Iran forward Taremi nets past Israel goalkeeper Glazer in match between Inter and Red Star

MILAN (AP) — Iran forward Mehdi Taremi scored his first goal for Inter Milan on Tuesday as he struck a penalty past Israel and Red Star Belgrade goalkeeper Omri Glazer hours after his country launched a barrage of missiles at Israel.

Taremi, who joined from Porto in the offseason, played a crucial role in Inter’s 4-0 victory over Red Star in the Champions League by also setting up two of his team's other goals.

Shortly before kickoff at San Siro, Iran fired at least 180 missiles into Israel — the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war.

The 32-year-old Taremi was not asked about the situation back in his homeland when he was interviewed by Italian television, which focused on his first goal for the Nerazzurri.

“I am glad to score tonight, to play good, thanks to my teammates. It was great,” Taremi said.

“I am so excited, it took a while for me to score, but I always tried to do my best in training, I fought for this moment and managed to get the goal tonight.”

Inter was already 1-0 up courtesy of sumptuous Hakan Çalhanoğlu free kick when Taremi stole the ball off Red Star midfielder Rade Krunic and rolled it across the area for Marko Arnautovic to tap in at the back post in the 59th minute.

Taremi set up another 12 minutes later when, despite being tripped by Uros Spajic, he managed to get up — after somersaulting on the ground — and send Lautaro Martínez through.

Lautaro, one of Inter’s usual penalty takers, more than returned the favor shortly afterward when a penalty was awarded for a foul on him by Vanja Drkusic.

Lautaro handed the ball to Taremi and embraced the Iranian. Taremi had a long wait to take his penalty amid problems with the VAR communication system, but kept his cool to drive the spotkick past Glazer.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Red Star's goalkeeper Omri Glazer, front, makes a save in front of Inter Milan's Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Inter Milan and Red Star, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi scores his side's fourth goal from penalty spot during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Inter Milan and Red Star, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, right, celebrates with Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Inter Milan and Red Star, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi, left, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal from penalty spot during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Inter Milan and Red Star, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi, center, celebrates with Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez after scoring his side's fourth goal from penalty spot during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Inter Milan and Red Star, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal from penalty spot during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Inter Milan and Red Star, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Casey Dawson secured a spot in the men's 5,000 meters in long track speedskating at the Milan Cortina Winter Games by winning that event at the U.S. Olympic trials in 6 minutes, 12.857 seconds on Friday night.

Ethan Cepuran was about 6 1/2 seconds back, finishing next in 6:19.335.

The last American man to medal in the 5,000 at an Olympics was Chad Hedrick at the 2006 Turin Games.

Dawson, a 25-year-old from Park City, Utah, already had secured the lone U.S. place for Milan in the men’s 10,000 — an distance not being contested at these trials — and also will be part of the trio for men’s team pursuit at the Olympics.

Dawson, Cepuran and Emery Lehman took the bronze in that event at the Beijing Games four years ago, set the world record in 2024 and claimed gold in the team pursuit at the world championships in March.

In the other race Friday, the women's 3,000, Greta Myers won in 4:06.799. As of now, the United States does not have a berth in Milan for that distance, but one of its athletes could end up in the field if another country relinquishes an opening.

The U.S. Olympic roster for long track won't become official until the four-day trials at the Pettit National Ice Center wrap up on Monday. One element that could come into play is that the Americans are allowed to bring a maximum of eight men and six women to these Winter Games.

The biggest star of the team — and the sport — is scheduled to make his trials debut Saturday in the men's 1,000 meters: Jordan Stolz. The 21-year-old from Kewaskum, a town about 40 miles north of Milwaukee, is not just competing at home this week; he's racing at the same rink where he first began taking lessons as a kid.

He made his Olympic debut at age 17 in Beijing four years ago, finishing 13th in the 500 and 14th in the 1,000.

At both the 2023 and 2024 world championships, Stolz earned titles in each of the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

He's already pre-qualified for the Olympics based on performances at those three distances. All he really needs to do to lock down berths on the squad for the Feb. 6-22 Milan Cortina Games is show up at the starting line this week.

The 500 and 1,500 are slated for Sunday, and the mass start is Monday.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

The Pettit National Ice Center is seen in Milwaukee on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speedskating. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich)