22/06/2025

SPORTS 14 ON SUNDAY JUNE 22, 2025 BAYERN MUNICH’S England striker Harry Kane said yesterday he is relishing the Club World Cup’s “special” atmosphere and is confi dent the German team can now go all the way. Kane scored the opener for Bayern in a 2-1 win over Argentina’s Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium that took his side through to the last 16. He said it had been a tough challenge in the heat and humidity of South Florida. “There’s something special about these World Cup games and next year will be the same,“ he said with a nod to the 2026 World Cup.

Kane enjoying ‘special feeling’

and Kane said he was enjoying pitting himself against opponents European clubs rarely face. “I think it’s great to experience different teams and I think you’ve seen in this tourna ment already, the South American teams especially have caused big problems for some of the European teams. “So it shows how big football is worldwide and how good some of these players are. You have to be ready for the next game, the next opportunity. So yeah, I’m loving this tourna ment so far and hopefully we’re going to be here for a while,“ he said. Kane added that he was confident Bayern had a real chance to win the competition. “I think we have a good opportunity. We started the tournament really well. I think the style we play is difficult for any team.” – AFP

said Kane, who acknowledged the incredible support of more than 55,000 Boca fans in the 63,587 crowd. “I mean it felt like an away game out there for sure, their fans were really loud. It was a great experience to play in front of them and I think that’s what makes the win even more special, because it feels like a good away win,“ he said. “So we’re really happy, really pleased and we’ll sleep well tonight.” Bayern’s win was the first for a European team against South American opposition in the tournament

“When you come off that pitch and you’re sweating and you’re dripping and you’re cramping and you’ve given everything on the pitch. There’s a spe cial feeling inside, especially when you win. That’s what we had today.” Boca responded to Kane’s opener through Miguel Merentiel, but Michael Olise sealed the win six minutes from time. “Really tough game. I thought the first half was really good, I mean we probably should have been 2 or 3-0 up. “They hung in the game and the second half made it more difficult,“

21/06/2025 (SAT)

5983/2025

Flamengo’s Wallace Yan (right) celebrates scoring their third goal with a teammate. – REUTERSPIC

7578 1494 5287

Draw Date: 21/06/25 (Sat)

Draw No: 5930/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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FLAMENGO produced a brilliant sec ond-half fightback to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Club World Cup yesterday and qualify for the last 16, while Bayern Munich joined them in reaching the knockout phase with a battling win over Boca Juniors. In Philadelphia, Pedro Neto gave Chelsea an early lead but Flamengo, roared on by their frenzied supporters who made up the majority of the 54,019 crowd, did not deserve to be behind and came roaring back in the second half. Bruno Henrique came off the bench in the 56th minute and quickly equalised before setting up former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus defender Danilo to make it 2 1. Chelsea were stunned, and their hopes of pulling level again were effectively destroyed when substitute Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the 68th minute for a dangerous tackle on Ayrton Lucas. Wallace Yan then sealed the victory for the Rio de Janeiro club, the Brazilian league leaders, when he made it 3-1 late on. “It was a special day for me and our club,” said Flamengo coach Filipe Luis. “We knew we would have chances against Chelsea, because we have one way to play and they know how to follow that path.” Flamengo have won both matches in Group D and their place in the knockout stage was confirmed later when Esperance of Tunisia defeated Los Angeles FC 1-0 in Nashville. Youcef Belaili scored the only goal of the game in the 70th minute in front of a sparse crowd featuring Nicole Kidman. LAFC, who were last-minute qualifiers after beating Club America of Mexico in a playoff, cannot now

progress further. Chelsea and Esperance each have three points from two games and their meeting in Philadelphia on Wednesday will decide who joins Flamengo in advancing. “We expected a tough game because Flamengo is a very good team, with good players and a good manager,” said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca. “They play very well, and in Brazil they are top of the league, unbeaten for many games, so it was not a surprise for us.” Flamengo’s win followed Botafogo’s stunning success against European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Friday, continuing an impressive record for South American clubs at the competition. In an earlier match, Benfica crushed Auckland City 6-0 in Orlando to boost their own hopes of progressing and eliminate the tournament’s only Oceania representative. Angel Di Maria’s two penalties bookended the victory for the Portuguese side, with Leandro Barreiro scoring a brace while Vangelis Pavlidis and Renato Sanches got their other goals. The game was the fourth in the past four days to be hit by a weather delay. The match was interrupted at half time because of a storm, eventually resuming two hours later. A draw for Benfica against Bayern in Charlotte on Wednes will send them through and eliminate Boca. – AFP Club from Rio come from behind to down at Maresca’s Blues

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38

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