黑料社区

Al-Nassr鈥檚 5-star show blows Al-Ain away

Al-Nassr鈥檚 5-star show blows Al-Ain away
Al-Nassr defeated holders Al-Ain 5-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday. (X/@AlNassrFC)
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Updated 06 November 2024

Al-Nassr鈥檚 5-star show blows Al-Ain away

Al-Nassr鈥檚 5-star show blows Al-Ain away
  • Cristiano Ronaldo helps side to easy victory

Al-Nassr defeated holders Al-Ain 5-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday to move into third place in the group and give 黑料社区 the top three positions in the 12-team table.

With Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli winning on Monday to stay perfect on 12 points after four games, Al-Nassr are just two behind thanks to a devastating performance against the UAE鈥檚 powerhouse side.

The last time Al-Ain met 黑料社区n opposition was just 15 days ago and fans were treated to a nine-goal thriller as Al-Hilal ran out 5-4 winners.

The last time they met Al-Nassr was at the quarter-final stage of last season鈥檚 competition in March when the UAE team triumphed on penalties in what was a painful evening for the fans in Riyadh.

It was a different story this time with Al-Nassr going ahead in the fifth minute with an impressive goal, though Al-Ain鈥檚 coach Hernan Crespo was left asking questions of his defenders.

Mohamed Simakan has impressed since joining from RB Leipzig, but there seemed to be little danger when the center-back picked up the ball inside his own half. The French defender was allowed to cross the halfway line, though, and with the opposition falling back, a short pass found Talisca who made space for the shot with his first touch and then fired home with his second.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired just wide from a similar position at the edge of the area after 10 minutes, but given Al-Ain鈥檚 scoring capabilities there was a feeling that more was needed.

Al-Nassr kept pushing and probing and Ronaldo had a goalbound shot blocked before the five-time Ballon d鈥橭r winner got the all-important second with one of his less spectacular strikes. Khalid Eisa failed to hold on to a long-range effort from Sadio Mane and there was Ronaldo to slot it home from close range.

It was just the cushion that the Riyadh club wanted but they kept coming forward and, soon after, moved further ahead.

Angelo broke into the left side of the area after 37 minutes and his low cross was deflected off the leg of Fabio Cardoso to loop over Eisa and into the net.

The home fans were in dreamland and it could have been even better three minutes before the break had Eisa not got a foot to a Talisca shot that seemed goalbound.

There was just a hint of danger from Soufiane Rahimi in added time to remind Al-Nassr that the Moroccan had scored 13 in the last tournament and four already this time around, but at the break it was looking very good indeed as Al-Nassr had probably produced their best 45 minutes of the season.

They also started brightly after the restart, but after 10 minutes Al-Ain were on the scoresheet and back in the game with a goal from nowhere. Park Yong-woo鈥檚 powerful low shot from outside the area bounced off the post but then hit the diving Bento and rebounded into the goal.

A few nerves resulted and Bento was the busier of the two goalkeepers, although, at the other end, Aymeric Laporte headed over from a corner.

Al-Ain went closer when, with 13 minutes remaining, Rahimi rolled the ball across the face of goal for Abdoul Traore to net, but he somehow miscontrolled and the massive chance went begging.

It was his side鈥檚 last chance as Wesley sealed victory with nine minutes remaining, the Brazilian curling the ball home from inside the area.

There was no coming back from that, and there was even time for Talisca to grab his second and his team鈥檚 fifth as he lifted the ball smartly over Eisa to end a perfect evening for Al-Nassr and a perfect round of games for 黑料社区.


Netherlands striker Meerdink injured two days into first call-up

Netherlands striker Meerdink injured two days into first call-up
Updated 07 October 2025

Netherlands striker Meerdink injured two days into first call-up

Netherlands striker Meerdink injured two days into first call-up
  • The 22-year-old from AZ Alkmaar will not be replaced
  • Malen, however, has a growing reputation as an impact player, or 鈥榮uper sub鈥 for the Dutch

AMSTERDAM: Striker Mexx Meerdink has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for this week鈥檚 World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Finland, the Dutch football association said on Tuesday, after he suffered an injury two days into his first call-up.
The 22-year-old from AZ Alkmaar will not be replaced, it added, even though Memphis Depay was late arriving from Brazil after his passport went missing.
Coach Ronald Koeman has already said Depay would not start against Malta away on Thursday, leaving Donyell Malen as the likely first-choice striker for the game at Ta鈥橯ali.
Malen, however, has a growing reputation as an impact player, or 鈥榮uper sub鈥 for the Dutch.
He boasts a better goal-scoring record as a substitute than as a starter with 10 goals in 27 substitute appearances, the best figures in the history of the Dutch national team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something to be proud of,鈥 Malen told reporters on Tuesday. 鈥淪ometimes you鈥檙e disappointed to be on the bench, but if you can stay mentally strong and produce good results, you can be proud.鈥
As a starter, Malen has been less productive with a single goal in 18 internationals.
The Netherlands also take on Finland at home on Sunday. They have 10 points from their opening four qualifiers, ahead of Poland on goal difference with a game in hand.
The group winners qualify directly for the finals in North America with the runners-up going into the playoffs.


Metallica to perform at Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025

Metallica will perform at the post-race concert of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 30.
Metallica will perform at the post-race concert of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 30.
Updated 07 October 2025

Metallica to perform at Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025

Metallica will perform at the post-race concert of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 30.
  • After-race concert will take place at Lusail Live Stage on Nov. 30

DOHA: Metallica will perform at the post-race concert of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 30, Lusail International Circuit announced.

The race will be the penultimate of the season with only the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to come the following weekend. McLaren鈥檚 Oscar Pastry leads the Drivers Championship with 336 points, followed by teammate Lando Norris in second on 314, and Red Bull鈥檚 reigning champion Max Verstappen on 273 in third. McLaren leads the Constructors Championship with Mercedes in second and Ferrari in third.

Metallica鈥檚 headline show will take place on Lusail Live Stage following the conclusion of the race and prize presentation to the drivers.

Formed in 1981 by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, Metallica has become one of the most successful rock bands in history, selling almost 125 million albums worldwide and generating more than 17 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents 鈥 more than 1.3 million of whom belong to the band鈥檚 Fifth Member fan club.

The band will also perform at Yas Island on Dec. 6 as part of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.

Metallica鈥檚 catalog of multi-platinum studio albums includes 鈥淜ill 鈥橢m All,鈥 鈥淩ide the Lightning,鈥 鈥淢aster of Puppets,鈥 鈥溾nd Justice for All,鈥 鈥淢etallica鈥 (commonly referred to as The Black Album), 鈥淟oad,鈥 鈥淒eath Magnetic,鈥 and most recently, the Grammy-winning 鈥72 Seasons,鈥 released in 2023.

Metallica鈥檚 awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards and a 2009 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.


Coach Herve Renard confident in Saudis鈥 ability to qualify for a 7th World Cup

Coach Herve Renard confident in Saudis鈥 ability to qualify for a 7th World Cup
Updated 07 October 2025

Coach Herve Renard confident in Saudis鈥 ability to qualify for a 7th World Cup

Coach Herve Renard confident in Saudis鈥 ability to qualify for a 7th World Cup
  • 鈥榃e鈥檙e on the right track, technically,鈥 the Frenchman says. 鈥榃e have made good progress in our performance 鈥 and we must prove that on the field鈥
  • Indonesia coach Patrick Kluivert unafraid to face the Green Falcons in Jeddah on Wednesday in the 4th round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup

JEDDAH: Saudi national football team head coach Herve Renard is confident his players can qualify for the nation鈥檚 seventh World Cup finals since 1994.
Speaking in Jeddah on Tuesday on the eve of their opening match in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, against Indonesia, he said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e on the right track, technically.
鈥淲e had a training camp in Europe during the last break. Tomorrow is a different match and everyone has hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. I鈥檓 confident that we鈥檒l give more than 100 percent to reach the World Cup.
鈥淚 came here a year ago and the goal was to qualify directly, but that didn鈥檛 happen because we needed to improve in several aspects. We have made good progress in our performance since the Gulf Cup, and we must prove that on the field because the truth always appears on the field.鈥
The Saudis were defeated 2-1 by Oman in the semifinals of the Gulf Cup in December.
鈥淟ast January, I decided to change a large number of players; 50 percent of the players who were with us at that time changed,鈥 Renard said.
鈥淲e developed, technically, and tomorrow we will see if we have developed enough.鈥
He revealed that his message to his players ahead of the game was simple: 鈥淲e will qualify for the World Cup together.鈥
Indonesia鈥檚 coach, Patrick Kluivert, said he was not afraid to face the Green Falcons at home, in front of 60,000 Saudi fans.
鈥淚 know it is a crucial game but the Garuda players are ready to make the country proud,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e consider this match as a final and we will do everything we can to achieve a positive result. We are confident that we will perform strongly.
鈥淚 won鈥檛 make any excuses, whatever the reason. Despite the late arrival of some players from Europe, we have no excuses at all. Although the absence of the goalkeeper is significant, we have the right alternative and we will seek to exploit set pieces. We will be a very difficult opponent.鈥
Asked about a rejected call by Indonesian football authorities for Kuwaiti referee Ahmad Al-Ali to be replaced with a neutral official, over concerns that refs from the region might be biased, Kluivert said: 鈥淚 am here 鈥 to talk about the technical stuff, not anything else. It is not my business.鈥
Six teams are competing for the two remaining automatic World Cup qualification spots. They are split into two groups, with Iraq joining the Saudis and Indonesia in Group B, and Qatar, the UAE and Oman in Group A. The teams in each group will play each other once, with both group winners booking their places at the 2026 World Cup. The second-place teams will then face off over two legs, with the winner advancing to an inter-confederation play-off.


Local fighters ready for Quintet 5 as line-up is announced for Dubai event

Team Nogueira鈥檚 Thiago Sa. (Supplied)
Team Nogueira鈥檚 Thiago Sa. (Supplied)
Updated 07 October 2025

Local fighters ready for Quintet 5 as line-up is announced for Dubai event

Team Nogueira鈥檚 Thiago Sa. (Supplied)
  • The team format competition will take place at Coca-Cola Arena on Oct. 23

DUBAI: Local fighters are set to join a strong line-up of international fighter at Quintet 5 in Dubai on Oct. 23.

UAE-based fighters including Thiago Sa, Talison Soares, Pouya Rahmani and Haitham Rida will take centre stage at the Coca-Cola Arena when a new team format in martial arts makes its Middle East debut in Dubai.

The survival format sees each team consisting of five fighters, with one member from each team starting the match and the only route to victory being submission. The winner stays on, and a new opponent from the other team steps up. If a match ends in a draw, then both competitors are eliminated. This continues until one team is completely eliminated with all five fighters defeated, and the other is declared the winner.

Four legends of martial arts will captain the teams in Dubai, with the reunion of Pride FC鈥檚 biggest stars: Kazushi Sakuraba (the founder of Quintet), Renzo Gracie, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Bob Sapp.

On the night, the teams will compete in a bracket format with two semifinals, and a final to crown the overall winner. Team Sakuraba and Team Gracie will face-off in one semifinal, while Team Bangtao will take on Team Nogueira in the other.

Team Nogueira鈥檚 Thiago Sa 鈥 head coach at the Team Nogueira gym in Dubai 鈥 said: 鈥淔or years people have been saying they want to see me compete here, and now is the right time. Quintet is an incredible event, and an opportunity I am very excited about. The people of Dubai are in for an amazing show, and I hope it can inspire more people to understand and love the world of grappling and combat sport.鈥

Regional promoter for the event, Tarek Suleiman said the quality of the competitors is outstanding.

鈥淵ou cannot underestimate just how good this group of fighters is. We have four teams packed with talent that is the envy of the world. We have multiple world champions, regional champions, and those who have competed at the highest levels in the biggest organizations. I am hugely proud that we also have incredible local talent within these teams. The Middle East is constantly growing when it comes to combat sports, and seeing these guys on a stage like Quintet will only inspire people in the region. This is going to be an unforgettable night 鈥 and one that can inspire even more growth in Middle East combat sport.鈥

The team breakdowns in full:

Team Sakuraba: Haisam Rida, Igor Tanabe, Taisei Sakuraba, Daisuke Nakamura, Oshima Sosuke

Team Gracie: Talison Soares, Delson Heleno, Neiman Gracie, Diego Freire, Anderson Wesiley

Team Nogueira: Pouya Rahmani, Abdelraouf Mido, Vetrov Nicolay, Thiago Sa, Zeliman Kashaev

Team Bangtao: Kemoy Anderson, Lucas Barbosa, Alex Schild, Kim Dong-hyun, PJ Barch


Raducanu retires from opening match in Wuhan heat with dizziness

Raducanu retires from opening match in Wuhan heat with dizziness
Updated 07 October 2025

Raducanu retires from opening match in Wuhan heat with dizziness

Raducanu retires from opening match in Wuhan heat with dizziness
  • Emma Raducanu had her blood pressure and other vitals checked before retiring from her Wuhan Open first-round match with dizziness when down 6-1, 4-1 to American Ann Li on Tuesday
WUHAN:Emma Raducanu had her blood pressure and other vitals checked before retiring from her Wuhan Open first-round match with dizziness when down 6-1, 4-1 to American Ann Li on Tuesday.
The British world number 30 appeared to be struggling with the conditions as temperatures soared to 30 C, forcing tournament organizers to apply the heat rule in the first two days of competition.
Raducanu broke in the opening game of the match but immediately lost her advantage and would not win another game in a 28-minute first set.
The 2021 US Open champion received medical attention five games into the second set.
She made the call to retire, sending Li into a second-round meeting with ninth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The heat rule allows players to take a 10-minute break between the second and third sets, and means the tournament can partially or fully close the roof to protect players from the heat.
In the Raducanu-Li match the roof was partially closed.
Earlier, four-time major champion Naomi Osaka claimed her first-ever victory at the Wuhan Open with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Canada鈥檚 Leylah Fernandez.
In a tense two-hour 30-minute affair, the 11th-seeded Osaka fired 41 winners and 56 unforced errors.
Osaka, who is playing in Wuhan for the first time since 2017, awaits in-form Linda Noskova or Kazakhstan鈥檚 Yulia Putintseva in the second round.
鈥淢entally it was just really tough for me today,鈥 said Osaka. 鈥淎nd I think it鈥檚 a part of the season that鈥檚 just tough. But I think I鈥檓, like, really happy to have gotten through it, and I think it鈥檒l be easier from now on.鈥