Sports
NWFL Board Applauds Member Over Successful Nationwide League
The board of the Nigeria Women Football League has applauded the brilliant work done by one of its board members, Sir Joe Amene, over the successful coordination of the 2021 Nationwide League both in Abuja and Ijebu Ode.
The Chairperson of the NWFL board, Aisha Falode, commended the doggedness of Amene in ensuring that the Nationwide league, despite having a larger number of clubs compared with the last edition, still did a great job as the General Coordinator of the league.
“We are proud of the good job done by Joe Amene and other staff members that assisted him. He was professional with his job from the first kick of the league to the last game. He was present at the stadium to watch all games, this helped him to have first hand information about happenings before, during and after the games. This actually helped him in taking prompt and fair decisions of some issues that presented itself.
“We had everything good at the venues more to the good conduct of all the 22 clubs that played in Abuja and Lagos. There was no issue of misconduct at any of the centres, for this I say a very big congratulations to the clubs.”
Falode used the opportunity to congratulate all the eight clubs promoted to the NWFL Championship; Dannaz Ladies, Oasis Ladies, Royaltoms International and Moje Queens at the Ijebu-Ode Centre, and Crystal Stars, Honey Badgers, Beautiful Tours Angels and 9ineteen Damsels FC at the Abuja Centre.
She also wished the clubs that were not promoted goodluck in their future endeavors and attempts to gain promotion.
Falode, stressed that the commencement date for the NWFL Championship League will be announced to the public very soon.
She also used the opportunity to welcome all the NWFL Super Six teams to Ijebu-Ode for the mother of all battles in the women’s Premiership league where the 2020/2021 season’s champion will be determined and Nigeria’s representative to the WAFU B qualifiers for the CAF Women Champions League 2021 will emerge.
Sports
Galaxy Win Sixth MLS Title
LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title as they beat New York Red Bulls to delight a home crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The MLS Cup is the showpiece match at the end of the US season, pitching the champions of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals together.
This was the first MLS Cup between two sides from the largest cities in the United States, Los Angeles and New York, and it produced a hectic opening with all three goals scored in the first half-hour.
Red Bulls were the lowest seed to ever reach the final after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and their underdog status initially showed as Galaxy dominated the 29th MLS Cup early on.
Galaxy led after nine minutes when Joseph Paintsil squeezed his shot under goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, and it was 2-0 soon after as Dejan Joveljic ran through the Red Bulls defence and finished with the outside of his boot.
Both men celebrated by holding up the shirt of team-mate Riqui Puig, the former Barcelona player who ruptured his ACL in the Western Conference Final which Galaxy won to reach this championship game.
Galaxy threatened to overwhelm their opponents as Sean Nealis headed a free-kick against his own crossbar.
But Red Bulls centre-back Nealis pulled his team back into the game after 28 minutes when he chested down and volleyed in from 15 yards when Galaxy players failed to clear a corner.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half: Galaxy right-back Miki Yamane struck the outside of the post, before Emil Forsberg curled an effort off the upright for Red Bulls.
But Galaxy, who had home advantage because of their better record in the regular season, held on to win their first MLS Cup since 2014.
Red Bulls remain without an MLS Cup title in their history after losing on what was their second appearance in the championship game.
Sports
Bayern Extend Bundesliga Lead To Six Points
Bayern Munich continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with a 4-2 win against Heidenheim.
A double from Jamal Musiala and goals from Dayot Upamecano and Leon Goretzka saw Bayern extend their lead at the top of the table to six points as closest challengers Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg.
Vincent Kompany was without the injured Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Mathys Tel and Serge Gnabry, with Musiala starting on the bench.
Leroy Sane spurned two excellent early chances from close range before Upamecano headed the hosts in front from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Bayern enjoyed 86% possession and completed 10 times as many passes (503) as the visitors (51) in the first half, yet Alphonso Davies hit the post with the only other clear chance created.
To their credit, Heidenheim didn’t wilt and drew level when Mathias Honsak rounded stand-in Bayern goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after Upamecano under-hit a backpass.
Kompany immediately introduced Musiala from the bench and was rewarded five minutes later when the 21-year-old drove into the box and beat Kevin Muller with a low strike.
Bayern looked to have secured the three points when Goretzka’s shot deflected past Muller, but the visitors halved the deficit almost immediately through a Niklas Dorsch tap-in.
Any nerves soon dissipated when Musiala ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged to slot home the fourth and final goal.
Bayern will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tomorrow before returning to domestic duty away against Mainz on Saturday.
Sports
La Liga: Barca Stumble Again
Robert Lewandowski continued his superb start to the season but could not prevent Barcelona dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis.
Lewandowski scored his 16th goal of the league campaign before Ferran Torres cancelled out Giovani Lo Celso’s penalty – but Assane Diao snatched a point for Betis with a late equaliser.
Real Betis could have easily scored twice in the opening three minutes but Raphina cleared Diego Llorente’s header off the goalline before Abde Ezzalzouli – formerly of Barcelona – saw his one-on-one effort saved by Inaki Pena.
Lamine Yamal wasted a good chance to break the deadlock from close range but team-mate Lewandowski made no such mistake.
The Poland international converted Jules Kounde’s cross from close range to finish a fine team move and score for the 23rd time in 21 games in all competitions.
Betis emerged from half-time with renewed energy but spurned three more clear chances.
Sergi Altimira and Lo Celso sent headers wide of Pena’s post before the Barcelona goalkeeper was called upon to tip Chimy Avila’s snap-shot wide.
Betis finally got their just reward when Lo Celso converted from the penalty spot after Barca substitute Frenkie de Jong felled Vitor Roque – on-loan from the Catalans – as he raced into the area.
Barca pushed for a winner and found it when substitute Torres beat the offside trap to latch on to Yamal’s reverse pass and finish past Fran Vieites.
It looked like Barca would see out the win, but in the fourth minute of injury-time 19-year-old substitute Diao swept home to rescue a point for the hosts.
The draw sees Barca surrender control in the title race. Flick’s side are five points ahead of closest challengers Real Madrid but Los Blancos have played two games fewer.
Barca will be in Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00 GMT kick-off) before facing Leganes in La Liga on Sunday, 15 December.
-
News3 days ago
One Killed, Suspects Arrested As Gombe Youths, Herdsmen Clash
-
News3 days ago
RSG Set To Demolish Shanties, Gives Seven-Day Ultimatum
-
Business3 days ago
FGC, Warri Wins NCDMB, ICPC Maiden Anti-Corruption Schools Debate
-
Niger Delta3 days ago
Oborevwori Signs Delta’s N979.2bn Appropriation Bill Into Law
-
News3 days ago
NCDC Allays Fears Over COVID-19 XEC Variant
-
News3 days ago
SGF Asks Northerners To Wait For 2031 Presidency
-
News3 days ago
Tinubu Congratulates Ghana’s President-Elect, John Mahama
-
Business3 days ago
NCDMB Recommits To Youths’ Capacity Building