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UEFA Champions League: Young Boys Stun Manchester United
Substitute Jordan Siebatcheu scored a stoppage-time winner to earn Young Boys a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in their 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League opening match on Tuesday.
Siebatcheu pounced on a woeful back pass from Jesse Lingard in the fifth minute of stoppage time to spark wild scenes of celebration.
The victory ensured that Manchester United got their 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League campaign off to the worst possible start.
Manchester United looked to be cruising to victory after Cristiano Ronaldo matched former Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas’ 177 games record by firing them in front in the 13th minute.
The Portugal captain had equalled the all-time UEFA Champions League appearance record in Bern.
But Manchester United’s task was made more difficult after full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off for a lunging tackle on Christopher Martins with 35 minutes on the clock.
The home crowd sensed an upset was on the cards, with Manchester United bringing on French defender Raphael Varane at half-time.
They therefore went to five at the back to try to see out the victory.
But the hosts got a deserved equaliser through Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu at the near post in the 66th minute.
Ronaldo was then replaced in the second half as Manchester United again changed formation.
The visitors then needed a fine late save from goalkeeper David de Gea to keep Young Boys at bay.
But the drama was not over and Siebatcheu’s strike, timed at 94 minutes and 22 seconds, was the latest winning goal in a UEFA Champions League match.
This was since Lucas Moura’s effort for Tottenham Hotspur against Ajax Amsterdam in the 2019 semi-finals.
“That’s football, people make mistakes,” Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said.
“We’re not blaming Jesse. I’m sure everyone on that pitch today has made a mistake. I’m sure Jesse will pick himself up.
“It’s the first game in the group. We’ve got many games to bounce back and we must do. We’ll try and pick up three points in our next game and build momentum from there.”
In a raucous atmosphere in the Wankdorf Stadium, it was the home side who had the first chance, with Meschak Elia dragging a strike just wide.
Yet it was the visitors who opened the scoring.
Ronaldo, UEFA Champions League’s all-time leading goalscorer, moved on to 135 in the competition with another predatory finish.
That was after being picked out by a sublime cross from Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes.
Young Boys, who became the 36th different side Ronaldo has scored against in the UEFA Champions League, were then gifted a way back into the match by Wan-Bissaka.
Meanwhile, no player has found the net against more opponents in the competition than Ronaldo.
Full-back Wan-Bissaka’s first touch was heavy, leaving him reaching into the tackle, studs up on Martins.
The referee showed no hesitation in brandishing the red card.
Christian Fassnacht then almost immediately levelled, volleying just wide as the hosts looked to make their numerical advantage count.
Against the run of play, Ronaldo raced clear early in the second period and went down looking for a penalty kick, but nothing was given.
The hosts were piling on the pressure, and got a deserved equaliser through Ngamaleu, who battled to get to the ball ahead of Varane and sent the home crowd into delirium.
Ronaldo was then replaced by Lingard, before Siebatcheu had the final say, with the Manchester United substitute getting his pass back to De Gea all wrong.
It was no surprise then that the scenes of celebration continued long after the final whistle.(NAN)
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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