Kvaratskhelia’s wonder goal helps PSG beat Aston Villa 3-1 in 1st leg of CL quarterfinals

PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, left, challenges for the ball with Aston Villa's Matty Cash during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP)
Short Url
Updated 10 April 2025
Follow

Kvaratskhelia’s wonder goal helps PSG beat Aston Villa 3-1 in 1st leg of CL quarterfinals

  • Kvaratskhelia put PSG in front four minutes after the break and left back Nuno Mendes added a third goal in stoppage time with a fine finish of his own

PARIS: A wonder goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia upstaged a brilliant curling shot from teammate Désiré Doué as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.
After Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the 35th minute, the 19-year-old Doué drew PSG level four minutes later with the 12th goal of his breakthrough season.
Kvaratskhelia put PSG in front four minutes after the break and left back Nuno Mendes added a third goal in stoppage time with a fine finish of his own.
“I think the result reflects the difference between us and them,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique, whose side has greater firepower and showed more of a threat going forward. “Our objective is to keep the ball and be aggressive in attack.”
Kvaratskhelia’s was the goal of the night.
He sprinted down the left from just over the halfway line and then mesmerized Villa’s defense in a blizzard of quick feet and superb balance.
Advancing at pace with the ball seemingly glued to his right foot, he then wrong-footed defender Axel Disasi with a sudden change of direction, before rolling the ball onto his left foot in one smooth motion and blasting an unstoppable shot over the head of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“For a coach like me it’s so great to have a player like him, with his mentality. He scored a brilliant goal,” Luis Enrique said about Kvaratskhelia. “We tried to sign him last summer and it didn’t work out. We signed him (in January) when we didn’t really expect to. He’s got everything to be part of our project.”
The return leg is next Tuesday.
In Wednesday’s other game, five-time champion Barcelona crushed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski scoring twice either side of goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Kvaratskhelia belongs in such elite company.
His goal was exactly the kind of effort that earned the flying Georgia winger the nickname ” Kvaradona ” when he was playing for Napoli, in reference to soccer maestro Diego Maradona — the Italian club’s greatest ever player — and prompted PSG coach Luis Enrique to spend 70 million euros (then $72 million) on him in the winter transfer window.
Shortly after Kvaratskhelia’s goal, Martinez made a great save low to his right against Achraf Hakimi’s powerful shot as PSG poured forward looking for a third goal.
Villa was at this stage of the competition for the first time since 1983 and dealt well with early pressure before taking the lead with a well-worked goal.
Bustling captain John McGinn won the ball in midfield and advanced before picking out Marcus Rashford, the forward who scored a stoppage-time winner here for Manchester United six years ago. Rashford fed Youri Tielemans overlapping down the left and he pinged a cross to the back post where Rogers was left unmarked to tap in.
The lead was brief as Doué picked up the ball on the left of the penalty area, skipped past two players and curled the ball into the top right corner.
“He’s got everything he needs to become a great player,” Luis Enrique said. “He really doesn’t need much space to dribble.”
Martinez played long balls early on to test PSG’s defense, but he was soon called into action with a flying save from Dembélé’s angled strike in the eighth minute.
He couldn’t do much about the goals that beat him, however, with Nuno Mendes showing a forward’s touch when he latched onto Dembélé’s pass, cut inside a defender and deftly guided the ball in.
“We’ve watched their last few games and know how deadly and sharp they’ve been,” Rogers said. “They’ve put the world on notice now.”
But Villa coach Unai Emery believes he can still eliminate the club he coached from 2016-18.
“I believe we will win next week,” he said. “Villa Park is our home.”


Al-Nassr unveils new crest to mark club’s 70th anniversary

Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Al-Nassr unveils new crest to mark club’s 70th anniversary

  • New look unveiled in video showcase with the caption ‘A great legacy and history, and a promising future’
  • The crown atop the crest has gone, the name of the team is now simply ‘Nassr,’ and ‘Riyadh’ is added along with ‘1955,’ the year the club was founded

RIYADH: Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr on Monday unveiled a new official crest, which club officials said is part of a refreshed visual identity in celebration of the team’s 70th anniversary.

A message posted by the team’s official account on social media platform X included a video showcasing the new design with the caption: “A great legacy and history, and a promising future. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary, here is the Al-Nassr logo.”

The redesign features several notable changes, the most obvious of which is the removal of the crown that previously sat atop the crest. The name of the team in English is now stated simply as “Nassr,” the prefix “Al-” used in previous iterations now dropped. “Riyadh” has been added at the bottom of the logo, referencing the club’s home city, along with the year in which the team was founded: 1955. The map of the Arabian Peninsula at the center of the crest remains.

The most recent significant update prior to this came on Oct. 15, 2020, when a laurel wreath around the sides of the crest and a yellow ribbon at the bottom were removed.

Al-Nassr was founded on Oct. 24, 1955, and grew to become one of the most prominent clubs in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. With two matches left to play in the league this season, they sit in fourth place, 13 points behind confirmed champions Al-Ittihad.


SPL announces Best Saudi Player nominations

Updated 2 min 6 sec ago
Follow

SPL announces Best Saudi Player nominations

  • To be eligible, a player must have participated in at least 40% of their team’s total league matches
  • Award is also open to players born in Saudi Arabia, in addition to Saudi nationals

RIYADH: The Roshn Saudi League has announced the preliminary list of nominees for the Best Saudi Player award in the current season.

The list, published Monday on the league’s official account on platform X, @SPL_EN, features Al-Ittihad winger Abdulrahman Al-Aboud—representing the reigning champions—alongside Al-Hilal’s Salem Al-Dawsari, Al-Shabab midfielder Musab Al-Juwair, Al-Khaleej striker Abdullah Al-Salem, and Al-Qadisiyah winger Turki Al-Ammar.

These five players fulfilled the nomination criteria announced by the league on May 5.

To be eligible, a player must have participated in at least 40% of their team’s total league matches, regardless of position or age. The award is also open to players born in Saudi Arabia, in addition to Saudi nationals.

Al-Aboud appeared in 27 matches, scoring 7 goals and providing 7 assists, playing a key role in Al-Ittihad clinching the title with two rounds to spare.

Al-Dawsari featured in 30 matches, recording 15 goals and 14 assists.

Al-Ammar took part in 29 games, contributing 4 goals and 6 assists.

Al-Juwair, on loan at Al-Shabab from Al-Hilal, was involved in 14 goals—scoring 5 and assisting 9.

Al-Salem also contributed to 14 goals, with 10 goals and 4 assists.

The nominees were selected by the league’s technical committee, comprising Turki Al-Sultan, Sultan Al-Luhaiani, Khaled Al-Shanif, Manaf Abu Shaqeer, and Obaidullah Al-Eisi.

The list will be narrowed down to three finalists. The winner will be determined through a voting process divided as follows: 40% from coaches, 40% from team captains, 15% from sports media professionals, and 5% from fans.


UAE’s HM Alchahine triumphs in Rome 

Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

UAE’s HM Alchahine triumphs in Rome 

  • Victory claimed in fifth leg of UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses

ABU DHABI: The UAE’s HM Alchahine delivered a standout performance to capture the title in the fifth leg of the prestigious UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses, which was held at the historic Capannelle Racecourse in Rome on Sunday. The race formed part of the 32nd edition of the globally recognized series.

The UAE President’s Cup continues to make its mark across major European racing circuits, further strengthening its presence and impact in the international Arabian racing landscape.

The series is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, vice president, deputy prime minister, and chairman of the Presidential Court.

The series aligns with long-term goals to support breeders, owners, and the Arabian horse industry worldwide.

HM Alchahine, which is owned by Hilal Al-Alawi and trained by Elisabeth Bernard, was ridden to victory by Cristian Demuro. The colt surged into the lead at the final turn and then accelerated powerfully to secure a decisive win, his eighth victory out of nine career starts.

The Group 2 turf race was contested over 2,000 meters and drew a field of 16 of the finest Arabians from across Italy and Europe. The total prize purse was almost $338,000.

Second was Afjan, representing Al-Shaqab Racing, which was trained by Jean de Mieulle and ridden by Olivier D’Andigne, while third place went to Extra Time.

The race was attended by Abdulla Ali Al-Saboosi, UAE’s ambassador to the Italian Republic, and Faisal Al-Rahmani, secretary-general of the Higher Organizing Committee of the UAE President’s Cup Series. Also present was Mattia Cadrobbi, president of the Italian Arabian Horse Association, along with distinguished diplomatic representatives from various nations.

Al-Rahmani said: “We are proud of the success of the Italy leg (of the series), which continues to embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

“We extend our deepest gratitude for his generous support and pioneering role in advancing the Arabian horse legacy.

“Italy has become a key destination for champions and a gateway to elite European and Gulf races. Congratulations to Hilal Al-Alawi for this distinguished UAE victory with HM Alchahine, which reflects the outstanding capabilities of Emirati stables on the global stage.”


ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 offers Saudi teams shot at Esports World Cup glory

the tournament features eight elite Saudi teams battling for a share of the $20,000 prize pool. supplied
Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 offers Saudi teams shot at Esports World Cup glory

  • Top Overwatch 2 squads compete for $20k prize and place in the global circuit

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning esports scene takes another significant step forward as the ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 kicks off, spotlighting the Kingdom’s top Overwatch 2 talent and offering a direct path to the Esports World Cup.

Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, a Savvy Games Group company, the tournament features eight elite Saudi teams battling for a share of the $20,000 prize pool. But more than just the money is on the line — the winning team will earn a coveted spot in the Overwatch Champions Series, a premier international circuit that feeds into the EWC.

“The ESL Saudi Challenge is more than just a local tournament; it’s a strategic platform that offers players a genuine opportunity to reach the global stage,” said Franck Guignery, senior vice president of Middle East and North Africa at ESL FACEIT Group. “As an official operating partner of the EWC, ESL FACEIT Group is committed to building professional pathways and empowering local talent to represent Saudi Arabia in the international esports scene.”

The initiative is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s national strategy to develop a sustainable esports ecosystem and position the Kingdom as a global hub for competitive gaming.

This year’s tournament will culminate with the grand final on May 30 at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where the top three teams from the May 13–16 playoffs will compete live in front of a home crowd.

With high stakes and international exposure on offer, the ESL Saudi Challenge has become a proving ground for players looking to make the leap from national heroes to global contenders.


Dubai Basketball face deciding game in ABA League quarterfinals

Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

Dubai Basketball face deciding game in ABA League quarterfinals

  • Third game against Cedevita Olimpija will be at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday

DUBAI, UAE: Dubai Basketball lost to Cedevita Olimpija (94-89) in Game 2 of the ABA League quarterfinals, resulting in a final deciding game, to take place on Tuesday, May 20 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

Dubai entered Game 2 in Ljubljana with a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, following a one-point home win. Victory in Slovenia would have secured immediate qualification to the semifinals. However, Dubai Basketball were facing one of the league’s most physical contenders at Stozice Arena.

Cedevita Olimpija wasted no time asserting their home-court advantage, taking the lead early in the first quarter. But as witnessed last week at Coca-Cola Arena, the game quickly turned into a fierce back-and-forth. Dubai’s Danilo Andusic and Italian fan favourite Awudu Abass stepped up under pressure, narrowing the gap with swift offensive responses.

Despite Dubai Basketball fighting back and briefly gaining an advantage in the second quarter, the traveling team were unable to cement a long-lasting lead over the Dragons at their home court. A momentary six-point difference in the second quarter offered a glimpse of victory, but Cedevita’s offense came back strong, closing the advantage and overtaking the visitors.

Aleksej Nikolic of Cedevita delivered a standout performance, finishing as the top scorer of the night with 30 points. Second highest scorer of the night was Dubai Basketball’s Andusic with 23 points.

The decisive clash on Tuesday is more than just a pivotal game in the ABA League — it represents a historic opportunity for Dubai Basketball to cement its place among the best in the league. As the only team representing the Middle East, Dubai has already made a powerful statement in its debut season, with top-tier performances and a winning mentality that has captured international attention.

With every team in the league beaten at least once, a 14-game unbeaten streak, and a record-breaking performance for the most points scored in a single quarter, the team has already made history. Now, they stand on the edge of another milestone, qualification for the semifinals.