Inter Milan beat Dortmund 2-0 but both teams end up in playoffs
Inter Milan scored late goals to earn a 2-0 win at Borussia Dortmund in their final Champions League group phase match on Wednesday but it was not enough for a top-eight finish, with both teams going into the playoffs for a knockout stage spot, Reuters reported.
Federico Dimarco curled home a sublime free kick in the 81st minute before Andy Diouf added another goal in stoppage time to snap Inter's three-game losing run in the competition.
Despite hopes before the game of a top-eight spot and automatic progress to the last-16, Inter came 10th on 15 points, according to Reuters.
Goalkeeper scores at death to keep Benfica in Champions League with 4-2 win over Real Madrid
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header as Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious opponents an automatic spot in the last 16, Reuters reported.
In an extraordinary finale, the Portuguese side were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin came forward for a free kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the playoff round on goal difference.
That sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho - a former manager of Real Madrid - at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon, according to Reuters.
China former soccer chief, national team coach among 73 to receive lifetime bans for match-fixing
The Chinese Football Association on Thursday said its former president Chen Xuyuan and former national team coach Li Tie, who were among 73 people convicted of match-fixing, would be barred from soccer-related activities for life, Reuters reported.
The announcement followed lifetime bans issued, opens new tabin September 2024 on 43 soccer players and officials also for match-fixing.
Mbappe questions Real Madrid’s desire after Benfica defeat
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe said the team did not match the hunger shown by Benfica in Wednesday's 4-2 Champions League defeat and that they are not showing the consistency worthy of champions, Reuters reported.
A 98th-minute header from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin denied 15-times European champions Real an automatic spot in the last 16, while the Portuguese side crept into the playoffs on goal difference.
"It isn't about quality, and it isn't about tactics," Mbappe, who scored twice on Wednesday, told reporters, according to Reuters.
