Football
Youth Games Football: Rangpur, Rajshahi Division reach men's football final
Rangpur and Rajshahi Divisions reached the men's football final of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games' 2023 eliminating their rivals in the semifinals at the Palton Outer Stadium in the capital on Tuesday.
Rangpur Division booked a seat for the final eliminating Khulna Division by 3-0 goals in the day's first semifinal in the afternoon.
Alamgir struck twice in the 73rd and 90th minutes while Shahriar opened the Rangpur account in the 18th minute.
In the day's 2nd semifinal, Rajshahi Division eliminated Sylhet Division beating them by 2-0 goals also on Tuesday afternoon.
Also Read: Youth Games Handball: Rangpur Div clinch women's title beating Dhaka Div by 30-17 goal
After a barren first half, Saddik put Rajshahi ahead in the 67th minute while Akash sounded the margin scoring one more goal for Rajshahi in the 84th minute.
The gold medal deciding men's final match between Rangpur and Rajshahi Divisions will be held on Friday (March 3) at 2:45 pm at the same venue while the 3rd place deciding match between two losing semifinalists will be held on Thursday (March 2) also at 2:45 pm.
Argentina extends Scaloni’s contract to 2026 World Cup
World Cup winner Lionel Scaloni will remain as coach of Argentina to the end of the 2026 World Cup.
The Argentine Football Association and Scaloni confirmed the deal on Monday. They didn’t elaborate.
The 44-year-old Scaloni and AFA president Claudio Tapia met in Paris before the FIFA awards late Monday, when Scaloni was named men’s world coach of the year.
“When trust is high, communication is clear and effective,” Tapia said on Twitter in a post with himself and Scaloni smiling and drinking tea in the French capital. “We continue to trust our project of national teams to Lionel Scaloni, the World Cup winning coach.”
Read: Messi voted best player at FIFA awards again
Scaloni’s contract expired after Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar on Dec. 18. Long negotiations followed.
Scaloni took over at the end of 2018 as a temporary measure, and received waves of criticism for his lack of experience. He had never coached a professional team. One year later, the job was his permanently.
He guided Argentina to the 2021 Copa America title, the team’s first in 28 years. Captain Lionel Messi and other key players repeatedly said they wanted Scaloni to remain on the job for the 2026 World Cup.
At the awards in Paris, Scaloni said, “The most beautiful thing is making your country happy, your people happy.”
Argentina’s first match since Qatar — and another celebration of the world champion — will be a March 23 friendly against Panama at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Messi voted best player at FIFA awards again
World Cup champion Lionel Messi edged Kylian Mbappé again, this time to take FIFA’s best men’s player award on Monday.
The best women’s player was Spain’s Alexia Putellas for a second straight year.
After steering Argentina to World Cup glory in an epic final against Mbappé’s France last year in Qatar, Messi won the best player vote against Mbappé and Karim Benzema and secured the FIFA prize for the seventh time in 14 years.
He won the World Cup at his record-equaling fifth attempt.
Read: Argentina extends Scaloni’s contract to 2026 World Cup
“It was a crazy year for me,” Messi said. “I could fulfil my (World Cup) dream after fighting for it for so long. And in the end it happened, and it was the most beautiful thing of my career. It’s the dream of every player, but very few can achieve it, so I’m thankful to God for being able to do it.”
The three players made the final shortlist in voting by a global panel of national team captains and coaches, selected journalists in each of FIFA’s 211 member countries, plus fans online.
The 35-year-old Messi also beat Mbappé — who was seeking his first best player award from FIFA — to the Golden Ball trophy awarded by FIFA for the World Cup’s best player. Mbappé earned the Golden Boot as top scorer.
In the FIFA Awards vote, Messi had 52 points, Mbappé 44, and Benzema 34.
Mbappé, 11 years younger than Messi at 24 and considered Messi’s heir apparent on the world stage, made the three-man shortlist for the first time. He was fourth in voting for the 2018 award, the year he led France to the World Cup title.
Real Madrid star Benzema won the more prestigious Ballon d’Or in October ahead of the World Cup. The France forward missed the tournament because of injury. Messi was not on the long list of Ballon d’Or candidates announced in August.
Robert Lewandowski won the FIFA award the last two years, and Cristiano Ronaldo was left off the 14-player shortlist for the award this year for the first time.
Messi broke a record he shared with Ronaldo by making the men’s world best XI for the 16th time. The team included Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Portugal’s João Cancelo, Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne, Croatia’s Luka Modric, Brazil’s Casemiro, Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Mbappé and Benzema.
Earlier Monday, French prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into a rape accusation against Hakimi, a defender at Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi voted for former Barcelona teammate Neymar as his choice for best player. Only Brazil captain Thiago Silva also voted on Neymar.
Russia’s coach and captain were not banned from voting in the award.
Putellas won her award from Alex Morgan of the United States and Beth Mead, who led England to the European Championship title in 2022.
Barcelona playmaker Putellas made the top three again despite being injured days before the Euro and missing the tournament. She scored 34 goals across all competitions last season.
Mead was the joint top scorer at the Euro, and was named the tournament’s best player. She sustained a serious knee injury in November while playing for Arsenal and could miss the Women’s World Cup in July in Australia and New Zealand.
Morgan, who was second in the 2019 vote to teammate Megan Rapinoe, was player of the tournament when the U.S. won the CONCACAF W Championship last year. She was also the joint top scorer.
Earlier, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was voted FIFA men’s coach of the year after leading his team to the World Cup title in December.
The women’s coach award went to Sarina Wiegman, who led the England to the title at the Women’s European Championship.
Scaloni took over Argentina at the end of 2018 on an interim basis, and was widely criticized for lacking experience as he had never coached a professional team. Earlier Monday, his contract as the national team coach was extended to the end of the 2026 World Cup.
The other coaches on the shortlist were Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.
The women’s goalkeeper award was given to Euro winner Mary Earps of England, and the best men’s goalkeeper was Argentina’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martínez.
The event in Paris was marked by tributes to Pelé, who died late last year at age 82 following a battle with colon cancer. Pelé’s wife, Marcia Aoki, received a trophy honoring the soccer great from the hands of former Brazil striker Ronaldo.
“I have three words to say to God, who gave us Edson; to Edson, who gave us Pelé; and to the world, who received them so well: Grateful, grateful and grateful,” she said.
Youth Games: Rajshahi, Chattogram divisions make semi-final of women's football
Rajshahi and Chattogram divisions reached the semi-finals of the women's football at the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 after winning their matches at the BFF Artificial turf in Motijheel Monday.
In today's match, Rajshahi thrashed Barishal 10-0 riding on the hat-tricks of Falguni and Popy.
In the day's other match, Chattogram beat Mymensingh 4-1 in the tiebreaker as the match ended 2-2 after regular time.
In the semi-final Wednesday, Dhaka will face Rajshahi at 12:30pm, and Chattogram will play Khulna at 2:45pm at the BFF Artificial turf.
The final of the women's competition and the third-place match will be held Friday at the same venue.
The semi-finals of the men's football will be held Tuesday at the Paltan Maidan Outer Stadium.
Man United win League Cup to end 6-year wait for trophy
Manchester United’s six-year wait for a trophy is over after beating Newcastle 2-0 to win the League Cup on Sunday.
United manager Erik ten Hag has wasted no time in guiding the club to silverware just 10 months after being hired.
Casemiro headed United in front in the 33rd minute of the final at Wembley Stadium and Sven Botman’s own-goal made it 2-0 in the 39th.
It is United’s first trophy since winning a League Cup and Europa League double under Jose Mourinho in 2017.
The victory keeps alive Ten Hag’s four-pronged challenge this season, with his team in contention for the Premier League title and still competing in both the Europa League and FA Cup.
For Newcastle, the wait for a first major domestic trophy since winning the FA Cup in 1955 goes on.
The Saudi Arabian-backed club mounted a fightback in the second half, but could not find a breakthrough goal, with David de Gea keeping a club record 181st clean sheet for United.
While Ten Hag and United’s fans will have their sights on bigger prizes than the League Cup, it could prove to be an important platform to build on after watching fierce rivals Manchester City and Liverpool dominate English football in recent years.
Newcastle arrived at Wembley also hoping for a first major trophy since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bought the club in 2021.
The sense of anticipation from both sets of supporters was unmistakable ahead of kickoff, with each hoping to see an end to their respective trophy droughts as Newcastle fans waved a sea of black-and-white flags against the opposing red scarves of United.
United have not had to wait for anything like as long as Newcastle for major success. In terms of the club’s storied past, though, a six-year run has felt like a crisis to fans brought up on iconic former manager Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering teams.
Read more: Australia win Women’s T20 World Cup for 3rd straight time
There is growing belief among the club’s fans that Ten Hag can bring back the glory years and he has certainly made an impressive start by delivering a trophy at the earliest possible point.
His team looked on course for victory from the moment Casemiro headed them in front when rising to meet Luke Shaw’s curled free kick.
For a man who has won it all with Real Madrid, including five Champions League titles, Casemiro’s delight at opening the scoring at Wembley was clear to see as he ran to the corner to celebrate with a broad smile on his face.
Perhaps there was also an element of relief given Newcastle had come close to taking the lead just before that goal when Alain Saint-Maximin’s close-range shot was blocked by De Gea.
They were 2-0 down to United shortly before halftime when Wout Weghorst played in Marcus Rashford on the left.
The in-form forward miscued his shot, but Botman’s attempted block saw the ball fly beyond Newcastle goalkeeper Loris Karius.
Rashford ran away in celebration, but it was adjudged to be an own-goal.
Newcastle’s players tried to force their way back into the match in the second half and made United retreat at times.
However, De Gea was not to be beaten and Bruno Fernandes might have extended United’s lead late when denied by Karius.
Jubo Games Football: Rangpur Division reach semifinals of both men's, women's groups
Rangpur Division reached the semifinals of both the men's and women's football competitions of the Sheikh Kamal 2nd Bangladesh Youth Games' 2023 eliminating their rivals on the opening day at two different city venues on Sunday (February 26).
In the men's competition, Rangpur and Sylhet Division reached the semifinal eliminating their rivals at the Outer Stadium in Palton Sunday morning.
Rangpur beat Dhaka by 2-1 goals while Sylhet overcame Mymensingh beating them by 5-3 goals in the tie breaker as the match was locked in a goalless position in the schedule time.
Khulna Division scheduled to play Chattogram Division while Rajshahi Division due to meet Barishal Division in the remaining men's group matches on Sunday..
In the women's group, Dhaka Division booked a seat for the semifinal defeating Khulna Division by 3-0 goals while Rangpur Division storm into the last four stage crushing Sylhet Division by 13-0 goals on the opening day (Sunday) at the BFF Artificial turf in Motijheel Sunday afternoon.
The remaining two women's group matches will be held on Monday at the same venue.
Read more: 'When Shakib and I step onto the field, nothing else holds importance for us': Tamim
Rajhahi Division will play Barishal Division at 12:30 pm while Mymensingh Division will encounter Chattogram Division at 2:45 pm.on Monday
In the men's semifinal on Tuesday, Rangpur will play winners of Chattogram and Khulna at 12 noon while Sylhet will face the winners of Rajshahi and Barishal Divisions at 3 om at the Outer Stadium in Palton.
In the women's semifinal on Wednesday, Dhaka Division will meet the winners of Rajshahi and Barishal Division at 12:30 pm at the BFF Artificial turf in Motijheel
BPL Football: Muktijoddha Sangsad KC upset Sheikh Russel KC
Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra upset former champions Sheikh Russel KC beating them by 1-0 goal in the eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football'2022-23 at the at the Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Saturday.
After a barren first half, striker Aminur Rahman Sojib scored the match-winning goal for the freedom fighters' team Muktijoddha in the 62nd minute (1-0)
With the day's well merited victory, Muktjoddha Sangsad KC moved up to the 8th slot in the league table securing 10 points from 10 matches while Sheikh Russel KC remained at the 4th place with their previous credit of 14 points from 10 outings.
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league with all-win record collecting full 30 points from straight 10 matches while former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited followed the leader distantly with 21 points from 10 matches.
Also Read: BPL Football: Bashundhara take unbeaten run to nine matches beating Sheikh Jamal 3-0
The day's other league match between Bangladesh Police Football Club and Chittagong Abahoni Ltd ended in a 1-1 draw at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh Saturday afternoon.
Kyrgyzstan defender Almazbek Malikov put the Police FC ahead in the very 5th minute from a penalty (1-0) while Nigerian mid-fielder Ojukwu David Ifegwu leveled the margin for the port city team Abahani in the 43rd minute (1-1).
With the day's feat, Bangladesh Police FC advanced to the 3rd slot in the league for the first time securing 16 points from 10 encounters while Chittagong Abahani Ltd remained at 10th slot in the eleven- team fray with eight points from 10 matches.
BCL Football: Brothers Union beat Little Friends 1-0
Brothers Union Club earned 1-0 goal victory over Little Friends Club in the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football '2022-23 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Thursday.
Afroz netted the match-winning goal for the Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union in the 40th minute of the match.
Read: Bangladesh Championship League: BFF Elite Academy hammer Wari Club 5-0
The day's other league match between Wari Club and NoFel Sporting Club ended in a goalless draw at the same venue Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match between Sheikh Russell KC and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC on February 25 has been shifted to Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj from Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj .
Bangladesh to participate in this year's SAFF U-19, U-16 championships
Bangladesh will participate in this year's South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 and Under-16 championships.
The SAFF U-19 Championship will be held in Nepal from July 7-17; the SAFF U-16 Championship is scheduled to be held in Bhutan from September 1-11 this year.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Development Committee Wednesday at the BFF Board Room, presided by BFF Vice-President and Committee Chairman Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik.
Apart from participating in the competition, the committee decided to arrange some preparatory matches for both teams.
The meeting also decided to renew the contract of 13 trainers and technical staff of the development committee for 2023.
Real Madrid routs Liverpool 5-2 in CL stunner at Anfield
While both Real Madrid and Liverpool are rightly considered Champions League royalty, there can only be one king.
Down by two goals after 14 minutes at Anfield, defending champion Madrid came back to win 5-2 on Tuesday and take a commanding lead into the second leg of the round of 16 matchup.
Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema scored two goals each to stun the hosts — Liverpool conceded four goals in a home European match for the first time — and confirm the Spanish giant will take some stopping in its defense of the trophy.
“We played with personality, we produced goals. We want this Champions League again," Benzema said. “And that produced a match which was lovely to play in and for those who were watching.”
If anything, this Madrid team looks more complete than the one that beat Jurgen Klopp's team in last year’s Paris final. Yet this win echoed the memorable comebacks that led to that record-extending 14th Champions League title.
There was the chaotic defending that allowed Liverpool to race into a 2-0 lead as Darwin Nunez struck with a backheel in the fourth minute and Mohamed Salah doubled the advantage thanks to Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ blunder.
Then came the rousing fightback, led by one of European soccer’s emerging stars in Vinicius and sealed by an aging icon in Benzema.
Eder Militao was also on the scoresheet when he headed Madrid into a 3-2 lead just after halftime.
The 22-year-old Vinicius became the youngest player to score two goals against Liverpool at Anfield since Johan Cruyff for Ajax in 1966 when the Dutch great was 19.
Read more: Chandika Hathurasingha takes over as head coach of Bangladesh cricket
The Brazil international is establishing himself as Madrid’s star player and, in the face of a typically daunting Anfield atmosphere, he rose to the occasion.
“Vinicius right now in my opinion is the most decisive player in world football, the man who can make the biggest difference and if he can keep this consistency let's hope he can continue in this vein,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
Just as the visitors looked in danger of buckling under the pressure, Vinicius produced a moment of magic with his first goal in the 21st.
Exchanging passes with Benzema just inside the box, there didn’t look to be any obvious danger until he flashed a low shot through a crowd of legs and into the bottom corner.
Vinicius evened the score in the 36th when Alisson’s attempted kick rebounded straight off him and looped into an empty net.
While the goal was a moment of good fortune, it was also a measure of the panic he sparked in Liverpool’s defense that Alisson was rushed into making the mistake.
Two minutes after halftime, Madrid took the lead when Militao headed in Luka Modric’s free kick from the left.
It went from bad to worse for Liverpool as the 35-year-old Benzema, the inspiration for Madrid’s triumph last year, got in on the act.
His shot was deflected off Joe Gomez in the 55th to make 4-2 and he added and fifth when rounding Alisson in the 67th.
It had all started so well for Liverpool, which went into the game with confidence after back-to-back wins against Everton and Newcastle in the Premier League.
Those victories had sparked hope of an unlikely run in Europe and came just in time for the ultimate test of trying to halt Madrid.
Nunez struck early to shock the visitors before Salah capitalized on Courtois’ mis-control to tap in from close range in the 14th.
The home fans were rocking until Vinicius sparked a comeback that looks likely to propel Madrid to the quarterfinals.
“I think Carlo thinks the tie is over and I think it as well in the moment," Klopp said afterward. "But the closer you get to the game, the bigger our chances become. Tonight 5-2 they are pretty good in counter attacking and we have to go there and take some risks to score three goals. We go there to try and win the game.”