All level in Riyadh derby as Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal play out 1-1 draw

Ronaldo’s came close to scoring, forcing a fine save from Bounou with a powerful shot from just outside the area as Al-Nassr shared the spoils with Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby. (X/@AlNassrFC)
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Updated 02 November 2024
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All level in Riyadh derby as Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal play out 1-1 draw

  • Champions were stunned by Al-Nassr but are not champions for nothing and eked out a solid draw
  • Talisca strikes early but Al-Hilal equalize in second half

RIYADH: Al-Nassr drew 1-1 with Al-Hilal in a tense Riyadh derby on Friday.

The hosts took a first-minute lead and managed to stay in front until 13 minutes from the end when the champions and leaders ensured that they made the short journey home with something.

Al-Nassr can at least take heart that they have ended their rivals’ perfect start to the season, while Al-Hilal move a point clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League, above Al-Ittihad in second. Al-Nassr stay in third, six points off the pace.

The yellows started well with Anderson Talisca’s goal hitting the net inside the first minute.

However, they were unable to put the visitors under enough pressure as the game went on and it was no surprise when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed home an equalizer for Al-Hilal, who had won their last 14 games in all competitions and last lost in the league back in May 2023.

Just over 50 seconds were on the clock when Al-Nassr took the lead in some style. Otavio picked up possession midway in the Al-Hilal half and his chipped pass was a thing of beauty. There was still work for Talisca to do, however. The Brazilian’s first touch took him past Ali Al-Bulaihi just inside the area and his second was a low shot beyond Yassine Bounou.

The champions were stunned but showed their resilience and almost hit back just four minutes later, Malcom breaking free down the right before the Brazilian’s shot was excellently saved at the near post by Bento. 

Salem Al-Dawsari then went close twice and looked dangerous, though with Ruben Neves missing the visitors were not quite as sharp in possession.

Al-Hilal did have the ball in the net following a corner but Aleksandar Mitrovic’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside.

The same happened soon after to Talisca who shot home from a similar position to his opener, but he had just strayed too far forward before Cristiano Ronaldo made the pass.

The half ended relatively quietly, as if both teams were preparing to start the second period with a real purpose.

Al-Nassr’s Marcelo Brozovic forced a fine save from Bounou and while Talisca bundled home the rebound, he did so from an offside position.

An incredible sequence of events followed in the 63rd minute. The ball fell to Al-Dawsari and the 2022 Asian Player of the Year shaped to curl into the opposite corner, only for his shot to bounce back off the post. Renan Lodi was there for the rebound and while the defender’s shot was not the cleanest, as it bounced back up it was heading goalwards only for Bento, falling backwards, to push it past the post.

It was then Ronaldo’s turn to go close, forcing a fine save from Bounou with a powerful shot from just outside the area, but Al-Hilal, as they so often do, came up with a goal when they really needed one in the 77th minute.

Al-Dawsari’s cheeky backheel on the left side of the area freed Lodi and his looping cross made it to the far post where Milinkovic-Savic was unmarked and rose high to head the equalizer.

Soon after, they were asking for a penalty that was not given and then Al-Nassr had a breakaway but could not find the final ball in the penalty area.

It had not been a vintage Riyadh derby, but while both teams will be frustrated at not taking all three points, they will be able to take something from the game and move forward. There is still a long way to go.


Palmeiras and Porto draw 0-0 in their first Club World Cup match

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Palmeiras and Porto draw 0-0 in their first Club World Cup match

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.: Palmeiras and two-time European champion Porto tied 0-0 in their opening match of the Club World Cup on Sunday night before a crowd of 46,275 at MetLife Stadium, which was just over half full.
Estevão’s left-footed shot in first-half stoppage time went into the hands of Claúdio Ramos, and Richard Ríos’ attempt off the rebound was blocked.
Palmeiras, Brazil’s club champion in 2022 and ‘23, qualified as the 2021 Copa Libertadores winner, while Porto reached the tournament as Europe’s fifth-ranked eligible team over a four-year period.
Palmeiras had a 17-11 advantage in shots and 55.3 percent possession. Its fans took over a side of the stadium, waving flags and cheering or the entire match.
Key Moment
Ramos’ double save in first-half stoppage time.
Takeaways
There is a four-way tie in Group A, which opened with Inter Miami and Al Ahly’s drawing 0-0 on Saturday, Palmeiras will face 12 -time African champion Al Ahly on Thursday in East Rutherford and Porto will play Miami the same day in Atlanta.


PSG cruise past Atletico to win Club World Cup opener

Updated 16 June 2025
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PSG cruise past Atletico to win Club World Cup opener

  • Goals from Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-In sealed the three points for PSG

PASADENA, United States: Newly crowned European Champions Paris Saint-Germain launched their bid for Club World Cup glory with a convincing 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
In searing heat at the Pasadena Rose Bowl east of Los Angeles, PSG proved too hot to handle for their Spanish opponents in an impressive opening Group B win.
Goals from Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-In sealed the three points for PSG, who delighted a crowd of 80,619 with their adventurous attacking play.
The French giants picked up where they had left off in their 5-0 Champions League final mauling of Inter Milan a fortnight earlier, quickly settling into their smooth passing game to control the early exchanges.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak was soon pressed into action, blocking a Goncalo Ramos shot from just outside the box on 17 minutes as PSG’s pressure mounted.
Oblak denied PSG again moments later, diving to stop a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot that was destined for the bottom left-hand corner.
Those early warning shots proved to be a precursor for the game’s opening goal in the 19th minute.
A lovely passing move down the right saw the ball swiftly transferred to Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia who deftly laid off into the path of Ruiz to sweep in a low finish for 1-0.
With Atletico struggling to gain any kind of a foothold in the contest, the Spanish side’s frustration began to show.
Clement Lenglet was booked for a rash challenge on Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi in the 21st minute, and Robin Le Normand picked up Atletico’s second yellow soon afterwards for bringing down Ruiz.
Ruiz himself was booked on 28 minutes for a shove on Giuliano Simeone before the Argentine midfielder collected Atletico’s third yellow soon afterwards.
With the Parisians in complete control, Atletico had to wait until the stroke of half-time before their first shot on goal, France’s Antoine Griezmann drawing a smart save from Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma with a low shot.
From the ensuing counter-attack, however, Atletico found themselves 2-0 down.
The electric Kvaratskhelia again found space down the left and fed inside to Vitinha, who ghosted into the box before steering a crisp shot beyond Oblak for 2-0.
Atletico appeared to have hauled themselves back into the game early in the second half when Julian Alvarez rifled home a low finish to make it 2-1.
But the goal was chalked off after VAR spotted a bodycheck by Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul on Desire Doue in the build-up.
That effort appeared to buoy Atletico for the remainder of the half, but despite playing with greater intensity they were unable to create a single shot on goal.
Lenglet was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card on 78 minutes.
A disappointing Atleti display was summed up by a glaring miss four minutes later, substitute Alexander Sorloth somehow scooping over an open goal from a few yards out after Marcos Llorente’s cross.
PSG swiftly made Atleti pay for that miss, substitute Senny Mayulu pouncing on a loose ball to make it 3-0 in the 87th minute. The rout was completed in injury time when Lee stepped up to convert a penalty after a handball by Le Normand.
PSG will face Brazil’s Botafogo in their next group match in Pasadena on Thursday, before completing the first round against Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders on June 23.


Rory McIlroy ends his US Open on a high note with a 67. The next major is in his home country

Updated 16 June 2025
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Rory McIlroy ends his US Open on a high note with a 67. The next major is in his home country

  • McIlroy shot a 3-under 67 on Sunday, finishing the US Open at 7 over

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania: Rory McIlroy could leave Oakmont feeling like he accomplished something, even if it took the full four days for him to produce a truly impressive round.
McIlroy shot a 3-under 67 on Sunday, finishing the US Open at 7 over and giving himself a performance he can build off as he works toward the year’s final major — next month’s British Open at Royal Portrush in his home country of Northern Ireland.
“It will be amazing to go home and play in that atmosphere and see a lot of people,” McIlroy said. “I’m really looking forward to it. It was nice to end this week with a bit of a positive note with the way I played today.”
McIlroy skipped talking to the media after his first two rounds this week, and much of his availability Saturday was spent being asked why. His golf was a bigger topic Sunday. It had been unremarkable through three days, but he at least momentarily had Sunday’s low round after finishing with six birdies — four on the back nine.
“Physically I feel like my game’s there,” he said. “It’s just mentally getting myself in the right frame of mind to get the best out of myself.”
That’s been a theme for McIlroy lately when he has talked. Winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam was a seismic moment in his career, and returning to those heights has been a struggle.
“Look, I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you’ve got to make your way back down, and you’ve got to look for another mountain to climb,” he said. “An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.”
First, McIlroy has the Travelers Championship in Connecticut next week. And the Scottish Open is a week before Royal Portrush.
In addition to finding motivation, McIlroy has needed to work out some issues on the tee after his driver was deemed nonconforming before the PGA Championship.
In that respect, Oakmont was a step forward — even if at times this week he seemed eager to leave this course behind.
“I feel like I’ve driven the ball well all week,” McIlroy said. “Really encouraged with the driver and how I drove it as well. It’s not necessarily the driver, it’s more me and sort of where my swing was. I feel like I got a really good feeling in my swing with the driver, which was great. Hopefully I can continue that on into next week.”
After the Travelers, a return to the other side of the Atlantic looms, and McIlroy is looking forward to it.
“If I can’t get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don’t know what can motivate me,” he said. “I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven’t been there the last few weeks.”


George Russell wins in Canada after McLarens collide, Lando Norris out

Updated 15 June 2025
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George Russell wins in Canada after McLarens collide, Lando Norris out

  • Russell takes Mercedes first win of season, Antonelli takes first podium in F1
  • Piastri stretches lead to 22 points after 10 of 24 races

MONTREAL: George Russell took Mercedes’ first win of the Formula One season in Canada on Sunday while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri went 22 points clear in the championship after teammate Lando Norris smashed into him and retired.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had hoped to win for a record fourth year in a row at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, took second.

Russell’s 18-year-old Italian rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli finished third for his first F1 podium.

Piastri was fourth with the safety car leading the final lap before peeling off to clear the way for Russell to take the chequered flag.

An uneventful afternoon erupted in headline drama when Norris hit the rear of Piastri’s car three laps from the end — a clash long predicted in the title battle — while trying to overtake.

The Briton, who ended at a standstill by the side of the track with no front wing and a broken car, was quick to blame himself.

“I’m sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me,” Norris said over the team radio.

Piastri pitted as the safety car was deployed and rejoined with a tire advantage over Antonelli that he could not use as the racing never resumed.

“Glad I didn’t ruin his race. In the end apologies to the team,” Norris told Sky Sports television.

“This wasn’t even like a ‘that’s racing’, it was just silly from my part.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth with Fernando Alonso seventh for Aston Martin and Nico Hulkenberg bringing in more solid points for Sauber in eighth place.

Esteban Ocon was ninth for Haas in their 200th race with Carlos Sainz 10th for Williams.

“Well done team. That made up for last year,” said Russell, who also started on pole last year but finished third. His last win before Sunday was in Las Vegas last November.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step.

“I felt last year was a victory lost and probably got the victory today due to the incredible pole lap yesterday.”

Third place made Antonelli the third youngest driver ever to stand on the F1 podium.

“I had a good start, managed to jump into P3 and just stayed up there at the front,” he said of passing Piastri for third on the opening lap.

“The last stint I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and I killed a bit the front-left (tyre), and struggled a bit at the end, but really happy to bring the podium home.”

Russell led away cleanly from pole, with Verstappen slotting in behind.

Behind them, Williams’ Alex Albon tracked across the grass after starting ninth with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto moving briefly up from 10th before losing out to Hulkenberg and then falling down the order.

Norris, who started on the hard tires to go longer in the opening stint, was leading by lap 16 after others who started on mediums came in for pitstops. He then pitted on lap 29 and came out fifth, behind Piastri in fourth.

Leclerc also came in that lap but then questioned why Ferrari had made the call, with his hard tires still in reasonable shape.

Hamilton was behind his teammate, with reported damage to his car, and wondering out loud where the performance had gone.

“I’m nowhere in the race, mate, I don’t know what’s happened,” the seven-times world champion told his engineer over the team radio.


Qualifier Maria completes fairytale run to Queen’s title

Updated 15 June 2025
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Qualifier Maria completes fairytale run to Queen’s title

  • The 37-year-old’s victory secured the fourth singles title of her career

LONDON: Tatjana Maria completed her fairytale run at Queen’s Club as the German qualifier beat American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday’s final to become the oldest winner of a WTA 500 event.
The 37-year-old’s victory secured the fourth singles title of her career, and her first since 2023 on the clay in Bogota.
World number 86 Maria is the first German to win a WTA 500 title since Angelique Kerber in 2018 in Sydney.
In the first women’s tournament at Queen’s since 1973, Maria is the event’s first female champion since Russia’s Olga Morozova 52 years ago.
When Morozova won in west London, the prize money was just £1,000 ($1,353).
Maria banked a cheque for £120,000 and more importantly earned a huge confidence boost ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on June 30.
The mother of two arrived at Queen’s on a nine-match losing streak and had to survive two rounds of qualifying matches to reach the main draw.
Deploying her slice-heavy style to devastating effect, she stunned sixth seed Karolina Muchova, fourth seed Elena Rybakina and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys en route to the final.
Maria, who has taken two maternity breaks from the WTA Tour, has never been past the second round of any Grand Slam except Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals in 2022.
But once again she proved a formidable force on grass, brushing aside Anisimova to secure her second title on the surface as her husband and young daughters Charlotte and Cecilia watched from courtside.
“A dream come true. I came here I was never thinking I could hold the trophy at the end,” Maria said.
“When we arrived my little girl said: ‘Wow that’s a nice trophy, so big’ and I said: ‘OK let’s go for it, I will try to win it’. And in the end I’ve won it, it’s incredible.
“Everything is possible if you believe in it. You go your way, doesn’t matter which it is but you have to keep going. I want to show this to my kids and hopefully they are proud. It’s amazing.”
Asked if she planned to celebrate with her family, Maria said: “For sure. This doesn’t happen every week so we have to celebrate with something.
“I think the kids will probably want some crepes with Nutella!“
Anisimova has struggled to live up to her early success after reaching the French Open semifinals aged 17 in 2019.
She took an eight-month break from tennis and dropped out of the top 400 after suffering with depression bought on by the scrutiny and expectations that came with being a teen prodigy.
The 23-year-old returned last year and won the Qatar Open this February, reaching a career-high 15th in the rankings before underlining her renaissance by defeating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen to reach her first grass-court final.
However, Maria was too savvy on grass for Anisimova, who said: “It’s incredible to see Tatjana playing at this level. To have her family here, it’s super special.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see her in the Wimbledon final. She really had me running out there today.”