Sports
Super Bowl 2024: Kansas City Chiefs defend NFL title after beating San Francisco 49ers in overtime
The Kansas City Chiefs fought back to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime and win their third Super Bowl in five years.
The 49ers came into the first Super Bowl held in Las Vegas as the slight favourites and were twice on the brink of victory at Allegiant Stadium.
A last-gasp field goal by the Chiefs made it 19-19 to send the game into overtime, and although the 49ers edged back in front, Patrick Mahomes’ touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman meant defending champions Kansas City cemented their status as the first NFL dynasty since the New England Patriots.
The Chiefs have reached four of the past five Super Bowls and became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
At just 28, Mahomes has become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to win three or more Super Bowls, while Andy Reid has become the fifth coach to win three or more. Mahomes labelled Reid “the greatest coach this game has ever seen” afterwards.
While Kansas City’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season was a high-scoring epic, this will be seen as a classic by anyone who likes to see defences get on top, with San Francisco leading 10-3 at half-time.
But Mahomes still proved the difference, steering the Chiefs within range to make their game-tying field goal before keeping alive the nail-biting drive which resulted in Hardman’s touchdown.
That condemned the 49ers and their coach Kyle Shanahan to another painful defeat. The Chiefs began their Super Bowl streak with a fourth-quarter fightback against San Francisco in 2020 and their latest win came in the second Super Bowl to go to overtime – the first saw the Patriots produce a record comeback in 2016 before beating the Atlanta Falcons, whose offensive coordinator was Shanahan.
The 49ers remain five-time Super Bowl winners but have now lost in the big game three times since their last NFL title in 1995.
High-profile romance continues with Super Bowl win
This year’s Super Bowl attracted arguably more interest than ever before, with the US television audience expected to eclipse the record 115 million for Kansas City’s win over the Eagles last year.
This was the first Super Bowl to be held in the entertainment capital of the world, Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at the end-of-season awards ceremony in Vegas on Thursday and then there’s Taylor Swift.
The music superstar’s relationship with tight end Travis Kelce has brought a wealth of new fans to the Chiefs and the NFL in general, and there have even been conspiracy theories about the team’s play-off run being rigged to maintain that new interest and help get US President Joe Biden re-elected.
This week NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called those claims “nonsense”, while many media outlets speculated whether she would be able to attend the Super Bowl as she was performing in Tokyo on Saturday.
She made it, joining dozens of stars in the crowd at Allegiant Stadium, although it seemed she and Kelce would be disappointed at half-time. He took just one catch for one yard in the first half and showed his frustration by bumping into coach Reid and shouting in the 65-year-old’s face.
But Kelce, 34, ended the game with 93 receiving yards, with Mahomes passing for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
“Man, I was fired up – I was fired up that we weren’t hitting on all cylinders,” Kelce added.
“I had to give ‘Big Red’ [Reid] a love tap and let him know we were all here fighting for him no matter what. I just had to tell him I loved him real quick.
“I put so much trust in him and how he goes about being a head coach, as a leader – he’s one of the best leaders in the game.
“I can’t thank him enough for giving me opportunities year in, year out.”
Mahomes also rushed for 66 yards, including a scramble on fourth down in overtime when failure to make a first down would have handed victory to the 49ers.
That ensured Mahomes was named the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player for a third time and he is the first to win the award back-to-back since Terry Bradshaw (1979 and 1980).
Kelce already targeting ‘three-peat’ – What they said
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes: “The whole game was just a microcosm of our entire season. The defence kept us in there, with the offence making plays when it counted. I’m just so proud of the guys.
“I know we’re going to celebrate tonight, but we’re not done. We’ve got a young team and we’re going to keep this thing going.”
On Andy Reid: “I believe he’s the best coach of all time. I know he doesn’t have the trophies yet, but the way he’s able to navigate every single team he has, continue to have success no matter where he’s at – I don’t think I’d be the quarterback that I am if I didn’t have coach Reid as my head coach.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid: “Our defence played out of their mind. Our offence just kept persevering – kept pushing and pushing. I am so proud of the whole crew.”
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce: “We’ve been fighting for this all year. The goal has always been to get three [in a row] but you can’t do it without getting two and we’ve had a target on our back all year.
“We get a chance to do it all again next year. I’ll see you there. Viva Las Vegas!”
Shanahan fails to banish demons after blocked kick
While many hoped the two teams’ offensive stars would put on a show in the bright light city, defences dominated, which contributed to an error-strewn contest featuring four turnovers.
The first came on just the game’s fifth play after San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey coughed up just his third fumble of the season, although the 49ers still opened the scoring with a field goal at the start of the second quarter.
With Mahomes and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggling to get their offence going, San Francisco dialled up a trick play and wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who last threw a competitive pass in high school, found McCaffrey for a touchdown.
The Chiefs got on the board with a field goal right before half-time and they edged in front through a field goal and a Marquez Valdes-Scantling touchdown late in the third quarter.
The 49ers hit straight back and it looked as though Shanahan would banish the demons of his two previous Super Bowls after deciding to go for it on fourth down, with Purdy converting.
Two plays later he found Jennings, making him just the second player to both throw a touchdown pass and catch one in the same Super Bowl – after Nick Foles in the Eagles’ win over the Patriots in 2017.
But Jake Moody’s kick for the extra point was blocked, which proved crucial as it left the score at 16-13. The Chiefs could then tie it up with a field goal, as they did on the next drive and again with Harrison Butker’s fourth field goal that sent the game to overtime after Moody’s third had made it 19-16 with two minutes of regulation time remaining.
© BBC Sport
Arsenal kept their Premier League title dreams alive by ending an Old Trafford hoodoo to grind out a 1-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday to move back top of the table.
Leandro Trossard scored the only goal on 20 minutes as Arsenal won for just the second time in 17 games away at United to go a point clear at the summit.
Manchester City still have the destiny of the title in their own hands as the defending champions have two matches left to Arsenal’s one.
However, the Gunners kept the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of their tricky trip to Tottenham on Tuesday.
Defeat further dented United’s chances of competing in Europe next season.
Erik ten Hag’s men showed more spirit than in a dismal 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday, but have now won just one of their last eight Premier League games.
United remain eighth in the table, three points adrift of both Newcastle, who they face on Wednesday, and Chelsea.
Arsenal have been in scintillating form in 2024 to remain in the race for their first league title in 20 years.
Mikel Arteta’s men have won 15 and drawn one of their 17 league games since the turn of the year.
But Arsenal were far from their flowing best as the expected onslaught of an injury-ravaged United never materialised under unusually stifling heat in England’s north-west.
The manner of defeat at Palace had increased the scrutiny on United boss Ten Hag.
He made three changes to the team swept aside at Selhurst Park as Scott McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat and Amad Diallo came in.
The Dutchman’s options were again hamstrung by a lengthy list of absentees with captain Bruno Fernandes among those sidelined and a bench littered with youngsters.
But his decision to retain Casemiro as a makeshift centre-back after his woeful showing against Palace will become another stick to beat the beleaguered coach with.
The Brazil captain was dropped from their squad for the Copa America in midweek due to his terrible form.
After United had managed to keep the free-scoring visitors at bay for the opening 20 minutes, Casemiro was culpable for the opening goal.
The 32-year-old was laboured in pushing up from a United goal-kick to play Kai Havertz onside and Trossard then stole in on the blind side of Casemiro to tap in the German’s cross.
United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance at Old Trafford rather than at Wembley to see the club’s women pick up their first ever major trophy in the FA Cup final.
The work that lies ahead of Ratcliffe has been laid bare in recent weeks, but the home side did manage to keep the majority of the 74,000 crowd onside by taking the game to Arsenal after the break.
Arsenal, though, were rarely seriously troubled as they held out for a sixth clean sheet in their last seven away league games.
Alejandro Garnacho was United’s one live wire but smashed into the side-netting with his best chance to equalise.
Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice were denied by brilliant Andre Onana saves to prevent Arsenal the second goal they craved to avoid a tense finale.
The visitors desperation to see the game out was evident as Martinelli took the ball to the corner with 10 minutes of the 90 still to play.
But Arsenal did just enough to ask the question City, who host West Ham on the final day of the season after their visit to north London in midweek.
© AFP
Real Madrid snatched an incredible semi-final victory as two late goals defeated Bayern Munich and set up a Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern looked to be heading to the final when Alphonso Davies cut in and blasted past Andriy Lunin after England captain Harry Kane had found him with a superb pass.
But Joselu grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser when he reacted quickest after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had been excellent up until then, fumbled Vinicius Jr’s effort.
There was even more drama to come two minutes later when Joselu, a former Stoke City striker, swept home from six yards after Antonio Rudiger’s square pass.
The goal was initially ruled offside, only for a video assistant referee (VAR) decision to show that Joselu was onside, sparking incredible scenes of celebration in the Bernabeu, with Real hanging on to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Real, 14-time European champions, will face Dortmund on Saturday, 1 June at Wembley.
There was controversy in the 13th minute of injury time at the end of the second half as Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt thought he had taken the game to extra time.
A ball was played up to Noussair Mazraoui and the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, with a number of Real defenders stopping before Bayern’s De Ligt fired into the net.
Television replays suggested the original decision may not have been correct and that had the flag not been raised it would have needed to be checked by VAR, with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel and a number of players including Kane and fellow Englishman Eric Dier strongly protesting against the decision.
Delight for Bellingham but heartbreak for Kane and Dier
For England midfielder Jude Bellingham, the outcome continues an incredible first season at the Bernabeu and he will face his former side Dortmund in the final in London.
Bellingham left the German team for Real in an £88.5m move in June 2023 and has a chance to complete a double, having already helped Real win La Liga.
“At Wembley, against Dortmund… It’s a weird one, I can’t believe it,” Bellingham told TNT Sports. “When I was seven years old in Birmingham, I was dreaming of nights like this.”
While it was a dream come true for Bellingham, there was heartbreak for his fellow England players Kane and Dier.
Kane has scored 44 times for Bayern since moving in an £86m transfer from Tottenham last summer, but this loss ends his hopes of winning a first major title in his career.
Both Kane and Dier played in the 2019 Champions League final as Tottenham lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
Kane had put Bayern 2-1 ahead in the first leg against Madrid, only for Vinicius Jr to grab his second to leave it at 2-2 after the opening match in Germany.
The second leg was played in a fantastic atmosphere at the Bernabeu. The hosts almost scored early on, only for Neuer to make an excellent double save – pushing Vinicius Jr’s effort against the post and then stopping Rodrygo’s follow-up effort.
Vinicius Jr was a constant threat for Real down their left but again saw Neuer twice make excellent saves.
But Bayern, against the run of play, took the lead in the 68th minute.
Kane, in the centre circle, sprayed a superb pass to Davies on the left flank, and the Canadian ran at Rudiger, cut inside on to his right foot and unleashed an unstoppable strike for what looked to be the winner.
Boss Tuchel, who is leaving Bayern at the end of the season, took Kane off with five minutes to go, before Joselu swung the game in Real’s favour.
The striker took advantage of a rare Neuer error and then scored again three minutes later as Real clinched an incredible victory.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has reached his sixth Champions League final as a manager, said he is going to “enjoy this week”.
“[My players are] unbelievable. I’m really grateful to them,” Ancelotti added. “They work really hard and I think this is the best squad I have ever had in my career.”
© BBC Sport
Crystal Palace sealed a first league double over Manchester United with a rampant 4-0 win at Selhurst Park.
Michael Olise ran 20 yards under no challenge to eventually slot beyond Andre Onana to put Oliver Glasner’s side in the lead after 13 minutes.
Jean-Philippe Mateta surged beyond Johnny Evans to finish emphatically for his sixth goal in a row on home turf.
Tyrick Mitchell tapped in from close range after a fine cross by Adam Wharton in the 58th minute and French youngster Olise capitalised on a Casemiro mistake to power a strike beyond a wanting Onana.
From the first minute, Glasner’s men looked full of intent against a United side who failed to turn up at Selhurst Park.
As a defensive unit, United put in one of the worst performances of the season with Casemiro and Evans becoming their 14th centre back partnership used this campaign.
Eberechi Eze and Olise were given the freedom of the pitch to control the play and caused United trouble on numerous occasions.
Erik ten Hag’s side threatened in a couple of moments with Casemiro twice having goals ruled out – the first for a foul on Dean Henderson and the second for offside.
Odsonne Edouard almost rubbed further salt in the wounds but his injury-time effort struck the upright.
With title-chasing Arsenal next up, United must greatly improve to avoid another thrashing.
No European football for United a possibility
At one stage in the season, Ten Hag’s side looked as though they could put pressure on Aston Villa for a Champions League spot.
That dream is long gone and United are now at risk of missing out on qualifying for any European competition next season.
They must either finish seventh in the Premier League to secure Europa Conference League football or beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final to seal a Europa League place.
One win in seven has seen United slide down the table into eighth and their fixtures do not get any easier with league leaders Arsenal visiting Old Trafford on Sunday.
A defeat by this scoreline can be hugely damaging but for those United fans who made the trip to Selhurst Park on a Bank Holiday Monday, it is the manner in which the players seemingly looked disinterested that will hurt the most.
Wharton an outsider for the England squad?
All eyes have been on United’s talented youngster, Kobbie Mainoo, and rightfully so but it is hard to ignore the performances being put in by midfielder Wharton since his January move.
Wharton, 20, has impressed since day one at Selhurst Park after his £18m move from Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day.
Up against England internationals Mason Mount and Mainoo, Wharton shone with his slick passing between the lines and combativeness in defence.
Positionally, Wharton is excellent. Especially for someone at such a tender age. He has the ability to know exactly where to be on the pitch and when it is best to release the ball for a team-mate.
The former Blackburn man has been a huge addition to a Palace side who have won four of their past five.
A fantastic cross for Joachim Andersen to set up Mitchell’s goal was just a small sample of the quality Wharton brings.
England boss Gareth Southgate was in attendance in London with a preliminary squad for Euro 2024 set to be announced on Tuesday, 21 May and with the Three Lions short of players in the mould of Wharton, could a shock inclusion be on the cards?
© BBC Sport
Toto Wolff and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner have reignited their war of words over Max Verstappen after the Mercedes boss again hinted at poaching the three-time world champion.
Verstappen’s future at Red Bull was thrown into doubt last month after his father, Jos, said the team was in danger of being “torn apart” if Horner remained its principal.
It came after allegations against Horner of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman colleague. He denied the claims and an internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.
Verstappen has publicly committed his future to Red Bull, but following the Dutchman’s dominant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, Mercedes boss Wolff stirred the pot anew.
Wolff told reporters in Shanghai that “everyone is waiting to see what he (Verstappen) is going to do”.
“There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,” said Wolff, who needs to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving for Ferrari next year.
“Clearly, from the most rational point of view, that’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver,” said Wolff.
“But I don’t think this is the only reason you stay where you are.”
Earlier this season Wolff said that he “would love” to sign the reigning world champion Verstappen if he became available.
His latest comments triggered a prickly response from Horner, who said that Wolff should focus on trying to revitalise Mercedes following a poor start to the season by their high standards.
“Why would you want to leave this team?” Horner said.
“Mercedes are third behind their customers (McLaren and Aston Martin).
“His time would be better spent perhaps focusing on the team rather than the driver market.
“I can assure you that there is no ambiguity about where Max Verstappen will be next year.”
© AFP
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