Arsenal beat Man City in penalty shootout to win Community Shield after stoppage-time equalizer

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard and teammates celebrate with the Community Shield trophy after beating Manchester City in penalty shootout to break the 1-1 draw in regulation time. (Reuters)
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Updated 07 August 2023
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Arsenal beat Man City in penalty shootout to win Community Shield after stoppage-time equalizer

  • The match serves as a traditional curtain-raiser to the season and is typically played between the winners of last season’s Premier League and FA Cup
  • City have now lost the Community Shield in three straight years, having been defeated by Leicester in 2021 and Liverpool in 2022

LONDON: Arsenal have started the English season how the team hope to end it — by getting the better of Manchester City.

Arsenal beat City 4-1 in a penalty shootout, after equalizing in the 101st minute in regulation time to draw 1-1, to win the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The match serves as a traditional curtain-raiser to the season and is typically played between the winners of last season’s Premier League and FA Cup. Because City won both as part of the title treble also containing the Champions League for the first time, Arsenal took part as the runners-up in the league and might have gained a psychological edge heading into the new campaign that starts on Friday.

“For us, it’s a statement,” Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said. “It’s a marker to know we can go and beat Man City in a big game when it matters.”

Cole Palmer curled in a 78th-minute goal after coming off the bench to give City the lead, only for Leandro Trossard to score with a deflected shot in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time, taking the game to penalties.

Games in English soccer are set to have more minutes added on in the upcoming season — like at the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year — after statistics showed the ball was only in play on average around 55 minutes during Premier League matches last season. Sunday’s finish was a demonstration of the impact that more stoppage time could have.

“Now teams are going to have to think twice,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We have to prepare to play 100 minutes. It is going to happen every single week.”

In the shootout, Kevin De Bruyne hit the crossbar for City and Rodri had an effort saved by Ramsdale, giving Fabio Vieira the opportunity to win it for Arsenal. The Portuguese playmaker curled it high into the corner. Martin Odegaard, Trossard and Bukayo Saka earlier scored penalties for Arsenal.

In 2005, another Vieira — Patrick — scored the winning penalty in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Arsenal, which has won the Community Shield in five of the last 10 seasons, had the better of the chances in the 90 minutes, with offseason signing Kai Havertz — leading the line with Gabriel Jesus injured — having two close-range efforts saved in the first half and Saka shooting wide.

John Stones had a header from a corner tipped over from Ramsdale before Palmer’s goal.

City have now lost the Community Shield in three straight years, having been defeated by Leicester in 2021 and Liverpool in 2022. They went on to win the league in both those seasons.

“We came here to win it,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “We were so close, but winning or losing, I know the position of the team.”

Aside from the painful finish to the match, Guardiola might also be slightly concerned that star striker Erling Haaland was quiet again, having ended last season with one goal in eight games in all competitions.

One positive for City, however, was the sight of De Bruyne coming on for the final half hour for his first minutes since the Champions League final in June, when he came off with a hamstring injury.

Another was Palmer, a 21-year-old winger who is expected to have more game time in the coming season following the departure of Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Arabia last month.

The way he converted his opportunity — collecting a nod-down from De Bruyne, he cut inside onto his left foot and bent a finish into the far corner — showed he is more than capable of taking his chance under Guardiola.

Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, who joined City for 90 million pounds ($99.2 million) on Saturday, was not involved.

Arsenal has strengthened by signing Havertz, midfielder Declan Rice and versatile defender Jurrien Timber and is expected to be one of City’s biggest title rivals again in the Premier League this season. Arsenal finished second last season only after a late collapse.

“I’m not sure what it’ll be like this season,” Ramsdale said. “But that mental block is gone. We’re ready to push on now.”

The match also provided an early sign of what to expect from match officials in the coming season, with players and coaches having agreed to a so-called “Participant Charter” that means they will face stricter sanctions for bad behavior in matches.

Arteta was shown a yellow card in the first half for waving an imaginary yellow card after Rodri made a tactical foul to prevent a breakaway. Either side of that, two players — Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and City’s Julian Alvarez — were booked for kicking the ball away.


Lenovo will be FIFA’s technology partner for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup

Updated 16 October 2024
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Lenovo will be FIFA’s technology partner for 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup

  • Infantino: At FIFA, we are committed to growing the game globally and making football accessible for all — and we are excited to welcome Lenovo to our journey
  • Lenovo will supply ThinkPad laptops and tablets as well as Motorola mobile phones for the tournaments to the competing teams, FIFA’s staff and the various host nation organizing committees

Lenovo has signed on to be the official technology partner for FIFA, which includes the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico as well as the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The announcement was made during Lenovo’s Tech World innovation event in Seattle on Tuesday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement the deal will continue to upgrade fan experiences as well as continue to make data more accessible to fans and teams.

“At FIFA, we are committed to growing the game globally and making football accessible for all — and we are excited to welcome Lenovo to our journey, and to work with them to implement technologies, innovations and programs that spread our sport. Data and technology combined helps us to know fans better,” he said.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 through July 19 in 16 cities throughout North America. It will also see the tournament expand from 32 to 48 teams.

The 2027 Women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams, but the dates and host cities in Brazil have not been finalized.

Jeff Shafer, Lenovo’s head of corporate marketing, said there have been been multiple meetings with FIFA about the role of artificial intelligence in helping teams and fans better understand all the data produced during a match, but that any ideas or upgrades are still in the planning stages.

“Technology and football will absolutely enhance the experience for viewers at a specific level. That’s stuff that we’re working on right now. But we already, I think, have some really amazing and interesting ideas brewing,” Shafer said.

Lenovo will supply ThinkPad laptops and tablets as well as Motorola mobile phones for the tournaments to the competing teams, FIFA’s staff and the various host nation organizing committees.

FIFA had a significant amount of data during the recent World Cup tournaments, including detailed match reports breaking down all facets of play. Data used to be limited to possession percentages and shots, but with players wearing devices tracking movement as well as chips in soccer balls, data is available to analyze a team’s offensive formation shape or to help referee’s on offsides calls.

The available data can also be used during the game for graphics used on television or to relay statistics inside the stadium. FIFA has a six member technical study group which helps analyze data during tournaments as well as give insights and observations.

Shafer noted most of the upgrades to the fan experience will mostly begin with helping teams and players in analyzing data.

“Technology can level the playing field. The data is already there, but you’ve got some disparity between the haves and have nots within global football,” he said. “If we can provide technology that gives one or two people the ability to analyze date with some sort of competitive equality to those countries that have 10 or 15 people able to do that, it really brings a lot to the table.”

Lenovo’s addition as a FIFA partner also joins recent sponsorship announcements from Bank of America, Lays and Verizon.

“Lenovo is proud to support FIFA’s vision of leveraging technology to elevate the game, enhance the fan experience worldwide, and foster innovation that levels the playing field. We’re excited that our cutting-edge technology and AI innovation will take center stage in the upcoming tournaments, demonstrating to the world the transformative power of smarter technology,” Lenovo chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang said in a statement.


Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

Updated 16 October 2024
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Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

GLASGOW: Scotland frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a 0-0 draw at Hampden on Tuesday to avoid losing five consecutive competitive games for the first time ever.
The home side needed a wonder save from Craig Gordon to deny Bruno Fernandes a winner in the closing stages, but held out to secure their first point in the top tier of the Nations League.
Portugal remain on top of Group A1 but were made to wait to book their place in March’s quarter-finals.
On his 216th international appearance, Ronaldo made his 200th start for his country, more than 21 years on from his first.
However, the 39-year-old failed to add to his 133 Portugal goals and stormed off the field at full-time ranting at the officials.
Scotland have won just one of their last 16 games — a 2-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar in June — and remain without a victory in a competitive match for over a year.
But Steve Clarke’s men battled hard to stop the rot in Glasgow.
Scotland even had the best chance of the first half inside the opening five minutes when Scott McTominay headed too close to Diogo Costa from point-blank range.
Portugal quickly took control of possession without creating clear-cut chances.
Francisco Conceicao spooned over early in the second period from Ronaldo’s lay-off.
Ronaldo then fired inches wide after making himself room for a shot amid a flurry of desperate challenges from Scottish defenders.
But it was Fernandes who had the best chance to claim all three points when the Manchester United captain’s powerful low strike was brilliantly parried by Gordon and collected at the second attempt by the 41-year-old goalkeeper.
Scotland are still on course for relegation from the top tier of the Nations League as they trail Poland, who drew 3-3 with Croatia, by three points with two games remaining.
Croatia sit second, three points behind the Portuguese, who they host next month.


Kylian Mbappe’s representatives say reports footballer faces rape probe are ‘false’ and a ‘slanderous rumor’

Updated 15 October 2024
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Kylian Mbappe’s representatives say reports footballer faces rape probe are ‘false’ and a ‘slanderous rumor’

  • Swedish public broadcaster SVT and dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mbappe, 25, was a suspect in the case
  • Mbappe’s representatives at PR firm Patricia Goldman said: “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable”

STOCKHOLM/PARIS: Allegations of rape against French footballer Kylian Mbappe are “totally false” and “a slanderous rumor,” his representatives said on Tuesday, following media reports that he was the subject of an investigation over an incident in a Stockholm hotel on Oct. 10.
Swedish prosecutors confirmed in a statement in response to the media coverage that a probe into an alleged rape at a hotel in central Stockholm had been opened, but did not identify a suspect.
Swedish public broadcaster SVT and dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mbappe, 25, was a suspect in the case.
“A new slanderous rumor is starting to ignite the web,” a statement sent to Reuters by Mbappe’s representatives at PR firm Patricia Goldman said. “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable.
“Kylian Mbappe will under no circumstances tolerate his integrity, reputation and honor being sullied by unfounded insinuations.”
Mbappe posted a link to a French media story on the matter on X and wrote: “Fake News!!!!“
The France national team captain and Real Madrid forward had been on a private trip to the Nordic country’s capital last week with a group of friends, Swedish media reported.
Mbappe and his friends left Sweden on Friday Oct. 11. A report of the allegations against Mbappe was made to police by an unidentified victim the following day, Expressen and daily Aftonbladet reported.
“In response to media reports about a suspected rape in Stockholm, the prosecutor can confirm that a criminal report has been submitted to the police,” the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement on Tuesday.
Reuters could not independently confirm the identity of the alleged victim or the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
Senior Prosecutor Marina Chirakova declined to comment further when reached by Reuters.
SVT and tabloid Expressen, citing unnamed sources, reported that the level of suspicion directed at Mbappe by investigators was “reasonable” — the lower of the two levels in the Swedish legal system. The higher level, “probable suspicion,” is usually required to have a suspect remanded in custody.
Mbappe trained with his Real Madrid teammates on Tuesday. The club did not immediately respond when asked if they were aware of the investigation and whether it had been contacted by the Swedish authorities.


France will host Israel in the Nations League ‘under usual conditions,’ French authorities say

Updated 15 October 2024
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France will host Israel in the Nations League ‘under usual conditions,’ French authorities say

  • The match at the Stade de France on Nov. 14 will be played “under the usual conditions for a Nations League match and will of course be open to the public”
  • Italy beat Israel 4-1 in the Nations League on Monday

PARIS: Israel’s Nations League soccer match against host France next month will take place in “usual conditions,” French authorities said Tuesday, a day after Italy hosted Israel in the same competition without incident despite security concerns.
Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police prefect, said in a statement that the match at the Stade de France on Nov. 14 will be played “under the usual conditions for a Nations League match and will of course be open to the public.”
Italy beat Israel 4-1 in the Nations League on Monday, with the game being played against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which has spread to Lebanon after more than a year-long war in Gaza.
It was the first match Israel have played outside neutral Hungary this year. After the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7 last year, the national soccer team played in Kosovo and Andorra last November.
All Israel matches since then have been in Hungary, including last month’s game against Belgium in the Nations League after the Belgian Football Association refused to host the game for security reasons.


Tuchel ‘agrees deal’ to become England manager — reports

Updated 15 October 2024
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Tuchel ‘agrees deal’ to become England manager — reports

  • Tuchel, 51, has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
  • The German would become just the third foreign manager of the Three Lions after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello

LONDON: Thomas Tuchel is set to be named England’s new manager after agreeing a deal with the Football Association, The Times reported on Tuesday.
Tuchel, 51, has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
The German would become just the third foreign manager of the Three Lions after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Sky Sports also said Tuchel was in “pole position” to become Gareth Southgate’s long-term replacement.
The FA declined to comment on the reports but said that CEO Mark Bullingham will provide an update on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium.
Tuchel fits the remit of a “world-class coach who has won trophies,” which was outlined by England interim manager Lee Carsley after Sunday’s 3-1 Nations League win over Finland.
He has managed a number of Europe’s top clubs, also including Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, but his greatest success came during his time in English football at Chelsea.
Tuchel led the Blues to Champions League glory just months after taking charge in 2021 and also won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the London club.
He was sacked in September 2022 in a bold early move by Chelsea’s new ownership group that did not pay off.
Just six months later he was appointed Bayern boss and led them to a 11th consecutive Bundesliga title.
However, Tuchel also oversaw the demise of Bayern’s dominance of German football in a first trophyless campaign last season for 12 years.
Carsley was put in temporary charge in August following Southgate’s resignation shortly after reaching the final of Euro 2024.
However, the 50-year-old, who stepped up from his role as under-21s manager, has since given mixed messages about whether he wanted the job on a permanent basis.
Carsley’s case was further damaged by a 2-1 Nations League defeat to Greece last week and he backed the idea of appointing a foreign coach if they are the right candidate.
“We’ve seen in the past that we’ve had different nationalities coach the team. The best candidate should get the job,” said Carsley.
“I think we’d be putting ourselves in a corner if we didn’t, and we didn’t open our minds a bit.”
Tuchel will inherit a richly talented generation of players, including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, that will be among the favorites for World Cup glory in 2026.
Southgate led the Three Lions to back-to-back Euros finals, plus a World Cup semifinal and quarter-final in his four major tournaments in charge.
England, though, are still yet to win a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.