Latest News

The Vancouver Whitecaps progressed to the semi-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup this week following a dramatic 95th minute leveller against Pumas in Mexico – the goal ultimately deciding the tie on away goals. But it was Sebastian Berhalter who set Vancouver on their way in the first half with a fantastic finish. One of the best goals you’ll see this season.

There was a classic in the National League South this week as play-off chasing Weston-Super-Mare beat Hornchurch 4-2. Luke Coulson rounded off the Seagulls’ win with a quick-thinking long-range effort – the best part of 100 yards – in the 95th minute. Keepers coming up for corners is always worth it in one way or another.

It was a fairly tedious week for the UEFA Nations League but Germany vs Italy provided some entertainment with a 3-3 draw in Dortmund. Watching Gianluigi Donnarumma whinge away at his Italy defence, urging them to wake up, only for him to be completely caught out by a quick German corner was a real treat. A perfect display of those great Italian footballing traditions: Defending and complaining.

We could go anywhere in the world to highlight an amazing goal but this week, in honour of Non-League Day 2025, we’re keeping it real with a grassroots visit to Gateshead’s International Stadium and a defender whose foot turns into a Polo mint at the worst possible moment. A total howler…

João Lucas might just be the most relieved man in Brazil this week. In a chaotic second round tie in the Copa do Brasil, Gremio (down to ten men) were leading Athletic Club 3-2 and were almost through. Lucas had other ideas however and his disastrous touch in the 94th minute sent the game to pens – he did make amends though, scoring the winning penalty in the shootout.

This year’s Puská Award is done and dusted. We’re calling it now. Nothing can possibly beat Lisbeth Ovalle’s back-heel-mid-air-scorpion-kick-thing for Tigres UANL against Guadalajara Chivas this week. An outrageous effort.

Boro have been plummeting down the Championship form table recently, losing five out of their last six and Tommy Conway’s ridiculous miss against Stoke City this week might give us a clue as to why. Despite the howler, Boro beat the dispirited Potters 3-1 and are still in sight of the last play-off places. It promises to be an exciting run in for the chasing pack.

It’s tight at the top of Serié A as league-leaders Napoli sit just two points ahead of Inter Milan. Chasing their second title in two years, Napoli played out a memorable 2-2 draw against Lazio at Stadio Olimpico at the weekend. And it appears like fortune could be favouring Antio Conte’s side for the run in, if this truly comical own goal from Lazio veteran Adam Marušić is anything to to go by.

Mexico’s Cruz Azul pumped Haitian side Real Hope 7-0 on aggregate in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup which took place this week. Azul forward Nacho Riviera could, and should, have made it 8-0 but opted instead to provide us with a solid contender for Miss of the Season.

Aston Villa’s return to the European Cup for the first time in decades has been a success on the pitch as they secured progression to last-16, rounding off their league phase campaign with a 4-2 over Celtic on Wednesday. On their way through Ollie Watkins lived up to his alleged £60m price tag after losing an argument with a patch of the Villa Park turf in the 64th minute.

Celtic are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years. Is that due to the new bloated format? We couldn’t possibly say. Nevertheless they sealed their progression this week by struggling past the Young Boys of Bern – Celtic had three first half goals chalked off – with a fortuitous winner arriving late on in comical fashion.

Paraná Clube keeper Gabriel Gasparotto pulled off a very smart penalty save against Athletico Paranaense in Brazil this week. His celebrations were cut short, down to the microseconds, as the rebound was turned in. Hope he’s learned his lesson.

Milan are the winners of this year’s Italian Super Cup – controversially held in Saudi Arabia once again – and they were sent on their way to the final in Riyadh with a very fortunate winner against old rivals Juventus. It was Juve defender Federico Gatti’s leaden foot that somehow sent the ball into the net from a good 20 yards out. Unlucky.

Our final #ICYMI of the year shows us that the future of goalkeeping howlers is in good hands, with this week’s unfortunate spotlight falling on Tottenham Hotspur’s U21 goalkeeper Aaron Maguire.

Atalanta almost got something against Real Madrid’s collection of megastars in the Champions League this week. Mateo Retegui should have salvaged a point for the home side in the 94th minute but he skied his effort with the goal gaping.

Dejan Ljubicic had a busy night in the German Cup this week, utlimately helping his FC Köln side squeeze past the ten men of Hertha BSC and into the next round with a winning penalty at the end of extra-time. His most memorable contribution to the game, however, came ten minutes prior – the miss of the season by some distance.

There was a battle towards the bottom of the idiotically large Champions League table this week, as Sturm Graz hosted Catalan side Girona who are making their debut in Europe’s premier club competition. Girona could have got something from the game had it not been for a legendary miss from Ivan Martin. Ultimately the Austrians took all three points, taking them up to 30th – out of 36 – in the league. Will it matter? Hard to tell. Is anyone enjoying this new format? Who knows.

Former-Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez sees us out of this international break – which has lasted what feels like three months – in style with a classic own goal in Colombia’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. Is he right to look around at his teammates and goalie looking to spread the blame? Quite possibly.

Australia’s A-League has recently gotten underway and already we have a contender for goal of the season courtesy of Macarthur Bulls forward Ariath Piol. The Aussie forward scored a smart overhead kick following some patient build-up from the Bulls who took all three points from cross-city rivals Sydney FC this week.

Danish side FC Midtjylland had a bit of a mare away at FCSB in the Europa League this week – losing 2-0 to the Romanian side. And the second goal, conceded mere moments into the second half, was a disasterclass from their Icelandic keeper Ólafsson.