Sports

Liverpool Win League Cup As Van Dijk Strikes Late To Sink Chelsea

Published

5 months ago

February 26, 2024

Liverpool players pose with the trophy after the English League Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley stadium, in London, on February 25, 2024. Virgil van Dijk scored the only goal deep into extra-time as Liverpool won the League Cup for a record tenth time. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Liverpool won the League Cup in dramatic fashion as Virgil van Dijk’s header late in extra-time sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit side finished a gruelling clash with a host of raw youngsters on the pitch, but it was their experienced captain who clinched the club’s 10th League Cup triumph.

Van Dijk earlier had a goal controversially disallowed by VAR, but the Dutch defender pounced to nod home with just two minutes left.

It was Liverpool’s first trophy following Klopp’s bombshell announcement that he will step down at the end of this season.

The German will hope Liverpool’s first silverware since the 2022 FA Cup will be the springboard for an incredible farewell tour.

Quadruple-chasing Liverpool sit top of the Premier League, face Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday and take on Sparta Prague in the Europa League last 16.

It was another bitter Wembley experience for Chelsea, who lost the 2022 League Cup and FA Cup finals against Liverpool.

Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has asked Chelsea fans not to judge him on “winning titles” in the midst of a troubled first season in charge.

But Chelsea remain without domestic silverware since the 2018 FA Cup and had only themselves to blame after missing a host of chances in normal time.

Ravaged by injuries to 11 players, Liverpool’s list of star absentees included Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai.

That meant starts for 20-year-olds Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott, while six of Klopp’s substitutes were 21 or younger.

Chelsea’s Serbian goalkeeper #28 Djordje Petrovic dives but is unable to prevent a header from Liverpool’s Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (not pictured) beating him during the English League Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley stadium, in London, on February 25, 2024. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

– Goals Ruled Out –
Despite their youthful line-up, Liverpool settled quickly as Luis Diaz led the charge.

Taking advantage of Chelsea’s hesitant defending, Diaz advanced into the area for a fierce strike that forced a good save from Djordje Petrovic.

Against the run of play, Chelsea should have taken the lead with their first incisive raid.

Conor Gallagher’s cross deflected to Cole Palmer just six yards out, but his strike produced a superb save from Caoimhin Kelleher.

Ryan Gravenberch joined Liverpool’s ever-growing injury list when he was stretchered off after the midfielder’s leg twisted awkwardly in a challenge with Moises Caicedo.

Raheem Sterling thought he had given Chelsea the lead with a close-range finish from Nicolas Jackson’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for a tight offside against the Senegal striker before his assist.

Responding to Chelsea’s improvement, Liverpool were inches away from taking the lead through Cody Gakpo, whose glancing header from Andrew Robertson’s cross hit the far post.

Liverpool kept coming and Bradley’s goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked by Levi Colwill, who threw himself into the fray to repel the close-range effort.

Liverpool looked to have broken the deadlock on the hour when Van Dijk climbed above Ben Chilwell to head in Robertson’s free-kick.

But VAR intervened, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to disallow the goal for offside against Wataru Endo, who blocked Colwill from marking the Dutch defender.

Axel Disasi should have rubbed salt into Liverpool’s wounds but the Chelsea defender made a complete hash of a close-range chance.

Chelsea went close again as Gallagher met Palmer’s cross with a flick that cannoned off the far post.

Gallagher wasted a golden opportunity to win it in the final minutes, receiving Palmer’s pass in acres of space but taking a heavy touch that allowed Kelleher to save.

In a pulsating finale, Kelleher made two more saves from Palmer and Christopher Nkunku in quick succession to force extra-time.

Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jarell Quansah and Jayden Danns were all on by now, but if Liverpool’s youngsters lacked Chelsea’s experience, they were never overawed.

Danns almost guided his header over Petrovic and Elliott was inches away when he volleyed against the post.

Liverpool would not be denied and with penalties just two minutes away, Van Dijk met Kostas Tsimikas’s corner with a header that flashed past Petrovic as Klopp raised his arms with a smile that bordered on disbelief.

AFP

Sports

OLYMPICS; Brazil hammer Super Falcons in opening match

Published

23 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Admin

The Super Falcons began their campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on a shaky footing, losing 0-1 to Brazil in their first match.

Nigeria came into the game on the back of an impressive showing at the 2023 FIFA World Cup and an eight-game unbeaten run.

They started the match well, missing a couple of chances to have taken the lead in the French city of Bordeaux.

Many thought the team would go into the tunnel with the lead or at least all square with the South Americans. But Gabi Nunez finished off finely with about eight minutes to the end of the first half to give Coach Randy Waldrum’s side a mountain to climb in the second half.

Upon the resumption of the second half, the Nigerians rallied to get back into the game. But their final balls were rarely threatening the Brazilian defence.

Despite running some changes and bringing in fresh legs to push for an equaliser, the Brazilians defended gallantly to deny the Super Falcons the leveller.

Nigeria’s next game is against world champions Spain. That match is on the 28th of July before the team take on Japan on the 31st.

In the other Group C game, Spain saw off Japan 2-1 while the US defeated Zambia 3-0 in a Group B tie. France mauled Colombia 3-0 in a Group A encounter on the same day.

Sports

Olympics 2024 football fixtures: Men and women football fixtures

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Admin

Nigeria first match in the Olympics 2024 football category is against Brazil on Thursday evening.

“The Paris Olympics football events will take place from July 24 to August 10. Seven stadiums will be used throughout the tournament.

Nice, Bordeaux, and Saint-Etienne will host the group stage matches. The semi-final matches will be held in Lyon and Marseille, while the bronze medal matches will take place in Nantes for the men’s tournament and Lyon for the women’s tournament.

The two finals will be held at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris, which can accommodate 48,000 fans. The men’s final will take place on August 9, and the women’s final will be on August 10.

The host nation, France, will play their first men’s game of the tournament against the United States on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony.

The women’s tournament will begin the following day, July 25. At Tokyo 2020, Brazil won the gold medal for men, while Canada took the gold medal for women.

Olympics 2024 football fixtures men:

Group A: France, USA, Guinea, New Zealand

Group B: Argentina, Morocco, Iraq, Ukraine

Group C: Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic

Group D: Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel

Women Olympic tournament groups:

Group A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand

Group B: USA, Zambia, Germany, Australia

Group C: Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil

Which Format Will They Use for Olympic Football?

The most popular sport in the world is set to return for its 29th Olympic appearance for men and its eighth for women.

The basic rules of Olympic football mirror those of domestic and international competitions. Two teams of 11 players will compete in a 90-minute match, and the team that scores the most goals will win. Group matches can end in a draw, but knockout games will go into extra time and penalties if needed.

For the men’s tournament, 16 teams are divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

In the women’s tournament, 12 teams are split into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will qualify for the knockout stages.

For the men’s teams, only three players in each squad can be over 23 years old, while there are no age restrictions for the women’s teams.

Who Has Won the Most Medals in Olympic Football?

The USA is the most successful nation in Olympic football, having won eight medals, including four golds. Hungary follows with five medals, three of which are gold.

Great Britain has also had significant success in Olympic football, securing three gold medals.

Olympics 2024 football fixtures men schedule

Group stage

Wednesday, 24 July 2024

Group A: France v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm

Group A: Guinea v New Zealand, Stade de Nice, kick-off 4pm

Group B: Argentina v Morocco, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 2pm

Group B: Iraq v Ukraine, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 6pm

Group C: Uzbekistan v Spain, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm

Group C: Egypt v Dominican Republic, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm

Group D: Mali v Israel, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 8pm

Group D: Japan v Paraguay, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 6pm

Saturday July 27

Group A: France v Guinea, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm

Group A: New Zealand v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm

Group B: Argentina v Iraq, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 2pm

Group B: Ukraine v Morocco, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 5pm

Group C: Uzbekistan v Egypt, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm

Group C: Dominican Republic v Spain, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 3pm

Group D: Israel v Paraguay, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 6pm

Group D: Japan v Mali, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 8pm

Tuesday July 30

Group A: New Zealand v France, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm

Group A: USA v Guinea, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 6pm

Group B: Ukraine v Argentina, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm

Group B: Morocco v Iraq, Stade de Nice, kick-off 4pm

Group C: Dominican Republic v Uzbekistan, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm

Group C: Spain v Egypt, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 2pm

Group D: Israel v Japan, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 8pm

Group D: Paraguay v Mali, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 8pm

Quarter-finals

Friday August 2

Match 25: 1A v 2B, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 8pm

Match 26: 1B v 2A, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm

Match 27: 1C v 2D, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm

Match 28: 1D v 2C, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm

Semi-finals

Monday August 5

Match 29: Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 27, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm

Match 30: Winner Match 26 v Winner Match 28, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 5pm

Bronze medal match

Thursday August 8

Match 31: Loser Match 29 v Loser Match 30, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm

Gold medal match

Friday August 9

Match 32: Winner Match 29 v Winner Match 30, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 5pm

Women Olympic Football fixture schedule

Group stage

Thursday July 25

Group A: France v Colombia, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm

Group A: Canada v New Zealand, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 4pm

Group B: USA v Zambia, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm

Group B: Germany v Australia, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm

Group C: Spain v Japan, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm

Group C: Nigeria v Brazil, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 6pm

Sunday July 28

Group A: France v Canada, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 8pm

Group A: New Zealand v Colombia, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm

Group B: USA v Germany, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm

Group B: Australia v Zambia, Stade de Nice, kick-off 6pm

Group C: Spain v Nigeria, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 6pm

Group C: Brazil v Japan, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 4pm

Wednesday July 31

Group A: New Zealand v France, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 8pm

Group A: Colombia v Canada, Stade de Nice, kick-off 8pm

Group B: Australia v USA, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm

Group B: Zambia v Germany, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 6pm

Group C: Brazil v Spain, Stade de Bordeaux, kick-off 4pm

Group C: Japan v Nigeria, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 4pm

Olympics 2024 football fixtures for Quarter-finals

Saturday August 3

Match 19: 1A v 3B/C, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, kick-off 8pm

Match 20: 1B v 2C, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 2pm

Match 21: 1C v 3A/B, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 4pm

Match 22: 2A v 2B, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 6pm

Olympics 2024 football fixtures Semi-finals

Tuesday August 6

Match 23: Match 19 Winner v Match 21 Winner, Stade de Marseille, kick-off 8pm

Match 24: Match 20 Winner v Match 22 Winner, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 5pm

Bronze medal match

Friday August 9

Match 25: Match 23 Loser v Match 24 Loser, Stade de Lyon, kick-off 2pm

Gold medal match

Saturday August 10

Match 26: Match 23 Winner v Match 24 Winner, Parc des Princes, Paris, kick-off 4pm

Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie , Tochukwu Oluehi, Morufa Ademola

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie , Nicole Payne, Chidinma Okeke, Jumoke Alani

Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe , Jennifer Echegini , Toni Payne, Rasheedat Ajibade, Regina Otu

Forwards: Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Chinonyerem Macleans, Ifeoma Onimonu, Gift Monday

Manager – Randy Waldrum

Sports

Outrage after French MP says Israelis not welcome at Olympics

Published

5 days ago

July 22, 2024

Admin

A French hard-left MP sparked a political row Sunday by saying Israeli athletes were not welcome at the Paris Olympics because of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which one senior minister said had “hints of anti-Semitism”.

France Unbowed (LFI) lawmaker Thomas Portes was “putting a target on the backs of Israeli athletes”, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told broadcaster France 2, echoing criticisms made by a major Jewish group earlier Sunday.

Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, said Israeli athletes were “already the most in danger at the Olympic Games”, referencing the 11 “murdered by Palestinian terrorists” in 1972 at the Munich Games.

In a post on X, Arfi branded Portes’s comments “irresponsible” and accused him of “legitimising Hamas”, the Palestinian militant group whose October 7 attacks on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

Portes had said at a rally in support of Palestinians that “the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris. Israeli sportspeople are not welcome at the Paris Olympic Games” and called for “mobilisation” around the event.

He later told the Parisien newspaper that “France’s diplomats should pressure the International Olympic Committee to bar the Israeli flag and anthem, as is done for Russia”.

“It’s time to end the double standard,” Portes added.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a limited number of Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in Paris as individuals and not under their country’s colours, and only after being vetted to ensure they have not expressed support for the war.

• Gaza war divides left –

Opposition to Israel’s campaign in Gaza was a centrepiece of LFI’s campaign ahead of European elections last month.

The territory’s Hamas-run health ministry said Sunday that almost 39,000 people had been killed in the fighting, most of them women and children.

Perceived ambiguity in LFI’s response to the October massacre broke apart an alliance of left-wing parties, which grudgingly reformed for this month’s parliamentary polls but has since struggled to find common ground despite coming first.

Beyond Darmanin and the Jewish group, Portes also came under attack from nominal parliamentary allies in the Socialist party and conservatives.

“Of course Israeli athletes are welcome, like all sportspeople from all over the world. Not for who they are but for what they do,” Socialist MP Jerome Guedj posted.

Some LFI lawmakers came out in support of Portes.

“The Israeli flag, stained with the blood of Gaza’s innocents, should not fly in Paris this summer,” MP Aymeric Caron wrote.

Israel’s football team is set to play its first Olympic match against Mali in Paris’ Parc des Prince stadium on Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office said Sunday that he would attend Friday’s boat parade on the river Seine and a commemoration for the Israelis killed in Munich in 1972.

AFP.