Sports Stories

West Ham crush Liverpool 3-1

Leicester stun United 5-3

In a shocking turn of events, Leicester rallied to stage a dramatic comeback against Manchester United after trailing 1-3 to beat the Red Giants 5-3.

Man Utd were on track for a first competitive away victory after goals from Van Persie, Di Maria & Harrera put them ahead 3-1 with just 30 minutes left on the clock.

David Nugent converted a controversial penalty to reduce the deficit to 3-2 after Leonardo Ulloa put them on the scoreline.

Jamie Vardy, made it 4-3 in the 79th minute. Four minutes later, Tyler Blackett was sent off for bringing down Vardy, who scored his 2nd goal & Leicester's 5th from the penalty spot.

Related:
Liverpool Hammered by West Ham

The last time Mark Hughes oversaw a victory at the Etihad Stadium, he was sacked shortly afterwards. It is safe to say a different fate awaits him now and, whether or not this constituted revenge, it was certainly a reminder of his prowess to the club that discarded him so unceremoniously.

Hughes is now approaching the fifth anniversary of his 2009 dismissal, minutes after Manchester City beat Sunderland 4-3, and when they had already lined up his successor, Roberto Mancini, and if he was miscast as a manager of a super-rich club with vaunting ambition, he has often excelled with a lesser budget and a competitive group of players.

A superlative result was achieved in spectacular style, Mame Biram Diouf running virtually the length of the pitch to score the only goal.

Nevertheless, earthier values were as important for Stoke City. Well configured by Hughes, they defended brilliantly. Manchester City, who had scored 99 times in just 30 home games under Manuel Pellegrini, were frustrated and, as the champions had won 50 of their previous 58 league matches at the Etihad Stadium, this was both a startling scoreline and, for Stoke, a deserved one.

It had seemed a sign of Manchester City’s strength in depth that they could rest Pablo Zabaleta, arguably the division’s outstanding right-back, after a solitary start this season, and introduce Bacary Sagna for his debut. The Etihad Stadium serves as a home from home for former Gunners and a combination of Arsenal alumni almost brought the opener. Sagna squared the ball for Samir Nasri, whose low shot was touched wide by Asmir Begovic.

Stoke have a sizeable former Manchester United contingent, headed by manager Hughes. Another Old Trafford old boy attempted to give them a belated first goal at the Etihad Stadium. Diouf intercepted Phil Bardsley’s hopeful effort only to scuff his shot wide. Ruled offside then, he was irritated that the officials took no action when Aleksandar Kolarov tripped him just inside the penalty area.

It was proof that, while defending in numbers, they still possessed an attacking threat. The favourites were frustrated. Stevan Jovetic squared up to Ryan Shawcross while his team-mates showed hints of rustiness. Kolarov took the wrong option when he could cross, Yaya Touré lofted a shot over the bar and, strangest of all, David Silva overhit a pass.

Briefly, however, they returned to their seductive best. Sergio Agüero darted into the penalty area, drawing a crowd of defenders to him, and released Kolarov with a backheel. The left-back took the right option this time, finding Touré, who struck the bar.

While one penalty area was packed, however, the other was virtually deserted and, inadvertently, the pressure one City exerted brought a breakthrough for the other. Stoke cleared a corner as far as Diouf, lurking a few yards outside his penalty area. He ran a further 80, brushing off Kolarov and nutmegging Fernandinho, the last defender, before sliding a shot past Joe Hart for a magnificent solo goal.

Manuel Pellegrini responded by sending for the cavalry, in the form of Edin Dzeko and Jesús Navas, but two of his starting 11, the elusive Agüero and the persistent Touré, threatened an equaliser. The latter had a shot deflected wide before being booked for diving when he claimed a penalty after an Erik Pieters challenge. As Stoke had discovered earlier, referee Lee Mason was in no mind to point to the spot.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/30/manchester-city-stoke-city-premier-league-match-report

London: Diego Costa and Eden Hazard scored in the second half as Chelsea finally broke down Leicester's stubborn resistance for a 2-0 victory in the Premier League on Saturday. The newly promoted visitors had threatened a major upset until Costa controlled a deflected pass from

Branislav Ivanovic in front of goal and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the 63rd

minute. It was Costa's second goal in two league games for Chelsea, having joined from Atletico

Madrid in the offseason. Hazard then put the result beyond doubt with a solo effort in the 77th, cutting in from the left and

sending a low shot inside the far post. Leicester missed a couple of good chances before Costa's opener, including when David Nugent came

clear through on goal but had his shot saved by the onrushing Thibaut Courtois.

Source: http://sports.ndtv.com/english-premier-league/news/228720-chelsea-defeat-leicester-city-2-0-in-premier-league

Balotelli on move to Anfield

AC Milan have agreed to let go of the Italian Striker Mario Balotelli for a reported 16 million pounds to Anfield, claimed media in England & Italy on Thursday.

The news comes as a shock 2 weeks after Liverpool Manager Brendan Rogers' statement of not making any kind of bid for the 24-year-old controversial Italian.

This comes off as a big boost for the Liverpool line-up, frustrated after not being able to land a big name move in place of Luis Suarez. Earlier during the Reds' tour of USA, Rogers stated "I can categorically tell you that he will not be coming to Liverpool." referring to Balotelli.

Balotelli scored 16 goals for Milan last season, as well as the winner in Italy's World Cup opener against England in Manaus.

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Marcos Rojo looks set to complete his €20m move to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon.

Liverpool vice-captain could be set for a move to Barcelona after reportedly handing in a transfer request to the club. 

Speculation has continued to grow that the Danish defender wants to leave after failing to secure regular first-team football under Brendan Rodgers and The Daily Mirror says a 'tearful' Agger pleaded with Rodgers to let him leave, with the Catalans favourite to add their second Liverpool player this summer. 




- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/transfer-window/transfer-roundup-tearful-agger-pleads-for-liverpool-exit-while-united-chase-colombian-star-30490188.html#sthash.bz5TK6u6.dpuf

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Man Utd rally to beat Liverpool, win International Champions Cup

Van Gaal wins first Silverware as Man Utd Manager

Manchester United fly home on Tuesday having been unbeaten in their 5-game tour to America under the new Manager Louis Van Gaal.

16 August 2014

23 August 2014

30 August 2014