Author: moshood

Categories
football Sports News

SCOTT CARSON TO START AS “GOALEE” FOR MANCITY AFTER EDERSON BAN

Scott Carson is set to make his second Premier League appearance in a decade, with Manchester City facing a goalkeeper crisis.

First-choice stopper Ederson is set to miss the champions’ clash with Leicester City on Saturday, after the Brazilian FA asked FIFA to enforce a five-day ban on players that did not appear during the latest batch of internationals.

Ederson along with teammate Gabriel Jesus were two of eight Premier League players to not travel to Brazil, after top-flight bosses unanimously decided to not release those which would need to travel to red-list countries.

Had the 28-year-old turned out for the Selecao, he would have had to quarantine for 10 days upon his return to Manchester, as per the current government guidelines.

Instead, City decided not to release him, but now Brazilian chiefs have told FIFA to enforce the restrictions between September 10 and 14.

City are expected to appeal the ban, but there is a chance he will miss the game at the King Power Stadium.

USA international Zack Steffen is Ederson’s backup , but he is also absent after testing positive for Covid-19 whilst on international duty.

The American had already been suffering with back spasms, but the positive test will definitely see him miss the clash with the Foxes.

That leaves 36-year-old Carson as Pep Guardiola’s most senior option, with youngsters Josh McNamara and Mikki van Sas fighting for a place in the squad.

Carson has played just one Premier League game since leaving West Brom in 2011, turning out for City in the closing months of last season.

Initially signed on loan from the Rams, Carson was announced as a permanent City player during the summer window, signing a one-year contract at the Etihad.

Speaking about his decision to start Carson against the Magpies, Guardiola opened up on the huge influence the veteran keeper has within the City dressing room.

He said: “Maybe people don’t know it but he’s a real leader for us.

“He says straight away what he believes, he has a lot of experience, he has been in incredible locker rooms with big teams.

“He is an incredible person and we are delighted – not just me but Eddy (Ederson) and Zack (Steffen) and the players that today he could play.”

In more positive news for Guardiola and City, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne are both set to return to the squad after missing time in the early portion of the season.

Foden has been out since the Euro 2020 semi final, while De Bruyne missed the 5-0 win over Arsenal before the international break.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

EIGHT BRAZILIAN PLAYERS TO BE BARRED FROM PLAYING IN PREMIER LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND

Eight Brazilian players at Premier League clubs are set to be barred from playing this weekend over a refusal to release them for international duty.

The PA news agency understands that the Brazilian football federation (CBF) has written to FIFA asking that an automatic restriction be placed on the players from appearing for their clubs between September 10 and 14.

The players are Ederson and Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, Liverpool trio Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, Fred at Manchester United, Thiago Silva at Chelsea and Raphinha at Leeds. The CBF did not request a restriction be placed on Everton forward Richarlison, who was released by the club to play for his country at the Olympic Games this summer.

FIFA in turn has contacted the Football Association and the clubs concerned regarding the Brazilian federation’s request. The world governing body may impose sanctions if the players do feature for their clubs when classed as being ineligible.

The Premier League announced prior to the September international window that players would not be released where that involved travelling to countries on the UK Government’s coronavirus ‘red list’.

Anyone returning from a red-list country or who has been in a red-list country in the 10 days prior to entering the UK must quarantine in a Government-approved hotel for 10 days, which would mean players missing Premier League as well as Champions League and Carabao Cup games.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking for an exemption, but the request was not granted.

Aston Villa did reach an agreement with two of their players – Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia – to play in Argentina’s first two World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Brazil, but miss the third against Bolivia.

Tottenham duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso are expected to be fined when they return to club duty, PA understands, after travelling without permission.

All four Argentinians are at the centre of a separate row over allegations that they had declared false information on official forms to the Brazilian health authorities on entering that country and in doing so had broken quarantine rules.

Health authority officials entered the pitch during the Brazil v Argentina match in Sao Paulo on Sunday seeking to deport three of the players on the field at the time, forcing the match to be suspended. The situation was described as “crazy” by Infantino this week and FIFA has now opened a disciplinary investigation involving both countries’ national associations.

FIFA is understood to have also received requests from two other South American nations asking for restrictions to be imposed – from Paraguay in the case of Newcastle midfielder Miguel Almiron, and from Chile in relation to Francisco Sierralta of Watford and Ben Brereton-Diaz of Blackburn.

The Mexican federation has requested Raul Jimenez be ineligible for Wolves between September 9 and 13.

It remains to be seen whether clubs will follow the restrictions this weekend, and, unless an agreement can be reached, then the whole situation looks set to flare up again ahead of the October international window.

In previous international windows since the pandemic began, clubs had been allowed to refuse to release players if they would be required to quarantine for five days either on arrival with their national team or on their return to their club.

Categories
football Sports News

WCQ: HALLER’S BRACE LIFTS IVORY COAST AS SOUTH AFRICA DOWNS GHANA

Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller netted both goals to secure a 2-1 home win over Cameroon while South Africa scored late to beat Ghana in two heavyweight clashes in African World Cup qualifying on Monday.

Both victors took an early advantage in their respective groups where only the winners advance to the final phase of qualifying for Qatar 2022.

Haller netted a 20th minute penalty and added a second nine minutes later as he broke free of the visiting defence to give the Ivorians the halftime lead in the Group D clash Abidjan.

But the home side, who were allowed a small crowd to support them after all other African World Cup qualifiers were ordered to be played behind closed doors, had to endure a nervy finish after missing chances when Cameroon pulled one back.

Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu’s 60th minute penalty handed Cameroon hope before Ivory Coast’s Jean Michael Seri hit the bar with a free kick. Substitute Christian Kouame might have finished Cameroon off in the last five minutes with just the goalkeeper to beat but fluffed the opportunity.

The Ivorians have four points from their first two matches.

South Africa had a first-half effort from Percy Tau controversially ruled offside and then missed two good chances before Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s 83rd minute winner against a Ghana team without six key English-based players.

The absentees did not travel to Johannesburg because South Africa is on the UK government’s COVID-19 ‘red list’ and they would have had to quarantine for 10 days on returning to their clubs.

Hlongwane got an inadvertent touch to a cross seven minutes from time to ensure four points for South Africa from their first two Group G matches.

For a second successive game in Group J, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Dieumerci Mbokani scored to give his side the lead only for hosts Benin to pull level before halftime in Cotonou in the 1-1 draw. Benin have four points with the Congolese on two.

Mali head the Group E standings on four points after the opening two rounds after they played out a 0-0 draw away to Uganda earlier on Monday.

Minnows Djibouti, who conceded eight to Algeria last week in Group A, let in another four as Niger beat them 4-2 in Rabat, Morocco. Both countries had to move their home qualifiers to neutral territory because of the poor state of their stadiums.

Djibouti led at halftime but two goals from Victorien Adebayor saw Niger come back to triumph in a section where Burkina Faso host Algeria on Tuesday in Marrakesh.

Kpah Sherman scored the only goal of the game in Douala as Liberia, coached by Englishman Peter Butler, won 1-0 away to the Central African Republic in Group C.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

FIFA OPENS DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS FOR ABANDONED BRAZIL-ARGENTINA MATCH

World football’s governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings into Sunday’s Brazil v Argentina World Cup qualifier which was abandoned after five minutes due to intervention by health officials.

Brazilian health authorities invaded the pitch to stop the game after accusing four of Argentina’s English Premier League players of violating the country’s COVID-19 quarantine rules.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Tottenham Hotspur duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso were on the Neo Quimica Arena field as part of Argentina’s team when officials from Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa halted the match.

“Following the analysis of the official match reports related to the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Brazil and Argentina, FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened involving both member associations,” FIFA said in a statement.

“The two teams were asked to provide further information on the facts that led to the suspension of the match, which will be gathered and then thoroughly reviewed by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.”

Anvisa said Brazilian rules make clear that travellers who have been in the UK, South Africa or India during the previous 14 days are forbidden from entering the country unless they are Brazilian citizens or have permanent residency.

It said Argentine players had made false statements about their previous whereabouts on immigration forms. Brazil’s Federal Police said on Monday they had opened a formal inquiry into the actions of the Argentine players who, a spokesperson said, were deported.

Argentina’s Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia had also traveled from the UK and was in the stands.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

GRIEZMANN DOUBLE FIRES FRANCE TO VICTORY OVER FINLAND

Antoine Griezmann played chief tormentor as France sprung back into life to end a five-game winless streak by beating visitors Finland 2-0 in a World Cup Group D qualifier on Tuesday.

Griezmann struck in each half after his partnership with Karim Benzema bore fruit in satisfying fashion to put the world champions on 12 points from six matches at the top of the group.

Finland, who had a decent opening half, are third on five points but have two games in hand of the French.

Bosnia are fourth on three points from four games after a 2-2 draw with bottom side Kazakhstan, who also have three points. Ukraine are second on five points from as many matches.

“Even it was not perfect we showed determination and with that came some more technical quality,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.

“We had more confidence, it was more like us. It’s a very important result for us, now we have to finish the job in November.”

After two 1-1 draws against Bosnia and Ukraine, Deschamps’ tinkering paid off as France started in an usual 5-2-3 formation with Leo Dubois and Theo Hernandez as fullbacks and Griezmann, Anthony Martial and Benzema up front.

But it was Finland who had the first clear chance through Urho Nissila, whose floating strike was tipped over the bar by Hugo Lloris.

Les Bleus, however, were on the attack and Lukas Hradecky pulled off a nice save in the 22nd minute to deny Benzema.

Griezmann found the back of the net when he whipped the ball past Hradecky with the outside of his foot after collecting a clever deflection in the box by Benzema on 25 minutes.

Finland continued to threaten on the break, but France proved clinical early in the second half.

After some more nice work from Benzema, Dubois found Griezmann in the area and the forward sneaked the ball between Hradecky and the left-hand post to give the hosts some breathing space in the 53rd.

He has now scored 41 international goals to become France’s joint third all-time top scorer alongside Michel Platini.

Shortly afterwards, Martial missed Hernandez’s cross for what would have been France’s third.

France controlled the end game, keeping the ball high on the pitch and creating a few chances through Benzema, who had a night to remember on his visit to his former stadium, 12 years after leaving Lyon for Real Madrid.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

WCQ: RED-HOT MEMPHIS DEPAY NETS HATRICK AS NETHERLANDS THRASH TURKEY

Red-hot Memphis Depay nets hat-trick as Netherlands hit Turkey for six

Memphis Depay scored a hat trick as the Netherlands ran out 6-1 winners over 10-man Turkey at the Amsterdam Arena on Tuesday to go top of World Cup qualifying Group G on goal difference.

It was the first international treble for the 27-year-old striker — who joined Barcelona as a free agent this summer — as the Dutch posted an emphatic victory for the second time in four days. The big win put them on 13 points from six games and vaulted them above Turkey at the head of the group.

Davy Klaassen scored in the opening minute to make a dream start for the home side, who had lost 4-2 to Turkey in Istanbul in March at the start of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 finals, before Depay added three more, including a penalty.

Guus Til scored the fifth 10 minutes from time and Donyell Malen added a sixth in stoppage time before a consolation goal for Cengiz Under.

The result means Turkey slip from top to third in the group as they remain on 11 points with Norway moving second, behind the Dutch on goal difference, after beating Gibraltar 5-1 on Tuesday.

It was a night for dominance by the Dutch, who picked up where they left off after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Montenegro to snatch the lead as Klaassen combined with Depay to score almost straight from the kick-off. An aggressive Dutch approach led to Klaassen then providing the assist for Depay’s first goal in the 17th minute as they doubled the score, and it was 3-0 at halftime after Depay converted a 38th-minute penalty.

Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu was booked for a foul on Klaassen to concede the spot-kick, which was awarded after a VAR check. The Turkey defender was then sent off for a second caution on the stroke of halftime. From there, Depay completed his hat-trick with a diving header on the goal-line to touch home Steven Berghuis’s cross in the 54th minute, before Til and Malen sealed the win with two more goals.

The one blemish came from a errant pass from goalkeeper Justin Bijlow that allowed Under to score for Turkey with the last kick of the game.

All in all, it was a triumphant night for veteran coach Louis van Gaal at the start of his third spell as coach. He had just days to prepare the team for their draw in Norway last Wednesday, but has since engineered two emphatic wins and a clear path to automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

WCQ: NIGERIA COME BACK FROM BEHIND TO GET NARROW WIN AT CAPE VERDE

Victor Osimhen’s strike and Kenny Rocha Santos’ own goal helped Nigeria come from behind to beat Cape Verde 2-1 in their 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying game.

Two defensive blunders from the hosts secured maximum points for the Super Eagles as they clinched back-to-back wins in Group C.

It was a memorable outing for Ahmed Musa who made his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles while Malmo’s Innocent Bonke and Bolgona’s Kingsley Michael were handed starting debuts, in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo.

The Blue Sharks drew first blood in the 19th minute after Dylan Dos Santos beat an offside trap to fire his left-footed shot past goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.

Five minutes later, Ryan Mendes tried to test the Super Eagles shot-stopper with another shot but it went off target.

Osimhen and Ejuke linked up a few minutes later as Nigeria kept pushing for an equaliser and the CSKA Moscow winger forced Cape Verde’s Vozinha to parry his long-range shot for a corner-kick.

Their push finally paid off as Osimhen capitalised on a defensive error to draw both teams level in the 29th minute.

Ejuke proved to be a threat to the Blue Sharks’ defence with his long-range efforts, he again forced Vozinha to make a fine save off his curling right shot from the edge of the box.

Nigeria started the second half with a much higher tempo with Nantes winger Moses Simon winning a number of fouls for the visitors.

Just before the hour-mark, Cape Verde coach Bubista opted to introduce Garry Rodrigues for Vagner while Rohr made his tactical changes in the 70th minute as Henry Onyekuru and Terem Moffi replaced Simon and Musa respectively.

Onyekuru made an instant impact but his effort lacked power to beat Vozinha, however, they finally turned the game around after another defensive error. Kenny Rocha Santos played the ball into his team’s net after the goalkeeper had left his position.

With three minutes left on the clock, Vagner Dias nearly canceled the Super Eagles’ second goal but his header was slightly off target.

The victory stretched Nigeria’s lead in Group C to six points after two games while Cape Verde have just gathered a point and they are behind second-placed Liberia.

On Tuesday, Kpah Sherman helped Liberia beat Central African Republic 1-0 with his 86th-minute effort in Douala.

Nigeria will shift their attention to next month’s double-header clash against CAR with the aim of extending their dominance in the group while Cape Verde have a date with Liberia in October.

Categories
Sports News

LIVERPOOL SATISFIED OVER NABY KEITA SAFETY, WORKING TO GET MIDFIELDER OUT OF GUINEA

Liverpool are in constant dialogue with the relevant authorities as they work to bring midfielder Naby Keita back from Guinea after an apparent military coup in the country.

The 26-year-old was on international duty in his homeland when a group of soldiers detained president Alpha Conde and volatility in the country – hours of heavy gunfire were reported around the presidential palace on Sunday – resulted in Guinea’s World Cup qualifier against Morocco on Monday being postponed.

But with all borders closed the visiting team were escorted to the airport after negotiations at embassy-level gave them special dispensation to leave Conakry.

Keita remains in Guinea but is “safe and well” and his club are working on solutions to bring him back to Merseyside.

“We are in constant contact with Naby and have had regular communication via his national team management,” said a Liverpool spokesman in a statement to the PA news agency.

“We are satisfied that he is safe and well cared for.

“Obviously the situation is fluid and we will maintain regular dialogue with the relevant authorities as we work to get Naby back to Liverpool in a timely and secure manner.”

Categories
football Slides Sports News

WCQ: Germany clicks in Flick’s 2nd game to thrash Armenia

Midfielder Serge Gnabry scored two early goals as Germany rediscovered their form in front of goal to hammer Armenia 6-0 on Sunday and go top of World Cup qualifying Group J with 12 points from five games.

After Germany’s attack struggled in a laboured 2-0 win over Liechtenstein on Thursday, Gnabry netted twice in the opening 15 minutes with Marco Reus and Timo Werner both scoring before the break as they dismantled the Armenian defence with clever passing and deft flicks.

Jonas Hofmann added a fifth seven minutes after the break with a low bouncing drive, and substitute Karim Adeyemi put the icing on the cake with a goal on his international debut to make it 6-0 in second-half stoppage time.

The win means the Germans leap-frog Armenia to the top of the group, with their visitors now two points behind in second spot. Romania are third on nine points, one ahead of North Macedonia.

Categories
football Sports News

SHANE FERGUSON WONDER STRIKE FIRES NORTHERN IRELAND TO VICTORY IN ESTONIA

Shane Ferguson marked his 50th cap for Northern Ireland with a wonder strike as they edged out Estonia 1-0 in a friendly.

For 75 minutes the two sides played out a largely drab affair in Tallinn but second-half substitute Ferguson changed that when he lashed home a left-footed strike from 30 yards to spark jubilant celebrations.

It made it two wins out of two for Ian Baraclough’s side this week, meaning they will go into Wednesday’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Switzerland full of confidence.

As promised, Baraclough made major changes to rest his main men following the exertions of Thursday’s 4-1 qualifying win over Lithuania, but still sprang one surprise as Jamal Lewis kept his place ahead of Ferguson in the starting line-up.

Paddy McNair, suspended for Wednesday, was the only other player retained but Baraclough still chose a number of experienced players, with Niall McGinn confirmed as captain, Kyle Lafferty leading the line, and Trevor Carson replacing Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal.

They faced an Estonia side featuring seven players from Tallinn’s own FC Flora, including the 37-year-old captain Konstantin Vassiljev, who won his 133rd cap.

The Estonian players’ familiarity with each other was apparent as the hosts made a bright start, with Vassiljev getting away from Ciaron Brown to tee up Maksim Paskosti, but the Spurs youngster fired well over.

Rauna Sappinen then got in front of Tom Flanagan before crumbling to the floor, but the referee correctly waved away appeals.

Northern Ireland gradually grew into the game, with Jordan Jones’ fine volleyed pass releasing Gavin Whyte, but his return ball into the box was cut out for a corner.

Northern Ireland kept the pressure on and Alfie McCalmont picked out Lafferty, but the veteran – without an international goal since November 2016 – could not generate power on the turn as Matvej Igonen comfortably gathered the ball.

Estonia made four changes at the break and looked revitalised as a result. Mattias Kait made a dangerous run down the left before fellow substitute Henri Anier’s low cross from the right found Erik Sorga, but Flanagan did just enough to ensure the VVV-Venlo striker poked wide.

Baraclough responded by replacing Lafferty with Dion Charles and sending on Ferguson in place of Lewis, with the Rotherham man being handed the captain’s armband by McGinn on his landmark appearance.

Northern Ireland were preparing to replace Carson too when the Dundee United goalkeeper got down well to safe Sorga’s shot across goal as Estonia threatened again just after the hour – his last involvement before Conor Hazard took his place.

But the hosts remained on top, with former Dundee United and Motherwell forward Anier sending another chance wide.

The game then changed as Ferguson’s bullet found the top corner, with Igonen unable to do anything more than push it on to the inside of a post on its way in as the 30-year-old got his second international goal.

Northern Ireland tails were up and fellow substitute Conor Bradley, earning his second cap, poked a shot wide from the edge of the area before teeing up Ferguson for another strike which this time sailed over.

Hazard saved smartly from Anier before Markus Poom – son of former Derby and Sunderland goalkeeper Mart – sent a late chance over as Northern Ireland hung on for the win.