Sport
Lacazette and Nketiah goals sinks West Ham
Lacazette and Nketiah goals sinks West Ham. Lacazette and Nketiah goals hands West Ham second defeat of the season. Nketiah had been introduced from the bench to ignite a performance that rarely caught light, West Ham looking the likelier winners after equalising Alexandre Lacazette’s goal through Michail Antonio.
Last weekend, Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah came to blows in a skirmish during the warm-up at Fulham. Seven days later they were dovetailing to devastating effect to give Arsenal a victory they did not deserve.
Five minutes from the end the change had its desired effect, Ceballos finding space inside the area and laying the ball to his right for Nketiah to tap in. For Arsenal it was an escape; for David Moyes it was a sucker punch on a night when his players shrugged off the disconsolate atmosphere around their early-season form.
The world has changed considerably since, on 7 March, West Ham narrowly lost here in the sides’ final match before lockdown. Lacazette’s opener was a reminder that some things, at least, remain familiar. Six months ago he scored a potential winner that was granted after a lengthy VAR check overruled the assistant referee’s flag; now he found himself on the right side of the technology again.
It was slickly worked, Bukayo Saka weighting a through ball down the inside-left to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The captain, newly contracted until 2023, was on point with his chipped delivery and Lacazette raced in to batter a header Lukasz Fabianski had no hope of repelling. The check at Stockley Park was prompted by suspicions Aubameyang had been offside in receiving the pass. Replays suggested part of his upper body might have strayed ahead of the defensive line; it was tight and goals have been chalked off for similar infractions, but this one eventually stood.
In another throwback to the previous meeting, West Ham had been the better side until then. That is not to say much given the lack of genuine goalmouth action in those first 25 minutes. But Moyes sent out a side that defended with discipline and was judicious in choosing when to probe. They were without Mark Noble, absent with a toe injury, but a late withdrawal from Arsenal’s XI aided their cause.
Kieran Tierney had sustained a tight hip in the warm-up and Sead Kolasinac took his place at left centre-back. The new arrival was given a lengthy pep talk by Gabriel Magalhães but the home defence appeared foggy early on. Within four minutes Arthur Masuaku had scooted past Gabriel too easily and won a corner that was headed down and then, via Angelo Ogbonna, nodded at Bernd Leno from a good position. Gabriel also looked uncertain when Jarrod Bowen threatened to get a shot away and, while that was about it for excitement, West Ham had a foothold.
It was snatched away by Lacazette but Moyes’s side kept plugging away. They screamed for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike Gabriel’s arm and were worthy of their equaliser, which came right on half-time. Arsenal’s defending left plenty to be desired as West Ham advanced down the right, Kolasinac failing to pressure the ball, but Ryan Fredericks’ centre was perfectly angled and Antonio stretched to sweep past Leno in the Arsenal goal.
Saka had shot over shortly after Lacazette’s goal but Arsenal had generally struggled for rhythm. They re-emerged with greater purpose but openings were still scarce. After one lengthy passing move resulted in Saka being caught offside, Moyes and his staff loudly applauded their team for holding its shape. Seconds later they were almost celebrating with much more gusto, Masuaku crossing deliciously from the left and Antonio jabbing into a grateful Leno’s arms from a matter of feet. On the hour it was Aaron Cresswell’s turn to whip over beauty and Bowen, meeting Tomas Soucek’s knockdown, could not make good contact when well placed.
One of Arsenal’s problems, symbolised when Aubameyang sent the ball over for the diminutive Willian and saw West Ham clear easily, was that their prize asset was not getting close enough to goal. Another was that Willian himself was far less involved than at Fulham last week. He was replaced by Nicolas Pépé as Arteta sought a spark. But it was Antonio who nearly provided that for West Ham, heading against the crossbar before Leno blocked Bowen’s follow-up.
On came Nketiah and, after more good work from Saka created the space for Ceballos, Arsenal’s hero was made. For long periods this had been a tale of just how far Mikel Arteta still needs to take them; by the end, though, the squabblers of Craven Cottage had ensured it was happy families again.
Source – The Guardian
Soccer fans in Nigeria have expressed their confidence that the Super Eagles will win the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The Nigerian team qualified for the finals after defeating South Africa in the semi-final round of the competition. They face hosts Ivory Coast for the last game of the tournament today.
This will be the second match between both teams. The elephants of Ivory Coast suffered a 1- 0 defeat in their encounter with the Super Eagles at the group stage. Nigerian soccer fans say they are confident that the team will also win the final game.
Moshood Olatunji says, “We’re taking the cup. We’re not bragging and we’re not being pretentious and we’re not underestimating any group. But I think the Nigerian team started slow and they really worked as a team. The thing they had that I could see was the teamwork. They play for each other, they’re not playing for the coach, they’re actually playing for each other as a team. And I think if they carry that attitude into the finals, there’s no stopping us.”
Maxwell Ogbaje says, “I’m not surprised that we got to where we are today. We actually have a strong team. We have been at our best. It’s not just by chance, people see it that the one zero, one zero has always been a lucky thing, but it’s not. There’s actually good effort from the team that has brought that success.”
“Let them keep doing what they are doing especially the back 5. It’s a fantastic tactic that the coach Peseiro has been able to knock the boys with, so they should do what they do. They should be tight behind and they should take their chances. They should hit them on the counter and I believe if they are able to do that and they stay together, then Nigeria will be able to carry the day,” says Sam Maimagani.
It’s the eighth time Nigeria has made it to the finals in the Africa Cup of Nations and the 4th for Ivory Coast.
Nigeria is already a three-time winner of the Africa Cup of Nations and a triumph in today’s encounter will make it the 4th in 10 years.
A win for Ivory Coast will make them a three-time champion of the AFCON. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu is expected to be at the game today to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.
Source: SABC
In other news – Phelo Bala’s father has passed away
His death was announced by his stepson and musician Loyiso Bala on Saturday, 10 February on his social media platforms. Jafta died this morning in the hospital.
The Bala Family is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, Sebenzile Jafta. He departed this morning. Read more
Bayern Munich leapfrogged rivals Borussia Dortmund to clinch their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title in a last-day drama in German football on Saturday, May 27.
In a climactic season finale, Bayern Munich ended up celebrating an unexpected title win while Dortmund’s dream of their first league trophy since 2012 was left in tatters following a 2-2 draw with Mainz.
Dortmund were leading by two points before their last match for the season but were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Mainz on Saturday, allowing Bayern to finish in first place with a goal difference.
RB Leipzig and sensational Union Berlin are third and fourth respectively and will also compete in the Champions League next season.
Hertha Berlin and Schalke 04 have been relegated, while VfB Stuttgart will go into the relegation playoff.
In other news – Celine Dion cancels 2023-2024 shows over health
Last year Celine Dion revealed that she was suffering from a rare neurological disorder. The Pop icon on Friday canceled all her remaining shows scheduled for 2023-2024, saying she was not strong enough to tour as she battles a rare neurological disorder.
Last year the 55-year-old Canadian singer revealed that she was suffering from the rare medical condition that was affecting her singing. Learn More
India is looking to a new generation of talented young cricketers led by teenage batter Shafali Verma to propel them to a first Women’s T20 World Cup title this month. Long-serving skipper Mithali Raj and record-breaking fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, trailblazers for women’s cricket in India, both retired last year.
New captain Harmanpreet Kaur said both players are still on hand to give advice, but it is time to look forward. Whenever we need they are always available to us, that’s what you expect from senior players,” the 33-year-old told a recent press conference.
“Nobody can fill their places, but the young girls who are getting the chances are doing well. One of the players who has grabbed her chance is Verma, an attacking opening batter who led India to victory in the inaugural U19 T20 World Cup in South Africa last month.
The 19-year-old will be back on familiar ground for the T20 World Cup, which is again in South Africa. It starts on February 10 and India are chasing a breakthrough first title, having been runners-up behind hosts Australia in the last edition, in 2020. Their first match is against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 12 in Cape Town.
Verma made her international debut at the age of just 15 and was in the team that reached the T20 World Cup final in 2020.
She also played in the one-day World Cup and was a member of the Indian side which took silver at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The youngster looks up to big-hitting England batsman Liam Livingstone for inspiration and considers Indian great Sachin Tendulkar a role model. After captaining India to victory in the U19 World Cup, Verma said: “This is just the beginning.”
“When I entered the Under-19s, I only focused on winning the Under-19 Cup and we have won that today,” ESPNCricinfo quoted her as saying. I will look to take this winning confidence with me and win the senior World Cup.”
Besides Verma, the India team also includes Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh. The women’s game is making inroads in the cricket-mad country, with the inaugural Women’s Premier League set for March, ahead of the men’s IPL.
Last month, India’s cricket board auctioned off five women’s IPL teams for $572.5 million. The new generation “are ready to be the representatives of the modern generation of women’s cricketers”, cricket journalist Sharda Ugra told AFP.
“The women’s IPL is going to start and they are the perfect representation of the kind of Indian women cricketers that belong to the T20 generation. They have the right mindset and they are very, very talented.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Idols SA canceled after 21 years
Idols SA is reportedly coming to an end after 21 years of entertainment. Phil Mphela, an entertainment commentator announced the latest development about the show on Twitter.
After 21 years, #IdolsSA will be bowing out of our screens. The show has been renewed for a 19th season, which will be the show’s final season,” he wrote. Learn more