Thursday, November 21, 2024

EPL Roundup: Ighalo Misses Out Again As Manchester United Pip Semi Ajayi's West Brom 


EPL
  EPL Roundup: Ighalo Misses Out Again As Manchester United Pip Semi Ajayi's West Brom By Omolagba Oluwayemi Four months of non-stop club football started with some interesting games in the world most glamorous football league, EPL. BSNsports.com.ng takes a look at the premier league games played on Saturday. In the early kick-off on Saturday, Chelsea were two nil winner against Newcastle United at the Saint James Park. The boys from London dominated the game and could've have won with more than 2 goals if they'd utilised well all created chances. The first goal for the blues was an own goal by Fernandes in the 10th minute, then Tammy Abraham tucked in the second in the 65th minute. Timo Werner goal was ruled out for an offside. In the second game of the day, Brighton and Hove Albion shocked Aston Villa at the Villa Park by two goals to one. Villa who went into the International break with an Emphatic 3-0 away at the Emirates Stadium fell behind as early as 12 minutes when Daniel Wellbeck took an excellent lob over Martinez after finding himself in a one on one situation. Villa responded very early in the second half when Ezri Konsa volleyed the ball to the back of the net from a Bertrand Traore's free-kick cross but fell behind again in the 56th minutes when Solly March got to the end of Pascal Gross cross to make it 2-1 for the visitors. In the match of the day between Jose Mourinho's Tottenham and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, it was a tactical battle against a tiki taka style. Jose Mourinho set up his team in a popular defensive way known as park the bus style with tactical instructions while Pep's side played their usual tiki taka style. Jose Mourinho's method quickly paid off when Heung-Min Son met Tanguy Ndombele's chip over Manchester City defenders to put himself in a one on one situation with on coming Enderson which he calmly slotted in between the goal keeper's leg to give Spurs the lead in the fifth minute. Manchester City thought they had equalized in the 27th minutes when Laporte fired a shot pass Hugo Lloris from close range, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR check which confimed a hand ball by Gabriel Jesus in the build up. City continued with their high pressing football in the second half but the Tottenham defense had answers to all the questions asked by City's attack. A tactical substitution by Mourinho in the 65th minutes saw Lo Celso replaced Tanguy Ndombele and less than a minute of his introduction got the second goal of the evening for Tottenham. The game ended 2-0 with Tottenham climbing to the summit of the table for the first time under Jose Mourinho while Pep Guardiola's side continues their poor start to the season. It was a night of controversies at Old Trafford in the late kick-off as VAR denied West Brom a penalty against the initial call of the referee and also gave United the chance to retake their penalty after the first one was missed. Bruno Fernandes was adjudged to have tripped Conor Gallagher in United's 18 yard box with the referee awarding a penalty for West Brom in the process but overturned the decision after a VAR check. Less than 10 minutes later, it was United who were awarded a penalty kick after Juan Mata's shot hits Danny Furlong's hand. Although the referee wasn't interested in awarding a penalty at first despite heavy protest by United players, but after a VAR check gave the penalty which Bruno Fernandes missed in his first attempt. VAR was again called into action and United were awarded a chance to retake the penalty after the goal keeper was found outside the goalline before the first penalty was played and Fernandes made no mistake this time around, tucking the ball into the back of the net to give United a 1-0 win. While Odion Ighalo did not make the match day squad for United, Semi Ajayi was amazing in the center of the defense for West Brom. United moved up to 9th on the log with the win why West Brom remained 18th as their search for first win of the season continues.
Niyi
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Niyi Busari

Award winning journalist, Niyi Busari, the Publisher and CEO of BSN Sports Concepts is one of the most celebrated Nigerian sports journalist of his generation. A"cross-over" professional, he combines the talents and abilities of a print and electronic journalist in a manner that is rare, even though his specialization is print. A graduate of Economics from the University of Abuja where he obtained his Bachelor Degree in 2015.

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