Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning penalty for 10-man Manchester United against Arsenal after their hectic FA Cup third round tie finished 1-1 after extra time at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead in the 52nd minute through Bruno Fernandes’ curling effort from just inside the box, before Gabriel Magalhãesl equalised 11 minutes later — just after United’s Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second booking.

United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir produced a superb save to deny Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard from the penalty spot, before the Gunners spurned several chances to score a winner.

Ruben Amorim’s team will find out their opponent in the fourth round when the draw is made later on Sunday evening.

Arsenal’s striker Gabriel Jesus left the FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United on a stretcher after being injured on Sunday.

The Brazilian covered his face as he was carried off the pitch in the first-half with the game goalless, following an innocuous coming together with United captain Bruno Fernandes.

Jesus clipped Fernandes just outside Arsenal’s 18-yard box, causing Fernandes’ boot to come loose.

 

The United midfielder then twice threw his boot to the ground in frustration at referee Andrew Madley’s decision against rewarding a free kick, earning him a booking for dissent. However, while Fernandes fumed, Jesus stayed down and required a stretcher.

 

Jesus is the latest injury to one of Arsenal’s starters, with Bukayo Saka ruled out until March after he required surgery on a hamstring injury.

 

Arsenal are also without Ethan Nwaneri (muscle injury), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Ben White (knee).

Manchester City are the 2024 FA Community Shield winners after beating Manchester United 7-6 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in normal time.

It is the first time since City have won the top-flight curtain raiser since beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in 2019 and puts an end to their three-year run of losing in this fixture (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have won the Community Shield for Manchester United when he cut inside and fired home a fantastic effort with just eight minutes of normal time left on the clock.

However, that was before fellow substitute Bernardo Silva popped up in the 89th minute to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross some eight minutes after entering the fray.

The Community Shield then went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time in six seasons, with Manuel Akanji capitalising on Jonny Evans’ miss by converting his decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 7-6 and earn Pep Guardiola’s side their first trophy of the 2024/25 season.

While the FA Community Shield may not hold great importance when discussing major honours, it is a match both sides wanted to win.

The incentives were there, a Manchester derby, the top-flight curtain raiser and for Man City, a chance to avenge their FA Cup final defeat against their Manchester rivals some three months ago.

 

Manchester City are the 2024 FA Community Shield winners after beating Manchester United 7-6 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in normal time.

It is the first time since City have won the top-flight curtain raiser since beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in 2019 and puts an end to their three-year run of losing in this fixture (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have won the Community Shield for Manchester United when he cut inside and fired home a fantastic effort with just eight minutes of normal time left on the clock.

However, that was before fellow substitute Bernardo Silva popped up in the 89th minute to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross some eight minutes after entering the fray.

The Community Shield then went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time in six seasons, with Manuel Akanji capitalising on Jonny Evans’ miss by converting his decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 7-6 and earn Pep Guardiola’s side their first trophy of the 2024/25 season.

While the FA Community Shield may not hold great importance when discussing major honours, it is a match both sides wanted to win.

The incentives were there, a Manchester derby, the top-flight curtain raiser and for Man City, a chance to avenge their FA Cup final defeat against their Manchester rivals some three months ago.

Manchester City avenged their FA Cup defeat against Manchester United by winning the Community Shield 7-6 on penalties on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium.

The match came to life in the final 10 minutes as Alejandro Garnacho gave United the lead, but Bernardo Silva equalised before City emerged victorious in a marathon shoot-out.

Sudden death was required, with City clinching the victory when Jonny Evans chipped the ball over and Manuel Akanji converted.

AFP

More to come…

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Scottish side Dundee United have announced the signing of Nigeria winger, Meshack Ubochioma.

Ubochioma joined Dundee United from OTP Bank Liga outfit, Zalaegerszegi TE.

The 17-year-old penned a two-year contract with an additional year.

“DUFC is delighted to announce the signing of Meshack Ubochioma from OTP Bank Liga outfit Zalaegerszegi TE,” reads a statement on the club’s official X handle.

“The Nigerian winger arrives on a two-year deal, with a club-held option of an additional year.”

The move is subject to both international and SFA clearance.

 

 

Paris Saint-Germain are trying to make up for the loss of Kylian Mbappe by signing Bruno Fernandes from Premier League side, Manchester United.

Mbappe left the Parc des Princes as a free agent and has been officially unveiled by Real Madrid.
According to L’Equipe, PSG are now looking to improve their attacking firepower by luring Fernandes this summer.

Fernandes has been a key player for United since he joined the club from Sporting in the winter of 2020.
Despite his impressive numbers for the Red Devils, the Premier League club has struggled in recent years and the Portugal midfielder has been thinking about a move away from the club.

The Portuguese international has also been linked with clubs like Bayern Munich and Al-Nassr this summer.

Ahead of the upcoming season, the board of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has confirmed the relegation of 12 clubs from the four groups that played in last season’s league to the third tier, National League One (NLO).

This is just as the board has also confirmed the promotion of four clubs to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Recall that the NNL recently concluded the 2023/2024 league season with it’s super eight championships at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu, where the four clubs – Nasarawa United, El-kanemi Warriors, Beyond Limits and Ikorodu City FC gained promotion to the elite league.

The NNL in a letter to the NFF confirmed the relegation of Stormers FC, Abeokuta, Ekiti United FC of Ado Ekiti and 1472 FC of Lagos from conference A.

The letter dated July 13, 2024 confirmed that FC One Rocket of Uyo, Giant Brillars FC of Enugu and Trade Safe FC of Lagos were also relegated from conference B, while NAF FC of Abuja, ABS FC of Ilorin and EFCC FC of Abuja dropped to the NLO from conference C.

Similarly, Mailantarki Care FC of Abuja, Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse and City FC of Abuja completed the rear for dropped clubs from Conference D.

It was similarly gathered that the NNL has received list of promoted clubs from the NLO, as well as those demoted from the NPFL, that would soon participate in it’s coming Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the twelve clubs, four that suffered relegation from the NPFL and eight that gained promotion from the NLO will be formally received to participate in the 2024/2025 NNL season.

Confirming the promotion and relegation of the clubs, chairman of the NNL, George Aluo, said the board has formally notified the NFF, informing the parent body of the final outcome of the 2023/2024 season.

The veteran journalist added that the board is currently preparing for its Annual General Meeting (AGM), where it will formally receive all the clubs that would participate in the new season.

“To the glory of God the 2023/2024 NNL season ended with giant strides recorded by the board. We have formally notified the NFF of the promotion and relegation of the various clubs that gallantly participated in the league last season.

“Our next program is the Annual General Meeting of the board and clubs, where we will receive the four clubs that dropped from the NPFL and the eight that got promotion from the NLO.

“We are set and have promised Nigerians that we will improve on our last season’s performance. We have raised the standards at NNL and the new season will no doubt be competitive as our performance has propelled many of the clubs that participated in last season to become giant killers in Nigerian football,” Aluo stated.

Manchester United have signed Bologna and Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee in a deal worth £36.54m.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further 12 months.

Zirkzee’s Bologna contract included a 40m euros (£33.6m) release clause, but United opted to agree a slightly increased price in order to pay the fee over a three-year period to help with Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Zirkzee becomes the first signing the men’s side have made since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner by purchasing a 27.7% stake in the club last December.

He scored 12 goals in 37 appearances last season as Serie A side Bologna claimed a surprise spot in this season’s Champions League.

Zirkzee joined Bayern Munich from Feyenoord in 2017, before moving to Bologna for about £7.15m five years later after loan spells with Parma and Anderlecht.

He was named in Ronald Koeman’s Euro 2024 squad but made just two substitute appearances for the Netherlands, who lost to England in the semi-finals.

Zirkzee, the 2023/24 Serie A Under-23 Player of the Year, said it was “a privilege to join such an iconic club” and he is “ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies”.

 

Manchester United have signed Bologna and Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee in a deal worth £36.54m.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further 12 months.

Zirkzee’s Bologna contract included a 40m Euros (£33.6m) release clause, but United opted to agree a slightly increased price in order to pay the fee over a three-year period to help with Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Zirkzee becomes the first signing the men’s side have made since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner by purchasing a 27.7% stake in the club last December.

He scored 12 goals in 37 appearances last season as Serie A side Bologna claimed a surprise spot in this season’s Champions League.

Zirkzee joined Bayern Munich from Feyenoord in 2017, before moving to Bologna for about £7.15m five years later after loan spells with Parma and Anderlecht.

He was named in Ronald Koeman’s Euro 2024 squad but made just two substitute appearances for the Netherlands, who lost to England in the semi-finals.

Zirkzee, the 2023/24 Serie A Under-23 Player of the Year, said it was “a privilege to join such an iconic club” and he is “ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies.”

Dan Ashworth, United’s new sporting director, said adding to the club’s group of forward players was “a key aim for this summer”.

He called Zirkzee “an outstanding talent who was ready to make an impact for Manchester United”, adding the frontman’s “ability and desire to grow into a world-class player means that he will be a great addition to the squad that we are building for the exciting season ahead and beyond”.

United boss Erik ten Hag has seen his attacking options depleted by the departure of Anthony Martial in June following the expiry of his contract.

Rasmus Hojlund, a £72m signing from Atalanta in 2023, scored 16 goals in 43 appearances during his debut season at the club.

But the Denmark forward lost his starting place by the end of the season as Ten Hag opted to play Bruno Fernandes in a false-nine position during their FA Cup final win against Manchester City in May.