Sports
Man City Beat Sevilla On Penalties To Win UEFA Super Cup
Manchester City has won the UEFA Super Cup for the first time on Wednesday but needed penalties to beat Sevilla after a 1-1 draw in Athens.
Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering first-half header gave the Spaniards the lead.
European champions City were far from their slick best, but hit back to force the game to penalties through Cole Palmer’s header.
City were then perfect from the spot and prevailed 5-4 in the shootout after Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj smashed against the bar.
Pep Guardiola has bemoaned his side’s lack of preparation for the new season and it showed under the baking heat in the Greek capital.
City badly missed the creative presence of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva through a combination of injury and illness.
A four-month absence for De Bruyne due to a serious hamstring injury has exacerbated the loss of firepower offered by Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez since last season.
West Ham’s Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta has been linked with a move to the Etihad and this performance may serve as further proof City need to strengthen before the end of the transfer market.
Sevilla began their La Liga season with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Valencia.
But just as they did last season in lifting a seventh Europa League despite a 12th-placed league finish, they rose to the big occasion.
Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was playing what is expected to be his final game for the club before a move to Saudi side Al Hilal.
The Moroccan international denied City a perfect start when he clawed away Nathan Ake’s powerful header that was destined for the bottom corner.
But Guardiola’s men soon became ponderous in possession and were punished on 25 minutes.
AFP
Sports
Tunisia Sack Coach Lamouchi after 5-1 Defeat by Sweden
Former coach Mounher Kabairer is expected to be appointed in an interim capacity as new coach in time for Tunisia’s next World Cup tie against Japan on June 20.
Tunisia have sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi after they were trounced 5-1 by Sweden in their opening World Cup group game.
Lamouchi thus becomes the first coach to be sacked at the ongoing World Cup.
He was only in charge of the Carthage Eagles for five matches.
Former coach Mounher Kabairer is expected to be appointed in an interim capacity as new coach in time for Tunisia’s next World Cup tie against Japan on June 20.
Sports
Cabo Verde Stun Spain 0: 0
Nobody gave Cabo Verde a shot. One of the smallest nations – in terms of both land mass and population – to ever reach the World Cup were debuting against the title favourites.
Cabo Verde penned an A-grade upset in A-Town. The tiny islanders and FIFA World Cup™ debutants held title favourites Spain. In a testament to its magnitude, the Blue Sharks’ hero, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, began the game with 46,000 followers on Instagram and finished the day with five million.
Nobody gave Cabo Verde a shot. One of the smallest nations – in terms of both land mass and population – to ever reach the World Cup were debuting against the title favourites.
It was consensually a question of not if Spain would win, but by how many goals.
Ultimately the net didn’t ripple once, a herculean defensive performance and some superb saves from 40-year-old Vozinha secured Bubista’s boys a sport-shaking point.
The one bright spark for Luis de la Fuente’s side was Lamine Yamal, who rose from the bench in the 71st minute and electrified.
The 18-year-old genius could not, however, deny of the greatest days in Cape Verdean history.
Sports
IR Iran hold New Zealand 2:2 in Los Angeles
New Zealand’s bid for a first World Cup victory rolls on to their next Group G assignment against Egypt on 21 June.
IR Iran denied New Zealand a first FIFA World Cup™ win after twice coming from behind to draw their Group G opener at Los Angeles Stadium.
After Mehdi Taremi tested Max Crocombe in a lively opening, Elijah Just went one better to give the All Whites the lead with a low, drilled finish.
Chris Wood was instrumental in the breakthrough goal and the big striker was at it again moments later as he found Sarpreet Singh, who forced an unconvincing save from Alireza Beiranvand.
Iran responded in kind through Taremi, whose 20-yard strike crashed against the upright before the first hydration break.
The pause seemed to work in favour of Amir Ghalenoei’s team, who returned with greater intent and quickly found an equaliser.
Ramin Rezaeian broke through the defensive line and calmly finished with the outside of his boot past Crocombe, bringing the score to 1-1.
New Zealand restored their advantage early in the second half when Wood released Just for a clipped finish over the advancing Beiranvand.
However, Iran weren’t behind for long.
Goalscorer Rezaeian turned provider, delivering an inch-perfect cross for Mohammad Mohebbi to power a header in off the inside of the post.
There was no separating the teams in the closing stages, with Wood heading straight at Beiranvand in added time.
New Zealand’s bid for a first World Cup victory rolls on to their next Group G assignment against Egypt on 21 June.
Iran, meanwhile, face Belgium, with all four sides locked on one point apiece after Matchday 1.
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