18/09/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | SEPT 18, 2025

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Frank hails ‘tough’ victory

Mbappe, in fine form at the start of the season, dispatched the penalty past Rulli’s outstretched arm. Madrid finished the second game running with 10 men after Carvajal squared off with Rulli and then pushed his head into the goalkeeper’s. However, just as they did against Real Sociedad after Dean Huijsen’s red card, they finished with three points. Medina slid in to challenge Vinicius and the ball hit his arm, with the referee awarding a penalty, which Mbappe gratefully dispatched to claim a fifth victory for Los Blancos in five games across all competitions. – AFP SHORTS Dream debut for Union UNION SAINT-GILLOISE enjoyed a dream Champions League debut with a historic success at PSV Eindhoven. The Belgian side won their first Pro League title in 90 years last term to qualify for the competition for the first time in their history. And they rose to the occasion, getting off to the perfect start with a ninth-minute opener from the pen alty spot after Ricardo Pepi caught former Portsmouth defender Christian Burgess in the box with a high challenge. Promise David stepped up to become the club’s first Champions League goalscorer as he calmly slot ted past PSV keeper Matej Kovar. Union doubled their lead in the 39th minute to silence the home fans at Philips Stadion thanks to a terrific solo goal from Anouar Ait El Hadj. And Kevin Mac Allister – brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis – wrapped up the perfect evening for Union when he bundled home from a corner with nine minutes left. Ruben van Bommel poked home a 90th-minute consolation, but it was another disappointing home result for PSV, who were thrashed 7-1 by Arsenal in the last 16 last season. Following the game, PSV man ager Peter Bosz acknowledged that his team simply weren’t good enough. “And if you’re not good enough, you need luck on your side, and we didn’t have that,” Bosz told Ziggo Sport . “You get a few chances in the first half and you don’t take them. Then you concede a penalty, but all in all, I think they deserved to win,”said Bosz. Qarabag stun Benfica BENFICA let slip an early two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Qarabag in the Champions League group stage yesterday, with Oleksiy Kashchuk net ting the Azerbaijani side’s winner four minutes from time. The hosts looked in control when Enzo Barrenechea put them ahead in the sixth minute and Vangelis Pavlidis shot on the turn to double the lead 10 minutes later. Leandro Andrade smashed a first time shot past keeper Anatoliy Trubin, however, and Qarabag were level three minutes after the interval when Camilo Duran smacked a first-time shot into the far corner. A long punt forward from the Qarabag keeper found Kashchuk just outside the area and he played a one two with Abdellah Zoubir before stroking a shot past Trubin to stun the Estadio da Luz.

mishap by Junior Luiz with a Nicolas Pepe shot deflected wide in a first half which included a squandered opportunity for Tajon Buchanan. Marcelino watched his team push on further after the break and was frustrated home debutant Xavi avoided a second yellow card for a cynical tackle on Pepe after 66 minutes before Pepe sent an 85th-minute freekick inches wide – after Micky van de Ven hauled down Georges Mikautadze and received only a caution from referee Rade Obrenovic. Villarreal head coach Marcelino said: “There were two really clear actions on the field I thought that when you see the replays, it looked really clear. “There was an accidental kick but it didn’t look like he wanted to play the ball, the first action of Xavi Simons. “I think the player didn’t have his best day today and he was a bit of a homer, the ref.” On the result, Marcelino added: “It was an unjust result. One team scored and another didn’t manage to score. “I am a little bit annoyed and frustrated by the result but I am proud and happy with the performance and the image we gave to the rest of Europe. “It’s a real shame to not get a draw. That would have been the fairest result, a draw, but the people that deserved to win were us and not Tottenham. You could see that out on the pitch.” – AFP Own goal helps Spurs make winning Champions League return opening period. Little had happened by the time Karim Adeyemi lashed in Dortmund’s opening goal just after the interval. That woke Juve up and in the 63rd minute Kenan Yildiz levelled the scores with a brilliant curling strike. The cheers from that goal had barely died down when seconds later Felix Nmecha smashed Dortmund back into the lead from just outside the penalty area. Vlahovic put Juve level for the second time in the 68th minute before Yan Couto’s powerful low drive squirmed through the slippery fingers of Di Gregorio in the 75th minute. And when Guirassy’s shot smashed into Kelly’s arm as the defender slid to block, Bensebaini struck what looked likely to be the killer blow. But Juve kept pushing and, inspired by Vlahovic, the Serie A team somehow scrambled a result out of nowhere. – AFP

Ű BY GEORGE SESSIONS

Spur’s Micky van de Ven (left) in action with Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze yesterday. – AFPPIC

T HOMAS FRANK was pleased to see Tottenham grind out a “big win” on their Champions League return, but Villarreal counterpart Marcelino bemoaned the fact Xavi Simons stayed on the pitch. An embarrassing fourth-minute own goal by Luiz Junior helped Spurs end their 923-day wait to resume participation in Europe’s elite competition with three points. The Villarreal goalkeeper claimed Lucas Bergvall’s cross ahead of Richarlison before it spilled through his grasp and over the line. It settled a contest low on chances with only one shot on target by either team. “Doing the tough job, that gives you a top opportunity to win games and we have proven that so far,” Frank insisted. “I thought it was a big win. In any competition it’s good to get three points and get a good start. I’m happy with that. “I’m happy with the clean sheet, happy with the defensive side of the game. I think we were extremely good and limited Villarreal to very little throughout the game. “Obviously offensively we struggled on the day to create something against a good team. It was a very even game that we edged in the end. “What I like is that our foundation is strong. Now we are four games won, three in the Premier League, one in the Champions League, and we have four clean sheets which is massive.” Villarreal had chances to level after the

Notices

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DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA KUBU BHARU DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN GUAMAN NO: BF-A72NCVC-257-07/2025 MAJLIS PERBANDARAN HULU SELANGOR (MPHS) … PLAINTIF DAN HENG WOOI KOK (NO K/P : 740520-09-5087) … DEFENDAN NOTIS IKLAN Kepada: HENG WOOI KOK No. 45, Jalan Jejaka 2, Taman Maluri, 55100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. HENG WOOI KOK Selangor Darul Ehsan. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh MAJLIS PERBANDARAN HULU SELANGOR (MPHS) yang beralamat di Jalan Bukit Kerajaan,44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan- salinannya beserta satu salinan yang dimeterai bagi Perintah untuk penyampaian ganti pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret di Kuala Kubu Bharu,Selangor, menampal satu salinan Writ Saman bersama dengan Perintah tersebut ke alamat terakhir Defendan yang diketahui dan pengiklanan Perintah tersebut dalam satu keluaran akhbar tempatan ‘The Sun’ selama satu hari dan bahawa penampalan,pengeposan dan pengiklanan sedemikian dianggap sebagai penyampaian yang wajar dan mencukupi akan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini keatas kamu atas penamatan EMPAT BELAS (14) hari selepas tarikh terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. DAN SELANJUTNYA AMBIL NOTIS bahawa tarikh pengurusan kes Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut telah ditetapkan di hadapan Majistret 23.09.2025 pada 9.00 pagi di dalam Pengurusan Kes secara eReview (dalam talian). Jika kamu berhasrat untuk menentang dan/atau membela diri,kamu mestilah dalam masa empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk memasukkan kehadiran di Mahkamah ini. Jika tidak,suatu Penghakiman boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu. Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini boleh diperiksa oleh kamu dengan melalui permohonan kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh 11 September 2025 …………………………… Penolong Pendaftar Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Kubu Bharu NOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh TETUAN IBRAHIM & FUAADAH,Peguambela & Peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang beralamat di No.12F, Jalan Bidara 8, SU Mall, Saujana Utama 3,47000,Sungai Buloh, Selangor, No. tel: 03- 6038 8164 /3031 emel: info@ibrahimfuaadah.my Ruj fail : IF/1/1554/7525/MPHS(fft) No. 35, Jalan Kemboja 4A/6, Seksyen BS8, Bukit Sentosa III, 48300 Rawang,

Juve salvage point with late comeback

JUVENTUS staged an incredible come back yesterday as the Italians recovered from two goals down in stoppage time to draw 4-4 in a thrilling Champions League match with Borussia Dortmund. Lloyd Kelly saved a point for Juve in the final seconds of a wild game by head ing home a pinpoint cross from Dusan Vlahovic to spark bedlam in the stands in Turin. While Kelly was the hero of the hour, it was substitute Vlahovic who was the key man as the Serbia striker once again proved his doubters wrong with a brace, including the goal in the fourth minute of added time which got Juve back into the gane. It was the third time so far this season that Vlahovic – who looked set to leave in the summer – has been decisive from the bench, with his goal tally in all competi tions now up to four. “It’s not been a very easy time for me, there were a lot of things said and a lot of

“For me it’s a penalty, but I understand there are people who don’t (think so), we’re all lost with this rule,” Mbappe, who reached 50 goals for the club, told Movistar . “They say it’s a penalty, I shoot it and put it in, that’s all.” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso was dealt an early blow on his first European game at the helm of the Spanish giants when Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off with a thigh injury, and had to scrap with 10 men after Carvajal’s dismissal. “The two goals came from penalties and our performance deserved more articles written that 99% of the time weren’t even close to the truth and that’s always going to get to you,” Vlahovic told Sky . “But I found strength from it, every day is the day in which you have to show something, have that hunger. That’s how I am, I’m never really satisfied.” Igor Tudor’s team seemed down and out when Ramy Bensebaini rolled home from the penalty spot in the 86th minute to put Dortmund 4-2 ahead. But just as at the weekend, when Juve struck late to beat fierce rivals Inter Milan, Kelly stepped up to earn Juve an unlikely draw. “If we continue to concede goals like we did tonight we’ll never see the end,” said Tudor. “After the last few days I think I need a little rest.” Englishman Kelly’s equaliser was the final act of a match which exploded into life in the second half after a soporific

Mbappe penalty double gives Real Madrid win over Marseille KYLIAN MBAPPE slammed home two penalties for Real Madrid as the record 15-time winners opened their penalised for a handball and Mbappe converted his second penalty.

than that… we should have won by more goals and (not doing that) made the game tougher for us,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Movistar . “It was a good win to start with but it got tricky.” Rulli made a fine save from a fierce Mbappe strike before Weah opened the scoring. Mason Greenwood picked Arda Guler’s pocket and fed the US international, who slammed past Courtois at the near post for his first Marseille goal. Real Madrid equalised when Geoffrey Kondogbia clumsily bundled over Rodrygo Goes in the box.

Champions League campaign with a controversial 2-1 comeback win over Olympique Marseille yesterday. Timothy Weah opened the scoring for the French visitors before Mbappe levelled from the spot and Madrid defender Dani Carvajal was sent off for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Roberto De Zerbi’s enterprising Marseille were well placed to push for a famouse win at the Santiago Bernabeu until Facundo Medina was harshly