Latest news with #football
Washington Post
40 minutes ago
- General
- Washington Post
D.C. United ends goal drought with a dose of drama, earns draw with Revs
Weeks had passed since D.C. United last scored in league play, match after winless match as the toothless MLS club tumbled down the Eastern Conference standings. Wednesday's disheveled affair against the New England Revolution was clunking along on a similar empty path when, as the 90th minute gave way to stoppage time, Gabriel Pirani smashed a shot of power and purity.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘It's something we need': Amorim accepts booing from Man United fans after shock friendly loss, capping worst season since 1974
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Manchester United suffered fresh embarrassment and were booed off as they lost 1-0 to a Southeast Asian XI in Kuala Lumpur yesterday in front of 72,550. Ruben Amorim's side, who finished 15th in the Premier League for their worst season since 1974, looked lethargic and devoid of ideas in the gruelling heat. Some fans at Bukit Jalil National Stadium left before the end and there were boos at the final whistle. United have struggled for goals all year and it was more evidence why they are reportedly prepared to shell out £62.5 million (RM361.6 million) on Brazilian international attacker Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Amorim, who was clearly frustrated during the match and shook his head at times, refused to confirm the Cunha deal. The Portuguese coach was happy though to leave the Malaysian capital and head to Hong Kong with no new injuries and had no issue with fans booing his team off. 'We were slow and we still don't have it in us to win every exercise in training, every game,' he said. 'The boos from the fans, it's something that we need.' He added: 'These people believe in Manchester United no matter what the context. 'It's our duty to improve the team and to improve the team next season. 'For me, we need to have that belief, that hunger to win every game, that is important.' Fans cheer before the exhibition friendly football match between Manchester United and ASEAN All-Stars at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur on May 28, 2025. — AFP pic In their first of two post-season games in Asia, United started with several regulars including Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Andre Onana. In temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius at kickoff, it was the ASEAN All Stars who looked more threatening in the first half. They shot just wide in the 16th minute and Onana was then called into action with a low save that endeared him to the pro-United crowd. Mainoo provided the first real threat for United with a 25-yard effort that was turned behind for a corner, before the young midfielder saw his shot cleared off the line in the 38th minute. Captain Bruno Fernandes came on in the second half and his half-volley lit up a drab restart. Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho, on the trip despite looking like he is headed for the exit at United, made a lively cameo off the bench. United were better in the second half but the Southeast Asian side stunned the visitors in the 71st minute when Burmese attacker Maung Maung Lwin found himself clean through on goal before firing into the top corner past Tom Heaton. Soon after Heaton came to United's rescue to prevent further embarrassment. United play the Hong Kong team on Friday. — AFP
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Palmer pulls strings as Chelsea crush Real Betis 4-1 to win Conference League, complete historic sweep of all Uefa trophies
WROCLAW, May 29 — Chelsea roared back to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw on Wednesday, becoming the first club to complete a clean sweep of European trophies. Manuel Pellegrini's enterprising Betis caught the favourites cold with an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli against a flat-footed and listless Chelsea. But Enzo Maresca's second-half substitutions injected energy and Cole Palmer changed the complexion of the game in a five-minute spell, setting up Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson to score. Substitute Jadon Sancho made the game safe in the 83rd minute as the Spanish side faded in their first European final and Moises Caicedo added gloss to the scoreline. Chelsea are the first club to win the full set of five UEFA club tournaments — the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup and the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup. They have also won their first silverware since Todd Boehly's consortium took over from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022, following an era of unprecedented success for the club. Boehly was on the pitch at the end, savouring the win that seemed unlikely when Betis were in control in the first half. Chelsea have ended the season with a flourish after also securing a place in next season's Champions League following a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League. Maresca, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, said he hoped Conference League glory would be a launchpad for the club. 'The club have invested lots of money in the last three or four years, so they are also waiting for results,' Maresca told TNT Sports. 'Hopefully this can be a starting point and from tonight, from this season, (we are) building something important.' The Spanish side went ahead in the ninth minute through Ezzalzouli, who scored the goal against Fiorentina that took his side to the final. Malo Gusto lost the ball and it broke to Betis captain Isco, who produced a clever pass to find Ezzalzouli on the edge of the box, with the Moroccan drilling a left-footed shot across Filip Jorgensen. Minutes later Marc Bartra tried his luck from distance but this time Jorgensen was equal to the task, producing a flying save. Urged on by their massed ranks of fans, Betis went close again when Johnny Cardoso's shot from inside the box was deflected behind. The Premier League side were enjoying the bulk of possession but struggling to create meaningful chances, with Betis defending well and Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, pulling the strings. Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (right) celebrates scoring their first goal with Cole Palmer. — Reuters pic Palmer magic Maresca brought on James for the struggling Gusto at the break and the English side looked livelier. Pellegrini was forced a change when goalscorer Ezzalzouli was forced off, with Jesus Rodriguez coming on to replace him. Maresca also made a number of other changes, including bringing on Sancho, but it took two moments of magic from Palmer to turn the tide. The England man produced a pinpoint inswinging cross from the right that found onrushing Argentina midfielder Fernandez, who got between two defenders to head the ball past Adrian in the 65th minute. Suddenly Chelsea's tails were up and the fans behind the goal were in full voice. Five minutes later Palmer twisted and turned before producing another superb cross that Jackson bundled into the net. Jackson should have scored a second goal but a heavy touch allowed the Betis goalkeeper to gather. But Sancho made it 3-1 when he combined with fellow substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and finished from an angle and Caicedo added a fourth from the edge of the box. Victory for Chelsea breaks an astonishing cycle of wins for Spanish teams. Taking into account World Cups, European Championships, Champions League and the UEFA Cup/Europa League, of the previous 27 men's finals involving Spanish teams, all 27 had had Spanish winners. Four Spanish club sides had been defeated in that time, but in all cases by fellow La Liga sides. Earlier, the centre of Wroclaw was packed with fans from both clubs, with green-and-white clad Betis fans outnumbering their English rivals. Poland's Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said police made 28 arrests after supporters clashed in the city's market square. — AFP
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Chelsea rallies past Real Betis to win Conference League final
Chelsea sparked into life in the second half as it came from behind to claim the Conference League trophy with a 4-1 victory over Real Betis on Wednesday, with its revival inspired by the creativity of Cole Palmer at Wroclaw Stadium. Goals from Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson — both set up by the excellent Palmer — plus late strikes from Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo secured the silverware after Betis went in at halftime leading 1-0 thanks to an early Abde Ezzalzouli strike. The 23-year-old Palmer's two assists in five minutes during the second half turned the contest around for the Premier League club, and he was named Player of the Match for his efforts. The victory means Chelsea becomes the first team to win all three European competitions, having lifted the Champions League twice along with two Europa League trophies. The Blues have also won the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup. "I am very happy," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. "I was a little bit frustrated in the first half because I think we approached the game in the wrong way. "In the second half we played much better." The result had no bearing on European qualification for next season, with Chelsea having secured a Champions League spot and Real Betis a place in the Europa League via their domestic campaigns. Before the match started, Betis fans set off green flares, their vibrant glow embodying the fervor and historic pride of the club's debut appearance in a European final. Betis, however, appeared nervous in the opening minutes before going ahead when Isco found the unmarked Ezzalzouli at the edge of the box in the ninth minute, giving him plenty of time to break the deadlock with a powerful low shot. Betis nearly doubled its advantage minutes later when Marc Bartra's long-range effort forced Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen to tip the ball over the bar. Johnny Cardoso later received a perfectly weighted pass that put him in an ideal position to score another goal for Betis, but a moment of hesitation allowed Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile to block his attempt. In the first half, Betis pushed forward and Chelsea was outplayed. It was a different story in the second half, however, as Chelsea seized control, dominating midfield and orchestrating a series of attacks that left Betis scrambling. The pressure bore fruit in the 65th minute when Fernandez slipped between two defenders to head home a pinpoint Palmer cross for the equalizer, which ignited a roar from the Chelsea fans. Five minutes later, the match had completely turned around when Palmer cleverly turned his marker near the byline and again delivered a precise cross that enabled Jackson to bundle the ball into the net off his chest and put Chelsea ahead. Sancho effectively ended the contest in the 83rd minute by firing into the far corner, and Caicedo put the icing on the cake with the fourth goal in stoppage time to delight the fans and secure the London club's seventh major European trophy.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
After miserable Malaysia show, United boss tells Hong Kong fans why they should watch team
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United should turn out in force for their ailing team's exhibition game in Hong Kong on Friday, despite admitting his side did not have the 'hunger to win every game'. United were jeered after their abject 1-0 loss to Asean All-Stars in Malaysia on Wednesday, as a number of the 72,550 crowd turned on their heroes. Around 10,000 tickets are still available for the 20-time English champions' meeting with a city select XI at Hong Kong Stadium. And asked why people should fork out between HK$1,390 (US$177) and HK$2,990 to watch his team. Amorim told the Post: 'If you can afford it, which is important, then you support your club. 'I had my club as a young kid, no matter the situation, and I suffered a lot. Benfica, in the '90s, struggled … but I never stopped buying tickets. They were also my gift from my father for my birthday. 'These people believe in Manchester United, no matter the context. It's our job and duty to improve for next season.'
