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EFL: Crawley promoted to League One

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 Crawley Town 2 - 0 Crewe Alexandra Crawley Town secured promotion to League One after a nine-year absence by defeating Crewe Alexandra 2-0 at Wembley. Despite being predicted by many to face relegation at the start of the season, Crawley defied expectations.  Their victory in the League Two play-off final  on Sunday means they will compete in the third tier for only the second time in their history, the first since 2015. Goals from Danilo Orsi and Liam  Kelly,  scored late in each half, were enough to secure the win in the sweltering London heat during  Crawley's  first-ever visit to Wembley in their 128-year history. "Relegation? Not a chance - Crawley Town are a REVELATION" 🎇 The Reds are a League One club again ❤ pic.twitter.com/9Q2v1B1Osv — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 19, 2024 The first half was largely uneventful until a brilliant move in the closing stages allowed Crawley to open the scoring. Orsi capitalized on some excellent combination play

Premier League: Classic match at the Amex Stadium

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 Brighton and Hove Albion 3 - 3 Brentford Brighton and Brentford played out one of the games of the season as both clubs chase European qualification.  Brighton settled into an early rhythm, keeping the ball well, and looking to get Solly March and Mitoma involved from wide areas. The returning Jansson was stepping out of defence to shadow Argentina’s World Cup winner, Mac Allister, wherever he went. That left space in the right centre-back position which Brighton tried to exploit. A brilliant Pinnock challenge was the only thing that stopped Mitoma from opening the scoring on six minutes - the Japanese winger racing down that channel and in on goal from Moises Caicedo’s through ball. From the resulting corner, Mathias Jensen got his body in the way of March’s close-range effort.Joel Veltman had Brighton’s next opening, again from a corner, before Brentford took the lead with their first real foray forward. After sending everyone up for a long throw, Jensen went short before receiv

Scotland: Celtic dominant against Aberdeen

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Celtic 4 - 0 Aberdeen An inspiring performance from Reo Hatate helped Celtic earn a dominant win over Aberdeen. Celtic TV Unique Angle | Celtic 4-0 Aberdeen | Celts dominate Dons in Paradise! - YouTube Callum McGregor opened the scoring inside two minutes before Hatate doubled the lead 11 minutes later in a scintillating first 45 minutes from Celtic. The Japanese midfielder would then add a third goal thanks to some sublime individual play with 14 minutes remaining before Liel Abada crashed home a fourth with a minute to play, rounding off a fine afternoon's work for Ange Postecoglou's side. A great start for Celtic Things couldn’t have got off to a better start for Celtic as inside the first two minutes, Callum McGregor gave the Hoops the lead. It was Greg Taylor’s initial cross which was headed clear by Aberdeen, but it only went as far as the skipper lurking on the edge of the box who smashed a low drive into the bottom left corner, despite the efforts of Jay Gorter in g

Women's Champions League: Barca end Chelsea dreams

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Chelsea 0 - 2 Barcelona Barcelona won 2-1 on aggregate  Chelsea's hopes of making it to the Women's Champions League final in manager Emma Hayes' final season at the club were crushed with a defeat by Barcelona at a sold-out Stamford Bridge.  Despite leading 1-0 from the semi-final first leg, Chelsea was unable to hold onto their advantage as holders Barca turned the tide in their favour. Referee Iuliana Demetrescu made two crucial decisions that went against the Blues.  Firstly, she issued a second booking to Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan within four minutes, leaving the hosts with only 10 players on the field just before the hour mark.  A history of women's football (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Secondly, she awarded a penalty to Barcelona for a contentious foul on Aitana Bonmati, which Fridolina Rolfo converted. Bonmati had earlier cancelled out Chelsea's aggregate lead with a deflected strike off Buchanan, and her dramatic fall in the box under conta

Is it coming home? A preview of UEFA Women's Euro 2022

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There will be some international football this summer Let's look ahead to UEFA Women's Euro 2022 The 2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Women's Euro 2022, will be the 13th edition of the UEFA Women's Championship, the quadrennial international football championship organised by UEFA for the women's national teams of Europe. It will be the second edition since the number of teams increased to 16.  𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙 𝗔 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 🎟️ 🎉 Record-breaking sales 🎉 More than double #WEURO2017 🎉 Purchasers across 99 countries Don't miss out - get yours now! 👇 #WEURO2022 — UEFA Women's EURO 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 1, 2022 The final tournament will be hosted by England and was originally scheduled to take place from 7 July to 1 August 2021. England last hosted the tournament in 2005. The  Netherlands will be the defending champions, and Northern Ireland will participate in a UEFA Women's Eu

UCL: Another memorable European night for Chelsea

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Chelsea 2 - 0  Borussia Dortmund (Aggregate 2-1) It was a great night for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in what was Graham Potter's finest night as Chelsea manager. Raheem Sterling made the breakthrough after 43 minutes, firing past Dortmund keeper Alexander Meyer after initially fluffing his shot.The goal that settled the tie and overturned Dortmund's 1-0 advantage from the first leg came in contentious fashion from the penalty spot after 53 minutes. Dortmund were furious when a VAR review penalised Marius Wolf for handball from Ben Chilwell's cross, and their sense of injustice heightened after Kai Havertz struck the post with his spot-kick only for a re-take to be ordered. Potter's revival Click here for more Chelsea news>>> Potter was under pressure after a dismal run of results following their outlay in the transfer market. Many pundits have argued that he had struggled to convince Chelsea's fans of his ability. He will hope the manner of this perform

Women's World Cup: England battle to victory against Nigeria

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England 0 - 0 Nigeria England won 4-2 on penalties Despite a red card from Lauren James, England made it to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup. Georgia Stanway fired wide with the opening penalty but Nigeria missed their next two efforts and the European champions secured their spot in the last eight when Chloe Kelly smashed in the winning kick. After losing possession, James stamped on Michelle Alozie's back in the 87th minute and was rightfully shown a red card by the video assistant referee (VAR). England were given an almighty scare but face Colombia or Jamaica next on Saturday. England stumble over the line but ultimately succeed England stumbled to the end of normal time lacking the fluidity they showed in abundance in the impressive display against China and held on to seal the deal in a shootout. Only 24 hours earlier, back-to-back champions the USA were knocked out of the competition, and England were forced to show resilience to overcome arguably the most

Premier League: Dramatic afternoon in Sheffield

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 Sheffield United 2 - 2 West Ham United Sheffield United's Oli McBurnie scored the latest goal in the Premier League, scoring a 103rd-minute penalty to rescue a point for his side against West Ham. Sheffield United were awarded the spot-kick in the eighth minute of added time when Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola was judged to have taken out McBurnie. Latest Premier League news can be found here:  Premier League news and stories: 2023/2024  The forward then smashed his effort beyond substitute stopper Lukasz Fabianski after Areola was forced to leave the pitch with an injury.  West Ham seemed to be smoothly heading for a 2-1 win following James Ward-Prowse's successful penalty in the 79th minute. Maxwel Cornet had earlier given the Hammers a lead in the first half, marking his first goal for the club, but Ben Brereton Diaz equalized just before halftime on his Premier League debut. The second half of the game brought heightened excitement, with two red cards and two penalty a

Spain: Barcelona maintain perfect start to the season

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Girona 1 - 4 Barcelona Lamine Yamal netted twice as Barcelona continued their dominant start to the season with a commanding 4-1 victory away at Girona. The 17-year-old Spanish winger opened the scoring in the 30th minute, capitalising on a mistake by David Lopez deep in Girona's half, before expertly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Yamal added his second just seven minutes later with a composed first-time strike from the edge of the box, following a rebound from Raphinha's free-kick. Click here for more La Liga news and stories Girona, who finished third last season, thought they had been awarded a penalty after Bryan Gil's header struck Inigo Martinez's arm, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review. Dani Olmo became the first player since Cesc Fabregas in 2011 to score in his first three league games for Barcelona, finding the net with a precise finish from a tight angle in the 47th minute to make it 3-0. Seventeen minutes later, midf

Premier League: Everton move out of bottom three

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 Everton 1 - 0 Brentford Everton boosted their survival chances with a win in front of a vocal Goodison Park. The Blues started the day 18th but capitalised on teams around them failing to win by moving out of the Premier League relegation zone, leaping two points and three places above trouble. McNeil's delightful strike after just 35 seconds gave the hosts the perfect start, rasping a finish across the goal which nestled into the far corner. Buoyed by their fans, the home side were swarming all over the Bees and created much better chances with Demarai Gray seeing a second goal ruled out for handball by VAR. As the game moved to a conclusion, Brentford looked to salvage something but they were not at their best, Ethan Pinnock having a header cleared off the line by McNeil and Kevin Schade heading wide at the far post as their 12-match unbeaten run ended.  Despite the result, they will be still hoping to qualify for Europe. Everton will just be concentrating on building on thi

Euro 2024: Germany leave it late to secure top spot

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Switzerland 1 - 1 Germany Substitute Niclas Füllkrug saved the day for Germany with a late equaliser, ensuring a 1-1 draw with Switzerland and securing the top spot in Group A. Switzerland looked set to progress to the last 16 as group winners after Dan Ndoye's early strike, but Füllkrug's header changed the narrative. The goal ignited celebrations among the German fans behind the goal, as their team preserved their unbeaten record in Euro 2024. For Switzerland, it was a heartbreaking turn of events after they had defended valiantly for over 90 minutes. Nevertheless, they advance to the knockout stages. Murat Yakin's side knew a win would see them surpass Germany, and they almost achieved this feat in Frankfurt, only to succumb to the relentless pressure in stoppage time. Germany had largely frustrated their home supporters with a lacklustre performance, but a late surge of opportunities finally bore fruit. Earlier, Swiss fans were jubilant, celebrating Ndoye’s superb f

Scotland: No let-up from Celtic in Perth

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St Johnstone 0 - 6 Celtic  Celtic surged to the top of the Scottish Premiership after a resounding 6-0 victory against St Johnstone.  The defending champions initially believed they had scored early on through Daizen Maeda, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a foul in the build-up. A closer look at what happened in Perth Kyogo Furuhashi eventually put the visitors in front with a typical run and finish and Paulo Bernardo completed an excellent move with a fine finish. Kyogo then headed a third in first-half added time and Callum McGregor, Maeda and substitute Adam Idah added more goals in the second period. Brendan Rodgers' side lead Aberdeen on goal difference at the top of the table while Saints are a point above second bottom. Celtic looking unstoppable in Scotland. Positive signs for their Champions League campaign? Celtic made several changes once again in their 5-2 Scottish League Cup victory over Falkirk last week, and it was a similar story in Perth, with the injured Ca

Icons: Dennis Law

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 It's time to explore another football icon. This time it's Denis Law Denis Law had a fantastic career and many older fans of Manchester United still refer to him as The King of the Stretford End. Early Life of Denis Law He grew up in an Aberdeen Council Flat and was the youngest of six siblings. His dad George Law was a fisherman, and this fact would later feature in a chant created by Manchester United fans.  He supported Aberdeen and watched them on the terraces when he had the money to do so. He got his first pair of football boots as a teenager after receiving them as a present. The obsession with football led to Law turning down a place at the local grammar school as their sport of choice was Rugby.   The start of a glorious football career After being scouted by Huddersfield Town, he was eventually signed by the Yorkshire side in April 1955. Not long after, he had an operation to remove his quint. This greatly improved his self-confidence. Following Huddersfield’s r

Premier League: Brighton return to winning ways

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Brighton and Hove Albion 1 - 0 Aston Villa The impact of this Villa defeat was ultimately lessened after Spurs lost 4 - 2 away at Liverpool  Joao Pedro scored a late goal as Brighton put a small dent in Aston Villa's Champions League hopes at the Amex Stadium. The winner arrived when Pedro scored a rebound in the 87th minute after his penalty was saved by Robin Olsen. Earlier in the match, Pascal Gross had an effort for the hosts ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) . At the other end of the pitch, Villa captain John McGinn was also judged to be inches ahead of the Brighton defence before scoring in vain. Brighton's beat Aston Villa in a home game for the first time in the Premier League since its inception and for the first time at home across all competitions since December 1980. For Brighton fans, this win was a huge relief. Even then, they will have a few concerns. A lack of goals is not a characteristic often associated with Brighton managed by De

PL: Southampton put on show of resilience against Tottenham

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Southampton 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Southampton held Tottenham to a draw despite playing with 10 men for over 50 minutes at St Mary's. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side started well when James Ward-Prowse cut across a bouncing ball to volley a swerving shot past Hugo Lloris for a superb opener. The home side looked to have undone their great work when Mohammed Salisu fouled Son Heung-min in the box to earn himself a second booking in a short period of time. This allowed Harry Kane to score. In the second 45 minutes, Spurs twice had the ball in the net. Kane saw a strike ruled out by VAR for a narrow offside. Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster was then spared own-goal blushes when it was judged he was fouled by Matt Doherty. Reaction from St Mary's Spurs Head Coach Antonio Conte was annoyed that his side didn't take advantage of the extra man. He told the club's website: “We have to be a bit frustrated for the final result. We’ve played a lot, the last three games against

Euro 2024: Austria stun Netherlands and top Group D

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Austria 3 - 2 Netherlands Austria delivered a stunning performance that will surely turn heads at Euro 2024, defeating the Netherlands to advance to the last 16 as Group D winners. Despite a challenging draw against the Dutch and France, Ralf Rangnick's team triumphed in two of their three matches, finishing at the top of the table. The Netherlands had already secured their spot in the last 16, but will now progress as one of the best third-placed teams, with France taking second place after their 1-1 draw with Poland.  Austria's victory was thoroughly deserved, showcasing their spirit and determination throughout. They responded admirably to a strong start from the Netherlands in the second half, with Marcel Sabitzer’s goal sealing the win. The Austrians took an early lead in the sixth minute when Donyell Malen turned Alexander Prass’s dangerous cross into his own net. Although Malen had a chance to redeem himself but fluffed his shot, Austria dominated possession, often

UCL: Barca thrash Swiss side

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Barcelona 5 - 0 Young Boys Robert Lewandowski netted twice as Barcelona cruised to victory over Young Boys in the Champions League. Lewandowski opened the scoring just eight minutes in, slotting home Raphinha’s cross at the far post. Barca soon doubled their advantage, with Raphinha tucking away the rebound after Pedri’s initial shot was blocked. The La Liga leaders were in full control, and just three minutes later, Iñigo Martínez added a third, heading in from close range following a pinpoint free-kick from Pedri. Barcelona extended their lead early in the second half, with Martínez nodding the ball back across goal for Lewandowski to tap in his second of the night. Champions League: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Young Boys’ best opportunity came when Joel Monteiro's effort struck the crossbar, but their night went from bad to worse in the 81st minute when Mohamed Ali Camara inadvertently turned Alejandro Balde's cross into his own net. Monteiro thought he ha

PL: Manchester United 3 - 2 Arsenal

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 800th goal of his career as Manchester United came from behind to beat Arsenal in a thrilling match. New United interim boss Ralf Rangnick and former England captain David Beckham both enjoyed a thrilling encounter Emile Smith Rowe drove home from the edge of the area, while United keeper David de Gea was lying on the ground, seemingly injured, with his back to play. The inevitable VAR check said De Gea had fallen after bumping into and being trodden on by his own teammate Fred. The referee Martin Atkinson eventually gave the goal. Bruno Fernandes levelled finished off an intricate move involving Jadon Sancho and Fred a minute before the break, setting up a pulsating second half. Ronaldo then put United ahead as he swept home Marcus Rashford's cross. Martin Odegaard quickly made it 2-2 with a well-taken equaliser. Atkinson then gave United a penalty after reviewing Odegaard's challenge on Fred on a pitchside monitor - and Ronaldo kept his nerve

FA Cup: Villa progress after narrow win

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 Middlesborough 0 - 1 Aston Villa Aston Villa secured their first FA Cup victory since 2016, as Matty Cash delivered a late winning goal against Middlesbrough.  Highlights below from  The Emirates FA Cup - YouTube   The Championship club Boro was on the verge of forcing a replay when Cash's shot from outside the box took an unexpected deflection, ultimately beating goalkeeper Tom Glover. The Australian keeper had earlier displayed an impressive performance at the lively Riverside Stadium, frustrating the Premier League visitors with saves against young Colombia forward Jhon Duran (twice) and captain John McGinn. Villa' s frustration grew as Ezri Konsa's header hit the post before Poland full-back Cash scored his fourth goal of the season in three different competitions. Magic of the FA Cup: 2023/2024 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) More Aston Villa news and stories This victory marked a significant milestone for Villa, a seven-time FA Cup-winning team that had not tas

Premier League: Palace rescue late point against Leicester

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Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Leicester City Note - This article and photo were sent to us by our friends at GMCR Football   Jean-Philippe Mateta rescued a late draw for Crystal Palace, netting his second goal of the match with a 92nd-minute penalty that denied Leicester City their first Premier League win since their return. Mateta had ended last season on a high, scoring nine goals in his final six matches under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, and his value to the team was evident again as his double strike saved Palace from what would have been a worrying defeat. A closer look at the match Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for Leicester midway through the first half, picking up a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, rounding Dean Henderson, and slotting the ball into an empty net. Leicester extended their lead just 23 seconds after the restart, with Ndidi pouncing on a poor clearance from Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix, setting up Stephy Mavididi to blast the ball into the roof of the net from close