عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Iran Beats Japan 2-1 to Advance to Asian Cup Semifinals

Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
TT
TT

Iran Beats Japan 2-1 to Advance to Asian Cup Semifinals

Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)

Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s last-minute penalty gave Iran a 2-1 win over Japan on Saturday and a place in the Asian Cup semifinals for just the second time since 2004.
Jahanbakhsh kept his cool in the 96th minute to keep Iran on course for a first title since 1976 and fourth overall. Ko Itakura had been whistled for the foul and Jahanbakhsh gave goalkeeper Zion Suzuki no chance.
Iran came from behind after Hidemasa Morita put pre-tournament favorite Japan ahead in the first half of an entertaining quarterfinal match at Education City Stadium.
Mohammad Mohebi leveled the score in the 55th minute, The Associated Press reported.
Iran will face either host Qatar or Uzbekistan in the semifinals.
Iran started aggressively with Jahanbakhsh firing just over from the left after 13 minutes. Shortly after Saeid Ezatolahi shot straight at goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Out of nothing however, Japan, looking for a record fifth win, took the lead in the 28th minute. Morita collected a pass, skipped past Hossein Kanani to enter the area and while his shot was soft, it seemed to confuse Alireza Beiranvand and the ball bounced off the goalkeeper’s leg and into the net.
Iran, without suspended star striker Mehdi Taremi, almost leveled six minutes before the break when Brentford midfielder Saman Ghoddos shot just wide.
Ten minutes after the break, Sardar Azmoun slipped the ball through to Mohebi whose first-time shot from near the penalty spot went in the net to spark the comeback.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

'Messi, Maradona, Tim': NZ Footballer's Viral Fan Club Hits 4 Million

Tim Payne has gone from 4,000 to 4,000,000 followers in a week. DAVID ROWLAND / AFP/File
Tim Payne has gone from 4,000 to 4,000,000 followers in a week. DAVID ROWLAND / AFP/File
TT
TT

'Messi, Maradona, Tim': NZ Footballer's Viral Fan Club Hits 4 Million

Tim Payne has gone from 4,000 to 4,000,000 followers in a week. DAVID ROWLAND / AFP/File
Tim Payne has gone from 4,000 to 4,000,000 followers in a week. DAVID ROWLAND / AFP/File

New Zealand footballer Tim Payne's online fan club soared past four million on Tuesday, more than the All Blacks, after an influencer picked him out as the "least known" player at the World Cup.

Argentine social media giant Valen Scarsini, known as "El Scarso", last week called for his fans to boost unheralded Payne's following, kicking off an online explosion of interest, said AFP.

But New Zealand's coach said the unexpected fame -- Payne had just 4,000 Instagram followers a week ago -- won't go to the head of the Wellington Phoenix right-back.

"At the moment I do feel like he's dealing with it really well, probably better than maybe some others would have," Darren Bazeley told stuff.co.nz.

Payne, 32, who described the attention as "pretty crazy", could now be set to meet Scarsini.

The Argentine said he would travel to Florida to watch New Zealand's warm-up match against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday.

"Guys tomorrow is the day," Scarsini posted.

"Let's go watch Tim's game v Haiti and then we're going to meet him! Thanks to all who made it possible."

Payne's new celebrity status means he now has a million more followers than the rugby-obsessed country's All Blacks.

It has been the talk of the New Zealand squad's World Cup training camp in Florida.

"The players talk about it. I can hear the banter they're having with Tim, and I think it's amazing," said Bazeley.

"Putting Tim up on a pedestal like that was really cool and probably not something that he, or anyone, expected," he added.

"I don't know where it ends or where it leads to -- or what that world really involves. I try to stay off that, as most coaches do."

Another million or so would see Payne have as many followers as the population of New Zealand, which is around 5.3 million.

New Zealand are the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, which begins in Mexico, the United States and Canada next week.

Tongue-in-cheek online comments have been comparing Payne to the greatest players from three-time World Cup champions Argentina.

"Messi, Maradona, Tim," said one of more than 66,000 comments on Payne's latest post, many of them in Spanish, which also received 2.1 million likes.

Sports

Serena Williams to Return to Tennis at Queen’s Club

Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)
Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)
TT
TT

Serena Williams to Return to Tennis at Queen’s Club

Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)
Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)

Serena Williams confirmed her return to tennis after an absence of nearly four years on Monday, with the American great set to play women's doubles at Queen's club later this month.

The 44-year-old has not played competitively since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open left her one short of the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, jointly held by Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic.

Williams shared a video on social media of herself on a tennis court containing the caption: "Guess everybody heard the news", with her phone buzzing rapidly in the background.

A post from the seven-time Wimbledon champion said: "Good news travels fast."

"Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter," Williams said in a statement from tournament organisers.

"Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I'm excited to be back competing on one of the sport's most iconic stages."

The women's event at the London tournament starts on June 8.

- Rumors -

Williams' imminent return has been touted since it was revealed in December she had re-entered the anti-doping program -- a prerequisite to play on the tour again.

The American denied she was planning a competitive return but rumors have swirled over the past few months that she was on her way back.

She has now been given a wild card for the women's doubles at Queen's, reportedly alongside young Canadian Victoria Mboko.

Djokovic predicted a return for Williams in March and a number of players have spoken about the subject at the ongoing French Open.

"I think it's good for me. I'll be very entertained," said Naomi Osaka, who famously beat Williams in the 2018 US Open final, when asked if she would watch a comeback match from Serena.

Coco Gauff, who lost in the third round of the French Open on Saturday, said she would love to face Williams for the first time.

"Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, and we're delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA's HSBC Championships," said WTA tournament director Laura Robson.

"Women's tennis made a historic return to the Queen's Club last year and now we have an icon of the game stepping back on to court."

The former world number one said in 2022 she did not want to use the word "retiring" but instead explained she was "evolving" away from tennis.

The American spent 319 weeks at the top of the world rankings and won 73 singles titles on the WTA Tour.

She also won 14 major Grand Slam doubles titles with older sister Venus Williams, who ended a 16-month hiatus from professional tennis last year.

Venus said the "only thing" that would have made her being back on court better would have been if Serena had also returned.

Sports

Tunisia Seek Fresh Spark as Lamouchi Reshapes Ageing Squad

Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
TT
TT

Tunisia Seek Fresh Spark as Lamouchi Reshapes Ageing Squad

Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)

Tunisia carry quiet momentum ‌into the 2026 World Cup after cruising through qualifying without conceding a single goal, but familiar doubts remain over whether their disciplined approach can trouble the game's elite on the global stage.

Drawn alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden in Group F, Tunisia once again look set to rely on defensive organization and tactical consistency, qualities that have long made them one of Africa's most resilient sides.

However, recent performances have reinforced concerns about their lack of attacking edge against stronger opposition, with Tunisia continuing to depend more on collective discipline than individual brilliance.

Coach Sabri ‌Lamouchi has responded ‌by beginning a cautious reshaping of an ageing ‌squad ⁠ahead of the ⁠finals, leaving out established veterans including midfielder Ferjani Sassi and defender Yassine Meriah as he looks to refresh the team.

"These decisions were not easy; on the contrary, they were extremely difficult," Lamouchi was quoted as saying by FIFA.com after naming his squad.

"But I am not looking to make simple decisions, nor am I looking to select players to please ⁠anyone other than the Tunisian people - neither now nor ‌during the tournament."

Instead, Lamouchi has turned ‌to new faces and younger profiles as he attempts to inject greater energy ‌without sacrificing the defensive solidity that underpinned Tunisia's qualification campaign.

Among the ‌notable additions is Union Berlin midfielder Rani Khedira, the 32-year-old brother of former Germany international Sami Khedira, who switched allegiance earlier this year after spending his entire professional career in Germany.

The French coach has also recalled several younger ‌players, including Paris St Germain striker Khalil Ayari and Canada-based forward Rayan Elloumi, signaling a gradual transition ⁠rather than a ⁠complete rebuild.

Still, Tunisia's hopes may depend heavily on Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, one of the few players capable of producing moments of creativity and unpredictability in the final third.

The 23-year-old, who came through Manchester United's academy before moving to Burnley, is expected to shoulder much of Tunisia's attacking responsibility during the tournament.

Tunisia's pragmatic style has often made them difficult opponents in African competition, but their World Cup record remains modest. They have appeared at six previous World Cups but never advanced beyond the group stage.

Navigating a group containing the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden may ultimately reveal whether Lamouchi's gradual rebuild has given Tunisia enough quality and dynamism to compete beyond their traditional role as stubborn outsiders.