Sports

Messi, Inter Miami Fight Back For 3-3 Draw At Philadelphia

Published

5 months ago

May 25, 2025

Editor

Inter Miami fought back from 3-1 down to grab a 3-3 draw at MLS Eastern Conference leaders the Philadelphia Union on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time leveller from substitute Telasco Segovia.

Israeli forward Tai Baribo scored twice for Philadelphia to give them the two goal advantage but Lionel Messi gave Miami hope with an 87th-minute free-kick before Venezuelan Segovia dramatically grabbed the point.

Quinn Sullivan, called up this week by Mauricio Pochettino to the US national team squad, fired Philadelphia ahead in the seventh minute with a sweet strike after Miami’s defence had failed to close down.

Baribo made it 2-0 with an instinctive finish in the 44th minute as Miami’s defensive troubles continued.

The visitors got a foothold in the game in the 60th minute when Noah Allen floated in a cross from the left which was met by a firm header from Argentine Tadeo Allende.

But Philadelphia restored their two-goal cushion when, from a long throw, Miami were unable to clear and Jean-Jacques Danley pounced on the loose ball and Baribo fired home.

Messi beat Union keeper Andrew Rick with a characteristically well driven free-kick for his sixth goal of the season three minutes from the end of regulation time to set up a frantic finale.

Jovan Lukic hit the bar from inside the box early in stoppage time as Philly looked to wrap-up the win but they were left crestfallen in the fifth minute of stoppage time when, after good work from Messi, Segovia pounced and blasted home.

There was still time for one more chance but an unmarked Danley, who had an outstanding game in midfield, somehow headed wide from close range.

While the result was a welcome sign of character from Miami, they remain with just one win in their past eight games in all competitions having conceded 23 goals.

Javier Mascherano’s side are sixth in the Eastern Conference and the former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder praised his team’s response.

“We showed character, personality. It was another difficult start of the game for us because in the beginning we conceded the goal… but the guys showed they want want to fight to get out of this situation,” said the Miami coach.

“We are in a bad trend, but with a lot of spirit to come back to be the team we were at the beginning of the season,” he added before demanding better from his back line.

“We cannot concede every single corner kick and every single throw in and give opponents opportunities to score… we need to be more focused in those situations,” Mascherano said.

USA forward Patrick Agyemang had scored twice for Dean Smith’s Charlotte but Malte Amundsen looked to have earned the Columbus Crew a point before Spaniard Pep Biel grabbed a 75th-minute winner for a 3-2 triumph.

Mexican star Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano’s stoppage-time header earned San Diego a 2-1 victory over the winless defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy.

Former Arsenal and France striker Olivier Giroud’s 77th-minute goal earned Los Angeles FC a 2-2 draw at Montreal while Duncan McGuire’s first league goal of the season gave Orlando a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers.

Argentine Max Urruti’s 84th-minute goal gave the New England Revolution a 3-3 draw at Sporting Kansas City after the visitors had let an early 2-0 lead slip.

Sports

Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges New Armwrestling Board To Prioritize Accessibility, Sponsorship

Published

9 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged members of the newly inaugurated Edo State Armwrestling Association board to embrace openness, accessibility, and proactive engagement with athletes and stakeholders.

Enabulele gave the charge during the board’s inauguration held at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The event had in attendance Executive Directors, the Permanent Secretary, and other top officials of the Commission.

In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, the sports commission boss described the inauguration as “a new dawn in our collective journey to strengthen and elevate the standard of sports development in Edo State.”

He urged the new executives to pursue sponsorships and partnerships that would drive growth and sustain the association’s programmes.

“Financial support is the lifeblood of sports,” Enabulele said.

“Through partnerships and sponsorships, we can provide the resources needed to nurture our athletes and expand our programmes.”

The Chairman also called for approachable leadership, encouraging the board to remain open to athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.

“Your guidance and presence will foster unity, strengthen teamwork, and create a culture of accountability and progress,” he added.

Enabulele further announced plans to introduce quarterly appraisal sessions between the Commission and sports associations to ensure proper monitoring and measurable progress.

“These sessions will allow us to review achievements, address challenges, and design strategies for continued success,” he explained.

He urged the new board members to carry out their duties with dedication and vision, stressing that their collective efforts would transform Edo sports and inspire the next generation of champions.

In his response, the new Chairman of the Edo Armwrestling Association, Mr. Eromosele Albert, pledged to organize both national and international armwrestling competitions to boost the sport’s visibility and give Edo athletes more exposure.

Albert noted that armwrestling is gaining rapid popularity in the United States and Canada and promised to leverage global trends to enhance the sport’s profile and financial sustainability in Edo State.

He also expressed confidence that Team Edo would perform strongly at the next National Sports Festival, where the sport offers 34 gold medals.

The inauguration ceremony ended with exhibition matches featuring male and female athletes competing in both left and right-hand categories.

Those inaugurated into the board include: Mr. Eromosele Albert (Chairman), Divine Rosemary (Acting Secretary/Coach), Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mr. Johnson Femi, Mr. Johnny Summers, Mr. Osagie Oghuma Peter, Dr. Benson Ogala, and Mr. Iraoya Olarenwaju.

Sports

FULL LIST: Highest Goal Scorers In Europe’s Top Five Leagues

Published

12 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

As the 2025–26 football season gathers momentum, some of Europe’s most lethal forwards are already making their mark.

From La Liga to the Premier League, the race for the Golden Boot is heating up with familiar names and rising stars topping the charts.

The PUNCH takes a look at players across Europe’s top five leagues and the goals they have scored thus far.

1. La Liga: Mbappé (Nine goals)

Real Madrid’s marquee signing Kylian Mbappé has wasted no time in asserting his dominance in Spain. The French superstar leads La Liga with 9 goals, showcasing his trademark speed and clinical finishing.

His arrival has electrified Spanish football, and he’s proving why he’s one of the most feared forwards in the world.

2. Ligue 1: Ansu Fati and Joaquín Panichelli (Five goals each)

Ligue 1 is currently led by Ansu Fati (AS Monaco) and Joaquín Panichelli (Strasbourg), each with five goals. While not as prolific as other leagues yet, these young talents are making headlines with their flair and finishing in what is shaping up to be a wide-open race in France.

3. Bundesliga: Harry Kane (11 goals)

Top scorer Harry Kane has been in scintillating form, having bagged 11 in the league already, and the England captain also scored twice on Tuesday in a 5-0 win over Latvia that sealed their spot at the 2026 World Cup.

4. EPL: Erling Haaland (Eight goals)

Manchester City’s prolific striker, Erling Haaland, leads the early-season race with 8 goals in just 6 matches. He also scored a hat-trick for Norway against Israel.

5. Serie A: Riccardo Orsolini, Bologna, and Christian Pulisic, AC Milan (4 goals each)

Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini and A C Milan’s Christian Pulisic, who was recently named Serie A player of the season, have both hit the ground running, leading the goal scorers’ chart in Italy.

Sports

[FULL LIST] EPL: From Jesus To Madison, Other Key Players Sidelined By Injury

Published

13 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

As the Premier League resumes after the international break, clubs are grappling with a mounting list of injuries that could shape the outcome of the next round of fixtures.

From title contenders like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool to struggling sides fighting to climb the table, nearly every team has at least one key player sidelined.

The official injury update obtained from the Premier League website on Friday shows that several players are battling knee, hamstring, and groin issues, with some expected to face lengthy spells on the sidelines. Managers now face tough decisions as they prepare their line-ups for a crucial weekend of matches that could influence both ends of the table.

Below is the full list of players currently injured across all 20 clubs, according to the latest data from the Premier League’s medical updates.

Gabriel Jesus – Knee
Kai Havertz – Knee
Noni Madueke – Knee
Piero Hincapié – Groin
Martin Ødegaard – Knee

Aston Villa

Youri Tielemans – Calf
Tyrone Mings – Knock
Jadon Sancho – Illness
Ollie Watkins – Knock

Bournemouth

Enes Ünal – Knee
Adam Smith – Hamstring
David Brooks – Hamstring
Burnley

Lyle Foster – Dead leg
Jaidon Anthony – Knock
Connor Roberts – Knock
Jordan Beyer – Knee
Zeki Amdouni – Knee

Brentford

Gustavo Nunes – Hamstring

Edmond-Paris Maghoma – Hamstring
Yehor Yarmoliuk – Knock
Antoni Milambo – Knee

Brighton & Hove Albion

Adam Webster – Knee
Solly March – Knee
Jack Hinshelwood – Ankle
Joel Veltman – Calf
Kaoru Mitoma – Ankle
Brajan Gruda

Chelsea

Levi Colwill – Knee
Liam Delap – Hamstring
Dario Essugo – Thigh
Cole Palmer – Groin
Moisés Caicedo
Enzo Fernández
Pedro Neto
Benoît Badiashile

Crystal Palace

Chadi Riad – Knee
Cheick Doucouré – Knee
Caleb Kporha – Back

Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite – Hamstring
Merlin Röhl – Hip

Fulham

Kenny Tete – Knee
Raúl Jiménez – Knock
Rodrigo Muniz – Muscle
Saša Lukić – Groin

Leeds United

Lucas Perri – Thigh
Wilfried Gnonto – Calf
Daniel James – Ankle
Harry Gray – Hip

Liverpool

Giovanni Leoni – Knee
Stefan Bajčetić – Hamstring
Jayden Danns – Hamstring
Federico Chiesa – Knock
Ibrahima Konaté – Quadriceps

Manchester City

Rayan Aït-Nouri – Knock
Omar Marmoush – Knee
Mateo Kovačić – Achilles

Manchester United

Lisandro Martínez – Knee
Noussair Mazraoui – Knock

Newcastle United

Jacob Ramsey – Ankle
Joelinton
Yoane Wissa – Knee
Tino Livramento – Knee
Lewis Hall – Thigh

Nottingham Forest

Ola Aina – Hamstring
Douglas Luiz – Hamstring
Oleksandr Zinchenko – Groin

Sunderland

Aji Alese – Shoulder
Dennis Cirkin – Wrist
Leo Fuhr Hjelde – Achilles
Romaine Mundle – Hamstring
Habib Diarra – Groin
Omar Alderete – Knock
Noah Sadiki – Knock

Tottenham Hotspur

Dejan Kulusevski – Knee
James Maddison – Knee
Radu Drăgușin – Knee
Kota Takai – Foot
Yves Bissouma – Knock
Dominic Solanke – Ankle

West Ham United

George Earthy – Hamstring
Wolverhampton

Wanderers

Matt Doherty – Wrist
Leon Chiwome – Knee
Toti Gomes – Illness
Several clubs (like Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton) are carrying multiple knee and muscle-related injuries, threatening their rotation options in both domestic and European fixtures.

Teams may need to adopt more cautious lineups or revert to older but trusted players to plug gaps. For instance, Arsenal’s attack will look very different without Jesus and Havertz, while Manchester City will miss the midfield stability of Kovačić.