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Afriyie Acquah was in action as Burundi midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye scored a goal and assisted another in Yeni Malatyaspor's 3-2 defeat against Fenerbahce.

Acquah made his 24th appearance in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday but his effort was not enough for Hikmet Karaman's side who fell to their fourth loss in their last five league outings.

The Black Stars midfielder was on parade for 90 minutes in the five-goal thriller as Fenerbahce scored two last-minute goals to turn the game around and secure maximum points.

It was a goalless affair in the first-half but the second 45 minutes produced five goals in the last 20 minutes.

Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring for Fener at the Ulker Stadium in the 70th minute but Ndayishimiye came off the bench to revive the visitors’ chances in the encounter.

He grabbed the equaliser for Malatyaspor 11 minutes later, thanks to an assist from Ivory Coast's Moryke Fofana.

The strike was the Burundian midfielder's maiden goal in the Turkish top-flight on his fourth appearance this season.

Shortly after the goal, Ndayishimiye turned provider for his side’s second goal as Mitchell Donald fired them ahead in the 89th minute.

Malatyaspor were on course to secure their second Super Lig victory since December until Ozan Tufan’s scored a stoppage-time brace to give Fenerbahce maximum points.

The result left Yeni Malatyaspor just a point away from the relegation zone as they are placed 14th in the league table with 28 points from 29 matches.

Acquah provided defensive cover for the visitors during the game, and he managed the most interceptions (2) with two clearances.

The Ghana international has been a key fixture in Hikmet Karaman's team since his arrived in Turkey on a free transfer from Serie A club Empoli last August.

Egypt's Karim Hafez, Morocco's Issam Chebake, Zimbabwe's Teenage Hadebe and Benin goalkeeper Fabien Farnolle were also on parade for the Malatya outfit.

Next up for Yeni Malatyaspor in the Super Lig is a home fixture against Genclerbirligi on Saturday and the African stars will be aiming to boost the team's survival with a victory.

Ritah Kivumbi registered her first goal of the season for Mallbacken despite losing 4-3 to Alingsas in Saturday’s Swedish Elitettan game.

Mallbacken headed into the encounter on the back of a two-game winless run, including last weekend’s 1-0 triumph over Bollstanas while the Alingasas suffered their first defeat in a 2-0 loss to AIK.

And Kivumbi was handed her first start of the season, after her contributions to Conny Johansson's two opening victories but her effort was not enough to ensure they extended the fine run.

And the Uganda international rewarded the manager for affording her the starting role as she opened the scoring for the hosts just five minutes into the tie to gain a first-half advantage.

The visitors resumed the second half on a high and they found a way back when Ina Österlind netted three minutes after the restart at Strandvallen.

In the 57th minute, Pernilla Milton doubled the lead for Lars Bjork's team but Felicia Edgren levelled for the hosts five minutes later.

The back-and-forth continued between the ambitious sides as in-form Osterlind restored Bjork's advantage in the 67th minute but Fanny Flyckt secured the equaliser for the hosts a minute later.

However, Osterlind struck eight minutes from time to seal the victory as Johansson's team could not find a late response, condemning them to their first league defeat of the season.

Kivumbi, who opened her Elittetan goal account for the new campaign, lasted for 66 minutes before she made way for Fanny Flyckt, while Nigeria's Sarah Micheal was an unused substitute.

The defeat saw Mallbacken drop to fourth on the log with six points - three behind leaders AIK after three matches and they will seek to return to winning ways against 10th placed Kalmar on July 1.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to dodge an awkward question over Manchester United's plans for Jadon Sancho, refusing to rule out a bid for the Borussia Dortmund star. 

Sancho, 20, has been closely linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, although the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also said to be considering an offer. 

Any transfer, though, would likely not come cheap, with Dortmund reportedly setting a price tag upwards of £100 million ($123m) on their young gem at a time when spare cash is at a premium in the post-coronavirus football world. 

That did not stop a reporter from Norway's Viaplay from asking Solskjaer whether he was considering signing anyone from BVB, a question that momentarily stumped the United manager. 

"I'm good at maths, but I can't answer that question. There are many good footballers on many teams," Solskjaer told the journalist, before adding that United would be in the market for the right player and on the right terms. 

"If something is in front of us screaming that it's sensible, both from a sporting and a financial perspective, I know we're going to try, but you can't make any promises."

Speaking on Saturday, Dortmund director and former player Sebastian Kehl emphasised that his club had received no bids for Sancho's services and were hopeful of retaining him for at least another 12 months.

“We expect Jadon to play with BVB next season and we’re all very happy with the quality that he brings to our side and the difference that he can make,” he told  Sport Buzzer.  

Sancho arrived at Signal Iduna Park in August 2017 when he was just 17, having declined to sign professional terms with United's arch-rivals Manchester City. 

He has gone on to establish himself as a key member of the Dortmund first team and one of the world's premier young talents, making 99 senior appearances to date and scoring 34 goals. 

The 2019-20 season saw Sancho reach a personal best tally of 17 Bundesliga goals, a figure only bettered by Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and future Chelsea signing Timo Werner.

However, it was not enough to break Bayern's domination of the German top flight as the Bavarians ultimately finished 13 points clear at the top to seal their eighth consecutive title. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Odion Ighalo's predatory instincts and impact on Manchester United behind the scenes after the on-loan striker netted against Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The 31-year-old continued his goalscoring form in cup competitions with the opener as the Red Devils saw off the Canaries 2-1 after extra-time in Saturday’s quarter-final.

After a goalless first-half at Carrow Road, Ighalo fired the visitors into the lead from close range in the 51st minute with his first shot of the game, prompting praise from his manager.

"It is great to have the option to rotate,” Solskjaer told BBC Sport. “Anthony Martial came on and did brilliant, but Odion gives me a chance to rotate. 

"He's a proven goalscorer and played his part in both goals," the Norwegian coach continued. "He is a great person to have around the dressing room too.

“Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room; he’s a goalscorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul [Pogba] found him.”

Todd Cantwell equalised for Norwich in the 75th minute with an effort from outside the box, but captain Harry Maguire scored an extra-time winner as he fired home as the hosts failed to clear their lines.

While Ighalo is yet to score in six Premier League outings for United, he's proved to be an excellent option for Solskjaer in cup competitions.

He netted against Club Brugge in the Europa League, and scored twice away at Derby County in an FA Cup clash in early March as he made a strong first impression on his new fans after joining on loan from Shanghai Shenhua.

In Ighalo’s last start before this weekend, he scored one and contributed an assist as United thumped LASK 5-0 away in Europe, form which prompted United to extend his loan deal until early 2021.

“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it,” Solskjaer concluded.

United, who are now unbeaten in their last 14 games across all competitions, travel to Brighton and Hove Albion in Tuesday’s Premier League encounter as they look to maintain pace in the race for Champions League qualification, before welcoming Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth on Saturday.

Currently, United are sixth having collected 49 points from 31 league outings.

Frank Lampard believes Christian Pulisic is capable of emulating the goalscoring feats of the likes of Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane or Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling.

Pulisic has hit the ground running following the Blues' return to action to leave Lampard delighted, but the Chelsea boss feels the United States international can deliver even more.

The winger's goal in Thursday's 2-1 home win over Manchester City was his seventh in the Premier League this season and the 21-year-old is now Chelsea's second top scorer in the league, as well as being the leading scorer in the top flight aged 21 or under.

The former Borussia Dortmund attacker has shown he can score different types of goals, and Lampard now wants to see Pulisic be ambitious and chase the kind of goal-scoring numbers that other top wide players are achieving.

"I think he can be a really big player," Lampard said. "Because he broke through so young in Germany and he moves to us, people's expectations rise, but we have to take his age into consideration.

"There's no doubt in his quality and you can see that. He is very keen to work and improve. He is particularly hungry at the minute because of his injury. And if he wants to learn, and he does, on the training pitch and how he sees the game, he needs to look at the players he sees around him who have made that sort of jump like the Raheem Sterlings, Sadio Manes and Mo Salahs who are now producing numbers [of goals] from wide areas.

"It is important that he understands the work he needs to do to do that because he definitely has the talent to do it. He needs to try and get to that level and I am delighted to have him at the minute. He works hard every day and he has to set his sights as high as he can."

In all competitions, Pulisic is Chelsea's joint-second top scorer alongside Willian and he looks set to play a starring role in his side's end to the season with an FA Cup quarter-final match with Leicester at the King Power stadium up next on Sunday.

Lampard has yet to complete his second year in management and he continues to chase his first trophy working in the dugout.

He concedes that him and some of his young players need to win their first trophy, with the FA Cup looking the most viable option to do so this season.

"Yes, I think it is important. You have to have that idea but the reality is the competition you go up against with the teams that are still in this FA Cup means it is going to be tough," Lampard added. "We are in a year of slight transition.

"Of course, our focus is always the league but when it comes to Chelsea, when you get to a quarter-final, you want to try and get to Wembley and you want to try and go and win it. It is important to focus on that. We are building, we are working and it won't be easy to try and win this trophy.

"But with the squad we have and the positive feeling we have at the minute in the group, we have to go in with the right attention."

Lampard's first major trophy as a player was the League Cup under Jose Mourinho in the 2004-05 season which began a culture of winning for Chelsea even after the legendary manager left the club.

In recalling that success, Lampard drew comparisons between that team and his young Blues side of 2020.

"It was very important for us at the time because we were a team with not many winners," he continued. "We didn't have too many titles between us and we were a relatively young team but Jose brought that to us, that mentality and winning that first one helped you to push on.

"In our team, I think we do have a mixture of players who have been there and won a lot. We have some younger players who haven't. Me, myself, in my managerial career, I haven't. I recognise the importance of that.

"That's why we are here to win things at a club like Chelsea so it doesn't fall short on me. The FA Cup is something we are going to give everything to. It is a difficult game, of course, against Leicester. We know the quality they have but we have to focus on trying to go as far as we can.

"It would be a big boost if we can get further, but we are just going into the quarter-final and it is hard to jump that far ahead because we are going to have tough matches."

Ray Parlour believes it’s time for Arsenal to take some risks in the transfer market in an attempt to get themselves back into contention for the Champions League.

The Gunners sit ninth in the Premier League and are set to miss out on the top four for a fourth successive year, with their continued absence from Europe’s elite club competition taking a heavy toll on the club's finances.

And with the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic now adding to Arsenal’s problems, transfer business at the Emirates Stadium this summer is expected to be extremely difficult.

But Parlour - who won three league titles and made a record 333 Premier League appearances during his 12-year senior career in north London - says his former club must find a way of strengthening Mikel Arteta’s squad, even if it means they have to take a gamble.

“Maybe they have to take a few more risks which probably they don’t want to do but sometimes in football you’ve got to take a risk,” he told Goal.

“Because if you can get the right players in, suddenly you can turn things around and turn the club around because you can compete again with the best.

“And that’s when you can attract big players in the Champions League.”

Parlour added: “You’ve got to be clever, you’ve got to wheel and deal sometimes because Arsenal are not a club who are going to be competing with the likes of Manchester City [in the transfer market].

“Not having Champions League football is a real burden on the financial situation, that’s why it’s so important to try and get back in it as quick as possible. They had a massive chance last year in the Europa League final, if they had won that.

“Now they have to find a way somehow, I don’t know what route they take to get back there, but we’ve seen what it’s done for Spurs and that’s what Arsenal have got to try and get back to.

“But it’s not as easy as you think, it’s not simple because you are competing against good teams, even teams like Wolves now who have improved so much.

“And what happens with Newcastle if the takeover goes through? They are going to come in and say we are going to have a go at the top four. So it really is difficult to get into the Champions League now.”

Arteta is keen to improve his squad at the end of the season, with a central midfielder now top of his priority list having just completed the permanent signings of centre-back Pablo Mari and right-back Cedric Soares.

Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey is a target, but his £44 million ($54m) release clause could prove prohibitive, unless Arsenal raise some significant funds with some sales once the window open - something Parlour believes could happen.

“There are also some players who you would probably think they could do without,” said the former Gunners star. “There are quite a few players whose contracts are running down.

“I don’t know what they will do with Lacazette. Nketiah is getting a chance now and he’s still a young lad.

"He’s still got to improve and get better, but Arteta might be saying ‘l like what I’m seeing in training from him and I know he will improve’.

“So it will be interesting to see what he does with certain players. Whether Aubameyang stays I don’t know and obviously it’s important to sign Saka up to a long-term contract. He’s been excellent.”

Parlour added: “It’s down to the club now recruitment wise. Arsenal have to get that right.

“They’ve brought Edu in, someone who has played in very good dressing rooms, he was part of the Invincibles and he knows what sort of characters you need if you are going to be successful as a team.

“That’s what his hardest job is now, finding those players who have got good characters that rub off on other players. That’s the hard bit, trying to find them.”

Watch The Emirates FA Cup on BT Sport, with exclusively live coverage of Sheffield United v Arsenal from 12:30pm on Sunday on BT Sport 1

Atletico Madrid took a big step towards sealing Champions League qualification as they defeated Deportivo Alaves in a 2-1 LaLiga win at Wanda Metropolitano.

After a low-key start to Saturday's contest, a Saul Niguez header just before the hour mark put the hosts in front.

Two Atleti substitutes played a part in the second as Diego Costa converted a penalty won by Marcos Llorente to wrap up what ultimately proved to be a comfortable victory for Diego Simeone's side.

Joselu scored a stoppage-time penalty for the visitors, but Atletico are now four points clear of Sevilla in fourth and have opened up a superb nine-point cushion over Getafe in fifth.

Alvaro Morata sent an early header just wide, shortly before his flick-on to fellow forward Joao Felix saw the Portugal international send an impressive acrobatic effort narrowly off target.

Jose Maria Gimenez put a free header over from 12 yards and, despite their opponents defending deeply, it was Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak who had the only first-half save to make from Aleix Vidal.

Diego Simeone brought on Costa and Llorente early in the second half as he attempted to inject life into the hosts and the latter made an instant impression, winning a free-kick down the right.

Kieran Trippier sent in a fine delivery and the onrushing Saul converted with a thumping header from six yards for his fourth goal of season, keeper Fernando Pacheco getting a hand to it but unable to make the save.

Alaves almost levelled when a powerful aerial effort from Oliver Burke flew inches wide, but Atleti soon threatened at the other end when Llorente's long-range effort forced Pacheco to parry.

Llorente then showed superb pace and skill down the right before drawing a foul from Ruben Duarte, with Costa sending Pacheco the wrong way from the spot 17 minutes from time.

Three minutes into added time, Joselu sent a fine penalty into the top corner after Koke was penalised for handball, but it was too late for the visitors to recover.

What does it mean? Atletico impressing since lockdown

Atletico took the chance to extend their advantage over Sevilla, who could only draw with Real Valladolid on Friday, and now look almost certain to claim a Champions League spot.

They have impressed since LaLiga resumed after the coronavirus-enforced break – having drawn their first game back, they have won four straight games, with only the late spot-kick denying them a fourth straight clean sheet.

Llorente lifts Atletico

Former Real Madrid midfielder Llorente changed the game when he came on, winning the free-kick and penalty that led to each goal, as well as testing Pacheco with a rasping drive.

Correa struggles to make an impact

Angel Correa only had one blocked shot and 10 completed passes to show for his 57 minutes on the pitch, though he was not the only one to blame for a sluggish Atletico start.

What's next?

Atletico needed points in this match as their next one is a huge test away to Barcelona on Tuesday. Alaves, meanwhile, are at home to Granada a day later as they bid to halt a run of three straight defeats.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declined to confirm his future at the Etihad Stadium beyond the end of the 2020-1 season as the club's focus shifts to the FA Cup after losing their Premier League crown. 

City's status as reigning English champions came to an end on Wednesday as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, a result that confirmed Liverpool's triumph in the 2019-20 campaign with seven games to spare. 

The club also faces two years out of European football due to a UEFA Financial Fair Play ruling that is currently subject to appeal. 

Reports have suggested that should the ban be confirmed, star players such as Kevin De Bruyne as well as Pep himself would look to leave City; but the manager refuses to look past the end of his current contract. 

“I’m incredibly excited for this part of the season, and the next one," Guardiola told reporters ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Newcastle United.

“I am incredibly satisfied to be in this club and to try to do our best.

"But I don’t want to think too far ahead. Now is not the time. I just think about today.

"I want the players to recover because the last 15-20 minutes were so demanding 10 against 11. We have a tough game against Newcastle and that's what I have to be focused on."

Pep faces something of a dilemma at centre-back for the last-eight meeting, having revealed that John Stones joins the suspended Fernandinho in missing out against the Magpies. 

“He's still injured,” Guardiola said of Stones. “We knew it after lockdown for the lack of preparation.”

“We knew it - lack of preparation and this amount of games in a short time we have to survive. Survive and try to qualify for the Champions League and arrive good on Sunday.”

While the Premier League eluded City, the club still has the chance to add two major titles to the Carabao Cup crown won in March at the expense of Aston Villa. 

With the FA Cup now in full swing, Pep's men also remain active in the Champions League, where they hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after the first leg of their last-16 meeting.

Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy has thrown his weight behind Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Adama Traore to play for either Liverpool or Manchester City in the future.

The speedster has been delivering impressive performances in this campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, scoring four goals and providing nine assists in 31 league games.

His performances have contributed to Wolves’ fifth place on the Premier League table and a number of European clubs have been jostling for his signature.

The 24-year-old utility player has recently been linked with newly-crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool.

Cundy, who is impressed with the development of the former Aston Villa forward, believes he could fit into any of the top clubs in the world.

 “Adama Traore, he is good enough for Champions League football,” Cundy said on talkSPORT.

“I believe he’s reached the sort of heights with his quality in the final third now, his delivery, his knowledge now and he’s learned from his own mistakes.

“When I first saw him at Aston Villa he was all pace and no end product, even at Middlesbrough he was a bit like that.

“But now, fair play to Nuno Espirito Santo, to get [to this level], he must have worked tirelessly on the training ground.

“And it’s with both feet – he put in a brilliant cross with his left foot [against Bournemouth].

“He can drop deep, he can travel with the ball, he’s incredibly strong, his footwork is excellent with the ball and without the ball, the way he moves the ball, his pace, his strength.

“I think he’s good enough to put him in Liverpool, you could put him in City and not only would he not look out of place, I think he could get to a place where he could actually demand a first-team place."

The 24-year-old forward started his career with Spanish giants Barcelona, joining the side’s youth setup in 2004.

He later moved to England to team up with Aston Villa in 2015 before his dazzling displays caught the attention of the Middlesbrough and he was signed in 2016.

Traore is born in Spain but he is eligible to feature for Mali, the country of his parents and has previously stated he is yet to decided on his international future.

He will hope to continue his eye-catching displays when Wolves take on Arsenal in their next Premier League game on July 4.

Barcelona's hopes of winning LaLiga for a third successive season suffered a blow as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo – handing Real Madrid a huge boost in the title race. 

Luis Suarez scored a brace – both of his goals assisted by Lionel Messi – as Barca twice held the lead on the road on Saturday.

However, after Fedor Smolov had equalised earlier in the second half, Iago Aspas curled in an 88th-minute free-kick to bring Celta level again in a see-saw contest in Galicia.

The hosts missed a golden opportunity to snatch victory in the closing minutes too, Nolito shooting straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen after being set up Denis Suarez.

While the result is good enough to move Barca a point clear at the summit, Madrid – who hold the head-to-head edge over their rivals – can retake top spot so long as they avoid defeat at Espanyol on Sunday.

The dramatic late twist means Barca have now failed to win on their last five trips to Balaidos, while Messi remains stuck on 699 career goals after a third straight outing without scoring. 

The Argentinian opted to set up Suarez rather than have an attempt himself from a 20th-minute free-kick well within range, Celta's decision to put a player on each post allowing him to clip the ball into the six-yard box for an unmarked Suarez to nod in his first goal since January.  

Both teams hit the woodwork in the first half but Celta replied five minutes after the break, Okay Yokuslu breaching a high defensive line with a run from deep before squaring for Smolov to finish. 

Suarez reclaimed the lead when he swivelled impressively and fired a low, left-footed shot across goalkeeper Ruben Blanco, though Quique Setien's men were once again unable to hang on to their advantage. 

Substitute Rafinha, on loan from Barcelona of course, was fouled to give Aspas the opportunity to curl his set-piece attempt around the side of the wall and into the net.

What does it mean? Real trouble for reigning champions

Despite an improved display after drawing a blank at Sevilla and labouring past Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona missed the opportunity to put the pressure back on Madrid. 

Instead, they will now have to hope Zinedine Zidane's squad slip up somewhere in the run-in, or else the title is heading to the Spanish capital.

Impressive Puig seizes opportunity 

Who needs Miralem Pjanic when you have Riqui Puig? The 20-year-old impressed in his first league start of the season, completing 92.4 of his attempted passes before making way for Arthur, who is seemingly on his way to Juventus for next season. 

Pique caught out 

There was no VAR help to spare Pique and Barcelona with Celta's first equaliser. While centre-back partner Samuel Umtiti stepped up with the rest of the defence, the 33-year-old dropped back. His decision to do so allowed Yokuslu to break clear. 

Key Opta Facts:

- Lionel Messi has made his 250th assists for Barcelona in all competitions (179 in LaLiga).

- Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas is the second player to score a direct free-kick against Barcelona in LaLiga this season, after his team-mate Lucas Olaza in November 2019.

- Fedor Smolov is the second player to score against both Barcelona and Real Madrid in LaLiga this season, after Levante's Borja Mayoral.

- Barcelona's five game winless run at Balaidos is their longest ongoing streak without victory at any ground in LaLiga. Indeed, it is Celta's joint-longest unbeaten home record against Barcelona in the top-flight (five).

What's next?  

Barca have little time to recover ahead of another tough game on Tuesday, as they host Diego Simeone's in-form Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou. As for Celta, they travel to struggling Real Mallorca on the same day.

With Liverpool having wrapped up the Premier League title, Joe Cole says the time has come for Jurgen Klopp to experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in a midfield role.

The 21-year-old Anfield academy graduate has helped his boyhood club to a first top-flight crown in 30 years.

Success arguably means more to Alexander-Arnold than many of those around him, with the home-grown star enjoying a meteoric rise to prominence.

He has already accrued 127 appearances for Liverpool since making his debut in October 2016, while also picking up nine senior caps for England.

Said recognition has been earned while filling a right-back berth, with the highly rated youngster considered to embody what modern-day defenders are all about.

His energy and creativity allows him to influence proceedings at both ends of the field, with 33 assists recorded across the last three seasons.

Many have already suggested that his future lies further up the field, allowing him to have an even greater impact on proceedings, and Cole feels the perfect opportunity has presented itself for that tweak to be made.

The former Liverpool and England playmaker told BT Sport: “Trent has won everything in the game he can win. He is 21 and I bet he doesn't even think about that.

“He goes onto the pitch and is free. If I was Jurgen Klopp now I would use this opportunity to have a look at him in the midfield.

“He is one of the best passers in the country anywhere. I would maybe even try him in the midfield for England.

“That range of passing, the set-pieces, he is just a fantastic talent and he is going to be having the time of his life.”

Cole’s comments echo those of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, who has previously claimed that Alexander-Arnold could become a Kevin De Bruyne-esque figure for the Reds.

He told Viasport in October 2019: “People talk about the future and could he come into midfield and be a Kevin De Bruyne type player and he has more quality now than Liverpool’s midfield players and you think about the crosses that De Bruyne puts in from the right midfield position and maybe that’s a position where Trent could play.”

Kenya's Ayub Timbe made a cameo appearance as Zimbabwe's Andy Rinomhota scored Reading's consolation goal in their 2-1 loss against Derby County.

Derby County got off to a flying start in Saturday’s Championship encounter with Thomas Lawrence and Wayne Rooney scoring the goals that put them 2-0 up at half-time.

After the restart, Rinomhota halved the deficit for the visitors with his maiden goal in the English second division but it was not enough to save them from defeat.

The Zimbabwean midfielder was on parade for the entire duration alongside Ivory Coast's Yakou Meite while Anglo-Nigerian Ovie Ejaria featured for 82 minutes before making way for Timbe's introduction.

It was Timbe's third league game for Reading since his loan signing from Chinese Super League club Beijing Renhe in January, and he is yet to start a match for the Madejski Stadium outfit.

Despite playing just 31 minutes of football in the Championship so far, the Royals on Friday confirmed ongoing talks with the 27-year-old’s parent club over the extension of his temporary contract until the end of July.

Reading are yet to win a game since the restart of the league from the coronavirus hiatus. Saturday's defeat moved them to 14th in the table with 49 points after 39 matches, seven points above the relegation zone.

They will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host high-flying Brentford at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday.

On the international scene, Rinomhota earned his first invitation to the Zimbabwe national team in May 2018 for the 2018 Cosafa Cup but he was unable to join the Warriors because he did not renounce his British citizenship to get a local passport as required by Zimbabwean law.

The 23-year-old joined Reading in 2015 and rose through the ranks before establishing himself in Mark Bowen’s team.

Rinomhota has made 30 league appearances for the Royals so far in this campaign.

Matteo Guendouzi needs a Patrick Vieira-type figure alongside him at Arsenal, admits Lee Dixon, with the “petulance” of youth getting the Frenchman into trouble as he lacks clear leadership.

That would not have been an issue for the Gunners in years gone by, with some iconic figures having graced the club’s books during the glory days of Arsene Wenger’s tenure.

Vieira was a talismanic presence to provide inspiration from the middle of the park, with Guendouzi among those charged with the task of following in the footsteps of an illustrious countryman.

His potential is clear for all to see, but questions are being asked of his attitude on a regular basis.

Mikel Arteta has gone as far as dropping the 21-year-old from his squad, with a line crossed when grabbing Brighton striker Neal Maupay by the throat at the end of a 2-1 defeat at the Amex.

Transfer talk has now been sparked around Guendouzi, with Dixon of the opinion that the right stance is being taken with a young player in need of greater guidance.

The Gunners great told PA Sport: “I completely agree with leaving him out. It wouldn’t have happened in my day – well, it might have happened once but it wouldn’t have happened again.

“Somebody needs to have a word with him and I’m sure Arteta has done – he wouldn’t have just left him out at Southampton and not said anything.

“There will have been a conversation and then it is about the ability of that player to take that message on board and see what he does with them.

“You don’t just do what the coach says, you listen and use your football intelligence to work out the good bits, the bad bits and what will get you to the next level.

“The next level for him is not being sat at home and watching the game on TV, it is about being in the team every week.”

The legendary former Arsenal defender added on Guenzous's outburst: “It is not the first time we have seen a bit of petulance from him.

“He is a talented boy but, unfortunately for him, he has got his chance in a team that has not really got a lot of leaders on the pitch.

“If you picked Guendouzi out of the team now and stuck him next to Patrick Vieira, he would be a totally different player because he would be led around the pitch and told where to go.

“He almost needs to be coached both tactically and behavioural-wise from within the team group and I don’t know if that is going to happen.

“That is the problem he has got, he needs someone to grab hold of him and give him a little socially-distanced hug – sit down with him and talk to him, analyse his game with him.”

Nigerian nationals Anthony Ujah and Suleiman Abdullahi each found the back of the net after Union Berlin wrapped up their Bundesliga season with a 3-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Die Eisernen came into the game with their survival long secured while for Die Fortunen, they needed to secure a win to keep their hopes of survival alive by securing the relegation/promotion play-off spot.

Ujah got things off for Union in the 26th minute by tapping in Joshua Mees’ fierce shot from a corner which was hacked away but still able to cross the line.

The seven-time capped Nigeria international then turned provider for their second goal, playing the ball into the path of Christian Gentner who fired from outside the penalty box.

Ujah went off in the 62nd minute and in came Abdullahi who sealed the deal in the 90th minute with Gentner passing the ball to the former El Kanemi Warriors player and doing the rest from 12 yards, Dusseldorf goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier failed to stop his not-so-powerful shot.

While on the pitch, Ujah produced 20 touches and seven accurate passes. He was also strong in the air winning seven of 14 aerial duels. His goal was the third in the Bundesliga this term.

Ujah also scored in the 6-0 German Cup first-round victory over Germania Halberstadt and provided two assists in the next round which ended in a 3-1 win at Freiburg. Union Berlin ultimately reached the quarter-final, losing 3-1 to Bayer Leverkusen.

Abdullahi meanwhile scored his first-ever Bundesliga goal in what was just his sixth appearance of the season.

The 23-year-old missed a huge chunk of the season with fitness problems. He played 19 games while Union were in the second-tier last season, on loan from Eintracht Braunschweig.

He played a key role during the relegation/promotion play-off against Stuttgart, scoring in the first leg 2-2 draw which was enough to see Union Berlin promoted to the top-flight for the first time in their history via away goals.

After 11 wins and eight draws from 34 matches, Urs Fischer’s men finished in 11th position with 41 points, 11 points clear of the drop zone.

Fortuna have been relegated after Werder Bremen bagged a 6-1 win over Cologne to squeeze into the relegation/playoff spot.

Loris Karius is the only player that Jurgen Klopp has not improved at Liverpool, says Mark Lawrenson, with a Premier League title-winning coach considered to have been “Shankly-esque in everything that he’s done”.

The German tactician was appointed by those at Anfield in October 2015 in the hope that he could follow in the footsteps of some legendary bosses that went before him.

The shadow of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley continued to loom large on Merseyside, with Liverpool edging their way towards three decades without an English top-flight crown.

That barren run has been ended at the 30-year mark, with Klopp delivering on his initial remit.

He has also savoured Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs, with a star-studded squad assembled through clever recruitment.

Liverpool have seen big-money additions thrive, but those already on their books – such as captain Jordan Henderson – have also raised their games.

Lawrenson considers that to be the mark of a top manager, with German goalkeeper Karius – who endured a nightmare showing in the 2018 Champions League final before being sent out on loan – the only blot on Klopp’s copybook.

“It doesn’t feel like 30 years, and if 30 years ago when they won it you would have said to the football club that you’re not going to win that again for 30 years, the men in white coats would have come and taken you away. It’s fantastic,” Liverpool legend Lawrenson, who won five league titles in his playing days, told BBC Sport.

“When Jurgen Klopp came to the club, you felt this sea change. Within months you knew this was something completely different.

“I hate that thing when a player comes through and he’s small and he’s Argentinean and you say ‘he’s the next Lionel Messi’. He’s not, he’s just him.

“Klopp came and everyone went ‘he’s next the Shankly’. You know what, he’s been Shankly-esque in everything that he’s done.

“He gets the history of the club, he gets the supporters. Of all the players that he’s bought, I can’t remember him buying one that’s not made it.

“And all the players that he’s got, he’s made them better. Karius is the only one, but he’s made all of the rest better.

“Wherever you’re manager, if you make all of the players better – and they are already very, very good – you’re doing a heck of a job.

“And the way that they are playing as well. When he got here I said Liverpool would be everyone’s favourite second club and I got slaughtered, but I think they are because of the way they play.”

Klopp has been quick to play down the impact he has made on Merseyside, with there no desire on his part to see a statue erected in his honour, and Liverpool are being urged by those calling the shots to turn their attention towards the next challenge, which is to maintain their current standards and become serial winners of the biggest prizes on offer.

Dr. Sujan Chakraborty, who is a Minister of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and also CPI(M) leader, urged the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to facilitate East Bengal's move to the Indian Super League (ISL) this season.

Chakraborty, an MLA from Kolkata’s Jadavpur constituency, has written a letter to the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 18th June, 2020. He also thanked Banerjee for having reached out to Praful Patel, who serves as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, for East Bengal's participation in the top division league. 

It must be noted that East Bengal's arch-rivals, namely Mohun Bagan would ply their trade in the ISL after merging with ATK.

"From recent news, I have come to know that you had called All India Football Federation (AIFF) president (Praful Patel) over East Bengal’s participation in the ISL. Despite tough times during the pandemic, you took this initiative and I thank you for that.

“East Bengal club, Mohun Bagan club and Mohammedan Sporting have a rich legacy and they are the pride of Bengal. Out of these three clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are worthy enough to play in the ISL. Mohun Bagan have already merged with ATK and will play in the ISL and you have taken the right initiative to help East Bengal enter the ISL. It is indeed a great pleasure for the sports lovers in the state and I thank you for your initiative," wrote Chakraborty.

Meanwhile, he also cited the example of their neighbouring state, namely Odisha, who have gone out of their way in order support Odisha FC, a team which was earlier known as Delhi Dynamos in the ISL. Chakraborty believes that if the government of West Bengal follows suit, the possibility of East Bengal playing in the ISL could soon be a reality.

"The Odisha government has been actively aiding Odisha FC and are helping them to play in the ISL. We hope that the West Bengal government too will help the clubs from our state and also improve the sports infrastructure of the state.”

East Bengal are yet to finalise an exit plan from their joint venture with Quess Corp which was formed two years back. The Bengaluru-based business service provider have on multiple occasions in the past mentioned that they would have no liability in the joint venture post-May 31 2020. It was initially a three-year partnership but Quess reportedly decided to make an exit after just two years. 

It's an interesting move for a CPI(M) leader to request Banerjee, who is the head honcho of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress (TMC), in order to help East Bengal make it into the ISL this season.

Players from the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage knelt during the playing of the US national anthem on Saturday in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The protest has been repeated across the world of football in the weeks since Minneapolis resident George Floyd was killed through alleged excessive force on the part of officers during a police operation. 

Bundesliga stars Jadon Sancho and Marcos Thuram were among the first to show their support of Black Lives Matter, while the Premier League also saw players wear the movement's name on their shirts in place of their own surnames. 

Saturday's NWSL Challenge Cup match marked the return of professional sport in the US following lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and members of both teams 'took a knee', echoing the gesture first brought into the public eye by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 

Players also wore Black Lives Matter shirts during the playing of the anthem, which was performed on a saxophone. 

The issue of kneeling prior to sports matches has long been a focus of fevered discussion inside US sport, and was in fact banned by US Soccer in 2016 when national team star Megan Rapinoe performed the act in sympathy with Kaepernick. 

Earlier in June, however, the governing body repealed its policy forcing players to stand, and the NWSL saluted the act in a message shared on its official Twitter account. 

Among the most vehement critics of 'taking a knee' is President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has suggested in the past that doing so during the anthem should be a "deportable act".

Trump vowed to stop watching football due to the U-turn on kneeling, while Republican congressman Matt Gaetz went further, calling for the US national teams to be disbanded if they refuse to stand. 

"I’d rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won’t stand for the National Anthem," the Florida politician stated in a message that was shared by Trump. 

"You shouldn’t get to play under our flag as our national team if you won’t stand when it is raised."

There was little joy for Ghanaian players in the German Bundesliga as the top-flight drew to a close on Saturday.

A total of five men, divided across two teams, suffered nothing but disappointment.

Ghana centre-back Kasim Nuhu Adams, wingers Nana Ampomah and Bernard Tekpetey, as well as youngster Kelvin Ofori, all slumped with Fortuna Dusseldorf while German-born Christopher Antwi-Adjei went down with Paderborn.

The last two on the Bundesliga table at the end of each season suffer straight relegation while the third from bottom club goes into a play-off showdown with the third-placed side in the second-tier league.

In the end, Paderborn finished rock-bottom in the log while Dusseldorf took the second-from-bottom position.

Heading into the final matchday with only a chance to finish third to keep their hopes alive, Dusseldorf needed either a win in their clash with Union Berlin to clinch 16th position for a play-off or a draw in the least, with a hope that contenders Werder Bremen fail to register a convincing win over Cologne.

It ended in tears for the Flingeraner as they succumbed to a 3-0 away defeat while Bremen sealed an emphatic 6-1 victory.

The defeat saw Dusseldorf finish second-from-bottom on the log, effectively confirming a season, at least, in the second division.

Interestingly, all four Ghanaians on the books of Dusseldorf did not make the matchday squad.

Adams, though, will not be joining the side for the Bundesliga 2 campaign as he was loaned from six-placed Hoffenheim for only the 2019-20 term.

Ampomah, who signed for Dusseldorf on a long-term deal at the start of the season, has been rumoured to be on his way out of the club, having struggled to impress at Merkur Spiel Arena.

Tekpetey, like Adams, joined the Flingeraner on loan but a two-year agreement means he has one more year on his contract to fulfil, the kind that pulls him to the Bundesliga 2. Parent club Schalke 04, could, however, prematurely terminate the loan deal and bring the attacker back to the elite division.

Ofori, 18, is the fourth Ghanaian with Dusseldorf.

Elsewhere, Paderborn ended their disappointing campaign with a 3-2 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Steffen Baumgart's side was already confirmed as relegated before the final matchday.

Antwi-Adjei, who saw full minutes of action on Saturday, could, however, stay up in the elite division as he has been linked to seventh-placed Wolfsburg. 
 

Montreal Impact captain Jukka Raitala has praised Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama for his strength and his positive vibes in training.

Wanyama moved to Canada in March to team up with Thierry Henry’s side as a designated player after bringing an end to his two-year stint at Tottenham Hotspur.

Eight days after his arrival, the 28-year-old midfielder made his debut for Montreal Impact in a Concacaf Champions League quarter-final fixture against C.D. Olimpia which ended in a 2-1 defeat on March 11.

The suspension of football in the United States of America and Canada due to Covid-19 is delaying Wanyama’s MLS debut but Raitala revealed he has seen the midfielder’s physicality, and he is hoping to see his contribution in the team.

“There was a situation where he was protecting the ball and I tried to tackle him and he didn't move at all,” Raitala told MLS Soccer.

“I asked him a question after practice: 'Has any player ever managed shoulder-against-shoulder to put you on the ground?' He was quiet, he didn't say anything.

“I think that's, for sure, something where this guy is strong, a very clever player, very good with the ball and confident, very confident. Good teammate, he's happy. I don't know, I can only say positive things about him and I think he will be very good for us.”

The 2020 MLS season is scheduled to resume in a one-off tournament in July after almost four months of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The competition will be staged in Florida and Montreal Impact have been drawn in Group C against New England Revolution, Toronto FC and DC United.

They will begin their campaign against New England Revolution on July 9 and all games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Wanyama left Tottenham earlier this year after struggling for regular playing time in Jose Mourinho's team. He made 97 appearances for the North London outfit and he scored seven goals in total.

After featuring in the Kenyan Premier League with Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards, the combative midfielder started his European career in Sweden with Helsingborg in 2007 before moving to Belgian outfit Beerschot and then Celtic where he spent two years after which he completed a move to England to join Southampton in 2013.