Haaland keeps new-look Man City perfect in Premier League, blunt Spur…

New-look Manchester City overcame a spirited challenge from Coventry on Saturday courtesy of an Erling Haaland goal to stay perfect in the Premier League, as blunt Tottenham were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest. chincha.pl

Enzo Maresca is now the man in the Etihad hotseat after the emotional departure of long-serving Pep Guardiola, while there has been significant churn among the playing staff.

One of the new arrivals, Enzo Fernandez, played a major part in City’s first-half goal, feeding Antoine Semenyo, who crossed for Haaland to head home his third of the season.

Table-topping City have won all three of their Premier League matches ahead of next week’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Former Chelsea boss Maresca said teams needed “ugly moments” as well as free-flowing football after the stodgy win, in which newly promoted Coventry squandered chances.

“I really liked today for different reasons,” the Italian told the BBC. “First half we could have scored one or two more, but we worked together to win so I am happy.

“It is difficult against teams in a low block, I felt we dealt very well with that. Anxiety from the fans is normal. Nine out of 10 of these games you end with bad feeling, but it is important to win 1-0.”

Midfielder Fernandez arrived at the Etihad on transfer deadline day in a £125 million ($170 million) deal, which equalled the British record.

Maresca handed his former charge at Chelsea a start after Nico O’Reilly sustained an injury in the warm-up, while fellow new signing Iliman Ndiaye also made his debut for the club.

The City boss is working with a reshaped squad following several high-profile departures, including those of former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

As well as Fernandez and Ndiaye, big-money arrivals include England midfielder Elliot Anderson and Morocco teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi, who both featured on Saturday.

– Spurs held –

Tottenham also spent heavily in the summer transfer window in a desperate effort to avoid fresh embarrassment after finishing 17th in successive seasons.

They travelled to the City Ground, after defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, to face a team that twice beat them heavily last season, and still searching for their first Premier League goal of the new campaign.

Forest had the ball in the net midway through the second half after calamitous Spurs defending, but Neco Williams’s strike was ruled out for handball following a VAR check.

The 0-0 draw means that Forest, who, like Spurs, flirted with relegation last season, are also still seeking their first win.

Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk, who joined Tottenham on loan this week, was introduced as a substitute in the 74th minute for his first competitive action since November 2024 following a doping ban.

“Disappointed for the result but for the performance very happy, considering we started to work together last Thursday for the first time, for the first day,” Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi told Sky Sports, referring to the end of the transfer window.

He added: “If we improve in the last third I think we can score many goals because we have the players with big qualities. Now is a tough moment to accept this result because I think we played well.”

Vitaly Janelt opened the scoring for high-flying Brentford against Sunderland but Enzo Le Fee levelled from the penalty spot late in the game to force a 1-1 draw.

Leeds drew 1-1 at Brighton while Tyrick Mitchell scored two goals as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to earn a 3-2 win at Fulham, with Ben Chilwell netting the winner.

In the early kick-off, Newcastle recovered from going 2-0 down to secure a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, staying unbeaten in all competitions under new manager Matthias Jaissle.

Hull host Aston Villa in the evening kick-off while champions Arsenal are in action against in-form Chelsea on Sunday.

On Friday, Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool beat Ipswich 2-0 to claim their first win of the season.

The Springboks beat the All Blacks 29-24 in the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at FNB Stadium in Joburg on Saturday to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-Test series.

The teams were locked at 12-all at half-time.

The fourth Test is next Saturday in Baltimore, USA.

This is how The Citizen rated the performance of the Bok players, out of 10, on Saturday.

Cheslin Kolbe 8: Unfortunately, the multi-skilled backline star lasted only 11 minutes before failing a head injury assessment. Up to then though he was solid in his new role of fullback, kicking well out of hand and cleaning up loose balls in defence in the back field.

Kurt-Lee Arendse 8: He worked his socks off, all over the field, making several important tackles, many of them by chasing back. He also scored a nice try, but knocked on badly on one occasion.

Jesse Kriel 8: A bit of a mixed bag … he made some strong runs, once getting close to the tryline, and once bumping off a defender and running in a super try. Made some good tackles, but also knocked on badly once.

Damian de Allende 7: A powerful presence in midfield, he made some big tackles and carried strongly, once bumping off a defender and sending Arendse on his way for his try. He even stole a ball on the ground on one occasion.

Ethan Hooker 8: Another superb outing for the winger … he chased balls, jumped high for kicks, made numerous big tackles and ran hard when he got the chance. Just a very solid all-round, all-action performance.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 7: He got a yellow card for a deliberate knock down, but otherwise played well. Shifted between flyhalf and fullback. Made some good runs, tackled hard and kicked decently at goal.

Cobus Reinach 7: A busy, full-of-action performance. His best bit was all the tackles he made. He simply chased All Blacks players for all 44 minutes he was on the field. His kicks were decent and service good.

Jasper Wiese 7: Another game where he didn’t get much chance to run with the ball, but when he did, he made plenty metres. He also pulled off numerous big tackles. He also won a breakdown penalty in a good performance.

Pieter-Steph du Toit 6: The big blindside just hasn’t quite hit his straps this series, but he worked hard throughout the contest, making several tackles and carries. He also missed a few tackles. His lineout take which led to Marx’s try was superb.

Siya Kolisi 7: The skipper played up to the 57th minute and was full of action. He contributed in tackles made, carries over the gainline and he generally got stuck in all over the field. Such a big presence for the Boks.

Ruan Nortjé 6: Another workmanlike performance from the No 5 lock; he was sound in the lineouts and worked hard in broken play, making his tackles, carries and cleans. Quickly becoming the new Mostert.

Eben Etzebeth 6: Not as effective and dominant as a week before, but he was good in the lineouts, again making an important steal, while he worked hard in the rucks and mauls, helping the Boks get the upper hand.

Wilco Louw 8: The big tighthead wasn’t as influential in broken play as he was in Cape Town, but he was picked to scrum, and scrum he did. He won numerous penalties at the set-piece for the Boks.

Malcolm Marx 9: Simply superb. He hit his man in the lineouts and dominated in the tight-loose play. He helped the front row get the better of the All Blacks in the scrums, he won breakdown penalties, and scored a super maul try.

Ox Nché 8: He was picked to scrum the life out of the All Blacks and he did, helping his team win numerous penalties in the scrums. He also once showed great hands in a passage of play which nearly resulted in a try.

Bench

Deon Fourie 7: He came on in the 57th minute and was full of action, first as a flank and later as a hooker. He tackled hard, ran with the ball, and made a nuisance of himself at the breakdowns.

Gerhard Steenekamp 8: He got on in the 57th minute and continued to help the Boks dominate in the scrums, winning penalties and getting on top of the visitors.

Thomas du Toit 8: Like his fellow front row men, he continued the good scrum work of the starters and got stuck in with some tackles, cleans and carries.

Lood de Jager 8: He came on in the 57th minute and made a big impact with his carries and tackles, and showed he is far from being done with Test rugby.

André Esterhuizen 7: He worked hard on the side of the scrum when he got on in the 68th minute and helped the Boks get the upper hand in the final 12 minutes.

Cameron Hanekom 7: Another bench man who made a big impact, helping the Boks get on top and stay there. He put in some big tackles.

Morne van den Berg 9: What an impact. He made several big and important tackles in an action-packed 36 minutes. He kicked well, ran hard and rushed the All Blacks players. His passing was also top notch.

Manie Libbok 8: He came on early for Kolbe and played superbly. His passing was crisp, he was good under the high ball, and he made several good tackles. He also got so close to scoring a sensational try.

Manchester City continue de dicter le rythme en Premier League. Les Citizens ont signé samedi une troisième victoire en trois journées en venant à bout de Coventry (1-0), confirmant leur excellent début de saison. De son côté, Pierre Sage a également connu sa première victoire à la tête de Crystal Palace. Après deux défaites pour ses débuts, l’entraîneur français a vu son équipe renverser Fulham (3-2) au terme d’une rencontre spectaculaire. Une journée riche en enseignements, aussi bien dans le haut que dans le bas du classement.

City enchaîne

Face au promu Coventry, Manchester City n’a pas eu besoin de livrer une démonstration pour poursuivre son sans-faute. Les Citizens ont fait la différence à la 26e minute grâce à Erling Haaland, qui a repris de la tête un centre d’Antoine Semenyo pour ouvrir le score. Rayan Cherki avait auparavant trouvé le poteau sur une belle tentative.

City a ensuite maîtrisé les débats et conservé son avantage jusqu’au coup de sifflet final. Avec neuf points sur neuf possibles, les Sky Blues poursuivent leur parcours parfait. Coventry, de son côté, reste sans point après trois journées.

Sage décroche enfin sa première victoire

Pierre Sage peut enfin souffler. Crystal Palace a pourtant longtemps semblé se diriger vers une nouvelle désillusion sur la pelouse de Fulham. Menés à deux reprises, les Eagles ont trouvé les ressources nécessaires pour revenir dans la rencontre, notamment grâce à un doublé de Tyrick Mitchell.

Le choix de Sage s’est ensuite révélé décisif. Entré en jeu, Ben Chilwell a rapidement fait la différence en inscrivant le but de la victoire, permettant à Palace de s’imposer 3-2. Après deux revers pour ses débuts sur le banc londonien, l’ancien entraîneur de l’OL tient donc son premier succès en Premier League avec les Eagles.

Tottenham toujours sans victoire

Tottenham devra encore patienter avant de décrocher son premier succès de la saison. Les Spurs ont été tenus en échec par Nottingham Forest (0-0) et restent donc sans victoire après trois journées. Ils décrochent néanmoins leur premier point de la campagne.

Dans les autres rencontres de l’après-midi, Brighton et Leeds se sont séparés sur un nul (1-1), tout comme Brentford et Sunderland (1-1). Les Bees avaient ouvert le score avant de voir Sunderland revenir à hauteur sur penalty.

Manchester City ressort ainsi comme l’un des grands bénéficiaires de cette journée. Avec trois victoires en autant de rencontres, les Citizens confirment leur excellent départ, tandis que Crystal Palace respire enfin et que Tottenham reste toujours à la recherche de son premier succès.

The post Premier League : Manchester City déroule, Sage signe sa première avec Crystal Palace, Tottenham patine appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

When it came, the singular moment of Saturday’s thunderous Springbok-All Blacks Test at FNB Stadium was equal parts violent and magnificent. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.

In the 37th minute, the Boks were awarded an attacking scrum in the shadows of the All Black posts. Down the two packs went, but only one pack went forward as the aggressive Boks mangled New Zealand with a ferocious forward assault that had them back pedalling, torn asunder.

For all the moaning about scrums this week, it was a moment to treasure and a reminder of South Africa’s brute, beautiful power. Bok rugby’s ancient strength, its big men doing big things, has never looked more resplendent or more savage.

So bad was New Zealand’s capitulation, referee Nika Amashukeli didn’t hesitate to award the penalty try. Justice done, the massive crowd erupted.

As flexes go, it was pure theatre and a vivid reminder not to denigrate the Bok scrum. You don’t tug at Superman’s cape.

REPORT: Boks edge All Blacks in Calabash thriller

It was a theme set from the off, the Boks getting a hard right shoulder in the first scrum, in the seventh minute, to set their stall out.

Ardie Savea was causing all sorts of chaos, but the Boks remained resolute up front. Scrum three saw yet more carnage. Cue the penalty.

There was no let up. Even in the second half, after the stadium announcer had exhorted the crowd to shout “scrum!” “scrum!”, the Boks obliged. Another scrum, another penalty.

PICK YOUR MVP: Boks vs All Blacks

It was that sort of day, the All Blacks skinning the Boks in the wide channels and the Boks destroying New Zealand up front. Coach Dave Rennie had confidently predicted in the week that his team would have a plan to counter the expected onslaught, but whatever it was, it failed. He had to get his kicks elsewhere.

The final flourish, a muscular maul in the 65th minute that saw Malcolm Marx score, was another demonstration of snarling Bok power.

It was a night when the Bok front eight showed no mercy. Just misery.

And the baying crowd went home giddy with pride.

ALSO: Boks extend rankings advantage

The post Beautiful scrum powers Boks home appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Kaizer Chiefs are set to welcome back Khayisa Mayo from injury later this month.

The 28-year-old striker has not kicked a ball this season, with surgery having forced him to miss Chiefs’ pre-season camp in Spain in July.

According to reports, the former Cape Town City star is training with the team and should be available for selection towards the end of September.

An informer told KickOff that Mayo should return to acton on the 20th of September which will be good news as Chiefs are in need of a fit striker..

“The boy has healed nicely; what they are working on now is his fitness,” a source told KickOff.

“At the moment, he is still hitting the gym. They are still getting him back to his best again. It won’t take long though. The exact date set by the medical department for his return is the 20th of September. Everyone can see that the team is struggling up front. His return will really help,” the source added.

Mayo could inject life into Kaizer Chiefs attack

With Flavio Silva nursing an injury, Amakhosi only have Etiosa Ighodaro as the only fit striker. He has struggle for gametime due to injuries and is only regaining his fitness now.

Chiefs having Mayo will boost their attack in the coming weeks. Although he has scored only two goals since joining Amakhosi last year, the 28-year-old can be deadly once he finds consistency and supply.

Do you think Mayo wull score more than 10 goakls this season?