Sports
Man City thrash Newcastle to reduce Arsenal’s lead by two points
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/manchester-city-vs-newcastle-1000x600.jpg&description=Man City thrash Newcastle to reduce Arsenal’s lead by two points', '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/2026/02/manchester-city-vs-newcastle-1000x600.jpg&description=Man City thrash Newcastle to reduce Arsenal’s lead by two points', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Manchester City stepped up their Premier League title charge as Nico O’Reilly’s double sealed a vital 2-1 win against Newcastle on Saturday.
O’Reilly put City ahead in the first half at the Etihad Stadium and restored their lead after Lewis Hall had equalised.
Pep Guardiola’s side weren’t at their best but they held on for a victory that moved them within two points of leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners travel to Tottenham on Sunday, but regardless of the result in the north London derby, City controls the destiny of the title.
They will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend and host Mikel Arteta’s men in April, with 11 wins from their last 11 matches guaranteed to secure the seventh title of Guardiola’s reign.
Guardiola had claimed on Friday that he “couldn’t care less” about Arsenal’s recent stumble breathing new life into the title race.
But while Arsenal have spluttered with two wins from their last seven league games, City are heating up at just the right time.
A fifth successive win in all competitions extended their unbeaten run to eight games.
This was the fourth meeting between City and Newcastle already this season, with a fifth on the way in the last 16 of the FA Cup next month.
Newcastle had never managed a win in 20 previous visits to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, also losing there in the League Cup semi-finals this season.
Drained by a 5,000-mile round trip to Baku for their Champions League play-off first leg against Qarabag on Wednesday, Newcastle had persuaded the Premier League to move their trip to Manchester to Saturday evening from its original early slot.
Tense finale
City wasted little time testing Newcastle’s fatigue levels with a vibrant start.
Their early pressure paid off with an eye-catching opener in the 14th minute.
After Erling Haaland flicked the ball into Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian played a clever pass towards O’Reilly, who advanced to the edge of the area and planted a powerful finish past Nick Pope.
Anthony Gordon scored four times in Newcastle’s 6-1 rout of Qarabag and the England forward threatened an immediate equaliser with a stinging strike that Gianluigi Donnarumma palmed away.
Far too open at the back throughout the game, City were caught by a sucker punch in the 22nd minute.
They made a hash of clearing a corner and Hall pounced with a drive from the edge of the area that took a hefty deflection off City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri on its way past the wrong-footed Donnarumma.
Guardiola’s men hit back, retaking the lead five minutes later.
Picked out by Antoine Semenyo, Haaland lofted a superb cross into the Newcastle area and O’Reilly timed his run perfectly to thump a downwards header past Pope from close range.
Yet Hall went close to a second equaliser after the interval, curling narrowly wide with an audacious effort that drew an admiring thumbs-up from Donnarumma.
Guardiola grew frustrated with City’s failure to kill off Newcastle, urging his players to “keep the ball better” as he stalked the touchline.
The City manager’s blood pressure spiked again when Semenyo shot tamely at Pope from a good position, but City survived the tense finale to keep the pressure on Arsenal.
AFP
The Super Falcons of Nigeria were up against South Africa in the 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off and needed a victory to move to the next stage – the intercontinental play-offs.
Two tickets were up for grabs, with four losing quarter-finalists at the 2027 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) battling for them.
Already, Ghana has defeated Côte d’Ivoire to pick one of the tickets. Thank you for following the live updates of the South Africa vs Nigeria 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off game.
98′ – It is full-time, and Nigeria have lost 2-1 against South Africa. It is the end of the road for the Super Falcons, who won’t be at the World Cup for the first time since the tournament’s inception.
93′ – Ucheibe scores for Nigeria.
92′ – Nigeria gets a penalty, and it is also a red card for South Africa after their player blocked the ball with her hand.
91′ – Justine Madugu gets a yellow card.
77′ – South Africa scores the second goal. It is 2-0 against Nigeria.
75′ – Uchenna Kanu’s header is parried away for a corner kick.
60′ – Chiamaka Nnadozie saves Nigeria, preventing South Africa from scoring again.
56′ – South Africa takes the lead! It is 1-0 to the Banyana Banyana!
54′ – Justine Madugu throws Joy Omewa into the fray. She replaces Asisat Oshoala.
48′ – Oshoala shoots into the goalkeeper.
46′ – The second half is underway!
HT: It is half-time in an evenly balanced game in the 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off between South Africa and Nigeria.
45′ – One more minute added. It is still no goal yet.
40′ – Michelle Alozie’s shot goes narrowly wide for a goal-kick to South Africa.
35′ – No goals in Casablanca in a game of few chances.
28′ – Rasheedat Ajibade’s free kick straight to the South African goalkeeper.
23′ – A South African ball over the top fails to find any Banyana Banyana.
20′ – Twenty minutes in and nothing has separated the teams. No clear-cut chances so far from either country at the Moulay Rachid Stadium.
10′ – Nigeria are pressing for an early goal, but it is still goalless.
1′ – The World Cup play-off between South Africa and Nigeria has kicked off!
Barcelona have reached a final agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Ferran Torres in a deal which will see the Spain star head to Parc des Princes on a transfer worth €50 million.
The two clubs have been in talks for a while and the deal is now done, according to Fabrizio Romano. Torres has been absent from Barcelona training for the last two days and is now heading to Paris to complete his move.
Torres will sign a five-year contract with PSG and link up with Luis Enrique’s side after scoring the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final.
The 26-year-old was into the final year of his contract at Barcelona but will now seek a new challenge in Ligue 1 with the French giants.
Barcelona had reportedly been reluctant to extend Torres’s contract, as they would have had to pay an extra €8 million to Manchester City, while there’s been speculation the Spain star was happy to move on after feeling undervalued by Barca.
Cameroon shocked hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties on Wednesday night to reach the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a tense semi-final ended goalless following extra time in Rabat.
The Indomitable Lionesses held their nerve at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium after 120 minutes without a goal.
Morocco had a golden chance to settle the game in the 118th minute when they were awarded a penalty, but Fatima Tagnaout failed to convert, leaving the hosts to pay a heavy price for the miss.
Marie Ngah, Rose Bella and Myriam Nyadjou scored for Cameroon in the shootout, while Hanane Aït El Haj was Morocco’s only successful taker. Kenza Chapelle, Meryem Atiq and Sakina Ouzraoui all missed as Cameroon secured their fourth appearance in the WAFCON final.
Cameroon remained organised and continued to frustrate the hosts until the end of regulation time. Extra time followed, with the match seemingly heading for penalties before Morocco were handed their best opportunity two minutes from the end.
Tagnaout took responsibility from the spot but could not beat the goalkeeper, sending the game into a shootout.
Morocco had won their previous two WAFCON semi-finals on penalties, against Nigeria in 2022 and Ghana in 2024, but their luck deserted them this time.
Aït El Haj converted Morocco’s first penalty before Chapelle missed the second. Ngah scored for Cameroon, although Grace Mendoua missed the Indomitable Lionesses’ next attempt. Bella then put Cameroon back in front, while Antique failed to convert Morocco’s third.
Nyadjou scored Cameroon’s fourth penalty, leaving Ouzraoui with the task of keeping Morocco’s hopes alive. She missed, confirming Cameroon’s 3-1 victory in the shootout.
The win is a major boost for Cameroon, who had lost their previous three WAFCON penalty shootouts, including their 2018 semi-final defeat by Nigeria.
The Indomitable Lionesses have now eliminated defending champions Nigeria and hosts Morocco in successive knockout rounds.
Philippine Envoy Urges Nigeria to Strengthen Gender Laws, Institutionalise Equality
GOC 3 Div reaffirms strategic partnership as CBN Man O’War delegation pays courtesy visit (Photos)
Osun DECIDES:INEC starts distribution of reprinted ballot papers to party agents in 30 LGAs
-
News22 hours agoOsun 2026: CCLCA berates INEC over poor mock accreditation, demands arrest of Fadahunsi
-
News17 hours agoIgbere Traditional Rulers Back Deputy Speaker, Kalu’s Bid for Another Term, Describe His Legislative Service as Outstanding
-
News7 hours agoAPC Women Leader Allegedly Shares Salt, ₦1000 Cash To Osun Residents Days Before Governorship Election
-
News7 hours agoCustoms Busts Wildlife Syndicate At Abuja Airport, Rescues Two Rare Lion Cubs Bound For Congo
-
News21 hours agoFadahunsi, Osun and the Price of Political Rhetoric
-
News7 hours agoArmy Opens Application For Short Service Combatant Commission Course 50/2027
-
News6 hours agoOsun Election: Police Release DIG, CP and Emergency Contact Numbers
-
News7 hours agoOsun Gov Election: APM Candidate Withdraws, Backs Adeleke