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MANCHESTER CITY’S TITLE BID IN TATTERS
Manchester City’s faint hopes of retaining the Premier League title were left in tatters as they blew a two-goal lead and had Ederson sent off in a dramatic 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
Pep Guardiola’s side recovered from Ederson’s 12th minute dismissal to take control thanks to Raheem Sterling’s double either side of half-time.
But City’s fatigued stars were unable to go the distance as Adama Traore’s goal started a thrilling Wolves fightback.
Raul Jimenez equalised with eight minutes to go and Matt Doherty hit the winner to send Molineux wild in the 89th minute.
Third placed City trail runaway leaders Liverpool by 14 points and, Jurgen Klopp’s red-hot team have a game in hand, making it hard to imagine the champions getting their hands on the trophy for a third successive season.
Wolves, flying high in fifth place, have contributed to City’s downfall more than most and, after winning 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in October, they celebrated a top-flight double over the Manchester club for the first time since 1960-61.
The only blemish for Wolves were the missiles thrown from the stands when City celebrated their second goal, an incident that prompted the Football Association to launch an investigation.
Referee Martin Atkinson was seen passing a metal hip flask to the fourth official as an announcement over the tannoy warned “numerous instances of objects being thrown have been seen. CCTV will be used to prosecute offenders”.
It was a bitter night for Guardiola, whose team have lost five league games this season after being beaten just four times in the whole of last term.
City had looked closer to their best in recent wins over Arsenal and Leicester, but they could not have made a worse start at Molineux.
When Diogo Jota escaped with a well-timed run behind the City defence, Ederson rashly raced out of his area.
The Brazilian misjudged the bounce of the ball and clipped Jota, earning a red card. Guardiola then replaced Sergio Aguero with reserve keeper Claudio Bravo.
City responded by snatching the lead in controversial fashion in the 25th minute.
Riyad Mahrez made an incisive run that ended with Leander Dendoncker stepping on the Algerian’s foot, leading VAR to award a penalty.
That was not the end of the drama as Sterling’s low spot-kick was saved by Rui Patricio, only for VAR to intervene again as the penalty was retaken for encroachment.
RELENTLESS PRESSURE
Guardiola appeared to signal for a change of penalty taker, but Sterling stepped up and shot to the same side of Patricio’s goal with his second kick.
Again the Wolves keeper kept it out, but this time Sterling followed up to tap in the rebound.
When Sterling doubled the lead in the 50th minute, City looked in charge.
Rodri picked out Kevin De Bruyne and he played a perfectly-weighted pass behind the Wolves defence to Sterling.
Beating the offside trap with ease, Sterling ran clear on goal and clipped a deft finish over Patricio for his 19th club goal of the season.
But Sterling’s eventful night wasn’t finished yet and, when he surrendered possession carelessly in midfield five minutes later, Wolves took advantage to reduce the deficit.
Traore’s blistering pace makes him a tough opponent, so City backed off just enough to allow the wing-back to blast a low drive past Bravo from 20 yards.
Wolves’ relentless pressure in the closing stages finally forced City to crack.
Benjamin Mendy made a mess of trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick and Traore stole possession.
Traore crossed for Jimenez to stab past Bravo from close-range, leaving City’s exhausted players on their knees in frustration.
There was even worse to come for City in the 89th minute as Doherty took Jimenez’s backheel, slalomed past Nicolas Otamendi and smashed a fine finish into the far corner.
Sterling nearly rescued City in stoppage-time but his shot cannoned off the bar to push the champions a step closer to surrendering their crown.
-AFP
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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom
An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.
This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the Anambra and Imo states axis.
”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.
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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool
German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.
Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.
“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.
“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”
The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.
Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.
“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.
Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.
“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.
Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.
Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.
-Reuters
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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.
He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.
Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.
Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).
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