Latest news with #TQLStadium
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sundowns' Cardoso reacts to being honoured in Portugal
'I received a letter from the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, recognising the work I've recently done in Africa,' said the Sundowns head coach. Miguel Cardoso, head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup press conference at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, USA on 20 June 2025 © Lynne Gleeson/BackpagePix Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has reacted to being recognised in his homeland after a remarkable debut season in South African football. Cardoso guided the Brazilians to an unprecedented eighth consecutive league title, securing the 2024/25 Betway Premiership crown. He also led Sundowns to the CAF Champions League final, where they were narrowly beaten by Egyptian giants Pyramids FC. Despite that defeat, Cardoso's achievements have not gone unnoticed in Portugal. ALSO READ: Sundowns' Ribeiro wins Club World Cup goal of the tournament Before taking over the reins from Manqoba Mgqithi at Sundowns last December, Cardoso won the Tunisian league with Esperance and also lost in the final of the Champions League to Al Ahly 'It's true that I was also honoured in Portugal. I received a letter from the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, recognising the work I've recently done in Africa,' Cardoso said. 'I was also recognised by the Portuguese Football Coaches Association and awarded the José Maria Pedroto Award which is named after a very important coach in Portugal who managed FC Porto. This award is directly related to the work at Mamelodi Sundowns, including our champions league final qualification and winning the PSL.' The 53-year-old tactician has been nominated for the PSL Coach of the Season award, alongside Stellenbosch FC's Steve Barker and former Orlando Pirates boss José Riveiro. Reflecting on the campaign, Cardoso highlighted key moments that shaped his successful season. 'I have many fantastic memories that come to mind regarding the first season here in the PSL. I think there are different moments but I can highlight the start which was amazing and difficult but very good in terms of results with important matches that were won immediately against Stellenbosch FC and AmaZulu FC away,' he concluded. 'That gave us the positive energy to gather the souls of everyone together and then I remember the month of January where we scored goal after goal and won matches by big margins. At that moment we sent a powerful statement and I also remember the period after we won against Al Ahly and qualified for the Caf Champions League final. ALSO READ: I'll not be involved in the running of Siwelele – McKenzie 'We had six matches to play until the end of the season and we recorded six victories in a row with outstanding performances and wonderful football played. For me, memories remain the joy of the people and fans and the joy of playing good football and the joy of players celebrating victories.'
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Disappointing': Columbus Crew rallies for comeback Hell is Real win over FC Cincinnati
An all-too-familiar feeling surrounded a stunned sellout crowd of 25,513 fans at TQL Stadium on July 12. It was 19 months ago, in the same venue, when FC Cincinnati coughed up a 2-0 lead in an eventual heartbreaking, season-ending loss to the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference finals. The 18th edition of the Hell is Real derby played out in the same fashion as a pair of FC Cincinnati goals in the opening five minutes of the match were not enough as Columbus followed with four unanswered goals to complete the comeback. "Disappointing," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan somberly said in his post-game press conference. "We all are. It's a tough night. We gotta own it and move on from it." Sure, a trip to the MLS Cup final was not on the line, but it was still one of the most marquee Hell is Real matchups in rivalry history between two Supporters Shield contenders which have been the best clubs in the MLS from a points perspective over the last three seasons. It was a monster missed opportunity for FC Cincinnati to take four of six points from its in-state rival for the second consecutive year and it's a defeat that knocks the Orange & Blue out of sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. Early goals not enough for FC Cincinnati in Hell is Real loss It felt worth the 56-minute weather delay for the majority of the sellout crowd when FC Cincinnati gave them early fireworks. In the opening minute, FC Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Bucha delivered an emphatic icebreaker by squaring up a cross from centre back Lukas Engel that made the home venue erupt. Bucha's 39th-second tally was the fourth-fastest goal in club history, according to FC Cincinnati communications. Just a few moments later, it was bedlam in the west end as All-Star midfielder and MLS MVP candidate Evander notched his sixth goal in the last four games to give FC Cincinnati a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the match. Those two goals wouldn't hold up as FC Cincinnati's offense stalled and Columbus notched a shutout over the final 90 minutes. There were several close calls as the hosts had a 14-11 shot advantage in a match where possession was nearly split 50/50. However, FC Cincinnati couldn't add to its lead in the first half with missed opportunities in transition. "The passes, I thought we rushed some plays ... We couldn't take care of the ball in long stretches," Noonan said. "We could've scored two or three more goals after the 2-0 lead. They found their rhythm in the first half." Columbus Crew score 4 unanswered goals in comeback Hell is Real win The visitors found their rhythm in the first half as quickly as FC Cincinnati had jumped to an early two-goal advantage. In the 42nd minute, Ibrahim Aliyu's crosser was met by the right foot of Columbus leading scorer Diego Rossi, who cut FC Cincinnati's lead in half with a top-shelf shot. Less than five minutes later, Columbus midfielder Max Arfsten looped a one-hopper past diving FC Cincinnati goalie Roman Celentano to tie it 2-2 going into the break. A stunned FC Cincinnati side could never recover the momentum. "There was excitement. The crowd was into it. It's easy to lose focus. We maybe got away from how we prepared," Noonan said. In the second half, FC Cincinnati's Miles Robinson, making his first appearance with the club since May after Gold Cup duties, tried to clear an entry pass from Columbus but it resulted in an untimely own goal that gave the Crew the lead for good. While FC Cincinnati's offense was still stuck in mud, Columbus eventually delivered the dagger in extra time when Taha Habroune finished a breakaway with his first goal of the season. What's next for FC Cincinnati? Winners of five consecutive matches, FC Cincinnati now ends a three-game homestand when Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, visits TQL Stadium on July 16. Messi scored multiple goals for the fifth consecutive game in Miami's 2-1 win over Nashville on Saturday. "Put the disappointment behind us," Noonan said of his message to the club with the quick turnaround to Miami. "Like all games, we'll see how we let this get away from us." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Replay: Columbus rallies to stun FC Cincinnati in Hell is Real derby
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Inter Miami line-up confirmed to face FC Cincinnati
The Herons are presented as visitors at TQL Stadium as part of the 24th day of Major League Soccer (MLS).Inter Miami has left behind its participation in the FIFA Club World Cup and is fully focused on competing in Major League Soccer (MLS), where this Wednesday it faces FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. The Herons are going through a good present after reaching the round of 16 of the Club World Cup: they have three consecutive victories, which allowed them to climb to the fifth step in the standings with 38 units, five behind leader Philadelphia Union, but with three fewer games. Inter Miami's starting eleven Javier Mascherano puts the best he has at his disposal: Lionel Messi is a starter in the attack. FC Cincinnati, on the other hand, comes from a 4-2 loss to Columbus Crew and fell from the throne of the Eastern Conference. This defeat interrupted a positive streak of four victories in a row (New England Revolution, FC Montréal, Orlando City, and Chicago Fire). FC Cincinnati's initial lineup Pat Noonan has chosen these players to receive the stellar team led by Messi. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
Al Arabiya
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Dortmund coach Niko Kovač says MetLife Stadium field more suited to golf than to soccer
In the eyes of Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač, the MetLife Stadium field was better suited for a round of golf than a match at the Club World Cup. And the New York area's summer heat also was inappropriate for high-level soccer. 'It's more a golf green so you can putt here,' Kovač said after Saturday's 3–2 quarterfinal loss to Real Madrid. 'It's very short. But this is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also in the other two stadiums.' Dortmund played its opening group match at MetLife, the site of the Club World Cup semifinals and championship and of next year's World Cup final. The German team played two matches at Cincinnati's TQL Stadium and its round of 16 game at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 'As you saw, the watering wasn't good enough, I would say, because you don't have the devices for that,' Kovač said. 'When it's too dry, it's unbelievable. It's sticking.' On a sunny afternoon, the temperature at the 3 p.m. kickoff was 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) in East Rutherford. Similar temperatures or higher are expected for next year's World Cup, where 11 venues are in the US and most do not have roofs or air-conditioning. During the 1994 World Cup, 28 of 52 matches had kickoff times from noon to 2 p.m. EDT, better for European viewing. Kickoff times for next year's 104-game tournament are likely to be set after the draw in December. 'We played two times in Cincinnati. The first time it was 12 o'clock. The second time it was 3 p.m. and the pitch we had temperatures of around about 45 degrees (113 degrees Fahrenheit),' Kovač said. 'When the temperature is 45 degrees, this is not amazing. This is very hard for someone and the players, they must play these games. Today we had 35 degrees (95 degrees Fahrenheit). It's also not much better, to be honest. But OK, this a tournament we need to play. And I would suggest–my suggestion that the kickoff time will be a little later. … So the intensity is also much higher. And as a supporter, as a spectator, you would like to see intensive, aggressive, up-and-down football. So when it's too hot, then it's difficult to play this kind of football.'
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Players were begging to come off' - Ward on Ohio heat
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward said she had players "begging to come off" due to the heat in Ohio in their 4-0 friendly defeat against the United reached 30C during the game at the TQL Stadium and, despite cooling breaks in each half, the Republic struggled with the Emma Hayes named a completely different starting 11 from the first friendly between these two sides four days ago, Ward made just four alterations due to the Republic missing a host of regular said she was forced into more changes during the game to protect her players' health."On 22 minutes we had players asking to come off, unfortunately, we couldn't make those changes, then at half-time, three enforced changes as players were physically fatigued and some unwell," she told RTE. "In the second half players were almost begging to come off and we couldn't do anything about it."We can't do anything about the heat, but it is dangerously hot out there and with humidity at 94%, I have never felt anything like it." 'It has been such a positive camp' Given the concerns about the conditions, the heavy nature of both defeats and the depleted squad, Ward was asked whether the decision to play two end of season friendlies in the USA was beneficial to the Republic, who face a Nations League play-off against Belgium in former Aston Villa boss was adamant that the camp and the two fixtures against the number one-ranked side in the world have provided valuable learnings for her under-strengthened squad."We've looked at two different systems and ways of playing, we have added a couple of layers to what we are trying to do, and it has been such a positive camp overall," she added."Naturally, these two defeats hurt, but there has to be some reality to this."We played the best in the world, in extreme heat, something I struggled in without even moving, they're in season and we're not, there are many factors, but to still compete across two games, they can take a lot of heart."
