Football

Doha, Qatar: Liverpool's shot stopper Alisson Becker put on a performance for the ages as the English outfit edged Paris Saint German 0-1 at theParc des Princes in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. Harvey Elliott scored with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute to give Liverpool an unlikely 1-0 win away to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. Elliott had just replaced Mohamed Salah when he fired in from a Darwin Nunez assist in the 87th minute at the Parc des Princes to hand the Premier League leaders the advantage ahead of next week'sreturn leg. It was the ultimate smash and grab act from Arne Slot's side, who up to that point had survived a pummelling from in-form PSG. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a first-half strike disallowed for a marginal offside and Alisson Becker made several crucial saves as the French league leaders had 28 attempts on goal to their visitors' two, with 65 percent of the posession over the course of the game going to PSG. Salah had been almost completely anonymous as Liverpool looked set to fail to score in a game for just the fourth time all season, but now they will be confident of pressing home their advantage at Anfield. If they emerge victorious, a quarter-final against Aston Villa or Club Brugge awaits, although PSG showed enough to suggest they will again be extremely dangerous in England. Luis Enrique's team came into this game on a run of 10 straight victories and had scored 21 goals in their last five Champions League outings, including a 4-2 defeat of Manchester City in January. This performance, however, was more like those at the start of their Champions League campaign, when they struggled to turn chances into goals in defeats against the likes of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. January signing Kvaratskhelia had been selected instead of exciting teenage prospect Desire Doue, and the Georgian completed a fluid front three alongside Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele. Liverpool, meanwhile, were without Cody Gakpo, so Diogo Jota came in for his first appearance in the Champions League since October 2. The hotly anticipated clash between the runaway leaders of the English and French leagues had the potential to be Liverpool's toughest test this season, and that is how the game panned out for long spells. PSG are no longer a team dominated by a couple of superstar forwards, but rather a voracious collective of dynamic, hard-working young players under the guidance of their intense Spanish coach.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: The dates for two major tournaments to be hosted in Qatar later this year have been set by FIFA. FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will kick off on 1 December, with the final taking place on 18 December, Qatar National Day, whereas the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will take place earlier between 3 – 27 November. The dates were confirmed at today’s FIFA Council meeting. A total of 16 teams from the Arab world will compete for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 as Qatar gets ready to host it for the second time in a row, after successfully hosting the competition in 2021. “Qatar will once again bring people together from the region and beyond to celebrate the beautiful game in our football loving nation. The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will capture the imagination of millions of football fans from around the region for a second time, while the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 offers a wonderful platform for young players to shine on a global stage,” said HESheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth, and LOC Chairman for both tournaments. “We look forward to welcoming players and fans alike into our world-class sporting facilities and providing them with a rich cultural and seamless fan experience. We believe in the ability of sports to bring people together and help break down cultural barriers, something that drives our continuous desire to host major sporting events in Qatar,” added HESheikh Hamad. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025will be the first 48-team FIFA World Cup tournament, with a total of 104 matches played in a matter of 25 days. The youth tournament has previously launched the careers of some of football’s most iconic players, and eyes will be set firmly on this edition to see who the beautiful game’s next shining star will be. Host Qatar will look to improve on their best finish – fourth place at the 1991 edition. Information regarding selected stadiums and ticketing for both tournaments will also be released in due course. The inaugural FIFA Arab Cupin Qatar in 2021 enjoyed tremendous success, attracting fans from across the region and around the world and witnessing some thrilling action on the pitch. Algeria emerged victorious at the end of the tournament, overcoming Tunisia in a hard-fought 2-0 match at one of Qatar’s stunning FIFA World Cup 2022stadiums, Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, on 18 December 2021. Beyond the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, Qatar will host the 2029 and 2033 editions of the tournament regional tournament. This comes alongside the five consecutive editions of the annual FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the first coming this year. For all information related to the the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025and other mega events hosted by Qatar, follow @RoadtoQatar on Instagram and X.

Cricket

Lahore: Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson struck hundreds as New Zealand eased to a 50-run win over South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday to set up a rematch with India in the Champions Trophy final. Ravindra made 108 off 101 balls and Williamson hit 102 off 94 deliveries as New Zealand posted a Champions Trophy record 362-6 before restricting South Africa to 312-9. David Miller finished unbeaten on 100 but his 67-ball innings came in vain with the game already well out of reach, as South Africa suffered their fifth Champions Trophy semi-final defeat after those in 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2013. They won the first edition of the tournament in Bangladesh in 1998, when it was named the ICC KnockOut Trophy. New Zealand'sRachinRavindra plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) semi-final cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Aamir Qureshi / AFP) New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner excelled with the ball and took 3-43 with his left-arm spin, breaking a 105-run partnership for South Africa's second wicket by removing rival skipper Temba Bavuma for 56. Bavuma started slowly before steadying the innings with Rassie van der Dussen, who scored a fluent 69 before being deceived by a beautiful delivery from Santner. Santner then dealt a critical blow when he dismissed Heinrich Klaasen for three, caught by a diving Matt Henry at long-on, dashing South Africa's hopes of pulling off the highest chase in the tournament's history. Ravindra (1-20) had Aiden Markram caught and bowled for 31 while Glenn Phillips chipped in with 2-27 as South Africa crumbled against spin. Earlier, Ravindra and Williamson set the foundations for a big total on a batting-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch after New Zealand won the toss and batted first. Daryl Mitchell clubbed 49 off 37 balls and Phillips smashed a 27-ball 49 not out as the Black Caps plundered 110 runs in the last 10 overs and 66 in the last five. South Africa's bowling line-up struggled right from the start as Ravindra and Will Young (21) put on 48 for the opening stand. It was followed by a magnificent 164-run partnership for the second wicket between Ravindra and Williamson that put the New Zealanders on track for a massive total, as the duo scored at will with some delightful strokes. Ravindra completed his fifth ODI hundred -- all coming in ICC events -- from 93 balls with a two off Kagiso Rabada. Williamson reached his 15th ODI hundred with a ramped boundary, his third three-figure score in as many matches against South Africa. It was Rabada who finally ended the partnership by dismissing Ravindra caught behind. Ravindra hit 13 fours and one six in total. Williamson chipped Wiaan Mulder into the hands of Lungi Ngidi in the 40th over after hitting 10 fours and two sixes. Mitchell and Phillips added some late impetus after South Africa had briefly dragged things back to give themselves hope of limiting the score to under 350. Fast bowler Ngidi finished with 3-72, while Rabada ended with figures of 2-70.