JEDDAH: Rabeaa Sefiani, the hero for Al-Ittihad in the King Cup final, paid tribute to the much-maligned Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for overturning his wrongly disallowed goal in a 3-1 win over Al-Faisaly at the weekend.
With the scores locked at 1-1 in the fifth minute of extra-time, the substitute — who had come onto the pitch with just seconds of normal time remaining — swept the ball home inside a crowded area to give the Jeddah giants the lead only to see the offside flag raised.
English referee Mark Clattenburg — also a late substitute after original referee Fahad Al-Mirdasi was relieved of his duties prior to the match by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation and put under investigation — studied footage on the side of the pitch. After a short wait, the official signalled a goal to send the yellow and black-shirted supporters in a crowd of more than 60,000 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah wild with delight.
“Thank God for the video system,” Sefiani told Saudi television. “It intervened and ensured that the right decision was made. I knew it was a good goal before it was shown on video but I was very happy to see that confirmed. It was a tough game but we came through at the end.”
The goal came at the perfect time for Al-Ittihad, especially as the team were recovering from a last-minute equalizer from Al-Faisaly.
Abdulrahman Al-Ghamdi had headed Al-Ittihad into the lead from a corner just before the break. Al-Faisaly could not find a way through until the 92nd minute when Saeed Al-Yami rose above the Al-Ittihad defense to head home Saleh Gomaa’s cross.
Sefiani, with a little help from technology and Clattenburg, restored Al-Ittihad’s lead and the 31 year-old turned provider four minutes from the end for Abdulaziz Al-Aryani to seal the win, and a place in the 2018 AFC Champions League, from close range.
“It has been a tough season for us but we have overcome many obstacles to get here,” added Sefiani in reference to the team’s disappointing ninth-placed finish in the league and the club’s much-publicized financial problems. “The important thing however is that the victory has brought great joy to the fans.”
Sefiani’s goal was just one of three occasions when VAR came to Al-Ittihad’s aid. Midway through the second half and in the final minute of extra-time, Clattenburg studied two penalty appeals from Al-Faisaly before deciding not to award the spot kicks.
This was much to the relief of Al-Ittihad president Nawaf Al-Muqairn.
“It is the perfect end to a very difficult season for us and this was the best way we could end it for the fans,” he said. “We needed this and the fans deserve it for the patience they have shown us this season. Now we are looking forward to the next season and more good news for our fans.”
Al-Ittihad hero hails VAR in King Cup final victory
Al-Ittihad hero hails VAR in King Cup final victory
- Al-Ittihad won the final against Al-Faisaly 3-1 at the King Abdullah Stadium
- Referee Mark Clattenburg used video technology to confirm Rabeaa Sefiani's extra-time goal
Sabalenka, Swiatek eye final showdown at Australian Open
- The men’s finalists at Melbourne Park will be decided on Friday, leaving the women in the spotlight in a night-time double-header at Rod Laver Arena
- Should Swiatek and Sabalenka meet in the final, the winner would leave Australia with the No. 1 ranking
MELBOURNE: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are clear favorites to win their respective semifinals on Thursday and set up a blockbuster Australian Open title decider.
The men’s finalists at Melbourne Park will be decided on Friday, leaving the women in the spotlight in a night-time double-header at Rod Laver Arena.
First up at 7:30 p.m. (0830 GMT) will be the world No. 1 and defending champion Sabalenka against Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa, followed on to the center court by five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek against Madison Keys.
Sabalenka can become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the Australian Open three years in a row.
If she does, she will join a select group of five women who have completed the Melbourne three-peat. The others are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.
“I’m really happy that I put myself in this situation where I have the opportunity to become one of them,” said the 26-year-old Belarusian.
“To be next to those names, wow, that’s just a dream.”
Badosa stunned world No. 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the age of 27.
“She’s a great player and she has been through a lot. Now she’s back on her best game. I’m really happy to see that,” said Sabalenka.
The Spaniard almost quit tennis last year because of a chronic back condition and she plunged outside the top 100.
“A year ago I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport,” said Badosa, who reached a career-high two in the world in 2022.
She is projected to get back in the top 10 after Melbourne.
Poland’s Swiatek has been the dominant force in the women’s draw so far, matching her previous best Australian Open run from 2022, when she lost to Danielle Collins in the last four.
The world No. 2 has dropped only 14 games so far in her five matches — seven of those in her first-round clash.
She has exuded an air of calmness and confidence as she aims not only to win a maiden Australian Open title but also retake the number one ranking from Sabalenka.
If the Belarusian fails to make the final, Swiatek will again rise to the top.
Should Swiatek and Sabalenka meet in the final, the winner would leave Australia with the No. 1 ranking.
Swiatek must first get past 19th seed Keys.
The American is into the Melbourne semifinals for the third time, 10 years after her first, and on a career-best 10-match win streak after clinching the Adelaide title this month.
“Madison is a great player and experienced so you never know,” Swiatek said.
“It will be tricky, I will just be focused on myself. She has already played a good tournament here and we are well aware of how she can play.”
The 29-year-old Keys says she is a “smarter” player than the one who lost the semifinal in 2015 to eventual champion Serena Williams.
She added: “Probably a little bit less fearless though, but to be here 10 years later in the semifinals again, I’m really proud of myself.”
PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback
- This match saw City coach Guardiola, who led his side to Champions League glory in 2023, pit his wits against PSG’s Luis Enrique, his close friend and former team-mate at Barcelona
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning second-half fightback as they recovered from two goals down to beat Manchester City 4-2 in a Champions League thriller on Wednesday, a result which leaves Pep Guardiola’s side still at risk of an early exit.
All the goals came in the second half on a wet night at the Parc des Princes, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scoring to put City firmly in control.
However, Ousmane Dembele pulled one back and Bradley Barcola brought PSG level by the hour mark, before Joao Neves headed the French champions in front and Goncalo Ramos wrapped up the win at the death after a long VAR check.
Both of these powerful clubs came into their penultimate game in the league phase in Paris in trouble, with 24th-placed City occupying the last qualifying spot in the 36-team standings on eight points, and PSG one point behind them in 26th.
City knew a win here would probably guarantee them a spot in next month’s play-offs while landing a damaging blow to PSG, semifinalists last season.
Instead it is PSG who move to 10 points, a tally which may now be enough to progress, while Guardiola’s team drop out of the qualifying spots with just one game to come.
However, a win at home to Club Brugge next Wednesday should suffice as it would take them above the Belgian side in the standings.
This match saw City coach Guardiola, who led his side to Champions League glory in 2023, pit his wits against PSG’s Luis Enrique, his close friend and former team-mate at Barcelona.
The Premier League champions were seeking to continue a recent revival which had seen them win four and draw one of their last five matches after a run of one victory in 13 at the end of 2024.
City played with Matheus Nunes at right-back up against Bradley Barcola, the PSG left-winger who has found form again at the right time following the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli to threaten his position in the team.
Ineligible for this game, the Georgian winger was in the stands along with City’s injured Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, as well as the likes of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and French NBA star Victor Wembanyama.
They saw PSG, sporting a brand new fourth kit, enjoy most of the possession and chances in the first half without being able to capitalize.
That has been a familiar failing for them in this season’s Champions League, in which they had already lost to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
However, they were especially unlucky to see an Achraf Hakimi goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time for a tight offside decision against Nuno Mendes in the build-up.
Everything changed after the restart, though, as PSG sent on Dembele, and City made a double substitution including the introduction of Grealish for Savinho on the left wing.
Within five minutes Grealish had scored, lashing in after a Bernardo Silva shot had been parried by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
And the stadium was silenced as the visitors — who had won four of their last five meetings with PSG — scored again.
Nunes drove forward and found Grealish, whose cutback was diverted by the hapless Neves into the path of Haaland, leaving the Norwegian with a tap-in for his 23rd goal this season.
PSG were stunned, but their response was stunning, especially for a team that has struggled so badly to score goals in the competition this season.
They got one back on 56 minutes, Barcola powering forward and setting up Dembele to sweep a shot past Ederson.
The equalizer arrived shortly after and this time Barcola was the scorer, turning in the rebound after Desire Doue’s shot hit the bar.
All the momentum was with the home side, and Dembele struck the bar before they went ahead on 78 minutes, the diminutive Neves finding himself completely free of any defender to head in Vitinha’s free-kick at the back post.
The scoring was wrapped up in injury time when substitute Ramos netted with the last kick of the game, the celebrations being put on hold until a lengthy VAR check was completed.
Benzema strikes again as Al-Ittihad go level with Al-Hilal
- Jeddah giants have 43 points after 16 games
- Benzema made no mistake three minutes into added time
JEDDAH: In-form Karim Benzema fired Al-Ittihad to a 2-1 win over Al-Shabab on Wednesday that puts the hosts back level with Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League.
The Jeddah giants have 43 points after 16 games, behind Al-Hilal, who defeated Al-Wehda 4-1 on Tuesday, on goal difference. Al-Qadsia are nine points behind in third.
It was a hard-fought win against the visitors from the capital. Al-Ittihad thought they had taken the lead just before the half-hour but Hassan Kadesh’s goal was disallowed for offside.
Fans at King Abdullah Sports City were soon celebrating for real. Benzema had his close-range effort bounce off the goalkeeper but Abdulrahman Al-Oboud was on hand to bundle the ball into the net.
Three minutes into added time, Benzema made no mistake. Hamed Al-Ghamdi had possession on the right side of the area and the oncoming French striker demanded and received the pass, to sweep a first-time shot inside the far post.
It was a fine strike and Benzema’s 12th league goal of the season, to put him level in second place in the scoring rankings along with Aleksandar Mitrovic and just one behind Cristiano Ronaldo. With six assists to his name, the former Real Madrid man already has more goal contributions in his second season in Saudi Arabia, which is one game away from the halfway stage, than he managed in the entirety of his first campaign.
Coach Laurent Blanc was furious two minutes later, however, as the nine-time champions lost concentration with half-time approaching. Daniel Podence had space on the left and the Portuguese star’s low cross found Haroune Camara, who had got in front of his marker inside the six-yard box to reduce the arrears.
The second half saw the Tigers have more of the ball and the chances, but Al-Shabab, with former Ittihad star Abderrazak Hamdallah — who received a warm welcome from fans — leading the line, always carried an air of danger. They were not able to get the all-important equalizer as the hosts took the points to make them level at the top of the league.
Powerboat racers look forward to start of 2025 UIM E1 World Championship in Jeddah on Friday
- Opening round of the competition is taking place in Saudi Arabia for a second year in a row, following the inaugural season last year
- 9 international teams with superstar owners will compete, each featuring one male and one female pilot in control of electric boats capable of speeds of more than 80 kph
JEDDAH: Rafael Nadal, Will Smith, Sergio Perez, Tom Brady, Steve Aoki, Virat Kohli, Mark Anthony and Didier Drogba are among the superstar electric-powerboat team owners hoping to make waves on Jeddah’s corniche this weekend as the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship gets underway on Jan. 24 and 25.
The first round of the competition is taking place in the Kingdom for a second year in a row, following its inaugural season last year. Nine international teams will compete, each featuring one male and one female pilot in control of RaceBird electric boats that use cutting-edge hydrofoil technology and can reach speeds of more than 80 kph.
“It’s so great to return to Jeddah for the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship as we kick off our first racing of the year,” said Rody Passo, the CEO and co-founder of the E1 series.
“The success of the last edition met our expectations and the preparations are at their best thanks to the combined efforts.”
He thanked the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation and the Ministry of Sport, which are organizing the Jeddah event in partnership with powerboat governing body Union Internationale Motonautique, for their help and added: “The fans will have a thrilling race, a wonderful atmosphere and great experience, and we look forward to the launch of the event.”
Saudi racer Mashael Al-Obaidan, of Aoki Racing, said: “I am proud to represent the Kingdom in this sporting event, which is part of a series of global events on our home soil.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity to compete in front of my family and the local community here, which would not have been possible without the great support we receive as athletes under the vision of our wise leadership.”
Emma Kimilainen from Finland and Sam Coleman from the UK, pilots with reigning champions Team Brady, said they hope to repeat last year’s success to win the trophy for a second year in a row.
“It is important to implement the strategy that will be developed and exploit the data and statistics provided by advanced technologies in cooperation with the team’s partners,” said Coleman.
Kimilainen added: “I’m excited to kick off season two with Team Brady after an incredible first season together. Being on top will take hard work but we’re a competitive team and we’re ready for the challenge.”
This year’s championship will feature seven rounds, compared with five last year, each taking place in a different city around the world
Amorim after his shocking claim about Man United: ‘I won’t promise I won’t do it again’
- “If you want, I can be delusional and say different things,” Amorim said
- Amorim’s shocking comment came after a 3-1 home loss to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday
MANCHESTER: Ruben Amorim has acknowledged he might have made a mistake when he went public in describing his team as “the worst, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”
Just don’t expect him to hold back his opinions going forward.
“If you want, I can be delusional and say different things,” Amorim said Wednesday at his first news conference since his remark that captured headlines and widespread attention.
“I say it as I saw it. I said it to the players and I said to you,” he told reporters. “I think it’s a good thing to be honest. If you want me to say different things — you saw one thing, I saw one thing — I can start to do that. It’s easier for me. But what I’m seeing, they know. If you are in the stadium, you can understand. Let’s face it and work on it.”
Amorim’s shocking comment came after a 3-1 home loss to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.
It was a fourth loss in United’s last five home games in the league, and a seventh defeat in 15 games in all competitions since Amorim took charge in November as the replacement for Erik ten Hag.
United, the record 20-time English champion, are 13th in the 20-team Premier League and closer to the relegation zone than the European qualification spots after 22 of 38 games.
Amorim denied that he was shifting blame toward his players. The 39-year-old Portuguese coach said: “I am (most) responsible for the performances and the results.
“I am a young guy and sometimes I make a mistake. This time I needed to talk. Maybe it was a mistake and I get more nervous and go to the (media) conference really nervous, and then you say things you shouldn’t say … I won’t promise I won’t do it again but I will try to improve.”
Amorim was speaking ahead of United’s Europa League game against Scottish rival Rangers at Old Trafford on Thursday. He said his players were “more nervous” and “anxious” playing at home and that was making it harder for the team to pick up results.
“If you have a little inexperience when you fall into this type of context, it’s hard to go up — especially when you are in a massive club,” Amorim said.
“That was my only point in saying it after that loss. The way I do it? Maybe not but it is what it is. I am like that all the time.”
