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Ronaldo Puts Al-Nassr on Brink of Asian CL Playoffs while Toney Advances Al-Ahli

Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al Gharafa v Al Nassr - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 25, 2024 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al Gharafa v Al Nassr - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 25, 2024 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
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Ronaldo Puts Al-Nassr on Brink of Asian CL Playoffs while Toney Advances Al-Ahli

Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al Gharafa v Al Nassr - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 25, 2024 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Al Gharafa v Al Nassr - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 25, 2024 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage on Monday.
Al-Nassr is virtually assured of a place in the knockout stages, The Associated Press reported.
Ronaldo had two early shots well saved by goalkeeper Sergio Ricom, and half an hour in he placed the ball on the penalty spot. Sadio Mane went down in the area under a challenge from Matias Nani and the referee awarded a penalty. But the VAR overturned the decision.
Ronaldo then missed the best opportunity of the first 45 minutes, heading a free kick just wide from close range.
He made amends in the new half, heading home powerfully from an Angelo cross. Angelo then went around the goalkeeper for 2-0 in the 58th.
Ronaldo sealed the victory six minutes later, shooting home from inside the area.
Former Real Madrid striker Joselu pulled a goal back for Al-Gharafa.
Earlier, Ivan Toney scored twice as Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia won at defending champion Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates 2-1 to become the first team to book a place in the knockout stages with three group games to spare.
The England striker, who arrived in Jeddah from English Premier League team Brentford in August, came off the bench in the second half and scored twice in four minutes.
Both came from Riyad Mahrez crosses; Toney headed home the first and stretched to guide in the second.
“Coach (Matthias) Jaissle told me to come on and make a difference,” Toney said. “It was challenging because I've missed many games, but I stepped in and delivered a good performance.”
It was a fifth win in five by Al-Ahli, which moved into first place in its 12-team group. The tournament is divided into two groups, with the top eight from each progressing to a round of 16.

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Sports

SDRPY Handball Championship Wraps up in Marib, Yemen

The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA
The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA
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SDRPY Handball Championship Wraps up in Marib, Yemen

The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA
The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives - SPA

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) Handball Championship in Marib Governorate concluded with Al-Watan Club claiming the title after a 27-23 victory over Al-Sadd Club in the finals. Overall, 16 local clubs competed for the championship, SPA reported.

The championship is part of SDRPY’s efforts to support the youth and sports sector and promote sporting activities across governorates.

The program has supported the youth and sports sector through a wide range of projects and initiatives, including rehabilitating sports facilities, constructing stadiums, sponsoring tournaments, and providing technical expertise and knowledge transfer.

The SDRPY has implemented development projects and initiatives across vital sectors, including education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, and capacity building to support the Yemeni government and its development programs.

Sports

ATP Roundup: Tommy Paul Wins all-American Semi to Reach Houston Final

Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters
Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters
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ATP Roundup: Tommy Paul Wins all-American Semi to Reach Houston Final

Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters
Mar 25, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tommy Paul of the United States hits a backhand during his match against Arthur Fils of France in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images - Reuters

No. 4 Tommy Paul rallied for his fourth consecutive win over fellow American and second-seeded Frances Tiafoe, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7), on Saturday in the US Men's Clay Court Championship semifinals at Houston.

Paul clinched his first ever ATP clay-court final ​appearance in a grueling 2-hour, 45-minute match that was marred by rain throughout, including a 90-minute ‌delay during the second set. Paul thrived behind 14 aces and no double faults while converting two of five break-point opportunities in the pivotal deciding set.

It was back-and-forth in the final set with Tiafoe notching the first break and Paul breaking him right back in the next ​service. Then the reverse happened with Paul grabbing a break and Tiafoe nabbing it right back a service ​game later. In the deciding tiebreaker, Paul squandered two match points up 6-4 before advancing ⁠by winning two straight points to break a 7-7 tie.

In another semifinal between competitors from the same country, Argentina's Roman ​Andres Burruchaga easily dispatched Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-1, 6-1 to set up a date with Paul. Burruchaga converted 5 of ​8 break opportunities while never facing one. Tirante had 25 unforced errors to Burruchaga's 10, Reuters reported.

Grand Prix Hassan II

Qualifier Marco Trungelliti (ATP No. 117) of Argentina continued his Cinderella run by taking down top-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4, 7-6 (2) in Marrakech, Morocco.

Trungelliti clinched a spot in the final and ​is the oldest first-time finalist in ATP Tour history at 36. En route to the final, Trungelliti took down the ​fifth, third and first seeds. Trungelliti converted four of six break-point opportunities and capitalized on Darderi's eight double faults to deny the ‌Italian a ⁠repeat championship in the event.

Spain's Rafael Jodar will try to halt Trungelliti's magical run after he took down Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in just 63 minutes. Jodar was never broken and held a 23-8 advantage in winners. This would also be the first title for Jodar, who at 19 years old, made his tour debut earlier ​this year at the Australian ​Open and is competing in ⁠his first tour-level clay tournament.

Tiriac Open

Qualifier Daniel Merida Aguilar of Spain came back from a set down to upset Hungarian third seed Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 in a semifinal ​match in Bucharest, Romania.

After dropping the first set, Merida Agular knocked home four of his ​six break-point attempts ⁠over the final two sets, finishing with 35 winners. He defended his serve well throughout as he saved 17 of the 18 break points he faced to overcome his 39 unforced errors and reach his first tour-level final.

Seventh-seeded Argentinian Mariano Navone saved ⁠two match ​points to come back and beat eighth-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp of ​the Netherlands 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Navone capitalized on 65 unforced errors from van de Zandschulp and broke him six times. He hit 82% of his ​first serves and will also be looking for his first tour-level title after losing the 2024 Bucharest championship match.

Sports

Schouten to Miss World Cup after Surgery on Cruciate Ligament Injury

Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
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Schouten to Miss World Cup after Surgery on Cruciate Ligament Injury

Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo

PSV Eindhoven captain Jerdy Schouten sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the match against Utrecht that required surgery, his club said on Sunday, ruling the Netherlands midfielder out of the World Cup.

Schouten suffered the injury in the second half of Saturday's 4-3 victory when he twisted his knee and the 29-year-old was taken off on a stretcher.

PSV said further examinations on Sunday confirmed the injury which generally takes six to nine months for a full recovery.

"When it happened, I actually felt immediately that something was wrong," Schouten said, Reuters reported.

"You still have a glimmer of hope that it isn't too bad, but unfortunately that turned out not to be the case. The blow is big right now, but I will move on quickly.

"Great things are about to happen for PSV again and I will do everything I can to be involved in everything."

Schouten made 40 appearances for PSV across all competitions this season, including 28 league games as they inch closer to a third straight title.

Having made his international debut in 2022, Schouten has played 17 times for the Netherlands, last playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly draw with Ecuador last week.