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

Real Madrid outclass Pachuca to win FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Real Madrid outclass Pachuca to win FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Kylian Mbappe’s first-half strike at Lusail Stadium – the venue where he scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final exactly two years ago – set Real Madrid on their way before Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr scored after half-time.

Mbappe gave Madrid the lead late in the first half, tapping home from close range after Vinicius had rounded Carlos Moreno in the Pachuca goal.

Rodrygo doubled Madrid’s lead seven minutes into the second half with a sublime curling striker from the edge of the box.

The goal stood following a pitchside monitor review, with referee Jesus Valenzuela deciding that Jude Bellingham had not interfered with play while standing in an offside position.

READ ALSO:

Pachuca captain Salomon Rondon had Thibaut Courtois stretching to save a long-range free-kick, before the former West Brom and Everton striker, 35, sent a header narrowly over the crossbar.

A day after being named men’s player of the year at the Fifa Best awards, Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot after Lucas Vazquez was brought down by Oussama Idrissi.

The inaugural edition of the Intercontinental Cup – essentially a replacement for the Fifa Club World Cup, which will instead take place next summer – involved the winners of five continental club competitions taking part in a straight knockout tournament.

Pachuca, winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup, defeated Caf Champions League holders Al-Ahly of Egypt to reach the final. Uefa Champions League winners Madrid did not take part in the previous rounds.

Real Madrid outclass Pachuca to win FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Sports

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. crowned FIFA Player of the Year

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Trends Admin

Vinicius Jr

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. crowned FIFA Player of the Year

Vinicius Jr, the electrifying Real Madrid and Brazil winger, has soared to football’s pinnacle, clinching the coveted FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award at the prestigious ceremony in Doha.

The 24-year-old maestro, who famously skipped the recent Ballon d’Or gala after missing out to Manchester City’s midfield dynamo Rodri, turned the tide with this glittering accolade.

It’s a triumph well-earned—Vinicius dazzled in Real Madrid’s sensational Champions League and La Liga double-winning season, netting 24 goals and crafting 11 assists in the 2023-24 campaign.

Draped in glory, Vinicius reflected on his meteoric rise with heartfelt humility: “It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo, and now I’m here.”

READ ALSO:

The moment carried added sweetness for Vinicius, marking his first-ever FIFA Best award—a golden consolation following Real Madrid’s bold boycott of the Ballon d’Or.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s midfield magician Aitana Bonmatí claimed the Women’s Player of the Year title for the second consecutive year, further cementing her dominance on the global stage.

According to BBC, The award, recognising performances from August 2023 to August 2024, was decided through a mix of votes—public input, a journalist from each country, and the captains and coaches of national teams. Each group’s vote carried equal weight, blending opinion and expertise.

Rodri, the architect of Spain’s Euro 2024 success, settled for second place, while Real Madrid’s sensational England star Jude Bellingham completed the podium in third.

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. crowned FIFA Player of the Year

Sports

Rashford hints at Man United exit

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Trends Admin

Rashford hints at Man United exit

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford appears set to leave the club after claiming he is “ready for a new challenge.”

Rashford was controversially dropped from the squad that faced rivals Manchester City on Sunday fueling speculation over his future.

In a wide-ranging interview published on Tuesday, he told Henry Winter that “personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”

“When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’,” he said. “You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.

“If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.

“When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me.”

READ ALSO:

Rashford made his senior debut in 2015 after rising through the club’s academy and has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances.

He has won two FA Cups and the Europa League for the Red Devils but his form has suffered over the past 18 months, scoring only 15 goals in all competitions since the end of the 2022/23 season.

He was also frozen out of the England squad for Euro 2024 and was reportedly put up for sale on Monday.

“I’m halfway through my career,” he added. “I don’t expect my peak to be now. I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person.

“I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years. I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.”

When asked if the best is yet to come, Rashford replied: “100%. That’s my mentality.”