Conceding in the 98th minute is a 'big blow' – Arteta

Published

4 hours ago

September 22, 2024

Conceding in the 98th minute is a 'big blow' - Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says conceding a 98th minute goal is a “big blow” after Manchester City’s John Stones rescued a late draw against 10-man Arsenal at the Etihad.

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Watch Clark's sublime free-kick double for St Johnstone

Published

39 mins ago

September 22, 2024

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Watch Clark's sublime free-kick double for St Johnstone

Nicky Clark scores his first St Johnstone goals of the season in stunning style with a pair of second-half free-kicks in the 3-3 draw at Ross County.

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FA Cup tie abandoned after Salford Lionesses goalkeeper suffers medical emergency

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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FA Cup tie abandoned after Salford Lionesses goalkeeper suffers medical emergency

The Women’s FA Cup tie between Wythenshawe FC and Salford City Lionesses was abandoned after a player was involved in a medical emergency.

The second round qualifying tie – at Wythenshawe’s Hollyhedge Park ground – was stopped in the 34th minute after Salford goalkeeper Grace Pomfret went down off the ball in “very visible distress”.

The club said Pomfret was treated by medical staff and was conscious as she was helped from the pitch before paramedics took her to hospital.

“Grace is now in a stable condition and being looked after in hospital, and has our full support and best wishes in her recovery,” the club posted on X.

The cause of Pomfret’s collapse has not been specified but it was decided to abandon the match.

A new date for the tie has yet to be confirmed.

“At Salford, we know that the welfare of the people is the highest law and as a family of players and staff it was noted the environment was too upsetting to continue,” the club said., external

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Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: Pep Guardiola on Rodri injury

Published

3 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: Pep Guardiola on Rodri injury

Mikel Arteta’s side conceded just 29 goals in the Premier League last season and the Gunners pride themselves on their wall at the back.

With Leandro Trossard shown a second yellow card just before half-time, Arsenal set out to defend their 2-1 lead with everything they had in the second period.

“The space is not there in the team, they equalise the team. Kova [Kovacic] and Ruben [Dias] is destined for the shot,” said Guardiola.

“With Rodri it may have been different or maybe I put Ruben on the right. That’s why I delayed the sub for Kyle [Walker], but Kyle has a really good shot and crosses.

“Grealish created space. Raya made two, three or four saves [and] the second ball was not with us. It’s difficult.

“Congratulations to Arsenal, to be so strong mentally to block, it’s not easy but at the same time we were not easy to do it.”

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Arsenal showed incredible commitment – Guardiola

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5 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Arsenal showed incredible commitment - Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praises Arsenal resolve, stating they “showed incredible commitment” in their chaotic 2-2 draw at the Etihad stadium.

MATCH REPORT: Arsenal denied famous victory by Stones equaliser in chaotic final seconds

Available to UK users only.

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Watch the loss to St Mirren that spelled end for Naismith

Published

6 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Watch the loss to St Mirren that spelled end for Naismith

Watch the best of the action from Paisley as St Mirren beat Hearts 2-1, with the Tynecastle side’s eighth defeat in a row leading to the departure of head coach Steven Naismith.

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North Korea: Women’s football’s sleeping giant

Published

7 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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North Korea: Women's football's sleeping giant

“Normally when there are 30 shots in the game, it is the United States with about 25 of ’em. Not today!”

It wasn’t just the ESPN commentator who was shocked.

Heather O’Reilly had scored the game’s final goal, dragging world number ones and two-time champions United States to a 2-2 draw in their opening match at the 2007 Women’s World Cup.

O’Reilly wasn’t surprised by the scoreline though. Or how evenly-fought the game was. She knew it would be tough.

Instead, as the final whistle blew, it was the attitude of the US’s opponents, who saw a chance missed, rather than a point gained, that struck her.

“I remember North Korea seeming disappointed,” says O’Reilly.

“Their body language seemed to say ‘oh my gosh, we were so close to taking down the giant’.”

North Korea is the world’s most isolated country, a state based around the infallibility of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and a deep suspicion of the outside world.

Yet, despite living standards being well behind most other nations, North Korea has been one of the strongest female football nations on the planet.

When they took on the United States in 2007, they were ranked fifth in the world and amid a run of three Asian titles in the space of a decade.

Their record at youth level is even better. In 2016, they won the U20 Women’s World Cup, defeating Spain, the United States and France in the knockout rounds. That same year, their under-17 team also lifted their age-grade World Cup.

“The game in 2007 was challenging, really super hard,” remembers O’Reilly of her meeting with North Korea’s senior side. “It was hard to get the ball off them, they were buzzing around, very quick.”

There was another challenge though, one that was unique to North Korea.

“It was just such a cloud of uncertainty,” says O’Reilly. “The film we had on them was very limited, even by the standard of the times.

“Every time we played North Korea, it was always a mystery.”

The mystery now is, after a doping controversy and a four-year absence from international football, can North Korea’s women be a force once again?

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