Sports

Chelsea beat Mourinho’s Benfica 1-0 in UCL

Published

1 month ago

October 1, 2025

Chelsea beat Mourinho’s Benfica 1-0 in UCL

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a warm welcome but a disappointing return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, a first-half own goal gifting Chelsea a 1-0 win over his new Benfica side in the Champions League.

A scrappy game was decided in the 18th minute when Chelsea’s Pedro Neto looped the ball to Alejandro Garnacho at the far post and the Argentine stretched to turn it across the face of goal where the unfortunate Richard Rios could only poke it in his own net.

Mourinho, who won three league titles in two spells with Chelsea, waved and blew a kiss when the home supporters sang his name. The fans’ mood contrasted strongly with previous visits when he was in charge of Manchester United and London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea will be relieved to have points on the Champions League board, despite finishing the game with 10 men after substitute Joao Pedro was sent off deep into added time for two yellow cards.

Enzo Maresca’s team lost their first Champions League outing in more than two years to Bayern Munich earlier this month.

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They started brightly, hogging possession and creating chances for Neto and Enzo Fernandez. Garnacho, signed this season from Manchester United, busily probed down the left wing.

Benfica, who have lost all five of their meetings against the London side, looked dangerous in spells with Fredrik Aursnes and Georgiy Sudakov having shots blocked and Dodi Lukebakio forcing a save onto the post.

But the game was a stop, start affair in the second half, with seven yellow cards brandished before Chelsea’s red just before the final whistle.

Benfica fans taunted their former player Fernandez as he took a corner in front of them late in the first half and the smiling Argentine clapped them which provoked a flurry of plastic cups from the stands. Mourinho strode down the touchline gesturing for the visiting fans to calm down.

The Portuguese coach took charge of Benfica less than two weeks ago after the side lost their first Champions League game to Azerbaijan’s Qarabag and the Lisbon side sacked Bruno Lage.

Chelsea beat Mourinho’s Benfica 1-0 in UCL

Sports

De Ligt’s late strike earns Manchester United dramatic draw at Tottenham

Published

12 hours ago

November 8, 2025

Trends Admin

De Ligt’s late strike earns Manchester United dramatic draw at Tottenham

Manchester United snatched a dramatic 2–2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from defender Matthijs de Ligt deep into stoppage time.

In a pulsating Premier League encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, United looked set to return to winning ways after Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half header gave them control. The winger met Amad Diallo’s precise cross to nod past Spurs goalkeeper and silence the home crowd.

United goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a string of fine saves to keep out efforts from Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, as Tottenham pushed hard after the break.

The hosts eventually levelled six minutes from time when substitute Mathys Tel, who was earlier booed upon his introduction for Xavi Simons, turned sharply inside the box and fired past Lammens to make it 1–1.

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Moments later, the stadium erupted again when Richarlison flicked in Wilson Odobert’s long-range effort to give Tottenham a 2–1 lead, seemingly sealing a comeback victory.

However, in the final minute of added time, United threw everyone forward for a corner — including goalkeeper Lammens. The ball fell kindly to De Ligt, who fired home from a tight angle to secure a valuable point for Ruben Amorim’s men.

The dramatic equaliser left both sets of players stunned. Richarlison was visibly distraught, having thought his late strike would deliver victory, while Amorim expressed relief after seeing his side salvage something from a game they nearly lost control of.

The result denied Tottenham their first home win in three games and extended United’s unbeaten run under Amorim, in what was one of the most thrilling finishes of the Premier League season so far.

De Ligt’s late strike earns Manchester United dramatic draw at Tottenham

Sports

Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie nominated for 2025 FIFA best goalkeeper award

Published

2 days ago

November 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie nominated for 2025 FIFA best goalkeeper award

Zurich — Nigeria’s Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has been shortlisted for the 2025 Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award, following an outstanding season for both club and country.

FIFA announced the nominees on Thursday while opening the global voting process for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025. Fans worldwide can now cast their votes via the official FIFA app to decide the winners in various categories, including Best Player, Coach, and Goalkeeper.

Nnadozie joins a competitive shortlist that includes Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Cata Coll (Spain), Christiane Endler (Chile), Hannah Hampton (England), Anna Moorhouse (England), and Phallon Tullis-Joyce (USA).

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The 24-year-old earned her place among the elite after an exceptional 2024/25 campaign, during which she captained her former club Paris FC to victory in the Coupe de France Féminine — the club’s first major title in nearly two decades.

Nnadozie also played a crucial role in Nigeria’s 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph in Morocco earlier this year, where she was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Since joining Brighton & Hove Albion Women in England, the shot-stopper has maintained top form, further earning recognition with a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy rankings at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

She is also among the leading contenders for the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, which would mark her third continental title in that category.

Voting for The Best FIFA Football Awards closes on November 28, with the winners set to be unveiled during an official ceremony early next year.

Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie nominated for 2025 FIFA best goalkeeper award

Sports

Gabon unveils 27-man squad ahead of crucial World Cup playoff against Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Trends Admin

Gabon unveils 27-man squad ahead of crucial World Cup playoff against Nigeria

With anticipation building ahead of their decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff clash against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Gabon’s national team, the Panthers, have announced a formidable 27-man squad.

Head coach Thierry Mouyouma revealed the roster at a press conference in Libreville on Thursday, confirming the team that will face Nigeria on November 13, 2025, at the C.S. Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The winner of the encounter will advance to face either Cameroon or DR Congo in the next round of the playoffs.

Leading the Gabonese side is veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, currently with Marseille. The 36-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona star will be joined by key players including the Lemina brothers—Mario (Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Noha (Yverdon Sport FC)—as well as Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC, who topped Gabon’s scoring chart in the qualifiers with eight goals.

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Despite a strong qualifying campaign, Gabon narrowly missed automatic qualification, finishing second in Group E with 25 points—just one behind group leaders Côte d’Ivoire.

Full Squad List:

Goalkeepers: Jean-Noël Amonome (AS Arta/Solar7, Djibouti), Donald Nzé (AS Mangasport), Anthony Mfa Mezui (FC Rodange, Luxembourg)
Defenders: Bruno Ecuele Manga (Chamois Niortais, France), Lloyd Palun (RWD Molenbeek, Belgium), Aaron Appindangoye (Free Agent), Johann Obiang (Stade Lavallois, France), David Sambissa (Pau FC, France), Sidney Obissa (Olympiakos Nicosia, Cyprus)
Midfielders: Mario Lemina (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Guélor Kanga (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Jim Allevinah (Clermont Foot, France), Louis Ameka Autchanga (Sabah FC, Azerbaijan), Noha Lemina (Yverdon Sport FC, Switzerland), Yoann Wachter (US Saint-Malo, France)
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille, France), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC, USA), Axel Meye (CR Belouizdad, Algeria), Aaron Boupendza (Al-Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Ulrick Eneme Ella (Angers SCO, France)

With a blend of seasoned internationals and emerging talents, Gabon will be aiming to overcome Nigeria and keep their World Cup hopes alive.