عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Inter Wins 3-0 at Sassuolo to End Hosts' Unbeaten Start

Alexis Sánchez celebrates after scoring for Inter Milan against Sassuolo. (AP)
Alexis Sánchez celebrates after scoring for Inter Milan against Sassuolo. (AP)
TT
TT

Inter Wins 3-0 at Sassuolo to End Hosts' Unbeaten Start

Alexis Sánchez celebrates after scoring for Inter Milan against Sassuolo. (AP)
Alexis Sánchez celebrates after scoring for Inter Milan against Sassuolo. (AP)

Inter Milan recorded a confidence-boosting 3-0 win at Sassuolo on Saturday to end the home side’s unbeaten start in Serie A.

Alexis Sánchez scored early on and a Vlad Chiricheș own goal shortly after doubled Inter’s lead. Roberto Gagliardini scored in the second half as Inter recorded only its second win in its past seven matches.

Inter played with the ferocity coach Antonio Conte had been demanding and Sassuolo barely had a sight of goal apart from a curled effort from Filip Đuričić that hit the outside of the right post.

Inter moved second, level on points with Sassuolo but above it on goal difference. Head-to-head record is the first tiebreak at the end of the season. They are both two points below AC Milan, which hosts Fiorentina on Sunday.

Juventus can move a point above Inter with a win at Benevento later Saturday. Atalanta was also playing later, against Hellas Verona.

Sassuolo knew it could move top with a win at Inter. The Nerazzurri were looking to bounce back from a midweek home defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Just like in all the Serie A matches this weekend, there was a tribute to Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday in his native Argentina. That included a minute's silence for the former Napoli player, while his image was also projected again on the stadium screens in the 10th minute, in honor of his jersey number.

Inter got off to the perfect start when Chiricheș’ clearance was intercepted by Lautaro Martínez, who then rounded goalkeeper Andrea Consigli. Chiricheș got back but Martínez managed to roll it across for the easiest of goals for Sánchez.

The visitors’ doubled their lead 10 minutes later as a corner from the left came to Arturo Vidal and his cross bounced off Chiricheș and squeezed into the bottom right corner.

Chiricheș’ day went from bad to worse as he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury at the end of the first half.

Inter all but sealed the result on the hour with a splendid finish into the bottom left corner from Gagliardini after a cross from Matteo Darmian.

Conte had rested Romelu Lukaku and only put the forward on for the final 11 minutes. That was still time enough for him to find the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Arsenal Plot Football Domination after Title Win, Says CEO Garlick

Arsenal's Spanish coach Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League - League Phase, Matchday 1 - football match between Napoli and Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish coach Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League - League Phase, Matchday 1 - football match between Napoli and Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
TT
TT

Arsenal Plot Football Domination after Title Win, Says CEO Garlick

Arsenal's Spanish coach Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League - League Phase, Matchday 1 - football match between Napoli and Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish coach Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League - League Phase, Matchday 1 - football match between Napoli and Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Arsenal are in a strong position to dominate men's football for years to come, CEO Richard Garlick said on Wednesday, minutes after the club announced they had agreed a new long-term deal for manager Mikel Arteta.

Arteta ended the club's 22-year wait for a Premier League title in May and has extended his contract to 2030.

The club also reached the Champions League final, losing on penalties to Paris St Germain, and posted club-record revenue. Garlick said, however, they were not resting on their laurels as they seek to build on a stellar campaign on and off the pitch.

"We can't stand still. We can't sit there, pat ourselves on the back, and say job done. This is the beginning, not the end of our journey. This is where we want to go on and show the confidence that that win is going to bring to us," Garlick said at the Leaders Week sports industry conference at Stamford Bridge, Reuters reported.

"We want to dominate football for the next number of years. We're in a really strong position to do that, but... we need to keep finding that edge that gives us that advantage, and we have to be brave because it'd be very easy just to simply say 'we'll just roll over what we did last year, and that'll be enough', because everybody's out to get you.

"When you're champions, everybody wants to beat you, and we need to find a way of taking those opportunities and taking those advantages and pushing forward all the time."

Arsenal were ranked seventh in the 2026 Deloitte money league for the world's top revenue-generating clubs, behind Manchester City.

However, with City being found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules from 2009-10 to 2017-18, there may be a gap to exploit in English football. City have appealed the league's decision and continue to deny wrongdoing.

FAITH IN ARTETA

Arsenal, owned by American company Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, will be helped by club-record revenue of 822 million euros ($918.91 million) in 2025, a 15% increase from the previous year and more expected this year.

With Arteta's mentor Pep Guardiola having left City in the close season, the Arsenal manager is now the longest-serving manager in the league after joining in December 2019.

Garlick sees that faith in Arteta, who struggled early on in his tenure, as key to Arsenal's growing success.

"I think it gives us a competitive advantage over the other teams because... Mikel is the only manager that's won the Premier League that's currently managing," Garlick said.

"You look at all the other teams in the sort of traditional top six, and they've all gone through managerial changes... whereas we've now got a manager who's been with us for a significant period of time and has been allowed to build and develop a team over a period of time.

"And the excitement now is we see (the) platform that we've got and we build from there."

Arsenal are second in the Premier League standings with 12 points from five games and host Leeds United on Saturday.

Sports

Mertens Beats Gauff to Set Up Swiatek Clash at China Open

Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens reacts during a women's singles match against Coco Gauff of the US at the China Open in Beijing, China, 07 October 2026. The China Open runs from 28 September to 11 October 2026. EPA/JESSICA LEE
Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens reacts during a women's singles match against Coco Gauff of the US at the China Open in Beijing, China, 07 October 2026. The China Open runs from 28 September to 11 October 2026. EPA/JESSICA LEE
TT
TT

Mertens Beats Gauff to Set Up Swiatek Clash at China Open

Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens reacts during a women's singles match against Coco Gauff of the US at the China Open in Beijing, China, 07 October 2026. The China Open runs from 28 September to 11 October 2026. EPA/JESSICA LEE
Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens reacts during a women's singles match against Coco Gauff of the US at the China Open in Beijing, China, 07 October 2026. The China Open runs from 28 September to 11 October 2026. EPA/JESSICA LEE

Elise Mertens beat a listless Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday to seal her spot in the China Open quarter-finals, where she will face Iga Swiatek.

Gauff, the highest-ranked player left in the women's draw, failed to recover from a series of misjudged shots and double-faulted eight times.

It was an uncharacteristically poor showing by the American world number four, who won the Beijing title in 2024 and made the semi-finals last year.

The 22-year-old was playing a day after she said she had received an "insane" amount of online racist abuse following her win over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran in the last round.

A group of supporters in the largely empty stadium tried to encourage her into a comeback, but Mertens was undeterred.

The Belgian world number 19 slammed down an ace on her second match point to wrap up the win in 78 minutes.

"She's an incredible player of course, I knew it was going to be a very tough match," Mertens said.

The 30-year-old dedicated her win to her coach, who is also her boyfriend.

Gauff spoke out on social media to condemn racist comments about her following her match with Sun, in which the American requested a video review over flickering LED lights on the stadium's advertising hoardings.

The request prompted some boos from the crowd. The umpire agreed to have the point replayed, and Gauff went on to win 7-5, 6-1.

Early on Tuesday, Gauff, who is Black, wrote on X: "Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist.

"The amount of racist comments and messages I've received in the last few hours is insane."

Responding to a post that contained a racial slur, Gauff clarified that she challenged the point before Sun's return when she noticed the lights flicker a second time.

Mertens will face Swiatek in the next round after the Pole swept aside American teenager Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes.

"I had it under control from the beginning," AFP quoted Swiatek as saying. "I feel like I'm improving every day."

China's Zheng Qinwen is due to face 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva later on Wednesday.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, the sixth seed, will play American Ann Li.

Sports

Khaleeji 27 Trophy Presented to Saudi National Team

Jeddah hosted the tournament for the first time, from September 23 to October 6. SPA
Jeddah hosted the tournament for the first time, from September 23 to October 6. SPA
TT
TT

Khaleeji 27 Trophy Presented to Saudi National Team

Jeddah hosted the tournament for the first time, from September 23 to October 6. SPA
Jeddah hosted the tournament for the first time, from September 23 to October 6. SPA

On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, under whose patronage the tournament was held, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz presented the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup (Khaleeji 27) trophy to the Saudi national team on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia beat the United Arab Emirates 2–0 in the final at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, winning the Kingdom's fourth Gulf Cup title.

Also at the final were Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and several princes and officials.

The minister of sport thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his patronage of the tournament. "We take pride in the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for this tournament," he said in a press statement. "This gracious attention from the wise leadership reflects the esteemed status of the Arabian Gulf Cup and its deep-rooted sporting and historical value for our brothers in the Gulf countries, who are united by bonds of brotherhood."

He added: "I extend my sincere congratulations to our wise leadership on our national team's victory in this cherished championship, which holds great significance for us as Gulf citizens."

He commended the Saudi fans for their unwavering support throughout the campaign and praised all participating teams for their exemplary sportsmanship and competitive spirit.

He also thanked all the organizing bodies and committees, staff, and volunteers for their tremendous efforts from the preparatory stages to the tournament's conclusion.

“Their coordination, cooperation, and dedication contributed to the success of this edition and ensured the tournament was presented in a manner befitting the stature of the Gulf Cup and the value it holds for the people of the region."

Jeddah hosted the tournament for the first time, from September 23 to October 6. The eight national teams played 15 matches at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City.