Defending champions Juventus will take on Inter Milan for a place in the Italian Cup final after edging Lazio 1-0 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday with goalline technology summoned to clarify the winning goal. On the back of 10 wins in a row in Serie A, Juventus grabbed the only goal of the night in the 66th minute at the Stadio Olimpico. Swiss international Stephan Lichtsteiner, a former Lazio star, was in the right place at the right time to nudge the ball over the line after a fierce drive from Simone Zaza had come off the crossbar. Lazio’s Albanian…
Author: David F.
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri sought comfort in his team’s record against Tottenham Hotspur this season after the Foxes were knocked out of the FA Cup by their north London opponents on Wednesday night. Leicester fell to a 2-0 defeat in their third-round replay thanks to a sumptuous strike from Son Hueng-min and Nacer Chadli’s slotted finish, but the setback could not dampen the spirit of their manager. “It’s fantastic,” Ranieri told the club website (www.lcfc.com) of his team’s record against Spurs. “It’s a minimum of 10 years that Tottenham are building their team to reach the Europa League and…
Manager Juergen Klopp has tried to temper the weight of expectation on Liverpool’s youngsters, insisting that the talents on display during Wednesday night’s FA Cup win over Exeter City have steep learning curve ahead. Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners in their third-round replay, with youngsters Joao Teixeira and Brad Smith impressive on the right and midfielders Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Sheyi Ojo, 18, marked his substitute’s appearance by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s FA Cup history, while Teixeira and Joe Allen also netting to set up a fourth-round clash…
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) chief Nicole Sapstead has said she would like the chance to speak to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about his views on the use of banned substances in football. The Frenchman has long been an outspoken advocate of a stronger anti-doping regime and state-of-the-art testing in the game, saying that clubs as well as players should be punished for infractions. “I will attempt to engage with him,” Sapstead told the BBC. “I would be interested to speak with him to hear what he has got to say. Whether he would engage with us is another question.” Although, on…
Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez and playmaker Mesut Ozil are fit for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, manager Arsene Wenger said. The league leaders have been without the influential Chilean, who has scored six league goals this season, since late November after he suffered a hamstring injury. Ozil missed Sunday’s goalless draw away at Stoke City with a minor toe injury. “The good news is that Ozil certainly will be available, and Sanchez … the next two days will be decisive … but I think this time he will make it to be available for selection,” Wenger told reporters on…
As the Louis van Gaal era rolls slowly onwards, one reason for the Dutchman’s difficulties becomes clearer. Wayne Rooney has spoken of the Manchester United’s need to find greater balance between defence and attack, noting that the team struggles to maintain cover for its back four as soon as it pours forward. Against Liverpool last weekend, United’s need for an elite defensive midfielder was more apparent than ever. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick were both absent but had they been playing, United would probably still have found themselves struggling against the force of Liverpool’s pressing game. Moreover, neither Schweinsteiger nor…
Holders Barcelona took charge of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal with a 2-1 first-leg victory at Athletic Bilbao. Even without Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez Barcelona were still able to control proceedings, Neymar and Munir El Haddadi handing the visitors a 2-0 lead. Aduriz Zubeldia grabbed an 89th-minute goal for Bilbao however, to keep the tie alive ahead of the second leg at the Nou Camp. In Wednesday’s second game, Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo played to a 0-0 draw at Estadio Balaidos. The teams will meet again in next week’s second leg in Madrid, where Atletico has won their…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he rates Christian Benteke and scouted the striker when he was Borussia Dortmund boss. Benteke, 25, has recently struggled for regular playing time in Klopp’s starting XI, despite forwards Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi being sidelined. The Belgium international signed for the Reds last summer from Aston Villa when former manager Brendan Rodgers was in charge, but Klopp has revealed he considered an approach while he was working at Dortmund in 2013. The German coach said: “I met him, plus his agent, at Dusseldorf airport. “We saw a lot of games he played in,…
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo says the moment he knew he was going to be a star came during his first training session at Sporting Lisbon when he was just 11 years old. Ronaldo, 30, has won three Ballon d’Or trophies and four Golden Shoe awards, as well as two Champions Leagues, three Premier League titles, two Copas del Rey, one La Liga crown and an FA Cup over his career with Sporting, Manchester United and Madrid. Speaking to website UNSCRIPTD, the forward recalled the day back in 1997 when he was called to the Portuguese capital and immediately wowed his…
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has said he is motivated by a feeling that he is always close to being sacked. Simeone, who reports have linked with a summer move to Chelsea, has enjoyed outstanding success in his four years at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. The Argentine took over a club in crisis and led them to the Europa League, Copa del Rey and La Liga trophies. But Simeone, who last year signed a new contract until 2020, told a news conference he constantly felt he had something to prove. “I always think I could be fired,” he said. “From…
Manchester United are contemplating an official bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani, with the Uruguayan striker extremely keen on a move to Old Trafford. The 28-year-old’s representatives initiated the contact with the Old Trafford hierarchy, hoping to rekindle United’s previous interest in the player, and there is an increasing feeling at the Premier League club that he may provide a solution to their striking problems. Louis van Gaal’s side have become notorious for their failure to score this season — especially in blank first halves at home — as well as a lack of urgency and pace in attack, and…
Son Heung-min’s thunderous finish helped Tottenham Hotspur secure a 2-0 victory at Leicester City and Liverpool eased past fourth-tier Exeter City 3-0 in FA Cup third-round replays on Wednesday. Son, who rifled home the opening goal after 39 minutes, set up Nacer Chadli for the second with a beautiful pass in the second half as the eight-times Cup winners eased through against surprise Premier League high-flyers Leicester. Liverpool scored early through Joe Allen, but then made heavy weather of their lower league opponents and did not add to their lead until substitute Sheyi Ojo curled home superbly. Joao Teixeira rounded…
Anthony Martial and Jamie Vardy are the fastest men in the English Premier League with both strikers clocked at 22 miles per hour (35.4km/h) over five seconds, figures showed on Wednesday. According to the EA Sports’ Player Performance Index, Leicester and England striker Vardy set the pace in August in a 2-1 win at West Ham. Manchester United’s French international Martial then matched the Englishman’s pace in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle at St James’ Park last week.
A former legislator, Pa Ayo Fasanmi has said that former president, Goodluck Jonathan is bound to face trial for corruption. Fasanmi made the remark on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, during a telephone interview with Punch. “What comes round, goes around. Nigerians should be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari. The trial of the former President is bound to happen. How can you have security chiefs under your watch being indicted for corruption charges and you won’t have to be quizzed too?” he said. “President Buhari is only taking his time. It is only a matter of time. It is unfortunate that…
Boko Haram kingpin has been arrested at a motor park in Damboa, Borno State, reports say. The terrorist chief, identified as Jarasu Shira, was arrested today, January 20, 2016, Daily Trust reports. He was reportedly trying to make his way to Lagos State when he was apprehended by men of the Civilian Joint Task Force. The vigilantes also arrested 10 suspected members of the group who had accompanied Shira to the park. The Boko Haram kingpin was said to have been disguised in a cowboy suit at the time of his arrest. He is also reported to be one of…
Another baby factory has been discovered in Enugu State, where babies are sold at N300,000. The state Commissioner of Police, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, on Wednesday, January 20, paraded four pregnant girls who were arrested alongside an operator of the baby factory located at Ogui-Eke in Udi Local Government Area of the state. According to the Commissioner, when the victims deliver the babies, the suspect, who claims to be a nurse, would pay the girls N10,000 before selling the babies to prospective buyers at N300,000 and above. He said the suspect also has a clinic in Enugu metropolis. Ekechukwu also told journalists…
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday expressed joy and enthusiasm on the admission of the state as the sixth member of the Odu’a Group. Ambode, in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, described it as a major landmark in the effort of the South-Western states of Nigeria toward regional integration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decision to admit the state to Odu’a Group was taken at the end of a meeting of the five governors of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States in Ibadan on Tuesday.…
The Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has reacted to the allegation of contract inflation levelled against him, by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state. The PDP accused him of inflating the cost of constructing the Moshood Abiola International Airport at Ido-Osun from N4.5bn to N15.5bn. The party also said the Airport is a ploy to embezzle bailout funds sent to the state. Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the information consultant for the state, Mr. Sunday Akere said “The PDP in Osun should be ignored, they are just seeking relevance. They should find out how much PDP states…
Akinwunmi Ambode has assured residents of the state of his commitment to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians. Ambode made the promise on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at the Second Quarterly Town Hall Meeting at the City Hall. The governor’s comments were contained in a statement released by his media aide, Habib Aruna. It reads in part: “I am happy to report that our State is a lot safer today as statistics show that crime rate reduced by 65% during the last quarter compared to Year 2014.” “In the past few months, we have fixed street…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the handcuffing of its spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh during a court visit on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. The PDP’s comments were contained in a statement released by its National Secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo. It reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in totality the brazen display of authoritarianism demonstrated by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Government in handcuffing its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh even when the court is yet to hear his case.” “This development which unexpectedly elicited widespread public outcry clearly betrays an extra-judicial, top political witch-hunt policy of the…