Sports
Nunez upstages Haaland as Liverpool beat Manchester City to win Community Shield
Liverpool new boy Darwin Nunez drew the first blood in the battle of the super-signings with an encouraging 30-minute cameo on Saturday.
He capped it with the final goal in a 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield match played at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, UK.
Manchester City, last season’s English Premier League (EPL) champions, and Liverpool, the English FA and League Cup winners, both paraded their big-money acquisitions in this match.
But it was the Uruguay international who upstaged Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, after he came off the bench in the 59th minute with the score at 1-1.
His aerial presence won the late penalty kick from which Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front for a second time.
But the former Benfica striker, having earlier been denied a goal by Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, was not finished there.
He stooped to head home his first goal for the Reds in domestic competition in added time.
“I liked the game a lot, but most of the time Manchester City games against us are cool to watch,” Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp said later.
“We played the smart passes. We saw Nunez in dangerous situations. He used the spaces and finished well too.”
One new Manchester City signing did make his mark —- former River Plate forward Julian Alvarez —- climbing off the bench to cancel out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s opener.
But the focus was really on the big men upfront.
The traditional season curtain-raiser played out as expected with the country’s top two sides going at it once again.
But it was the nuance of what the new signings might bring which attracted the intrigue.
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 matches for Borussia Dortmund before his move to the Manchester.
He is likely to add many more for Manchester City once he and they have adjusted to each other.
The Norway international had the fewest touches of any player in the first half —- eight —- and the service he received throughout was scant.
But that did not mean he was not a threat.
When Andy Robertson initially dispossessed him from Bernardo Silva’s cross, the 22-year-old reacted quickest to fire in a shot which third-choice goalkeeper Adrian batted away.
His next attempt moments later from another Silva cross did not go so well.
It came to him at an awkward height and he could not decide what to do with it and completely mis-kicked.
But he saved his worst for last when he blasted against the crossbar when faced with an open goal six yards out in added time.
Nunez, however, justified Klopp’s decision to continue his integration from the bench.
READ ALSO: Manchester United smile again, defeat Liverpool
The 23-year-old scored four second-half goals in a pre-season friendly against RB Leipzig but that was not enough to persuade his manager to start him from the off.
But when he was introduced he was a bundle of energy and, unlike Manchester City with Haaland, Liverpool seemed to be better equipped to supplement his talents.
With virtually his first touch he was brought down by Ederson, who was spared by an offside flag.
Then the Manchester City goalkeeper had to race out to block Nunez’s shot with his chest after Jordan Henderson played him through.
Nunez is more a traditional number nine and less the multi-functional player Klopp usually prefers, but that can work to his advantage.
When he climbed highest to head down, the ball struck the arm of Ruben Dias.
Referee Craig Pawson waved away handball claims but having been advised to consult the pitchside monitor he awarded a penalty kick and Salah swept past Ederson.
But Nunez was not finished there and his poacher’s instinct saw him stoop to head home Robertson’s knockdown in added time.
It was a pulsating finish to a game which had ebbed and flowed, with Alexander-Arnold putting Liverpool ahead in the 21st minute.
Thiago Alcantara’s cross was killed instantly under the foot of Salah, whose pass rolled invitingly into the path of the full-back.
He whipped a shot which just flicked off the head of Nathan Ake on its way in via the far post.
Manchester City improved in the second half and Alvarez, introduced at the same time as Nunez, equalised in the 70th minute.
That was after Adrian saved Phil Foden’s initial effort but fumbled the rebound.
VAR checked offside and, although the goalkeeper appeared to have two hands on the ball, after a lengthy delay the goal was ruled legitimate.
It meant the new signing followed in the exalted footsteps of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez as only the third Argentinian to score in the Community Shield.
He will, however, still play second fiddle to Haaland while Nunez has begun the process of establishing himself as Liverpool’s long-term option upfront.
Nunez will also help in ensuring the sale of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich quickly becomes an afterthought.(dpa/NAN)
FIFA’s Head of Refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has firmly defended the integrity and independence of match officials at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing allegations of bias following Argentina’s controversial 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.
The governing body responded after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and head coach Hossam Hassan questioned several refereeing decisions that proved decisive in Tuesday’s dramatic encounter, with Egypt accusing officials of applying double standards.
SEE ALSO: Trump Reacts as FIFA Clears Balogun to Face Belgium in World Cup Clash
The North Africans looked set for a famous victory after racing into a two-goal lead before defending champions Argentina staged a stunning comeback, capped by Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Following the defeat, Hassan suggested there may have been pressure to ensure Lionel Messi and Argentina remained in the tournament, while the EFA formally called on FIFA to investigate what it described as inconsistent officiating.
Reacting to the claims, Collina insisted that while football welcomes debate over refereeing decisions, questioning the integrity of match officials is unacceptable.
“Constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport,” Collina said.
He warned that such accusations could expose referees and their families to abuse and threats.
“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right,” he added.
The former Italian referee also dismissed suggestions that FIFA’s refereeing department could be influenced by senior officials, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
According to Collina, referees operate independently and are trusted to make honest decisions without interference.
Addressing Egypt’s complaints, Collina explained that VAR correctly ruled out Mostafa Zico’s goal because of an earlier foul by Marwan Attia during the attacking phase.
He also defended the decision not to award Mohamed Salah a foul in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal, saying both the referee and VAR agreed it was “normal football contact” after Julian Alvarez had first played the ball.
Although he acknowledged that some decisions will always involve an element of subjectivity, Collina expressed confidence in the application of VAR throughout the tournament.
Argentina will now continue their title defence in the quarter-finals, while Egypt exits the competition still frustrated by the officiating decisions that overshadowed an enthralling Round of 16 clash.
Norway pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday night, defeating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland inspired the Scandinavian side with a brilliant second-half brace at MetLife Stadium, ending Brazil’s hopes of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
After a tightly contested encounter, Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with a powerful header to give Norway the lead.
SEE ALSO: Trump Reacts as FIFA Clears Balogun to Face Belgium in World Cup Clash
Brazil’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the closing moments when Haaland struck again in the 90th minute, sealing a famous victory for Norway and sending them into the last eight of the tournament.
The result marks one of the competition’s biggest surprises, with Norway eliminating one of the pre-tournament favourites to continue their impressive World Cup campaign.
Norway will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, while Brazil bow out of the tournament with their quest for a sixth World Cup crown brought to an abrupt end.
United States President Donald Trump has welcomed FIFA’s decision to suspend the red card issued to USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing the forward to feature in the country’s crucial Round of 16 clash against Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA announced the decision on Sunday, overturning the suspension that would have ruled Balogun out of Monday’s knockout encounter after he was sent off during the USA’s match against Bosnia last week.
SEE MORE: Fresh Report Warns Nigeria May Miss Another World Cup If Current NFF Stays
The development comes as a major boost for the United States, with Balogun expected to play a key role in the team’s bid to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Reacting shortly after FIFA’s announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to praise the governing body for what he described as the right decision.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote.
Balogun’s availability is expected to strengthen the American attack against Belgium in one of the standout fixtures of the World Cup Round of 16.
The striker has been a key figure for the USA throughout the tournament, and his return provides a timely boost as the team prepares for one of its toughest tests in the competition.
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