Diallo’s hat-trick rescues Man-U from Southampton defeat

Amad Diallo struck a 12-minute hat-trick in a dramatic finish at Old Trafford as Manchester United came from behind to snatch a 3-1 win over Premier League basement boys, Southampton. United’s first-half performance seemed to undo much of the good work from their 2-2 draw at Liverpool and Sunday’s FA Cup penalty shoot-out at Arsenal as Southampton created chance after chance but only capitalised on one through a Manuel Ugarte own goal. But as time ticked down Diallo would prove United’s saviour again. The Ivorian levelled in the 82nd minute and then, in the dying seconds of the 90 minutes, exchanged passes with Christian Eriksen before putting the hosts ahead. READ ALSO: Cervical cancer, 4th most common cancer among women – WHO He was not done there, capitalizing on a horrible error from Taylor Harwood-Bellis to grab a third in stoppage time. It was another vital intervention from the 22-year-old, who grabbed the last-gasp winner in the Manchester derby last month before scoring a late equaliser in that draw at Anfield. Yet for much of the night United appeared dangerously close to losing a fourth successive top-flight home game for the first time in 95 years. Twelve minutes in, Kamaldeen Sulemana left Leny Yoro trailing in his wake before Andre Onana palmed away his low shot. Moments later Mateus Fernandes charged into the box before firing straight at the United goalkeeper. The hosts responded as Rasmus Hojlund burst down the left and pulled the ball back for Alejandro Garnacho, starting his first league game since December 7. When the Argentinian somehow placed his shot wide, Hojlund kicked the post in frustration. READ ALSO: House proposes bill to settle election cases before swearing-in But the better chances came at the other end, where Onana made an outstanding double save in the 27th minute. Tyler Dibling spun clear of Lisandro Martinez before shooting at Onana and, when the ball fell for Matheus Fernandes, the keeper made an even better save to keep out his close-range effort. Dibling shot over before Sulemana again beat Yoro, then ran past both Matthijs de Ligt and Martinez before bending a shot narrowly wide. United did not even manage a shot on target until a tame effort from Bruno Fernandes was scooped up by Aaron Ramsdale in the 36th minute. Few could deny Southampton deserved the lead they took two minutes before half-time, when Matheus Fernandes’ corner was flicked on by Dibling before striking Ugarte on the back and deflecting in. Seconds later, Dibling might have doubled the advantage with a powerful shot palmed away by Onana, yet the Saints still led at half-time for only the third time this season. The visitors started the second half strongly as well with Sulemana continuing to give Yoro a torrid time but United should have been level just before the hour. READ ALSO: NFF appoints Malia, Chelle, Super Eagle’s coach Garnacho’s low ball was perfect for substitute Antony, but the much-maligned Brazilian got it it all wrong, his finish effectively a pass back to Ramsdale as Amorim put his head in his hands. Instead they would leave it late. In the 82nd minute Kyle Walker-Peters blocked Diallo’s first effort but the ball came straight back to the Ivorian, who made no mistake the second time around. Eight minutes later he had them level after a perfect combination with Eriksen but even Diallo was shaking his head in disbelief after Harwood-Bellis failed to control a pass from Ramsdale, allowing him to swoop in and apply the killer blow.

Premier League: Arsenal Beat Burnley 3-1 To Level Leaders Man City

Arsenal outclassed Burnley 3-1 on Saturday to move second in the Premier League table and hand the visitors a sixth straight defeat in all competitions. Goals from Leandro Trossard, William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko gave Arsenal victory but their afternoon ended on a sour note when Fabio Vieira was sent off for a reckless challenge. Arsenal climbed to 29 points in the standings, level with leaders Manchester City and one point above north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who lost 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the early kickoff. “Really happy with the result, especially the performance. How dominant we were against a team that is very difficult to dominate. “The amount of situations that we generated I think we fully deserved to win the game,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told reporters. Burnley’s crisis deepened as they sit 19th with four points following their 10th defeat in 12 games. Vincent Kompany named an unchanged Burnley side for the first time this season and they did well to keep Arsenal at bay even as Arteta’s team dominated possession and piled on the pressure in search of a breakthrough. The London side scored on the stroke of halftime when Bukayo Saka headed the ball across the six-yard box and Trossard leapt into the air to head home Arsenal’s 1,000th goal at Emirates Stadium. However, celebrations were muted as the Belgian clattered into the post and winced in pain as he held his arm before returning to the pitch after treatment. Burnley levelled against the run of play in the second half when a blocked shot fell to Josh Brownhill and the skipper’s effort took a deflection to beat the helpless David Raya in Arsenal’s goal. The scores were level for barely two minutes, however, as Arsenal won a corner and Trossard’s dangerous delivery found Saliba, who nodded home from a yard out. Zinchenko made it 3-1 with an improvised volley after Burnley failed to clear a corner. “Take nothing away, we played a fantastic side. The way Mikel has the team working is outstanding. “For putting in the performance we did, we’re relying on other factors like luck or individual moments but on the two set plays that wasn’t the case,” Kompany said. Vieira saw red for a high boot when he caught Brownhill on the knee but Arteta had no issues with the decision after criticising the officials following his team’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United. “Tough place to go. We defended very well for the majority of the game. The timing of the first goal kills us. “When we go level second half, you don’t want to concede straight away after. They are stupid goals for us,” Brownhill said. In other games, struggling Manchester United beat Lutton FC 1-0 at Old Trafford while Wolves stun Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in a thrilling encounter.

Kane completes 4-year transfer to Bayern Munich

In a significant move, England’s national team captain, Harry Kane, has officially made his transition from Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur to Bundesliga titleholders Bayern Munich. The announcement came from the German champions on Saturday, confirming Kane’s commitment to a four-year contract. This transfer culminated after prolonged negotiations between the two prominent clubs. Bayern Munich has secured the services of the 30-year-old striker until the year 2027, solidifying their frontline with this high-profile acquisition. Notably, this transfer has set a new record for the Bundesliga, as it represents the highest transfer fee ever paid by a German club. This milestone surpasses the previous record set in 2019 when Bayern paid 80 million euros to enlist Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid. Kane’s arrival at Bayern Munich is anticipated to bring an exciting dynamic to the team’s offensive strategies, and his tenure until 2027 reflects the club’s confidence in his abilities. As the football community awaits the unfolding impact of this transfer, the fans of both Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich are undoubtedly eager to witness how this new chapter in Harry Kane’s career will unfold.

EPL: ‘Early’ Haaland kicks off golden boot race in City’s 3-0 win against Burnley

2022/23 Premier League Golden Boot winner, Erling Haaland wasted no time in resuming his goal-scoring spree, propelling Manchester City to a comfortable 3-0 triumph against top flight returnees Burnley as they began their Premier League title defense on Friday night. The prodigious striker, who netted an impressive 52 goals in City’s triumphant Treble-winning season last year, rekindled his form by striking within just 185 seconds of kickoff. Haaland’s swift impact left Burnley struggling to recover, and his two first-half goals ensured City’s dominance. His first goal came courtesy of a swift reaction in the box, capitalizing on a header from Rodri off Kevin de Bruyne’s cross. His second goal showcased his finesse, curling a brilliant left-footed shot into the top corner, leaving Burnley’s keeper James Trafford helpless. The contest effectively ended with this stunning goal at the 36-minute mark. Despite Burnley’s spirited efforts, they were unable to overturn City’s control. Rodri sealed City’s victory with a third goal, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Burnley’s side, burying a free-kick with 15 minutes remaining. City’s victory, though routine, was marred by yet another injury for De Bruyne, who was replaced by Mateo Kovacic after just 23 minutes. Burnley’s Anass Zaroury received a red card in injury time, following a VAR review for a reckless tackle on Kyle Walker. Pep Guardiola’s animated demeanor on the sidelines illustrated Man City’s occasional rustiness, despite their winning start. Haaland, despite his impressive goals, received a stern talking-to from Guardiola during halftime, emphasizing the manager’s pursuit of perfection. While Haaland’s involvement might have seemed limited, his goal-scoring prowess remained undeniable. His impact, as showcased by his two goals from just six touches, underlined his contribution as City’s linchpin. Kovacic’s smooth entry as De Bruyne’s substitute provided a silver lining, but the Belgian’s recurring injury concerns are a worry for Guardiola. De Bruyne’s ability to create opportunities was evident as he set up Haaland’s opening goal, but his exit from the field was visibly disappointing. City remains hopeful that De Bruyne’s injury is not severe, as they navigate the opening stages of the Premier League campaign with overall satisfaction.

Awoniyi visits alma maters, donates books, cash to teachers

*Begins renovation of classrooms  Super Eagles of Nigeria and Nottingham Forest of England striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, on Monday, visited his alma maters, Adetunji Nursery and Primary School, Alfa Yahaya, Ilorin and Government Day Secondary School, Airport, Ilorin.  Awoniyi who was received by the Proprietor of Adetunji Nursery and Primary School, Mr AbdulRahman Adetunji, was conducted around the school premises.  The Nottingham Forest forward who was welcomed to the school premises to a large scream from the pupils later addressed them.  The Super Eagles marksman urged the pupils never to stop dreaming of becoming whatever they desired to become in the future.  “This man (Adetunji) standing beside me is a huge inspiration, he made me the Games’ Prefect while I was in Primary 4. “He was always encouraging us, his support then was a driving force and I am where I am today because I listened to the teachers.  “You need to listen to the teachers and follow their instructions always,” Awoniyi said.  Awoniyi after donating cash to the teachers and also donated books and other various writing materials in his elementary school.  While at his secondary school, Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Airport, Ilorin, the Super Eagles’ striker was noticed by the students amid a large chant of “Awoniyi! Awoniyi!! Awoniyi!!! as they made their way out of the class to receive and welcome him. The Nottingham Forest man who was received by the Principal of the school, Mr. Olayinka Aremo, was delighted to see some of his old teachers who rushed to hug and take photos with him. The school management expressed appreciation and thanked him for embarking on the renovation of six classrooms and a Hall at the school. Awoniyi was hosted to a prayer session as members of staff took turn to pray for him one after the other. He addressed the students and also urged them to continue to be good ambassadors of the school even as the striker expressed hope that they can become someone like him in the future.

Man City beat Man United to win FA Cup

*Pep’s lads are one away from the season’s treble Reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City on Saturday defeated neighbors Manchester United in the 2022/23 FA Cup final played at the prestigious Wembley Stadium. Manchester City Captain and match winner, Ilkay Gundogan, who scored the fastest FA Cup goal in less than a minute, told BBC Sport afterwards that he was happy to score and win for his club because they really deserve it.  “To win a final is always special. Every trophy is special. This group deserves it. We played really well, second half was amazing and we deserved to lift another trophy. “Obviously we know how we want to play the kick off and we aim to do that, to go long for Erling and try to get a second ball. It just placed amazingly for me and I just had to hit it. Obviously it was a quite good strike.” Gundogan, who has since been a target of almost champions Arsenal, said concerning his future that he would wait and see how things pan out at the end.  “I don’t need these kind of days to feel appreciated and feel special in this club. I know that and that is why I have been here seven years. Nothing is decided yet, we will see what will happen.” Man City next face Italian giants Inter Milan in the Champions League final with a a chance to win a treble this season on the cards.