ABU DHABI: Gareth Bale put Real Madrid back in the final of the Club World Cup by scoring a hat-trick to lead the team to a comfortable 3-1 win over Japan’s Kashima Antlers on Wednesday.
Madrid qualified for the tournament between the top teams on each continent in large part thanks to Bale, who scored twice in the 3-1 win over Liverpool in May’s Champions League final.
Bale scored his first goal against Kashima just before half-time and added two more quickly after the break to decide the match.
“It’s an important victory,” Bale said. “We knew it would be a difficult game against a team that would make it difficult for us, so we just had to be professionals and get to the final.
“We had to work hard to win and I’m happy with the victory.”
When asked about his performance and his hat-trick, the Welshman said: “It’s great on a personal level but most important is to help the team to reach the final.”
Madrid will next play host side Al-Ain on Saturday, when the European champions will be heavily favored to claim a fourth club world title.
“I’m happy for the three great goals by Bale, and for the strength and consistency showed by the team,” said Madrid manager Santiago Solari.
Solari said that another world title would be “a prize for this team that has given its fans so much and accomplished the feat of winning three straight Champions Leagues. Adding three straight Club World Cups would be “fantastic.”
He added: “I am not worried about Al-Ain, but I expect good competition. They were able to beat Wellington and River Plate and are now in the final. We will have to be as competitive as today to win the trophy.”
Wednesday’s game was a rematch of the 2016 final, when Madrid needed extra time to beat Kashima 4-2.
This time they had no trouble.
Kashima had a promising start as Serginho shot just wide and Gen Shoji almost reached a corner kick that would have left him with a pointblank header in the third minute.
Madrid, however, took control and started probing the right side as Bale’s speed proved too much to handle.
Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos sent headers wide before Bale exchanged a quick pair of passes with Marcelo to score off the far post in the 43rd minute.
Bale’s second goal in the 53rd minute came after two horrible passes by Kashima defenders left their goalkeeper stranded and he added his third two minutes later after Marcelo found him alone in the box.
Bale was replaced by Marco Asensio, who later had to leave with an apparent leg injury.
Kashima’s Shoma Doi then closed the scoring with a goal in the 78th minute.
The match was interrupted in stoppage time when two fans ran onto the field toward Benzema and Marcelo. They were quickly removed by stadium security.
Kashima coach Goi Oiwa took responsibility for the result, saying: “In the match, soon after it started, we had chances, but we couldn’t finish.
“If we scored first, the result would have been different. We let the momentum go, we gave mental room to our opponents and we allowed them to take the lead. I am disappointed.”
On Tuesday, Al Ain caused a major upset by beating River Plate of Argentina on penalties.
Gareth Bale scores hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Kashima 3-1 at FIFA Club World Cup
Gareth Bale scores hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Kashima 3-1 at FIFA Club World Cup
- Madrid qualified for the tournament between the top teams on each continent in large part thanks to Bale
- Wednesday’s game was a rematch of the 2016 final, when Madrid needed extra time to beat Kashima 4-2
Dubai Basketball completes season sweep over defending ABA Champions Crvena Zvezda
- First time in three years that Crvena Zvezda has fallen to the same team both home and away in the same season
- Nate Mason took Man-of-the-Match honours with an exceptional 23-points, nine assists, and one steal
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball silenced Crvena Zvezda’s passionate fans on Sunday night in Belgrade, Serbia with a season-best performance to secure a defining sweep of the reigning ABA League Champions with a brilliant 107-92 win on the road. This marks the first time in three years that Crvena Zvezda has fallen to the same team both home and away in the same season.
Dubai went into the highly anticipated Roud-16 game in Belgrade looking to bounce back from a tough defeat last week, and rose to the challenge with a near-perfect performance, handing Crvena Zvezda their first loss at home this season, ending their 12-game winning streak. The win takes Dubai’s record to 12-4 for, firmly in the race for top spot.
On a night full of incredible individual performances, Nate Mason took Man-of-the-Match honours with an exceptional 23-points, nine assists, and one steal. The American’s shooting was immaculate throughout — finishing with an astonishing 100% success rate: 3/3 on two-pointers, 5/5 from three-point range, and 2/2 from the free throw line.
It was a complete performance by Dubai Basketball, with the home team having no answers to their constant attack. After holding a two-point advantage in the opening quarter (26-24), Dubai went into half-time with a 50-45 lead. With all to play for, the visitors were relentless in the third quarter, extending their advantage to 12 points at 78-64.
In the deciding quarter, Crvena Zvezda managed to reduce the gap to 10 points — before Danilo Andusic’s clutch 3-pointer all but deflated their rally efforts. Dubai maintained their composure, scoring four points in a row once again, to secure a double-digit lead at 97:86. A free-throw from JaCorey Williams saw Dubai cross the 100-point mark as his team secured a convincing win.
Dubai Basketball head coach, Jurica Golemac, praised his players for their team performance, where they were 23/35 (65.7%) from 2-point territory and 13/22 (59.1) from beyond the arc. The final result has Dubai sitting fourth in the standings, two points behind league leader, Partizan Mozzart.
Coach Golemac said: “Congratulations to my players on playing a very good match smartly. We knew that Crvena Zvezda had a big victory in the EuroLeague two days ago and did not have much time to prepare for us. We could see that their energy was not as usual. I said at the beginning that we have a good team and we were euphoric tonight.”
After two games on the road, Dubai Basketball will return to Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday 19th January against Cedevita Olimpija with tickets still available from just AED 75.
To purchase yours, please click here.
Nortje back in South Africa squad for Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
- 31-year-old Anrich Nortje has not played in a 50-over match since September 2023 when he suffered a stress fracture
- South Africa will also play a triangular tournament in Pakistan against the hosts and New Zealand ahead of Champions Trophy
JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Monday named in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in Pakistan next month.
Nortje, 31, has not played in a 50-over match since September 2023 when he suffered a stress fracture.
He came back to be South Africa’s most successful bowler in the T20 World Cup last June but has not played an international match since the final against India in Barbados.
He turned down a Cricket South Africa contract in order to play T20 franchise cricket.
Nortje had been due to play in white-ball matches against Pakistan last month but suffered a broken right toe while batting in the nets.
Coach Rob Walter said he was confident Nortje would be in peak physical condition for the Champions Trophy.
“He was at our camp in Pretoria bowling really quickly,” said Walter.
“He was super-fit and super-energised to be playing for South Africa again and it was just one of those unfortunate circumstances. Anrich is the ultimate professional, he looks after himself and takes care of his conditioning. I’ve got no doubt he’ll be good to go.”
Fellow fast bowler Lungi Ngidi will also return after recovering from the groin injury which kept him out of South Africa’s home international season.
Ten of the squad played in the Cricket World Cup in India in 2023, where Walter said the team had “played exceptional cricket” to reach the semifinals.
While South Africa’s quest for a major trophy continues, Walter said a core group of players would benefit from reaching the semifinals and final of their last two International Cricket Council events.
“They know what it feels like to be in the cauldron,” he said.
South Africa will play in a triangular tournament in Pakistan against the hosts and New Zealand ahead of the Champions Trophy but are likely to have to select some different players because of a clash with the closing stages of the SA20 franchise tournament.
South African squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.
South African Group B fixtures:
February 21, Afghanistan in Karachi.
February 25, Australia in Rawalpindi.
March 1, England in Karachi.
Moroccan kickboxer Ilias Ennahachi to star at ONE 171 in Qatar
- The former Flyweight kickboxing world champion will face Petchtanong Petchfergus on Feb. 20
DUBAI: Moroccan martial arts star and former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing world champion Ilias Ennahachi will face Petchtanong Petchfergus at ONE Championship's show ONE 171: Qatar on Feb. 20 at Lusail Sports Arena.
The winner of the matchup could be the next challenger for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing world title which will be on the line in the show's main event as Jonathan Haggerty defends his gold against Chinese veteran Wei Rui.
Ennahachi has won both his two bouts since moving to bantamweight, most recently defeating second-ranked Hiroki Akimoto via unanimous decision at ONE Friday Fights 81 on September 27, taking his ONE record to 5-0 and his overall professional record to 40-3.
The 28-year-old Moroccan is one of the promotion's most established stars and the only fighter to beat current two-sports champion Superlek Kiatmoo.
Meanwhile, 39-year-old veteran Petchtanong most recently picked up a knockout win against former divisional champion Alaverdi Ramazanov in June after returning to action for the first time in two years.
The experienced Thai owns an incredible 359-56 overall professional record.
PFL opens 2025 with stacked card in Dubai
- Undefeated Russian champion Usman Nurmagomedov will take on Ireland’s Paul Hughes at Coca-Cola Arena on Jan. 25
DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League has its first major event of 2025 with the Road To Dubai Champions Series at the Coca-Cola Arena on Jan. 25.
Headlining the PFL card is a highly-anticipated matchup between undefeated Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Ireland’s surging contender Paul “Big News” Hughes.
Nurmagomedov, the cousin of mixed martial arts great Khabib Nurmagomedov, comes into the fight with a pristine 19-0 record and two successful title defenses.
Hughes, meanwhile, is riding a seven-fight win streak, including a victory over former Bellator champion AJ McKee.
To add more fuel to the fire, Hughes said he is drawing inspiration for the fight from Khabib’s recent criticism of Ireland’s MMA fighters.
Meanwhile former Bellator light-heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov takes on seasoned knockout artist Tim Johnson.
Nemkov, who was dominant at light-heavyweight and set a league record for title defenses, moved up to heavyweight in 2024 with a victory over former PFL champion Bruno Cappelozza.
A PFL and Bellator veteran, Johnson has 18 career victories, with 10 knockouts.
The Road to Dubai Champions Series will also feature MMA fighters from nations including the US, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and Brazil.
MAIN CARD
Bellator Lightweight World Championship: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes
Heavyweight: Vadim Nemkov vs. Tim Johnson
Featherweight: Akhmed Magomedov vs. Nathan Kelly
Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Kenny Mokhonoana
Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov vs. Cleiver Fernandes
PRELIMINARY CARD
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman vs. Ahmed Samy
Middleweight: Yakus Sulimanov vs. Jarrah Al-Selawe
Lightweight: Hadi Omar Al-Hussaini vs. Ruel Panales
Lightweight: John Mitchell vs. Souhil Tairi
Middleweight: Mostafa Nada vs. Haider Khan
Great Britain & Ireland complete emphatic victory at the 2025 Team Cup
- Tommy Fleetwood the only player undefeated over 3 days after 17–8 victory over Continental Europe at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort
ABU DHABI: Great Britain & Ireland recorded an emphatic 17-8 victory over Continental Europe at the 2025 Team Cup on Sunday at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.
The GB&I side, led by Justin Rose, held a commanding seven-point lead at the start of play, needing just two points to complete their triumph ahead of Sunday’s singles session.
Rose said it was a “huge honor” to lead the team. “Loved the challenge of it. Loved the experience of it, and the lads have made me look incredibly good at it.”
“The way they played was first class,” he added. “We had one clear message, which was to get on the front foot to try to be relentless to play wave after wave.
“Playing on a big lead, everybody felt like we could get the job done, but just to focus on individual and personal pride, kind of continue the message of the week.”
Englishman Laurie Canter earned the first point of the afternoon as he beat the previously undefeated Romain Langasque 5&4, and Tommy Fleetwood claimed the crucial winning point for his side, just as the Ryder Cup stalwart did at Marco Simone in 2023, defeating Matthieu Pavon 3&1.
Fleetwood’s victory over the Frenchman gave him a perfect record as he ended the event as the only player to win all four of his matches across the three days.
The GB&I team threatened a rout as they led in nine of the 10 matches at one stage during the afternoon.
But Continental Europe orchestrated a brave fightback, first with Niklas Norgaard winning 3&2 against Matthew Jordan, followed by Antoine Rozer and Matteo Manassero, who each won their matches 1Up.
“The leaderboard early in the round was astonishing, really,” Rose added. “Every credit to Continental Europe and Francesco himself and the team as a whole.
“The whole matches were played in great spirit but yeah, my team definitely holed the right putts at the right time and won most of those key matches.”
“You can’t simulate the intensity of a Ryder Cup with the crowd and the energy,” the GB&I captain added. “But at the end of the day, as soon as you put a crest here and you have 10 mates right behind you, you want to win.
“Even practice rounds playing with our mates on tour, you never like to lose. So the intensity is there. The competitiveness is there. Just the environment is hard to simulate.
Continental Europe’s Captain Francesco Molinari came back from two down with seven holes to play to earn half a point against Jordan Smith.
And Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard staged an equally impressive comeback as he battled a three-hole deficit with five to play, halving against Aaron Rai.
“I think I probably could have done a slightly better job with the boys,” Molinari said.
“They gave it all they had. Our side was maybe more inexperienced players in this kind of event but they are great guys and they did their best. The GB&I team was just too hard for us this week.”
