Erling Haaland strikes again as Manchester City beat Brentford
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Erling Haaland ticked the Gtech Stadium off his to-do list by firing Manchester City to a 1-0 win at Brentford. The Bees’ ground down by the River Thames was one of only two Premier League venues Haaland had not previously scored at, but he put that to rights with a trademark strike. Just eight minutes had elapsed when the Norwegian striker raced on to a ball over the top from Josko Gvardiol. Haaland bulldozed his way between Bees defenders Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins before lashing his shot past Caoimhin Kelleher. It was Haaland’s 18th goal in 11 matches for club and country this season and leaves Anfield as the only ground he has yet to score at in the Premier League. His ninth league goal of the campaign also took City boss Pep Guardiola to 250 wins in the competition, a landmark reached in just 349 matches – the previous quickest manager to reach that milestone was Arsene Wenger in a comparatively pedestrian 423 games. Sadly, City’s afternoon in the west London sunshine was soured when midfielder Rodri suffered more injury misery. In the 20th minute the disconsolate Spaniard, still making his way back from almost a year out due to an ACL injury, sat down in the centre circle holding his hamstring and eventually limped off to be replaced by Nico Gonzalez. open image in gallery (Steven Paston/PA Wire) Elsewhere, Aston Villa continued their positive momentum with a 2-1 win over struggling Burnley. Donyell Malen was the hero for Unai Emery’s side sending the midlands club 1-0 up in the 25th minute before adding his second just fter the hour mark at Villa Park. Lesley Ugochukwu netted a consolation goal for the Clarets who threatened to make a comeback with just over 10 minutes left on the clock but Villa managed to hold out and secure the points. The win takes them up to 13th in the league table after a poor start to the season and they are slowly distancing themselves from the relegation zone with the gap now five points. open image in gallery (Nick Potts/PA Wire) Meanwhile, there was late drama at Molineux as Wolves were pegged back in the 86th minute by Jan Paul van Hecke who secured a point in a 1-1 draw for Brighton. The hosts went ahead through an own goal off Bart Verbruggen who’s initial save to keep out Marshall Munetsi’s volley bounced off the crossbar before deflecting in off his own back. Wolves then failed to take control of the game and add a second goal and they were punished by Van Hecke’s late header to leave them bottom of the table.
Young Kulas win bronze – FBC News
[Source: Fiji Football Association/ Facebook] The bronze medal is coming home after the Young Kulas edged the Cook Islands on penalties to secure third place at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2025 in Tahiti. The playoff clash went right down to the wire, with neither side able to break the deadlock in regular time. It all came down to composure from the spot, where Fiji’s youngsters held their nerve to clinch the victory and confirm their podium finish. Article continues after advertisement The result caps off a determined campaign for the Young Kulas, who showed resilience and growth throughout the tournament, ensuring Fiji returns home with silverware from the regional competition. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
NFL London results: Minnesota Vikings snatch late 21-17 win over Cleveland Browns
The Minnesota Vikings denied Dillon Gabriel victory on his first NFL start as they snatched a 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham. Rookie Gabriel replaced veteran Joe Flacco as Cleveland’s starting quarterback in midweek and his second touchdown pass helped the Browns into a 17-14 lead late in the third quarter. Cleveland still led by three as Minnesota got the ball back with three minutes left in the first of this year’s three NFL games in London. But after almost fighting back in last week’s 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, the Vikings again showed great character to put themselves in position to win despite playing their back-up quarterback behind a depleted offensive line. With 25 seconds left, Carson Wentz – making his third start in place of the injured JJ McCarthy – found Jordan Addison in the corner of the end zone to put Minnesota in front. And Cleveland were unable to pull off a rescue act at the death as the Vikings celebrated a morale-boosting victory in front of a crowd of 61,082. Sunday’s victory also meant the Vikings avoided back-to-back defeats as they became the first NFL team to play two games in a foreign country in the same season. More to follow.
Luke Littler hopes he can get used to the double start in the World Grand Prix
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Luke Littler his hoping to turn his double fright into double delight as he targets World Grand Prix glory next week. The 18-year-old world champion has had no problem hitting the doubles to win matches since he burst on to the scene, but he enjoys starting with them much less. The World Grand Prix in Leicester, the latest televised major, requires players to hit the outer ring before scoring can get under way. It can be a leveller and it is not a format Littler has excelled at, having gone out at the last-32 in each of first two appearances at the event. “Obviously it’s the next big one,” Littler, who plays Dutchman Gian van Veen in the first round said. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the double start. “I think it’s obviously one of the toughest tournaments to win, with the Worlds, the Matchplay, the Premier League. But the double start: if you don’t get off, then you’re in trouble. “I can’t say I really practice the double start often but obviously leading up to it. “I think I’ll have to, just get used to it. Every year we’ll see someone hit a treble 20 first out and then they forget. “It’ll be tough but we’ve still got plenty of darts to play.” Mike De Decker was a surprise winner last year, beating world number one Luke Humphries in the final. The Belgian, who plays Peter Wright in the opening round, is hoping to make some fresh memories. “I still get goosebumps thinking about last year,” said De Decker, the world number 20. “Luke (Humphries) was the player to beat throughout the tournament, so to go and lift the title – it was an emotional rollercoaster. “I’m feeling quite confident. I played pretty well on the ProTour this week, and I’m finally finding some consistency again. “I know what Peter can do. He didn’t win two World Championship titles by luck, so I’m going in with the mindset that I have to play my A-game, like I do in every tournament.”
Orlando Pirates CAF Champions League opponents revealed
Orlando Pirates will once again face a trip to DR Congo in the CAF Champions League. The Buccaneers will play FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo on 17 October in the first leg of the CAF CL second preliminary round. The Soweto giants reached the second round by dismantling Lioli 7-0 on aggregate. Last season, Pirates reached the semi-final of the CAF Champions League, where they lost out to eventual winners Pyramids. This season, the Sea Robbers look stronger and are one of the favourites to reach the final. FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo, on the other hand, defeated Sudanese giants Al Merrikh 1-0 on aggregate to reach the second round of the preliminary stages. They host Pirates in two weeks hoping for a good result at home. Can Pirates reach the group stages of the CAF CL? Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men will need to dig deep if they are to reach the group stages of the CAF CL. They will visit Lubumbashi in the DRC to face St Eloi Lupopo after the Congolese side secured a passage to the next round against Al Merrikh. The last time the Sea Robbers played in Lubumbashi in the Champions League, they lost 1-0 in the second leg against TP Mazembe in 2013. Despite the controversy, the Buccaneers still advanced to the group stages that year. Orlando Pirates last won the CAF Champions League back in 1995. They came close in 2013 but lost to Al Ahly 3-1 in the final. Last season, they reached the semi-finals but lost out to another Egyptian side. Under Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Buccaneers have won eight consecutive matches this season,, making them the team to watch not only in the Betway Premiership but also in the CAF CL. Can the Buccaneers earn their second star or will they fail to reach the group stages?
WNBA commissioner Engelbert vows to “do better” after Collier criticism – FBC News
[Source: Reuters] WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league “has to do better.” To make players feel valued after sharp criticism from Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, while vowing to repair trust as the deadline for contentious collective bargaining talks looms. Collier, a five-time All-Star and vice president of the players’ union, voiced her criticism after a controversial no-call in the final minute of the Lynx’s Game 3 semi-final against Phoenix Mercury, accusing the league of a “tone-deaf, dismissive” approach to player concerns. Article continues after advertisement “If the players don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better,” Engelbert told reporters ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the Mercury. “We know how great these players are on and off the court, how much they mean to our league, our fans, and our communities. If they don’t feel that, I will do everything I can to change that.” Engelbert said she and Collier were set to meet next week, but disputed some of Collier’s characterisations, including claims she told players they should be “on their knees thanking their lucky stars” for the league’s media rights deal. “There’s a lot of inaccuracy out there … I highly respect the players,” Engelbert said. “There’s a lot of emotion and passion right now because we’re in collective bargaining.” The dispute comes at a pivotal moment for the 29-year-old league, with its collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Oct. 31 and negotiations with the players’ association growing increasingly acrimonious. Players are pushing for higher salaries and benefits amid rising interest fuelled by new television contracts and emerging stars such as Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark. Engelbert said the league wanted “significant” increases in player salaries and benefits but also needed to ensure long-term financial growth. “We will continue to negotiate in good faith until we get a transformative deal done,” she said, adding she hoped to meet the deadline but an extension remained possible. Collier, who helped launch the off-season 3×3 league Unrivaled to boost player pay, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the league’s direction. Her comments drew support from Clark who warned the WNBA risks losing momentum without structural change. Engelbert said the league is creating a “state of the game” committee for players and other stakeholders to weigh in on officiating and player safety. “It’s pretty clear we’re misaligned on what our stakeholders want from officiating,” she said. “There are no greater stakeholders than our players, and we look forward to including their perspectives on how our staff can better serve the game moving forward.” Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Brentford vs Man City live: Team news and updates as City bid to capitalise on Liverpool disarray
How can Brentford beat Man City? “It’s us as a club and our team against theirs,” Keith Andrews said. “It’s about the players and how we can prepare them to go into a really, really tough game against a top, top manager and top players who have world-class ability. “It’s about how we can nullify that and stop that, as well as cause them real problems. “Having said that, it’s not lost on me that I’ll be in the opposite dugout to one of the greats.” Mike Jones5 October 2025 14:18 Keith Andrews on influence of Pep Guardiola “I don’t know many who wouldn’t have taken inspiration from such an innovative manager,” said Brentford manager Keith Andrews in the build-up to today’s game. “He’s probably been the best manager of the last 15 years, in the modern era; the way he’s coached the game, the way he’s changed the way the game is perceived and played at different clubs and in different countries. “I’ve come through my coaching journey and coaching courses, and his name was pretty prevalent throughout those. To say I have ultimate respect for him is an understatement.” (Getty Images) Mike Jones5 October 2025 14:12 Can City bounce back from Monaco draw? Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn on Monaco’s controversial late penalty after seeing his Manchester City side pegged back in a 2-2 Champions League draw against Monaco during the week. “In football you have to win with the result,” Guardiola said about the midweek draw. “If you analyse the game there were many things that were really good. Step by step we will be better but we had many chances. “We conceded almost nothing. We created chances, they defended so deep and tight, that it wasn’t expecting for the way they play but we adjusted and we played really good. When it’s close, you have to defend and we take the point.” (Getty Images) Mike Jones5 October 2025 14:06 The changing of the guard at Man City that could mould Pep Guardiola’s legacy As Pep Guardiola sought to explain a record low, he provided an explanation that could be interpreted in different ways. Tactically, that feels truer than ever. They have fewer pure passers of the ilk of Ilkay Gundogan and David Silva. Their front three can feature fast, direct attackers like Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku, not midfielders masquerading as wingers and false nines. Richard Jolly5 October 2025 14:00 Man City early team news For Man City, Rodri overcame his knee injury to play an hour in Wednesday’s draw with Monaco and may do likewise here but Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdudokir Khusanov and Rayan Cherki remain out until after the international break. Mateo Kovacic has returned to training but may struggle to be match-fit for this weekend. Predicted Man City XI: Donnarumma; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri; Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland Mike Jones5 October 2025 13:54 Brentford early team news For Brentford, both Reiss Nelson (illness) and Fabio Carvalho (knee) are set to return this weekend. Meanwhile, Gustavo Nunes (hamstring) and Paris Maghoma (hamstring) are both back on the grass and Nunes could be fit for a place on the bench against City. Bees boss Keith Andrews must decide whether to stick with the 4-3-3 that got a result against Manchester United last weekend or revert to the 3-5-2 that he has used against tougher opposition like Chelsea. Kristoffer Ajer would likely come in for Dango Ouattara if he decides on the latter. Predicted Brentford XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Hickey; Henderson, Yarmolyuk; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago Mike Jones5 October 2025 13:48 How can I watch it? Viewers in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 4.25pm BST on the former and 4pm on the latter. Subscribers can also stream the match online via NOWTV. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription. Mike Jones5 October 2025 13:42 When is Brentford v Man City? The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 5 October at the Gtech Community Stadium in London. Kick-off is set for 4.30pm BST. (Action Images via Reuters) Mike Jones5 October 2025 13:36 Brentford vs Man City City currently sit eighth, six points behind new league leaders Arsenal after beating Burnley 5-1 last weekend in a match that was harder work than the final scoreline suggests. New Brentford boss Keith Andrews had seen his side struggle at the start of this season, languishing down near the relegation zone, but an impressive 3-1 triumph over the hapless Man United last weekend came as a boon and they’ll hope to spring an upset over the blue half of Manchester today. Mike Jones5 October 2025 13:30 Good afternoon! Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Premier League action which sees Manchester City travel to Brentford in the hopes of closing the gap on the league leaders. Liverpool’s last-minute loss to Chelsea on Saturday means that Arsenal now top the table and the reigning Premier League champions have questions that need answering over the upcoming international break. Their downturn in form has blown the title race wide open and Pep Guardiola’s side must now capitalise. City come into the match six points behind the Gunners but can cut that to three with a victory over the Bees. We’ll have all the updates, team news and more throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 4.30pm. Mike Jones5 October 2025 12:12
European Para Badminton Championships 2025: Dan Bethell defends men’s singles title
Dan Bethell claimed his fifth European men’s singles title in Istanbul as part of a successful European Para Badminton Championships for the Great Britain team. The defending champion once again met Oleksandr Chyrkov in the SL3 final, after beating the Ukrainian in Rotterdam to claim the crown two years ago, and this time saw out a 21-9 21-8 win. The British team claimed 13 medals in total, including three gold, two silver and eight bronze, which are awarded to players who reach the semi-finals but fail to progress. “To see so many pathway players performing alongside the GB players is fantastic and shows how much the sport is developing across the country,” double Paralympic silver medallist Bethell, 29, told Badminton England. “There’s been some amazing performances and victories across the board.” Englishman Jack Shephard reached the final of the men’s SH6 singles but was unable to defend his title, losing 21-17 21-12 to France’s reigning Paralympic champion Charles Noakes. But Shephard, 28, did win gold in the mixed doubles alongside 17-year-old compatriot Anya Butterworth, who stepped in after Shephard’s regular partner Rachel Choong sustained an injury before the tournament. Butterworth also upset the odds to reach her first European singles final, beating second seed Daria Bujnicka in the last four, but had to settle for silver after losing a tight medal match 23-21 18-21 21-11 against Polish top seed Oliwia Szmigiel. Meanwhile, England’s Krysten Coombs teamed up with men’s singles champion Noakes to win gold in the SH6 men’s doubles. Scot Andrew Davies claimed bronze medals in both the men’s and mixed doubles in the SH6 category, while Wales’ David Jack Wilson and Englishman Robert Donald finished with bronze in the men’s SU5 singles. Other British players to win bronze include Emma Louise Stoner (SL4 women’s singles), David Follett (WH1/2 mixed doubles), Curnow Pirbhai-Clarke and William Smith (both SL3/4 men’s doubles).
Emma Raducanu: Confident I’m moving in right direction after two painful defeats
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Emma Raducanu believes she is moving in the right direction, but acknowledged it was hard to quickly get over two painful defeats to Jessica Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova last month. Raducanu squandered three match points in a last-16 tie with former Wimbledon champion Krejcikova at the Korea Open on September 18 before – a fortnight later – history repeated itself with the British number one unable to close out victory against Pegula. The 2021 US Open champion had a 5-2 advantage over world number seven Pegula at the China Open before she let slip three match points to lose 3-6 7-6 (9) 6-0. Ahead of her participation in the Wuhan Open, the 22-year-old was eager to draw on the positives. “Yeah, I think it was hard for me. The last two matches that I lost, I had match points in both and it’s not something that’s really happened to me before and then to happen twice in a week was pretty new to get my head around,” Raducanu told a press conference. “The second match, I found it easier to get over than the first because I know I was playing some better tennis and just improving with my level. “I feel like I didn’t take too long to kind of dwell on it and just got straight back to work. “And I do feel like I’m improving and making progress. “I still see the differences in where I want to go but I know I’m doing good work day-to-day to try and get there.”
Cleary wins gold in classic physique – FBC News
[Source: Fiji Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation] Fiji has struck gold on the international stage, with Baszil Cleary claiming the top prize in the Overall Classic Physique category at the 26th South Pacific Bodybuilding Championships in Tahiti. Competing in his first-ever international event, Cleary impressed judges with his conditioning, discipline, and stage presence, cementing himself as one of the region’s rising stars in bodybuilding. His triumph has been hailed as a proud moment for the Fiji Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, which continues to nurture talent despite limited resources. Article continues after advertisement Federation officials also expressed gratitude to sponsors and supporters, including New World IGA, Fintel, Glamada Pte Ltd, and Ideal Logistics, whose backing made the team’s participation in Tahiti possible. Cleary’s win adds to Fiji’s growing reputation in regional bodybuilding and serves as inspiration for aspiring athletes aiming to make their mark on the international stage. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.