23/04/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | APR 23, 2026

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Inter reach Italian Cup final

SHORTS Lens looking to make history

INTER MILAN reached the Italian Cup final yester day after coming back from two goals down to win 3-2 and go through by the same scoreline on aggre gate. Trailing early in the second half at the San Siro to brilliant goals from Martin Baturina and Lucas Da Cunha, Inter looked as good as out, but Hakan Calhanoglu dragged the hosts level with a brace and then set up Petar Sucic for a last-gasp winner. Cristian Chivu’s team will face one of Atalanta or Lazio in next month’s showpiece in Rome, with the other semifinal delicately poised at 2-2 ahead of the second leg overnight. Sucic’s calm finish denied Como, who were in Italy’s third tier as recently as 2019 when they were acquired by tobacco giant Djarum, a first appear

were well on top by the time Baturina perfectly slid home Ignace Van Der Brempt’s cutback in the 32nd minute. And once captain Da Cunha, who played for Como in Serie B, collected Nico Paz’s perfect through ball and slotted past Josep Martinez two minutes after half-time, Inter looked dead on their feet. But Calhanoglu halved the deficit in the 69th minute with a deflected finish, sparking the crowd back into life and beginning a late siege which even tually broke Como. Turkey captain Calhanoglu guided home a rare header from Sucic’s inswinging cross in the 86th minute and moments later the roles were reversed for the goal which kept Inter’s double hopes alive. – AFP

ance in the cup final. But Inter can still claim a league and cup double as they are almost certain to win Serie A due to a 12 point lead over AC Milan and Napoli with five matches remaining in the league season. “I had a bit of luck but I’m pleased we managed to turn it around. Como make it difficult because they know how to play,” Calhanoglu told Mediaset , in an interview which was interrupted several times by a jubilant Marcus Thuram dancing along to fans chanting his name. “The league and cup are our two goals, we need to make sure we close out the Scudetto as soon as possible.” Roared on by over 4,000 fans who made the short trip to Milan from their lakeside homes, Como

LENS kept alive their hopes of winning the French Cup for the first time with a 4-1 home victory over Toulouse in the semifinals yesterday. Pierre Sage’s team will face Strasbourg or Nice in the final on May 22. Lens have never lifted the cup in the club’s 120-year history, finishing runners-up three times. Florian Thauvin tucked away an early penalty at an expectant Stade Bollaert-Delelis after he was brought down in the area by Pape Demba Diop. Allan Saint-Maximin fired in a second from the edge of area, but Santiago Hidalgo dragged Toulouse back into the match after Lens played themselves into trouble in defence. Matthieu Udol turned in from close range to restore a two-goal cushion for Lens, who got a fourth from Adrien Thomasson in the second half before supporters flooded the pitch at full time to celebrate a first appearance in the final since 1998. “I’m already looking ahead to the final, because getting there without winning the cup isn’t the reward that people deserve,” said Sage. “The run has been good, but I want to see it through to the end. Everyone here deserves it.” KARREN BRADY, who blazed a trail for women executives in English football, has stepped down as vice-chair of Premier League strugglers West Ham bringing down the curtain on her 16 years at the club. The 57-year-old’s decision also ends a long association with West Ham co-owner David Sullivan which dates back to when she persuaded him and the late David Gold to buy Birmingham City in 1993. Aged just 23 at the time, she became managing director of the club in a revolutionary moment for a male dominated sport. Brady left Birmingham in 2009 when Sullivan and Gold sold the club – but a year later they were together again at West Ham. Perhaps the most significant singular achievement by Brady off the pitch during her time at the Hammers was playing a leading role in them leasing the London Stadium which helped propel West Ham into the top 20 wealthiest clubs in the world, according to Deloitte. On the pitch they have been in the Premier League since the 2012/13 campaign and won the Europa Conference League in 2023, their first major trophy since the 1980 FA Cup. Trailblazer Brady to leave Hammers

Mbappe on the mark Madrid sink Alaves to close gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona K YLIAN MBAPPE and Vinicius Junior scored as Real Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 yesterday to cling on to their slim hopes of catching Barcelona in La Liga. Mbappe struck his league-lead La Liga, in part because of a knee injury, coincided with arch-rivals Barcelona streaking clear at the top. Madrid faced early pressure from relegation-threatened Alaves, who were unbeaten in four matches.

Catalans need leaders to fulfil Flick’s dream BARCELONA require leaders on the pitch if they are to achieve their coach Hansi Flick’s dream of win ning the Champions League, the German said yesterday. The 61-year-old was speaking a week after his Champions League dream was dashed for a second successive season – this time ousted in the quarterfinals by La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid. Flick – whose side went out in the semi-finals last season to Inter Milan – guided Barcelona to the domestic double last term and his charges are on course for retaining their league title. “It is not an excuse but in the business end of the campaign in March and April, it is very impor tant to have all the players avail able,” he said. “Against Atletico we were missing Frenkie (de Jong) and Raphinha. Last year we had Inigo (Martinez), who was a great leader. “We need these type of players, capable of providing leadership on the pitch, to speak up during matches, in the quarterfinals or semifinals of the Champions League, and to show the way.” Flick added the team, largely made up of players who came through the club’s youth system, were “young” and must “learn” from each defeat in order to pro gress. “I believe we can do it, we have a fantastic team for the years ahead, and one must make the right decisions, notably in the transfer market,” he said. Flick would not go into any fur ther detail on the type of forward Barcelona will be looking to recruit nor on his future even if he hopes his “contract is extended” in what he repeated would be his “last job”. – AFP

Angel Perez broke in behind the home defence before strangely opting to pass instead of shooting with just Andriy Lunin blocking his path to goal. Martinez then tested the Real keeper after finding a pocket of space. Mbappe put Madrid ahead when his effort from just outside the box clipped a defender and wrong-footed Antonio Sivera. The France captain then had an attempt beaten away by Sivera and Eder Militao clipped the crossbar, injuring himself in the process and having to go off before the break. Martinez nearly levelled for Alaves when he poked a cross against the post, with his follow-up strike clawed out by Lunin. Vinicius hammered in from 25 yards to give Madrid breath ing space, and Brahim

ing 24th goal, but first since early February, with a deflected shot on the half hour at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vinicius lashed in a second from distance early in the second half, which proved crucial as Alaves pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Toni Martinez. The victory ended a two match winless run in La Liga for Madrid and moved them back to within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Celta Vigo overnight. “We have six matches coming up, the next one in three days. The aim is to win those matches - that’s the goal we’ve set ourselves as a team,” said Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, whose position is under increasing scrutiny.

“I don’t care much about what’s at stake for me personally. What matters to me is what’s at stake for Real Madrid.” Madrid are star

Diaz was denied by a bril liant headed clearance off the goalline. Alaves continued to toil away as Victor Parada’s diving header hit

the upright. Martinez netted a consolation with an inventive flick in stoppage time before loud jeers greeted the final whistle in Madrid. Elsewhere, Real Betis came from behind to triumph 3-2 at Girona as Rodrigo Riquelme bagged the winner 10 minutes from time.

ing down the barrel of a second consecutive season without a major trophy following last week’s Champions League quarterfinal exit at the hands of Bayern Munich. Mbappe

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in action during yesterday’s La Liga match against Deportivo. – REUTERSPIC

scored in both legs of

that 6-4 aggregate defeat but a barren patch in Gorka Guruzeta’s first-half goal lifted Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Osasuna, while Mallorca and Valencia drew 1-1. – AFP Pulisic says US team strongest yet ahead World Cup

CHRISTIAN PULISIC believes the current United States team is the strongest he has been part of, with the AC Milan forward saying the squad’s quality and depth should give Americans plenty of reason for optimism ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Pulisic, long the face of US football, said the team was in a good place as attention begins to build around a tournament that will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. “I think you could say so,” Pulisic told Reuters when asked if this was the best US team he has been a part of. “Looking at the guys playing at the highest levels and doing extremely well at their clubs, and

something I’ve been doing since I was 17 years old. “I’m very proud to be an American and am grateful for everything this country has given me. I just want to give everything back and hopefully make some people proud.” With expectations growing for the co-hosts, Pulisic was reluctant to define success by a specific finishing point, saying only that the first objective was to advance from the group stage before taking the tournament one game at a time. Still, his message to supporters was clear. “The team’s in a good place. People should be excited and hopefully ready to cheer us on.” – Reuters

friends there, there’s just nothing more you can ask for,“ he said. The 27-year-old said he hopes American fans can give the team a major lift when the tournament begins. The US face Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. “I know the energy in the stadiums is going to be great,”he said.“We want to take as much of that as we can, take that motivation and push to make the American people proud.” Pulisic, who has represented the US since his teenage years, said wearing the national team shirt still carries deep meaning. “Representing the US and being able to wear that crest, I don’t take it lightly,” he said. “It’s

I think for sure you have a really, really strong squad and depth as well,” he said. “Multiple guys that can play in every position. It’s a very strong team.” Pulisic and coach Mauricio Pochettino will lead a squad that is expected to include fellow forwards Folarin Balogun and Tim Weah, midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards, and goalkeepers Matt Freese and Matt Turner. For Pulisic, the chance to play a World Cup in the United States adds another layer of motivation to the sport’s biggest event. “A World Cup is enough motivation in itself and having it in the U.S., having my family and close