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Gabriel moment to concern Man City as Elliot Anderson call backfires in Arsenal defeat

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Manchester City were not good defensively, their midfield was indifferent and up front there was plenty of room for improvement. Other than that, their Community Shield performance against Arsenal went well.

Enzo Maresca’s team were on the back foot from the opening minute when Riccardo Calafiori eased the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range, and they never really recovered. Kai Havertz added a second after half an hour when taking advantage of more abject defending and Martin Odegaard poked in a third just after half-time.

The Arsenal fans who had come to Cardiff were still on the high of winning the league and could not believe what they were seeing. Having tasted defeat in their last two meetings with City, there were Poznans before half-time as Mikel Arteta’s side crushed City.

That shouldn’t matter to City, and nor should rustiness from Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki; these are players that have been back at the club for less than a week and only Haaland has any previous experience of working with Maresca. Clearly, the Blues are going to look much better as everyone settles.

What they should leave Cardiff with, however, is what they saw from Arsenal. As Jeremy Doku raced through on goal in the first half with City 1-0 down, Gabriel cleared the ball for a corner and then celebrated as if he’d just stopped a goal in a Premier League decider; you could certainly make the same point when Gabriel and Calafiori separately tried to buy penalties at the other end with theatrical falls.

City may well find it hard after Pep Guardiola but there is arguably more pressure on Arsenal given how much harder it is to retain the league after winning it. Every single team wants to dethrone the champions every week of the season, and they will have to be even better physically and mentally to stand a chance of being the best team again.

A 3-0 victory will please Gunners but more beneficial for them on Sunday afternoon was to see the hunger and the fight in the players that looked as much a cut above anything City showed as anything that happened with the ball. City don’t just need a squad with the ability to win the league, they need a squad filled with players who are desperate to go to war for Maresca in every minute of every game.

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The fact that wasn’t seen in Cardiff isn’t a catastrophe for Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana but it should certainly sharpen minds with just a few weeks left of the transfer window and much still to do. Those that will remain in the squad need to show that fight and more arrivals are needed who already have it.

City fans are proud that their team fights to the end. This one has to show they can fight from the start.

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SC Delhi thrash Raengdai 5-1, set up Durand Cup semis against East Bengal | Football News

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SC Delhi produced a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat debutants FC Raengdai of Manipur 5-1 on Sunday and set up a semifinal clash against Kolkata heavyweights East Bengal in the Durand Cup.


After Chongtham Kishan Singh’s (9th) stunning long-range strike had put Raengdai ahead in the first half, substitute Joseph Sunny’s (57th, 67th) second-half brace turned the game around.


Rodriguinho (82nd), Juan Sebastian Pena (90+3) and Augustine Lalrochana (90+8) were the other SC Delhi goal scorers in the quarter-final match.


In Kolkata, a first-half header from PV Vishnu saw East Bengal FC edge past a spirited Indian Army FT side 1-0 in another quarterfinal.

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The East Bengal versus SC Delhi semifinal will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on August 19.


In Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Stadium, it was FC Raengdai who took the lead in spectacular fashion against SC Delhi.


Chongtham Kishan Singh unleashed a bullet of a shot from around 20 metres that dipped late, struck the inside of the crossbar and bounced into the net, leaving SC Delhi goalkeeper Nora Fernandes with no chance.

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SC Delhi immediately went looking for the equaliser and created a flurry of attacks. Raengdai’s defensive unit, led by Rojen Meetei, Lanchungrei Pamei and Amitkumar Singh, remained disciplined and repeatedly denied SC Delhi.


At the other end, Khaidem Amarjit Singh looked lively for the debutants as the contest developed into an end-to-end affair.


SC Delhi emerged with greater purpose after the restart, and the introduction of Sunny proved decisive.


The substitute came close to making an immediate impact in the 52nd minute after a brilliant run, before squaring the ball to Rodriguinho. The forward’s effort appeared destined for the net, but Kamei Pantiga produced a superb save to preserve Raengdai’s lead.

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Five minutes later, however, the goalkeeper could do nothing. Pena produced a clever move before releasing Sunny, who collected the ball on the edge of the box and fired a precise low finish between two defenders into the bottom-left corner to level the contest. 


The equaliser transformed SC Delhi’s confidence. Ten minutes later, Pena was once again at the heart of the attack, producing a sublime no-look pass that released Sunny with an inch-perfect run into the penalty area. The substitute found himself one-on-one with Pantiga, and calmly finished past the goalkeeper to complete the turnaround.


Rodriguinho scored four minutes later. The forward showed excellent composure to work his way past two defenders while controlling the ball before slotting a left-footed finish beyond Pantiga to put SC Delhi 3-1 ahead.


The final stages turned into a goal fest. In the third minute of stoppage time, Pena produced a superb dribbling run into the box before calmly applying a no-look finish to make it 4-1.

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SC Delhi added one more goal before the final whistle. Substitute Augustine Lalrochana picked up the ball on the left in the eighth minute of added time, drove all the way into the box and finished stylishly into the far corner to complete the emphatic 5-1 victory.


At the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, East Bengal stamped their authority on the contest from the opening whistle, dominating possession and pinning the Army men deep inside their own half.


Indian Army struggled to put together sustained passages of possession, often relying on aerial and long balls to relieve the pressure.


East Bengal’s best opportunity of the first half came in the 29th minute when Jay Gupta delivered a pinpoint cross for Vishnu, who found himself unmarked in a one-on-one situation. However, the forward’s grounded effort went straight into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.

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East Bengal finally found the breakthrough in the 38th minute. Christopher Ikonomidis delivered an inviting cross into the box and Vishnu made amends for his earlier miss, rising highest to meet the delivery with a perfectly timed header into the right corner. Thakuri got his fingertips to the effort but could not keep it out as East Bengal took a deserved 1-0 lead.


The Red-and-Gold Brigade maintained their control for the remainder of the half, with Mohamad Basim Rashid trying his luck from distance shortly before the interval, although his effort drifted wide.


East Bengal nearly doubled their advantage around the hour mark when substitute Jesin TK intercepted a long ball from Rashid and raced past the advancing goalkeeper. However, his attempt struck the crossbar, denying the substitute an immediate impact.


In the 80th minute, Bipin Singh set up Jesin TK with a precise pass, but the forward failed to convert from close range. Moments later, Jesin returned the favour by putting Bipin through, only for the winger to squander another one-on-one opportunity.

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Jesin had another chance to seal the result in the 87th minute when he met a cross from Edmund, but his header went straight at Thakuri.


With five minutes of stoppage time added, Indian Army almost produced a dramatic equaliser against the run of play.


In the 91st minute, Abhishek Shankar Pawar unleashed a dangerous effort that briefly threatened to spoil East Bengal’s dominant display, but the Kolkata side survived the late scare.

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India vs Sri Lanka LIVE Score, 1st Test Day 3: Sri Lanka Left Shocked On 2nd Ball, Old Nemesis Strikes

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India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Day 3 LIVE Updates: Mohammed Siraj struck early and dismissed Nishan Madushka for duck as Sri Lanka lost their first wicket on Day 3 of the first Test against India. Currently, Lahiru Udara and Dinesh Chandimal are standing unbeaten for one-down Sri Lanka. Earlier, India were bundled out for 462 in the first session on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored for India with a mammoth knock of 167 that ended on Sunday. Resuming their innings at 460 for nine, India managed to add just two runs before the final wicket fell, with Asitha Fernando dismissing Prasidh Krishna. For Sri Lanka, Prabath Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4/109. Keshara Nuwantha claimed 3/175, while Fernando took 2/63. India’s total was built around Padikkal’s outstanding knock of 167, which anchored their first-innings effort. (LIVE SCORECARD)

Here are the LIVE Score and Updates from India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, straight from Galle:

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Kate O’Connor third after day one of Heptathlon

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Kate O’Connor finished day of the Women’s Heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham in third place overall.

The Dundalk St Gerard’s AC star produced personal bests in the 100m hurdles and the high jump in this morning’s session.

In the opening event of the seven-event competition the Irish woman finished fourth in a time of 13.30 seconds to collect 1,080 points.

She matched her PB of 1.86m in the high jump – clearing it at the third attempt – as she added 1,050 points to her total.

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In the shot put in the evening session, the recent Commonwealth Games gold medallist produced a best effort of 13.96m, before running a 23.79 personal best in the final heptathlon event, the 200m.

Heading into day two on Saturday, the Newry, Co Down-born athlete sits in third position.

He lead is currently held by Poland’s Adrianna Sulek-Schubert on 3,968 points. Sofie Dokter from The Netherlands, who won heat 3 of the 200m this evening, is currently in the silver medal position on 3,944 points, with O’Connor in third on 3,926.

The action in the heptathlon begins again in the morning with the long jump and javelin during the morning session, with the 800m at 7.45pm Saturday evening.

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“I’ve given myself a fighting chance”

Commenting on her opening day in the competition, Kate O’Connor stated:

“I’m happy with that one [the 200m], but in the shot I feel like I let myself down a little. I had a lead on certain people, and I swung the door back open, but it’s really hard to string seven perfect performances together.

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“I’ve managed to put together three really strong performances and one that wasn’t quite as strong. I feel fit, I feel healthy and I’m leaving day one feeling positive and in a good position.

“I’ve given myself a fighting chance tomorrow.”

Women’s 10000m Final

Bandon AC’s Fiona Everard finished in 20th place in tonight’s final of the Women’s 10000m, finishing in a time of 33:08.60 at her first major track championship.

Leevale’s Niamh Allen, unfortunately didn’t look comfortable during the race, and was forced to retire from the race.

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LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

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Can Roman Reigns deny Solo Sikoa in The Bloodline for one big reason? Exploring the possibility

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Roman Reigns is set to return on the Aug. 17 episode of WWE RAW after missing last week’s show, which featured major developments in the Bloodline saga. Jey Uso faced Solo Sikoa in a high-stakes impromptu match, with the stipulation that if The Yeet Man wins, The Street Champion would be forced to join the family. On the other hand, a Sikoa win would make him a free man from the Bloodline.

Thanks to Jimmy Uso’s interference, Jey Uso won the bout. As a result, this week, Solo Sikoa will be forced to rejoin The Bloodline in the presence of The OTC.

However, Roman could deny Solo Sikoa’s entry into The Bloodline.

The Tribal Chief could go off on Jey Uso for making his own rules and not bothering to ask him once before making such a big decision, which could have cost them if he had lost.

The OTC could also call out The Yeet Man and Big Jim for cheating to win, something Reigns has been avoiding himself.

However, The Usos breaking the rule could put them at odds with the Tribal Chief, who follows an entirely different philosophy. Therefore, Roman Reigns could deny Sikoa entry into the group and let him go for a while, creating a gripping segment, planting seeds of tension within the Bloodline, and potentially building toward another civil war.

Meanwhile, this would also help Solo Sikoa continue to grow as a babyface superstar on Monday Night RAW.

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That said, the angle proposed above is speculative, and nothing has been officially confirmed yet.

Former WWE United States Champion takes shots at Roman Reigns ahead of RAW

The Original Tribal Chief is on a dominant run as the World Heavyweight Champion and has already defended his strap thrice.

AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio recently announced that Roman Reigns will defend his strap on the Sept. 14 edition of WWE RAW in Mexico City. The winner of the cross-brand Luchador tournament, featuring luchadores from RAW, SmackDown, AAA, and NXT, will earn a title shot.

Penta is one of those stars; he already punched his ticket to the tournament’s semi-finals and is just two steps away from a title match. The former United States Champion appeared on this week’s AAA episode and issued a chilling warning to Roman Reigns, claiming he would win the tournament.

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“You have never faced a wrestler like Penta, you’ve never been in front of a man like Penta, a man who has fought for everything, even his life, to gain everything I’ve gained in my career. Roman, I’ve never need a family or a faction or a group to accomplish my objectives. Penta has fought for himself and for all his people, that is Penta. I respect you as a wrestler, but when I win this tournament, I’m going straight to Mexico City, I’m gonna see you face to face and show you who is Penta,” he said. (Translated from Spanish) (30:30 onwards)

With Sunday Night’s Main Event and 2026 Money in the Bank on the way, it will be interesting to see what plans Triple H and the WWE creative crew have in store for Roman Reigns and his Bloodline in the coming weeks.