Thursday, October 31, 2019

CONCACAF League: Motagua, Saprissa Advance To Final

The semifinal round of the CONCACAF League concluded on Thursday with two games; all four clubs have already qualified for next year's CONCACAF Champions League.

At San Pedro Sula, Honduras:

Marco Vega (31'), Juan Montes (36'), and Marcelo Estigarribia (88') each scored once as Motagua dominated visiting Alianza 3-0 in game two and ousted the Salvadorian club 4-1 on aggregate.

At Tibas, Costa Rica:

Marvin Angulo scored twice (69', 89') while Manfred Ugalde (32') and David Ramirez (90'+4) each tallied once as Deportivo Saprissa overcame their 2-0 series-opening defeat with a 4-1 game-two home domination of CD Olimpia and knocked out the Honduran club 4-1 on aggregate.

The two-match final between Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa and Honduras' Motagua is open in Tibas, Costa Rica next Thursday with the return contest to be played on November 26 at Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

One additional note:  Two clubs who were eliminated in the quarterfinals, Costa Rica's Can Carlos and Guatemala's Comunicaciones, also qualified for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League. 

Lions Win On The Road

At Pacos de Ferreira, Portugal:

Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty kick for the game-winning goal in the 79th minute on Thursday as Sporting CP picked up a 2-1 Portuguese Liga road win over FC Pacos de Ferreira.

Rossoneri Hold Off Visiting Biancazzurri

At Milan, Italy:

Jesus Joaquin Fernandez Saenz de la Torre, also known as Suso, scored the only goal of the match in the 63rd minute on Thursday as AC Milan defeated visiting SPAL 1-0 in Italian Serie A action.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

MLS Cup Playoffs: It'll Be Reds vs. Sounders In MLS Cup Final For Third Time In Four Years

At Atlanta:

Nicolas Benezet (14') and Nick DeLeon (78') each scored a goal on Wednesday as Toronto FC knocked off Atlanta United 2-1 in Wednesday's MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final.

This will mark the third time in four years that the Reds will square off against the Seattle Sounders in the MLS Cup Final (at Seattle, Sunday November 10, 12:00 Noon Eastern Standard Time, ABC, Univision, TUDN); the Sounders won in 2016, TFC in 2017.

Parakeets No Match For Athletic Bilbao On Road

At Bilbao, Spain:

In Wednesday Spanish Primera Division action, Iker Munain scored twice (4', 17') as Athletic Bilbao dominated visiting Espanyol 3-0.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

MLS Cup Playoffs: Sounders Upend LAFC On Road To Reach Final For Third Time In Four Years

At Los Angeles:

Raul Ruidiaz scored twice (22', 64') as the Seattle Sounders knocked off the Los Angeles Football Club 3-1 in Tuesday's Major League Soccer Western Conference Final on the road.

The Sounders will be playing in their third MLS Cup Final in the last four years on November 10 against the winner of Wednesday Eastern Conference Final between Atlanta United and visiting Toronto FC.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Lions Top Visiting Vitoria On Sunday

At Lisbon:

In Sunday Portuguese Liga action, Jesse Rodriguez Ruiz (29'), Marcos Acuna (32')m, and Sebastian Coates (74') each scored once as Sporting CP defeated visiting (and fellow Europa League participants) Vitoria de Guimaraes 3-1.

Sunday Home Victory For Red Bulls

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:

Zaltko Junuzovic scored the winning goal at the death (90'+4) on Sunday as FC Red Bull Salzburg upended visiting Rapid Vienna 3-2 in Austrian Bundesliga action.

Road Win For Parakeets

At Valencia, Spain:

Bernardo Espinosa scored the only goal of the match in the 38th minute as Espanyol defeated Valencia 1-0 on the road in Sunday Spanish Primera Division action.

Ajax Blow Out Feyenoord In Dutch Derby

At Amsterdam, Netherlands:

In the latest edition of the Netherlands' biggest derby, Hakim Ziyech (2'), Nicolas Tagliafico (7'), David Neres (37'), and Donny van de Beek (40') each scored a first-half goal as Ajax Amsterdam demolished visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam 4-0 in Dutch Eredivisie action on Sunday.

Rossoneri Fall To Roma In Eternal City

At Rome:

Nicolo Zaniolo scored the winning goal in the 58th minute on Sunday as AS Roma defeated visiting AC Milan 2-1 in Italian Serie A action.

Wolves Gain Sunday Road Draw With Magpies

At Newcastle-on-Tyne, England:

Jonny Castro's equalizer in the 73rd minute lifted Wolverhampton Wanderers to a 1-1 Sunday English Premier League road draw with Newcastle United.

Jamal Lascelles scored for the Magpies in the 37th minute.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Bayern Back Atop The Bundesliga After Saturday Home Win

At Munich, Germany:

Robert Lewandowski scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute on Saturday as Bayern Munich regained sole possession of the top spot in the German Bundesliga standings following their 2-1 home victory over Union Berlin.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Wissam Ben Yedder Continues Monaco Resurgence

At Nantes, France:

Wissam Ben Yedder scored the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute on Friday as AS Monaco defeated FC Nantes 1-0 on the road in French Ligue 1 action.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

CONCACAF League

Both series in the CONCACAF League's semifinal round are set to open on Thursday.

At San Pedro Sula, Honduras:

Jorge Benguche scored twice (24', 60') as CD Olimpia blanked visiting Depotivo Saprissa 2-0 in the opening match of their two-game series.

At San Salvador, El Salvador:

Raul Penaranda's equalizer near the end of the opening half (45'+2) enabled Alianza to salvage a 1-1 series-opening home draw with Motagua.

Juan Montes scored for the Honduran club in the fourth minute.

MLS Cup Playoffs: Five Stripes and LAFC Advance To Conference Finals; Sounders Lock Up CONCACAF Champions League Berth

The second round of the MLS Cup Playoffs concluded on Thursday with two games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Atlanta:

Julian Gressel (10') and Josef Martinez (80') each scored once as Atlanta United blanked the visiting Philadelphia Union 2-0.



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Los Angeles:

Carlos Vela (16', 40') and Adama Diomande (68', 80') each scored twice as the Los Angeles Football Club finally excised their Los Angeles Galaxy demons by knocking off their visiting cross-town rivals 5-3 for their first-ever playoff victory.

LAFC's victory locked up America's last remaining CONCACAF Champions League berth for the Seattle Sounders.



Here are the matchups for the conference finals:

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Los Angeles:

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Seattle Sounders, Wednesday @ 7:00 PM Pacific Time (ESPN)



EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Atlanta:

Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC, Thursday @ 5:00 PM Pacific Time (Fox Sports One)



The winners will advance to the MLS Cup Final, set to be contested on Sunday, November 10 at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time (ABC).


Europa League: Thursday Triumphs For Wolves, Malmo, Basel, Sporting CP, Bhoys, Gunners, Parakeets, AZ, Red Devils

24 games were contested on Thursday as Europa League group-stage play reached its' midway point.

GROUP A:

At Baku, Azerbaijan:

Goals from Dani Quintana (13') and Ailton Ferreira Silva (58') enabled Qarabag to salvage a 2-2 home draw with APOEL FC.

Daniil Medvedev (OG-29') and Linus Hallenius (45') provided the scoring for the Cypriot club.

At Seville, Spain:

Franco Vazquez scored twice (48', 75') as Sevilla dominated visiting F91 Dudelange 3-0.

Group A Standings:

1. Sevilla (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2. Qarabag (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. F91 Dudelange (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 3)
4. APOEL FC (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 1)



GROUP B:

At Malmo, Sweden:

Guillermo Molins scored the winning goal in the 32nd minute as Malmo FF defeated visiting Lugano 2-1.

At Kiev, Ukraine:

Artem Shabanov's equalizer in the 53rd minute lifted Dynamo Kiev to a 1-1 home draw with FC Copenhagen.

Pieros Sotiriou scored in the second minute for the Lions.

Group B Standings:

1. FC Copenhagen (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 5)
2. Dynamo Kiev (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 5)
3. Malmo FF (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. Lugano (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  FC Copenhagen scored a road goal in their Thursday 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev.



GROUP C:

At Trabzon, Turkey:

Marcus Berg (49') and Tonny Vilhena (90'+2) delivered the goals for FC Krasnodar as the Russian club blanked Trabzonspor 2-0 on the road.

At Getafe, Spain:

Fabian Frei scored the only goal of FC Basel's 1-0 road win over Getafe in the 18th minute.

Group C Standings:

1. FC Basel (GP: 3; GD: +6; PTS: 7)
2. Getafe (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
3. FC Krasnodar (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 3)
4. Trabzonspor (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)



GROUP D:

At Lisbon:

Yannick Bolasie scored the game's lone goal in minute #70 as Sporting CP defeated visiting Rosenborg 1-0.

At Eindhoven, Netherlands:

PSV Eindhoven and visiting LASK battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

Group D Standings:

1. PSV Eindhoven (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2. Sporting CP (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
3. LASK (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. Rosenborg BK (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 0)



GROUP E:

At Glasgow, Scotland:

Christopher Jullien scored the winning goal in the 69th minute as Celtic defeated visiting Lazio 2-1.

At Rennes, France:

Ciprian Deac scored the game winner in the 10th minute as ten-man CFR Cluj knocked off nine-man Rennes 1-0 on the road.

Group E Standings:

1. Celtic (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. CFR Cluj (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. Lazio (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Rennes (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 1)



GROUP F:

At London:

Nicolas Pepe scored twice in the waning minutes (80', 90'+3) as Arsenal came from behind to upend visiting Vitoria de Guimaraes 3-2.

At Frankfurt am Main, Germany:

Martin Hinteregger scored the game winner at 73 minutes as Eintracht Frankfurt defeated visiting Standard Liege 2-1.

Group F Standings:

1. Arsenal (GP: 3; GD: +8; PTS: 9)
2. Eintracht Frankfurt (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
3. Standard Liege (GP: 3; GD; -3; PTS: 3)
4. Vitoria de Guimaraes (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 0)



GROUP G:

At Bern, Switzerland:

Roger Assale (14') and Jean Pierre Nsame (28') each converted a penalty kick in the opening half-hour as BSC Young Boys blanked visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam 2-0.

At Porto, Portugal:

Alfredo Morelos's equalizer in the 44th minute lifted Rangers to a 1-1 road draw with FC Porto.

Luis Diaz scored for the Dragons in the 36th minute.

Group G Stadings:

1. BSC Young Boys (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Rangers (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. FC Porto (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 4)
4. Feyenoord Rotterdam (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 3)

NOTE:  Rangers scored a road goal on Thursday in their 1-1 draw with FC Porto.



GROUP H:

At Moscow:

Roland Varga scored the game's lone goal in the 86th minute as Ferencvaros knocked off CSKA Moscow 1-0 on the road.

At Razgrad, Bulgaria:

Victor Campuzano's goal in the 13th minute proved enough for Espanyol as the 10-man Parakeets knocked off Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 on the road.

Group H Standings:

1. Espanyol (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. Ludogorets Razgrad (GP: 3; GD: +6; PTS: 6)
3. Ferencvaros (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
4. CSKA Moscow (GP: 3; GD: -7; PTS: 0)



GROUP I:

At Saint-Etienne, France:

Gabriel Silva provided both goals in Saint-Etienne's home draw with Olexandriya.

He scored for his French club in the eighth minute, then scored an own goal in the 14th minute that provided the equalizer for the Ukrainian club.

At Ghent, Belgium:

Roman Yaremchuk scored twice to enable KAA Gent to come back from two goals down to gain a 2-2 home draw with VfL Wolfsburg.

Wout Weghorst (3') and Joao Victor (24') each scored once for the German club.

Group I Standings:

1. VfL Wolfsburg (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
2. KAA Gent (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 5)
3. Oleksandriya (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 2)
4. Saint-Etienne (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 2)

NOTES:  VfL Wolfsburg scored two road goals in their 2-2 Thursday draw with KAA Gent; Oleksandriya scored a road goal in their 1-1 deadlock with Saint-Etienne.



GROUP J:

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Irfan Can Kahveci proved he can score as his 78th-minute goal lifted Istanbul Basaksehir past visiting Wolfsberger AC 1-0.

At Rome:

Lars Stindl's successfully-converted penalty kick at the death (90'+5) lifted Borussia Monchengladbach to a 1-1 road draw with AS Roma.

Nicolo Zaniolo scored for the hosts in the 32nd minute.

Group J Standings:

1. AS Roma (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 5)
2. Istanbul Basaksehir (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 4)
3. Wolfsberger AC (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 4)
4. Borussia Monchengladbach (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 2)

NOTE:  Istanbul Basaksehir collected all three points in their 1-0 Thursday victory over Wolfsberger AC.



GROUP K:

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Wilson Eduardo scored the winning goal in the 80th minute as SC Braga knocked off Besiktas 2-1 on the road.

At Bratislava, Slovakia:

Romain Saiss (58') and Raul Jimenez (PK-64') each scored a goal six minutes apart as Wolverhampton Wanderers came from behind to upend FC Slovan Bratislava 2-1 on the road.

Group K Standings:

1. SC Braga (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. Wolverhampton Wanderers (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
3. FC Slovan Bratislava (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
4. Besiktas (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 0)



GROUP L:

At The Hague, Netherlands:

Teun Koopmeiners converted not one, but two, penalty kicks (39', 83') as AZ Alkmaar blitzed visiting Astana 6-0.

At Belgrade, Serbia:

Anthony Martial converted a penalty kick in the 43rd minute for the game's only score as Manchester United defeated Partizan Belgrade 1-0 on the road.

Group L Standings:

1. Manchester United (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. AZ Alkmaar (GP: 3; GD: +6; PTS: 5)
3. Partizan Belgrade (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. Astana (GP: 3; GD: -8; PTS: 0)

CAF Champions League: Zamalek Oust Generation Foot For Group-Stage Berth

At Cairo, Egypt:

Djibril Diop's own goal in the 20th minute on Thursday proved decisive as Zamalek defeated visiting Generation Foot 1-0 in a much-postponed second game of their CAF Champions League first-round series and with the aggregate score at 2-2, won their series with the Senegalese club on road goals.

Here are the 16 clubs that will make up the Champions League's group stage, in which action will open on November 29:

GROUP A:

August 1st Club (Angola)

TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Zamalek (Egypt)

ZESCO United (Zambia)



GROUP B:

Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

Al-Hilal (Sudan)

FC Platinum (Zimbabwe)

Al-Ahly (Egypt)



GROUP C:

USM Alger (Algeria)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Petro de Luanda (Angola)

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)



GROUP D:

Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)

JS Kabylie (Algeria)

AS Vita Club (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

MLS Cup Playoffs: Reds, Sounders Advance To Semifinals

Two games were contested Wednesday as the second round of the MLS Cup Playoffs commenced.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At New York (Citi Field):

Alejandro Pozuelo scored twice (47', PK-90') as Toronto FC knocked off New York City 2-1 on the road. 



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Seattle:

Gustav Svensson (64') and Nicolas Lodeiro (81') each tallied once as the Seattle Sounders blanked Real Salt Lake 2-0.

Copa Libertadores: Flemengo Blows Out Gremio, Get Shot At River Plate For Title

At Rio de Janeiro:

Gabriel Barbosa scored twice (46', PK-55') on Wednesday as Flamengo destroyed fellow Brazilian club Gremio 5-0 at home in the second game of their Copa Libertadores semifinal series.

The Scarlet-Black, who won their series 6-1 on aggregate, will face defending champs River Plate in a one-game tournament final, set to take place at Julio Martinez National Stadium in Santiago, Chile on Saturday, November 23.

AFC Champions League: It's Urawa Reds vs. Al-Hilal For The Marbles

At Guangzhou, China:

Shinzo Koroki scored the only goal of the match in the 50th minute on Wednesday as Urawa Red Diamonds knocked off Guangzhou Evergrande 1-0 on the road in the second game of their AFC Champions League semifinal series, which the Japanese club won 3-0 on aggregate to represent the East Region in the tournament's two-match final against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal.

The opening match of the final will take place at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 9 with the return contest to be played at Saitama, Japan on November 24.

UEFA Champions League, Group H: Late Goal Carries Chelsea Past Ajax; Lille And Valencia Draw In France

Two contests in Group H of the UEFA Champions League were played on Wednesday.

At Amsterdam, Netherlands:

Michy Batshuayi scored the only goal of the match in minute #86 (that him celebrating here after scoring) as Chelsea knocked off Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 on the road.

UEFA/Getty Images photo by Lukas Schulze

At Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France:

Jonathan Ikone's equalizer at the death (90'+5; that's him celebrating after scoring) carried LOSC Lille Metropole to a 1-1 home draw with Valencia.

Denis Cheryshev tallied for the Oranges in the 63rd minute.

AFP/Getty Images photo by Francois Lo Presti


Group H Standings:

1. Chelsea (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
2. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 3; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
3. Valencia (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
4. LOSC Lille Metropole (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Chelsea defeated Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 on the road for all three points from their encounter on Wednesday.

UEFA Champions League, Group G: Leipzig, Eagles Win 2-1 At Home

Wednesday saw two matches contested in Group G of the UEFA Champions League.

At Leipzig, Germany:
GettyImages-1182943210
Marcel Sabitzer scored the winning goal, as shown here,  in the 59th minute as RB Leipzig edged visiting Zenit Saint Petersburg 2-1.



Getty Images photo via UEFA website


At Lisbon, Portugal:



Luis Miguel Alfonso Fernandes, known to one and all as Pizzi, scored the game winner at 86 minutes as SL Benfica defeated visiting Lyon 2-1.

Here are the happy Dragons with manager/head coach Bruno Lage celebrating after their first win of their Champions League campaign.

Photo from UEFA Website

Group G Standings:

1. RB Leipzig (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
2. Zenit Saint Petersburg (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Lyon (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
4. SL Benfica (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 3)

NOTE:  Zenit Saint Petersburg scored a road goal in their 1-1 September 17 draw with Lyon.

UEFA Champions League, Group F: Barca, Nerrazurri Win On Wednesday; Leo The Lion Makes History---Again

Two UEFA Champions League Group F contests are set to be played on Wednesday at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time.

At Prague, Czech Republic:
Peter Olayinka's own goal in the 57th minute lifted Barcelona to a 2-1 road win over Slavia Prague.

Earlier in the contest, Barca's legendary Lionel Messi scored in the third minute to become the first player to score a goal i n15 consecutive Champions League campaigns.

That's Leo the Lion celebrating with teammates here.

TF Images/Getty Images photo

At Milan, Italy:
GettyImages-1177794061 Lautaro Martinez (22') and Antonio Candreva (89', seen here) each scored once as Inter Milan blanked visiting Borussia Dortmund 2-0.

Getty Images photo via UEFA website

Group F Standings:

1. Barcelona (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. Inter Milan (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Borussia Dortmund (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. Slavia Prague (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

UEFA Champions League, Group E: Liverpool, Napoli Win On The Road

Group-stage play in the UEFA Champions League reached its' midway point with eight games (two of them in Group E) on Wednesday.

At Genk, Belgium:

GettyImages-1182970100
Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain scored twice (2', 57') as Liverpool dominated KRC Genk 4-1 on the road.  Here are the happy Reds celebrating.

Getty Images photo (via UEFA website)

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:
Dries Mertens scored twice (17', 64') while Lorenzo Insigne scored the winning goal in the 73rd minute as Napoli knocked off FC Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on the road.

That's Lorenzo here, celebrating with a teammate after the winning tally.

Photo from UEFA website

Group E Standings:

1. Napoli (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. Liverpool (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
3. FC Red Bull Salzburg (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
4. KRC Genk (GP: 3; GD: -7; PTS: 1)