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.
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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)
Portuguese football tactician Carlos Queiroz has made a surprise return as head coach of Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars.
The Ghana Football Association announced the 73-year-old’s reappointment on Thursday, weeks after he appeared to signal his departure from the team following their exit from the FIFA World Cup.
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Queiroz took charge of Ghana in April and guided the Black Stars to the last 32 of the tournament before they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Shortly after the loss, the Portuguese coach appeared to announce his departure on social media.
However, following subsequent discussions, the Ghana FA has decided to bring him back for another spell.
The duration of Queiroz’s new contract was not disclosed, but the football association said he would be tasked with preparing the Black Stars for “a successful new phase on the international stage.”
The GFA said Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars made him the right man to lead the team into its next chapter.
Queiroz has managed several national teams, including Portugal, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, Colombia and Qatar.
He also had two spells as assistant manager at Manchester United under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
His immediate priority will be Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin later this month.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia, although the dates and venues for their opening two matches are yet to be announced.
The Ghana FA said further details on Queiroz’s mandate would be released in due course.
Nigerian winger Femi Azeez has completed a remarkable rise from non-league football to the Premier League after joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Millwall on a four-year contract.
The transfer, for an undisclosed fee, was completed after Brighton and Millwall submitted a deal sheet before the initial 11pm transfer deadline, extending the window until 1am on Wednesday.
Azeez, 25, joins Brighton following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Millwall, where he played a key role in the club’s push for the Championship play-offs.
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The Nigerian made 77 appearances for Millwall, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists. His impressive performances also earned him places in the PFA and EFL Championship Teams of the Season.
Brighton sporting director Mike Cave welcomed Azeez to the club, describing him as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship.
“We are delighted to add Femi to the squad. He arrives off the back of an excellent season with Millwall, having played a key role for them as they finished in the playoffs,” Cave said.
“He was one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship, and we’re delighted to have finally agreed his transfer, and we now look forward to working with him.”
Azeez’s journey to the Premier League has been unconventional. After spending time in Watford’s youth setup, he moved into non-league football with Northwood before spells at Wealdstone and Hanwell Town.
He subsequently earned a move to Reading in 2019 before joining Millwall in 2024, steadily working his way up the English football pyramid.
The winger has also made a strong start to his international career with Nigeria. On his senior debut in June, Azeez scored both goals in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Four days later, he provided an assist as Nigeria defeated Jamaica 3-0.
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been convicted of drink-driving in Gran Canaria, Spain, after a court found him to have been driving with an alcohol level more than three times above the legal limit.
A court source confirmed the conviction to AFP on Wednesday, stating that the 23-year-old centre-back was fined €14,400 ($16,700) and had his driving licence suspended for eight months.
The case followed an incident on August 16 and was heard at a trial in San Bartolome de Tirajana, a village in Gran Canaria.
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Asencio, who is from the Canary Islands, was not with Real Madrid’s squad at the time of the incident as he was recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the end of July.
The conviction comes amid another legal case involving the defender. Asencio is due to face a separate court hearing in Gran Canaria over the alleged non-consensual sharing of a sexual video dating back to 2023.
Spanish media reports say Asencio expects to be cleared in that case if the two women filmed in the video formally forgive him.
Three former Real Madrid reserve players are also on trial over allegations that they recorded and distributed the video. The trial is scheduled for September 3, 4 and 7.
The latest conviction adds to a difficult period for the young Real Madrid defender, who has been dealing with both injury and legal issues off the pitch.
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