Category: Sport

Arsenal FC One leg into Europa Last-Eight with Victory in Greece

Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal side need to stop being their own worst enemy after defensive lapses undermined their last-16 first-leg victory over Olympiakos in the Europa League.

While Martin Odegaard’s opener paved the way for their win, familiar failings at the back saw the Greek champions level and made life uncomfortable until late goals from Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny swung the contest back in Arsenal’s favour.

“We have to be very clear and honest with ourselves. We gave three chances to the opponent, they took one and at that level they are going to punish you,” Arteta said.

“If we want to go to the next level we have to stop that and be more ruthless and when we are that dominant, kill the games off.”

Lax play from both David Luiz and Odegaard had gone without punishment but Arsenal were not as fortunate when Bernd Leno played substitute Dani Ceballos into trouble and Youssef El Arabi stroked in an equaliser.

It added to a litany of recent errors, with Arsenal guilty of conceding soft goals against Burnley and Benfica in fixtures over the last month.

“The goals and chances we have conceded are coming from ourselves,” Arteta added.

“That’s positive because when we stop it, we will be stronger. The reality is that we have to stop it immediately. It’s my responsibility. I make them play the way we want to play it is just understanding the risk and reward.”

Thankfully for Arteta, three valuable away goals mean his side are well placed to avoid a repeat of their dramatic exit to Olympiakos last term.

In general he will also be satisfied with a display that saw Arsenal create several early openings and take the lead courtesy of Odegaard’s powerful 20-yard drive.

The Norwegian midfielder could and perhaps should have opened the scoring earlier than that, skewing a left-footed effort wide, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also superbly denied a goal when home goalkeeper Jose Sa diverted his header on to the crossbar.

And while the Gunners did not run away with the game, their resolve came to the fore at the Karaiskakis Stadium for the second time in under a month.

Twelve minutes after El Arabi had spurned a chance to put the hosts ahead, Gabriel towered above his marker to head in Willian’s right-wing corner, with Elneny’s late effort adding deserved gloss to the result.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BT Sport: “We started the game really well, really dominant and creating a lot of chances.

“We gave them a goal trying to play out from the back but then we reacted well to score two more goals. Overall a really positive result but we have to stop making the errors that are costing goals because we cannot sustain that.

“This is half-time and anything can happen. Full focus and we start 0-0 again in the second leg and try to win the game.”

EUROPA: Injury-Time Equaliser put Manchester United in a Difficult Return Match

Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities returned as AC Milan grabbed an injury-time equaliser in their Europa League last-16 first-leg tie at Old Trafford.

Amad Diallo’s stunning header five minutes into the second half looked like giving United a first-leg lead.

But Milan, who had already been harshly denied a goal when Franck Kessie’s first-half volley was ruled out for handball, replied when Simon Kjaer evaded the attentions of Nemanja Matic at a corner right at the death and steered a near-post header past Dean Henderson’s weak attempt to save.

It was the least a Milan side lacking former United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic deserved.

It was tough luck on Diallo, who scored in quite brilliant fashion with his first effort on goal in only his third appearance for the Red Devils.

The Ivorian raced on to Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant chipped pass five minutes after replacing Anthony Martial at half-time, then, with his back to goal close to the penalty spot, looped the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the net.

Diallo’s entrance was delayed slightly as he had a band he was wearing on his wrist taped up. It was the only waste of time the 18-year-old was responsible for. It might only be his third United game but he already looks good value for the initial £19m United paid Atalanta for him in January.

Only Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and George Best have scored European goals at a younger age for the club and for a long time, the inspirational effort seemed set to spare Harry Maguire’s blushes for a simply woeful first-half miss.

Maguire timed his far-post run to perfection as he arrived, unmarked, to meet Fernandes’ flick-on from an Alex Telles corner. Amazingly, even though he was barely half a yard out when he connected, Maguire ended up in the net but the ball did not as it flicked off the inside of the post and flew across the six-yard area to safety.

Martial went close in the opening stages but it was one of the Frenchman’s more ineffective displays and it only took five minutes for his replacement to upstage him.

But while the window of opportunity is open for Diallo, Henderson now fully understands the reality of life in the harsh glare of the spotlight at Old Trafford.

Henderson has performed pretty well in his 16 appearances for United this season, so much so it has been suggested he is ready to replace David de Gea as the first-choice goalkeeper at the club.

But mistakes on this stage get magnified in a way they do not at Sheffield United, where he did so well last season to take him into the England fold.

And the more often Kjaer’s goal was replayed, the more a view began to form that Henderson should have done much better in his attempt to keep it out.

In five previous two-legged European ties with Milan, United have emerged victorious only once and with Ibrahmovic potentially returning at the San Siro next week, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have their work cut out to reach the last eight.

Despite Ibrahimovic’s absence, there were still some familiar faces in the Milan side.

Diogo Dalot is still a United player but, unlike in the Premier League, Uefa rules allowed him to play against his parent club, while England defender Fikayo Tomori may yet have a future at Chelsea.

It is now more than two years since Brahim Diaz left Manchester City for Real Madrid.

Diaz was part of the same City youth team as Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho. Like Sancho, he decided there was a future away from Pep Guardiola.

Evidently he decided to use his return to Manchester to remind an English audience of his talent as he probed and prodded around the United box as Milan took control.

One through ball for Davide Calabria was exceptional but the full-back was unable to get the ball under control quickly enough.

Aside from Kessie’s disallowed effort, Alexis Saelemaekers drew a save from Henderson after stepping inside Matic’s outstretched leg and Rade Krunic put a header just over.

Kjaer ensured their efforts did not go unrewarded.

Joan Laporta Replace Josep Bartomeu as Barcelona President

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta was elected as the head of the Catalan club again on Sunday, taking charge of a team in crisis and facing daunting problems that include a huge debt and the possible departure of its superstar Lionel Messi when his contract finishes at the end of the season.

 

 

“The fact that the best player in the world came to vote today, along with his son, is proof that Leo loves Barca,” Laporta said. ”Together we will convince him to stay.”

Laporta defeated businessman Víctor Font and longtime board member Toni Freixa, the other two candidates who were among the more than 110,000 members eligible to vote. The election was held just days after the club’s last elected president Josep Maria Bartomeu spent a night in jail while Catalan police investigated possible irregularities during his administration. Bartomeu has denied any wrongdoing.

Laporta won with 54% of the votes, with Font coming second with nearly 30% and Freixa on 8%. Turnout was 55,611.

 

 

The club posted a video of Laporta celebrating the victory along with his campaign team, jumping and chanting “Barca, Barca, Barca…”

The election, which was postponed from January because of the coronavirus pandemic, caps a week in which the club made worldwide headlines after a police raid at the team’s headquarters led to arrests and further embarrassment for an institution that has long prided itself as “more than a club.”

 

 

The police investigation was related to the so-called “Barcagate,” which involved allegations that the former executive board hired an internet services company to spread negative messages about its own players and opponents on social media to boost the image of senior club officials.

Laporta, who has a five-year term, was the team’s president between 2003-2010, during Messi’s breakout seasons for the senior team. The 58-year-old Laporta has said all along during his campaign that he was the best candidate to convince the playmaker to stay.

 

 

He has known Messi since not long after the Argentina great joined the Spanish club after leaving his home country with his family. Messi’s professional debut with Barcelona came as a 17-year-old in 2004, with Laporta already in charge.

Messi’s future was a key campaign issue as he can leave the club for free at the end of his contract this summer. He was upset with Bartomeu after the former president denied his request to leave at the end of last season.

 

 

At the start of his first stint as president, Laporta chose the equally inexperienced Frank Rijkaard as his first coach, and brought in Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Deco to team up with in-house talents Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernández. Messi quickly moved up through Barcelona’s youth teams and joined the senior squad in 2004. The team took off and won two Spanish league titles and the club’s second European Cup in 2006.

 

 

When that team began to falter, Laporta made another bold move by replacing Rijkaard with the untested Pep Guardiola and selling Ronaldinho. Guardiola retooled the team around Messi, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, sparking the most glorious period in the club’s history.

Laporta tried to unseat Bartomeu in a 2015 election, but Bartomeu won with the team coming off a triple sweep of the Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey.

Members, including Messi and other players, voted at the team’s Camp Nou Stadium and other polling stations in northeast Catalonia and neighboring Andorra. Voting by mail also was allowed in certain circumstances.

 

 

The election was called after Bartomeu and his board resigned in October facing a possible no-confidence referendum by club members angry about the team’s trophy-less 2019-20 season – the first since 2007-08. The season ended in a humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals.

The club has qualified for the Copa del Rey final and is second in the Spanish league this season. It won 2-0 at Osasuna on Saturday. Barcelona lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.

 

 

The new president will face problems that include the possible departure of Messi at the end of the season and a debt of more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) brought on in large part by the coronavirus pandemic but also by one of the highest payrolls in soccer.

Of the three candidates, 52-year-old Freixa was the only one who has guaranteed that coach Ronald Koeman would remain in place to see out his contract through the end of next season. The 48-year-old Font, by contrast, had promised to bring back midfield great Xavi in some capacity, either as sports director or as the coach.

 

 

Font was the only outsider among the candidates who had no experience at the club’s administration. He had been calling for renewal at the club.

Freixa was a Barcelona board member from 2010-15. He rejected its portrayal as a club on the brink of collapse and had said he could win as an underdog.

Nigerian Kickboxer Israel Adesanya Loose bid to 2-division Champion in Unanimous Decision

Israel Adesanya’s meteoric rise to UFC superstardom hit a rather large obstacle Saturday night. Jan Blachowicz beat the previously undefeated Adesanya by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) to retain his light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 259.

Adesanya, the UFC middleweight champion, was attempting to become just the fifth fighter in UFC history to hold two titles concurrently.

 

 

The story of the fight leading in was that Blachowicz would have a significant size advantage. Adesanya weighed 200.5 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in, 4.5 pounds under the 205-pound limit for a light heavyweight title fight. Blachowicz weighed 205 pounds and said he planned on competing Saturday at 220 pounds. Adesanya, who typically competes in the 185-pound division, likely didn’t gain much weight from weigh-ins, meaning Blachowicz would be about 20 pounds heavier in the Octagon.

 

 

That size paid dividends for Blachowicz. The Polish fighter took over the fight late with big takedowns in the fourth and fifth rounds. Adesanya seemed to be building some momentum in the fourth when Blachowicz exploded in for a double-leg takedown. Both times, Adesanya could not get up. While Blachowicz didn’t do a ton of damage on the mat, he held Adesanya there very effectively and sprinkled in some punches.

As the clock was expiring to end the fight, Blachowicz finally landed some hard hammerfists and advanced into full mount. The final flurry all but sealed the bout.

 

 

Coming in, ESPN had Adesanya ranked the No. 4 pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world. Adesanya is ranked No. 1 at middleweight, while Blachowicz is ranked No. 2 at light heavyweight, behind only all-time great Jon Jones, who is currently moving up to heavyweight.

UFC 259 took place with COVID-19 protocols in place inside the UFC Apex, a facility across the street from the promotion’s corporate campus.

 

 

Blachowicz (28-8) has won five in a row. The Poland native won the vacant UFC light heavyweight title by beating Dominick Reyes by second-round TKO at UFC 253 last September. Blachowicz, 38, has won nine of 10 fights overall and has had a pretty incredible late-career surge. He has been a pro since 2007 and was the light heavyweight champion of his home country’s KSW promotion in 2011.

 

 

Adesanya (20-1), a former champion kickboxer, won his first nine fights in the UFC before Saturday. The Nigeria-born New Zealand resident is coming off a second-round TKO over Paulo Costa at UFC 253, in the headlining fight of the card in which Blachowicz won the light heavyweight title. The flashy Adesanya, 31, has 15 knockouts in 20 career wins and has been UFC middleweight champion since October 2019.

Blachowicz cashed as a plus-210 underdog and him winning by decision was plus-700, per Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.

Football Handball Rules to Change from July 1st

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced the handball law will be changed from July 1. The decision was reached at the AGM of football’s lawmakers on Friday following a season of confusion and VAR controversy.

 

 

The main change to the law, which will come into effect on July 1, is that accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence.

 

 

This amendment means Fulham’s disallowed goal against Tottenham on Thursday night when Josh Maja’s effort was ruled out when the ball hit the hand of team-mate Mario Lemina from a Davinson Sanchez clearance would have stood.

 

 

Lawmakers ruled that not every touch of a player’s hand or arm with the ball is an offence. In terms of the issue of the hand or arm making a player’s body “unnaturally bigger”, it was confirmed that referees should continue to use their judgment in determining the validity of the hand or arm’s position in relation to the player’s movement in that specific situation.

 

 

Following this clarification, it was decided that it is a handball if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand, for example moving the hand towards the ball, or touches the ball with the hand or arm after making their body unnaturally bigger.

IFAB says competitions will retain the flexibility to introduce changes prior to the July 1 date, although the English and Scottish FAs have confirmed their competitions will adopt the changes from next season.

The new handball law in full

It is a handball offence if a player:

  • deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball;
  • touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised; or
  • scores in the opponents’ goal:
    • – directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper; or
    • – immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.

Accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence.

FIFA to test Wenger’s offside proposal

FIFA president Gianni Infantino also confirmed IFAB will be looking to conduct trials over a new interpretation of the offside rule proposed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Wenger, now FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, wants to introduce fresh criteria whereby if any part of an attacker’s body is onside, he will be deemed as being onside.

“We will test a potential change to the offside law,” Infantino said. “Our aim as IFAB is always to see if we can make football more attractive, without changing its nature.

“We have seen, maybe, we can think about a new law which allows a bit more attack in football. Arsene Wenger presented to us this morning what this could look like.”

Infantino highlighted research presented by the Premier League where, if Wenger’s interpretation would be applied, an average of two out of four offsides per game would not be judged as offsides.

IFAB have yet to provide further details on trial dates and countries to be involved but confirmed to Sky Sports News that FIFA is planning on testing the proposals on a smaller scale first.

“It’s not a preferred solution, but a possible solution. It’s an interesting idea which will be looked at carefully,” said David Elleray, IFAB technical director.

Release: Committee on Onigbinde’s Autobiography felicitates with Baba @ 83

The Modakeke-born sportsmanship and business morgue, Chief Onigbinde remains a humble and dynamic man of honor who has brought unprecedented development to the Nigerian Football Federation and to the good people of Osun State while he was the Chief Super Eagles Manager.

“Without mincing words, Chief Osi of Modakeke paramount rulers, Onigbinde is a great phenomenon who has contributed his best in building a just, virile and egalitarian in Nigeria at large especially in the area of sport, dedication to true service, humanitarian amongst others”.

As you celebrate your 83 years of peaceful existence on earth, we the entire Committee of your autobiography/book launch pray that God Almight will uphold you and grant you long life to reap bountifully, the fruits of your good labour in sound health and abundance of God’s grace.

Congratulations sir and many happy returns of this glorious day.

Jointly Signed by: The Organizing Committee

Prince Adewale Atiba (Chairman)
Saraki Oladimeji
Olatunji Hassan
Fabiyi Oluwaseun
Habibat Oloyede
Adeoye Onigbinde
Bolanle Adeniji

iFitness set to launch 10th Lagos branch

Nigeria’s fastest-growing fitness chain, iFitness is set to launch the 10th outlet of its fitness emporium along CMD road in highbrow Magodo area of Lagos, come February 13, 2021.

The importance of staying fit and healthy cannot be overemphasized in the longevity equation and one fitness outfit at the forefront of ensuring Nigerians have access to global standard fitness centers is iFitness.

Speaking recently in Lagos about his vision, CEO of the iFitness, Mr. Folusho Ogunwale disclosed that people were less active nowadays, partly because technology has made our lives easier.

“We drive cars or take public transport. Machines wash our clothes. We entertain ourselves in front of a TV or computer screen. Fewer people are doing manual work, and most of us have jobs that involve little physical effort.”

“This is the more reason we need to ensure we do not compromise on staying fit. Exercise is the miracle cure we’ve always had, but for too long we’ve neglected to take our recommended dose.” He added.

According to CEO iFitness, Mr Folusho Ogunwale, “People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many chronic conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers, and research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing the risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Describing inactivity as a silent killer, he said that sedentary behavior such as sitting or lying down for long periods was bad for anybody’s health.

“This means that each of us needs to think about increasing the types of activities that suit our lifestyle and can easily be included in our day. We believe a fit and healthy people make for a healthy nation and that is why we are committed to ensuring iFitness spreads to every part of Lagos and the country.” He averred.

iFitness has been providing fitness services in Lagos since 2015 when it was established, making fitness fun, youthful, affordable, convenient, and accessible to everyone in order to entrench in our consciousness, the culture of wellness.

Pre-registration on iFitness is ongoing now at 30% off the actual price of N13, 900. Residents and workers of Magodo and environs, are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to live healthy lifestyles.
iFitness can be accessed via its instagram handle @ifitnessng, click the link in their bio to take advantage of this promo and register!

Benefits of becoming a member:

• You enjoy up to 40 FREE monthly group classes, multi-location access to all i-Fitness branches.
• 1150-sqm work out space, spinning studio, convenient changing rooms, 150-sqm group class space.
• Modern strength and resistance training equipment and more.

Hurry now! Click the link in https://ifitness.ng/magodo-branch/
Enjoy discounted prices when you pre-register.

AFC Wimbledon Plans to Appoint First Woman to Manage Male Team

League One side AFC Wimbledon are reportedly considering a move to appoint Emma Hayes as their new first-team manager.

Hayes, who is currently in charge of FA Women’s Super League side Chelsea, would become the first woman in history to take charge of a men’s football league side if she were to get the job.

The 44-year-old has been put on a shortlist that includes former Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, ex-England defender Sol Campbell and recently sacked Fleetwood boss Joey Barton, according to The Express.

AFC Wimbledon decided to sack manager Glyn Hodges following their 2-0 defeat to MK Dons on Saturday.

A historic transition to the men’s game could be on the cards if the struggling League One side decide to make a move for the talented Camden-born manager.

Hayes has managed a number of clubs in Women’s football over the years, including spells at Long Island Lady Riders, Arsenal Ladies, Chicago Red Stars and Chelsea Women.

The Blues are currently on a remarkable 33-game unbeaten run in the Women’s Super League after a win against Tottenham at the weekend.

Hayes has previously declared her desire to work in men’s football.

“All coaches aspire to be at the best level they can get to, and I’m no different,” she admitted. “If it happened for me that the next opportunity was in the men’s game, then I’d welcome that.

“But I also think there needs to be more female coaches at the top end of the women’s game before more are entering into the men’s game.”

Last Place Sheffield United Stun Manchester United at Home

Bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United caused a stunning upset with a Premier League victory over title-chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side needed three points to regain top spot from rivals Manchester City but were lacklustre for large periods of the contest as the away side picked up only their second win of the season.

The Blades took a shock first-half lead through Kean Bryan’s flicked header, which went in off the far post following John Fleck’s corner.

Anthony Martial had a goal ruled out as Harry Maguire was adjudged to have fouled Aaron Ramsdale, but the United skipper headed in the leveller just past the hour mark.

The visitors responded with 16 minutes remaining as Manchester United failed to clear and substitute Oliver Burke side-footed in via a deflection off Axel Tuanzebe for their first win over the home side since the opening day of the newly formed Premier League in 1992.

“It’s a long time to wait for a win at Old Trafford and it’s a special result, and a special performance,” said Blades boss Chris Wilder.

“I’m not saying an incredible escape is on but I want to show what we are about.”

Wilder’s side remain bottom, 10 points off safety, while Manchester United remain second.

On seven previous occasions this season, Solskjaer’s United had come from behind to win a league game and they looked on course to repeat the trick when Maguire headed in against his old club.

But recovering a deficit time and time again is unsustainable throughout a season and their luck finally ran out.

Unbeaten away from home this season, the Red Devils have dragged themselves into a surprise title challenge, with this their first defeat in 13 games since they lost at Old Trafford against Arsenal in November.

But it is their home form that is causing them the most harm – this is a fourth defeat at Old Trafford this season, following that loss to the Gunners, a hammering by Tottenham and a loss to Crystal Palace in their opening game.

And this damaging result will be a reality check for Solskjaer and his team, who were desperately poor throughout.

They failed to exert any real pressure on the Sheffield United backline and talisman Bruno Fernandes, so often the hero, has now hit a slump and gone four straight league games without a goal or an assist.

Marcus Rashford dragged an effort wide from the edge of the area early on and saw a long-range free-kick gathered by Aaron Ramsdale.

Mason Greenwood’s 25-yard drive straight was straight at the goalkeeper and Alex Telles’ shot looped on to the roof of the net but the strikes were all from long range and saves you would expect the keeper to make.

Edinson Cavani, impressive since joining on a free transfer last summer, was sent on after 66 minutes as the hosts chased a winner but ended up conceding.

With fellow title-chasers Leicester held to a 1-1 draw at Everton, United’s missed opportunity means Manchester City are in the ascendancy, a point clear at the top with a game in hand.

Breaking! Chelsea Sacks Coach Lampard to announce Tuchel later

Thomas Tuchel will replace Frank Lampard, whose sacking at Chelsea will be confirmed later on Monday.

The Daily Telegraph broke the Lampard news on Monday morning, with several other outlets following suit.

Lampard had managed to guide Chelsea back to winning ways on Sunday in the cup against Luton. But it has been their league form which has concerned Roman Abramovich and Marina Granovskaia at Stamford Bridge.

TEAMtalk understands the decision was made after Leicester game. The former Derby boss was given a chance after 3-1 defeat to Man City, but defeat to Leicester was the final straw. Lampard’s axing will become official later on Monday.

Granovskaia has been working on his replacement since then and we understand the same agents who brokered deals for Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have done a deal for Tuchel.

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