Sports
Fenerbahçe’s UCL hopes hinge on Istanbul after Feyenoord loss
Fenerbahçe’s return to the UEFA Champions League spotlight didn’t go to plan in Rotterdam.
Despite a late thunderbolt from Sofyan Amrabat, the Turkish giants fell 2-1 to Feyenoord in the first leg of the third qualifying round on Wednesday night at De Kuip, leaving the tie wide open for the second leg in Istanbul.
Jose Mourinho’s men entered the match with lofty ambitions but struggled to find their rhythm early.
The Dutch hosts pressed with intent, controlling the opening exchanges and capitalizing on Fenerbahçe’s sluggish start.
In the 18th minute, Feyenoord’s constant pressure paid off when Quinten Timber pounced on a loose clearance outside the box. Dancing past Fred and firing a rocket that deflected off Mert Müldür, the midfielder gave the home side a deserved 1-0 lead.
Fenerbahçe thought they had found an answer in the 41st minute when Youssef En-Nesyri bundled the ball into the net, but the celebrations were cut short as Irfan Can Kahveci was flagged offside in the buildup. It was a close call, but VAR confirmed the decision.
The second half brought a more composed and purposeful Fenerbahçe. Mourinho’s side began to dominate possession, and their persistence finally paid off in the 86th minute. A scrappy clearance by the Feyenoord defense landed at the feet of Amrabat inside the box. The Moroccan midfielder took a touch, steadied himself, and unleashed a vicious strike that clipped the underside of the bar before slamming into the net – his first goal of the season, and a lifeline for the visitors.
But the drama wasn’t over.
Just as Fenerbahçe looked poised to escape Rotterdam with a draw, Feyenoord struck again in stoppage time. In the 90+1st minute, substitute Moussa rose highest in the box and directed a pinpoint header past the stranded goalkeeper to restore the lead and send the home crowd into a frenzy.
The 2-1 result means Fenerbahçe will need at least a 1-0 win in the return leg at Chobani Stadium on August 12 to advance to the playoff round, where either Benfica or Nice awaits.
Quick hits from Rotterdam
Amrabat opens his account
Sofyan Amrabat’s thunderous effort not only leveled the match momentarily but also marked Fenerbahçe’s first official goal of the 2025–26 season. The 27-year-old, who netted twice last season, reminded fans why he remains one of the most versatile midfielders in Europe.
Brown the lone debut starter
Of all the club’s new signings, only Archie Brown featured in the starting XI.
The English fullback, a summer arrival, was rewarded with a full debut after impressing Mourinho during pre-season matches against the likes of Lazio and Benfica.
He was solid but had limited impact going forward.
Semedo and Duran make club history
Mourinho turned to his bench in the 58th minute, bringing on Nelson Semedo and Jhon Duran – both making their official Fenerbahçe debuts.
Duran’s appearance marked a milestone, making him the first Colombian to ever play an official match for the club.
While neither had enough time to fully settle in, their cameos hinted at depth waiting in the wings.
Mourinho’s mixed history with Feyenoord grows
This latest defeat marks the third time Mourinho has lost to Feyenoord in his managerial career.
The Portuguese tactician previously faced the Dutch outfit twice with Manchester United in 2016, losing away but thumping them 4-0 at Old Trafford.
He later edged them in the 2022 UEFA Conference League final with Roma and exacted further revenge in a 2023 Europa League quarterfinal comeback.
Rotterdam, however, continues to be a tricky ground for him.
Diarra debuts against familiar foes
Feyenoord’s newest weapon, Gaoussou Diarra, made his official debut against a team he knows all too well.
Signed from Istanbulspor and unveiled via helicopter theatrics, the Malian striker – who scored 17 goals last season – faced off against Fenerbahçe just months after terrorizing Süper Lig defenses.
Though he didn’t score, his presence was felt throughout.
Fenerbahçe’s Dutch struggles continue
This was the 25th time Fenerbahçe faced Dutch opposition in European competition – and the 11th time they’ve left empty-handed.
Their record now stands at nine wins, five draws, and 11 losses. Against Feyenoord specifically, this was the fifth meeting.
While the Istanbul side did the double over the Rotterdammers in the 2016-17 Europa League, they were eliminated by the same opponent in the 2002-03 Champions League qualifiers.
Erling Haaland powered Norway into the World Cup round of 32, scoring twice as the Vikings battled past Senegal 3-2 on Monday night in a match that demanded far more grit than glamour.
The prolific striker increased his tournament tally to four goals, continuing his remarkable scoring run as Norway secured their place in the knockout stage.
“It’s my specialty to score goals,” Haaland said. “I’m just really good at scoring goals.”
After the final whistle, Norway’s players and staff gathered in front of their supporters behind the north goal at MetLife Stadium to celebrate in trademark fashion. With Haaland seated at the front and captain Martin Odegaard beating a bongo drum, the squad joined fans in performing the famous Viking Row, chanting “Ro!” while mimicking rowing motions.
“It was fun,” Norway coach Stale Solbakken said through an interpreter. “We will not be rowing after the World Cup, but it can be a nice tradition during the tournament.”
Norway took the lead in the 43rd minute when substitute Marcus Pedersen struck shortly after coming on for an injured teammate. Haaland then took control after halftime, finding the net in the 48th and 58th minutes to stretch the advantage to 3-1 and put the Vikings firmly on course for the knockout rounds.
“He’s very efficient,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said through an interpreter.
Haaland ran onto Martin Odegaard’s pass and put a left-footed shot past the outstretched left hand of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, capping an end-to-end counterattack for a 2-0 lead.
For his second goal, Haaland tunneled through the defense and, 8 yards out, raised his weaker right foot to volley in Patrick Berg’s pass. Haaland raised a hand to his ear to inspire Norway’s supporters.
Haaland has 24 goals in his last 12 international games, scoring at least once in every match, and 59 goals in 52 international appearances. The 25-year-old striker joined England’s Harry Kane in 2018 as the only players in the last 50 years with two-goal games in both of their first two World Cup appearances.
He is second in the Golden Boot race, one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and tied with France’s Kylian Mbappe. Haaland nearly got another in first-half stoppage time, hitting a post after Mendy lost control of the ball.
“He did miss an open goal. He could have scored even four,” Solbakken said. “He is the best striker. He is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.”
Ismaila Sarr scored both goals for the Lions of Teranga, in the 53rd minute and the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
“If we had played just slightly worse, then we would be in trouble,” Solbakken said.
Making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway (2-0) is assured of advancing from Group I along with France. The Vikings need to beat Les Bleus on Friday for first place and what would appear to be an easier path through the knockout bracket.
Senegal is 0-2 in a World Cup for the first time and needs a win over Iraq (0-2) to have any chance of advancing as a third-place team.
“We’ve got everything left to play for,” Thiaw said.
Pedersen entered in the 13th minute for his World Cup debut after Julian Ryerson could not play through what Solbakken said was a nagging injury, and Pedersen put the Vikings ahead with the help of mistakes by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Mendy.
Odegaard made a centering pass that Koulibaly cleared straight to Pedersen at the top of the arc. Pedersen took two touches and sent a savable shot inside the near post that glanced off Mendy’s left hand and into the goal.
Mendy left in the 63rd minute because of an injury.
While there had been storm warnings, a downpour stopped more than 3 1/2 hours before kickoff. The skies opened again after the final whistle, prompting announcements for fans to leave the stadium bowl and move to sheltered areas.
“Let’s be happy,” Haaland said, “every single Norwegian on the planet today.”
Brazil head into their final Group C match at the 2026 World Cup with qualification control in their hands, while Scotland arrive in Miami still chasing a breakthrough that has eluded them for generations, setting up a high-stakes meeting at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have done what was required so far, opening with a 1-1 draw against Morocco before producing a more complete display in a 3-0 win over Haiti.
Matheus Cunha’s brace and a sharp finish from Vinicius Junior underlined Brazil’s attacking range, while Lucas Paqueta’s influence between the lines gave balance to a performance that combined control with speed in transition.
The result also reinforced a familiar trend for the five-time champions, who have now scored three or more goals in 41 World Cup matches, more than any other nation.
Despite that statistical dominance, Selecao’s path has not been without unease.
Their opening draw exposed moments of vulnerability, and history offers a warning sign: their last three World Cup group-stage defeats have all come on matchday three.
Even so, the equation is simple. Match or better Morocco’s result against Haiti and Brazil finish top of Group C. Anything less tightens the margin and opens the door to complication.
Scotland enter the fixture with less control but more urgency. Steve Clarke’s team began their campaign with a disciplined 1-0 win over Haiti, but a narrow defeat to Morocco exposed their limits in attack.
An early strike from Ismael Saibari decided the contest inside 70 seconds, and Scotland failed to register a shot on target despite periods of second-half pressure. Clarke defended the performance, pointing to competitiveness against elite opposition, yet the lack of cutting edge remains the central concern.
Their World Cup history only sharpens the challenge. Scotland have never reached the knockout stage in eight previous appearances and have never beaten Brazil in eight meetings, losing six and drawing two.
Three of those defeats came at World Cup finals, including a 2-1 loss in 1998 during Brazil’s run to the title match.
The path forward remains open but narrow. Victory would guarantee a top-two finish and automatic progression.
A draw would likely be enough for a place in the expanded knockout rounds. Even defeat could be survivable depending on goal difference, but it would leave Scotland vulnerable in a tightly packed group.
Selection issues add another layer for Clarke. Scott McKenna, Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson have all been managed carefully due to fitness concerns, though Ferguson is expected to remain central in midfield if cleared.
Clarke is likely to keep his flexible structure, alternating between a back three and a back four depending on Brazil’s pressure.
John McGinn and Scott McTominay are expected to operate in advanced midfield roles, supporting Che Adams, who is battling for his place up front.
Canarinhos’ selection picture has shifted slightly.
Raphinha is out after a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Haiti, forcing adjustments on the right side.
Teenage winger Rayan is the leading candidate to replace him.
Neymar has returned to full availability after injury, though he is expected to start on the bench as Brazil continue to rely on Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha as their primary attacking threat. Paqueta is expected to remain the central connector in Ancelotti’s system.
At the back, Brazil are likely to stick with a settled unit featuring Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes and Douglas Santos, shielded by Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes.
The structure has provided stability, but the real test will be whether it can withstand Scotland’s direct pressure and set-piece threat in a match where margins are expected to be thin.
Lionel Messi broke another World Cup milestone on Monday night while wearing a jersey unlike any other on the pitch, as Argentina defeated Austria in Group J and the veteran forward extended his place in football history.
The 38-year-old Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, moving past Germany’s Miroslav Klose after netting his 17th and 18th goals in the competition during a 2-0 win over Austria.
The landmark strike came in a match that began with frustration, as Messi missed an early penalty, before ending with another decisive display of his enduring influence on the global stage.
What set the night apart visually was his shirt. Unlike any other player at the tournament, Messi wore a customized jersey featuring four FIFA-issued commemorative patches.
The design included a FIFA World Champions badge honoring Argentina’s 2022 triumph, a gold tournament sleeve badge reserved for former world champions, a Legacy patch marking his sixth World Cup appearance, and a Golden Ball patch recognizing his player-of-the-tournament award in Qatar.
The record-breaking goal arrived in the 38th minute, finishing a move that exposed space in Austria’s defensive line and showcased the timing that has defined his career. He added a second in stoppage time, sealing both the match and his place alone at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts with 18 goals, surpassing Klose’s long-standing mark of 16.
Messi’s journey to this moment spans two decades at the World Cup. He debuted in 2006 as a teenager and scored on his first appearance, becoming Argentina’s youngest player at the tournament. Now in his sixth edition, a record for any player, he continues to produce decisive moments deep into his career.
His 2022 campaign remains his defining chapter, leading Argentina national football team to the title with seven goals and three assists. This time, he has already shown similar sharpness, including a hat trick earlier in the tournament against Algeria, reinforcing his status as the focal point of Argentina’s attack.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick had warned his side about Messi’s ability to find space even in tightly structured systems. Those concerns proved accurate, as Argentina controlled key phases despite a missed penalty that briefly silenced the crowd.
Messi later described the match as tense and demanding, stressing the intensity of World Cup football at this stage of his career. With his 39th birthday approaching, this tournament is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance, though his form continues to suggest otherwise.
Even after winning the sport’s biggest prize, multiple Ballon d’Or awards, and redefining expectations over two decades, Messi continues to add layers to his legacy. This latest night, defined by both history and a unique jersey detail, only reinforced how central he remains to football’s biggest stage.
Kylian Mbappe later equaled Klose’s previous record of 16 goals, but the night belonged entirely to Messi, who now stands alone at the summit.
Lionel Messi scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals on Monday to break the tournament’s all-time scoring record and lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria, sealing the defending champions’ place in the last 32.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had an early opportunity to make history after Lautaro Martínez won a penalty in the ninth minute, but Messi dragged his spot kick wide of the post.
Austria, marshaled by veteran defender David Alaba, frustrated Argentina for much of the first half, with Messi denied on several occasions before finally breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute. Thiago Almada allowed Facundo Medina’s pass to run through, leaving Messi to calmly finish past goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Austria pushed for an equalizer after the break, but Argentina remained in control as the South Americans moved closer to securing their place in the knockout rounds.
Messi wrapped up the victory deep into stoppage time, reacting quickest after a scramble in the penalty area to force the ball over the line and score his second of the night.
The goal moved him clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the outright leading scorer in World Cup history and also saw him surpass Brazilian legend Marta as the top scorer across men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments combined.
Messi’s late strike extended his scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches, further cementing his place among the game’s greatest players as Argentina continue their title defense.
Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez has reached a new career milestone, climbing to No. 54 in the latest WTA rankings, the highest position ever achieved by a Turkish woman in singles and a reflection of her steady rise on the professional circuit.
The 24-year-old gained seven places in the updated standings following a productive grass-court swing, highlighted by her run at the Lexus Nottingham Open.
There, Sönmez produced one of her most significant wins of the season, defeating second seed Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, a result that underlined her growing confidence against top-ranked opposition.
She advanced to the second round before being edged out in a tightly contested three-set match by Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
The ranking surge pushed Sönmez beyond her previous personal best of No. 59, set earlier in 2026 after strong performances during the clay-court swing, including the WTA 1000 event in Rome. It also extended her standing as the leading figure in Turkish women’s tennis, building on the benchmark once held by Çağla Büyükakçay.
Sönmez’s progress this season has been shaped by consistency rather than isolated breakthroughs. She has remained a steady presence in main draws across multiple surfaces, compiling a positive win-loss record and strengthening her position inside the WTA top tier. Her 2026 campaign has also included a notable victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, further evidence that she is capable of challenging established names on the tour.
Her improvement on grass has been particularly significant. The surface, often a difficult adjustment for players who build their games on clay or hard courts, has instead become a platform for Sönmez to accelerate her rise, with her Nottingham performance serving as a key ranking catalyst ahead of the Wimbledon Championships.
Beyond individual events, Sönmez has also contributed to Türkiye’s national efforts in the Billie Jean King Cup, adding experience in high-pressure match environments that have translated into more composed performances on tour.
Group L reaches a decisive early turning point on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, where England national football team and Ghana national football team meet with both sides knowing a second straight win would effectively secure a place in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds.
England arrive in Foxborough with confidence rising after a chaotic but statement 4-2 win over Croatia that underlined both their attacking edge and lingering defensive fragility. The performance, their first World Cup four-goal outing since 1966, also ended a damaging run of results against elite opposition and restored belief in a squad long judged by its performances in high-pressure games.
Under Thomas Tuchel, England’s approach has tilted firmly toward vertical, aggressive attacking play. The Croatia match reflected that identity shift. Harry Kane continued his record-equalling international scoring form, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford supplied pace and directness that repeatedly exposed Croatia’s back line.
The numbers reinforced the dominance. England produced 20 shots inside the penalty area, the highest such tally recorded in a single World Cup match, a sign of sustained pressure rather than isolated moments. Yet the concession of two goals also exposed defensive gaps that Tuchel will be reluctant to ignore, particularly in transition moments where England were repeatedly stretched.
The stakes are now clear. Victory guarantees progression with a match to spare and would extend England’s winning streak to four games in all competitions, while also reinforcing a growing sense that Tuchel’s side are beginning to translate attacking intent into consistent output at major tournaments.
Ghana, however, arrive with their own momentum and growing belief after a narrow but significant 1-0 win over Panama that came only after 94 tense minutes. The breakthrough arrived through 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi, whose late counter-attacking finish delivered three points that could prove pivotal in a tight Group L race.
That result was more than just a win. It halted a four-match winless run and restored defensive confidence after a stretch in which Ghana had conceded heavily. It also marked another milestone, with back-to-back clean sheets at World Cup level now within reach for the first time in their history.
For Carlos Queiroz’s side, the equation mirrors England’s. A second straight victory would guarantee a top-two finish and allow them to approach their final group match against Croatia without pressure. Their challenge, however, remains consistency in attack. Ghana have struggled to score multiple goals in matches, relying instead on narrow margins and defensive control.
Personnel issues add further complexity. England continue to manage fitness concerns around Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Rashford, though Rice and Rashford have returned to full training after precautionary issues. Saka’s limited involvement in group sessions has opened the door for Noni Madueke to retain his place on the right, offering a different profile of direct running and ball progression.
In defence, Tuchel faces a more delicate decision. Errors from Ezri Konsa and John Stones against Croatia have prompted internal reassessment, with Marc Guehi emerging as a strong candidate to reshape the back line.
Ghana’s situation carries its own uncertainty. Midfield anchor Thomas Partey has been at the center of off-field complications tied to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, though he is expected to be available for selection in the United States portion of the tournament.
There is also concern in goal. First-choice keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was substituted at halftime against Panama after discomfort, and while official assessments remain cautious, reports suggest a longer recovery window. If he is unavailable, Benjamin Asare is likely to step in for a match that could demand composure under sustained pressure.
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