Two second-half goals give Morocco a first win at a World Cup for 24 years, sending their raucous fans into delirium.
Morocco beat Belgium in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 27, 2022.
Morocco beat Belgium in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 27, 2022.
Belgium dictated the first half, but were unable to convert their dominance into goals.
In the second half, Moroccan substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri curled in a free kick past Thibaut Courtois.
Then in stoppage time Zakaria Aboukhlal, also a substitute, scored to put Morocco at the top of their group with four points, one ahead of Belgium, sending the Moroccan fans into delirium.
REAL MADRID’S VINICIUS JUNIOR BATTLING LIVERPOOL’S IBRAHIMA KONATE
For the 14th time in their rich, unmatched history, Real Madrid are the kings of the UEFA Champions League. On Saturday, Los Blancos got a second-half goal from Vinicius Jr. on one of their few chances to defeat Liverpool 1-0 in the final in Paris. Jurgen Klopp’s team dominated the ball and the chances, but the best opportunity for Los Blancos in the second half resulted in the lone goal. Federico Valverde played a strong ball across the box that found Vinicius Jr. at the back post for a fairly easy finish in the 59th minute, leaving the Reds shell shocked. Liverpool hit the post in the first half and had the most chances in the game, but they could not get one past an unbelievable performance in goal from Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian shotstopper, a loser in the final with Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid 8 years ago, is now on the winning side with a epic performance that will go down in history, denying Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and company with every chance he had.
The victory completes a double for Real after having won La Liga this season.
A SUMMARY OF REAL MADRID’S FEATS IN THIS SEASON’S UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Real Madrid have had one of the toughest ever Champions League runs.
They played Paris St-Germain in the last 16, and last season’s two finalists – Chelsea and Manchester City – in the next two rounds.
They came from behind against PSG, and Chelsea, and City.
Roma’s Tammy Abraham and Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrate their win
Jose Mourinho seems to be bored of hearing about the Special One these days. But how better to describe a manager who reigns supreme in the inaugural ‘Cup of Jokes’?
That was how Roma’s players viewed the Europa Conference League a year ago. By Wednesday night, however, not one of their supporters in Tirana were treating this as a tin-pot, even third-rate competition. Not when European glory had eluded them since the 1961 Fairs Cup.
That barren spell is over after Nicolo Zaniolo’s goal downed Feyenoord. It means Mourinho is the first manager to win all three of UEFA’s European competitions. His record in major continental finals remains perfect, too.
Played five, won five. For that, he has Chris Smalling to thank. The centre back was immense as Roma withstood a second-half barrage in Albania.
Tammy Abraham had a quieter evening but a brilliant debut season ends with another European medal to add to the Champions League title he won last year at Chelsea.
Roma had to make do for much of the night without Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
A hamstring injury had kept the midfielder out since April. Here he was forced off after barely 15 minutes.
This wasn’t a night for easing back into things, mind. Roma needed a while to settle as Feyenoord took charge during a frantic, fast-paced opening. All that was lacking? A chance at either end.
Abraham and Cyriel Dessers were vying for the competition’s golden boot but neither had a sniff early on. No one did, really, until Zaniolo peeled off Gernot Trauner, cushioned down Gianluca Mancini’s diagonal pass and chipped the ball over Justin Bijlow.
It was brilliantly taken – no wonder the Roma bench emptied on to the pitch.Mourinho did his best to temper the celebrations, for once. And with good reason.
Because by half-time, Feyenoord were pinning Roma back. The closest they came? Orkun Kokcu’s swerving shot from distance that was spilled by Rui Patricio.
Within four minutes of the restart, however, Feyenoord had struck the woodwork twice. First Mancini turned a low cross against his own post. Then Rui Patricio pushed Tyrell Malacia’s rasping shot on to frame of the goal Roma were teetering.
And yet, within moments, Abraham was through on goal. He appeared to be pulled back by Marcos Senesi – it looked an obvious red to all except the referee and VAR.
Fortunately for Roma, it mattered little come the final whistle in Tirana.
AC Milan struck twice inside five minutes to go from being 1-0 up to 3-0 up in their Scudetto-deciding game against Sassuolo.
Milan would then score in the 32nd minute and 36th minute to effectively put the nerves to bed. The first came in a very similar manner to the first with Leao winning the ball down the left and darting for the byline, cutting back for Giroud’s near post run and first time finish past Consigli.
The second came through another bit of pressing high up the pitch this time by Krunic to dispossess his man and Leao got his third assist of the goal when he pulled the ball back into the path of Franck Kessie who sidefooted it inside the far post, saluting the fans after in what might be his farewell.
Callum Wilson also scored for Newcastle in their first win of the season – a 1-0 victory over Burnley in December
At the start of the day, Burnley were above Leeds on goal difference, but Jesse Marsch’s side won 2-1 at Brentford to end the Clarets’ six-year spell in the top flight.
Callum Wilson scored twice for Newcastle through a calm penalty after Nathan Collins’ needless handball, then from Allan Saint-Maximin’s cross.
Burnley, who sacked long-serving manager Sean Dyche with eight games to go, got a goal back as Maxwel Cornet blasted in a volley after his first effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka.
When Leeds’ advantage was cancelled out at Brentford there was fresh hope among the home fans, but their team could not force an equaliser – and Leeds’ injury-time winner meant even that would not have been enough.
Illkay Gundogan celebrates a comeback over Aston Villa
Manchester City put up a remarkable comeback, scoring thrice inside five minutes to overturn a 2-0 Aston Villa lead to win 3-2 and earn the Citizens the English Premier League title on the last day of the season.
Liverpool, who were chasing the title and hoping City slip up, won 3-1 against Wolves at Anfield, but it was the blue half of Manchester who celebrated with victory as Pep Guardiola’s Masterclass handed them the title.
Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho had scored in either half to give Villa a shock 2-0 lead at the Etihad.
But, Guardiola’s substitutes delivered the title, Ilkay Gundogan stepping off the bench to score twice in between Rodri’s goal, coming off an assist of another substitute, Raheem Sterling.
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur have secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Tottenham Hotspur have qualified for next season’s UEFA Champions League after defeating Norwich on Sunday afternoon. The Lilywhites have been locked in a fierce top-four battle with local rivals Arsenal, who were four points clear just over a week ago.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men suffered back-to-back defeats, losing 3-0 in the North London Derby before delivering a poor display during Monday night’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United. That result meant Spurs just needed to draw against the already-relegated Canaries today, something they had no trouble with, winning 5-0.
It was just seven weeks ago that Tottenham boss Antonio Conte claimed his side would need a miracle to come above Manchester United, who ended the season in sixth. “It’s right to underline that this target is very, very difficult,” Conte said when asked about Spurs’ hopes of finishing fourth back in April.
Leipzig’s victory is their first in a German Cup final, having lost in 2019 and 2021
RB Leipzig won their first major trophy, beating Freiburg on penalties to win the German Cup final after coming back from 1-0 down in normal time despite going down to 10 men.
Maximilian Eggestein’s goal looked to have given Freiburg victory in normal time, with Leipzig’s numbers reduced after Marcel Halstenberg’s red card.
But Christopher Nkunku struck with 15 minutes remaining to bring extra time.
Freiburg’s Christian Gunter and Ermedin Demirovic both missed in the shootout.
Leipzig, who had lost in the final in 2019 and 2021, had lost a second player to a red card near the end of extra time when Kevin Kampl, who had been substituted having already picked up a yellow card, was booked again for protesting when the referee turned down a penalty appeal for his side.
Despite losing in their first cup final appearance in their 118-year history, Freiburg can take some solace from having finished sixth in the Bundesliga to qualify for the Europa League next season.
The Toffees will be in the top-flight next term once again after Frank Lampard’s side defied the odds to come back from the brink.
Everton have sealed their Premier League survival after mounting a dramatic second half comeback to claim a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in a five-goal thriller.
Frank Lamaprd’s side looked set to take their fight to avoid relegation all the way through to the final day of the season after first-half goals for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew left the Toffees unstuck.
But goals from Michael Keane, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the break delivered a remarkable turnaround to spark wild scenes on Merseyside.
How did Everton’s remarkable comeback unfold? Having been sunk by Mateta’s header and an almost comedy goal by Ayew, the Toffees were left needing a mammoth push after the interval in order to avoid dicing with the drop on Sunday.
Michael Keane got the ball rolling nine minutes into the second half with a chopped flick across the box to earn Everton’s first response, before Richarlison curled a shot home with a quarter-hour left on the clock following a deflection around the penalty area.
But it was Calvert-Lewin’s flying header with injury time fast approaching that finally put the hosts over the top to clip the wings of the Eagles, and the final whistle sparked wild jubilation as the striker was mobbed by delirious supporters in a flare-strafed pitch invasion.
THE FOOTBALL HUB 