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Al Ahli midfielder Julian Draxler created the opening goal for Erik Exposito before scoring the second directly from a corner kick against Jordan’s Al Hussein in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Two in
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Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen reacts after taking the pole position at the end of the qualifying session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi
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Al Ahli’s Brazil winger Galeno celebrates after scoring against Vissel Kobe at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. Defending champions Al Ahli struck twice in eight second-half minutes to come from behind to defeat Japan’s Vissel Kobe 2-1 and seal their place in a second successive Asian Champions League Elite final. Brazil winger Galeno cancelled out Yoshinori Muto’s first-half opener before Ivan Toney completed the comeback in front of 44,716 people at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Kobe, winners of the J1 League title in 2023 and 2024, took the lead on the half hour, when the Al Ahli defence were caught napping at a free-kick. Beating the Saudi side’s high line, an unmarked Yuya Osako headed the ball across the Ahli penalty area to Muto, who slotted home past former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. In first-half stoppage-time, Rayan Hamed headed a Galeno free-kick onto the Kobe upright before Toney dragged a shot wide. Ahli, who 12 months ago defeated Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the final to capture a first continental crown, spurned another golden opportunity at the start of the second half when Brazil international Roger Ibanez headed across goal when free. At the other end, Daiju Sasaki struck the Ahli crossbar. However, Ahli levelled on 62 minutes. Galeno, scorer of a spectacular winner in the quarter-final win against Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim, struck another superb effort from range that flew high into the Kobe goal. Ahli edged ahead eight minutes later, Toney making the most of goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa’s failure to deal with a cross by side-footing home from the angle. The Englishman, the current top scorer in the Saudi Pro League, climbed to two goals for the tournament. Ahli were then denied a third through Riyad Mahrez, with the former Manchester City star’s 75th-minute finish ruled out for offside following a VAR review. But it mattered little as Ahli held on for the victory. They will now face either Japan’s Machida Zelvia or 2015 runners-up Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE, who meet in the other semi-final Tuesday. The final takes place on Saturday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. For the second year running, Jeddah is staging the eight-team centralised finals series of the continent’s premier football competition, rebranded last year as the Asian Champions League Elite. Related Story
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Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe attends a training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match against FC Bayern Munich, at Real Madrid Sports City in
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Bangladesh’s Nahid Rana (centre) celebrates a five-wicket haul with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Jayden Lennox during the second ODI at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur Monday. (AFP) Pace sensation Nahid Rana took 5-32 to lead Bangladesh to a comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand in the second one-day international and level the three-match series at 1-1 Monday. Rana registered his second five-wicket ODI haul as Bangladesh bundled out New Zealand for 198, a total they overhauled with 14.3 overs to spare in Dhaka. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who top-scored with 76, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, retired hurt on 50, steered the hosts to 199-4 in 35.3 overs, setting up a series decider on Thursday in Chattogram. Bangladesh suffered early blows with opener Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar out for eight apiece, but Tanzid hit back with an aggressive counter-attack that hauled the hosts to 67 in 10 overs. Tanzid found an able ally in Shanto and the left-handed pair put on 120 runs for the third-wicket stand to put the chase firmly in Bangladesh’s control. Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox briefly threatened to spark a collapse, dismissing Tanzid and Litton Das in quick succession - both falling while attempting to clear the boundary. Tanzid struck 10 fours and four sixes in his 58-ball knock. Litton made seven. Shanto kept his calm as he raised his fifty off 71 balls, but was forced to retire due to severe cramp. Towhid Hridoy, unbeaten on 30, and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz, not out on eight, saw Bangladesh home without further trouble. Earlier, the 23-year-old Rana set up the win during New Zealand’s innings after he operated across four separate spells and struck in the first over of each new burst. Left-arm quick Shoriful Islam provided strong support, returning 2-32 from his 10 overs, including the wicket of Nick Kelly (83). Fast bowlers Soumya and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket each, as did leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. New Zealand’s innings was held together almost single-handedly by opener Kelly, who made 83 for his maiden ODI half-century. No other visiting batter reached 20, with Muhammad Abbas the next highest scorer, on 19. Shoriful set the platform early, delivering an incisive opening spell of six overs for just 17 runs, generating 29 dot balls to put the tourists on the back foot. Rana tightened the stranglehold, collecting two wickets in his opening five-over spell. BRIEF SCORESBangladesh 199 for 4 (Tanzid 76, Shanto 50, Lennox 2-36) beat New Zealand 198 (Kelly 83, Rana 5-32 Shoriful 2-32) by six wickets Related Story
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European squash champion Victor Crouin believes the visibility of his sport will get a huge boost after it makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Tennis, table tennis and badminton all outstrip squash in terms of licensed player participation in France but Crouin is convinced this will now change. “The Olympics will give us notoriety,” the triple European champion and world number six told AFP. In France, there are just 22,000 licensed squash players compared to 254,000 in table tennis and over 1.2 million for tennis. So when squash was added to the Olympic roster after the 2024 Paris Games after years of bidding for a place, Crouin was delighted. “I couldn’t believe it was true,” he said. “This is now my career objective. As a squash player, I’ve always felt a bit excluded (from the Olympics) until now.” Places for LA are limited however to 16 male and 16 female players. “It makes for one less match to win and a better chance of a medal,” said Crouin, who studied economics at Harvard. Crouin believes his sport will make an attractive spectacle for fans. “It’s a spectacular sport. Squash is often described as a game of chess in a boxing ring,” he said. Other sports either added or back on the programme for the LA Olympics are cricket, flag football, baseball and softball.
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As part of their ongoing co-operation and co-ordination to ensure the highest standards of integrity in competitions and guarantee transparency and fair play for teams and players, the Qatar Stars League (QSL) and International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) have reaffirmed their commitment towards integrity in Doha Bank Stars League matches.Both entities collaborate to ensure integrity and transparency in competitions throughout the season, particularly in crucial rounds. The final round of the season has become crucial in determining the league champions and final positions – be they the top-four finish or relegation to Second Division.It may be noted that QSL and ICSS have a joint work programme in place based on promoting integrity and transparency. It included several workshops and training courses for those involved in professional football, with the participation of club company representatives, players and coaches.
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Bryson DeChambeau of the United States acknowledges a gallery of patrons while playing the third hole during a practice round prior to the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2026
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World number one Jannik Sinner said Tuesday his principal aim as he prepares for the Madrid Open is to be in the 'best possible shape' for Roland Garros next month as he seeks to complete a career Grand Slam.The 24-year-old won his first major title on clay earlier this month as he downed rival Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the Monte Carlo Masters final.Next he turns his attentions to the 1000-level event in Madrid as the clay-court season ramps up towards the only Grand Slam tournament Sinner has not yet won - Roland Garros, which will run from May 24 to June 7.'I never played very well here, so let's see how it goes this year,' Sinner, who has never got past the quarter-final stage in the Spanish capital, told reporters the day before the Madrid Open begins.'I'm trying to improve as a player and here might be one of the most challenging ones because of certain things (altitude and wind).'Despite being heavily favoured to pick up a fifth consecutive Masters title, Sinner revealed that for him 'the most important is Roland Garros'.'We try to maximise to be in the best possible shape there, but I'm here trying to do my best and then we'll see how it goes,' he added.Sinner lost an all-time classic Roland Garros final last year to Alcaraz, despite holding three championship points.But the Italian said he regretted the upcoming absences of the world number two, due to Alcaraz suffering a wrist injury, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Madrid.'It's a very big pity to not have (Alcaraz) here and also Novak, the two biggest stars in tennis,' Sinner said.'We have shared since last year a lot of tournaments, but again, in my mind I also know if I want to play against Carlos it's in the final and the way to the final is very long.'Top seed Sinner will start his Madrid Open campaign in the second round against a yet to be determined opponent.
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Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said Tuesday he was unsure if midfield metronome Vitinha would be fit to play against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.The Portuguese central midfielder will miss PSG's Ligue 1 clash against Nantes on Wednesday due to a heel inflammation.'We'll take a calm and measured approach to see how the injured players can make a comeback. But I don't know,' he told reporters when asked if Vitinha would be back in time for next Tuesday's semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.'We need to manage Vitinha's minor injury; some players are a bit tired or have a few niggles,' the Spaniard also told PSGTV.Should the 26-year-old be unavailable, his place at the heart of the PSG midfield could be filled by the returning Fabian Ruiz.Alongside Vitinha and Joao Neves, Ruiz formed the midfield trio that anchored much of PSG's success last season as they won a maiden Champions League title and lifted the Ligue 1 trophy.The Spaniard returned for the final 18 minutes of PSG's 2-1 league loss at home to Lyon last weekend as he continues his comeback from a knee injury.Luis Enrique cooled expectations on the 30-year-old, however, as he said Ruiz would need 'time to regain fitness' after spending three months on the sidelines.'Fabian Ruiz needs more matches and minutes to recover,' Luis Enrique insisted, before adding he was nonetheless 'happy' with his return against Lyon.The former Barcelona and Spain coach warned that even as PSG close in on a repeat of their double-winning season this term, he still demands 'more' from all his charges.Exciting Senegalese 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye was not included in the squad for Sunday's defeat to Lyon, with Luis Enrique explaining: 'Every minute you get to play for PSG must be special.'I have no regrets about Mbaye, but you have to be ready. He was ready, but I expect much more from all the players.'Victory in the French capital against Nantes on Wednesday would send PSG three points clear of surprise Ligue 1 title challengers Lens with five matches remaining in the campaign.
