Sports
Chelsea narrowly escape at King Power Stadium, trounce Leicester 2-1
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/images-2024-09-01T190329.811.jpeg&description=Chelsea narrowly escape at King Power Stadium, trounce Leicester 2-1', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/images-2024-09-01T190329.811.jpeg&description=Chelsea narrowly escape at King Power Stadium, trounce Leicester 2-1', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Chelsea survived a late Leicester rally to win 2-1 on Enzo Maresca’s return to the King Power Stadium on Saturday, moving just a point behind second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League.
The visitors, finding their groove after the international break, hogged the ball from the kick-off and Nicolas Jackson gave them a deserved early lead.
But they failed to make the most of their superiority until 15 minutes from time, when Enzo Fernandez scored to make it 2-0, before surviving a nervy few minutes after Jordan Ayew pulled a goal back for the home side.
Chelsea’s win, which came after two draws, lifts them to 22 points — one behind City and three clear of fourth-placed Arsenal ahead of the later kick-offs on Saturday.
It was Maresca’s first game at the King Power since he took Leicester back to the Premier League last season in his only campaign at the club.
Chelsea zipped the ball around with confidence in the opening stages on a soggy afternoon in the English Midlands.
Joao Felix, making his first Premier League start of the season, fired wide in the 13th minute and then a minute later volleyed over from just outside the box.
But moments later Chelsea got the goal they deserved when Jackson won his tussle with Leicester defender Wout Faes, who missed a number of chances to clear.
It was Maresca’s first game at the King Power since he took Leicester back to the Premier League last season in his only campaign at the club.
Chelsea zipped the ball around with confidence in the opening stages on a soggy afternoon in the English Midlands.
Joao Felix, making his first Premier League start of the season, fired wide in the 13th minute and then a minute later volleyed over from just outside the box.
But moments later Chelsea got the goal they deserved when Jackson won his tussle with Leicester defender Wout Faes, who missed a number of chances to clear.
The ball fell to Fernandez, who found Jackson and the Senegal forward poked home with the outside of his right foot for his seventh league goal of the season.
Chelsea’s Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Chelsea at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on November 23, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen kept out Noni Madueke’s sharp effort and Madueke had a goal disallowed for a tight offside against Marc Cucurella just after the half hour.
Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen kept out Noni Madueke’s sharp effort and Madueke had a goal disallowed for a tight offside against Marc Cucurella just after the half hour.
But as the first period wore on there was a momentum shift and Leicester suddenly started looking more dangerous.
Steve Cooper’s men broke at pace and Oliver Skipp found Kasey McAteer on the right.
McAteer, making his full Premier League debut, cut inside but steered his shot just beyond the far post.
Wilfred Ndidi then screwed wide as half-time approached.
Chelsea looked certain to double their lead 10 minutes after the restart but somehow contrived to squander the chance, when Madueke got in the way of a Cole Palmer shot on the goalline.
It came after Hermansen saved Jackson’s shot.
England international Madueke did his best to try and jump out of the way of Palmer’s effort but it hit him and rolled out for a goalkick, with Palmer seeing the funny side.
But Chelsea did find the net in the 75th minute when Fernandez headed home after Hermansen kept out Jackson’s header.
Leicester substitute Ayew pulled a goal back from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time after Bobby De Cordova-Reid was brought down but it was too little, too late.
Leicester, the 2016 Premier League champions, remain just three points above the relegation zone.
A Supercomputer has projected the leading countries tipped to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, making it the first World Cup to feature an expanded 48-team format.
The 2026 edition will include 12 groups made up of four nations each, alongside a record total of 104 matches.
The competition is scheduled to kick off on June 11 and conclude on July 19, with the final set to take place at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, United States.
According to the Opta Supercomputer, Spain has emerged as the top favourite to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
La Roja were predicted to lift the trophy in 16.1 per cent of the 10,000 tournament simulations carried out by the Supercomputer.
France, England and Argentina were also ranked among the strongest contenders, with each nation winning the competition in more than 10 per cent of the simulations.
Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium completed the top ten list of favourites tipped to win the tournament.
Meanwhile, co-hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada were considered unlikely to emerge as champions based on the Supercomputer’s simulations.
Arsenal is planning to begin discussions with Atletico Madrid regarding a transfer for Julian Alvarez, as reported by sources in Spain.
Barcelona seems to be leading the race to acquire Alvarez during the summer transfer window, with the Argentine international reportedly favoring a transfer to the Spanish champions.
Nevertheless, Barcelona has yet to reach an agreement on a transfer fee for Alvarez, and RAC1 indicated on Tuesday that their initial offer of €100 million (£86.4m) has been turned down by Atletico.
As per AS, Atletico is dissatisfied with Barcelona’s public pursuit of Alvarez and is now ‘blocking’ the 26-year-old’s transfer to Camp Nou.
The report suggests that Arsenal has been in communication with Alvarez’s agent, and the Premier League champions are set to commence formal negotiations with Atletico, who are demanding a transfer fee of €150m (£129.6m).
Atletico has firmly stated that Alvarez is not available for transfer, and in response to Arsenal’s recent interest in the former Manchester City forward, a representative from the Spanish club informed Libertad Digital on Tuesday: ‘Two weeks ago it was PSG, last week Barcelona, now Arsenal. We are counting on Julian for the upcoming season.’
Meanwhile, Atletico is preparing for the possibility of Alvarez’s departure, and AS reports that the club has already inquired about signing Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray.
After spending a season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, Osimhen made a permanent move to the Turkish club last summer for €75m (£63m).
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), have approved a series of rule changes aimed at reducing time-wasting, improving officiating and speeding up the game.
FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina confirmed that several new regulations will be enforced at the tournament, including restrictions on goalkeeper “tactical timeouts” and expanded VAR powers.
The new rules are designed to reduce time-wasting, discourage gamesmanship and improve decision-making at the World Cup. FIFA also hopes the measures will cut down on excessive stoppage time, which became a major talking point at the 2022 tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition featuring 48 teams, making it the largest tournament in FIFA history.
Here is the full list of law changes that will be used at the 2026 World Cup.
- Five-second throw-in countdown
Referees can begin a visible five-second countdown if players delay taking throw-ins. If the countdown expires, possession will be awarded to the opposition.
- Five-second goal-kick countdown
Teams that deliberately waste time during goal-kicks risk conceding a corner kick. The referee will also use a visible five-second countdown.
- Time-limited substitutions
Substituted players must leave the pitch within 10 seconds using the nearest exit point.
Failure to comply means the replacement player cannot enter until the next stoppage after one minute of play.
- One-minute off-field treatment rule
Players who receive on-field medical treatment must stay off the pitch for 60 seconds after play resumes. Goalkeepers and certain injury situations are exempt.
- VAR can review second-yellow red cards
VAR officials can now review dismissals caused by clearly incorrect second yellow cards.
- VAR can review mistaken identity
Video Assistant Referees can intervene if the wrong player is punished with a yellow or red card.
- VAR can review wrongly awarded corners
Competitions can allow VAR reviews for clearly incorrect corner-kick decisions, provided the review is immediate and does not delay play.
- VAR can review attacking fouls before set-pieces
VAR can now intervene if an attacking foul occurs before a corner or free-kick that directly leads to a goal, penalty or major disciplinary incident.
- Red-card sanction for covering the mouth during confrontations
Players who cover their mouths during confrontational exchanges with opponents can now face a straight red card under new anti-discrimination measures.
- Goalkeeper tactical timeouts restricted
Players will no longer be allowed to leave the pitch for team talks when a goalkeeper goes down injured.
The measure will be enforced at the World Cup as part of FIFA’s anti-time-wasting crackdown.
Youths Flood Ondo City to Honour Akinlaja’s Birthday, Hail Him as Visionary Leader and True Democrat
Supercomputer reveals unpopular Team as topper ahead of 2026 World Cup
Fire security chiefs if insecurity persists in next 90 days– Adeboye urges FG
-
News16 hours ago2022 train attack: FG re-arraigns Tukur Mamu on amended terrorism charge
-
News17 hours agoKano lawmaker rejoins APC after losing return ticket in NDC
-
News17 hours agoMajor Border Offensive: Over 200 Terrorists Killed as Troops Crush Camps Along Nigeria-Benin Corridor
-
News17 hours agoOyo Abduction: Tinubu inherited security challenges from PDP govt, says Nuhu Ribadu
-
News7 hours agoWike Assures Protesting Teachers of Rescue Efforts, Warns Against Politicising Insecurity
-
Metro17 hours agoPanic in Ayegunle Bunu After Armed Bandits Launch Deadly Night Raid
-
News12 hours agoSix members of same family shot dead during domestic dispute in US
-
Economy16 hours agoMiddle East Tensions: Oil Prices Jump as Iran Suspends Peace Talks with US
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login