Sports
NPFL Wk 27: MFM Cuts Plateau Utd’s Lead
The race for the 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title gets more intense as the season got to the Week 27 mark at the weekend.
In Maiduguri, El Kanemi Warriors grabbed maximum points as they conquered Plateau United in a Nigeria Professional Football League Matchday 27 fixture played on Sunday.
Despite the determination of the Peace Boys to consolidate their grip at the top of the log, it was the Desert Warriors that made home advantage count as Sunday Anthony flicked in Chibuzor Okonkwo’s free-kick to score in injury time.
Nasarawa United 1-1 Gombe United
Substitute Sani Abbani scored an equaliser as relegation-threatened Gombe United drew 1-1 against Nasarawa United in Lafia.
Antonin Oussou nicked home off a well placed Adamu Hassan delivery to give the Solid Miners the lead.
Abbani connected well to Afolabi Abdulwaheed’s pass to bury beyond the reach of Suraj Ayeleso as the Savannah Scorpions surprisingly found their way back.
Akwa United 1-0 Enyimba
Enyimba showed up at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in high spirits but watched on helplessly as Akwa United picked three points following a 1-0 victory.
Musa Newman fetched the only goal from a tailor made Friday Ubong’s cross in the 15th minute.
The Promise Keepers sit in third place, five points below leaders Plateau United who lost 1-0 El Kanemi Warriors.
MFM FC 2-1 ABS FC
MFM boosted their NPFL title hopes after recording a 2-1 win over ABS FC on Sunday afternoon.
Austine Ogunye netted from the spot in the 17th minute. Sikiru Olatunbosun doubled the lead 45 minutes later.
Former First Bank forward Wasiu Alalade fired home a consolation at injury time.
In spite of the win, MFM still remains second with 46 points but is now only two points behind Plateau United.
Lobi Stars 3-1 Enugu Rangers
The game in Makurdi turned out to be one-sided as Lobi Stars romped to a 3-1 win over Enugu Rangers.
Ezekiel Mba, Kingsley Eduwo and Anthony Okpotu all found the back of the net for the Pride of Benue. Daniel Etor reduced the deficit for the Flying Antelopes at the death.
Lobi Stars are fourth in the log with 43 points.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah 2-0 Katsina United
FC Ifeanyi Ubah found their winning rhythm after firing two goals past Kastina United in Nnewi.
Godwin Obaje stepped up to take a 21st minute spot-kick and maintained his composure to slot the ball down the middle past Kenneth Okoli.
Five minutes from time, the hosts did manage to extend their lead. Elu Wilson played a short corner to Bright Onyidikachi who curled in a sublime cross and Chijioke Alakwe headed a perfect one into the net.
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Remo Stars
It was not the best of performance from Abubakar Bala’s Niger Tornadoes as they toiled to earn maximum points at home to Remo Stars.
Substitute Peter Momoh scored the only goal off an Ibrahim Babawo’s delivery minutes after coming on for Wilfred Ammeh early in the second stanza.
The Ikon Allah Boys now have 40 points while the Sky Blue Stars remain rooted to the bottom of the standings.
Sports
Inter Best Juventus To Maintain Serie A Lead
Andrea Cambiaso scored at both ends during the first half of Saturday’s Derby d’Italia, before Pierre Kalulu’s red card forced Juventus to play the entire second half a man light.
Substitute Francesco Pio Esposito got Inter back in front with a bullet header, then Manuel Locatelli’s pinpoint finish looked to have salvaged a point for the Bianconeri, before Zielinski struck on the cusp of stoppage time.
Juventus made the brighter start, but they were masters of their own downfall in the 17th minute, when Cambiaso deflected Luis Henrique’s cross beyond Michele Di Gregorio.
Cambiaso atoned within nine minutes, catching Henrique on his heels when Weston McKennie’s cross squirmed through to the back post and applying a side-footed finish.
But after Bremer cleared Zielinski’s dinked effort off the line, Juve’s hopes were damaged when Kalulu received his second yellow card for a 42nd-minute pull on Alessandro Bastoni, though the Inter centre-back appeared to go down theatrically.
Di Gregorio made a remarkable stop to thwart Hakan Calhanoglu, but as Juventus dropped ever deeper, they were punished when substitute Esposito guided Federico Dimarco’s searching cross into the far corner with 76 minutes on the clock.
It looked like Inter would have to settle for a point when Locatelli whipped a wonderful finish into the bottom-left corner in the 83rd minute, but Zielinski had the final say as his 20-yard drive fizzed through Locatelli’s legs and beat Di Gregorio.
Sports
Szoboszlai’s Real Madrid Dream Sparks Concern At Liverpool
A cloud of uncertainty has settled over Liverpool after comments from Hungary head coach Marco Rossi reignited speculation about Dominik Szoboszlai and Real Madrid.
Rossi, who has worked closely with Szoboszlai since his teenage years, revealed that the midfielder’s lifelong ambition is to play for the Spanish giants.
“Because of the very close and direct relationship I’ve had with Dominik since he was a child, Real Madrid has always been his dream,” Rossi said.
For a Liverpool side building around Szoboszlai as a centerpiece of Arne Slot’s project, those words landed hard.
Within hours of Rossi’s remarks, Szoboszlai interacted on social media with two Real Madrid players, applauding posts from Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold following Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad.
His reaction to Vinicius’ post drew particular attention. The exchange with Alexander-Arnold, his former Liverpool teammate, was seen as less surprising.
Still, in the hyper-connected world of elite soccer, even a digital thumbs-up can carry weight. On Merseyside, fans and pundits quickly began dissecting the meaning behind the interactions.
Szoboszlai, Hungary’s captain, has become one of Liverpool’s most influential players. That status is precisely why Rossi’s comments triggered such an intense reaction in England.
The midfielder had just delivered on the field as well, scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.
After the match, Mohamed Salah heaped praise on his teammate, calling Szoboszlai “the best player in the world.” Slot struck a slightly more measured tone but echoed the sentiment.
“I think there are many elite players in the world, but I definitely agree with Mo that he is one of them,” Slot said. “He is very important for us.”
Szoboszlai is under contract at Liverpool through 2028. However, the club is reportedly eager to open extension talks in the coming months to secure his long-term future.
The player himself addressed the situation recently with notable candor.
“There’s nothing yet, to be honest. Nothing from now on. It’s not in my hands. That’s how it works,” he said. “There’s no progress, but if the right offer comes, we’ll see.”
He was equally clear about his affection for Liverpool.
“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully everyone will be happy in the end. Of course I want to stay. I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys. I love Anfield, I love the fans. Let’s see what the future brings. It’s not my fault. I’d love to stay. We’ll see.”
Inter’s dramatic victory boosted their lead over rivals AC Milan to eight points, ahead of the Rossoneri hosting Como on Wednesday. Juventus, meanwhile, could drop out of the top four as Roma visited Napoli last night.
The last four Serie A matches between Inter and Juventus have produced a total of 21 goals (an average of 5.25 per game), compared to just nine in the previous six (1.5 per game).
Cambiaso became the first player in Derby d’Italia history to score and put through his own net in the same match between these old rivals, but it was Zielinski’s fifth Serie A goal of the season that proved decisive.
Inter will argue they were deserved victors after amassing 21 shots and 1.88 expected goals (xG), while Luciano Spalletti’s visitors mustered 10 shots and 0.92 xG – though the Bianconeri actually attempted six of their shots while down a man in the second half.
Sports
Wolves Beat Man Utd Conquerors
Premier League strugglers Wolves overcame resolute Grimsby Town in challenging conditions at Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of the side that eliminated Manchester United in the last round.
Santiago Bueno scored from Wolves’ only shot on target with an hour played, diverting Joao Gomes’ cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to end the League Two club’s resistance.
Unrelenting rainfall caused heavy ground underfoot and one penalty area in particular- that of Grimsby’s Smith in the first half – was already a quagmire before kick-off.
Charles Vernam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with just 43 seconds on the clock as Grimsby sought to catch their top-flight visitors cold.
Wolves had to wait until the 17th minute for their first opportunity of note, forward Tolu Arokodare firing over with a first-time attempt.
The white paint of the pitch markings soon blended and blurred with the mud as the surface rapidly deteriorated, and both sides struggled to stitch together cohesive attacks as passes travelled unpredictably across the sodden ground.
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