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Category: Football

  • Celtic Celtic 5 0 Raith Rovers

    Celtic Celtic 5 0 Raith Rovers

    Daizen Maeda took his Celtic tally to 50 goals as his hat trick helped the much-changed holders into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable 5-0 win over Raith Rovers.

    Brendan Rodgers brought nine players into the starting line-up but it was very much business as usual as Celtic extended their unbeaten home run to 32 matches – one shy of the mark reached by Gordon Strachan’s vintage of 2007.

    Second-half goals from Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun had Celtic well in command before Maeda completed his hat-trick late on from McCowan’s fine assist.

    The Japanese attacker, who scored twice before the break to dull the Championship visitors’ resistance, now has 21 goals for the season.

    An able deputy, perhaps, for departed compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi, having now rattled in six in his last three games.

    It could have been an even more difficult game for Raith had Callum McGregor’s early effort from the edge of the area not found the junction of debutant Josh Rae’s right-hand post and crossbar.

    Maeda was also denied before the interval by an offside flag after tapping home Anthony Ralston’s cross.

    With Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich next up at Parkhead in the Champions League on Wednesday, the likes of Alastair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty were given the night off.

    As was goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, with Viljami Sinisalo making his Celtic debut.

    There was no discernable drop-off in levels for Rodgers’ men, who have now scored 14 goals in their last three games and 110 for the season as a whole.

    It was a harsh lesson for Barry Robson’s Raith, who thought they were heading in just one goal down at the interval before Maeda pounced for his second to remove any doubt about the outcome.

    Celtic’s quality shone throughout the second period and they can now look forward to the visit of Harry Kane and co on the back of another healthy victory.

    The only downside is that man of the moment Maeda is suspended for the first leg.

    What they said

    Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “Games like this can be tricky if the attitude is not right, no matter what talent you’ve got.

    “It’s a huge testament to the players in terms of how hard they worked in the game right from the beginning to play to the level they did.”

    Raith Rovers manager Barry Robson: “The boys gave me absolutely everything, you can’t deny that. I can’t ask for any more than that.

    “What they will have done is learn what it’s like to come up against real top quality players.”

  • From Messi comparisons to FA Cup hero – Edwards aims for the top

    From Messi comparisons to FA Cup hero – Edwards aims for the top

    The career of Marcus Edwards has already taken plenty of twists and turns, but on Saturday he opened what could turn out to be his most rewarding chapter.

    Signed on loan from Portuguese giants Sporting on deadline day, the 26-year-old midfielder came off the bench to score the winner as Championship high-flyers Burnley dumped Premier League strugglers Southampton out of the FA Cup.

    A product of Tottenham’s academy once compared to Lionel Messi, after six years in Portugal Edwards has returned to England with the goal of finally playing in the Premier League.

    From Messi comparisons to the bench

    Edwards joined Tottenham at eight years old, and before long his abilities drew comparisons to one of the greatest players of all time.

    “The qualities, his body and the way that he plays, it is reminiscent a little bit from the beginning of Messi,” then Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said in 2016.

    As often seems to happen, the comparison to Messi proved a curse. After loan spells with Norwich and Excelsior in the Netherlands, Edwards was released just three years later. Coaches were unconvinced by his ability and concerned about his behaviour and timekeeping.

    “He was a young boy in and around London and when you’re a young boy sometimes there’s a difference in the way you are, but he’s matured and there’s no denying he’s a special talent,” Burnley manager Scott Parker – who worked with Edwards at Spurs – told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    Without a club at 20 years old, Edwards took the brave decision to move abroad, signing a four-year deal with Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal’s top flight.

    There he spent two and a half seasons – during which he made his European bow in the Europa League – before Sporting signed him in January 2022.

    Under the management of now Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, Edwards’ stock rose significantly – to the point where he was linked with a move to Liverpool.

    In 120 appearances for Sporting he provided 26 assists and scored 24 goals, one of which came against former club Tottenham on his second career outing in the Champions League.

    Yet this season didn’t go according to plan. Amorim’s departure for United, combined with a month on the sidelines with injury, led to Edwards falling out of favour.

    His last appearance for Sporting came on 30 November, more than two months before he joined Burnley.

    Edwards needed just 18 minutes to score his first goal for Burnley

    Sacrificing Champions League football to play in the Championship seems an odd decision, but perhaps it is one that suits both parties.

    Edwards has reunited with Parker 13 years after they first met, when Edwards was in the Spurs academy and Parker was doing his coaching badges.

    “We had a good relationship back then so when I knew he [Parker] wanted me to come that was enough for me,” Edwards said upon joining the Clarets.

    “From knowing what he’s like and how he is, and the fact that Burnley is such a big club in general. It made sense.”

    Burnley are third in the Championship and have built their promotion push on what could prove to be a record-breaking defence.

    In 31 league games this term Parker’s side have kept 22 clean sheets and conceded just nine goals, five fewer than any team in the top two tiers of Spain, Italy, France and Germany.

    Burnley trail league leaders Leeds by five points though, and it’s hard to see past a faltering attack as the main reason why.

    Supporters have seen their side score just 37 goals in 31 games, whereas Leeds have netted 62.

    There have been grumbles at Turf Moor, so Parker will be hoping Edwards can spark life into his attack.

    “He scores the winner, he has been brought in to give us those better habits in and around the box. It’s a good start,” Parker said after the match.

    While Edwards’ close-range finish on Saturday will be among the easiest goals he will ever score, knocking out a Premier League club is not a bad way to endear supporters to you on your debut.

    “It feels good being back in England, playing in the FA Cup,” he said at full-time.

    “I was well prepared. I knew I was going to play today, he [manager Scott Parker] told me yesterday, so I just had to come on and do what I do.”

    At full-time at St Mary’s, Edwards’ new team-mates pushed him towards the travelling fans to receive his own standing ovation.

    He, and they, will be hoping there is more of the same come the final day of the season.

  • ‘Strike of a lifetime’ – an own goal that belongs in FA Cup folklore

    ‘Strike of a lifetime’ – an own goal that belongs in FA Cup folklore

    The history books will say Leyton Orient led their thrilling FA Cup fourth-round tie with Premier League champions Manchester City for 40 minutes because of a Stefan Ortega own goal.

    Forget that.

    To anyone lucky enough to be there to witness it – a tie Man City recovered to win 2-1 – Leyton Orient scored thanks to a wonder strike from Jamie Donley.

    It was the Tottenham loanee who seized on the loose ball after City midfielder Nico Gonzalez had the ball taken off him just inside the visitors’ half. It was Donley who spotted Ortega off his line and executed a quite brilliant 50-yard chip that sailed over the City goalkeeper.

    Yes, the ball struck the bar and only crossed the line because it hit Ortega as the German failed to regain his balance after trying to make the initial save. It was Donley’s goal.

    “It is a shame it has gone down as an own goal,” said Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens. “It is not deserved and I am sure Ortega doesn’t want it. It is one thing seeing it, it is another executing.”

    Despite the result, the goal belongs in FA Cup folklore.

    A series of experienced former top-level professionals certainly spoke about the effort as if Donley has scored it.

    “It’s an absolutely remarkable goal,” said ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown on Match of the Day. “It’s the strike of a lifetime. To even think about shooting from there – wow.”

    “What a spot,” enthused Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live. “What a story. It’s absolutely sensational.

    “It will go down as an own goal but it is one of the greatest FA Cup goals.”

    But what did it feel like to actually do it?

    “I know I hit the goal well,” said Donley. “I knew it fell for me nicely.

    “I saw him off his line and luckily it went in. It would have been a lot nicer if we won but it was a good moment.”

    Donley had previously scored five goals this season. In status or artistic impression, none can compare to this one.

    Even City boss Pep Guardiola, while seething at what he believed was a clear foul on his £50m debutant Gonzalez – whose status as the replacement for injured Ballon d’Or winner Rodri makes him such a key figure, and who, as a result of the perceived infringement, now has his participation in Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first-leg in doubt, was full of admiration.

    “What a goal,” he said. “What a fantastic shot – the quality, the technique, the speed, the flight of the ball.

    “When you concede this goal, you just congratulate Donley. He’s an incredible left-footed player and he made a fantastic goal.”

    ‘Spurs have loaned us one of their best young players’

    A youth international for both England and Northern Ireland, this tie was not the first time Donley had faced City.

    The 20-year-old made his senior Tottenham debut at Etihad Stadium in December 2023, coming on as a last-minute substitute just before Dejan Kulusevski scored in a memorable 3-3 draw.

    That was one of four substitute appearances totalling 10 minutes for the Antrim-born midfielder.

    Tottenham felt he needed to go away to continue his development.

    On the evidence of his performance against City, it was not just his Ronnie Radford-esque strike but his all-round industrious performance that made Donley stand out.

    It was easy to suggest to Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens the goal might have wrecked any chance of luring him back to Brisbane Road next season.

    However, as Wellens made clear, that would require his side to secure promotion from League One, where they currently sit ninth.

    “Spurs have loaned us one of their best young players,” he said.

    “We think we have developed him really well over the last six months. If he carries on with same attitude, intensity and work ethic, he might be playing against them [City] week in week out.

    “Unless we are in the Championship there is no way we get him back next year. That is the nature of my job and the club we are at. We have to take first loans. If we wait until they have had a loan, they bypass us.

    “The plan with Jamie was one of two things, he comes to us, develops and turns into a man, then he either goes back to Tottenham and gets into their first team or he goes to the Championship. There is a clear development plan for him and, going forward, the Championship is the minimum for him.”

    Pep laughs off ‘sacked in the morning’ jibes

    Guardiola seemed to enjoy his day in east London.

    The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has not lost to a lower-league team since City were beaten by Wigan at the DW Stadium in 2018.

    Yet he spoke enthusiastically afterwards about difficult FA Cup days in the past he had encountered at places like Newport and Cheltenham.

    The City boss was even able to make light of the taunting he received from the home fans as his side tried to come to terms with being a goal behind.

    “The atmosphere was fantastic,” he said. “Even when they say ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’.

    “It’s routine in all the stadiums right now. With this result, I think my chairman is not going to sack me but it [the atmosphere] was really good.”

  • ‘I’m happy it was like that’ – so was FA Cup better without VAR?

    ‘I’m happy it was like that’ – so was FA Cup better without VAR?

    Football fans have become accustomed to debating the use of technology in the game over recent years – but in the FA Cup fourth round, its absence has provided a frequent talking point.

    With video assistant referee technology only in use from the fifth round onwards this season, there have been a number of controversial incidents to dissect.

    Some liked VAR’s absence, such as Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, whose side might have had their winner against Chelsea disallowed for a Tariq Lamptey handball.

    “But that’s it. That’s football,” he told BBC Sport. “With VAR, football is getting not that emotional like it was today.

    “Everyone agrees with me that today was a great atmosphere. You can celebrate a goal because you are certain it’s a goal. I’m happy it was like that.”

    Some were less convinced, including his Chelsea counterpart Enzo Maresca – whose side might still be in the FA Cup with VAR.

    “I think the handball is quite clear. In the last two or three days, there were many different moments in different games that, without VAR, sometimes are more complicated,” said Maresca.

    However he added: “Sometimes even with VAR, you never know if it’s [going to be given as] handball or not. I don’t know. This season we saw so many handballs and the VAR was not there.”

    Even Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim admitted Harry Maguire’s dramatic late winner against Leicester City in the round’s first tie on Friday was offside and should not have stood.

    There were several further high-profile incidents during Saturday’s matches, and there are still five games to be played over the next three days.

    So, what’s going on with VAR in the FA Cup – and why?

    Why is there no VAR in the FA Cup fourth round?

    The Football Association confirmed in December that VAR technology would only be introduced from the fifth round onwards to ensure a “consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition”.

    Because of infrastructure and operational costs, VAR had previously only been used at Premier League grounds, and at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals and final.

    There have been 13 VAR mistakes in the Premier League so far this season – down from 20 at the same point last term – say league bosses.

    However, to confuse matters, goalline technology has been in use at Premier League and Championship grounds – where the infrastructure exists – in this year’s competition, despite not being available everywhere.

    That includes at St Andrew’s, where Newcastle United beat Birmingham City after Joe Willock’s controversial equaliser was judged to have crossed the line.

    “I think it’s refreshing they had no VAR and I wish they had this throughout the competition,” former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given said on BBC One following that match.

    “If there was any doubt, you have to give Birmingham the benefit of the doubt, but the linesman was adamant [that Willock’s shot crossed the line].”

  • We’re ‘fighting’ for our jobs, says Man Utd boss Amorim

    We’re ‘fighting’ for our jobs, says Man Utd boss Amorim

    Ruben Amorim says he and his Manchester United players are “fighting” for their jobs in the final months of the season after a chastening campaign so far.

    The Portuguese has struggled to turn around United’s fortunes since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.

    The club decided not to boost their forward options in the January transfer window even though Marcus Rashford and Antony left on loan, along with defender Tyrell Malacia.

    The departure of homegrown forward Rashford to Aston Villa for the remainder of the season has been the standout decision made by Amorim.

    The 27-year-old’s deal is reported to include an option to make the move permanent and Amorim had no interest in talking any further about the England international when he faced reporters on Thursday.

    “We are fighting for our jobs until the summer,” he said.

    “So, I am just focused on these games. Thankfully about Marcus he is in Birmingham now with Unai (Emery), so you can take these questions to another coach. We are just focused on our players at the moment.”

    Amorim, whose team host Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, admitted United had taken a risk with their transfer business, admitting it would be tough going until the end of the season.

    They brought in highly rated defenders Patrick Dorgu, 20, and 18-year-old Ayden Heaven.

    “I think it is a moment that is hard to turn things around in just a few games,” Amorim said. “It’s going to be like that, really hard, until the end of the season.

    “Then we are taking that risk that you talk about, because we want a different thing in our team and different profiles, and that is my area, so it was my decision to do that.”

    He said the club had not wanted to repeat past mistakes in the transfer market.

    “What I feel is the club is taking its time,” Amorim said. “We know the urgency of the moment, the moment of the team.

    “But I think everybody here doesn’t want to make some mistakes that we did in past, so we have to improve players we have and to win some games.”

    Amorim admitted he was under enormous pressure to deliver, with the club languishing 13th in the Premier League table.

    “Since day one, with good results or bad results, I have a clear idea of what I want to do and I take these risks because in the end I think it’s going to pay off,” he said.

    “But I’m not naive, I already said that many times, this is a sport of results, and we are in a difficult situation.”

    Van Nistelrooy, a former star striker at United, is returning to Old Trafford for the first time since he left his role as assistant manager following Amorim’s appointment.

    United confirmed on Thursday that defender Lisandro Martinez had sustained cruciate ligament damage, which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.

  • UEFA considering scrapping extra time for Champions League knockout rounds

    UEFA considering scrapping extra time for Champions League knockout rounds

    UEFA is considering scrapping extra time in Champions League knockout rounds to reduce player workload, with discussions gaining momentum.

    The idea of moving directly to penalties is being seriously debated, though any change is unlikely before the current TV rights cycle ends in 2027, according to Guardian UK.

    Extra time has long been a concern, especially with congested schedules due to the expanded Champions League group stage and upcoming expanded Fifa Club World Cup.

    Some argue abolishing extra time would alleviate pressure on players, particularly those facing qualifying rounds in the summer.

    Clubs with tighter squads may welcome the change, as it levels the playing field, while broadcasters could benefit from more predictable schedules.

    UEFA has confirmed the issue has been informally raised but has not yet been formally proposed for ratification by its executive committee.

  • Real Madrid great Marcelo retires from football

    Real Madrid great Marcelo retires from football

    Former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo announced his retirement from professional football on Thursday after a trophy-laden career.

    The 36-year-old spent 16 years at Spanish giants Madrid, winning six La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies.

    “At 18, Real Madrid came knocking on my door and I arrived here,” Marcelo said in a video posted on social media. “Now, I can proudly say that I am a true ‘Madrileno’.

    “What a journey. Real Madrid is a unique club.”

    He also won the Copa del Rey twice and the Club World Cup four times during his time with Los Blancos, for whom he made 546 appearances, scoring 38 goals.

    “One of the greatest left-backs in Real Madrid and world football history, and we had the privilege of watching him for a long time,” said Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in a statement.

    “He is one of our greatest legends and Real Madrid is and always will be his home.”

    Marcelo made 58 appearances for the Brazil national team, playing at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and winning the 2013 Confederations Cup.

    He was part of the teams that won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and bronze in Beijing in 2008.

    “Playing for my country since the youth categories has also been a great honour,” he added.

    “In my memory I will always cherish two Olympic medals and a Confederations Cup.”

    Marcelo started his career with Brazilian club Fluminense before leaving for Real.

    When he finally left the Santiago Bernabeu he joined Greek club Olympiakos but terminated his contract after just five months to rejoin Fluminense.

    Marcelo helped his home team win the Copa Libertadores for the first time with victory over Boca Juniors in the 2023 final.

    He left the club by mutual consent last November and has not played since.

  • Howe vows Newcastle will learn from Wembley pain in League Cup final

    Howe vows Newcastle will learn from Wembley pain in League Cup final

    Eddie Howe hailed Newcastle’s “huge” League Cup semi-final win against Arsenal as the Magpies boss vowed his side would learn from the pain of their last visit to Wembley.

    Chasing a first major trophy since 1969, Newcastle swept to a 2-0 victory over Arsenal on a memorable night at a raucous St James’ Park on Wednesday.

    Jacob Murphy’s first half opener and Anthony Gordon’s strike after the interval sealed a 4-0 aggregate success that sent Howe’s team to their second League Cup final in the last three seasons.

    Newcastle were beaten by Manchester United at Wembley in 2023, but Howe is confident the lessons from that heartbreaking loss will provide valuable experience and motivation in the final against Liverpool or Tottenham on March 16.

    “It is huge. The first appearance there was a bit unexpected, but we want to be there regularly, so it’s not a surprise this time,” he said.

    “We are there on merit. Our run has not been easy this year, so we’ve done the hard yards.

    “Hopefully we can learn from the last experience. We have come a long way since then. I would love to think we can go to Wembley and perform better.”

    The Magpies are bidding for their first major trophy since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 56 years ago, with their last domestic silverware coming in the 1955 FA Cup.

    Despite the high stakes, Newcastle finished the job in nerveless fashion after winning 2-0 at Arsenal in the first leg in January.

    Organised superbly by the astute Howe, they out-played Mikel Arteta’s side thanks to superb performances from Sweden striker Alexander Isak and England winger Gordon.

    Howe acknowledged he had tweaked his defensive system, switching to a back five to nullify Arsenal’s set-piece threat.

    Arteta had no answers to Howe’s tactical masterclass as Newcastle beat the Gunners for the third time this season.

    – ‘We had to be ourselves’ –

    “It was a great night for us. It was a tough game but tactically we were good. The intention was to be aggressive and sometimes when you do that it doesn’t always work. Today it did,” Howe said.

    “You know you are playing against elite players and one mistake can make things difficult. We had to be ourselves. If not then you are on the back foot.

    “We do tweak things depending on the opposition. We felt we needed more height in the team, we wanted solidity at the back and we had to change in order to win the game.

    “The players followed the instruction to the letter. They deserve the credit.”

    Newcastle will discover their Wembley opponents on Thursday when Tottenham try to defend their 1-0 first leg lead at Anfield.

    While Howe and company can look forward to the final, Arsenal were brought down to earth with a bump after Sunday’s 5-1 rout of Manchester City.

    That swaggering performance kept alive Arsenal’s hopes of catching Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are six points clear of the Gunners with a game in hand.

    But just four days later, Arsenal — already eliminated from the FA Cup — found another potential route to silverware curtailed on Tyneside.

    “We had momentum in the first half and didn’t capitalise. They scored immediately after and the momentum shifts,” Arteta said.

    “We needed a goal early in the second half and we didn’t get that and the opportunity passes.

    “They have been more efficient than us in the boxes and that is the difference in the tie.”

    Arteta, whose team are through to the Champions League last 16, will take his squad to Dubai for a training camp before they return to action at Leicester on February 15.

    “You need to be very efficient. That is what takes you close to winning trophies and today we weren’t. Today is painful and tomorrow is a different day.”

  • Man Utd defender Malacia signs for PSV on loan

    Man Utd defender Malacia signs for PSV on loan

    Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has joined PSV Eindhoven on loan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club have announced.

    The Netherlands international, 25, has been rebuilding his fitness after returning to action in November following a 17-month lay-off with injury troubles.

    Malacia, a left-back, joined United in a £13 million ($16 million) switch from Feyenoord in 2022 and is contracted at Old Trafford until the end of next season.

    “Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia will spend the rest of the 2024/25 season on loan with Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven,” United said in a statement.

    “After working hard to rebuild his fitness and match sharpness, Malacia returned to action earlier this campaign and the Netherlands international has played eight times under Ruben Amorim.

    “It has been agreed that Tyrell will now link up with Peter Bosz’s side in his home country for the rest of this season.”

    The move was completed before the closure of the Dutch transfer window on Tuesday.

    Malacia’s move comes after struggling United signed Denmark wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce on Sunday.

    AFP

  • Eba and Egusi soup, secrets behind my Hoffenheim form — Gift Orban

    Eba and Egusi soup, secrets behind my Hoffenheim form — Gift Orban

    Super Eagles invitee, Gift Orban has hinted Nigerian dish, eba and egusi soup remains the secret behind his goal scoring prowess.

    Orban, who recently joined Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, revealed this on his latest verified Instagram story after netting a consolation goal in his club 3-1 defeat to Bayern Leverkusen.

    He has recorded two goals in four appearances for The Kraichgauers. Having maintained his goal scoring status, the dual citizen of Nigeria and Togo, was filmed eating a plate of eba and egusi soup in preparation for next outing against Union Berlin.

    “Yes, eba and egusi,” he stated in the few seconds video which has attracted reactions from fellow compatriots.

    Red-hot Orban will be banked on following his club’s struggles on the league table. With 20 matches played, Hoffenheim sit 15th on the log.