Most 20 goal scorers one team

PARIS: Olivier Giroud became France's second top scorer when he netted a double to take his international tally to 42 goals as the world champions crushed an injury and COVID-19-ravaged Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly in a near-empty Stade de France on Wednesday. Giroud, who celebrated winning his 100th cap, found the back of the net twice in the second half to move within nine goals of Thierry Henry's French scoring record. The Chelsea striker leapfrogged Michel Platini, who scored 41 goals from 72 games between 1976-87. The other goals came from the 17-year-old Eduardo Camavinga, who became the youngest France scorer since 1914, an own goal by Vitaliy Mykolenko, Corentin Tolisso, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, while Ukraine reduced the arrears through Viktor Tsygankov. Camavinga put France ahead on nine minutes with a clever overhead kick after Giroud's header had been parried by Heorhiy Bushchan. Bushchan was the only active keeper on the Ukraine team sheet, although … [Read more...] about Giroud becomes France’s second top scorer in Ukraine rout

FRANKFURT: A stunning strike from 18-year-old Giovanni Reyna on Saturday (Dec 5) earned Borussia Dortmund a 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt, who drew their fifth successive Bundesliga game. Daichi Kamada gave the hosts a ninth-minute lead but, despite missing leading scorer Erling Haaland with a hamstring injury, Dortmund took control after halftime and US midfielder Reyna levelled with the second Bundesliga goal of his career. Dortmund, who had not drawn in their previous 27 league games, are third with 19 points from 10 games ahead of the top-of-the-table clash between leaders Bayern Munich (22) and RB Leipzig (20) later on Saturday. Eintracht, without a win in eight games in all competitions, are eighth with 13 points. "In the end, we can be satisfied," said Dortmund coach Lucien Favre. "We always want to win but it wasn't a good first-half performance. The second half was better, with more intensity and movement, we just needed that little bit more to win ... I'm always … [Read more...] about Football: Stunning Reyna goal earns Dortmund draw at Frankfurt

DORTMUND, Germany: Borussia Dortmund overcame the absence of injured top scorer Erling Haaland to draw 1-1 with Lazio in Champions League Group F on Wednesday and advance to the knockout stages with a game to spare. The Germans secured a top-two finish ahead of their final game at Zenit St Petersburg, but Lazio need at least a draw against Club Brugge next week to advance. The 20-year-old Haaland, who has scored 16 goals in 12 Champions League appearances, was surprisingly not in Dortmund's starting lineup and his coach Lucien Favre said a muscle injury would sideline the Norwegian until January. It was Lazio who had the better chances in the first half but the hosts, who clearly missed Haaland's scoring instinct, struck against the run of play a minute before the break. "We lost 3-1 in Rome, we improved tonight and could have won it with our chances," Favre said. "In the end it was not our best performance, but we have qualified. That is what was important tonight. Nothing … [Read more...] about Football: Dortmund overcome Haaland absence to draw with Lazio and reach last 16

STUTTGART, Germany: Kingsley Coman scored one goal and set up another as Bayern Munich came from a goal down to beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 on Saturday (Nov 28) and stay top of the Bundesliga. It was the seventh consecutive game that Bayern, who face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week, conceded a goal, and their defensive weaknesses were repeatedly exposed by the quick-breaking Stuttgart team. They managed to turn the game around, however, and move two points clear at the top of the table as they chase a record-extending ninth straight league crown. "We know that at the moment we are not winning any beauty awards for our game but we are delivering results," said Bayern coach Hansi Flick, whose team also had to come from a goal down in their 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen last week. "So it was important that we found our way back into the game after falling behind and that we got the three points back to Munich. That is what matter though we all know we can play … [Read more...] about Football: Bayern made to sweat for 3-1 win at Stuttgart

SINGAPORE: The footballing world is mourning the passing of Diego Maradona, who died of a heart attack at the age of 60 on Wednesday (Nov 25), who was one of the greatest players of all time and one of its greatest characters. Alberto Fernandez, the president of Argentina, declared three days of national mourning, an unprecedented gesture for a football player. He tweeted: "You took us to the top of the world,” Fernandez said. “You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of all. Thanks for having existed, Diego. We will miss you for life." Around the world, fans, players and coaches took to social media to express their condolences and share memories of the Argentine. “Everyone is waiting for words from us,” said a statement from Napoli. READ: 'Diego left a mark on my life': Tributes paid to football legend Maradona after death READ: FIFA should retire No. 10 shirt after Maradona death - Villas-Boas Maradona led the Italian team to date their only Italian … [Read more...] about Commentary: Maradona was a great footballer, but he was also much more