Lee Kang-in's individual brilliance inspired South Korea to a 3-1 victory over Bahrain in the Asian Cup on Monday.
Used to being overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe at club level and Son Heung-min on the international stage, Paris Saint-Germain's Lee took centre stage at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
While Son missed a golden chance late on and was also booked for diving, Lee scored two picture-perfect goals to get South Korea off to a winning start in the competition the country has not won since claiming back-to-back titles in 1956 and 1960.
Not that he was comfortable with the spotlight.
"I would just like to say and highlight that it is not about individual performance. It's not just about my two goals. All the goals we score are very important for the team," he said after the Group E match.
His coach Jurgen Klinsmann was also restrained in his praise.
"If you score two in the opening game of the Asian Cup for us you deserve to be man of match and [it was] a very good performance. But I have to keep him on the ground every day," he said with a smile.
The game was tied at 1-1 when Lee took control, giving South Korea a 2-1 lead in the 56th minute with a left-footed shot from around 30 yards.
He was equally clinical as he scored his second goal 12 minutes later when showing sharp footwork and curling the ball into the bottom corner.
Hwang In-beom had given South Korea a first-half lead, but Bahrain equalised six minutes after the break through Abdullah Al Hashash.
Jordan sit top of Group E on goal difference after a 4-0 win over Malaysia.
Mahmoud Al Mardi and Mousa Tamari scored two goals each in the match at Al Janoub Stadium.
Jordan raced to a 3-0 half-time lead, with Al Mardi on target twice and Tamari scoring from the spot. The latter, who also had a goal disallowed by VAR, doubled his tally in the 85th minute.
In Group D, Iraq moved level with Japan on three points thanks to a 3-1 defeat of Indonesia.
Goals from Mohanad Ali, Osama Rashid and Aymen Hussein secured victory at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, while Marselino Ferdinan netted for Indonesia, who are making their first appearance in an Asian Cup in 16 years.
Women’s Super League giants Arsenal and Manchester City have been drawn together in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup.
The two clubs currently sit third and second respectively in the league table, with the Gunners narrowly getting the better of their most recent meeting in November.
Leaders Chelsea, looking to sign off the Emma Hayes era with a fourth straight crown, have been drawn at home to Championship Crystal Palace.
Wolves, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition who beat Reading in round four, have been handed a home draw against WSL strugglers Brighton.
Championship leaders Birmingham will travel to Leicester while in-form Charlton, currently second in the second tier, head for a London derby at Tottenham.
Championship Southampton host Manchester United, Nottingham Forest face Everton and London City Lionesses, in the fifth round for the first time, have been drawn at home to Liverpool.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was named best men’s coach at The Best FIFA Awards 2023 in London.
Guardiola guided City to the treble last season, adding the Champions League crown to their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs.
Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, now at Tottenham, Luciano Spalletti, who took Napoli to the Serie A title, and Barcelona’s Xavi were also on the shortlist.
Guardiola said: “I want to share this trophy and moment with our owners at Manchester City.
“On behalf of my backroom staff and myself, I want to say thank you so much to our players, that they have done for this club for eight years already together, without exception all of them.
“Thanks so much for this incredible journey because they don’t know what it means every morning to go there and live with them, winning or losing it doesn’t matter – living with them has been incredible.”
Cameroon were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by resolute 10-man Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Yamoussoukro.
Mohamed Bayo had given Guinea a shock early lead before captain Francois Kamano was sent off in first-half stoppage time following a VAR review for standing on Frank Magri’s foot.
Magri’s header levelled things up six minutes into the second half, but Cameroon could not find a winner past the well-organised Guinea defence.
Earlier, defending champions Senegal had beaten Gambia 3-0 to sit top of Group C.
Cameroon – missing injured captain Vincent Aboubakar – started with Fabrice Ondoa in goal after bad weather caused travel problems for his cousin Andre Onana, who had flown in from Manchester on a private jet only to be further delayed and not named in the match squad.
Guinea, without Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy, took a shock lead in the 10th minute.
Cameroon midfielder Olivier Kemen lost possession on the edge of the penalty area and Le Havre forward Bayo stabbed the loose ball past Ondoa.
The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, looked for a swift response as captain Frank Anguissa headed wide at the far post.
Guinea defender Sekou Sylla tried a long-range effort to catch Ondoa off his line, but the back-pedalling Nimes keeper was relieved to see the ball drop onto the roof of the net.
Guinea, though, were down to 10 men in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Kamano was sent off following a VAR review after standing on Magri’s foot.
Having looked at the challenge again on the pitchside monitor, Libyan referee Ibrahim Mutaz rescinded the original yellow card and showed a red to the forward.
Cameroon equalised six minutes into the second half when Magri got up at the back post to head in Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s deep cross from the left.
Just after the hour, Guinea midfielder Aguibou Camara burst clear on the right, only to be brought down by Cameroon defender Harold Moukoudi, who was shown a yellow card.
Cameroon pressed for a late winner, with N’Koudou glancing a header wide before Guinea keeper Ibrahim Kone saved from Karl Toko at point-blank range as the 10 men held out.
Reggae Girlz midfielder Kiki Van Zanten will get to showcase her talent in this season’s NWSL after being selected by the Houston Dash 21st overall at the NWSL College Draft on Saturday.
Houston traded $120,000 in allocation money to Utah Royals FC in exchange for the No. 21 overall pick and selected Van Zanten.
The midfielder scored 27 goals and tallied nine assists in 95 appearances for the Fighting Irish.
She helped Notre Dame reach the NCAA tournament four times and reached the semifinals of the ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament in 2022.
Internationally, Van Zanten made her debut for the Reggae Girlz against Bermuda in a CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in February 2022.
Van Zanten was also a member of Jamaica’s history-making squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In total, she has one goal in nine appearances for Jamaica.
Everton and Nottingham Forest are facing possible points deductions over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The league issued a statement on Monday afternoon which claimed the clubs had confirmed to it that they had breached profitability and sustainability rules after incurring losses above the permitted threshold for the assessment period up to and including the 2022-23 season.
Both cases have now been referred to the chair of the independent judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction, the league said.
The clubs could face points penalties, with Everton having been docked 10 points last November over an earlier PSR breach. That sanction is the subject of an appeal.
The league’s statement, which came shortly after each club had released their own statements acknowledging a referral, read: “Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23.
“In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The league will make no further comment until that time.”
Everton issued a statement which read: “Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of Profit & Sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022-23 season to an independent Premier League commission.
“This relates to a period which covers seasons 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23. It therefore includes financial periods (201920, 2020/21 and 2021/22) for which the Club has already received a 10-point sanction. The Club is currently appealing that sanction.
“The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL.
“As a result – and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters “in-season” – the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.
“The club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard. The club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.
“Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”
Forest’s statement read: “Nottingham Forest acknowledges the statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with a breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
“The club intends to continue to co-operate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a speedy and fair resolution.”
The clubs have been contacted by the PA news agency over the Premier League’s assertion that they have confirmed they are in breach of the rules.
Eastleigh boss Richard Hill has challenged his players to write their names in the history books and set up an “absolutely massive” FA Cup clash at home to Manchester United.
A visit from the Premier League giants is the mouth-watering reward on offer for the non-league Spitfires when they host Newport in Tuesday’s third-round replay at the Silverlake Stadium.
Eastleigh have never made it to the fourth round before and beating the League Two outfit to secure a glamour tie against United would hugely boost exposure and revenue.
“The prize is absolutely massive,” said boss Hill, whose side fought from back from a man and then a goal down to draw the first meeting 1-1 in south Wales.
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“Forget what it could lead to financially – I don’t know, I don’t get involved in that.
“The financial side could be good, but just to get Manchester United to the Silverlake would just be… I keep saying it’s going to be massive, but it’s massive.”
Eastleigh beat Dover, fellow National League side Boreham Wood and stunned League One strugglers Reading en route to just their third ever appearance in the FA Cup third round.
Progress on Tuesday would secure at least an additional £105,000 in prize money and a £110,000 broadcast fee after the BBC selected United’s fourth-round tie for TV coverage.
“If the players want to dream, let them dream,” Hill said of the prospect of facing the 12-time FA Cup winners.
“My message to the players has been, today it might mean nothing that you got to the fourth round of the FA Cup personally.
“But in another 15, 20 years’ time, when there is a little snippet in the programme, local paper, that filters its way back through, it will mean something.”
Hill recalled the excitement of his son and grandson recently when they read about one of his goals in the programme at Oxford, where he played alongside United assistant Steve McClaren.
“I had a message (from) Steve McClaren,” he said. “He’s a very good mate of mine. We played together at Oxford back in the 80s. He sent me a message of good wishes, so I appreciate that.”
United’s visit to the 5,192-capacity Silverlake Stadium would comfortably be the biggest match in Eastleigh’s history.
The Hampshire side are exploring the possibility of temporary seating and say the game will be played at their home “unless our Safety Advisory Group feels the club cannot stage the match safely, which we feel is extremely unlikely”.
On the prospect of United coming to the Silverlake Stadium, a ground that welcomed just 360 fans for his first game in charge in 2012, Hill said: “It would be unbelievable, wouldn’t it? But I don’t make those decisions.
“If we are successful tomorrow, if it’s decided that the game should be moved, then I have to accept that.
“But I’m sure, knowing (owner) Stewart (Donald), that any remote chance that it can be played here… you’ve got to remember that’d be a massive legacy for him to leave as well.
“The chairman of Eastleigh Football Club, in the fourth round of the FA Cup and got Manchester United to the Silverlake. (Even) Manchester United in a pre-season friendly would be massive at the Silverlake.”
South Africa boss Hugo Broos has emphasised his desire to win the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time as his side prepare to open their campaign in the Ivory Coast against Mali.
Broos was in charge of Cameroon when they lifted the trophy in Gabon in 2017.
The Belgian is now overseeing a Bafana Bafana outfit making an AFCON return with Tuesday’s Group E clash with Mali in Korhogo, having failed to qualify for the last tournament two years ago, hosted by Cameroon, under Molefi Ntseki.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match, Broos said: “When you won it once, you want to win it twice.
“It’s a fantastic feeling winning an AFCON. I’m a European but the intensity and joy, everything around winning an AFCON is unique, it’s really unique.
“It was a fantastic experience, and you can be sure that I dream of it, to do it a second time.
“But saying it is much easier than doing it, let’s start tomorrow and do our best and see where we arrive.”
The team are currently 66th in FIFA’s world rankings, 15 places below Mali, who were knocked out in the round of 16 in 2022.
The Eagles, managed by Eric Chelle, have been making checks on midfielder Mohamed Camara.
A statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the Malian football federation read: “Mohamed Camara travelled this afternoon to Abidjan where he will undergo an MRI for a final check following the injury contracted with his club, Monaco, a few weeks ago.”
Head coach Amir Abdou hopes Mauritania can be “spoilsports” at the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of their opener against Burkina Faso in Bouake.
Ahead of Tuesday’s contest, Abdou recognises their opponents, who have reached the semi-finals in two of the last three editions, and 2019 champions Algeria are favourites to progress from Group D.
While Mauritania have yet to record a win in their past two appearances in the competition, Abdou senses his side and Angola have nothing to lose as they seek to upset the odds.
“As an outsider, the favourite is Algeria, there’s no contest,” Abdou told reporters. “Burkina Faso have always been there in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
“These are teams that are always present at the competition. We’ll be the outsiders along with Angola, so we’ll be trying to be the spoilsports.
“We want to have an interesting tournament, and avoid the troubles Mauritania had in the last two editions. That’s our aim: to go and take on the big boys and why not reach the last 16?”
Despite Burkina Faso’s excellent recent record in reaching the latter stages of this competition, the 2013 finalists have never won their opening match with five draws and seven defeats.
His team might be favourites to beat Mauritania but Burkina Faso boss Hubert Velud is taking nothing for granted.
“We will have to be careful, the slightest mistake will be fatal,” he said. “We will make sure to apply ourselves as much as possible to achieve a result.”
Everton and Nottingham Forest have confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the competition’s financial rules, the league has said.
The league issued a statement on Monday afternoon which stated the clubs had confirmed to it that they had breached profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) after sustaining losses above the permitted threshold for the assessment period up to and including the 2022-23 season.
Both cases have now been referred to the chair of the independent judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
The clubs could face points penalties, with Everton having been docked 10 points last November over an earlier PSR breach. That sanction is the subject of an appeal.
The league’s statement, which came shortly after each club had released their own statements confirming a referral, read: “Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23.
“In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The league will make no further comment until that time.”
Everton and Nottingham Forest have confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the competition’s financial rules, the league has said.
The league issued a statement on Monday afternoon which stated the clubs had confirmed to it that they had breached profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) after sustaining losses above the permitted threshold for the assessment period up to and including the 2022-23 season.
Both cases have now been referred to the chair of the independent judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
The clubs could face points penalties, with Everton having been docked 10 points last November over an earlier PSR breach. That sanction is the subject of an appeal.
The league’s statement, which came shortly after each club had released their own statements confirming a referral, read: “Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23.
“In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The league will make no further comment until that time.”
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri insists he is planning for the longer term as well as focusing on the present and is not concerned about silencing his critics.
Allegri’s in-form side can cut the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan back to two points with victory at home against Sassuolo on Tuesday night.
Juve have gone three seasons without mounting a sustained challenge for the Serie A title since being crowned champions for the ninth consecutive time in 2019-20.
But Allegri does not share some fans’ obsession with reclaiming the crown this season, pointing out there is still much work to do just to secure a top-four finish.
He told a press conference: “We spoke as a team and we know that we’re still missing a lot of things to reach our goal of Champions League qualification, we’re taking things one step at a time, so tomorrow we have Sassuolo and then we’ll think about Lecce.
“We need to avoid making long-term predictions and it’s better to stay focused on the short-term.
“I’m not thinking about whether or not I’ve won the fans back on side, we’re doing well because of the guys who go out onto the pitch and win matches.
“Everybody around the team does our best to put the team in the best place to go out and do just that.
“There are two big differences between ourselves and Inter. The first is that they are a team built to win the Scudetto.
“We started off on a different path and we have to keep working without the obsession of winning the Scudetto.
“We are Juventus and we have to do our very best, but football doesn’t end on May 25. We also have to think ahead to the seasons to come for this group of players.”
Juve will be without suspended defender Federico Gatti, but Allegri confirmed both Adrien Rabiot and Federico Chiesa are back in contention after injury.
Italy striker Moise Kean has not featured since early December and is continuing to work his way back from a leg injury.
The Bianconeri are bidding to extend their unbeaten league run to 15 matches – 17 in all competitions – but lost for the only time in the league this season at Tuesday night’s opponents in September.
Allegri added: “The group has worked well, as always, in the last few days and we know the importance of tomorrow’s game.
“We had a bad night in the first game against Sassuolo and we know we’re coming up against a good team.
“The three points up for grabs tomorrow are important and we’ll have to be very careful tactically.
“Sassuolo are dangerous if you make mistakes against them, so we’ll have to be switched on.”
Lamine Camara’s double helped Senegal get their Africa Cup of Nations title defence off to a winning start as they recorded a comprehensive 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia.
Pape Gueye put the 2021 champions ahead just four minutes in, while Gambia were reduced to 10 men when Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
Camara doubled their lead – seven minutes after the break – and wrapped up victory in style with a stunning curling strike in the closing stages.
Senegal took the lead in the fourth minute when Camara’s cross was cleared as far as Sadio Mane and the former Liverpool forward laid the ball off to Gueye on the edge of the box, who smashed it first time into the bottom corner.
Musa Barrow fired a free-kick from a tight angle into the side-netting for Gambia and compatriot Ali Sowe had a great chance from a corner, but the cross was slightly too high as his header flashed wide.
Gambia were handed a blow when – just before the break – Adams was shown a red card, eight minutes into first-half stoppage-time.
The Teranga Lions took advantage of their extra player seven minutes into the second-half when Ismaila Sarr played Camara through and he tucked the ball into the bottom corner to extend their lead.
They were nearly gifted a third when Yankuba Minteh found Habib Diallo in the six-yard box, but goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye managed to smother the attempt.
Gambia had two half-chances from Omar Colley, but Senegal remained in control with Gaye being called into action again to deny Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson from close range.
Camara capped off the afternoon as he completed his brace in the 86th minute when Iliman Ndiaye weaved past the Gambia defence to find the Metz midfielder, who curled the ball first time into the top right-hand corner from 25 yards out to seal victory.
Reggae Boyz striker Shamar Nicholson produced an excellent display to help Clermont Foot get a 2-1 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 action at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday.
Nicholson first opened the scoring by capitalizing on a mistake from Nantes keeper Alban Lafont to slot home from just inside the box in the 29th minute for his second goal in as many games.
Just after the second half resumption, Florent Mollet got the equalizer for Nantes before, in the 89th minute, Nicholson provided the assist for the match-winning goal by Jim Allevinah.
Clermont are currently 17th in the 18-team Ligue 1 table with 14 points from 18 games while Nantes are 13th with 18 points from as many games.
Newport manager Graham Coughlan hopes to land a glamorous FA Cup tie against Manchester United – 45 years after the Red Devils reduced him to tears by losing the so-called “Five-minute final” to Arsenal.
County stand to make £400,000 if they win their third-round replay at non-league Eastleigh on Tuesday after 12-time cup winners United were drawn to visit the winners on January 28.
Coughlan, a Manchester United supporter growing up in his native Dublin, was only four years old when Arsenal led the 1979 final at Wembley 2-0 and had one hand on the trophy.
Goals from Gordon McQueen and Sammy McIlroy in the final five minutes almost handed United a reprieve, but Arsenal won the cup at the death when Alan Sunderland turned in Graham Rix’s cross and the final went into FA Cup folklore.
“I actually shed a few tears when we got beat in the 1979 FA Cup final,” said Coughlan.
“I was only a little nipper and my dad would tell me. I had to wait until ’83 for the replay against Brighton to see United lift a trophy for the first time.
“Then ’85 and the Norman Whiteside goal against Everton. All those memories, the cup runs and the success they’ve had. That was growing up as a kid.”
Coughlan began his career in England at Blackburn – “I played against the Nevilles, Giggs and Beckham in the reserves when they were coming through the system” – and by his own admission was “not good enough to play in the Premier League”.
The tough-tackling defender played over 500 games for clubs including Plymouth, Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday and Shrewsbury, and arrived at Newport following managerial spells at Bristol Rovers and Mansfield.
With Newport on the brink of being bought by former Swansea owner Huw Jenkins, Coughlan is aware of the massive financial boost that the Sky Bet League Two club will receive from a United tie that will be televised live to the nation.
“Both clubs will want to go on and push on and get into the next round, obviously the prize and finances and the day out that it is,” said Coughlan.
“But let’s concentrate on the game, let’s not start having this pantomime of Man United, finances and all sorts of nonsense.
“It’s a game of football, let’s get our heads around the game of football. It’s 90 minutes, possibly 120, club v club, team v team that is where we are at. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The original tie at Rodney Parade was drawn 1-1 after James Clarke had fired the Exiles ahead against opponents who had been reduced to 10 men.
But Chris Maguire’s late penalty earned Eastleigh, 11th in the National League and 18 places below Newport in the football pyramid, the chance of a crack at Erik ten Hag’s United.
Coughlan said: “I don’t think there is a favourite. You can turn around and say ‘they rested players on Saturday and were able to take their eye off the ball’.
“We didn’t have that luxury, but I didn’t think there were any favourites in the first game.
“Both clubs are similar. Eastleigh might be in a better place squad-wise and wages-wise than ourselves.
“But I’ve got a great group of lads that will hopefully do themselves justice.”
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