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Croatia, Denmark qualify for Nations League quarterfinals with draws

Croatia, Denmark qualify for Nations League quarterfinals with draws
Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric (C) celebrates after his team qualifyied for the knockout stages of the UEFA Nations League at the end of the League A — Group A1 match against Portugal at the Poljud Stadium in Split, on Nov. 18, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 19 November 2024

Croatia, Denmark qualify for Nations League quarterfinals with draws

Croatia, Denmark qualify for Nations League quarterfinals with draws
  • They joined France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands in the last eight
  • In Warsaw, Liverpool fullback Andy Robertson scored an injury time header to give Scotland a 2-1 win over Poland

MADRID: Denmark and Croatia completed the Nations League quarterfinals lineup after both sides secured draws on Monday.

Denmark went 0-0 in Serbia, and Croatia came from behind to share 1-1 with visiting Portugal.

They joined France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands in the last eight.

The quarterfinals will be held from March 20-23.

In Warsaw, Liverpool fullback Andy Robertson scored an injury time header to give Scotland a 2-1 win over Poland and send the host down into League B. Scotland has a playoff to secure its League A status.

Northern Ireland will step up to League B after topping its group. Northern Ireland let slip a two-goal lead but drew in Luxembourg 2-2. Romania hammered Cyprus 4-1.

San Marino will jump into Group C after beating Lichtenstein 3-1.

Scotland wins again

After going nine matches without a win, Scotland appeared rejuvenated as they condemned a Robert Lewandowski-less Poland to League B.

Scotland took just one point from their first four games in Group A1 but beat Croatia at home on Friday and were 1-0 up after three minutes in Warsaw.

Billy Gilmour’s threaded pass found Ben Doak, who rolled the ball to John McGinn to score his second goal in four days.

Scotland hit the woodwork twice in the first half and its inability to open a greater lead almost cost it when Kamil Piątkowski lashed a stunning strike into the top corner of the net to equalize 14 minutes into the second period.

However, Scotland pushed forward for a winner and Robertson headed the decider in the third minute of stoppage time.

Croatia struggle

Croatia needed only a draw to secure qualification but they made the home fans in Split sweat before getting the point they needed against group winners Portugal.

With 32 minutes gone, Joao Felix brought down a superb 45-yard pass from Vitinha and slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to give the visitors the lead. When Andrej Kramaric hit the post and Josko Gvardiol had a 62nd minute goal ruled out for offside it looked like it might not be Croatia’s night.

Bu Manchester City’s Gvardiol got the equalizer just a few minutes later and Croatia held on to take the second quarterfinal spot from Group A1.

Spain beat Switzerland

There was little to play for in Tenerife, where Spain, top of Group A4, took on the already relegated Switzerland.

Coach Luis de la Fuente offered a first start to Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado and gave debuts to Samu and Aitor Paredes in a much-changed Spain side.

But it was the two Bryans, Gil and Zaragoza, who got the goals that mattered for the European champions.

Pedri’s first half penalty was saved but Yeremi Pino converted to put Spain ahead.

Joel Monteiro equalized for Switzerland after 63 minutes but Bryan Gil got Spain back in front five minutes later. Andi Zeqiri equalized again from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining but a stoppage time penalty from Bryan Zaragoza at the other end gave Spain all three points.

Denmark draw in Serbia

In Leskovac, Serbia controlled most of the game against Denmark but could not get the goal they needed to progress from Group A4. Dusan Vlahovic was in fine form for the home side but the Danes held out to take second spot, eight points behind winner Spain but two ahead of the Serbs, for which Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off near the end.

Northern Ireland step up

Northern Ireland finished on top of Group C3 even though it blew a 2-0 lead in Luxembourg.

Isaac Price opened the scoring after 19 minutes and the Standard Liege midfielder set up Conor Bradley for the second five minutes into the second half. The opener was Northern Ireland’s 100th under coach Michael O’Neill.

However, even though the home side scored twice in the last 18 minutes, Northern Ireland ended its campaign with 11 points, two ahead of Bulgaria, who drew at home with Belarus 1-1. Luxembourg finished last.

Romania and Kosovo win

Romania finished on top of Group C2 with a 4-1 win over Cyprus. Daniel BĂźrligea put Romania ahead after two minutes and Razvan Marin scored twice before Florinel Coman made it four.

Ioannis Pittas got Cyprus’ goal and the Cypriots’ Konstantinos Laifis was sent off 13 minutes from time.

Kosovo beat Lithuania 1-0 with an early goal from Muharrem Jashari, who was also sent off on the stroke of halftime.

Kosovo finished second, three points behind Romania, but an asterisk remains over the final placings following the abandonment of Friday’s match between the teams in Bucharest.

The Kosovo players alleged they were victims of pro-Serbian chants by the home fans and walked off the field in the final minute. UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings.

San Marino advance

San Marino will go into Group C at the expense of Gibraltar after beating Lichtenstein 3-1. Gibraltar started the day in pole position with six points but San Marino recovered from being 1-0 down at halftime to score three times in the second half.

Victory also lifted San Marino within reach of a place in the World Cup qualifying playoffs.


Malaysia rules out return of F1 over costs

Malaysia rules out return of F1 over costs
Updated 21 August 2025

Malaysia rules out return of F1 over costs

Malaysia rules out return of F1 over costs
  • Malaysia on Thursday ruled out Formula One returning to the country in the near future, citing costs and an already packed racing calendar

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Thursday ruled out Formula One returning to the country in the near future, citing costs and an already packed racing calendar.
The Southeast Asian nation first hosted an F1 race in 1999 at its Sepang International Circuit, with the last grand prix held there in 2017.
Malaysia dropped out of the F1 calendar from 2018 amid the rising costs of hosting the event.
Sepang still annually stages MotoGP motorbike racing.
Sports minister Hannah Yeoh said hosting F1 again would require the Malaysian government to pay about 300 million ringgit ($71.09 million) annually.
Beyond hosting rights, Yeoh said the circuit requires about 10 million ringgit a year to maintain to the required standards for top-level motor racing.
“Malaysia must also bind itself to a contract of between three to five years with Liberty Media (which holds F1’s commercial rights), amounting to a commitment of about 1.5 billion ringgit during this period,” she told parliament on Thursday.
“The current race calendar is very tight and if Malaysia is interested in hosting again, we will have to compete with other countries for a place on the calendar,” she added.
In the region, Singapore stages a night race and Thailand hopes to become the latest host.
The Thai cabinet in June approved a $1.2 billion bid to stage F1 on the streets of Bangkok from 2028.
Yeoh said Malaysia is not shutting the door completely on having F1 races again, if any corporate entities were willing to shoulder the costs.
“We are open to this and can cooperate,” she added.
“The Formula 1 is a very prestigious sporting event that is followed by many fans around the world.
“So if we could afford it, it’s a good-to-have event in Malaysia.”


Ten hurt, 90 arrested as match abandoned following fan violence in Argentina

Ten hurt, 90 arrested as match abandoned following fan violence in Argentina
Updated 21 August 2025

Ten hurt, 90 arrested as match abandoned following fan violence in Argentina

Ten hurt, 90 arrested as match abandoned following fan violence in Argentina
  • A stun grenade was among the objects hurled by fans as the last-16 second-leg encounter in the regional competition at the Libertadores de America stadium was initially suspended and then abandoned

BUENOS AIRES: Ten people were hurt and 90 arrested Wednesday after violent clashes erupted between rival fans during a Copa Sudamericana match involving Argentina’s Independiente and visiting Universidad de Chile in Buenos Aires, club officials and police said.
A stun grenade was among the objects hurled by fans as the last-16 second-leg encounter in the regional competition at the Libertadores de America stadium was initially suspended and then abandoned.
In shocking and chaotic scenes, one fan of the Chilean visitors jumped from the stands to escape attacking opposing supporters after being cornered.
Home supporters beat and stripped some visiting fans of their clothes, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
The violence had flared at half time when fans of the Chilean side began throwing stones, sticks, bottles and seats at a section housing home supporters.
“We have 90 people detained outside the stadium because they tried to cause trouble and they have already been taken to the police station,” a source from the security ministry told AFP.
An Independiente spokesperson said that 10 people were injured.
The match was 1-1 when it was suspended in the 48th minute, before being abandoned.
The Chilean side won the first leg 1-0.


Olympic champion Khelif denies ‘malicious’ claims of retirement

Olympic champion Khelif denies ‘malicious’ claims of retirement
Updated 21 August 2025

Olympic champion Khelif denies ‘malicious’ claims of retirement

Olympic champion Khelif denies ‘malicious’ claims of retirement
  • In an interview with French newspaper Nice-Matin on Wednesday, Khelif’s former manager Nasser Yesfah said she had “left the world of boxing“

Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has denied claims made by her former manager that she has retired from the sport, saying she is still training regularly.
Algerian Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were in the spotlight at the Paris Games last year over their eligibility after they had been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the IBA, which said sex chromosome tests had ruled them ineligible.
However, they competed in the women’s category in Paris after being cleared by the International Olympic Committee, with both winning gold medals in their weight classes.
Khelif has not competed since her win in Paris.
In an interview with French newspaper Nice-Matin on Wednesday, Khelif’s former manager Nasser Yesfah said she had “left the world of boxing.”
In a follow-up interview with the same newspaper hours later, Yesfah clarified he was only referring to Khelif’s boxing commitments in the city of Nice, where she was previously part of the Nice Azur club.
Khelif criticized Yesfah’s comments in a post on Facebook on Wednesday.
“It is based solely on statements made by a person who no longer represents me in any way, and whom I consider to have betrayed my trust and my country with his false and malicious statements,” Khelif wrote.
“I have never announced my retirement from boxing. I remain committed to my sporting career, training regularly and maintaining my physical fitness between Algeria and Qatar in preparation for upcoming events.
“The publication of such rumors is intended solely to disrupt and damage my sporting and professional career.”
Khelif had been due to compete in a World Boxing tournament in the Netherlands in June, but opted to skip it shortly after the governing body initially announced its plans to introduce sex testing for all boxers in its competitions.
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst later apologized after Khelif was named in their announcement on mandatory sex testing, saying her privacy should have been protected.
Khelif, 26, has repeatedly said she was born a woman and has a long history in female boxing competitions. In March, she said she would defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.


Suarez fills Messi void as Inter Miami beat Tigres 2-1

Suarez fills Messi void as Inter Miami beat Tigres 2-1
Updated 21 August 2025

Suarez fills Messi void as Inter Miami beat Tigres 2-1

Suarez fills Messi void as Inter Miami beat Tigres 2-1
  • Luis Suarez scored a penalty in each half to give Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Wednesday, stepping up to fill the void after Lionel Messi was ruled out of the Leagues Cup final

MIAMI: Luis Suarez scored a penalty in each half to give Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Wednesday, stepping up to fill the void after Lionel Messi was ruled out of the Leagues Cup quarter-final clash.
Messi, who has battled a “minor” muscle injury since a Leagues Cup group match on August 2, returned Saturday after a two-week absence, scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.
However, the 38-year-old World Cup winner was ruled out against Tigres as Inter advanced in the cross-border club competition for teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga-MX.
“We rely on how Leo feels and it wasn’t the best,” Inter assistant coach Javier Morales said. “We preferred not to take risks, not to go backward in his recovery.”
In a duel that produced few scoring chances, veteran Uruguay striker Suarez was the difference as Inter kept alive their hopes of regaining the title they won in 2023, during Messi’s first season in MLS.
Things swung Miami’s way in the 20th minute when Javier Aquino slid to intercept a cross and the ball hit his left arm in the area.
The referee awarded the penalty and the 38-year-old Suarez converted.
Tempers flared, with Suarez moving to calm things down after Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Uruguayan compatriot Fernando Gorriaran exchanged words.
Inter coach Javier Mascherano was sent off at half time, receiving a red card for heated protestations to officials after injury time dragged on past what had been indicated.
Mascherano watched from a front row of the stands when Tigres grabbed their equalizer in the 67th minute, Angel Correa slipping between two defenders and beating Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.
Another handball by Aquino in the 87th minute, confirmed by VAR, gave Miami another penalty and Suarez converted again, this time going left as goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman dived in the opposite direction.
“The game was really difficult because they played very well,” Suarez said. “Every day I just try my best to help the team win.”
Miami booked a semifinal clash with Florida rivals Orlando City, who beat Liga MX champions Toluca FC 6-5 on penalties after the teams played to a scoreless draw in Carson, California.
Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was the hero, saving two penalties in the shootout and scoring the decisive penalty himself.
Orlando beat Miami 4-1 in an MLS clash this month in which Messi was missing.
In the remaining two quarter-finals on Wednesday, Los Angeles Galaxy hosted Pachuca, while the Seattle Sounders take on Puebla at home.
There’s more at stake than the Leagues Cup trophy.
Both finalists and the third-place match winner will qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the Leagues Cup champion securing direct entry to the Champions Cup round of 16.


Swiatek and Ruud play defending champs Errani and Vavassori in US Open mixed doubles final

Swiatek and Ruud play defending champs Errani and Vavassori in US Open mixed doubles final
Updated 21 August 2025

Swiatek and Ruud play defending champs Errani and Vavassori in US Open mixed doubles final

Swiatek and Ruud play defending champs Errani and Vavassori in US Open mixed doubles final
  • Both teams won two matches Tuesday to earn spots in the semifinals that were played under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium after rain fell much of the afternoon
  • The final will more closely resemble a traditional match, with sets to six games

NEW YORK: Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud will play defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori on Wednesday night for the US Open mixed doubles title and $1 million.

Swiatek and Ruud, the No. 3 seeds, beat top-seeded Jessica Pegula 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 in a match tiebreaker in the first semifinal, in what was probably the best match of an event that was overhauled this year. They trailed 8-4 in the tiebreaker after Swiatek double-faulted, then ran off six straight points to advance.

Errani and Vavassori then beat Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2.

After a short break, the finalists would be back on the court to wrap up an event that was completed over two days, well before singles play starts Sunday.

Both teams won two matches Tuesday to earn spots in the semifinals that were played under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium after rain fell much of the afternoon.

Errani and Vavassori weren’t even sure they would get to defend their titles after the US Tennis Association radically changed the mixed doubles tournament in an effort to draw top singles players. Eight teams in the 16-team field qualified by their players’ combined singles rankings, with the remaining teams given wild cards.

The Italians — were were among the biggest critics of the changed format — were given one and have a chance to be the first repeat champions in Flushing Meadows since Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in 2018-19.

“I think we are on a mission,” Vavassori said.

The final will more closely resemble a traditional match, with sets to six games. They went to four games in the first three rounds, with a deciding point played at deuce instead of needing to get the next two points.