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Manchester United records a sensational Premier League victory against Brentford

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Manchester United records a sensational Premier League victory against Brentford

SCOTT McTominay scored twice in stoppage time as Manchester United came from behind to record a sensational Premier League victory against Brentford at Old Trafford.

United were staring at a third successive home league loss for the first time since 1979 thanks to Mathias Jensen’s first-half effort.

McTominay was only brought on with three minutes remaining as manager Erik ten Hag desperately searched for salvation – and the Scot duly provided it.

He showed excellent control before firing home when Kristoffer Ajer scuffed a clearance inside his own box for the first.

Then, after Anthony Martial had a low shot saved by Thomas Strakosha, McTominay reacted quickest to a Harry Maguire flick-on and applied the priceless finish.

The home fans celebrated long after the final whistle as their team headed round on a lap of honour, which was probably a bit extreme but, given the circumstances, totally understandable.

It is impossible to underestimate what McTominay’s double will do for morale around United during the international break.

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Like Maguire, the midfielder could have left Old Trafford in the summer, so it is ironic the pair combined to salvage what had been set to be a desperate situation for Ten Hag.

Averting that 1977 statistic and, more pertinently, three home defeats in a week against opposition most observers would expect them to dismiss relatively comfortably, provides breathing space from a suffocating situation.

But once the sugar rush of the euphoria has subsided, Ten Hag will know he has a lot of work to do to even make United into the coherent outfit he turned them into last season.

There is no-one who epitomises United’s malaise more than Marcus Rashford.

Although it was after the World Cup he really went on the surge that took him to 30 goals last season, he had scored five by this point last term. Now he is stuck on the single effort he scored against Arsenal on 3 September.

Rashford’s body language is poor. At one point he tried to control a high punt out of the Brentford area, only for the ball to bounce under his foot and out for a throw, which he took himself and then ambled towards the area.

When he did chase back to play a pass to Onana as Brentford countered from a United corner, Rashford was ponderous as he then made his way forward again, even though the hosts transitioned the ball into attack fairly quickly.

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He did draw a low save out of Brentford’s Premier League debutant keeper Thomas Strakosha as the opening period was drawing to a close but he also sent a speculative effort drifting well wide 10 minutes into the second half.

It was all so far removed from the Rashford he is when at his dangerous best, using his pace to unsettle even the best defences, and it was no surprise when he was taken off with barely an hour gone as Ten Hag chased the game.

As it turned out, United had to wait for another 24 minutes for the substitution that made the difference.

Even as the Brentford fans celebrated Jensen giving them the lead, they would have been wary.

Going into the game, they had dropped more points from winning positions than any other top-flight team.

Yet, until the mad ending, they actually looked more like adding to their lead than conceding an equaliser.

Neal Maupay and Christian Norgaard both had efforts touched over by United keeper Andre Onana, who had hardly covered himself in glory with the Brentford goal.

It was actually a catalogue of defensive errors that started with Casemiro gifting possession to Brentford deep inside his own half when he was under no pressure.

The Brazilian then missed a rescuing tackle before Victor Lindelof’s attempted clearance went straight to a visiting player inside the United box. Jensen applied the low finish, which Onana failed to keep out.

For so long, it looked like being enough to secure Brentford their first Old Trafford win since 1937. McTominay had other ideas.

Manchester United records a sensational Premier League victory against Brentford

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Messi-less Argentina thrash Brazil 4-1 to secure World Cup qualification

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March 26, 2025

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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

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles falter in W’Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe, S’Africa lead, Egypt, Morocco qualify

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March 26, 2025

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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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Juventus to sign Osimhen with player-plus-cash offer

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4 days ago

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March 23, 2025

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Victor Osimhen

Juventus to sign Osimhen with player-plus-cash offer

Juventus are preparing to offer a player-plus-cash deal to sign Nigerian international sensation Victor Osimhen from Napoli in the summer.

The Bianconeri have identified Osimhen as a key target for their offensive overhaul, and they are willing to include defender Federico Gatti in the deal to entice their Serie A rivals to negotiate.

According to Tuttosport, Juventus is aware of the complexities of the transaction, given Napoli’s reluctance to sell such a prominent player to a direct competitor.

Osimhen was instrumental in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning campaign in 2023, scoring 26 goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award as the club broke a 33-year jinx.

The Old Lady’s strategy includes capitalising on Napoli coach Antonio Conte’s fondness for Federico Gatti, hoping the centre-back will satisfy the Partenopei’s defensive issues while also enabling their pursuit of the Nigerian striker.

This move comes as Juventus prepares to unload Dusan Vlahovic and renegotiate Randal Kolo Muani’s loan with Paris Saint-Germain in order to extend his time at the Allianz Stadium beyond the summer.

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Osimhen, who is presently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in top form this season, netting 20 goals in 22 league games for the Turkish giants.

Osimhen, a 26-year-old striker, broke Segun Odegbami’s 44-year-old Nigerian goalscoring record during a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Kigali.

Odegbami, Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer since 1981, expressed delight at seeing his record broken.

“Osimhen has finally overtaken me, and I think that is good because the record has been hanging on for a very long time. I am very happy for him, and I want to say good luck to him,” Odegbami stated.

“He is still young, and he has a long way to go.”

The striker is currently second only to the late Rashidi Yekini on Nigeria’s all-time scoring list, with 37 goals.

Since making his Super Eagles debut in June 2017, Osimhen has established himself as the team’s talisman, with significant performances in AFCON qualifiers, where he scored two hat tricks in 2023.

Juventus to sign Osimhen with player-plus-cash offer

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