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  • Feb, Sat, 2020
Sport

EPL: Giroud on target as Chelsea beat Spurs to stay fourth

League
London, Feb. 22, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso returned to the starting line-up with stunning effect by grabbing a goal apiece in a crucial 2-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Their goals had a telling effect in the battle between the London rivals for fourth place, with the win cementing Chelsea’s position and preventing Spurs from leapfrogging.

It was only Chelsea’s sixth win in 14 home English Premier League (EPL) games this season.

But it was fully deserved as they remain in fourth, the last UEFA Champions league qualification spot, with 44 points from 27 games, while Tottenham have 40 points.

Such was Chelsea’s dominance that the derby lacked its usual intensity, although there was a flashpoint when Giovani Lo Celso got away with a dreadful tackle on Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta.

The incident went on to prompt another VAR controversy, with the off-field umpire first ruling it was no sending-off and later accepting the decision was a mistake.

A poor run of form had dented Chelsea’s top-four hopes for some time now.

But from the moment French international Giroud, making his first league start since November, rifled a shot past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 15th minute they were in control.

Alonso, back for only his seventh league start under Frank Lampard, doubled the lead three minutes after the break with a thumping finish.

It did give Chelsea a boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg game at home to Germany’s Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Tottenham, badly missing injured strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, were lacklustre and a late Antonio Rudiger own goal made the contest look closer than it actually was.

The hosts held on comfortably though as Lampard got the better of his former Chelsea boss Mourinho for the second time this season after a 2-0 win at Spurs in December.

The margin of victory should have been bigger with Tottenham’s Lloris making several fine saves and Alonso also curling a free-kick against the bar late on.

“It was a shame about the goal at the end because it gave us a few nervous minutes,” Lampard said.

“I’m delighted for them both (Giroud and Alonso). They are experienced lads and it’s not easy when they are not playing.”

Tottenham’s three-game winning run in the league ended in disappointing fashion and it could have been worse as Lo Celso should have been dismissed in the second half.

The Argentine midfielder appeared to stamp on the shin of Azpilicueta and although it was apparently missed by referee Michael Oliver it was reviewed by VAR.

Yet somehow Lo Celso stayed on the pitch, much to Lampard’s amazement.

“I hate to call for red cards but that is a leg-breaker,” Lampard said. “VAR is here to clear things up, but this is another huge question mark.”

Tottenham set up to defend and there was an inevitability about the result which means their record at Stamford Bridge now reads just one win in their last 34 visits.

Spurs forward Lucas Moura had an early effort well stopped by Willy Caballero, again preferred by Lampard to world record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga.

But they were mainly on the back foot with Mason Mount forcing Lloris into a save soon after.

That it was 33-year-old former Arsenal striker Giroud, linked with a move to Tottenham in January, who opened the scoring was galling for the away fans.

Played through by Jorginho, Giroud’s initial shot was saved by the legs of Lloris.

Ross Barkley’s follow-up bounced up against the woodwork and, when the ball came back to the French striker, his powerful shot beat Lloris at his near post.

Giroud was also involved in the flowing move that resulted in Chelsea’s second goal.

His flick released Mount who played a low ball towards Barkley, another player recalled by Lampard.

The midfielder helped it to Alonso who did not have to break his stride to smash a low left-foot shot past the diving Lloris.

Mourinho sent on England midfielder Dele Alli, surprisingly left out of the starting line-up, as well as Erik Lamela and it was the Argentine’s shot which was deflected in by Rudiger.

It was too little too late for Tottenham though.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Tottenham stadium to host European club rugby finals in 2021

Tottenham stadium to host European club rugby finals in 2021
Stadium
London, May 10, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) The 2021 Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup finals will be held at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium from May 21 to 22, the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said on Friday.
The 2018 finals held in Bilbao, home to Spanish soccer club Athletic Bilbao, while this year’s finals will be held in Newcastle’s St James’ Park.
Tottenham’s stadium, which has a capacity of over 62,000, won the bid for the 2021 finals.
“There is already a real buzz about the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it will continue the theme of new experiences for our fans in dynamic stadiums,” EPCR Chairman Simon Halliday said.
The new stadium, which will host NFL games apart from Premier League matches, will also allow Premiership Rugby side Saracens to play their annual ‘Big Game’ fixture from 2020 after they agreed a five-year deal last month.
“We’re excited to have been selected to host this prestigious weekend… in 2021 and to have this opportunity to welcome EPCR and rugby fans from around the world to Tottenham to experience our new home,” Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy said.
“These games will add to the portfolio of world-class sporting and entertainment events our multi-use venue will stage in this new leisure destination for London.”
Saracens play Leinster in this season’s Champions Cup final on Saturday while Clermont take on La Rochelle later today in the Challenge Cup final. (Reuters/NAN)
MUYI/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

Vertonghen clash: Brain injury charity wants temporary substitutes

Substitutes
London, May 1, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Football authorities should introduce temporary substitutions, a brain injury charity said on Wednesday, after defender Jan Vertonghen tried to play on following a head clash on Tuesday.

The defender had been injured during Tottenham Hotspur’s UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Ajax Amsterdam in London.

Vertonghen collided with teammate Toby Alderweireld while trying to beat Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre Onana to the ball during the semi-final first leg tie.

It was an incident Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino described as a “big knock”.

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz spoke to the Spurs medical staff before allowing Vertonghen back onto the pitch, only for the 32-year-old Belgian to quickly go off again.

British charity Headway said in a statement on Wednesday that rolling substitutes in cases of head injury would allow a team’s medical staff to conduct longer off-pitch assessments.

“Assessing a player for three minutes — or even five, as was the case with Jan Vertonghen — does not allow for medical staff to make a reliable diagnosis,” Headway’s Luke Griggs said.

“The pressure on club medical staff is enormous and unfair, particularly in such high-stakes games such as a Champions League semi-final.

UEFA and FIFA were not immediately available for comment, but Pochettino told reporters the Tottenham medical staff followed the necessary protocols before allowing Vertonghen back onto the pitch.

Spurs lost the match 0-1.

In addition to temporary substitutions, Headway called for “independent doctors with expertise in concussion” to take the final call on whether a player is fit to continue.

Pochettino said he was not involved.

“It was the doctor’s decision. The rules and the protocols are there. Our medical staff followed the protocol,” the Argentine manager said.

“He’s OK. We hope it is not a big issue.”(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Kane, Son rip Everton apart as Tottenham win 6-2

Spurs

By Victor Okoye

Liverpool (UK), Dec. 23, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur showed why manager Mauricio Pochettino is “a wanted man’’ by thrashing hosts Everton 6-2 on Sunday to close to within six points of English Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Spurs have had to cope with the unwanted attention of Pochettino being linked with the Manchester United job following Jose Mourinho’s sacking some days ago.

But they showed no signs of being distracted as they roared back from a goal down at Goodison Park.

Braces from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen also on target, did the magic, after Everton had led against the run of play through Theo Walcott.

Even a strike from former Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson to reduce the hosts’ deficit to 4-2 early in the second half could not spark a revival.

However, fatigue may still derail Tottenham’s bid to win a first trophy under Pochettino, with Spurs still involved in four competitions.

But with Liverpool facing Arsenal and Manchester City in top-of-the-table clashes in their next three games over the festive period, Tottenham have the opportunity to haul themselves back into it.

They can turn it into a three-way title race if they maintain the standards set at Goodison.

Kane had chipped into the side-netting and Jordan Pickford produced a fine save to deny England teammate Kieran Trippier in the early stages.

But it was Everton who struck first in a wildly-open contest when Walcott stabbed home at the near-post from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross.

Marco Silva’s men could even have been 2-0 up had Calvert-Lewin not been penalised for a push on Davinson Sanchez when heading home moments later.

But Spurs looked as if they could score with almost every attack and were soon on level terms after a Pickford error, when he rushed out from his goal.

The England number one only succeeded in getting in the way of his own defender Kurt Zouma and Son took advantage with a wonderful finish from a narrow angle.

Once back on level terms, Spurs were relentless as Pickford denied Son a second but Alli charged into the box to sweep home the rebound to turn the game around.

Kane is now just one goal behind Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang in the race for the English Premier League golden boot and showed his predatory instincts to side-foot into an empty net.

This was after Trippier’s fine free-kick came back off the post three minutes before half-time.

However, there was no let-up in the game’s pace after the break as Eriksen produced a technical and perfectly-controlled volley from the penalty box edge to make it 4-1.

Three minutes later Everton’s deficit was back to two as Sigurdsson dribbled across the whole Tottenham defence before firing back across Hugo Lloris.

Yet, any hope of a fightback was extinguished just after the hour mark when Son’s fine control cushioned Erik Lamela’s pass before he finished through the legs of Pickford.

It was announced some days agao that the South Korean would go to the Asian Cup in January.

This was in spite of his already representing his country at the FIFA World Cup and Asian Games earlier this year.

And Son showed why he would be missed by his club in January once more.

An inch-perfect cross was his contribution for Kane to slide in for his second of the afternoon 16 minutes from time.

Both teams face the least rest time of any English Premier League side over the festive period with another three games to come between now and New Year’s Day.(Reuters/NAN)

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

FA Cup replay with Tottenham no day out for Rochdale

NAN-S-6
Replay
London, Feb. 27, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Rochdale will not treat Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round replay against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley as a day out.

Their manager Keith Hill is busy formulating the perfect plan to stop Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The third-tier strugglers, bottom of League One, earned a replay after a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Spotland Stadium and are the lowest-ranked club in the sixth-round draw.

Tottenham, fourth in the English Premier League after an unbeaten run stretching back to mid-December, are huge favourites at their adopted home.

They now seek to win the competition for the ninth time and first since 1991.

In spite of initial problems adapting to Wembley, Tottenham have beaten Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal there this season.

“It’s not a day out for us,” Hill said. “We’re trying to do what would be an impossible task, which is play at Tottenham’s home ground and win an FA Cup replay.

“We’re trying to come up with the perfect plan, which has got to be delivered perfectly by the players.

“We’ve seen Premier League opposition and UEFA Champions League opposition not being able to manage it.”

“But we’ve done our due diligence on Tottenham and we’ve just got to make sure that we focus on our own game plan and not get carried away by the occasion.”

Rochdale lost to Wigan Athletic at the weekend to stay bottom of League One and Hill wants his team to be brave.

“We’ll try and play them at a game of football. I will encourage my players to be creative but focused, with intelligent energy,” he said.

“It’s going to be a difficult game but an enjoyable opportunity and that’s what I want the players to see it as.

“They’re going to have to be brave, and if we’re brave and we get beaten by four, five or six goals, then it’s something that me, as a coach, will accept.

“If we’re not too brave, then I’ll find that very difficult to digest, because I want us to take Tottenham on.” (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

English FA Cup: Rochdale force replay against Spurs

NAN-S-7
Draw
London, Feb. 18, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Rochdale’s Steve Davies fired home a stoppage time equaliser to earn the third-tier strugglers a deserved 2-2 draw in a cracking English FA Cup fifth round tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

It looked as though substitute Harry Kane’s late penalty kick on Sunday had put the English Premier League side into the quarter-finals.

But Davies, also on from the bench, pounced in the second minute of added time to spark joyous scenes at Spotland.

“To get a draw at the end of the day against a Premier League club – you can hear what it means to the fans, board and staff,” Henderson said as the fans chanted ‘Dale are going to Wembley…’ in anticipation of the replay at Tottenham’s temporary home.

“We can’t wait to go to Wembley. We always felt we had an opportunity, Stevo (Steven Davies) is an unbelievable finisher and we deserved that today.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing at Wembley and now I can say I’ve played there – if I’m fit and picked.’’

Rochdale, bottom of League One, had their barren pitch re-surfaced for the arrival of Spurs who are bidding to win the FA Cup for the first time since 1991.

And Keith Hill’s men made a mockery of the 63 places separating the sides as they used the lush green surface to great effect to match a superior Tottenham Hotspur side.

The north London club line-up was however much changed from the one that drew 2-2 with Juventus in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Tottenham’s team still brimmed with internationals, with Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier and Harry Winks all involved.

Spanish striker Fernando Llorente was upfront in place of the rested Kane.

Alderweireld was a touch fortunate to get away with a handball after slipping in the area and Henderson had a great chance but saw his shot saved by Michel Vorm.

Rochdale continued to play with style and Henderson opened the scoring in the 45th minute.

That was when Andrew Cannon played a dangerous ball onto the box and the skipper fired first-time into the corner.

Tottenham increased their intensity in the second half and levelled when Moussa Sissoko found space and threaded the perfect pass to Brazilian Moura who finished superbly.

Rochdale were ticking down the minutes after that as Tottenham sent in the cavalry with Kane.

The England forward had made his professional league debut in January 2011 at Spotland while on loan at Leyton Orient.

Dele Alli and Erik Lamela were also all released off the bench to try and force a win.

They defended valiantly, making last-ditch stops and goal line clearances.

But when Alli was taken down in the area and Kane drilled low into the corner with his 89th-minute spot kick, it looked like being a hard-luck story.

There was a final twist, though, as Matt Done swung in a cross from the left.

When the ball glanced off Alderweireld, it fell to Davies who took a touch before shooting home.

Eight-times winners Tottenham, who also needed a replay against fourth-tier Newport in the fourth round, could have few complaints at not finishing the tie.

“The FA Cup is magic. We have another opportunity at Wembley, the same situation like before,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

“It’s not easy to play this type of game. Of course we wanted to win but we have the possibility to win.

“We have all the squad fit and it will be another game to provide players with the chance to compete on Wembley and we have the possibility to reach the quarter-finals.”

The winners will face either Swansea City or Sheffield Wednesday in the quarter-finals. (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Tottenham battle back to earn 2-2 draw at Juventus

NAN-S-24
Draw
Turin (Italy), Feb. 13, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur recovered from conceding twice in the opening nine minutes to secure a 2-2 draw away to Juventus in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie.

Gonzalo Higuain struck for Juve on Tuesday after two minutes and again from the penalty kick spot after nine minutes as Tottenham were rocked, but the visitors responded in impressive fashion.

Harry Kane fired home in the 35th minute to halve the deficit before Higuain wasted the chance to score a hat-trick.

The Argentine’s penalty kick on the stroke of halftime hit the crossbar.

On the other hand, Kane’s strike was the first goal Juventus have conceded in 2018.

Tottenham were rewarded for their endeavour when Christian Eriksen’s free-kick levelled it up in the 71st minute.

It means that the Londoners will fancy their chances of knocking out last year’s runners-up in next month’s second leg at Wembley.

Tottenham arrived full of confidence after winning their group containing last year’s winners Real Madrid, but they suffered a dreadful opening 10 minutes.

Juventus, unbeaten in their previous 26 home matches in Europe, took the lead after two minutes.

A clever free-kick by Miralem Pjanic picked out Higuain who swivelled to volley right-footed past Hugo Lloris.

Tottenham had barely put two passes together when they fell further behind seven minutes later from the penalty kick spot.

Ben Davies was caught napping and his clumsy foul on Federico Bernardeschi gave the referee an easy decision to point to the penalty kick spot.

Higuain duly converted in spite of Lloris guessing the right way and getting a touch on the ball.

The rest of the half belonged to the visitors as they shrugged of the double blow to dominate possession.

With Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele pulling the strings for Tottenham in midfield.

Juve retreated and they were indebted to veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for two fine saves to deny in-form striker Kane.

There was nothing he could do though when Dele Alli picked out Kane in the 35th minute and the England striker drifted past the goalkeeper before coolly sliding home.

Tottenham had a huge let-off on the stroke of half-time when they were caught on the counter-attack and Douglas Costa enticed Serge Aurier into a desperate lunge to concede another penalty.

Higuain took the ball but rather than celebrate a first-half hat-trick his penalty kick rattled against the crossbar.

Juventus played more like the away side in the second half with Tottenham again pressing.

The hosts however went close with Lloris saving well from Bernardeschi and Mario Mandzukic then heading straight at the French goalkeeper.

Eriksen, arguably the best player on the pitch, levelled for Tottenham in the 71st minute when his low free-kick deceived Buffon and nestled in the corner.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Last-gasp Kane penalty kick earns Tottenham draw at Liverpool

NAN-S-5
Penalty
Abuja, Feb. 4, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Harry Kane scored in stoppage time to snatch a point for Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in the English Premier League.

Mohamed Salah capitalised on a mistake from Eric Dier to put Liverpool in front in the third minute, taking his tally to 20 league goals for the season.

Substitute Victor Wanyama thundered home an equaliser 10 minutes from time before Kane missed from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.

In the most dramatic of finales, Salah thought he had won it in the first minute of added time, only for Spurs to win another penalty kick which Kane converted.

The England forward was scoring his 100th Premier League goal, and it left his team fifth on the table, two points behind third-placed Liverpool.

“It is difficult to get every decision right,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “When they are right and show character I needed to congratulate them.”

Defender Virgil van Dijk, returning to the Liverpool starting line-up, did a fine job of keeping an unchanged Spurs quiet for the majority of the first half.

Liverpool’s task was made easier by their early opener.

Dier, in attempting to make an interception, diverted the ball into the path of Salah, putting the Egypt international clean through to break the deadlock.

Tottenham’s only shot on target in the first 45 minutes came via the boot of Mousa Dembele, but his half-volley was easily saved by Loris Karius.

Spurs improved after the break and almost equalised through Son Heung-min in the 58th minute, but Karius stood tall to make the block.

The visitors equalised out of the blue when Wanyama thundered the ball into the net from distance before the drama unfolded.

Kane’s tame penalty kick was easily saved by Karius after the England striker had been felled in the box.

Then, Salah danced his way past two Spurs defenders and fired into the net to score what looked likely to be the winner.

However, the linesman spotted a foul by Van Dijk on substitute Erik Lamela in the box, giving Kane the chance to make amends.

“The softest touch in the whole game decides the game,” Klopp said. “It is not a penalty kick.”

Kane duly converted from the penalty kick spot with virtually the last kick off the game to silence Anfield.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said during his post-match press conference that “there were so many situations to talk about, but the ref’s decisions decided the game so I can’t help but talk about them.

“I don’t understand either of the penalty situations. The first one was offside and the second, I know already what the ref and his assistant will say.

“There was a touch, a little touch. But Lamela has jumped into him and wanted the touch and to go down.

`If the ref kept playing at that level then fine, but in the first half he wasn’t giving fouls. Then for the softest touch of the whole game he decides it is a foul.

“In the second half we had to defend like crazy, they had to chase the game. We had counter-attacks, the high pressure was good and we put in some super crosses.

“We were a bit unlucky here and there but we had enough chances to win the game. And we would have if it wasn’t for those decisions.”

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, however, had a slightly different view about the match.

“It was an amazing game to watch — two teams that always try to play exciting football,” he said at a post-match interview.

“I was calm because the team plays so well. The feeling is we dropped two points. We were much, much, much better than Liverpool.

“Both were a penalty and it is not controversial. Sometimes people complain about the referee, but when they are right it is good to tell everyone.

“It was important, the character. When you analyse the game, it was always under control in spite of conceding the first goal. When you analyse the 90 minutes, Tottenham were much better.

“We always try to give our best. The team always shows personality and character. Today was a game we played for the win, and to change history you need time.”(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)