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Latest football news
Liverpool hold Spurs 1-1 at Anfield
Simon Cambers 6:40 AM Tottenham's hopes of overhauling Leicester at the top of the Premier League table were dented as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Liverpool.
Ronaldo ends Barca's unbeaten run
![Jubilant: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/y/z/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwyzn.png/1459634084139.jpg)
7:54 AM Cristiano Ronaldo has scored late for 10-man Real Madrid to snatch a 2-1 comeback win at Barcelona and revive his side's slim hopes of challenging for the Spanish league title.
Sydney FC's nightmare continues
![Frustration all round: Christopher Naumoff lets it all out.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/x/j/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwvzy.png/1459596400760.jpg)
Dominic Bossi 10:26 PM You can tell a lot about Sydney FC from their crowd and a record low, early exits and slim active bay highlights their crisis.
City punts on 'experienced winners'
![Shining: Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy is a key part of Melbourne City’s recent form.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/t/g/r/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwmo0.png/1459593237065.jpg)
Michael Lynch 9:33 PM It is said that the future belongs to those who plan for it.
Victory finals berth comes at a cost
![Victory players celebrate Besart Berisha's goal.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/x/2/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwvvc.png/1459591358240.jpg)
Liam Hyslop 9:02 PM Besart Berisha again showed why he is the most enigmatic player in the A-League as the Melbourne Victory beat the Wellington Phoenix.
Thrifty future ends Mariners' glory days
![Tough times: The Mariners have endured a nightmare season on the field.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/p/m/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwoxr.png/1459584783539.jpg)
Dominic Bossi 7:13 PM From champions to wooden spooners in three years: How the Mariners glory days ended.
Football should take the lead in integration
![Craig Foster dinkus Dinkus](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/t/m/o/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwq8f.png/1459584773639.jpg)
Craig Foster 7:12 PM Funds raised by the football family will change the lives of many indigenous people, but we need to do more to promote our unique, ancient culture.
NSW soccer coaches fined for betting on own club's games
![Example: FFA boss David Gallop has made examples of two NSW premier league coaches who breached betting regulations.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/e/v/o/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwpb1.png/1459563315527.jpg)
Vince Rugari 1:15 PM Two NSW junior soccer coaches have been sanctioned by Football Federation Australia for betting on matches involving their own club - including in some cases to lose.
Messi 'from another galaxy': Barca coach Enrique
![Unstoppable: Lionel Messi is on the verge of 500 goals for club and country as Barcelona face Real Madrid in 'El Clasico'.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/3/1/b/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwna5.png/1459549954520.jpg)
Richard Martin 9:32 AM Lionel Messi's strike rate "is from another galaxy" Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said on Friday as the Argentine maestro bids to score his 500th career goal in this weekend's 'Clasico'.
I can't wait to face England, says Brad Smith
![Brad Smith controls the ball during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification match between the Socceroos and Tajikistan at ...](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/v/w/r/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnv8ew.png/1459525839225.jpg)
Sebastian Hassett Australia's friendly match against England in Sunderland on May 27 will be eagerly awaited by every Socceroo - but perhaps none more so than Brad Smith, who has the opportunity to show Roy Hodgson what he's missing out on.
Wanderers go top of A-League with resounding win
![Double: Brendon Santalab of the Wanderers celebrates scoring.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/k/q/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwjcw.png/1459514304337.jpg)
Dominic Bossi Western Sydney Wanderers farewell their spiritual home with a thumping 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Friday night.
Football team black faces to support abused teammates
!["Violence against refugees is pathetic!!": Deinster SV players in a digitally-altered photograph.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/k/e/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwkgb.png/1459506214960.jpg)
Matt Bungard A lower-league German team have digitally altered a team photograph to 'support' two players who they say were the victims of racial abuse last weekend.
Villa drop Agbonlahor over shisha pipe
![In hot water: Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/k/j/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnwkju.png/1459505827409.jpg)
Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has been dropped pending an investigation after pictures were published of him apparently smoking a shisha pipe.
City match Victory everywhere but for crowds
![Bruno Fornaroli of Melbourne City poses with fans after the round 25 match against Wellington Phoenix.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/j/h/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvoer.png/1459500562494.jpg)
Michael Lynch They play free-flowing attacking football, create bundles of chances and score goals for fun. So why aren't the crowds flocking to see Melbourne City?
Finkler, Barbarouses set to put one past Merrick
![Kosta Barbarouses will face his new club while playing for Melbourne Victory.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/y/4/t/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvxwx.png/1459500339592.jpg)
Michael Lynch Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has hailed Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler as "fantastic" signings for his club for next season, but doing their new employers a favour will be the last thing on the pair's mind when they take on the Kiwis on Saturday afternoon.
Why Milligan should replace Jedinak
![Michael Cockerill](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/1/9/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvjpt.png/1459500694230.jpg)
Michael Cockerill if Mark Milligan has emerged as the fulcrum of Ange Postecoglou's game plan, where does that leave captain Mile Jedinak?
Qatar World Cup venue workers still being exploited: Amnesty
![Construction in progress at one of the venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Al Rayyan Stadium.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/h/0/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvl6v.png/1459519265704.jpg)
Latika Bourke One worker said his manager screamed at him to "keep working or you will never leave".
Fornaroli focused on A-League glory
![On the mark: Bruno Fornaroli (right), has been hailed as the A-League's best ever signing.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/s/m/u/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnw2st.png/1459500263520.jpg)
Michael Lynch He's the hottest striker in the A-League and the sort of player that the Australian game would love to hold on to.
Valeri thought illness would end his career
![Cool customer: Melbourne Victory captain Carl Valeri is set for a comeback.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/n/4/w/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvzmu.png/1459481099993.jpg)
Lee Gaskin Melbourne Victory captain Carl Valeri thought his playing career was over after contracting an inflammatory brain condition.
Sydney FC v Adelaide United: The Lowdown
![Hard work: Can Filip Holosko (right) return Sydney FC back to winning ways?](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/r/o/s/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnsxcx.png/1459500651796.jpg)
Sebastian Hassett Sydney FC take on Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium
Djite: Even in the tough times, I never lost faith
![Confident: Adelaide United's Bruce Djite believes the team is as good as any other team out there.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/f/d/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnu1jo.png/1459500623984.jpg)
Sebastian Hassett There's more than hint of superhero about Bruce Djite. The computer-like brain and the ripping physique have always gone hand-in-hand. But now he's scoring the goals to rescue Adelaide United.
Outrage over football legend's killing spree
![Trophy: Hristo Stoichkov poses with a dead zebra.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/v/q/e/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvq8y.png/1459490358044.png)
David Sygall In the space of one World Cup, Hristo Stoichkov became one of football's greatest names. And with one set of gruesome photographs, he has lost the respect of millions.
Is this the greatest sports story never told?
![The moment AFC Wimbledon became a league team ought to provide a thrilling climax to John Green's story.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/v/p/y/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvnd9.png/1459476086913.jpg)
Karl Quinn American author John Green is hoping to bring his Midas touch to the tale of a non-league English soccer team.
Arsenal have 'screwed up': Ozil
!["We cannot allow this to happen again next season": Ozil.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/k/8/0/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvlvx.png/1459468737721.jpg)
Matt Law Third-placed Arsenal are 11 points behind Leicester with a game in hand, having been top earlier this year, and Ozil claims they have shot themselves in the foot.
US women demand equal wages, conditions
![US star Carli Lloyd is part of the legal claim seeking equal pay for top US women soccer players.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/k/i/r/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvmtg.png/1459499359652.jpg)
Five top players for the World Cup-winning US women's soccer team have filed a wage discrimination complaint claiming they are paid less than male players even though they generate more income for the US Soccer Federation.
City go west with destiny in own hands
![Optimistic: Alex Wilkinson believes City will defeat Perth Glory.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/v/d/k/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnvdeu.png/1459407321153.jpg)
Michael Lynch Melbourne City travels to Perth at the weekend with one major advantage over every other A League rival: its fate lies entirely in its own hands.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners - The Lowdown
![Starting chance: Western Sydney Wanderers winger Romeo Castelen.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/2/p/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnv82m.png/1459436940326.jpg)
Sebastian Hassett Wanderers have fallen to fourth, and while that alone isn't catastrophic, no team has won the championship from outside the top two.
Wanderers out to farewell to Parramatta in style against Mariners
![Selection boost: Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/9/w/s/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnv3fe.png/1459401831140.jpg)
Sebastian Hassett The Western Sydney Wanderers' "gap year" at Sydney Olympic Park might only see them temporarily leaving Pirtek Stadium but Friday night's clash with Central Coast marks the last time "Wanderland" will be seen in the A-League in its present configuration.
We'll fight until there's no hope left, says Sydney FC's Matt Simon
![Battling through: Sydney FC striker Matt Simon is still playing, despite a rib injury.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/5/u/9/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnuzc4.png/1459400738652.jpg)
Sebastian Hassett Sydney FC striker Matt Simon is adamant his teammates haven't given up the fight to play in this season's A-League finals series -even if their destiny is now out of their hands.
Inspired by Cruyff, coach Alberts waits for Indonesia FIFA ban to end
![Robert Alberts in Malaysia.](/web/20160402221228im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/v/6/l/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnv6p5.png/1459400642903.jpg)
Jason Dasey With Ajax connections to the late Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal, Robert Alberts is probably Southeast Asia's best-known Dutch coach, having won titles in three different nations. But Indonesia's ongoing ban from FIFA has limited the 61-year-old's job prospects.