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Falcons missed the chance to win Group as Matildas wallop Canada to assume summit

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Following a goalless draw in their final group game against the RepublicofIreland, Nigeria representatives in the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup, Super Falcons progress from Group B as runner-up to co host, Australia. Forward Asisat Oshoala missed two great chances, one in either half while Uchenna Kanu forced a very good save off the Republic of Ireland Goalkeeper, Courtney Brosnan moments after the restart. Despite being the lowest ranked nation in the group, Nigeria finished the group campaign with an unbeaten record, while also keeping two clean sheets in the three games played. The result takes Randy Waldrum's side up to five points, enough to qualify as runner-up to Australia, who humiliated Olympics champion, Canada in the other game of the group. The co host stormed into an early lead inside the opening ten minutes as the Candaians failed to deal with a Steph Catley's low ball into cross, which finds it's way to Hayley Rasso to make it 1-0. The Matildas double t...

Japan annihilate Spain to topple Group C as Zambia earn historical consolation

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Japan walloped Spain by four goals to nothing to seal passage into the round of 16 as winners of Group C, leaving the European nation to claim second spot. Despite dominating for most part of the game, Spain were no match for their clinical and energetic Asian opponent, who stormed into an early lead through Hitana Miyazawa inside the opening 12 minute. The lead was doubled one minute before the half hour mark as Riko Ueki scored her second goal of the ongoing tournament from a Miyazawa assist. Ueki repaid the favour five minutes from the end of the normal time of the first half as she turned provider for Miyazawa to complete her brace and become the outright top scorer in the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup with four goals. Substitute, Mina Tanaka scored eight minutes from time to complete the decimation of Jorge Vilda's side, who succumb to second spot and finish as runner-up. In the other game of the group, played for the culture, there was time for Zambia to make history as ...

Oshoala, Benzina and Jraïdi hit the headlines for historical Africans as global giants close to progression

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As if the shockers were not enough for the first round, the second round of group games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off to another one of the unexpected. Of the highlights, Nigeria win a first ever game from losing position for the first time in the country's history while Morocco also enjoyed an historical moment in their win over South Korea, which was also their first ever in the tournament. Banyana Banyana of South Africa disappointed having surrendered a two goal lead against Argentina but Zambia reached the lowest of lows as they were again humbled in another 5-0 debacle to Spain. Starting this time with The Phillipines, who were humbled by Switzerland on debut, upset co-host, New Zealand to turn the Group A on its head after Norway's failure to beat Switzerland afterwards. Norway, the highest ranked nation in the group now have to beat The Philippines by good margins in their final group game to seal progression into the round of 16 as after two games, any of t...

History, excitement, milestones but all good things eventually end as class topples in Group A

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Switzerland and Norway seals next round spot as New Zealand misses out on history on home soil but The Philippines will have no complains, even after their tournament ends with a debacle. Switzerland and Norway have both qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16 from Group A as winners and runner up respectively while New Zealand exit the tournament. The Swiss, who kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win over the Phillipines were able to add two more with draws against both Norway and host, New Zealand. Norway, despite their shocking loss to New Zealand in the tournament's curtain raiser and failure to beat Switzerland in their second game, needed a win of distant margin to be assured of progression if result in the other game didn't go their way. They set out with intent against The Phillipines and scored three goals in the opening 30 minutes thanks to a brace from hat-trick hero, Sophie Roman Haug and one more from Barcelona's Caroline Hansen. Three more goals...

Arsenal closing in on another major signing in Brazilian maestro, Bitello

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Arsenal are progressing well in talks with Brazilian side, Gremio for the signing of 23 year old playmaker, João Paulo de Souza Mares, commonly known as Bitello. First contact was made last month and a fee of around €8 million has been discussed between both club, with agreement seemingly very close. There's been a breakthrough in negotiations but Arsenal's focus on outgoings, has seen the deal delayed so far. The Gunners are in no rush to complete the deal as they have been fortunate to land their priorities, with Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice all joining earlier in the window. Arsenal will take their time but the deal is odds on to happen. “Yeah that is progressing, it is going a bit slow. I think Arsenal have had other issues they’ve been dealing with. It’s not an expensive deal, Gremio are looking for a €10m (£7.5m) deal, it is a deal Edu has picked out,” says 90 mins correspondant, Graeme Bailey. “they really want the player, they like him a lot, they’ve done...

Clinical Barcelona humbles Real Madrid in front of a record crowd in Texas

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An eventful match, inside the AT and T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in the United States sees Barcelona emerge winners with three beautiful goals, against their Clasico rivals, Real Madrid. Despite having the better opportunities, Real Madrid were unable to beat Marc Andre Ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal as the German, and the woodwork ensure there's nothing for Los Blancos in the match. Moreso, Barcelona made it three consecutive Clasico wins for those played in the US having won the previous two held in Miami in 2017 and Las Vegas last summer. This time, the margin is bigger and to add to the excitement, it came in front of a record crowd for a Clasico match played in the United States as 82,026 fans made their way into the AT and T Stadium for the showpiece. Barcelona took an early lead after 14 minutes from a routine free-kick. It was taken short with the ball finding its way to Pedri, who teed up Ousmane Dembele to fire home from a very difficult angle. Less than five minutes ...

UEFA grants Barcelona the go-ahead to compete in next season's Champions League

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UEFA has on Thursday officially granted Football Club Barcelona the provisional clearance to participate in the 2023-24 Champions League edition amidst refereeing controversy in Spain. Was it ever in doubt that the Catalan giants will compete in Europe's most prestigious club competition next season after qualifying, even as so as winners of the LaLiga ? Well, maybe YES. The club had been under investigation since March following a complaint filed by Spanish Prosecutors over alleged payments Barcelona made from 2001 to 2018 totalling 7.3 million euros ($8.02 million) to firms owned by former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. Barcelona, who was crashed out in the group stages of the previous two Champions League campaigns is also under the watch of UEFA, for a potential violation of the body's legal framework. However, on Thursday, the governing body of European football released an official statement, clearing the five times Champions League winner to take part ...