Sports
Ten-Man Bayer Leverkusen Defeat Stuttgart To Win German Super Cup
Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen beat Stuttgart 4-3 on penalties in the season-opening German Super Cup on Saturday, winning the trophy for the first time.
Victor Boniface’s 11th-minute goal was cancelled out four minutes later when Stuttgart’s Enzo Millot levelled.
Leverkusen were then reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time when Martin Terrier saw red for a dangerous tackle.
Deniz Undav gave Stuttgart the lead in the second half but Patrik Schick scored with two minutes remaining to equalise for Leverkusen and send the match to penalties.
Bayern Munich loanee Frans Kraetzig and Silas Mvumpa missed from the spot while Leverkusen converted all of their penalties.
“What we did in the last 10 or 15 minutes, with a man down, to score the equaliser — it was unbelievable,” Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said after the match, praising his side’s “huge spirit”.
“I’m happy with the way we kicked off the season — we’ve got this spirit back”.
The season curtain-raiser, which puts the Bundesliga champions up against the Cup winners or league runners-up, was the first not to feature either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund since 1993.
Stuttgart’s stunning effort last season, where the club went from a narrow relegation escape to second place ahead of Bayern, preceded a summer of upheaval as several star players left.
“Before the game, we didn’t really know where we stand this season,” Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness told reporters after the game.
“So for us it was a clear sign that we’re again going in the right direction.”
Unbeaten winners of the Bundesliga and German Cup double last campaign, Leverkusen had managed to avoid any major departures and started stronger on Saturday.
Boniface tapped in a goal-bound header from Edmond Tapsoba after 11 minutes.
The visitors levelled just four minutes later, French Olympic silver medallist Millot cutting a pass from Chris Fuehrich through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom right corner.
The sides traded chances before off-season addition Terrier dug his studs into Ermedin Demirovic’s ankle and was swiftly sent from the pitch.
Coach Xabi Alonso hooked Boniface for Germany defender Jonathan Tah almost immediately but Stuttgart dominated before half-time, Millot and Pascal Stenzel both going inches away from scoring a second.
Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness brought on Undav and Kraetzig from the bench and the duo combined to give the visitors the lead one minute later when the former Brighton striker tapped in on the counter.
Known for turning matches with late goals last season, Leverkusen again broke through in the dying stages, Alex Grimaldo finding Schick who powered the ball home with just two minutes remaining.
The match went straight to penalties without extra time and Leverkusen — who have not lost a match domestically since May 2023 – were faultless
AFP
News
Haaland signs 10-year contract with Manchester City
By Francesca Hangeior.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2034, the club announced on Friday.
The 24-year-old Norwegian, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, has been a pivotal figure in the club’s recent successes.
His initial contract was set to expire in 2027, but the new deal reflects the club’s confidence in Haaland’s importance to their future.
“Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year Manchester City contract, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2034,” the statement said.
Reflecting on the new contract, Haaland expressed his delight at extending his stay.
“I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club.
“Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters, and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody,” he said.
Haaland thanked his teammates, manager Pep Guardiola, and the City staff, stating, “They have made this such a special place to be, and now I am City no matter what. I want to keep developing, keep working to get better, and help us achieve more success going forward.”
Since his arrival, Haaland’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. In his debut 2022/23 season, he scored 52 goals across all competitions, the highest-ever tally by a Premier League player in a single season, breaking the previous league record of 36 goals.
His goals were instrumental in City’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
In addition to collective success, Haaland garnered numerous individual accolades in his debut season, including the PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards.
Despite an injury that sidelined him for nearly two months during the 2023/24 season, Haaland continued his prolific form, scoring 38 goals in 45 appearances, including 27 in the Premier League, securing a second consecutive Golden Boot.
Sports
SAD: Footballer slumps, dies during match in Osun
By Francesca Hangeior.
Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of Adeyemi Adewale, a football player for the Ilesa West Local Government Area team, who slumped during a match in Osogbo, the state capital.
Adewale, 29, was participating in the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match at the Ataoja School of Science on Thursday when he collapsed on the field.
Efforts to save him proved futile as he was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead upon arrival.
Spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident in a statement, adding that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death have commenced.
“Today, (Thursday) while the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match was going on at Ataoja School of Science, one Adeyemi Adewale ‘M’ 29yrs, a player of Ilesa West Football team, slumped on the pitch.
“He was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by a doctor,” the statement said.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the teaching hospital’s morgue.
Sports
Remarkable Comeback As Amad Diallo 12 Minute Hat-trick Seals Victory For Manchester United Vs Southampton
Three late goals from Amad Diallo dragged a below-par Manchester United to a 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday.
Amad Diallo proved the saviour for Manchester United once again as they came from behind to sneak a late win against basement club Southampton.
United will have fancied their chances of getting back to winning ways against bottom of the table Southampton, but the hosts were second best from the off, deservedly falling behind to a Manuel Ugarte own goal just before halftime.
Staring down the barrel of another home defeat, United upped the ante after the break, getting back on level terms through Diallo eight minutes from time, before the Ivorian completed the turnaround in the 90th minute.
Amad Diallo is the hero for the hosts, his hat-trick getting them out of a huge hole against a Southampton team who deserved more than they got from the game.
An absorbing and entertaining game ends in a home victory.
Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have Amad Diallo to thank for saving their blushes.
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