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A summary of how action went in the weekend, in the English Premier League. 1. The big men powers Forest to the points Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Woods scored in either half, between a Gustavo Hamer's equalizer for Sheffield United as Nottingham Forest sealed their first win of the campaign. Back-to-back defeat for newly promoted Sheffield as Serge Aurier starred with a brace of assist. 2. Wissa and Mbeumo delivered for Brentford, again. Both players scored in the opening weekend draw with Spurs and were back at it again during the trip to Fulham, which they won 3-0. Yoane Wissa opened the scoring and Bryan Mbeumo added two more after the break to seal a convincing win. 3. Mohamed Salah broke second week jinx Mohamed Salah scored in a Premier League Gameweek two fixture for the first time, firing home a penalty rebound to complete a turnaround for Liverpool, after Luis Diaz had made it 1-1 to canceled out Antoine Semenyo opener. Diogo Jota added one more after the break to seal a 3-1

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta is currently being investigated by football stakeholders for suspicious betting breaches, and the situation has affected a potential move to Manchester City. West Ham United man, Paqueta, has been linked with a move to Manchester City since the last week as Pep Guardiola look to add more options to a team that has lost some of their best legs this summer. The recurring hamstring injury to Kevin De Bruyne, which has also seen the Belgian now ruled out for a long period is also a major concern for the Cityzens, and Lucas Paqueta is one of the few players the club wants to bring in this summer. Paqueta, a former AC Milan and Flamengo player, who has also won 42 caps for the Brazilian national team since his debut in August 2018 is really admired by the treble winners. There are also links with Rennes' Belgian winger, Jeremy Doku, who was one of the stars in the Ligue 1 last season. West Ham United are demanding around £80 million from Manchester City

Failure to plan is the first step in the direction of failure but for Chelsea, who has completely written themselves an opposite story this summer, there's no better way of achieving success. The overhaul was thought would be a reason for the club to continue languishing in the unfortunate situation they found themselves last season but an expertly orchestrated summer business has seen them rather upgrade the ranks. The upgrade is unbelievable as youth players, arguably best in their respective positions have joined this summer. In six months, Chelsea let off almost the entirety of the squad that led them to their Champions League success in more than two years ago in Lisbon. That fact is actually a contextual. The reality of the situation is that many of these players were no longer whom they used to be. The club finished 12th in the league last season and not even one of the many players stood out. It was always going to take something extraordinary to have Chelsea back at their

Chelsea and Liverpool both got their Premier League campaign underway in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge courtesy of two first half goals. For the seventh consecutive fixture involving Chelsea and Liverpool, a draw continued to end matters after 90 minutes, as debutant, Axel Disasi scored to cancel out Luis Diaz's opener for Liverpool on Sunday evening. Visitors, Liverpool took an early lead through Luis Diaz inside the opening 20 minutes, from a brilliant pass made by Mohamed Salah following a build-up from the back. Liverpool thought they had doubled their lead when Mohamed Salah finished from a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass just before the half-hour mark only to be denied by an offside decision following a VAR review. Chelsea then leveled matters through debutant, Axel Disasi in the 37th minute. The Frenchman crumbling a Ben Chilwell header past Alisson from close range. Two minutes later, Ben Chilwell scored to put Chelsea ahead but the VAR review also disallowed the goal for offsi

Harry Kane's wait for a first career trophy continues following Bayern Munich's lost to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup final on Saturday evening. Harry Kane completed his big money move from Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day and in the hope that he will kickstart his career in Bavaria with his first silverware as a professional, he was included in the squad for the German top-flight football curtain raiser. The England captain started the game on the bench and watched as his side lost the first half to a Dani Olmo brace right there, in Bayern Munich's home ground in Allianz Arena. He was subbed on just after the hour mark but that would neither change the context of the game nor prevent Olmo from completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot. Bayern's loss to Leipzig is their first in the Super Cup final in four years, having won each of the previous three. A massive blow for Harry Kane and a poor note to start his adventure with the Bavarians. However, he'l

Evidence from what was witnessed in Chelsea's pre-season games, the storm seems over for the two-time UEFA Champions League winners, who went through the lowest of lows in the last domestic campaign. Chelsea, even by the standard could not help it finish 14th in the Premier League last season, closer to the relegation zone than they were to the top nine. 2022-23 was a season of hurt, which left the club's faithful at some point thinking of the worst. Four Managers hired and fired in total with only eleven league games won out of 38. The games won were also not so convincing as many of them had come thanks to a goal difference. New signings failed to live up to expectations. Regular players suffered of poor form and injuries. All of these mounted together to define Chelsea's season, and was a meaningless translation it gave in the end. The Blues waited for a turnaround. They hoped, maybe at some point a light await at the end of the tunnel. Hope was high again after they rea

The United States Women's National Team has been faced with the inevitable as Sweden progresses in a breathtaking shoot-out to eliminate them in the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup. Four-time winners. One-time beaten finalist. Three-time second runner-up, the United States had never failed to reach the semi finals in any of the eight previous editions of the tournament before setting out for Oceania. However, poor showing in the group round saw them just managed to scale through from the round, at the expense of debutant, Portugal. But in the round of 16, there was no hiding place for them as Sweden Goalkeeper, Zecira Musovic repelled all thrown at her over the course of 120 minutes, making 11 saves to force penalty shoot-out. Sweden, who had been beaten in knockout rounds of the tournament in the past finally got their revenge, winning the shoot-out 5-4 with each team taking seven each. Kelley O'Hara eventually became the villain, as Lina Hurtig managed to beat Alyssa Naehe

Goals from Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn in either half secured easy passage into the quarter finals for The Netherlands as they ousted South Africa's Banyana Banyana in the first match on Sunday. The last edition's beaten finalists has show real character so far in New Zealand / Australia and managed to finish top of a group, which comprises record winners, the United States. Having ammased seven points from three group games to reach this stage, there are growing beliefs that the Andries Jonker's ladies might be here to take back what was denied four years ago in France. They got off to a perfect start against the African champions and in the ninth minute, produced the first goal of the game as Manchester City's new signing, Jill Roord heads home from close range, after Beerensteyn's header from a corner was saved by Swart. South Africa, who made history by reaching their first ever knockout round in the tournament were second best for almost the entirety of t

One-time winners, Japan are through to the last eight of the FIFA Women's World Cup following a comprehensive 3-1 win over 1995 Champions, Norway. The 2011 champions took the lead inside the opening 15 minutes as Igrid Engen stick out a leg to divert Miyazawa's cross into her own net, scoring a record equaling eighth own goal in a single edition of the tournament. The lead did not last too long as Guro Reiten scores from a Vilde Risa's cross with Norway's first chance of the game five minutes after going behind. The goal was the first conceded by Japan in the ongoing tournament, as well as Norway's 100th in their FIFA Women's World Cup history - only the United States and Germany has reached the milestone. Japan retake the lead five minutes after the restart, Risa Shimizu made her name sake in the opposition shirt, Risa, pay for a reckless pass in her own area. The West Ham United right wing back fired home via a deflection to reestablish the lead before Hitana

Spain has become the first nation to secure the ticket into the quarter finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup following a 5-1 annihilation of Switzerland in Auckland. Despite finishing runner-up to Japan in Group C, Spain never looked second best against a Switzerland side that emerged winner of Group A ahead of Norway. La Joya got off to a dream start as Aitana Bonmati scored the first of her double inside the opening five minutes from an Alba Redondo pass. However, their lead was cut out six minutes later, as Laia Codina played a blind back pass to Catalina Coll, who was already off her line. The unfortunate own goal leveled the score at 1-1. Spain however continued to impose themselves on their opponent and reestablished their lead six minutes later, as Alba Redondo heads home an inswinging cross from Bonmati. Aitana Bonmati completed her brace six minutes after the half hour mark from another Alba Redondo pass. This time, the Barcelona midfielder has more to do but she did so we

Former Borussia Dotmund Head Coach, Jurgen Klopp is the only reason the club is considered a rival of Bayern Munich for Bundesliga titles season in and out but there appears no rivalry at all in the absence of the former Mainz boss. Since the departure of the German in the summer of 2015, the 'Yellow and Black Wall' has not win a Bundesliga title, despite hiring and firing multiple managers during the period. The closest they came to putting an end to Bayern's reign was last season, when they came close to winning the title, only to eventually lost it on the final day of the season, right in front of their home fans. This takes one back to the turmoil the club was in prior to the appointment of the 56-year-old back in the summer of 2008, when the highlight sought-after tactician moved to the city. That Kickstart practically the most successful era in the club's history as under the now Liverpool boss, they won back-to-back Bundesliga as well as a DFB Pokal titles betwee

Anissa Lahmari scored from a penalty rebound in the added time of the first half hand Morocco a win over Colombia and secure them a ticket to the next round of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Morocco has become the first Arab nation to reach the knockout rounds of the FIFA Women's World Cup following a result, that also sees them complete history for Africa as for the first time, the continent has three representatives in the knockout round. Needed to better the result of Germany in the other game, fortune shone on the North African when So-Hyun Cho latched onto a sensational through ball from Young-Ju Lee after just six minutes. Alexandra Popp leveled matters for the two time winner just before the end of normal time of first half but Morocco do their own chances a world of good as they took the lead against Colombia before half time. There was not change in the scoreline after the break in either game as Alexandra Popp had another goal ruled out, while Morocco held onto their lea

Erik Ten Hag's first season has its good and bad moments, but by the standard set at the club lately, it's fair enough to conclude it was a success. It was even better when you add that Manchester United won their first silverware in more than five years, following the win over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, back in the end of February. The club also reached the final of the Emirates FA Cup but unfortunately, they could not get the better of their city rivals, Manchester City, who completed a double en route to winning a treble. With his first season gone, expectation is that the club will level up next season and stage a real fight for the Premier League title, including an impressive run as they return to the company of elites in the UEFA Champions League. However, the signs from their pre-season has shown evidence that the club has not learn from the costly mistakes made in the league last season, which saw them blown away in what could have easily been a three h

For the first time in the history of Jamaica, the country has reached the knockout round of a FIFA senior tournament, just like South Africa's Banyana Banyana earlier in the day. It came at the expense of South American giant, Brazil, who did it all but score in a goalless draw inside the Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne. Jamaica, who had managed to hold off France in a goalless draw and beat Panama in their second game, needed to avoid a defeat to secure make history and managed to hold off Brazil to earn their needed point. Despite their 18 shots attempted with eight hitting the target, Jamaica remained unbroken thanks to their Goalkeeper, Rebecca Spencer and her outstanding defenders. The result sees them progress as runner-up behind France, who had inflicted a huge blow on Brazil with a late winner from Wendie Renard last time out. Kadidiatou Diani is the hero of the day, scoring a hat-trick in a thrilling 6-3 win over already eliminated Panama. Whilst there was nothing at stak

Banyana Banyana made history as they become the first ever South African team to reach the knockout round of any FIFA senior tournament, be it Men's or Women's. After their inconsistency costed them in their opening two games, which saw the drop five points from winning position against Sweden and Argentina, Desiree Ellis' minions needed a win against Italy to progress. They were not helped at the start of the mouth-watering winner takes all game as they were pegged back earlier on, when Italy were awarded a penalty following a clumsy Dhlamini challenge on Beccari. Arianna Caruso made no mistake from the spot as she fires Italy in front in the eleventh minute. But the heavens smile on South Africa just after the half hour mark as Orsi beat her own Goalkeeper with a clumsy pass to make it 1-1. Caruso completed her brace to level matters for Italy in the 74th minute after Hilda Magaia had given Banyana Banyana the lead from a Thembi Kgatlana assist. Kgatlana had the final say

Lauren James registered five goal contributions as the Lioness of England crush China in their final group game to maintain a 100 per cent run in the FIFA Women's World Cup. Sarina Wiegman's side stormed into an early lead inside the opening four minutes as Alessia Russo scores her first goal of the tournament, turning before finding the near post after a pass from Lauren James. The lead was doubled, four minutes before the half hour mark with James again assisting another goal for the European Champions. This time, it is Lauren Hemp who got on the end of a through ball to beat both defender and Goalkeeper and make it 2-0. James completed a hat-trick of goal contributions four minutes before the end of the normal time of the first half, hitting a first time shot that traveled past bodies before finding the far side of the net. Shaung Wang scored a consolation for China from the spot after Lucy Bronze was penalized for a handball. The Racing Louisville player made no mistake fro

Needed to win by telling margins to finish as group winners ahead of the United States and the Netherlands took that too personal, by recording the biggest win so far in this edition of the tournament by thrashing Vietnam, 7-0. Four goals inside the opening 25 minutes from Lieke Mertens, Katja Snoeijs, Jill Roord and Esmee Brugts, who scored one of her two goals. Debutant, Vietnam, were no match for their rampant opposition and could not help succumb to pressure every now and then. To suppress the situation, Duc Chung Mai was forced into making two defensive change before the half hour mark. That did prove potent for some period but not enough to prevent the Dutch from scoring a fifth as Danielle van de Donk scores her first World Cup goal on the stroke of half time. Esmee Brugts completed her brace three minutes before the hour mark as she pounced on a loose ball, firing into the top-right corner to make it 6-0. Ten minutes later, Lieke Mertens had another goal ruled out for offside a

A lot will be expected of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal when the new season gets up and running, starting from their English football curtain raiser meeting with Manchester City in the FA Community Shield early August. The Gunners came desperately close to ending their 19-year wait for a Premier League title last season when they went toe to toe with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in a two horse title race. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. So far this summer, the club has responded in a sensational fashion in the transfer window, sealing the signing of three players ready to walk into the starting XI while also securing the futures of their important players. Granit Xhaka is the only first team regular to depart the club while there has been multiple options lined up to replace him, including two of the three signings this summer. Not forgetting a certain Portuguese in Fabio Vieira, who joined the club last summer but struggled in his debut season - a 34 million pounds investme