Month: May 2021

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GOALKEEPER ALISSON BECKER HEADS IN LATE WINNER AT WESTBROM AS LIVERPOOL STAY IN TOP FOUR HUNT

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker headed a dramatic stoppage-time winner at West Brom to keep Liverpool’s Champions League hopes alive.

Just as the Reds’ top-four chances looked virtually over, the Brazil international glanced in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner to clinch a 2-1 win.

He was mobbed by his team-mates after his shock goal moved Liverpool to within a point of fourth-placed Chelsea with two Premier League games left.

Mohamed Salah had earlier cancelled out Hal Robson-Kanu’s first top-flight goal for almost four years.

Roberto Firmino hit the post and Sadio Mane had a goal disallowed for offside as relegated Albion gave as good as they got.

Kyle Bartley saw his goal ruled out as the Baggies nearly caused an upset before Alisson’s late heroics.

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TOTTENHAM TOPPLE WOLVES TO BOOST EUROPA LEAGUE HOPES

Tottenham strengthened their European qualification hopes with a 2-0 win over Wolves which moved them into the top six.

Harry Kane opened the scoring with a goal that advanced his chances of winning the Premier League Golden Boot and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg doubled the lead after the break.

It was Kane’s 22nd goal of the season, taking him back in front of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the race for a prize he has won twice before, while he also hit the post twice.

Spurs can still mathematically make the top four, but Europa League qualification is looking much more likely and a sixth-placed finish is in their own hands with two games to go.

Wolves’ campaign is petering out and this loss condemned them to a bottom-half finish for the first time since their return to the top flight.

Surprisingly, Kane had yet to score since one of his best mates Ryan Mason had taken temporary charge but he was on a mission to put that right from the off.

In the fifth minute he was cursing his luck again as he struck the post with an effort from distance. It was the eighth time he had been denied by the woodwork in the Premier League this term – more than any other player.

Still with something to play for, Spurs were the better side and Wolves’ goal was under regular threat.

Gareth Bale tested Rui Patricio with a wobbling free-kick from distance while Son Heung-min stung the Portugal goalkeeper’s palms with an attempt at the far post.

Kane then had a header cleared off the line by Conor Coady, who seconds later produced another heroic block from Giovani Lo Celso.

But Kane can only be kept at bay for so long and he struck in the 45th minute.

Hojbjerg’s pass set him clear and there was little doubt about the outcome – bar a VAR check for offside – as he expertly delayed his finish to fox Coady and Patricio before rolling into an empty net.

With Gareth Southgate watching, Dele Alli seemed determined to remind the England manager of his talents and it was a good piece of play that almost saw Spurs double their advantage.

He won back possession and then fed in Kane, who hit the woodwork for the ninth time as Patricio superbly tipped onto the upright.

That gave Alli the chance to get on the scoresheet as the rebound fell perfectly for him, but his first-time shot struck the other post.

Tottenham deserved their second goal, and it arrived in the 62nd minute.

Left-back Sergio Reguilon’s determination saw him win the ball high up the pitch, Son teed up Bale, whose first-time shot was parried by Patricio but Hojbjerg made no mistake from the rebound.

Wolves should have reduced their deficit soon after but the disappointing Fabio Silva dragged a shot wide from an inviting position while Adama Traore also shot wide after dancing into the area.

Spurs saw the game out safely as they prepare to welcome their fans back into their game with Aston Villa on Wednesday.

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MITCHELL’S FIRST GOAL HANDS PALACE DRAMATIC COME BACK WIN AGAINST ASTON VILLA

Tyrick Mitchell both scored and assisted for the first time in the Premier League to earn Crystal Palace a comeback 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.

Villa had twice taken a first-half lead at Selhurst Park as John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi each beat Jack Butland, who was making his first PL appearance for Palace in goal.

Palace’s first equaliser came on 32 minutes when Christian Benteke headed in his third goal in as many matches from a Mitchell cross, before Wilfried Zaha’s deflected effort made it 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining.

Benteke and Eberechi Eze both hit the crossbar in the second half before the latter’s centre was chested in my Mitchell from close range on 84 minutes.

Palace move back above Southampton into 13th position with 44 points, five behind 11th-placed Villa.

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER POSITIVE ABOUT MAGUIRE’S FITNESS FOR EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists both he and Harry Maguire are “positive” that the Manchester United captain will be fit to lead his side out for the Europa League final.

United face Villarreal in Gdansk next week looking to win the competition for the second time in four years.

Maguire has been a mainstay of the United side since moving from Leicester but suffered an ankle injury in last week’s win at Aston Villa and faces a race against time to be fit for the final – but Solskjaer plans to give his skipper as long as possible.

“He’s making progress, but we’ve consciously taken the route of not testing him out too early, too quickly, because we don’t want to aggravate something,” Solskjaer said.

“Harry wants this so much, so he doesn’t want to take any risks either.

“When I spoke to him this morning, he was quite positive. But, naturally, the day after it happened we were all down.

“But we saw early on or decided we have to focus, have to be positive and think that you’re going to make it until you have to say ‘no’. I’ve always been an optimist, so we’re positive.”

With Champions League football already assured for next season through the Premier League, the Red Devils can play without the burden of needing to beat their LaLiga rivals to return to Europe’s top table.

But Solskjaer will be aiming to mastermind a victory in Poland and land his first piece of silverware as United boss.

To do that he will strive to pick his strongest side – whether Maguire makes it or not – admitting he will take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book and have individual conversations with those players who do not make the cut.

Solskjaer famously came off the bench and scored the last-gasp winner in the Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 1999 to complete the Treble for United and pinpointed another moment when Ferguson made special dispensation to talk to his players.

“It’s always difficult and the human side is you want everyone to get this experience,” he said, when asked if he faced some difficult conversations with his squad.

“Then you have to pick XI. That’s just the nature of the job that you have to make some tough decisions and stand by them.

“There are a couple of games left for me to finalise what the XI in the final will be.

“You’ll have to sit down, of course, individually, and I remember Sir Alex sat me down, he came to my hotel room to explain why I didn’t play the semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen and we sat there for 45 minutes. We had a good conversation and I still felt I had a contribution to make and that I was important in his team.

“All my players know they have been important this season. We couldn’t get to a final and second place in the league without everyone’s contribution every day. They’ve been competitive but very supportive as well.”

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RANGERS FINISH SCOTTISH LEAGUE UNBEATEN WITH 102 POINTS

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side became only the second team to win the Scottish Premiership and go a full season without losing a game after the champions beat Aberdeen 4-0 at home on the final day on Saturday.

Rangers won all 19 of their home games at Ibrox and equalled the league record of 26 clean sheets in the campaign. They also set a record by conceding only 13 goals in their 32 wins and six draws.

Celtic, the first side to go unbeaten in the 2016-17 season, finished 25 points behind Rangers, who sealed the title in March to deny their archrivals a 10th straight title.

“It feels good, it’s been a while since I’ve had the smell of champagne … I’m actually enjoying it,” Gerrard told Sky Sports after he was soaked in champagne by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.

“I was asked to come here at a really difficult time … It was about having a vision, having the right people in the right places, the right support from the board. We fought every day for three years to get to this point.”

Although fans are not allowed inside the stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions, many gathered outside with banners and blue flares to celebrate their “Invincibles” campaign.

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BUNDESLIGA: ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI EQUALS GERD MUELLER’S LEAGUE GOAL RECORD

Robert Lewandowski equalled Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old scoring record as the Bayern Munich striker netted his 40th Bundesliga goal of the season in a 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Saturday.

Lewandowski equalled Mueller’s tally, scored over 34 games in 1971/72, in just 28 league fixtures this term. “It’s a huge honour for me and for the modern history of the Bundesliga,” Lewandowski told Sky. Lewandowski converted a penalty for the champions after 26 minutes to match Mueller’s milestone.

As part of his penalty celebrations, the Poland striker lifted his match shirt to reveal a picture of Gerd Mueller over the text “4ever Gerd”.

“I would never have thought that this would happen. What Gerd Mueller did is incredible. Sharing the record with him makes me very, very proud,” Lewandowski added.

The fixture was briefly halted after Lewandowski scored as his Bayern team-mates formed a guard-of-honour on the side of the pitch which the smiling 32-year-old ran through.

Freiburg drew level almost immediately when Manuel Gulde headed in at the near post from a corner on 29 minutes after slipping his marker.

Bayern, who were crowned German champions last weekend for the ninth season in a row, upped the tempo after the break.

Serge Gnabry had a goal disallowed six minutes into the second-half after the VAR spotted he was offside in tapping home a Leroy Sane cross.

However, the Bavarians kept up the pressure and when David Alaba’s long-range pass found Thomas Mueller in the area just moments later, he squared for Sane who hit home on 53 minutes.

Freiburg had their chances to equalise as second-half replacements Lucas Hoeler and Janik Haberer both went close before Christian Guenter brought the sides level nine minutes from time.

Lewandowski can still break Mueller’s record as Bayern have one match left of the campaign at home to Augsburg next Saturday.

He squandered a late chance to score “at least one more goal. You don’t break records like that so quickly,” added Lewandowski.

The former Borussia Dortmund forward, who has scored 47 goals in 39 games in all competitions this season, is also set to be crowned the Bundesliga’s top-scorer for the sixth time in eight years.

“Robert Lewandowski has broken Gerd Mueller’s historic mark, but you don’t score goals alone,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick.

“You need players who serve him passes. That’s why I have to give the team a huge compliment.”

Lewandowski tally this season includes four hat-tricks as well as a four-goal haul in Bayern’s nervy 4-3 home win against Hertha Berlin last October.

“It’s crazy. It’s normal for Lewandowski to score, but this is something else,” said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller.

“But he’s only human, you saw that when it came to the 41st goal,” Mueller joked after Lewandowski’s late miss.
Elsewhere, bottom side Schalke, who are already relegated, pulled off a stunning 4-3 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt, who remain outside the Champions League places in fifth.

US striker Matthew Hoppe, 20, scored what proved to be the decisive goal to seal the win for Schalke which could have profound implications in the top four.

Both Borussia Dortmund, who are fourth before their away match at Mainz, and third-placed Wolfsburg, who travel to RB Leipzig, can secure Champions League qualification with away wins on Sunday.

At the foot of the table, Werder Bremen’s 2-0 defeat at Augsburg pushed them into the bottom three, just above second-from-bottom Cologne who were held to a goalless draw at Hertha Berlin

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LEICESTER CITY BEAT CHELSEA TO WIN MAIDEN FA CUP TROPHY

Leicester City won their first ever FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea thanks to a stunning goal from Youri Tielemans on Saturday at Wembley.

The midfielder produced a fantastic goal in the second half to earn Leicester a historic victory.

The win also sees Brendan Rodgers earn his first ever major trophy in English football.

The result sees Chelsea lose back-to-back FA Cup finals after suffering defeat at the hands of Arsenal last season.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will have another chance to collect silverware when they meet Manchester City in the Champions League final later this month.

Wembley hosted close to 20,000 people for the final which is the largest attendance at a football ground since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

It was a very cagey start to the match with the first chance coming after 24 minutes when Mason Mount’s strike outside of the area was deflected wide.

Chelsea had another opportunity to open the scoring moments later but Timo Werner flicked off the ball away from the Cesar Azpilicueta who was free for a tap-in.

Leicester suffered a blow just after the half an hour mark when Jonny Evans had to be brought off with an injury, and was replaced by Marc Albrighton.

Leicester’s best chance came when Tielemans produced a lofted pass to Jamie Vardy who headed wide before the break. The first half ended without a single attempt on target from both sides.

It was another slow start to the half but the game was brought to life after 63 minutes when Tielemans scored with a stunning long-range effort.

Chelsea introduced Christian Pulisic and Ben Chilwell after the goal and the latter came close to an equaliser after 77 minutes but his header was denied by a great Kasper Schmeichel save.

Schmeichel made an even better stop with four minutes remaining when he denied a Mount volley from inside the box.

Chilwell thought he had grabbed late equaliser but it was ruled out for offside and Leicester held on for the win.

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SWEDEN STRIKER, ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC TO MISS EURO 2020 DUE TO KNEE INJURY

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of Euro 2020 due to a knee injury, the Swedish Football Association has announced.

The 39-year-old sustained the problem during AC Milan’s 3-0 win at Juventus last week and faced a race against time to recover his fitness.

The SFA wrote on Twitter: “Today, Zlatan has informed [coach] Janne Andersson that his injury will stop him from participating in the European Championship this summer.”

The striker retired from international duty in 2016 but made a surprise return in March in the 1-0 win over Georgia.

In doing so he became the oldest player to represent his country, eclipsing the previous record of 38 years and 59 days held by goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli.

Commenting on his decision to reverse his retirement decision at the time, Ibrahimovic told reporters: “I can still do those movements, that ninja stuff. I still have it in me, even if I’m 39.”

Ibrahimovic limped off in the 64th minute of his side’s victory last Sunday, but had raised hopes of being fit for the Euros after subsequent scans revealed only a strain.

Sweden play their first match of the tournament against Spain in Seville on June 14, before also facing Slovakia and Poland in Group E.

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NATHAN TELLA SCORES FIRST SOUTHAMPTON GOAL IN WIN OVER FULHAM

Nathan Tella scored his first goal for Southampton in the 3-1 win over already-relegated Fulham in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old came off the bench to net Saints’ second while Fulham’s consolation came from 18-year-old Fabio Carvalho, his maiden goal for the Cottagers.

Southampton took the lead in the first half when Che Adams scored from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

Tella then slotted home a second moments after coming onto the field on the hour mark.

Just as Southampton looked to be cruising towards all three points Carvalho pulled one back for Fulham with a well-struck shot off the underside of the bar.

Less than 10 minutes later, however, substitute Theo Walcott restored Saints’ two-goal advantage with a clinical finish.

With Fulham’s fate already sealed for the season, boss Scott Parker decided to give some of the players who had not featured significantly this season a chance, including a maiden senior start for teenager Carvalho.

However, despite the pressure being off the Cottagers, many of the same problems remained, especially the issues in the final third – they only managed three shots on target during the match.

Joachim Andersen was called into action in the 16th minute, to clear the ball away from close to the goal line to prevent Liverpool loanee Takumi Minamino tapping in the opener.

After a scrappy opening period, Southampton took the lead with the first shot on target of the match when Adams fired home from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

Carvalho had the chance to level the scores when he fed by Ivan Cavaleiro but he was unable to get power on the shot which was straight at Alex McCarthy.

Early in the second half, Oriol Romeu forced Alphonse Areola into a diving save with his legs to prevent the home side doubling their advantage.

Moments later Southampton found their second, substitute Tella tapping the ball into the net just minutes after coming onto the field.

Stuart Armstrong drove forward before finding Walker-Peters who played in the final ball for the youngster to score his first Southampton goal.

Not to be outdone by Tella’s first goal, Fulham teenager Carvalho pulled one back for Parker’s side in the 75th minute.

The teenager timed his run behind the backline, before being played in by Bobby Decordova-Reid and firing the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

However, a goal from Walcott soon restored Southampton’s two-goal lead, with his deflected shot going past Areola, with Tella turning provider for his fellow substitute.

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SUPER SUB RODRIGO GETS A BRACE IN LEEDS WIN AT BURNLEY

Leeds turned on the style in the second half as they swept to a 4-0 win over Burnley to strengthen their grip on a top-half place in the Premier League.

After Mateusz Klich gave Marcelo Bielsa’s side the lead on the stroke of half-time, Leeds punished Burnley after the break as Jack Harrison added a second before claiming the two assists when Rodrigo came off the bench to score a brace.

It was the sort of stuff which illustrated why Leeds’ return to the top flight this season has been so welcomed, and gave them a four-point cushion over 11th-placed Aston Villa before Dean Smith’s side head to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Burnley included three former Leeds players – Chris Wood, Charlie Taylor, and Bailey Peacock-Farrell – in their starting 11, but had little to compare with the flair running through this current side as they struggled to keep up after the break.

Buoyed by Monday’s win at Fulham which ensured another season of top-flight football at Turf Moor, Sean Dyche’s side began brightly as Dwight McNeil and Matej Vydra threatened.

But as Leeds grew into the game there only looked like one winner as Peacock-Farrell – back in the starting line-up due to a knee problem for England’s Nick Pope – found himself on the end of another heavy score line.

The Northern Ireland goalkeeper has now conceded 14 times in his four Premier League appearances this season, but he received little help from those in front of him this time.

Leeds had already passed up golden opportunities for Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas before getting their first a minute before the break. Klich strode forward on a counter-attack and, when afforded time and space, the Polish midfielder picked his spot and bent the ball inside the post.

Burnley started the second half brightly too, with Ashley Westwood flashing a volley wide after the ball say up invitingly, but they were 2-0 down before the hour mark as Harrison got a touch to flick Ezgjan Alioski’s low shot into the net.

Moments before the goal, Patrick Bamford – he of an ill-fated loan spell to Turf Moor in 2016 – was replaced by Rodrigo, and the Spain forward would go close to a hat-trick.

James Tarkowski had already made one goal-saving challenge to prevent Luke Ayling’s cross from reaching the 30-year-old in front of goal before he got his first in the 76th minute.

His first touch from Harrison’s pass carried him beyond Tarkowski and Ben Mee before a delightful flick lifted the ball over the advancing Peacock-Farrell.

Burnley were still reeling from that when Leeds carved them open again, Phillips’ superb pass finding Harrison who in turn fed Rodrigo, with the forward rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.

There was one more opportunity for a hat-trick late on but ex-Leeds left-back Taylor, making his 100th Premier League appearance for Burnley, did enough to turn Rodrigo’s shot wide – with VAR checking for use of a hand in the process but deciding there should be no penalty.

Burnley had already suffered enough.