Santiago (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez's injury gamble paid off here Tuesday as the Arsenal striker scored twice to help Chile defeat bitter rivals Uruguay 3-1 in their World Cup qualifier. Sanchez had risked the wrath of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after playing in the Santiago showdown despite injuring a hamstring during training last week. Wenger […]

San Juan (Argentina) (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a majestic free-kick and set up two more goals as Argentina got their faltering 2018 World Cup qualification campaign back on track with a 3-0 win over Colombia here Tuesday. Barcelona maestro Messi curled in a superb free-kick from 30 yards in the 10th minute before providing […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Ecuador romped to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Venezuela to reignite their 2018 World Cup qualifying challenge on Tuesday as Paraguay's bid suffered a setback with a defeat to struggling Bolivia. Ecuador, who had taken only a point from their previous two games, proved too strong for a Venezuela side buoyed by […]

London (AFP) – England interim manager Gareth Southgate expressed his dismay after midfielder Adam Lallana went off injured during his side's 2-2 friendly draw with Spain on Tuesday. The Liverpool player put England ahead with a ninth-minute penalty, his third goal in three international outings, but was forced off mid-way through the first half, with […]

Milan (AFP) – Gianluigi Buffon earned a European record-equalling 167th cap as Italy played out a goalless friendly draw with their Euro 2016 quarter-final tormentors Germany in Milan on Tuesday. The 38-year-old Buffon, who made his Italy debut in 1997, is now level with retired Spain legend and fellow goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Although Buffon is […]

London (AFP) – Substitute Isco struck deep in stoppage time to earn Spain a 2-2 draw and deprive Gareth Southgate of victory in his final game as England interim manager on Tuesday. Goals from Adam Lallana and Jamie Vardy had set England up for an impressive win, but Spain debutant Iago Aspas reduced the arrears […]

Lens (France) (AFP) – A much-changed France team was held to a goalless draw by African champions the Ivory Coast in a friendly in the northern city of Lens on Tuesday. The Ivorians came closest to breaking the deadlock at a packed Stade Bollaert-Delelis in the 11th minute when a fierce strike by the Basel […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States goalkeeper Tim Howard will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair a groin injury which has ended his season, his club confirmed. The Colorado Rapids said in a statement Howard would face an operation to repair a fractured right adductor in the upper groin. The injury and operation is expected […]

Moscow (AFP) – An injury-time goal by local hero Magomed Ozdoev gave 2018 World Cup hosts Russia a 1-0 win over Romania in a historic friendly in Chechen capital Grozny on Tuesday. The volatile Caucasian region, where Moscow fought two brutal conflicts against separatists two decades ago, played host to the national team for the […]

Kunming (China) (AFP) – Marcello Lippi's dreams of taking China to the next World Cup received a reality check on Tuesday, while Asian champions Australia were made to sweat in a near-nightmare in Bangkok. China's 0-0 draw with Qatar did nothing to boost their dwindling hopes of reaching Russia 2018, even after World Cup-winning coach […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Former England midfielder Steven Gerrard has left Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, the club confirmed on Tuesday. The 36-year-old was out of contract at the end of the Galaxy's MLS season and the club said in a statement that he "will not return to the LA Galaxy for the 2017 […]

Paroi (Malaysia) (AFP) – Asian heavyweights Iran splashed to a 0-0 draw against Syria in World Cup qualifying Tuesday on a swampy Malaysian pitch that will raise questions over why the match was allowed to proceed. Neither side mounted much sustained pressure in the dreary contest as their keepers easily picked off what few serious […]

Kunming (China) (AFP) – Marcello Lippi's dreams of taking China to the next World Cup received a reality check on Tuesday, while Asian champions Australia avoided a nightmare result in Bangkok. China's 0-0 draw with Qatar did nothing to boost their dwindling hopes of reaching Russia 2018, even after World Cup-winning coach Lippi was appointed […]

Doha (AFP) – Qatar World Cup 2022 organisers, under fire over labour conditions, said Tuesday they will allow international trade union inspections of stadium sites from next year. An agreement has been reached with the global Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) group for joint inspections of construction and accommodation sites. "Signing this partnership with […]

Bangkok (AFP) – Mile Jedinak's disputed penalty saved Australia from an embarrassing defeat to Thailand as they came from behind to draw 2-2 in 2018 World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. Jedinak's second successful spot-kick of the night in the 65th minute rescued a point for the Asian champions, who slip out of the automatic qualifying […]