Sports
Dortmund, Inter, Monterrey, Fluminense Through To CWC Last 16
Inter Milan overcame River Plate 2-0 in a heated clash, while Monterrey thumped Urawa Reds 4-0 to enter the knockouts.
Mexican club Monterrey have booked a spot in the knockout rounds of the Club World Cup with a thumping 4-0 win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at the Rose Bowl.
Three goals in eight first-half minutes sent the side on their way to victory on Wednesday, as they claimed second place in Group E behind Inter Milan, whose 2-0 victory over River Plate eased some nerves for the European giants.
Stunning long-range strikes from Nelson Deossa and Jesus Corona came either side of German Berterame’s cool finish to set up Monterrey a last 16 meeting with Borussia Dortmund.
Deossa put Monterrey in front on the half-hour mark with a swerving long-range shot and Berterame doubled the advantage four minutes later.
Corona added the third with the pick of the goals from distance in the 38th minute before Berterame scored the fourth in second-half stoppage time.
“I’m really very happy we’re in the next stage,” said Monterrey coach Domenec Torrent.
“We’re very happy because we have a clean sheet , it’s not easy in this group especially with the group that we had.”
Meanwhile, Inter Milan kept their cool to beat nine-man and eliminate River Plate, booking a knockout tie against Fluminense.
The Champions League runners-up faced a tough battle in Seattle against an aggressive River Plate side, who had Lucas Martinez and Gonzalo Montiel sent off in front of 45,000 fans at Lumen Field.
Francesco Esposito scored his first Inter goal to put the Italians ahead and Alessandro Bastoni made the game safe later on for Christian Chivu’s side.
“In the first half we were surprised by their intensity, aggression and pressure,” said Chivu.
“Then in the second half we raised our level of intensity… We’re strong, confident and have players who can play such a game.”
With Monterrey ahead against Urawa, River needed a winner to progress, but their job got harder when Martinez was sent off after 66 minutes for hacking down veteran Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Six minutes later teenage striker Esposito steered home the opener to leave River on the brink.
Bastoni ensured Inter’s progress as he drilled home, before River’s Gonzalo Montiel picked up a second yellow and was dismissed.
There were ugly scenes at the end as River fans threw objects at Inter players leaving the pitch.
Both Argentinian teams at the tournament, River and their rivals Boca Juniors, have been eliminated despite their fans creating vibrant atmospheres.
“It’s a shame for all the people who came en masse to watch the team that we couldn’t give them the chance to keep going,” said disappointed River coach Marcelo Gallardo.
Also in Group F, Fluminense could only draw 0-0 against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, but it was enough to claim second place behind Dortmund, who defeated Ulsan HD 1-0 to claim top spot in Group F.
Sundowns’ exit means none of the four African clubs who came to the tournament will feature in the last 16, but their performances mean they can go home with their heads held high.
“We leave and go home with our heads up because we are much stronger than we were when we came here,” said the South African champions’ coach, Miguel Cardoso.
On Thursday, Manchester City face Juventus in a battle for top spot in Group G, while Spanish giants Real Madrid face RB Salzburg as they bid to progress from Group H.
Aljazeera.com
Tributes have poured in following the death of Nigerian non-league footballer Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, who died from a catastrophic brain injury just one day before his wife and four-year-old daughter could reach his bedside.
Adeniji, who played as a winger for Kings Park Rangers in Halstead, Essex, passed away in hospital on Friday after being admitted to intensive care on January 25 with a severe brain stem injury.
The club rallied around his family, who travelled from Nigeria to be with him but arrived after his death.
A fundraising appeal launched to support them has raised more than £16,000 of its £17,000 target to help cover expenses, including travel and accommodation.
Medical staff reportedly delayed switching off life support in the hope that his family would arrive in time to say goodbye, but the club confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement released on Saturday.
Kings Park Rangers said: “It is with great sadness that we must announce our number 17 Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’ passed away yesterday morning. He fought so hard to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter unfortunately arrived this morning, a day late.
“He will always be a King. He will always be loved. As a friend, as a dad as a husband, as a brother and as a son. R.I.P Saburi Adeniji.”
The Essex and Suffolk Border League side waived gate fees in recent weeks, redirecting the funds as donations for the family, and observed a minute’s silence before their match against Henley Athletic. The club also organised a fundraising event to support the bereaved family.
In another message, the club said: “We are overwhelmed with the support and on behalf of everyone involved with the club.”
The fundraising page explained that the money would assist with emergency visa applications, travel expenses and accommodation while the family remains in the UK.
It also highlighted Adeniji’s devotion to his family, stating: “Saburi leaves behind a four-year-old daughter, whom he adored. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and was deeply committed to giving his daughter a good education and a better future.
“Beyond the immediate need to reunite his family, this fund will also be used to support his wife financially as she navigates life after this devastating loss and help secure his daughter’s education and wellbeing back home in Nigeria.
“This is a moment for the football world to come together players, clubs, teammates, supporters, and friends. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a real difference to a young family facing unimaginable heartbreak.”
Leicester City have confirmed the loan signing of Joe Aribo from Southampton, DAILY POST reports. The move, according to the Foxes, is subject to league approval.
Aribo endured a difficult first half of the season at Southampton, making just seven league appearances, all as a substitute. The Nigeria international is not expected to return to the Saints, with his contract set to expire this summer.
The 29-year-old made 111 appearances for Southampton across four seasons in the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship.
Aribo will now link up with his new teammates as Leicester prepare for their upcoming Sky Bet Championship fixture away at Birmingham City on Saturday.
Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, boycotting Saudi Pro League games has led to several transfers being held up.
As it stands, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Youssef En-Nesyri cannot join new teams.
The potential move of Benzema to Al-Hilal was set to trigger a domino effect, which would have seen Kanté move to Fenerbahçe and En-Nesyri sign for Al-Ittihad. However, Ronaldo is opposed to it, believing the transfers would harm the balance and fair competition of the league.
His frustration comes from the fact that Prince Al Waleed, the outright to-be owner of Al Hilal in the summer — unlike Al Nassr, which is under PIF governance— can use his own personal funds to finalize transfers.
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