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USA Today
01-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LAFC earns final FIFA Club World Cup spot with win over Club America
LAFC earns final FIFA Club World Cup spot with win over Club America Show Caption Hide Caption Relegation in MLS? Tyler Adams thinks it should be added USMNT and Premiere League player Tyler Adams thinks relegation would make the MLS as a whole more exciting and competitive for the players and fans. Sports Seriously LAFC has secured the last ticket to the big dance, rallying to defeat Club América, 2-1, in a FIFA Club World Cup playoff that required extra time at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Former LAFC attacker Brian Rodríguez had given América a 64th-minute lead from a VAR-assisted penalty kick, and the Liga MX powers seemed to have done just enough to claim a win that will be worth nearly $10 million at a minimum. However, Igor Jesus' 89th-minute header leveled the scored, saving LAFC, and in extra time Denis Bouanga — the club's most important player in recent years — added to his legend by firing home the winner in the 115th minute. The win sends LAFC into the Club World Cup, where they will join English giant Chelsea, Tunisian club Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Flamengo, arguably the most well-supported club in Brazil. Why was there a Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club América? LAFC and Club América were in a playoff due to a convoluted series of events that could only happen when you get Concacaf and FIFA together to sort out a new tournament format. Initially, the last four winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup — Monterrey, the Seattle Sounders, Club León, and Pachuca — were set to take places in the Club World Cup. However, Club León and Pachuca share owners, something FIFA said cannot be permitted at the Club World Cup. FIFA eventually decided that León was disqualified, and announced a playoff between LAFC (the team León defeated in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup) and Club América (the top-ranked Concacaf team in FIFA's rankings for Club World Cup purposes). León, Pachuca, and Costa Rican club Alajuelense all appealed, with Alajuelense arguing that as Central America's top-ranked team, they should be admitted, but all were rejected. That leaves the final spot in Group D up for grabs, with Saturday's winner claiming the place. When is the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup? Group Stage : June 14-June 26 : June 14-June 26 Round of 16 : June 28-July 1 : June 28-July 1 Quarterfinals : July 4-5 : July 4-5 Semifinals : July 8-9 : July 8-9 Finals: July 13 What teams are in FIFA Club World Cup? There are 32 teams in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup that have been separated into eight groups of four for the round-robin group stage in June. Here's how the field breaks down Group A Al Ahly FC (Egypt) FC Porto (Portugal) SE Palmeiras (Brazil) Inter Miami (United States) Group B Paris Saint-Germain (France) Atlético de Madrid (Spain) Botafogo (Brazil) Seattle Sounders FC (United States) Group C FC Bayern München (Germany) Auckland City FC (New Zealand) CA Boca Juniors (Argentina) SL Benfica (Portugal) Group D Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) CR Flamengo (Brazil) Chelsea FC (England) LAFC (United States) Group E CA River Plate (Argentina) Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) CF Monterrey (Mexico) Inter Milan (Italy) Group F Fluminense FC (Brazil) Borussia Dortmund (Germany) Ulsan HD (South Korea) Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) Group G Manchester City (England) Wydad AC (Morocco) Al Ain FC (United Arab Emirates) Juventus FC (Italy) Group H Real Madrid (Spain) Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) CF Pachuca (Mexico) FC Salzburg (Austria) How to watch FIFA World Cup 2025: TV, streaming options Every match during the 2025 FIFA World Cup will be live streamed for free on which is the exclusive global broadcaster of the event. FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match schedule GROUP STAGE Saturday, June 14 Group A: Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. ET (Miami) Sunday, June 15 Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Group A: SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) SE Palmeiras vs. FC Porto, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group B: Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, 10 p.m. ET (Seattle) Monday, June 16 Group D: Chelsea vs. LAFC, 3 p.m. ET (Atlanta) Chelsea vs. LAFC, 3 p.m. ET (Atlanta) Group C: Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m. ET (Miami) Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m. ET (Miami) Group D: Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Tuesday, June 17 Group F: Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group E: River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group F: Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Group E: Monterrey vs. Inter Milan, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Wednesday, June 18 Group G: Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Group H: Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Pachuca vs. FC Salzburg, 6 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group G: Al Ain vs. Juventus, 9 p.m. (Washington, D.C.) Thursday, June 19 Group A: Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m. ET, (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (Atlanta) Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET, (Atlanta) Group B: Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (Seattle) Seattle Sounders vs. Atlético Madrid, 6 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Botafogo, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Friday, June 20 Group C: Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m. ET (Orlando, Florida) Group D: Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group D : LAFC vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET (Nashville, Tennessee) : LAFC vs. Espérance de Tunis, 6 p.m. ET (Nashville, Tennessee) Group C: Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors, 9 p.m. ET (Miami) Saturday, June 21 Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group E: Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group F: Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Group E: River Plate vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Sunday, June 22 Group G: Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group H: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte, North Carolina) Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte, North Carolina) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET (Washington, D.C.) FC Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m. ET (Washington, D.C.) Group G: Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m. ET (Atlanta) Monday, June 23 Group B: Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Atlético Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m. ET (Pasadena, California) Group B : Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) : Seattle Sounders vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 3 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group A: Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET (Miami) Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m. ET (Miami) Group A: Porto vs. Al Ahly, 9 p.m. ET (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Tuesday, June 24 Group C: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte) Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET (Charlotte) Group C: Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET (Nashville) Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m. ET (Nashville) Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Espérance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) Group D: LAFC vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m. ET (Orlando) Wednesday, June 25 Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m. ET (Cincinnati) Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. ET (Miami) Group E: Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET (Seattle) Inter Milan vs. River Plate, 9 p.m. ET (Seattle) Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. ET (Pasadena) Thursday, June 26 Group G: Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET (Washington) Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m. ET (Washington) Group G: Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET (Orlando) Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m. ET (Orlando) Group H: Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET (Nashville) Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET (Nashville) Group H: FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m. ET (Philadelphia) FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 Saturday, June 28 Match 49: Winners of Group A vs. Group B runner-up (Philadelphia) Match 50: Winners of Group C vs. Group D runner-up (Charlotte) Sunday, June 29 Match 51: Winners of Group B vs. Group A runner-up (Atlanta) Match 52: Winners of Group D vs. Group C runner-up (Miami) Monday, June 30 Match 53: Winners of Group E vs. Group F runner-up (Charlotte) Match 54: Winners of Group G vs. Group H runner-up (Orlando) Tuesday, July 1 Match 55: Winners of Group F vs. Group E runner-up (Atlanta) Match 56: Winners of Group H vs. Group G runner-up (Miami) FIFA Club World Cup Quarterfinals Friday, July 4 Match 57: Winners of Match 49 vs. Winners of Match 50 (Philadelphia) Match 58: Winners of Match 53 vs. Winners of Match 54 (Orlando) Saturday, July 5 Match 59: Winners of Match 51 vs. Winners of Match 52 (Atlanta) Match 60: Winners of Match 55 vs. Winners of Match 56 (East Rutherford) FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals Tuesday, July 8 Match 61: Winners of Match 57 vs. Winners of Match 58 (East Rutherford) Wednesday, July 9 Match 62: Winners of Match 59 vs. Winners of Match 60 (East Rutherford) FIFA Club World Cup Final Sunday, July 13 Match 63: Winners of Match 61 vs. Winners of Match 62 (East Rutherford) The biggest stories, every morning. 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USA Today
01-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Club World Cup playoff: LAFC bests Club America 2-1 in extra time
Club World Cup playoff: LAFC bests Club America 2-1 in extra time Show Caption Hide Caption Relegation in MLS? Tyler Adams thinks it should be added USMNT and Premiere League player Tyler Adams thinks relegation would make the MLS as a whole more exciting and competitive for the players and fans. Sports Seriously LAFC has secured the last ticket to the big dance, coming back to defeat Club América 2-1 in a Club World Cup playoff that required extra time. Former LAFC attacker Brian Rodríguez had given América a 64th-minute lead from a VAR-assisted penalty kick, and the Liga MX powers seemed to have done just enough to claim a win that will be worth nearly $10 million at a minimum. However, Igor Jesus' 89th-minute header levelled the scores, saving LAFC, and in extra time Denis Bouanga — the club's most important player in recent years — added to his legend by firing home the winner in the 115th minute. The win sends LAFC into the Club World Cup, where they will join English giant Chelsea, Tunisian club Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Flamengo, arguably the most well-supported club in Brazil. Here are highlights and Pro Soccer Wire's live updates from the Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club América: LAFC: Carlos Vela announces retirement 115' Denis Bouanga!!!⚽😱 LAFC are on top with only minutes left in this match LAFC 1-1 Club America Watch the @FIFACWC Play-In match NOW | FREE | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 1, 2025 That's it! It took 120 minutes, but Denis Bouanga's dramatic 115th minute goal has given LAFC a Club World Cup berth thanks to a 2-1 win over Club América. Steve Cherundolo has made his final two substitutions, with Yaw Yeboah and Ryan Raposo replacing David Martínez and Timothy Tillman. Both moves are like-for-like, though in each case you could argue a more defense-first player has been brought on. We're maybe 90 seconds from full time. LAFC has taken the lead here, and who else could it have been but Denis Bouanga? Bouanga started the move as well, but while Frankie Amaya and Olivier Giroud were thinking about a combination pattern, the Gabon winger had only one thought. Bouanga sliced through and fired towards goal, surprising everyone, with a healthy deflection wrong-footing Luis Malagón. Javairô Dilrosun has been a problem for LAFC, and this time the Dutch wingback ghosts in off the flank before firing towards the near post. Hugo Lloris just barely reacts in time to make the stop. A minute or so later, Timothy Tillman is booked for hauling Álvaro Fidalgo down just outside the LAFC box. We're down to 15 minutes here, with LAFC replacing Aaron Long with Marlon after the veteran center back picked up a knock. Club América's switch to a 3-4-3 has bedeviled LAFC to start this extra time, though it hasn't amounted to much in the way of chances. However, it has meant plenty of possession for Las Águilas, and Frankie Amaya picks up a yellow card for a clumsy foul as LAFC tries to cope. We're back underway, with Club América replacing Kevin Álvarez and Cristian Borja with Diego Valdés and Javairô Dilrosun. Igor Jesus' 89th-minute equalizer has saved LAFC, sending this hard-fought Club World Cup playoff to extra time. Club América clearly thought that Brian Rodríguez's 64th-minute penalty kick would do the job, but couldn't fend off one last corner. That leaves an intriguing dynamic in play: LAFC has thrown the kitchen sink out to put more attackers on the field, while Club América's final moves were made to defend deep and kill the game. With 30 more minutes to play, the tactical choices available for both sides are radically different from normal. Cengiz Ünder came on in the 74th minute, but he won't even make it to extra time. The Turkish midfielder, indicating a quadriceps problem, is forced to depart early for LAFC. Frankie Amaya steps on in what is LAFC's final substitution window for the regulation 90 minutes. Meanwhile, LAFC is inches from a winner as Denis Bouanga's shot through traffic is so close to being turned in by any number of flailing now Timothy Tillman's over-hit long ball into the area very nearly floated into the top corner. Luis Malagón ended up producing a brilliant save to keep that from being an unlikely game-winner. The one-game play-in game for the final place at the Club World Cup between LAFC and Club América must determine a winner. If this game is tied after a regulation 90 minutes, there will be the standard two 15-minute halves of extra time, with a penalty-kick tiebreaker to follow if no winner emerges. We have so much to sort through just now, but let's start with the big item: Igor Jesus has equalized in the 89th minute, with his first goal in an LAFC shirt. The Brazilian defensive midfielder won a battle in the goalmouth, powering a header past Luis Malagón. Is there a shove from LAFC elsewhere in the mix? It sure looks like it, and we're in a VAR the goal stands. Meanwhile: Rodrigo Aguirre was booked, and Club América replaced him and Alex Zendejas with Cristian Calderón and Miguel Vázquez. André Jardine has made his third substitution, but it doesn't seem like the one that was planned. TBS said that Ramón Juárez would replace Alex Zendejas, taking América into a back five, but Sebastián Cáceres went down moments later. In the end, the change is now Cáceres off for Juárez, leaving América in the 4-2-3-1 we've seen all game. LAFC is giving Club América a lot to do at the moment, with Olivier Giroud getting two shots on goal in short order. One was easy work for Luis Malagón, but the more acrobatic effort required the Mexico No. 1's toughest save of the match. Meanwhile, a bottle seems to have been tossed from the stands, with an increased security presence now appearing behind Club América's goal. LAFC is pushing for an equalizer, and has made two more substitutions. Former France striker Olivier Giroud and midfielder Cengiz Ünder are in, replacing Jeremy Ebobisse and Mark Delgado. Ünder is playing further up the field, with LAFC moving into a 4-2-3-1 to add a number closer to goal. Meanwhile, play has stopped over what could be a troubling knock for Sebastián Cáceres. The center back collided with Cristian Borja, taking a shoulder to the nose. Cherundolo makes his first move, but it's not to deal with the bookings. Instead, it's Venezuela attacker David Martínez entering as part of the LAFC front three, with Nathan Ordaz making way. LAFC right back Sergi Palencia is the third player for the hosts to get booked in the last seven minutes, clumsily toppling Cristian Borja in an attempt to keep an attacking sequence alive. Steve Cherundolo may have to make some substitutions to deal with three players with significant defensive responsibilities all being on yellow cards now. Brian Rodríguez has returned to torment LAFC, burying his 64th-minute spot kick to give Club América a 1-0 lead in this Club World Cup playoff. Mark Delgado was booked for the handling offense that resulted in this spot kick, but more importantly Club América now leads. LAFC has something like 25 minutes plus stoppage time to get level. LAFC defensive midfielder Igor Jesus is now in Wilton Sampaio's book, after a late tackle that leaves the referee with little choice. In an unrelated moment, Érick Sánchez's shot has struck Mark Delgado, which initially looked like little more than a corner kick. However, Sampaio gets a call to the monitor, and it's a penalty for handling. That took a while, but it's a spot kick for the Liga MX giants. LAFC is out early, or Club América is out late, but either way, we're back at it. Las Águilas have made two substitutions, both with MLS connections: former LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos and ex-LAFC winger Brian Rodríguez have entered the fray, with manager André Jardine removing Alan Cervantes and Victor Dávila. Dos Santos has taken over the captain's armband and will play at the base of the midfield, while Rodríguez's entrance means Alex Zendejas will play his more natural right wing position. The first half has come to a close, and it's 0-0 in this Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club América. Truthfully, it's been a battle more than a thriller. LAFC has taken five of the seven total shot attempts between the teams, with goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Luis Malagón both posting one save thus far. Underneath all that, there's some animosity brewing after some hefty challenges, It's unclear whether that will see the game open up, or if the story of this one is going to center on physical play. LAFC has asked Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz to switch flanks, and it's getting some results as the first half comes to a close. In the 39th minute, Bouanga got into a good position to receive a pass inside the box, snapping a shot towards goal that was just barely blocked by Cristian Borja. LAFC yet again can't turn the corner into much, but eventually these shots from angles are going to amount to more than a set piece. Meanwhile, Club América has started lobbying referee Wilton Sampaio for further punishment after the last couple of LAFC fouls. This game isn't boiling over, but it does feel like it's starting to simmer. LAFC have survived the early pressure, and are now starting to open things up a bit. Most importantly, a surge upfield ends with Ryan Hollingshead ripping a low shot that Luis Malagón did just enough to block at the near post. LAFC couldn't capitalize on the resulting corner (well, corners, since the first became a second), but they've just now won another. We're seeing more of Denis Bouanga and more possession from LAFC, which is positive news for the hosts. Club América center back Sebastián Cáceres is booked after a late tackle sees his studs land on Mark Delgado's foot. Replays — once TBS's extremely helpful ads for the Club World Cup are out of the way — show that this yellow card could have been a darker shade, but ultimately it looks like no further punishments are coming. Delgado is good to continue after treatment, and the resulting dead ball ends with Nathan Ordaz scuffing a promising chance wide. He might have ended up being called for offside anyway, but that might be a miss to remember. While there haven't been any major chances, Club América — backed by a very vocal wall of yellow-clad supporters at one end of BMO Stadium — has had most of the ball. LAFC has been pinned back into their own end for the most part, with few chances to break out on the counter-attacks that manager Steve Cherundolo has made the team's hallmark. All of these first 10 minutes have been played with a fog of smoke from some pyrotechnics during the pre-game. That has finally cleared in the last few seconds, which is probably good news for LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio blows his whistle, and we're off and running in this Club World Cup playoff between LAFC and Club América. ¡Las 11 Águilas que buscarán el boleto al Mundial de Clubes! 🦅🔥 — Club América (@ClubAmerica) June 1, 2025 LAFC vs. Club América Club World Cup playoff: Time, TV, and how to watch Time: 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT Location: BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.) BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.) TV: TBS (English), TUDN, UniMás (both Spanish) TBS (English), TUDN, UniMás (both Spanish) Streaming: Fubo, Sling TV, DAZN USA (Watch NOW), TUDN app Watch the Club World Cup playoff on Fubo (free trial for new subscribers) LAFC and Club América are playing due to a convoluted series of events that could only happen when you get Concacaf and FIFA together to sort out a new tournament format. Initially, the last four winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup — Monterrey, the Seattle Sounders, Club León, and Pachuca — were set to take places in the Club World Cup. However, Club León and Pachuca share owners, something FIFA said cannot be permitted at the Club World Cup. FIFA eventually decided that León was disqualified, and announced a playoff between LAFC (the team León defeated in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup) and Club América (the top-ranked Concacaf team in FIFA's rankings for Club World Cup purposes). León, Pachuca, and Costa Rican club Alajuelense all appealed, with Alajuelense arguing that as Central America's top-ranked team, they should be admitted, but all were rejected. That leaves the final spot in Group D up for grabs, with Saturday's winner claiming the place. This LAFC-Club América playoff matters as far as Club World Cup glory, but it will also be a welcome financial boon for the winner. The minimum prize for any team from Concacaf qualifying for the Club World Cup is $9.55 million. The winner between LAFC and Club América will go into Group D, where Club León was initially placed. That will mean matches against Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Chelsea.
STV News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Docherty ‘hugely frustrated' by officials as Dundee go down to Motherwell
Dundee manager Tony Docherty claimed the decision to disallow what would have been a second goal for Antonio Portales against Motherwell was a 'disgrace' after the 10-man visitors fought back to win 2-1 at Dens Park. Portales had volleyed Dundee into a 31st-minute lead following a long throw and emulated the feat with a left-footed strike into the same top corner from the same source just before the break. But the strike was disallowed by video assistant Callum Scott because Clark Robertson had come back from an offside position to challenge for the ball with Motherwell left-back Dom Thompson after Joe Shaughnessy had headed it forward. The ball broke to Portales off the boot of either Robertson or Thompson. Tom Sparrow levelled in the 59th minute and Tawanda Maswanhise headed a stoppage-time winner as Motherwell refused to sit back following a VAR-assisted red card for Johnny Koutroumbis. Docherty said: 'I'm not abdicating responsibility as Dundee manager for losing the game. It's a game we should never lose. 'But we're in a situation now where we've got officials that are finding a way to disallow goals. 'There's no doubt the opposition gets a lift from that decision. We should be going in at 2-0. 'The officials contrive to find a way to disallow that goal. So I'm hugely frustrated by that. 'This game for spectators is all about entertainment and the entertainment comes from them watching their team score goals. You've seen the reaction of the fans when Antonio scores his second goal there. 'I just think it's a disgrace to have made that decision, which affects the dynamic of the game. 'They said Clark Robertson was in an offside position from the initial knock-on from the long throw. But, in my opinion, it doesn't affect anything in the lead-up to that play that Portales hits a left-foot shot into the top corner. 'If anything, it's Joe Shaughnessy that's challenging the player when it drops to Portales. 'Referees don't referee games anymore. What do linesmen do? Linesmen give throw-ins. There's no offside decision that gets made anymore. And it's continually getting these decisions wrong.' Docherty admitted his side were caught on the break too often after he brought on winger Charlie Reilly following the 80th-minute red card. 'We take off a defender, we put on an attacker, we go 4-4-2,' he said. 'And we shouldn't have lost that. It's a ridiculous goal to lose the match on and what could have been an important point.' Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer knew his side would win following the sending-off as they sealed William Hill Premiership safety. Wimmer, who brought on Ewan Wilson and moved to a back three after the dismissal, said: 'I was sure we would win the game because I had this feeling. 'I felt this energy on the bench, on the pitch, from the spectators. So I was not scared. I had the feeling we can win. 'I'm very proud of the guys and it was not the first time that we changed the result. 'It's a brilliant team, brilliant character and they deserve to stay in the league.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dundee 1 Motherwell 2: Ten-man Steelmen secure Premiership safety with late winner
Tawanda Maswanhise scored in stoppage time to grab a crucial victory for the visitors Tawanda Maswanhise headed a stoppage-time winner as 10-man Motherwell secured Premiership safety with a 2-1 victory at Dundee. The substitute sealed a second-half comeback despite Johnny Koutroumbis receiving a VAR-assisted red card in the 80th minute. Dundee had taken a half-time lead through a brilliant strike from Antonio Portales, who soon had a second goal disallowed. But Tom Sparrow levelled with Motherwell's first shot on target in the 59th minute and the visitors showed ambition after going down to 10 men. They came close on several occasions before Maswanhise rose to head Dom Thompson's back-post cross into the top corner in the first minute of time added on. The win moved the Steelmen 10 points above second-bottom Ross County with three games left while Dundee remain in a precarious position, two points ahead of the Staggies. Aston Oxborough was back in the Motherwell goal for the first time since breaking a bone in his hand in early January and he made his mark early on with an excellent stop from Oluwaseun Adewumi before getting up to save Ziyad Larkeche's follow-up. The goalkeeper then pushed away Joe Shaughnessy's header but he was motionless as Portales volleyed into the top corner from 16 yards in the 31st minute after a long throw. It was the Mexican defender's first league goal of the season and he looked like he had doubled his tally after another long throw. Portales hit an equally-impressive strike into the same part of the net with his left foot but the goal was disallowed by the VAR team for offside against Clark Robertson in the build-up. Motherwell were lacking a cutting edge and Callum Slattery failed to hit the target from their only two chances of note in the first half, hitting the first over the bar and being tackled by Shaughnessy as he weighed up a shot. Well boss Michael Wimmer brought on Maswanhise at the interval but there was little immediate improvement in the visitors' threat and Oxborough saved from Lyall Cameron. But Motherwell levelled as Sparrow got his second goal in as many games. Lennon Miller's run into the box made the difference and Sparrow steered the ball into the roof of the net when the ball broke. Josh Mulligan fired over from the edge of the Motherwell box and Cameron turned the ball just past his own goal following Maswanhise's square ball as both sides looked for a winner. The game seemed to have tipped in Dundee's favour when referee Kevin Clancy was called to the monitor by video assistant Callum Scott to re-examine a late tackle from Koutroumbis on Larkeche. Clancy had not awarded a free-kick but he booked the Australian before then upgrading the punishment to a red after studying the footage. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Motherwell looked the more threatening side in the closing stages. Substitute Ewan Wilson had a shot turned past the post by Trevor Carson and Dan Casey headed off the bar from the resulting corner. Maswanhise then stunned the home support and could have added to Motherwell's lead on the counter-attack before being denied by Carson and seeing Casey knock the rebound wide with the goal gaping.
The National
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Ange Postecoglou needs to fire up Tottenham to overcome Arctic warriors Bodo/Glimt
It was all so intoxicating, wasn't it? Ange Postecoglou, the grizzled Australian with a no-nonsense charm and a footballing philosophy soaked in attacking flair, swaggered into North London like a long-lost messiah. Spurs, a club perennially teetering on the precipice of greatness but more often plunging into self-sabotage, finally looked reborn. Seven wins from nine, an unthinkable point at the Emirates - home of hated rivals Arsenal - and a VAR-assisted eclipse of Liverpool. The football was brave, breathless. Postecoglou became the first manager to win the Premier League Manager of the Month award for the first three months of a single season. Talk of a title challenge echoed throughout the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the monolith that more than any signing symbolised the club's ambitions to establish itself not only as a force at home but in Europe, too. Fast forward 18 months and the picture looks very different. The revolution has turned to rubble. Spurs are a club in freefall with only the safety net of three teams more abject than them already condemned to relegation. They even face the prospect of being overhauled by West Ham United, a club they have long looked down their noses at, in the battle for 16th place. You don't need a forensic analysis to find out why the ship is sinking without a trace. Spurs are the division's third highest scorers but the fifth worst defenders. Of 34 games played, 19 have ended in defeat. Tottenham are on course for their worst league finish since the 1993/94 season when they came home 15th. Postecoglou's win percentage is a smidge over 46 per cent, worse than Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino, Andre Villas-Boas and Harry Redknapp of the permanent head coaches that preceded him with more than 50 games in charge. The last time Tottenham won a trophy was 2008. After blitzing out of the blocks last season, Spurs stuttered over the line to finish fifth, enough to clinch a place in the Europa League. It could be that competition which offers Spurs not only their salvation but keeps Postecoglou in a job. Spurs have won seven and drawn three of their 12 Europa League matches this season. They put in arguably their best performance of the campaign in their previous match, a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Eintracht Frankfurt where courage, in short supply for much of the season, was embodied by James Maddison putting his body on the line as he was wiped out by goalkeeper Kaua Santos to earn Spurs the penalty, converted by Dominic Solanke, that sealed their passage to the semi-finals. Laying in wait are Bodo/Glimt, a club many would struggle to find on a map, let alone fear on a pitch. Theirs is a fairytale with a frostbitten edge. The tiny club from just north of the Arctic Circle have been champions of Norway four years running and are the first team from the Scandinavian country to play in the semi-finals of a major European competition. It is a stunning achievement for a side from a town with a population of barely 50,000 – one that would fit comfortably into Tottenham's stadium with room to spare – situated almost 1,200 kilometres north of Norway's capital Oslo. If Tottenham are the city slickers, Bodo are the country bumpkins. Spurs were the ninth-richest club in the world last year with revenue of €615 million, according to analysts Deloitte. Bodo have an annual turnover of around €30m, around 20 times less than their opponents, though that will be swelled by an additional €20m from their Europa League run, according to reports. On paper this should be a walkover for the English club, but in a season littered with disappointment Spurs have been especially poor against weaker opposition. Postecoglou's men have been beaten at home by relegated Leicester City and Ipswich Town, been mauled by Wolves, lost to each of Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace and taken only a point off Fulham. There remains, at the heart of this Postecoglou side, a softness under pressure – a sense that when the going gets tough, too many in lilywhite are lily-livered. With the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, Spurs will do well to make home advantage count. The Norwegian champions' remarkable run to the semi-finals has included victories over FC Twente, Olympiacos and, in the quarter-finals, a dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Lazio. Bodo suffered a defeat to Azerbaijani side Qarabag in the new-look group phase but their victory over Lazio in the first leg, courtesy of two goals by Ulrik Saltnes, came only after snow from a blizzard had been cleared off the pitch at their 8,270-capacity Aspmyra Stadium. When Spurs travel to Norway for the return leg on May 8, the players will find an artificial grass pitch and a stadium open to the elements and with a stand from 1966. The stadium sits only 400 metres from Bodo Airport, surrounded by mountains. The nearest large towns are 10 hours drive to the north and south. 'I don't think it will be snowing [for the match against Spurs]. [But] Of course it can be snowy in the first week of May,' Bodo CEO Frode Thomassen told Forbes. 'When Tottenham or Lazio take a flight to Bodo and come to Aspmyra, it must be like going back in time 50 years. You meet nature and you meet football in its purest sense.'
