Sports
NPL: Pillars Extend Lead On Table
Kano Pillars extended their lead
at the top of the Nigeria league table after playing out a 1-1 draw at FC Taraba on Wednesday.
Pillars now have 44 points from 26 games, three points clear of second-placed Nasarawa United, who were thrashed 3-0 by Crown.
Pillars took the lead in the 45th minute through Adamu Hassan for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The hosts had to wait till stoppage time to draw level through Usman Mohammed.
Rabiu Ali almost scored in the 33rd minute when his powerful shot was saved by Richard Ochaeyi in goal for Taraba.
In Port Harcourt, Chima Akas rescued coach Gbenga Ogunbote-led Sharks with a well-taken free kick goal that beat Super Eagles ace Chigozie Agbim in goal for Gombe United as Sharks scraped a 1-0 home win.
Akwa United deservedly claimed three points at the expense of an unimpressive Enyimba courtesy of a 1-0 home win.
Akwa were in control of the game at the Uyo Township Stadium for the better part, but poor finishing denied them of more than a goal.
Kufre Ebong tapped in a cross from the danger man Ezekiel Bassey in the concluding minutes of the first half for the match winner.
Rangers defeated Dolphins 2-1 to end the six-game unbeaten run of the Port Harcourt outfit also on Wednesday.
Rangers now have 34 points from 26 games, while Dolphins remain on 39 points.
League hotshot Osaguona Ighodaro broke the deadlock and put ’The Flying Antelopes in front in the 20th minute to take his goal to 14 in the league.
In the 63rd minute, Tijani Adamu equalised for Dolphin with a well-taken goal.
Christian Obiozor restored Rangers lead in the 72nd minute, when he fired in a rebound from the Chidi Edeh’s penalty which was saved by Austin Brown in Dolphins goal.
Frank Egharevba scored thrice to compound the woes of Nembe City as Bayelsa United won 3-1 in Benin City.
Bayelsa United now have 33 points from 26 games, while Nembe City remain at the bottom of the table with 24 points from 26 games.
Egharevba broke the deadlock in the concluding minutes of the first half.
He doubled the hosts’ lead in the 58th minute.
Substitute Timi Timi, who came in for Okpose Martins in the 53rd minute, scored Nembe City consolation goal in the 79th minute.
When Nembe City were battling to get an equaliser, Egharevba completed his hat-trick in the concluding minutes of the game to end it 3-1.
Relegation-threatened Crown FC trounced title chasers Nasarawa United 3-0 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Crown now have 28 points from 26 games, while Nasarawa remain on 41 points from 26 games.
Coach Mohammed Babaganaru-led side went to Ibadan with the hope of compounding the woes of hosts Crown FC, but met the unexpected as Crown were impressive as they look to brighten their chances to survive.
Sports
Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues
Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.
Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.
However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.
Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.
Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.
Sports
City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road
Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.
The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.
City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.
But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.
Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)
Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.
Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.
All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).
In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.
The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.
And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.
Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.
But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.
Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.
Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.
Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.
Sports
PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1
Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.
The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.
PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.
Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.
Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.
Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.
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