Every now and then, with pretty routine frequency, we come across the latest exploits of Brazilian striker Hulk in Asia. Whether they’re in the Chinese Super League or the Asian Champions League, they’re always unreal goals, and I’m beginning to doubt their authenticity.
A little over a week ago, we checked in on Kazuyoshi “King Kazu” Mirua, who’d just broken Sir Stanley Matthews’ record as the oldest professional footballer at 50 years and seven days. While, since that day, he’s not only gone on to further that mark, but he’s also broken another of the legendary Englishman’s records by becoming the oldest recognized goalscorer in professional football history.
Kazu Miura has broken Sir Stanley Matthews’ record as the oldest professional footballer of all time* after playing 54 minutes in Yokohama FC’s 1-1 draw with V-Varen Nagasaki in the Japanese J2 League. The record now stands at 50 years and seven days with Miura, and, since he signed a one-year contract extension before the season, he’ll continue to build on that mark for some time to come.
In Iran, women are banned from attending soccer games in a co-ed setting. Even though the sport is popular across both sexes and there is no official ban on women going to sporting events, soccer stadiums are a male-only affair. Women are regularly denied access at the door, making it impossible for them to attend any sporting event.
Iran argues that the ban against women in the same sporting stadiums as men is necessary because it protects them from fighting and rude language that might spread within the stands.
The 2017 W-League Grand Final took place Sunday afternoon with history on the line. Melbourne City were looking to become the league’s first ever repeat champions. Meanwhile, Perth Glory were seeking their first title after coming close in 2014.
Having the higher playoff seed, Perth hosted the match at the nib Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,591. The attendance broke a W-League record which had stood since the league debuted in 2008-09. Outside of Australia, the match was streamed live in the United States on ESPN3.
The 2016 Grand Final, the W-League Championship, is set for Sunday, when history will be made either way. The top four all finished the regular season within three points of each other, making a clear distinction between themselves and the rest of the league in 2016/17. How the finalists made it to the championship game though looked very different.
Oscar made his competitive debut for Shanghai SIPG in the Asian Champions League and did exactly what you’d expect from a man who cost £60 million and was up against Thailand’s seventh best team.
He scored a goal, and SIPG, managed by Andre Villas-Boas and with players like Ricardo Carvalho, Hulk and Elkeson, defeated Sukhothai FC 3-0 to advance to the group stage.
The January transfer deadline window passed without the need for everyone to lose their collective minds over a deal like Karim Benzema to Burnley or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to PSG, Manchester City, Arsenal or any of the other clubs he really likes.