Esperance send Los Angeles crashing

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Esperance send Los Angeles crashing

Nashville: Esperance kept their knockout phase hopes alive at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 after defeating Los Angeles Football Club in their Group D tie on Friday.

Youcef Belaili's 70th-minute goal earned the Tunisian side all three points and eliminated the Major League Soccer team from the competition.

Esperance, now with three points, are level with Chelsea FC but sit in third place on goal difference. 

Flamengo have qualified for the knockout stage and secured top spot in Group D with a game to spare. Los Angeles have been eliminated.

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Benfica stroll to victory

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Benfica stroll to victory

Orlando: Benfica romped to a 6-0 win over Auckland City on Friday in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D match which suffered a long weather delay, with Angel Di Maria netting two penalties.

With the Portuguese side leading by a goal at half-time the match was suspended because of a storm, eventually resuming two hours later.

Auckland of New Zealand, the only Oceania Football Confederation representatives at the tournament, were thrashed 10-0 by Bayern Munich in their Group C opener and this defeat means they are eliminated.

Flamengo bounce back to beat Chelsea

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Flamengo bounce back to beat Chelsea

Philadelphia: Substitute Bruno Henrique played a starring role as Flamengo came roaring back in the second half to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on Friday, maintaining an impressive record for South American teams so far at the competition.

Pedro Neto had given Chelsea the lead in the first half but Flamengo, roared on by their frenzied supporters who made up the majority of the 54,019 crowd, produced a stunning fightback after the interval.

Bruno Henrique came off the bench to equalised for the Brazilian giants just after the hour mark before setting up Danilo to make it 2-1. Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the 68th minute before Wallace Yan netted late on to seal the win for Flamengo.

With two wins from two at the tournament, Flamengo are now on the brink of qualification for the last 16 from Group D.

Preview - Group F: Fluminense FC (BRA) v Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Preview - Group F: Fluminense FC (BRA) v Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

New York: Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD FC will have to beat Fluminense FC of Brazil in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group F match on Saturday to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.

The 1-0 defeat to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in their opening game put a dent into their ambitions to reach the next phase of the competition and head coach Kim Pan-gon knows that an uptake in performance is needed against Fluminense.

Preview - Group E: Inter Milan (ITA) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Preview - Group E: Inter Milan (ITA) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Seattle: Urawa Red Diamonds face a formidable challenge to resurrect their Group E campaign when they meet Inter Milan on Matchday Two of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday.

Both teams dropped points in their opening ties with Japan’s Urawa suffering a 3-1 defeat to Argentina's River Plate, while Italy’s Inter Milan were held 1-1 by Monterrey of Mexico.

Botafogo edge PSG to stay perfect

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Botafogo edge PSG to stay perfect

Pasadena: Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 FIFA Club World Cup 2025 defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday in a hardfought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America.

A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

French champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month.

But their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side to reach the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro.

Barrios brace fires Atletico back in the hunt

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Barrios brace fires Atletico back in the hunt

Seattle: Pablo Barrios scored twice as Atletico Madrid bounced back from their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 opening defeat to Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Thursday.

Atletico were outclassed by PSG in a 4-0 loss at the Rose Bowl in Group B on Sunday but their quality was on full display in a convincing victory at Lumen Field.

Seattle were hoping to emulate Inter Miami's upset victory over European opposition earlier in the day but while the Florida side can call on Lionel Messi, the Sounders have more modest talents and were fortunate to escape a heavier loss.

Messi's Inter Miami stun Porto

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Messi's Inter Miami stun Porto

Atlanta: A Lionel Messi trademark free-kick earned Inter Miami a shock 2-1 comeback win against Porto in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group A tie on Thursday.

The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing from Group A.

Inter Miami and Palmeiras have four points each, after the Brazilian side beat Al Ahly 2-0 earlier on – the Egyptians like Porto have one point.

Palmeiras stroll past Al Ahly

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Palmeiras stroll past Al Ahly

East Rutherford: Palmeiras registered their first win in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 with a 2-0 victory over Al Ahly in Group A on Thursday.

Victory took Palmeiras provisionally top on four points, with the other three sides level on one point each.

Bounou: Al Hilal's focus stopped Real Madrid

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Bounou: Al Hilal's focus stopped Real Madrid

Miami: Yassine Bounou said Al Hilal SFC’s fully focused approach secured the Saudi Arabian side’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group H opener on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal looked set to be denied a commendable result when Spanish giants Real were awarded a penalty after Mohammed Al Qahtani fouled Fran Garcia.

Custodian Bounou, however, went the right way to deny Federico Valverde’s stoppage time spot-kick as Al Hilal took a deserved point.

Juventus too strong for Al Ain

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Juventus too strong for Al Ain

Washington, D.C: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both bagged braces as Juventus cruised past Al Ain 5-0 on Wednesday in their FIFA Club World Cup opener on Wednesday.

The Italian giants surged to the top of Group G above Manchester City, who beat Wydad AC earlier on.