Sports
Man Utd Strike Late To Beat Fulham In EPL Thriller
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick extended his perfect start as Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time strike sealed a pulsating 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday.
United took the lead through Casemiro’s first half header and looked in command when Matheus Cunha netted after the interval at Old Trafford.
In an incredible finale, Raul Jimenez’s penalty with five minutes left gave Fulham hope before Kevin’s wonder-goal hauled the visitors level in stoppage-time.
To United’s immense credit, they hit straight back as the much-maligned Sesko’s fourth goal in his last four games sealed Carrick’s third successive victory.
After masterminding surprise wins over Manchester City and Premier League leaders Arsenal, this remarkable encounter suggested former United midfielder Carrick might have the Midas touch.
Unbeaten in their last seven league matches, United moved up to fourth place as their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League gathers pace.
Reaching the Champions League would be a significant statement for Carrick, who was sacked by second-tier Middlesbrough last year.
Only once in Amorim’s turbulent 14-month reign did United win three games in a row and Carrick has matched that run within weeks of his appointment until the end of the season.
United’s hierarchy may have to consider hiring Carrick on a permanent if their former midfielder can continue his impressive run.
Whether that is enough to appease the 1958 Manchester United fans group is another matter after they staged a protest against the owners outside Old Trafford before kick-off.
Hundreds of fans, some wearing clown masks, gathered to express their frustration with United’s decline under the Glazer family and the lack of improvement since co-owner Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations.
The group claimed United are “being dragged through chaos by clown ownership” and are “run like a circus”.
Fans chanted against the owners and held aloft banners as flares filled the air on Sir Matt Busby Way.
United seize control
When the smoke cleared, Carrick’s intuition paid off as he brought Cunha into the starting line-up to replace the injured Patrick Dorgu after the Brazilian scored the winner at Arsenal last weekend.
Only Arsenal had taken more points than in-form Fulham over the previous eight games, but United found the formula to end that strong spell.
United thought they had won a penalty for Jorge Cuenca’s foul on Cunha.
But a VAR check showed the offence took place just outside the area.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Fulham as United took the lead from the resulting free-kick in the 19th minute.
Bruno Fernandes swung his delivery to the far post and Casemiro rose highest to thump a towering header past Bernd Leno.
United struck again in the 56th minute with Cunha’s sixth goal this season.
It was a goal made in Brazil as Casemiro’s clever no-look pass found Cunha inside the Fulham area and he smashed a fine finish past Leno from an acute angle.
Fulham were controversially denied a lifeline when VAR disallowed Cuenca’s 65th minute goal.
Samuel Chukwueze was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins when he prodded Jimenez’s free-kick to Cuenca.
But United were wobbling and Jimenez converted an 85th minute penalty after the Mexican was fouled by Maguire.
United looked to have collapsed in stoppage-time when Kevin cut in from the right wing and curled a sublime strike into the far corner from the edge of the area.
Two minutes after Kevin’s leveller, United showed their spirit as Sesko took Fernandes’ pass and drilled high into the net from 12 yards to spark wild celebrations.
AFP
Nigeria’s Falconets on Saturday secured a slim first-leg advantage in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, defeating Senegal 1-0 at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Both teams showed determination, but neither could find a breakthrough before the interval, leaving the score at 0-0 at halftime.
Substitute, Kindness Ifeanyi scored the decisive goal in the second half , heading home from a corner kick in the 50th minute to separate both sides.
She came close to doubling the advantage in the 66th minute, but the Senegalese goal keeper stretched full length to push her effort away.
The Falconets maintained their lead through disciplined defending and controlled play, with head coach Moses Aduku’s second-half substitutions helping the team sustain momentum and see out the encounter.
Nigeria’s striker Janet Akokoromowei was forced off in the first period due to injury.
Ifeanyi was later named player of the match for her match-winning performance.
FIFA is set to deliver a crucial ruling on Monday, February 16, regarding Nigeria’s eligibility protest against DR Congo, with the Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup hanging in the balance.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) filed the formal complaint on December 15, 2025, alleging that six DR Congo players who featured in the November 2025 African playoff final were ineligible due to recent switches in international allegiance.
The match ended in heartbreak for Nigeria, as the Super Eagles lost 4–3 on penalties after a tense encounter, eliminating them from direct qualification and ending their campaign at that stage.
NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has voiced strong confidence in the federation’s case. “We have a good case,” Sanusi stated. “We do not venture into what would be an exercise in futility. As far as we are concerned, we have a strong case, and we are awaiting FIFA’s decision on the complaints we have lodged.”
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi echoed the optimism, telling reporters: “We are still waiting; hopefully, we can go to the World Cup.”
Should FIFA rule in Nigeria’s favour, the Super Eagles would be reinstated and advance to the six-team Intercontinental Play-Off tournament scheduled for March in Mexico. A top finish in that playoff would secure one of the remaining African slots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes now rest entirely on the outcome of Monday’s high-stakes FIFA meeting, with millions of fans and the entire Nigerian football community awaiting the verdict that could rewrite the Super Eagles’ World Cup story.
Mohamed Salah struck as Liverpool cruised into the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, while Marc Guehi scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Salford.
Brighton had beaten Manchester United in round three, but the Seagulls have been in miserable form since and were easily beaten by an improving Liverpool at Anfield.
Curtis Jones was forced to start in an unusual role at right-back due to a number of defensive injuries for the English champions and burst into the box to open the scoring from Milos Kerkez’s cross.
Salah has been a shadow of his former self for most of the season, but a second-half goal and assist could prove a major confidence boost.
The Egyptian’s cushioned pass set Dominik Szoboszlai clear to hammer in Liverpool’s second before Salah converted his 252nd goal for the Reds from the penalty spot.
Owned by Manchester United legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, Salford were playing in the fourth round for the first time in their history.
The League Two side were humbled 8-0 when they faced City in the third round last season, but pushed Pep Guardiola’s men far closer on Saturday.
“They defended really well, so tight and we didn’t attack the spaces the way we should. The game was flat until we scored the second goal,” Guardiola said.
City took an early lead through Alfie Dorrington’s own goal, but there were only nine minutes left when England defender Guehi delivered the decisive blow with his maiden goal since signing from Crystal Palace in January.
Newcastle rally
Sandro Tonali scored twice as Newcastle came from behind to beat 10-man Aston Villa 3-1.
Another opportunity for Unai Emery’s men to end a 30-year wait for silverware vanished after a first-half red card for goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Tammy Abraham had fired the home side in front with his first goal since returning to Villa last month.
But the game swung in the Magpies’ favour when Bizot charged off his line to wipe out Jacob Murphy and deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Newcastle’s fightback saved the officials from an embarrassing moment, becoming more controversial when Lucas Digne’s handball, which was clearly inside the box, was given as a free-kick instead of a penalty.
With VAR not in operation at this stage of the competition, the decision could not be reviewed.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney described the incident as “one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen!”
But Newcastle levelled from the resulting free-kick anyway as Tonali’s strike deflected past the helpless Emi Martinez.
Tonali has been linked with a move to Arsenal come the end of the season and the Italian showed why he is in-demand with a blistering strike from outside the box to turn the tie around.
Nick Woltemade then netted his first goal in 15 games to take Newcastle, who last lifted the trophy in 1955, into the last 16.
Burnley gamble backfires
Third-tier Mansfield produced the upset of the day by winning 2-1 at Premier League Burnley to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1975.
Burnley boss Scott Parker made nine changes and the gamble backfired despite taking the lead through Josh Laurent’s 21st-minute goal.
Rhys Oates headed in the equaliser in the 53rd minute and Louis Reed capped a fine individual performance with a brilliant free-kick 10 minutes from full-time.
Ten-man West Ham edged through as the in-form Crysencio Summerville clinched a 1-0 win at League One Burton after extra-time.
AFP
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