Sports
Sporting Stun Man City In Champions League As Liverpool, Milan Claim Fine Wins
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Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Ruben Amorim’s Sporting stunned Manchester City with a 4-1 win in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Liverpool trounced Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan beat holders Real Madrid in Spain.
Sporting stole the show with their performance in Lisbon, but the Portuguese champions had to come from behind after Phil Foden put City ahead early on.
Amorim was hoping to sign off from the Champions League in style as Sporting coach before he leaves for Manchester United, and Gyokeres then took centre stage.
The Swedish striker equalised seven minutes before half-time, holding off Champions League debutant Jahmai Simpson-Pusey as he ran through to finish.
Sporting then went ahead 19 seconds into the second half as Maximiliano Araujo finished off a fine move, and shortly after that Gyokeres converted a penalty following a foul by Josko Gvardiol.
City could have pulled one back, but Erling Haaland hit the bar from the spot. Gyokeres showed Haaland how to do it as he scored his second spot-kick to complete a hat-trick, condemning City to their heaviest losing margin in Europe since a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in April 2018.
Gyokeres has 23 goals in 17 games in all competitions this season and will surely be the next star to leave Sporting for a bigger club elsewhere following Amorim’s departure.
“It was written that it had to be like that I think, there is no other explanation,” Amorim, at Sporting since 2020, said of a famous victory.
“I think everyone who has been here in the last four years deserved this. It was a special night.”
Diaz hat-trick
City have seven points at the halfway stage in the new-look Champions League, while Sporting are second on 10 points, behind only Liverpool, who are the sole team with the maximum 12 points.
Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick as the Anfield club secured a statement 4-0 win over Leverkusen on the night Alonso returned to Merseyside, with all the goals coming in the second half.
Diaz put Liverpool ahead just after the hour mark and Cody Gakpo headed in shortly after. Diaz scored again to make it 3-0 and then got his third and his team’s fourth in stoppage time, leaving the German champions on seven points after four outings.
“I think it’s a good result against a very good team,” Gakpo told Amazon Prime.
“They played a very good game, but we kept going, trying, creating chances, defending well.”
Real slump again
Madrid suffered their second loss in four games in the competition this season as they went down 3-1 at home to Milan.
The Italians, whose tally of seven European Cups is bettered only by Real’s 15, went ahead early on through Malick Thiaw, but the hosts soon drew level through a Vinicius Junior penalty.
However, Alvaro Morata put Milan back ahead before the interval against his old club, following in to finish after a Rafael Leao shot was parried.
Milan got their third on 73 minutes after great play by Leao set up Tijjani Reijnders to score, and Antonio Ruediger had a late effort disallowed for Real.
“When we are 11 lions on the pitch, it is very difficult for a team to beat us,” Morata said at full-time.
Monaco are third in the standings with 10 points following a 1-0 victory at Bologna, secured thanks to captain Thilo Kehrer’s late goal.
Dortmund are fourth on nine points after Donyell Malen’s 85th-minute goal gave them a 1-0 win at home to Sturm Graz.
Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty allowed Juventus to come from behind and draw 1-1 at Lille, after Canada’s Jonathan David had given the French side the lead.
Celtic impress
Celtic have seven points after a fine fightback secured a 3-1 win for the Scottish champions against RB Leipzig in Glasgow.
Christoph Baumgartner fired Leipzig in front but a brilliant Nicolas Kuehn strike brought Celtic level and he then put them ahead in first-half stoppage time. Reo Hatate got their third.
PSV Eindhoven crushed Girona 4-0, with Ryan Flamingo and Malik Tillman netting in the first half. Arnau Martinez was sent off for Girona before Johan Bakayoko made it 3-0 and Ladislav Krejci scored an own goal.
Dinamo Zagreb came back to win 4-1 at Slovan Bratislava with Sandro Kulenovic scoring twice for the Croatians.
Slovan, Sturm Graz and Leipzig have lost four out of four.
AFP
Co-hosts Mexico kicked off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on Thursday.
Mexico’s forward #16 Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
Co-hosts Mexico kicked off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on Thursday.
The 29-year-old struck in the ninth minute, his powerful shot going between the legs of the South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to send the 80,000 spectators wild.
Mexico’s forward Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
It was the earliest first goal at a World Cup since 2006, when Philipp Lahm netted for Germany against Costa Rica after six minutes.
The South Africa players have been exchanging some short passes, trying to open up the opposition’s defence and hit them swiftly on the break, but the co-hosts have been dominant so far.
South Africa’s forward Iqraam Rayners and Mexico’s defender Johan Vasquez fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
Before the kickoff, the 80,000-strong crowd was entertained by Nigerian star Burna Boy, Colombian singer Shakira and a host of performers in an opening ceremony.
More to follow…
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their narrow 2–1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an international friendly played on Wednesday night in Leiria.
The match took place at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa on June 10, where both sides delivered a competitive encounter that served as an important preparation fixture ahead of next year’s global tournament.
Portugal Strike First, Nigeria Respond Quickly
Portugal opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Pedro Neto, who finished off a well-constructed attacking move to give the hosts an early advantage.
Nigeria, however, responded impressively before halftime. Akor Adams restored parity for the Super Eagles after connecting neatly with a pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, calmly slotting past the Portuguese defence to level the match.
The equaliser reflected Nigeria’s resilience and attacking intent as they matched Portugal for significant spells in the first half.
Conceição Delivers Winning Goal
After the break, Portugal increased their intensity and regained control of possession. Their pressure eventually paid off when Francisco Conceição scored the decisive goal that secured the win for Roberto Martínez’s side.
Despite Nigeria’s efforts to find another equaliser, Portugal managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle.
Ronaldo Reacts After Victory
Following the match, Ronaldo took to social media to express satisfaction with Portugal’s performance and preparation level.
“The preparation is done. Eyes on the World Cup,” he wrote on Instagram, signaling confidence ahead of the tournament.
Portugal are placed in Group K for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face DR Congo, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
Although Nigeria lost the match, the Super Eagles delivered a spirited performance that produced several positives against a top European side.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye stood out with a series of important saves that prevented a heavier defeat, while defenders Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey were solid and composed under pressure.
In midfield, Tochukwu Nnadi impressed with his energy and discipline, helping Nigeria compete strongly in central areas.
Akor Adams continued his good form with a well-taken goal and posed a constant threat to the Portuguese defence before being substituted late in the game.
Alex Iwobi marked his 100th international appearance for Nigeria but had a relatively quiet outing, while Moses Simon struggled to make a major impact before being withdrawn in the second half.
Substitutes Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika added more stability in midfield, but Nigeria were unable to find a second goal as Portugal held on for victory.
Despite the defeat, Nigeria’s performance offered encouraging signs ahead of future international fixtures, particularly in terms of organization, intensity, and attacking combinations against elite opposition.
US President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to attend the World Cup, as the global football tournament prepares to kick off.
“I will, I will,” Trump said when an AFP reporter asked him in the Oval Office if he planned to be at any World Cup matches.
He did not give any details, but FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has said he expects Trump to present the trophy to the winning team at the final on July 19.
Last year Trump did the honors — and was booed — at the FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, the same stadium where the World Cup final will take place.
The Republican billionaire has tried to stamp his mark on the World Cup that is being jointly held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, repeatedly mentioning how he successfully bid for it in his first term as president.
He has also struck up a firm friendship with Infantino, who presented Trump with a special peace prize in December, before US military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
“I spoke to Gianni this morning… he said there’s never been anything close” to the success of the coming tournament, Trump said.
The World Cup has however been dogged by off-field distractions ranging from sky-high ticket prices to an immigration crackdown that has seen fans, team officials and a top Somali referee barred from entering the United States.
Trump said his administration was working on the issue.
“We’re working on it very closely to ensure the right people come into our country,” he told reporters.
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