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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

United’s new star

While Cristiano Ronaldo was telling a UK media personality he felt betrayed by Manchester United, a potential new star was making a name for himself on the pitch.

Eighteen-year-old Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to score a stoppage time winner as United overcame Fulham, 2-1, at Craven Cottage.

United were also indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea, who made several saves, after Dan James had equalised Christian Eriksen’s first goal for United.

There was no place in the squad for Ronaldo, who told Piers Morgan he was being forced out of United.

Ings at the double for Villa

Two goals from Danny Ings helped Aston Villa see off Brighton, 2-1, and continue Unai Emery’s winning Premier League start.

Emery, Villa’s new manager, had seen his side beat Manchester United at Villa Park in his first game in charge last week, and the victory over Brighton was the club’s first away win of the season.

Things had started well for Brighton who were in front after just 49 seconds through Alexis Mac Allister. But Ings drew them level from the penalty spot and then scored a second-half winner.

Gunners’ early Christmas present

Arsenal continued their run of scoring in every game this season to sit top of the Premier League heading into the World Cup break.

Captain Martin Odegaard was the key contributor, scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Wolves that guarantees the Gunners will be top at Christmas for the first time since 2007.

Wolves, watched from the stands by Julen Lopetegui who will take over as manager this week, were unlucky not to have an early penalty. But despite their protests, nothing was given for William Saliba’s challenge on Goncalo Guedes.

Defeat left Wolves bottom of the table and Lopetegui with a clear view of the size of the task he faces.

Toney’s hurt stings City

He wasn’t deemed good enough for England’s World Cup squad, but Brentford striker Ivan Toney consoled himself with a starring role in a stunning win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Just days after Toney was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Qatar World Cup, he scored twice in a 2-1 win.

Phil Foden’s stunning half volley was little more than a consolation as City lost at home for the first time since defeat to Tottenham in February.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank described the win, secured by Toney in the eighth minute of stoppage time, as the
best in the club’s history.

Newcastle looking up, not down

Have you heard the joke about how Newcastle United need only two more wins to be safe from relegation this season?

Such has been the transformation under Eddie Howe that Newcastle, who in recent years regularly flirted with relegation, now sit third in the Premier League.

The latest victory came via the boot of Joe Willock, who fired home in the 67th minute to send Chelsea crashing to a third successive defeat.

Newcastle are two points adrift of second-placed Manchester City and seven behind leaders Arsenal, although Howe’s
side have played one game more heading into the World Cup break.

Leeds blow Spurs chance

Leeds United led three times and came away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with nothing to show for their endeavour.

Jesse Marsch’s side have now dropped 11 points from winning positions this season as they continue to blow hot and cold.

Two excellent goals for Rodrigo and another for Crysencio Summerville deserved better than a 4-3 defeat to a Tottenham side, who were grateful to Rodrigo Bentancur for his two goals, including a late winner.

Defeat for Leeds was even more difficult to take given goalkeeper Illan Meslier appeared to have been fouled by
Clement Lenglet in the lead up to Spurs’ first goal, scored by Harry Kane.

O’Neil the man for the job

Bournemouth could do a lot worse than give caretaker manager Gary O’Neil the job for the rest of the season.

With rumours that former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is in the running for the job, O’Neil’s men snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Everton.

While Everton fans were booing Frank Lampard and his players, there was nothing but applause for O’Neil and the Cherries.

Since Scott Parker was sacked after complaining about a lack of resources following a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool, O’Neil has overseen three Premier League wins and four draws in 11 games.

Bournemouth are now 13th, three points above the relegation zone.

Leicester cruise against Hammers

Not even a saved penalty could deny Leicester City a comfortable victory against West Ham United.

Youri Tielemans, who has scored two long-range stunners recently, failed from much closer to goal as Lukasz Fabianski saved his spot kick.

But Leicester, already a goal up through James Maddison, sealed victory in the second half when Harvey Barnes despatched Ayoze Perez’s through ball.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, who was forced to substitute Maddison midway through the first half, said the
injury should not impact on the midfielder’s World Cup campaign with England.

Old and new in Reds win

James Milner played in his 600th Premier League match and Darwin Nunez scored twice as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 at Anfield.

If Nunez, who will join his Uruguay colleagues at the World Cup this week, is one of Liverpool’s new stars, Milner represents the reliable, old guard.

The 36-year-old made his Premier League debut 20 years ago for Leeds United against West Ham and has since also played for Swindon, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City, as well as the Reds.

It was a difficult start for new Southampton manager Nathan Jones, whose side had been level through Che Adams
after Roberto Firmino’s opener.

Zaha off target from the spot

Wilfried Zaha might find himself removed from Crystal Palace’s penalty-taking duties after failing again from the spot in a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Zaha hit a post with his first-half penalty and has now missed four of the 11 he has taken for Palace.

Nottingham Forest capitalised in the second half when Morgan Gibbs-White pounced on a rebound to fire home.
Initially ruled out for offside, the Video Assistant Referee overturned the decision and the goal stood.

Napoli in pole position

Napoli will go into the World Cup break with an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A after a 3-2 win over Udinese.

Luciano Spalletti’s side extended to 11 games their winning streak through goals from Victor Osimhen, Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas, although they were put through some nervous moments after Ilija Nestorovski and Lazar Samardzic scored for the visitors.

Napoli have won the title only twice in their history when Diego Maradona was the architect of success in 1987 and 1990.

The gap to second-placed AC Milan would have been greater if not for a late own goal, which earned Milan a 2-1 win against Fiorentina.

Hasty whistle denies Cummings

Jason Cummings was spitting chips after having a goal chalked off in Central Coast Mariners’ 3-2 defeat to Macarthur in the A-League men’s competition.

Cummings pounced on a loose ball and drilled a shot into the corner of the net just as referee Daniel Elder was blowing his whistle for a Mariners penalty.

Had he waited just a second more, Cummings’ goal would have stood.

Instead, the Socceroos striker took the penalty but was denied by the outstretched palm of Nicholas Suman.

Western off the bottom

Western United’s fightback against Wellington Phoenix has left Perth Glory at the foot of the A-League men’s competition.

United trailed 2-0 to Phoenix in Wellington before storming back with goals from Jacob Tratt, Aleksandar Prijovic and Alessandro Diamanti, whose winner came in stoppage time.

Glory are a point adrift of Western United, who have played a game more than Perth, and three points behind Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix.




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