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Spot-on Nani fires Orlando into MLS restart semis Orlando (AFP) – Former Manchester United star Nani scored the winning spot-kick as Orlando upset Los Angeles FC in a penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals of the Major League Soccer restart tournament on Friday. Portuguese international Nani, who had seen a penalty saved in normal time before the game finished in a 1-1 draw, made no mistake in the shoot-out with his side’s fifth and final spot-kick. The 33-year-old sent Los Angeles goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer the wrong way before wheeling away to be mobbed by jubilant Orlando team-mates at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World, Florida. Nani had been given the chance to seal victory in a tense shoot-out which saw Los Angeles surrender the initiative when veteran defender Jordan Harvey crashed his penalty against the crossbar. Earlier, Los Angeles had appeared to be heading for a place in the last four after Bradley Wright-Phillips scored from close range in the 64th minute to put the favourites 1-0 up. That goal came just moments after Vermeer had denied Nani from the penalty spot after Diego Palacios’s clumsy foul on Orlando right back Ruan. But as the game wore on in energy-sapping heat and humidity, Los Angeles were left clinging on as Orlando pressed for an equaliser. It arrived in the 90th minute when Nani’s corner from the right hand side was met by left back Joao Moutinho, who lost his marker to thump home a header. Orlando will now face either San Jose Earthquakes or Minnesota in the last four, who play in their quarter-final on Saturday. But it was a disappointing early exit for Los Angeles, who had looked to be on course for their first silverware after a rousing 4-1 victory over MLS Cup champions Seattle in the last 16. The “MLS is Back” restart tournament is taking place at Disney World in Orlando after a four-month coronavirus shutdown which halted the regular season in March.

Orlando (AFP) – Former Manchester United star Nani scored the winning spot-kick as Orlando upset Los Angeles FC in a penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals of the Major League Soccer restart tournament on Friday. Portuguese international Nani, who had seen a penalty saved in normal time before the game finished in a 1-1 draw, made no mistake in the shoot-out with his side’s fifth and final spot-kick. The 33-year-old sent Los Angeles goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer the wrong way before wheeling away to be mobbed by jubilant Orlando team-mates at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World, Florida. Nani had been given the chance to seal victory in a tense shoot-out which saw Los Angeles surrender the initiative when veteran defender Jordan Harvey crashed his penalty against the crossbar. Earlier, Los Angeles had appeared to be heading for a place in the last four after Bradley Wright-Phillips scored from close range in the 64th minute to put the favourites 1-0 up. That goal

2020-07-30 Santos - Ponte Preta 1-3

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Where to find Arsenal vs. Chelsea FA Cup Final on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Arsenal vs. Chelsea in the US, we have all of the details for you about the FA Cup Final. Arsenal vs. Chelsea is available exclusively via ESPN+ but will not be on television. However, you can stream the game from ESPN+ to your TV set. League: FA Cup Genre: Sports Looking to watch FA Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Arsenal vs. Chelsea What: FA Cup When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, August 1, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+, you can watch Arsenal vs. Chelsea and tons more FA Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Now with ESPN+, you can stream Serie A, UEFA Nations League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Copa America, US Open Cup, International Champions Cup, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Eredivisie, Danish Superliga, Chinese Super League, Indian Super League, Australian A-League, Sweden’s Allsvenskan, MLS out-of-market games and USL. ESPN+ is only $4.99/month. In addition to all of the soccer coverage, ESPN+ also includes UFC, MLB, MLS, NHL, select PGA TOUR golf, Top Rank Boxing, cricket and Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon to the US Open and Australian Open. Plus you get instant access to your favorite college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, softball and more. There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more. Even better, ESPN is now offering the Disney+ bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ for only $12.99 per month. Not only do you get all of the soccer with ESPN+, but you also get hit movies and TV shows with Hulu AND you get Disney+ that features Star Wars, Marvel movies, Disney movies and shows, films from Pixar and feature documentaries from National Geographic. SEE MORE: Schedule of FA Cup games on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Arsenal vs. Chelsea in the US, we have all of the details for you about the FA Cup Final. Arsenal vs. Chelsea is available exclusively via ESPN+ but will not be on television. However, you can stream the game from ESPN+ to your TV set . League: FA Cup Genre: Sports Looking to watch FA Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Arsenal vs. Chelsea What: FA Cup When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, August 1, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+ , you can watch Arsenal vs. Chelsea and tons more FA Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Now w

Lazio forward Immobile set for coronation as Europe’s goal king Milan (AFP) – Lazio’s Ciro Immobile is set to join an exclusive club as the highest-scoring player in Europe this season. In a decade dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the underrated Italian is near assured of winning the European Golden Shoe for the continent’s top scorer. From Messi, to Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Braut Haaland, nobody in Europe has managed to keep pace with the Naples-born player. Immobile overtook Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski with his 35th goal against Brescia midweek, and will close his campaign against Napoli on Saturday. Juventus star Ronaldo, on 31 goals, is four behind before the Serie A champions’ final game against Roma in Turin, in which he may not even play with the Champions League looming. It would not be the first time that 30-year-old Immobile has topped the Serie A goal-scoring charts, having won the ‘Capocannoniere’ twice before in 2014 and 2018. But he would become just the third Italian winner of the European Golden Shoe after Roma’s Francesco Totti (26) in 2007 and Luca Toni for Fiorentina in 2006 (31). Another two goals on Saturday would also see him surpass Gonzalo Higuain’s Serie A record of 36 goals, set playing for Napoli in the 2015-16 season. “I am only sorry that I cannot celebrate these numbers with the fans,” said Immobile, nicknamed ‘King Ciro’ in the capital, but whose career before arriving in Rome had been erratic. Success has not followed onto the national team, where he has scored ten goals in 39 games, taking the brunt of criticism after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Immobile started his career at Juventus, where he made just three appearances before a breakthrough loan season in 2011-2012 at Pescara where his 28 goals lifted the Serie B side into the top flight. He couldn’t follow up his form the following season with Genoa, but had more success with Torino where he scored 22 goals in 33 appearances to win his first Serie A top scorer award. An 18 million euros ($22 million) move to the Bundesliga followed, but he scored just three times in 24 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, followed by an unsuccessful six-month spell at Sevilla. – Lazio revival – But scoring is something he has done with stunning regularity since joining Lazio in the summer of 2016, at the same time as coach Simone Inzaghi. He has has flourished in the Inzaghi system playing alongside Luis Alberto and Joaquin Correa, and midfielders Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Marco Parolo, scoring 102 times in 141 Serie A appearances. Lazio can thank Immobile for nearly half of their 78 league goals, as he slotted in 14 from the penalty spot. The title challenge fell off after the lockdown with four defeats in their first five July games as Immobile conceded: “I have not been myself, I need to get back to being calm.” He has scored six goals in his last four games as Lazio, already assured of a return to the Champions League after 13 seasons, target a second-place finish. “It is a great achievement for him, but also for the whole team,” said Inzaghi. “And then there is Ronaldo, with four goals behind, let’s see what will happen. “Ciro’s records would be a nice prize for everyone. He leapt over Lewandowski, he broke every record, he’s just missing a goal to reach Higuain.”

Milan (AFP) – Lazio’s Ciro Immobile is set to join an exclusive club as the highest-scoring player in Europe this season. In a decade dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the underrated Italian is near assured of winning the European Golden Shoe for the continent’s top scorer. From Messi, to Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Braut Haaland, nobody in Europe has managed to keep pace with the Naples-born player. Immobile overtook Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski with his 35th goal against Brescia midweek, and will close his campaign against Napoli on Saturday. Juventus star Ronaldo, on 31 goals, is four behind before the Serie A champions’ final game against Roma in Turin, in which he may not even play with the Champions League looming. It would not be the first time that 30-year-old Immobile has topped the Serie A goal-scoring charts, having won the ‘Capocannoniere’ twice before in 2014 and 2018. But he would become just the third Italian winner o

Celtic quest for historic 10-in-a-row piles pressure on Rangers London (AFP) – Celtic launch their quest for a record 10th consecutive Scottish Premiership title this weekend, with Rangers manager Steven Gerrard under intense pressure to stop them. Nearly five months after the coronavirus shut down Scottish football, the 2020/21 season starts on Saturday with the battle for supremacy in Glasgow as fierce as ever despite the empty stands. Celtic and Rangers have each achieved nine titles in a row before, but neither Celtic’s European Cup-winning side that won nine titles from 1965 to 1974, nor Rangers cast of stars that reigned from 1988 to 1997, could complete a full decade of dominance. The current Celtic squad look well set to succeed where those two great sides fell short as the economic consequences of the pandemic have left little chance for others to catch up. “Going for the 10, it’s historic, it’s momentous and very special,” said Celtic manager Neil Lennon. “I know it’s been on the tip of a lot of our supporters’ tongues and we’ll be going all out to do it.” Celtic have been quiet in the transfer market other than the £4.5 million ($5.9 million) signing of Greek international goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas. However, unlike recent seasons when Moussa Dembele, Stuart Armstrong and Kieran Tierney departed, they have so far kept hold of key players, despite admiring glances from some of Europe’s heavyweight clubs for Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer. – Gerrard challenge – For Rangers boss Gerrard, the time has come to prove he can achieve as a manager what he failed to do in his storied playing career at Liverpool — win a league title. No Rangers manager has ever failed to win a trophy in his first two seasons in charge and been given the opportunity for a third. Circumstances have given Gerrard that chance. Even the historically demanding Rangers support acknowledged the gap the former England captain had to bridge when he took the job in May 2018. Gerrard has made the blue side of Glasgow a respected force in Europe again at Europa League level and beaten Celtic home and away in one-off matches. But when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019/20 Scottish season, Rangers were 13 points adrift of their bitter rivals at the top of the table. The squabbling that engulfed the Scottish game as Rangers sought an independent investigation into the vote that saw league tables decided on points-per-game highlighted the landmark staging post that is nine-in-a-row in Scotland. Rangers have turned a loan deal for Ianis Hagi, son of Romanian great Gheorghe Hagi, into a permanent transfer and fleshed out their squad with the additions of goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and defenders Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun on free transfers. But the club were already relying on investors to cover a loss of £11 million in Gerrard’s first season before coronavirus closed stadiums. “We need more,” Gerrard said after completing an impressive pre-season unbeaten with notable victories over Lyon and Nice. “I have told the club that. I’ve been honest and open with what I feel we need. “In terms of where we are at from a financial point of view, they are questions for other people — but I have made it quite clear that we need to add to what we’ve got. “We need to add players into the 11 to make us stronger and then, naturally, that will make the squad stronger.” To bolster Gerrard’s squad in more than one area of the pitch, Rangers might have to cash in on Alfredo Morelos, with Lille interested in the Colombian striker. Morelos has been Rangers’ top scorer for the past three seasons, but his time in Glasgow has also been peppered with seven red cards. Gerrard faces a difficult balancing act but it is one he must get right or Celtic will stand alone in the history books.

London (AFP) – Celtic launch their quest for a record 10th consecutive Scottish Premiership title this weekend, with Rangers manager Steven Gerrard under intense pressure to stop them. Nearly five months after the coronavirus shut down Scottish football, the 2020/21 season starts on Saturday with the battle for supremacy in Glasgow as fierce as ever despite the empty stands. Celtic and Rangers have each achieved nine titles in a row before, but neither Celtic’s European Cup-winning side that won nine titles from 1965 to 1974, nor Rangers cast of stars that reigned from 1988 to 1997, could complete a full decade of dominance. The current Celtic squad look well set to succeed where those two great sides fell short as the economic consequences of the pandemic have left little chance for others to catch up. “Going for the 10, it’s historic, it’s momentous and very special,” said Celtic manager Neil Lennon. “I know it’s been on the tip of a lot of our supporters’ tongues and we’ll be g

2020-07-30 Bragantino - Corinthians 0-2

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2020-07-30 Motagua - Olimpia 2-2

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2020-07-29 Caldense - Cruzeiro 0-1

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2020-07-29 Palmeiras - Santo Andre 2-0

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2020-07-29 Atletico MG - Patrocinense 4-0

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FA Cup final gives Arteta chance to prove Arsenal are going places London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta insists even winning the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday will not salvage Arsenal’s season, but a trophy just eight months into his first managerial role will strengthen the impression the Gunners now have the right man in charge to right the ship. Arteta won the FA Cup as captain when Arsenal ended a nine-year trophy drought in 2014. Yet despite winning the competition twice more in the six years since, standards have continued to slip at the Emirates since Arsene Wenger’s departure two years ago. Despite an upturn since Arteta’s appointment in December, eighth place in the Premier League was the Londoners worst league finish in 15 years. “For me this club deserves the best and you have to be fighting for every title,” said the Spaniard on the prospect of silverware and a place in the Europa League next season redeeming a miserable campaign. “Obviously after everything that happened, if we are able to win the final and qualify for Europe, we can say it’s okay. But it’s not the level for this football club.” The Europa League may be the poor relation to the riches and prestige of the Champions League, but failure to qualify for European football at all for the first time since the 1995/96 season would be a further blow to Arsenal’s already fragile finances. Due to the lack of Champions League football, the Gunners posted a loss of £27 million ($35 million) in the 2018/2019 campaign for the first time in 17 years. That was despite generating nearly £40 million in TV and prize money from a run to the Europa League final and before the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic saw the club’s playing and coaching staff agree a 12.5 percent pay cut. Victories over Liverpool and former employers Manchester City in the space of four days earlier this month have given Arteta plenty of credit in the bank from the Arsenal support. But questions remain over how much he can do to restore the club’s former glories if he is not backed in the transfer market. “The gap is enormous,” said Arteta after beating Liverpool despite having just 33 percent possession and three shots to the Premier League champions’ 24. “You know how you build those squads, there is no magic. “You need to improve with quality players and you need bigger squads to compete in this competition.” Before looking to recruit for a rebuild, Arsenal also have to convince their outstanding talent to stay put. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was just one goal behind Jamie Vardy in the battle for the Premier League Golden Boot despite playing in a struggling side and it was his two goals that saw off City in the semi-final to make it back to Wembley on Saturday. The former Borussia Dortmund forward has just one year left on his contract and given Arsenal’s financial predicament, it would make business sense to sell in the close season if Aubameyang cannot be convinced to extend his contract. “It is our responsiblity for make him feel this is the right next step in his career,” said Arteta. “In order to do that he needs to feel valued, feel that he belongs to us and we want him and he needs to believe we can take this club forward the way we want to do. He is an extremely key player in that.” For one of Europe’s top strikers, Aubameyang has precious few medals with only a French League Cup at St Etienne and one German Cup with Dortmund to his name. In what could be his final game for the club, a trophy at Wembley could go a long way to convincing Aubameyang to buy into Arteta’s project and Arsenal’s American owners, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, to do likewise in the transfer market in the coming months.

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta insists even winning the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday will not salvage Arsenal’s season, but a trophy just eight months into his first managerial role will strengthen the impression the Gunners now have the right man in charge to right the ship. Arteta won the FA Cup as captain when Arsenal ended a nine-year trophy drought in 2014. Yet despite winning the competition twice more in the six years since, standards have continued to slip at the Emirates since Arsene Wenger’s departure two years ago. Despite an upturn since Arteta’s appointment in December, eighth place in the Premier League was the Londoners worst league finish in 15 years. “For me this club deserves the best and you have to be fighting for every title,” said the Spaniard on the prospect of silverware and a place in the Europa League next season redeeming a miserable campaign. “Obviously after everything that happened, if we are able to win the final and qualify for Europe, we

Five talking points before Serie A season finale Milan (AFP) – Juventus have already sealed their ninth Serie A title in a row, but the league’s single-season scoring record could yet be broken and the battle against the drop is going down to the wire. Here AFP sport looks at five talking points before the final round of Italian top-flight games this weekend. Immobile targets record Ciro Immobile needs just one more goal to equal the scoring record for a single campaign as Lazio make the short journey to Napoli for their final game. The 30-year-old forward already has 35 goals and can match Gonzalo Higuain’s record of 36 goals, made playing for Napoli in the 2015-16 season. Immobile is already basically assured of winning the European Golden Shoe for the continent’s top scorer, having overtaken Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski’s tally of 34 against Brescia midweek. Lazio are fourth, but still in the running for second place, while seventh-placed Napoli have nothing to play for in the league except defending the record of their former teammate Higuain. Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli are also warming up for their meeting with Barcelona in the Champions League last 16, return leg. Trio race for second place Three teams — Inter Milan, Atalanta and Lazio — are in the running for second place. Inter and Atalanta will go head-to-head in Bergamo with Lazio’s last game at Napoli. Antonio Conte’s Inter have 79 points, one point ahead of both Atalanta and Lazio, with the northeners ahead of the Romans, who they held 3-3 in the Stadio Olimpico and beat 3-2 at home this season. “We’re masters of our destiny, second place depends only on us,” said Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Atalanta are also preparing for their Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain next month in Lisbon. They could beat last season’s best-ever finish of third, which gave them Champions League qualification for the first time. This season they are in stunning form, are unbeaten since January 20 and just two off the mark of 100 league goals. Tired Juve eye U23 team Maurizio Sarri said he might field his Under-23 team, now coached by former Italy great Andrea Pirlo, in their final game against Roma in Turin after falling to a miserable midweek defeat at Cagliari days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title. Juve are preparing for their Champions League last 16, return leg against Lyon, where they trail 1-0, and are missing key players such as Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa through injury. “We are the only ones in Europe who have played five games in 12 days, the league has created big problems for us,” said Sarri. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of finishing the season as top scorer look over as the 35-year-old trails Immobile by four goals. Relegation scrap Lecce and Genoa will face Parma and Hellas Verona respectively at the weekend hoping to avoid joining Brescia and SPAL down in Serie B. Genoa, in 17th, are just one-point ahead of Lecce, who occupy the final relegation berth. If both teams finish equal on points, Genoa will stay in Serie A, with Lecce heading back to the second tier after just one season in the top flight. Ibra turning clock back at Milan Zlatan Ibrahimovic and AC Milan take on mid-table outfit Cagliari looking to cap an impressive run since football returned to Italy from the coronavirus lockdown. Only Manchester City with 34 goals have scored more than Milan (32) in Europe’s top leagues since the restart. Ibrahimovic, 38, has scored six times since the lockdown, including four in the last three games, with the club unbeaten in eleven Serie A matches, their best run since April 2013 (14). The ‘Rossoneri’ have also scored at least two goals in six consecutive Serie A away matches, their best run since 1964 (nine). Fixtures (all times GMT) Saturday Brescia v Sampdoria (1600), Atalanta v Inter Milan, Juventus v Roma, AC Milan v Cagliari, Napoli v Lazio (all 1845) Sunday SPAL v Fiorentina (1600), Bologna v Torino, Genoa v Hellas Verona, Lecce v Parma, Sassuolo v Udinese (all 1845)

Milan (AFP) – Juventus have already sealed their ninth Serie A title in a row, but the league’s single-season scoring record could yet be broken and the battle against the drop is going down to the wire. Here AFP sport looks at five talking points before the final round of Italian top-flight games this weekend. Immobile targets record Ciro Immobile needs just one more goal to equal the scoring record for a single campaign as Lazio make the short journey to Napoli for their final game. The 30-year-old forward already has 35 goals and can match Gonzalo Higuain’s record of 36 goals, made playing for Napoli in the 2015-16 season. Immobile is already basically assured of winning the European Golden Shoe for the continent’s top scorer, having overtaken Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski’s tally of 34 against Brescia midweek. Lazio are fourth, but still in the running for second place, while seventh-placed Napoli have nothing to play for in the league except defending the record

Where to find PSG vs. Lyon Coupe de la Ligue final on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch PSG vs. Lyon on US TV in Coupe de la Ligue final, you’ve come to the right place. In the French League cup final, PSG vs. Lyon will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: PSG vs. Lyon Kickoff: Friday, 3:10pm ET Looking to watch PSG vs. Lyon online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: PSG vs. Lyon What: Coupe de la Ligue When: Game kicks off at 3:10pm ET / 11:45am PT; Friday, July 31, 2020 Where: Live on beIN SPORTS, fuboTV, Fanatiz, Sling Latino, and Sling World Sports (free trial) With fuboTV, you can watch PSG vs. Lyon and tons more Coupe de la Ligue final games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia America and YES. Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers. The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle. Here are the steps to take to watch the PSG vs. Lyon game with your free fuboTV trial: 1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial. 2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below) 3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below) 4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below) 5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the PSG vs. Lyon game (see screengrab below) 6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include beIN SPORTS featuring PSG vs. Lyon (see screengrab below) SEE MORE: Schedule of Ligue 1 games on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch PSG vs. Lyon on US TV in Coupe de la Ligue final, you’ve come to the right place. In the French League cup final, PSG vs. Lyon will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: PSG vs. Lyon Kickoff: Friday, 3:10pm ET Looking to watch PSG vs. Lyon online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: PSG vs. Lyon What: Coupe de la Ligue When: Game kicks off at 3:10pm ET / 11:45am PT; Friday, July 31, 2020 Where: Live on beIN SPORTS, fuboTV , Fanatiz , Sling Latino , and Sling World Sports (free trial) With fuboTV , you can watch PSG vs. Lyon and tons more Coupe de la Ligue final games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or

Machin’s China move off after relative gets coronavirus: report Shanghai (AFP) – Former Sevilla and Espanyol boss Pablo Machin will not take up the head coaching job at Qingdao Huanghai in China after one of his relatives caught the coronavirus, a report said Thursday. The 45-year-old Spaniard was named to lead the Chinese Super League club last week, days before the virus-delayed season began. However, Machin released a statement on Twitter on Wednesday saying he would not be coming to China for “personal reasons”. He has been strongly linked with Spanish club Alaves. Xinhua news agency subsequently quoted a Qingdao spokesman as saying: “One of Machin’s relatives was infected with COVID-19 and he was one of the close contacts. Therefore, he can’t come to China and asked to terminate the contract.” “To ensure the safety of the club and the CSL, we agreed.” Machin, who was fired by La Liga basement side Espanyol in December, would have been the replacement for fellow Spaniard Juanma Lillo. Lillo departed the CSL team in June because the club said his mother was “seriously ill in Spain and needed urgent care”. Days later he was appointed Pep Guardiola’s new assistant at Manchester City. Newly promoted Qingdao lost their season-opener 2-0 to Wuhan Zall on Saturday.

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Sevilla and Espanyol boss Pablo Machin will not take up the head coaching job at Qingdao Huanghai in China after one of his relatives caught the coronavirus, a report said Thursday. The 45-year-old Spaniard was named to lead the Chinese Super League club last week, days before the virus-delayed season began. However, Machin released a statement on Twitter on Wednesday saying he would not be coming to China for “personal reasons”. He has been strongly linked with Spanish club Alaves. Xinhua news agency subsequently quoted a Qingdao spokesman as saying: “One of Machin’s relatives was infected with COVID-19 and he was one of the close contacts. Therefore, he can’t come to China and asked to terminate the contract.” “To ensure the safety of the club and the CSL, we agreed.” Machin, who was fired by La Liga basement side Espanyol in December, would have been the replacement for fellow Spaniard Juanma Lillo. Lillo departed the CSL team in June because the club

China fans rent hotel rooms to dodge virus ban on spectators Shanghai (AFP) – Enterprising Chinese Super League football fans skirted a coronavirus ban on spectators by renting rooms at a hotel overlooking one of the closed stadiums. Chanting supporters of Shanghai SIPG and Tianjin Teda packed out the Sports International Hotel in Kunshan and were clearly audible as SIPG won 3-1 thanks to two goals by Brazilian Ricardo Lopes. The hotel is attached to Kunshan Stadium, near Suzhou, one of the neutral venues being used for this season’s coronavirus-hit CSL. The campaign kicked off on Saturday more than five months late with all games taking place behind closed doors in stadiums in the Suzhou and Dalian areas. Sam Wang of the Teda ultras group “Tiger Wings” was one of about 100 Teda and SIPG fans who cheered their teams, with some able to open their hotel windows for a better view. The 25-year-old Wang said officials initially attempted to cover the windows, but later gave up, and supporters were able to watch all of Monday night’s game. One SIPG fan was pictured banging a drum out of an open window. “The players definitely heard us,” said Wang. “They were going to salute us after the game but the referee stopped them.” Wang said that the more expensive rooms at the hotel usually cost about 450 yuan ($65) but prices have now rocketed to about 800 yuan on game days. Rooms are currently unavailable for Sunday when SIPG, who boast the Brazilians Hulk and Oscar, play Hebei China Fortune. Subsequent match days also appear to be sold out or are not available, but rooms can be booked for non-match days. However, local media reported that football authorities took a dim view and will attempt to prevent a repeat.

Shanghai (AFP) – Enterprising Chinese Super League football fans skirted a coronavirus ban on spectators by renting rooms at a hotel overlooking one of the closed stadiums. Chanting supporters of Shanghai SIPG and Tianjin Teda packed out the Sports International Hotel in Kunshan and were clearly audible as SIPG won 3-1 thanks to two goals by Brazilian Ricardo Lopes. The hotel is attached to Kunshan Stadium, near Suzhou, one of the neutral venues being used for this season’s coronavirus-hit CSL. The campaign kicked off on Saturday more than five months late with all games taking place behind closed doors in stadiums in the Suzhou and Dalian areas. Sam Wang of the Teda ultras group “Tiger Wings” was one of about 100 Teda and SIPG fans who cheered their teams, with some able to open their hotel windows for a better view. The 25-year-old Wang said officials initially attempted to cover the windows, but later gave up, and supporters were able to watch all of Monday night’s game. One

Lampard aims to cap Chelsea comeback with FA Cup glory London (AFP) – Frank Lampard has set his sights on capping an impressive first season as Chelsea manager by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory against Arsenal on Saturday. Lampard enjoyed four FA Cup final victories as a Chelsea player, but getting his hands on the first trophy of his nascent managerial career would be an even more significant moment for the 42-year-old. Having led Chelsea into next season’s Champions League via a top four finish in the Premier League, Lampard heads to Wembley surfing a wave of positivity. It is a testament to Lampard’s acumen that, in just his second season as a manager, he has Chelsea positioned as an emerging force just 12 months after the club was in turmoil. When Lampard arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2019 after one season as boss of second tier Derby, he carried the good wishes of supporters who idolised him during his glittering 13-year spell with the club. But there were many pundits who doubted whether Lampard was the right man to get Chelsea back on track following the turbulent reign of Maurizio Sarri. The taciturn Sarri fell out with several of Chelsea’s stars, alienating them with his monotonous training regime and inflexible tactics. Fixing the fractures in Chelsea’s dressing room wasn’t the only problem facing Lampard, who also had to deal with the club’s transfer ban last summer and the sale of Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid. Even for an experienced boss, it would have been a daunting situation, but Lampard has risen to the challenge. “There were a lot of unknowns when I came in, could we move forward without Eden Hazard? We knew we had lost a massive player,” Lampard said. “We’ve a real spirit within the group now and it’s a real team effort now.” With his hands tied by the transfer embargo, Lampard was compelled to give some of the club’s youngsters a chance to prove their worth. That they responded so tenaciously and with such verve was a tribute to Lampard’s influence. The energy and optimism provided by Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James, Billy Gilmour and Fikayo Tomori gave the entire club a jolt of adrenaline. A swaggering 5-2 win at Wolves in September served notice that Lampard and his young prodigies wouldn’t be out of their depth, while a mature 1-0 Champions League win at Ajax showed they could handle Europe’s elite. – Midas touch – Lampard’s midas touch hasn’t been restricted to the young guns. He coaxed consistency from Willian and brought Olivier Giroud back into the fold after the French striker had appeared set to leave in January. Exiled in the first half of the season, Giroud’s prolific form since the coronavirus hiatus — seven goals in 10 matches in all competitions — played a key role in Chelsea holding onto their top four berth. “What we’ve done this season is take the opportunity to bring in the younger players and improve the existing players,” Lampard said. At a club where owner Roman Abramovich dispenses with managers in ruthless fashion, Lampard showed he wasn’t intimidated by twice dropping error-prone goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga despite the club’s fears it could harm his future transfer value. Lampard’s furious response to perceived antagonism from Liverpool’s coaching staff during their recent clash at Anfield was another sign he isn’t to be trifled with. While Chelsea’s progress under Lampard has been undeniable, they still lost 12 times in the league for only the second time since Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Unable to fix Chelsea’s defensive frailties and often frustrated by their lack of cutting edge, Lampard has been busy in the transfer market and more new signings are on the way. Lampard needs Leipzig striker Timo Werner and Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech to hit the ground running next season. He has also been linked with Manchester United keeper Dean Henderson, West Ham’s Declan Rice and Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz as he tries to bridge the 33-point gap to Liverpool. “The challenge now is to see what more we can do next season,” Lampard said.

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard has set his sights on capping an impressive first season as Chelsea manager by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory against Arsenal on Saturday. Lampard enjoyed four FA Cup final victories as a Chelsea player, but getting his hands on the first trophy of his nascent managerial career would be an even more significant moment for the 42-year-old. Having led Chelsea into next season’s Champions League via a top four finish in the Premier League, Lampard heads to Wembley surfing a wave of positivity. It is a testament to Lampard’s acumen that, in just his second season as a manager, he has Chelsea positioned as an emerging force just 12 months after the club was in turmoil. When Lampard arrived at Stamford Bridge in June 2019 after one season as boss of second tier Derby, he carried the good wishes of supporters who idolised him during his glittering 13-year spell with the club. But there were many pundits who doubted whether Lampard was the right man to get

Where to find Fulham vs. Cardiff on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Fulham vs. Cardiff in the US, we have all of the details for you about the latest match in the Championship. The match will be shown live on US streaming (and you can watch it on your TV too). League: EFL Championship Genre: Sports Looking to watch Championship matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming: Who: Fulham vs. Cardiff What: EFL Championship playoff semifinal, 2nd leg When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Thursday, July 30, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+, you can watch Fulham vs. Cardiff and tons more Championship games with a monthly subscription. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Now with ESPN+, you can stream Serie A, UEFA Nations League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Copa America, US Open Cup, International Champions Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Eredivisie, Danish Superliga, Chinese Super League, Indian Super League, Australian A-League, Sweden’s Allsvenskan, MLS out-of-market games and USL. And beginning this fall, ESPN+ will have exclusive rights to the Bundesliga. ESPN+ is only $4.99/month. In addition to all of the soccer coverage, ESPN+ also includes UFC, MLB, MLS, NHL, select PGA TOUR golf, Top Rank Boxing, cricket and Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon to the US Open and Australian Open. Plus you get instant access to your favorite college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, softball and more. There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more. Even better, ESPN is now offering the Disney+ bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ for only $12.99 per month. Not only do you get all of the soccer with ESPN+, but you also get hit movies and TV shows with Hulu AND you get Disney+ that features Star Wars, Marvel movies, Disney movies and shows, films from Pixar and feature documentaries from National Geographic. SEE MORE: Schedule of Championship games on US streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Fulham vs. Cardiff in the US, we have all of the details for you about the latest match in the Championship. The match will be shown live on US streaming (and you can watch it on your TV too ). League: EFL Championship Genre: Sports Looking to watch Championship matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming: Who: Fulham vs. Cardiff What: EFL Championship playoff semifinal, 2nd leg When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Thursday, July 30, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+ , you can watch Fulham vs. Cardiff and tons more Championship games with a monthly subscription. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4

2020-07-29 Sao Paulo - Mirassol 2-3

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2020-07-29 Internacional - Aimore 2-0

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Where to find Brentford vs. Swansea on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Brentford vs. Swansea in the US, we have all of the details for you about the latest match in the Championship. The match will be shown live on US streaming (and you can watch it on your TV too). League: EFL Championship Genre: Sports Looking to watch Championship matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming: Who: Brentford vs. Swansea What: EFL Championship playoff semifinal, 2nd leg When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+, you can watch Brentford vs. Swansea and tons more Championship games with a monthly subscription. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Now with ESPN+, you can stream Serie A, UEFA Nations League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Copa America, US Open Cup, International Champions Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Eredivisie, Danish Superliga, Chinese Super League, Indian Super League, Australian A-League, Sweden’s Allsvenskan, MLS out-of-market games and USL. And beginning this fall, ESPN+ will have exclusive rights to the Bundesliga. ESPN+ is only $4.99/month. In addition to all of the soccer coverage, ESPN+ also includes UFC, MLB, MLS, NHL, select PGA TOUR golf, Top Rank Boxing, cricket and Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon to the US Open and Australian Open. Plus you get instant access to your favorite college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, softball and more. There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more. Even better, ESPN is now offering the Disney+ bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ for only $12.99 per month. Not only do you get all of the soccer with ESPN+, but you also get hit movies and TV shows with Hulu AND you get Disney+ that features Star Wars, Marvel movies, Disney movies and shows, films from Pixar and feature documentaries from National Geographic. SEE MORE: Schedule of Championship games on US streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Brentford vs. Swansea in the US, we have all of the details for you about the latest match in the Championship. The match will be shown live on US streaming (and you can watch it on your TV too ). League: EFL Championship Genre: Sports Looking to watch Championship matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming: Who: Brentford vs. Swansea What: EFL Championship playoff semifinal, 2nd leg When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+ , you can watch Brentford vs. Swansea and tons more Championship games with a monthly subscription. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Pla

Rossi double helps LAFC get revenge on MLS champions Seattle Los Angeles (AFP) – Diego Rossi scored twice in a 4-1 rout of champions Seattle Sounders as Los Angeles FC secured a quarter-final place in the MLS is Back Tournament on Monday. Rossi scored an early penalty and then snaked through the defence for a second eight minutes from time in the battle between the two Western Conference heavyweights. Latif Blessing in the 39th minute and Brian Rodriguez in the 89th also got on the scoresheet for LAFC at the tournament in Orlando, Florida. It marked a measure of revenge for LAFC who lost to Seattle 3-1 in last year’s Western Conference final. Seattle went on to beat Toronto for the MLS championship. LAFC were missing star striker Carlos Vela, who scored a league record 34 goals in 2019, but opted out of this competition for family health reasons. Rossi was brought down by Xavier Arreaga in the 14th minute but got up to slot home the penalty. He embarrassed Arreaga again in the 82nd minute when he knocked through his legs before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Stefan Frei and could have had more goals if he had capitalized on numerous chances. Sounders’ elimination comes one day after New York City sent Toronto FC packing with a 3-1 win in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semi-final. Earlier, the San Jose Earthquakes continued their impressive tournament run by reaching the quarter-finals with a 5-2 defeat of Real Salt Lake. The teams were locked 1-1 at half-time after Cristian Espinoza’s 21st-minute opener for San Jose was pegged back a minute later by Douglas Martinez. But Magnus Eriksson put San Jose in front with the first of two second-half penalties in the 49th minute. Vako made it 3-1 before Salt Lake’s Damir Kreilach got one back in the 75th minute. Chris Wondolowski in the 86th minute and Eriksson then sealed the victory for San Jose who will next face either Columbus or Minnesota United on Saturday. “The team is growing game after game, showing a very positive attitude, their unity, their sacrifice, but more than anything is how they play,” San Jose coach Matias Almeyda said. “The best thing for a coach is being able to get the max level out of each individual player because I know that will allow us to have growth.” The “MLS is Back” tournament is being staged at a single location in Orlando, Florida after a four-month shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament champion will earn a place in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

Los Angeles (AFP) – Diego Rossi scored twice in a 4-1 rout of champions Seattle Sounders as Los Angeles FC secured a quarter-final place in the MLS is Back Tournament on Monday. Rossi scored an early penalty and then snaked through the defence for a second eight minutes from time in the battle between the two Western Conference heavyweights. Latif Blessing in the 39th minute and Brian Rodriguez in the 89th also got on the scoresheet for LAFC at the tournament in Orlando, Florida. It marked a measure of revenge for LAFC who lost to Seattle 3-1 in last year’s Western Conference final. Seattle went on to beat Toronto for the MLS championship. LAFC were missing star striker Carlos Vela, who scored a league record 34 goals in 2019, but opted out of this competition for family health reasons. Rossi was brought down by Xavier Arreaga in the 14th minute but got up to slot home the penalty. He embarrassed Arreaga again in the 82nd minute when he knocked through his legs before firing

China will limit their boys from Brazil, says top FA official Shanghai (AFP) – China’s football squad will be limited to “three or four” Brazil-born players, a senior official told AFP, as ex-Chelsea star Oscar expressed an interest in becoming the latest Brazilian to represent the world’s most populous country. Unless there is a radical policy change by FIFA, the Shanghai SIPG attacking midfielder will not be able to play for China because he has featured in competitive games for Brazil, including at the 2014 World Cup. But it is indicative of a landmark shift in Chinese football that Oscar said: “I can think about (playing for China) because, as I said, it’s difficult to go to the Brazilian national team now because I’m here.” Oscar, who moved from Chelsea for an Asian-record 60 million euros in January 2017, has seen Guangzhou Evergrande’s Brazil-born forwards Elkeson and Aloisio called up by China in the past year as they seek to qualify for the next World Cup in 2022. At least three more Brazilians, also attackers, have become naturalised or are close to doing so, according to media. But Chinese Football Association secretary-general Liu Yi laughed off the notion that ambitious China will turn into a team of Brazilians in a quick fix to reach the World Cup in Qatar. President Xi Jinping wants China to become a football superpower but the country has made the World Cup only once, in 2002, when they left without a point or a goal. “We had a little bit of concern when we gave the passport to Elkeson or whoever,” Liu said in a rare interview by a senior Chinese football official. “But the good thing is that, dramatically, Chinese fans love to have a few (naturalised) players in the squad as long as they can make the Chinese team better and take us to the World Cup, hopefully Qatar 2022. “I don’t see any resistance, honestly, but we need to develop. It’s not a long-term strategy or approach.” Liu, speaking before Oscar’s comments came to light this week, added: “We’re not going to have two-thirds of the squad from Brazil. “We might have two or three, three or four probably, but that’s it.” – Thwarting the virus – The English-speaking Liu, 48, who took on the senior post in August last year, was talking from Suzhou, one of two cities hosting matches in this year’s rejigged Chinese Super League. The CSL kicked off on Saturday, five months late and behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic. As part of strict safety measures, eight teams are stationed at a single hotel in Suzhou, near Shanghai, and the other eight in Dalian. Players cannot see their families for two months. Dalian has seen a small cluster of infections in recent days and China recorded 68 cases nationally on Tuesday, the highest daily figure since April, although still far lower than many countries. Liu said that while the first round of matches went “better than expected” and the small resurgence of the virus has had no real impact, he is on guard. “We have another 13 rounds of the competition so this is just the start of the entire process,” he cautioned. Several football leagues in Europe and Asia returned from the virus before the CSL, but Liu said: “Our central government, and I think it’s correct, they are more cautious about the lives. “We were the first country and Wuhan was the first city to have an outbreak of the virus so we’re more cautious about what we’re doing, especially sporting and cultural events. “Yes, it was a bit longer than everybody thought, but it’s worthwhile,” he added. “At the moment I can say that we are very safe, we’re playing the competition in a very safe and comfortable environment.” Liu said that shelving the CSL for 2020 was never an option, even as the delay and pandemic dragged on, but the CFA will not be afraid to suspend play if a player or coach tests positive. “We’re definitely going to put a brake on the season, but it would be very unlikely that we’d cancel it,” Liu said.

Shanghai (AFP) – China’s football squad will be limited to “three or four” Brazil-born players, a senior official told AFP, as ex-Chelsea star Oscar expressed an interest in becoming the latest Brazilian to represent the world’s most populous country. Unless there is a radical policy change by FIFA, the Shanghai SIPG attacking midfielder will not be able to play for China because he has featured in competitive games for Brazil, including at the 2014 World Cup. But it is indicative of a landmark shift in Chinese football that Oscar said: “I can think about (playing for China) because, as I said, it’s difficult to go to the Brazilian national team now because I’m here.” Oscar, who moved from Chelsea for an Asian-record 60 million euros in January 2017, has seen Guangzhou Evergrande’s Brazil-born forwards Elkeson and Aloisio called up by China in the past year as they seek to qualify for the next World Cup in 2022. At least three more Brazilians, also attackers, have become naturalis

Brazilian star Oscar says he would play for China Shanghai (AFP) – Former Chelsea attacking midfielder Oscar says he would be willing to ditch his Brazilian passport to play for China — if FIFA changed its rules. Oscar, who moved from the Premier League to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG for a still-Asian-record 60 million euros in January 2017, made the last of his 48 appearances for Brazil in 2015. Under current rules, the 28-year-old cannot switch to play for another country because he featured for Brazil in official competition, including the 2014 World Cup in his homeland. Asked by state broadcaster CGTN if he would consider playing for China if the naturalisation rules changed, Oscar replied: “I can think about it because, as I said, it’s difficult to go to the Brazilian national team now because I’m here. “But in China everyone sees how good I play so if in the end the China national team needs a good midfielder, I think I can help if they change. “I like China but the players now, if they change the nationality to go to China, they (the team) can do better.” As a quick fix to boost their Qatar 2022 World Cup hopes, China last year began naturalising a few players who had no family links to the world’s most populous country. The first was Brazilian-born striker Elkeson, 31, who is now known as Ai Kesen and has played four times for China, scoring three goals. At least two other Brazilians are believed to have been naturalised since. Oscar has been one of the top players in the Chinese Super League since arriving from Chelsea and topped the assists charts over the past two seasons. SIPG begin their CSL campaign later Monday against Tianjin Teda at a neutral venue behind closed doors, part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Chelsea attacking midfielder Oscar says he would be willing to ditch his Brazilian passport to play for China — if FIFA changed its rules. Oscar, who moved from the Premier League to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG for a still-Asian-record 60 million euros in January 2017, made the last of his 48 appearances for Brazil in 2015. Under current rules, the 28-year-old cannot switch to play for another country because he featured for Brazil in official competition, including the 2014 World Cup in his homeland. Asked by state broadcaster CGTN if he would consider playing for China if the naturalisation rules changed, Oscar replied: “I can think about it because, as I said, it’s difficult to go to the Brazilian national team now because I’m here. “But in China everyone sees how good I play so if in the end the China national team needs a good midfielder, I think I can help if they change. “I like China but the players now, if they change the nationality t

New York upset Toronto to reach MLS last eight, avenge playoff loss Los Angeles (AFP) – Valentin Castellanos and Maxi Moralez scored second-half goals as New York City FC reached the quarter-finals of the MLS is Back Tournament with a 3-1 win over Toronto FC on Sunday. Moralez finished with a goal and an assist as New York won the battle between two heavyweights from the East and reached the next stage of the tournament. They next face the winner of another knockout round contest on Tuesday between the Portland Timbers and FC Cincinnati. Jesus Medina, in the fifth minute, and Castellanos, in the 55th, gave New York City a 2-0 lead before Moralez scored the third in the 81st at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. Patrick Mullins scored the lone goal for Toronto in the 87th minute in the much-anticipated rematch of the Eastern Conference semi-final from last year. Sunday’s win was a measure of revenge for New York who came into the knockout round through the backdoor as a third place team in the group stage. They lost in the playoffs last year to Toronto but can now claim bragging rights in this tournament. Castellanos got the crucial second goal after Moralez released him down the left flank with a long ball from midfield. Castellanos collected and created some space before hammering a shot inside the far post. Medina had taken advantage of a poor clearance to open the scoring for New York and Moralez sealed victory by finishing off a Herber back heel. The “MLS is Back” tournament is being staged at a single location in Orlando, Florida after a four-month shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. The MLS is Back champion will earn a place in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

Los Angeles (AFP) – Valentin Castellanos and Maxi Moralez scored second-half goals as New York City FC reached the quarter-finals of the MLS is Back Tournament with a 3-1 win over Toronto FC on Sunday. Moralez finished with a goal and an assist as New York won the battle between two heavyweights from the East and reached the next stage of the tournament. They next face the winner of another knockout round contest on Tuesday between the Portland Timbers and FC Cincinnati. Jesus Medina, in the fifth minute, and Castellanos, in the 55th, gave New York City a 2-0 lead before Moralez scored the third in the 81st at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. Patrick Mullins scored the lone goal for Toronto in the 87th minute in the much-anticipated rematch of the Eastern Conference semi-final from last year. Sunday’s win was a measure of revenge for New York who came into the knockout round through the backdoor as a third place team in the group stage. They lost in the playof

‘We have to be better’ demands Van Bronckhorst after China debut loss Shanghai (AFP) – Giovanni van Bronckhorst said his Guangzhou R&F side must move on quickly from “a very disappointing night” after a 3-0 defeat in the former Barcelona star’s first match as a coach in the Chinese Super League. Ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele conceded a penalty, one of two given away by R&F, as they began the coronavirus-delayed season by losing to Roberto Donadoni’s Shenzhen. Van Bronckhorst, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2006, will need to lift his squad quickly for a derby clash with Fabio Cannavaro’s reigning CSL champions Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday. “Overall a very disappointing night for myself, for the team, for the club, not being able to start the league with that first win,” said the 45-year-old former Dutch captain following Sunday’s defeat behind closed doors in Dalian. Van Bronckhorst, who also played for Arsenal and moved to China following a successful spell as Feyenoord coach, was particularly unhappy that R&F conceded two penalties in quick succession. Shenzhen scored both, in the 64th and 70th minutes, with R&F already trailing at half-time thanks to an own goal. For the first penalty, the 33-year-old Dembele caught Li Yuanyi’s heel in the box. “I don’t think he’s creating any danger (Li), the player goes away from goal and in the 18-yard box you have to keep him in front of you,” said Van Bronckhorst. “I think this is a penalty we could have avoided.” Van Bronckhorst added: “We have 13 games to go and we have to be in much better shape for the coming games because the way we played today is not the way I want to see and not the way we can play.” The CSL kicked off on Saturday five months late because of the coronavirus with all matches played in Suzhou or Dalian and behind closed doors in a revamped format.

Shanghai (AFP) – Giovanni van Bronckhorst said his Guangzhou R&F side must move on quickly from “a very disappointing night” after a 3-0 defeat in the former Barcelona star’s first match as a coach in the Chinese Super League. Ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele conceded a penalty, one of two given away by R&F, as they began the coronavirus-delayed season by losing to Roberto Donadoni’s Shenzhen. Van Bronckhorst, a Champions League winner with Barcelona in 2006, will need to lift his squad quickly for a derby clash with Fabio Cannavaro’s reigning CSL champions Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday. “Overall a very disappointing night for myself, for the team, for the club, not being able to start the league with that first win,” said the 45-year-old former Dutch captain following Sunday’s defeat behind closed doors in Dalian. Van Bronckhorst, who also played for Arsenal and moved to China following a successful spell as Feyenoord coach, was particularly unhappy that