Sports
Premier League: Brentford stun wasteful Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Premier League: Brentford stun wasteful Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
A frustrating afternoon at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea’s unbeaten run halted at four games as Brentford recorded a 2-0 victory.
The Blues dominated the opening period and created several opportunities but none were taken and that proved costly in the second half.
Ethan Pinnock headed Brentford ahead shortly before the hour mark and, with Chelsea throwing men forward, the visitors grabbed a second on the counterattack through Bryan Mbeumo.
Pochettino made three changes to his side, albeit two were enforced. Axel Disasi came in at right-back for Malo Gusto, who dropped to the bench, while Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk were ruled out with minor injuries sustained in training.
That handed Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson starts and both were heavily involved during an opening 45 minutes that Chelsea dominated.
Chance after chance was created, with Cole Palmer dictating the Blues’ attacking play.
It was the 21-year-old who fashioned Chelsea’s first genuine sight of goal as he shifted the ball out wide to Madueke, who was left one-on-one with Aaron Hickey.
Madueke advanced into the penalty area and made enough space to guide a shot toward the far corner. Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was beaten but the ball rebounded back off the crossbar.
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Chelsea grew in confidence. Gallagher was next to threaten. The Blues skipper exchanged passes with Jackson and drove a shot toward the corner. Flekken, this time, was able to save.
He did so again to deny Cucurella. Sterling then thumped a shot high and wide from a tight angle. Both opportunities were fashioned by Palmer, who thrived in a free role behind Jackson.
Brentford were restricted to rare counterattacks forward; Robert Sanchez had very little to contend with in the opening period.
Yet for Chelsea’s dominance – which included late efforts from Madueke and Palmer – the game was goalless at halftime.
Pochettino’s side needed to maintain their tempo in possession after the restart. Yet the Blues were sluggish and were made to pay just before the hour mark as Brentford broke the deadlock.
Mbeumo was the architect as he exchanged passes down the Chelsea left, flighted a deep cross to the back post, and Pinnock was on hand to plant a header beyond Sanchez.
A response was needed and Pochettino turned to his bench: Reece James and Ian Maatsen were introduced for Diasi and Madueke.
Brentford, with a lead to protect, dropped deep into a 5-4-1 shape and frustrated the Blues. Passes into the box were intercepted. Crosses were constantly cleared. Shooting opportunities were hard to come by.
Lesley Ugochukwu and Deivid Washington were brought on with ten minutes to play. Players were pushed forward, but Brentford defended resolutely.
Thiago Silva did steer a header wide from a Gallagher corner and, after a cutback from James, neither Palmer nor Washington were able to make a clean connection with the ball inside the box.
Brentford continued to sit deep but carried a genuine threat on the counter and Sanchez had to produce a good stop to deny substitute Yehor Yarmolyuk. Mbeumo then flashed a shot just beyond the post.
Six minutes were added. In the final two Chelsea were awarded a late corner. Sanchez was sent up but the ball was cleared and Brentford countered through Neal Maupay and Mbeumo.
The latter was left with a simple finish into an unguarded net. The Blues were beaten.
Premier League: Brentford stun wasteful Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Sports
Lookman scores as Atalanta reach first European final
Lookman scores as Atalanta reach first European final
Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman was on the scoresheet as Atalanta makes history as the club reaches its first European final, after a 3-0 (4-1 aggregate) victory over Marseille in the UEFA Europa League semi-final.
With the tie so delicately poised after a draw in the first leg, it was La Dea who took the initiative in an utterly one-sided first half. The only surprise at the break was that Atalanta’s one-goal lead wasn’t any bigger, such had been their dominance.
Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere had both come close before Ademola Lookman found the breakthrough midway through the opening period. Cutting in from the left, Lookman’s curled shot took a hefty deflection off Samuel Gigot, before whistling into the far right-hand corner.
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The visitors had a chance to atone for their dreary first half display following the restart, but Iliman Ndiaye squandered the opportunity.
The ex-Sheffield United man had an empty net to aim for after goalkeeper Juan Musso found himself in no man’s land, but his lobbed effort fell wide of the upright. That miss was punished emphatically by Matteo Ruggeri, who put the tie beyond the Olympians.
Breaking into the Marseille penalty area, the 21-year-old drilled into the top corner of Pau López’s goal, giving Atalanta an unassailable advantage on the night and breathing space in the tie.
It just wasn’t Marseille’s night in the end, with Atalanta a cut above the Ligue 1 outfit, even adding a third through El Bilal Touré’s stylish effort in stoppage time.
That kickstarted the celebrations, and having knocked out competition favourites Liverpool en route to the final, La Dea will contest the final against Bayer Leverkusen on the 22nd of May confident they can secure just a second-ever major honour.
Lookman scores as Atalanta reach first European final
Sports
Tijani Babangida in fatal road accident, brother dies
Tijani Babangida in fatal road accident, brother dies
Tijani Babangida, former Super Eagles forward, was involved in a car accident on Thursday that tragically claimed the life of his younger brother, Ibrahim Babangida.
Babangida was part of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic team that won the gold medal and is currently the President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria.
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Former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, the General Secretary, PFAN, announced the incident in a statement.
“Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our president, Tijani Babangida, who just had a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Road,” Babayaro said.
“Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, died on the spot from the accident while Mr President (Babangida) and his family were taken to the hospital.
“May the soul of Ibrahim Babangida Rest In Peace with God, amen,” he announced.
Tijani Babangida in fatal road accident, brother dies
Sports
UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
Real Madrid snatched an incredible semi-final victory as two late goals defeated Bayern Munich and set up a Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern looked to be heading to the final when Alphonso Davies cut in and blasted past Andriy Lunin after England captain Harry Kane had found him with a superb pass.
But Joselu grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser when he reacted quickest after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had been excellent up until then, fumbled Vinicius Jr’s effort.
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There was even more drama to come two minutes later when Joselu, a former Stoke City striker, swept home from six yards out from Antonio Rudiger’s square pass.
The goal had originally been given as offside only for a video assistant referee decision to show that Joselu was onside, sparking incredible scenes of celebration in the Bernabeu, with Real hanging on to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Real, 14-time European champions, will face Dortmund on Saturday, 1 June at Wembley.
UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
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