Sports

Chelsea Win Women’s FA Cup To Complete Domestic Treble

Published

4 weeks ago

May 18, 2025

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Chelsea beat Manchester United 3-0 in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday to complete an English domestic treble in French coach Sonia Bompastor’s first season in charge.

Sandy Baltimore scored twice, either side of setting up Catarina Macario for the west London side’s second.

France international Baltimore opened the scoring from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time before Macario headed in her free-kick to put the result beyond doubt in the 84th minute.

Baltimore then wrapped up the scoring against United, last season’s FA Cup winners, in the first minute of added-on time when she turned Lisa Naalsund before lashing the ball home from close range.

‘Invincibles’ Chelsea had already been crowned English champions, becoming the first team to remain unbeaten in a 22-game Women’s Super League season as they won their sixth successive domestic league title after previously lifting the League Cup.

Chelsea’s English defender #04 Millie Bright lifts the trophy as Chelsea’s players celebrate on the pitch after the English Women’s FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, in north west London, on May 18, 2025. Chelsea won the game 3-0.

“It tops off a brilliant season,” Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert, the player of the match, told the BBC.

“I’m so proud of the group. A lot of hard work’s gone into this. To win in the fashion we did, we were holding on a bit at 1-0 but the second goal puts the game to bed.”

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Reflecting on how the side had adapted to Bompastor’s methods, she added: “There’s a lot of change but you just have to embrace it.

“She’s a manager, she’s a winner, as management and as a player, so you’ve got to respect that. She’s done a brilliant job since she’s come in. And a treble, what a way to start it!”

Bompastor took over at Chelsea after long-serving and successful manager Emma Hayes left to become the United States’ national women’s team manager.

But their hopes of a quadruple were scuppered when they lost 8-2 on aggregate to Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League — a tournament they’ve yet to win for all their domestic triumphs.

At Wembley, in a crowd of over 74,000 featuring new Chelsea women’s team investor Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian — as well his tennis champion wife Serena Williams — the Blues dominated the first half but were kept waiting for an opening goal.

Chelsea’s players celebrate on the pitch after the English Women’s FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, in north west London, on May 18, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

It looked as if United would go into the break with the game still goalless but poor defending from Celin Bizet saw her step into Cuthbert and bring the Scotland midfielder down, with referee Stacey Fullicks wasting no time in awarding a penalty.

Baltimore, despite the massed ranks of United fans behind the goal trying to distract her and some mind games from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, coolly sent the United goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

An improved United had their chances to equalise early in the second half and even the introduction of England star Ella Toone off the bench could not bring the Cup holders a goal.

And any hopes of a United fight back were dashed by Macario and Baltimore’s late goals.

AFP

Sports

Transfer: Chelsea, Man Utd, six others battle for Osimhen

Published

8 hours ago

June 15, 2025

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Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is in contact with up to eight teams about a possible summer transfer.

These clubs include Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Manchester United, Juventus, and Galatasaray.

Osimhen is now on holiday in Nigeria and will take his time deciding on his future club.

This was revealed by Goal’s transfer insider, Valentin Furlan.

Furlan wrote on X on Saturday: “Eight teams have contacted Victor Osimhen, per me and

@RudyGaletti, in the last few days: “Galatasaray, Juventus, PSG, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, AC Milan, and Real Madrid.

“Osimhen in no rush to decide his future.”

Sports

Reinvented Olympic Balloon Makes Paris Comeback

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2025

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The 2024 Summer Olympics might be over, but French authorities are hoping Parisians and tourists can “relive” last year’s magic when the iconic symbol of the Games returns next week.

During the Paris Games, the Olympic cauldron tethered to a balloon flew into the Parisian sky at sunset every day, with thousands flocking to see the seven-metre (23 feet) wide ring of environmentally friendly fire.

On Thursday evening, President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo visited the Tuileries Garden near the Louvre, where workers were installing the redesigned balloon and ring.

“We are going to relive this!” a beaming Macron said in a video posted on X.

The balloon, which will no longer carry the Olympic branding, will take to the skies on June 21 during France’s annual Fete de la Musique festival of street music.

It will be accessible to visitors every summer evening from June 21 to September 14 for the next three years, until the next edition of the Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Its flame made up of clouds of mist lit by LED rays will remain the same.

The flame is still “100 percent electric”, according to Pierre Viriot, communications director at state-owned power utility EDF.

But unlike last year, it will be turned off at night.

The reconstruction of the balloon and the ring has been financed by the Olympic Organising Committee and EDF.

Sports

Manchester City Endorse AC Milan Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for £46.5m

Published

4 days ago

June 11, 2025

ADMIN

Manchester City have completed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for an initial fee of £46.5 million, the club confirmed on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Netherlands international joins the Premier League champions on a five-year contract, becoming Pep Guardiola’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, and Rayan Cherki.

Reijnders joins City in time to be eligible for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States later this month, with a potential debut lined up for June 18 against Wydad FC.

“I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” said Reijnders. “City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years.”

Capped 23 times by the Netherlands, Reijnders was an unused substitute in his country’s 8-0 win over Malta on Tuesday night. He enjoyed a standout season with Milan, scoring 15 goals in 54 appearances and earning the Serie A Midfielder of the Season award.

His arrival comes amid the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, with Guardiola looking to bolster City’s midfield options after finishing third in the Premier League last season.

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Reijnders is expected to play a key role in City’s domestic and international campaigns as they aim to reclaim the league title and secure more silverware under Guardiola’s leadership.