Premier League
Awoniyi and teammates getting further lost in the Forest
There is no light in sight for Nigeria’s AFCON 2022 player, Taiwo Awoniyi as his Nottingham Forest are getting further lost in the thick forest of relegation after visiting Manchester United secured a 2-0 win to boost their top-four position this season.
Goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot were enough to ensure that Manchester United capitalised on Newcastle and Tottenham’s slip-ups.
The Red Devils were back to their past at the City Ground on Sunday, earning a massive win that gives them a three point lead in third place in the Premier League table.
Man United so nearly took the lead inside the opening minute when Jadon Sancho latched onto a loose ball in the heart of the penalty area after Keylor Navas failed to punch a low cross clear of danger. Sancho’s subsequent first-time side-footed effort on goal, although it beat Navas, failed to find its way past Felipe, who rushed back to block the ball.
The majority of the opening half hour was very evenly contested after that, with Forest causing Man Utd problems from set pieces and the visitors causing problems from open play.
It would be the latter that’d lead to the first goal of the game when Anthony Martial stole the ball off of Danilo in the final third.
After nabbing the ball and playing a smart one-two with Bruno Fernandes, the French forward would see a low strike from just inside the penalty area saved by Navas, but punched into the path of Antony who was able to slot home the opener with ease at the back post.
Not to be deterred by going behind, the home side pressed forward with intent in search of an equaliser, and came close to getting one in the 43rd minute.
Taiwo Awoniyi, however, was unable to keep his first-time strike from the edge of the penalty area on target – seeing it fly over the crossbar.
A few moments later, Forest were almost made to pay for that missed opportunity when Fernandes found himself unmarked from a Christian Eriksen cross. The attacking midfielder rose well but headed his resulting effort just wide of the post.
Fernandes would come even closer to doubling Man Utd’s lead at the start of the second half, seeing a ferocious first-time effort from the edge of the box tipped onto the crossbar by Navas.
On the hour mark Fernandes once again called Navas into action, this time forcing the PSG loanee to tip a low strike round his post.
Ten minutes later, Martial really should’ve doubled Man Utd’s lead when he rose between two Forest defenders at the back post. The forward was unable to keep his header on target however.
In the 76th minute, Man Utd finally got their second. It would come courtesy of Diogo Dalot, who latched onto a lovely through ball from Antony before expertly side-footing past Navas.
England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace
Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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