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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Ten Hag’s first trophy at United

It might only have been a League Cup Final but Erik ten Hag’s first trophy in English football seems more important than that.

After six years without a piece of silverware, Manchester United fans are indebted to Ten Hag, who has delivered at the first time of asking.

A team transformed since conceding six goals in Premier League defeats to Brighton and Brentford at the start of the season, scored twice in six first-half minutes to sink Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley.

Casemiro and Marcus Rashford, courtesy of a deflected shot, earned the Red Devils’ victory.

Spurs compound Potter woes

Graham Potter’s job at Chelsea may or may not be safe but he can’t possibly be enjoying the experience.

After a week in which it was revealed that Potter had received death threats, Chelsea stayed 10th on the table with a defeat to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs, who have had troubles of their own this season, consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with goals from Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane securing a 2-0 win.

Chelsea are in the last 16 of the Champions League but trail Borussia Dortmund 1-0 after the first leg.

Potter, whose success with Swansea City and Brighton attracted Chelsea’s attention last year, looks to be on borrowed time.

More silverware for Ange

Ange Postecoglou continues to climb towards legend status at Celtic after his side claimed the Scottish League Cup with a 2-1 win over rivals Rangers.

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice in the final for the second consecutive year to earn Celtic yet another trophy.

Celtic’s Australian manager Postecoglou is on track to claim a treble this season, with his team nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League and into the Scottish FA Cup quarter-finals.

Tough (or not) at the top

Arsenal did it tough, while Manchester City cruised as the two key contenders for the Premier League title found different ways to win on Saturday.

Gabriel Martinell’s goal was enough for Arsenal to see off stubborn Leicester City at the King Power Stadium and maintain their two-point lead at the top of the table.

Manchester City had a much more straight-forward route to three points with goals from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden giving them a 3-0 half-time lead.

A second-half own goal from Chris Mepham put City further ahead before Jefferson Lerma scored a late consolation for the home side.

Arsenal have played one game fewer than City.

Ings double ignites Hammers

Danny Ings opened his West Ham United goalscoring account with a double in a trouncing of Nottingham Forest.

Ings had failed to score in his four previous outings since joining from Aston Villa in January.

But the goals could not have come at a better time. Ings’ double, which came in the final 20 minutes of the game, was followed by goals from Declan Rice and Michail Antonio.

Victory lifted West Ham to 16th place, two points clear of the relegation zone.

New manager gets winning start

Javier Gracia got his Leeds United managerial career off to a perfect start thanks to Junior Firpo’s first Premier League goal for the club.

The former Barcelona defender was delighted with the goal but Southampton defender Jan Bednarek and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will have nightmares about the finish. The shot didn’t appear to have the direction or power to find the net – but it did.

The win lifted Leeds to 22 points, a point above the relegation zone where Everton, who were beaten by Aston Villa, are on 21 points, and Bournemouth (21 points) are three points clear of last-placed Southampton.

Glory’s double blow

Perth Glory suffered a double blow against Brisbane Roar with a 2-1 defeat compounded by injury to defender Darryl Lachman.

Jack Clisby fired Glory into a first-half lead but they were undone by goals from Thomas Aldred and Henry Hore. Lachman was injured following a clash of heads and was taken from the pitch in an ambulance.

It has been a tough week for Glory after reports that coach Ruben Zadkovich and midfielder Giordano Colli had been involved in a training altercation.

The club dismissed the reports as exaggerated. Colli came off the bench in the 79th minute with Glory already trailing 2-1.

Tilio move on the horizon

Marco Tilio might not be wearing the sky blue of Melbourne City beyond the current season, as an overseas move is on the cards.

City coach Rado Vidosic conceded as much after the Socceroos attacker scored a sensational goal and smart assist in City’s 3-2 win over Sydney FC on Saturday.

The 21-year-old’s scything run and long-range finish was followed by a cut-back for Jamie Maclaren to score his second goal of the match.

It’s hard to see anyone catching City in the race for top spot. Second-placed Central Coast Mariners are nine points behind and have played a game more than City.

Real struggle against 10 men

They were too good for Liverpool in midweek but not too good for Atletico Madrid. Just days after reversing a two-goal Champions League deficit to beat Liverpool 5-2, Real Madrid dropped more points in their domestic title charge.

Despite city rivals Atletico Madrid being reduced to 10 men when Angel Correa was sent off, Jose Gimenez gave the visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu a dramatic lead.

It was left to teenager Alvaro Rodriguez to rescue a point for Real with his first goal for the club.

Barcelona, who are seven points clear of Real, missed the chance to go further ahead when they were beaten 1-0 by Almeria.

Napoli serious about Champions League

At what point do Napoli start to convince fans outside of Naples that they should be considered seriously as both Serie A and Champions League contenders?

Luciano Spalletti’s side are running away with Italy’s domestic title with an 18-point lead at the top over nearest rival Inter Milan.

And that handsome gap at the top of the table, is also reflected in their Champions League form, which continued last week with a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Round of 16 first leg.

There appears to be no weakness in a team with plenty of shining stars, including the so-called Georgian Messi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and top scorer Victor Osimhen, who scored his 21st goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Empoli.

Inter lost further ground with a 1-0 defeat at Bologna.




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