Sports

Man United, Chelsea in drab goalless draw

Published

3 years ago

October 24, 2020

Manchester United and Chelsea ground out a drab goalless draw in the Old Trafford rain that will convince no-one either side will be challenging for the Premier League this season.

Chelsea will probably be happier with a point and might have had more if United skipper Harry Maguire had been punished for wrapping his arm around the throat of Cesar Azpilicueta as he defended a first-half corner.

Although they remain stuck in the bottom half of the table, United were at least able to avoid losing a third straight home league game at the start of the season for the first time since 1930.

In addition, they can also point to three good saves from Edouard Mendy, two to deny Marcus Rashford, including one in the final minute, and one where Bruno Fernandes was thwarted.

However, Chelsea’s biggest scare was Mendy passing the ball across his goal and out for a corner in the first half when trying to pass to Thiago Silva.

Neither Edinson Cavani, on his debut, nor Paul Pogba could change things in the home side’s favour after they were introduced as substitutes. Mason Greenwood was given the final eight minutes to make an impression – but did not.

Chelsea gain in defence, lose in attack

After conceding three times in two of their previous three league games, today’s clean sheet, after denying Sevilla in similar fashion on Wednesday, does provide Chelsea with the kind of platform they have been lacking so far this season.

The return of Thiago Silva to anchor a three-man defence provided solidity. Yet it also seemed to cost Chelsea their edge in attack.

Too often Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic were left trying to take United’s defence on alone and rarely did the visitors mount concerted pressure around the United box, even though they dominated possession for long periods.

England defender Reece James looked their most inventive attacking threat with his forceful bursts down the right flank. However, his final ball was poor and United keeper David de Gea did not have to make a meaningful save.

Sixth place may look presentable for Frank Lampard’s men at the moment but they could slide down the league over the weekend and evidently, a large summer outlay is yet to pay dividends.

Rashford repelled by Mendy

It has been another amazing week for Marcus Rashford.

After getting the Government to overturn its own policy on providing free school meals to children forced to stay home during the spring lockdown, the England striker responded to a lacklustre response to his request for half-term meals by summoning support from everywhere apart from Downing Street.

Even Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp publicly backed Rashford, which considering the antipathy between their respective clubs is some going.

What Rashford does on the pitch is also important and this was a frustrating experience.

He was caught up in the general non-event of the first 25 minutes. On one United counter, he was screaming for a pass over the top from Juan Mata that he could chase beyond the Chelsea defence. Instead, the ball went sideways to Luke Shaw and was lost.

Mata did send Rashford through after Fernandes won possession inside the visitors’ half but Mendy denied him with a feet-first stop. By half-time, Rashford still looked in discomfort after he had gone down in pain after a tangle of legs with N’Golo Kante.

He recovered and after being moved to the left following the introduction of Cavani, remained a threat, with Azpilicueta blocking his low shot before Mendy kept out his final effort.

It was largely an evening of frustration, summed up as he smashed the ball away in irritation as the final whistle sounded.

Rare away clean sheet for Chelsea – the best of the stats

Manchester United have failed to win any of their first three home games to a league campaign for the first time since the 1972-73 season.

Chelsea have kept their first Premier League clean sheet outside of London since a goalless draw at Leicester on the final day of the 2018-19 season under Maurizio Sarri.

Manchester United are without a home league win in five games (D3 L2), their longest run without victory at Old Trafford since February 1990 (6 games).

Edouard Mendy became the first Chelsea goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in both of his first two Premier League games for the club since Petr Cech in August 2004.

Mendy became the first Chelsea goalkeeper to keep a Premier League clean sheet at Old Trafford since Thibaut Courtois in December 2015, while he was the first to do so in his first such game at the ground for the Blues since Kevin Hitchcock in December 1994.

Despite playing just half of Chelsea’s six Premier League games this season, Ben Chilwell has created more chances than any other player for the Blues in the league this season (9).

At 33 years and 253 days, Edinson Cavani became Manchester United’s oldest Premier League debutant since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in August 2016 (34y 316d).

‘It’s about kicking on after a poor start’ – what they said

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on BBC Match of the Day: “It was an even game. After a slow start, we grew into the game and played some decent stuff.

“We missed the crowd behind the goal there to suck the ball into the goal, which happens so many times at this place.

“There were good players at the other end of the pitch. Their keeper made some fantastic saves.

“The quality in the defending was very good. I’ve said all the time we have a squad full of good players and good characters but now it’s about kicking on after a poor start.”

On debutant Edinson Cavani: “He gives us something different to what we have of course. We now have a centre-forward who is different to the ones we already had.”

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard on BBC Match of the Day: “It’s a tight start to the season and I think this is just a continuation of that. It was in the final third where we lacked today but the clean sheet was a big plus for us.

“Sometimes we want to be flexible. We looked at Manchester United and we had games last season where we were the better team but lost to them on the counter-attack.”

On whether Cesar Azpilicueta should have been awarded a penalty, “Yeah, holding is allowed, but headlocks don’t go on. I don’t know why VAR didn’t take long and there’s also a monitor to look at. I think if the referee goes to the monitor he gives a penalty.”

What’s next?

Manchester United are next in action on Wednesday, 28 October, when they entertain RB Leipzig in the Champions League (20:00 GMT) and then host Arsenal in the Premier League on 1 November (16:30).

Chelsea travel to Russia to play FK Krasnodar in the Champions League on Wednesday (17:55). They visit Burnley in the Premier League on 31 October (15:00).

Sports

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

Published

10 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Trends Admin

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec 9 (Reuters) – John McGinn’s early goal led surging Aston Villa to a club-record 15th consecutive home Premier League victory on Saturday, a breathless 1-0 win over Arsenal that prevented Mikel Arteta’s Gunners from reclaiming top spot in the table.

Unai Emery’s Villa, who shocked champions Manchester City in a dominant 1-0 win on Wednesday as part of what McGinn called a “monumental week,” are now third on 35 points after 16 games in a jam-packed title race. Arsenal, who were overtaken by Liverpool earlier on Saturday, are second with 36.

“I’m banning the T-word,” a laughing McGinn told Sky Sports, when asked if Villa were title contenders. “It’s game week 16, so there’s a long, long way to go, and we respect everyone in front of us who have been in this position for years. We’re newbies. Can we keep it up? Hopefully.”

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Emery also cautioned that the season was young.

“I will speak when we are in (week) 30, 32, and if we are in the same position then as we are now, I can speak about (the title race),” he said.

Villa Park was rocking in the seventh minute after Leon Bailey sprinted down the right wing before cutting back the ball and picking out McGinn. Villa’s captain took one touch, turned sharply and fired past keeper David Raya.

Arsenal thought they had equalised in added time before VAR determined Kai Havertz had handled the ball while firing it past keeper Emi Martinez from a goalmouth scramble.

Delighted fans sang “Hi Ho Aston Villa” at the final whistle.

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

Sports

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

Published

11 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Trends Admin

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

ABDULLAHI Maikaba, Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars Football Club, has recommended Kingdom Osayi and Amas Obasogie of Doma United and Bendel Insurance, respectively, as good alternatives to resolve the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis.

Maikaba said this in an interview with journalists shortly after the Match Day 13 fixture of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, which was played at Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, on Saturday, with Kano Pillars losing 0-1 to Doma United.

He said with the form of both players, they deserved to be called up for the national team to help address the goalkeeping challenges being experienced by the team.

“Football is improving in Nigeria, especially at the league level.

“We hope the national team selectors will look inwards to our league.

“I recommend Doma United’s Kingdom and Bendel Insurance’s Amas to be of help to our national team.

“I believe these two goalkeepers can be safe hands for the Super Eagles,” he said.

On the outcome of the game, Maikaba said the fact that Doma United defeated his team by a lone goal didn’t mean the hosts were better than his team.

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He said his players were unlucky not to have grabbed the equalising goal, and he expressed optimism that his team had enough opportunity to recover and get to the top.

Asked why the 18-year-old Yusuf Abdullahi could not score a goal in spite scoring five at the same stadium on Sunday, Maikaba said it was due to pressure.

He stated that the player was under pressure from those who wanted to sell him to clubs outside the country.

“After scoring five goals, there must have been a lot of pressure on him, especially those that want to sell him out.

“We had to collect his phone for him to concentrate. I think that was part of his problem today,” he said.

Maikaba commended the turn out of supporters to watch their NPFL team play, adding that such attendance was good for the development of football in the country.

“I like the atmosphere, the supporters are out for them and it is good for Nigerian football,” he said.

On his part, Doma United’s Head Coach, Akinade Onigbinde, said Osayi had proven himself as a good goalkeeper that deserved a call-up to the national team.

Onigbinde said Osayi could challenge any goalkeeper in the national team in view of his impressive saves that had helped his team secure top spot in the NPFL.

He said he could give assurance to the coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, that Osayi would not disappoint if called up for national assignment.

“I brought Osayi to this team. I saw him when we played against Niger tornadoes in Kano last season.

“I saw the quality in him and since we had goalkeeping problems, I called him over, so I know he can do it.

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“He has the qualities to go to a national team. He is a fantastic goalkeeper and he has saved a lot of goals,” he said.

On the outcome of the game, he said they planned well for Kano Pillars knowing how good they were.

According to him, his defenders were tactically disciplined and that explained why Kano Pillars players found it difficult to score in the game.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Osayi attributed his success so far to God and fans of Doma United for their constant prayers and support.

He said he was not under any pressure to join the national team: “If I am given the opportunity to man the goal post (for the national team), I will be so excited, and I will definitely do my best.”

NAN reports that Osayi was named the NPFL player of the month for November, while Doma United coach was named coach of the month.

NAN also reports that Emmanuel Ekpenyong scored for Doma United in the 14th minute of the game to send his team to the top of the NPFL log with 25 points.

Doma now has two points ahead of Remo Stars and Lobi Stars who both have a game in hand.

Also, the 12, 000-capacity Pantami Township stadium was filled to capacity as fans crowded the facility to watch their teams play.

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

(NAN)

Sports

EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

Published

1 day ago

December 9, 2023

Trends Admin

EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

Mohamed Salah scored his 200th Liverpool goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced a late comeback against 10-man Crystal Palace to move top of the Premier League and increase the pressure on former boss Roy Hodgson.

It was Harvey Elliott who delivered the decisive moment inside the first of 10 minutes of added time, producing a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area to lift Liverpool above Arsenal.

Salah’s goal arrived just 98 seconds after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and the visitors had failed to land a shot on target prior to that moment.

Palace, booed off by their supporters following a disappointing home loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, were on course to deliver a surprise blow to the Red’s title aspirations following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.

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The game had continued for more than one minute after Jarell Quansah caught Mateta when attempting to clear a cross before the video assistant referee intervened – but referee Andy Madley did not take long to award Palace a spot-kick after being sent to the pitchside monitor.

Palace had seen a penalty decision in their favour overturned during the first half when Madley took three minutes to review a challenge by Will Hughes on Endo in the lead-up to Virgil van Dijk’s foul on Odsonne Edouard inside the box.

Liverpool, though dominant, struggled throughout to break the hosts down and the returning Alisson came to his side’s rescue in stunning fashion in the first half when he pushed Jefferson Lerma’s first-time shot on to the post.

The visitors again had the Brazilian to thank for another excellent stop to prevent Joachim Andersen providing a dramatic twist with a header from a free-kick in the 100th minute.

Having eventually ended Palace’s spirited resistance, victory took the Reds one point above last season’s runners-up Arsenal, who travel to third-placed Aston Villa later on Saturday (17:30 GMT).