Latest news with #SSFootball
TimesLIVE
23-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
England goal star Kelly grateful for Euro semi heroics after rocky club season
After Chloe Kelly smashed in her own rebound that lifted England into the Euro 2025 final, she struck a casual pose at the corner flag, one hand on the flag, another on her hip, and smiled up at the England fans. Kelly's 119th-minute winner was the punctuation mark on a nervy come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Italy that sends the reigning champions into their third consecutive final of a major tournament. They will play either world champions Spain or Germany on Sunday. Asked where she gets her confidence, Kelly said: 'Myself.' 'The moments when in January I felt like giving up football makes you so grateful for these moments here today, and this makes you enjoy every minute of that,' said Kelly, who did her trademark prancing penalty run-up. Chloe Kelly doesn't miss 😤🏴 England confirm their place in the #WomensEuros2025 ⚽ #SSFootball | #HereForHer — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 22, 2025 'I think confidence comes from within, but from around you as well. The players that we stand side by side with on the pitch, give confidence in each other.' Back in January, there were doubts the 27-year-old would be in the Euros squad because she was barely playing for Manchester City. She made a public plea to leave City to secure more playing time and improve her odds. Kelly's plea worked as she spent the rest of the season on a successful loan spell with Arsenal, and then signed a permanent deal with the London club. Sunday's final will be the fifth in a major tournament for coach Sarina Wiegman, who said the night felt like a 'movie' with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang striking the equaliser in the 96th minute to send the game into extra time. 'It was a little bit dramatic. At the 88th minute, I thought 'We have to score now or we have a problem,'' Wiegman said, laughing. Wiegman heaped praise on Agyemang, who almost scored again with an effort deep into the second half of extra time, but clanged her shot off the crossbar. Michelle Agyemang forces England and Italy into extra time 🤯🏴🇮🇹 📺 Stream #WomensEuros2024 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 22, 2025 'She's only 19 years old and she's very mature, she knows exactly what she needs to do,' Wiegman said. 'When you came into our team late, right before the Euro but she's really mature already and brings something different, and that's what she showed today. 'That ball she hit against the crossbar — it was spectacular.' The one negative on the night was Lauren James limping off with an ankle injury to end the first half. Wiegman said James, who sat on the bench with a bag of ice on the ankle, will be reassessed on Wednesday. Kelly fired home the rebound from her own penalty to net the winner as England pulled off a stunning comeback to reach the final. England, who fell behind in the first half but hit back to level in second-half stoppage time, had the better of the chances in extra time, and when Emma Severini pulled down Beth Mead in the box, Kelly grabbed the chance to decide the game. Her first effort was saved but she fired home the rebound. The Italians had defended brilliantly and attacked incisively on the break, and their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of a gritty semifinal when a ball from the right found its way to Barbara Bonansea, who took a touch before lashing it into the roof of the net. England then dominated possession and created a slew of chances as the Italians rode their luck, but too often the English attackers unleashed shots from distance that were either easily dealt with or flew harmlessly over the bar. With their hopes of defending their title slowly slipping away, Agyemang snapped up a loose ball in the box and fired home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to send the game to extra time.
TimesLIVE
14-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Maresca hails Palmer brilliance in Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised Cole Palmer's ability to rise to the occasion after the English attacking midfielder was named Club World Cup player of the tournament after their commanding 3-0 victory over Paris St Germain in Sunday's final. 'These are the games we expect Cole Palmer to appear and once again he showed what he is made of,' Maresca said after Palmer scored twice and provided an assist to Joao Pedro in their title-winning performance against the Champions League winners. Maresca revealed his tactical master plan had worked to perfection, with Chelsea pressing PSG high and exploiting direct plays behind their rivals' defence to devastating effect at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ice-cold from Cole Palmer to get the Blues off the mark 🥶🧊 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025 'The idea was go man-to-man because if you leave spaces to PSG they will kill you,' Maresca explained. 'So we tried to be very aggressive and suffocate them early on and that intensity was crucial in the first 10 minutes due to the scorching heat that were really difficult conditions to play in as the game progressed.' The Italian coach highlighted how his team had successfully targeted PSG's vulnerable flank, adding: 'We had a lot of success exploring the left side of their defence, things worked perfectly for us due to the effort the players put.' The trophy cabinet at Stamford Bridge just got bigger 😏🏆 #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 | #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025 Maresca praised his players for deploying perfectly the gameplan he had in mind, with their high-intensity approach proving decisive in the sweltering New Jersey conditions, saying that he is delighted to win a Club World Cup he thinks will be seen much differently in the future. 'I feel this competition [the Club World Cup] will be as important as or even more important than the Champions League. 'I was lucky enough to be part of a coaching staff [at Manchester City] that won the Champions League three years ago, but this competition features the best clubs in the world. 'That's why we value it as much as the Champions League, or perhaps even more. For us, it was a great triumph. Allowing Chelsea fans to wear that world champion patch on their shirts is a source of pride for us.'
TimesLIVE
06-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Real Madrid survive Dortmund scare to reach Club World Cup semis
Image: Imagn Images via Reuters/Vincent Carchietta Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a dramatic Club World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday to set up a last-four clash with Paris St Germain. The Spanish giants stamped their authority on the match early at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, dominating possession and opening a two-goal lead thanks to strikes by Gonzalo and Fran Garcia in the 10th and 20th minutes. Gonzalo, the 21-year-old forward continuing his breakout tournament, opened the scoring with a close-range volley from Arda Guler's cross. Ten minutes later, Garcia doubled Real's lead, arriving at the far post to turn in Trent Alexander-Arnold's low delivery after an incisive move down the right. Kylian Mbappé smashes it beyond Kobel 🚀 #SSFootball | #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 5, 2025 Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. squandered chances to extend Real's lead before halftime, while Aurelien Tchouameni came closest in the second half, rattling the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Despite the reduced intensity of play in New Jersey's scorching heat, Real comfortably saw out the match, leaving Dortmund unable to mount a comeback until the game exploded into life in 10 minutes of mayhem in added time. Substitute Maximilian Beier pounced on a rebound in the 93rd minute to pull one back for Dortmund, but a minute later Kylian Mbappé restored Real's two-goal cushion with a stunning volley. Dortmund refused to back down, however, and Serhou Guirassy's pace saw him break through Real's defence only to be pulled down in the box by Dean Huijsen. Real Madrid have a special talent on their hands ⚪🙌 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 5, 2025 The defender was shown a straight red card, ruling him out of the semifinal, and Guirassy coolly converted the resulting spot-kick to reduce the deficit to 3-2. Dortmund came within inches of forcing extra time when in the ninth minute of added time Thibaut Courtois produced a sensational save to deny Marcel Sabitzer's powerful strike. 'We were doing really well and the match looked under control but then in the last 10 minutes things got crazy,' Real manager Xabi Alonso told DAZN. 'We have lost a little bit our focus and intensity when we didn't have the ball and luckily nothing else happened. But overall we have had good 80 minutes and the last 10 minutes to improve.' Real Madrid now turn their attention to PSG, who defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 to book their place in the semifinals. The winners of that clash will face Fluminense or Chelsea, who meet on Tuesday, in the final.
TimesLIVE
05-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Exemplary Dembele steps up again to inspire depleted PSG
Paris St Germain snatched a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals, with Ousmane Dembele embodying the composure of Luis Enrique's side as he sealed the victory when his team were down to nine men. Dembele found the back of the net six minutes into added time after being superbly set up by Achraf Hakimi and the French forward also shone defensively by pressing relentlessly and initiating the move that led to his decisive goal. "I'd give the Ballon d'Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele," coach Luis Enrique said after PSG's Champions League final win over Inter Milan. "The way he that can be worth the Ballon d'Or. This is how you lead a team." Dembele proved his coach right once again against Bayern. Rested for the group stage after sustaining a thigh injury and only coming off the bench after halftime in the last 16 and in the quarter-final, Dembele brought an incredible energy to a team who had been dominated by Bayern. Off the bench to seal the deal ⚡ Ousmane Dembélé wins it for nine-man PSG 👏 #SSFootball | #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 5, 2025 "It's an important period for us. We had a score to settle with Bayern after the 2020 (Champions League) final (won by Bayern 1-0) and after they beat us earlier this season," captain Marquinhos said. "We want to win this competition." PSG went ahead through Desire Doue, his first goal in the tournament. "I try to help the team by scoring, but also with my efforts, notably defensively," Doue said. PSG, seeking a quadruple of titles after winning the Champions League, French Cup and the Ligue 1 title, will face Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid for a place in the final. They will be without centre back Willian Pacho and defender Lucas Hernandez, who picked up straight red cards after Doue's opening goal.
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Chelsea cruise past Esperance, to face Benfica, who beat Bayern
Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and Tyrique George saw Chelsea's second-string side secure a place in the round of 16 at the Club World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis in their final Group D match on Tuesday. Group winners Flamengo were held 1-1 by Los Angeles FC to finish on seven points, one ahead of Chelsea. Esperance finished third with three points while LA FC were bottom with one. Chelsea face Group C winners Benfica in the last 16 on Saturday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, while Flamengo take on Bayern Munich, Group C runners-up, in Miami on Sunday. Despite the stakes, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca opted to rotate his squad once more, resting key players such as Cole Palmer and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. He was missing striker Nicolas Jackson, who will also be unavailable against Benfica as he serves a two-match suspension after his red card in Friday's 3-1 loss to Flamengo. Liam Delap gets off the mark with Chelsea 🫡 #FIFACWC #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 25, 2025 Delap, a £30m signing from Ipswich Town, came close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute but his header was cleared off the line. The breakthrough finally came in first-half stoppage time when Adarabioyo rose highest to head the ball into the bottom left corner. Moments later Delap doubled Chelsea's lead, capitalising on a loose ball inside the box, cutting inside a defender and finishing neatly into the far corner. The second half saw Chelsea control proceedings without pressing for a third goal. The London side made it 3-0 when substitute George fired home from the edge of the box deep in added time. Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup struck in the first half to seal a 1-0 win over Bayern in sweltering, sending the Portuguese side to the top of Group C. Schjelderup broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with a first-time finish off Fredrik Aursnes' low cross from the right, capitalising on a lapse in Bayern's backline. Benfica stun the German giants in 12 minutes 😤🎯 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 With Bayern already assured of a place in the next round, their rotated line-up lacked urgency. The Germans improved after the break and Joshua Kimmich thought he had equalised, but his effort was ruled out for Harry Kane being offside. Misfiring Flamengo were held to a 1-1 draw by Los Angeles FC in their final group match in Orlando but the Brazilian side still go into the knockout stage with some momentum. Denis Bouanga put the MLS club ahead in the 84th minute but substitute Wallace Yan responded two minutes later to ensure Flamengo would progress unbeaten to their last-16 tie against Bayern. With top spot in Group D already assured, Flamengo coach Filipe Luis made seven changes to his starting side but there was no change to the energetic style that already earned the Rio de Janeiro club wins over Chelsea and Esperance. Joshua Kimmich's celebrations are cut short 🫠❌ 📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 With a little more accuracy in front of goal, they would have comfortably beaten an LA FC who were already condemned to a group stage exit after losing their first two games without scoring a goal. Boca Juniors were held to a 1-1 draw by Auckland City and failed to reach the knockout stage in steamy Nashville, Tennessee, where the match was suspended for nearly 50 minutes due to stormy weather. Boca came into the game needing both a convincing win against already-eliminated Auckland to overturn a seven-goal difference with Benfica and for the Portuguese club to lose to German champions Bayern. Auckland had just drawn level shortly after the break when lightning in the area forced players off the field. By the time play resumed, Benfica had secured a 1-0 win to qualify top. Boca went ahead in the first half courtesy of an own goal by Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow while Christian Gray drew his side level in the 52nd with a header that sailed inside the right post.
