News sport

Barca thrashed by Celta

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in breàking news,criçket live,cricket s,crıcket lıve score,india cricket live,live,live cricket,lïve cricket score,news sport,Soccer Soccer Extended RSS,sportnews,sports

Celta Vigo sent Barcelona crashing to defeat to go top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid's clash against Athletic Bilbao.

|||

Barcelona - Iago Aspas scored twice as Celta Vigo sent Barcelona crashing to a 4-1 defeat to go top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid's clash against Athletic Bilbao later on Wednesday.

After disappointing spells at Liverpool and Sevilla, Aspas is back to his best this season having returned to Celta and struck clinical finishes in either half against a Barca side who were far from their normal dominant selves.

Nolito, a former Barca youth player, fired his fifth goal in as many games to put Celta ahead after 25 minutes with a pinpoint curling drive from the left of the area.

Aspas then chipped the ball over keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen for the second minutes later.

It was clear that it was not going to be Barca's day when Lionel Messi struck the woodwork after 52 minutes with only keeper Sergio Alvarez to beat and then Aspas raced clear and slotted home on 55 minutes.

Barcelona's Neymar scored from a tight angle after 80 minutes but Celta substitute John Guidetti volleyed in their fourth minutes later.

Celta lead La Liga with 13 points, one more than Barca after five games, while Real are on 10 points having played one match fewer.

The players in the blue of Celta could have been mistaken for Barca the way they pressed the visitors back with their quick movement and link-up play.

Ter Stegen could only get his fingertips to Nolito's strike into the top corner and then Gerard Pique hesitated in possession on the halfway line with the ball finding its way to Aspas who ran through and lifted the ball over the keeper.

After the break Barca pressed forward but left themselves wide open at the back. Messi hit the woodwork and then shortly after Aspas latched onto a long punt forward, evaded a challenge from Dani Alves, and found the corner with his shot.

Messi set up Neymar for a consolation while Guidetti was then given space in the area and cracked the ball home. – Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1OSJL1V

Goals aplenty in Sundowns, Ajax clash

Anthony Laffor helped Mamelodi Sundowns record a win over Ajax Cape Town in a thrilling Absa Premiership encounter.

|||

Pretoria - A stoppage-time strike by Anthony Laffor helped Mamelodi Sundowns record a 3-2 win over Ajax Cape Town in a thrilling Absa Premiership match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night.

The home side went into the break 2-1 up after a Teko Modise strike and an own goal by Ajax defender Cecil Lolo. Bantu Mzwakali scored for Ajax in the first half.

Ajax struck back with a Nathan Paulse penalty just after the break to make it 2-2, but Laffor would have the last say in the match. Despite the win, Sundowns fans hurtled objects towards coach Pitso Mosimane amid chanting of “Pitso must go!” as he left the field after the match.

The fixture was delayed by about five minutes after Ajax striker Prince Nxumalo suffered an epileptic seizure before kickoff.

Paulse, the hero for Ajax in their MTN8 final triumph over the weekend, took his place in the starting line-up.

Sundowns made the better start when former Urban Warriors winger Keagan Dolly came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute.

Dolly dispossessed Ajax defender Abel Mabaso before pulling the trigger with his left foot. His shot beat Ajax goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, but was expertly cleared off the line by defender Abbubaker Mobara.

Sundowns, though, did take the lead in the 21st minute when midfielder Modise slotted home a free kick after the Ajax wall disintegrated.

However, Ajax bounced back in the 38th minute when midfielder Mzwakali pounced on a Paulse flick-on from a throw-in.

The Cape side started to get a little bit of rhythm towards the end of the first half, and veteran winger Franklin Cale went close in the 40th minute.

However, Sundowns would go into the break 2-1 up after a freakish own goal by Lolo, who inexplicably headed the ball into his own net with no Sundowns players in his vicinity.

But Ajax would hit back shortly after the interval when Franklin Cale was brought down in the penalty area. Paulse then calmly stepped up and slotted home his second penalty in less than a week.

Former Santos defender Wayne Arendse then had a great chance to Sundowns in the 67th minute, but he could only manage to hit the post from point-blank range.

However, substitute Laffor came up with the winner for Sundowns in stoppage time after a terrible clearance by the Ajax defenders in their penalty area. - ANA

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1ix3441

Chiefs held by Tuks

Losing MTN8 finalist Kaizer Chiefs were held by the Pretoria of University in the Absa Premiership match at the FNB Stadium.

|||

Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs tried to bounce back from their demoralising loss in the MTN8 final but were ultimately not good enough as they drew 1-1 with a battling University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership match at the FNB stadium on Wednesday night. Goals from Bernard Parker for Chiefs and Tebogo Monyai for Tuks saw the points shared as the home team, who led at half-time, seemed to slacken off and allowed their opponents back into the match.

After a cagey start Chiefs had a good chance to take the lead but Reneilwe Letsholonyane sliced his shot wide of the goal after getting a great pass from Willard Katsande.

Camaldene Abraw also had a chance minutes later but in a replica of the earlier chance, blasted wide.

But the pressure told in the 26th minute when a costly mistake from Khaya Gwala in the Tuks defence who was forced into a misplaced header, saw the ball go to Siphiwe Tshabalala.

He drove down the right flank, weaved his way inside and his pass across goal was met by Parker who rifled a shot into a gaping net with Tuks goalkeeper Washington Arubi stranded.

With Chiefs with a one goal advantage at half-time they seemed to relax in the early stages after the interval, content to allow Tuks to try and put their passes together.

Tuks had their best chance in the 65th minute when Getaneh Gibeto was set loose but his shot was well saved by Chiefs keeper Reyaad Pieterse who dived forward to thwart the threat.

But Tuks got the equaliser in the 71st minute when after a corner which was cleared, the ball was played back into the penalty area and after bobbing around captain Monyai pounced with a shot that went into the goal via the left hand goalpost.

This seem to spur Tuks who found new confidence as they searched for the winning goal. Chances fell to both sides but eventually they both had to settle for a point each. - ANA

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1L6FbgJ

Pogba agent hits back at Fergie

Paul Pogba's colourful agent has hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson after being blamed for the French international's controversial departure from Manchester United.

|||

Paul Pogba's colourful agent has hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson after being blamed for the French international's controversial departure from Manchester United.

In his newly-published book, 'Leading', legendary former United manager Ferguson writes he distrusted Mino Raiola “from the moment I met him” and infers the Dutchman was to blame for orchestrating Pogba's departure for Juventus when United “were eager to sign” a one-year renewal.

Pogba quit United in the summer of 2012 after becoming frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities, shocking the club by joining the Turin giants on a free transfer.

He has since become one of the most highly sought-after players in Europe.

Raiola, considered one of football's 'super-agents', claimed Ferguson still does not know or understand players like Pogba and hinted that Pogba was not given his chance at Old Trafford because Ferguson did not like his agent.

“Although I am not a Sir, I will behave like one when I'm talking about him (Ferguson),” Raiola was reported as saying on a Gazzetta dello Sport website report.

“As an agent, I try to look after my players' interests. I'm happy for people to criticise me but he still doesn't understand who Pogba really is and that maybe he quit (United) at the right time.

“I understood how he chose his players, and it was nothing to do with their qualities. It was down to how much he liked their agents.”

An excerpt from Ferguson's book describes how he disliked Raiola. The 73-year-old Scot also said Raiola “ingratiated” himself with the player in a bid to force his departure.

“There are one or two football agents I simply do not like. And Mino Raiola, Paul Pogba's agent, is one of them,” said Ferguson.

“We had Paul under a three-year contract, and it had a one-year renewal option which we were eager to sign.

“But Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene and our first meeting was a fiasco.

“He and I were like oil and water. From then on, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus.”

Raiola, who also represents on-loan AC Milan star Mario Balotelli and Paris Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahmivoc, said Ferguson's claims were wide of the mark.

“His ex-players will tell the truth one day. The facts as he tells them are not true,” he said. – AFP

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1iwUa6C

Chiefs are on the right track - Komphela

Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela is happy with the response of his charges following loss to Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 final.

|||

Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela is happy with the response of his charges following loss to Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 final over the past weekend.

“You can see for yourself, the mood has changed,” says the Kaizer Chiefs coach, while pointing to his players who are doing a stretching session after pre-match training at the FNB Stadium.

Amakhosi welcome the University of Pretoria in a match that is expected to produce fireworks. The game will take place at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening, 23 with kick-off is at 7.30pm.

“We have moved on,” Komphela said. “We have put the past behind us and we look forward to the future. We are unbeaten in the league and within the target we've set for this block of fixtures.”

Chiefs have won two and drawn two after four league matches played so far.

“We will go into this match with a similar squad but with a different approach. We will make sure that we impose ourselves on them, because this is our home match.”

The matches come thick and fast after the cup final. Therefore it's also good to know the progress to full fitness of the injured players. Daniel Cardoso, Philani Cele, Simphiwe Mtsweni and David Zulu are still out of contention to be part of the match-day team. When it comes to facing the University of Pretoria - Amakhosi have won four compared to one for AmaTuks. One match has been drawn out of the four outings between the two teams. - ANA

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1iLO1Ek

Pochettino aware of derby significance

Tottenham Hotspur will be without Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and Mousa Dembele against Arsenal in the third round of the League Cup.

|||

Tottenham Hotspur will be without Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and Mousa Dembele against Arsenal in the third round of the League Cup later on Wednesday and the significance of the contest is not lost on manager Mauricio Pochettino.

“Mason, Bentaleb and Mousa are out but they are close to being back in the team,” the former Southampton manager said of the injured trio ahead of the North London derby, one of the fiercest in English football.

In their 12 League Cup meetings, the Gunners prevailed six times and Tottenham won on three occasions, while the rest ended in a draw.

Pochettino, however, has never lost to Arsenal since his arrival last season, registering a draw and a win in their last two league meetings.

The last time Spurs won a trophy, they beat Arsenal 5-1 in the second leg of the 2007-08 League Cup semi-final, and ran out 6-2 winners on aggregate.

“When you play against Arsenal it's always an important game - a special game - whether you are playing in the FA Cup, League Cup or the Premier League,” Pochettino told reporters.

“It's a derby for us and the supporters and for that we want to win,” he said.

His counterpart Arsene Wenger is keen to build momentum after suffering successive losses at the hands of Chelsea in the league and Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

“Every single game that you play you want to win but especially this one,” Wenger said.

“It is a bit more special because it's always a big meaning. We want to get back into winning habits and that's why the momentum is even more important for us,” the Frenchman added. – Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Lw3fZ2

Defensive worries for Van Gaal

Manchester United defenders Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair suffered injuries against Southampton and will miss Wednesday's third-round League Cup clash against Ipswich Town.

|||

Manchester United defenders Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair suffered injuries against Southampton and will miss Wednesday's third-round League Cup clash against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed.

The duo's unavailability comes at a bad time for the Dutchman with left back Luke Shaw also ruled out for six months after a horrific leg break in the 2-1 Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven last week.

“Rojo has a hamstring injury and Paddy McNair has a minor injury,” the manager told the club's website (www.manutd.com).

The injuries to two more defenders mean that Phil Jones could make his first appearance of the season for United, despite not being fully fit.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined with mild thrombosis - a blood clot - but has been included in the squad and will be on the bench for the tie against the Championship side.

“I have to admit that because of the injury of three defenders (including Luke Shaw), I shall have Jones on the bench but he is not fit,” Van Gaal said. – Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1G26qS5

New twist in Chelsea, Dr Carneiro saga

Chelsea and Dr Eva Carneiro have parted company, with the club braced for what could prove an expensive legal battle.

|||

Chelsea and Dr Eva Carneiro have parted company, with the club braced for what could prove an expensive legal battle.

The news has invited criticism from within the FA board room, with board member Heather Rabbatts expressing her ‘sadness and anger’ at Dr Carneiro’s departure.

The now former Chelsea first-team doctor was ordered to return to work last Friday for what would have been her first appearance at the club’s Cobham training ground since a bust-up with manager Jose Mourinho during the Premier League match against Swansea City on August 8.

But Carneiro did not show, and according to club insiders yesterday she has still not been seen there. It is now clear that she has departed the club — as revealed by MailOnline yesterday.

Defending the doctor’s actions against Swansea, Rabbatts said last night: ‘Any other response would have been a dereliction of her duty and a breach of General Medical Council guidelines.

‘In acting properly she was then subject to verbal abuse and public criticism and in effect demoted by her removal from the bench.

‘Eva was one of the few very senior women in the game, a highly respected doctor who has acted with professional integrity in difficult circumstances and whose skills have been highly praised by her colleagues, the club and governing bodies.’

Chelsea may argue that her failure to turn up for work could weaken her case for constructive dismissal, even though arriving at Cobham could have amounted to accepting new terms of employment after she was publicly stripped of first-team duties.

Chelsea are aware that the Gibraltar-born medic is consulting top employment lawyers.

Carneiro was banned from the bench and team hotel after Mourinho publicly accused her of making a mistake when she and team physiotherapist Jon Fearn rushed on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard, having twice been waved on by referee Michael Oliver.

Mourinho’s explosive reaction at the time is the subject of an FA inquiry — as Sportsmail revealed last week — after a member of the public made a complaint, claiming that the Portuguese manager had shouted ‘filha da puta’; something that means ‘daughter of a wh*re’ and, if proven, could lead to Mourinho being banned for five matches.

Yesterday FA officials said the video evidence submitted as part of the complaint was still being reviewed.

Mourinho’s accusation that his medical staff did not understand the game was met with widespread disapproval by Carneiro’s peers.

Fifa’s chief medical officer was among those to remind Mourinho that the welfare of players is the responsibility of medical staff and not the manager.

Indeed, a joint statement from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the 500-strong Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine has been sent to the League Managers’ Association.

The FA’s position remains unclear. While it seems unlikely, Mourinho could yet be charged under the FA rule E3, which states that players and coaches can be punished for using ‘offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures’.

With an aggravated breach, in this case possibly with reference to gender, a five-match ban is the minimum sanction. – Daily Mail

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1MIw0TJ

McClaren pleads for blind faith from fans

Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has called on the fans to show “blind faith and belief” that the club will turn it around following a poor start to the season.

|||

With just two points from their first six Premier League games and pressure mounting from the stands, Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren has called on the fans to show “blind faith and belief” that the club will turn it around.

Newcastle are one of three teams still searching for their first league win of the season and have only local rivals Sunderland below them.

The Magpies host Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup on Wednesday before facing tough games against champions Chelsea and Manchester City in the league.

McClaren, who has described the club's start to the season as a “bit like a car crash”, said he understood fans' frustrations but called on them to be patient.

“A bit of blind faith and belief that eventually we will get it right, turn it around, and start performing and winning games. Yes, we will eventually do that,” McClaren told reporters.

“As a supporter, with what happened last season, and then the expectation of this, it is a little bit of blind faith that is needed, that is required.

“We don't need to be told, we know what is going on. We know what we have to do, we know the solutions, we just have to go out there and do it,” he added.

Newcastle fans will hope to avoid a repeat of last season, where they failed to record a win in their first eight games and needed a win over West Ham on the final day to ensure their Premier League survival.

The club spent a reported 50 million pounds ($76.76 million) to bring in five new players to the squad, four of them to strengthen Newcastle's attacking depth, but the goals have not been forthcoming, scoring just three in the league so far.

Newcastle's problems worsened on Tuesday when defender Steven Taylor was ruled out for eight weeks and striker Papiss Cisse sidelined for the Cup tie against Wednesday.

McClaren dismissed reports of problems in the dressing room, with injury-plagued midfielder Cheick Tiote and out-of-form forward Cisse receiving heavy criticism.

“There's been no problem with Cheick. He's not a bad egg at all,” McClaren said. “He hasn't been able to build up his fitness but I know Cheick well and I couldn't be any stronger in terms of saying that he's not any trouble.

“Papiss is Papiss, and he goes around with a smile on his face. That's the culture that he's got,” he added. – Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1KA8ylT

Balotelli off the mark for Milan

Mario Balotelli scored his first goal since rejoining AC Milan to set them on the way to a 3-2 win at Udinese in Serie A.

|||

Milan - Mario Balotelli scored his first goal since rejoining AC Milan to set them on the way to a 3-2 win at Udinese in Serie A on Tuesday.

Milan raced to a 3-0 halftime lead before surviving a second-half fightback from the hosts as they picked up their third win in five Serie A outings under new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Balotelli, on loan from Liverpool, needed only six minutes in his first start of the season to open his account when he curled a 20 metre free kick past Ornestis Karnezis who barely moved.

Giacomo Bonaventura volleyed in from Riccardo Montolivo's pass and Colombia defender Cristian Zapata headed the third from Bonaventura's corner in first-half stoppage time.

Emmanuel Badu and Duvan Zapata scored in a six-minute spell early in the second half to bring Udinese back into the match and set up a dramatic final half hour.

Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez made a brave save at Cyril Thereau's feet, Maurizio Domizzi sent a free header over the bar and Lopez punched away a powerful Bruno Fernandes drive as Milan clung on.

Fernandes was sent off in stoppage time amid angry protests as Udinese slumped to their fourth successive defeat since their shock opening day win at champions Juventus. – Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Ou5z4v

Lewandowski’s nine minute blitz

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski become the first Bundesliga player to score five times in nine minutes.

|||

Munich - Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski netted the Bundesliga's fastest hat-trick on his way to a sensational five-goal haul as a halftime substitute in their 5-1 demolition of VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

He scored three goals in four minutes from the 51st to the 55th before quickly adding two more, including a spectacular volley, to become the first Bundesliga player to score five times in nine minutes.

“This was just crazy,” Lewandowski told reporters having instantly turned the game around after the Bavarians trailed 1-0 at halftime. “Five goals, that's just unbelievable. “I am very, very satisfied. This was a great evening for me.”

“We were behind at the end of the first half and I wanted to step on the gas because we needed two goals,” said the Poland captain, who in 2013 scored four goals for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“I look up at the board after the third or fourth goal and I was surprised there was still so much time left to play. The coach did not have to tell me anything. I knew what had to be done.”

Lewandowski, who started on the bench beause he had just come back from a minor muscle injury, also became the first Bundesliga substitute to score five goals, and was one short of the all-time record goal haul of six by Cologne striker Dieter Mueller in 1977 in their 7-2 win over Werder Bremen.

“This is something I have never experienced before,” Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, left stunned on the sidelines, told reporters. “Five goals in nine minutes. Robert has been a great player in Germany and the world for some time now.”

The previous fastest hat-trick was scored by Duisburg's Michael Toennies in 1991 in a six-minute spell.

Toennies, through his former club, was quick to congratulate the new record holder, telling Lewandowski: “You deserved it, Robert. I have had this record for 24 years. It is a bit of a pity to see it go but what Robert Lewandowski conjured up was just amazing.” – Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1gM7qTD

Wits battle past Supersport

Bidvest Wits moved to the top of the Absa Premiership standings after a gutsy 1-0 league win over SuperSport United.

|||

Johannesburg - Bidvest Wits moved to the top of the Absa Premiership standings after a gutsy 1-0 league win over SuperSport United at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday night.

The 'Clever Boys' had to play the entire second half with 10 men after striker Henrico Botes was given his marching orders shortly before halftime.

However, Jabulani Shongwe's first-half strike would be enough for the home side to secure all three points on the night. This match was always going to be a hard-fought encounter, with neither team giving an inch on the field.

And it was definitely not for the faint-hearted as the referee dished out of a plethora of yellow cards.

There was also a lot of offside play, especially by the home side, who tried to get in behind the deep-lying SuperSport defensive line. Namibian striker Botes had a great chance in the 35th minute of the match after he latched onto Elias Pelembe's corner kick.

SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, however, did well to keep the ball out.

Wits would eventually open the scoring five minutes later when Shongwe dribbled into the SuperSport penalty area before drilling the ball home with his right foot.

However, the home side went into the break with only 10 men on the field after Botes was given a second yellow card following a hand in the face of SuperSport defender Clayton Daniels.

But Wits were hardly troubled in the second half, even though SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund put on a lot of attacking players after the break. In fact, it was Wits who had the best chances of the second stanza, with Paty Faty and Phumlani Ntshangase shooting over the crossbar from long range. Wits substitute Joaquim Lupeta also shot wide in the 82nd minute.

SuperSport's best chance came in the 87th minute, but Wits substitute Marcus Lecki managed to clear the ball before Jeremy Brockie could pull the trigger. -ANA

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Ou2VM9

More frustration for Pirates

Polokwane City and Orlando Pirates played to a sterile goalless draw in their Absa Premiership match.

|||

Polokwane – It was a predictable stalemate at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night when Polokwane City and Orlando Pirates played to a sterile goalless draw in their Absa Premiership match.

Both teams have played five games and won only one this season and judging from the stilted performances from both teams it is going to take something special for them to make inroads into the top half of the league even though City could have won it with the last kick of the match.

The opening exchanges were even as both teams kept it tight in the midfield with chances very rare. One of these came when the towering 1.9 metre Polokwane forward Muzikayafane Ngidi blasted high over the crossbar after some clever inter-play from his team-mates in the 14th minute.

Minutes later Pirates' Kermit Erasmus make a great run down the inside left channel, went past the goalkeeper but his brilliant pass across the goalmouth from the byeline came to nothing with no Bucs players in the penalty area to finish it off.

The rest of the first half was a somewhat tepid affair with both teams showing an alarming lack of class when it came to the final pass.

Inevitably both attacks had little success and at the end of 45 minutes Pirates had the unenviable statistic of not having one shot on target with Polokwane goalkeeper George Chigova having an easy first half except for a couple of interceptions.

Pirates suffered a blow in the 59th minute when Oupa Manyisa went into a tackle and sprained his left ankle and collapsed to the turf in agony. He was stretchered off the field and replaced by Menzi Masuka.

Pirates then increased the intensity and pressed forward and in the 76th minute Chigova was called into action when he had to dive low to make a good save from a hard-hit shot from Mpho Makola. The last 10 minutes were probably the liveliest patch of play but in truth this was a poor advertisement for the PSL standards. - ANA

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Mpks4S

Maritzburg remain winless

Maritzburg United's winless run continued when they lost their fourth Absa Premiership match 3-2 to Free State Stars.

|||

Maritzburg – Maritzburg United's winless run continued when they lost their fourth Absa Premiership match 3-2 to Free State Stars on Tuesday night at Harry Gwala Stadium.

Three second-half goals by Danny Venter, Andrea Fileccia and a late strike by Robert Sankara were enough to hand coach Ernst Middendorp his second successive victory as they move to the eighth spot on the log with six points.

On the other hand, the hosts remain rooted at the bottom of the log with one point from five matches.

The encounter comes on the back of the 'Team of Choice' having parted ways with coach Mandla Ncikazi and his assistant Fadlu Davids being handed the reins. However, facing his ex-boss in Ernst Middendorp, Davids failed to produce the goods for the hosts.

In the 16th minute, Kurt Lentjies took a shot at goal aiming to break the deadlock, however, Daouda Diakite parried the ball away and three minutes later, the former Mamelodi Sundowns man tried another shot but the keeper stood firm.

The Bethlehem side made strides to get an early goal when Sankara unleashed a long range shot but he failed to hit the target. With no clear-cut chances, both sides went to the interval still level pegging.

The second stanza saw the hosts moving swiftly to find an opener through Evans Rusike but his header was above Diakite' posts and in the 62nd minute the hosts found the back of the net when Venter finished Bokang Thlone's cross.

Nevertheless, their celebration did not last long as the hosts received a penalty four minutes later when Themba Tshabalala was penalised for a handball and Lentjies made no mistake to convert from the spot.

With 10 minutes to go, midfielder Philani Zulu was penalised for a foul on Fileccia and the referee pointed to the spot, the Belgian scored to give the Free State side the lead.

Maritzburg had a chance to equalise in the 84th minute when Lentjies and Ashley Hartog could not communicate as they both left ball for each other but it was substitute Mohammed Anas who grabbed an equaliser when he scored with his right foot in the 90th minute.

The drama was not over yet until Sankara netted a fine goal, thanks to an assist by Moeketsi Sekola to claim the three points. - ANA

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Ou2XU8

Costa banned, Gabriel red rescinded

Chelsea’s Diego Costa has been banned for three games following the London derby against Arsenal.

|||

London - Arsenal defender Gabriel has had his claim of wrongful dismissal in the feisty local derby against Chelsea upheld by the FA, but Chelsea's Diego Costa has been banned for three matches with immediate effect.

An FA statement on Tuesday said the Spanish international striker was guilty of “violent conduct not seen by the match officials but caught on video”.

Costa got a yellow card for deliberately chest-bumping defender Laurent Koscielny but referee Mike Dean missed him catching the Arsenal defender in the face shortly afterwards.

He will be unavailable for Wednesday's League Cup third-round tie at Walsall, and the Premier League games at Newcastle United on Saturday and at home to Southampton on Oct. 3.

Brazilian Gabriel, however, can play in Arsenal's League Cup match at north London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

His sending off at Stamford Bridge for retaliating against Costa was rescinded, although he is still subject to a separate charge of improper conduct for leaving the pitch too slowly.

Both clubs have been charged with failing to control their players.– Reuters

from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Ou2XDU