POGBA WINNER HELPS FRANCE SECURE WIN OVER AUSTRALIA

France kicked-off their 2018 World Cup campaign in with a win. As one of the favorites, the 1998 Champs edged Australia 2-1 in their Group C opening match.

After a scoreless first half, both teams got going after the break.

Antoine Griezmann was taken down in the box, and the video assistant referee team was used to help the head official to call for a penalty. Griezmann converted the spot kick to give the French team the lead in the 58th minute.

A few minutes later, Australia was awarded a penalty after a handball by Samuel Umtiti. Mile Jedinak made no mistake from the spot to give Australia the equaliser.

As the match was heading for a draw, Paul Pogba sent the ball to the crossbar and crossed the line in the 81st minute.

A good fight by the Australians, but France had enough quality and luck to bag three points from the match.

Photo: FIFA

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RONALDO SCORES HATTRICK IN PORTUGAL-SPAIN WORLD CUP CLASSIC

Cristiano Ronaldo became the hero for Portugal again after his sterling perfomance earned his team a draw with Spain in a classic encounter at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Ronaldo got the opener from a penalty in the fourth minute after Nacho felled him in the box. Diego Costa scored in the 24th minute to drag Spain back into the match when they were at their most vulnerable.

Portugal took the lead again right before halftime when David de Gea made an unexpected error, fumbling a zipping Ronaldo shot through his gloves and crossed the line.

Spain responded through Costa again, the Atletico Madrid striker smashing in from Sergio Busquets' knockdown nine minutes after the match resumed. In the 58th minute, Nacho redeemed himself with a stunning volley from the edge of the area which seemed to have given Spain victory.

Just two minutes before the end, Ronaldo stepped in for a free kick. The Real Madrid forward's 88th-minute swerving set-piece soared into the top corner to deny the Spanish a much-needed victory. It was a titanic performance, a one-man show from one of the world's best, on the biggest stage of all.

Photo: FIFA

RUSSIA DEMOLISH SAUDI ARABIA IN WORLD CUP OPENER

For the first time, the world’s most popular sporting event heads to Russia and the hosts got their campaign off to the perfect start via a stunning 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

Two goals by substitute Denis Cheryshev, including an incredible stunner, as well as an outstanding performance from young star Aleksandr Golovin headlined the massive victory.

The job was done, and the hosts grabbed three valuable points at the biggest football’s showpiece for the first time since 2002. Two assists and a goal for rising star Golovin – an undoubted one to watch as this tournament progresses – and the perfect start to a World Cup on home soil.

Photo: FIFA

SELANGOR CLAIM 33RD MALAYSIA CUP TITLE IN STYLE

PIALA MALAYSIA: SELANGOR 2 - KEDAH 0

Selangor extended their Malaysia Cup winning record after beating Kedah 2-0 in the final on saturday. The Red Giants claimed their 33rd title at Shah Alam Stadium thanks to Hazwan Bakri's brace, and the brilliant tactical by Mehmet Durakovic.

Selangor did not take long to struck on the counter. Andik Vermansyah released the ball from his own half to Guilherme De Paula, whose lofted pass sent Hazwan sprinting down the right before applying a cool finish by dinking his shot over goalkeeper Firdaus. Kedah, nearly equalised just before the break but goalkeeper Norazlan Razali tipped Rizal Ghazali's drive over to preserve Selangor's lead.

As the match resumed, Hazwan was on target again after firing into the far corner past Firdaus from De Paula's through ball in the 48th minute. Kedah struggled to respond as substitute Farhan Roslan put a free-header over the bar in the 65th minute before Norazlan denied Sandro Da Silva Mendonca at point-blank range. When goalkeeper Firdaus was sent off with six minutes to go when he handled outside the box in blocking S. Veenod's shot, Kedah's hopes of a comeback disappeared.

The victory also means that Mehmet Durakovic becomes the first foreigner to win the Malaysia Cup as both player and coach, with the Australian also part of Selangor's triumphs in 1995 to 1997. 

Photos by: Khairol Rizal | Tigers Super Sports

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KEDAH BEAT FELDA UNITED FOR FINAL SPOT

PIALA MALAYSIA: KEDAH 2(4) - FELDA UNITED 1(3)

Kedah defeated Felda United 2-1 In the Malaysia Cup semi-finals, return-leg matche last night at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar. The Red Eagles got through to the final with a 4-3 on aggregate. Goals in by Chidi Edeh (44th) and Sandro da Silva (50th) were enough to keep the home side on course for a Premier League and Malaysia Cup double this season. Felda had earlier stunned Kedah with the opening goal by Syamim Yahya in the 39th minute.

Baddrol Bakhtiar, who missed the first leg through suspension, was the home team's best player in front of the sellout 30,000 crowd. The right-sided midfielder was at the heart of most of Kedah's attacking moves, supplying the crosses for forwards Edeh and Da Silva.

Felda United's hopes of drawing level were dashed in the 61st minute when veteran striker Indra Putra Mahayuddin was sent off after collecting his second yellow card for elbowing Shafizan Hashim in the face. Kedah will face Selangor in the Malaysia Cup final on 12 December at Shah Alam Stadium.

Photos by: Halil Lokman | Tigers Super Sports

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DURAKOVIC STEER SELANGOR INTO MALAYSIA CUP FINAL AGAIN

PIALA MALAYSIA: SELANGOR 2(2) - PAHANG 0(0)

Selangor overcame Pahang 2-0 at the Shah Alam Stadium in the Malaysia Cup semi-finals, return-leg match last night. The Super League's Red Giants will take on Premier League champions Kedah in the final at the Shah Alam Stadium on Dec 12.

Selangor took the lead in the 11th minute through Brazilian striker Guilherme De Paula. Pahang could not find the equaliser against the solid defending home side. The Red Giants wen into the break with a slim advantage.

Mehmet Durakovic side were quick to double the advantage in the second half. Muhammad Nazmi Faiz Mansor found the net just 9 minute after the match resumed. The Elephants made some dangerous attempts towards Selangor's goal.

Selangor held on brilliantly to secure a deserving 2-0 win over Pahang, and moved on closer to ending their 10-year wait for the coveted Malaysia Cup. The Klang Valley giants hold the record of having won the Malaysia Cup the most number of times - 32 – but they have not tasted success since beating Perlis 3-0 in the 2005 final.

Photos by: Khairol Rizal | Tigers Super Sports

FELDA UNITED DESTROY JDT'S TREBLE DREAM

PIALA MALAYSIA: JOHOR DT 1 - FELDA UNITED 2

*Felda United win with 3-2 agregate

 

Johor DT failed to take full advantage of playing at home against Felda United in the second leg match of the Malaysia Cup quarterfinals at Stadium Larkin. Earlier, in the first leg match held at Selayang Stadium both teams were tied at 1-1, where JDT had the advantage of an away goal, and had a better chance to advance into the semifinals.

The Fighters was awarded a penalty in the 4th minutes, which Thiago Augusto Fernandes converted to put the team ahead, before the JDT's captain Safiq Rahim scored an equalizing goal in the 50th minute. The Southern Tigers were shocked again by the Irfan Bakti's men, and this time via the Liberian import player, Zah Rahan Krangar, who popped up to score in the 76th minute.  

Felda United held on and successfully knocked the Southern Tigers out of the competition with 3-2 aggregate. The Fighters will meet Kedah in the semi-final.  Kedah, the Premier League champions beats PKNS FC 2-1 at the Selayang Stadium to reach the semi-final.

Photos by: Hafiz Hassan | Tigers Super Sports

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SELANGOR KNOCK SARAWAK OUT OF MALAYSIA CUP

PIALA MALAYSIA: SELANGOR 1 - SARAWAK 1

*Selangor win with 3-2 agregate

 

Selangor continued to chase their 33rd Malaysia Cup dream after holding Sarawak to a 1-1 draw last night in Shah Alam Stadium.  With advantage of two away goals in the first leg in Kuching and played in front of their fans, the Red Giants took full advantage to qualify into the last four.

Sarawak were ahead in the 22nd minutes with a goal scored by Ashri Chuchu, and Selangor was however equalized 6 minutes later through striker, Afiq Azmi. The score remained until the 90th minutes and the Red Giants booked the semi-final spot after beating Sarawak 3-2 in aggregate.  Selangor will have a tough task in their semi-final match, which they will face the defending champion, Pahang.

Photos by: Syamsul Bahrein | Tigers Super Sports

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FELDA UNITED HELD BY JDT IN FIRST LEG

​​PIALA MALAYSIA: FELDA UNITED 1 - JOHOR DT 1

Felda United wasted an opportunity to claim a first leg advantage after being held to a draw by Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) in Selayang yesterday. The Fighters showed a very good performance against the newly crowned AFC Cup Champions. However, both sides could not find the net in the first 45 minutes.

Irfan Bakti changed Felda United into a more offensive approach in the second half. Fernandes Thiago Augusto broke the duck after four minutes to give the home side the goal they needed.

JDT started to show their true capabilities. Mario Gomez sent in Amirul Hadi zainal in the final twenty minutes to add sparks into the Southern Tigers attack. The substitute finally paid off as Amirul scored the equaliser late in the injury time. JDT will carry the away goal advantage to Larkin for the second leg match this Saturday. 

Photos by: Hafiz Othman | Tigers Super Sports

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SELANGOR CLAIM IMPORTANT WIN IN KUCHING

PIALA MALAYSIA: SARAWAK 1 - SELANGOR 2

Selangor recorded a valuable win in Kuching after beating Sarawak in the Malaysia Cup first leg semi final match. The Red Giants will also carry two away goals when they entertain the Hornbills in Shah Alam this Saturday. The visitor dominated the first half. Ahmad Hazwan Bakri opened the scoring after 35 minutes to give Selangor the lead.

Sarawak came on after the break with a goal down. The home side pulled back with a goal by Billy Mehmet in the 59th minute. Selangor did not show any sign of going for a draw. The visitors finally found the net again in the last minute through Muhammad Afiq Azmi. The result means Sarawak will have a mountain to climb in the return leg at shah Alam Stadium.

Photos by: Fadzil Hisham | Tigers Super Sports

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