football

Agencies Bayern Munich were stunned as underdogs Villarreal scored an 88th minute equaliser through substitute Samuel Chukwueze to snatch a 1-1 draw and reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win over the Germans on Tuesday. Six-time European champions Bayern, who had won 12 of their previous 13 home games in the competition, levelled the tie when Robert Lewandowski drilled the ball in off the post after 52 minutes with his 13th Champions League goal of the season, Reuters reported. Yet despite controlling the game they failed to score again. Instead it was Villarreal, semi-finalists in 2006, who netted against the run of play with Chukwueze beating goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with a left-foot effort to silence the home crowd, the news agency further repor...

Agencies Real Madrid saw off a stirring fightback from holders Chelsea to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals following a 3-2 extra-time defeat in a scintillating second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday to go through 5-4 on aggregate. According to Reuters, Chelsea had looked on course to complete an astonishing comeback after taking a 3-0 lead in their quarter-final second leg with goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and an excellent individual effort from Timo Werner. But the hosts returned back in contention, with Rodrygo finishing from a superb pass by Luka Modric to level the tie 4-4 on aggregate and force extra time when Karim Benzema headed home to decide a remarkable encounter. Real Madrid will now face either Manchester City or local riv...

Agencies Merseyside police said on Sunday they were reviewing CCTV footage to establish if Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo committed an offence by knocking a mobile phone out of a supporter's hand after his team's 1-0 defeat at Everton, Reuters reported. According to the news agency, footage emerged on social media of Ronaldo appearing to swipe his hand towards the ground as he walked off the pitch and headed for the tunnel at Goodison Park after Saturday's match. Eyewitnesses said the 37-year-old had knocked a fan's phone out of his hand and smashed it to the ground and Ronaldo later took to Instagram to apologise for the incident. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said the force was liaising with both clubs after reports of an alleged assault. "As players wer...

Agencies Manchester City remained one point clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League standings after the highly-anticipated clash of the giants ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. According to Reuters, the match lived up to its billing right from the kick off as City flew out of the traps, racing into a fifth-minute lead after Kevin De Bruyne's strike was deflected past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. City, playing with the high pressing intensity which their opponents are famed for, could have taken the lead moments earlier but Raheem Sterling shot softly at Alisson from a glorious position. With the raucous home crowd sensing Juergen Klopp's side were wobbling, however, Liverpool showed their mettle as they regrouped and levelled eight...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Khumaltar Youth Club have been promoted to the ‘A’ Division League for the first time after winning their final match of B Division on Sunday while the outcome of another match was in their favour. Khumaltar saw off Samajik Youth Club 2-1 in the last match of the league to secure the second position in B Division League and a place in the top flight competition for the next season. Samajik Youth Club gifted Khumaltar an own goal in the injury time to ensure their victory. The match was heading towards a 1-1 draw when Bikash Limbu scored an own goal. The victory means Khumaltar were promoted to the top flight at the expense of Rani Pokhari Corner Team (RCT). Khumaltar’s skipper Sabin KC had scored a goal in the 14th minute to give an early le...

Agencies Top European clubs will be limited to spending no more than 70% of their revenue on their squads under new "sustainability regulations" passed by UEFA's executive committee on Thursday. According to Reuters, the new approach will replace the previous Financial Fair Play system and introduces a "squad cost rule" that will limit spending on wages, transfers and agent fees. The 70% figure will be reached after a three year transition period, gradually falling from 90%. "UEFA's first financial regulations, introduced in 2010, served its primary purpose," Reuters quoted UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin as saying at the Executive Committee meeting in Nyon. "They helped pull European football finances back from the brink and revolutionised how European football clubs...

Agencies Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four after a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday. According to Reuters, Torres cancelled out Ansgar Knauff's first-half opener in a lively clash at the Waldstadion, the German club’s home turf. The hosts finished with 10 men having put the competition favourites on the back foot. In the other last eight ties, West Ham United battled to a 1-1 home draw versus Olympique Lyonnais despite having Aaron Creswell sent off on the stroke of halftime. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after a Jerome Boateng blunder, only for Tanguy Ndombele to level for the visitors after 66 minu...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Machhindra FC’s midfielder Bishal Rai has been included in training for the national football team after missing the chance during the last occasion. According to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), Rai has been included in the 25-member squad called for training on March 31. Forward Navayug Shrestha and defender Bikash Khawas have also returned for training. Rai was one of the members of Machhindra FC that featured in the AFC Cup qualifiers on April 5. Machhindra crashed out of the qualifiers after being beaten by Sri Lanka’s Blue Star Club 2-1. According to Nepal’s chief coach Abdullah Al Muitari, a total of 25 players have been called for the closed camp training for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers. ANFA has already announced closed...

Agencies A hat-trick by veteran striker Karim Benzema, including two fine headed goals in the space of three first-half minutes, earned Real Madrid a deserved 3-1 win at reigning European champions Chelsea in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. According to Reuters, the 34-year-old Benzema claimed his hat-trick when he pounced on an error by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy just after halftime to put the Spaniards in control of the tie before Tuesday's second leg in Madrid. Kai Havertz had restored some hope to the Blues when he headed in an angled pass from Jorginho in the 40th minute to make it 2-1. But Chelsea's chances of a comeback were undone by Mendy's mistake in the 46th minute when, outside his box, he tried to pass to Antonio Rudiger only...