TOSU, Japan: Former Spain striker Fernando Torres signed to play for Sagan Tosu in the J1 League on Tuesday, dashing the hopes of Australian football that he might become a marquee attraction for its struggling A-League.
The 34-year-old Torres held discussions with Football Federation Australia and officials of A-League glamor club Sydney FC, raising hopes he might add some star power to the A-League which has seen flagging attendances and TV ratings.
But the former Liverpool, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid forward announced he will be joining former Spain teammate Andres Iniesta in Japan.
Torres was one of six players on a shortlist of possible marquee stars drawn up by the FFA two months ago, which also included Iniesta and Japan’s Keisuke Honda.
The A-League has a centralized $3 million fund to attract marquee players but hasn’t had a truly big name since Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero played for Sydney FC from 2012-14.
Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres signs for Japan’s Sagan Tosu
Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres signs for Japan’s Sagan Tosu
- Ex-Atletico Madrid star joins joins Andres Iniesta in Japan
- Torres has been lined up to join the A-League in Australia
Saudi clubs’ supremacy shines brighter light on AFC Champions League Elite
- It is hard to look past Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr or Al-Ahli for the title, especially with the home ground advantage in the knockout stages
AUSTRALIA: The recent surge in investment in the Saudi Pro League has, on the whole, been a positive thing for Asian football, with more eyeballs and interest in not only one of Asia’s flagship domestic leagues, but also in their showpiece continental tournaments.
Having the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Riyad Mahrez grace the fields of Asia’s premier club competition certainly gives it more international credibility and visibility.
Wherever Ronaldo goes with Al-Nassr, the crowds follow. There were unbelievable scenes in Iran last year when the Riyadh giants traveled to play Persepolis, while just this week more than 37,000 filled the cavernous Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar to watch Al-Nassr edge local side Al-Gharafa.
Before the Ronaldo show rolled into town, Al-Gharafa had averaged a little over 4,000 spectators to their three other games this season.
Last season, meanwhile, Indian champions Mumbai City had to move their game with Al-Hilal to a bigger stadium, such was the rush for tickets for the arrival of Neymar; and although his ACL injury a few weeks prior quelled that excitement, more than 30,000 turned up.
The Saudi clubs are now box office wherever they go, and add a level of prestige to the competition that it has long needed.
The AFC Champions League has always maintained a level of prestige among Saudi clubs and fans, so it is no surprise that they have contested the final over the two decades since its initial reformatting in 2002.
Al-Ittihad won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, while finishing as runners-up in 2009. Their Jeddah rivals Al-Ahli also fell one win short in 2012, losing the final in South Korea to Ulsan Hyundai, while Al-Hilal made it a hat-trick of defeats when they suffered a shock loss to Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014.
Since then, the giants from Riyadh have made it their mission to dominate the continental scene, with a further four appearances in the final for a record of two wins and two losses while appearing in three of the last five finals.
All of that is to say Saudi clubs have a long and proud history in the AFC Champions League — which has now been rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite — long before the record investment into the league over the past 18 months.
But what many feared, particularly on the eastern side of the continent, was that the scale of the investment would make the AFC Champions League Elite a plaything for Saudi clubs, with the other 21 clubs unable to compete or match the levels of investment and the quality of players at their disposal.
Al-Ain did a good job of upsetting the apple cart last year with wins over Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal in the quarterfinal and semifinal respectively, on their march to claiming a second continental title.
That may ultimately prove to be the exception rather than the norm, however.
A look at this year’s AFC Champions League Elite, the first tournament being staged with the new format of just 24 teams and an eight-game league stage format — similar to that of the UEFA Champions League — suggests that maybe the dam is about to burst when it comes to the dominance of Saudi clubs.
With three games still to play in the league stage, all three Saudi clubs — Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Nassr — are safely through to the round of 16.
Their combined record stands at 15 games played, 13 games won, two games drawn and zero losses. They have scored 41 goals and conceded just 13.
The group stage is not yet completed and already it is hard to look past one of the trio for the title, especially when you consider they will have the considerable home ground advantage in the knockout stages after the controversial decision by the AFC to stage the knockout rounds (from the quarterfinals onward) in a central location, with Saudi Arabia awarded the hosting rights for the foreseeable future.
One has to factor in the randomness of the knockout stage draws that could see Saudi clubs drawn together, and therefore taking each other out before getting to the pointy end. But with the AFC also doing away with the east-west split from the quarterfinals onward, there is also the possibility of all three making the semifinals, or even an all-Saudi final.
For Scott McIntyre, who has been reporting on Asian football for more than two decades, the writing is already on the wall for clubs in the east.
“I don’t think anyone from the east can challenge any of the Saudi clubs,” the Japan-based McIntyre recently said on “The Asian Game Podcast,” adding: “The game has shifted so far to the west that as long as things stay as they’re now and the spending is unrestricted in the west, and it’s not in the east, unless there’s a change in format I just can’t see anyone from the east challenging.
“For me (the tide) has shifted remarkably, and you just can’t compete with the financial powers that the west has. That’s the reality we’re living in.”
Based on the first five rounds this season, the era of Saudi domination appears to be here — and here to stay.
Dubai Basketball lose to Serbia’s FMP in last-gasp heartbreaker
- The 86-84 defeat in Belgrade leaves Dubai with a 7-3 ABA League record
Dubai: Dubai Basketball suffered a narrow 86-84 defeat at the hands of Serbia’s FMP Soccerbet in a thrilling ABA League game that was decided in the last eight seconds.
Following the international break last weekend, Dubai went into the Round 10 clash at Belgrade’s Arena KK FMP, looking to build on their home win against KRKA.
However, they left Serbia with their third loss of the season after a nail-biting finish. With only two seconds remaining, Dubai had a chance to tie the game up at 86 apiece, but Nate Mason missed both free throw attempts to leave FMP the winners. The result means Dubai Basketball takes their record to 7-3 for the season.
While captain Klemen Prepelic finished as Dubai Basketball’s top scorer with 19 points, and Ahmet Duverioglu led the charts with eight rebounds, head coach Jurica Golemac felt his players left too many opportunities on the court. By the final buzzer, FMP outrebounded Dubai 30-20, including 8-2 on the offensive glass.
“We said before the start that we would have to respond to their great energy, which was at a high level after the change of coach for them, and that we had to take care of the rebounds, which we didn’t do. With a game like that, you can’t win on the road,” Golemac said.
“We are all disappointed but there are still a lot of games to be played during the season and we will continue working hard to get as many wins as possible.”
In a closely fought encounter, Dubai trailed by six points in the first quarter but found their rhythm to go into half-time with a 42-39 lead, with a now healthy Davis Bertans, playing in his first game since Round 7, among the point scorers.
Early in the third quarter, the visitors found themselves holding a 12-point lead (51-39) but FMP responded strongly to end the quarter at 62-61. In the final 10 minutes, Dubai’s Isaiah Taylor’s driving layup put his team in the lead at 82-84 with just 1:04 remaining; but FMP’s Jan Novak tied the game with a bucket with just under a minute left, before Rebec drove to the basket and made a decisive layup that ultimately sealed the victory for the home team.
Dubai will next be on the road when they take on Croatia’s Zadar on Friday, Dec. 6, before their highly anticipated return to the Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday, Dec. 15, when they face Mornar.
Ferrari celebrates Endurance Cup glory as Mercedes-AMG team dominates 6 Hours of Jeddah
- Pier Guidi secures record third Endurance Cup title
- First GT endurance event in the Kingdom proves popular with fans and drivers
Jeddah: Ferrari squad AF Corse — Francorchamps Motors secured teams’ and drivers’ titles at Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS after an astonishing finish to the 6 Hours of Jeddah.
The season-closing race was won in commanding fashion by the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter entry of Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Daniel Morad, who emerged as leaders during the third hour and ran a faultless race thereafter. Behind them, a late full-course yellow and safety car shuffled the pack and paved the way for an incredible conclusion.
Crucially, the late neutralization allowed the #51 Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi, Alessio Rovera and Davide Rigon to move back into title contention. The pole-sitting car led early on but slipped down the order in the middle phase of the race and looked to be out of the hunt when it received a 30-second stop-go penalty for breaching track limits.
But by making its final stop during the full-course yellow the Ferrari vaulted to sixth for the late restart. Guidi was at the wheel for a typically inspired charge through the order, the Italian ace overhauling the Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, the #46 Team WRT BMW and the #32 Team WRT BMW to snatch third.
This was enough to secure Guidi a record third Endurance Cup crown and Rovera his first while Rigon, who was absent from the Monza round, joined his teammates in their celebrations. The #163 Grasser Racing Lamborghini of Marco Mapelli, Jordan Pepper and Franck Perera finished as runner-up on the road and in the drivers’ standings.
In the final run to the flag the #51 Ferrari was under significant pressure from Dries Vanthoor in the #32 BMW. The Belgian needed to take the place to wrestle the overall Fanatec GT Europe drivers’ title from Engel and Auer but could not find a way past. Despite this, WRT was able to capture the overall teams’ championship for a record-extending fifth time.
Sainteloc Racing secured the Gold Cup teams’ and drivers’ titles with its crew of Gilles Magnus, Jim Pla and Paul Evrard. They did so in style, winning a competitive class battle ahead of the #777 AlManar Racing by GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG and the debuting #85 Imperiale Racing Lamborghini.
The Silver Cup title was settled last time out at Monza in favor of Winward Racing. As such this class fight was all about pride and Sainteloc Racing rose to the occasion with one of the most impressive performances of the weekend. The #26 Audi of Ezequiel Perez Companc, Lucas Legeret and Kobe Pauwels led the entire race and finished 13th overall, beating the #10 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG and the #12 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin.
Finally, the Bronze Cup victory went to Rutronik Racing with its #97 Porsche crew of Dustin Blattner, Loek Hartog and Dennis Marschall. This would not be quite enough to secure the Endurance Cup crown, which was retained by the impressively consistent Chris Froggatt, Jonathan Hui and Eddie Cheever. The latter pair also secured the overall Bronze Cup title, but Rutronik’s win gives them the teams’ championship on a tie break.
The race was punctuated by a long full-course yellow and safety car period around the one-hour mark, caused by a heavy crash involving the #111 CSA Racing Audi and the #8 Kessel Racing Ferrari. Arthur Rougier was at the wheel of the Audi and was taken for further medical checks, while Nicolo Schiro was able to get out of his Ferrari unaided.
The 6 Hours of Jeddah took Fanatec GT Europe to a new and highly impressive venue, one that received universal praise from the drivers. It proved popular with the public too, as 11,500 people were present to witness the Kingdom’s first GT endurance race. They will not have left disappointed.
The event concluded an unforgettable 2024 campaign highlighted by the centenary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and this weekend’s maiden trip to Saudi Arabia. Although the celebrations have just begun, preparations for 2025 will begin soon. Indeed, in fewer than 100 days cars will be back on track for the official Prologue at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Pakistan to lock horns with Zimbabwe in first T20I in Bulawayo today
- Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series 2-1 last month
- Salman Agha to lead Pakistan as Pakistan rest regular skipper Rizwan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will lock horns with Zimbabwe in the first of a three-match T20I series in Bulawayo today, Sunday, state-run media said, after completing a 2-1 ODI series victory over the hosts this week.
After losing the first ODI against Zimbabwe last month, Pakistan beat the hosts by convincing margins in the second and third ODIs in Bulawayo.
Skipper Salman Agha will lead his side in the T20 fixture against Zimbabwe on Sunday, with the next two matches to follow on Dec. 3 and 5.
“The first T20I match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Saturday.
Pakistan announced late Friday that they were adding Saim Ayub, Aamer Jamal and Abrar Ahmed from the ODI squad into the T20I series following impressive showings over the past week.
The green shirts have rested Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi from the tour while white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan is also not part of the T20Is, with Agha taking his place as captain.
The match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time.
Las Palmas stun Barca on 125th anniversary, Atletico rout Valladolid
- Barca have now gone three league games without a victory, after a run of 11 wins in 12 prior in the top flight
BARCELONA: Las Palmas claimed a surprise 2-1 victory at La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday, spoiling the hosts’ 125th anniversary celebrations.
Atletico Madrid climbed provisionally second, within two points of Hansi Flick’s side with a 5-0 rout of Real Valladolid later on.
Sandro Ramirez sent Las Palmas ahead early in the second half and although Raphinha hammered home an equalizer, Fabio Silva struck to claim three points and take his team up to 14th.
Barcelona still lead champions Real Madrid by four points but third-place Los Blancos, who host Getafe on Sunday, have played two fewer games than the Catalans and Atletico.
Barca have now gone three league games without a victory, after a run of 11 wins in 12 prior in the top flight.
“We had a bad game, we have to look at what we’re doing badly to try and improve and win games,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“I don’t care about my goal, I care about winning, we didn’t win and I’m not satisfied with the game.”
Barcelona wore white shorts as part of their anniversary celebrations, as they used to back at the start of their history.
They held a gala in the city on Friday night to mark the occasion, having been founded on November 29, 1899, but came undone on Saturday afternoon.
“We have to (play) like we did at the beginning of the season... it’s a big disappointment today,” Flick told reporters.
“Today we have more than 70 percent ball possession but we’re not able to score the goals — maybe we have to change one or two things.
“We made some mistakes, but it was not the back four, it starts (with the players) in front, we have to speak about that.”
The Catalans were able to name teenage starlet Lamine Yamal on the bench after recovering from an ankle problem.
Raphinha came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, scoring from an offside position and hitting the crossbar after being played through by Gavi.
Flick threw on Yamal at the break, hoping the winger would give Barca the advantage after an even first half.
Las Palmas took a surprise lead early in the second half when Kirian Rodriguez played in Ramirez, who drilled home from the edge of the box.
Raphinha hit back quickly for Barcelona with a thumping long-range effort, but Las Palmas were soon ahead again.
Silva ran onto Munoz’s probing long ball and fired past Inaki Pena to restore the Canary Islanders’ advantage with his fifth goal in eight league matches.
Former Barca goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen made several good saves and Las Palmas survived eight minutes of stoppage time.
“It was a very important win, we worked hard for it, Barca put you under a lot of pressure,” midfielder Moleiro told Movistar after Las Palmas sealed their first away win at Barcelona since 1971.
Atletico Madrid romped to a five-star victory at bottom side Real Valladolid, with Antoine Griezmann scoring one of the goals of the season.
Diego Simeone’s team have won seven consecutive games across all competitions and moved two points clear of champions Real Madrid.
Clement Lenglet opened the scoring after 25 minutes and Julian Alvarez added the second.
Rodrigo de Paul swept home the third before half-time and Griezmann produced a wonderful turn and finish soon after the break to add the fourth on a memorable night for the Rojiblancos, which even some home fans applauded.
Alexander Sorloth wrapped up Atletico’s thumping victory in stoppage time.
Griezmann’s goal saw the French forward exchange passes with Alvarez before executing a sensational turn and beating goalkeeper Karl Hein with a delicate touch.
“I have to thank (the Valladolid fans), in the end it’s what all players want, we want people to enjoy it with us, whether it’s opposition fans or our own,” Griezmann told DAZN.
“In the end I have to be grateful for this love, I’m doing really well and I hope to give more.”
Atletico beat Sparta Prague 6-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, meaning Simeone’s side scored 11 goals this week without reply.
“There are always things to improve, the team is always looking to do better,” Simeone told DAZN.
“We have to keep our humility, the nobility of keeping on looking for more... in the second half we could have done more... but I’ll stick with what the team’s giving me, with humility you can do anything.”
