List of All Articles with Tag 'f'

Despite injuries Austin FC grind out a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers.

Nottingham Forest took a huge step towards Premier League safety with a dramatic 4-3 win over Southampton, whose impending relegation to the Championship could be confirmed at the weekend. Forest climbed out of the bottom three thanks to Taiwo Awoniyi’s brace, Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty and Danilo’s brilliant team goal to give realistic hope that they can avoid the drop on their first season back in the top tier for 23 years. They took full advantage of defeats for Leeds and Leicester to move up to 16th, three points above the drop zone with three games to play. Southampton’s situation is far bleaker and, despite goals from Carlos Alcaraz, Lyanco and James Ward-Prowse to keep them in the game, their 10-year stay in the top flight will end if they fail to beat Fulham on Saturday, while results elsewhere could also send them down even if they do win. It was a thrilling end-to-end encounter at the City Ground that completed a bumper Bank Holiday goals bonanza as the 21 goals scored on Monday are a Premier League record for a three-game matchday. This clash was always going to have a massive say on who goes down and the Forest fans received the memo, delivering a spine-tingling atmosphere before kick-off. And after an edgy start in the driving rain, where Southampton were the better team, two goals in three minutes from Awoniyi lifted the roof off the City Ground. The first came in the 18th minute after a devastating attack at speed, where after a quick free-kick, Danilo’s long ball set Brennan Johnson free on the right and his first-time cross was perfect for Awoniyi to fire home from 10 yards out. The Nigeria international soon doubled his tally, and in some style too, as he hit an instinctive volley on the turn after Danilo’s improvised pass in the area. Southampton had folded and were in danger of being blown away but gave themselves a lifeline in the 25th minute as Gibbs-White’s loose ball allowed a quick break that saw Stuart Armstrong play in Alcaraz and the Argentinian converted from close range. There were a few dicey moments as Saints pushed for a leveller, but Forest crucially restored their two-goal lead just before the break. Johnson nipped in to take the ball away from Ainsley Maitland-Niles and was on the end of a kick, with referee Michael Oliver taking his time to deliberate before pointing to the spot. Gibbs-White made no mistake from the penalty, sending his effort down the middle to give Forest a big half-time advantage. Southampton knew they were in the last-chance saloon and came out firing, reducing the arrears in the 51st minute. Lyanco climbed highest from Ward-Prowse’s corner to power a header that was too hot for Keylor Navas to handle. That totally changed the complexion of the game and Forest were suddenly hanging on as Saints chased an unlikely equaliser. Another Lyanco header from a corner caused chaos in the Forest six-yard box as Navas came under a barrage of dangerous set-pieces. But the hosts eased their nerves in the 73rd minute with a brilliant team goal converted by Danilo. Johnson surged down the right, centred for Gibbs-White, whose delightful deft flick teed the Brazilian up and he made no mistake for his third goal in three games. Felipe had another goal chalked off in stoppage time and then Saints were given a lifeline as Sam Surridge fouled Romeo Lavia, with Ward-Prowse sending the late penalty straight down the middle. But Forest held on to leave Southampton staring into the abyss of the second tier. Read More Dean Smith dismayed by Leicester’s heavy loss at Fulham Everton have never doubted themselves in battle against relegation says Sean Dyche Dwight McNeil’s brace boosts chances of Premier League survival as Everton hammer Brighton Everton stun Brighton to boost survival hopes as Southampton on the brink Frank Lampard insists Chelsea need to develop a ruthless streak in attack Ryan Mason more concerned with Tottenham than other clubs

Players of the MLS match day week 11 ranked.

Everton boss Sean Dyche insisted his side never doubted themselves after a thumping 5-1 Premier League victory over Brighton lifted the Toffees two points clear of the relegation zone. It was Everton’s first away league win in 14 attempts and could not have come at a more opportune time, with just three matches now remaining to secure their top-flight safety. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s strike after 33 seconds laid down what retrospectively ultimately felt like an emphatic opening statement as both he and Dwight McNeil went on to scores braces on either side of the half. Dyche said: “People will be out there thinking right, OK, there’s life in that team but we’ve never lost sight of that. “It just reminds the players that their work ethic, their commitment to the cause, their commitment to the group is really important because I know there’s quality. “I’ve always believed there’s quality. I’ve said it many times, but talking about it doesn’t win you a game. It’s the collective mentality to go and deliver everything you’ve got. “We were very frustrated not to come away with all three points (against Leicester) but we got a reward for carrying on that mentality in their performances tonight.” Doucoure netted his second when he volleyed the ball home after 29 minutes before McNeil’s cross further buried Brighton, with it deflecting off Jordan Steele, who had stooped to save but instead felt the ball bounce off the back of his leg and in. Alexis Mac Allister clawed one back before McNeil’s first but the Brighton burial was not complete until McNeil fired home the visitors’ fifth in the embers of second-half stoppage-time. Victory meant Dyche’s side are safe for the time being, with league leaders Manchester City up next followed by encounters with Wolves and Bournemouth. “They’re very high feeling the feel-good factor,” he added. “But it’s only another step. I said that after Arsenal, and sometimes people forget that. There’s three more big steps we’ve got to take.” Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi, meanwhile, suggested his side’s performance revealed they were not yet ready to go toe-to-toe with the best in the business, though he was unspecific about whether he was looking at England’s top four or more broadly to the other side of the Channel. It could still be possible for Brighton to secure European football with a seventh-place finish, but De Zerbi’s men would feel more satisfied with a higher position. He said: “Of course we can lose the game. We can lose against Everton, but I’m disappointed for the first half because it was tough. “We showed we are not ready yet to compete and to achieve the big target but I am speaking about mentality, not other things, not other parts of football. “It’s not easy because playing in the last period, three games in a week is difficult if you are not used to playing so many games but if we want to improve, if we want to fix our target higher, we have to improve very fast.” Read More Dwight McNeil’s brace boosts Everton’s chances of Premier League survival Dwight McNeil bags brace as Everton ease past Brighton in battle against PL drop James Tarkowski: I don’t regret joining Everton Everton showed character needed to avoid drop in Leicester draw – Idrissa Gueye Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi believes Moises Caicedo can play anywhere Alexis Mac Allister: Brighton’s aim should be to fight for a European place

Player ratings from the Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Southampton on Monday night. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice early on but the Saints dragged themselves back into the game on three separate occasions.

By Frank Pingue The Toronto Maple Leafs have not won a game since being labelled Stanley Cup favourites

LONDON (Reuters) -Willian and Tom Cairney both scored twice to help Fulham beat Leicester City 5-3 at home on Monday,

It's early and I'm bored, so here are five way-too-early predictions for the upcoming SEC football season, aight.I've been to the future and seen what's up. And now, I'm not going to help you navigate the stock market, bro...About four months from now, the only colle...

Fabio Capello reckons Manchester City are “the best team in the world” as Pep Guardiola’s side prepare for their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. The tie is a rematch of last year’s last-four clash, where City were knocked out in dramatic circumstances at the Bernabeu as Real mounted a stunning comeback to win after extra time. A Champions League trophy is the one piece of silverware that has so far evaded Guardiola during his nearly seven years with City. Speaking at the Laureus Awards on Monday, former England boss Capello highlighted the difference prolific striker Erling Haaland has made to City and his belief they are now the finest team on the planet. He said: “I think City is the best team in the world. This year makes the difference. “Last year, (they) missed the forward and this year you have a really important forward. Not only this – you have 24 players. “When you make the substitution, always a fantastic player is entering. Real Madrid, I think (have) 14, 15 players. “They probably will be a little bit tired (after winning the Copa del Rey on Saturday evening), but they have the best coach in the world, Carlo Ancelotti.” Two-time former Real Madrid boss Capello added: “Carlo knows everything about the openings, and we prepare the games really, really well. I hope, Carlo, we will win.” Ex-Inter Milan and Real Madrid winger Luis Figo echoed Capello’s sentiments about City’s improvement, but warned that they had their work cut out against the 14-time European Cup winners. “I think (Manchester City) are one of the best teams in the world now,” the former Portugal star said. “They are playing very good football, and in the last years, they are always in the competition, they have the experience already, they know already what to do so they don’t lose like last year. “But they play against the best club in the history of the Champions League. “Sometimes I think the history of the competition, that helps you in different kinds of moments and important moments in this competition, and everyone, I think they think that Manchester City is now a favourite for the games against Real Madrid. “But you have to count the history and count that Real Madrid is always alive until the last second of the game. “It will be nice to see, but I think for sure they are more than ready to win this beautiful competition.” Figo is hoping another of his former clubs, Inter Milan, can get the better of rivals AC Milan in the other semi-final. He said: “I expect that Inter can win, and probably that will happen, I hope! “I think Italy have to be proud this year that they have two teams in the semi-final. Fantastic performance in the Champions League. “You know anything can happen, but it’s beautiful in the same time that you have the chance to see two big games of the best club competition in the world in the same city.” :: Fabio Capello and Luis Figo were speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Find out more at www.laureus.com

These early college football bowl game projections have Texas football so incredibly back!One day, Texas will be back and we will have to talk about it when, and if, that day ever comes.It's not the rapture, but it sure as hell feels like it sometimes. The good news for the Longhorns is...

The Los Angeles Clippers will face some big decisions this offseason. Here are three players who will likely not be back.The Los Angeles Clippers entered the 2022-23 season with championship aspirations, once again, and it was warranted. Since joining forces in 2019, their superstar duo of Kawhi...

The 2023 NFL Draft has concluded, but how will college football teams like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Ohio State and more replace the first-round picks?The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone with all 259 selections being made. Now, the majority of the discourse is revolving around how former Alaba...