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“Surreal”, “Absolute Baller”: Some Baggies fans in awe of young star’s performance in thrilling 3-2 win vs QPR + Match report

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West Bromwich Albion News: QPR 2-3 West Brom

West Brom broke Rangers hearts by scoring a 94th-minute winner after QPR had equalised twice earlier. This important fixture in the Championship began with West Brom starting on the front foot. They moved the ball really well and looked fluent in their passing. They looked confident on the ball and were winning it back quickly whenever they lost the ball to QPR.

They piled on the pressure in the opening minutes and unsurprisingly, it took them just 5 minutes to open the scoring against the Hoops. They worked the ball well down the flank. A brilliant cut-back then found Jefferson Montero on the spot around 6 yards out.

He smashed it into the net to make it 1-0 to the away side with a goal in his first ever start for West Brom. After this though, the trend of the game changed. The home side began to see a lot more of the ball and while they were able to move it around quickly, they never really posed any threat to the Baggies’ goal.

As the game wore on, the Hoops started getting more and more involved in the game but despite having a decent share of the ball in that period, they were unable to pierce the Baggies defence. On the other hand, West Brom were consistently creating good opportunities but were just missing the final finish.

But against the run of play, in the 35th minute, Rangers produced some excellent play on the edge of the box. Some good work from Massimo Longo and Nakhi Wells helped them get the ball to Luke Freeman in the box. He took aim and beat Sam Johnstone at his near post to deservedly equalise for the home side.

As the teams went into the break, this game was equally poised. The second half began with a greater significance to the away side.

They once again began to control the pace of the game and had good attitude and movement while in possession of the ball. It was becoming clear that the next goal was going to come from West Brom and it was simply a matter of time. 

Surprisingly, a Rangers attack led to a shot from Nakhi Wells, which allowed the Baggies to suddenly rush up the pitch. They broke with pace and a botched clearance by the Rangers defence gifted the ball to Jacob Murphy on the edge of the box. He slotted it past the goalkeeper to restore the away side’s advantage in the 61st minute. 

In the 75th minute though, Tomer Hemed was brought down illegally in the box by Michael Dawson and the referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. The Israeli striker stepped up and took the responsibility himself and sent Johnstone the wrong way to equalise.

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In the 94th minute though, deep into stoppage time, a sweeping cross after an excellent move from the flank was met in the box by Jake Livermore, who tucked it into the corner to send the away fans into complete pandemonium. They had clinched the victory with what turned out to be the final meaningful kick of the match. 

Here’s how some West Brom fans reacted to this amazing victory:

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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