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“I had 5 penalties on my coupon”, “Respect to Tav”: Some Rangers fans react to the Gers’ comfortable 4-0 win vs St. Mirren + Match report

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Rangers 4-0 St. Mirren: Penalties galore as Gers go within touching distance of Celtic

Rangers scored three of the four penalties awarded to sweep aside bottom club St. Mirren 4-0 at the Ibrox to go within three points of leaders Celtic in the table. James Tavernier scored a couple from the spot, while Jermaine Defoe netted the other and Ryan Kent scored a good goal.

Very early into the game in the third minute, Defoe was fouled in the box and the first penalty of the afternoon was given. Tavernier stepped up to give the hosts a lead. Right before half-time, the Gers were awarded another penalty as the on-loan striker from Bournemouth was fouled again.

Tavernier stepped up again but this time, he struck the frame of the goal, much to the delight of the away fans. However, the skipper won the third penalty of the day in the 55th minute and dispatched that himself to give his side a cushioning lead.

Image result for defoe rangers

A fourth penalty was given to Steven Gerrard’s men in the 80th minute when Daniel Candeias was fouled. St Mirren players were protesting that the foul was outside the box, but it fell to the deaf ears of the referee.

Tavernier gave up his chance of scoring a hat-trick and allowed Defoe to take the spot-kick so that he can open his account for the new club. A couple of minutes later, the striker set up Ryan Kent to score a delicate chip past the Mirren keeper.

This win does keep Rangers in the title reckoning, but they have to be consistent from now until the end of the season to have any chance of toppling Celtic.

Here’s how their fans reacted on Twitter after this win:

Match Previews

Ukraine vs. Argentina: Paris Olympics Match Preview, Team News, Predictions and More

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Ukraine vs. Argentina

Group B of football at the Paris Olympics 2024 is brimming with tension. Ukraine will take on Argentina at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on the 30th of July at 5 pm French local time.

Ukraine, might have been knocked out had they not beaten Morocco in their last match. And that win did not come easy either. After having taken the lad through Dmytro Kryskiv in the 22nd minute, Ukraine found themselves drawing the game in the 64th minute through a Soufiane Rahimi penalty. Despite Morocco dominating the possession and chances, Ukraine scored the winner at the very end, in the 98th minute, through Ihor Krasnopir, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.

Argentina, on the other hand, are coming off an easy win over Iraq. They took the lead through Thiago Almada in the 14th minute. However, their in-form man Aymen Hussein equalized at halftime. The South American team came stronger in the second half. Goals from Luciano Gondou and Ezequiel Fernandez at minutes 62 and 85 sealed the deal for them.

Team News and Predicted XI

Ukraine

Ukraine will be missing their defender Volodymyr Salyuk. He was sent off with a red card during Ukraine’s match against Morocco. Maksym Talovierov is expected to fill in for him.

Predicted XI: Fesyun; Krupskyi, Talovierov, Batagov, Martinyuk; Khlan, Rubchynskyi, Mykhailenko, Bragaru; Kryskiv, Sikan

Argentina

Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez celebrate this goal 1-0 of Argentina during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Semi-final match between Argentina and Canada, at MetLife Stadium, on July 09, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States.

Lucas Beltran of Fiorentina is expected to miss the game due to an injury. And Giuliano Simeone is expected to come in his place.

Predicted XI: Rulli; Garcia, Di Cesare, Otamendi, Soler; Fernandez, Medina, Hezze, Almada; Simeone, Alvarez

Match Deciding Duel

Valentyn Rubchynskyi vs. Julian Alvarez

Valentyn Rubchynskyi vs. Julian Alvarez
Valentyn Rubchynskyi vs. Julian Alvarez

A striker vs. striker battle might decide this tie. Although Valentyn Rubchynskyi hasn’t been in good form of late, he will certainly be a constant threat to the Argentinian defense. As for Argentina, the usual suspect Julian Alvarez will look to wreak havoc. The Manchester City attacker will look to step up to the plate to deliver the goods.

Ukraine vs. Argentina Odds

Ukraine: 4.2

Argentina: 1.75

Prediction

Ukraine 0-2 Argentina

Ukraine might just not be able to get past Javier Mascherano’s men. Given that Argentina are one of the favorites too, it will be an uphill task for the team from Europe to upstage them. Expect a clean sheet from Argentina.

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Match Previews

New Zealand vs. France: Paris Olympics Match Preview, Team News, Predictions and More

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New Zealand vs. France

Group A fixture of the Paris Olympics will see New Zealand go up against the marauding France led by Alexandre Lacazette. The match will take place at the Stade Velodrome on the 30th of July at 7 pm French local time.

New Zealand after winning their first Group A match against Guinea in a close encounter, found themselves hammered by the United States. Djordje Mihailovic scored the opener for the US before Walker Zimmerman doubled the lead. Gianluca Busio made it 3-0, and finally Paxten Aaronson made it 4 for the US. However, a Jesse Randall goal pulled one back as a consolation for the Oceanian team, in the 78th minute.

France, meanwhile, have been enjoying their home advantage, and have been unbeaten so far. Although they rammed the United States in the opening game, Guinea gave them a very tough time in the second. However, a Kiliann Sildillia goal in the later stages of the second half saw France through against the African nation.

Team News and Predicted XI

New Zealand

New Zealand are considered to have one of the healthiest squads at the Paris Olympics 2024. With a variety of options available, coach Darren Bazeley will have interesting but useful conundrums during his selection.

Predicted XI: Paulsen; Bindon, Surman, Boxall, Sutton; Bell, Garbett, Singh; Randall, Bayliss, Waine

France

Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette (via New York Times)

France too are quite a healthy squad. With not many injuries and attackers Michael Olise and the experienced Alexandre Lacazette in form, they will be difficult to be upstaged.

Predicted XI: Restes; Sildillia, Bade, Lukeba, Truffert; Millot, Kone, Chotard; Olise, Mateta, Lacazette

Match Deciding Duel

Randall vs. Lacazette
Jesse Randall vs. Alexandre Lacazette will be an interesting battle up front in New Zealand vs. France

Jesse Randall vs. Alexandre Lacazette

Although Jesse Randall hasn’t been as clinical as the French attack, his blitz in New Zealand’s loss against the USA makes him a threat. The youngster was the one who gave New Zealand the consolation, in an otherwise lackluster performance from the Oceanian team. For France, Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise have been simply brilliant. Lacazette, with his immaculate experience can surely turn a game on its head.

New Zealand vs. France Odds

New Zealand: 6.25

France: 1.48

Prediction

New Zealand 0-3 France

We can once again expect a hammering/rout from France. Given New Zealand’s defensive flaws and France’s attacking prowess at the tournament, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this is the scoreline. A clean sheet for France!

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“The annual collapse”, “Pathetic”: Some Leeds fans react to shock 2-0 loss + Match report

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Jacob Murphy of Sheffield Wednesday shoots towards goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on January 11, 2020 in Leeds, England. (Getty Images)

Leeds United report: The Whites beaten 2-0 by Sheffield Wednesday

Leeds United endured an afternoon to forget as they were beaten 2-0 by Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Whites were guilty of wasting good first-half chances, with Jacob Murphy and Atdhe Nuhiu striking in the final 10 minutes to secure a 2-0 win for Garry Monk’s side at Elland Road, ending a three-game losing streak in the Championship.

In the early stages of the game, Leeds United dominated possession but couldn’t break a firm Wednesday defence, despite Luke Ayling, Helder Costa and Patrick Bamford all having efforts on Cameron Dawson’s goal.

Whilst Leeds’ chances were coming frequently, Wednesday also probed the home side’s goal, as Murphy just couldn’t connect Adam Reach’s cross well. As the half grew, so did Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, with Patrick Bamford having a goal ruled out for offside before Jack Harrison forced Dawson into a good low save.

A lot of chances were created by the hosts, only for the players to lack composure in the final third.

Patrick Bamford of Leeds United battles for possession with Morgan Fox of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on January 11, 2020 in Leeds, England. (Getty Images)
Patrick Bamford of Leeds United battles for possession with Morgan Fox of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on January 11, 2020 in Leeds, England. (Getty Images)

Bamford started the second half in the same way, missing a big chance from seven yards out, scooping the ball over the bar straight after the restart. Winnall almost punished Bamford’s miss but he couldn’t make a meaningful touch off Barry Bannan’s corner.

Chances dried up for both sides as the game approached its final 10 minutes, with Monk turning to the likes of Nuhiu and Joey Pelupessy, cancelling out any Leeds sting. And for all the control Leeds United had, Wednesday provided a sucker-punch in the 87th minute.

Keiran Lee turned the ball over in Leeds’ half before the advancing Murphy was fed into the area, leaving him with enough space to fire beyond Casilla and stun the Elland Road crowd.

United were buoyed by the added time board, which showed five injury-time minutes but it was the Owls who struck again as Reach got in behind to pick out substitute Nuhiu.

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Mightily disappointed with the 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, here’s how some Leeds fans reacted.

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