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Palace stun Liverpool to Win Charity Shield 

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Crystal Palace started the new season with a suddenly familiar feeling, basking in trophy glory as triumphant underdogs at Wembley.

The FA Cup holders beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to win an enthralling Community Shield yesterday.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the shootout hero for Palace as he saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Mohamed Salah sent his kick over the bar.

It allowed 21-year-old midfielder Justin Devenny, sent on as a stoppage-time substitute, to smash the winning penalty past Alisson.

Palace, who had not won a major trophy in their history until this year, have now earned two in three months at Wembley, having snatched the first at Manchester City’s expense.

They are also the first club to win the Community Shield on their debut in the match for 50 years, since Derby County in 1975.

Spot-kicks provided a thrilling conclusion to one of the most exciting season openers in years, in which the drama started in just the fourth minute.

Four of Liverpool’s five major summer signings started, and two of those players combined to brilliant effect in the early moments at sun-drenched Wembley.

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s £116m record signing, fed Hugo Ekitike on the edge of the box and the French striker turned and struck a low right-foot shot into the far bottom right corner, beyond the diving Henderson.

Palace were undaunted and deservedly equalised 13 minutes later when Jean-Philippe Mateta slotted in from the spot after Virgil van Dijk fouled Ismaila Sarr. Mateta would also score in the shootout later.

But soon after, yet another Liverpool newcomer stepped up as right-back Jeremie Frimpong jinked into the Palace box and chipped what looked like a cross over Henderson, the ball hitting the far post and bouncing in.

Liverpool were made to pay when Ismaila Sarr was played onside by Frimpong and finished clinically in off the post.

Palace felt they should then have had a penalty when Mac Allister appeared to handle a cross, but the on-field decision was upheld by the video assistant referee (VAR), before Devenny was inches away from scoring the winner in the final seconds.

However, Palace’s Northern Ireland midfielder would soon have his moment in the sun.

A big moment is coming for Palace today, when they will discover from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) whether their appeal against demotion from the Europa League has been successful.

But there was no evidence of the ‘Sunday scaries’ – that dread of what lies in wait on Monday – for the Eagles.

Just as in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, Oliver Glasner’s team refused to take a step backwards against one of English football’s heavyweights.

Manager Glasner looked to recapture the glorious feelings stoked by their last visit to Wembley, naming the same starting XI he chose for the cup final.

For a while, the magic seemed to be absent.

Two moments of sluggish defending in wide areas cost Palace in the first half, while Henderson perhaps should have moved his feet quicker in reaction to both goals.

But they rode out the Liverpool storm, led once again by captain Marc Guehi who as ever put every ounce of sweat and blood into his performance. Palace will be desperate for him to stay, amid links to Liverpool this summer.

The first came thanks to good team play off the left wing, the position where Jota served Liverpool so well for five seasons.

The second goal came after Liverpool fans stood and applauded in memory of their former player.

Jota would have been proud of the confidence and impudence that Frimpong showed in beating Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell. He would have enjoyed the end result too, whether Frimpong meant it or not.

Ultimately, though, Liverpool were not quite able to win their 17th Community Shield.

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Lewandowski Leads Top Stars Missing From W/Cup Roll Call 

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Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)

One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.

Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.

Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.

He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)

Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.

Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.

Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Serhou Guirassy

Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)

Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season

Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.

But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.

But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)

Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season

Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.

Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.

With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)

Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season

Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.

But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.

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Para Games: Team Rivers Wins 53 Medals On Day 5 … Director Praise Athletes 

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Rivers para team has been impressive in the third edition of the competition. The first-timers have made a significant impact on the games.
Speaking at the event, the State Director of Sports, Obia Inyingikabo, who is the leader of the contingent, has praised her athletes for their commitment and determination to make the state proud.
According to her, the impressive performance of the athletes is unprecedented despite the fact that they relatively prepared late for completion.
“I am not in doubt that team Rivers in this competition will finish tops,” Inyingikabo said.
Meanwhile, below are the medals won by the para team Rivers.
Para table tennis:
14 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze,
Shooting, 1 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze. Cycling: 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze. Swimming: 1 gold, 2 bronze, Badminton: 1 gold and 1 silver. Para powerlifting: 1 gold and 1 bronze; para athletics: 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze.
Tonye Orabere

 

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Ondo Women Shine At Gov Diri Wrestling Classics

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Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics. 

Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.

African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.

Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.

In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.

Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.

In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.

 

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