..::Football IV::..

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    Norway 1-1 Spain: King penalty makes La Roja wait to book Euro 2020 spot

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    Joshua King scored a 94th-minute penalty to earn Norway a 1-1 Euro 2020 qualifier draw at home to Spain, who would have sealed their place at the finals with victory.

    Saul Niguez's goal 62 seconds into the second half looked to have extended Spain's perfect record to seven wins from seven in Group F at Ullevaal Stadion on Saturday.

    But Kepa Arrizabalaga's foul on Omar Elabdellaoui in stoppage time handed Norway a golden chance to deny Robert Moreno's men the points they needed.


    King stepped up to beat the Chelsea goalkeeper from the spot on the day Spain captain Sergio Ramos broke Iker Casillas' appearance record for La Roja.
    Spain, who won the reverse game 2-1 in March thanks to a Ramos penalty, dominated possession from the off but Norway created the first half's clearest chance in the 22nd minute.

    Elabdellaoui delivered a rabona cross from the right but King could only head straight at Kepa.Spain struck a seemingly decisive blow when Rune Jarstein's error saw his side fall behind.

    Norway repeatedly failed to clear their lines moments after the restart and when Saul hit a bouncing ball from the edge of the penalty box, it flew through Jarstein's hands.Fabian Ruiz twice went close to adding a second either side of King blazing over the crossbar, a missed chance that looked to cost Norway a draw.

    But Kepa's error, missing the ball with an attempted punch and connecting with Elabdellaoui, allowed King to score from the spot and denied Ramos the perfect way to mark his milestone.
     

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    Ramos breaks Casillas's record to become Spain's most-capped player ever


    Sergio Ramos has surpassed Iker Casillas's record to become Spain's most-capped player ever.

    The central defender, 33, has now played 168 times for La Roja, ahead of his former team-mate on 167.He breaks the record after starting Spain's Euro 2020 Group F qualifying match against Norway, hoping to continue his nation’s 100 per cent win ratio in the competition so far.

    Spain are already assured of their place at the finals next summer, with an unassailable seven-point gap at the top of the group.

    The Real Madrid captain has won back-to-back European Championships with Spain in 2008 and 2012, beating Germany and Italy in each final, as well as the World Cup in 2010, triumphing over the Netherlands in South Africa.

    He started and played the full match in each one of those finals and kept clean sheets in all three as well.Ramos is also the joint-10th highest goalscorer in his country's history, tied with Michel on 21, just two behind Los Blancos legend Alfredo Di Stefano.

    The defender received his first international cap for Spain in 2005, when he was still a Sevilla player, and made his debut in an international friendly game against China, playing 45 minutes.

    His competitive bow came as a right-back against Serbia and Montenegro, a position he spent the majority of the next six years playing for Spain before moving to a central defensive role.



    Ramos captained his country for the first time in a 10-0 Confederations Cup demolition of Tahiti in 2013, but took the armband more permanently in 2016, when Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea had usurped Casillas between the sticks after the veteran left Real Madrid to join Porto.

    In his time with the national team, Ramos has also enjoyed plenty of success with his club. The defender has picked up four Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, four Club World Cups, two Copas del Rey, three Spanish Super Cups and three Uefa Super Cups.

    He has also managed an impressive tally of 85 goals in 615 games for Los Blancos, a huge return for a defender.
     

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    Italy 2-0 Greece: Jorginho and Bernardeschi book the Azzurri's Euro 2020 spot

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    Italy clinched a place at Euro 2020 as Jorginho and Federico Bernardeschi scored in Saturday's 2-0 win over Greece.Roberto Mancini's men were far from at their fluent best at Stadio Olimpico, appearing devoid of craft against an often-packed Greece defence, but a pair of second-half goals ensured they did enough to make sure of a top-two finish in Group J.

    The victory extended their strong qualification campaign, giving Italy a seventh successive victory.


    Unsurprisingly, Greece set up to frustrate Italy and they certainly achieved that goal in the first half, with the Azzurri crafting few notable opportunities in a dour opening 45 minutes.

    But a combination of Italy's determination and a defensive blunder from Andreas Bouchalakis in the second period allowed Jorginho to convert a penalty and substitute Bernardeschi wrapped the win up late on.

    Italy generally dominated a largely forgettable first half in Rome, though their control of possession was not reflected in the number of chances forged, as Alexandros Paschalakis in the Greece goal was little more than a spectator.

    While Gianluigi Donnarumma was by no means busy at the other end, his reflex save to palm away Dimitris Limnios' effort in the 12th minute was vital.

    Italy then suffered the blow of losing Federico Chiesa to an apparent muscle injury just before the interval.But the hosts' first attempt on target came from a cross courtesy of Chiesa's replacement, as Bernardeschi's delivery found Ciro Immobile and his header was tipped around the post by Paschalakis.

    The goalkeeper was helpless just past the hour, however – Jorginho dispatching a penalty with typical composure after Bouchalakis blatantly blocked Lorenzo Insigne's shot with his arm.

    Bernardeschi ended Greece's hopes of a late fightback, finding the bottom-left corner from distance with 12 minutes to go.
     

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    Czech Republic 2-1 England: Comeback win denies Three Lions Euro 2020 qualification

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    Zdenek Ondrasek came off the bench on his international debut to earn the Czech Republic a 2-1 win at home to England, denying the Three Lions qualification for Euro 2020.

    Harry Kane's fifth-minute penalty - the England captain's 27th international goal - put Gareth Southgate's side in front early on Friday, yet the hosts hit back within five minutes.Centre-back Jakub Brabec profited on slack set-piece marking to level the scores and, as the game appeared to be drifting towards a draw, the Czech Republic struck again.

    With five minutes to go, Lukas Masopust raided down the right and pulled a low cross back for striker Ondrasek, who confidently beat Jordan Pickford to snatch all three points.

    Kane missed from the spot against Kosovo last month but he converted a fifth-minute penalty in Prague.

    Raheem Sterling's darting run down the left was ended by Masopust's clumsy trip and Kane fired the resulting spot-kick down the middle, though the hosts soon drew level.A corner found Brabec at the back post with Declan Rice having slipped and the defender bundled home his first international goal, beating Danny Rose on the line.

    Goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik was quickly off his line to prevent Sterling rounding him in the 57th minute, then Jordan Pickford was called into action to acrobatically deny Masopust.

    Alex Kral forced another good save from Pickford in the closing stages but England did not heed the warning, Ondrasek slamming home with his first shot in international football.
     

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    Portugal 3-0 Luxembourg: Silva, Ronaldo and Guedes on target in comfortable outing

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    Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Guedes were on target as Portugal closed on a spot at Euro 2020 with a comfortable 3-0 win over Luxembourg.

    Manchester City midfielder Silva scored the easiest of openers 16 minutes into Friday's Group B clash in Lisbon and Ronaldo's excellent chip in the second half doubled the lead.

    Substitute Guedes added late gloss and in truth, the European champions should have won by a bigger scoreline, with Ronaldo uncharacteristically profligate prior to his goal.

    Still, Fernando Santos' men were rarely troubled in the capital and, with a four-point buffer to third and just three games remaining, Portugal took another step towards qualification.

    Ronaldo cleared the crossbar with an early long-ranger and Joao Felix fired wastefully wide on the half-volley from eight yards as Portugal flew out the blocks.The inevitable breakthrough arrived when Nelson Semedo's cross ricocheted off goalkeeper Anthony Moris and allowed Silva to easily slot home.

    It remained one-way traffic in the second half, with Bruno Fernandes' stinger preceding an audacious overhead-kick from Ronaldo, who also saw a bending effort well saved by Moris.

    Ronaldo finally had his goal when he pounced on Maxime Chanot's woefully mishit backpass and lofted a delightful chip over Moris.The Juventus forward had already seen a couple of penalty claims waved away and was unlucky another was not given when he was hacked by Leandro Barreiro Martins.

    Ronaldo prodded another effort wide and saw a header cleared off the line but Guedes fired through a crowd of bodies in the final minute to increase the scoreline.
     

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    Iceland 0-1 France: Giroud makes Iceland pay the penalty

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    Olivier Giroud fired world champions France to a 1-0 victory in Reykjavik as Iceland lost a home qualifier for the first time in six years.

    On the fringes of things at Chelsea, Giroud remains an integral part of France's plans eight months out from Euro 2020, and his 37th goal for his country came from the penalty spot midway through the second half.It came after Antoine Griezmann went over in the area, and amid Icelandic protests about the decision by Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi.

    But France were the better team for long stretches of the game, worthy of becoming the first visitors to leave Iceland with three points since Slovenia earned a 4-2 win in World Cup qualifying in June 2013.
    France beat Iceland 4-0 in Paris earlier in the group but their preparation this time was disrupted by losing N'Golo Kante to injury moments before kick-off, with Moussa Sissoko taking his midfield berth.

    France were already without three star men in Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and captain Hugo Lloris. Raphael Varane skippered the team and Steve Mandanda took over from Lloris in goal, as Les Bleus looked to avoid another away-day blip, having lost to Turkey in June.They kept Hannes Halldorsson in Iceland's goal busy enough before the break, with Benjamin Pavard, Griezmann and Kingsley Coman threatening, but France hit their stride in the second half.

    Halldorsson repelled a Griezmann free-kick, before France's Barcelona forward made a hash of a volley. Griezmann thumped another shot wide from 20 yards, searching for a goal that would have taken him to 30 for his country, putting him level in sixth place on the all-time list alongside Just Fontaine and Jean-Pierre Papin.The penalty award came in the 64th minute when Griezmann went down theatrically after colliding with Ari Skulason.

    With Griezmann receiving a little TLC off the pitch, it was Giroud who took the spot-kick, firing home to find the bottom-right corner.It was little surprise Griezmann was able to carry on, and he threatened shortly after with a raking shot that Halldorsson gathered.

    Blaise Matuidi hit the post from 10 yards with a scuffed left-footed strike, before almost knocking out defender Victor Palsson with a thumping volley and Halldorsson saved with his legs from substitute Wissam Ben Yedder late on as France stayed unbeaten against Iceland, their record now showing 11 wins and four draws against Friday night's hosts.
     

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    Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Marseille: Icardi and Mbappe punish visitors in one-sided Classique

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    Mauro Icardi and Kylian Mbappe both scored twice in the first half as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Marseille 4-0 in Sunday's Ligue 1 clash.

    Free-scoring PSG had reeled off five wins in a row in all competitions heading into the first Classique of the season and made light work of seeing off their rivals.

    The reigning French champions scored all four goals before half-time thanks to clinical doubles from Icardi and Mbappe in the space of 34 devastating minutes at Parc des Princes.

    Edinson Cavani was brought on in the second half for his first appearance since August, but PSG - now eight points clears of closest challengers Nantes at the top of the table - could not add to their tally of 17 goals in their last four matches.Valere Germain failed to make the most of a good chance early on and, less than a minute later, Icardi converted a rebound at the other end after his initial header was parried by Steve Mandanda.

    Icardi was denied by Mandanda when played through by an exquisite flick from Mbappe, but the on-loan striker got to Marco Verratti's floated delivery ahead of the Marseille keeper three minutes later to double his tally.

    Despite the best efforts from Mandanda, who produced another fine save to thwart Mbappe from a one-on-one, PSG further extended their advantage through the France forward's tap-in after being teed up by Angel Di Maria.
    The home side's fourth goal arrived before half-time, Mbappe rounding off a swift counter with a shot from the edge of the box that Mandanda was unable to keep out.

    Mbappe spurned his big chance for back-to-back hat-tricks when firing wide 19 minutes from time, while Leandro Paredes had a free-kick saved as Marseille managed to keep down the scoring.
     

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    Roma 2-1 AC Milan: Calabria horror show condemns Pioli's side

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    Stefano Pioli's wait for his first win as AC Milan coach continues after Davide Calabria's error gifted Roma a 2-1 victory in Sunday's Serie A encounter.

    Having come on shortly after half-time, right-back Calabria made an immediate impact when he teed up Theo Hernandez's equaliser in the 55th minute at Stadio Olimpico.

    Hernandez's effort cancelled out Edin Dzeko's first-half opener, but Calabria ruined his good work when his loose ball enabled Nicolo Zaniolo to restore Roma's lead.

    Gianluca Mancini's poor miss kept Milan's hopes alive but their new coach failed to inspire a comeback as the Rossoneri remain entrenched in the mid-table.

    Milan had the better of the opening stages, Franck Kessie's slide-rule pass splitting Roma's defence in the 16th minute, but Lucas Paqueta strayed offside before drilling under Pau Lopez.

    Javier Pastore failed to capitalise on a Kessie error soon after, though Dzeko made no such mistake in the 38th minute, heading home unmarked at the far post after a corner was flicked on.

    Pastore would have doubled Roma's lead before the break if not for Gianluigi Donnarumma's fantastic save, and Milan's goalkeeper was left rooted to the spot when Chris Smalling sent a close-range header wide.

    Smalling's frustration was compounded when he deflected Hernandez's volley beyond Lopez after Milan's left-back connected with Calabria's cross.Parity lasted just three minutes, however - Dzeko pouncing on Calabria's slack pass to turn provider for Zaniolo, who coolly whipped a low finish into the left corner.

    Mancini should have doubled Roma's advantage with a free header, but Milan could not make their hosts pay for the midfielder's profligacy, with Hakan Calhanoglu missing a pair of late attempts to draw level.
     

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    Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Salah hits winner as Klopp's men sink Spurs

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    Mohamed Salah struck the winner as Premier League leaders Liverpool came from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory over Tottenham.Harry Kane scored after 47 seconds at Anfield and Jurgen Klopp's men, for all their dominance of the ball, struggled to cope with Tottenham's fast breaks and the irrepressible Son Heung-min.

    Son was instrumental in creating the opener for the in-form Kane, who has scored five goals in his last five games for club and country, and Liverpool found Paulo Gazzaniga at his best in the Spurs goal as they pressed hard for an equaliser.

    That goal arrived courtesy of a Danny Rose error that let in Jordan Henderson to score, and Salah fired the winner from the penalty spot after Serge Aurier felled Sadio Mane in the box.

    The result restored Liverpool's six-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, while mid-table Tottenham are without a league win in their last three attempts.

    Moussa Sissoko launched Tottenham into an immediate attack, feeding Son Heung-min who turned inside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson before crashing a deflected shot onto the post, and Kane was on hand to steer the rebound home with a diving header.

    Christian Eriksen went agonisingly close to doubling Tottenham's lead, rolling a shot just wide after Dele Alli's cut-back as the visitors' counter-attacks wrought havoc.

    But Liverpool began to dominate and were unfortunate not to equalise as Salah stung Gazzaniga's palms with a pair of powerful drives from the edge of the box and Virgil van Dijk's bullet header was tipped over the bar by the Argentina international.

    Gazzaniga saved well from Roberto Firmino before releasing Son who smacked a shot onto the crossbar with Alisson beaten, but Liverpool drew level moments later.

    Andy Robertson's high ball into the box was poorly dealt with by Danny Rose whose header played in Henderson, and the England midfielder sent a shot bouncing into the far left corner of the net.

    Tottenham defended bravely as Liverpool chased a winner, but Mane was caught by Aurier with 15 minutes left and the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.

    Salah rattled a clinical spot-kick past Gazzaniga and the Reds shut the door thereafter, leaving Spurs with one point from their last three league games.
     

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    Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace: Captain Xhaka clashes with fans as Gunners throw away lead

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    Granit Xhaka reacted furiously to home supporters booing him as Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

    The Gunners captain cupped his ears to the fans who appeared to ironically cheer him as he left the pitch on the hour mark, before removing his shirt and walking straight down the tunnel.

    That is one more headache for manager Unai Emery to contend with after his side threw away a golden opportunity to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League after the defeat to Sheffield United on Monday.

    Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz put them 2-0 up after just nine minutes, but Palace ensured a share of the spoils with a Luka Milivojevic penalty and Jordan Ayew header either side of half-time. Sokratis had a late effort ruled out after a VAR review, as Arsenal's afternoon ended in misery.
    Arsenal started in blistering fashion and raced into a two-goal lead inside nine minutes.

    Sokratis hit the first in the seventh minute, volleying home from close range after Palace made a mess of a corner, before David Luiz doubled their advantage 106 seconds later. The Brazilian stormed in unmarked at the back post to prod home Alexandre Lacazette's flick-on from a corner.

    Palace stemmed the Arsenal tide and reduced the deficit in the 32nd minute. A VAR review overturned Martin Atkinson's original decision to book Wilfried Zaha for a dive in the penalty area under a challenge from Calum Chambers, with Milivojevic slotting home the resulting spot-kick.Palace restored parity seven minutes into the second period when Ayew lost David Luiz in the area to nod home James McArthur's cross from the left.

    Xhaka's spat with supporters followed soon after, while Sokratis thought he had sealed all three points six minutes from time. His effort from 10 yards was ruled out following a review, however, after Chambers had been deemed to have made a foul in the build-up.

    Zaha flashed wide in the closing stages as Palace threatened to make life even more difficult for Emery, who now faces the unenviable task of building bridges between his captain and supporters.
     

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    Burnley 2-4 Chelsea: Pulisic hat-trick heroics earn seventh straight win

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    Christian Pulisic plundered a hat-trick as Chelsea made it seven consecutive wins across all competitions with a 4-2 Premier League win over Burnley on Saturday.

    Pulisic – a close-season arrival from Borussia Dortmund – had not started a league game for the Blues since August but repaid manager Frank Lampard's faith in selecting him over Callum Hudson-Odoi with a stunning display.He opened his account for the club with a fine solo effort in the 20th minute before adding a second goal with a deflected strike on the stroke of half-time.

    The 21-year-old completed his treble 11 minutes after the restart, with Willian adding a fourth soon after against the sorry Clarets, who scored late consolations through Jay Rodriguez and Dwight McNeil.

    Both sides attacked with intent in the opening stages, but it was Chelsea who struck first.Pulisic powered towards the Burnley penalty area after Matthew Lowton slipped just inside his own half. The American waltzed past James Tarkowski and slid a fine left-footed effort past Nick Pope.

    The Burnley goalkeeper denied Pulisic a swift second, while at the other end Kepa Arrizabalaga kept out a deflected Erik Pieters effort and Ashley Barnes inexplicably headed wide at the back post.

    There was little Pope could do to deny Pulisic on the stroke of half-time, the winger's low strike from 15 yards taking a wicked deflection off Ben Mee on its way into the net.

    Pulisic completed his treble in the 56th minute when he converted Mason Mount's cross with the top of his back after missing with his head.That was followed just two minutes later by Willian's second league goal of the season, the Brazilian collecting Tammy Abraham's pass, surging into the area and drilling a low strike past a helpless Pope.

    Chelsea thought they would have the opportunity to make it 5-0 but Michael Oliver's decision to award a penalty for a trip on Hudson-Odoi was overturned after a VAR review. The substitute was instead booked for a dive.

    The hosts ended the game on the front foot, with Rodriguez hammering home from 25 yards and McNeil seeing a deflected effort fizz past Kepa inside the final five minutes, but it was too little, too late for Sean Dyche's side.
     

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    Inter 2-2 Parma: Karamoh stars on San Siro return to deny Conte's men top spot

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    Parma forward Yann Karamoh scored one and set up another on his San Siro return to help his side earn a 2-2 draw and deny Inter top spot in Serie A.uventus dropped points for just the second time this season in their 1-1 draw with Lecce earlier on Saturday but Inter, despite taking the lead, could not take full advantage.

    Karamoh, whose loan to Parma from the Nerazzurri is set to become permanent at the end of the season, cancelled out Antonio Candreva's fortuitous opener and set up Gervinho to put Parma ahead in the 30th minute.

    Romelu Lukaku equalised early in the second half despite being in an offside position in the build-up - his sixth Serie A goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check - but Inter could not find a winner and remain a point adrift of leaders Juve.

    No Serie A side had scored more first-half goals this season than Inter prior to kick-off and they were ahead inside 23 minutes - Candreva's half-volley from the edge of the box deflecting off Kastriot Dermaku to leave Luigi Sepe wrong-footed.

    The visitors responded in style as Karamoh pounced on a loose pass from Marcelo Brozovic, carried the ball forward and picked out the top-left corner with a stunning strike.

    Gervinho put Parma in front four minutes later following another sloppy ball from Brozovic, which Karamoh again profited from by surging forward and picking out his team-mate for a low finish from 10 yards.

    Inter were back on level terms six minutes into the second half through Lukaku's close-range finish, the goal allowed to stand despite the Belgian standing in an illegal position when Brozovic played in Candreva to tee him up.

    Gervinho was denied by Samir Handanovic and Karamoh also had an effort kept out as Parma refused to give up, but the match finished all square
     

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    Bayern Munich 2-1 Union Berlin: Lewandowski into the record books as Bundesliga champions move top




    The prolific Robert Lewandowski moved into the Bundesliga record books as he helped Bayern Munich to a 2-1 victory over Union Berlin.Having matched Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's record of scoring in the opening eight Bundesliga matches of a season when he found the target against Augsburg, Lewandowski became the first player to net in the first nine games of a campaign when he grabbed Bayern's second seven minutes into the second half.

    It was a typically composed finish from Lewandowski, who up until that point had been well shackled by Union either side of Benjamin Pavard's superb strike giving Bayern the lead.

    Sebastian Andersson missed a penalty for Union on 58 minutes and, although Sebastian Polter converted a second spot-kick for the visitors late on, Bayern held firm to secure a first win in three league matches and move top of the table.

    Pavard lit up what had been an uneventful opening in the 13th minute, slamming home on the half-volley from Rafal Gikiewicz's poor punch.
    Hunting his record-setting goal, Lewandowski went close moments later, just failing to connect with Kingsley Coman's acrobatic cut-back.Coman was the provider for Bayern's next opportunity, playing a neat one-two with Thomas Muller, who drilled his effort straight at Gikiewicz. Union's goalkeeper then kept out Philippe Coutinho's deflected shot before half-time.

    Bayern soon had their second, though. After a fine run from full debutant Alphonso Davies, Lewandowski pounced on a loose ball, setting himself before slotting home into the bottom-right corner.

    Union were handed a lifeline when referee Marco Fritz utilised VAR to award a penalty for Ivan Perisic's handball, but Manuel Neuer comfortably kept out Andersson's effort.

    After Lewandowski saw a second goal ruled out for offside, Pavard gifted Union a reprieve with a reckless foul on Polter, who made no mistake with a spot-kick that ultimately came too late.
     

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    :love::love::love:Norwich City 1-3 Manchester United: Red Devils miss two penalties in comfortable win

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    Manchester United missed two penalties but still eased to a 3-1 win at Norwich City to end their miserable away run in the Premier League and move up to seventh.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men had not won any of their eight away league outings since February but were comfortable winners at Carrow Road on Sunday.

    Scott McTominay scored United's 2,000th Premier League goal with 21 minutes played before Tim Krul produced the first of two penalty saves to thwart Marcus Rashford, who redeemed himself with a good finish 30 minutes in.

    Anthony Martial was next to be denied from the spot by Krul but the France forward went on to seal the points for United, with Norwich substitute Onel Hernandez's late strike solely a consolation.

    Krul produced a superb save to keep out Martial's header from point-blank range, but United were ahead less than a minute later through McTominay's drilled finish into the bottom-right corner.The visitors were awarded a contentious penalty with 25 minutes played, with VAR adjudging that Ben Godfrey barged Daniel James inside the box.

    Norwich will have felt justice was done when Krul got down to his right to keep out Rashford's weak spot-kick, only for the England international to control James' searching pass and slot home for his 50th club goal in all competitions.United could have extended their lead before the interval but Krul kept out Martial's penalty, again awarded by VAR after Fred's shot hit Todd Cantwell on the arm.

    Martial was not to be denied in the 73rd minute after exchanging passes with Rashford and dinking over the onrushing Krul.

    Norwich pulled one back with two minutes remaining when Hernandez took the ball from McTominay, raced through and fired past David de Gea, with Mason Greenwood unable to restore the three-goal cushion in stoppage time.
     

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    Man Utd first team to score 2000 Premier League goals after McTominay nets at Norwich


    Scott McTominay’s opening goal for Manchester United against Norwich City has seen the Red Devils set a Premier League record as they reached 2000 goals in the division.

    The Scotland international midfielder scored midway through the first half to give his team the lead halfway through the first period in United’s Sunday evening visit to Carrow Road.The goal was the club’s 2000th in the Premier League, and they are the first club to pass that figure.

    It was the 22-year-old academy product's fourth goal for the club and his scoring record, albeit early in his career, pales in comparison with some of the names on the list of the Old Trafford sides landmark goalscorers.

    They opened their account in the competition through Mark Hughes in August 1992. The Wales international made 345 appearances for United over two spells, scoring 120 goals, though that particular strike came in a 2-1 loss to Sheffield United.

    Andy Cole scored their 500th in the Premier League, during the most famous season of their storied history. Cole’s February 1999 goal, one of 93 he bagged in Manchester, was part of a season that saw them win the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, the first and so far only team to do so.They reached 1,000 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2005. The then 20-year-old was still finding his way at that stage of his career but has since gone on to be seen as one of the greatest players of all time.

    Dimitar Berbatov scored the 1,500th goal in United’s Premier League history six years after Ronaldo’s landmark strike, part of a sensational spell in North West England for the Bulgarian.The striker, signed from Tottenham, banged in 48 goals in just 108 games for Sir Alex Ferguson.It is unlikely that defensive midfielder McTominay will emulate the goalscoring exploits of the other names in that list, but a player who may is Marcus Rashford.

    The England international scored soon after McTominay. It marked his 50th goal in a United shirt and just the first time since the first day of the Premier League season they have scored multiple goals in a game in any competition.

    One place from which United are definitely struggling to convert, though, is the penalty spot. Both Rashford and Anthony Martial erred spot-kicks before half-time to leave the Reds 2-0 ahead going into the break.

    United have now missed four times from the spot this season, with Rashford, Martial and Pogba all guilty of spurning chances - the first time three different players have failed in a single term since 2012-13.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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  • Jan 1, 2009
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    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Juventus 2-1 Genoa: Ronaldo penalty gives 10-man champions late winner

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    Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 96th-minute penalty as champions Juventus scraped to a 2-1 Serie A win over strugglers Genoa on Wednesday, in a game that both sides ended with 10 men.

    Genoa looked set to earn a hard-fought point in Thiago Motta's second game in charge after Christian Kouame's freak goal had cancelled out Leonardo Bonucci's 36th-minute header.

    Both sides had a men sent off in the second half, Genoa's Francesco Cassata and Juve's Adrien Rabiot given their marching orders, before Ronaldo took centre stage.

    The Portuguese first had a 92nd-minute tap in ruled out by VAR for offside. But that was far from the end of the drama, and there was still time for Ronaldo to fire a sluggish Juve to victory, as the striker himself won the decisive penalty following a coming-together with substitute Antonio Sanabria - VAR this time going in his favour after the spot-kick was checked by the officials.

    Juve coach Maurizio Sarri had said in the build-up that his side were suffering a "mental issue" in front of goal and they barely threatened in a tame first 30 minutes against a team with the worst defensive record in the league.

    A stunning save from Ionut Radu eventually denied Paulo Dybala the opener and that chance finally woke Juventus up from their slumber, as Bonucci soon broke the deadlock.

    The defender was aided by Radu's decision to come off his line in an attempt to collect Rodrigo Bentancur's corner, the goalkeeper beaten to the ball by Bonucci, who simply nodded into an empty net.Parity was restored within five minutes, though, thanks to Kouame's slice of accidental glory.

    Aiming at goal with his right foot, the Ivorian managed to kick the ball into his trailing leg, the deflection subsequently wrong-footing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in his 513rd league appearance for the Italian giants, which saw him equal Alessandro del Piero's club record.

    Juve ramped up the pressure after Cassata's 52nd-minute dismissal - for a second yellow card - and Federico Bernardeschi then forced an excellent save from Radu with an effort from distance, before Ronaldo tested the shot-stopper from a corner.

    Home substitute Douglas Costa fizzed a long-range effort agonisingly wide before Rabiot was given his marching orders - a foul on Sinan Gumus earning him a second yellow - but the hosts still found a way in the dying stages to claim the points, thanks to a spell of VAR-heavy drama.

    Initially, Ronaldo scored and celebrated before his goal was disallowed for offside, but then a debatable penalty followed and the Portuguese star stepped up to thump it home and send Juventus back to the top of the Serie A table.