NFL
By: Ty Reeves
Mid-week match-ups proved exciting as the three-way race for the top of the table continues. Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Leicester City continue their runs of good form while Chelsea and others struggle.
Arsenal: 3 Newcastle United: 0
Arsenal continued their good run of form in the Premier League after they demolished Newcastle United at the Emirates. The Gunners controlled the game from start to finish as they had 67% possession throughout the match.
Even though Arsenal had the overall attacking presence during the first half, the Newcastle defense stood strong. The first 45 minutes ended in a standoff as neither team was able to get on the score sheet. Arsenal’s first real chance of the competition came in the 47th minute when striker Alexandre Lacazette ripped a shot towards the far post. The shot was met by the outstretched hands of Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow, who made a fantastic save to keep the game level.
Less than two minutes Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey played a ball over the top of the Newcastle defense to Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang who made a run behind the defense. The Arsenal captain then carried the ball to the Newcastle box. With a defender draped all over him, the striker put the ball on his weaker left foot and fired the ball past the goalkeeper to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead. The Gunners would double their lead in the 60th minute when midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe played a ball across the box to winger Bukayo Saka who placed the ball past the keeper into the back of the net.
Aubameyang would then have the opportunity to double his tally and he would do just that. In the 77th minute, defender Cedric Soares scampered down the end line and drilled a ball across the box to the Arsenal captain for the easy tap in. That goal would give Arsenal a commanding 3-0 lead over Newcastle and that’s how the match would end
Leicester City: 2 Chelsea: 0
Leicester City put on a dominant performance at the King Power Stadium, which saw manager Brendan Rodgers get his first career victory against Chelsea. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard once again criticized his squad as his job as manager looks in doubt after the team’s recent run of games.
The Foxes got onto the score sheet quickly after midfielder Wilfrid Ndidi’s wonder-strike pulled Leicester in front in the 6th minute. The goal came off a Leicester corner that was taken short. Midfielder James Maddison played the ball quickly back to Marc Albrighton who played a ball back across the Chelsea box. The ball then fell to Ndidi who smashed the ball of the post into the back of the net. The Foxes almost doubled their lead when Maddison’s shot from the top of the box rattled the crossbar. Chelsea had an opportunity to get back in the game when Thiago Silva headed the ball towards the goal in the 21st minute. The shot was then fisted away by Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
10 minutes later the Blues had another chance to level the score when winger Callum Hudson-Odoi made a run behind the Leicester defense. The younger winger took on the shot but put the ball wide of the net.
The Foxes were able to double their lead in the 41st minute when Albrighton dumped the ball over the Chelsea defense towards the sprinting Jamie Vardy. The ball however found its way to Maddison who slipped the ball into the back of the net to give Leicester a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
The second half was dominated by Leicester as at times it looked as though the Foxes were toying with Chelsea. However, even with a plethora of opportunities, Brendan Rodgers’ team was not able to add to their lead. Chelsea looked to have pulled within one in the 86th minute when midfielder Hakim Ziyech whipped in a ball off a freekick. The ball was met by substitute Timo Werner as he placed the ball into the back of the net. However, the goal was called offsides, and the match would end 2-0.
Manchester City: 2 Aston Villa: 0
Manchester City won their 7th premier league match in a row after defeating a struggling Aston Villa at the Etihad. City now moves up to second place in the league only two points behind first-place United. Villa continues to struggle as they have dropped to 11th in the league table.
The game got off to a quick start when City almost equalized off a corner kick in the 3rd minute. The ball fell to winger Bernardo Silva right in front of the goal line. Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez made an amazing effort to get across the box to put his body in front of the ball to make an amazing save. The two sides would go into the half on level terms as neither side could equalize.
Aston Villa had the first real opportunity of the second half when winger Bertrand Traoré was played over the top behind the City defense. The winger took an amazing touch past City defender Ruben Diaz and was in on goal. Traoré put the ball on his left foot and went to swing it into the far left corner but keeper Enderson did a great job to get low and push the ball away. City had an opportunity in the 70th minute when midfielder İlkay Gündoğan headed the ball on target forcing Martinez to make a good save.
Manchester City would finally break the deadlock in the 79th minute when Silva got the ball at the top of the 18-yard-box, cut in onto his favored left foot, and smashed the ball into the back of the net to give City a 1-0 lead. Aston Villa would only make things worse for themselves by conceding a handball in their own back in the 89th minute, rewarding City with a penalty kick. The penalty would be taken and finished by Gündoğan to seal the game for City 2-0.
Manchester United: 2 Fulham: 1
Manchester United slipped by Fulham to stay on top of the league table for the second week in a row. Fulham loses their second game in a row and stays in the relegation zone. They are currently four points behind 17th place Burnley as they are still in contention to stay in England’s top-flight league.
Fulham got off on the front foot in the 5th minute when winger Ademola Lookman slipped in behind the United defense and slotted the ball past keeper David De Gea to give Fulham a 1-0 lead. The Red Devils would level the in the 21st minute when a goalkeeping mistake by Areola led to an Edison Cavani goal to level the game. The sides would go into halftime level on goals.
The second half was a back and forth contest as each team had their opportunities to take the lead. However, in the 65th minute Paul Pogba was able to show his world-class ability for Manchester United when he converted a master strike to give United the lead. Pogba was able to dribble his way by one defender and on his weak foot smash the ball into the back of the net with his weaker left foot.
United would have multiple opportunities to extend their lead but did not convert. The game would end 2-1 in United’s favor as now the Red Devils sit two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
