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Football

Holders Escape Abyss with Stunning Three-Goal Surge to Deny Egypt

For 79 minutes, the world champions looked devoid of answers, their crowns slipping away in the sweltering heat. Trailing by two goals and haunted by Lionel Messi’s penalty miss, Argentina stood on the precipice of a historic World Cup exit. Then the champions' resolve took over. In a frantic finish, Argentina struck three times to secure a 3-2 victory over Egypt, booking a quarter-final place and leaving the Pharaohs heartbroken on Tuesday night. Enzo Fernández proved the unlikely saviour, ghosting into the box three minutes into stoppage time to power home a dramatic header from a Lautaro Martínez cross. Egypt, which had defended heroically and looked worthy of its advantage, was left paralysed in disbelief. They had one foot in the final eight before the sky-blue-and-white wave swept them away. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/pPOZDc7xokdrYtv7itTC70XucYjizGMPq8rvd1Gu.jpg) **A System Shocked** The tone for a night of drama was set early. Egypt refused to play the role of sacrificial lamb, executing a high-energy game plan that rattled Argentina's backline from the opening whistle. In the 15th minute, the underdogs struck. Sneaking ahead of his marker, Lisandro Martínez, Egypt’s Yasser Ibrahim connected perfectly with an incoming delivery, sending a powerful header inside the far post. Argentina’s response was frantic rather than calculated. The tension escalated when the holders were thrown a lifeline via the penalty spot. Lionel Messi stepped up, but his tournament struggles from 12 yards continued. Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir guessed correctly, diving to deny the talismanic captain—Messi’s second penalty failure of this World Cup. When Mostafa Zico doubled Egypt’s lead in the 67th minute—just moments after having another effort chalked off by a razor-thin margin—Argentina looked dead. Down 2-0 with less than 25 minutes on the clock, the champions were in crisis. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/IjWP3IXB8tbxL9GcWYSqZG8lH55MbcHfOwzMESKU.jpg) **The 11-Minute Resurgence** Tactical desperation forced Argentina into a more direct approach, and the cracks in Egypt's low block finally began to show. The comeback began in earnest with 11 minutes of normal time remaining. Cristian Romero, pushed high into the attacking zone, found himself completely unmarked during a set-piece routinely swung into the box, punishing the Egyptian defence with a free header to make it 2-1. With momentum shifting, Argentina smelled blood. Four minutes later, the equaliser arrived via a moment of pure, unadulterated genius. Retrieving the ball inside a crowded penalty area, Messi made amends for his earlier spot-kick failure, unleashing a blistering strike that flew past Shobeir before the keeper could react. At 2-2, extra time seemed a certainty as Egypt desperately tried to hold on. But Argentina’s tournament pedigree lies in their refusal to settle. As the clock ticked into the third minute of injury time, Martínez found space on the flank, delivering a pinpoint ball that met the oncoming run of Fernández. The midfielder’s header was emphatic, sparking wild celebrations on the Argentine bench and completing an iconic World Cup escape act. While Lionel Scaloni will breathe a massive sigh of relief, this performance exposes structural vulnerabilities that future opponents will undoubtedly look to exploit. Argentina's defensive vulnerability against physical, direct aerial play was laid bare by Ibrahim, and their reliance on late-game emotional surges is a dangerous strategy as the tournament progresses. However, winning when far from your best remains the hallmark of potential repeat champions. Argentina now marches on to Kansas City on Saturday, where they will await the winner of the round-of-16 clash between Switzerland and Colombia. If tonight was any indication, their crown will not be taken easily.

Football

De Ketelaere Doubles Down as Belgium Crushes US World Cup Hopes

SEATTLE — The deafening roars of "U-S-A!" had barely faded into the Pacific Northwest night before reality set in. The United States’ ambitious World Cup campaign came to a crashing, painful halt at a stunned Seattle Stadium on Monday, dismantled 4-1 by a ruthless Belgium side in a Round of 16 clash. Charles De Ketelaere was the architect of American heartbreak, scoring twice to anchor a performance that exposed the host nation’s tactical vulnerabilities on the grandest stage. Ultimately, the bureaucratic manoeuvring proved futile. The 25-year-old striker was reduced to a passenger, suffocated by a disciplined Belgian backline as the Americans struggled to match the European giants' intensity. Dodi Lukebakio, drafted into the starting lineup for the injured Jeremy Doku, terrorised the American flanks from the opening kickoff. Moments after Timothy Castagne forced an acrobatic fingertip save from U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese, Lukebakio carved open the defence to set up Youri Tielemans, who uncharacteristically fluffed his lines. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/gGHDz1wmlNo5mMndcevMuvbTQUFMaq1J3PVAdm00.jpg) The reprieve lasted less than sixty seconds. In the ninth minute, Nicolas Raskin exploited a hesitant, nervous U.S. rearguard, driving a low cross into the six-yard box. De Ketelaere was perfectly positioned to tap home, instantly deflating the heavily partisan home crowd. Struggling for oxygen and ideas, the co-hosts found a lifeline courtesy of the first-half hydration break. Rejuvenated by the tactical reset, Balogun finally made an impact, drawing a foul in a dangerous central area. In the 31st minute, Malik Tillman stepped up, unleashing a free kick that took a wicked, wrong-footing deflection off the forehead of Hans Vanaken—who had entered early for the injured Amadou Onana—leaving Thibaut Courtois stranded as the ball sailed into the net. The euphoria in Seattle lasted a mere 70 seconds. From the kickoff, the U.S. reverted to passive defence. Leandro Trossard was allowed time to lift a delicate cross to the back post, where De Ketelaere easily outmuscled veteran defender Tim Ream to loop a header past Freese, instantly restoring the Belgian advantage. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/682iMNFuFms2buNIs8GZT4bjDUI2zzbWk3nlswdN.jpg) Gregg Berhalter’s men emerged for the second half with far more authority, stringing passes together and pinning Belgium deep into their own territory. But any burgeoning hopes of a historic comeback were permanently shattered in the 57th minute by a moment of pure footballing tragedy. Receiving a routine backpass, Freese dawdled catastrophically on the ball well outside his six-yard box. The towering Vanaken closed him down instantly, blocking the clearance and turning the ball into an empty net to make it 3-1. It was a psychological blow from which the Americans would never recover. With U.S. fans already streaming toward the exits, the legendary Romelu Lukaku put the final exclamation point on the evening. Deep into stoppage time, the veteran marksman slotted home a cool finish to bag his 7th career World Cup goal and his 93rd international strike overall. For Belgium, a historic third quarter-final appearance in their last four World Cups awaits, setting up a mouthwatering blockbuster against European champions Spain in Los Angeles this Friday. For the United States, a tournament defined by immense expectations ends with a sobering lesson in the ruthless nature of knockout football.

Football

Spain reached the quarter-finals after a late Merino goal ended Ronaldo’s World Cup run.

For 90 minutes at a pulsating Dallas Stadium, Portugal’s defensive rearguard threatened to turn the latest instalment of the Iberian Derby into a war of attrition. Then, Luis de la Fuente turned to his bench, and the contest was decided in heartbreaking fashion. Mikel Merino, just six minutes after being introduced to spark a flagging Spanish attack, produced a moment of sublime composure in the 91st minute to secure a 1-0 victory. The winner sends the reigning European champions into the World Cup quarter-finals and ends Cristiano Ronaldo’s monumental, record-breaking World Cup career. "Mikel Merino never lets us down; he’s a safe bet," a jubilant De la Fuente said after the match. "He helped us win the European Championship and is always there when it counts. He's one of the best players in the world in his position, performs exceptionally well, and is exactly where he needs to be." It was a cruel finish for a Portugal side that had absorbed immense second-half pressure, but Spain’s territorial dominance ultimately found its reward. Merino, who came on to replace Dani Olmo, drove the decisive move. Reacting sharply to a quickly taken free-kick, he rolled the ball left before drifting undetected to the edge of the penalty area. Fellow substitute Ferran Torres spotted the run, delivering a precise pass to the unmarked Merino, who calmly guided a low strike into the bottom corner. The final whistle left an iconic figure crestfallen. Ronaldo, who had confirmed just 24 hours earlier that this tournament would be his global swansong, walked off the pitch to a standing ovation from a capacity crowd. His pursuit of a World Cup winner's medal was permanently halted. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/q9SJPRiNfmkyUP4Lh3s77Rs7FKoq84j4JgD5OYuq.jpg) The cagey second half stood in stark contrast to an electric opening period where both sides traded heavy blows. Spain signalled their intent early when Mikel Oyarzabal tested Diogo Costa from distance, before Joao Cancelo rifled an answering effort over Unai Simon's crossbar. Oyarzabal squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock inside eight minutes, dragging his shot wide after Olmo’s incisive, one-touch pass had completely unlocked the Portuguese midfield. Portugal found routes through the transition. Bruno Fernandes pickpocketed Pedri to release Ronaldo, though Simon dealt with the shot comfortably. At the other end, Costa preserved parity with a breathtaking double-save, denying a cutting Lamine Yamal from the right wing before executing a spectacular, full-stretch fingertip stop to thwart Alex Baena’s follow-up. As the first half drew to a close, it was Martinez's men holding the momentum. Simon made a sharp save from a Joao Felix header, then recovered to smother Ronaldo's volley on the rebound. Moments later, Nuno Mendes looked destined to score, only for Spanish defender Pedro Porro to make a heroic, goal-line intervention and head the deflected shot onto the crossbar. After the interval, the tactical landscape shifted entirely. Spain monopolised possession, forcing Portugal into a deeply set, counter-attacking block. Opportunities were scarce. Costa tipped a goal-bound Yamal free-kick over the frame, while a deflected Vitinha strike fell kindly for Fernandes, who lashed his effort into the side-netting. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/3zxnEoki0xSfq6RuK8Cb6puTOEZx7u9nlqLeZ30z.jpg) With extra time looming, Merino struck his decisive blow. Portugal launched one final, desperate assault in the 97th minute, but substitute Bernardo Silva could only guide his header agonisingly over the bar, sealing his side's fate. "We came here with a very clear objective of what we wanted to achieve, which was to win the World Cup, but unfortunately, we didn't perform at our best," a dejected Fernandes reflected post-match. "Obviously, Spain deserves credit. They have quality and great players, but I think that, based on what we did in the first half, if we'd carried on like that, we would have come away with a different result." Spain now marches on to a Friday quarter-final showdown, where they will await the winner of the subsequent clash between Belgium and the United States.

Cricket

CAN Approves $500K for Women’s Cricket and Reveals NPR 473M Revenue from NPL Season 2

CAN Approves $500K for Women’s Cricket and Reveals NPR 473M Revenue from NPL Season 2

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Central Working Committee met on April 6, 2026. The committee approved a $500,000 USD (approximately NPR 66 million) investment in women's cricket, aligning with ICC gender-balance directives. It also decided to seek a lease extension for the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and to pursue a formal transfer of the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground from the National Sports Council. These actions aim to strengthen cricket infrastructure and improve financial transparency. The meeting recognised the commercial success of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), whose second edition generated revenue of NPR 473.6 million. After NPR 219.6 million in expenses, NPR 161.8 million was distributed to eight franchise teams. The board approved the tournament’s financial statements. CAN scheduled its next Annual General Meeting for May 10–11, 2026, in Biratnagar, and set a mid-June deadline for 20 district committees to complete pending elections to ensure effective governance.

Lumbini Pulls Off Super Over Heist: APF Giants Toppled in Birgunj Thriller

Lumbini Pulls Off Super Over Heist: APF Giants Toppled in Birgunj Thriller

LUMBINI, NEPAL – Near the Maya Devi Temple, birthplace of the Buddha and a symbol of peace, Lumbini Province secured a hard-fought Super Over win against the powerful APF Club. The PM Cup match started as a low-scoring contest before turning into a tense thriller, ending in a tie-breaker with Lumbini just one run short. Santosh Yadav stood out, dismantling the APF lineup at key moments. **The Super Over Showdown** Both teams scored 124, heightening tension. Lumbini batted first in the tie-breaker, scoring 14 despite losing opener Akash Tripathi for zero. Yadav added 8 runs quickly. Defending 15 runs, Yadav then bowled. He dismissed captain Rohit Paudel for one and then limited Lokesh Bam and Sundeep Jora to a combined five runs. APF closed with 6 runs for 1 wicket. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/ZqfBIT3gBKyBYeZA4WOu25ByEoHx3JgwDScHn3ZE.jpg) **The Collapse and the Comeback** Despite several national players, APF struggled and were all out for 124 in under 40 overs. Abhishek Gautam, batting in the lower order, top-scored with 28. For Lumbini, Ajay Chauhan took 4 wickets for 14 runs. Lumbini’s chase looked easy with Captain Dev Khanal (45) and Akash Tripathi (32) at the crease. Then, they lost their last nine wickets for only 50 runs and struggled to finish. **Shifting the Table** This win moves Lumbini to fifth with five points. APF, usually strong, drops to sixth. Lumbini showed determination and resilience, overcoming tough challenges to win.

Lamichhane’s Seven-Wicket Blitz Crushes Karnali in PM Cup

Lamichhane’s Seven-Wicket Blitz Crushes Karnali in PM Cup

JANAKPUR: On Wednesday, Sandeep Lamichhane took control of the match with a thrilling display, seizing seven wickets and powering Bagmati Province to a stunning 60-run victory over Karnali Province. Building on his initial impact, Lamichhane’s bowling electrified the PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament, restricting Karnali to 120 runs in 25.1 overs as they desperately chased 181. His outstanding 7 for 40 now stands as the tournament’s fourth-best performance, sparking cheers from the crowd. **The Collapse** However, after a spirited start to their chase, Karnali couldn’t handle Lamichhane’s bowling. Nischal Rawal was the only one to put up a fight, scoring 31, while Dinesh Adhikari added 22 and Bipin Shahi made 15. The rest of the middle order fell quickly to the spin attack. As the innings progressed, Lamichhane wasted no time, striking early and maintaining relentless pressure, dismantling most of Karnali’s batting order. Though Rijan Dhakal, Pratish GC, and Subas Khatri took one wicket each, Lamichhane's sensational spell stole the spotlight. Claiming seven wickets, he joins a legendary group of PM Cup performers. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/UXg4zswHX2br4bcFc84U0LusPls2TAQkmwJ7rg0R.jpg) **Bagmati’s Gritty Total** Earlier in the day, Bagmati had a tough start after being sent in to bat. They lost wickets regularly, but Bibek Magar held the innings together with an important 56. Ishan Pandey added 27, and Pawan Thapa scored 22, helping the team reach 180 before being bowled out in the 39th over. Despite Karnali’s captain, Diwan Pun, bowling well, his good work was undone by his team’s batting collapse. In contrast, Bagmati’s bowlers were sharp and took control of the match.

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