football
SportAustralian Associated PressCity showing more steel in A-League
Melbourne City look to be repairing their reputation for mental softness but coach Patrick Kisnorbo says it's been a learning curve for the surging A-League club.Kisnorbo acknowledged Sydney FC dominated the first half of Saturday's game, with Sky Blues and former City star Luke Brattan bossing the midfield.
SportAustralian Associated PressForget A-League spoon...Victory want more
Melbourne Victory coach Grant Brebner has his sights set a lot higher than avoiding their first A-League wooden spoon as they look towards avenging a humiliating derby loss.Saturday's 2-1 away win over Newcastle lifted last-placed Victory level on points with the Jets, who remain 11th on goal difference.
SportAustralian Associated PressVeart satisfied with draw, but wanted more
Coach Carl Veart says he's satisfied his Adelaide United side claimed a share of the points with Western Sydney Wanderers thanks to their 1-1 A-League draw, but felt the Reds might actually have pinched the win.United were forced to play with 10 men for more than a half on Saturday, after Louis D'Arrigo was given his marching orders just before the break for a second bookable offence.
SportAustralian Associated PressMatildas hammered on international return
The Matildas have endured a sobering return to international action, being outclassed in a 5-2 defeat by Olympic champions Germany in Wiesbaden.In their first match since qualifying for the Tokyo Games, new coach Tony Gustavsson admitted Saturday's painful afternoon was a "reality check" for the Australian national side, who chased shadows for much of the afternoon against the world's No.
SportAustralian Associated PressMan City stunned by loss to 10-man Leeds
Liverpool have left it late to secure a first Premier League win at home in 2021, with Trent Alexander-Arnold's superb stoppage-time strike downing Aston Villa 2-1 at Anfield.Liverpool's victory followed the most unlikely of defeats for the team set to succeed them as champions with Manchester City going down 2-1 to a last-gasp stoppage time goal scored by a Leeds side who'd been forced to play half of the game with just 10 men.
SportAustralian Associated PressAdelaide, Wanderers share A-L points
Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers shared the points in a thrilling 1-1 draw at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night with both sides ending the match with ten men.The Reds had Louis D'Arrigo sent off just before halftime before Wanderers defender Mark Natta was expelled in the final quarter hour to ensure a thrilling finish.
SportAustralian Associated PressMaclaren penalty, City draw vs Sydney FC
A stoppage-time penalty from Jamie Maclaren earned Melbourne City a 1-1 draw in a pulsating A-League clash with Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.Kosta Barbarouses put Sydney ahead in the 54th minute and the Sky Blues were the better side in the first half but City dominated the final third of the game.
SportAustralian Associated PressSub ends Victory's winless A-League run
Substitute Lleyton Brooks scored his first A-League goal, as Melbourne Victory snapped a six-match winless run with a 2-1 away conquest of fellow stragglers Newcastle Jets.The 20-year-old Brooks slammed the ball home from close range in the 79th minute at McDonald Jones Stadium in just his third A-League appearance and added plenty of energy and menace off the bench.
SportAustralian Associated PressSydney FC, Victory ready for W-League GF
Crisis has created a W-League opportunity for Sydney FC.Before this season the majority of the Matildas moved to Europe while the COVID-19 pandemic made recruiting international players a difficult prospect.
SportAustralian Associated PressNZ return no bother for United coach Rudan
Western United coach Mark Rudan would happily return to New Zealand if his A-League team had to face Wellington Phoenix across the Tasman this season.United head to NSW to take on Rudan's former team at their temporary home in Wollongong on Sunday, in a match with big implications for both clubs' finals aspirations.
SportAustralian Associated PressGermany a huge Olympic test for Matildas
Experienced Matildas midfielder Emily Van Egmond says Sunday's match against Olympic champions Germany will be a crucial one for Australia in their lead-up to the Tokyo Games in July.The clash in Wiesbaden will be the Matildas' first outing in more than a year and the first under new coach Tony Gustavsson.
SportAustralian Associated PressLille beat Metz to exend Ligue 1 lead
Ligue 1 leaders Lille have won 2-0 at Metz to increase their advantage over defending champions Paris Saint-Germain to six points.Christophe Galtier's side followed up last week's 1-0 win at PSG with another three points thanks to second-half goals from Burak Yilmaz and Zeki Celik.
SportAustralian Associated PressTraore screamer earns Wolves win at Fulham
Adama Traore has smashed home a brilliant finish from an acute angle in the second minute of stoppage time for Wolverhampton Wanderers to beat Fulham 1-0 in the Premier League.The result further damaged the hosts hopes of escaping relegation while Wolves secured their first victory since mid-February.
SportAustralian Associated PressMcDonald mystery as Roar bounce back
Brisbane Roar coach Warren Moon says his side can build momentum for a top-six charge after their upset win over Macarthur FC, but they may have to do so without experienced striker Scott McDonald.The veteran McDonald was a mysterious absentee from Brisbane's drought-breaking 2-1 win over in-form Macarthur at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday.
SportAustralian Associated PressPep moved by Bielsa 'magical man' tribute
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reckons that it feels "weird" to be described by Marcelo Bielsa as "magical", especially when he's always thought of the Argentine as his hero.Veteran Leeds boss Bielsa this week said Guardiola was a "magical man" because of the way his teams play.
SportAustralian Associated PressBarca need 'best Messi' for key Clasico
Ronald Koeman is boosted by the return of Gerard Pique to his squad for Saturday's crucial Clasico but what he really needs for the latest dice with great rivals Real Madrid is his talisman Lionel Messi firing on all cylinders.A patchy run of form from Atletico Madrid, in which the La Liga leaders have won only four of their past 10 matches, means Barca are only a point off top spot with Madrid just three back.
SportAustralian Associated PressBulls reined in as Roar find their voice
Goals in each half proved enough for Brisbane Roar to overturn the form book and knock over third-placed Macarthur FC 2-1 at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday.Livewire striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls bagged his seventh goal of the season early in the match and midfielder Riku Danzaki extended the winning margin just before the hour mark.
SportAustralian Associated PressMatildas enjoying life under new coach
Life under new coach Tony Gustavsson is off to a good start for Matildas stars Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso.The attacking duo have spent the past week in camp in Holland ahead of friendlies against European heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands in what is Australia's first action in over a year.
SportAustralian Associated PressGrant out to stop City's Socceroos in A-L
Sydney FC fullback Rhyan Grant is eager to take on the attacking threat posed by Socceroos teammates Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout in Saturday's A-League grand final rematch against Melbourne City.Grant broke City hearts in last season's decider by scoring the only goal in Sydney's 1-0 triumph last August.
SportAustralian Associated PressWe know we can beat Victory in W-L: Lowe
Having already beaten them to silverware once this season, Sydney FC midfielder Rachel Lowe says there's no fear heading into Sunday's W-League grand final against Melbourne Victory.The Sky Blues secured this year's premiers plate with a 2-1 victory over Victory last week, the Melbourne team's only defeat in their past nine matches.
SportAustralian Associated PressEuropa League semis beckon for Man United
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Granada in the Europa League quarter-final first leg to put their side in the driving seat.In a game where clear-cut chances were sparse, Rashford's goal just past the half hour was the standout piece of quality.
NewsAustralian Associated PressGriezmann's three kids all born same date
Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann has been spared having to remember three different dates to mark the birthdays of each of his three children - as they were all born on April 8.The French World Cup winner confirmed on social media that his wife Erika Choperena had given birth to a baby daughter on Thursday.
SportAustralian Associated PressUEFA tells referees not to seek autographs
European soccer body UEFA has told match officials not to seek autographs from players after an assistant referee asked Borussia Dormund star Erling Haaland to sign red and yellow cards.Octavian Sovre raised a few eyebrows when he approached Haaland in the tunnel on Tuesday night after the Champions League quarter-final game between Dortmund and Manchester City.
EntertainmentAustralian Associated PressIbrahimovic to make acting debut in film
He's already sampled the life of a singer at Italy's Sanremo music festival, and soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic will now turn his hand to acting after being cast in a new Asterix and Obelix film.Reports that the Swede would take a role in Asterix and Obelix: The Silk Road appeared to be confirmed when Ibrahimovic posted a picture saying "Antivirus" on his Instagram page, the name of the character he will play.
SportAustralian Associated PressMatildas ponder how to replace star duo
New Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson will think outside the box as he attempts to fill two massive defensive holes in upcoming games against soccer powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands in Europe.Gustavsson already knew he would be without star left back Steph Catley as she continues her rehab from injury, but the squad was dealt a huge blow on Wednesday night when fellow wing back Ellie Carpenter was ruled out after a COVID-19 breakout at her French club LyonThe duo are considered among the best in the world at their positions, and Gustavsson now faces big decisions on how to replace them.
