Soccer

Newcastle surprised Premier League leaders Liverpool with an impressive performance. The “Reds” had the win in their sights, but a mistake by Kelleher changed the game for Liverpool. The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. While Newcastle salvaged the point in the final minutes, the real beneficiaries were the teams chasing the championship, as Liverpool’s single point allowed their 9-point lead at the top to slip away. Newcastle Puts Pressure on the Leaders The action at St. James’ Park began intensely, with both teams coming close to scoring early on. Newcastle had two chances, one hitting the post, while Liverpool also had a shot that struck the crossbar and went wide. It wasn’t until the 34th minute that the deadlock was broken, thanks to a fantastic goal by Alexander Isak. The Newcastle player received the ball in the attacking third, drove towards the box, and before reaching the edge of the area, unleashed a powerful shot that nestled in the top left corner of the goal. For the rest of the first half, the “Magpies” dominated but couldn’t convert their chances into a second goal. Liverpool Responds In the second half, Liverpool pushed forward, and just 5 minutes into the half, at the 50th minute, Curtis Jones equalized. With an assist from Mohamed Salah, Jones entered the box and fired a first-time shot that beat the goalkeeper with incredible speed. At the 62nd minute, Newcastle regained the lead with a well-executed team move. Anthony Gordon, receiving a perfect pass from Isak, dribbled past his marker and struck a cross-shot that found the back of the net, giving Newcastle a 2-1 lead. Salah Nearly Wins It for Liverpool At 68′, after a goal from Newcastle was disallowed for offside, the “Reds” found the equalizer through Salah. On a cross from Alexander-Arnold, Salah neatly finished with a shot to the far post, leveling the score at 2-2. Then, in the 83rd minute, Salah put Liverpool ahead for the first time. Controlling a low cross with his back to goal, he quickly turned and struck a left-footed shot to the far post, leaving the goalkeeper no chance, giving Liverpool a 3-2 lead. Kelleher, the Villain of the Game It seemed like Liverpool was on their way to a victory, but a blunder by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher turned the tide. On an easy aerial ball, Kelleher let the ball slip through, thinking it would go out of bounds, but Fabian Schär pounced on the opportunity, and with Kelleher out of position, he tapped the ball into the empty net to secure the 3-3 draw in the 90th minute. Pictures: X (@NUFC) y X (@LFC)

The Mexico Women’s National Team closed 2024 with a 1-1 draw against Panama in their last friendly of the year. Mexico’s goal came in the 24th minute from Nicole Pérez, but an unfortunate rebound allowed Panama to equalize in the 29th minute. The match was very physical, with several fouls disrupting the flow and few clear scoring opportunities for both teams. Mexico finished the year with 6 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses, with victories over lower-ranked teams but unable to compete against stronger teams like Colombia, Australia, Brazil, and the United States. This leaves doubts about their performance for the future. Also of interest: Semifinal schedules for the 2024 Apertura League MX are ready. Foto de portada: X(@Miseleccionfem)

Liga MX confirmed the schedules for the Apertura 2024 semifinals following the return leg of the quarterfinals. América and Cruz Azul, the two favorites, will face off in a new edition of the “Clásico Joven.” Meanwhile, Rayados and Atlético de San Luis will compete for the first ticket to the Mexican football final. The first-leg matches will be on December 4, with San Luis facing Rayados at 9:00 PM at the Estadio Alfonso Lastras, and on December 5, América will host Cruz Azul at 8:00 PM at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. The return-leg matches will take place on December 7, with Rayados facing San Luis at 8:00 PM at the Estadio BBVA, and on December 8, Cruz Azul will host América at 7:00 PM at the same stadium. Also of interest: Epic comeback! Cruz Azul defeated Xolos 3-0 and advanced to the Apertura 2024 semifinals Foto de portada: X(@LigaBBVAMX)

An incredible event took place in the MLS Western Conference final. The Spanish player, Riqui Puig, played more than 30 minutes of play with a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Seattle Sounders, as reported by his team, the LA Galaxy. It sounds surprising, but according to the LA Galaxy, “Puig continued to play more than 30 minutes despite the injury and provided the assist on Dejan Joveljic’s winning goal,” the club said in a press release.  You may be interested in: 70 Years of Blue and Gold: The Founding of Club Universidad Because of this, the player will have to undergo surgery, so he will miss the game that will decide the MLS champion against New York Red Bulls.  Cover photo: X (@LAGalaxy)  

Chivas officially confirmed the arrival of Óscar García Junyent as their new head coach for the Clausura 2025 tournament. At 51 years old, the Spaniard will be the third coach of his nationality in the club’s history and the first under Amaury Vergara’s era. In a video posted on social media, García highlighted his international experience and passion for challenges, mentioning his goal of making his teams proactive and leading them to be the protagonists. He also expressed admiration for the greatness of Chivas and its fans, assuring that he is here to become a part of the club’s history.  Also of interest: Tapatío became the Liga Expansión champion for the second time in its history.

With Botafogo crowned Copa Libertadores champions, the 32 teams participating in the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States are now confirmed. This edition will feature a new group-stage format, bringing together clubs from all football associations worldwide. Following Botafogo’s victory in the Libertadores final, the lineup for the 2025 Club World Cup is complete. This tournament, set to debut a revamped structure, will take place in the United States. For the first time, 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16, which will then adopt a knockout format.     These Are the Teams Competing in the Club World Cup UEFA The European teams securing spots via Champions League titles are: Chelsea (2020/21), Real Madrid (2021/22 and 2023/24), and Manchester City (2022/23). Additional qualifiers based on UEFA rankings include Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg.     CONMEBOL South America’s representatives are the Copa Libertadores champions since 2021: Palmeiras (2021), Flamengo (2022), Fluminense (2023), and Botafogo (2024). Ranking-based qualifiers are River Plate and Boca Juniors. You may be interested in: https://titansports.mx/the-copa-libertadores/     CONCACAF The representatives from Central, North America, and the Caribbean are the last four winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup: Monterrey (2021), Seattle Sounders (2022), Club León (2023), and Pachuca (2024). AFC Asia’s four representatives include three winners of the AFC Champions League: Al-Hilal (2021), Urawa Red Diamonds (2022), and Al-Ain (2023). The final spot went to Ulsan Hyundai, based on AFC rankings. CAF From Africa, Al-Ahly secured qualification with their multiple CAF Champions League titles (2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24), along with Wydad Casablanca (2021/22). Ranking-based qualifiers include Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance.     The Final Two Invitees Finally, Auckland City will represent Oceania, having won the region’s championship and holding the highest ranking. The last invite goes to Inter Miami, representing the host nation. Cover photo: X (@fifaworldcup_es)  

Rayados secured their spot in the Apertura 2024 semifinals after defeating Pumas 6-3 on aggregate. The match began with a goal from Germán Berterame in the 32nd minute, but Guillermo Martínez quickly equalized. In the second half, Lucas Ocampos scored a stunning goal to give Rayados a 2-1 lead, but Ignacio Pussetto responded with a volley for Pumas. However, Berterame completed his brace, and Gerardo Arteaga sealed the win with a goal in the 79th minute. Although Martínez scored in the 87th minute, Oliver Torres capitalized on a mistake by Julio González to make it 5-3. Now, Rayados will face San Luis in the next stage of the tournament. Also, you may be interested in: Incredible! Atlético de San Luis eliminated Tigres from the playoffs after drawing in the second leg Foto de portada: X(@WeAreRayados)

Despite dominating the game and controlling possession, Tigres failed to score against Atlético de San Luis, being eliminated after a 0-0 draw at home (3-0 on aggregate). The outstanding performance of San Luis goalkeeper, Andrés Sánchez, was crucial in keeping the score level, saving several dangerous plays, including a miraculous stop after a shot by Juan Brunetta. Although Tigres had the chance to take the lead with a penalty, André-Pierre Gignac was unable to beat Sánchez, who saved the shot. With this draw, San Luis advanced to the semifinals, where they will face Rayados. Also, you may be interested in: América advanced to the Apertura 2024 semifinals after beating Toluca on aggregate

Liverpool defeated Manchester City 2-0, securing their seventh consecutive victory and cementing their position as Premier League leaders with 34 points. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo starred, while City’s struggles continue as they sit fifth in the table. The Reds asserted their dominance in the Premier League and deepened Manchester City’s ongoing crisis. The victory at Anfield marked Liverpool’s seventh straight win, contrasting sharply with City’s sixth consecutive match without a victory.     Liverpool made their home advantage count, overwhelming City from the opening whistle. The Reds’ relentless attacking paid off in the 12th minute. A long pass to Mohamed Salah caught the Sky Blues’ defense out of position. Salah controlled the ball near the byline, cut inside, and delivered a low cross that Cody Gakpo redirected into the net to open the scoring. Despite constant pressure from the hosts, a more lopsided scoreline was thwarted by missed opportunities. Liverpool’s frequent attacks left City struggling to keep up, barely managing to defend against the onslaught.     Liverpool secured the victory in the 77th minute when Salah converted a penalty. The spot kick was awarded after a defensive error by City led to Luis Díaz breaking free towards goal. City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, in a desperate attempt to stop the Colombian, made contact with his foot after being rounded, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Salah calmly slotted the penalty to double Liverpool’s lead.     With this result, Liverpool now sits comfortably at the top of the Premier League table with 34 points, enjoying a 9-point lead over Arsenal and Chelsea, who are tied on 25 points, with Arsenal in second place due to goal difference. Meanwhile, Manchester City has fallen to fifth place with 23 points, tied with Brighton but trailing on goal difference, leaving them outside the Champions League qualification spots. Cover photo: X (@LFC)