Soccer

By The Associated Press Mon., Feb. 18, 2019 LONDON—Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba each scored first-half goals as Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-0 on Monday at Stamford Bridge to advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. United, which has lost just once in interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 13 games in charge, has reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the fifth consecutive season. A rematch of last year’s final won by Chelsea, Herrera put United ahead in the 31st minute and Pogba came through just before halftime to double the lead. United had not played since losing 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the opening leg of the Champions League round of 16 last week — a defeat that ended Solskjaer’s unbeaten start. “You want to see a reaction,” Solskjaer said Monday. “There’s a balance between being too eager (and not) after losing a game, so this was brilliant.” Article Continued Below … [Read more...] about Manchester United kicks Chelsea from FA Cup as fans boo manager Maurizio Sarri

By Neil Davidson The Canadian Press Mon., Feb. 18, 2019 According to Lonely Planet, La Chorrera is famous throughout Panama for its chicheme — a sweet non-alcoholic drink made from milk, mashed corn, cinnamon and vanilla. “It’s not really worth a stop, though,” the travel guide concludes, however. Toronto FC, having journeyed 3,850 kilometres south from the ice and cold of home, will find out for itself Tuesday when it takes on Club Atletico Independiente de la Chorrera in the first leg of their round-of-16 CONCACAF Champions League series. “I’ve been to Panama once and it’s just hostile,” said new striker Terrence Boyd. “I’m not really looking forward to playing over there, but then again at the same time I’m so much looking forward to the first competitive match for Toronto.” It will be a brief visit. The MLS team is staying in Panama City, the capital, and busing to La Chorrera some 30 to 40 … [Read more...] about Toronto FC in ‘hostile’ territory for CONCACAF Champions League match

By The Associated Press Sun., Feb. 17, 2019 LONDON—Wolverhampton held on to beat Championship side Bristol City 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on Sunday. The second-tier team threatened from a series of set-pieces late in the game, but could not find an equalizer against their Premier League opponents who took the lead in the 28th minute through Ivan Cavaleiro. Cavaleiro, one of three changes to the Wolves lineup, was left in space to fire in Matt Doherty’s cutback with what was the first shot of the game at Ashton Gate. Bristol goalkeeper Frank Fielding joined the attack during a late corner, but had a shot saved by opposite number John Ruddy. Crystal Palace won 2-0 at third-tier side Doncaster later Sunday, and Swansea trailed 1-0 at halftime before beating Brentford 4-1 in an all-second tier meeting. Article Continued Below Palace took the lead after eight minutes in their first attack. Jeffrey Schlupp drove the ball down from inside … [Read more...] about Wolverhampton holds on to topple Bristol

Dressed in jeans and a bright-red hoodie and sitting in a faux leather chair in a dark, chilly meeting room behind the complex’s news conference salon, Suarez leaned forward as he spoke softly in Spanish. Moving from the starring role to one as best supporting actor isn’t easy, he conceded, and it’s a transition Neymar, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, among others, all had varying degrees of trouble with during aborted stays at Camp Nou. … [Read more...] about Playing alongside Lionel Messi has filled a hunger in Luis Suarez

By Neil Davidson The Canadian Press Fri., Feb. 15, 2019 Veterans Diana Matheson and Erin McLeod return to the Canadian lineup for the Algarve Cup later this month. Both players were not summoned for last month’s camp in Spain and a friendly win over Norway as a precaution after rehabbing injuries. While both have suffered long-term knee injuries in the past, Matheson had been sidelined by a toe issue, while McLeod was dealing with a full foot problem. Matheson, a 34-year-old midfielder from Oakville, has 201 caps for Canada. The 35-year-old McLeod, a goalkeeper from St. Albert, Alta., has 116 caps. Matheson last played for Canada at the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament last October. McLeod’s last outing was at the 2018 Algarve Cup. “The return of Matheson and McLeod is great for the team both on and off the pitch,” coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller said. “Both veterans are important people within our team and important players with … [Read more...] about Canadian veterans return to women’s soccer team for Algarve Cup