Month: February 2021

Categories
football Slides Sports News

FA CUP ROUND UP: EVERTON SEE OF TOTTENHAM IN NINE GOAL THRILLER, LEICESTER, CITY, SHEFFIELD PROGRESS

Bernard’s extra-time strike saw Everton reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after a thrilling nine-goal encounter against Tottenham.

The Toffees are in the hat for the sixth round as they got the better of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs – eventually progressing 5-4 after extra-time.

England captain Harry Kane was named on the bench for the visitors at Goodison Park but came on to head Tottenham level and take the game into an additional half an hour.

Earlier, a rare Davinson Sanchez goal had put Spurs in front only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to strike inside three minutes to turn the tables.

Everton would go two goals ahead as Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a penalty against his former club after Calvert-Lewin had been fouled by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, only for Erik Lamela to reduce the arrears in first-half stoppage time.

There was plenty of drama still to come as Richarlison’s second of the night restored a two-goal margin, with Sanchez and Kane then heading home to level at 4-4.

Bernard was on hand to settle the contest with a fine finish in the first period of extra-time – Tottenham unable to fight back and slipping to defeat.

Manchester City advanced into the last eight with victory at Swansea – Pep Guardiola’s side entering the record books as they did so.

The 3-1 victory in south Wales means City have set a new record for the number of successive domestic wins by a top-flight club in England.

That run of wins extended to 15 courtesy of goals from Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus as Swansea debutant Morgan Whittaker pulled back a late consolation.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s last-gasp winner saw Leicester progress at the expense of Brighton.

In a game of few chances, both sides saw second-half strikes ruled out for offside only for Iheanacho to head home a quickly-taken corner in the dying stages to secure a 1-0 victory for the Foxes.

Sheffield United made the quarter-finals for the second successive season as Billy Sharp’s penalty was enough to see off 10-man Bristol City.

Referee Robert Jones dismissed Alfie Mawson after viewing replays on the pitchside monitor, with the defender blocking a David McGoldrick effort with his hand.

Sharp tucked away the resulting spot-kick to give the Blades a 1-0 win over their Sky Bet Championship visitors.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

Sevilla beat Barcelona in Lionel Messi’s 900th game

Messi had a quiet performance in his milestone match against the team he punished the most in his career, and Barcelona lost 2-0 in Seville in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.

This time, in his 900th match, Lionel Messi didn’t have an answer for Sevilla.

Messi had a quiet performance in his milestone match against the team he punished the most in his career, and Barcelona lost 2-0 in Seville in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.

Messi has scored more goals against Sevilla than against any other team — 37 in 41 games — but the Argentine great squandered a couple of chances as Sevilla won its eighth consecutive match in all competitions. Jules Koundé scored in the first half and former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic added the second near the end.

The second leg will be on Feb. 27 at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. Athletic Bilbao hosts Levante on Thursday in the first leg of the other semifinal.

“There is still hope,” Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman said. “It will be complicated, but this team is capable of anything.”

Sevilla and Barcelona entered the semis as the hottest teams in Spain. The Catalan club was coming off six straight wins in all competitions.

“We are at halftime of a match of 180 minutes,” Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui said. “There will be a lot happening before we go to Barcelona, but we know how difficult it will be for us. The hardest part is still to come.”

The teams played in the Copa final in 2016 and 2018, with Barcelona coming out on top both times. The Catalan club is trying to make it to its ninth final in 11 years. It made it to the last four nine straight times before being eliminated by Athletic in the quarterfinals last season.

Barcelona controlled possession but it struggled to create many significant chances at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium, with Sevilla goalkeeper Bono stopping the few efforts he faced. Sevilla constantly threatened on counterattacks, especially after opening the scoring in the first half.

Messi, making his 758th appearance with Barcelona to add to his 142 with Argentina, commanded the attack but failed to capitalize on his chances, including one with only Bono to beat in the 11th minute. He nearly scored with a stoppage-time free kick that again was stopped by Bono.

Messi had been rested in the Spanish league game against Real Betis on Sunday, when he came off the bench in the second half to lead the team to a come-from-behind victory.

Koundé put Sevilla ahead in the 25th with a nice run that culminated with him slipping the ball in between the legs of Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti before shooting into the net from inside the area.

Rakitic sealed the victory in an 85th-minute breakaway, beating goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with a shot into the top of the net. The midfielder didn’t celebrate the goal against his former club.

Koeman was without three players because of injuries — Martin Braithwaite, Sergiño Dest and Miralem Pjanic. Lopetegui was without injured players Lucas Ocampos and Jesús Navas.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

Man City into FA Cup quarters with record 15th straight win

It’s 15 straight victories and counting for Pep Guardiola’s irrepressible team, which has another domestic treble in its sights.

One of the most relentless schedules in the history of English soccer hasn’t stopped Manchester City putting together a record-setting run of wins.

It’s 15 straight victories and counting for Pep Guardiola’s irrepressible team, which has another domestic treble in its sights.

By beating second-tier Swansea 3-1 to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday, City broke the record for most consecutive wins in all competitions by a top-flight team, a mark that had lasted for nearly 130 years. Preston won 14 in a row in 1892 and that was later matched by Arsenal’s class of 1987.

City has gone one better during a pandemic, when matches in the Premier League or domestic cup competitions are being played every three or four days to fit them into a condensed season that started a month later than usual.

Indeed, by also advancing last month to the English League Cup final, City has played every weekend and midweek since Nov. 21 except for an eight-day break from Dec. 26-Jan. 3 during which the team’s training ground was closed because of a coronavirus outbreak. The number of first-team players to test positive ran into double figures.

“That means a lot in this toughest period, in the Christmas and winter time,” said Guardiola, whose side leads the Premier League by five points with a game in hand. “To do what we have done in this time is quite remarkable.”

Guardiola earned his 200th win in 268 games in charge of the team.

City won 20 straight games in all competitions from August-December 2017, also under Guardiola, but one of those victories came in a penalty shootout in the League Cup after a 0-0 draw after extra time.

Also advancing to the last eight was Sheffield United, a 1-0 winner against second-tier Bristol City, and Leicester, which beat Brighton by the same score thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

EASY FOR CITY

In the 2018-19 season, City became the first English team to achieve the domestic treble, beating Swansea en route to winning the FA Cup that year by coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

City didn’t need to produce anything as dramatic this time, taking the lead in the 30th when Kyle Walker’s low cross into the penalty area was missed by the sliding Ferran Torres at the near post and ended up creeping inside the far post.

Rodri played in Raheem Sterling to double the advantage in the 47th, before Gabriel Jesus controlled a header across goal by Bernardo Silva and slammed in a left-footed shot three minutes later.

Morgan Whittaker grabbed a consolation for Swansea, which included two United States internationals — Jordan Morris, who made his first start, and Paul Arriola, who made his debut as a second-half substitute following his loan move from D.C. United. Their U.S. teammate, Zeck Steffen, played in goal for City.

Everton was hosting Tottenham in the late game Wednesday.

Manchester United and Bournemouth advanced to the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

Atalanta beat Napoli to reach Italian Cup final against Juventus

The final will be held on May 19 with Juventus looking for a record-extending 14th Italian Cup title. Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate to reach its 20th final.

Atalanta beat defending champion Napoli 3-1 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Juventus.

Matteo Pessina scored twice after Duvan Zapata had given Atalanta an early lead in the semifinal. Hirving Lozano netted early in the second half for Napoli.

The final will be held on May 19 with Juventus looking for a record-extending 14th Italian Cup title. Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate to reach its 20th final.

It will be Atalanta’s fifth final. Its most recent was in 2019 but it hasn’t won the trophy since 1963.

The first leg between Napoli and Atalanta ended 0-0 last week.

Atalanta broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a long-range strike from Zapata that swerved into the far side of the net.

Zapata turned provider six minutes later, laying off Robin Gosens’ pass for Pessina to fire in off the inside of the left post.

Atalanta had chances to score a third before Lozano reduced the deficit eight minutes into the second half, firing in a rebound after being denied by a save from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Gollini pulled off another save to deny Victor James Osimhen shortly before Atalanta sealed the match in the 78th minte, when Pessina mazed his way between two Napoli players before chipping the ball over goalkeeper David Ospina.

Categories
football Sports News

FORMER WALES AND SWANSEA GOALKEEPER DAI DAVIES DIES AT 72.

Former Wales goalkeeper Dai Davies has died at the age of 72, former club Swansea have announced.

Davies’ career included spells with Everton, Wrexham and Tranmere as well as the Swans.

He earned 52 caps for Wales.

A tweet from Swansea read: “Rest in peace, Dai Davies. Everyone at Swansea City send their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Swans goalkeeper, Dai Davies, who sadly passed away following his battle with cancer. Once a Jack, always a Jack.”

Davies, who was born in the Welsh mining village of Glanamman, began his career at Swansea before joining then league champions Everton in 1970. He made 82 appearances over seven seasons for the Toffees before moving to Wrexham in 1977.

He later returned to Swansea and had a spell as player-manager at Tranmere before retiring.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS PREVENT KLOPP FROM ATTENDING MOTHER’S FUNERAL.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was unable to go to Germany for the funeral of his mother on Tuesday because of the current travel restrictions in place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Klopp paid an emotional tribute to Elisabeth after her death, aged 81, but it is understood he could not attend the funeral in-person in his native Germany due to fears of spreading Covid-19 strains from high-risk countries.

“She meant everything to me. She was a real mum in the best sense of the word,” Klopp told German newspaper Schwarzwaelder Bote.

“As a devout Christian, I know she is in a better place now.

“The fact that I can’t be at the funeral is due to the terrible times, but as soon as the circumstances allow, we will hold a wonderful commemoration that is appropriate to it.”

On Wednesday, Liverpool tweeted a message of support for their manager which read: “You’ll never walk alone, Jurgen.”

A reply from the Premier League’s official account said: “The thoughts and condolences of everyone at the Premier League are with Jurgen, his family and his friends at such a difficult time.”

Categories
football Slides Sports News

UCL: CHELSEA’S AWAY GAME AGAINST ATLETICO MADRID MOVED TO BUCHAREST

Chelsea’s away Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid will now take place in Bucharest due to coronavirus travel concerns.

The UK is implementing strict Covid-19 quarantine rules around people returning from Spain, meaning the first leg of the last-16 tie will be staged at the Arena Nationala in the Romanian capital.

“UEFA has confirmed that Chelsea’s Champions League round-of-16 first-leg match away against Atletico Madrid will now be played at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest in Romania,” a Chelsea statement read.

“The date of the match, Tuesday, February 23, and the kick-off (8pm UK time) will remain the same.

“The second leg at Stamford Bridge is on Wednesday, March 17 at 8pm.”

Spain is on a ‘red list’ of countries drawn up by the UK Government.

The first legs of Liverpool and Manchester City’s Champions League ties against RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach have been moved to Budapest, while Arsenal and Manchester United have seen the first legs of their Europa League last-32 clashes moved to Rome and Turin, respectively.

Categories
football Sports News

MAN UNITED, ARSENAL EUROPA LEAGUE TIES CHANGED TO NEUTRAL VENUES

Manchester United and Arsenal’s Europa League last-32 first legs next week will be played at neutral grounds due to coronavirus restrictions.

United were due to travel to Spain to face Real Sociedad next Thursday, while Portugal was the venue for the Gunners’ clash with Benfica on the same night.

But UEFA has announced that United will now take on Sociedad at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin following Spanish government restrictions on travellers entering the country from England.

A statement read: “UEFA would like to thank Real Sociedad de Futbol and Manchester United FC for their close co-operation and assistance in finding a solution to the issue at hand, as well as the Italian Football Federation and Juventus for their support and agreeing to host the match in question.”

The PA news agency understands Arsenal will play Benfica in Rome as the UK implements strict coronavirus quarantine rules around people returning from Portugal.

The second leg of United’s tie will take place at Old Trafford as planned the following week, but Arsenal’s home game will have the same issue as their away trip, with Benfica barred from entering the country. No decision has yet been taken on a venue for that match.

The developments come after Liverpool and Manchester City also had Champions League ties due to be played in Germany moved to Budapest.

Liverpool’s clash with Leipzig on February 16th and City’s encounter with Borussia Monchengladbach on February 24th will now both take place at the Puskas Arena in the Hungarian capital on their respective scheduled dates.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

MC TOMINAY NETS WINNER AGAINST HAMMERS TO TAKE UNITED TO FA CUP QUARTER FINAL.

Scott McTominay fired Manchester United into the FA Cup quarter-finals as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men edged past West Ham in extra time.

The Red Devils reached the final four last season – one of four successive semi-final cup competition exits – and progressed from a tough fifth-round clash on Tuesday evening.

Ex-United boss David Moyes’ West Ham side made life difficult on a bitterly cold night at Old Trafford, where substitute McTominay struck home Marcus Rashford’s lovely 97th-minute lay-off to seal a 1-0 extra-time win.

Solskjaer will be relieved his team made it through to the last eight on a night in which Lukasz Fabianski tipped a deflected Victor Lindelof header onto the post in a first half that they edged.

West Ham had already been hit by an injury to Angelo Ogbonna at that point and his replacement Issa Diop became the first concussion substitute in English football when withdrawn at half-time.

Andriy Yarmolenko was then forced off in a goalless second half as the match went to extra time, with McTominay firing in his seventh goal of the season to seal progress.

West Ham were able to call on Tomas Soucek after his red card against Fulham was rescinded, while United made six changes from Saturday’s frustrating 3-3 draw with Everton.

Two of those introductions combined well for the first chance of the evening as Alex Telles slipped through Anthony Martial to get away an 11th-minute effort.

Ogbonna got in the way of the shot but could not continue afterwards, having been sandwiched between the forward’s boot and oncoming goalkeeper Fabianski.

The defender had several minutes of treatment before being replaced by Diop, with Aaron Cresswell throwing himself in front of a Mason Greenwood strike at a time when the Hammers were temporarily down to 10 men.

Nemanja Matic lashed over as United penned the visitors back, with Fabianski reacting superbly to push a Lindelof header onto the post after taking a deflection off Craig Dawson.

Donny Van De Beek saw a shot deflected over towards the end of a first half in which Diop and Martial required treatment after a nasty clash of heads.

The defender continued for the remainder of the opening period but came off at half-time, with the Hammers confirming on their match blog that he was “replaced as a concussion substitute”.

Ryan Fredericks came on for him and Ben Johnson replaced Jarrod Bowen as the visitors went to a back five, with Yarmolenko soon limping off injured to be replaced by former United youth prospect Mipo Odubeko.

There were more substitutions to report on than clear-cut shots, with Fabianski doing well to thwart Rashford’s close-range shot in a drab second period.

West Ham were showing a little more intent at the other end, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka was the first person to force Dean Henderson into action after horribly mis-hitting a clearance.

Bruno Fernandes and McTominay were brought on in the 73rd minute, with the former seeing a strike deflect over before Edinson Cavani came on to add extra bite.

Both sides struggled to stamp their authority on the game and Dawson wasted a chance to snatch victory in stoppage time, failing to get clean contact on a corner as Wan-Bissaka cleared his header.

The match went into extra time as a result, with Brandon Williams and Luke Shaw introduced by United.

The latter quickly made an important contribution, winning the ball after Declan Rice’s heavy touch to start the match-winning move. West Ham failed to effectively deal with a cross and Rashford teed up McTominay delightfully to rifle home in the 97th minute.

Said Benrahma looked lively as West Ham pushed to draw parity, with the substitute glancing a header straight at Henderson in the second half of extra time.

Martial wasted the chance to add gloss at the death but victory was already assured.

Categories
football Sports News

FA CUP: BOURNEMOUTH BOOK LAST EIGHT SPOT AFTER VICTORY OVER BURNLEY

Bournemouth booked a spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history as Sam Surridge’s tap-in and a Junior Stanislas penalty secured a 2-0 win at a much-changed Burnley.

Surridge had a simple finish midway through the first half before he was upended late on, with Stanislas converting the resulting spot-kick, as the Cherries reached the sixth round for the first time since the 1956-57 campaign.

Jay Rodriguez spurned a gilt-edged chance to level in the second half, missing the target from six yards, on a bitterly cold night at Turf Moor, where Burnley almost blundered by initially putting Erik Pieters in their starting line-up before he was withdrawn after they were apparently notified of his suspension for this game.

Pieters’ withdrawal meant there were eight changes to the side that drew against Brighton in the Premier League, and they were outshone by a Bournemouth outfit who have now won both games under caretaker manager Jonathan Woodgate.

There was no Jack Wilshere for the Sky Bet Championship side, but they still had enough quality to see off Burnley, whose wait for a last-eight appearance in this competition stands at 18 years.

Only wingers Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Dwight McNeil and forward Matej Vydra kept their spots for Burnley, who announced shortly before kick-off an “administrative error” had led to Pieters being removed from the line-up.

It transpired Pieters was suspended for this fixture, having earned yellow cards in their wins over MK Dons and Fulham in the previous rounds, with Burnley seemingly made aware of the fact after the teams had been released.

The Dutch full-back’s place went to 21-year-old Anthony Driscoll-Glennon, who was caught out by Jack Stacey midway through the first half as Bournemouth, who made six changes to their line-up, went ahead.

Defences were on top early on but a swift attack down Burnley’s left-hand side led to David Brooks passing to the overlapping Stacey and his square ball left Surridge with a simple tap-in into an empty net.

Burnley’s appeals for offside were in vain while the hosts were fortunate not to fall further behind, with goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell making an excellent save after Dale Stephens unknowingly directed a header towards goal from a corner.

Philip Billing went down in the area under Kevin Long’s challenge but was told to get to his feet towards the end of a half where chances were at a premium, with Burnley unable to muster a shot on target in the first 45 minutes.

That was quickly remedied shortly after half-time as Vydra’s shot from a narrow angle forced Asmir Begovic to save at his near post, while the visiting goalkeeper pushed away McNeil’s 25-yard effort despite being unsighted.

Burnley should have levelled just before the hour when the adventurous Long’s cross was misdirected by Vydra into the path of Rodriguez, who blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

Phil Bardsley shot through a cluster of players and just wide of Begovic’s post as Burnley’s spell of pressure continued to go unrewarded on a night punctuated by gentle snowfall.

Bournemouth made the game safe two minutes from time when Long tripped the onrushing Surridge in the area, with Stanislas confidently dispatching the penalty.