By JACK BEZANTS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 02:33 GMT, 29 December 2025 | Updated: 03:01 GMT, 29 December 2025

A wild brawl erupted in Sunday night’s NHL game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders, sparked by Mason Marchment tripping 2025 first-round draft pick Matthew Schaefer.

Young Islanders’ star Schaefer went flying through the air before sliding across the ice as the play unfolded, before his teammate Mat Barzal took it upon himself to take revenge.

Barzal slowly skated towards Marchment before brutally slashing him across the leg with his stick, sending the Blue Jays man crumpling down onto the ice.

As Barzal turned away, Marchment’s teammates swarmed Barzal and unleashed a barrage of punches before the fellow Islanders piled in to make it a massive brawl.

The referees were helpless, trying to intervene and stop the punches being thrown but the players took little notice. Eventually, a ruck of players pulled themselves apart after sliding into the wall.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the second period, Barzal was then ejected from the game for taking matters into his own hands and will potentially be fined and suspended for hitting out at Marchment.

A massive brawl erupted in Sunday’s New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets game

The fight was started by Blue Jackets’ Mason Marchment tripped Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer

And when Mat Barzal hit Marchand with his stick, players from both teams fought back

Patrick Roy, the Islanders head coach, refused to criticize Barzal when he spoke to reporters after the game.

‘We’re never going to blame a teammate for going to try and defend a teammate,’ he said. ‘We thoought it was a knee on Schaefer.’ 

For his involvement, Marchment received a two-minute tripping penalty. He had tripped Schaeder earlier in the game, during the first quarter, and got the same punishment.

And the 30-year-old was punished again for the same thing later in the game, this time tripping Islanders winger Simon Holmstrom. 

But Marchment, playing only his third game since his acquisition from the Seattle Kraken, had the last laugh, with his team fighting their way to a surprise 4-2 win over the Islanders. 

Despite their win on Sunday, the Blue Jackets are last in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division, with a 15-15 record.

The Islanders, meanwhile, are second on 21-14 and three points behind leaders Carolina Hurricanes.

The Islanders meet Chicago Blackhawks next, on Tuesday, while the Blue Jackets play Monday against Ottawa Senators.

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Hockey star attacks rival with his STICK and sparks huge brawl in wild midgame meltdown

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Wayne Carey still lives with the stigma of his infamous affair with a married teammate over two decades ago, and now he has offered up his opinion on the latest marriage scandal rocking the AFL. 

The former North Melbourne captain recently spoke on the You Can’t Be Serious podcast, hosted by AFL controversy magnet Sam Newman. 

Newman could not resist bringing up the allegations of marriage infidelity that Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale is currently wrestling with.  

Carey rocked the AFL world with his 2002 affair with Kelli Stevens, the wife of his North Melbourne teammate and best friend, Anthony Stevens, while Carey was married to his then-wife, Sally McMahon. 

The scandal triggered Carey’s exit from the team, public condemnation, the collapse of his marriage to Sally, and a lasting rift with Stevens that resurfaced in a heated confrontation years later, despite Carey saying he had apologised. 

That explosive – and very public – marriage breakdown has drawn parallels with Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale, who is experiencing his own relationship crisis in a very public forum.  

Former AFL star Wayne Carey (right) gave his take on the biggest marriage drama in Aussie footy when he appeared on Sam Newman’s You Can’t Be Serious podcast

Carey spoke about the current allegations of marriage infidelity facing Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale (pictured with his wife Jules)

Carey was at the centre of footy’s greatest marriage scandal after his affair with teammate Anthony Stevens’s wife Kelli (Carey and Stevens are pictured)

Neale and his wife Jules reportedly spent the festive period in separate states as their marriage breakdown continues to play out publicly.

The situation escalated in December after Jules said she had been ‘betrayed in the most unimaginable way’ in a social media post, later calling out a third party, Tess Crosley, who became entangled in the fallout, though there has been no suggestion of wrongdoing on her part.

Jules has since returned to Western Australia to be with family, while Neale is understood to be spending time in South Australia, with neither party issuing a formal public statement.

Newman brought up the allegations made against Neale, and accused the Australian media of treating him differently to Carey.

‘You would be front and square, or I would be, but it seems to just drift on with no real controversy,’ Newman claimed.

‘They treat people with kid gloves if they want to, don’t they?’

‘I look at people’s comments about someone’s personal life, I will say this and I’ve said this a million times, generally people that have the strongest opinion about what someone else does in their personal, private life are doing way worse in their own,’ Carey replied.

‘So for all those people that sit on their ivory tower, Sam, they are generally doing a lot, lot worse than those they are judging.

Carey was married to his first wife Sally McMahon at the time of the affair that tore North Melbourne apart

Stevens, pictured with then-wife Kelli, was best friends with Carey but now there is a deep divide between the pair

‘You know what, what Lachie Neale does in his life with his family, with whoever else, friends, whatever, whose business is that but theirs?’

Newman pressed Carey further, saying, ‘You know very well that if you are in the public eye, it’s everyone’s business.’

‘It shouldn’t be, but it is,’ Carey replied. 

‘The sad part about anything that has been in the news – and this is what I have empathy for – I feel for children that get dragged into it. 

‘You would prefer those things, like everyone else’s life [when] they go through issues, that they don’t have to be dragged through the media circus that we live in. 

‘Unfortunately, Lachie’s kids have to be dragged through this, which is terribly sad. 

‘That is something that he will wrestle with over the coming months. 

‘It’s their business. Not mine. And I would be a hypocrite if I was to sit here and be judgmental, wouldn’t I?’

Sam Newman suggested that Neale’s marriage issues are not receiving the same attention that Carey got back in 2002 (Neale is pictured with Tess Crosley, left, and wife Jules, right)

Carey attacked those criticising Lachie and Jules (pictured together), saying their private lives must be a lot worse than what the footy star and his wife are going through

Carey has moved on from his past dramas and is now a father of four, after welcoming his second child with girlfriend Jessica Paulke in January.

He also has two daughters from previous relationships: Ella with ex-wife Sally McMahon, and Charlotte with former fiancée Stephanie Edwards.

Jules Neale has unfollowed her husband on Instagram and removed images of the couple together. 

She made their marriage issues public recently when she posted a message reading: ‘I want to make it very clear that I am not “working through” anything.’ 

‘I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way. All I can do now is try to heal and do what’s best for my children. Thank you for the love and support.’ 

Neale still follows his wife and has retained their images on social media, including a picture of the two of them celebrating the Brisbane Lions back-to-back premiership win earlier this year. 

When Neale won the Brownlow Medal for the first time in 2020, he revealed the sacrifices that Jules had made to accommodate his highly-publicised move from Fremantle to the Lions. 

‘My wife Jules, she’s an amazing human being,’ Neale said at the time.

‘Not many people probably know but she owned a salon in Perth before we decided to move to Brisbane. She had to sell that to come over here and follow my dreams.

‘She was doing very well for herself over there but she always puts me ahead of herself when she shouldn’t have to.

‘She’s the most selfless person I know and my biggest support, so thank you very much Jules, I love you.’

When he won the medal again in 2023, he again paid tribute to his wife, calling Jules his ‘rock’.

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Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo continued his fine goal-scoring form as he scored a goal in the Elephants’ 1-1 draw against Cameroon in Sunday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Manchester United star, who had netted in the team’s first game against Mozambique, broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a beautiful left-footed shot that beat the Cameroon goalkeeper.

Read Also:AFCON 2025: We Want To Have Good Game Against Nigeria —Uganda Striker, Ahimbisibwe

Ivory Coast’s lead only lasted for five minutes, with Ghislain Konan deflecting Junior Tchamadeu’s shot into his own net to draw level for Cameroon.

Kessie came close to restoring Ivory Coast’s lead, rising highest to meet Guela Doue’s cross, only to be denied by Devis Epassy.

The draw means the two teams both have four points from their first two matches and are well placed to advance from Group F.

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Lachie Neale and his wife Jules have reportedly spent the festive period in separate states, as their marriage breakdown continues to make headlines.

Rumours broke in December that the couple’s relationship had been on the rocks, with Jules taking to social media to write that she had been ‘betrayed’.

The mother-of-two wrote on Instagram: ‘I want to make it very clear that I am not “working through” anything.

‘I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way. All I can do now is try to heal and do what’s best for my children. Thank you for the love and support.’

Jules appears to have travelled back to Western Australia to be with her family, and is yet to clarify what has happened. 

Last week, she shared a picture of the Busselton Jetty in Perth on Instagram, adding a ‘mending heart’ emoji.

Lachie Neale and his wife Jules have reportedly spent the festive holiday period in separate states, as their marriage breakdown continues to make headlines.

Rumours broke online in December that the couple’s relationship had been on the rocks, with Jules taking to social media to write that she had been ‘betrayed’ 

Lachie and Jules met when they were teenagers, but they did not start dating until around six years later.

The South Australian footy player was drafted to Fremantle in 2011 and his relationship with Jules blossomed. 

The couple were married in 2018, the same year Neale was signed to the Brisbane Lions, with the couple moving to the Queensland city together. 

They they would later welcome their first child, Piper Rose in September 2021, before celebrating the birth of their son Freddie in December 2024. 

Jules has regularly been seen supporting her husband at matches and was notably seen on the pitch at the MCG celebrating the Lions’ 2025 grand final victory with her husband and daughter Piper. 

Over the years, Jules has also turned heads at the Brownlow Medal ceremonies, thanks to her show-stopping and glamorous sense style.

Neale has claimed two Brownlow Medals during his career, but after he cruised to victory in 2020, cameras turned to Jules in the crowd who cut an emotional figure.

It was then that the 32-year-old paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, thanking her for all of her support, a speech that may now come back to haunt Neale. 

‘My wife Jules, she’s an amazing human being,’ Neale said.

‘Not many people probably know but she owned a salon in Perth before we decided to move to Brisbane. She had to sell that to come over here and follow my dreams.

Jules was seen wiping tears from her eyes as Neale gave his Brownlow Medal speech in 2020

Lachie and Jules met when they were teenagers, but they did not start dating until around six years later

‘I want to make it very clear that I am not “working through” anything. I have been… in the most unimaginable way,’ she wrote

‘She was doing very well for herself over there but she always puts me ahead of herself when she shouldn’t have to.

‘She’s the most selfless person I know and my biggest support, so thank you very much Jules, I love you.’

After winning again in 2023, he went on to describe Jules as ‘his rock’.

The hair stylist is now no longer following the Brisbane Lions captain on Instagram and last week, removed TGI Sport – the company that manages both her and Lachie – from her bio.

It came as Jules launched a public attack on her former friend Tess Crosley, who had found herself in the middle of the couple’s marriage breakdown.

Jules had demanded that Tess remove photos on Instagram of the Brisbane Lions’ recent Grand Final celebrations.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Tess. 

Neither party has made a public comment on the situation.

Neale, who guided the Lions to back-to-back premierships this year, is understood to have returned to South Australia and has, according to The Advertiser, been spending time with his family in the coastal town of Robe, 300km from Adelaide.

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Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has dropped a strong hint that he could make a shock return to Europe.

Ronaldo remains in fine form for the Saudi Pro League outfit.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored twice in the 3–0 win over Al Akhdoud, taking his career tally to 956 as he continues to chase an unprecedented century.

Ronaldo had two spells at Manchester United while playing in Europe and also featured for Juventus, Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid.

“It doesn’t matter if I play in the Middle East or Europe; I want to keep winning titles and reach the milestone everyone knows,” the 40-year-old said at a Dubai awards ceremony on Sunday.

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Former sports editor and administrator, Arabinrin Aderonke, has lauded the Super Eagles of Nigeria following their impressive victory over Tunisia, a result that secured Nigeria’s place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Reacting to the hard-fought encounter, Aderonke commended the team’s resilience, discipline, and attacking approach against a strong Tunisian side buoyed by confidence from their opening-match victory.

“I would like to extend my warmest felicitations to the Super Eagles for their well-deserved and courageous victory over a highly competitive Tunisian team. Qualifying with a game to spare speaks volumes about the character, strength, and ambition of this team,” she said.

Aderonke, who recently received the Role Model of the Year award from the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) in Copenhagen, Denmark, also praised the goal-scoring duo and the collective performance of the team, noting that Nigeria’s early dominance set the tone for the match and ultimately shaped the outcome.

“The goals scored by Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman must not only be attributed to individual genius, but also the strength and power of team philosophy that is founded on discipline, confidence, and team belief. Despite the fightback by Tunisia, the Super Eagles were mature and focused enough to see out the game,” said Arabinrin Aderonke.

She also pointed out the importance of getting six points from the two matches, saying it was ‘a very strong statement of intent’ by Nigeria at the championship.

“To have qualified for the Round of 16 with six points after two group games is a strength for Nigeria. It is a clear indication of the fact that Super Eagles are not just participants, but are serious title contenders,” said the female soccer fan.

The Super Eagles are currently top of Group C and, if they remain at the summit, they might be poised to face the runner-up of Group D, which includes West African arch-rivals Senegal, Benin, Congo, and Botswana.

Arabinrin Aderonke urged the team to stay focused as the tournament unfolds, rallying Nigerians everywhere to support the side.

“I appeal to the players and technical personnel to remain focused and leverage on this spirit. Nigerians pride themselves in you, and the country is behind the Super Eagles as they proceed on their journey to AFCON 2025,” she added.

Aderonke has been a strong advocate for gender equality, youth empowerment, and social inclusion, earning her a place among Africa’s leading voices in sports-for-development.

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Cranes of Uganda strike Ivan Ahimbisibwe has backed his team to have a good game Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their final Group C match at this year’s AFCON in Morocco.

While the Super Eagles have already booked their place in the round of 16, Uganda must secure a win to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout round.

But he is confident they can get the needed win against the three-time AFCON champions.

“We are going back to the drawing back. We expect to have a good game against Nigeria,” he said. “We believe in ourselves and come with a good mentality and try to win.”

Ahimbisibwe is one of the players yet to feature for the Cranes at this year’s tournament.

He, however, stated that he is ready to wait for his opportunity.

“We have to always wait for our time. It is always a game and we have so many good and quality players and everyone who gets a chance surely deserves to play so we shall wait for our time.”

By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco

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By LIAM MORGAN, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 19:11 GMT, 28 December 2025 | Updated: 21:01 GMT, 28 December 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted at a possible return to Europe as he reiterated his ambition to reach 1,000 goals.

Ronaldo, 40, brought his career tally to 956 with a brace in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Al Akhdoud on Saturday afternoon.

The Portuguese superstar has previously suggested he will carry on playing for one or two more years and admitted earlier this year that the 2026 World Cup would be his last.

Speaking at an awards ceremony in Dubai on Sunday, former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward Ronaldo said he wanted to ‘keep going’ as he offered a new insight into his future.

‘My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe,’ said Ronaldo.

‘I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going.

Cristiano Ronaldo attended the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai with fiancée Georgina Rodriguez

Ronaldo is targeting 1,000 goals and hinted he could return to Europe to achieve his goal

‘I will reach the number (1000 goals) for sure, if no injuries.’ 

Ronaldo’s double for Al-Nassr on Saturday also brought the number of goals he has scored this year to 40.

He he has now scored more than 40 times in 14 different calendar years across his career.

Ronaldo’s most successful campaign in terms of hitting the back of the net was in 2013 when he scored 63 times in all competitions for club and country.

The Portugal star is still in remarkable condition and recently shared a shirtless photo showcasing his incredible physique.

In an interview with Piers Morgan last month, he said he believes he is one or two years away from retirement.

He swears by Pilates, regular swims and five trips to the gym a week.

These include 25-30 minutes of cardio, high-intensity sprinting and targeted weights to increase muscle strength. In total, he works out for three to four hours a day.

Ronaldo, 40, said he was still enjoying playing and vowed to ‘keep going’ as long as he is injury-free

Rather than sticking to the traditional three-meal structure of breakfast-lunch-dinner, Ronaldo prefers to refuel with six smaller ‘mini-meals’ throughout the day: Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, supper, dinner.

Ronaldo attended the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai along with fiancee Georgina Rodriguez. The couple, who have been together for nine years, announced their engagement in August.

He proposed to the Argentine-Spanish model, 31, with a ring worth £2.2million. 

Ronaldo picked up the Best Middle East Player award at the ceremony, attended by stars including Novak Djokovic, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal.

It was the second year in a row the Al-Nassr forward had scooped the prize. 

At the 2024 edition, Ronaldo claimed the Top Goalscorer of all time award as well as the Best Middle East Player.

Diogo Jota’s parents were given a special award at the ceremony following the death of their son at the age of 28 in July.

An emotional Isabel and Joaquin Silva received the recognition in a heartwarming tribute to the Liverpool star at the event.

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Cristiano Ronaldo hints at return to Europe: Footballer, 40, provides new update on his future as he insists he WILL reach 1,000 career goals after picking up another award

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Algeria became the latest country to qualify for the last 16 of the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Desert Foxes defeated Burkina Faso 1–0 in a tight contest on Sunday to secure their spot in the next round.

Captain Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot.

The result means Algeria, who won the AFCON in 1990 and 2019, have the maximum six points after two games in Group E.

The North Africans are ahead of Burkina Faso and Sudan, who both have three points each.

Algeria will now join Nigeria and Egypt as the only teams to have confirmed their place in the Round of 16.

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A Riyad Mahrez first-half penalty was enough to give Algeria a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso and a place in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Algeria was awarded a penalty just past the 20-minute mark when Rayan Ait Nouri was felled in the box by Ismahila Ouedraogo, and Mahrez made no mistake as he sent Herve Koffi in the Burkina Faso goal the wrong way.

Read Also:AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Observe Rest Today After Hard-fought Win Against Tunisia

The Burkinabe came close to an equaliser just before halftime when Pierre Kabore’s close-range header came back off the post and Algeria were able to scramble the ball to safety.

Luca Zidane, son of France great Zinedine, showed good reactions to keep out a Lassina Traore header late on as Burkina Faso came close to an equaliser.

The group leaders will finish up against Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday. Burkina Faso will battle for second place in their Group E finale against Sudan, with both teams level on three points.

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Sports training in modern Japan has been changing rapidly. As a result, it is likely that many aspects of training (methods) by 2025 will be dramatically different from those of the last decade.

With an increasing emphasis on movement data, muscle load, and reaction time, coaches today are less focused on strategy than they were ten years ago.

How Technology Makes Sports Betting Faster and Safer

Non-sports professionals have compared the emergence of these types of data within sports to those in other sectors, where numbers and prediction help guide decision-making, but for athletes, the ultimate objective is simply to understand the body and train safely.

For this reason, the current practice of sports training in Japan is more structured, controlled, and efficient than at any point prior to the past decade.

How Technology Became a Regular Part of Training

By the start of 2024, all top-level clubs in Japan were using data tracking camera systems and wearable tracking systems daily.

Some have drawn comparisons between the rise of sports technology tracking data to the rise of in Arabic ( تحميل تطبيق melbet) however, unlike betting, these tracking technologies are used for completely different purposes within the training process.

The technologies track an athlete’s running speeds, changes of direction, vertical jumps, heart rate, and sleep quality.

Instead of reviewing hours of video footage, coaches are able to get the information they need in seconds by opening up a small dashboard on their tablets to view the athlete’s overall performance from the previous day’s practice sessions, as well as review and identify any areas of the athlete’s technique that may be unusual or need improvement.

Key Technologies Used in Sport 2025

The table below shows a few devices that Japanese sports organizations use most often:

Technology
What It Tracks
Typical Use

Wearable Sensors
Heart rate, speed, fatigue
Football, tennis

Motion Cameras
Jump angle, footwork, body posture
Basketball, volleyball

AI Dashboards
Summary of daily load
All major clubs

Recovery Pods
Muscle stress and rest
MMA, track and field

Why Real-Time Data Matters for Coaches

One big change in how athletic and coaching staff get data will be how quickly data is provided from 2025 on.

The speed of the updates is so rapid that they have been referred to as ain Arabic “موقع مراهنات“- type refresh cycle, because the data appears in short, quick bursts.

Coaches were required to wait until tomorrow morning to receive the data they needed for their training sessions.

The data that coaches used to have to wait 24-48 hours to see is now displayed on the screen in front of them as they continue their workout session.

This enables coaches to quickly make decisions based on the current data available to them.

For example, if a defensive back appeared fatigued, the athlete could see his load reduced in real time during the same practice session.

An additional example would be if a basketball player were displaying an inconsistent shooting form, the coach can recognize and correct it with the first three or four attempts.

The AI evaluates movement patterns at speeds far greater than those of traditional methods. All connected equipment will provide data almost instantaneously and send it directly to the correct interface.

This allows the correct decision to be made immediately, rather than making adjustments several hours later.

Recovery and Injury Prevention Methods in Sport 2025

Sports are getting tough, so recovery is very important. In Japan, athletes use cold therapy, compression gear, simple muscle tools, and sleep trackers. These help them rest better and avoid getting hurt.

Sports scientists in Japan usually follow three main steps:

1. Check signs of inflammation after hard sessions.
2. Look at movement patterns to catch early warning signs.
3. Balance intensity and rest, so the body does not break down.

This approach greatly reduces the risk of long-term injuries. Football clubs, especially, rely on it because many injuries occur due to overload rather than contact.

Volleyball, tennis, and MMA gyms use similar principles for protecting shoulders, knees, and spines.

Why Sport 2025 Is a Turning Point for Japanese Sports

Japan’s 2025 sports is significant, as technology is now a part of an athlete’s regular work routine and not an added item to an athlete’s list of equipment, and from youth academy programs to professional level teams all athletes can and do utilize the same type of tools and therefore, will be able to provide more consistent and comparable data when tracking an athlete’s performance.

The following are the major reasons why Sport 2025 is a turning point:

• Technology has become affordable enough for smaller clubs to purchase wearable technologies.
• AI systems can process data almost instantly.
• Ideas and philosophies behind training techniques are beginning to cross over between different sports.
• Coaches are trusting technology more than they ever have before.

As a result of this increased innovation, Japan’s athletic training is becoming more efficient; however, it is becoming less subjective and more objective.

No longer are athletes relying solely on “feeling” tired and/or feeling the right time to rest. They have solid evidence (numbers) showing how their bodies react and what needs to be adjusted.

The future of training in Japan’s sports organizations is expected to bring much more change.

Already, some football academies are testing “smart shoes” that track foot pressure, basketball gymnasiums are using automated shooting machines that analyze shots with no coaching presence, and MMA teams are using small sensors to measure grip strength during holds.

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Archie Gray scored the goal to lift Tottenham spirits as they ended a year of conflicting emotions with the sort of performance to sum up their identity crisis.

There was none of the creative flair they are expected deliver and for long spells they were forced to weather pressure from Crystal Palace.

But there were plenty of guts and determination from Spurs and they carried threat from set pieces and were dangerous on the break.

They played Palace at their own game, won it, had two goals ruled out for marginal offsides and hit a post in the closing stages when the contest was stretched and the home team were pushing for an equaliser.

Thomas Frank’s team resisted and there are certainly days when the result is paramount and this was one of those.

Victory brings a respite for Thomas Frank. Three points ease his team into midtable and every win will grant him more time to impose more of his vision for Spurs. Time to forge the principles upon which he says he can impose a little more adventure.

Archie Gray eased the pressure on Thomas Frank as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace

The young Tottenham star scored his first professional goal to secure a 1-0 away win

The positives here came in the form of Gray’s first Spurs goal for the club, a clean sheet and a strong defensive display and a sensible tactical switch in the closing minutes by the boss.

There were times when they rode their luck and Palace will be kicking themselves over some of the chances they missed.

But Frank bolstered his team by sending on Joao Palhinha to regain midfield control when Lucas Brgvall went off injured and went to a back three to see it out.

They finished on top, with Wilson Odobert threatening in the space on the break.

And those are the points upon which they will look to build having finished 2025, the year in which they won the Europa League but lost 20 Premier League games.

Not the sort of display to convince those who doubt Frank is the right sort of fit for the job. Again, away from home in front of the hardcore it is easier to win in this fashion than at home in front of 60,000.

There are signs going into 2026 that Frank is settling on what he considers is his best team. The only changes from the previous line up were those called upon to replace Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, who were suspended after red cards against Liverpool.

Kevin Danso came in at the back and was solid despite a scare in the fifth minute when he tripped Justin Devenny and the home crowd wanted him sent off, but there was enough cover around to support the decision of referee Jarred Gillett that it was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

Pressure has been mounting on Frank amid a turgid start to the season for Tottenham

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS 

Palace 3421: Henderson 6; Lerma 6, Lacroix 6, Guehi 6; Clyne 6 (Nketiah 58, 5), Wharton 6.5, Hughes 7, Mitchell 6.5; Pino 6 (Uche 77), Devenny 6.5 (Esse 85); Mateta 6.

Subs: Benitez, Benamar, Canvot, Drakes-Thomas, Esse, Rodney, Sosa.

Goals

Bookings: Hughes, Lacroix, Lerma

Manager: Oliver Glasner 6

Spurs 4231: Vicario 6.5; Porro 6.5, Danso 7.5, Van de Ven 8, Spence 6; Bentancur 6, Gray 7 (Dragusin 85); Kudus 7 (Johnson 85), Bergvall 6 (Palhinha 63, 7), Kolo Muani 6.5 (Odobert 63, 6.5); Richarlison 6.5.

Subs: Kinsky, Davies, Scarlett, Takai, Tel

Goals: Gray 42,

Bookings: Danso, Gray

Manager: Thomas Frank 6

Ref: Jarred Gillett 6

Richarlison, recalled up front, was performing his pigeon dance in the 17th minute. The Brazil centre forward thought he had opened the scoring, only to find it ruled out for offside against Bergvall earlier in the move.

The momentum of the VAR reprieve lifted Palace and the home crowd and subdued Spurs.

A trip to Selhurst Park is always fraught with peril, even though Palace are better away from home of late and stumbled through four games in 10 days without a win before Christmas.

They are learning to cope with the impact of success on the fixture schedule and toil that takes on a slender squad, but they have talent and are so well organised and they dominated for 20 minutes as Spurs lost control in midfield.

Jean-Philippe Mateta flashed one chance wide and climbed above Danso but could not keep his header down after Maxence Lacroix had headed a cross by Adam Wharton back across goal.

Guglielmo Vicario took fewer risks with the ball at his feet and made saves when needed to foil Devenny and Wharton during this spell of pressure.

Will Hughes also went close before Frank’s team found a response, taking the lead from a corner won on the counterattack.

The goal would have delighted the Spurs boss. First the immaculate delivery by Pedro Porro and then the three headers won in the six-yard boss.

Randal Kolo Muani nodded it back across goal from deep and Richarlison was alive to help it on towards goal where Gray pounced to apply the final touch, a header from close range.

Not only was it his first goal for Spurs but his first in 112 games in senior football for the 19-year-old, signed from Leeds in the summer of 2024.

Palace missed more chances.

Nathaniel Clyne and Devenny contrived to waste a terrific chance at the back post. Clyne’s nodded a cross by Yeremy Pino back inside, but Devenny’s first touch turned him away from the open goal and his second, a shot on the spin, flew over.

Maxence Lacroix headed wide when he should have scored, and Marc Guehi headed a corner over.

Spurs could not get on the ball until Palhinha came on and gave them a foothold.

Richarlison had a second goal ruled out for offside, a fraction off before converting a cross by Kudus, after a fine pass by Gray.

Odobert hit post on run 20 yards out and Dean Henderson save denied Bentancur in stoppage time.

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Stanley Nwabali, goalkeeper of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has shared his struggles with injuries before the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.

Prior to the 2025 AFCON, Nwabali’s coach at Chippa United, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, revealed that the 29-year-old Nigerian needed surgery to threat previous injuries.

Vilakazi expressed doubt over goalkeeper’s chances of participating in the AFCON as he was still recovering from both an ankle and a hand injury.

“I was injured but with the help of team doctors and physios I am able to stand on the pitch and play,” Nwabali told reporters after Nigeria won Tunisia on Saturday.

“It is quite tough for me because it is not something you come out to say. But most times what ever thing we see online is true. I am always strong man, I try to just represent my country.”

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles booked an early place in the Round of 16 at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 after edging Tunisia 3–2 in a dramatic Group C clash in Fès on Saturday night.

A dominant display for much of the contest saw the Super Eagles race into a 3–0 lead, only for a late Tunisian surge to set up a nervy finale.

In the end, Nigeria’s composure and resilience proved decisive as they claimed a second successive victory and moved to six points at the top of Group C.

Lookman, Osimhen and Ndidi Strike as Super Eagles Hold Firm in Fès

From the opening whistle blown by Malian referee, Boubou Traoré, Nigeria made their intentions unmistakable.

The Eagles pressed aggressively, moved the ball with purpose and immediately tested Tunisia’s defensive structure.

Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams were relentless in the opening exchanges, probing the Carthage Eagles’ back line with pace and movement.

Nigeria thought they had taken the lead in the 17th minute when Osimhen stabbed home after the Tunisian goalkeeper parried Adams’ effort, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Osimhen Breaks the Deadlock

The breakthrough finally arrived just before the interval. In the 44th minute, Lookman delivered a deep, precise cross, and Osimhen rose above the defense to power a header into the net, scoring his first goal of the tournament and sending Nigeria into halftime deservedly ahead.

Ndidi’s Goal Doubles the Advantage

Nigeria picked up exactly where they left off after the restart. Just five minutes into the second half, Lookman’s teasing corner found captain Wilfred Ndidi, who towered above his marker to head home.

It was a historic moment for Ndidi, who scored his first senior international goal on his 73rd cap, underlining Nigeria’s dominance in midfield and set-piece efficiency.

Ademola Lookman Caps a Brilliant Display

The Super Eagles’ relentless pressure paid off again in the 66th minute.

A sweeping team move involving Alex Iwobi and Osimhen carved open the Tunisian defence, allowing Lookman to dart into space and fire a precise left-footed effort inside the post.

The goal was Lookman’s second of the tournament, adding to his two assists on the night, and appeared to have put the contest beyond doubt at 3–0.

Tunisia Fight Back, Tension Rises

Tunisia, however, refused to surrender. In the 75th minute, Montassar Talbi headed home from Hannibal Mejbri’s well-delivered free-kick to pull one back and ignite belief.

The pressure intensified when VAR intervened in the 87th minute, ruling that Bright Osayi-Samuel had committed a foul inside the box.

Ali Abdi stepped up and smashed the penalty into the roof of the net, cutting Nigeria’s lead to 3–2 and setting up a frantic finish.

The Carthage Eagles nearly completed the comeback in stoppage time, but Ferjani Sassi’s header drifted inches wide, allowing Nigeria to finally breathe.

Super Eagles Hold Firm to Seal Qualification

Despite the late scare, Nigeria showed maturity and defensive resolve to see out the game, registering their second consecutive win and becoming one of the first teams to qualify for the knockout stage.

The victory leaves the Super Eagles top of Group C with six points, ahead of their final group match against Uganda in Fès next Tuesday.

Tunisia, on three points, will face Tanzania in Rabat.

Nigeria vs Tunisia Post Reaction-Match

Sami Trabelsi – Tunisia Coach

“Of course, there is a sense of bitterness after the match and this defeat. We felt we could have come back, especially during the final 30 minutes.”

“The players performed at a very high level in that period; we created many chances, scored two goals and could have scored more.”

“The defeat hurts, but there is also a positive aspect: it shows that we can compete with any opponent when we impose our style of play and our ball possession.”

“We respected them, yes, while trying to remain balanced. We know that Nigeria have very fast and powerful players, so we tried to reduce the spaces.”

“In the first half, we had a few chances that we should have taken. The goals we conceded came from crosses; it was not a matter of too much respect, but rather that we lost too many defensive and attacking duels.”

“Once we started winning our attacking duels, we were much better and put the opponent under pressure.”

“I repeat, we did not start the match well because we lost too many duels. However, over the final 35 minutes, we were dominant and the final result could have been very different.”

“It is a matter of judgement. When we needed even more attacking penetration, we introduced Ismail Gharbi, but the performance of those already on the pitch was not poor.”

“The next match will be decisive.”

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By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER and MATT BARLOW, FOOTBALL WRITER

Updated: 16:38 GMT, 28 December 2025

Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Crystal Palace welcome Tottenham to Selhurst Park, with Matt Barlow reporting from the grounds. 

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