United News of Bangladesh

Lionel Messi struck twice on his return as Inter Miami beat Orlando City 3-1 on Wednesday night to book a place in the Leagues Cup final. Inter Miami will now travel to face either LA Galaxy or Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s title decider. Messi, back in action for the second time in two weeks after a hamstring setback, played a decisive role in turning the game around. Orlando went ahead late in the first half when Marco Pašalić found the net, with the goal standing after a VAR check for handball. Messi equalized in the 77th minute, converting a penalty after Tadeo Allende was brought down in the box. Eleven minutes later, he combined neatly with Jordi Alba to fire Miami into the lead. Suarez’s brace helps Inter Miami edge Tigres 2-1 in Messi’s absence Telasco Segovia then linked up with Luis Suárez before sealing the win with a finish that mirrored Messi’s earlier strike. The tense semifinal produced nine yellow cards and a red for Orlando defender David Brekalo. Miami are aiming for another Leagues Cup trophy after winning the competition in 2022. Source: Agency 

France handed Maghnes Akliouche his first senior call-up on Wednesday for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland, while in-form Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike was left out of the squad. Akliouche, 23, is an attacking midfielder for Monaco. He previously represented France at last year’s Olympic football tournament on home soil and has played across the youth levels. France coach Didier Deschamps named him among seven forwards selected as Les Bleus prepare to open their World Cup qualifying campaign. However, there was no place for 23-year-old Ekitike, who has quickly made his mark at Liverpool after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt in the offseason. He has scored in each of his first three Premier League appearances for the defending champions. As expected, star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were included in the squad. Defender William Saliba also returned after missing the Nations League finals earlier this summer due to injury.

Sweden on Wednesday named Alexander Isak in its squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, even though the striker has yet to feature for Newcastle this season amid uncertainty over his future. Isak was included in a 24-man squad announced by Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson for matches against Slovenia and Kosovo. “I am very happy that Alexander Isak wants to be in the squad, he is a huge player,” Tomasson said. “The situation he is in is not perfect and he has not trained with the team. But he is a player who can decide matches and he wants to be part of our squad. The World Cup is important for Alexander Isak.” Regarded as one of the world’s leading forwards, Isak expressed frustration with Newcastle in a social media post last week, claiming the club broke promises regarding an agreement that would allow him to leave, with Liverpool reportedly interested. He has been absent from Newcastle’s opening two Premier League fixtures — against Aston Villa and Liverpool — and has been training away from the first team. According to Sweden’s football federation, Isak is expected to join the national team in Stockholm on Monday, coinciding with the closing of the transfer window.

Bangladesh’s U-17 girls have kept their dream alive at the SAFF Women’s Championship, brushing aside Nepal 4-1 in Thimphu on Wednesday.  The star of the match was Sauravi Akand, who scored a hat-trick to drag her side back into contention. Bangladesh went into the match knowing anything less than victory would all but end their campaign. The first half was nervy until Thwinu Marma broke through in the 38th minute with a fine solo effort. Just before the break, Sauravi added a second, only for Nepal captain Bhumika to pull one back in stoppage time after a defensive lapse. The second half belonged to Bangladesh. They tightened up at the back and piled on the pressure. After missing one clear chance, Sauravi made amends in the 71st minute, finishing off a corner to restore the two-goal cushion. She wasn’t done yet — in the 86th minute, she completed her treble to seal the result. SAFF U-17 Championship: Bangladesh bounce back with 3–0 win over Nepal With six points from three games, Bangladesh now trail only India, who remain perfect at the top of the table. To keep the title race alive, the young Tigresses must win their remaining matches, including the decisive clash with India in the final round.

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen had to be restrained by teammates after trying to confront traveling supporters following a 3-2 League Cup loss to Wolverhampton on Tuesday, deepening the Hammers’ troubled start to the season. In other second-round action, Premier League sides Leeds and Sunderland were knocked out on penalties by lower-league Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield respectively, while Wrexham struck a stoppage-time winner to beat Preston 3-2. Bowen later issued an apology on Instagram, admitting his behavior was out of line after he appeared to point at a fan and attempted to climb the advertising boards before being stopped by teammates. “I’m someone who is passionate and will fight ever(y) time I step on the pitch,” he wrote. “But I need to set a better example and you fans know how much I love you and this club!” The England international walked off with his head down, removing his captain’s armband. West Ham had already suffered Premier League defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea, conceding eight goals, leaving manager Graham Potter under early scrutiny. Odegaard named in Norway squad, easing Arsenal injury fears ahead of Liverpool clash At Molineux, substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen scored twice in two minutes to inspire Wolves’ comeback after Rodrigo Gomes’ opener was canceled out by goals from Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta. Elsewhere, Leeds lost their shootout 3-0 after a 1-1 draw, Sunderland fell 6-5 on penalties, and Bournemouth exited with a 2-0 loss to Brentford. Wrexham, owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, advanced with Kieffer Moore’s late strike and will join England’s top clubs in Wednesday’s third-round draw. Source: Agency

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been named in Norway’s national team squad for the upcoming fixtures, easing concerns over a shoulder injury he picked up in a Premier League match. Odegaard came off during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds on Saturday after appearing to hurt his right shoulder. Arsenal will face Liverpool on Sunday in a league clash between two title contenders. Norway is scheduled to host Finland in a friendly on September 4 before meeting Moldova in a World Cup qualifier on September 9. The team currently tops its qualifying group with 12 points from four matches, aiming for its first World Cup appearance since 1998. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has also been included in the squad.

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon has apologized to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after a reckless tackle that earned him a red card in their Premier League match on Monday. Gordon lunged into Van Dijk with a late challenge, leaving a visible scrape on the defender’s right calf and forcing him to the ground. Referee Simon Hooper initially showed a yellow card, but after a VAR review it was upgraded to red. At the time, Liverpool led 1-0. The visitors went on to win 3-2 after 16-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha scored in the 100th minute. On Instagram, Gordon said he was only trying to “create energy” in the game. “I mistimed the tackle,” he wrote. “I also want to apologize to Virgil. I would never intend to tackle somebody like this on purpose. We spoke after and he knows that.” Van Dijk said he told Gordon during the review that “if that’s not a sending-off, I don’t understand football.” He added: “Unfortunately these things happen. If he meant it or not, it happened. We move on.” This was Gordon’s second red card in six months. He will now serve a three-match domestic suspension. Gordon has been playing as Newcastle’s striker in the absence of Alexander Isak, who has expressed a desire to leave the club and has stopped training with the main squad amid reported Liverpool interest. The situation contributed to a tense atmosphere at St. James’ Park during the match.

Sixteen-year-old debutant Rio Ngumoha struck a stunning stoppage-time winner as Liverpool beat 10-man Newcastle 3-2 in a Premier League thriller on Monday. Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was sent off just before halftime, leaving the hosts to play the entire second half with 10 men. Liverpool, already 1-0 up at the break, doubled their lead immediately after the restart through Hugo Ekitike. Bruno Guimarães pulled one back with a header in the 57th minute, and substitute William Osula sent the home fans into raptures by equalising in the 88th. With 11 minutes of added time due to injuries, Newcastle pressed for a remarkable turnaround. But Arne Slot’s late changes proved decisive as Ngumoha, introduced in added time, calmly slotted home four minutes later to seal victory just days before his 17th birthday. The winger became the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history, behind James Vaughan, James Milner, and Wayne Rooney. Read:Dortmund tells players’ parents to avoid locker rooms following Bellingham incident “It’s what makes the Premier League so special,” Liverpool manager Slot said, praising his side’s resilience. Ryan Gravenberch earlier ended his 16-month league goal drought for Liverpool, while Newcastle were left to rue Gordon’s dismissal for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk. The win maintained Liverpool’s perfect start to the season alongside Arsenal and Tottenham, while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle remain winless with just one point from two matches. Source: Agency 

Borussia Dortmund will no longer allow players’ parents in locker room areas following an incident involving Jobe Bellingham’s father. Mark Bellingham traveled from England to watch his son’s Bundesliga debut at St. Pauli on Saturday. After the match, he reportedly caused a scene in a restricted area when he spoke with sporting director Sebastian Kehl, demanding to know why Jobe was substituted at halftime. Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken told Sky TV that only players, coaches, and officials will have locker room access in the future. “We’ll ensure we don’t get into a furor again by commenting on such matters,” he said, without detailing the discussion. Ricken added that the family’s emotional conversation with Kehl was based on trust built over years and that everything had been resolved. Kehl also emphasized that restricted areas remain off-limits to family members and agents. Bellingham had a disappointing debut as Dortmund drew 3-3 with St. Pauli, being substituted at halftime for Felix Nmecha. His older brother Jude had a more successful debut in 2020 and later moved to Real Madrid in 2023.  

Canada forward Jonathan David scored on his Serie A debut to help Juventus open their season with a 2-0 win over Parma on Sunday. David, who joined Juventus in July on a free transfer after his contract with Lille expired, struck in the 59th minute, prodding home Kenan Yildiz’s cross. Substitute Dusan Vlahovic added a second goal late on, moments after Andrea Cambiaso was sent off for shoving Parma’s Mathias Løvik and appearing to strike him in the face. “It’s everything I hoped for,” said David, who received a standing ovation when replaced in the 80th minute. “I’m happy to score in my first game but the most important thing is the three points.” The 25-year-old scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists for Lille last season and is Canada’s all-time top scorer with 36 goals in 67 appearances. In other Serie A matches, Pisa marked its return to the top flight after 34 years with a 1-1 draw at Atalanta. Gianluca Scamacca ended a 450-day goal drought to equalize after an own goal had given Pisa a surprise lead. Como defeated Lazio 2-0, with Nico Paz assisting the opener before scoring a free kick. The game also made history as referee Gianluca Manganiello announced a VAR decision live to the stadium, a first in Italian football. Elsewhere, Sebastiano Luperto scored in stoppage time to earn Cagliari a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.