MLS: New England trounce struggling Inter Miami, Vela nets as LAFC lose to Timbers

Arnor Traustason netted a brace as New England Revolution piled on four first-half goals in a 5-0 thrashing of struggling Inter Miami in the MLS on Wednesday.

The Revolution improved their record, with back-to-back wins, to the best in the MLS with 30 points from 15 games, sitting atop the Eastern Conference.

Inter are bottom of the east, with only eight points from 14 games, having lost their past six.

Carles Gil provided the assist, his 11th of the season, for Traustason s 15th-minute header, before Teal Bunbury fired in a 27th minute goal from Inter goalkeeper Nick Marsman s parry.

Icelandic midfielder Traustason grabbed his second in the 36th minute, whipping in a shot after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.

Gil was crafty on the right side …

Napoli Pay Classy Tribute to Late Davide Astori (Video)

The 2017/18 season turned out to be an extremely difficult one for the Serie A sides, especially Fiorentina who tragically lost their captain Davide Astori back in March.

The footballing world united in sorrow with clubs mourning the death of the Italian footballer who will never be forgotten.

Serie A hotshots Napoli travelled to Fiorentina this weekend and took their time before the match to pay a classy tribute to Astori.

The players brought flowers onto the pitch before kick off and were greeted with a standing ovation in appreciation from the Fiorentina faithful.



Solskjaer slams United for testimonial-like performance

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave a scathing assessment of Manchester United s first-half display in Sunday s 2-0 loss to Watford, likening the performance to a testimonial.

United went into the match aiming to keep the pressure on the Premier League s top four and bounce back from an underwhelming draw with Everton.

But at Vicarage Road they produced an insipid display, with two goals early in the second half doing the damage – David de Gea fumbling an Ismaila Sarr volley into the net, before Troy Deeney converted a penalty.

Paul Pogba at least provided some impetus for the Red Devils after his 64th-minute introduction, but it was too little, too late, with Watford holding on to a first win under Nigel Pearson.

Solskjaer was particularly unimpressed with Unite…

Gerrard urges critics to ease off Henderson

Steven Gerrard believes critics of Jordan Henderson need to lay off the current Liverpool captain.

England midfielder Henderson, who took over the captaincy at Anfield following Gerrard s departure to LA Galaxy in 2015, had been criticised by sections of Liverpool s support following a poor start to 2016-17.

However, the former Sunderland man has re-found his form in recent weeks, netting a stunning strike in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month, and Gerrard believes that the criticism of Henderson was unnecessary.

I think criticism happens a lot in football, I ve had it myself, Gerrard told Radio City Talk. It s all about different eras.

We see players described as the next Paul Gascoigne, the next Bobby Moore. People have got to ju…

Chile deserved vital win, says two-goal Vidal

Arturo Vidal believes Chile deserved their 2-1 win over Peru as they got their 2018 World Cup qualifying bid back on track.

After winning their opening two games, La Roja has tasted victory just once in seven matches prior to their clash with Peru on Tuesday.

However, Vidal his country s one shining light in a difficult campaign netted both goals and insists the South American champions are firing on all cylinders again.

I m happy because the team returned to winning ways, and this is deserved, he said afterwards. Today was a good game.

We went back to what we have done before, when we won two championships [2015, 2016 Copa Americas]. The team is very involved [in the qualification race] and we hope to reach the World Cup.

[This win] is best en…

Conte expects fierce Serie A title battle

Juventus manager Antonio Conte is anticipating his side s recent dominance of Serie A to be challenged next season.

Conte has guided Juventus to consecutive Italian titles since taking over in 2011.

The Turin club start their 2013-14 campaign at Sampdoria on August 25.

Conte s men finished nine points clear of second-place Napoli last season, but the 44-year-old is expecting a tougher fight next term.

The values of clubs are changing, our rivals are getting stronger, he told Gazzetta dello Sport. It will be a very open championship.

Juve, Milan and Inter are traditionally title contenders. Napoli have spent €75m-€80m and have reinforced with Rafael Benitez, a great coach who has won it all.

Fiorentina have legitimate hopes. Not only do they have …

Prediction: Real Madrid vs Liverpool

Verdict: Liverpool

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The most anticipated match of the season is upon us as Real Madrid and Liverpool prepare to lock horns in the Champions League final this Saturday. A mouth-watering clash between the two powerful sides will decided on who will get a privilege to lift the coveted trophy and place a crown on a difficult season already in the rearview mirror.

Real Madrid

Los Blancos have endured a difficult time domestically and will be looking to salvage the entire 2017/18 season with a win in Kyiv. Real Madrid are the Champions League defending champions and 12-time winners who are competing for their third successive European title. Having already eliminated the likes of PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich on their road to the final…

Rockets star Harden joins Houston Dynamo ownership group

James Harden has joined MLS club Houston Dynamo s ownership group.

The Dynamo announced on Thursday that the Houston Rockets superstar had become part of the group led by Gabriel Brener, also owners of the NWSL s Houston Dash.

Harden, arguably the face of Houston sports and winner of the NBA MVP award in 2018, joins six-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya in the group.

I m very excited about the opportunity to join the ownership group of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash and proud to be a part of a club with tremendous history and a great future,  Harden said in a statement.

Houston is my home now, and I saw this as a way to invest in my city and expand my business interests at the same time. Soccer in general, and especially MLS, have exploded in…

Total focus on Russia game, insists Ballack

Germany captain Michael Ballack insists his team will give everything they have to beat Russia in Moscow on October 10 and earn themselves an automatic place at the 2010 World Cup.

Germany are just one point clear at the top of the Group Four table ahead of deadly rivals Russia, but should Ballack s team beat the home side at Moscow s Luzhniki Stadium they will be uncatchable.

We are devoting all our focus, energy and commitment to the match, said the Chelsea star.

We can t let the artificial pitch be an excuse for us we ll just have to adapt to the conditions.

Russia have got a strong team and they have got results in the past, so we will have to be at our very best if we are to get something out of our trip to Moscow.

We re confident that w…

Terim set to quit as Turks fail to qualify

Turkey coach Fatih Terim said he will resign after his side, which failed to qualify for the World Cup finals after a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on Saturday, play their final qualifier against Armenia.

The match we play against Armenia will be my farewell match, said Terim on the Turkish federation s official website Sunday.

Turkey play Armenia in Bursa, northern Turkey on Wednesday but a win against the Group 5 basement side will not be sufficient.

With only three wins so far Turkey are third in the group, seven points behind play-off bound Bosnia-Herzegovina and 15 behind automatic qualifiers Spain.

Terim led Turkey to the semi-finals of the 2008 European championships, won by Spain, but in the World Cup qualifiers his side went from bad to worse having at…