Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – UEFA selects the host of the 2024 European Championship on Thursday in a vote pitting a safe German bid against a riskier Turkish proposal that offers a chance to explore new terrain. Germany, considered the favourite, has a long history of hosting major sporting events and has everything in place for […]

Port-au-Prince (AFP) – Football has long been a national obsession in Haiti, and following the devastating 2010 earthquake, which spurred the creation of a national disabled team, the country is now dreaming of World Cup glory. A 15-member squad is in the midst of intense training for the amputee World Cup set to take place […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said he didn't want to allow the organisation to lapse back into "chaos" as he announced a bid for re-election next year. The Bahraini royal first took the reins in 2013 when the Asian body was still reeling from a corruption […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Colombian striker Mauro Manotas scored two first half goals as the Houston Dynamo captured its first US Open Cup championship with a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. Houston also earned a cash prize of US$300,000 and punched their ticket to the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. "It feels good, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona conceded twice in 68 seconds and Real Madrid were three down at half-time as La Liga's two title favourites were each stunned by surprise defeats on Wednesday. Barca's 2-1 loss to relegation fighters Leganes was the greater shock but Madrid's beating was more emphatic, blown away by Sevilla during a torrid […]

London (AFP) – Manuel Pellegrini saluted West Ham's ruthless finishing as the Premier League side stormed to their biggest win for 35 years with an 8-0 thrashing of Macclesfield in the League Cup third round on Wednesday. Pellegrini, who twice won the League Cup with Manchester City, named a strong side against the Football League's […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola hailed Eden Hazard as one of the world's best after the Belgian's spectacular winner sent the Blues into the last 16 of the League Cup at Liverpool's expense with a 2-1 victory at Anfield. Both sides made nine changes with one eye on the top of the […]

Milan (AFP) – Paulo Dybala and Blaise Matuidi scored early as Juventus extended their perfect start to their Serie A title defence to six games on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Bologna, as Roma ended their losing streak with a 4-0 success over promoted Frosinone. The reigning champions have a maximum 18 points, three ahead […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard's majestic solo strike capped a thrilling Chelsea fightback in their 2-1 win at Liverpool, while Tottenham survived a penalty shoot-out to beat Watford in the League Cup third round on Wednesday. Arsenal advanced to the last 16 with a 3-1 win over Championship side Brentford, while West Ham demolished fourth-tier […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic bounced back from a difficult few days to reach the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup thanks to a 1-0 win at St. Johnstone on Wednesday. Steven Gerrard's Rangers also cruised into the last four with a 4-0 rout of second division Ayr United, while Premiership leaders Hearts came from behind […]

Leganés (Spain) (AFP) – Ernesto Valverde defended resting key players after Barcelona's shock 2-1 defeat to Leganes on Wednesday but admitted his team have fallen into in a "very difficult moment". Gerard Pique committed the decisive error, his fluffed clearance allowing Oscar Rodriguez to score Leganes' second goal in two incredible minutes, and the winner […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard's majestic solo strike capped a thrilling Chelsea fightback in their 2-1 win at Liverpool, while Tottenham survived a penalty shoot-out to beat Watford in the League Cup third round on Wednesday. Arsenal advanced to the last 16 with a 3-1 win over Championship side Brentford, while West Ham demolished fourth-tier […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain set a new club record on Wednesday when a 4-1 victory over Reims gave them a seventh win from seven games this season and an eight-point lead in Ligue 1. With a perfect 21 points, new coach Thomas Tuchel surpassed the previous best start of 19 points by predecessor Unai […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Eden Hazard came off the bench to fire Chelsea into the last 16 of the League Cup with a 2-1 victory at Anfield and inflict Liverpool's first defeat of the season in all competitions. Daniel Sturridge looked set to haunt his former employers by opening the scoring for Liverpool shortly after he […]

Berlin (AFP) – Teenager Achraf Hakimi scored on debut as Borussia Dortmund waltzed to a 7-0 win over Nuremberg on Wednesday to keep the heat on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. Real Madrid loanee Hakimi, 19, scored Dortmund's third goal as Lucien Favre's side obliterated Nuremberg to move to within two points of Bayern in second […]