Connect with us

Sports

England did it the hard way: Bellingham and Kane send Three Lions into quarter-finals

Published

on

 

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham saved England from defeat against Slovakia in a 2-1 victory after extra time on Sunday.

The Three Lions have been hyped as one of the favourites to end a 58-year wait for major tournament glory but looked set to go out with a whimper to Ivan Schranz’s 25th minute goal.

 

However, Bellingham’s moment of inspiration five minutes into six added on in stoppage time breathed new life into Gareth Southgate’s reign as England boss.

Kane then headed in just a minute into extra-time to set up a quarter-final meeting with Switzerland on Saturday.

 

Southgate looked certain to fall on his sword after steadfastly refusing to make changes to a side that stumbled through as winners of Group C despite scoring just two goals in three games.

 

Kobbie Mainoo was introduced for his first competitive start in Southgate’s only change and he paid the price with another lacklustre display lacking in any speed or invention for long spells.

READ  Euro 2024: Spain to face France in semi-final

 

The one saving grace of England’s performances in the group stage was that a makeshift defence had held up well, conceding just once in three games.

However, they were torn to pieces early on by a Slovakia side ranked 45th in the world.

 

England did not heed a couple of warnings as David Hancko and Lukas Haraslin were wasteful with big chances.

 

Slovakia finally punished their more illustrious opponents when David Strelec was given acres of room to turn and play in Schranz, who confidently stroked past Jordan Pickford for his third goal of the tournament.

 

Despite his lack of experience, Mainoo was one of the few players that threatened to spark England into life as the Manchester United midfielder’s effort was deflected wide.

 

The half-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos but Southgate still stuck to his guns and did not make a change until 25 minutes to go.

READ  Look beyond present pain — we’ll get out of this turbulence, Tinubu tells Nigerians

 

England did at least improve on a dismal first half and had the ball in the net within five minutes of the restart.

 

Phil Foden turned in Kieran Trippier’s cross but was caught offside after a VAR review.

 

– Kane gets winner –

Slovakia should have doubled their lead shortly afterwards when England gave away possession and Strelec saw Pickford well off his line but failed to hit the target from the halfway line.

 

Southgate’s hand was finally forced on 66 minutes by an injury to Trippier.

One of the major calls the England boss will come to regret is only naming one natural left-back in his 26-man squad in Luke Shaw, who has not played a minute for club or country since February.

 

With Shaw not match-fit, Bukayo Saka was forced to deputise at left-back to make room for the introduction of Cole Palmer.

 

England’s chances seemed to have gone when Kane headed wide a golden opportunity and Declan Rice smashed the post with a long-range pot shot.

READ  Spain beat England to win 2023 Women’s World Cup

 

Southgate was even derided by the England support for bringing on Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing.”

 

However, there was an incredible twist as Bellingham acrobatically turned home Guehi’s flick-on from a throw-in the final moments of added-on time.

 

Slovakia were suddenly rattled and Toney was to have a telling contribution.

 

The Brentford striker headed Eberechi Eze’s mishit shot back across goal for Kane to power home his second goal of the tournament.

 

Slovakia should still have taken the game to penalties when full-back Peter Pekarik failed to turn in a dangerous driven cross from point-blank range.

 

But England live to fight another day come the quarter-final against an impressive Switzerland, who comfortably knocked out holders Italy 2-0 on Saturday.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Osimhen nets brace as Galatasaray settle for draw in 6-goal thriller

Published

on

By

Victor Osimhen scored his first brace for Galatasaray in the club’s 3-3 draw with Kasimpasa in their Turkish Super Lig match at RAMS Park in Istanbul on Saturday.

In his third league match for the club, the on-loan 25-year-old striker serenaded the home fans with two well-taken goals to add to four assists since his arrival at the table-topping club.

Osimhen opened his club account in the 20th minute when his attempted control from a cross fooled a committed goalkeeper and the Super Eagles striker watched the ball cross the line to a loud jubilation from the crowd.

If the first was ingenious, the second goal — eight minutes later — reeked of pure class. The former Lille striker latched on to a deep cross and swiveled despite the presence of a defender on him before lashing a volley into the roof of the net for 2-0 to his club.

Mauro Icardi made it 3-0 in the 34th minute before Kasimpasa reduced the deficit before halftime.

READ  2023: PRP collapses into APC, as another Tambuwal’s Aide dumps PDP in Sokoto

Osimhen did not have the chance to complete a hattrick due to injury and was substituted at halftime, while the visitors staged a comeback late in the second period to snatch a point at the death.

The draw sees unbeaten Galatasaray lose their perfect start to the season but remain top of the Super Lig with 19 points from seven matches, four ahead of second-placed Samsunspor.

Continue Reading

Sports

Arsenal scored twice in stoppage time to beat Leicester 4-2

Published

on

By

 

A Wilfred Ndidi own goal in the 94th minute and a close-range Kai Havertz strike in the ninth minute of stoppage time denied a Foxes side who were within reach of an unlikely point at Emirates Stadium after clawing back a two-goal deficit in the second half.

Gabriel Martinelli had given the dominant Gunners a deserved first-half lead when he steered home Jurrien Timber’s cross, before providing the pass for the second, converted by Leandro Trossard, on the stroke of half-time.

 

Leicester had managed only one touch in the Arsenal area before the break, but they reduced the arrears a little over a minute into the second half when James Justin’s header from Facundo Buonanotte’s free-kick struck Havertz on its way in.


Justin doubled his personal tally in spectacular fashion shortly after the hour mark, meeting Ndidi’s left-wing delivery with a swerving volley that beat David Raya via the inside of the post.

 

If Arsenal were momentarily stunned by Leicester’s recovery, they soon recovered their poise and Mads Hermansen produced two superb saves to keep the Foxes level, denying Havertz with a point-blank stop before keeping out Trossard’s shot – moments after giving the ball away inside his own area.

READ  2023: PRP collapses into APC, as another Tambuwal’s Aide dumps PDP in Sokoto

 

But Trossard’s late effort was deflected past the Danish goalkeeper by Ndidi before Havertz struck from close-range to complete the scoring.

 

Victory lifts Arsenal level on points with Manchester City, who could be overtaken by Liverpool if they beat Wolves at Molineux in Saturday’s late game.

 

Arsenal fans must have been scratching their heads as the game entered second-half stoppage time, as Leicester closed in on a draw that had barely seemed possible at the halfway point of the contest.

Notwithstanding a Justin shot which was blocked by Riccardo Calafiori, the first 45 minutes took place almost entirely inside the Leicester half, with Bukayo Saka and Martinelli both going close before the Brazilian’s 20th-minute opener.

 

Calafiori stung Hermansen’s palms and Havertz sent a header narrowly wide from Trossard’s cross, before the Belgian – back from suspension after his dismissal against City last weekend – gave the home side a richly deserved two-goal cushion.

 

Justin’s first of the afternoon came almost out of nothing and, buoyed by his header, the Foxes continued to venture forward and eventually restored parity through the defender’s spectacular swerving strike.

READ  Breaking: Brave Super Falcons lose to England on penalties

Time appeared to be running out for Arteta’s team, who had registered more than 30 shots – including 14 on target – and racked up 14 corners as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.

 

Hermansen did brilliantly to keep out goalbound efforts from Havertz and Trossard before denying Calafiori and substitute Ethan Nwaneri as the Gunners piled forward in increasing desperation.


But they were finally rewarded for their pressure and persistence with just over three of the allotted seven minutes of added time remaining, before Havertz completed the scoring with virtually the final touch of the game.

 

Pain for Foxes, but positives for Cooper
Steve Cooper said he would not shy away from criticism after Leicester fans were heard chanting “Cooper, sort it out” and “this is embarrassing” during Tuesday’s penalty shootout victory at Walsall in the Carabao Cup.

At half-time on Saturday, it looked like being another painful afternoon for the Foxes and their manager as Arsenal sailed serenely into a two-goal lead, but Leicester’s second-half recovery – though ultimately in vain – will give fans heart for the battles ahead.

READ  Final heartbreak as Spain beat England to win Euro 2024 trophy

 

Cooper’s team were vastly improved after the restart and Justin’s sensational drive will live long in the memories of the away fans nestled in the lower tier of the Emirates Stadium’s south east corner.

 

Hermansen was sensational in the latter stages, producing a string of fine saves to keep Arsenal at bay – but there was little he could do about Ndidi’s own goal or Havertz’s last-gasp effort.

 

Not for the first time this season, Cooper was frustrated by some of the officiating at Emirates Stadium, with referee Sam Barrott refusing to penalise William Saliba for a tug on Jamie Vardy in the build-up to Martinelli’s opener.

 

Cooper and Vardy were both booked after remonstrating with the officials in the aftermath of the goal.

Once the dust settles on this pulsating contest, Cooper can reflect with pride on his team’s fightback against one of the Premier League’s title challengers – but the manner of the defeat may take a while to digest.

Continue Reading

Sports

War at The Etihad: Man City vs Arsenal’s 13 flashpoints

Published

on

By

 

Manchester City and Arsenal have been the Premier League’s best teams over the course of the last two seasons.

Their meetings have felt like gargantuan clashes in the journey of discovering who will win the country’s top division but not always delivered the entertainment that some would expect from the quality of players on display. Sunday’s meeting perhaps did not show an abundance of free-flowing football but it delivered the entertainment and drama worthy of the game, in a manner nearing clashes between Manchester United and Arsenal of old.

 

When Rodri hit the floor in the opening seconds of the game, the stage was set for what was about to transpire. The Spain star was left clutching his face after colliding with Kai Havertz but there was deemed to be no red card offence having taken place.

 

A physical start to the game followed and Erling Haaland soon opened the scoring. The City forward scored his 100th goal for the club in 105 appearances and his 10th of the season, and outpaced Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes before slotting past David Raya.

Arsenal cruelly denied famous Man City win after 10-men concede in last minute – 6 talking points
Pep Guardiola’s side did not have to wait long to suffer a blow however. As early as the 16th minute Rodri went down under the challenge of Thomas Partey, clutching his leg.

Once again VAR deemed the incident unworthy of intervention but Rodri was left in tears as he was ultimately forced from the field. The momentum of the game quickly changed as Mateo Kovacic was introduced to replace the 28-year-old.

Soon after the restart, Arsenal found themselves quickly taking a free kick. Gabriel Martinelli drove at City’s defence before laying the ball off to Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian defender, on his full debut, launched an impressive strike to level the game.

READ  NDLEA docks SAHCO manager, others for alleged drug trafficking

City were left furious. There was a suggestion that Arsenal took their initial free kick from a more advantageous position which saw Ederson eventually earn a yellow card.

The Gunners took control of the game at this point and were able to find more success before the end of the half. Gabriel headed home from Bukayo Saka’s corner to give the visitors an advantage.

 

It was another goal that was not without contention. VAR deemed that Gabriel Martinelli did not foul Ederson in the build up to Gabriel’s effort but Ruben Dias earned a yellow card for his protests.

The half would not end there however as more drama emerged as late as the eighth minute of stoppage time. Leandro Trossard cynically fouled Bernado Silva before launching the ball away after the referee’s whistle had gone.

To the disbelief of Arsenal, it was a second yellow card for the Belgian who was given his marching orders. The Gunners stars frantically protested on the pitch, while Arteta half took off his jumper before making his case to the fourth official to no avail.

 

The break saw Ben White replace Bukayo Saka as Arsenal opted to utilise a back five in a bid to suppress the Premier League champions. Manchester City dominated possession with their one-man advantage and the first 15 minutes following half-time saw the Gunners manage just 13 passes compared to City’s 138.

 

Opportunities were taken by Arsenal’s stars to go down in a bid to tick time over, to the extent Michael Oliver was not always forthcoming in believing the Gunners’ claims of cramps. As David Raya looked to stretch out and frustrate his opposition, Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was cautioned by the official for something he said, despite having yet to make his Premier League debut.

READ  Keyamo launches Tinubu-Shettima podcast ahead of campaign

Once again it was in stoppage time where the drama racheted up. First Jurrien Timber went down claiming an injury, to which Oliver invited Arsenal to kick the ball out themselves. Raya launched the ball up the field but not out of play as City were able to keep the ball in but the official then stopped play to the home side’s frustrations and Bernado Silva picked up a yellow card.

 

Seven minutes later City eventually found the net. The ball fell to John Stones to scramble into the net to spark jubilant celebrations that included Haaland throwing the ball of an Arsenal defender, with some tension also present between the benchs.

 

Following the restart, things flared up on the pitch. Looking to press the ball, Haaland flattened Partey, who had now made his debut, as the midfielder attempted to block him. Gabriel then came head-to-head with City’s forward as full-time soon arrived.

 

Below Mirror Football have listed some of the flashpoints from a dramatic match that saw 33 shots from City compared to Arsenal’s five, and seven yellow cards shared between the sides.

 

Timeline of drama
1 min – Rodri falls to the floor and holds his face after colliding with Havertz from kick-off. Players from both teams crowd the Spaniard but no card is produced as VAR looks at the incident without intervening.

5 mins – Haaland throws himself into a challenge with William Saliba as the pair contest for an aerial ball. It was forceful from the Norway international to continue to set the tone for the game as each player went flying through the air.

READ  Breaking: Brave Super Falcons lose to England on penalties

9 mins – Haaland scores his 100th Manchester City goal to hand his side the lead and quell any fears he could not score against Saliba and Gabriel.

16 mins – Rodri goes down injured under the challenge of Partey. The midfielder, a key part of City’s control until this points, was forced off on his first Premier League start of the season.


22 mins – Riccardo Calafiori scores on his Premier League full debut with a thunderbolt before Manchester City protest where Arsenal took a free kick from in the build up. Ederson shown a yellow card.

34 mins – Trossard receives first yellow card for a cynical foul.

45+1 mins – Gabriel scores his second header in a week as it was decided Martinelli did not foul Ederson. Ruben Dias shown yellow after demanding a foul be awarded.

45+8 mins – Leandro Trossard sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

65 mins – Lewis-Skelly awarded a yellow card after speaking to the referee despite having not yet featured in the Premier League.

83 mins – Declan Rice shown a yellow card for delaying a restart before a throw-in.

91 mins – Timber goes down and Oliver invites Arsenal to kick the ball out,. Referee eventually blows up to City frustrations despite Raya’s kick upfield being kept in by City.

98 mins -John Stones scores City’s equaliser and Haaland throws ball off an Arsenal player in his celebrations

99 mins – Play stopped after Haaland barges into Thomas Partey after the Arsenal player attempts to block his run from the restart. Haaland then squares up with Gabriel.

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending News