Sports
10-man Man United knock Arsenal out of FA Cup on penalties
Arsenal’s FA Cup dreams came to a shattering end as a resilient ten-man Manchester United triumphed in a penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium following a dramatic 1-1 draw in regular time.
The match was filled with intense moments, including a significant injury to Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus. While attempting to dispossess Bruno Fernandes, Jesus collided awkwardly and had to be stretchered off the field in visible distress. This injury is a major blow for Arsenal, especially given Jesus’s recent resurgence in form.
Manchester United opened the scoring with a goal from Bruno Fernandes.
Earlier in the match, Fernandes had displayed his frustration by throwing his boot to the ground after being denied a free-kick, earning him a yellow card in the process.
The game took another dramatic turn when United’s Diogo Dalot received a second yellow card, leaving his side with ten men. Arsenal capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Gabriel Magalhães heading in the equaliser.
Controversy erupted when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Kai Havertz went down under minimal contact from Harry Maguire.
Without the presence of VAR, the decision sparked heated confrontations between players, with Maguire accusing Havertz of simulation. The altercation resulted in yellow cards for Maguire, Gabriel Magalhães, and Havertz.
Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was saved by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
With no further goals in extra time, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. Manchester United displayed remarkable composure, successfully converting all five of their spot-kicks, while Arsenal missed two, including one from Kai Havertz.
United emerged victorious, advancing to the next round of the FA Cup.
It was an exciting day for the Super Eagles of Nigeria the club claimed an all important success over Rwanda in Kigali to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria headed into the game failing to win their first four games in Group C, drawing three and losing one and were fifth on the table.
They needed to get a win against Rwanda, whom they have failed to defeat in their last two outings, losing one and drawing one.
However, they secured a 2-0 victory against the Amavubi in a bid to get a ticket to the World Cup in the USA.
The new head coach Erik Chelle used a 4-4-2 formation against Rwanda, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman leading the attack for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria needed to start the game on the front foot and needed an early goal to get going. In the 11th minute, the Super Eagles got the first goal from an inswinging freekick.
Lookman put in a decent freekick, which was met at the far corner by Osimhen, who put his laces on the ball and slotted home.
The Super Eagles doubled their lead before stoppage time in the first half after Osimhen snatched a loose ball from a Rwanda defender and was through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. He dinked the ball over the shot-stopper to get his second goal of the game.
Chelle’s side controlled the game in the second half and limited Rwanda from creating any chances. However, they were unable to get more goals and extend their two-goal lead in the game.
Following the final whistles, the Super Eagles moved to fourth place on the table with six points. They will now place their attention on their next game against Zimbabwe in Uyo.
Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat Chelsea to move 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Both of these sides came into the match without their first-choice striker, with Kai Havertz ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury for Arsenal and Nicolas Jackson missing for Chelsea.
Chelsea were also without their most important player in Cole Palmer, who was out of the squad with an injury, and it was the first time the Blues have to had to play without him since they lost 5-0 to Arsenal in April last season.
Arsenal, again naming Merino as a makeshift striker, dominated the game early on and Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all went close.
Merino’s winner came in the 20th minute when he flicked on a curling corner from Martin Odegaard past a stretching Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea’s best opportunity to take something from the game came when Marc Cucurella’s powerful effort slipped through David Raya’s hands but the ball rolled just past the post.
Robert Sanchez, recently restored as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, had some shaky moments as the Blues were put under pressure with a number of crosses into the area and he was jeered by the home crowd when he had the ball at his feet.
Sanchez produced an excellent save to deny Merino in the second half, but Chelsea could not find the goal to get something from the game.
Liverpool are not playing in the league this weekend as they are involved in the Carabao Cup final.
Tijjani Reijnders saved AC Milan’s skin in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Serie A upstarts Como, who gave Dele Alli his debut from the bench only for the former England international to be sent off moments later.
Netherlands midfielder Reijnders struck in the 76th minute after a brilliant Tammy Abraham pass as Milan came from behind to placate angry home fans and move up to seventh in Italy’s top flight.
Sergio Conceicao’s side are three points from the European places in large thanks to Reijnders who also slipped in Christian Pulisic to level the scores seven minutes after the break.
The 26-year-old also hit the bar shortly before rolling home his 13th goal of the season in all competitions, and also went close to netting again with five minutes remaining.
His performance saved his teammates from a severe barracking at the end of the match as they were loudly booed and whistled off the pitch at half-time with Milan trailing to Lucas Da Cunha’s 33rd-minute strike.
Regardless supporters continued to demand that owners, US investment firm RedBird, sell the club as they have at all recent matches.
Defeat was harsh on Como who performed well on one of football’s biggest stages and stay safely nestled in 13th place, seven points above the relegation zone.
The evening ended in the worst possible way for the lakeside club when late substitute Dele, who is trying to revive his career after a troubled few years since leaving Tottenham Hotspur, was shown a straight red card in the final minute for a rash challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Coach Cesc Fabregas also saw red for dissent shortly afterwards as Como make the short trip back from Milan with nothing from another creditable display against more illustrious opposition.
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