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Dybala Double Sends Roma to Europa League Last 16, Fenerbahce, Alkmaar and Real Sociedad Advance 

Football - Europa League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - AS Roma v FC Porto - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 20, 2025 AS Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal past FC Porto's Diogo Costa. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - AS Roma v FC Porto - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 20, 2025 AS Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal past FC Porto's Diogo Costa. (Reuters)
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Dybala Double Sends Roma to Europa League Last 16, Fenerbahce, Alkmaar and Real Sociedad Advance 

Football - Europa League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - AS Roma v FC Porto - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 20, 2025 AS Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal past FC Porto's Diogo Costa. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - AS Roma v FC Porto - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 20, 2025 AS Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal past FC Porto's Diogo Costa. (Reuters)

Paulo Dybala struck twice in four minutes as Roma beat Porto 3-2 to reach the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.

Dybala returned from a knee injury sustained in the first-leg 1-1 draw a week ago in Portugal, and Roma advanced on a 4-3 aggregate score.

Porto went ahead thanks to Samu’s acrobatic volley over his shoulder to take a 2-1 aggregate lead but Dybala started the comeback with an equalizer in the 35th with a left-footed shot inside the far post. The second clinical finish came from inside the area to the near post.

Porto’s hopes were dented when Stephen Eustáquio was sent off after getting a red card only six minutes into the second half.

Substitute Niccolò Pisilli added the third before another substitute Devyne Rensch’s own goal in stoppage time.

Roma, the 2022 Conference League champion, will next play either Lazio or Bilbao.

The game between Anderlecht and Fenerbahce was briefly suspended due to crowd trouble in Brussels. The problems took place shortly after Youssef En-Nesyri scored for Fenerbahce in the fourth minute. The Turkish team had won the first leg 3-0. After a 2-2 draw, Fenerbahce advanced 5-2 on aggregate.

The match had been suspended for “security issues,” UEFA said. Riot police were deployed in the stands and play resumed after some 15 minutes.

Alkmaar advanced after a 2-2 draw with Galatasaray that saw the Dutch club reach the next round on a 6-3 aggregate score.

Alkmaar got goals from Seiya Maikuma and Denso Kasius before Victor Osimhen struck for the Istanbul club. Roland Sallai’s equalizer salvaged at least a draw on the night for the hosts.

Alkmaar is set to face either Manchester United or Tottenham next.

Romanian team FCSB beat PAOK 2-0 to progress on a 4-1 aggregate score.

Norway’s Bodø/Glimt scored twice in extra time to beat Dutch side Twente 5-2 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate. Three goals in stoppage time sent the match to extra time where goals from substitute Sondre Brunstad Fet (111th) and an own from Arno Verschueren (114th) confirmed the win. The Norwegian team is amid a winter break that will not end until the start of the domestic league on March 29.

Luka Sučić’s first-half double led Real Sociedad to a 5-2 victory over 10-man Midtjylland and to the round of 16 on a 7-3 aggregate score to next play either Tottenham or Manchester United.

Viktoria Plzen overcame a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to beat Ferencvaros 3-0.

Ajax’s 2-0 advantage against Saint-Gilloise was erased in the first half as the Dutch powerhouse was reduced to 10 with Davy Klaassen sent off. Substitute Kenneth Taylor converted a spot kick three minutes into extra time for Ajax to advance.

The eight winners of the playoffs will be unseeded teams in Friday’s draw and will host the first-leg games on March 6.

The top eight in the 36-team league standings — Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Tottenham, Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos and Rangers — had made straight the round of 16. They will host second legs on March 13.

Conference League

In the third-tier Conference League, Real Betis was reduced to 10 men eight minutes before time and conceded a winning goal from Gent but still advanced thanks to its 3-0 victory in the first leg.

Molde was also down to 10 from the final minute but went on to prevail in a penalty shootout over Shamrock Rovers after winning 1-0 in Dublin.

Copenhagen edged European newcomer Heidenheim 3-1 in extra time to make the next round 4-3 on aggregate.

Pafos advanced after beating Omonoia an all-Cypriot matchup 2-1 following a 1-1 draw a week ago.

Bosnia’s Borac held Olimpija 0-0 in Ljubljana to advance 1-0 on aggregate.

Panathinaikos is into the next round with a 2-0 victory over Víkingur Reykjavík on 3-2 aggregate. Jagiellonia beat TSC 6-2 on aggregate after a 3-1 home win. Celje upset APOEL 2-0 at home and has advanced.

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Lens Close in on PSG with Win Over Lowly Metz

Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
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Lens Close in on PSG with Win Over Lowly Metz

Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)

Lens clawed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday after beating bottom side Metz 3-0 to relaunch their unexpected title challenge.

Saudi international Saud Abdulhamid drilled in the opening goal late in the first half and Florian Thauvin doubled the lead for Lens immediately after the break.

Amadou Haidara wrapped up the victory on 52 minutes as Lens won for the first time in three matches to relaunch their pursuit of PSG, who lost 3-1 at home to Monaco on Friday.

"There are still a few hills to climb but being within a point of PSG with nine games to go is a good thing in itself," AFP quoted Lens coach Pierre Sage as saying

Metz, who beat Lens earlier in the season, stayed rooted to the foot of the table. They have not won in the league since November, taking only two points from their last 13 matches.

Recently fired coach Franck Haise had a triumphant return to south coast side Nice on Sunday.

Under new coach Claude Puel, Nice continued their slump towards the relegation zone as they were thumped 4-0 at home by Haise's resurgent Rennes, the Brittany club climbing above Lille to fourth.

Lille drew 1-1 with Lorient, while Brest put two goals past Le Havre without reply.

On Saturday, Marseille avenged their midweek French Cup elimination by Toulouse, as Mason Greenwood scored the only goal in a 1-0 league win.

Lyon can reclaim third place from Marseille later on Sunday with a win over Paris FC.

Sports

Southampton Stuns Premier League Fulham to Advance to the FA Cup Quarterfinals

Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Southampton Stuns Premier League Fulham to Advance to the FA Cup Quarterfinals

Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Southampton's Scottish striker #11 Ross Stewart (L) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick for his team's fist goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage in London on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Southampton produced an FA Cup upset to knock out Premier League side Fulham on Sunday.

Ross Stewart's 91st-minute penalty sealed a 1-0 win for the Championship side at Craven Cottage and booked its place in the quarterfinals.

The game was heading to extra time when Joachim Andersen brought down Finn Azaz in the box late on, The Associated Press reported. Stewart stepped up and blasted past Fulham goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.

Fulham coach Marco Silva paid the price for making nine changes to his starting lineup and leaving out star players like Raul Jimenez, Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi.

Victory continues Southampton's impressive surge under coach Tonda Eckert, who has transformed the club's fortunes since taking charge in November.

The team, which was relegated from the Premier League last season, was battling for survival in the Championship when former coach Will Still was fired.

Under Eckert it has risen up the standings and is competing for a place in the playoffs.

“Overall in the 90 minutes it’s deserved that we go to the next round,“ he told the BBC. “(We) just need to use this game as fuel for the games coming up.”

Sports

Iran Soccer Team Exits Women's Asian Cup and Faces the Prospect of Return Home

Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
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Iran Soccer Team Exits Women's Asian Cup and Faces the Prospect of Return Home

Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Iran’s soccer team lost its last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.

The Iranian women’s squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the US and Israel Feb. 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually leave within days but organizers have not announced details for the departure of the Iran delegation, The AP news reported.

Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0 loss to Australia last Thursday and a 2-0 loss to Philippines on Sunday.

Amid concerns for player welfare following reported criticism in the Iranian media, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in Australia.

It launched an online petition, which had more than 50,000 electronic signatures before kick-off Sunday, urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain” and also to provide independent legal advice, support and interpreters.

Iran team management and players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home during more than a week preparing for and playing games on Australia’s Gold Coast, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference last Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.

The Australian Associated Press reported late Sunday that protestors chanting “let them go" slightly delayed the departure of the Iran squad from the stadium.

Australia's national news agency quoted Iran's head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying the squad “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”

“I want to be with my country and home ... We are eager to come back," AAP quoted Jafari as saying.

The Australian Iranian Council's online petition asked local authorities to ensure any player seeking protection “can do so safely, privately, and without interference” and to “make clear that Australia will uphold its ... humanitarian protection obligations in relation to any player at risk of persecution or serious harm.

“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position," it said. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on whether the Australian government had made contact with individuals but told domestic media Australia stood in solidarity with the Iranian women's team.

“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia, and (Australia's women's team) swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. “We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women.”

Iranian Australian activist Tina Kordrostami, a local government member in Sydney’s Ryde Council, told The Australian newspaper the Iranian players “need an opportunity, a safe space, a chance to actually speak up about what their needs are and what their requirements are.”

“We can’t give them that space without the government helping us,” she said.

The Iranian women's team needed to beat Philippines to maintain any chance of advancing to the Asian Cup quarterfinals, which would have extended its stay in Australia for more than another week.