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
Barcelona go three points clear after beating Osasuna
Barcelona go three points clear after beating Osasuna
Barcelona beat Osasuna in their rearranged La Liga fixture to move three points clear at the top of the table.
The game was meant to be played on 8 March but was called off 20 minutes before kick-off after the death of Barcelona’s first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick criticised the timing of this rescheduled match, coming a day after the end of the international break – with 27-goal Raphinha missing out after travelling back from Brazil duty.
“It’s disrespectful to the club to schedule that match on that date, no matter what club it is,” Barca defender Jules Kounde told DAZN.
“I think that beyond the lack of respect for the clubs, it’s a lack of respect for the players, because we have to understand that we’re not machines.”
Kounde played a full 90 minutes plus extra time and penalties in France’s victory over Croatia in the Nations League on Sunday.
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On Thursday, the Catalans were comfortable winners at their temporary Olympic Stadium home.
Ferran Torres slid them into the lead from Alex Balde’s cross.
Dani Olmo then won a penalty after being fouled by goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.
Herrera saved Olmo’s spot-kick – but it had to be retaken because an Osasuna player encroached in the box. Olmo scored the second time around, but in a busy first half later had to be replaced because of injury.
Substitute Robert Lewandowski headed in a third goal to cap a swift counter-attack.
Barcelona, who are three points above Real Madrid and seven clear of Atletico Madrid, are next in action at home to neighbours Girona in La Liga on Sunday.
Barcelona go three points clear after beating Osasuna
Sports
Messi-less Argentina thrash Brazil 4-1 to secure World Cup qualification
Messi-less Argentina thrash Brazil 4-1 to secure World Cup qualification
Argentina qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a stunning 4-1 victory over archrivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAllister, and Giuliano Simeone clinched an impressive victory for the world champions, who had already been assured of a World Cup spot following Bolivia’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay earlier Tuesday.
The goalless draw created a joyous mood at the Estadio Monumental before a ball was kicked, and Argentina continued the party with a scorching performance.
Alvarez of Atletico Madrid opened the scoring after only six minutes, latching onto Thiago Almada’s through cross and finishing from close range beyond Brazil goalkeeper Bento.
Argentina’s fortunes improved six minutes later when Chelsea’s Fernandez scored the hosts’ second goal of the night after Brazil’s back four failed to deal with a low cross.
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Brazil, trailing a surging Argentina, was given a lifeline on 26 minutes when Cristian Romero made a mistake, allowing Mattheus Cunha to score.
Tottenham defender Romero was caught in possession 25 yards from goal, allowing Cunha to break in and shoot low past Emiliano Martinez to make it 2-1.
However, any thoughts of a Brazilian comeback were dashed in the 37th minute with a spectacular goal by Mac Allister.
Almada was once again the provider, lofting a pass into the box, which Mac Allister met with a first-time volley to make it 3-1.
With Argentina in perfect control, Simeone scored his first international goal in the 71st minute, making the score 4-1.
Argentina won without their talisman and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, while Brazil were without their star forward Neymar Jr.
Both players were forced to pull out of the squad last week due to minor injuries, thwarting the chance to see the two ageing stars resume their international rivalry.
Messi-less Argentina thrash Brazil 4-1 to secure World Cup qualification
Sports
Nigeria’s Super Eagles falter in W’Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe, S’Africa lead, Egypt, Morocco qualify
Nigeria’s Super Eagles falter in W’Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe, S’Africa lead, Egypt, Morocco qualify
Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday conceded a last-minute goal that dealt a major blow to their 2026 World Cup qualifying hopes.
While the Nigerian team failed to beat Zimbabwe in their sixth game played in
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Bafana Bafana of South Africa defeated Benin 2-0 to consolidate the top spot.
The South African team leads with 13 points from six rounds, five clear of Rwanda (which drew with Lesotho 1-1) and Benin. Nigeria stayed fourth in the group with just seven points.
Elsewhere, Egypt and Morocco all but booked their places at next year’s tournament.
In the game between Nigeria and Zimbabwe, Victor Osimhen with a powerful header put the Super Eagles on course to claim just their second win in Group C after Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda had rekindled their qualification hopes.
But the 21-year-old Chirewa, a late substitute, equalized in the 90th minute to earn Zimbabwe’s draw.
Eric Chelle, Super Eagles coach, named the same line-up that started the team’s 2-0 win over Rwanda on Friday.
Washington Arubi, the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, produced a couple of impressive saves to keep Nigeria at bay.
The goalkeeper clawed out a swerving header from Osimhen before denying the striker a few minutes later with another acrobatic dive to save a shot fizzing into his top corner.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have three more matches in September and October to finally determine their fate for the next World Cup proper.
They are to meet Rwanda, South Africa and Lesotho on September 8, October 6 and October 13 respectively.
Only the nine group winners secure automatic qualification. The four best-placed runners-up will compete to be the African contender in FIFA’s six-country playoff for the last two qualification spots at the World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
How They Stand Now
South Africa — 13 points
Rwanda — 8 points
Benin Republic — 8 points
Nigeria — 7 points
Lesotho — 6 points
Zimbabwe — 4 points
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