BOURNEMOUTH, UK: Phil Foden fired Manchester City to a 1-0 win against Bournemouth as the Premier League title chasers moved within one point of leaders Liverpool on Saturday.
With Liverpool in League Cup final action against Chelsea on Sunday, City took advantage to close the gap in their game in hand on Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Foden netted in the first half at Dean Court and City survived a rocky second half to win for the 13th time in their last 14 games in all competitions.
Chasing an unprecedented fourth succesive Premier League title, Pep Guardiola’s men weren’t at their best on the south coast but displayed the resolve required to grind out a vital victory.
While Liverpool remain in pole position, City are hot on their heels after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games since losing at Aston Villa in December.
City head to Luton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday before hosting Manchester United in a crucial league game next weekend.
Guardiola left Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, but City were quickly into their stride.
Foden flicked a pin-point pass to Erling Haaland, who swept toward goal only to misfire with a drive that whistled wide.
Bournemouth almost made Haaland pay for that miss when Milos Kerkez’s well-struck effort forced a fine save from Ederson.
But City were quickly back on the offensive as the live-wire Foden brought Bournemouth keeper Neto into action for the first time with a long-range blast.
It was a warning Bournemouth failed to heed as Foden put the visitors ahead in the 24th minute.
Haaland muscled his way into the penalty area and drilled a shot that Neto could only push out to Foden, who had the simple task of tapping into the empty net.
Foden’s 16th goal in all competitions this season was almost followed by a Bernardo Silva moment of magic when the City midfielder curled narrowly wide.
Bournemouth are without a league win in seven games since Boxing Day, but they recovered to give City a genuine scare.
Ederson saved well from Ryan Christie’s strike just before half-time and the Brazilian was called into action again immediately after the interval.
Justin Kluivert was given too much time and space outside the City area and the Bournemouth forward’s low drive was repelled by Ederson at full stretch.
After another narrow win against Brentford in midweek, Guardiola was again shifting uneasily on the touchline as Bournemouth grew in confidence.
Marcus Tavernier wasted a chance to equalize with a poor finish from Antoine Semenyo’s cross.
Tavernier was guilty of an even worse miss moments later, scuffing wide from 10 yards with the goal at his mercy.
Usually so unruffled, City were reeling for once, but Ederson preserved their lead with a superb save from Dominic Solanke’s header.
In his last action before being replaced by Julian Alvarez, Haaland’s powerful surge ended with a good save by Neto.
City were nervous right up to the final whistle, but Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara squandered a good chance before Enes Unal’s header crept inches wide.
Foden strikes as title chasing Man City beat Bournemouth
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Foden strikes as title chasing Man City beat Bournemouth
- With Liverpool in League Cup final action against Chelsea on Sunday, City took advantage to close the gap in their game in hand on Jurgen Klopp’s side
- Foden netted in the first half at Dean Court and City survived a rocky second half to win for the 13th time in their last 14 games in all competitions
Bellingham strikes as Dortmund sink Sundowns in Club World Cup thriller
- Sundowns of South Africa took a surprise early lead but Dortmund hit back strongly
- “It’s a really nice bonus (to score), I’m glad we won,” Bellingham told DAZN
CINCINNATI, USA: Jobe Bellingham netted his first Borussia Dortmund goal in a gripping 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup on Saturday.
The English midfielder, who this month followed older brother Jude’s footsteps in joining the German side, started for the first time for Dortmund.
Sundowns of South Africa took a surprise early lead but Dortmund hit back strongly to triumph in sweltering conditions in Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium and move top of Group F.
“It’s a really nice bonus (to score), I’m glad we won but there’s a lot of things for me to improve on personally and for the team,” Bellingham told DAZN.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac had claimed teams from the “south” had an advantage because of the heat, and the Sundowns 11th minute opener appeared to confirm his fears.
Lucas Ribeiro’s fine solo goal put the CAF Champions League runners-up ahead, with the Brazilian charging forward from his own half before beating Gregor Kobel.
However Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams handed Dortmund their equalizer on a plate, passing the ball straight to Felix Nmecha, who stroked home.
Both stoppers made good saves in an end-to-end clash before Dortmund claimed the lead through striker Serhou Guirassy.
Dortmund won the ball high up the pitch and Julian Brandt crossed for the Guinea international to score with a fine leap and header, continuing his fine form this season.
Bellingham, who joined earlier in June from Sunderland for 33 million euros ($37 million), netted Dortmund’s third just before the break.
Williams parried a cross into his path and after controlling on his chest, Bellingham drilled home.
“I’ve practiced that so many times, arriving late on the edge of the box as a midfielder is something you have to be really good at,” said Bellingham.
“As a kid and at Sunderland I’ve practiced that so many times, during training, after training, so I’m really proud of it.”
His brother Jude signed for Dortmund five years ago, before joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2023.
“Hey Jobe,” sang Dortmund fans, adapting the Beatles classic “Hey Jude” which they used to sing to Jude Bellingham.
“I didn’t hear that but it’s really nice,” said the Dortmund midfielder.
Dortmund were toothless in their opening draw against Fluminense but grabbed their fourth when Kuliso Mudau turned into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross.
Three minutes later Iqraam Rayners pulled one back as the Sundowns, who have won the last eight South African league titles, refused to give up.
Rayners, who netted Sundowns’ winner in the first match against Ulsan HD, hit the post with a header and reacted quickly to nod home the rebound.
Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso’s side pulled back another through Lebo Mothiba in the 90th minute, forcing Dortmund to sweat through six minutes of stoppage time before they were able to celebrate their victory.
“The result is not what we wanted but we made a wonderful game,” Cardoso told DAZN.
“It’s important people understand what was at stake in this match. (Considering) the level of team that we played against, we worked fantastically.
“The boys made a wonderful performance... it was a hell of a match. I’m not happy but very proud.”
Later Saturday in the other Group F clash Fluminense take on Ulsan at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno signs new three-year contract
- The 51-year-old led Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season
- A late slump in form saw them settle for a place in the Europa Conference League
LONDON: Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was rewarded for guiding his side into Europe by signing a new three-year contract on Saturday.
The 51-year-old led Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing European qualification for the first time since the 1995/96 season.
After battling relegation for much of their first two campaigns back in the Premier League after a 23-year absence, Forest were on course to qualify for the Champions League last season.
A late slump in form saw them settle for a place in the Europa Conference League instead and included a flashpoint when owner Evangelos Marinakis confronted Nuno on the pitch after a 2-2 draw against relegated Leicester.
Former Manchester United captain and leading pundit Gary Neville said the Portuguese coach should have resigned in protest at that incident.
However, the former Wolves and Tottenham boss has committed his future to the City Ground and thanked Marinakis for his support since he was appointed in December 2023.
“I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club,” Nuno said in a club statement.
“Since we arrived at Forest, we have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans and everyone at the club, which helped us achieve great things last season.
“I would like to thank our owner, Mr.Marinakis, for his constant support and backing. It is important to me to share a strong relationship with our ownership and we have thoroughly enjoyed working together ever since I arrived at Forest.”
Marinakis paid tribute to the impact made by Nuno and reiterated his desire for the two-time European champions to be contenders for major trophies once more.
“We enjoy a strong and solid relationship together,” said the Greek shipping magnate.
“Above all, we share the same dream and ambition of writing a new history for Nottingham Forest, competing in the Premier League and in Europe and winning trophies for our great club.”
Ill Mbappe out of second Real Madrid Club World Cup clash
- The French superstar was taken to hospital on Thursday for tests and treatment
- Mbappe is improving “bit by bit” said the club source
FLORIDA: Ill Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe will not travel to Charlotte for the team’s Club World Cup match against Pachuca, a club source told AFP Saturday.
The French superstar was taken to hospital on Thursday for tests and treatment after suffering gastroenteritis, before later being released.
Mbappe is improving “bit by bit” said the club source, but he will not fly with his team-mates for Sunday’s match against Mexican side Pachuca.
The 26-year-old missed the opening game with the same illness as Madrid were held 1-1 by Al-Hilal in Xabi Alonso’s debut as coach.
Madrid B-team player Gonzalo Garcia, 21, started in Mbappe’s stead and opened the scoring for Real Madrid against their Saudi Arabian opponents.
Mbappe finished as the European Golden Shoe winner in his first season at Real Madrid with 31 goals in La Liga and 43 across all competitions, but Los Blancos finished the season without a major trophy.
ES Tunis claim 1-0 win, eliminating LAFC from Club World Cup
- The victory takes ES Tunis (1-1-0, 3 points) level with Chelsea in Group D
- The winner of ES Tunis’ meeting with Chelsea on Tuesday in Philadelphia will move on to the knockout phase
LOS ANGELES: Youcef Belaïli scored in the 70th minute, goalkeeper Ben Said saved a penalty deep in second-half stoppage time and Esperance Sportive de Tunis defeated Los Angeles FC 1-0 to keep their FIFA Club World Cup hopes alive in a dramatic contest Friday in Nashville, Tennessee
The victory takes ES Tunis (1-1-0, 3 points) level with Chelsea in Group D, after the English side lost 3-1 to Brazil’s Flamengo earlier on Friday.
Referee Espen Eskas awarded a very late spot kick following a video review, ruling Khalil Guenichi had felled Marlon in the area.
But Denis Bouanga drove his ensuing penalty kick into the dive of Ben Said, the final salvo in a result that eliminated LAFC (0-2-0, 0 points) from tournament contention.
The winner of ES Tunis’ meeting with Chelsea on Tuesday in Philadelphia will move on to the knockout phase, with Chelsea advancing on a draw based on superior goal differential.
The Tunisians also had an earlier penalty decision go against them 20 minutes before Belailis opener, when the Algerian attacker believed he had earned a spot kick after driving past Bouanga on the dribble.
But Eskas was summoned to the monitor, and after consulting replays, ruled Bouanga wasn’t guilty of a foul, and booked Belaili for simulation.
That failed to halt the match momentum for Tunis, however, who were superior for most of the encounter and didn’t allow LAFC to record a shot on target until second-half stoppage time.
They were eventually rewarded when Amine Ben Hamida made a marauding run from the left flank near the midfield stripe into the penalty area.
He was halted by an LAFC defender’s challenge. But Belaili was first to the loose ball, and he drove his finish low and hard through LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
It appeared LAFC’s fading tournament hopes would be given a lifeline after Eskas’ second pivotal penalty decision, with the Gabon international Bouanga stepping forward.
But Said dove to his left, and with Bouanga’s placement very poor, the Tunisian ‘keeper kicked the ball wide of danger with his trailing leg.
Kenyan referee suspended over protest violence allegation
- Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) county sub-branch chairman Bernard Omondi confirmed they had “launched an investigation” against a referee
- “He will not be allowed to referee,” Omondi said
NAIROBI: Kenya’s football association confirmed Saturday it had suspended one of its referees over social media clips appearing to show the official harassing protesters in the capital.
Tensions have risen in the east African country ahead of the anniversary of last year’s massive Gen Z-led demonstrations, with small rallies breaking out in Nairobi this week.
Demonstrators were attacked by armed thugs known as “goons” during anti-police brutality protests in the city on Tuesday. The scenes, widely recorded and shared on social media, have provoked fury in Kenya.
Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) county sub-branch chairman Bernard Omondi confirmed to AFP they had “launched an investigation” against one of their Nairobi-based referees.
The individual, who AFP is not naming but who adjudicates lower league matches, was investigated “after video footage, which was widely circulated on social media, identified his participation in the aggression against the protesting youth and the police on Tuesday,” Omondi said.
“He will not be allowed to referee any matches,” Omondi said, adding that he would appear before the body’s disciplinary committee.
“Further action will be taken against him after a hearing,” he added.
Kenyan football has long been mired in corruption and match-fixing scandals, with players and officials suspended over the years.
In 2021, the government disbanded the national football federation over corruption allegations and sought to prosecute its officials.
