European Super Football

Sunderland 1 - 1 Coventry City (Sunderland won 3-2 on aggregate) Sunderland booked their place in the Championship play-off final after Dan Ballard’s dramatic late goal in extra time sealed victory over Coventry City. Author - Lewis W Stadium - Stadium of Light Ballard’s header, which struck the underside of the bar before crossing the line, came in the final moments of stoppage time and secured a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win for the Black Cats. It was a fittingly tense conclusion to a gripping evening at the Stadium of Light. Ephron Mason-Clark had earlier levelled the tie with a 76th-minute strike to send the match into extra time. Sunderland will now face Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday 24 May, with a place in the Premier League at stake. READ MORE: News and stories from the play-offs  In a contest between the sides who finished fourth and fifth in the regular season, the Wearside club now have the chance to end an eight-year absence from the top fli...

Roy Keane is another football icon. He is someone that won a number of team and individual honours during a hugely successful playing career. Read about more icons A brief overview He is the joint most successful Irish footballer of all time, having won 19 major trophies in his club career, 17 of which came during his time at Manchester United. Many regard him as one of the best midfielders of his generation. In 2004. he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.  In his 18-year playing career, Keane played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United before ending his career at Celtic. He was a dominating box-to-box midfielder noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play. This was an attitude that helped him excel as captain of Manchester United from 1997 until his departure in 2005. Keane helped United achieve sustained success during his 12 years at the club. He then signed for Celtic, where he won a domesti...

Bradford claimed a bonus point after beating Sunderland on penalties but the home side still progressed into the next round. Bradford created a couple of half-chances prior to the midway point of the first 45, but Hoffmann was equal to them and he comfortably stopped efforts from Charles Vernam and Fiacre Kelleher.  Sunderland saw plenty of the ball during the opening period at the Stadium of Light, but Theo Robinson’s close-range finish handed Bradford the advantage at the break. A fantastic effort from Nathan Broadhead levelled the match on 52 minutes, as the on-loan Everton striker took the ball down and fired an excellent finish into the bottom corner. Superb last-ditch defending denied Will Harris as Sunderland searched for a winner after Leon Dajaku’s saved effort looped into the air, with an Alex Pritchard free-kick shaking the crossbar in stoppage time.  Penalties were taken despite both sides knowing their fate heading into the shootout, and the visitors ran out win...

 Luton Town 2 - 0 Sunderland (Luton won 2-0 on aggregate) Luton booked their spot in the Championship play-off final after a fantastic 2-0 second-leg win saw them beat Sunderland 3-2 on aggregate.  You can watch the highlights in the video below. Match report Trailing 2-1 following the first game at the Stadium of Light, Luton turned their aerial threat into a reward as centre-backs Gabriel Osho and Tom Lockyer scored before the break. Roared on by a raucous home support inside their Kenilworth Road home, Luton should have made it three when keeper Anthony Patterson misdirected a clearance, and Jordan Clark then blazed wastefully over. <Click here for more Luton Town news> More heroics from Luton Town Luton Town are one win away from returning to the top flight of English football for the first time since 1992. They were relegated from the old first division in the season before the introduction of the Premier League. Marvelous Nakamba tweeted: "A massive win and ama...

Sunderland 1 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Sunderland reignited automatic promotion chances with a crucial win at Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to a brace from Eliezer Mayenda. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Hillsborough After back-to-back defeats against Leeds United and Hull City, the Black Cats desperately needed three points. They took the lead in controversial fashion during the first half, as Mayenda appeared to control the ball with his arm before slotting home. Wednesday hit back early in the second half through Callum Paterson’s header, but 19-year-old Spanish forward Mayenda, starting in place of top scorer Wilson Isidor, nodded in the winner to secure a vital victory. Sunderland remain fourth in the Championship, five points behind second-placed Sheffield United, though they have played a game more. For Sheffield Wednesday, it was a third consecutive defeat, leaving them 13th in the table, six points adrift of the play-off spots. Their hopes of breaking into the top six are n...

Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Leicester City Leicester City halted their seven-match losing streak and climbed out of the relegation zone with a spirited 2-1 comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur, intensifying the scrutiny on Spurs' head coach, Ange Postecoglou. Author - Greg S Stadium - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium The Foxes, under the management of Ruud van Nistelrooy, were acutely aware that a defeat in north London would have equalled their worst-ever league run. Their concerns deepened when Richarlison, returning to Tottenham's starting lineup, headed the hosts into the lead during the first half. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the opening moments of the second half. Just 57 seconds after the restart, Jamie Vardy brought Leicester level, showcasing his enduring prowess. Shortly thereafter, Bilal El Khannouss curled a sublime shot from just outside the penalty area, putting the visitors ahead. Leicester then displayed resilience, holding firm to leapfrog Wolverhampt...

Sunderland 2 - 1 Stoke City Teenage Sunderland midfielder Tom Watson celebrated a career milestone by scoring his first two senior goals, helping his side secure a much-needed victory over Stoke City.  The win ended a six-game winless run for the Championship promotion contenders. Author - Lee Poxen The hosts hadn’t tasted victory since 26 October and fell behind early, as Liverpool loanee Lewis Koumas, aged 19, opened the scoring for Stoke in just the sixth minute. After his initial effort was saved, Koumas showed composure to slot home the rebound with his left foot, marking his fourth goal of the season for the Wales international. Stoke’s lead, however, was short-lived, lasting less than a minute. Watson, only 18 years old, linked up beautifully with Jobe Bellingham inside the box before unleashing a powerful low shot that beat Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson at his near post. What else has been happening in the EFL? Discover more Sunderland news and stories Watson almost...

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...

Chelsea 2 - 2 Everton This could prove to be a very important point for Everton. Ellis Simms scored his first Everton goal to earn Sean Dyche's side a crucial point. They came from behind twice to draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Everton's improved resilience under Dyche was on show again. The 22-year-old local product Simms was the hero with a superb late equaliser to wreck Chelsea's hopes of a fourth consecutive win. Chelsea broke down Everton's resistance seven minutes after the break when the excellent Joao Felix drilled home a low drive. However, they were pegged back when Abdoulaye Doucoure scrambled home an equaliser from a corner after 69 minutes. The away side were only on level terms for seven minutes. Kai Havertz scored from the spot after Reece James was fouled by James Tarkowski. However, there was to be a late twist in the tale. Dyche had put Simms on to rescue a point, and he delivered in style with a powerful run and finish a minute from time...

Sunderland 2 - 1 Sheffield United Sunderland kept their push for automatic promotion alive with an entertaining victory over third-placed Sheffield United, who are now winless in three matches. Author - Ajay  The visitors squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead when Kieffer Moore’s poorly struck penalty was saved by Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal. Eliezer Mayenda then capitalised on a defensive mix-up to put the Black Cats ahead, but Luke O’Nien’sown goal levelled the scores. However, Wilson Isidor’s composed finish ensured Sunderland went into half-time in front after a chaotic opening 45 minutes. Sheffield United dominated possession after the break but couldn’t find an equaliser, with Rhian Brewster firing wide and Sunderland surviving a late scramble in their box. The result sees Sunderland remain fourth in the table and they are now just two points behind second-placed Burnley. Meanwhile, Sheffield United, who were three points clear at the top at Christ...

Arsenal v Real Madrid Preview Los Blancos will make their first-ever competitive appearance at the Emirates Stadium. Author - DJ While the 15-time winners have beaten 111 teams in the competition’s history, Arsenal are not one of them courtesy of their famous last-16 success in the only previous meaningful meetings between the teams back in 2006. While Arteta's looking to reach the final four for just a third time, Madrid’s love affair with the competition sees them looking to make that a reality for the fifth consecutive season.  Real Madrid head into the first leg knowing that no team has beaten Arsenal in North London in 10 Champions League games since their return to the competition last season. An extension of that run would put them in a superb place before a visit to the Spanish capital eight days later. Who remembers this match from 2006? Source | Arsenal YouTube A closer look at how Real Madrid are doing Not since the 2003-04 season have Real Madrid been knocked out ...

Manchester United 2 - 1 Rangers Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure victory over Rangers in their all-British clash at Old Trafford. Author - Liam C Stadium - Old Trafford Rangers fans had barely finished celebrating what they thought was a late equaliser from Cyriel Dessers, whose superb 88th-minute strike found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. However, Fernandes quickly silenced the visiting supporters, latching onto Lisandro Martínez's pinpoint cross to the far post and driving a first-time shot through Jack Butland's legs. In the directors' box, legendary former United manager – and ex-Rangers striker – Sir Alex Ferguson could only shake his head at the thrilling finale. The dramatic conclusion ensured the match wouldn’t be remembered solely for Butland's unfortunate own goal. The Rangers goalkeeper attempted to punch away Christian Eriksen's corner in the 52nd minute but inadvertently sent...