LONDON (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur suffered their second defeat in English knockout football in a matter of days as they lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday (Jan 27).Â
Connor Wickham gave the unfancied Eagles, 29 points adrift of Spurs in the Premier League, a ninth-minute lead before a penalty by former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend made it 2-0.Â
Spurs’ Kieran Trippier missed with a penalty before half-time as Tottenham suffered more spot-kick woe following Thursday’s shoot-out defeat by Chelsea, another of their London rivals, in a League Cup semi-final.Â
FA Cup-holders Chelsea had no such problems later on Sunday as they marked Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain’s club debut with a 3-0 win at home to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Willian scored twice either side of a goal from highly-rated English teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi, linked with a transfer window move to German giants Bayern Munich.Â
There was no goal for Higuain, signed on loan until the end of the season from Juventus on Wednesday. But Gianfranco Zola, Chelsea’s assistant manager and himself a former Blues striker, told the BBC: “We are pleased with Gonzalo Higuain’s performance, he was trying to find the space and get on the ball.Â
“It wasn’t easy as they had a lot of players round him.â€
Earlier, Tottenham’s reverse left Mauricio Pochettino still searching for his first trophy as their manager since the Argentinian joined from Southampton in 2014, with Spurs’ last piece of silverware the 2008 League Cup.Â
Spurs were without injured England stars Harry Kane and Dele Alli, while the in-form Son Heung-Min had still to return from international duty with South Korea at the Asia Cup.Â
Pochettino, however, decided to omit Christian Eriksen, with the influential playmaker not even among Spurs’ substitutes at Selhurst Park. For all they are third in the Premier League, Spurs are nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool.Â
‘So painful’
The Champions League is now Tottenham’s only realistic hope of a trophy this season, with Pochettino’s men playing Borussia Dortmund in the last 16. “It was so painful to lose the game like this,†Pochettino told BT Sport.Â
“We have to look forward to the Premier League and Champions League. We cannot complain and just try in the two competitions to give our best.â€
It took Palace a mere nine minutes to open the scoring, Wickham following up after a Jeff Schlupp shot was blocked by Spurs goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Palace doubled their lead when Townsend slammed a home a penalty after Spurs’ Kyle Walker-Peters handled a cross into the box.Â
But at the other end, after Patrick van Aanholt brought down Juan Foyth, Trippier blasted a penalty well wide of the post. Â
Chelsea did not have things all their own way against second-tier Wednesday, who thought they had been awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute. Joey Pelupessy tried to meet Steven Fletcher’s pass, with Ethan Ampadu sliding in to win the ball before being kicked by the Wednesday midfielder.Â
Referee Andre Marriner awarded a penalty but this was overturned by VAR, being trialled in some English cup fixtures this season.Â
“It’s crazy,†said Owls’ caretaker boss Steve Agnew, holding the fort ahead of Steve Bruce’s imminent arrival. “Obviously the VAR decisions are correct but what baffled me was surely it’s a corner if it came off their player. The referee gave a drop ball. And a minute later they have a penalty.â€
Wednesday’s woe was compounded soon afterwards when Willian scored from the spot after Sam Hutchinson trod on Cesar Azpilicueta inside the box. VAR was called into action again but this time Marriner’s decision was upheld and Willian, after appearing to offer the spot-kick to Higuain, made no mistake. Â
Chelsea had to wait until midway through the second half for Hudson-Odoi to make it 2-0 before Willian, playing a neat one-two with Olivier Giroud, completed the scoring seven minutes from time.
In his very first season as a professional footballer, the 23-year-old Sports Science graduate from Juntendo University played so well that he was awarded the Player of the Year of the inaugural Singapore Premier League (SPL). The Albirex Niigata midfielder spoke of his ambition to eventually play in the United States, Australia or Canada.
Juventus achieved their objective, despite everything going wrong - Allegri Juventus finished top of their Champions League group despite slipping to a shock defeat to Young Boys.
Juventus achieved objective, despite everything going wrong
betandwins.com/2018/12/12/juventus-achieved-objective-despite-everything-going-wrong-allegri/
"We achieved our objective by winning the group, even on a night where everything seemed to go wrong," Allegri told Rai Sport. "We missed so many opportunities and gifted a penalty, so at the end of the day it was only right that we lost. "[Dybala's disallowed goal] was offside.
Champions League: Juventus achieved their objective, despite
BERLIN (Reuters) - German champions Bayern Munich have not yet made an offer for Manchester City winger Leroy Sane despite their long-standing desire to sign him, club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Why Bayern Munich have not yet bid for Man City winger Leroy Sane
The three key positions Arsenal must spend their £40m budget on this summer and who to sign. The Gunners have a limited budget after missing out on Champions League football again so who could they target to make the most of their millions?
Unai Emery: Some Arsenal players must leave after Europa
Qatar won the Asian Cup held in the UAE earlier this year. (AFP pic) HONG KONG: China was all but confirmed as host nation of the next Asian Cup tournament in 2023 after the only other bidders
China all but confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts after Korea
Chelsea cemented their grip on fourth place in the Premier League as Willian's sublime strike sealed a 2-1 win over struggling Newcastle on Saturday. Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea
Sunderland assistant manager Charlie Oatway refuses to blame the club's misfiring strikers for leaving them bottom of the table at Christmas. Steven Fletcher, Jozy Altidore and even derby hero
Toothless' Saddle and Tail Fin | How to Train Your Dragon
Premier League: Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal Hugo Lloris saved a last-minute penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Tottenham avoided a third straight
Kane and Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal
He is part of a breed of striker who are seriously underrated in the modern game, Giroud, Mandzukic, Dzeko are all underrated. Only Lewandowski is that type of striker who gets the recognition he deserves, but Giroud is a class act with a great goal/game ratio, he takes a lot stick that is undeserved.
A(z) Giroud nevű tábla 495 legjobb képe 2019-ben | Arsenal
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run. New boss in the stands after agreeing terms earlier in day
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run
Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph An early Mohamed Salah penalty and a late strike by Divock Origi gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's all-English Champions League final as their coach Juergen Klopp finally got his hands on Europe's biggest prize.
Soccer: Salah, Origi goals hand Liverpool Champions League
Victory over Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham could change it all for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, writes Adam Bate. If the five goals scored at Cardiff in that first game in charge were a nod to the days
Three jobs in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's in-tray - United Faithful
0 comments:
Post a Comment