Latest news with #JohnSibley
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Semenyo double ensures strong finish for Bournemouth
Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - May 25, 2025 Leicester City's Jakub Stolarczyk in action Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - May 25, 2025 Leicester City's Jeremy Monga in action with AFC Bournemouth's Adam Smith Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS BOURNEMOUTH, England - Bournemouth secured ninth place in the Premier League, matching their previous best campaign, as Antoine Semenyo grabbed a double for a 2-0 home win over already relegated Leicester City on Sunday. But Bournemouth fell short of a place in European club competition as they recorded only a third win in their last 13 league games to match their ninth-place finish in 2017. Semenyo finished from close range after a short corner in the 74th minute was headed into a busy small box by Illia Zabarnyi. He followed that up with the second two minutes from time with a drive from outside the penalty area. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bordeaux driven to glory by pain of French final drubbing
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles fans react in the stands before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS CARDIFF - When the Bordeaux-Begles players and staff trooped off the pitch having been crushed 59-3 by Toulouse in last year's Top 14 final, they vowed to return better and stronger this year and on Saturday, match-hardened, they finally tasted glory. Founded via a merger of clubs in 2006 and promoted to the Top 14 in 2011 they lifted their first major trophy in impressive style when they snuffed out the previously potent threat of Northampton to win the European Champions Cup with a 28-20 victory in Cardiff's Principality Stadium. Revenge against Toulouse had come in the semi-finals but it was not so much the sparkling backline attacking play they showed there that made the difference on Saturday as their forward power and defensive intensity that blunted a Northampton backline full of England internationals. Damian Penaud did score two tries to take his season's tally in the competition to 14 - earning him the player of the year award - but Bordeaux's relentless driving mauls and straight running sucked the energy out of a Northampton side who drained the tanks in trying to keep them at bay. Conductor-in-chief was scrumhalf and captain Maxime Lucu, who also took over the goal-kicking duties after some wobbles by Matthieu Jalibert. His penalty broke the 20-20 halftime deadlock and Bordeaux sealed the deal - the fifth title in a row for France - with Cyril Cazeaux's try. "It feels good to have this first trophy, it wasn't easy," said Lucu after being named man of the match. "We had some very tough moments, but we hung in there. "Honestly, it feels great - for the club, for the team, for the supporters. After defeat last year (in the Top 14 final) to come back this year, eliminate almost every team that had won this competition, and earn our first star, it's wonderful.' Penaud also referenced the Top 14 final defeat as motivation. "After last year's setback we said to ourselves that we never wanted to go through that again because we had taken a lesson," he said. "Maybe we had that extra bit of spirit tonight." Coach Yannick Bru was singing from the same hymn sheet. "We're really proud of them because last season ended in a nightmare," he said. "We felt the pressure of that first trophy coming on and we didn't want it to slip through our fingers." Saturday's victory meant that Bordeaux accounted for six former European champions in this season's run, with Northampton, winners in 2000, the last to fall. The English team showed remarkable spirit and fight but injuries, yellow cards and mistakes at key moments conspired against them as they struggled to build a consistent threat. "Bordeaux are deserved champions but we went toe-to-toe and I can't fault my side," said Northampton's director of rugby Phil Dowson, who played in the 2011 final defeat when Saints led Leinster 22-6 at halftime but lost 33-22. "The injuries were frustrating but the guys who came on were outstanding. It is difficult to see now but we must not lose the journey we went on to get here and we will celebrate that." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Arsenal seek to defy the odds against mighty Barcelona
Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Final - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - May 23, 2025 Arsenal manager Renee Slegers during training Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley LISBON (Reuters) - Arsenal will bid to defy the odds against Barcelona in Saturday's women's Champions League final in Lisbon, aiming to secure their second title with courage and underrated defiance. Manager Renee Slegers believes her disciplined side can triumph over the Catalan giants of women's football, who are the strong favourites to win their fourth European title. "We want to show courage tomorrow. We respect Barca as a team. They are a really good football team, so we are humble, but we are here to win," she told reporters on Friday. "We have to find ways to win, and I am confident that the momentum of the game will shift. It's important that we deal with every moment really well. We need courage and discipline, and we need to be switched on. If we do all those things well, we can perform well. We believe in our ability tomorrow." Arsenal forward Alessia Russo echoed Slegers' sentiments. "We want to show courage tomorrow. We respect Barca as a team," she said. "They are a really good football team, but we are here to win. We have to find ways to win, and I am confident that, if we handle all situations well and stay focused, we can perform well. "Belief is something we have spoken about a lot as a team this season. We have found lots of different ways to win. It's been a season full of highs and lows, but we've learnt a lot," the former Chelsea and Manchester United striker added. Veteran midfielder Kim Little, who played in the 2007 final victory against Sweden's Umea, looked back in time when asked about Arsenal's first meeting with Barca in Europe's top club competition during the 2012–13 season, when the London team won 7–0 on aggregate. "It's incredible for me to still be at the club. We came out on top," Little said. "After 2007 and everything the club has achieved since then, leading the team on this occasion is so special." (Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City, editing by Ed Osmond)
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Arsenal relief as Rice secures narrow win over Newcastle
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2025 Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly in action with Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2025 Newcastle United's Dan Burn and Harvey Barnes in action with Arsenal's Jakub Kiwior and Declan Rice Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2025 Arsenal's Declan Rice scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley REUTERS LONDON - Arsenal snapped a season-long jinx against Newcastle United with a nervy 1-0 win in their last Premier League home game on Sunday all but securing runners-up spot and a place in next season's Champions League. Three defeats against Eddie Howe's side during the campaign could easily have become four had the visitors converted a flurry of early chances, but Declan Rice calmed the nerves. Rice punished Newcastle for their first-half profligacy when he connected sweetly with Martin Odegaard's pass to rifle a curling effort past Nick Pope in the 55th minute. Arsenal, winless in their last three league games, were indebted to keeper David Raya in the first half as he made saves from Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn as the visitors dominated. Whatever was said at halftime appeared to wake them from their lethargy though and with an away game to finish at bottom club Southampton next weekend a third successive second-placed finish looks guaranteed, albeit this time a distant one. Arsenal have 71 points from 37 games and only sixth-placed Manchester City, who have two games remaining, can match that. Newcastle remain in third place with 66 points but only one point separates them from seventh-placed Nottingham Forest as the battle for the other three Champions League spots will go down to the wire next Sunday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Arsenal relief as Rice secures narrow win over Newcastle
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2025 Arsenal's Declan Rice scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley LONDON (Reuters) -Arsenal snapped a season-long jinx against Newcastle United with a nervy 1-0 win in their last Premier League home game on Sunday all but securing runners-up spot and a place in next season's Champions League. Three defeats against Eddie Howe's side during the campaign could easily have become four had the visitors converted a flurry of early chances, but Declan Rice calmed the nerves. Rice punished Newcastle for their first-half profligacy when he connected sweetly with Martin Odegaard's pass to rifle a curling effort past Nick Pope in the 55th minute. Arsenal, winless in their last three league games, were indebted to keeper David Raya in the first half as he made saves from Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn as the visitors dominated. Whatever was said at halftime appeared to wake them from their lethargy though and with an away game to finish at bottom club Southampton next weekend a third successive second-placed finish looks guaranteed, albeit this time a distant one. Arsenal have 71 points from 37 games and only sixth-placed Manchester City, who have two games remaining, can match that. Newcastle remain in third place with 66 points but only one point separates them from seventh-placed Nottingham Forest as the battle for the other three Champions League spots will go down to the wire next Sunday. (Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Toby Davis)
