football

Agencies Karim Benzema scored a late winner as Real Madrid fought back from two goals down to beat Sevilla 3-2 on Sunday and close in on the La Liga title. According to the BBC, the hosts stunned Real in the first half through Ivan Rakitic's free-kick and Erik Lamela's close-range strike. The visitors pulled one back early in the second half through Rodrygo before substitute Nacho drove in an equaliser late on. Benzema then completed the remarkable turnaround in stoppage time, BBC further reported. According to the news agency, the striker squeezed a shot past Bono from a cut-back to make sure the visitors took a huge win that moves them 15 points clear at the top of the table with six games remaining. The goal continued Benzema's excellent form this season and added to hi...

Agencies Second-half goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount saw Chelsea defeat Crystal Palace 2-0 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to set up a showdown with Liverpool. According to media reports, former Palace loanee Loftus-Cheek put Chelsea ahead after 65 minutes when Kai Havertz's cross from the right took a deflection out to the winger, who hammered a shot that hit defender Joachim Andersen and flew into the net.  Mount added a crucial second goal just over 10 minutes later and sealed the victory for Chelsea, playing Timo Werner's ball from the edge of the box past Andersen with his first touch and burying it past goalkeeper Jack Butland with his second. Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea ground down a hard-working Palace team and will meet Liverpo...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is holding election of its district committees ahead of the central election. On Saturday, elections were held in nine districts including Rupandehi, Kavre, Mahottari, Parsa, Baglung, Lamjung, Kailali, Nawalpur and Banke. Lok Pun has been unanimously elected president of Rupandehi chapter of ANFA. Likewise, Lamjung chapter of ANFA is headed by new president Lokendra Gurung, who was also elected unanimously. The panels of Anil Malla and Bhojraj Shahi were elected in Kailali and Banke respectively. Shahi defeated Sundar Mani Adhikari’s panel in Banke. Shahi garnered nine votes against 2 by Adhikari. Mahottari district committee of ANFA is headed by Pramod Manahdhar while Jaya Raj Bhandari has be...

Agencies Cristiano Ronaldo sealed his hat-trick with a stunning free-kick to secure a 3-2 victory for Manchester United over Norwich, having earlier blown a two-goal lead at Old Trafford on Saturday night. According to media reports, Ronaldo's second hat-trick in five games put some shine on otherwise underwhelming performance of United, whose pursuit for a top-four spot was nonetheless strengthened thanks to defeats of rivals Arsenal and Tottenham. They looked to be strolling to victory when Ronaldo was teed up for an early tap-in after Ben Gibson was caught in possession in the 7th minute and grabbed a second by nodding home Alex Telles' corner in the 32nd minute. Norwich had created chances without threatening to defy their goal-shy reputation until Kieran Dowell headed Te...

Agencies Liverpool produced a devastating first-half performance before surviving a Manchester City fightback to beat their Premier League title rivals 3-2 at Wembley Stadium and advance to the FA Cup final on Saturday. According to media reports, the defeat has ended Pep Guardiola’s hopes of a treble. Six days on from the thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp's team appeared to be cruising into the final after scoring three unanswered goals during a one-sided first half as Sadio Mane scored twice after Ibrahima Konate's early header. But City rallied after the break, reducing the deficit almost immediately when Jack Grealish fired home from a Gabriel Jesus pass. Bernardo Silva then set up a tense finale when he slid home from close r...

Agencies Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA President Michel Platini will go on trial in June to face Swiss corruption charges over a $2 million payment that world football governing body made to Platini in 2011, Reuters reported referring to an announcement made by the court on Tuesday. According to the news agency, both Blatter and Platini have repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the past over the incident, for which Swiss prosecutors indicted them in November. Prosecutors allege Blatter improperly arranged the payment to Platini, who captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship, for consulting work. Blatter and Platini said the payment was for backdated salary. Both are suspected of fraud and other charges amid what became part of the biggest co...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Nepal’s national football team coach Abdullah Al Mutairi has said that Nepal cannot qualify for the AFC Asia Cup. He made such remarks on the day he started training the team for the competition. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has started preparations for the third round of Asia Cup qualifiers starting from Friday. Following the first day of training at the Dasharath Stadium, coach Al Mutairi said, “We are pitted against strong teams. We cannot qualify for the Asia Cup. It is not appropriate to blame the players for this.” He reminded that he kept his word of guiding Nepal to the final of SAFF Championship while taking up his role as the national team’s coach. However, he made it clear that Nepal cannot qualify for the Asia Cup. “...

Agencies Eintracht Frankfurt stunned Barcelona with a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Nou Camp on Thursday to set up a Europa League semi-final against West Ham. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the German side stormed into a 3-0 lead in the second and looked in control before conceding two late goals from Barcelona. Filip Kostic's penalty and Rafael Borre's superb strike were followed by another for Kostic after the break, the BBC reported. But Sergio Busquets' effort and Memphis Depay's penalty set up a tense finish. According to the BBC, Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka was also sent off for a second yellow card for what looked a soft foul on Luuk de Jong for the spot-kick, with nine minutes added on following a VAR malfunction. But Frankfurt, who sit ninth in the Bu...

Agencies Liverpool remain in the hunt for a historic quadruple after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Benfica secured a Champions League semi-final against Villarreal. Having established a 3-1 lead in Lisbon, Liverpool extended their advantage with Ibrahima Konate's powerful 21st-minute header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner. According to the BBC, Benfica equalised through Goncalo Ramos' excellent turn and finish, before Roberto Firmino's two second-half goals - a tap-in followed by a volley - in front of the Kop looked to have put the Reds in control. But after Roman Yaremchuk broke through to beat Alisson and make it 3-2 on the night, Darwin Nunez scored a late equaliser. Nunez was then denied by Alisson as Benfica finished strongly but Liverpool held out to advance 6-4 on aggreg...

Agencies Manchester City produced a disciplined performance to secure a 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday and reach the Champions League semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate. According to Reuters, tensions boiled over in the closing stages and Atletico defender Felipe was sent off after receiving a second yellow card before the teams played out 12 minutes of added time. Scuffles broke out among the players following Felipe’s dismissal for kicking out at Phil Foden and continued after the final whistle as the teams went down the tunnel, with the police having to intervene to restore calm. The English champions were comfortable in the first half, Ilkay Gundogan struck the post with their best chance after a flowing move down the right, but they did not manage another attempt ...