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EPL: Man City Crush Brentford To Close Gap On Leaders Arsenal

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2 months ago

May 10, 2026

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Manchester City kept their slender Premier League title hopes alive as Jeremy Doku inspired a 3-0 win against Brentford on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to prise open Brentford for almost an hour at the Etihad Stadium.

But Doku’s latest dazzling strike broke the deadlock before Erling Haaland bagged his 26th league goal this season.

Omar Marmoush wrapped up an essential City victory in stoppage-time.

City closed to two points behind leaders Arsenal, putting pressure back on Mikel Arteta’s team to win at third-bottom West Ham on Sunday.

After their damaging 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday put the destiny of the title in Arsenal’s hands, City did their bit to prolong the drama.

City will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend, but the Gunners are guaranteed to clinch the title for the first time in 22 years if they win their remaining matches against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Guardiola’s men host Palace on Wednesday before turning their attention to the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.

Foreshadowing his match-winning contribution, City winger Doku forced an early save from Caoimhin Kelleher.

But Gianluigi Donnarumma almost gifted Brentford a goal when Michael Kayode’s long throw was scrambled off the line after the City keeper made a hash of his attempt to catch the ball.

Donnarumma’s lackadaisical effort was in keeping with City’s laboured attempts to take control.

Haaland wastefully headed high and wide when Doku’s cross picked out the striker just six yards from goal.

When Haaland met Doku’s cutback with a close-range blast, Kelleher repelled it before Nathan Ake failed to convert the rebound to groans from City’s frustrated fans.

Bernardo Silva escaped with a booking after the City midfielder lashed out at Nathan Collins.

City were equally lethargic at the start of the second half and Donnarumma had to save Igor Thiago’s low drive.

Guardiola sent on Marmoush and Phil Foden in a bid to spark City into life and the move paid instant dividends.

Doku had scored twice with a eye-catching curlers against Everton and he repeated the trick to end Brentford’s resistance in the 60th minute.

Seizing the rebound after his initial effort was blocked, Doku whipped a superb strike into the top corner from the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Doku’s fourth goal in his last three games was nearly followed by one for Foden, but Kelleher was equal to his close-range shot.

City were still vulnerable at the back and Kevin Schade appealed in vain for a penalty after contact from Matheus Nunes.

Haaland settled City’s fraying nerves in the 75th minute, back-heeling in from close-range after his first effort was blocked from Antoine Semenyo’s cross.

Marmoush bolstered City’s goal difference, which is now just one less than Arsenal’s, with a composed finish from inside the area in the final seconds.

AFP

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2026 World Cup: 12 teams qualify for Round of 16

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16 hours ago

July 3, 2026

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Spain are the latest team to confirm their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The European champions thrashed Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash on Thursday evening.

It was a display of complete dominance by Luis de la Fuente’s men, as they lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain in the first half, before Pedro Porro doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Oyarzabal continued his fine scoring form with a second late on.

They will now face the winner of Portugal.

Other teams confirmed in the last 16 are: USA, England, Belgium, France, Brazil, Norway, Morocco, Paraguay, Canada and Mexico.

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World Cup 2026: Spain cruise into last 16 with win over Austria

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16 hours ago

July 3, 2026

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Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.

The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.

Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

‘Ole’

After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers — Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic — and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)