Real Madrid hold Real Sociedad in eight-goal thriller to reach Copa del Rey final

Real Madrid hold Real Sociedad in eight-goal thriller to reach Copa del Rey final
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in action between Real Sociedad's Aritz Elustondo, left, and Jon Ander Olasagasti during the Spanish Copa del Rey semifinal second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and and Real Sociedad in Madrid, Spain Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 02 April 2025

Real Madrid hold Real Sociedad in eight-goal thriller to reach Copa del Rey final

Real Madrid hold Real Sociedad in eight-goal thriller to reach Copa del Rey final
  • Antonio Rudiger decided the pulsating tie with a header in the 115th minute, with Madrid to face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the final

MADRID: Real Madrid edged into the Copa del Rey final with a thrilling 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad after extra-time on Tuesday, securing a 5-4 aggregate semifinal victory.
Antonio Rudiger decided the pulsating tie with a header in the 115th minute, with Madrid to face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the final.
Real Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick’s fine chip pulled the 20-time winners level.
A David Alaba own goal and Mikel Oyarzabal’s deflected effort helped La Real open up a lead on the Spanish champions but Madrid battled back with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Oyarzabal grabbed his second in stoppage time to force extra-time but his side could not hold off Madrid until penalties, with Rudiger’s header the final word.
Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes back into his starting lineup, leaving Kylian Mbappe on the bench to rest, with Endrick taking his place in an all-Brazilian attack.
The 18-year-old wonderkid striker who netted the only goal in the first leg, was active in the opening phases, sending a dangerous overhead kick narrowly wide of Alex Remiro’s far post.
Bellingham also threatened for the hosts but it was Real Sociedad who took the lead.
Barrenetxea broke in behind Lucas Vazquez to reach Pablo Marin’s flick-on and drilled a low finish home to put the Basques level in the tie.
Real Madrid soon found their equalizer. Vinicius played a sensational through ball down the left flank with the outside of his foot, sending Endrick in on goal.
The youngster, top scorer in the Copa del Rey, produced a gorgeous lobbed finish over Romero for his fifth in the competition.
Real Sociedad appealed for a penalty before the break when Takefusa Kubo went down in the box after being held by Vinicius, but the referee did not concur.
Ancelotti brought on Mbappe for Endrick, looking for a goal to shut the tie down for good. However it was the visitors who were creating the better chances.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made a superb save to deny Martin Zubimendi and Oyarzabal wastefully fired the rebound wide.
Real Sociedad moved ahead on the night when Alaba deflected Marin’s cross through Lunin’s legs and into his own net after 72 minutes.
The Austrian defender, who returned from a long-term injury in January, was also involved in Real Sociedad’s third, deflecting Oyarzabal’s shot past Lunin.
It sparked Madrid in to action, with Vinicius turning his marker brilliantly, driving forward and crossing for Bellingham to strike in the 82nd minute.
Four minutes later and Los Blancos pulled level on the night with Tchouameni’s header badly fumbled by Remiro into his own net.
Just when it seemed Real Sociedad were out they managed to force extra-time, with Oyarzabal heading home Sergio Gomez’s free-kick in the 93rd minute.
Remiro saved well from Bellingham before the end of the regulation 90 minutes, with the pace slower, inevitably, as the game restarted.
Real Sociedad’s Jon Olagasti was booked for hacking down Vinicius as he threatened to escape on the left, with the visitors working hard to hold off the European champions.
With five minutes remaining Rudiger sent Madrid through to the final with a fine header from Arda Guler’s corner past the helpless Remiro.
On Wednesday Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in the second leg of the other semifinal, with the teams level at 4-4 on aggregate.


Dubai set to host Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup

Dubai set to host Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup
Updated 26 August 2025

Dubai set to host Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup

Dubai set to host Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup
  • Event takes place Aug. 30-31 at Shabab Al-Ahli Club
  • Championship boasts a prize pool of about $272,000

ABU DHABI: Preparations are underway for the eighth edition of the Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup, organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, which is taking place from Aug. 30-31 at Shabab Al-Ahli Club in Dubai.

The championship boasts a prize pool of about $272,000 which will be handed out to the top three across various divisions.

Leading clubs and academies from across the UAE have confirmed their participation, including Shabab Al-Ahli, Al-Ain, Al-Wahda, Baniyas, Al-Jazira, Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, ADMA, and MOD UAE.

The competition features four main divisions — adults, under-18s, under-16s, and under-14s — and is regarded as one of the key events on the local sporting calendar, alongside the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup, Mother of the Nation Jiu-Jitsu Cup, and the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, the vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Vice President’s Jiu-Jitsu Cup is an important fixture in the domestic season. Over the years it has elevated the level of competition between clubs, supported player development, and consistently provided opportunities for new talents to emerge and represent the UAE on the international stage.”

He added that the championship demonstrated the federation’s commitment to the highest organizational and technical standards, adding: “The competition is based on a weight-class system rather than belt rank, which creates strong matchups between athletes with different levels of experience. This approach plays a central role in developing skills and building long-term readiness.”


DP World ILT20 Development Tournament provides ‘platform for emerging talent,’ says CEO

DP World ILT20 Development Tournament provides ‘platform for emerging talent,’ says CEO
Updated 26 August 2025

DP World ILT20 Development Tournament provides ‘platform for emerging talent,’ says CEO

DP World ILT20 Development Tournament provides ‘platform for emerging talent,’ says CEO
  • The 18-match tournament of 6 teams in a single-league, round-robin format, began on Aug. 24 and ends Sept. 3
  • Tournament provides UAE’s emerging cricketers with a platform to showcase their talent ahead of the DP World ILT20 2025 Player Auction

DUBAI: The DP World ILT20 Development Tournament returned for its third edition on Sunday at the ICC Academy in Dubai with CEO David White highlighting the competition’s growth, role in developing young talent, and contribution to the UAE’s cricket depth and professionalism.

“It’s a great opportunity for these young men to stake a claim to be selected in the full tournament (DP World International League season four), so it’s incredibly important,” he said in a statement recently.

“Last year, there was a big improvement in the standard, and I’m sure it’s going to be an even higher standard again this year.”

“Not only their skills, but also their attitude, their strength and conditioning, the whole level of professionalism has increased,” White added.

“We’ve already had success stories. A lot of these players have played this tournament and then gone on to do well in the main event. The fact that they get to perform in front of cameras, with matches streamed live, adds both pressure and incentive at the same time.”

With the DP World ILT20 Player Auction for season four set just days after the Asia Cup 2025, all eyes will be on the development tournament as teams aim to secure the UAE’s most exciting talent for the minimum of two spots in the playing XI.

“It’s a big opportunity to impress. If they do get selected in one of the franchise teams, they’ll not only participate in the league but also train with world-class coaches,” White said.

The DP World ILT20 season four runs from Dec. 2 to Jan. 4, having established itself as a global competition.

White said: “The league last year really stepped up. It is very pleasing now that we are talked about, in global cricket terms, as one of the big leagues.

“When everyone talks about the big leagues around the world, they talk about DP World ILT20 as well. We’re now mainstream, we’re a league that’s growing, getting bigger, and I’m really excited about Season 4.”

Looking ahead, the tournament’s festive schedule adds further appeal, said White. “December and early January is a tremendous time for us. It is going to be really exciting.

“It gives us an opportunity to market over the Christmas period and the New Year period, the holiday season, which will mean that the crowds will be big, and it will give a real focus for cricket in this region.”

White also highlighted that the DP World ILT20 is strengthening the UAE national team.

“The UAE team have increased their depth, they now qualify for the Asia Cup, and they have the ability to beat any team on the day,” he said.

“What’s exciting about the Asia Cup is that Afghanistan, Pakistan and UAE have had a lot of experience playing in the DP World ILT20, in these conditions, which will certainly help them.”


Sinner, Swiatek, Gauff launch US Open title bids

Sinner, Swiatek, Gauff launch US Open title bids
Updated 26 August 2025

Sinner, Swiatek, Gauff launch US Open title bids

Sinner, Swiatek, Gauff launch US Open title bids
  • World number one Jannik Sinner has won two of this season’s three Grand Slams
  • Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the 2022 champion, will be looking to extend her impressive recent form

NEW YORK: World number one Jannik Sinner opens his bid for back-to-back US Open titles on Tuesday as former champions Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff set out to reclaim the women’s crown at Flushing Meadows.
Italy’s Sinner headlines the day three action when he faces unseeded Czech Vit Kopriva at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sinner has won two of this season’s three Grand Slams, the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while also reaching the final of the French Open in June where he lost an epic to Carlos Alcaraz in a fifth-set tiebreak.
The 24-year-old defending champion is a heavy favorite in New York, where he is aiming to become the first man to repeat since Roger Federer capped a remarkable run of five straight championships in 2008.
His preparations for the US Open were blown off course last week when illness forced him to retire while trailing 5-0 to Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final.
Sinner said subsequently he was still “not 100 percent” but expected to be fully recovered for Tuesday’s opener.
The Italian’s US Open victory last year came despite a doping scandal which exploded on the eve of the tournament.
He initially escaped a ban after testing positive for an anabolic steroid at Indian Wells earlier in 2024.
Sinner eventually agreed to a three-month suspension, served earlier this year, despite doping authorities accepting that he had been inadvertently contaminated.
The Italian says he has turned the page on that controversy and was fully focused on victory in New York.
“I feel like it’s over,” Sinner said. “We are focusing on hard work again and trying to get better as an athlete.
“I’m very happy to be back here. It’s obviously the last Grand Slam we have for this season so the motivations are very high.”
Poland’s Swiatek, the 2022 champion, will be looking to extend her impressive recent form when she faces unseeded Emiliana Arango in the first round.
The second seed, once viewed as a clay-court specialist, has developed her all-round game this season, with results indicating she is increasingly comfortable on faster surfaces.
She warmed up with victory at the WTA Cincinnati Open hard-court tournament, which followed her breakthrough win on the grass of Wimbledon in July.
The 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, seeded three, gets under way against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in a night game on Arthur Ashe.
On Monday, Sinner’s rival Alcaraz opened his campaign with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 straight-sets defeat of unseeded American Reilly Opelka.


Venus Williams bows out of US Open as streamlined Alcaraz sails through

Venus Williams bows out of US Open as streamlined Alcaraz sails through
Updated 26 August 2025

Venus Williams bows out of US Open as streamlined Alcaraz sails through

Venus Williams bows out of US Open as streamlined Alcaraz sails through
  • Venus Williams battled bravely before bowing out of the US Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis on Monday as Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the second round with a dominant opening win

NEW YORK: Venus Williams battled bravely before bowing out of the US Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis on Monday as Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the second round with a dominant opening win.
The second full day of action in New York saw all eyes turn to the Arthur Ashe Stadium’s night session, where the 45-year-old Williams lost in three sets to 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
Williams only returned to competitive tennis in July following a 16-month absence from the sport and had been granted a wild card into the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
But hopes of a fairytale run — 28 years after her debut in the tournament — ended in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 loss to Muchova, who was not even born when Williams turned professional in 1994.
“I didn’t win today but I’m very proud of the way I played,” Williams, the US Open champion in 2000 and 2001, said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a crowd on my side like that. I knew people around the world and around the United States were really rooting for me, and that felt great.”
With the American exiting, 2022 men’s champion Alcaraz took center-stage in the late game in his first round tie against unseeded American Reilly Opelka.
The Spaniard arrived for the game sporting a striking new hairstyle — a severe crew cut — and he duly chopped down the 6ft 11in Opelka with a blistering 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory in 2hr 5min.
“Today was a really difficult one,” Alcaraz said. “Reilly is a great, tough player. I couldn’t get the rhythm that I wanted to get but I’m just really happy with what I did today. I did a great performance today.”
Alcaraz is chasing a second US Open title following his maiden Grand Slam victory at the tournament three years ago.
Australian Open winner Madison Keys became the highest-ranked player to exit so far, the sixth seed losing to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.
“Today was the first time in a while where my nerves really got the better of me and it kind of became a little bit paralyzing,” home hope Keys said.
“I was just slow, I wasn’t seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel like resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork.”
Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova bundled out rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, defeating the teenager 6-3, 6-2.
Belgian 19th seed Elize Mertens ousted wild card Alyssa Ahn 6-1, 6-0 while Ukrainian 30th seed Dayana Yastremska exited in a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 loss to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova brought the curtain down on her career after a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to France’s Diane Parry.
The 35-year-old Czech had already announced her intention to retire after the US Open, but was nonetheless overcome with emotion as she said farewell to the sport, breaking down in tears as she addressed fans afterwards.
“I hoped I would put on a better show today,” Kvitova said. “It was tough to know it could be my last match, and emotionally it was very tough as well.”
Qualifier Coleman Wong became the first man from Hong Kong to record a victory in a Grand Slam singles event in the Open era with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of US player Aleksandar Kovacevic.
It was the latest in a series of breakthrough results by young Asian players at this year’s US Open.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines — who trains with Wong at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Spain — and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen both won their first-round matches in the main draw.
British fifth seed Jack Draper needed four sets to get past Argentina’s Federico Gomez, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2.
Other seeds to advance included Norway’s Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, who downed Austria’s Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
US 17th seed Frances Tiafoe beat Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.


Inter thrash Torino with five-goal masterclass to start campaign

Inter thrash Torino with five-goal masterclass to start campaign
Updated 26 August 2025

Inter thrash Torino with five-goal masterclass to start campaign

Inter thrash Torino with five-goal masterclass to start campaign
  • It was Inter’s first victory by at least five goals in a season opener since 1961, and a far cry from their Champions League final defeat in May, when Paris St. Germain won by the same score
  • Thuram: This victory means we started well without conceding a goal, and that was important

MILAN: Inter Milan wasted no time flexing their attacking muscle as they dismantled Torino 5-0 at home to open their Serie A campaign on Monday.

Marcus Thuram scored twice as Inter at times turned the Torino box into a playground, creating far more chances than the scoreline suggested.

Inter asserted their superiority from the first whistle at San Siro, with Thuram almost striking inside the opening minute when his header flashed just over the bar.

The hosts’ dominance was rewarded in the 18th minute when Alessandro Bastoni rose highest at a corner and guided a looping header over the Torino defense and inside the far post.

Nine minutes before the interval, Petar Sucic slipped Thuram through inside the Torino box, and the Frenchman finished with ease from an acute angle to double Inter’s lead.

The goal appeared to free Inter up creatively in attack, with both the forward and midfield carving out chance after chance against a disorganized Torino defense who looked relieved at the halftime whistle.

Inter carried their superiority into the second half, as Lautaro Martinez pounced on a misplaced Torino backpass in the box and calmly slotted home Inter’s third seven minutes in.

Thuram continued the onslaught in the 62nd minute when he rose high to head in a cross from Bastoni.

In the 72nd minute Torino were punished again for sloppy defending when Denzel Dumfries intercepted a misplaced pass out from the back. A quick exchange of passes left Ange-Yoan Bonny unmarked in the box, and he calmly slotted home to complete the rout.

It was Inter’s first victory by at least five goals in a season opener since 1961, and a far cry from their Champions League final defeat in May, when Paris St. Germain won by the same score.

“This victory means we started well without conceding a goal, and that was important. We’re not 100 percent yet, but we’re working toward that. It was a good match,” Thuram told Sky Sport.

“What happened last season is in the past, this is a new campaign and we have learned from that experience.”

Bastoni agreed with his teammate.

“We were all really eager to come back and prove to ourselves that despite a difficult end to the season, we were still hungry and wanted to show what we could do,” he said.