Asia

LISBON - Leaving her homeland Afghanistan was painful, says 15-year-old Sarah. But now safely in Portugal, she hopes to pursue her dream of playing soccer professionally — and perhaps meeting her idol, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sarah was one of several players from Afghanistan's national female youth soccer squad who fled their country in fear after the Taliban hardline Islamist movement seized power in August. Portugal has granted asylum to the young footballers.

GUANGZHOU, China - Work on a China Evergrande Group project in the southern city of Guangzhou to build one of the world's largest soccer stadiums is proceeding "as normal,” the company told Reuters on Monday, despite the real estate giant's cash woes.

Evergrande owes $305 billion in debt and has run short of cash, rattling global markets. It missed a payment deadline on a dollar bond last week.

Construction on the Guangzhou FC Soccer stadium, which was set to cost around $1.86 billion, began in April last year and had been due to finish by 2022.

Women’s soccer in Japan will have a historic moment on Sunday when the first ever professional league kicks off its inaugural season. The Japan Football Association has introduced the Women Empowerment League, also known as the WE League. Sunday will see ten of the eleven clubs in the league play.

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2021-22 Yogibo WEリーグ
ホーム開幕戦
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HONG KONG - Issam Al Sabhi's goal two minutes from time gave Oman a 1-0 shock win over Japan in their opening clash in the final round of Asia's World Cup preliminaries for Qatar 2022 as South Korea and Iraq played out a scoreless draw in Seoul.

Al Sabhi swept home Salah Al Yahyaei's cross from the right to stun the home side to take all three points in the nations' Group B meeting and heap the pressure on Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu.

CLUTCH FINISH.

Afghan news agency Ariana made an announcement that one of the victims who fell from the U.S. plane at the Kabul airport on Monday was 19-year-old Afghani footballer Zaki Anwari.

The former captain of the Afghan women's soccer team has urged  players to delete social media, erase public identities and burn their kits for safety's sake now that the country is again under Taliban rule.

Copenhagen-based Khalida Popal told Reuters in a video interview on Wednesday that the militants had killed, raped and stoned women in the past and female footballers were scared of what the future might hold.

Mexico vs. Brazil

Defending champions Brazil had to struggle to make the final, beating Mexico 4-1 on penalties after the game ended goalless after extra-time.

Brazil went close to settling their match against Mexico inside 90 minutes when Richarlison struck the post with a glancing header in the 82nd minute.

#OlimpicosTelemundo ¡AL PALOOOOOO !