Sports
Go Round Secures Point In Maiduguri
El-Kanemi Warriors were held to a 2-2 by Go Round FC of Umoku in one of Nigeria Professional Football League Match day 17 , played at the Sports Complex in Maiduguri, at the weekend.
The hosts began with an early incursion by Kabir Balogun, which saw the visitors clearing succession of shots with goalkeeper, Godwin Dede and Ebuka Akobundu the big performers in defence for the away team
Chinedu Ohanachom had also combined well with Sani Abbani before the latter’s acrobatic kick was kept out by Dede.
GO Round made their first attempt at goal through Sadiq Ololade Rilwan, whose low strike was saved by George Michael seven minutes from start.
El-Kanemi came close to scoring in the 15th minute, Balogun blasted wide from close range having received a through pass from Sunday Anthony.
Three minutes later, Sunday Anthony curled in from a free kick to send the home fans into massive jubilation, it was indeed a superb curler that left Dede rooted.
It became more interesting with the hosts leading by a lone goal, the visitors came out stronger, Akobundu turning his defence into attack with several crosses. While Chiebonam Nwogbaga and Onukwube had wide attempts.
Warriors almost doubled their lead on 26 minutes when Sani Abbani took out two defenders from a jinking run, but his shot was deflected into corner by unrushing Dede.
Go Round levelled scores a minute before half an hour as Nwogbaga Chiebonam converted a free header from Philip David’s perfect delivery. Nwogbaga was cautioned afterwards for pulling out a corner flag in a jubilant mood.
Both teams made more frantic efforts as the game headed for the interval, Sunday Anthony and Yeful were involved in close range strikes which was kept out by goalkeeper Dede.
At the other end, Nwogbaga almost stole the show with another free header off Akobundu’s delivery that missed target by few inches, which was the last chance of the first half.
El-Kanemi Warriors took the lead once more with their first attempt at goal. Ohanachom’s header was poorly cleared by Philip David before Jamiu Alimi blasted home from close range to make it 2-1.
Alimi was subsequently shown a yellow card for kicking at the corner flag.
The visitors responded ten minutes later with a well taken shot by Stanley Worlu who capitalised on a defensive error by Maamo Joseph to put his side on level terms for the second time.
On the hour mark, the Omoku landlords almost went ahead in the game, this time Onukwube provided for Nwogbaga after El-Kanemi goalkeeper George Michael went down, but the delivery was slightly higher than the waiting head of the lanky striker.
Razaq Aliyu in a bid to get his team back in front headed from Sunday Anthony’s corner, kudos to Dede who parried into safety. Yeful’s bullet strike was also saved in the process.
It became a lengthy second half when Go Round goalkeeper Dede was injured twice in the final moments of the game. He was knocked down in an aerial collision at one time and later collided with Ohanachom.
But every other attempt by the hosts was either saved by Dede or wasted by the Warriors until the final whistle.
El-Kanemi Warriors have moved temporarily to the top of NIgeria Professional Football League Group B table with 29 points and await the outcome of other matches yesterday.
Sports
Galaxy Win Sixth MLS Title
LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title as they beat New York Red Bulls to delight a home crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The MLS Cup is the showpiece match at the end of the US season, pitching the champions of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals together.
This was the first MLS Cup between two sides from the largest cities in the United States, Los Angeles and New York, and it produced a hectic opening with all three goals scored in the first half-hour.
Red Bulls were the lowest seed to ever reach the final after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and their underdog status initially showed as Galaxy dominated the 29th MLS Cup early on.
Galaxy led after nine minutes when Joseph Paintsil squeezed his shot under goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, and it was 2-0 soon after as Dejan Joveljic ran through the Red Bulls defence and finished with the outside of his boot.
Both men celebrated by holding up the shirt of team-mate Riqui Puig, the former Barcelona player who ruptured his ACL in the Western Conference Final which Galaxy won to reach this championship game.
Galaxy threatened to overwhelm their opponents as Sean Nealis headed a free-kick against his own crossbar.
But Red Bulls centre-back Nealis pulled his team back into the game after 28 minutes when he chested down and volleyed in from 15 yards when Galaxy players failed to clear a corner.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half: Galaxy right-back Miki Yamane struck the outside of the post, before Emil Forsberg curled an effort off the upright for Red Bulls.
But Galaxy, who had home advantage because of their better record in the regular season, held on to win their first MLS Cup since 2014.
Red Bulls remain without an MLS Cup title in their history after losing on what was their second appearance in the championship game.
Sports
Bayern Extend Bundesliga Lead To Six Points
Bayern Munich continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with a 4-2 win against Heidenheim.
A double from Jamal Musiala and goals from Dayot Upamecano and Leon Goretzka saw Bayern extend their lead at the top of the table to six points as closest challengers Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg.
Vincent Kompany was without the injured Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Mathys Tel and Serge Gnabry, with Musiala starting on the bench.
Leroy Sane spurned two excellent early chances from close range before Upamecano headed the hosts in front from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Bayern enjoyed 86% possession and completed 10 times as many passes (503) as the visitors (51) in the first half, yet Alphonso Davies hit the post with the only other clear chance created.
To their credit, Heidenheim didn’t wilt and drew level when Mathias Honsak rounded stand-in Bayern goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after Upamecano under-hit a backpass.
Kompany immediately introduced Musiala from the bench and was rewarded five minutes later when the 21-year-old drove into the box and beat Kevin Muller with a low strike.
Bayern looked to have secured the three points when Goretzka’s shot deflected past Muller, but the visitors halved the deficit almost immediately through a Niklas Dorsch tap-in.
Any nerves soon dissipated when Musiala ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged to slot home the fourth and final goal.
Bayern will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tomorrow before returning to domestic duty away against Mainz on Saturday.
Sports
La Liga: Barca Stumble Again
Robert Lewandowski continued his superb start to the season but could not prevent Barcelona dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis.
Lewandowski scored his 16th goal of the league campaign before Ferran Torres cancelled out Giovani Lo Celso’s penalty – but Assane Diao snatched a point for Betis with a late equaliser.
Real Betis could have easily scored twice in the opening three minutes but Raphina cleared Diego Llorente’s header off the goalline before Abde Ezzalzouli – formerly of Barcelona – saw his one-on-one effort saved by Inaki Pena.
Lamine Yamal wasted a good chance to break the deadlock from close range but team-mate Lewandowski made no such mistake.
The Poland international converted Jules Kounde’s cross from close range to finish a fine team move and score for the 23rd time in 21 games in all competitions.
Betis emerged from half-time with renewed energy but spurned three more clear chances.
Sergi Altimira and Lo Celso sent headers wide of Pena’s post before the Barcelona goalkeeper was called upon to tip Chimy Avila’s snap-shot wide.
Betis finally got their just reward when Lo Celso converted from the penalty spot after Barca substitute Frenkie de Jong felled Vitor Roque – on-loan from the Catalans – as he raced into the area.
Barca pushed for a winner and found it when substitute Torres beat the offside trap to latch on to Yamal’s reverse pass and finish past Fran Vieites.
It looked like Barca would see out the win, but in the fourth minute of injury-time 19-year-old substitute Diao swept home to rescue a point for the hosts.
The draw sees Barca surrender control in the title race. Flick’s side are five points ahead of closest challengers Real Madrid but Los Blancos have played two games fewer.
Barca will be in Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00 GMT kick-off) before facing Leganes in La Liga on Sunday, 15 December.
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