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Showing posts from April 27, 2025

Falkirk promoted to Scottish Premiership

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Falkirk 3 - 1 Hamilton Academical Falkirk came from behind against their relegated visitors to seal promotion to the Scottish Premiership Author - Sean M Stadium - Falkirk Stadium Livingston's failure to beat Partick Thistle eased Falkirk's passage, as the league leaders held off a late surge from David Martindale's side in style thanks to an Ethan Ross double and a fine Calvin Miller strike. A closer look at how Falkirk returned to the top flight  Despite dropping eight of the previous nine points available, Falkirk still held their fate in their own hands. Yet the route to the title proved far more fraught than many had expected, especially considering the healthy lead they had once enjoyed at the top of the table. An early goal was the plan, but it came from Hamilton instead. Home goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth did well to stop Nikolay Todorov's effort, but Scott Robinson, the captain and former Livingston forward, was quickest to react and tucked away the rebound, sil...

Championship final day preview

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Another eventful day in the Championship awaits After nine gruelling months and 540 matches, the Championship season reaches its climax on Saturday. Just two final hours will determine who celebrates, who falls short, and who survives. Author - Ajay In a division famous for its unpredictability, this season has been no different. Momentum has shifted time and again, providing a campaign full of drama and unexpected twists. Yet, with one round of fixtures remaining, much remains undecided. The title race, two play-off places, and one relegation spot are still up in the air. Twelve clubs, half the league, approach the final day with everything to play for. We begin at the foot of the table, where the pressure is the most intense.  The relegation fight Stoke City, Derby County, Preston North End, Luton Town and Hull City all go into their final matches needing something to secure safety. Plymouth Argyle, currently 23rd, are clinging to hope, but only a remarkable set of resul...

Man United take giant step to Europa League final

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Athletic Club 0 - 3 Manchester United  Manchester United took a commanding step towards the Europa League final after a blistering first-half display against ten-man Athletic Bilbao gave them a significant advantage ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford. Author - Olivia T Stadium -  San Mamés In a fervent atmosphere, United were fortunate not to fall behind early on. Iñaki Williams headed over from a promising position before Victor Lindelöf made a crucial goal-line block to deny Álex Berenguer. The match shifted in the 30th minute. Harry Maguire, operating on the right, showed composure and vision to deliver a cross that was flicked on for Casemiro, who rose to head United in front. Seven minutes later, the visitors tightened their grip. A VAR review confirmed a foul on Rasmus Højlund by Dani Vivian, resulting in a penalty and a red card for the Bilbao defender. Bruno Fernandes silenced the hostile crowd with a calm finish from the spot. READ MORE: MUFC news and stories...

Barca and Inter play out a thriller

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Barcelona 3 - 3 Inter Milan Barcelona twice came from behind to earn a draw against Inter Milan in a pulsating six-goal Champions League semi-final first leg, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s return fixture in Milan. Author - Jack L Stadium - Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys The visitors stunned the hosts within 30 seconds when Marcus Thuram diverted Denzel Dumfries’ low cross into the net with a deft backheel, registering the fastest goal ever scored in a semi-final of the competition. Dumfries then doubled Inter’s lead after 20 minutes with an acrobatic volley that silenced the Montjuïc crowd and left Barcelona facing an early uphill task. However, the irrepressible Lamine Yamal soon dragged his side back into the contest. The teenager weaved inside from the right, jinking past several defenders before curling a sublime left-footed shot in off the post to halve the deficit. READ MORE: Champions League news and stories Yamal remained at the centre of Barcelona’s a...

Dembele gives PSG first-leg lead

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Arsenal 0 - 1 PSG Arsenal must come from behind if they are to reach the Champions League final, after Ousmane Dembele's early goal gave Paris Saint-Germain a first-leg advantage at the Emirates Stadium. Author -  DJ Stadium - Emirates Stadium Dembele struck just four minutes in, sweeping a low finish past David Raya after being picked out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The goal capped a dominant opening spell from the visitors, who pressed high and carved out further chances, including a strong effort from teenager Desire Doue that Raya did well to stop. Once again, PSG were indebted to Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper, who produced key performances in earlier rounds against Liverpool and Aston Villa, was in commanding form, denying Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard with sharp saves either side of half-time. Arsenal grew into the contest and thought they had equalised when Mikel Merino headed in from a Declan Rice free-kick, but a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal...

Leeds bid for Championship title remains in their hands

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Leeds United 4 - 0 Bristol City  The home side, already assured of Premier League football next season, delivered a commanding performance at Elland Road to sweep aside play-off hopefuls Bristol City. Author - Oliver W Goals from Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto set the tone, before substitute Largie Ramazani struck twice late on to complete a comprehensive victory in front of a jubilant home crowd. Promotion had been secured the previous Monday, and the mood in the stands was celebratory. Supporters were rewarded with a performance that reflected their team’s dominance throughout the season. Tanaka opened the scoring with a measured finish from Manor Solomon’s deep cross. Leeds remain in pursuit of the Championship title and a 100-point haul. They showed no sign of easing off, although Bristol City, who remain in contention for a play-off spot, made a determined effort to stay in the contest. READ MORE: EFL news from the 2024/2025 season READ MORE: Leeds United 6 - 0 Stoke City The ...

Birmingham City set League One points record

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Birmingham City 4 - 0 Mansfield Town Birmingham City set a new League One points record after brushing aside Mansfield Town to move on to 105 points with two matches remaining. Author - Ajay Stadium -  St. Andrew's Stadium First-half goals from Keshi Anderson and Willum Willumsson were followed by second-half efforts from Kieran Dowell and Tomoki Iwata, as Chris Davies’s side surpassed the previous record of 103 points, set by Wolves in the 2013–14 season. Already confirmed as champions, Birmingham now require just two more points to surpass Reading’s all-time record for the English league system, set at 106 during the 2005–06 Championship campaign. Anderson opened the scoring in the 24th minute after a slick exchange with Willumsson on the edge of the area, finishing low into the bottom corner past Christy Pym. The second came 16 minutes later. Alex Cochrane’s cross from the left found Ethan Laird beyond the far post, and while Pym saved Laird’s powerful header, Willumsson was...

City end Forest's FA Cup dream

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Nottingham Forest 0 - 2 Manchester City Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest to secure their place in a third consecutive FA Cup final , brushing aside their opponents with a display full of control and composure. Author -  Macca Stadium - Wembley Stadium While Pep Guardiola's side were booking another trip to Wembley, their grip on the Premier League title quietly slipped away. Liverpool’s win over Tottenham Hotspur confirmed them as champions , ending City's four-year dominance in the league. In the capital’s warm spring sunshine, City imposed themselves from the outset. With the odds stacked in their favour despite being outnumbered in the stands, they wasted little time asserting authority. Just two minutes in, Mateo Kovacic found Rico Lewis on the edge of the area, and the 20-year-old guided a low strike into the bottom corner to give City the lead. Forest struggled to gain a foothold in the first half, as City sensed further openings. Omar Marmoush combined well wit...

Liverpool confirmed as Premier League champions

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 Liverpool 5 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions emphatically and drew level with Manchester United on 20 league titles, as Tottenham Hotspur were swept aside on a day of high emotion and celebration at Anfield. Author - William G Stadium - Anfield Arne Slot’s side needed only a point to secure the title, but Spurs briefly hinted at a surprise when former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke nodded them into an early lead. That jolt served only to rouse Liverpool. The title was effectively secured before half-time, with three goals that sent an expectant Anfield into raptures at the culmination of Slot’s remarkable debut season following the departure of Jürgen Klopp. Luis Díaz levelled after 16 minutes, turning in Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass from close range. The goal was awarded after a brief VAR check overturned an initial offside call against the Hungarian. READ MORE: How the Premier League was won Any remaining nerves were settled eight minutes...

United earn deserved point at ten-man Bournemouth

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Bournemouth 1 - 1 Manchester United  Rasmus Højlund struck deep into injury time to salvage a point for Manchester United, as 10-man Bournemouth suffered a setback in their bid for European football. Author - Olivia T Stadium - Vitality Stadium  Andoni Iraola’s side had been on course for victory after Antoine Semenyo’s 11th goal of the season midway through the first half. The match swung on a contentious decision midway through the second half when Evanilson’s challenge on Noussair Mazraoui, initially deemed worthy of a yellow card, was upgraded to red following a VAR review. The Brazilian appeared to lose his footing as he pressed the United defender, but referee Peter Bankes overturned his original decision, leaving Evanilson facing a three-match suspension. United pressed for an equaliser and, after Mason Mount’s effort was deflected wide, Højlund was on hand to turn home Manuel Ugarte’s shot from close range after good work by Luke Shaw. READ MORE: Premier League new...

Defeat for Ipswich confirms their relegation

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Newcastle United 3 - 0 Ipswich Town Ipswich Town’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after Newcastle United boosted their push for Champions League qualification with a comfortable victory.  Author - Marcus Stadium - St James' Park Ipswich needed to beat Newcastle and rely on West Ham losing at Brighton to delay their drop into the Championship. Those slim hopes were badly damaged late in the first half when Ben Johnson was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Bruno Guimarães had a close-range effort ruled out midway through the half for a foul on goalkeeper Alex Palmer, but Alexander Isak finally broke Ipswich’s resistance deep into first-half stoppage time, converting a penalty after referee Michael Salisbury consulted the pitchside monitor. Newcastle dominated the second half. Dan Burn, who scored in last month's Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool, headed in a second goal from Kieran Trippier’s looping cross ten minutes after the restart. READ MO...

Matheus Cunha inspires Wolves to comfortable victory over Leicester

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Wolves 3 - 0 Leicester City Wolves extended their fine run of form as Matheus Cunha led them to a sixth consecutive Premier League win with a 3-0 triumph over Leicester City. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Molineux The Brazilian striker scored one goal and set up efforts for Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rodrigo Gomes, helping Wolves to achieve six top-flight victories in a row for the first time since 1970. Meanwhile, Leicester’s struggles continued, with Jamie Vardy missing a second-half penalty and remaining on 198 goals for the club with just four matches left before his departure. Cunha, who has a £62.5 million release clause and is widely expected to leave Molineux this summer amid interest from Manchester United, notched his 15th Premier League goal of the campaign. Wolves, who secured their Premier League status earlier this month, will now face the difficult task of finding a replacement for their influential forward. READ MORE:  Another home defeat for Manchester U...

Celtic clinch the title after thrashing Dundee United

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Dundee United 0 - 5 Celtic Celtic clinched a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title and a 13th in 14 seasons after brushing aside a disorganised Dundee United at Tannadice. Author - Sean M Stadium - Tannadice Park Brendan Rodgers’ side needed only a point to seal the championship but did so with some flourish, making the Northern Irishman the most decorated living Celtic manager with 11 honours, behind only Willie Maley and Jock Stein. Three years on from celebrating Ange Postecoglou’s first Premiership triumph at this same ground, thousands of travelling Celtic fans witnessed another title confirmed well before half time. Nicolas Kühn’s second goal of the day, Celtic’s third, marked their 100th in the Premiership this season and effectively snuffed out any early spark from the hosts. READ MORE: News from across Scotland READ MORE:  Celtic thrash St. Johnstone to reach another Scottish Cup final When Adam Idah added two more after the break, first with a header and ...

Chelsea climb back into Champions League places

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Chelsea 1 - 0 Everton Chelsea climbed back into the Champions League positions with a narrow victory over Everton. Author - Lauren W Stadium - Stamford Bridge The result lifts the Blues to fourth in the Premier League, level on points with Nottingham Forest and one ahead of Newcastle, who face Ipswich later on Saturday. With Forest and Aston Villa involved in FA Cup semi-finals this weekend, Chelsea are guaranteed to stay in the top five at least until Thursday, when Forest take on Brentford. Nicolas Jackson secured the decisive three points, ending a 13-game goal drought dating back to December. The striker struck instinctively from 20 yards, firing low past Jordan Pickford into the bottom corner after 27 minutes. Although Chelsea were the more dominant side, they failed to put the game beyond doubt. With the race for Champions League qualification finely poised and a challenging run-in ahead, there were anxious moments as Everton improved late on. Robert Sanchez was called into a...