Sports

Osimhen scores 100th club goal, Juve survive penalty controversy

Published

1 year ago

August 28, 2023

Victor Osimhen

Osimhen scores 100th club goal, Juve survive penalty controversy

Osimhen netted his third goal of the season from the penalty spot 15 minutes into Napoli’s first home match since lifting the league title in front of their fans for the third time back in June.

And Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo made sure Napoli would make it six points from six in the 64th minute, not long after Maxime Lopez was sent off and Giacomo Raspadori — who had hit the post seconds after kick-off — blasted a penalty into the stands.

“I think we played well, kept hold of the ball, we’re happy to have won the match in front of our fans,” said Di Lorenzo.

“We played well as a team. We’ve started well and the attitude is right so we’ve got everything for us to have a good season.”

Di Lorenzo’s first goal of the campaign came after some magical play from the returning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who made his season debut an hour into a one-sided contest at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Kvaratskhelia scored 14 times last season and set up the same number again, and he made his mark just three minutes after replacing Italy forward Matteo Politano.

READ ALSO:

The Georgian was surrounded by defenders near the penalty area but took a couple of steps forward before slipping in Di Lorenzo for a simple low finish.

It’s early days but Napoli already look a dangerous proposition under new coach Rudi Garcia, who has a tough act to follow in new Italy boss Luciano Spalletti, the architect of the Scudetto triumph.

Next week Napoli, who are level with leaders AC Milan and Verona at the top of the table, host Lazio who are yet to get off the mark after being beaten 1-0 by Promoted Genoa.

Lazio finished second last season but were seen off at home thanks to Italy forward Mateo Retegui’s first Serie A goal after signing from Boca Juniors this summer.

It was a good sign for Spalletti who will need goals when Italy face North Macedonia and Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying next month.

Outraged Bologna held Juventus in Turin but were left wondering what might have been after being denied what looked to be a clear penalty moments before Dusan Vlahovic salvaged a point for the underwhelming hosts.

Vlahovic headed Juve level with 10 minutes remaining at the Allianz Stadium after Lewis Ferguson had put Bologna deservedly ahead midway through the first half.

READ ALSO:

But Bologna were incredulous when after on-field and VAR officials failed to punish Samuel Iling-Junior — who subsequently set up Vlahovic’s equaliser — for cutting down Dan Ndoye and stopping him from tapping in from close range.

It was a decision which so angered Bologna that it prompted a livid post-match reaction from the club’s CEO Claudio Fenucci as coach Thiago Motta refused to talk to media.

“I’ve done this job for 25 years and I don’t often go on TV to talk about referees,” said Fenucci.

“The win was taken from us by an incredible refereeing decision… It’s unthinkable that a challenge like that is not punished with a penalty and a red card.”

Not even the return of Paul Pogba to midfield after a year of injury problems could inspire Juve to claim the three points, the France star doing little as a second half substitute as Juve huffed and puffed ineffectively.

It was an uninspiring display from Juve which poured cold water on the idea that they are back as league title contenders.

“I’m obviously happy to be back… but I’m also a bit disappointed with the result,” said Pogba to DAZN.

Lecce bounced back from two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Fiorentina thanks to goals from Hamza Rafia and Nikola Krstovic.

Osimhen scores 100th club goal, Juve survive penalty controversy

Sports

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Gabriel Jesus struck twice as Arsenal became the first side since Chelsea in 2005 to go a full calendar year unbeaten in Premier League London derbies, defeating Crystal Palace 5-1 to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to three points for the time being.

A hat-trick against Palace in a 3-2 EFL Cup victory on Wednesday earned Jesus a starting berth here, and it took just six minutes for him to reward Mikel Arteta’s selection.

A first Premier League goal since January arrived when Bukayo Saka’s cross bounced off Gabriel Magalhães, allowing Jesus to stride towards the ball and side-foot home. A nervy moment for David Raya went unpunished moments later, but just five minutes after going ahead, the Gunners were pegged back as the red-hot Ismaïla Sarr bent an effort around William Saliba and inside the far post.

A breathless start to the contest continued with a third goal in the opening 15 minutes, and perhaps predictably, it came from an Arsenal corner. This time, Gabriel Martinelli’s delivery was partially cleared, but only as far as Jesus, whose controlled finish flew into the corner.

READ ALSO:

Another defensive lapse from the visitors almost saw the scores levelled once more, only for Raya to bail out Saliba with a one-on-one stop to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta. At the other end, Gabriel went close from yet another Arsenal corner before the away side extended their advantage through Kai Havertz, who reacted first after Jesus had nodded onto the far post.

Needing a response, the hosts were inches from reducing the deficit straight after the restart when Raya was equal to Sarr’s diving header. The Arsenal shot-stopper was then called into action again, getting behind Mateta’s rifled long-range shot and catching Sarr’s follow-up header.

Those saves kept the Eagles at bay, and with an hour played, the points were all but wrapped up. A well-worked move should have ended with Jesus’ second hat-trick of the week, yet Henderson saved well with his foot only to see Martinelli turn in substitute Declan Rice’s resultant low strike.

Determined to get on the scoresheet, Rice guided in Arsenal’s fifth goal late on, sealing three vital points in an evening where the only major blemish was Saka’s first-half injury.

Despite conceding in a seventh consecutive away league match – their longest travelling run without a PL clean sheet in over five years – Arsenal now find themselves within touching distance of the league summit, albeit having played more games than the sides above them.

Meanwhile, Palace had lost just one of their last eight PL fixtures (W3, D4), but defeat here means they’re yet to add to their solitary home league victory (D4, L4), leaving the Eagles 15th in the table.

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Sports

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Substitute Alexander Sorloth scored an injury-time winner as Atletico Madrid fought back against Barcelona to replace them at the top of La Liga.

Pedri opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 30th minute, linking up with fellow Spain midfielder Gavi before slotting a low strike past Jan Oblak.

Despite their dominance, the hosts couldn’t hold on and Rodrigo De Paul hammered home the equaliser on the hour mark after leaping on a mistake from Marc Casado.

READ ALSO:

Barcelona were left to rue more missed chances when Sorloth slammed in Nahuel Molina’s cross in the sixth minute of injury time to give Atletico their 12th straight win in all competitions.

The victory means Atletico will end 2024 as the top team in Spain, three points above Barcelona, who have played a game more.

Hansi Flick’s Barca side could slip to third if Real Madrid beat Sevilla on Sunday.

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Sports

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to retain heavyweight titles

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to retain heavyweight titles

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to retain his unified heavyweight world titles and prove his status as a generational great with another close points win in their rematch in Saudi Arabia.

Having inflicted a first career defeat on Briton Fury by split decision in May, Usyk’s astuteness and will to win once again prevailed at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena – and he retained his WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles.

Fury, 36, found success in the first half of the fight. Some of the more eye-catching shots came from the Morecambe fighter, but the volume of punches and cleaner work were from Ukrainian Usyk.

All three judges scored it 116-112 to the 37-year-old champion.

READ ALSO:

Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion, extended his undefeated record to 23 pro wins.

“He [Tyson Fury] is a great fighter, he is a great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said.

Two-time world champion Fury has only ever lost to Usyk, his two defeats the major blemishes on a record also consisting of 34 wins and one draw.

Fury left the ring without conducting an interview, before IBF world champion Daniel Dubois climbed in and called for a rematch with Usyk.

A visibly frustrated figure in the moments after the scorecards were read out, Fury said backstage he was convinced he won the fight by “at least three rounds”.