Kane double fires Bayern into Club World Cup last eight

Kane double fires Bayern into Club World Cup last eight
Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 football match between Brazil's Flamengo and Germany's Bayern Munich at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 29, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 30 June 2025

Kane double fires Bayern into Club World Cup last eight

Kane double fires Bayern into Club World Cup last eight
  • Vincent Kompany’s side will now play European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta on Saturday for a place in the last four

MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich overcame determined resistance from Flamengo to book their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with an entertaining 4-2 victory on Sunday.
Vincent Kompany’s side will now play European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta on Saturday for a place in the last four.
Flamengo, backed by a huge and passionate following at Hard Rock Stadium, bow out of the tournament despite a performance of real determination from Filipe Luis’s team.
It took just six minutes for Bayern to grab the lead when Joshua Kimmich whipped in a corner and Flamengo defender Erick Pulgar’s header flashed into his own net off the far post.
Four minutes later and Bayern had doubled their advantage. Dayot Upamecano won the ball inside Flamengo’s half and fed Harry Kane whose low shot deflected off Leo Ortiz and rattled into the bottom corner.
The German champions looked like they were going to run away with the game but the three-times Copa Libertadores champions were able to find a foothold in the game.
Luiz Araujo forced Manuel Neuer into action with a dangerous snap shot and then the winger went close again with a shot on the turn which flew just wide of the post.
Flamengo were rewarded for their efforts in the 33rd minute when after the dangerous Araujo played the ball in from the left, the ball fell to Gerson who unleashed a thunderbolt which rocketed past Neuer to bring the bulk of the 60,914 crowd to their feet.
But all that good work from the Rio team was undone four minutes before the break when Araujo’s poor clearance landed straight at the feet of Leon Goretzka who had the time and space to settle himself before, from over 20 yards out, placing his shot into the corner to make it 3-1.
Flamengo came out determined to respond once again and they reduced the deficit again in the 55th minute when Michael Olize handled a cross from Giorgian de Arrascaeta at close range.
It was the kind of tough call that has become normal in the modern game and former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho took advantage of the opportunity with an ice-cool conversion.
But for all Flamengo’s energy, they lacked composure and quality at key moments in the final third — something that could never be said about Bayern.
The contest was finally settled in the 73rd minute when Konrad Laimer won the ball in midfield and fed Kimmich who in turn slipped the ball through to Kane who confidently beat Agustin Rossi with one of his trademark precision and power drives.


Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague

Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague
Updated 05 September 2025

Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague

Saudis come from behind to beat North Macedonia 2-1 in friendly in Prague
  • Match is part of a training camp for the Green Falcons ahead of their double header of Asian qualifiers next month for the 2026 World Cup

DUBAI: defeated North Macedonia 2-1 on Thursday in a friendly match at FK Viktoria Stadion in Prague, as part of a training camp for the Green Falcons ahead of next month’s fourth round of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Herve Renard’s men fell behind to 41st-minute Aleksandar Trajkovski strike, but went into the break on level terms after Feras Al-Buraikan equalized in the first minute of stoppage time. They completed the comeback win thanks to a 78th-minute winner from Abdullah Al-Hamdan.

The Saudis dominated for long spells, ending up with 65.7 percent of the possession, according to the BBC, and 11 shots on goal, seven of them on target, compared with North Macedonia’s five shots, two of which were on target.

On Monday, will take on the Czech Republic in their second friendly of the international break, before the double header of World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia on Oct. 8 and Iraq on Oct. 14. Both matches will be played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.


Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official

Updated 12 sec ago

Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official

Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furor: official
The 38-year-old former Uruguay, Liverpool and Barcelona star was sanctioned for spitting

NEW YORK: Inter Miami star Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension for his actions following last weekend’s stormy Leagues Cup final defeat to the Seattle Sounders, tournament disciplinary chiefs said on Friday.
The 38-year-old former Uruguay, Liverpool and Barcelona star was sanctioned for spitting at a Sounders official after becoming embroiled in a melee followng Miami’s 3-0 loss.

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in
Updated 38 sec ago

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in

World Cricket Festival aims to create new sporting ecosystem in
  • Pakistani legends Saqlain Mushatq, Yasir Shah among guests

RIYADH: The World Cricket Festival was launched in Riyadh on Friday night by Cricket Investment Co. in partnership with the n Cricket Federation.

The event aims to create a new ecosystem for cricket in in cooperation with the SACF.

The launch event welcomed high-profile leaders and investors and unveiled the vision behind “cricketainment.” It also set the stage for various cricket tournaments to be played in the Kingdom, including the F2 Double Wicket World Cup 2025 in Jeddah.

Speaking to Arab News at the launch, SACF Chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al Saud thanked the CIC for its support of the sport.

“It’s our first strategic partnership between CIC, which is the investment arm of the federation, and the private sector. It’s part of our initiative to enable the private sector within for the development of the game,” he said.

“This is the first investment between the two sides. It has multiple programs in multiple cities across the Kingdom and we look forward to getting started together.”

On the WCF claim that the festival was “where cricket meets culture,” he said: “We still haven’t finalized all the details but it’s going to be a unique experience. It will definitely help in the development of cricket, for sure.”

At the launch event, Infinix, an investment company that builds cricket grounds and academies in the UAE in partnership with Karwan Spots Club from Pakistan, said it would create the first ICC-standard cricket grounds in within six months.

In partnership with the SACF, the company will build two stadiums, the first in Riyadh and later in Jeddah. These will be followed by several more in other cities, Prince Saud said.

The other tournaments under the banner of WCF include F20 Season-2, a T20 cricket league, Saudi Corporate Premier League and the Gulf Premier League, and soft ball cricket leagues.

Pakistani spinners Saqlain Mushatq and Yasir Shah and Indian test cricketer Waseem Jaffer attended the launch event and praised the SACF for its efforts in helping to develop cricket in .

They said they hoped young cricketers would make their names in the Kingdom.

Saudi cricket team captain Hisham Sheikh said: “Born and brought up in , it’s a wonderful achievement to lead the Saudi team, and as a captain I am glad to be here at WCF launch. It’s a great feeling.”


Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller
Updated 23 min 31 sec ago

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over tri-series thriller
  • Afghanistan defend 170-4 as UAE fall short at 166-5 in Sharjah thriller
  • Afghanistan rest Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi before Pakistan final

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Pace bowler Fareed Ahmad kept cool in the last over Friday to foil Asif Khan’s aggressive hitting as a depleted Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by four runs in a tri-series match.

After Asif opened the final over with a four, a six and a two, Ahmad beat the bat with the next two balls. Asif needed to find the boundary off the last ball but was caught as Afghanistan held on to win at the Sharjah stadium.

Afghanistan, already sure of facing Pakistan in Saturday’s final, rested six of their main players including skipper Rashid Khan, veteran Mohammad Nabi and in-form opener Sediqullah Atal.

Afghanistan made a 170-4 before restricting UAE to 166-5 in their 20 overs.

Afghanistan’s stand-in skipper Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and batted.

With Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Zadran put on 98 for the first wicket in 12 overs.

Zadran hit 48 in a 35-ball knock that contained three sixes and as many fours.

Gurbaz smashed three fours and a six in his 38-ball innings before both the openers fell off successive deliveries.

Kariam Janat made a 14-ball 28 with three sixes and a boundary and Gulbadin Naib scored a 13-ball 20 not out as Afghanistan hit 56 runs in the last five overs.

Left-arm spinner Haider Ali was the best UAE bowler with 2-23.

For the hosts, Muhammad Waseem scored a 29-ball 44 with three sixes and two fours while Asif made a valiant 28-ball 40 with two sixes and four fours.


Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over thriller

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over thriller
Updated 34 min 16 sec ago

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over thriller

Depleted Afghanistan edge UAE in a last-over thriller
  • Afghanistan, already sure of facing Pakistan in Saturday’s final, rested six of their main players
  • Afghanistan made a 170-4 before restricting UAE to 166-5 in their 20 overs

SHARJAH: Pace bowler Fareed Ahmad kept cool in the last over Friday to foil Asif Khan’s aggressive hitting as a depleted Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by four runs in a tri-series match.
After Asif opened the final over with a four, a six and a two, Ahmad beat the bat with the next two balls. Asif needed to find the boundary off the last ball but was caught as Afghanistan held on to win at the Sharjah stadium.
Afghanistan, already sure of facing Pakistan in Saturday’s final, rested six of their main players including skipper Rashid Khan, veteran Mohammad Nabi and in-form opener Sediqullah Atal.
Afghanistan made a 170-4 before restricting UAE to 166-5 in their 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s stand-in skipper Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and batted.
With Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Zadran put on 98 for the first wicket in 12 overs.
Zadran hit 48 in a 35-ball knock that contained three sixes and as many fours.
Gurbaz smashed three fours and a six in his 38-ball innings before both the openers fell off successive deliveries.
Kariam Janat made a 14-ball 28 with three sixes and a boundary and Gulbadin Naib scored a 13-ball 20 not out as Afghanistan hit 56 runs in the last five overs.
Left-arm spinner Haider Ali was the best UAE bowler with 2-23.
For the hosts, Muhammad Waseem scored a 29-ball 44 with three sixes and two fours while Asif made a valiant 28-ball 40 with two sixes and four fours.