doubts about the coach's position, why the men's team don't deserve patience... you get the drift. These days? There's more understanding as people have come to realise the context behind these games. Sure, all matches, especially against high-quality opponents, are important. They give an insight into the current standing of the side. Within the context of this being a World Cup qualifier, they did lose an opportunity to seal a place but they are prohibitive favourites to win the Asia Cup in India in September. The team did have similar results against Australia before last year's Olympics but that didn't prevent them from medalling in Paris. However, the other way of looking at these losses is slightly more concerning. For one, India will suffer in terms of ranking points. It could lead to problems when it comes to the World Cup draw ahead of next year's showpiece. Ranked inside the top-five for so long, the latest batch of results have seen them drop to No. 8 in the standings. You can't even use the excuse of mixing and matching because this was a near full-strength Indian squad with not a lot of developmental players (a few of them are currently in the junior set-up ahead of this year's age-group World Cup in Tamil Nadu). The management wanted to take a lot of seniors because their stated aim was to seal the World Cup place. With two events in the next 16 months (World Cup and the Asian Games), results like these act as a wake-up call. In hindsight, mixing and matching would have been better as the inexperienced players may have got the taste of big-time hockey a few months before the junior World Cup. The performances themselves weren't all that bad but some of India's best games under the South African have come when they have either kept a clean sheet or won by the odd goal in three. Across eight games in Europe, the Men in Blue conceded 26 times. That's not ideal for a coach who keeps talking about the importance of defending as a unit. It's something to keep an eye on as the team management and the selectors identify the players capable of delivering at the World Cup next year. One year out from the quadrennial event, the Indian team had the chance to build good memories in the venues hosting it. Now, they won't have that. Threat of relegation If the issues surrounding the men's team can be worked with, the women's team's problems seem to have compounded. They have lost five out of six (drawn one) and may well be relegated from the Pro League. If they finish bottom — they have two games remaining against fourth-placed China — they will find themselves in the Nations Cup, the second tier of world hockey, in 2026. That is not what Hockey India had in mind when Harendra Singh was brought on board. It's fair to say that things have not worked out. Singh got his dragflickers to work with a specialist before the European leg began. However, that work hasn't translated to tangible results on the field (Singh had spoken about getting the importance of bio-mechanics with reference to dragflickers during the Indian leg of the event in February). They have struggled in both ends, as they have not converted enough attacking chances nor have they been solid at the back. The Asia Cup in Hangzhou in September will be a World Cup qualifier but China are favourites for that. If the women don't win that, they will have to emerge from the World Cup qualifiers in early 2026. Pakistan may feature at Asia Cup It's learned that the neighbours may travel to India for the men's Asia Cup in August-September (while the hockey teams generally travel to India, there are doubts post Pahalgam). It's learned that stakeholders have impressed upon the government, at least informally, the importance of allowing Pakistan to these events on the backdrop of the country wanting to host events like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics in the next decade or so.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Benfica beats Bayern Munich in scorching heat to win Group C
Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 13th minute to give Benfica a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in scorching heat on Tuesday, sending the Portuguese club to the top of Group C in the Club World Cup . The loss dropped Bayern Munich to second place as Boca Juniors was eliminated. The game was played in a 97 degree temperature (36 Celsius). Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was attended by the medical staff in the 25th minute due to heat-related issues and was replaced in the 55th. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo Schjelderup ran onto a cross from Fredrik Aursnes and scored with a right-footed shot from near the penalty spot. Bayern's Joshua Kimmich put the ball in the net in the 61st minute but the goal was disallowed because Harry Kane was in an offside position in the line of sight of goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Live Events Bayern lost its first match loss of the tournament as it struggled to find a rhythm ahead of the knockout stages later this week, despite a late attacking effort including a disallowed goal. Key momentSchjelderup's early goal changed the dynamic. Though insufficient, Bayern made an attacking effort that fell short against Benfica's organized defense, leaving the German champions unable to find an equalizer despite increased pressure in the second half. Key statBayern started only four of players from the starting lineup in Friday's win over Boca Juniors and introduced all five substitutes at the start of the second half: Kane, Kimmich, Konrad Laimer, Michael Olise and Jonathan Tah. What they said"Opponents play tough .... In the end when the goalkeeper is the man of the match, then you did not do everything wrong." - Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich. "It's an important victory. We played a great game, especially in the first half. In the second half, it was obviously more difficult but we knew how to suffer." - Nedim Bajrami of Benfica.
