NAPLES, Italy: Sergio Aguero became Manchester City’s all-time record scorer and was described as “a legend” by coach Pep Guardiola whose side booked their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 4-2 win at Napoli.
The 29-year-old Argentine beat the old mark of 177 set by Eric Brook in the 1930s when he hit City’s third goal in Naples, then promised to give his shirt to his eight-year-old son Benjamin — the grandson of Argentina and Napoli legend Diego Maradona.
“This shirt is for my son, he texted me to say: “As soon as you score, bring me the shirt’,” said Aguero.
“I am bringing the shirt back to my son. My family called from Argentina, they were watching me.”
Aguero’s son was born from his marriage to Giannina Maradona, the daughter of Diego.
And Aguero achieved his new landmark at the San Paolo Stadium where Maradona made himself a Neapolitan icon between 1984 and 1991, winning two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup.
“What he (Aguero) has achieved has made him a legend, he’s gone down in history, so I would tell him to enjoy,” said Guardiola.
Aguero paid tribute to his team-mates for his record 178 goals.
“I’m very happy for this moment and happy because the team help support me and the fans.
“I’ll enjoy this moment because it only happens once.
“Napoli are a good team and away always in the Champions League is difficult.”
The Premier League leaders had needed just a point to seal their berth in the knockout rounds for the fifth consecutive year, with two games to go.
But City’s fourth victory out of four in Group F confirmed their progress with 12 points.
Napoli are third, six points behind Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk who beat Dutch outfit Feyenoord 3-1, and are close to elimination from the elite European competition.
The new benchmark is just another for the man from Buenos Aires who joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for £38 million, scoring two goals and assisting one on his debut against Swansea.
He currently has the best goals-to-minutes ratio in Premier League history — scoring 107 in 154 Premier League matches at a rate of a goal every 106 minutes.
City fought back despite a dominant early display from the Serie A leaders before they were damaged after defender Faouzi Ghoulam went off with a knee injury.
“They completely destroyed us in the first 20 minutes especially Ghoulam and I wish him well,” said Guardiola. “We suffered a lot but our players showed personality.
“The point is how in the bad moments the team react and they did really well. The level of football for a spectator was just amazing all I could say was ‘wow’.”
Lorenzo Insigne had opened for Napoli after 21 minutes with defender Nicolas Otamendi pulling City level on 35 minutes.
City’s John Stones edged the visitors ahead three minutes after the break. But to the delight of the home crowd Jorginho converted a penalty to make it 2-2 after 62 minutes.
Aguero then fired in the third seven minutes later after Leroy Sane broke forward. The ball eventually fell to the Argentine who scored his record-breaking goal before Raheem Sterling put the icing on the cake in injury time.
While many believe the emphatic triumph was a warning for the rest of Europe, Aguero said the win meant little for the rest of the season.
“Napoli is a good team,” he said. “Playing away in the Champions League is difficult.
“I am very happy to win and qualify. We must keep going in the same way, every game, playing the same way.
“(Tonight) it shows nothing. It is a long season.
“Now, we are good. We must continue the same way.”
Aguero’s son, Maradona’s grandson, proud owner of record shirt
Aguero’s son, Maradona’s grandson, proud owner of record shirt
Boisson ‘going for the dream’ at French Open after injury nightmare
- Boisson swept past world number six Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling two-set battle 7-6 (8/6), 6-3
- The 22-year-old had already eliminated US third seed Jessica Pegula two days ago
PARIS: Lois Boisson has “resilience” tattooed above her right elbow and the 361st-ranked Frenchwoman demonstrated she had plenty as she stormed into semifinals of the French Open on Wednesday.
Boisson swept past world number six Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling two-set battle 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in just over two hours on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 22-year-old had already eliminated US third seed Jessica Pegula two days ago.
A wildcard entry, Boisson is making her Grand Slam debut in Paris after seriously injuring her left knee a week before Roland Garros 12 months ago.
On Wednesday, the French national anthem rang out in the crowd as Boisson and 18-year-old Andreeva warmed up.
“It gave me the chill, I have to say,” said Boisson. “But it was extraordinary to have the crowd supporting me so much.
“Even though sometimes it’s a bit raucous and there is a lot of noise between two points.”
Boisson had trailed 3-1 and 5-3 in the first set but saved set points to turn the match in her favor.
She kept her cool as last year’s semifinalist Andreeva unraveled from a 3-0 lead in the second set to win the last six games.
A frustrated Andreeva received a warning from the umpire for blasting the ball into the crowd. She was then booed when she argued with the umpire over a line call.
“Obviously I expected it,” said the Russian of the partisan home crowd.
“I think that in the first set I managed it pretty well.. but obviously with nerves and with pressure, it became a little harder.”
Andreeva struggled with the pressure, hitting nine double-faults in total, and made 43 unforced errors to Boisson’s 27.
She conceded the final game to love as Boisson wrapped up victory on her first match point.
The player from Dijon advances to meet US world number two Coco Gauff, who battled back from a set down to beat Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1.
“For sure I will go for the dream, because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semifinal,” warned Boisson.
“My routine won’t change, it’s been the same since the start of the tournament,” she added of her preparation for Thursday’s semifinal.
Former US Open winner Gauff, 21, said she would just pretend the home crowd was “cheering for me.”
“Just using it and not letting that get to you.”
Boisson becomes the lowest-ranked major semifinalist in the last 40 years.
Winner of the Saint Malo tournament on the secondary circuit in 2024, she was ranked 152nd before her injury.
“(It) was the toughest moment of my life,” said Boisson, who had only won one match on the main circuit before Roland Garros — at the modest WTA 250 event in Rouen on clay in April.
Her earnings this year have been 18,470 euros ($21,100) for a career-total 130,000 euros ($148,000).
Reaching the singles semifinals at Roland Garros will earn her a paycheck of 690,000 euros.
The winner receives 2.55 million euros and the runner-up half that.
“She’s probably a better player than her ranking right now,” said Andreeva.
“I think that if she keeps playing like this, freely and not being scared or afraid... I think everyone can win.
“It’s going to be pretty interesting to watch. I think if maybe she believes in herself enough, maybe she can.”
Boisson is the third player to reach the semifinals in her Grand Slam main-draw debut since 1980, following Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati who also did it at Roland Garros in 1989 and 1990.
She becomes the first French semifinalist at her home Grand Slam event since Marion Bartoli in 2011 — and the first in the Open Era to do it as a wildcard.
Saudi footballer Abdulmalik Al-Jaber shines on European stage
- Al-Nassr star’s performances in Bosnia put him at top of list of 9 Saudi players across 7 of Europe’s football leagues
- Faisal Al-Ghamdi played as key midfielder for Beerschot in Belgium
BEIRUT: Midfielder Abdulmalik Al-Jaber has been a guiding light among Saudi players making their mark in Europe following his impressive spell at Bosnia’s FK Zeljeznicar.
Al-Nassr announced on Monday the capture of 21-year-old Al-Jaber on a four-year contract after his strong season with FK Zeljeznicar where played 33 times, scored three goals and assisted in three more.
Al-Jaber’s performances put him at the top of a list of nine Saudi players who played across seven different European leagues last season.
Faisal Al-Ghamdi, 23, played 29 times for Belgian club Beerschot where he was a key player in midfield, scoring one goal and assisting in the creation of another.
Clubmate and forward Marwan Al-Sahafi also impressed, the 21-year-old scoring six times and making one assist across 28 games.
Mohanad Al-Saad, 21, played for Dunkerque in France and scored four goals in 15 matches — one of them against Paris Saint-Germain in the French Cup semifinal, a proud moment despite the 4-2 defeat.
Saud Abdulhamid, 25, got some valuable minutes with AS Roma in Italy where he played eight matches, scoring once and making one assist. Four of his appearances were in Serie A, the top tier.
Midfielder Mohammed Al-Rashidi, 23, boasted eight appearances for Greece’s Panserraikos and a total of 184 minutes on the pitch.
Three other young players had a taste of European football. Hussain Al-Taha, 19, played three matches for Croatian side Vukovar, while Mishal Haddad, 20, appeared in two games for Vinkovci, also in Croatia. Yazan Madani, 20, played twice as left-back for Albania’s Egnatia.
With more Saudi players heading to Europe, it is clear that the future looks bright for talented footballers from the KIngdom.
These youngsters are gaining experience, growing in confidence, and helping to raise the profile of Saudi football on the international stage.
Middlesbrough sack manager Michael Carrick
- The former Manchester United midfielder had been in charge at Boro since October 2022
- “Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick,” the club said
LONDON: Middlesbrough on Wednesday sacked manager Michael Carrick after the Championship club missed out on a play-off place during the 2024/25 season.
The former Manchester United and England midfielder, who previously had a spell as caretaker boss at Old Trafford, had been in charge at Boro since October 2022.
The 43-year-old guided Middlesbrough to the Championship play-offs in the 2022/23 season but they have missed out on the top six in the past two campaigns.
“Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick,” the club said in a statement.
“Michael’s assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club.
“We’d like thank Michael, Jonathan, and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment. We wish them all the very best for the future.”
Middlesbrough won just one of their final six league games to finish 10th in the Championship table, four points off the play-off spots.
Arsenal in talks with Partey over new deal as Jorginho and Sterling depart
- Partey’s contract is due to expire on June 30
- The Ghana international has been with Arsenal since 2020
LONDON: Arsenal are in talks with Thomas Partey to extend the midfielder’s contract, the club said Wednesday, while confirming the departure of a slew of other players including Jorginho and Raheem Sterling.
Partey’s contract is due to expire on June 30 and Arsenal said “discussions are on-going.”
The Ghana international has been with Arsenal since 2020.
Italy midfielder Jorginho, Scotland left back Kieran Tierney, Brazilian goalkeeper Neto and Sterling — at one stage a key player for England — are among those confirmed to be leaving Arsenal.
Sterling was only on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Arsenal have just finished second in the Premier League for the third straight season.
Pakistan clinches 14 medals at Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Thailand
- Pakistan rowing team wins 10 gold medals, three silver and one bronze
- Championship features athletes competing on indoor rowing machines
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan bagged 14 medals, including 10 gold ones, at the recently concluded Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Thailand, state media reported this week.
The Asian Indoor Rowing Championship was organized by the Asian Rowing Federation from May 26 to 31 in Pattaya, Thailand, to showcase the talents of indoor rowers from across Asia.
Unlike traditional rowing competitions held on water, this championship features athletes competing on indoor rowing machines, such as the Concept2 ergometer, simulating the rowing experience in a controlled environment.
“Competing against 25 countries, the Pakistani squad stunned traditional powerhouses such as India, Iran, Thailand, South Korea and Japan,” Radio Pakistan said in a report on Monday.
“Despite being a small contingent, the Pakistani rowers delivered an outstanding performance that defied expectations.”
According to a local news outlet, Pakistan won 10 gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
Key contributors included Pakistani rowers Abdul Jabbar and Muhammad Shahzad, who won one gold and one silver each.
Tayyab Iftikhar earned one silver medal and one bronze, the report added.
Radio Pakistan said the athletes received a grand welcome from the Pakistan Rowing Federation (PRF) upon their return to the country.
It highlighted that the athletes’ performance marked “a new era for rowing” in Pakistan. PRF President Hamdan Nazir and Chairman Rizwan-ul-Haq also praised the players for their outstanding achievements.
