Leganes beat Valencia to stay alive in La Liga, Eibar pull clear of drop zone

Published

3 years ago

July 13, 2020

Leganes lived to fight another day in La Liga, riding their luck in a 1-0 win at home to Valencia on Sunday.

This was after they played most of the second half with 10 men and saw their opponents squander a penalty kick.

Midfielder Ruben Perez put the Madrid minnows in front in the 18th minute from the penalty kick spot, scoring his first goal since 2013.

But his side suffered a setback when Jonathan Silva was shown a straight red card in the 54^th minute.

Valencia earned a penalty kick soon after, following a handball by Leganes’ Rodrigo Tarin.

But team captain Dani Parejo’s penalty kick was beaten away by goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar and Leganes somehow clung on to record a first home victory since February.

Defeat would have condemned Leganes to relegation, while the win saw them instead move up to 18th place in the standings on 32 points with two games remaining.

They are three points behind 17th-placed Alaves who have a game in hand.

Valencia are ninth on 50 points.

Elsewhere, Eibar practically sealed their top flight status by beating relegated Espanyol 2-0 away from home.

Edu Exposito scored both goals to earn Eibar their first win in four matches, giving them the lead by converting a penalty kick in the 25th minute.

The visitors won a second penalty kick soon after and Exposito’s effort was saved by Espanyol goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

But the midfielder pounced on the rebound to double his side’s advantage in the 36^th minute.

The victory took Eibar up to 15th in the standings on 39 points.

They will be guaranteed survival if Real Mallorca, also in the relegation zone on 32 points, lose at fourth-placed Sevilla later on Sunday.

Espanyol, relegated on Wednesday, stayed rooted to the bottom of the table on 24 points after losing a seventh successive game.

Also on Sunday, Athletic Bilbao won 2-1 away to Levante thanks to two goals from Raul Garcia to move into seventh place, the final Europa League berth, on 51 points.

He reminds me of Lampard – Evra hails Man Utd midfielder

Published

6 hours ago

December 7, 2023

NewsDirect

Former Manchester United vice-captain, Patrice Evra has hailed midfielder Scott McTominay for his impressive display against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Evra said that McTominay reminds him of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, adding that the Scotland international always performs in big matches.

McTominay scored a brace as Man United defeated Chelsea 2-1 in Wednesday’s Premier League tie at Old Trafford.

His brace against Mauricio Pochettino’s side was his sixth goal this season in all competitions for the Red Devils so far.

He is Man United’s top scorer for the season so far and Evra is impressed with him.

“McTominay is always there when it is an important game scoring goals,” Evra told Amazon Prime.

“He reminds me a bit of Frank Lampard. He is doing this for United and the Scottish national team so very well done.

“He could have scored four. After the game he was a little bit disappointed. He had so many chances, he is always in the right place and always running into the box, this is why he reminds me of of Lampard tonight.”

Sports

CAF Awards 2023: Nnadozie, Abiodun, Super Falcons among final top three nominees

Published

6 hours ago

December 7, 2023

NewsDirect

Chiamaka Nnadozie has made the final shortlist for the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

Nnadozie was outstanding for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The shot stopper also played a crucial role in her club, FC Paris’ maiden appearance in the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi are the other goalies nominated for the award.

In the Women’s Young Player of the Year category, Deborah Abiodun will slug it out with Comfort Yeboah (Ghana) and Nesryne El Chad (Morocco).

Nigeria was among the final three nominees in the Women’s National Team of the Year category.

Sports

CAF Awards 2023: Oshoala makes final shortlist for Women’s Player of the Year

Published

7 hours ago

December 7, 2023

NewsDirect

Asisat Oshoala remains on course to win a record-extending sixth CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, newsmen reports.

Oshoala was among the three players who made the final shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Year award, as announced by the Confederation of African Football on Thursday.

The Barcelona Femeni star became the first woman to claim the award for a record fifth time in 2022.

The 27-year-old played a key role in Barcelona Femeni’s UEFA Women’s Champions League success last season.

South Africa’s Thembi Klagtlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda are the other players in contention for the award.

Klagtlana, who plays for the American side Racing Louisville Football Club, won the award in 2018.

The winner will be revealed at the CAF Awards Gala on Monday, December 11, 2023, at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.