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Chelsea maintain perfect Conference League record with 3-1 win over Astana

Published

4 months ago

December 13, 2024

Astana’s Belarusian midfielder #07 Max Ebong (C) fights for the ball with Chelsea’s English midfielder #32 Tyrique George (R) during the UEFA Conference League football match between FC Astana and Chelsea FC in Astana on December 12, 2024. (Photo by Konstantin CHALABOV / AFP)

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Chelsea made it five wins in five Europa Conference League outings on Thursday with a 3-1 victory against Astana in Almaty.

A much-changed Chelsea side battled the frigid conditions in Kazakhstan and won to all but guarantee a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would ensure automatic qualification to the round of 16.

Chelsea sit top of the standings on 15 points, three ahead of Legia Warsaw who are the only other side to boast a perfect record in the competition.

The Polish side will seek to draw level with Chelsea when they host Lugano of Switzerland later on Thursday.

The defeat leaves Astana in the final knock-out play-off spot with four points and at risk of elimination.

Chelsea wrapped up the points in the first half through goals from Marc Guiu and Renato Veiga.

Marin Tomasov pulled one back for the hosts on the stroke of half-time but Enzo Maresca’s side rarely looked troubled in the second half as they closed out the win.

Guiu gave Chelsea the perfect start by netting a brace inside the opening 20 minutes, bringing his tally in Europe to three goals in five appearances this season.

His first on 14 minutes showcased the ex-Barcelona attacker’s budding talent as he drove past a defender on the right flank before stroking home from an acute angle.

The 18-year-old Spaniard doubled up four minutes later with a striker’s goal as he forced the ball home at the front post following good wing play by Pedro Neto.

Renato Veiga, 21, headed in Chelsea’s third from a corner on 39 minutes.

Croatian veteran Tomasov scored the pick of the goals in the 45th minute as he stood up Renato Veiga in the box before arcing a fine left-footed strike in off the far post.

Earlier, Djurgarden of Sweden provisionally moved up to sixth with a 2-1 win at Vikingur Reykjavik despite finishing with 10 men.

SportsNews

Turkey: Galatasaray can win every match – Osimhen

Published

4 hours ago

April 12, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Victor Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen believes Galatasaray have the quality to win their remaining league games this season, Ekwutosblog reports.

The Yellow and Reds and are in a two-horse race with Istanbul rivals, Fenerbahce for the Turkish Super Lig title.

Galatasaray moved six points clear ahead of the Yellow Canaries at the top of the table following a 2-0 win at third-placed Samsunspor on Friday night.

Osimhen was on target for the Yellow and Reds alongside Yunus Akgun.

Fenerbahce will be away to Sivasspor on Sunday.

The Nigeria international reckoned they have what it takes to win a third consecutive title.

“The focus is on us right now. We have a responsibility as a team. We want to win. We actually have the quality to win every match. It is not easy, we will face very important opponents,” he told the club’s official website.

“We need to be prepared to overcome these opponents and lift this cup at the end of the season, we just need to fight.

“We need to give everything when we step on the field. I think we will have the advantage at the end of the season, but as I said, it will not be easy.”

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EPL: Chris Sutton predicts Newcastle vs Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, other fixtures

Published

4 hours ago

April 12, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Former Chelsea star, Chris Sutton has predicted the Premier League match-day 32 taking place this weekend.

Manchester City will clash with Crystal Palace in an early kick-off at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal will take on Brentford at Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.

Chelsea will host Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon while Liverpool will welcome West Ham United at Anfield.

Providing his predictions, Sutton told BBC Sport:

Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace
Brighton 2-0 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Everton
Southampton 1-2 Aston Villa
Arsenal 2-1 Brentford
Chelsea 3-0 Ipswich
Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
Wolves 2-0 Tottenham
Newcastle 2-0 Manchester United
Bl.b.iournemouth 1-1 Fulham

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Unity Cup 2025: Chelle hints on inviting new players

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle says the Unity Cup will provide him the opportunity to beef up his team with new players.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, Black Stars of Ghana, Reggae Boys of Jamaica and Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago will compete in the 2025 edition of the competition.

Chelle kept faith with majority of the regular stars for the last month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The Malian declared that he will call up new players to strengthen the team.

“We are looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles, helping us to strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October,” the 47-year-old told thenff.com.

The Unity Cup will run from May 27 to May 31, 2025.

All the matches will be played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in London.