Connect with us

Uncategorized

Haaland on fire for Man City, Arsenal maintain perfect start

blank

Published

on

blank
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi in action with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a fifth consecutive win but Manchester City’s new signing Erling Haaland stole the limelight with his second hat-trick in 6-0 romp over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Newcastle United’s record signing Alexander Isak scored on his debut to put his side ahead at Anfield but Liverpool snatched a 2-1 victory deep in stoppage time through Fabio Carvalho.

Tottenham Hotspur remained unbeaten but were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.

Haaland’s eagerly-awaited arrival at Manchester City has seen the Norwegian make a spectacular impact.

After scoring three times in the second half in a win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, Haaland struck three times in the opening 38 minutes as rampant City overwhelmed Forest.

He has scored nine goals in five league games since joining City from Borussia Dortmund — a record.

Advertisement

“It was about keeping doing what we did in the second half against Palace, play, play, play — it was nice. It’s been good so far, I’m not complaining,” he said.

Haaland put City ahead in the 12th minute after a pass by Phil Foden and Foden provided the assist for Haaland’s second.

Haaland completed his treble with a powerful header.

Argentine Julian Alvarez, another new signing for the champions, scored twice after the break as City again displayed their formidable firepower.

City have 13 points from their five games and have scored 19 goals but Arsenal are setting the pace.

Advertisement

Mikel Arteta’s claimed a fifth win as they edged Aston Villa 2-1 at The Emirates — Brazilian strike duo Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli both on target for the Gunners.

STRUGGLING VILLA

Jesus opened the scoring in the 31st minute and Martinelli grabbed the 77th-minute winner, three minutes after struggling Villa had equalised when substitute Douglas Luiz scored directly from a corner.

“We are really happy because we are winning football matches the way we deserve,” Arteta said. “We need to improve and you could see that in the second half, but the way we played in the first half is really pleasing as a coach.”

Liverpool have made a stuttering start and when Isak, signed for a reported 59 million pounds from Real Sociedad, latched on to Sean Longstaff’s pass to put Newcastle ahead in the 38th minute it looked like being another night of frustration.

The 22-year-old had a goal disallowed in the second half as Liverpool were rocking.

Advertisement

Liverpool finally woke up and struck back in the 61st minute when Roberto Firmino drove home Mohamed Salah’s cut-back.

Newcastle defended desperately for a point but were left crestfallen when Carvalho thumped home the winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time to move up to fifth in the table on eight points, with Newcastle 11th on six.

“Football can go in both directions but tonight it went in the right one, a perfect end of the game,” said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who accused Newcastle of time-wasting.

His opposite number Eddie Howe was less happy.

“I am really proud of the players, proud of the commitment but that is very painful,” he said.

Advertisement

Tottenham, who could have joined Manchester City on 13 points, led at West Ham thanks to an own goal by Thilo Kehrer.

But Tomas Soucek earned West Ham a deserved point with a 55th-minute leveller.

Bournemouth, who sacked manager Scott Parker this week in after their 9-0 hammering at Liverpool, regrouped with a 0-0 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

-Reuters

Advertisement

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Uncategorized

It’s hattrick as Morocco hosts CAF Awards for the third time in a row

blank

Published

on

blank

The CAF Awards will again hold in Morocco this time on 16 December. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the prestigious ceremony, which honors the best performers in African football, will again take place on December 16 in Morocco.

This marks the third consecutive year that the North African nation will host the event, following successful editions in 2022 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora and 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech.

No specific venue has been named for the 2024 edition.

The ceremony encompasses various categories, including the coveted African Player of the Year award, which has been presented annually since 1992, with Ghana’s Abedi Pele being the inaugural recipient.

Other notable accolades include the African Women’s Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Club of the Year awards, among others.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Time to put second star on England shirt, says new coach Tuchel

blank

Published

on

blank
England FA Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 16, 2024 New England manager Thomas Tuchel and FA CEO Mark Bullingham during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

England head coach Thomas Tuchel strode confidently into Wembley Stadium on Wednesday with a single-minded vision to win the 2026 World Cup for the success-starved soccer nation.

A whirlwind week has seen the 51-year-old German sign an 18-month contract to lead England to the tournament being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking at a packed news conference, the former Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach borrowed a quote from Brazilian great Pele to describe his excitement at becoming only the third foreign coach to lead England.

“I’m of course obviously very excited and honoured to be here today as a new head coach of England,” Tuchel, who will take up his new role in January, told reporters.

“I just had the chance to read a quote from Pele in the building who said that Wembley is the heart, the capital and the cathedral of football and I think he was absolutely right.”

Advertisement

England, however, have not won the World Cup, or any other major trophy, since 1966 and Tuchel said it was time to capitalise on one of the best squads since that 1966 team.

“I understood very quickly that it’s a big job,” Tuchel said. “Once I made a time frame up in my mind from January to the World Cup, I felt already excited that it suited my passion, to strive to push this group of players.

“To be part of this federation with such a strong record in the last tournaments to push it over the line and to try to put a second star on the shirt,” he added in reference to the convention of international teams wearing shirts bearing the number of stars to match their World Cup triumphs.

Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, said around 10 candidates had been interviewed for the job but that Tuchel had a clear vision that would give a highly-rated squad the best chance of winning the World Cup.

QUESTIONS RAISED

Advertisement

After eight years under Englishman Gareth Southgate, in which England reached a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals, the choice of Tuchel has raised questions about why another English coach was not appointed.

Tuchel, who was asked one question in German, said he had not made a decision on whether he would sing the national anthem, but had a message for critics of his appointment.

“I’m sorry, I just have a German passport but the supporters felt my passion for the English Premier League, my passion for the country, how I love to live here,” Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, said.

“Hopefully, I can convince them and show them and prove them that I’m proud to be the English manager, I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country and the target for the next 18 months is nothing else.

“Everyone can be assured that we will do it with passion and with emotions and we will try to install values and principles and rules as quickly as possible to make the dream come true.”

Advertisement

Tuchel, who will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry, said the relatively short 18-month contract was streamlined and allowed him to focus solely on the World Cup.

“It’s 18 months and then we agreed to sit together and then we see. I have good experience with 18 months personally,” Tuchel, who was sacked after a similar period by Chelsea and lasted only one full season at Bayern Munich, said.

“I think it’s a good time frame because it will help us to focus. We are here to work on the best possible outcome for the World Cup and then let’s see whatever comes.”

-Reuters

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

blank

Published

on

blank

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.

Continue Reading

Most Viewed