06/09/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | SEPT 6, 2025

29

Cash puts a dent in Oranje ambition

La Roja stroll past Bulgaria S PAI N opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Bulgaria in their Group E meeting yesterday, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino all coming in the opening half. Spain have appeared at the last 12 World Cup tournaments and are already guaranteed a playoff spot based on their Nations League ranking, but the Euro 2024 champions will be expected to qualify as group winners. Oyarzabal gave Spain the perfect start in the fifth minute, netting his fifth goal in his last six international matches. Martin Zubimendi threaded a defence-splitting ball into the box which Oyarzabal controlled before sliding his shot into the bottom corner. Oyarzabal had another chance minutes later from a corner but the keeper smothered his effort with Spain looking in control, constantly seeking Lamine Yamal out wide. It was close to one-way traffic, but not quite, with Radoslav Kirilov’s shot taking a deflection which sent the ball just wide of the post. Yamal looked certain to score when sent through on goal, but keeper Svetoslav Vutsov was well positioned to save at his near post, before Spain found their second on the half-hour mark with Cucurella scoring his first goal for Spain. A cross into the box from Yamal was headed clear but only as far as Cucurella just inside the area, who took a touch with his right foot before unleashing an unstoppable shot with his left. Spain were 3-0 up eight minutes later when Merino rose unchallenged from Yamal’s inviting corner to send a glancing header past Vutsov. “I think we had a very good first half,” Spain manager Luis de la Fuente told reporters. “The team was switched on from the start — lots of intensity, good combinations, chances, and arrivals in the box.” Merino had the first chance after the break, his powerful shot from the edge of the area tipped onto the crossbar by Vutsov. Spain then sent on Rodri and Dani Carvajal, both recovered from ACL injuries, and both making their first international appearance since a 4-1 win over Switzerland almost one year ago. The visitors continued to pass the ball around at will, but were unable to add to their tally. The job, however was completed in the first half with the outcome never in doubt. “In the second half, we lacked a bit of that same energy. Normally, we talk about these kinds of matches at halftime,” De la Fuente added. “They tend to get messy if we’re not able to maintain intensity and a competitive level, because you often end up mirroring the opponent, and the game becomes a bit ugly.” – Reuters

POLA N D fullback Matty Cash fired home a late equaliser to ensure his side held the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier, a major boost to their hopes and a dent to Dutch ambitions. A thunderous right-footed shot from the English born defender in the 80th minute was as much as Poland deserved after a strong second-half performance, having been a goal down at half-time at the Feijenoord Stadium. The Netherlands and Poland now share top place in Group G with seven points each, although the Dutch have played one game less. Coach Ronald Koeman had identified Poland as the key team to beat in the group, and his side looked on course to do so after Denzel Dumfries put them ahead in the 28th minute. The hosts were the early aggressors. Tijjani Reijnders’ strike from outside the Polish penalty area took a slight deflection before coming back off the upright in the 12th minute, followed shortly after by an effort from Dumfries that was blocked by Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, with the ball then

for Lautaro Martinez to score with a diving header. Four minutes later, Messi capped off another excellent performance with a third goal, assisted by Thiago Almada. “Being able to finish this way here with my people is what I always dreamed of,” an emotional Messi said after the match. “For many years I had the affection of Barcelona fans and my dream was to have it here in my country too.” Asked about his possible retirement, Messi who has scored a record 36 goals in South American qualifying, said: “It’s not something I like, want or expect. But time is passing, and it’s been many years.” The Albiceleste top the South American qualifying table for the 2026 World Cup in North America with 38 points and visit Ecuador on Wednesday in their final group match. Venezuela, seventh in the standings on 18 points, will host Colombia aiming to stay in the intercontinental playoff spot, with Bolivia just a point behind. In other matches yesterday, Brazil moved up to second place with 28 points after a 3-0 win over Chile at the Maracana stadium. Estevao opened the scoring, while Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes added further goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Uruguay moved to third on 27 points following a 3-0 victory over Peru thanks to goals from Rodrigo Aguirre, Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Federico Vinas. Ecuador dropped to fourth on 26 points after a goalless draw against Paraguay, who secured their first World Cup appearance in 16 years. Colombia also sealed qualification with a 3-0 victory over Bolivia. James Rodriguez, Jhon Cordoba, and Juan Fernando Quintero were on target for Los Cafeteros , who sit fifth in the standings with 25 points. – Reuters boys were amazing. “Obviously I’m happy with the goal but it was the overall performance, the grit and determination we showed.” The Poles had 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski back in their side after refusing to play in June when previous coach Michal Probierz replaced him as captain, but he was ineffective with little sight of the ball. The Dutch had been hoping Memphis Depay would get opportunities to move ahead of Robin van Persie as the national team’s leading scorer but while he had several half chances, a 51st goal proved elusive and he was substituted with 12 minutes left. “Disappointment prevails” Koeman admitted on Dutch television. “I wasn’t calm towards the end. You know you have to score a second, otherwise they always get one or two chances. “That’s painful, especially when you see how that goal came about.” – Reuters quarterfinals in the Ivory Coast last year. Libya rose one place to third by surprising Angola 1-0 in Luanda through a 48th-minute goal from Ezoo el Mariamy. Meanwhile, Group I leaders Ghana conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 in Chad – a result which ended a run of four straight victories by the Black Stars. Jordan Ayew, a son of Ghana legend Abedi “Pele” Ayew, pushed a Mohammed Kudus cross into the net on 17 minutes at the new 30,000-seat national stadium in N’Djamena. But a solo run and shot by Celestin Ecua on 89 minutes drew Chad level, and earned the central Africans a first point after six consecutive losses. – AFP

rebounding off Nicola Zalewski and back onto the woodwork, before being gratefully snatched up by the keeper. The opening goal came from an in-swinging corner high to the back post that saw Dumfries come around the back unmarked to head home. Poland could have pulled one back before the break had Sebastian Szymanski, who regularly played in the stadium during his time at Feyenoord, not glanced wide his header from Zalewski’s cross. They kept up their positive approach in the second half and made the Dutch look distinctly uncomfortable before a series of passes across the face of the home goal saw Cash given space to crack home a powerful strike into the top corner. “I was saying before the game that I really like playing in this stadium, last time I played here I scored and today I was dreaming of the same thing,” Cash told TVP Sports . “But it was a team performance, the way we defended, Holland obviously controlled the ball a lot and we knew that we had to defend well and the

Leo shines for Argentina Messi at the double in final home WC qualifier as Paraguay, Colombia clinch spots L IONEL MESSI signed off in style by scor ing twice in his final World Cup qualifier on home soil as Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 yesterday, while Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) and Venezuela’s Cristian Casseres fight for the ball during their World Cup South American qualifiers. – AFPPIC

Paraguay and Colombia also secured berths at the 2026 tournament in North America. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has not given an indication as to when he plans to retire but the 38 year-old has said that the match a g a i n s t Venezuela would be his last World Cup qualifier at home. The reigning World Cup champions, who have already qualified for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US, controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, creating chances through Nicolas Tagliafico and Franco Mastantuono only to be thwarted by Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo. Messi broke the deadlock in

the 39th minute, the Argentine captain latching onto a pass from Julian Alvarez on a swift counter attack and firing home into the top-right corner of Romo’s net.

Argentina maintained their relentless pressure in the second half, with Messi remaining the focal point of their attack, but the hosts had to wait until the 76th minute for a second goal, Nico Gonzalez delivering from the left

Blue Sharks on course for World Cup debut CAPE VERDE, an island nation off the west coast of Africa with a population of about 525,000, stayed on track for a first World Cup appearance by winning 2 0 in Mauritius yesterday.

The visitors fell behind after only six minutes when Gift Gamedze conceded an own goal. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Arthur Avom then nettedc within three minutes midway through the half. Cape Verde host Cameroon in Praia on Tuesday and, should the islanders triumph, they would need three points in October from their remaining two qualifiers to win the group and qualify. Between Oct 8-14, Cape Verde visit third-placed Libya, then return home to face current bottom team Eswatini in the final matchday. Local Pedro Leitao Brito, a 55-year-old popularly known as Bubista, has coached Cape Verde since 2020 and took them to the Africa Cup of Nations

Portugal-based Jovane Cabral scored after 22 minutes in the village of Saint-Pierre and Diney Borges, who plays for a United Arab Emirates club, added a second goal on 71 minutes. Victory lifted the Blue Sharks to 16 points in Group D, one more than Cameroon, whose eight World Cup appearances is an African record. Recent Manchester United recruit Bryan Mbeumo provided two assists as Cameroon scored three times in the first half to overcome Eswatini 3-0 in Yaounde.