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Cristiano Ronaldo punishes Al-Fayha! to send Al-Nassr into AFC Champions League quarter-finals

It was one-way traffic right from the start at Al-Awwal Stadium as Al-Nassr dominated possession, with Marcelo Brozovic pulling the strings from a deep-lying position in midfield. And they did not have to wait for long to break the deadlock as Otavio headed home an inch-perfect cross from Al-Khaibari in the 17th minute.

Although Ronaldo took his time to make his presence felt, once he warmed up he was right in the thick of things in attack. He was clamouring for a penalty after he was brought down inside the box by two Al-Fayha players, before being denied by the woodwork having risen highest in the penalty area.

Al-Nassr pushed on in search of their second of the night following the break and Ronaldo did find the net, but he was flagged offside after he mistimed his run by a fraction of a second.

However, with just four minutes from regulation time, the prolific forward put the tie to bed by finally getting his name on the scoresheet. A half-baked clearance from goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic ricocheted and fell kindly for Ronaldo, who simply rolled the ball into a gaping goal to seal a 3-0 victory over the two legs for the Knights of Najd against their domestic rivals.

A late goal was the icing on the cake for Ronaldo, who came agonisingly close on a couple of occasions on the night. After emerging as the difference-maker in the first leg with an 81st-minute winner, the 39-year-old once again proved to be a handful for Al-Fayha defenders throughout the 90 minutes. Despite being denied by the frame of the goal and the offside flag, he kept asking questions and was finally rewarded for his perseverance late into the night.

Al-Fayha goalkeeper Stojkovic must shoulder his fair share of blame after his team were knocked out of the continental competition. He could have done better with his legs to save Otavio’s header and was again indecisive with the clearance that led to Al-Nassr’s second of the night. A performance to forget for the Serbian shot-stopper.

Al-Nassr will now shift focus on their domestic commitments as they are set to host Al-Shabab next in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday. They are chasing leaders Al-Hilal, who are seven points ahead of them in the title race and can hardly afford to slip up.

 

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Could Man Utd Get Sucked Into Premier League Relegation Fight?

Could Man Utd Get Sucked Into Premier League Relegation Fight?

Ruben Amorim increasingly has the look of a man with regrets. Since taking over as Manchester United manager, the Portuguese has won just four out of 10 fixtures in all competitions with Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves the latest disappointing result to highlight the trouble being experienced by the Old Trafford outfit.

United deserved to lose at Molineux. Bruno Fernandes’ mindless red card reduced his team to 10 men with Wolves able to make the most of its advantage through goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan. This was Manchester United’s third straight defeat after losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.

When Amorim arrived at Old Trafford, there was a chance that Manchester United could have mounted a late challenge for a Champions League qualification place. Now, United is slumped in 14th place in the Premier League table, 11 points off the top four. The Red Devils are closer to the bottom three.

In fact, the way Manchester United is playing right now, it’s not impossible that it could get sucked into the relegation fight at the foot of the table. Amorim and his players will face Newcastle United and table-toppers Liverpool before the end of the festive stretch of fixtures, meaning even darker days could come in the near future.

 

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“The little things stuck with me” – Super Eagles star credits his Father for Christmas charity act

“The little things stuck with me” – Super Eagles star credits his Father for Christmas charity act

Super Eagles and Fulham attacking midfielder, Alex Chuka Iwobi, has revealed his Father played a huge role in his Christmas charity event a few days ago, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old opened a shop in East London under the name “AlexPress“, and stuffed it with food and groceries to give back to the people of the community where he grew up.

Iwobi revealed his Father played a huge role in the act, as he made sure kindness was instilled into the family by showing examples even in the little things.

“Even now, my dad, for example, if we’re going to the shop to get a one-pound drink, he’d give the guy in charge five pounds and tell him to keep the rest. When the bin men came, he’d make sure he was awake when they came around just so he could give them extra bottles of water. Little things like that stuck with me.

My mum and dad do that, and even my sisters do the same. We just like to help other people, especially family. Seeing my parents do that, and being in a position like I am, it’s only right that I give back to the community.

“I was able to create AlexPress, a little mini-mart. The shop is like a road away from the primary school I went to, so we were able to hire that for the day and basically invite as many people to collect Christmas food for their families.

So many people were able to leave with a smile on their faces and it makes it easier for them to enjoy Christmas because I know the cost of living is not easy, so I try to help in any way I can,” the former Everton man told Fulham’s official website.

Away from Iwobi, another Super Eagles star, Victor Osimhen, also gave food items and tricycles to locals of Olusosun, in Lagos, Nigeria – the town where he went from being a boy to being a man.

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Napoli’s Osimhen and Leverkusen’s Boniface Light Up Lagos With ‘Detty’ December Celebration

Napoli’s Osimhen and Leverkusen’s Boniface Light Up Lagos With ‘Detty’ December Celebration

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface recently brought the festive season to life in Lagos with an unforgettable December celebration, Soccernet.ng reports.

The two Super Eagles stars joined in the city’s vibrant “detty” December festivities, dancing and relaxing at a club with their peers.

In a video shared on social media, Osimhen, currently in top form with Galatasaray in Turkey, can be seen dancing to a song played in the club, while injured Boniface enjoys a drink from his cup.

Boniface and Osimhen’s Bond
Both players are key figures in the Super Eagles squad. Boniface, seen as the potential replacement for Osimhen when the talisman is injured or on the bench, shares a close bond with his teammate.

After winning the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen last season, Boniface recalled how Osimhen predicted his rise in the German league.

“Shout out to [Victor] Osimhen because I remember when they [Napoli] won the league. He told me next year will be your turn and it’s happening now. Senior man respect,” Boniface told Soccernet.ng.

Even on Boniface’s 24th birthday, Osimhen took to social media to celebrate his teammate:

“Birthday blessings starboy! Only love and well wishes over here man. See you soon!”

Off the pitch, Boniface values his relationship with Osimhen and recently named the Napoli forward as the most valuable contact on his phone. The former Union SG player has also praised Osimhen for his impressive performances at club level.

Osimhen and Boniface: Big in the Transfer Market
The two Super Eagles stars have attracted the attention of top European clubs looking to strengthen their squads.

Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Arsenal, have previously been linked with both players, and one of them may soon make a move to England.

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