Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Gunners limping towards City clash

Arsenal are on unsteady ground as they head towards a top-of-the-table clash with defending champions Manchester City on April 26.

Although the Gunners are still top of the table – a position they’ve held for most of the season – their most recent form has narrowed the gap to just four points above City, who have a game in hand.

After throwing away a two-goal lead to draw with Liverpool a week ago, Arsenal were at it again on Sunday – this time against relegation-threatened West Ham United. Bukayo Saka also missed a penalty to compound Arsenal’s pain.

City, who beat Leicester City 3-1 on Saturday, have a second leg Champions League match against Bayern Munich and an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United before their potentially season-defining clash with Arsenal.

The Gunners take on bottom side Southampton on Saturday before the big match against City.

Rare Dalot goal lifts United

Diogo Dalot scored his first Premier League goal as Manchester United increased Nottingham Forest’s relegation fears.

Antony scored the opener for United before Dalot found the net to register his first Premier League goal in his 65th appearance.

The return of Christian Eriksen, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury picked up in January, was a boost for United, who dominated the match.

Third-from-bottom Forest failed to register a single shot on target and continued a worrying stretch of 10 games without a win.

Bournemouth bite back

The Bournemouth rollercoaster is on the rise and heading towards Premier League safety after a dose of late drama at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham twice trailed Bournemouth and thought they had snatched a point when former Cherries forward Arnaut Danjuma made it 2-2 with two minutes left.

But Dango Ouattara scored in stoppage time to secure a fourth victory in Bournemouth’s past six Premier League games.

Manager Gary O’Neil has had a big impact on a team whose Premier League status had looked in serious doubt during the opening stages of the campaign. They conceded 18 goals in their first four games under Scott Parker, including a 9-0 thrashing by Liverpool, before O’Neil was brought in.

Enciso produces a special highlight

You are unlikely to see a better, more worthy goal this season than Julio Enciso’s stunner for Brighton against Chelsea.

The fact that it was a winning goal gave it a little more sparkle, which was no more than Brighton deserved.

Although they dominated almost every aspect of the game at Stamford Bridge, Roberto De Zerbi’s side fell behind to Conor Gallagher’s deflected opener.

But seventh-placed Brighton deservedly drew level through Danny Welbeck’s header late in the first half before
Enciso scored a wondergoal for his personal highlights reel.

Watkins sinks boot into Newcastle

Ollie Watkins is a making a habit of scoring important goals as Aston Villa continue their push for Europe.

The Villa front man scored twice, taking his season total to 14 goals, as Unai Emery’s side made Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United look second rate.

Newcastle had won their previous four games, although Villa went into the game on the back of a six-game unbeaten streak.

Jacob Ramsey scored the opener for Villa, who are sixth, thanks to an assist from Watkins. Newcastle slipped to fourth.

Mbappe hits record haul

Kylian Mbappe might get more recognition for his undoubted talent if he was playing for someone other than Paris Saint Germain in a league that’s a little more competitive than France’s Ligue 1.

But while he chooses to strut his stuff at PSG, he might as well keep banging in the goals.

The French striker bagged his 139th goal in just his 169th match to become the club’s all-time leading scorer. Second-placed Lens were PSG’s latest victims, suffering a 3-1 loss.

Mbappe surpassed the mark set by Uruguayan Edinson Cavani to open the scoring before Vitinha and Lionel Messi made the game safe before half-time.

Glory’s flickering finals light

It makes sense that Perth Glory coach Ruben Zadkovich believes Perth Glory can make it into the A-League finals.

But on the evidence of yesterday’s 4-1 defeat to Sydney FC it looks highly unlikely.

Adam Zimarino produced an excellent first A-League goal just before half-time but that was one of few Glory highlights at Allianz Stadium.

Glory have won only once away from home this season, but their final two games of the campaign are at home – against Adelaide United and Western United.

They are four points adrift of a finals place with fifth-placed Wellington Phoenix and sixth-placed Sydney on 32 points. Newcastle Jets (29 points) and Western United (29) are also above Glory, who have 28 points.

City’s helping hand to history

Melbourne City’s Premiership party was postponed on Saturday but not for long. After drawing with Central Coast Mariners, City clinched the title without kicking a ball on Sunday when their closest rivals, Adelaide United, were beaten by Western United.

City became the first club in A-League history to win three successive league titles, although the work goes on in their quest to win the finals series for just the second time.

City won the 2021 Grand Final but lost last season’s decider to Western United.

Kerr heads Blues into FA Cup final

Less than a week after helping to end England women’s team’s 30-game unbeaten run, Sam Kerr helped herself to another important goal – this time in Chelsea blue.

The Matildas striker scored one goal and set-up another as Australia beat England last week.

Back in clubland yesterday, Kerr rose to head home an FA Cup semi-final winner against Aston Villa, to send Chelsea into a third successive Women’s FA Cup final.

Juve stumble against Sassuolo

Juventus’ hopes of European qualification next season were given a shake on Sunday by mid-table Sassuolo.

Gregoire Defrel scored the only goal of the game as the home side secured a win that lifted them up to 10th place.

It was a blow to Juventus, who slipped to seventh on the table and are four points behind sixth-placed Atalanta,
who have a game in hand.

Juventus were docked 15 points earlier this season for breaching transfer regulations.




Recent Articles