LONDON – Eberechi Eze inspired Crystal Palace to a 3-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win at Fulham on Saturday with a goal and assist in a four-minute period in the first half.

Fresh from scoring his first England goal against Latvia on Monday, Eze broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from outside the box.

He then turned provider for Ismaila Sarr to rapidly double Palace’s lead and Eddie Nketiah added more gloss to the scoreline as a second-half substitute.

After a difficult start to the season, Palace are one of England’s form teams as Oliver Glasner’s men have also marched up the Premier League table to 12th in recent months.

The Eagles have won their last six away games, including another 2-0 win at Craven Cottage last month, and will believe they can go on to win the FA Cup for the first time.

Palace were able to welcome back French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for the first time since he needed 25 stitches in an ear wound suffered in his side’s fifth round win over Millwall four weeks ago.

But it was Eze who was Palace’s match winner with two decisive moments in a matter of minutes.

The 26-year-old cut inside on his favored right foot to curl in off the far post to open the scoring on 34 minutes.

Eze then jinked past Sander Berge and showed his ability on either foot with this time an inch-perfect left-footed cross for Sarr to head in at the near post.

Fulham are four places and six points above Palace in the Premier League and will now turn their focus to trying to qualify for the Champions League for the first time by finishing in the top five.

However, their dreams of Wembley were extinguished 15 minutes from time.

Eddie Nketiah had only been on the field a few minutes as Mateta’s replacement and produced a composed finish under his former Arsenal team-mate Bernd Leno for a third goal in four games.

City are the favorites for the competition but face a tough trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.

After a disappointing season that has fallen well short of their usual standards, the FA Cup is City’s final shot at winning a trophy.

Aston Villa visit second-tier Preston hoping to remain on course for their first trophy since 1996 in Sunday’s early kick-off.

AN-AFP, 29.3.2025

LONDON, March 27 – Chelsea pulled off a stunning comeback to beat Manchester City 3-0 in the women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Thursday, overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit to secure a place in the last four with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Chelsea, who have played City four times this month, beating them in the League Cup final and 2-1 in the Women’s Super League, set up a repeat of last year’s semi-final against holders Barcelona, who thrashed VfL Wolfsburg 6-1 on Thursday to complete a 10-2 aggregate win.

Chelsea took the lead in the 14th minute when Lucy Bronze’s shot hit the post before Sandy Baltimore pounced on the rebound to beat City goalkeeper Khiara Keating.

Sonia Bompastor’s side doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Nathalie Bjorn headed home from Baltimore’s corner and Mayra Ramirez added a third five minutes later, finishing off Lauren James’s cross.

City refused to give up after the break and looked to capitalise on Chelsea’s mistakes, with Vivianne Miedema, Mary Fowler and Kerolin all missing clear-cut chances.

It was keeper Keating, however, who denied Chelsea a fourth at Stamford Bridge, with substitute Aggie Beever-Jones’ left-foot shot saved and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s late effort blocked.

“We were never in doubt. We had full confidence in ourselves. We could have had way more than three goals,” Chelsea captain Millie Bright said.

“We are a new team, we are on a new journey, we are in a new era. Bring it on.”

Eight-times winners Olympique Lyonnais face Arsenal in the other semi-final, with the final on May 24 in Lisbon.

REUTERS

BARCELONA, March 27 – Defending champions Barcelona cruised to a 6-1 home win over VfL Wolfsburg in their women’s Champions League quarter-final second leg on Thursday to book a last-four place with a stunning 10-2 aggregate victory.

Barca started fast and were 3-0 up at the break following a Salma Paralluelo double and Esmee Brugts’s fine strike.

Substitute Claudia Pina bagged a fourth before Wolfsburg forward Lineth Beerensteyn pulled a goal back for the visitors. Pina and defender Maria Leon completed the rout for Barcelona with two free kicks.

The Spanish side will face Manchester City or Chelsea, who play later on Thursday, in the semi-finals in April. City lead 2-0 from the first leg.

Olympique Lyonnais play Arsenal in the other semi-final.

Barcelona, targeting a third consecutive European title, produced a dominant display and Paralluelo put them ahead after 10 minutes.

The 21-year-old Spain forward scored low inside the far post after Aitana Bonmati had teed her up with a neat pass. She doubled the advantage 10 minutes later with a first-time shot from around the penalty spot.

Midfielder Brugts added a third before the break through a powerful strike from outside the box into the bottom corner of the net.

Pina made it 4-0 after the hour mark with a low shot from the edge of the area three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

A Barca defensive error allowed twice champions Wolfsburg, who won the competition in 2013 and 2014, to claim a consolation goal through substitute Beerensteyn in the 72nd minute.

Barcelona keeper Cata Coll rushed out of the box to kick a loose ball to safety but Beerensteyn was presented with a chance to put the ball into an empty net, a goal that stood after a VAR check.

Pina increased the hosts’ lead from a free kick that went in off a post, and Leon did the same in stoppage time after her powerful shot had rattled the crossbar.

REUTERS

LONDON – Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to reach the Women’s Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid.

Mariona Caldentey scored the other as Arsenal grabbed three goals in 13 minutes to overturn the team’s 2-0 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal in the Spanish capital last week.

Caldentey, who used to torment Madrid while playing for Barcelona, wheeled away in delight after leveling the tie three minutes after Russo pulled a goal back as Arsenal couldn’t have had a better start to the second half.

Russo fired Arsenal in front for the first time in the tie with an acrobatic finish in the 59th. It proved to be the winner in the 3-2 victory on aggregate.

The England star might have had a hat trick only to be denied by a VAR call for offside, then by Madrid goalkeeper Misa in a one-on-one, then by another offside call.

Arsenal needed a save from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar in stoppage time to prevent Madrid star Linda Caicedo from sending the match to extra time.

Arsenal will face last season’s beaten finalist Lyon as they seek to win the trophy for the second time after success in 2007.

Lyon advance

Kadidiatou Diani scored one goal and set up two more as Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the second leg of their quarterfinal earlier.

The French powerhouse needed a wake-up call before reaching the semifinals for the 13th time. Klara Bühl opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off the far post to claw a goal back for Bayern after losing the first leg 2-0 in Munich.

Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate with Diani scoring and setting up goals for Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, who both scored in Munich last week.

Dumornay played in Ada Hegerberg to seal the rout with a flourish by shooting the ball through Bayern goalkeeper Maria-Luisa “Mala” Grohs ‘ legs in stoppage time.

Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining its comeback hopes.

The other quarterfinal second legs are scheduled for Thursday, with defending champion Barcelona in a comfortable position after a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany, and Chelsea needing goals as it host Manchester City after losing the first leg 2-0.

Barcelona defeated Lyon in last year’s final.

AN-AP

LYON – Kadidiatou Diani scored one goal and set up two more as Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

The French powerhouse needed a wake-up call before reaching the semifinals for the 13th time. Klara Bühl opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off the far post to claw a goal back for Bayern after losing the first leg 2-0 in Munich.

Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate with Diani scoring and setting up goals for Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, who both scored in Munich last week.

Dumornay played in Ada Hegerberg to seal the rout with a flourish by shooting the ball between Bayern goalkeeper Maria-Luisa “Mala” Grohs’ legs in stoppage time.

Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining their comeback hopes.

Diani was given two opportunities to cross the ball for Dumornay to equalize on the night, then Bayern star Giulia Gwinn inadvertently set up Diani to score in the 54th.

It was the third blow for Bayern in quick succession with forward Jovana Damnjanovic going off with an apparent rib injury.

The fourth blow came shortly afterward with Diana crossing for Chawinga to score Lyon’s third goal on the hour-mark. The French league champion missed further chances to score before Hegerberg made the last one count.

Lyon will face either Real Madrid or Arsenal in the semifinals. They were contesting the second leg of their quarterfinal in London later, with the Spanish team 2-0 up from the first leg in Madrid last week.

Arsenal made a promising start without scoring while Madrid began threatening toward the end of the first half in the second leg.

The other quarterfinal second legs are scheduled for Thursday, with defending champion Barcelona in a comfortable position after a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany, and Chelsea needing goals as they host Manchester City after losing the first leg 2-0.

Barcelona defeated Lyon in last year’s final.

AN-AP

BUENOS AIRES – Defending champion Argentina had to put the celebrations on hold for a while after securing a place at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday before kickoff against archrival Brazil.

Bolivia’s failure to beat Uruguay meant Argentina had enough cushion in South American qualifying to secure one of the continent’s six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup set to be co-hosted next year by the US, Canada and Mexico.

After Bolivia’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay at El Alto, Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 in front of 85,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium despite the absence of Lionel Messi.

Brazil’s worst deficit in South American World Cup qualifying history compounded pressure on coach Dorival Junior, who took over in January of last year.

Brazil are in fourth place in South American qualifying with 21 points, 10 behind Argentina but only two behind second-place Ecuador, which were held to a 0-0 draw by Chile. Third-place Uruguay and fifth-place Paraguay also have 21 points, and Colombia is one point behind them in sixth. Seventh-place Venezuela has 15 points after a 1-0 win over 9th-place Peru.

Brazil were missing three regular starters — goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhaes and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes — and wasn’t really competitive from start to finish.

It’s the first time Argentina have won both matches against Brazil in a World Cup qualifying tournament. The home victory was also Argentina’s first against the Brazilians since qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Argentina have led South American qualifying from the start, with few hiccups and major away wins at Brazil and Uruguay. But coach Lionel Scaloni has not fielded 37-year-old Messi in several games, which still raises doubts on whether the star will play at the World Cup next year.

Messi has an injury to his adductor and was not included in Argentina’s squad for the two latest matches.

ARGENTINE FLAIR, BRAZILIAN DESPAIR

Argentina scored thir two first goals in only 12 minutes of play, both thanks to accurate passing and some clumsy Brazilian defending.

Julian Alvarez netted the first in the 4th minute after Marquinhos, Murillo and Guilherme Arana failed to reach the ball. The Argentina striker shot between the legs of goalkeeper Bento from close range.

Argentina scored again eight minutes later with Enzo Fernandez, once again from close range after a low cross by Gonzalo Molina.

Brazil got one back via Matheus Cunha in the 26th after a mistake by Cristian Romero, who lost the ball to the Brazilian by the edge of the box. Enzo Fernandez found Alexis Mac Allister bursting into the penalty box unmarked 11 minutes later to make it 3-1 to Argentina.

During the break, Brazil sought to get some grip by boosting their presence in the midfield with Joao Gomes and the substitution of Murillo and striker Rodrygo. But it was to no avail, with Giuliano Simeone scoring for Argentina in the 71st minute.

“All of us can do better than this. It isn’t only about Dorival,” Brazil’s captain Marquinhos said. “This is not only the coach’s fault, it is the players too. We need to have our heads in the right place. They (Argentina) also had tough times before and they overcame it. We can do it too.”

AN-AP

LISBON – Portugal beat Denmark 5-3 on aggregate to reach the Nations League semifinals on Sunday, winning a pulsating second leg 5-2 after extra time.

Portugal will face Finals hosts Germany in June in the last four after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to brave Denmark.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty but later scored a crucial goal, before Francisco Trincao’s late double set Roberto Martinez’s men on course for the semis.

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel stared down Ronaldo’s stuttering run-up to save a fluffed spot-kick on six minutes, diving left and comfortably holding the ball.

But Portugal eventually pushed the tie to extra time at 3-2 on the night, despite Denmark twice edging ahead on aggregate.

Portugal first drew level on aggregate when Joachim Andersen’s panicked clearance looped horribly into his own goal in the 38th minute.

But, unmarked at a corner, Rasmus Kristensen’s cool header put Denmark back in front overall on 56 minutes.

Ronaldo redeemed himself for his penalty error, pouncing on a rebound to score with 18 minutes left, only for Christian Eriksen to then silence the home crowd by tapping into an open goal four minutes later.

Playing in his home Sporting Lisbon stadium, substitute winger Trincao then sent the game to extra time with a late, left-footed strike.

Shortly after the restart, he threaded his second goal through a sea of players to put Portugal in the driving seat.

Trincao was then involved in the build-up for Goncalo Ramos’s clincher in a full-blooded encounter.

Denmark arrived with a first-leg lead from Thursday and departed with their heads held high after their stoic resistance, along with Portugal’s unrelenting attack, ensured a battle that swung either way several times.

Winners of the inaugural tournament in 2019, Portugal are aiming to become the first team to lift the Nations League trophy for a second time.

AN-AFP, 24.3.2025

SAINT-DENIS, France – Goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved twice in the shoot-out as France beat Croatia 5-4 on penalties on Sunday after their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie had ended 2-2 on aggregate, sealing a place in the last four in June.

Les Bleus won 2-0 on the night with goals in normal time by Michael Olize and Ousmane Dembele at the Stade de France to wipe out their deficit from Thursday’s first leg.

With no further scoring in extra time the tie went to penalties, where Maignan saved from both Martin Baturina and Josip Stanisic, while Franjo Ivanovic also missed for the visitors.

Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez both failed to convert for the hosts, but Dayot Upamecano scored when he became the seventh France player to step up, sparking scenes of celebrations on the pitch and in the crowd of 77,502.

“We woke up thinking it could be a great night. We were convinced we were going to do something great,” captain Kylian Mbappe told broadcaster TF1.

“And we know when it comes to penalties that we have a goalkeeper who can make the difference.”

France, who won the Nations League in 2021, will now take on title-holders Spain in the semifinals in Stuttgart in Germany on June 5, with the winners advancing to the final in Munich three days later.

Germany will face Portugal in Munich in the other last-four tie.

“Getting to the final is an objective,” Mbappe added. “These are the kind of matches you want to play in and there is a title up for grabs.”

Croatia, who lost on penalties to Spain in the final of the last Nations League in 2023, will now instead start their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup in June.

They will go into qualifying Group L with the Czech Republic, Montenegro, the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar, who they will face first on June 6.

“It was a very difficult night for us. We were not able to repeat our performance from the first leg,” admitted Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic.

“It is good experience for us for the future. The aim now is to get to the World Cup and I think we can do it.”

France’s progress to the final stages of the Nations League means they will not begin their World Cup qualifying campaign until September, when they will be in Group D with Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan.

Both sides were eyeing silverware in the Nations League and Croatia held the upper hand after triumphing 2-0 in the first leg in Split.

Nevertheless France, whose coach Didier Deschamps will step down in 2026 after 14 years in charge, were hoping for a comeback similar to their famous recovery against Ukraine in a World Cup qualifying play-off in 2013.

They won that after overturning a 2-0 first-leg loss with a 3-0 victory in the return at the Stade de France.

Here Deschamps made five changes from the first leg, with Bayern Munich duo Upamecano and Olize among those coming into the team.

They pinned Croatia back from the off in this latest repeat of the 2018 World Cup final won by the French, but it took them until the 52nd minute to get the breakthrough.

Olize was the scorer, finding the net with a marvellous free-kick from just outside the box following a foul on Mbappe, for his first goal in a France shirt.

Mbappe then saw his shot from Dembele’s low cross flash just wide on 75 minutes before the hosts levelled the tie on aggregate 10 minutes from time. Mbappe found Olize and his cutback was swept in first-time by Dembele.

France took the momentum with them into extra time where Mbappe twice forced saves from Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Mbappe has now failed to score in his last seven games for his country and has found the net just once in his last 10 appearances in a France shirt, from a penalty against Poland at Euro 2024.

The Real Madrid superstar did score in the shoot-out, however, converting France’s first penalty.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Randal Kolo Muani and Desire Doue also scored for the hosts before Upamecano’s winner.

AN-AFP, 24.3.2025

VALENCIA, Spain – Nations League holders Spain reached the final four with a 5-4 win on penalties against the Netherlands, after a thrilling 3-3 quarter-final second leg draw on Sunday (5-5 on aggregate).

Donyell Malen missed and Barcelona’s Pedri slotted home to settle a gripping match in which the Netherlands came from behind three times to force the shoot-out.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain but Memphis Depay levelled from the penalty spot.

Oyarzabal grabbed Spain’s second before Ian Maatsen rifled home to force extra-time.

Barcelona starlet Yamal, who also missed a penalty in the shoot-out, scored a brilliant goal to put Spain ahead but Xavi Simons netted another spot-kick to force penalties.

After Spain’s struggles in Rotterdam on Thursday in the 2-2 first-leg draw, coach Luis de la Fuente made a handful of changes.

Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo came in for Alvaro Morata and Pedri, while Dean Huijsen made his first start, against the country of his birth, and excelled.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman brought in debutant Maatsen at left-back, giving him the unenviable challenge of shackling 17-year-old prodigy Yamal at Valencia’s sold-out Mestalla stadium.

Spain’s success in recent years has inspired their supporters and over 20,000 watched them train ahead of the second leg, which also served as a fundraiser for damage caused by the devastating storms which hit the Valencia region last October.

They won a penalty early on when Jan Paul van Hecke clumsily brought down Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal for La Roja in the Euro 2024 final last summer.

The Real Sociedad forward took it himself, smashing into the bottom right corner, past Bart Verbruggen’s dive.

Oyarzabal beat the Brighton goalkeeper again a few minutes later with another lethal finish but had strayed offside after a superb dribble by Yamal in the build-up.

Verbruggen denied Nico Williams with a superb stop, after Huijsen stormed forward and slipped the winger in down the left, with Spain rampant but unable to add to their lead in the first half.

Bournemouth center-back Huijsen, 19, was jeered by the traveling Dutch fans, upset he did not choose to play for them, but Spain supporters backed him in response and he shone.

Netherlands steadied the ship and were able to keep more possession, but not test Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon until after the break.

Koeman’s side levelled after 54 minutes with a penalty of their own when Depay, on his 100th Oranje appearance, threw himself to the ground after tussling with Robin Le Normand.

Despite the hosts’ protests the contentious decision stood and Depay blasted home from the spot.

Spain’s dynamic wingers helped restore their lead with a razor-sharp counter-attack.

Yamal released Williams, who drove into the box and slipped the ball to Oyarzabal. Although Verbruggen saved his attempted dink, the Spaniard headed home the rebound.

Netherlands responded swiftly, capitalizing when Olmo gave the ball away inside his area.

Substitute Simons slipped a clever pass to Maatsen on the left and the Aston Villa defender brilliantly rifled into the top corner to force extra-time.

De la Fuente sent on Pedri and Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, who salvaged Spain a draw in the first leg, and his team took the lead after 103 minutes.

Huijsen lofted the ball into Yamal’s path and the winger controlled it on the run and beat Maatsen before pulling off an exquisite finish.

The Dutch battled back for a third time, with Simons winning and converting a penalty in the 109th minute. Spain goalkeeper Simon brought down the RB Leipzig attacker, who made no mistake from the spot.

Simon made amends with a smart save in the 120th minute to deny Donyell Malen, taking the tie to a shoot-out.

Both sides netted their first three penalties with great precision, before Netherlands’ Lang hit the crossbar and Verbruggen saved a tame Yamal effort.

In sudden death Simon dived to his left to save from Malen and Pedri coolly sent Spain through to the semis.

AN-AFP, 24.3.2025

DORTMUND, Germany – Germany survived a spirited second-half fightback from Italy, letting a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 in Dortmund on Sunday, before reaching the Nations League semifinals 5-4 on aggregate.

A first-half Joshua Kimmich masterclass, with a penalty and two assists for Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst, had Germany 3-0 up and cruising at the break.

However, injury-hit Italy kicked into gear in the second half, Moise Kean scoring a double to rattle the hosts.
Italy looked on course to level the scores when they were awarded a penalty with 73 minutes gone, but it was overturned by VAR.

Giacomo Raspadori then converted a stoppage time penalty to give Italy a glimmer of hope.

The result not only secured Germany a first-ever Nations League semifinal spot, but it means the remainder of the tournament will be held on German soil, in Stuttgart and Munich in June.

Despite the second-half scare, the victory continues Germany’s resurgence under Julian Nagelsmann.

Germany’s only loss in their past 17 matches came in extra-time at Euro 2024 against eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.

Nagelsmann said Germany “learned lessons for our development” from the game, adding “we know how well we can play football — but we have to show it throughout the game.

“I’m going home with an understanding of what we’re capable of, but it’s also nice that we’ve got a bit more to do,” he said.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admitted his side lacked “maturity” and said “you always learn from games like this.”

“The second half was very good, but we were too afraid to play like that for the whole game.”

Italy traveled to Dortmund, the site of their 2006 World Cup semifinal win over the same opponents, with a mountain to climb.

After letting a one-goal lead slip to lose in Milan in the first leg, Italy saw defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Andrea Cambiaso added to an injury list which already included striker Mateo Retegui and left-back Federico Dimarco.

Spalletti spoke pre-match of needing to do “something impossible” and his side were up against it from the get-go as Germany burst out of the blocks.

With Musiala on top form and Nico Schlotterback sending in penetrating passes from the deep, Germany’s breakthrough came from the spot.

Alessandro Buongiorno brought down a surging Kleindienst in the box and Kimmich converted, just the fourth penalty for either club or country in the 30-year-old’s career.

After an acrobatic save to keep out a Kleindienst header by Gianluigi Donnarumma, the quick-thinking Kimmich played the ball fast from the ensuing corner.

The move caught the Italians napping, with Musiala tapping in from close range as the Italian goalkeeper was still remonstrating with the referee.

In the final minute of the half, Donnarumma palmed away a Kleindienst header, but this time could not keep it out, with the home crowd erupting as the referee pointed to his watch to show the ball had crossed the line.

Germany dropped in intensity in the second half and the Italians pounced, Kean latching onto a loose ball and blasting home after 49 minutes.

Spalletti brought on Raspadori and the Napoli man had an immediate impact, threading a pass for Kean to curl a ball past Oliver Baumann’s outstretched arm with 68 minutes played.

The stunned Germans were shocked further five minutes later when they conceded a penalty, but the spot kick was overturned by VAR.

The Italians did eventually get a spot kick in stoppage time, with Raspadori converting, but it was too late as Germany held on to progress on aggregate.

AN-AFP, 24.3.2025