Henrique's Late Volley Helps Marseille Beat Lyon and Stay 10 Points Behind PSG

Marseille's players celebrate after winning the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, south-eastern France, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Christophe Simon / AFP)
Marseille's players celebrate after winning the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, south-eastern France, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Christophe Simon / AFP)
TT

Henrique's Late Volley Helps Marseille Beat Lyon and Stay 10 Points Behind PSG

Marseille's players celebrate after winning the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, south-eastern France, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Christophe Simon / AFP)
Marseille's players celebrate after winning the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, south-eastern France, on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Christophe Simon / AFP)

Luis Henrique's late volley helped second-placed Marseille beat Lyon 3-2 on Sunday and stay 10 points behind unbeaten league leader Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazilian winger met a curling cross from Pol Liroa to the back post in the 85th minute of a match where all the goals came in a frantic second half, The Associated Press reported.
Lyon led through midfielder Corentin Tolisso's 53rd-minute goal, only for Marseille to score twice in three minutes with goals from Mason Greenwood and Adrien Rabiot.
Veteran forward Alexandre Lacazette equalized from the penalty spot in the 72nd following a handball which went to a video review and appeared harsh on Rabiot, with the ball hitting the midfielder's thigh and bouncing onto his elbow.
It was the first game in charge for Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca, and his side's first goal would have pleased him.
Lacazette held the ball up well and found Ernest Nuamah, who broke through the middle and in turn passed to Rayan Cherki. He waited for Tolisso's overlap down the right and timed a pass behind the defense, allowing Tolisso to drill a low shot into the bottom left corner.
But Amine Gouiri came off the bench to expertly set up the equalizer for Greenwood in the 61st.
Gouiri dribbled down the left and his deft diagonal pass across the penalty area gave Greenwood his 13th league goal — one behind top scorer Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain.
Greenwood was involved in the second goal, flicking the ball up over the defense to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg on the left of the area. Højbjerg headed it across to Rabiot, who finished with a powerful close-range header.
No away fans were allowed to attend the game because of the high risk of violence — including past brutal clashes between rival supporters and an attack on Lyon’s team bus which left its former coach injured.
The atmosphere at Stade Velodrome was calm, a week after Nice fans were condemned by the French league for making homophobic chants and unfurling an insulting banner during the home game with Marseille.
Earlier, Nice dropped to fifth place after conceding a late goal in a 1-1 draw at Toulouse.
Gaeten Laborde put Nice ahead from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after strike partner Evann Guessand was fouled by goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.
Nice then rode its luck.
Toulouse came close midway through the second half when defender Melvin Bard cleared Aron Donnum's shot off the line. The home side's persistence was rewarded when defender Warren Kamanzi pounced from close range after goalie Marcin Bulka spilled a free kick.
Nice is one point behind fourth-placed Lille and three behind third-placed Monaco in the race for a Champions League spot next season.
OTHER MATCHES
Egypt forward Mostafa Mohamed scored the winner as Nantes won 2-1 at Reims.
French striker Matthis Abline put 14th-placed Nantes ahead in the 42nd, but Nantes gifted Reims an equalizer when Jean-Charles Castelletto scored an own-goal trying to clear a corner.
A late goal from midfielder Ludovic Blas gave Rennes a much-needed 1-0 victory over Strasbourg and helped the Brittany side up to 15th spot.
Le Havre stayed in last place after conceding a last-minute goal in a 1-1 draw at Angers.
The home side equalized through defender Florent Hanin after veteran forward Andre Ayew came off the bench to put Le Havre ahead in the 73rd from Josue Casimir's cross.
A player from each side was sent off early in an ill-tempered game which saw six others cautioned.
Right back Lilian Raolisoa was shown a red card in the 10th minute for a foul, and Le Havre captain Arouna Sangante saw red for a high tackle on Angers forward Esteban Lepaul.
PSG won 5-2 at Brest on Saturday.



Italiano Appointed Besiktas Coach

Italian Vincenzo Italiano named Besiktas coach. (Reuters)
Italian Vincenzo Italiano named Besiktas coach. (Reuters)
TT

Italiano Appointed Besiktas Coach

Italian Vincenzo Italiano named Besiktas coach. (Reuters)
Italian Vincenzo Italiano named Besiktas coach. (Reuters)

Vincenzo Italiano has been appointed coach of Turkish side Besiktas, the Istanbul-based club announced on Saturday.

The 48-year-old Italian will coach the club until the end of the 2027-2028 season, Besiktas said in a statement, AFP reported.

The former coach of Serie A clubs Fiorentina and Bologna, becomes the 11th manager at Besiktas in the past five years, following Frenchman Valerien Ismael, Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Crowned Turkish champions for the 16th time in 2021, Besiktas have since struggled to compete with Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, the two other big Istanbul clubs.


AlUla Designates Scenic Open-Air Venues for 2026 FIFA World Cup Screenings

Fans can watch all Saudi national team matches alongside prominent international, Arab, and Gulf fixtures - SPA
Fans can watch all Saudi national team matches alongside prominent international, Arab, and Gulf fixtures - SPA
TT

AlUla Designates Scenic Open-Air Venues for 2026 FIFA World Cup Screenings

Fans can watch all Saudi national team matches alongside prominent international, Arab, and Gulf fixtures - SPA
Fans can watch all Saudi national team matches alongside prominent international, Arab, and Gulf fixtures - SPA

AlUla Governorate has prepared several open-air fan zones for residents and tourists to watch 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, blending international football excitement with the region’s renowned natural beauty and unique rock formations while catering to a growing influx of summer visitors.

Fans can watch all Saudi national team matches alongside prominent international, Arab, and Gulf fixtures.

The tournament’s timing in summer boosts AlUla’s appeal, allowing visitors to combine the global sporting event with exploring local heritage sites and participating in outdoor recreational activities during the cooler evening hours, SPA reported.

This viewing experience is fully supported by diverse hospitality options, ranging from luxury resorts and desert accommodations to heritage hotels situated in AlUla Old Town.

These integrated facilities reinforce the region's strategy to expand its tourism and entertainment portfolio, positioning AlUla as a preferred year-round destination.


Iran World Cup Squad Heads to Mexico as US Visa Row Erupts

Iran's Mehdi Torabi, right, poses for a photo with fans after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Iran's Mehdi Torabi, right, poses for a photo with fans after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
TT

Iran World Cup Squad Heads to Mexico as US Visa Row Erupts

Iran's Mehdi Torabi, right, poses for a photo with fans after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Iran's Mehdi Torabi, right, poses for a photo with fans after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Iran lashed out at the United States on Saturday for refusing visas to some of its World Cup squad support staff as the players were to leave Türkiye for Mexico.

The row erupted just days before the June 11 start of the 2026 World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Iranian players, who have been at a training camp in the southern Turkish resort of Antalya since May 18, received their visas late on Friday, Washington's envoy to Türkiye Tom Barrack said on X, hailing the work of the US embassy in Ankara in "processing visas for Iran's national football team".

But Iran's embassy to Türkiye hit back Saturday with a furious response, saying a "large" number of managerial and executive staff and others had been denied visas.

"You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran's national football team to its highest level," the embassy wrote on X.

"FIFA must hold the US accountable for violations of its rules and for the discriminatory treatment of Iran's national football team."

Iran's Football Federation, whose chief Mehdi Taj was reportedly among those denied a visa, also hit out, describing the decision as "political interference in sport in its worst form".

"By extending its hostile behaviour towards the Iranian nation into the field of sport, the ... US government has deprived Iran's national team of.. the opportunity to compete without discrimination," it said, pledging to pursue the matter with FIFA.

Iranian state TV's correspondent in Antalya said the players and their technical staff had received visas, but 15 others on the administrative and management side had not.

It said the matter would be followed up in Mexico.

In April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with the Iranian players but "some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them", suggesting they may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, a group on the US terror blacklist.

Taj himself is a former Guards member, Iranian media in the diaspora have said.

Team Melli were scheduled to leave Antalya for Mexico on a 3:20 pm (1220 GMT) flight that Taj said earlier this week would include a stopover in Spain before arriving in Mexico early on Sunday.

But Iran's state TV gave a later departure time of 5:30 pm.

The team will be based in the northwestern border city of Tijuana for the duration of the tournament, but all three of their group stage matches are due to be held in the United States.

Iran, who are in Group G, will play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Ahead of their departure on Saturday, Iran played a final friendly against Mali in Antalya on Thursday which they won 2-0. They played a first match on May 29, beating Gambia 3-1.