Sports

Mbappe’s Brace Puts France Past Messi’s Argentina 4 – 3

Published

6 years ago

July 1, 2018

Eric

In the end, Argentina just did not have enough even with Lionel Messi. Two goals in the first half were followed by five in the second as France, with a brace from 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe took Les Bleus through to the quarterfinal. The PSG teenager was a constant threat, winning a penalty and scoring twice while Messi continued his record of not scoring in the second round of the World Cup.

First Half

France kicked off with Argentina starting Lionel Messi as the central striker with the licence to roam. Gonzalo Higuain was dropped and Cristian Pavon came in. Kylian Mbappe showed his speed to the Argentines and was taken out by Javier Mascherano as he approached the box. Antoine Griezmann stepped up and struck the crossbar.

On 11 minutes, Mbappe won the ball deep in France half and took off. He sprinted past Mascherano, Nicolas Otamendi before Marcos Rojo hauled him down in the box. Clear penalty. Griezmann stepped up and sent Franco Armani the wrong way.

Seven minutes later, Nicolas Tagliafico fouled Mbappe on the edge of the box after Pogba found the 19-year-old with a quick free kick. The free kick was blazed over by Pogba. Griezmann had a run into the box but his cutback was straight at Armani. Tagliafico had to be 100% accurate with a tackle on Mbappe in the 30th minute. Things got a little tasty on 32 minutes as Mascherano flew into Pogba after the French midfielder had dispossessed Messi.

Angel Di Maria then scored a contender for goal of the tournament when he let fly from 31 yards after he was not closed down. That was on 41 minutes and it was Argentina’s first shot on target. Mascherano was finally shown a yellow card on 42 minutes for a diving challenge on N’Golo Kante. Argentina were now having more joy with the ball and were pushing France back.

Second half

Federico Fazio replaced Rojo at the start of the second stanza and just three minutes into the second stanza, Argentina were ahead.

From a free kick, the ball was half-cleared and fell to Messi., who swiveled and shot at goal with Lloris well placed but the ball hits Mercado and wrong-footed the French goalkeeper. Fazio then almost gifted Griezmann a goal on 56 minutes but the path to goal was quickly closed.

France were on level terms in the 57th minute when a cross from France’s left back, Lucas Hernandez, found its way to his right back, Benjamin Pavard, who hammered a swerving shot past Armani.

Game on!!!

Mbappe pounced on a loose ball in the Argentina box in the 64th minute, twisted and powered a left-footer under Armani to give France the lead once again.

France’s fourth goal was a classic team move that started from the Goalkeeper, Lloris to Kante to Griezmann to Blaise Matuidi, who laid on to Giroud, who passed into Mbappe’s path and the teenager passed it past Armani. What a goal!

Sergio Aguero, on as a substitute got Argentina’s third in the second minute of added time from a Messi cross but it was too late for the two-time winners. The questions will continue for Messi.

Sports

PSG Bundle Barcelona Out of Champions League

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have kicked 10-man Barcelona out of the Champions League as they qualified for the semi-final after winning 4-1 at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona had won the first leg 3-2 in Paris, but PSG won 6-4 on aggregate to qualify for the semi-finals.

Kylian Mbappe grabbed a brace in the encounter to see PSG through.

A Superb work from Lamine Yamal squared the ball to Raphinha, who beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a brilliant shot into the bottom right corner to give Barcelona a 12th minute lead.

In the 29th minute, Ronald Araujo made an ugly tackle on his opponent and was sent off by the referee leaving the homers with 10 men to play the entire duration.

PSG capitalised on their advantage and equalised in the 40th minute. A former Barcelona player, Ousmane Dembele equalised for the visitors.

Bradley Barcola played the ball to Dembele, who showed great determination to get to the ball before a couple of defenders and from inside the box he shot into the top right corner of the net to make it 1-1.

PSG made it 1-2 in the 54th minute from a fantastic finish by Vitinha from just outside the box. He wasted little time in getting away a bullet of a shot that flew past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner of the net.

Mbappe added another goal for PSG from the penalty spot in the 61st minute. He put the ball into the top left corner past the outstretched arm of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

A minute to duration time, PSG made it 1-4. Mbappe fired the rebound into the bottom right corner after the ball broke to him in the box.

Sports

IGP Salutes Exceptional Performances of Police Athletes at 2023 African Games

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Eric

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, has commended the exceptional performances of the Police Athletes who distinguished themselves, as Nigeria’s ambassadors at the recently concluded 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.

The IGP notes that their remarkable performances across various sporting events have brought immense pride to the Force and the country at large.

While receiving the athletes, the IGP, who was represented by the Force Director of Sports (FSO), CP Patrick A. Atayero, likened the African Games to a continental Olympics, and harped on the significance of young and talented Police Sports Men and Women showcasing their skills, passion, determination and courage on such a prestigious stage to emerge Medalists. He emphasized that the success of Police Athletes at the 13th African Games which held from 8th to 26th March, 2024, shortly after the 14th Biennial Police Games (Oluyole 2024) that concluded on 2nd March in Ibadan, is a veritable testament to the effectiveness of the sports development initiatives of the Force.

The medalists – Inspr. Aisha Adamu, Sgt. Mohammed Inuwa, Sgt. Emmanuel Bala, Sgt. Matthew Deshi, Corporal Chika Blessing, Corporal Nathaniel Samson, Corporal Victor Ikechukwu, Corporal Eweh Emmanuel, Corporal Collins Obi, Corporal Godwin Sunday, Corporal Emmanuel Ochayi, Corporal Aminu Garba, PC Olayiwola Zainab, PC Mabel David, PC Precious Joel, PC Esther Peter, and Bello Tunde Muiz (Education Officer II), demonstrated exceptional dexterity in Arm wrestling, Athletics, Badminton, Mixed Martial Arts, Swimming and Hockey. These Police Athletes garnered 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze totalling 8 Medals, for Nigeria at the Continental Sports Fiesta.

The Inspector General of Police appreciates all Police Athletes for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to sporting excellence, national unity and development in all spheres in Nigeria. He reiterates that their collective success serves as an inspiration to other Police Officers and fellow aspiring Athletes and inestimable potentials across the nation.

Sports

Super Falcons Draw Goalless with South Africa, Quality for Paris Olympics

Published

1 week ago

April 9, 2024

Eric

Nigeria’s female national football team, Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Nigeria beat South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the Summer Olympics.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot in the first leg of the qualifiers in Abuja on Friday.

That goal was enough for the Super Falcons to pick one of Africa’s tickets for the women’s football event of the Paris Olympics as the second leg tie ended goaless in South Africa.

The last time Nigeria’s Super Falcons reached the Olympics was 16 years ago.