FIFA names Cong Phuong; 'Crazy' goal in the Champions League
FIFA mentioned Cong Phuong, evoking memories of one of the most beloved stars in Vietnamese football; Tottenham's central defender Micky van de Ven became the center of attention after scoring a spectacular solo goal in the early hours of November 5th... These are some of the prominent sports news stories from the past 24 hours.
The AFC could ban the Malaysian national team until the end of the 2031 Asian Cup.
As the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) prepares to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the country's media has been looking back at previous cases in Malaysian sports.
Over the years, several Malaysian athletes, associations, and sports officials across various disciplines have had cases brought before the CAS for arbitration.
Several foreign players and coaches who previously worked in Malaysia have brought their cases to CAS, primarily due to contract disputes or unpaid wages with Malaysian clubs.
It's worth noting that Malaysian sports have never won when taking a case to the CAS. This is a real concern for Malaysian football in a case that is considered very difficult to win against FIFA.
Furthermore, the Timor Leste incident has caused even more concern for the Malaysian national team, as nine of their players used invalid documents during the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, subsequently being banned from participating in the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers. This means that the Malaysian team could be banned until the end of the 2031 Asian Cup if they lose to FIFA at the CAS.
FIFA names Cong Phuong
FIFA's mention of Cong Phuong evokes memories of one of the most beloved stars in Vietnamese football.
On the evening of November 4th, the official FIFA World Cup Facebook page posted an image of striker Nguyen Cong Phuong in the Vietnamese national team jersey along with the question, "What are your memories of CP10…?". The post quickly received tens of thousands of interactions, with countless comments from Vietnamese fans as Cong Phuong's name was mentioned by the world's biggest football organization.
Cong Phuong was once an icon of the golden generation of Vietnamese football under coach Park Hang-seo. He was a standout player in the team's journey to becoming runners-up in the 2018 U23 Asian Championship, winning the 2018 AFF Cup, and reaching the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup. The image of the player from Nghe An wearing the number 10 jersey, with his curly hair and spontaneous style of play, once captivated many fans.
However, after brilliant years with the national team and HAGL club, Cong Phuong was unsuccessful abroad. Currently, the striker born in 1995 plays for Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc Dong Nai in the national first division. However, he hasn't played a single minute this season due to injury.
Cong Phuong's repeated absences recently have fueled rumors of a conflict with coach Nguyen Viet Thang in the locker room. However, the coach has denied these rumors, asserting that his relationship with his player remains good, and emphasizing that Cong Phuong is recovering from injury and will return when he is in top physical condition.
A 'crazy' goal in the Champions League
Tottenham's central defender Micky van de Ven became the center of attention when he scored a spectacular solo goal, contributing to his team's 4-0 victory over Copenhagen in the Champions League on the morning of November 5th.
In the 63rd minute, the Dutch central defender stole the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, then sprinted straight into the opponent's penalty box, dribbling past four Copenhagen players before decisively finishing past goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.
Van de Ven's goal showcased his extraordinary strength and speed, leaving the spectators in the stadium astonished. On social media, Van de Ven's goal sparked a huge debate.
One account wrote: "This is the best goal of the season in this year's Champions League." Another fan commented: "Van de Ven is insane, it reminds me of Son Heung-min's wonder goal." Another fan remarked: "A goal of a lifetime from Van de Ven, I can't believe he's a center-back."
Arsenal's big win in the Champions League breaks a 122-year-old record.
Arsenal continued their devastating form by defeating Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League qualifying round, setting a record of eight consecutive wins across all competitions.
During the trip to Slavia Prague, coach Mikel Artera decided to rotate the squad, giving opportunities to many reserve players such as Merino, Nwaneri, Hincapie and Norgaard.
The turning point came in the 32nd minute when the referee, after consulting VAR, determined that Provod had handled the ball in the penalty area. Bukayo Saka calmly converted the penalty, opening the scoring for the Gunners.
At the start of the second half, Merino doubled their lead with a precise close-range finish after a beautiful combination play.
Not stopping there, the Spanish midfielder continued to impress in the 68th minute when he capitalized on a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper to complete his brace, sealing a 3-0 victory for Arsenal.
This victory not only helpsArsenal not only secured all 12 points from their four Champions League group stage matches, but also made history with eight consecutive wins across all competitions – their best run since 1903.
