Football
AFC Champions League: Bashundhara Kings to play Sharjah FC on Tuesday
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings will play UAE Pro-League champions Sharjah Football Club in the preliminary round match of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday (August 15) at the Sharjah Stadium.
The top-tier club football competition of Asia between Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings and UAE giant Sharjah FC will kick-off at 9:35 pm Bangladesh time.
The other BPL side, Dhaka Abahani Limited, will play Club Eagles of the Maldives in the preliminary round match of Asia’s second-tier club competition-- the AFC Cup--on Wednesday (August 16) at 3:15 pm at the Sylhet District Stadium.
Country's most successful club team Bashundhara Kings, which was placed in West Zone of Asia, will be the first Bangladesh team to compete in the prestigious AFC Champions League.
After reaching Sharjah on Saturday, Bashundhara Kings is facing strong challenge from local extreme hot temperature of more than 40 degree celsius before facing some world class players studded Arabian side Sharjah FC at the desert venue.
However, If Bashundhara Kings can beat Sharjah FC then they will qualify for the play-off stage of the AFC champions league to face Tractor FC of Iran on August 22.
The winners of the play-off match will qualify for the group stage of the tournament to be held between September to December this year.
Dhaka Abahani reaches Sylhet to play AFC Cup Vs Club Eagles of Maldives
Local Federation Cup champions Dhaka Abahani Limited reached Sylhet on Monday to play the preliminary round match of the AFC Cup Football 2023-24.
On Friday, a 28-member Club Eagles Football team of the Maldives also reached Sylhet to play the AFC Cup Football 2023-24.
The Maldivian premier league side Eagles Football Club will play Dhaka Abahani Limited in the preliminary round match of the Asian Tier-2 club meet, the AFC Cup Football on Wednesday (Aug 16) at 3:15 pm at the Sylhet District Stadium.
The touring Club Eagles, which made their maiden two-hour training session at Sylhet BKSP on Saturday from 3 pm to 5 pm, also practised on Sunday and Monday at the same venue.
However, their opponent Dhaka Abahani Limited, which reached Sylhet on Monday after preparing themselves in Dhaka, scheduled to practise at Sylhet BKSP on Monday ( Aug 14).
If Dhaka Abahani can win the match against the Club Eagles then they will play against the winners of Kolkata Mohun Bagan and Machhindra FC of Kathmandu in a play-off match of South Zone on August 22.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings, now in Sharjah, will play upper ranked and UAE Pro- League champions Sharjah FC in the preliminary round match of the Asian top tier club meet, the AFC champions league on Tuesday (Aug 15).
If the Bashundhara Kings fails to reach main draw of the tough champions league, then they will get another opportunity to play in the main draw (group stage) of the Asian Tier-2 meet of the AFC Cup Football.
AFC playoff: Maldivian club Eagles start practising in Sylhet
The Maldivian Premier League side Club Eagles made their first practice session at the artificial turf of Sylhet BKSP Saturday afternoon.
Earlier, a 28-member Club Eagles Football team of the Maldives reached Sylhet Friday afternoon to play the preliminary round match of the AFC Cup Football '2023-24.
The Maldivian side Eagles Football Club will play Dhaka Abahani Limited in the preliminary round match of AFC Cup on Wednesday (Aug 16) at 3:15 pm at the Sylhet District Stadium.
Read: Bangladesh to play two FIFA Int'l Friendlies with Afghanistan on Sept 4, 7
The touring Club Eagles, which made their maiden two hour long training session at Sylhet BKSP on Saturday from 3 pm to 5 pm, will also make their practices on Sunday (Aug 13) at the same time and same venue.
However, their opponent Dhaka Abahani Limited, now preparing themselves in Dhaka, is likely to fly for Sylhet on Monday ( Aug 14) to play the match.
If Dhaka Abahani is able to win the match against the Club Eagles then they play the winners of Kolkata Mohun Bagan and Machhindra FC of Kathmandu in a play-off match on August 22.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Champions Bashundhara Kings, which left Dhaka Saturday morning for Sharjah, reached the UAE city in the afternoon to play in the preliminary round of the prestigious AFC Champions League.
Read: Bangladesh to compete in next month's SAFF U-19, U-16 Championships
The Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings will play upper ranked and UAE Pro- League champions Sharjah FC in the preliminary round match of AFC champions league on Tuesday (Aug 15).
If the Bashundhara Kings will fail to reach main draw of the tough champions league, the they will get another opportunity to play in the main draw (group stage) of the AFC Cup Football.
Read more: DU Football: Sociology Department emerge champions
Australia edge France on penalties to reach the Women's World Cup semifinals, will face England
Mackenzie Arnold's impact on Australia's biggest Women's World Cup moment was so immense that it's hardly surprising it took vanquished France coach Herve Renard to describe it best.
“We came up against a Goliath of a goalie. What a game,” Renard said.
Australia won a penalty shootout 7-6 against Renard's team after their quarterfinal ended 0-0 in regulation and extra time on Saturday.
Arnold was “the winning factor,” the French coach acknowledged, “both in normal time but also in extra time and then during the shootout.”
READ: The future is uncertain for the United States after crashing out of the Women's World Cup
Indeed. Arnold was instrumental in Australia advancing to the semifinals for the first time and ending the so-called curse of the host nation.
Cortnee Vine, playing in her first World Cup and going on late as a substitute, was the 10th in a line of 11 penalty takers picked for Australia. She strode to the spot, aiming to finish off where two of her teammates couldn't, and calmly converted to give the Matildas a famous victory.
The Australians became the only hosts other than the United States to win a quarterfinal in nine Women’s World Cups.
The Matildas will play England next Wednesday for a spot in the final after the European champions beat Colombia 2-1.
Arnold kept the Matildas in the game in extra time and made three clutch saves in the shootout — before and after missing with her own attempt that could have sealed the win.
“I’m just speechless right now to be honest,” Arnold said, adding that her missed shot was “incredibly disappointing” but the eventual triumph was “unreal.”
READ: Bangladesh to play two FIFA Int'l Friendlies with Afghanistan on Sept 4, 7
“I could have won the game for the girls and I missed it, but the way they rallied around me and just kept me in it,” she said. “At the end of the day it’s my job to keep the ball out of the net and thankfully I could do that for them.”
The quarterfinal match transfixed Australia. Fans at other stadiums, in other sports, watched live broadcasts. The evening news was delayed by the host broadcaster so everyone Down Under had a chance to watch the game on free-to-air TV. The Australians had another capacity crowd of almost 50,000 in Brisbane.
Renard said his lineup did well considering it was a squad of 23 against 26 million rivals: “I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate them, congratulate them for the performance that they pulled off today against an entire nation. There were a couple of things that could have gone the other way.
“From the day we got to Australia and right until the very bitter end ... we have no regrets," he said.
Australia had lost all three of its previous quarterfinals at Women's World Cups and went into the knockout game under intense pressure knowing that six of the previous hosts were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage, including France in 2019. Australia is co-hosting the tournament with New Zealand.
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The French were playing in the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive time but its only win remains its first, beating England on penalties in 2011.
Both teams had chances to win it in regulation, and star striker Sam Kerr’s first meaningful appearance of the tournament triggered a surge in tempo from the Australians when she went on in the 55th minute but ultimately no goals.
The French team celebrated momentarily in extra time when it appeared Australian defender Alanna Kennedy’s misdirected header from a corner kick had produced an own goal. But referee Maria Carvajal immediately disallowed it, ruling that France captain Wendie Renard had pulled the jersey of Australian forward Caitlin Foord.
It would have been a contentious goal, regardless, with France awarded the corner despite the ball appearing to go out off Vicki Becho in the 10th minute of extra time.
Becho was in the thick of the late action, firing a shot early in the second period of extra time that Arnold pushed over her right post. The Australian keeper also blocked shots from Grace Geyoro and veteran striker Eugenie Le Sommer late to take the game to a shootout.
A tension-filled shootout started with Arnold blocking the first shot diving to her right from Selma Bacha.
Foord took Australia’s first shot, calmly slotting it past Solene Durand, who went on deep in extra time to replace France's starting goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin
Steph Catley missed with Australia’s second shot and captain Renard stepped up and converted despite a chorus of booing from the crowd to give France a 2-1 lead.
READ: Former Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi retires after a career slowed by severe injuries
Kerr made it 2-2 and Le Sommer fired a shot low inside the right post to give France a 3-2 lead.
Mary Fowler, who had Australia's best chance in regulation blocked by defender Elisa De Almeida desperately covering the line in the 41st minute, equalized without hesitation in the shootout. And Arnold, after making another save, lined up for her own shot in an attempt to win it for the hosts. She missed and went straight back to keeping duties.
At 6-6, Kenza Dali had two chances for France, both stopped by Arnold. The first went to VAR and Dali was given another shot. The retaken penalty was well saved by Arnold, who celebrated wildly near the goalposts — after checking with the referee.
Clare Hunt missed a chance to win it for Australia, with Durand getting a hand to her shot down the middle.
But after the 19-year-old Becho's curling right-foot shot hit the left post, Vine stepped up to make it third time lucky for Australia.
The French had three times more shots on goal in the first half, with nine against Australia’s three, and Maelle Lakrar and Le Sommer forced two saves from Arnold.
“Success is when you leave it all out there,” Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said. "You play with your heart and give it your best, and with the crest on your chest. The players tonight, they represent so much more than 90-minute football.”
Bangladesh to play two FIFA Int'l Friendlies with Afghanistan on Sept 4, 7
Bangladesh National team to play two FIFA International Friendly Football matches at home on September 4 and 7 during the FIFA window.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has arranged the matches as a part of their preparation for the FIFA World Cup and AFC Qualifiers against the Maldives in October next.
BFF Vice president and chairman of the national teams committee Kazi Nabil Ahmed disclosed it to the pressman on Monday.
But, the BFF has yet to confirm match venues as national footballers are reluctant to play in the federation 's automatic choice venue Sylhet District Stadium due to poor condition of ground.
The BFF is now thinking about two alternate venues -- MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram and Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka-- for the matches.
If the Bashundhara Kings Arena will get the approval as an international football venue in the meantime then the matches will be held there. Otherwise the matches may be held in Chattogram
Meanwhile, a BFF delegation will visit the Chattogram M A Aziz Stadium very soon to inspect the feasibility of the ground for international matches.
The future is uncertain for the United States after crashing out of the Women's World Cup
The rest of the world has finally caught up to the United States.
The once-dominant Americans crashed out of the Women’s World Cup on penalties after a scoreless draw with Sweden in the Round of 16 on Sunday. It was the earliest exit ever for the four-time tournament champions.
A shootout in the 1999 World Cup — with a much different outcome — supercharged the U.S. team's prominence atop the sport globally. The Americans beat China on penalties in front of a sellout crowd at the Rose Bowl and Brandi Chastain doffed her jersey in celebration.
Except for some desperate energy in its last match, this U.S. team appeared uncharacteristically timid and disorganized throughout this World Cup. The two-time defending champions squeaked by in the group stage with just a win against Vietnam and disappointing draws against Netherlands and Portugal.
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The Americans have fallen victim to growing parity in women’s soccer. Former powerhouse teams like the United States, Germany and Brazil were all sent home early while teams including Jamaica, Colombia and first-timers Morocco surpassed expectations.
“I think it says a lot about the growth of the game,” defender Crystal Dunn said. “I think so many people are looking for us to win games 5-0, and World Cups.
"We should be proud that those days aren't here. We, as members of the U.S. women's national team, have always fought for the growth of this game globally, and I think that is what you're seeing.”
After a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and now the early exit from the World Cup, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s future with the team is uncertain as it prepares for the next big tournament, the Paris Games next year.
Andonovski took over the job for Jill Ellis, who led the Americans to their back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and '19. He has gone 51-5-9 during his time with the team.
“I never came into the job, never came into the locker room with the mindset that I wanted to do something to save my job,” Andonovski said on Sunday, clearly shaken. “I was always focused on doing a good job, doing my job in the best possible manner to prepare this team for the challenges they have in front of them, and to prepare them to represent our country."
READ: SAFF Championship: Late soal shatters Bangladesh's dream of final
U.S. Soccer issued a brief statement Monday morning.
“While we are all disappointed our journey has ended at the Women's World Cup, we want to thank the players, coaches and staff for their remarkable effort and to our fans both in the stands and at home for their unwavering support,” the federation said. “As we always do after a major tournament, we will
conduct a review to identify areas of improvement and determine our next steps. As we look ahead, we embrace the hard work necessary to become champions again.”
In addition to a stronger level of competition, the United States also struggled with inexperience.
The United States brought 14 players to the World Cup who had never played in the event. Indeed, 12 of them had never played in a major tournament.
The changes were part of a U.S. youth movement after the disappointing Tokyo Games. Andonovski focused his attention on developing young players like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and 18-yar-old Alyssa Thompson.
One player, midfielder Savannah DeMelo, had never appeared in a national team match when she was named to the World Cup roster. She appeared as a substitute in a send-off match against Wales in San Jose, before starting in the first two World Cup games.
Smith, the U.S. Soccer Player of the year for 2022, had a good start to the tournament with two goals against Vietnam, but went scoreless the rest of the way. She missed her penalty attempt against Sweden along with Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O'Hara.
The only other scorer for the team was co-captain Lindsey Horan, who also had two goals.
“Even though it didn't end up the way we wanted, it's a huge experience for some of these young players,” Andonovski said. “There's a group of players that will make a mark in the future."
There was backlash on social media and among pundits following the match, critical of both Andonovski's tactics and Rapinoe's reaction after missing her penalty attempt. She laughed, explaining later that she had fully expected to make it.
READ: AFC U-17 Women's Asia Cup: Bangladesh put in Group B with Australia, Vietnam, Philippines
Rapinoe, the outspoken star on the 2019 World Cup known for her iconic victory pose, wasn't the same game-changer she once was. At 38, and after a pair of World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal, her role had diminished. She announced before the tournament started that it would be her last World Cup.
“I know it's the end and that's sad, but to know this is really the only time I've been in one of these, this early, says so much about how much success I've been able to have and just how much I've loved playing for this team and playing for this country,” Rapinoe said, tears in her eyes. “It's been an honor.”
After the match defender Julie Ertz also said it was likely her last time wearing the U.S. jersey.
It was also clear the United States was missing several important players.
Mallory Swanson, the team’s top scorer this year, tore her patella tendon in an exhibition match with Ireland in April. Becky Sauerbrunn, the team’s captain, announced in June that she was unable to get over a foot injury in time for the tournament.
Dynamic forward Catarina Macario, hailed among the future stars of the team, tore her ACL last year playing with French club Lyon and didn’t recover in time.
In the end, however, the United States struggled most with its identity. It could never muster the confidence of teams past — including the legendary '99ers.
“All we want to do is be successful, be able to uphold the legacy that this team deserves. We failed at that this time,” said forward Alex Morgan, who like Rapinoe was playing in her fourth World Cup. “But I’m still hopeful with the future of this team. I still stand by that. This game is evolving, the game is getting better and that’s not going to change. It’s only going to continue.”
Messi scores early in 1st game outside Florida for Inter Miami at FC Dallas
Lionel Messi wasted little time scoring in his first match outside Florida with Inter Miami.
The only wait was to see whether the goal would count.
Messi's left-footed kick from just outside the penalty box beat FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes inside the left post, giving Miami a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute Sunday night.
Josef Martinez was initially ruled offsides by the head referee for interfering with Paes' view, but the call was overturned on review.
Read: Lionel Messi set to make his Inter Miami debut in Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul
Messi has scored in all four matches since joining Miami, with six goals total. He had consecutive multigoal games coming into the Leagues Cup round of 16 match in Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas.
Messi's second multigoal game came in the first Leagus Cup elimination game, which was delayed by an hour and a half because of a torrential rainstorm in Florida.
The fifth game in Texas in Messi's illustrious career had a kickoff temperature of 100 degrees (38 degrees celsius) on the 14th consecutive day of triple-digit heat in the Dallas area.
Read: Lionel Messi makes it official by signing with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer
Because of the high temperatures, teams took a heat break at the 25-minute mark of the first half.
Despite many fans in the sellout crowd waiting out the heat before taking their seats, most were in place when Messi's former FC Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba passed back to the trailing superstar, setting up the goal.
The winner of the round of 16 match was headed to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against the winner of Monday night's match between Charlotte FC and Houston.
Bangladesh to compete in next month's SAFF U-19, U-16 Championships
Bangladesh will participate in next month's South Asian Football Federation ( SAFF) U-16 and U-19 Championships to be held in Bhutan and Nepal.The decision was taken at the 6th development committee meeting of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) held on Friday at the federation board room with committee chairman and BFF vice president Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik in the chair.
Bangladesh was grouped with their stronger rivals in India in both the tournaments.
Bangladesh team will compete in the six-nation SAFF -16 Championship '2023 to be held in Bhutan on September 1-10.
Bangladesh, which was placed in three -team Group A with India and Nepal, will play India on Sept 1 and Nepal on Sept 3, both at the Changlimithang Stadium in Bhutan.
After the group matches, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the semifinals on September 7 while the finalmatch will be held on September 10.
In the six-nation SAFF U-19 Championship '2023, Bangladesh was placed in Group B of the regional soccer meet to be held in Nepal.
Bangladesh will play India in the inaugural match on September 21 while they will play Bhutan on September 23, both at the Dashrath Stadium in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.
Top two teams from each of the groups will play in the semifinals on September 27 while the final match will be held on September 30
Football season to begin with Independence Cup on Oct 27
The next football season will begin on October 27 with the Independence Cup 2023.
Fourteen teams--all eleven clubs of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and three other teams from the qualifying round will play in the finals of the season's curtain raiser meet.
Also read: DU Football: Sociology Department emerge champions
All the teams will be entitled to recruit maximum 36 players in their squad this season with six foreign players, one player more than last season and maximum four players including one from Asia will be allowed to play for a team in a match.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Professional League Management Committee held at the federation board room on Monday with committee chairman and BFF president Kazi M Salahuddin in the chair.
Also read: Asian Games Football: Bangladesh Men's team put pressure
The inter-club players registration formalities for the Bangladesh Premier League 2023-24 begins on Tuesday (August 1) and will continue till Aug 18.
This year's Independence Cup and Federation Cup Football will be held in four venues across the country including Bashundhara Sports Complex in the capital.
Also read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
DU Football: Sociology Department emerge champions
Sociology Department emerged champions in the Dhaka University Inter-Departmental Football Tournament beating Applied Mathematics Department by 2-1 goals in the final in tie-breaker at the university central playground on Sunday.
Akash, the custodian of the champions Sociology Department was adjudged the best player of the tournament.
Pro-VC (Admin) of Dhaka University Prof. Dr. Mohammad Samad witnessed the final as the chief guest and later he distributed the prizes.
A total of 83 football teams of the university took part in the tournament.