Minnows Hienghene Sport produced an outstanding performance to force extra-time before going down 3-1 to Al Sadd in round one of the Club World Cup.

Al Sadd coached by former Barcelona midfielder Xavi had been expected to record a comfortable win at their home stadium against amateur opponents hailing from New Caledonia.

However, Hienghene threatened to pull off an incredible shock, and the winners of the OFC Champions League were only undone when goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine picked up a backpass in the first period of extra-time and Abdelkarim Hassan thundered home from the resulting indirect free-kick, with Pedro Miguel subsequently adding a late third.

Al Sadd, who will now face Monterrey on Saturday, were more than worthy winners, having spurned a succession o…

Celtic s unbeaten run in this season s Europa League was ended as Cluj sealed their place in the knockout stages with a 2-0 victory on Thursday.

Needing to avoid defeat to secure second place in Group E ahead of Lazio, Cluj ultimately had a comfortable night against a Celtic side who had already qualified and were chasing successive away victories in Europe for the first time since 2003.

Abdel Billel Omrani and Lacina Traore passed up chances but defender Andrei Burca made no such mistake to head the hosts in front in the 48th minute.

Celtic could not kick-start an underwhelming display, and Cluj secured their passage into the round of 32 for the first time when Damjan Djokovic prodded home with 20 minutes remaining.

The table-toppers fall to a 2-0 …

First and foremost, I like Shay s spirit, his mentality, he s a real competitor, Kreis said. I think he s very hungry to be a part of what s going on here. I think he s very hungry to move his professional career forward.

Dortmund value Aubameyang at €40m

The agent of Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Oscar Damiani Jr., has admitted it will be difficult for Internazionale Milano to acquire the player because of the club s valuation of the player.

The Gabonese forward, 25, joined Dortmund from Saint-Etienne in a bargain deal worth around €13 million, and has gone on to establish himself as one of the most feared forwards on the European continent.

I m convinced Inter would like to obtain his services,  Damiani Jr. told fci…

Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic has ruled out a return to Inter while Roberto Mancini remains in charge.

The Croatia international left San Siro for Madrid in 2015, but has seen limited playing time for the Champions League winners, fuelling speculation of possibly linking back up with his former club. 

But despite reiterating his affinity for Inter, the 22-year-old admitted that he cannot work under Mancini, who himself re-joined the Serie A side in 2014. 

I won t go back there with Mancini on the bench, he said.

I had a weird relationship with him, but these are personal things and it s best not to get into them.

I don t know what will happen in the future, nobody does. I had two-and-a-half years with Inter and I m a fan.

K…

Police are searching for three men suspected of being linked to a break-in at the home of England footballer Raheem Sterling.

Det Insp James Ansell, from Surrey Police, told the BBC detectives are trying to establish the current whereabouts of Albanian nationals Alfred Isufi, 48, Gerard Kalaja, 22, and Henri Osmani, 44.

The trio are being sought for questioning over 33 burglaries throughout Surrey, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire.

Mr Ansell told the BBC: “Investigating burglary dwellings is a priority for Surrey Police and we will be relentless in pursing these offenders.”

Items totalling an estimated £1million are believed to have been taken in the incidents.

These include the burglary of former Manchester City and current Chelsea star Sterlin…

Thibaut Courtois will miss Belgium s friendly against Germany on Tuesday due to an adductor injury.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper withdrew from the Red Devils squad on Sunday after sustaining a minor strain.

Courtois played in the Red Devils 3-0 victory over Sweden in their opening Euro 2024 Group F qualifying match at Friends Arena on Friday.

The former Chelsea keeper will not face Germany in Cologne, though, after returning to Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping Courtois is fit when Los Blancos return to action against Real Valladolid in LaLiga next Sunday.

Romelu Lukaku s hat-trick ensured Belgium started Domenico Tedesco s reign as head coach with a resounding victory over Sweden in Solna.

: Thibaut returned for precaution reasons back…

Verdict: Away Win

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Korea Republic begin their 2018 FIFA World Cup preparations on Saturday afternoon in Belfast where they will take on injury-hit Northern Ireland who start a new chapter following a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign.

Northern Ireland

The game at Windsor Park against South Korea is the first match for Northern Ireland since their World Cup play-off disappointment against Switzerland. Having finished the group stage of the qualifying process as Group C runners-up behind leaders Germany, North Ireland were pitted against Switzerland in two-legged play-offs between the second-placed teams.

With only one goal making a difference between the two sides during the 180 minutes, North Ireland were left wit…

Christian Karembeu says Real Madrid are the clear favourites to lift the Champions League for a third year in a row.

Madrid have been off the pace domestically this season with Barcelona 15 points clear of them in LaLiga, while they were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Leganes in the quarter-finals.

Success in Europe has been more forthcoming for Zinedine Zidane s side, though, with a comprehensive 5-2 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.

And Karembeu believes the two-time defending champions are the only side left in the competition who can win the title – despite Barca, Manchester City and Bayern Munich joining them in the quarter-finals.

Don t even ask the question, the former Madrid midfielder told Omnisport, speaking courte…

Newcastle United have emerged as the favourites to sign Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin, .

The 25 year old is likely to leave Loftus Road this summer following the Hoops relegation to the Championship, with a number of sides set to battle to secure his services.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with a move for the Hungerford-born forward though Newcastle, who are far from safe themselves, are the front runners.

Only Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Diego Costa have netted more Premier League goals than Austin so far this season, and he has thirty-seven in total for QPR since signing from Burnley in the summer of 2013.

Newcastle picked up their first point in nine games against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday aft…

Udinese assistant coach Dejan Stankovic has distanced himself from a return to Inter, though the Serb will not rule out a future move to Milan.

Stankovic is working alongside former Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni at Stadio Friuli this season after hanging up his boots in 2013, and the 36-year-old has already been linked with a return to the San Siro.

The 36-year-old called time on his career after nine years at Inter, where he won 15 trophies, including five Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League.

But talk of a reunion with Inter coach Roberto Mancini is premature, according to Stankovic, who said: An article came out claiming I would be reunited with Mancini on the bench, but that s light years away from it actually happening.

I am fully concentra…