SPORT - The African Mirror

Apr

17

2024

Chelsea coach fumes over African star’s penalty row

FOOTBALL

CHELSEA coach Mauricio Pochettino should have been beaming after his team destroyed Everton 6-0 but rather than celebrating Cole Palmer’s remarkable four-goal display he instead fumed about his players arguing on the pitch. Chelsea were leading 4-0 after Palmer's first-half hat-trick and a goal for Nicolas Jackson when they were awarded a penalty after Noni Madueke was tripped in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. Madueke and Jackson then wrestled each other for the ball as the referee awaited a VAR confirmation, with regular taker Palmer standing bemused alongside them. Eventually, captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove the…

Apr

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend's Premier League matches. 'CHOKERS' TAG REARS ITS HEAD AFTER ARSENAL LOSS Arsenal's league form in 2024 has been scintillating, the side picking up 31 points from 11 games before a 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday saw them lose ground on Manchester City. But the nature of the loss, squandering multiple chances in a dominant first-half display before conceding a late quickfire double, will revive questions about the Gunners' mentality after their title challenge petered out last season. This term Arsenal have largely answered those questions, displaying greater mental strength, and remain just two points behind…

Apr

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: ITALY INTER AIM TO SEAL TITLE IN MILAN DERBY Inter Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Cagliari on Sunday but can still claim the Serie A title with five games to spare if they beat second-placed AC Milan in their next match and recent meetings between the sides suggest that is likely. Inter have won the last five Milan derbies in all competitions, thrashing Stefano Pioli's side 5-1 in their most recent encounter in September., They beat Milan 3-0 on aggregate in the 2022-23 Champions League semi-finals and won 3-0…

Apr

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Mallorca investigating alleged racist gesture towards Real’s Tchouameni

FOOTBALL

MALLORCA are working with the police to investigate an alleged racist gesture made during a 1-0 home defeat by Real Madrid, the LaLiga club said. Videos on social media appeared to show a fan at the Son Moix Stadium making a racist gesture towards Real midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who scored the only goal of the match. In the same fixture last year, Mallorca fans were filmed racially abusing Real's Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr., with Mallorca revoking a fan's membership card for three years. "In yesterday's match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid, images have been identified in which a person made racist gestures," Mallorca said in…

Apr

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Eze and Palace deal Liverpool big blow to title chances with 1-0 victory

FOOTBALL

LIVERPOOL'S bid to win the Premier League title in manager Juergen Klopp's final season with the club suffered a huge blow as they were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield leaving them third in the table. Eberechi Eze scored in the 14th minute to stun the Anfield faithful in the third consecutive disappointing result for Liverpool. Klopp's men are level on 71 points with second-placed Arsenal, who suffered a 2-0 shock loss to Aston Villa later on Sunday but lead Liverpool on goal difference. Liverpool trail leaders Manchester City by two points. "I would say with the chances we…

Apr

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Leverkusen secure maiden Bundesliga title with 5-0 win over Bremen

FOOTBALL

Undefeated Bayer Leverkusen secured their first Bundesliga title on Sunday with a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen, breaking an 11-year stranglehold on the league by Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso's team, who have now gone a league-record 29 matches without defeat this season to secure their first trophy since 1993, have a 16-point lead over Bayern with five matches remaining. Leverkusen left nothing to chance and sealed their title win at the first opportunity with Florian Wirtz bagging a hat-trick in a win that stretched their unbeaten run across all competitions to a remarkable 43 games this season. They earned a…

Apr

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Late Okafor goal earns Milan draw in six-goal thriller with Sassuolo

FOOTBALL

SECOND-PLACED AC Milan twice fought back from two goals down to secure a 3-3 draw at relegation-threatened Sassuolo with a late equaliser by substitute Noah Okafor in Serie A. Milan have 69 points, six ahead of Juventus with six matches left. Sassuolo are second-bottom with 26 points. Inter Milan, who host Cagliari later on Sunday, are runaway leaders on 82. It was a frustrating match for Milan, who dominated possession and chances, particularly for Samuel Chukwueze who had two goals disallowed for offside by a hair's breadth. Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli also made several fine saves, notably a sensational early…

Apr

14

2024

By The African Mirror

Isak brace leads Newcastle to crucial 4-0 win over Spurs

FOOTBALL

A dominant Newcastle United struck twice within 95 seconds as Alexander Isak's brace helped them secure a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, a vital result in their bid to qualify for European competition. Newcastle, unbeaten at home since January, moved up to sixth place in the standings with 50 points from 32 matches, one ahead of Manchester United who have played a game less and visit Bournemouth later in the day. Spurs are fifth with 60 points. Isak scored at the half-hour mark when Anthony Gordon got hold of a long ball, shook off Destiny Udogie…

Apr

14

2024

By The African Mirror

Bayern battle past Cologne to end losing run, Coman out for weeks

FOOTBALL

BAYERN Munich struck twice in the second half to earn a 2-0 win over Cologne and bounce back from two straight league losses ahead of their Champions League return leg against Arsenal next week. With Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen 13 points ahead and poised to wrap up their first league title with a win over Werder Bremen on Sunday, Bayern's only hope of silverware this season rests with the Champions League following their 2-2 draw in the first leg in London. They suffered a serious injury blow, however, with winger Kingsley Coman taken off in the 50th minute and ruled…

Apr

13

2024

By HELEN REID and VINCENT DAHERON

Kenya’s Kipchoge eyes historic Olympic marathon hat-trick

ATHLETICS

KENYA'S Eliud Kipchoge expects to make history with his third consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal at this year's Games in Paris, he told Reuters in an interview on Thursday, adding that there were no thoughts about retirement yet. Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila, East Germany's Waldemar Cierpinski and Kipchoge are the only athletes to have won two Olympic gold medals in the marathon when they retained their titles. "My huge expectation actually is to win the Olympics for the third time," said Kipchoge, who turns 40 in November and finished 10th at last month's Tokyo Marathon. That result and his relatively vintage…