Rhyan Grant scored his first international goal as Australia sealed a 10th consecutive World Cup qualifying win with a 1-0 victory over Vietnam.
The defender nodded home in the 43rd minute after Ajdin Hrustic s searching cross picked him out at the back post.
It maintained the Socceroos perfect qualifying record on the road to Qatar 2022.
Grant was an unlikely match-winner, opening his account on the occasion of his 14th cap with what proved to be the visitors only shot on target at an empty My Dinh Stadium.
43 GOAALLLL!!!! heads home his first international goal and we lead in Hanoi!!
0-1
— Socceroos (@Socceroos)
Despite appearing a little shot-shy on this outing, Graham Arnold s men have scored 32 goals in their …
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has clarified his stance on the Germany job.
Klopp ruled himself out of contention for the international role last week after incumbent Joachim Low announced he would depart after Euro 2020.
That remains the case, with Klopp committed to Liverpool.
But after seeing some of the reaction to his comments, the 53-year-old stressed he was not ruling himself out forever and that it was simply a question of timing.
The important thing is: I didn t say that I didn t want to become a national coach, but that I couldn t – that is a huge difference, Klopp said to Sport Bild.
It would without question be a great honour [to take on the legacy left by Low].
But this is my sixth year in Liverpool and there is a very cle…
Adem Ljajic has yet to decide whether he wishes to remain at Fiorentina, the club s sporting director Daniele Prade has revealed.
The 21-year-old is reportedly on the radar of a number of Europe s top sides, having starred at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since his arrival from Partizan Belgrade in January 2010.
But Prade is keen for a quick resolution to the matter, and has explained that a new contract is on the table for the Serbia international.
We are working on a renewal with Ljajic, but he has to prove that he wants to stay. If not, the doors are open, he said.
We are a strong club and we expect the player to tell us what he wants to do.
And the club s head coach Vincenzo Montella has admitted that the player has appeared distracted by the uncertainty…
Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in signing striker Ross McCormack.
The Scotland international is reportedly a transfer target of several clubs, with Middlesbrough and Blackpool said to have tabled bids for the player.
But the 26-year-old – who is contracted at Elland Road until 2015 – will be going nowhere according to McDermott.
McDermott said after United s 2-1 League Cup win over Chesterfield on Wednesday: Ross wants to stay. I want him to stay. He s staying.
There s been a couple of offers for him knocked back.
He loves it at Leeds. He loves the fans. He s not for sale.
McCormack scored in Leeds 2-1 Championship win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The former Rangers and …
Jan Vertonghen is desperate for silverware with Tottenham and believes they have made significant progress over the past few years.
Spurs came close to lifting a trophy twice in recent seasons, challenging for the Premier League title right until the very end in 2015-16, after losing the EFL Cup final to Chelsea the year before.
Mauricio Pochettino s side are still in the race for the Europa League and FA Cup this term, though, and Vertonghen hopes they will win a major trophy at last.
I think this team and the technical staff deserve a trophy with this club, the Belgium international told Standard Sport.
I won some silverware when I was at Ajax and it is the best thing there is in football.
We played the Capital One Cup final against Chels…
Switzerland thrashed Iceland 6-0 in their opening Nations League match on Saturday, as Xherdan Shaqiri played a starring role.
The Liverpool winger scored his side s third goal and was involved in three others in the second half as Vladimir Petkovic s side ran riot in St Gallen.
Steven Zuber blasted the hosts ahead 13 minutes in before Denis Zakaria scored his first international goal after Shaqiri s free-kick deflected off Fabian Schar.
Shaqiri was credited with the third 53 minutes in when his free-kick glanced off the head of Birkir Bjarnason, who spent two years playing for Basel in Switzerland s top flight.
Haris Seferovic scored a fine fourth, drilling home from the edge of the box after Schar backheeled Shaqiri s pass into his path, and the Benfica…
Market: Sydney win
Odds: 7/10 @
Hoping to extend their buffer in the top-half chase, Sydney will welcome Adelaide to the Allianz Stadium on Saturday morning.
Starting with the hosts, although many in Sydney’s camp might have already accepted that they face a major uphill battle in their bid to claim a sixth A-League crown in 2024, the Australian heavyweights are enjoying an extended flurry. Last seen putting in a rampant performance as they stormed their way to a 3-1 victory away at Central Coast, Ufuk Talay’s men should find the mood in his squad at a season-high. Really finding their stride on either side of opening up the New Year, the Sky Blues have lost just one of their previous eight appearances a run that stems back to December 16th. With their recen…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 3/4 @
In what could prove to be an enjoyable La Liga affair from the Baladios on Tuesday evening, Celta Vigo will welcome Girona to Galicia.
Starting with the hosts, putting in another downbeat display over the weekend as they suffered a 2-1 loss away at Athletic Bilbao, it is fair to say that Celta Vigo are certainly limping their way over the finish line. With some in Carlos Carvalhal’s camp still looking over their shoulder at a potential late relegation scrap, the one-time Sheffield Wednesday boss does find some growing pressure on his shoulders. Knowing that they best that they can do is claim another bottom-half finish this season, the Sky Blues have lost each of their last four straight La Liga appearances. Signing off …
Monaco have confirmed that captain Eric Abidal will return to training on Wednesday after being hospitalised with a viral infection.
Abidal missed Monaco s 2-0 defeat at Saint-Etienne last weekend, as his team-mates slipped to a defeat which likely signals the end of their attempts to overhaul Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1.
The France defender underwent a liver transplant in 2012 when he was with Spanish side Barcelona, after initially receiving treatment for a tumour in 2011.
And, given his previous health history, the 34-year-old was taken into hospital as a precaution to treat the infection.
However, the former Lyon man has made a positive recovery from the illness and is in line to feature in Saturday s clash with struggling Sochaux.
A state…
Wolfsburg head coach Dieter Hecking has extended his contract with the club until 2018.
The 50-year-old took over in 2012 and guided the club to its maiden DFB-Pokal title last season, triumphing over Borussia Dortmund in the final.
Hecking more recently masterminded Wolfsburg s DFL-Supercup win over Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and has now been rewarded with a new contract.
His previous deal had been due to expire in 2016.
If something good has come together, one should not separate, Hecking said of his decision to sign.
I am therefore delighted that we will continue the successful path together in the coming years.
I have always stressed that I am pleased to remain beyond 2016. We have a lot of plans for the coming years and I l…