In a thrilling match, Newcastle emerged victorious with a 2-0 away win over Arsenal in the first leg. However, there were questions raised over Alexander Isak's opening goal, with suggestions of a push on Martin Odegaard being missed by VAR. Despite this, Isak brushed off any accusations, stating it was just part of the game. Arsenal's coaching staff also came under scrutiny for not marking Isak, who has been in top form recently. Will Newcastle hold on to their advantage in the second leg? That remains to be seen.
Newcastle Thump Arsenal in First Leg, Odegaard Incident Raises VAR Concerns
In a gripping Premier League encounter, Newcastle United stunned Arsenal with a commanding 2-0 away victory in the first leg of their semi-final clash. However, the triumph was marred by controversy surrounding Alexander Isak's opening goal.
Isak's Contentious Goal
Isak's close-range goal in the first half gave Newcastle an early lead. However, replays showed that Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard appeared to be pushed in the buildup to the goal. The incident was reviewed by VAR but no foul was given.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment with the decision, which he believed should have been overturned. "It was a clear foul on Odegaard," he said. "It's not acceptable to have a goal stand like that."
Isak defended his actions, saying: "I didn't intentionally push him. It's just part of the game. I'm glad to have scored the goal, but I understand why Arsenal are upset."
Newcastle's Defensive Resilience
Newcastle's defense stood firm throughout the match, snuffing out Arsenal's attacking threats. Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman were particularly impressive, intercepting crosses and limiting Arsenal's chances.
Arsenal's Poor Marking
Arsenal's coaching staff was criticized for failing to mark Isak effectively. The Swedish striker has been in excellent form this season, scoring 12 goals in his last 10 games.
Newcastle's Advantage
Newcastle's 2-0 lead gives them a significant advantage heading into the second leg at their home ground, St. James' Park. Arsenal will need to score at least three goals to advance to the final.
Top 5 FAQs
Was the VAR decision correct on Isak's goal?
Who was the man of the match?
What went wrong for Arsenal?
Can Newcastle hold on to their lead in the second leg?
Who will Arsenal face in the final if they overcome Newcastle?
After a disappointing spell at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag's first game in charge of Bayer Leverkusen ended in a humiliating 5-1 loss against Flamengo's Under-20s in a pre-season friendly. Despite fielding a strong team, Leverkusen struggled against their young opponents, with Lorran and Matheus Goncalves scoring early on. Though Leverkusen managed to get a late consolation goal, it was not enough to rescue them from their defeat.
As Liverpool look to add more firepower to their already formidable attack, they have shifted their focus from Newcastle's Alexander Isak to Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike. With personal terms agreed, all that's left is for the Reds to strike a deal with Frankfurt, who value the French striker at £85m. Meanwhile, Arsenal is in negotiations with Sporting Lisbon for Viktor Gyokeres and have confirmed the arrival of Noni Madueke from Chelsea for £52m. Manchester United's target Bryan Mbeumo is closer to a move as Ruben Amorim's side have accepted a guaranteed £65m bid. And Aston Villa's Enzo Barrenechea is off on a season-long loan to Benfica with an option to buy. Stay tuned to Mirror Football for more transfer updates.
After being handed a defeat by the AIFF's Competitions Committee, Inter Kashi received a vindicating ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a dispute over the registration of Mario Barco. The decision granted Inter Kashi the title of I-League champion for the 2024-25 season, marking the club's second successful appeal at the CAS this year. This follows a previous victory against Namdhari FC for fielding a suspended player, which awarded Inter Kashi three points.
The Gunners made their fourth signing of the summer, adding depth and quality to their attack with the 23-year-old English player. Madueke is the latest in a long line of players to move from Chelsea to Arsenal, joining the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Raheem Sterling. He had a successful career at Chelsea, scoring 20 goals in 92 games and helping the team win the Conference League and Club World Cup.
After nearly six weeks of negotiations, Manchester United have finally reached an agreement with Brentford for the transfer of Bryan Mbeumo. The deal is reportedly worth £71 million, with a portion of the fee to be paid in installments. Matheus Cunha, who recently joined United from Wolves, showed his support for the incoming player by liking Fabrizio Romano's post on Instagram. The Red Devils' persistence paid off, as their previous bids were rejected by Brentford before a breakthrough was finally reached.
Despite being asked about the rumors surrounding her relationship with NFL rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins stayed silent and chose to focus instead on her recovery from a recent ACL injury. However, fans have been buzzing for months about a possible romance between the two athletes, especially after Daniels was spotted dancing and celebrating with Watkins at her recent surprise birthday party. While neither have confirmed anything, the footage captured of them together has only fueled speculation.
Manchester United has submitted a third transfer bid for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo worth £65m plus £5m in add-ons. The club remains in talks with Brentford over the structure and conditions of the deal for the Cameroon international, after previous offers of £55m and £62.5m were rejected. Mbeumo has expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford, and Tottenham, who were also interested in the 23-year-old, have been ruled out of the race.
In a heartwarming exchange captured at the Dream UTT Juniors event, Indian Olympic table tennis star Sreeja Akula shares valuable insights and advice with rising teenage athlete Divyanshi Bhowmick. From discussing playing against top players, dealing with tough matches, and achieving their respective goals, this session showcased the bond between two generations of Indian table tennis players and the impact of Dream Sports Foundation's support on their careers.
Inter Kashi has been declared the champions of the I-League following a favourable CAS ruling in their appeal against AIFF's Appeal Committee's decision. The controversy arose over the registration of foreign player Mario Barco, who was initially registered before the start of the season but later re-registered twice after being injured and mutually terminated. This is the second time Inter Kashi has won against AIFF's decision, solidifying their well-deserved victory.
This article talks about the remarkable journey of Ishan Kishan, a talented cricketer from Patna, on the occasion of his 27th birthday. He has made a name for himself with his aggressive batting and exceptional wicketkeeping skills. From his humble beginnings in Jharkhand to representing the Indian team in all formats, Kishan has achieved great success and won the hearts of fans. On his birthday, he is hailed as a 'Rockstar' by his IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad and admired by fans as 'Bihar's Lion' and 'Hyderabad's Warrior'. With his passion and talent, Ishan is sure to achieve many more milestones and bring victories for Team India.