SportsNews
Bruno Fernandes hat-trick keeps Manchester United’s Europa League hopes alive

Published
1 day agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
Manchester [UK], March 14 (ANI): Bruno Fernandes delivered a captain’s performance, scoring a hat-trick as Manchester United secured a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, sealing a 5-2 aggregate win to reach the Europa League quarter-finals, according to Sky Sports.
United faced an early scare when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty, momentarily threatening their progress. However, Fernandes responded with two penalties of his own–one in each half–turning the tide in United’s favour. Real Sociedad‘s task became even more difficult when substitute Jon Aramburu was sent off for a foul on the lively Patrick Dorgu. Fernandes then completed his hat-trick before Diogo Dalot added a fourth in stoppage time, putting the tie beyond doubt.
Ruben Amorim’s side will now face Lyon in the last eight, keeping their hopes of European silverware alive. This victory came in the same week United announced plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, with chief executive Omar Berrada assuring fans that financial backing for Amorim would remain intact regardless of European qualification.
Amorim has emphasized how the Europa League could inject fresh energy into his squad as they push for a strong finish to the season, and United’s performance reflected that ambition. Playing with a higher tempo than in recent months, the team showed urgency and intent, much to the delight of the Old Trafford faithful.
Fernandes was undoubtedly the standout performer, netting just his second hat-trick in a United shirt. However, several other players also rose to the occasion. Casemiro built on his strong display against Arsenal, while Dorgu, a former Lecce player, demonstrated the attacking threat a wing-back can offer in Amorim’s system. He won United’s second penalty and was later fouled in the incident that led to Aramburu’s dismissal.
Joshua Zirkzee, who has endured a challenging start to his United career since joining from Bologna, provided a glimpse of his potential. His perfectly weighted pass to Dorgu set up the red card incident, and he thrived in the No. 10 role. Rasmus Hojlund, who won the first penalty after being brought down in the box, had chances to get on the scoresheet himself but ultimately left the field satisfied with the team’s dominant win.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandesspeaking told TNT Sports, “[Hojlund is] a striker. It’s all about goals, he’s going to be criticised for not scoring but in the dressing room, we want him to score as many as he can,” as quoted from Sky Sports.
“He got the penalty for the first goal, for my third he took the defender with him. There are a lot of things he does which don’t get seen from the outside world, but we see it,” he added.
“We see how much he wants to work and score, and I’m sure the goals will come,” he noted.
“With the results, the performances, when you start getting a little bit more confident, it’s a big thing in football and at this club – even more,” he said.
“It’s all about winning at this club. We need to win games, and this competition, there’s no other option,” he emphasized.
“We have a long way to go still, but we’re confident if we focus on every game we have ahead, we can win games,” he noted.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said in the press conference, “It’s not just [what he brings to] the team, it’s the club. We already spoke about Bruno a lot of times,” as quoted from Sky Sports.
“We know that he’s frustrated. We know that he wants to win so bad. Sometimes, when we’re not playing well, he changes position and goes after the ball,” he added.
“Sometimes, he needs to trust a little bit more in his teammates to allow them to do their job and help him to play better,” he said.
“When we need him, he’s always there. He can change position. He can bring the ball forward. He can score goals. He can make transitions like he showed today,” he noted.
“In the last 10 minutes of the game, he can defend. He’s a perfect captain for our team. We need to help him to win titles because he’s a legend,” he said.
There was a moment of sportsmanship late in the game when United thought they had won a third penalty after Hamari Traore’s tackle on Dorgu. However, the referee overturned the decision, with Dorgu himself admitting Traore had fairly won the ball.
“It depends. It’s the right thing to do. I’m quite proud of him. I cannot say if he’s 0-0 or losing if I have the same response,” Amorim said on this matter, as quoted from Sky Sports.
“He did well. He did a great performance. He was improving during the game. He’s learning a lot in that position. He has the physicality. He’s clearly able to play in our league. It was a good game and a good action from Dorgu,” he added. (ANI)
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SportsNews
PSG Triumphs Over Liverpool In Dramatic Penalty Shoot-Out

Published
3 days agoon
March 12, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday after a thrilling 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory against Liverpool.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Paris, PSG leveled the tie on aggregate with an early goal from Ousmane Dembele at Anfield.
Despite numerous chances, the match remained deadlocked after 90 minutes and extra time, leading to a decisive shoot-out.
PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.
Meanwhile, Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele, and Desire Doue successfully converted their penalties for PSG, ensuring their progression to the next round.
The French champions, who have yet to win the competition, now look forward to a quarter-final clash against either Aston Villa or Club Brugge.
Aston Villa, leading 3-1 from the first leg, will host Club Brugge on Wednesday to determine who will face PSG in the quarter-finals.
The victory marks a significant achievement for PSG as they continue their quest for their first Champions League title.
SportsNews
IML: Lara, Simmons shine as West Indies Masters cruise to semis with win over South Africa Masters

Published
4 days agoon
March 12, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 12 (ANI): It was a night soaked in nostalgia as the West Indies Masters banked on the all-round brilliance of centurion Lendl Simmons, Brian Lara and Ravi Rampaul’s five-wicket blast to ensure their qualification for the semifinals of the International Masters League (IML) 2025, with a 29-run victory over South Africa Masters here on Tuesday.
Put in to bat against a formidable South Africa Masters attack led by Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini, the Caribbean flair was on full display, as Lendl Simmons (108), skipper Brian Lara (29) and later Chadwick Walton (38 not out) rolled back the years, evoking memories of West Indies’ golden era with a scintillating batting display to put up 200/5, turning the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium into a theatre of cricketing brilliance.
After a shaky start that saw Dwayne Smith (5) and William Perkins (5) depart early off Garnett Kruger, Simmons and Lara took center stage, unleashing a masterclass in stroke-making to stage a spectacular recovery with a 125-run partnership for the third wicket. Simmons, ever the aggressor, blazed to a 31-ball fifty, setting the tone with fearless hitting, while Lara, ever the artist, elegantly painted his masterpiece. The Prince of Trinidad, content playing second fiddle early on, flicked the switch in style–launching Alviro Petersen for a towering six and a crisp boundary in consecutive deliveries, signalling his intent.
Simmons continued to dazzle, racing to his century in just 54 balls, dispatching Thandi Tshabalala to all parts with a six and a four before calmly taking a single to bring up a well-deserved hundred.
But just as the duo threatened to take the game away from the grasp of the South Africa Masters, Ntini infused life back into the contest by ending Simmons’ 59-ball knock, laced with 13 fours and five massive sixes, and new man Ashley Nurse off consecutive deliveries.
Ryan McLaren then struck with the prized scalp of Lara for 29 off 34 deliveries after the southpaw steered the West Indies Masters’ recovery. Despite the setbacks, Walton was in his elements, providing the much-needed impetus to the innings with six gigantic sixes to help the West Indies Masters reach the 200-run mark.
South Africa Masters’ chase began in explosive fashion, with wicketkeeper Richard Levi’s breezy 44 setting the tone. However, the early momentum was short-lived as the loss of three quick wickets derailed their progress, putting the Proteas on the backfoot. Enter Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph, who steadied the innings with a crucial 78-run stand, reigniting South Africa’s hopes of a successful chase.
With both batters matching each other shot for shot, the game seemed to be slipping away from West Indies Masters. But when the Proteas looked in control, Lendl Simmons produced a game-changing moment, breaking the partnership by dismissing Rudolph for a well-compiled 39 off 34 balls, studded with four boundaries.
Sensing an opportunity, Rampaul returned for a second spell, and what followed was nothing short of dramatic. In the space of just five deliveries, the experienced seamer ripped through the South Africa Masters middle order, claiming the prized wickets of Kallis (45), Farhaan Behardien, and Dane Vilas, adding to his earlier scalp of Hashim Amla (3). Rampaul returned to complete the five-wicket haul in his final over, with the scalp of Ryan McLaren as the Proteas eventually ended on 171/8.
With that loss, the South Africa Masters’ campaign came to a disappointing end.
Brief Scores: West Indies Masters 200/5 (Lendl Simmons 108, Chadwick Walton 38 not out, Brian Lara 29; Garnett Kruger 2/14, Makhaya Ntini 2/34) beat South Africa Masters 171/8 (Jacques Kallis 45, Richard Levi 44, Jacques Rudolph 39; Ravi Rampaul 5/26) by 29 runs. (ANI)
SportsNews
Luis Suarez names the 5 greatest strikers of all time: Messi but no Ronaldo…

Published
6 days agoon
March 10, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t make the cut when Luis Suarez recently named his five greatest strikers of all time.
There’s a debate about whether Suarez himself is in this conversation, but the Uruguayan didn’t choose to include himself in the list either.
During an interview with Bleacher Report, the Inter Miami star was asked to name his top five greatest strikers and these were the players he selected.
5. Romario
“Number five is Romario,” Suarez said. “[The] finish time for him is amazing.”
The Brazilian scored over 700 official goals during his illustrious career, making him one of the most prolific players in football history.
He’s also one of a select few players who has scored over 100 goals for three separate clubs, having reached that tally with PSV, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama.
For Barcelona, Romario scored 39 goals in 65 appearances, averaging a strike every 139 minutes. For context, Suarez scored a goal every 122 minutes on average for Barcelona.
4. Ronaldo Nazario
“Then Ronaldo, the Brazilian Ronaldo. He’s really good,” Suarez said.
“He’s so quick, he’s so fast. He’s an intelligent guy, a really good player.”
Regarded by many as the best player of his generation, who knows what levels he could’ve reached had it not been for injuries.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 371 goals in just 580 appearances throughout his career, averaging a goal every 123 minutes.
He was a force to be reckoned with during his peak years and was arguably the most lethal player on his entire list during his heyday.
3. Diego Forlan
“For me, he’s one of the best,” is how Suarez described his former international teammate.
“I played with him, [he’s a] really good striker, he played for the team. He liked to shoot from wherever you want. He’s really good and he’s number three.”
Forlan enjoyed his peak years playing in La Liga for Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, but it was his performances for the national team that made him a hero in Uruguay.
He was practically unplayable during the 2010 World Cup as he swept most of the individual accolades, winning the Player of the Tournament, Golden Boot and Goal of the Tournament awards for his heroics in South Africa.
The following year he then played an instrumental role in Uruguay’s Copa America triumph in 2011.
After Suarez scored the opening goal against Paraguay in the final, Forlan scored a brace to wrap the game up. It’s no wonder he’s adored by his nation.
2. Gabriel Batistuta
“Number two is Batistuta. [My] favourite player when I was a child,” Suarez explained.
“Really good number nine, he took free-kicks, I loved his character as well.”
Given that Suarez was growing up in the nineties, it’s no surprise that a player like Batistuta captured his imagination.
The Argentine forward enjoyed his peak years playing for Fiorentina, where he scored 204 goals in just 331 appearances. That’s quite the record.
1. Lionel Messi
“Number one for me is Messi.”
While we wouldn’t classify Messi as an out-and-out striker like the other names on this list, we can hardly begrudge Suarez for giving him the top spot.
As of writing, Suarez has played 285 games alongside the Argentine wizard and the pair have combined for 113 goals during that time.
“Messi is the best in history,” Suarez told Onda Cero in 2017. “He is also a spectacular human being who welcomed me very well when I got to Barcelona.”
The pair still share a close bond at Inter Miami today and will no doubt combine for plenty of goals this season too.
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