Sevilla beat Al-Ittihad 1-0 to take Antonio Puerta Trophy

Sevilla beat Al-Ittihad 1-0 to take Antonio Puerta Trophy
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Sevilla defeated Al-Ittihad 1-0 in the 13th hosting of the Antonio Puerta Trophy. (Supplied)
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Updated 27 July 2024
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Sevilla beat Al-Ittihad 1-0 to take Antonio Puerta Trophy

Sevilla beat Al-Ittihad 1-0 to take Antonio Puerta Trophy
  • La Liga club host annual match in honor of former player who died aged 22 in 2007
  • Match is latest pre-season friendly for both clubs ahead of the start of their domestic leagues in August

DUBAI: La Liga club Sevilla FC defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad 1-0 to claim the Antonio Puerta Trophy at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on Friday night.

Lucas Ocampos  scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after 42 minutes.

The annual friendly has been hosted by the Andalusian club since 2008 in honor of former player Antonio Puerta who died from heart disease in 2007 at the age of 22.

This was the 13th hosting of the match, which was not contested in 2015, 2018, 2020 or 2021. Sevilla now have won won the trophy 11 times.  

The match was also the latest outing for both clubs ahead of start of their respective domestic campaigns.

Al-Ittihad will play two more friendlies against Real Betis (Aug. 3) and Inter Milan (Aug. 7) before kicking off their Saudi Pro League season with a match against Al-Kholood on Aug. 24.

Sevilla will launch their La Liga campaign on Aug. 16 at Las Palmas.


‘I take full responsibility’: Renard disappointed after Saudi exit from CONCACAF Gold Cup

Herve Renard has accepted responsibility for Saudi Arabia’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. (AN photo)
Herve Renard has accepted responsibility for Saudi Arabia’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. (AN photo)
Updated 29 June 2025
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‘I take full responsibility’: Renard disappointed after Saudi exit from CONCACAF Gold Cup

Herve Renard has accepted responsibility for Saudi Arabia’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. (AN photo)
  • Green Falcons 2-0 loss to Mexico in Arizona saw side leave tournament at quarterfinal stage

JEDDAH: Saudi coach Herve Renard expressed his disappointment and accepted the blame after his team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico, which saw them exit the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the quarterfinals.

“We did not perform at the (right) level, and the Mexican team deserved to win,” Renard said during the press conference following the match held in Arizona on Sunday morning.

“Sometimes the coach makes wrong decisions, and that’s part of football. I take full responsibility for today’s loss.”

He added: “We have to work on developing the offensive side of the national team, and we have benefited from our interactions with other teams during the tournament.

“We were lucky that Mexico did not play at 100 percent. I asked the players to put pressure on their defense, but we did not do it well and kept the ball.”

The French coach said that his time with the players was fruitful in terms of gaining experience, but admitted that the team failed to perform at its best during the crucial match. Focus will now shift to preparing well for the World Cup playoffs, Renard said.


Gold Cup: Mexico into semifinals with shutout of Saudi Arabia

Gold Cup: Mexico into semifinals with shutout of Saudi Arabia
Updated 29 June 2025
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Gold Cup: Mexico into semifinals with shutout of Saudi Arabia

Gold Cup: Mexico into semifinals with shutout of Saudi Arabia

Defending champion Mexico found the scoring touch in the second half and advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona

Mexico will face Honduras in the semifinals Wednesday in Santa Clara, California Honduras ousted Panama after a 1-1 draw in regulation with a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks in a quarterfinal earlier Saturday in Glendale.

Alexis Vega got Mexico on the board in the 49th minute after his initial shot was stopped by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi. Vega put in the rebound and the goal was confirmed following a VAR review that there was no offside violation.

Abdullah Madu of Saudi Arabia tried to reroute Mexico’s crossing pass in the 81st minute, but he instead put it past his goalie for an own goal and a 2-0 deficit.

Mexico controlled 60.3 percent of the possession time against Saudi Arabia and that was reflected in more shot attempts (18-1), shots on goal (5-0) and corner kicks (7-2).

Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Al-Aqidi made four saves, while Mexico’s Angel Malagon had none.

Mexico had advanced through the group stage with a 3-2 win over the Dominican Republic, a 2-0 shutout of Suriname and a scoreless draw with Costa Rica to win Group A with seven points.

Saudi Arabia defeated Haiti 1-0, lost to the United States 1-0 and tied Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 to finish second in Group D.


Saudi Arabia complete preparations ahead of Gold Cup quarterfinal clash with Mexico

Saudi Arabia complete preparations ahead of Gold Cup quarterfinal clash with Mexico
Updated 28 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia complete preparations ahead of Gold Cup quarterfinal clash with Mexico

Saudi Arabia complete preparations ahead of Gold Cup quarterfinal clash with Mexico
  • The Green Falcons held their last training session at Phoenix Rising Stadium in Arizona

GLENDALE, Arizona: Saudi Arabia’s national football team have concluded their final preparations ahead of their high-stakes quarterfinal encounter against Mexico in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday.

The Green Falcons held their last training session at Phoenix Rising Stadium in Arizona, with head coach Herve Renard overseeing the workout.

The session featured warm-ups, passing drills, tactical routines, and stretching exercises as the squad fine-tuned their approach for the match at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

There was some positive news on the injury front, with defender Abdullah Madu rejoining full team training.

However, midfielder Hammam Al-Hamami was sidelined after suffering an ankle injury during Thursday’s session and did not take part in the final run-out.

Kick-off for the quarterfinal is scheduled for Saturday night local time, as Saudi Arabia look to book their place in the semifinals of the tournament for the first time since joining the Gold Cup as a guest nation.


Al-Hilal captain Al-Dawsari out of Club World Cup with hamstring injury

Al-Hilal captain Al-Dawsari out of Club World Cup with hamstring injury
Updated 28 June 2025
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Al-Hilal captain Al-Dawsari out of Club World Cup with hamstring injury

Al-Hilal captain Al-Dawsari out of Club World Cup with hamstring injury
  • This means Al-Dawsari will miss Monday’s round of 16 clash against Manchester City
  • Al-Dawsari played a pivotal role in Al-Hilal’s campaign in the Club World Cup

Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari will miss the remainder of the Club World Cup with a hamstring injury, the Saudi club said on Saturday.

“Medical tests have confirmed that Salem Al-Dawsari has suffered from a hamstring injury. He will be undergoing a treatment and rehabilitation program that will last between four to six weeks,” Al-Hilal said in a statement via X.

This means Al-Dawsari will miss Monday’s round of 16 clash against Manchester City.

Al-Dawsari played a pivotal role in Al-Hilal’s campaign in the Club World Cup, after scoring the opening goal in the team’s 2-0 victory over Pachuca on Friday in the third round of the group stage.

The win against Pachuca secured the four-times Asian champions qualification for the last 16 after they finished second in Group H behind Real Madrid.


Al-Hilal defeat Pachuca 2-0, advance to Club World Cup knockout phase

Al-Hilal defeat Pachuca 2-0, advance to Club World Cup knockout phase
Updated 27 June 2025
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Al-Hilal defeat Pachuca 2-0, advance to Club World Cup knockout phase

Al-Hilal defeat Pachuca 2-0, advance to Club World Cup knockout phase

Salem Al-Dawsari scored a fancy goal in the 22nd minute, Marcos Leonardo added a clincher in second-half stoppage time and Al-Hilal defeated CF Pachuca 2-0 on Thursday in Nashville to advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Al-Hilal (1-0-2, 5 points), the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, did not take a loss in Group H play after drawing with Real Madrid and RB Salzburg. Their win vaulted them past Salzburg, who finished with four points after losing 3-0 to Real Madrid on Thursday night.

Yassine Bounou made two saves for Al-Hilal, who will face Group H winners Manchester City in the Round of 16 on Monday in Orlando. Meanwhile, Pachuca (0-3-0, 0 points) will return to Mexico without a point in the tournament.

For the opening goal, Salem Al-Dawsari received a pass over the top from Nasser Al-Dawsari (no relation) and popped a high-arching right-footed shot over Pachuca goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado. The shot bounced into the far corner of the goal.

After Bounou fell on top of a Pachuca chance in the 81st minute, Leonardo put the game out of reach with a goal assisted by Ruben Neves five minutes into second-half stoppage time.