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Nigeria Beat Philippines 101–84 In FIBA Qualifier

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Nigeria overturned a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat the Philippines 101–84 in a Group A game of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France, on Saturday.

The Philippines led for more than 22 minutes and built a 10-point cushion in the first half. Nigeria responded strongly after the break, eventually pulling away in the final quarter.

Midway into the third quarter, Nigeria wiped out a five-point deficit with a 17–12 run. A turnaround jumper by Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah tied the score at 67–67.

Guards Ifunanya Okoro and Elizabeth Balogun scored nine points in the run. Promise Amukamara also grabbed four rebounds and added two points to steady the team.

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Three-pointers from Janine Pontejos and Louna Ozar briefly kept the Philippines competitive. However, Nigeria’s inside scoring helped them take a 70–67 lead into the fourth quarter.

Centre Victoria Macaulay powered Nigeria’s comeback with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in just over 21 minutes of play.

Murjanatu Musa contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Nicole Enabosi recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds after an early scoring burst.

For the Philippines, Janine Pontejos led with 16 points, including an eight-point surge late in the second quarter to keep her side in contention.

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Nigeria’s decisive moment came with a 9–0 run in the final quarter, stretching an 81–80 lead to 90–80 and effectively sealing the contest.

Balogun scored five points during the run with perfect shooting, while Nigeria’s defence limited the Philippines’ scoring options late in the game.

The Philippines earlier enjoyed a 7–0 run late in the first quarter, turning a 21–19 deficit into a 26–21 lead with Kacey Dela Rosa scoring five points.

The match featured 12 lead changes from early in the first quarter until midway in the third, when Nigeria seized the lead permanently.

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Nigeria’s biggest lead reached 17 points in the closing seconds at 101–84. The Philippines’ largest advantage was 10 points in the second quarter.

Nigeria led for 15 minutes and eight seconds overall, while the Philippines held the advantage for 22 minutes and one second. The score was tied for two minutes and 51 seconds.

Nigeria’s most effective lineup of Ezinne Kalu, Amukamara, Macaulay, Balogun and Musa played nearly 16 minutes together and posted a plus-12 performance.

The victory highlighted Nigeria’s resilience and depth, as strong rebounding and balanced scoring helped secure a convincing second-half comeback in the tournament.

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Arsenal at verge of losing title race as ManCity secures 2-1 victory

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Manchester City beat Arsenal in their major Premier League title race clash at the Etihad thanks to Erling Haaland’s winner.

Pep Guardiola’s side defeated their rivals 2-1 on Sunday afternoon to move to within three points of the league leaders.

Rayan Cherki opened the scoring in the first half, before Kai Havertz pounced on a Gianluigi Donnarumma’s error to equalise.

And then during a tense second half, Haaland managed to find the all-important winner to sink the Gunners in Manchester.

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Man City now know they can move to the top of the Premier League table with a win over Burnley on Wednesday, live on talkSPORT.

Erling Haaland’s goal is the difference and Man City now have the chance to move to the top of the Premier League.

They’ll be celebrating tonight – but not too hard, ahead of their meeting with Burnley on Wednesday, live on talkSPORT.

As for Arsenal, it’s a nightmare evening for them.

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The Gunners had the quadruple in their sights a few weeks ago, but now, after losing four of their last six, hopes are doomed.

There will be no Carabao Cup, no FA Cup, and now potentially no Premier League following their dismal run.C CB.

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Real Sociedad Beat Atletico On Penalties To Win Copa Dey Rey

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Real Sociedad edged Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties to win the Copa del Rey for a fourth time in the club’s history after a 2-2 draw in a gripping final on Saturday in Seville.

After Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez missed from the spot for Diego Simeone’s Atletico, Pablo Marin smashed home his kick to claim victory for the Basque side.

Ander Barrenetxea had headed Real Sociedad ahead after just 14 seconds, with Ademola Lookman levelling for Atletico.

Mikel Oyarzabal put the Basque side ahead from the penalty spot before the break but Alvarez rescued Atletico and forced extra time and ultimately penalties with a superb strike.

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La Real’s season seemed set to be one of struggle until American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was appointed in December, and he resuscitated their campaign.

At La Cartuja stadium it was a battle between two teams that often attack fast and direct, and Real Sociedad certainly did that, netting the quickest ever goal scored in a Copa del Rey final.

Goncalo Guedes scampered away down the left on to a long ball, crossing for Barrenetxea to head beyond Juan Musso before the Rojiblancos had even touched the ball.

Simeone’s side, who last won the competition back in 2013 near the start of his 14-year reign, wrestled their way back level through Lookman.

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Antoine Griezmann laid off the ball to him on the edge of the box and without much on, the Nigeria international spied a route to goal and drilled into the bottom corner.

Lookman almost created a goal for Griezmann but Real Sociedad scrambled to block the 35-year-old French forward, who is leaving Atletico at the end of the season for MLS side Orlando City.

Atletico goalkeeper Musso, chosen ahead of the fit-again Jan Oblak after he impressed during the Slovenian’s recent injury absence, handed La Real the lead again just before the break.

Musso clumsily clattered Guedes fists first as the Portuguese leapt for a header and the Basque side were awarded a penalty.

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Oyarzabal, who scored from the spot when they won the 2020 edition, without their fans present because of the global pandemic, sent Musso the wrong way.

After a first half in which they struggled, Atletico began to build some pressure after the interval.

Griezmann lashed over and Lookman whipped a shot high and wide as La Real tried to stave off the Rojiblancos, who dominated the ball.

Alvarez forces extra time

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Simeone called for his battering ram, sending on Norwegian target man Sorloth to try and force a way through.

Eventually the goal they craved came from the guile of former Manchester City striker Alvarez instead.

The Argentina forward took a neat touch to spin on the edge of the box and then another to plant the ball in the top corner for his 19th goal of the season.

With La Real caving Johnny Cardoso should have won it for Atletico in stoppage time. The American fired a golden opening wide of the far post with just goalkeeper Unai Marrero to beat.

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Musso made a fine save to thwart Icelandic striker Orri Oskarsson as he tried to turn home a rebound in extra time.

At the other end Alvarez crashed a shot off the crossbar from long range, with both teams creating enough opportunities to win it before penalties.

Marrero denied both Sorloth and Alvarez on Atletico’s first two penalties, with Musso stopping one from Oskarsson to give Atletico a chance.

However Marin made no mistake with Real Sociedad’s fifth penalty to spark wild celebrations.

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Atletico’s last realistic chance of silverware this season, and something for Griezmann to celebrate on his departure, is in the Champions League where they face Arsenal in the semi-finals.

AFP

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Another heavy headache for Chelsea as Man U secures 1-0 victory

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Manchester United beat Chelsea 1-0 away at Stamford Bridge to put a huge 10-point gap between Michael Carrick’s Red Devils in third and Liam Rosenior’s hapless Blues in sixth

United take three vital points at Stamford Bridge to further strengthen their ambitions of European football next season.

Matheus Cunha scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time to maintain interim manager Michael Carrick’s impressive tenure since taking charge in January.

For the Blues, who saw a goal ruled out and twice hit the woodwork, they remain in sixth but failed to make a dent in the four-point gap between them and fifth-placed Liverpool.

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The result means Liam Rosenior’s side are on a run of four successive top-flight defeats for the first time since the 1990s – doing so without scoring a single goal.

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