England narrowly avoided one of the greatest upsets in their World Cup history as captain Harry Kane struck twice late on to inspire a dramatic comeback victory over DR Congo in Atlanta, to secure a place in the last 16. The Three Lions were stunned just seven minutes into the match when Brian Cipenga fired DR Congo ahead in what was the African nation’s first-ever World Cup knockout fixture. England struggled to find their rhythm, while DR Congo defended resolutely and looked on course for a famous victory. England created chances but were repeatedly denied by an outstanding performance from…
Author: Damilola Amuda (Goalgetter)
Erling Haaland delivered another decisive moment on the biggest stage, scoring a late winner as Norway edged past Ivory Coast 2-1 to book a place in the World Cup last 16, where they will face Brazil. The Manchester City striker had been unusually quiet in Dallas for much of the contest, as both sides battled through a tense and evenly matched encounter. The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 86th minute, when Haaland reacted quickest in the box to bundle home from close range after Patrick Berg’s cutback, sealing a dramatic victory for the Norwegians. It was a result that underlined…
Morocco once again proved they are a force to be reckoned with on the world stage, producing a dramatic comeback to defeat the Netherlands on penalties in Monterrey and secure a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. It was a performance filled with resilience, determination, and belief. Despite dominating large spells of the contest, Morocco found themselves trailing late in the game before producing a stunning stoppage-time equaliser that ultimately paved the way for a memorable 3-2 penalty shootout victory. The Atlas Lions controlled much of the match, creating the better opportunities, but Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen…
Germany’s hopes of lifting a fifth FIFA World Cup title came to a heartbreaking end after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay, following a tense 1-1 draw after extra time. The four-time world champions found themselves stunned just before halftime when former Premier League forward Julio Enciso rose highest to head Paraguay into a surprise lead in the 42nd minute. The goal capped a disciplined first-half display from the South Americans, who frustrated Germany with their defensive resilience and clinical finishing. Germany emerged after the break with renewed urgency and eventually found their equaliser through Kai Havertz. The…
Brazil booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 in dramatic fashion, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a stunning 96th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 comeback victory over Japan. The heartbreaking defeat denied Japan what would have been their first-ever knockout stage victory at the tournament. Just moments away from extra time, Brazil regained possession on the edge of Japan’s penalty area. Bruno Guimarães reacted quickly, threading a perfectly weighted pass into Martinelli. The Arsenal forward took one composed touch before calmly slotting his effort in off the post, sparking wild celebrations among the Brazilian players and fans.…
Manchester City have officially appointed former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager, signing the Italian to a three-year contract following the departure of Pep Guardiola. Maresca, 46, is no stranger to the Etihad Stadium. Before taking charge at Chelsea, he worked as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2022/23. He also enjoyed success with the club’s Elite Development Squad, guiding the Under-23s to the Premier League 2 title during the 2020/21 season. His appointment marks a homecoming for a coach who understands the club’s philosophy, expectations, and winning culture. As part of the move, Maresca…
Canada booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 in dramatic fashion after Stephen Eustaquio scored a stoppage-time winner to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Africa. With the match seemingly destined for extra time and potentially penalties, Canada finally found the breakthrough in the 92nd minute. Eustaquio showed composure outside the penalty area, controlling the ball with his chest before firing a clinical half-volley into the far corner beyond South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, sending the home crowd into celebration. Despite dominating much of the contest, Canada struggled to break down South Africa’s resilient defence.…
Lionel Messi once again etched his name into football history, becoming the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer as Argentina secured a place in the last 32 with a victory over Austria on Monday. The Argentine captain delivered a memorable performance in Dallas, scoring twice to take his World Cup tally to 18 goals. The achievement sees Messi surpass former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals scored across tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Messi’s landmark first goal came in the 38th minute of the Group J clash. A clever move involving Thiago Almada and Facundo…
Real Madrid have strengthened their squad ahead of the new season by completing the signing of Spanish defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a six-year contract. The deal is worth an initial £47.5 million, with a further £4.3 million in performance-related add-ons, taking the total package to a potential £51.8 million. Cucurella leaves Chelsea after four seasons at Stamford Bridge, having joined the London club from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £63 million transfer in 2022. During his time with the Blues, the 27-year-old made 163 appearances and played a key role in the club’s successes, including triumphs in…
Co-hosts Mexico kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup in style, defeating a nine-man South Africa side 2-0 in front of a packed and passionate crowd at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The opening match of the tournament delivered goals, red cards, and a memorable milestone. Mexico wasted little time making their mark on the competition. Just nine minutes into the match, the hosts sent the home crowd into celebration when midfielder Erik Lira won possession with a strong challenge on South Africa’s Yaya Sithole. The loose ball fell kindly to Julian Quiñones, who drove a powerful shot through the legs…