Author: index

WORLD CUP: USA DRAWN ALONGSIDE ENGLAND

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Manager Greg Berhalter and his USA senior national team players have been drawn alongside Euro 2020 finalist and 1966 world champions England for this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar after the draw took place on Friday. The two countries were drawn in Group B alongside Iran and the winner of the playoff route involving Wales, Scotland and Ukraine.


One of Scotland, Ukraine and Wales would be at the World Cup in Qatar via the path A playoff route in the European section of the qualifiers. The team to qualify from path A would have been decided by now if not for the Russian invasion of Ukraine which prompted the postponement of the playoff semifinal tie between hosts Scotland and Ukraine. The one-legged tie initially billed to take place in March has been postponed till June with the winner taking on Wales in a one-legged tie to determine who will face England, USA and Iran in Group B. Wales qualified to face the winner of the Scotland and Ukraine tie for a place in Qatar after seeing off Austria in their playoff semifinal tie thanks to the brilliance of star man Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid star scored a brace with a goal in each half on the way to a 2-1 win over Austria. Read more “WORLD CUP: USA DRAWN ALONGSIDE ENGLAND”

STEFFEN BENCHED AS CITY INCREASE LEAD

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United States of America (USA) international Zack Steffen was on the substitutes’ bench for the entire duration of the game as Manchester City beat newcomers Brentford 2-0 at home to increase their lead at the summit as far as the Premier League is concerned this season. Manchester City were able to return to winning ways at the first time of asking in the league after they drew their last league game.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EraXOPUXIAIGxhe.jpg

USA national team goalkeeper Steffen is the second choice goalkeeper at Manchester City behind Ederson Moraes who’s the undisputed first choice at the club. Brazilian international Ederson was in the Manchester City goal for the game against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
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MCKENNIE INJURED IN DISAPPOINTING ATALANTA LOSS

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Juventus fans showed their dissatisfaction with their players in the league clash with Atalanta on Saturday as they booed them off the pitch at the end of the first half while they were losing 1-0 at home to the team from Bergamo thanks to the 28th minute strike from Colombian international Duvan Zapata. In the end, Atalanta held on to claim a memorable win and open a six-point gap on AS Roma who are in fifth place. Atalanta are the best team outside the three title contenders AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli. The Champions League campaigners complete the top four teams on the Italian Serie A log.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FFOa_g4VcAAU7L_.jpg

Atalanta were able to record a big win against Juventus in Turin as they have had to wait for over three decades to secure an away win over the Old Lady in the league. Argentine football icon Claudio Cannigia was the hero for Atalanta when they last recorded an away win over Juventus in 1989.
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PREMIER LEAGUE: CHELSEA BAG TOP SPOT

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European champions Chelsea have the Premier League summit in the bag for two more weeks at least after former leaders Liverpool failed to beat holders Manchester City when the two teams met at Anfield on Sunday evening.


Liverpool or Manchester City needed to win to deny Chelsea the Premier League summitbut they were unable to secure the much-needed victory. In the end, the two teams settled for a 2-2 draw. Read more “PREMIER LEAGUE: CHELSEA BAG TOP SPOT”

PULISIC MISSES OUT ON DERBY WIN

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United States of America (USA) national team talisman Christian Pulisic was a major absentee as Chelsea claimed a big London Derby win at the home of Arsenal at the weekend.Pulisictested positive to Covid-19 last week and was ruled out of the Arsenal game played at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E9PJwxKXIAgSeBL.jpg

USA player Pulisic had started the new Premier League campaign on a fantastic note as he was responsible for the second goal when Chelsea beat Crystal Palace at home to claim a London Derby victory. The Blues thrashed Palace 3-0 at home to lay down a marker for the new league season in the English top flight.
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ISAK ON CHELSEA RADAR

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Chelsea are one of several teams interested in signing highly rated Real Sociedadstriker Alexander Isak who impressed for Sweden at the Euro 2020 tournament being played across several European countries this summer.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E4p5r3VUcAcsciB.jpg

The Blues’ interest in Isak was confirmed by media portal Noticias de Gipuzkoa. Apart from Chelsea, other Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with the 21-year-old who won the La Liga Young Player of the Season at the end of the last campaign. He was rewarded for a stellar season with Basque club Real Sociedad.
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PULISIC, STEFFEN OUT OF US SQUAD

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Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic and Manchester City shot stopper Zac Steffen have both been left out of the latest United States of America (USA) squad named by manager GreggBerhalter due to their Champions League commitments.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E1byxFrWQAEFemT.jpg

Berhalter has named his USA squad ahead of the friendly with Switzerland and the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final clash with Honduras. The latest USA squad of players will then face the winner of the other CONCACAF Nations League semi-final clash between Mexico and Costa Rica in the final if they see off Honduras before facing Costa Rica in a post-tournament friendly. Potentially, the USA team could play four high profile games this summer starting with the Switzerland game on May 30.
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PULISIC MAKES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY

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Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic made history in the Champions League on Tuesday night with his crucial away goal for the Blues in the first leg of their semi-final tie with Real Madrid.

Pulisicwas named in the starting XI in a three-man attack alongside England International Mason Mount and the much maligned Timo Werner. As a result, the former Borussia Dortmund attacker became only the third USA player to feature in the Champions League semi-finals.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0APBR2X0AAwcYz.jpg

Chelsea took the lead in the first fifteen minutes of the game through USA national team player Pulisic and could have had more if not for woeful finishing from Werner. The Chelsea striker should have given the Blues the lead on tenminutes but his blushes were spared by USA player Pulisic who kept his composure where Werner failed four minutes later thus becoming the first USA player to score in the Champions League semi-finals.
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DEST HITS BRACE FOR BARCELONA

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Sergino Dest played his best game for Barcelona after he netted twice in the rout of hosts Real Sociedad in their league game at the weekend. The USA international right-back is in his debut season at Spanish team Barcelona and he was responsible for two goals in the 6-1 away win over the Basque club on Sunday night. The USA player had not scored for Barcelona until the Real Sociedad game at the San Sebastian in Anoeta. He was at his rampaging best on the right side of the Barcelona attack as the Real Sociedad defenders had no answers tohim. The USA player added a second and a third goal for the visitors after the opening goal of the match from Frenchman Antoine Griezmann on 37 minutes. USA international Dest scored his first and Barcelona’s second two minutes before the break. Dest completed his brace for the third Barcelona goal on 53 minutes before star player Lionel Messi scored the first of his own brace three minutes later to edge the Catalans 4-0 ahead.


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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WEEK: PLAYERS

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USA players didn’t have the best of weeks in the Champions League after the knockout stage resumed in the competition. Three USA players were in the squad of their respective teams in the Champions League this week. United States of America (USA) international Sergino Dest was given a start by Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman on his return from injury and it would be an understatement that the right-back had a torrid time dealing with French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, who scored a treble for French giants PSG in the 4-1 thrashing of hosts Barcelona in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.


KylianMbappe was too much for USA defender Sergino Dest and Ronaldo Koeman had to put him out of his misery after 71 minutes. Oscar Migueza came on for Dest for the final 19 minutes of the game. Lionel Messi had given Barcelona the lead from the penalty spot after Dutchman Frenkie De Jong was brought down in the PSG box. KylianMbappe scored for PSG after the half hour mark in the first half as the two teams went into the break at 1-1. PSG would go on to run riot in the second half through the goals from KylianMbappe, Moise Kean and KylianMbappe again. Read more “CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WEEK: PLAYERS”