HONG KONG — Brazilian Anderson Talisca continued his impressive start to life in the Chinese Super League on Sunday, taking his tally to five goals in two games as Guangzhou Evergrande cruised to a 5-0 win over Chongqing Lifan.
Talisca, who joined the seven-times champions in the summer transfer window on loan from Benfica, struck twice for Fabio Cannavaro’s side at Tianhe Stadium to ensure Guangzhou moved to within five points of leaders Beijing Guoan.
Evergrande have a game in hand over Beijing…
Oscar’s close-range tap-in ensured Shanghai SIPG remained in top spot on Tuesday evening as the Brazilian earned Vitor Pereira’s side a 1-1 draw with second-placed Shandong Luneng as the Chinese Super League returned from its two-month World Cup break.
The former Chelsea man scored from barely a yard out after Shandong goalkeeper Dalei Wang managed to keep Lu Wenjun’s header out before the Brazilian pounced in the 52nd minute to ultimately save SIPG a point.
Shanghai move onto 24 points from the…
Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez report from Rostov ahead of Mexico’s Group F match Saturday against South Korea.
ROSTOV — South Korea had not lost an opening game at the World Cup since 1998 until last Monday. That 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sweden was not the best way to kick off a tough group that continues with a game against Mexico on Saturday and then ends with Germany. The focus now is not on trying to get to the knockout stages but simply on avoiding elimination with a game against the defending champions still to come.
It would be a major embarrassment for Asia’s most successful World Cup nation if…
Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez report from Rostov ahead of Mexico’s Group F match Saturday against South Korea.
ROSTOV — South Korea had not lost an opening game at the World Cup since 1998 until last Monday. That 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sweden was not the best way to kick off a tough group that continues with a game against Mexico on Saturday and then ends with Germany. The focus now is not on trying to get to the knockout stages but simply on avoiding elimination with a game against the defending champions still to come.
It would be a major embarrassment for Asia’s most successful World Cup nation if…
With just one World Cup group stage win to their name, Iran will have their work cut out for them in a challenging Group B.
ESPN FC’s Stewart Robson wasn’t overly impressed with Iran and doesn’t feel there’s a way back for Morocco after their late capitulation.
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia — Carlos Queiroz has guided three national teams to four World Cups but the game against Spain on Wednesday could prove to be his finest hour and a half, not just on the global stage but in a long and distinguished coaching career. If all goes well in Kazan vs. Spain, and then against Portugal in Saransk, the 65-year-old will have secured his reputation as one of the world’s top coaches.
He was already up there in the eyes of his Iran players after they threw him into the…
Day four of the World Cup has arrived and Anthony Richardson and Ian Fiveankles are pumped as Germany and Brazil are in action, but also reveal the Joker 9 card in anti-fantasy football.
The guys respond to your tweets about breakout stars in Russia, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Golden Boot chances and former USMNT players backing Mexico.
Recap all the key storylines from the third day of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Malaysia’s member of the FIFA Council has suggested that Southeast Asian countries could combine to host the 2034 World Cup.
Tengku Abdullah, speaking to reporters after returning from the FIFA Congress in Moscow, said four countries from the region, which lies between India to the west and China to the east and is home to around 700 million people, would have a strong case when the decision is made in 2026.
“ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] has an opportunity and the strength to put…
Mathew Leckie’s double led the way for Australia in their World Cup tune-up as they defeated the Czech Republic with ease.
Can Australia make an impact at Russia 2018 under new coach Bert van Marwijk? Here’s a look at how the Socceroos shape up.
He’s the X-Factor that Australia needs, but will Bert van Marwijk take Daniel Arzani to Russia?
Thomas Sørensen has backed Australia to potentially cause an upset in their group at the World Cup.
As Bert van Marwijk revealed Australia’s 23-man World Cup squad on Sunday, the astonishing rise of striker Andrew Nabbout was made complete.
Just three years ago, after struggling to find another contract in Australia’s A-League, Nabbout made the unlikely switch to the Malaysian second division with unheralded outfit Negeri Sembilan in an attempt to resurrect his fledgling career.
Though the move took him completely out of view from those in his homeland, he worked tirelessly on his game, netting…
The ESPN FC crew preview Saudi’s Arabia chances of advancing out of their group for the second time in their World Cup history.
Four of Asia’s five representatives started the final phase of preparations for the 2018 World Cup this week with friendlies against a variety of opponents.
ESPNFC looks at the big lessons that emerged from the respective games.
Saudi Arabia may not need a striker
On the face of it, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament (67) have a mountain to climb at their first World Cup since 2006 and Group A games against hosts Russia, Uruguay and Egypt.
Saudi Arabia can however take plenty of positives…
Fabio Cannavaro is hoping his Guangzhou Evergrande side will come back from the Chinese Super League’s two-month World Cup break mentally refreshed after the seven-time champions dropped further off the pace with a 2-0 loss against Beijing Renhe on Sunday.
Benjamin Moukandjo and Augusto Fernandez scored for the newly promoted side as Evergrande dropped five points behind leaders Shanghai SIPG, who defeated Jiangsu Suning 2-0 to return to the summit ahead of the finals in Russia next month.
Guangzhou…
Wu Xinghan’s 93rd-minute winner moved Shandong Luneng to the top of the Chinese Super League standings as Li Xiaopeng’s side handed Tianjin Teda a last-gasp 2-1 defeat on Friday.
The win moves Shandong three points clear of Shanghai SIPG, who play fourth-placed Jiangsu Suning on Sunday evening in the final round of matches before the league takes a two-month break for the summer’s World Cup finals.
But despite the win — Shandong’s seventh from 11 league games so far this season — Li was far from…