Man City and second-tier Coventry reach FA Cup semis, Tottenham beaten heavily in EPL

Man City and second-tier Coventry reach FA Cup semis, Tottenham beaten heavily in EPL
Manchester City’s Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva celebrates with teammates after scoring his team second goal during their English FA Cup Quarter Final match against Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Mar. 16, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 16 March 2024
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Man City and second-tier Coventry reach FA Cup semis, Tottenham beaten heavily in EPL

Man City and second-tier Coventry reach FA Cup semis, Tottenham beaten heavily in EPL
  • The day’s drama came a few hours earlier at Molineux as Coventry scored two goals deep into stoppage time to beat Wolverhampton 3-2
  • Sitting in eighth place in the Championship, Coventry were the lowest-ranked team to get to the quarterfinals

MANCHESTER: Manchester City are banking on Wembley Stadium being a key staging post in their pursuit of a second straight treble of major trophies.
One of a possible three late-season trips to English soccer’s national stadium was booked when City reached the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday.
If that came as no real surprise, second-tier Coventry’s progress to the last four certainly did.
Man City ousted Newcastle from the competition with a 2-0 victory secured by two deflected shots by Bernardo Silva in the first half.
The day’s drama came a few hours earlier at Molineux as Coventry scored two goals deep into stoppage time to beat Wolverhampton 3-2 and reach the semifinals for the first time since 1987 — the year the team won the FA Cup.
United States striker Hajji Wright completed the remarkable comeback in the 10th minute of added-on time, three minutes after Ellis Simms — with his second goal of the game — equalized for Coventry.
Sitting in eighth place in the Championship, Coventry were the lowest-ranked team to get to the quarterfinals. The club from central England have endured a turbulent and financially rocky past couple of decades since relegation from the Premier League in 2001 but can look forward to another trip to Wembley, where they lost the Championship playoff final to Luton at the end of last season.
It also gives Mark Robins, Coventry’s manager, another magical FA Cup moment. Robins likely saved Alex Ferguson from getting fired three years into his storied tenure as Manchester United manager by scoring the winner in an FA Cup third-round match against Nottingham Forest midway through the 1989-90 season, when Ferguson was under severe pressure.
That is widely heralded as a turning point in Ferguson’s trophy-laden tenure that lasted nearly 27 years.
For many, Man City manager Pep Guardiola ranks just as high as Ferguson and back-to-back Premier League-Champions League-FA Cup trebles would surely put him in a class of his own.
To do that, City would have to return to Wembley two more times this season — for the FA Cup final on May 25 and the title match in the Champions League, which is also being hosted by the famed London venue a week later.
The FA Cup quarterfinals will be completed Sunday when Manchester United host great rival Liverpool and Chelsea are at home to second-tier Leicester.
TOTTENHAM BEATEN
Tottenham’s bid for Champions League qualification was hurt by a 3-0 loss at Fulham in one of three Premier League games played Saturday.
Rodrigo Muniz scored either side of a goal by Saša Lukić as fifth-place Tottenham missed the chance to climb above Aston Villa into fourth for one night at least. Villa visit West Ham on Sunday.
Tottenham stayed six points ahead of sixth-place Manchester United and both have 10 matches remaining.
The Premier League looks increasingly likely to have five berths in next season’s expanded Champions League because of the strong showing of English teams in European competition this campaign.
RELEGATION FIGHT
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Burnley boosted their unlikely hopes of staying up with a first win in 2024 while relegation candidates Luton and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1.
Next-to-last Burnley beat 10-man Brentford 2-1 to end an 11-game winless run in all competitions and move eight points adrift of safety in their bid to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Jacob Bruun Larsen converted a 10th-minute penalty awarded after a push by Brentford left back Sergio Reguilon, who was sent off for the offense because he was the last man. David Datro Fofana added a second before Kristoffer Ajer reduced the deficit in the 83rd to ensure a nervy finish at Turf Moor.
Forest stayed three points above Luton, which are third-to-last and occupying the final relegation spot, after seeing its 34th-minute volley opener by Chris Wood canceled out by substitute Luke Berry.
Forest will not be sitting too comfortably because they could be hit with a points deduction in the coming weeks for overspending.


UAE Pro League pauses for international break after breathless start to season

UAE Pro League pauses for international break after breathless start to season
Updated 04 November 2024
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UAE Pro League pauses for international break after breathless start to season

UAE Pro League pauses for international break after breathless start to season
  • Iran superstar Sardar Azmoun’s instant impact has seen Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club sit joint top of standings with a 100% record

DUBAI: A three-week pause in play provides welcome opportunity to take stock of what has been a breathtaking start to the 2024-2025 ADNOC Pro League.

Fueled by Iran superstar Sardar Azmoun’s instant impact, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club sit joint top of the standings with an ominous 100 percent record from six outings.

A reinvigorated Sharjah under their rebounding “trophy machine” Cosmin Olaroiu are keeping pace on 18 points from seven fixtures.

Meanwhile, a talented chasing pack includes Hussein Ammouta taking his winning touch from Jordan to Al-Jazira, and neighbors Al-Wahda under their Celtic-inspired managerial duo of Ronny Deila and assistant Kenny Miller.

Stumbles from holders Al-Wasl and AFC Champions League kings Al-Ain add further intrigue.

Increasingly familiar difficulties for promoted clubs Dibba Al-Hisn and Al-Orooba provide some concern, plus mixed feelings about how the UAE’s World Cup 2026 qualifying mission is progressing.

Here are Arab News’ key talking points from the top flight’s early action.

 

An influx of talent and excitement

The majority of ADNOC Pro League clubs can reflect on a job well done in the transfer market. Most strikingly, Shabab Al-Ahli.

Iran’s Azmoun has gone from Bundesliga title joy at Bayer Leverkusen, to six goals in six starts under the enlightening tutelage of new head coach Paulo Sousa.

Global headlines were claimed by much-improved Jazira’s capture of France and Real Betis magician Nabil Fekir, plus Egypt and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny. A rise to fourth under the wise Ammouta is testament to this work.

Deila has Wahda in third off the back of 2023-2024 Belgian Pro League glory with Club Brugge.

Kalba’s smart decision to bring astute Middle East-campaigner Vuk Rasovic back to the UAE has them sitting a solid sixth, and ex-Netherlands anchorman Leroy Fer has added ballast to fifth-placed Al-Nasr.

Ex-Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic and Romania’s Euro 2024 lead defender Andrei Burca are in situ at Baniyas, with Jamaica forward Junior Flemmings among the goals for Ajman.

An impressive introduction promises much for the challenges ahead.

 

 

Headache for the holders continues

It is one of Middle East football’s enduring conundrums.

Why can the ADNOC Pro League champions not hold onto their title? On current form, seventh-placed Al-Wasl — nine points off the pace, having played a game more than Shabab Al-Ahli — look likely to join this list.

You have to go back to 2011-2013 for the last time a UAE club, Al-Ain, retained their crown.

In the same period, Al-Nassr (2013-2015) and Al-Hilal (2016-2018; 2019-2022) have dominated the Roshn Saudi League. In the Qatar Stars League, Al-Sadd (2020-2022) and Lekhwiya, now Al-Duhail, have repeated such feats (2013-2015; 2016-2018).

Have the AFC Champions League Elite commitments drained resources? Has injury to Serbia’s Euro 2024 selection Srdan Mijailovic prevented a necessary shake-up of the XI?

Talent runs deep at Wasl, while boss Milos Milojevic’s four major trophies in two seasons with his current employers and Red Star Belgrade point to serious winning pedigree.

Maybe this is just a blip for the storied club who waited 17 years between ADNOC Pro League successes.

 

 

 

What is next for Crespo and Al-Ain?

May’s unexpected, but richly merited, Asian triumph now seems a long time ago for Al-Ain and Hernan Crespo.

The joy from a pulsating campaign has evaporated in 2024/2025 for “The Boss.” They have dropped points in three of their five league outings to sit a distant eighth with two games in hand, while just one point is on the board from three AFC Champions League Elite – League Stage fixtures.

Youth was paramount to their summer recruitment. Porto center-back Fabio Cardoso, 30, was the outlier.

Fiorentina loanee Gino Infantino and Paraguayan prospect Matias Segovia, both 21, are among those to show flashes of promise thus far.

It may be a waiting game to see such talents bloom, as Crespo closes on his one-year anniversary amid disappointment about how this term is unfolding.

 

 

Is the step-up too big?

Another season, another painful start in the ADNOC Pro League for promoted sides.

Last season’s joint-relegation of Hatta and Spain legend Andres Iniesta’s Emirates Club could be matched by Orooba and Dibba Al-Hisn.

Both inhabit the bottom two. They have conceded the most goals and scored the fewest, winning just one of their combined 14 matches.

Dibba Al-Hisn sit bottom this time, despite adding ample international experience through the likes of Tunisia stars Haythem Jouini and Oussama Haddadi, plus Cameroon midfielder Pierre Kunde. Iran forward Mohammad Reza Azadi was Orooba’s headline recruit.

The competition is not getting any kinder.

Even 2022-2023’s survival of Al-Bataeh was at the expense of fellow new boys Dibba Al-Fujairah. Orooba and Emirates were doomed in 2021/2022.

 

 

 

Can the UAE make their World Cup dream come true?

Domestic pursuits take a backseat to international aspirations for much of November.

Paulo Bento’s UAE kicked off World Cup 2026 qualifying’s third round with the welcome surprise of September’s 3-1 win at double Asian Cup holders Qatar. But a slog now appears apparent.

Only two points separate the third-placed Whites — a position good enough for the fourth round — and bottom-placed North Korea. This is in a Group A from which automatic tournament entry appears already sewn up by Iran and would-be-debutants Uzbekistan.

Brazil-born Jazira forward Bruno last month joined the trickle of naturalized options available to Bento. This could turn into a torrent throughout the next 18 months.

What is not, however, flowing freely are ADNOC Pro League goals for potential callups. Last month’s six dedicated attacking options tally only eight 2024/2025 strikes — seven come from Bruno (four) and Wasl veteran Caio Canedo (three).

An intriguing subplot is record UAE and ADNOC Pro League marksman Ali Mabkhout, 34, sitting on five efforts in seven outings since a reinvigorating summer move to Al-Nasr.

Is rapprochement tempting with an icon who played zero minutes at January’s Asian Cup?


Man United off to worst Premier League start after Chelsea draw

Man United off to worst Premier League start after Chelsea draw
Updated 04 November 2024
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Man United off to worst Premier League start after Chelsea draw

Man United off to worst Premier League start after Chelsea draw
  • The Red Devils’ return of just 12 points from 10 games is United’s worst start to a league campaign since 1986/87
  • Caicedo cost a British transfer record £115 million ($149 million) when he joined Chelsea just over a year ago and is beginning to deliver on that investment after a difficult first season

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Moises Caicedo’s strike denied Manchester United victory in their first Premier League game since sacking Erik ten Hag as Chelsea claimed a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be replaced by Ruben Amorim later his month, sprinted down the touchline in celebration after Bruno Fernandes put United in front from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.

Caicedo quickly replied for the Blues, who edge above Arsenal on goal difference into fourth place in the table.

A point leaves United still down in 13th, six points off the top four.

The Red Devils’ return of just 12 points from 10 games is United’s worst start to a league campaign since 1986/87.

Amorim was not in attendance as he prepares to take charge of Sporting Lisbon for the one of the final times against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United were far more competitive than in 3-0 demolitions by Liverpool and Tottenham at home this season, but showed many of the same flaws that cost Ten Hag his job.

Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a 5-2 demolition of an under-strength Leicester in his first match in charge to reach the League Cup quarter-finals in midweek.

Still a hero among the United fans from his days as a prolific striker, the Dutchman’s name was chanted in a buoyant pre-match atmosphere.

However, a Chelsea side that have lost once in nine Premier League games, provided a much stiffer test for a United side still short on confidence.

Both sides hit the woodwork in a disappointing first 45 minutes as Noni Madueke hit the post from a corner before Marcus Rashford clipped the bar with a cushioned volley in the last action of the half.

Pedro Neto’s burst of pace nearly gave Chelsea a dream start to the second period but the Portuguese winger’s shot flew just past the far post.

However, the Blues remain overly reliant on Cole Palmer for inspiration.

The boyhood United fan, who began his career at Manchester City before joining Chelsea last year, was kept quiet by Van Nistelrooy’s pairing of Casemiro alongside Manuel Ugarte in midfield.

Before kick-off only Southampton had scored fewer than United’s eight Premier League goals in nine games this season.

The lack of efficiency in front of goal that Ten Hag often bemoaned was in evidence again.

“Over the last games we played we lost some points where we didn’t convert our chances,” said Van Nistelrooy, who is set to take charge of two more games.

“When you create a lot, all through the season so far, I’m not too worried the players will get in a flow with results and confidence growing. Results will come.”

Alejandro Garnacho wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring from Fernandes’ cut-back with a tame effort that looped into the arms of Robert Sanchez.

United were gifted the chance to break the deadlock when Sanchez clipped Rasmus Hojlund inside the box.

Fernandes kept his cool to send the Spanish international goalkeeper the wrong way and spark wild celebrations from Van Nistelrooy.

United’s joy was short-lived as Chelsea hit back within four minutes.

A corner was only cleared to the edge of the box, where Caicedo connected a sweet strike to fire into the bottom corner.

Caicedo cost a British transfer record £115 million ($149 million) when he joined Chelsea just over a year ago and is beginning to deliver on that investment after a difficult first season.

“Since we arrived Moi is doing fantastic,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

“The problem with Moi is because the club paid big money, people expect them to be the best. It is normal to be a bit up and down. We are trying to improve him and he is showing how good he is.”

Chelsea should have struck again moments later when substitute Enzo Fernandez spooned over with Andre Onana stranded.

But it was United who came closest in a frantic finale when Garnacho’s acrobatic effort flew just over.


Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0

Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0
Updated 03 November 2024
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Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0

Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0
  • Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly opted to drop Retegui

MILAN: Despite — or perhaps because of — the absence of the league’s top goalscorer from the starting lineup, Atalanta stunned Serie A leader Napoli by winning 3-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.

Mateo Retegui was surprisingly benched but Ademola Lookman netted twice in the first half to inflict what was only Napoli’s second defeat of the season, and the first since the opening day.

Retegui was brought on with 14 minutes remaining and scored in stoppage time for his 11th goal in as many matches.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly opted to drop Retegui. That was reportedly because he wanted a more unpredictable attack against a Napoli defense that had kept clean sheets in six of its past seven matches and only conceded five goals all season.

Gasperini instead picked Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere in attack with Mario Pasalic behind them and that paid off almost immediately as Atalanta took the lead in the 10th minute.

A cross was cleared by Napoli but only as far as the edge of the area where it was put back in and De Ketelaere nodded it back for Lookman to slot into the near bottom corner.

Napoli almost leveled  immediately, but Scott McTominay’s powerful effort crashed off the right post.

The Atalanta forward combined again in the 31st as De Ketelaere raced down the right and squirmed between two players before passing across to Lookman, who slotted a hard shot into the far bottom corner.

Sead Kolasinac thought he had extended Atalanta’s lead early in the second half but the defender was offside.

Retegui was brought on for De Ketelaere late on and he volleyed a cross into the bottom right corner.


Mo Salah strike beats Brighton to take Liverpool top of Premier League

Mo Salah strike beats Brighton to take Liverpool top of Premier League
Updated 02 November 2024
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Mo Salah strike beats Brighton to take Liverpool top of Premier League

Mo Salah strike beats Brighton to take Liverpool top of Premier League
  • A 13th win in 15 games in charge for Arne Slot takes Liverpool two points clear of Manchester City

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 and go top of the Premier League thanks to Mohamed Salah’s stunning winner at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds deservedly trailed at half-time to Ferdi Kadioglu’s sweet strike.
But two quickfire goals from Cody Gakpo and Salah punished Brighton for not making more of their first half superiority.
A 13th win in 15 games in charge for Arne Slot takes Liverpool two points clear of Manchester City, who were beaten 2-1 at Bournemouth.
Both sides were much-changed from the League Cup tie between the pair on Wednesday, which Liverpool edged 3-2.
Despite the Reds welcoming back a plethora of stars including Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, it was the Seagulls who dominated the first half and should have been out of sight before the break.
Liverpool’s only clear sight of goal in the first 45 minutes came when Darwin Nunez ran from inside his own half into the Brighton box and saw a shot brilliantly turned behind by Bart Verbruggen.
Kadioglu opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a blistering right-footed drive in off the inside of the post.
Liverpool were again without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker due to injury but his stand-in Caoimhin Kelleher produced a vital save to prevent Brighton doubling their lead.
Jack Hinshelwood’s sublime pass split the Liverpool defense to set Georginio Rutter in behind Virgil van Dijk, but the Frenchman failed to beat Kelleher.
Kadioglu blazed over another big chance to make it 2-0 before a Danny Welbeck free-kick hit the side-netting.
Liverpool were forced into a change at the interval as Ibrahima Konate hobbled off with his arm in a sling and was replaced by Joe Gomez.
The England defender should have made an instant impact when he headed straight at Verbruggen when unmarked from a free-kick.
Slot’s half-time team talk had the desired effect as Liverpool tore out of the blocks a side transformed in the second half.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header was turned behind at his near post by Verbruggen before Van Dijk did not connect when picked out by Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
Brighton had kept Salah quiet for an hour but the Egyptian should have punished the visitors when he sped onto Nunez’s flick and failed to beat Verbruggen one-on-one.
The home side needed some fortune to get the comeback started as Gakpo’s attempted cross flew into the far corner without getting a touch.
With Anfield now in raptures it took just three minutes for Slot’s men to find the winner.
From a Rutter fluffed shot at one end, Liverpool broke at speed as Curtis Jones found Salah, who cut inside onto his trusted left foot and smashed into the top corner.
Brighton pushed the hosts back in a nervy finale, but Liverpool held on for a vital three points on a day that title rivals City and Arsenal, who were beaten 1-0 at Newcastle, both stumbled.


Arsenal Premier League hopes hit as Isak scores winner for Newcastle

Arsenal Premier League hopes hit as Isak scores winner for Newcastle
Updated 02 November 2024
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Arsenal Premier League hopes hit as Isak scores winner for Newcastle

Arsenal Premier League hopes hit as Isak scores winner for Newcastle
  • Arsenal struggled to get out of first gear and although they dominated possession, they produced just one shot on target
  • If defending champions City win at Bournemouth later on Saturday they will be eight points clear of the Gunners

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle put a huge dent in Arsenal’s title aspirations on Saturday, winning 1-0 to give leaders Manchester City the chance to move eight points clear of the Gunners at the top of the Premier League.
Alexander Isak scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 12th minute, heading home Anthony Gordon’s pinpoint cross from the right.
Arsenal struggled to get out of first gear and although they dominated possession, they produced just one shot on target in the entire game.
Mikel Arteta’s men have now picked up just one point in their past three games as their title push quickly runs out of steam.
If defending champions City win at Bournemouth later on Saturday they will be eight points clear of the Gunners. Liverpool, a point behind City, host Brighton at Anfield.
Arsenal have pushed Pep Guardiola’s City hard in each of the past two seasons and appeared to be well-equipped for another title challenge but the gap already looks alarmingly big.
The injury-hit visitors started brightly in the opening seconds at St. James’ Park, with Leandro Trossard dragging the ball wide.
But the home side, who had not won for five matches, quickly settled and Sweden forward Isak got between Gabriel and William Saliba to head home from Gordon’s exquisite first-time cross.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka lacked penetration but headed just wide in the 18th minute after leaping above his marker.
Newcastle defender Lewis Hall blocked Mikel Merino’s shot on the line after a Declan Rice corner caused chaos but the visitors lacked rhythm and failed to match the intensity shown by the home side.
Arteta opted against making changes at half-time and Newcastle came close to doubling their lead almost immediately, with Joe Willock’s shot saved by David Raya.
The Spanish boss threw on 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and Oleksandr Zinchenko for Gabriel Martinelli and Merino just after the hour mark.
Isak fired a shot at Raya that the Arsenal goalkeeper pushed away before Rice muscled his way into the Newcastle area and flashed a shot wide.
Arteta made further changes, introducing defender Ben White and forward Gabriel Jesus in the desperate push for an equalizer.
Arsenal struggled to build up a head of steam as the clock ticked down but they squandered a golden chance to equalize when Rice headed just wide from a Saka cross in stoppage time.
The Gunners, still missing captain Martin Odegaard, suffered a shock defeat against Bournemouth last month and drew 2-2 with Liverpool last week.
They have tough games coming up against Inter Milan in the Champions League and Chelsea next week.
The win lifts Eddie Howe’s Newcastle to eighth in the table ahead of the later kick-offs on Saturday.