Sport

AUNZ2023: Argentina Forces Bayana Bayana of South Africa to 2-2 Draw in Group G.

Published

3 years ago

July 28, 2023

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Argentina on Friday forced South Africa to 2-2 draw at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in a match full of guts in a group G match of the current FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Thembi Kgatlana ran rings around the Argentine defence and found Linda Motihalo who plies her trade in Glasgow scored 30th minute with the side foot and it took some time for the VAR to verify the goal.

South Africa scored again at 45+7th minute from a good combination that found Kgatlana but it was ruled offside

Kgatlana of Louisville FC scored the second goal for South Africa in the 60th minute when Jermaine Seoposenwe grabbed the ball from a defender and laced a pass for her.

Argentina woke up from a deep slumber of a possible defeat when Bosengundo dribbled into the box and found Sophia Braun, a Defender for Leon FC who shot into the top corner of the net in 74th minute for their first goal.

Argentina equalized 79th minute when Rodriguez came from the right with a cross that found substitute Romina Nunez who scored with a header.

Argentina was at the 2003, 2007 and 2019 games but never went beyond the group stages. The team came from three goals down behind to draw Scotland in 2019 and have to avoid defeat in this tournament. Nigeria showed Argentina class in 1995 and 2015.

Argentina had been winless in 11 all-time matches at the World Cup drawing 3 (including against South Africa) and losing 8 matches played by any team without a win. The team has the most games played at the world cup without a win (played 11 matches, drew 3 and lost 8) and they failed to score in 7 of those 11 games.

South Africa scored the opening goal in three of their five matches at the world cup including their two matches in this tournament.

Sweden had beaten South Africa 2-1 on the 23rd in the group opener and Italy piped Argentina 1-0. The second match of the second round is between Sweden and Italy scheduled for Wellington Regional Stadium tomorrow Saturday with Wales Ref Cheryl Foster going to be in charge. The 3rd round matches in group G will be played simultaneously on 2nd August with Argentina facing Sweden at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton and South Africa tackling Italy in a most win encounter at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Sweden leads the group with 3 points from a match scoring 2 goals and conceding one; Italy is 2nd with 3 points from a match scoring a goal and conceding none; South Africa is 3rd with a point scoring 3 goals and conceding 4 while Argentina is 4th with a point scoring 2 goals and conceding 3.

The credentials of the School Teacher Referee who handled the match between Argentina and South Africa, Anna – Marie Keighley of New Zealand is unique. She officiated at 2014 World U17 cup; 2018 world U20 cup and 2022 U20 world cup. She was also at the 2019 tournament in France.

Keighley was criticized for awarding penalty to Japan for a foul that occurred outside the penalty area in the match between Japan versus England in the 2015 semifinal of the FIFA women’s world cup.

By Eniola Olatunji

Sport

Transfer News: Chelsea Sets Price Tag For Argentina Star

Published

1 week ago

July 12, 2026

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Chelsea are prepared to sell their Argentine star and they have set a price tag.

Chelsea have placed a €50 million valuation on Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentina international winger linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the West London club have established a dual-pricing structure for the 22-year-old. If a Premier League rival expresses interest, Chelsea will demand a £45 million fee. However, the club are willing to accept a slightly lower figure of around €50 million (£42.6 million) from foreign clubs.

Garnacho is not in the plans of newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso. The winger failed to report for the first day of pre-season training, staying away to actively explore an exit strategy alongside his representatives.

The impending transfer concludes a 12-month tenure in West London. Garnacho originally joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2025 for a reported €46.2 million (£39.4 million) fee. He signed a long-term contract tying him to the club until June 30, 2032.

Despite the financial investment, he never established himself in the starting lineup. During the 2025/26 season, he registered eight goals and four assists across 43 appearances in all competitions. His domestic output was poor, starting just 14 Premier League matches and three in the UEFA Champions League and scoring only one league goal throughout the campaign

International News

Iran squad travel to Turkey for friendlies, US visas

Published

2 months ago

May 18, 2026

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Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match and apply for visas to fly to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Iranian media reported.

The team plan to participate in the tournament despite co-host Washington having launched a war against Iran with a massive wave of attacks alongside ally Israel on February 28.

The fighting has been on hold for weeks thanks to a ceasefire, but peace talks have failed to make a breakthrough and new drone attacks against Gulf countries at the weekend combined with threats from US President Donald Trump raising fears of a return to fighting.

The team “departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

– ‘Let ’em play’ –

Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then the United States has twice launched attacks on the country.

US officials have insisted that Iran is welcome at the tournament, while organiser FIFA has said it will go ahead as planned and rejected Iranian suggestions that their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

“I think let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with Iranian players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting they may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organisation.

Last month, officials from Iran’s football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.

One of their delegation, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada has also designated a terror group.

The Iranian football team hope to play two friendlies in Antalya.

They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

“No visas have been issued yet,” Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, told Iranian media on Thursday.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the federation, describing it as constructive, as did Taj.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, who are in Group G, are due to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

AFP

International News

Man U In Three Players Swap Deal As Club Forfeits Financial Boost

Published

3 months ago

April 30, 2026

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AC Milan will consider three Manchester United players as part of a swap deal for Rafael Leao, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The outlet claim that United have already made contact with agents over a potential deal for Leao this summer, but their first choice target is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

However, Leao could be an easier deal to do, with Milan now ready to listen to offers for the winger. The Italian side are reportedly asking for around €50 million (£43.3m) but their interest in three United players could possibly lead to a swap deal.

Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford are all mentioned. All three players are expected to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact since his move from Bologna, while Rashford has spent the season on loan with Barcelona. The Spanish side have the option to make the move permanent for £26 million but they are looking less and less likely to trigger it.

United could therefore be looking for sale in the summer. Using him as part of a swap for Leao could be seen as a solution.

United have forfeited a financial boost from a friendly against RB Leipzig. Sky Germany report that as part of the agreement between the two sides over striker Benjamin Sesko, a friendly match must be played.

But instead of United financially benefitting from the game, Leipzig will instead receive all of the revenue. It’s reported that the game must be played within the ‘next few years’.

United completed a deal for Sesko last summer, paying a fee of around £66.3million. However, Sky Germany report that it is now set to rise to £74 million with add-ons.

It’s claimed that there will be around £3.5 million in bonuses for things such as appearances, goals and Champions League qualification.

In his first season with the club, Sesko has scored 11 times, in 31 appearances in all competitions. He scored what turned out to be the winning goal in Monday night’s win over Brentford.