Latest news with #Esperance
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Live score: Los Angeles FC v Esperance (FIFA Club World Cup – Group D)
Los Angeles FC vs. Esperance Stay tuned as the match is due to start at 01:00 Cairo time (GMT+3) on 21 June 2025. Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville (USA) Referee: Espen Andreas Eskås Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup
The 33-year-old Italy midfielder returned to the country of his birth earlier this month when he joined Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Flamengo on a three-year contract. That ended a long career in Europe, which began in Italy -- the land of his paternal great-grandfather -- 15 years ago and saw him star in Serie A for Hellas Verona and Napoli before a move to Chelsea in 2018. He made more than 200 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side, helping them win the Europa League in 2019 and Champions League in 2021. "It is nice to come up against a former team, and see old friends," Jorginho told reporters this week in Philadelphia, where Chelsea and Flamengo will meet at FIFA's new tournament. The two clubs are jostling for supremacy in Group D after both won their opening matches on Monday, with Flamengo defeating Esperance while Chelsea overcame Los Angeles FC. "I am ready to help in any way I can, on or off the field. It will be a really difficult game. We know how good a team they are and we will have to be prepared for it." Jorginho, who spent the last two and a half years at Arsenal, has joined a Flamengo side who are top of the Brazilian league and through to the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores, a competition they last won in 2022. He will have to wait until next month to run out for his new team at the legendary Maracana in Rio, but his debut for Flamengo came in their 2-0 victory over Tunisian side Esperance in their opening Club World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday. "I have not yet had the chance to play at the Maracana and I can't wait for that but I think it was a good debut for the whole team. The fans were right behind us as always. It has been easy for me to adapt and settle in," he said. Jorginho is working under another former Chelsea player in Filipe Luis, the 39-year-old who took over as coach late last year. Flamengo have real ambitions of making a big impact at the Club World Cup, with their experienced squad also featuring the likes of Danilo and Alex Sandro, two Brazilian international defenders who returned home after spells in Europe. Midfielder Gerson, striker Pedro, Chile's Erick Pulgar and Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta are others who add knowledge of top-level international football in South America. Flamengo are hoping to extend the impressive unbeaten record so far at the tournament for the six South American representatives -- four from Brazil and two from Argentina. "It is an important competition and those of us who are playing in it are privileged," said Jorginho, who has appeared over 50 times for Italy but grew up in Imbituba, a port town in southern Brazil. He believes his new team can go far at the competition, with Friday's game being followed by a meeting with Los Angeles FC in Orlando next Tuesday. Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors are possible opponents in the last 16 if they make it through to the knockout phase. "I believe we have a chance of winning if we keep faith in our squad and in the work we are doing. Brazilian teams don't usually get to play against European teams and everyone is eager to see Flamengo compete." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
France 24
17 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup
The 33-year-old Italy midfielder returned to the country of his birth earlier this month when he joined Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Flamengo on a three-year contract. That ended a long career in Europe, which began in Italy -- the land of his paternal great-grandfather -- 15 years ago and saw him star in Serie A for Hellas Verona and Napoli before a move to Chelsea in 2018. He made more than 200 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side, helping them win the Europa League in 2019 and Champions League in 2021. "It is nice to come up against a former team, and see old friends," Jorginho told reporters this week in Philadelphia, where Chelsea and Flamengo will meet at FIFA's new tournament. The two clubs are jostling for supremacy in Group D after both won their opening matches on Monday, with Flamengo defeating Esperance while Chelsea overcame Los Angeles FC. "I am ready to help in any way I can, on or off the field. It will be a really difficult game. We know how good a team they are and we will have to be prepared for it." Jorginho, who spent the last two and a half years at Arsenal, has joined a Flamengo side who are top of the Brazilian league and through to the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores, a competition they last won in 2022. He will have to wait until next month to run out for his new team at the legendary Maracana in Rio, but his debut for Flamengo came in their 2-0 victory over Tunisian side Esperance in their opening Club World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday. Big ambitions "I have not yet had the chance to play at the Maracana and I can't wait for that but I think it was a good debut for the whole team. The fans were right behind us as always. It has been easy for me to adapt and settle in," he said. Jorginho is working under another former Chelsea player in Filipe Luis, the 39-year-old who took over as coach late last year. Flamengo have real ambitions of making a big impact at the Club World Cup, with their experienced squad also featuring the likes of Danilo and Alex Sandro, two Brazilian international defenders who returned home after spells in Europe. Midfielder Gerson, striker Pedro, Chile's Erick Pulgar and Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta are others who add knowledge of top-level international football in South America. Flamengo are hoping to extend the impressive unbeaten record so far at the tournament for the six South American representatives -- four from Brazil and two from Argentina. "It is an important competition and those of us who are playing in it are privileged," said Jorginho, who has appeared over 50 times for Italy but grew up in Imbituba, a port town in southern Brazil. He believes his new team can go far at the competition, with Friday's game being followed by a meeting with Los Angeles FC in Orlando next Tuesday. Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors are possible opponents in the last 16 if they make it through to the knockout phase. "I believe we have a chance of winning if we keep faith in our squad and in the work we are doing. Brazilian teams don't usually get to play against European teams and everyone is eager to see Flamengo compete."
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Brothers in court over mass off-field brawl at Esperance football match
An off-duty police officer was repeatedly punched and a football club president choked during a wild post-match brawl between opposing players and spectators, a West Australian court has heard. Braydon Wood, 29, and his younger brother, Rhys, 23, are each charged with aggravated assault causing bodily harm after the alleged incident in Esperance, 700km south-east of Perth, on June 22 last year. The Esperance Bulldogs players have admitted they were involved in a scuffle with members of opposing club Ports, but denied punching and injuring off-duty police officer Christopher House, the court heard. However, Mr House insisted he was set upon and punched repeatedly by the brothers. The court heard children witnessed the car park brawl, which involved dozens of players and supporters of the opposing clubs. In his evidence, Mr House said on-field tension between one of his Ports teammates, Harley Brown, and Braydon Wood continued after the final siren. Mr House said that, as he escorted Mr Brown to his vehicle, they were approached by fired-up Bulldogs players. "Braydon was leading the pack," he said. Mr House told the court he stepped forward and signalled for the opposition players to return to their change rooms. However, he alleged, Braydon Wood then punched him in the face and Rhys Wood "came over the top" with another punch. Mr House said he was dragged to the ground and struck repeatedly as the situation escalated. He said it wasn't long before "spotfires broke out throughout the car park". Written statements were provided by multiple witnesses, including Ports vice-president David Rowe, who said up to 30 people were involved in the altercation. "Braydon and Rhys were definitely the main aggressors," he said. Ports president Adam Oldfield said he was "put in a chokehold" by a Bulldogs supporter before ordering anyone affiliated with the visiting side to leave the ground. Another witness said they were left "shaken" and that incidents of this nature "shouldn't happen after a football game". Mr House said he was left dizzy and nursing a sore neck and went to hospital that night. The court was also shown images of a wound to his head. Neither of the Wood brothers opted to give evidence during the two-day trial. In a recorded interview with police played to the court, Rhys Wood described his older brother as a tough, talented footballer. On the day in question, Rhys was watching from the sidelines due to a suspension. While he admitted punching "one fella" during the altercation, Rhys was adamant that he did not strike or cause injuries to Mr House. In a recorded interview played in court, Braydon Wood also repeatedly denied punching Mr House. CCTV and mobile phone footage of the brawl was presented at the trial. However, defence lawyers said there was no clear video evidence of the brothers punching Mr House. They argued Mr House's injuries were not consistent with his claim of being punched repeatedly. "It's illogical that he could not have significant bruising or swelling," said Braydon's lawyer, Oliver Heath. He said there were other possible explanations for Mr House's injuries. Magistrate William Yoo reserved his verdict until August 8.
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Dominant Flamengo open with victory at Club World Cup
AFP | Philadelphia Brazilian giants Flamengo set themselves up for a Club World Cup showdown with Chelsea by easing to a 2-0 win against Esperance of Tunisia in their opening game at the tournament on Monday. Goals either side of half time from Uruguayan international Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Luiz Araujo gave a dominant Flamengo -- coached by former Chelsea player Filipe Luis -- a deserved victory in the Group D clash in Philadelphia. Flamengo, who qualified for the tournament as a recent winner of the Copa Libertadores, fielded a strong side featuring several Brazil internationals and gave a debut to Italy midfielder Jorginho following his recent arrival from Arsenal. Jorginho will come up against former club Chelsea when the teams meet in their second match on Friday, with the Premier League club fresh from beating Los Angeles FC 2-0 earlier Monday. De Arrascaeta opened the scoring for the Rio de Janeiro outfit in the 17th minute at Lincoln Financial Field when he finished first time from a Luiz Araujo assist. That set off wild celebrations among the Flamengo fans, who made up the majority of the 25,797 crowd in a stadium which can hold close to 70,000. Flamengo had chances to increase their lead while Tunisian champions Esperance created little of note before their Algerian winger Youcef Belaili almost equalised midway through the second half. Shortly after that Flamengo scored again, as Luiz Araujo found a pocket of space in the box in the 70th minute, turned and curled a low shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.
