Sports

Thriller in Qatar: Argentina narrowly beat Netherlands on penalties

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2022

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Lionel Messi delivered another magical performance to inspire Argentina to a win over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar had already scored three goals heading into the game. But he turned provider at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, slipping in Nahuel Molina to fire home 10 minutes before half-time with a wonderful pass.

Messi would go on to score a penalty in the second-half before the Netherlands launched a stunning comeback, with Wout Weghorst scoring two late goals to send the game into extra-time. Argentina would go on to win a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the final four, with Emiliano Martinez delivering a stunning display of goalkeeping to save two spot-kicks.

The World Cup is one of the only trophies Lionel Messi has not been able to win during his illustrious career. But he did everything he possibly can to end that barren run, having inspired his side throughout this year’s tournament.

And he duly delivered more magic as he tried to help Lionel Scaloni’s men book a place in the final four. With 10 minutes left of the first-half, Messi picked up the ball in midfield before playing a sublime pass through to Nahuel Molina who fired in.

It was a pass few other players would have been able to make as he spotted Molina running through the Netherlands defence. The superstar then stepped up after the break to emphatically smash home a penalty after Marcos Acuna had been tripped.

Much had been made of the options at Louis van Gaal’s disposal in attacking positions heading into this clash. The Netherlands boss could call upon Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay and Steven Bergwijn, with Denzel Dumfries also impressing from right wing-back.

But it was a player who many considered was a flop in the Premier League who turned the game on its head. Burnley striker Wout Weghorst was thrown on with 12 minutes to go by Louis van Gaal and he delivered a stunning performance from the bench.

First he headed in from Steven Berghuis with seven minutes to go to put the pressure on Argentina. He then equalised at the death when Teun Koopmeiners slipped him in from a free-kick and he fired past Emiliano Martinez.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has deployed five different formations in his side’s five games at the World Cup so far. Against Australia, he lined his team up in a 4-3-3 system, which led to them beating the Socceroos in the Last 16.

Despite that success though, Scaloni opted to change his set-up once again for the quarter-final clash with the Netherlands. He decided to change to a 3-5-2 formation, directly matching-up against the system that the Netherlands have used throughout the tournament.

It proved to be a masterstroke for the most part, with Argentina blunting the Netherlands until they turned to their target men. Scaloni may need to look at how he adapts to that situation though, as his side began to look rattled when the Netherlands changed formation.

The way Argentina fell apart from the last 10 minutes of normal time onwards will have been gut-wrenching for the supporters. But also spare a thought for Messi, with this likely one of his last chances to win the World Cup.

It looked like they would cruise through to the semi-finals after Messi had put them two goals up with his second-half penalty. The Netherlands fought back though and Argentina totally collapsed.

That will be a major concern for Argentina heading into the semi-finals, with their rivals undoubtedly emboldened. That could mean that that Messi may go through his career without winning the world’s biggest tournament.

After more than 30 years in management, this tournament has been the final hurrah for Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman returned for his third spell in charge of his country following their embarrassing exit from Euro 2020.

Van Gaal had been much criticised throughout this tournament for his side’s style of play. But it had proved effective in the group stage and in their Last 16 win over the United States.

They finally came unstuck at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, though Van Gaal did mastermind a late comeback from his troops. He opted to go back-to-basics late on, which proved to be a masterstroke as the Netherlands managed to equalise before crashing out on penalties.

Related Topics:Argentina Netherlands World Cup

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Athletics Open: Amusan wins gold, sets new record in Taiwan

Published

3 hours ago

June 6, 2026

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Nigerian and world women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan,on Saturday won the women’s 100m hurdles gold at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan.

Amusan struck gold ahead of Taiwanese duo Bo Ya Zhang, who settled for second place in 13.17s, and Yi Po-an took third place in 13.37s.

The 29-year-old’s winning time of 12.72s is also a new meeting record, chalking off 0.08s off the previous mark of 12.80s held by Nia Ali, US Olympic silver medalist and former world champion.

Amusan was dominant in the qualifiers for the final, blowing away the field in Heat 2, and continued the form in the final to deliver a swashbuckling race that thrilled the crowd.

She took the lead outright after the fourth hurdle, leaving Zhang behind.

The three-time Senior Africa Athletics Championship winner crossed the finish line before the last competing athlete cleared the final hurdle, to the amazement of screaming spectators.

It is the second consecutive race Amusan will break a meeting record this athletics season, she also broke her meeting record in the women’s 100m hurdles event at the Rabat Diamond League.

She has won three of five races this season, and has not failed to claim a podium finish.

Sports

Arsenal win EPL title after 22 years

Published

3 weeks ago

May 19, 2026

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Arsenal are English Premier League (EPL) champions after Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to hand Arsenal an unassailable four-point lead with just one match remaining to the end of the season.

The Gunners win the EPL title for the first time in 22 years, since the legendary Invincible side won it in the 2003/04 season.

In the club’s 100th season without relegation from the EPL, the club will celebrate its centenary participation with a league title won on the back of a record 28 EPL wins that surpassed the 26 wins recorded by the Invincibles. The defence prevented opponents from registering a shot on target in six matches, equaling a 23-year league record, and also scored a record 17 goals from corner kicks.

Mikel Arteta’s tough side has led the table for most of the season before a late mini-collapse, and Man City’s late surge in form nearly threatened their title ambition for a second season in a row.

City’s late resurgence, however, was initially stunned by Everton in early May and completely collapsed against Bournemouth.

Guardiola’s side visited the Vitality Stadium aware that any result other than a victory would seal Arsenal’s title. But they lacked the execution for the mission after falling to a wonderful strike from Junior Kroupi in the first half.

City were only kept in the game by Bournemouth’s profligacy in front of goal. When Erling Haaland’s equaliser was squeezed home in the eleventh hour of the game, even the most faithful City supporter knew it was too little, too late.

Arsenal and Arteta secured the league earlier than they would have predicted, giving City a prodigious title run-in.

The league triumph is Arteta’s second major title with the North London club since joining in December 2019, adding to the English FA Cup trophy won within six months of his tenure in May 2020.

The 44-year-old Spaniard wins his fourth title overall and can win his fifth — and third major trophy — with victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend.

Sports

WrestleMania 42: Nigerian wrestler Oba Femi beats 10-time WWE Champion Brock Lesnar

Published

2 months ago

April 20, 2026

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Nigerian professional wrestler, Isaac Odugbesan, popularly known as Oba Femi, defeated 10-time WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar, on his WrestleMania debut on Sunday.

The clash, one of the headline matches at WrestleMania 42, ended on a dramatic note as the 27-year-old Nigerian overpowered the veteran.

Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring after the match — a gesture widely regarded in professional wrestling as a sign of retirement.

Oba Femi, also known as “The Ruler,” is a former NXT champion and has spent just three months on WWE’s main roster.

The contest began with both wrestlers testing each other’s strength before Lesnar briefly seized control with a series of offensive moves.

However, Femi absorbed the pressure and responded with a dominant display, shifting momentum in his favour.

Lesnar delivered an F5, but Femi quickly recovered, hitting a chokeslam before finishing the contest with his “Fall From Grace” sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall victory.

The bout quickly became a major talking point on social media, with fans reacting to the upset win.

Femi, a former shot put athlete, is a two-time NXT Champion and a one-time NXT North American Champion.

Born in Lagos, Odugbesan competed in track and field during his school years before signing with WWE in 2021 through its NIL programme.

He went on to win the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and the 2024 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

During the WrestleMania Sunday post-show, Femi sent a message to Roman Reigns, popularly known as the “Original Tribal Chief,” drawing a loud reaction from fans as he hinted at a possible title challenge before the end of the year.