Sports
Solanke’s Scorpion Kick Denies Man City As Spurs Hit Back
Dominic Solanke’s breathtaking scorpion kick delivered a major blow to Manchester City’s Premier League title bid as Tottenham fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side were cruising to victory after Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo netted in the first half in north London.
But Solanke reduced the deficit after the interval before producing a candidate for goal of the season to haul Tottenham level.
The England striker’s audacious finish was reminiscent of Olivier Giroud’s famous acrobatic effort for Arsenal against Crystal Palace in 2017.
And it was Tottenham’s bitter north London rivals who benefited the most from Solanke’s moment of magic.
A section of Tottenham’s fan base might not have been too disappointed if they had lost, given City’s status as the only realistic hope of stopping Arsenal winning the title for the first time in 22 years.
But Arsenal’s 4-0 rout of Leeds on Saturday had left City with no margin for error and Pep Guardiola’s second-placed side now trail the leaders by six points.
With third-placed Aston Villa losing to Brentford on Sunday, it was a perfect weekend for Arsenal.
Leading Tottenham into the Champions League last 16 with a win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday had bolstered Thomas Frank’s hopes of avoiding the sack and this gritty fightback was another boost for the under-fire Dane.
City’s successive 2-0 wins against Wolves and Galatasaray had done little to ease the feeling that Guardiola’s men are still well short of their best.
Once again, they produced an inconsistent performance that underlined how far they have fallen from the group that won six titles in seven seasons prior to last term.
City have won just once in their last six league games, allowing Arsenal to get back on track after their own recent dip.
They must rebound on Wednesday by defending their 2-0 first-leg lead in the League Cup semi-final against Newcastle before a crucial clash with Liverpool next weekend.
Solanke stunner
Cherki had given City the perfect start in the 11th minute.
Bernardo Silva started the raid by robbing Yves Bissouma before Haaland picked out Cherki.
With two Tottenham defenders backing off, Cherki made them pay with a low drive that whistled into the far corner from just inside the penalty area.
The France playmaker’s fourth goal in his last six appearances was followed by a bad miss from Erling Haaland, who chipped onto the roof of the net as Guardiola shook his head in disbelief.
Semenyo deservedly doubled City’s lead in the 44th minute.
Radu Dragusin’s careless pass landed at Rodri’s feet and he found Silva, who alertly teed up the unmarked Semenyo for a clinical finish from 12 yards as boos cascaded down the stands.
It was the Ghana forward’s fourth goal in five games in all competitions since arriving from Bournemouth.
Lifeless in the first half, Tottenham were given unexpected hope eight minutes after the interval.
City appealed in vain for offside as Solanke controlled Xavi Simons’ pass under pressure in the area.
Marc Guehi tried to make a last-ditch tackle, but Solanke prodded past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close-range.
Having been in complete control for so long, City had lost their way and they paid the price in the 70th minute.
Conor Gallagher’s high press won the ball back and he lofted a cross towards Solanke, who contorted his body in mid-air to back-flick an astonishing shot over Donnarumma into the top corner from 10 yards.
City were in disarray and it took Donnarumma’s superb save from Simons to stop Tottenham snatching the points.
AFP
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Morocco has released three Senegalese football fans who were imprisoned following the violent unrest that marred the Africa Cup of Nations Final 2025 in Rabat.
The trio regained their freedom on Saturday after completing three-month jail terms handed down for their roles in the clashes that erupted during the high-tension final.
The supporters were among a group of Senegalese fans arrested and prosecuted over incidents including hooliganism, vandalism, and attempted pitch invasion during the chaotic showdown.
Authorities confirmed the released fans had served the shortest sentences, while others convicted over the violence remain in custody serving longer jail terms.
The unrest during the final sparked diplomatic concern and drew criticism from officials in Senegal, further straining tensions in the aftermath of one of the most controversial finals in AFCON history.
ISWAP attacks military base in Borno, kill five soldiers
Nigerian oil governance, Contracts: ‘I was a rubber stamp, Diezani tells UK Court
Army raises alarm over low South-East recruitment
-
News19 hours agoExpulsion: Bala, Abejide vow to battle Mark-led ADC faction to finish
-
News18 hours agoJust in: Iran seals Strait of Hormuz again, blames US
-
News16 hours agoJAMB: See How To Check, Print 2026 UTME Result Slip
-
News20 hours agoFuel, diesel prices will drop in Nigeria as crude oil slumps
-
News16 hours agoTroops nab nine suspected terrorists in Plateau, recover arms, ammunition
-
News21 hours agoWife demands divorce from husband for being poor
-
News23 hours agoAngry Ex-Senate president, Saraki slams Kwara gov, says “you never completed secondary sch education”
-
Metro4 hours agoBandits Demand N9m Per Benue JAMB Victim As Police Nab Seven