Digest

SOCCER

Narrow Spain loss ends China U-17's campaign

China failed to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup quarterfinals after losing 1-0 to Spain in their final group match in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Spain almost broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Carla Camacho's shot hit the far post after a Lucia Corrales effort was blocked by Chinese goalkeeper Liu Chen from close range.

Four minutes later, a powerful Vicky Lopez strike from just outside the box was stopped by Liu again.

Captain Marina Artero put Spain ahead just after the hour mark with a header from a Lopez corner.

China's Huang Jiaxin hit the net in the 79th minute following a freekick, but the goal was ruled out after VAR detected a marginal offside.

With one win and two losses, China finished last in Group C, behind Mexico on goal difference. In the other group match, Colombia beat Mexico 2-1 to qualify for the quarterfinals along with Spain.

Kante to miss World Cup after surgery

France star N'Golo Kante was ruled out of the World Cup on Tuesday after Chelsea said the midfielder would be out for four months following surgery on a hamstring injury.

Kante hasn't played a game for his club or country since Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Aug 14.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter said last week that Kante had suffered a setback in his bid to return from injury.

"The midfielder visited a specialist with the club's medical department to explore the options for his rehabilitation approach and it was mutually agreed for N'Golo to have surgery to repair the damage," read a Chelsea statement.

"Following a successful operation, N'Golo is now expected to be sidelined for four months."

Kante, widely regarded as one of the world's best defensive midfielders, played a key role in France's run to the World Cup title in Russia in 2018.

Portugal dealt finals blow as Jota ruled out

Portugal forward Diogo Jota will miss the World Cup because of the injury he sustained against Manchester City, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said on Tuesday.

Jota was taken off the pitch on a stretcher in stoppage time of Liverpool's 1-0 win on Sunday and has a serious calf muscle injury.

"It will be for a long time," Klopp said in a news conference about Jota's expected absence from the tournament that starts in Qatar on Nov 20. "We talk about months, so we will see.

"He knew it when we carried him off the pitch. At that moment he knew already it was a serious one and it could be pretty impactful for his World Cup dreams."

Jota was an expected starter for Portugal in a group that includes Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay. He has never played at a World Cup.

Man United charged for failing to control players

Manchester United has been charged by the Football Association for failing to control its players during Sunday's 0-0 draw with Newcastle at Old Trafford.

United's players angrily remonstrated with referee Craig Pawson after he ruled out a Cristiano Ronaldo goal shortly after halftime.

The official included the incident in his match report, which led to an FA charge on Tuesday.

"It's alleged that Manchester United FC failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 49th minute of this match," the governing body said.

United manager Erik ten Hag refused to publicly criticize Pawson's performance, despite Ronaldo seeing another goal ruled out and a penalty claim from Jadon Sancho dismissed.

"Everyone has seen the game," Ten Hag told reporters after the match. "It's your job to judge the performance from the teams and from the refs not me, so I will not do it."

Klopp could face ban over Anfield behavior

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been charged by the Football Association after his furious outburst in Sunday's game against Manchester City.

The German was sent off after charging out of his technical area late in his team's 1-0 win at Anfield to remonstrate with the referee's assistant.

"It is alleged that the Liverpool FC manager's behavior during the 86th minute of this game was improper," the FA said Tuesday.

Klopp apologized after the match. He has until Friday to respond, and could face a ban and/or a fine as punishment. A touchline suspension would rule him out of Saturday's game at Nottingham Forest.

Sunday's game against City was overshadowed by a host of flashpoints off the field, including coins being thrown at City manager Pep Guardiola, while Liverpool condemned "vile chants" and graffiti from away supporters.

City's bus was also left with a crack in the windshield after an object was supposedly thrown at it as the team left Anfield.

Agencies