Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Germany began their Women’s World Cup campaign in style as captain Alexandra Popp scored twice to see off debutants Morocco in Melbourne. It was a comfortable victory for world number two side Germany, who are heavy favourites to top Group H. Striker Popp, who was ruled out of the Euro 2022 final through injury, made her mark with two clinical headers in the first half. Klara Buhl pounced on a rebound shortly after half-time to extend Germany’s lead, before Morocco’s Hanane Ait el Haj and Yasmin Mrabet poked into their own net on separate occasions. Germany continued to cause problems…

Striker Cristiana Girelli came off the bench to head an 87th-minute winner in Italy’s Women’s World Cup opener against Argentina. Girelli replaced midfielder Giulia Dragoni, who at the age of 16 years and 259 days became one of the youngest players in the tournament’s history. The record belongs to Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days when she played for Nigeria in 1999. Azzurre manager Milena Bertolini put her faith in youngster Dragoni who only made her debut for the senior side on 1 July, but ultimately it was experienced Juventus player Girelli who made the difference. It…

Turkish champions Galatasaray are in talks to sign former Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha. The Ivory Coast forward, 30, is a free agent after the expiry of his contract with Palace at the end of last month. Palace had reportedly offered Zaha £200,000 a week to stay at the club where he spent most of his career. But a tweet by Galatasaray, who will be in the Champions League this season, confirmed “formal negotiations have been initiated” with the player. Zaha later confirmed in an Instagram post that he would not be returning to Palace. “As I start a new chapter I…

Newcastle have added to their attacking options by signing Harvey Barnes from relegated Leicester on a five-year deal. Barnes, 25, heads to Tyneside to replace Allan Saint-Maximin, who is set for a move to the Saudi Pro League. On his switch to Eddie Howe’s side, the Burnley-born winger told Newcastle’s website: “I’m delighted. “It’s an amazing club and for me it’s a massive opportunity to come and be involved in a successful team that’s doing exciting things, so I’m absolutely buzzing to be here. “I think it’s an attacker’s dream to come into a team like this; it’s high paced,…

Manager Carlo Ancelotti said Real Madrid are “lucky” to have the “fantastic” Jude Bellingham after the England midfielder impressed on debut in a 3-2 pre-season win against AC Milan in Los Angeles. It was another Englishman, Fikayo Tomori, who got his name on the scoresheet, heading the opener for AC Milan, but two second-half goals from Federico Valverde and a superb winner from Vinicius Jr, who ran on to a sublime Luka Modric pass, sent the majority of fans in a 70,000 crowd at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena home happy. Bellingham’s 62-minute debut had flashes of his natural technique…

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says new striker Nicolas Jackson will need “time to adapt” to the Premier League after an impressive performance in their pre-season win over Brighton. The 22-year-old scored once and registered two assists as the Blues came from behind to beat Brighton 4-3. The Senegal international joined Chelsea from Villarreal in June. “This type of game is important to him to feel what it means to play in the Premier League,” Pochettino said. Christopher Nkunku cancelled out Danny Welbeck’s early strike for Brighton in Philadelphia, before Chelsea scored three goals in 11 minutes from Mykhailo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher and…

Amanda Ilestedt scored a last-minute winner as Sweden beat South Africa at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Wellington. The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations champions came close to picking up their first point at a World Cup, having lost all three matches on their only previous appearance in 2019. South Africa opened the scoring with a 48th-minute goal from Hildah Magaia, but it was cancelled out by a deflected Frida Rolfo effort before Ilestedt’s decisive header. Sweden top Group G, with Argentina and Italy to meet on Monday. South Africa almost opened the scoring when captain Refiloe Jane saw…

Manchester United gained bragging rights over rivals Arsenal as first-half goals from Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho sealed a 2-0 friendly win at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match was played in front of a stadium soccer record crowd of 82,262. Fernandes celebrated being appointed United’s new captain by beating Aaron Ramsdale from 20 yards, although the Arsenal keeper could have done better. And Sancho doubled the advantage with a powerful shot into the top corner. The winger, playing as a false nine in an outfield line-up manager Erik ten Hag changed completely at half-time, finished after speeding on…

Aston Villa have signed France winger Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. Villa have not disclosed the fee or length of contract for the 24-year-old but it has been reported that the deal is worth 60m euros (£51.9m). Villa’s previous club record was £33m for Argentina midfielder Emiliano Buendia from Norwich in June 2021. “I will always look back happily and gratefully on my time in Leverkusen,” said Diaby. “Now I want to take the next step, start a new chapter.” Diaby joined Leverkusen from Paris St-Germain in 2019 and went on to register 49 goals and 48 assists from 173 games…

Nigeria forward, Victor Boniface, has linked up with Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen. Boniface moved to the Bay Arena from Belgian Pro League side, Union St. Gilloise. The 22-year-old,who will wear jersey number 22 signed a five-year contract. The striker caught the eye of Bayer Leverkusen after scoring against them in the UEFA Europa League last season. Leverkusen sporting director,Simon Rolfes was excited to have Boniface at the club. “We’ve had Victor Boniface on our radar for a long time,” Rolfes told the club’s official website. “His performance in a direct duel then absolutely confirmed our positive assessment. Victor is a…

Amalie Vangsgaard scored a late winner as Denmark marked their their return from a 16-year Fifa Women’s World Cup absence with a 1-0 win over China. The substitute, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, headed home Pernille Harder’s corner in the 90th minute in Perth, Australia. There were doubts over whether the goal would stand but VAR officials decided that Danish defender Rikke Sevecke had not interfered with China’s goalkeeper Xu Huan as the ball hit the back of the net. The result moves Denmark to the top of Group D, level on points and goal…

Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has warned his players they have to be at their best against Australia. The former African champions will face the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts in their second Group B on Thursday, July 27. Waldrum’s side started their campaign in the competition with an impressive 0-0 draw against Canada. Australia on the other hand laboured to a 1-0 victory against debutants Republic of Ireland. The Matildas will be without their talismanic captain, Sam Kerr in the game. Kerr, who plays for Chelsea, sustained a calf injury in training and also missed the win…