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Mexico Brings Perfect End Memory To 2011 U-17 W/Cup

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Mexico’s merry band of tomorrow’s stars were crowned U-17 World champions last weekend on the hallowed ground at the fabled Estadio Azteca, the very same turf where the likes of legends Diego Maradona and Pele had some of their most iconic moments. Uruguay spilled the inevitable bitter tears on the night, so close yet so far to a first title in the junior category.

While the final itself was as tense and tightly played a game as we’ve seen at this FIFA U-17 World Cup, the match for third place was a spectacle of open play, goals and carefree football. Germany beat Brazil 4-3 with the crowd treated to a dazzling undercard.

The goal of the day wasn’t the prettiest goal of the tournament, but the reaction from the nearly 100,000 fans at the Azteca to the clinical counter-attack in the closing moments of the final was nothing short of bombastic. Collecting the ball from Arturo Gonzalez as the Uruguayans were stretched in search of a late equaliser, the super-sub extraordinaire slammed into the side netting to put the final result beyond doubt and spark scenes of unparalleled joy in the Mexican capital.

It was strange to see fans at the Azteca supporting Germany so fervently, especially just days after the semi-final where the Germans gave the home side a fright and were subjected to all manner of insults and abuse from the Torreon faithful. But the attacking nature of this German team is nothing short of infectious and the fans appreciated Samed Yesil and Co’s outstanding display as they bested Brazil to finish the tournament with the best attacking record, a full 24 goals scored in seven games. Green-clad Mexican supporters threw sombreros down to the bashful Germans and blew kisses as the junior Nationalmannschaft did an impromptu victory lap after the final whistle. Coach Steffen Freund even donned one of those oversized traditional Mexican hats at the post-game press conference, saying “adios” and “muchas gracias” with a wide smile in his best, broken Spanish.

While they did seem to care for the Germans a great deal, the Azteca fans’ one true love remained their young El Tri. And though it is a cliché to talk about the 12th man and its influence in football, the power of the hulking stadium itself seemed to count for much down on the pitch. The first glimpse the massive crowd got of their young heroes was not during the final itself. While Germany and Brazil traded goals in the third-place game, the Mexican players stuck their heads out of the tunnel for a brief second. The roar that greeted the cameo was as explosive and joyful as the cacophony of whistles, boos and clenched fists that greeted the Uruguayans’ first appearance. It was a hint of things to come as the huge crowd at the mighty Azteca roared, shouted, chanted, ‘Cielito Lindo-d’ and ‘ole-d’ the boys on to a 2-0 win and a second U-17 world title.

The enduring affection for star midfielder Julio Gomez simply could not be contained. The Pachuca man single-handedly put Mexico into the final after scoring twice and playing on with a bloody head injury in the semi-final win over Germany. He started the final on the bench, but the fans, many of them wearing bandages on their head in his honour, chanted his name all night long. He received the biggest roar when he finally entered the pitch, head still bandaged, mid-way through the second half. The gathered media, most of them Mexican, also voted with their hearts, voting him the adidas Golden Ball winner as tournament top player by a wide margin.

The number of fans that filed through the gates at the massive Azteca for the final of the U-17 World Cup was 98,943. The fans turned out in their numbers to support the home side’s charge to the title, and in doing so they broke the record for the largest final-day crowd in the tournament’s 26-year history. The average attendance for Mexico 2011’s 52 games stands at 19,275.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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