Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear

Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear
Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala celebrates scoring their first goal with Michael Olize during their Bundesliga match against Holstein Kiel — Allianz Arena, Feb. 1, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 01 February 2025
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Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear

Bayern survive late Kiel fightback to go nine points clear
  • The full-time whistle was met with relief around the Allianz Arena
  • “None of us are happy that we won 4-3 here,” Jamal Musiala, scorer of Bayern’s first goal, told Sky Sport

BERLIN: Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to nine points on Saturday with an extraordinary 4-3 victory over Holstein Kiel.
Bayern led 4-0 as Harry Kane scored twice, but Finn Porath replied for Kiel before Steven Skrzybski’s stoppage-time double threatened to steal an unlikely point.
The full-time whistle was met with relief around the Allianz Arena.
“None of us are happy that we won 4-3 here,” Jamal Musiala, scorer of Bayern’s first goal, told Sky Sport. “We have to have the mentality to work for 90 minutes and avoid conceding goals.”
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was also irritated with the manner in which his team ended the game.
“It was a pretty complete game until the 80th minute. But we also played against a team that was fighting for every moment,” Kompany told reporters.
“I thought we started the second half really well, but in terms of how we finished the game, that’s something we’ll have to review with the players.”
With Bayern’s closest title rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, hosting Hoffenheim on Sunday, Kompany’s side took their chance to widen the gap between them and the champions.
The Bavarians went ahead in the 19th minute when Musiala finished a beautiful team goal that involved a quick interchange of passes between Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olize and then Musiala, who steered in his 10th league goal of the season.
Kiel had almost made it to half-time just a goal behind but with less than a minute of stoppage time to go, Bayern struck a killer blow.
Kingsley Coman beat his man on the left and lofted a cross onto the head of Kane, who couldn’t miss from close range. Kane scored another in the first minute of the second half, heading home Raphael Guerreiro’s pinpoint cross.
It was Kane’s 55th league goal in 50 appearances, another Bundesliga goalscoring record for the England captain.
“To have 55 in 50 is obviously a proud feeling but as always with me it’s about the next 50 games and seeing how many more I can get,” said Kane.
Serge Gnabry joined the party with a fine goal, bringing a high ball under his spell with his right foot and volleying in with his left.
Kiel struck back with a beautifully-executed strike by Porath which seemed little more than a consolation, even after the fourth official indicated five additional minutes.
Skrzybski’s late brace nearly embarrassed Bayern but the hosts limped over the line as wounded victors.
Borussia Dortmund picked up a slim 2-1 victory at struggling Heidenheim in their final game before Niko Kovac takes charge, following the recent sacking of coach Nuri Sahin.
Dortmund went in front as Heidenheim couldn’t clear a corner and Serhou Guirassy scored from close range.
It was the Guinean striker’s fifth goal in his last four games and followed a double in the Champions League in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Heidenheim came into the contest without a win in their previous 14 league games and occupying the relegation play-off position.
The game remained tight until the hour when Ramy Bensebaini drilled a low cross in from the left and substitute Max Beier made a difficult finish look easy.
Dortmund became their own worst enemies, conceding 18 seconds after the restart as Mathias Honsak cut their lead in half.
But Dortmund held firm and weathered some late pressure to pick up a first league win since December 22, snapping a four-game winless streak in the Bundesliga.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Germany international Tim Kleindienst scored a late winner for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a 2-1 victory at Stuttgart.
Gladbach led when Nathan N’Goumou rifled into the roof of the net but a Nico Elvedi own goal soon after the break levelled the contest.
But a slick Gladbach counter-attack saw Lukas Ullrich pick out Kleindienst, who tapped in the winner.
Freiburg picked up a 1-0 win at bottom-placed Bochum, with Kiliann Sildillia nodding in his first Bundesliga goal.
St. Pauli were denied victory when Augsburg teenager Mert Komur struck late to ensure a 1-1 draw.
RB Leipzig moved back into the top four despite being held 0-0 at struggling Union Berlin.


UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships
UAE U-21 National Team won a total of 22 medals at the 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Amman (Supplied)
Updated 28 May 2025
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UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships
  • Team wins 10 medals on final day, making it 22 for the tournament 

AMMAN: The UAE’s U-21s notched up 10 medals in their category on the final day of the 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, bringing the team’s total for the competition to 22.

The Emirati athletes, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, gave outstanding performances across the event, winning three gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

The gold medalists were Mariam Al-Ali (45kg), Rashed Mohammed Al-Shehhi (56kg) and Ammar Al-Hosani (94kg).

Silvers went to Aysha Al-Shamsi (45kg) and Alanood Al-Harbi (48kg), with Alanood Al-Hosani (57kg), Rashid Al-Haimeini (+94kg), Saeed Al-Nuaimi (62kg), Ahmad Andeez (69kg) and Fahad Al-Hammadi (77kg) taking bronze.

Several dignitaries attended the event, including Hamad Al-Matrooshi, acting charge d’affaires at the UAE Embassy in Amman, and Khaled Al-Ali and Aisha Al-Shehhi, both members of the UAE diplomatic corps.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation board, said: “This achievement highlights the athletes’ technical maturity and mental focus, as well as their ability to succeed against top-level competitors across Asia. Our preparation included both local and international training camps focused on tactical and physical development — something that clearly paid off during the competition.”

Rashed Mohammed Al-Shehhi, who won gold in the 56kg division, said he was delighted take such a significant victory.

“The matches were not easy, especially the final, where I faced a highly skilled and experienced opponent. I relied on tactical discipline and exploited my opponent’s flaws at vital points. With the coaches’ instruction and the rigorous preparation, we underwent, I was able to impose my style and secure the victory,” he said.

Fellow gold medalist Mariam Al-Ali added the competition and diverse techniques had been challenging.

“I experienced various technical hurdles that needed me to constantly change my plan, but I was able to transition quickly between offense and defense and employ ground control efficiently,” she said.

“The technical assistance provided by our coaches prior to and throughout the event was critical in building my confidence. This gold medal is just the beginning; my dreams are expanding, and I’ll keep working hard to reach even higher levels.”


Pakistan and Bangladesh begin T20I series today

Pakistan and Bangladesh begin T20I series today
Updated 28 May 2025
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Pakistan and Bangladesh begin T20I series today

Pakistan and Bangladesh begin T20I series today
  • 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured significant downturn in last 12 months, crashed out in first round of World Cup in 2024
  • Bangladesh, ranked ninth, have won just four of last 12 T20Is, lost series against lower-ranked US last year and UAE earlier this month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan are all set to take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series commencing from today, Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. 

The second T20I will be held on Friday, May 30, while the third and final T20I of the series is scheduled on June 1.

Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan, while Litton Das will captain Bangladesh. All three T20Is will be played at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium, which will host its first T20I series after going through a complete renovation earlier this year.

“The boys are doing well as a unit. A lot of our players are coming off strong performances in the HBL PSL X, which is one of the most competitive T20 tournaments in the world. That form and momentum are something we are hoping to carry into this series,” Agha was quoted as saying in a PCB statement. 

“Bangladesh are a quality side with talented players and we are expecting a good challenge from them. I believe fans are in for some thrilling cricket over the next few days.”

Das, the Bangladesh captain, said his team was “focused and understands the challenge Pakistan poses, especially in their home conditions.”

“This series is a great opportunity for every player to step up. We are trying a few combinations in the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year and this tour is a valuable part of that process,” the PCB statement quoted Das as saying. 

The 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured a significant downturn in the last 12 months and crashed out in the first round of the World Cup in 2024.

They have won only three of their last 13 T20Is, two against minnows Zimbabwe, and slumped to eighth in the T20I rankings.

With a new head coach in New Zealand’s Mike Hesson they are looking to younger players with the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just eight months away.

Star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, have all been axed.

Salman Agha will lead the side, having lost a series in New Zealand 4-1 two months ago.

Bangladesh, ranked ninth, are in the same boat.

They have won just four of their last 12 T20Is and lost series against lower-ranked United States (2024) and United Arab Emirates earlier this month.

They also have a new coach in West Indian Phil Simmons, who will be missing senior players including Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, all either fully retired or from the T20Is.

Frontline fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are nursing injuries while new pace sensation Nahid Rana withdrew from the tour over security fears following the cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan.

With inputs from AFP


Pacers beat Knicks to move one win shy of reaching NBA Finals

Pacers beat Knicks to move one win shy of reaching NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton drives to the hoop past New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth qua
Updated 28 May 2025
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Pacers beat Knicks to move one win shy of reaching NBA Finals

Pacers beat Knicks to move one win shy of reaching NBA Finals
  • Indiana, who blew a 20-point lead in a Game 3 home loss, seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with the home triumph
  • Haliburton: Guys put me in position to make plays and play my game and man, it’s a big win for us

WASHINGTON: Tyrese Haliburton delivered his second career playoff triple double to power Indiana over New York 130-121 on Tuesday, lifting the Pacers one win from the NBA Finals.

Haliburton scored 32 points, passed off 15 assists and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds while making no turnovers over 38 minutes becoming the first player in NBA playoff history with 30-15-10 and no turnovers.

Indiana, who blew a 20-point lead in a Game 3 home loss, seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with the home triumph.

“I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to respond,” Haliburton said.

“I felt like I let the team down in game three so it was important to come out here and just make plays.

“Guys put me in position to make plays and play my game and man, it’s a big win for us.”

Game 5 is set for Thursday in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“I’m excited about it. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Haliburton said.

“It’s a tough environment to play in. We’ve got to be ready. Just one more game, take what we can from this and be ready for game five.”

The East winner will face either Oklahoma City or Minnesota in the NBA Finals starting June 5.

Haliburton’s father was in the arena after a month-long ban following an on-court incident with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the playoffs.

“Hell yeah. I’m glad pop is in the building,” Haliburton said. “It makes it that much more sweet. Had a little bit to do with it.”

Haliburton, who also had four steals, made 11-of-23 shots from the floor and 5-of-12 from three-point range.

“We tried giving him different looks,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We’ll look at the film. We just have to do better.”

Pascal Siakam added 30 points for the Pacers while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points off the bench for Indiana.

“We just wanted to come out with more energy, more urgency,” Siakam said.

“I thought we did that from the beginning. They made runs but we stuck to our game plan.”

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle praised Mathurin. “He was great. He gave us a huge lift,” he said.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points while Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds, O.G. Anunoby had 22 points and Mikael Bridges netted 17 points. New York gave up 17 turnovers.

“Our defense wasn’t good enough. Our defense and turnovers probably hurt us,” Thibodeau said. “The important thing is to reset. We’re not playing the series. We’re playing the game.”

Towns suffered a left knee injury defending a drive by Myles Turner with 2:10 remaining but stayed in the game.

“He was able to go back in. That was a good sign,” Thibodeau said. “We’ll see how he is after he’s evaluated.”

“I’m only thinking about the loss. I’m not thinking about that right now,” Towns said when asked about his knee.

The Pacers last made the NBA Finals in 2000 and have never won the NBA title.

The Knicks, on the brink of elimination, have not reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and their last crown was in 1973.

“You’ve got to give it your all,” Brunson said. “It’s that simple.”

Indiana led 43-35 after the first quarter as Haliburton had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds to start his no-turnover night.

“To not have any turnovers is pretty remarkable,” Carlisle said. “I know he takes great pride in it. That’s a motivating factor.”

The Pacers led 69-64 at halftime and stretched the lead to 102-91 entering the fourth quarter.

New York went on a 10-2 run to pull within 115-109, but could not catch Indiana and Obi Toppin’s three-pointer with 46 seconds remaining to establish a 126-116 Indiana lead sealed New York’s fate.


Eala sees ‘new era for Filipino sport’ after first Grand Slam match win

Eala sees ‘new era for Filipino sport’ after first Grand Slam match win
Updated 28 May 2025
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Eala sees ‘new era for Filipino sport’ after first Grand Slam match win

Eala sees ‘new era for Filipino sport’ after first Grand Slam match win
  • Eala: I’m feeling good, it’s my debut in Grand Slam doubles so I’m feeling happy to be playing with Renata and to have my first Slam win
  • Eala is part of a new generation of Filipino sports stars
  • She lifted the 2022 US Open girls’ singles trophy and reached the semifinals at Miami in March when, ranked 140th in the world, she beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek

PARIS: Alexandra Eala on Tuesday achieved a first Grand Slam match win for a Filipino woman, saying she hoped her doubles success at the French Open was part of “a new era for sport” in her country.

She teamed up with Mexico’s Renata Zarazua to defeat Britain’s Emily Appleton and Spain’s Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 7-5, 6-4 and book a place in the second round.

The win came two days after the 20-year-old, the first woman from her country to compete in a Grand Slam, was eliminated in the first round of the singles by Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

“It’s so heartwarming,” Eala told AFP of her Grand Slam match win.

“Of course, it’s always good to come back and compete well after a singles loss, especially after a tight one.

“I’m feeling good, it’s my debut in Grand Slam doubles so I’m feeling happy to be playing with Renata and to have my first Slam win.

“Of course, it was a difficult (singles) loss but in the end I think there’s things to take away and I try to do better in the doubles.”

The support from home has been “positive,” she said.

“They’re happy to see a Filipino competing in the main draw in Paris.”

Eala is part of a new generation of Filipino sports stars. She has trained since the age of 13 at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca, Spain.

She lifted the 2022 US Open girls’ singles trophy and reached the semifinals at Miami in March when, ranked 140th in the world, she beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek.

“I think we’re entering a new era for Filipino sport,” the 73rd-ranked player said, pointing to the success of gymnast Carlos Yulo who took two gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year.

“Filipinos are very talented and very hard workers. There’s a support, a community, because it’s not often you (have) seen Filipino athletes excel on the international stage, so every time someone does good we’re very happy for them.”


Nicklaus surprised by McIlroy skipping his PGA Memorial event

Nicklaus surprised by McIlroy skipping his PGA Memorial event
Updated 28 May 2025
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Nicklaus surprised by McIlroy skipping his PGA Memorial event

Nicklaus surprised by McIlroy skipping his PGA Memorial event
  • Nicklaus said he has not heard from McIlroy since the Northern Ireland star captured his fifth major title and first Masters to complete a career Grand Slam
  • McIlroy will miss the Memorial for the first time since 2017, instead playing next week’s Canadian Open as his tuneup for the following week’s US Open

WASHINGTON: Jack Nicklaus said Tuesday that he was surprised Masters winner Rory McIlroy did not tell him in advance that he was not playing in this week’s Nicklaus-hosted PGA Memorial tournament.

Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner, predicted McIlroy’s triumph last month at Augusta National after hitting his own ceremonial opening tee shot.

Nicklaus said he has not heard from McIlroy since the Northern Ireland star captured his fifth major title and first Masters to complete a career Grand Slam.

McIlroy will miss the Memorial for the first time since 2017, instead playing next week’s Canadian Open as his tuneup for the following week’s US Open at Oakmont.

“I didn’t have a conversation with him, no,” Nicklaus said, calling that “a little bit” of a surprise.

“It surprised me. But guys have got schedules and got things they do. And I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It’s just his call,” Nicklaus said.

“I made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play... sometimes you have to make those calls.

“I don’t hold anything against Rory for that. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a US Open. And so that’s what he’s doing.

“I mean, I’m a big Rory fan, I always have been. I’m sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes.”

Nicklaus said he had no problem about McIlroy not giving him advance warning about his absence.

“I’m not going to throw Rory under the bus. I like Rory too much,” said Nicklaus. “He’s got to make his own calls on things. Could he have done ‘em differently? Probably. But that’s all right. I probably could have done some of mine differently too. So I’m not complaining about Rory.”

Nicklaus said he sent McIlroy a congratulatory letter shortly after the Masters victory last month.

“I told him I don’t think anybody has won by having four double bogeys,” Nicklaus said. “And I said, ‘But that just showed me how much talent you have to overcome that to win and how you played some unbelievably spectacular shots.

“I was very happy for him. It was a great win.”