Sports

EPL: Late Fernandez Strike Gives Chelsea Comeback Win Against West Ham

Published

5 months ago

January 31, 2026

Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner capped Chelsea’s thrilling fightback from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in a dramatic London derby on Saturday.

Liam Rosenior’s side trailed to first-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea ignored the half-time jeers from their angry fans, staging a brilliant revival after the break. Joao Pedro reduced the deficit before Marc Cucurella headed the equaliser.

For the first time in the Premier League era, Chelsea came from two down at half-time to win thanks to their captain as Fernandez netted in stoppage-time. West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off for violent conduct after tempers boiled over in the final seconds.

In what Rosenior had labelled Chelsea’s “biggest match of the season”, the Blues showed their character in memorable fashion. They climbed to fourth in the Premier League as Rosenior became only the fourth English manager to win his first three Premier League games after Bobby Gould, Sam Allardyce and Craig Shakespeare.

Rosenior has overseen six wins from seven games in all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca. The highlight of Rosenior’s impressive start had come on Wednesday when the Blues fought back from 2-1 down to beat Napoli 3-2 in Italy, securing a place in the Champions League last 16.

But this was arguably even more eye-catching than that success, given how Rosenior turned the tide after Chelsea’s wretched first half. Rosenior will bid to work another miracle on Tuesday when Chelsea look to overturn a 3-2 deficit in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Premier League leaders Arsenal.

– From boos to bedlam –

He made seven changes after the victory in Naples, with Cole Palmer back in the starting line-up after starring from the bench in midweek. Chelsea looked out of sync following the reshuffle and West Ham took advantage to go ahead in the seventh minute.

Bowen wriggled into space on the edge of the penalty area before curling in a cross that eluded the out-stretched boot of West Ham striker Pablo and caught Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez flat-footed as it drifted into the far corner. Rosenior suffered another blow when winger Jamie Gittens limped off injured after a challenge with Summerville.

Summerville inflicted more pain on Chelsea in the 36th minute.

In a flowing move from West Ham as Bowen picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka and his cross was perfectly weighted for Summerville to thump a superb finish past Sanchez from 12 yards. Alejandro Garnacho’s dismal display drew the ire of angry Chelsea fans and the Argentine winger was put out of his misery as Rosenior took him off at half-time.

Rosenior also removed Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato, but Sanchez had to save a fierce blast from Mateus Fernandes after the restart.

Sports

Ronaldo One Of Greatest Players Of All-Time, Yet He’s Not In First Place – Messi

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has hailed Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario as one of the greatest players of all-time in the FIFA World Cup scoring charts after scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 win over Algeria this week.

Messi also expressed surprise that the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid striker wasn’t in first place.

The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward surpassed Ronaldo’s 15 World Cup goals before equalling Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s 16 World Cup goals, thanks to his three goals against Algeria in their World Cup opener.

“It is a great honour to be able to compete with all these greats, including Ronaldo Nazario, among the players I have watched,” Messi said (as per Albiceleste Talk).

“He was one of the greatest players of all time, and yet he is not in first place. So in the end, it’s just a statistic.”

Messi will now hope to lead Argentina to victory when they face Austria in their next game.

Sports

2026 World Cup: ‘No plan to stop Ronaldo, he’s not the same’ – DR Congo’s Mukau

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

DR Congo midfielder, Ngal Ayel Mukau, has admitted there was no tactical plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo in their 2026 World Cup opener. The Leopards held Portugal to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, after Yohan Wissa’s header cancelled out Joao Neves’ goal.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Mukau accepted Ronaldo is still one of the greatest players, but is not the same as before.

He said: “A special plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo? To be honest, not really.

“We know that he isn’t the same as before. He’s a bit older now. But still, he’s one of the greatest… much respect to him.” Mukau’s comments come amid calls from fans and pundits for Ronaldo to be given limited playing time in the national team.

Sports

W’Cup: Ghana Beat Panama 1-0, Diaz Shine In Colombia 3-1 Win Over Uzbekistan

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Ghana won a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening World Cup Group L clash in Toronto on Wednesday.

Caleb Yirenkyi bundled in the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sending thousands of Ghanaians in Canada’s largest city into a frenzy and settling an otherwise attritional battle.

Both sides largely struggled to generate chances in the first half after Panama striker Cecilio Waterma’s second minute attempt was steered away by outstretched Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.

The Black Stars didn’t attempt a shot on goal through the first half.

The second half played out under steady rain at the Toronto Stadium but saw more sustained attacking play.

Cristian Martinez triggered a massive roar from the loud Panamanian contingent when he lashed a shot into the side-netting in the 60th minute.

But the match looked headed for a scoreless draw until Yirenkyi put the Black Stars ahead.

Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz turned to his side’s fans after the goal, urging them on in celebration.

Queiroz only took charge of the Black Stars a couple of months before the start of the tournament.

Wednesday’s fixture made him only the second coach to appear in five consecutive World Cups, after leading Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Loud boos rang out across the crowd of nearly 43,000 during a second-half hydration break under pouring rain.

Ghana triumphed despite being without Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial on rape charges in Britain. Canadian authorities denied him a World Cup visa, over the British case.

Colombia beat debutant Uzbekistan

Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opening Group K game on Wednesday thanks to an inspired performance from Luis Diaz at the Estadio Azteca.

The Bayern Munich forward provided an assist, a goal and also hit the post as the Colombians resisted a battling performance from the Uzbeks in front of 80,824 spectators in Mexico City.

Diaz’s superb lofted pass allowed Daniel Munoz to volley in after 40 minutes, but Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalized with his nation’s maiden World Cup goal as he reacted first to head in a rebound from Eldor Shomurodov’s saved volley.

Diaz put Colombia back into the lead as he fired a shot that Uzbek goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov should have stopped.

In the dying seconds Jaminton Campaz made it three for Colombia with a fine header.

The win put Colombia top of a group that also features Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who drew 1-1 earlier.

AFP