Arsenal stun Real Madrid as Rice delivers free-kick masterclass

 Arsenal stun Real Madrid as Rice delivers free-kick masterclass
Arsenal's Dutch defender #12 Jurrien Timber battles for the ball with Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior during the UEFA Champions League Quarter final first leg football match between Arsenal and Real Madrid, at the Emirates Stadium, in London, on April 8, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 09 April 2025
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Arsenal stun Real Madrid as Rice delivers free-kick masterclass

 Arsenal stun Real Madrid as Rice delivers free-kick masterclass
  • Incredibly, Rice had never scored a free-kick in his career before the first of his missiles hit the back of the Real net

LONDON: Arsenal stormed to a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid as Declan Rice’s free-kick masterclass left the Gunners within touching distance of a place in the semifinals.
Rice scored two majestic free-kicks in the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s third goal before Real’s Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for kicking the ball away in the closing minutes to leave the Spanish giants in disarray.
The brilliance of Rice’s brace cannot be understated, with even Real keeper Thibaut Courtois — usually so inspired on Champions League nights — unable to get anywhere near the England midfielder’s thunderbolts.
Incredibly, Rice had never scored a free-kick in his career before the first of his missiles hit the back of the Real net.
It was no more than Arsenal deserved for a mature performance that exposed injury-hit Real in ruthless style.
Mikel Arteta’s men will travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16 as firm favorites to advance to a semifinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa, who meet in their quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
The Gunners have not reached the Champions League semifinals since 2009, but that target is now within their grasp after an evening that will go down as one of the most memorable in the club’s storied history.
Arteta had labelled the clash with Real as the “biggest night” of his career as he urged his players to write their own history by winning Arsenal’s first Champions League crown.
They rose to the challenge so successfully that even Arteta might have been surprised.
Arsenal trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by 11 points and look destined to finish as runners-up for a third successive season.




Declan Rice celebrates scoring the second game. (Reuters)


But the Champions League now offers Arteta genuine hope of a first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, providing they can finish the job in Madrid next week.
Beaten by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season, Arsenal’s only Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006 — a run that included a last 16 victory over Real.
For Real, it was a chastening defeat as the 15-time European champions were punished for the flaws that had already seen them beaten 10 times in all competitions this term as they lag four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Jude Bellingham was largely anonymous and Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior posed only sporadic threats after a promising start.
Vinicius Junior threatened in the opening stages, curling wide after Mbappe picked him out inside the Arsenal area.
Mbappe’s electric pace took him clear of the Arsenal defense in another lightning raid, but the France star shot straight at David Raya.
Arsenal showed no signs of being cowed by Real’s star-studded attack and Rice’s towering header from Jurrien Timber’s cross forced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, who scrambed across to keep out Gabriel Martinelli’s effort from the rebound.
Mbappe lashed into the side-netting from an acute angle, but Real were unable to match Arsenal’s intensity in the second half and the Gunners deservedly took the lead in the 58th minute.
Rice stepped up 25 yards from goal and whipped a sublime free-kick around the Real wall and into the far corner.
It was a stunning strike that even former Real defender and set-piece maestro Roberto Carlos, watching from the Emirates stands, would have been proud of.
Arsenal almost struck again in a remarkable sequence that saw Courtois save Martinelli’s blast before Merino’s shot from the rebound was hacked off the line by David Alaba and Courtois again denied Merino.
Real were on the ropes and Rice landed another devastating blow in the 70th minute, lashing an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards as Courtois grasped at thin air.
As the ecstatic Arsenal fans roared “Declan Rice, we got him half praise,” that reference to his £105 million fee didn’t seem like hyperbole for once.
Arsenal weren’t finished yet and Merino put Arsenal in dreamland five minutes later with a clinical finish from 12 yards as the Emirates turned into a roiling red sea of celebration.


PGA champ Scheffler still has shot at 3rd win in row with big move at Colonial despite 3 late bogeys

PGA champ Scheffler still has shot at 3rd win in row with big move at Colonial despite 3 late bogeys
Updated 25 May 2025
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PGA champ Scheffler still has shot at 3rd win in row with big move at Colonial despite 3 late bogeys

PGA champ Scheffler still has shot at 3rd win in row with big move at Colonial despite 3 late bogeys
  • Scheffler got to 8 under for the week with an eagle at the 637-yard 11th hole

FORT WORTH, Texas: Scottie Scheffler knew he had to make a bunch of birdies in the third round at Colonial for any chance to win in his third consecutive start. The world’s No. 1 player did just that, but also had three bogeys on the back nine.
Coming off his third major victory at the PGA Championship a week ago, but starting the weekend 10 strokes off the lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Scheffler shot a 6-under 64 Saturday with eight birdies and an eagle at Hogan’s Alley. That got him to 7-under 203 and within six strokes of co-leaders Ben Griffin and Matti Schmid, who both birdied the first three holes before settling for 2-under 68s.
“You are always going to hope to go play a perfect round. It basically never happens,” Scheffler said. “I mean, three bogeys definitely hurts, especially when you are trying to chase, but overall I did some good things.”
With another big round Sunday, Scheffler could become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win in three starts in a row, and the only player other than Ben Hogan in 1946 to win the Byron Nelson and Colonial in the same season. Scheffler won his beloved hometown CJ Cup Byron Nelson earlier this month when matching the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record at 31-under 253 for an eight-stroke win.
“I would say mentally I definitely am a bit tired. I’m definitely taking a lighter schedule this week than I normally would at a tournament, but overall my game, it feels like it’s in a good spot. I felt like I was able to get some good rest to start this week,” he said. “I’m just out here battling. I had a good day today. The first two days definitely could have been a bit better, but we’ll see how things shake out ... and see what I can do tomorrow.”
Two Colonial winners have overcome seven-stroke deficits in the final round, including Sam Burns three years ago when he beat good friend Scheffler on the first playoff hole. That matched Nick Price’s record seven-shot comeback in 1994, when he caught Scott Simpson and won on the first extra hole.
Scheffler, who teed off about two hours before the co-leaders, got to 8 under for the week with an eagle at the 637-yard 11th hole, where he got on the green in two shots and made the 15-foot putt. That followed consecutive birdies as Nos. 9 and 10, and starting the back nine with an approach to 2 1/2 feet.
His most impressive shot of the day came after his 347-yard drive at No. 7 into a native area of grass well left and at least 20 feet below the fairway. His ball was about 140 yards from the hole in an area where he said “the grass was more airy than it was thick.” With a gap through the trees to the green, he hit it to 15 feet of the pin and just missed making a spectacular birdie.
“It was kind of an interesting one because the lie at first looked bad,” Scheffler said.
But Scheffler didn’t avoid bogeys after tee shots into bunkers at Nos. 12 and 13. He eventually two-putted from 40 feet at the 453-yard 12th hole, then his tee shot at the par-3 13th went into the sand fronting the green on the edge of a pond. He hit that within 5 feet, but missed the par save and after tapping in the bogey batted the ball out of the air and off the green with his putter.
He had consecutive birdies at Nos. 16 and 17 before missing the fairway at No. 18 to finish with another bogey.
“I think maybe you have to do a little bit more to amp yourself up when you are sitting 10 shots back versus when you are already near the lead,” he said. “Today I had to go out there and make a bunch of birdies, which I was able to do early in the round. I struggled a touch on the back nine, but overall I put up a decent score.”
One that could have been even better.


PSG beat Reims to win French Cup ahead of Champions League final

PSG beat Reims to win French Cup ahead of Champions League final
Updated 25 May 2025
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PSG beat Reims to win French Cup ahead of Champions League final

PSG beat Reims to win French Cup ahead of Champions League final
  • PSG have now won the French Cup a record 16 times, including eight times in the last decade

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan by winning the French Cup on Saturday as Bradley Barcola scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 win against Reims.
Barcola netted two goals in the space of four minutes early on to quickly extinguish whatever hopes Reims had of causing an upset at the Stade de France, and Achraf Hakimi added another goal before half-time.
It was exactly the kind of smooth preparation coach Luis Enrique would have been hoping for ahead of the season-defining game against Inter in Munich next weekend, when PSG will be hoping to win the Champions League for the first time.
“It was a really great evening. We got the job done quickly and we are pleased with the victory,” Barcola told broadcaster France 2.
“We knew we had to do the job in order to prepare in the best way possible for the (Champions League) final, we did it, and now we can go into the next match full of confidence.”
However, one minor issue to come out of the evening was the late withdrawal from the team of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgian winger was replaced in the starting line-up by Desire Doue and returned home early due to a headache, according to a source close to the team.
PSG’s victory, watched by a crowd of over 77,000 at the national stadium, allowed them to complete a clean sweep of the domestic honors for the second time in as many seasons since Luis Enrique became coach in 2023.
They added the French Cup to the Ligue 1 title as well as the Champions Trophy, France’s equivalent of a Super Cup.
PSG have now won the French Cup a record 16 times, including eight times in the last decade. The next most successful club in the history of the competition are Marseille, who won the last of their 10 titles in 1989.

Reims were appearing in their first French Cup final since 1977 and were looking to win the trophy for the third time, with their last success coming during their glory days in the 1950s.
They held PSG to draws twice during the league campaign but any prospect of them winning this time probably ended a week ago.
That was when they slumped into the relegation play-off place on the final night of the Ligue 1 campaign, forcing them into a two-legged tie against second-tier Metz which they must win to remain in the top flight next season.
The first leg of that tie ended in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, and Reims must now prepare for the decisive return match at home next Thursday.
PSG wasted little time in putting their struggling opponents to the sword as Barcola’s quickfire brace effectively decided the final before the midway point in the first half.
Doue’s through-ball sent Barcola in behind to open the scoring in the 16th minute, and Doue then latched onto a Marquinhos pass before squaring for Barcola to tap in and make it 2-0 on 19 minutes.
The double took Barcola to 21 goals for the season in all competitions, a tally bettered only in the PSG squad by Ousmane Dembele with 33.
They had chances to score again in this one-sided contest before Hakimi made it 3-0 two minutes prior to the interval, arriving at the back post to cushion in a Barcola cross, finishing off a great move.
That was the end of the scoring as Luis Enrique — who gave Matfey Safonov a start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma — took the chance to ring the changes after the break.
However, Barcola was only a denied a hat-trick by a good save from Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, who also turned a Dembele cross-cum-shot onto the post.


Bashir’s six-wicket haul seals dominant England win over Zimbabwe

Bashir’s six-wicket haul seals dominant England win over Zimbabwe
Updated 24 May 2025
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Bashir’s six-wicket haul seals dominant England win over Zimbabwe

Bashir’s six-wicket haul seals dominant England win over Zimbabwe
  • Off-spinner Bashir had Test-best figures of 6-81 from 18 overs to finish with a match haul of 9-143

NOTTINGHAM: Shoaib Bashir took six wickets to return his best figures in Test cricket as England completed a dominant innings and 45-run win over Zimbabwe in a one-off match at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Zimbabwe, following-on, were dismissed for 255 on the third day of four after England had made a commanding 565-6 declared in their first innings that featured hundreds from Zak Crawley (124), Ben Duckett (140) and Ollie Pope (171).
Off-spinner Bashir, who before arriving in Nottingham had only taken two first-class wickets this season at a hugely expensive average of 152, had Test-best figures of 6-81 from 18 overs to finish with a match haul of 9-143.
“It was nice to be back in rhythm,” player-of-the-match Bashir told the BBC after enjoying yet more Test success in Nottingham, where he took a previous Test-best 5-41 against the West Indies last year.
“At the start of the year I went on loan (from Somerset to Glamorgan) just to get some overs under my belt.”
He added: “The (England) boys and backroom staff make you feel 10 foot tall.”
Bashir is still only 21 and this was just his 16th Test, with England captain Ben Stokes saying: “The way he has asserted himself was exceptional. He knows he has the backing of the dressing room and myself... He is going from strength to strength.”
Bashir removed the aggressive Sean Williams (88) and obdurate opener Ben Curran (37) either side of lunch after the third-wicket duo had nearly batted through all of Saturday’s first session in what was Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in 22 years.
Williams was on course to regain the record for the fastest Test century by a Zimbabwe batsman he had lost to Brian Bennett earlier in this match.
But 12 minutes before lunch, he was lbw sweeping at Bashir for an 88 off just 82 balls including 16 fours.
Together with Curran he shared a century stand that revived Zimbabwe from the depths of 7-2.
Zimbabwe were roared on by a colorful band of supporters in Nottingham, with skipper Craig Ervine saying: “Our fans are like no other. A huge thank you to them.”
He added: “The first day didn’t go our way but the guys bounced back after that. Brian Bennett played an unbelievable innings.”
Curran, was dropped twice by Stokes and reprieved by a review when given out lbw on the field to Bashir.
But the son of the late Zimbabwe all-rounder Kevin and brother of England internationals Sam and Tom — gave his wicket away on 37 when he drove Bashir to Stokes at cover.
Stokes, playing his first match of the year in any form of cricket following hamstring surgery, then made another telling intervention with the ball after taking two first-innings wickets.
But he needed the help of Harry Brook, hit in the face while fielding at slip earlier in the session, to remove Wessly Madhevere for 31.
Madhevere struggled to get over the top of a sharply rising short ball from Stokes and his outside edge was brilliantly caught one-handed high above his head by a leaping Brook to the visible disbelief of the England skipper.
Bashir, who during Zimbabwe’s first-innings 265 become the youngest England bowler to take 50 Test wickets, then bowled Tafadzwa Tsiga with a superb off-break that clipped leg stump.
Sikandar Raza made a 57-ball fifty before he too succumbed to Bashir.
The match ended when Tanaka Chivanga was lbw to Bashir, with Zimbabwe then nine wickets down but with injured paceman Richard Ngarava absent hurt after he was also unable to bat in the first innings.


Ruthless Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in German Cup final

Ruthless Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in German Cup final
Updated 24 May 2025
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Ruthless Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in German Cup final

Ruthless Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in German Cup final
  • Enzo Millot scored twice and Germany forward Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav got the others
  • Bielefeld, the third-division champion, were playing in the final for the first time

BERLIN: Stuttgart ruthlessly capitalized on errors in Arminia Bielefeld’s defense to win the German Cup with a 4-2 victory in the final on Saturday.

Enzo Millot scored twice and Germany forward Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav got the others as Stuttgart claimed their fourth German Cup win and the first since 1997.

Bielefeld, the third-division champion, were playing in the final for the first time as only the fourth representative from that division to ever reach German soccer’s end-of-season showpiece.

But there was no fairytale ending for the team’s American captain, Mael Corboz, after he helped the team knock out defending champion Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinals and a host of Bundesliga clubs en route to the final.

Substitute Julian Kania scored a late consolation goal, a minute before Josha Vagnoman’s own goal, to get the Bielefeld fans singing again before the end.

Both sets of supporters displayed huge choreographies before the match in front of 74,000 spectators at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where they repeatedly ignored appeals to stop setting off pyrotechnics.


Arsenal stun Barca to win Champions League with late Blackstenius goal

Arsenal stun Barca to win Champions League with late Blackstenius goal
Updated 24 May 2025
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Arsenal stun Barca to win Champions League with late Blackstenius goal

Arsenal stun Barca to win Champions League with late Blackstenius goal
  • Arsenal withstood a flurry of Barca chances before Blackstenius broke the deadlock in the 75th minute
  • The Arsenal players stood arm-in-arm in front of their red-clad fans after the final whistle singing along to Queen’s “We are the Champions“

LISBON, : Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius struck a late winner as the London team shocked holders Barcelona 1-0 on Saturday to claim their second Women’s Champions League title and first in 18 years to the delight of their 5,000 traveling fans.

Arsenal withstood a flurry of Barca chances before Blackstenius broke the deadlock in the 75th minute.

The Sweden international latched onto fellow substitute Beth Mead’s reverse pass in a crowded area and fired a low diagonal shot past goalkeeper Catalina Coll at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.


Renee Slegers’ Gunners, making their second appearance in the final having won Europe’s top club competition in 2007, held on to win against a Barca side going for a third straight Champions League title.

“Amazing,” Arsenal forward Alessia Russo told TNT Sports through tears. “We had to suffer a lot.

“They’re a top side. We knew coming into this game that we’d have to suffer and there would be moments when we wouldn’t have the ball and we would have to be content and happy with not having the ball knowing our moment would come.

“Our squad just wanted it so badly.”

The Arsenal players stood arm-in-arm in front of their red-clad fans after the final whistle singing along to Queen’s “We are the Champions.”

The win comes against a mighty Barcelona team considered on paper to be the best in the world.

Barca midfielder Aitana Bonmati called the loss “absolutely devastating.”

“I don’t believe it,” the 2023 and ‘24 women’s Ballon d’Or winner told Catalan TV. “I just want to start the game again and do it differently. Personally, this hurts me a lot.”

Barcelona were playing in their sixth final in seven years and had hoisted the trophy in three of the past four campaigns. Saturday’s reverse was just their fourth loss of the season across all competitions.


HUGE UNDERDOGS

Arsenal might have arrived as huge underdogs but had proved in their comeback win over Lyon in the semifinals — they lost 2-1 at home before roaring back with a 4-1 away victory in the second leg — that they were not afraid of that tag.

They almost went ahead in the first half when Frida Maanum sprang free on the right wing and Barca defender Irene Paredes slid to divert her low cross into the net for an apparent own goal. However, a VAR check showed Maanum was offside.

Arsenal’s defense stood strong as Barcelona had 20 attempts to the Gunners’ eight, including two long-range Ona Batlle shots that sailed just over the bar, as well as 12 corners to two.

“We knew it was going to be a game of momentum shifts because we respect Barcelona, we know how good they are on the ball but we also know how good we are,” Slegers told TNT, through a voice hoarse from celebrating.

“So we knew that momentum was going to shift. Maybe other people were thinking something else, but that’s what we believed. In all the phases that happened in the game, the mentality we showed, the resilience we showed, the effectiveness in all our actions, our belief, it was incredible.”

Blackstenius almost struck a couple of minutes before her goal but Coll stuck out a leg to stop her shot from 12 meters.

Leah Williamson, who was outstanding in defense, was a mascot at Arsenal’s 2007 victory over Sweden’s Umea.

“A lot of this team have been together for a long time and to be able to do it on the biggest day, some people had the game of their lives,” she said. “I’m so happy. I’m trying not to swear or cry.”