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Tag: Gabriel Jesus

  • UCL: Jesus scores twice as Arsenal beat Inter Milan

    UCL: Jesus scores twice as Arsenal beat Inter Milan

    Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Arsenal won at Inter Milan to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League and guarantee themselves a top-two finish in the league phase of the competition.

    The Gunners were all but certain of a top-eight finish coming into this match and set their longest ever winning streak in the competition with an impressive seventh success.

    They had Inter pinned back from the beginning before Jesus’ poked finish from close range put them ahead in the 10th minute.

    READ ALSO; UCL: Bodo/Glimt stun Man City to claim first win over English side

    Inter built up their own period of pressure after going behind and Petar Sucic levelled when he bent a powerful strike past David Raya from the edge of the area after Nicolo Barella’s initial effort was blocked.

    But Arsenal, like they have so often done this season, regained the lead from a trademark set-piece in the 31st minute as Leandro Trossard headed Bukayo Saka’s deep corner back into the area and the unmarked Jesus nodded the ball in.

    The Brazilian striker’s second goal was the 19th Arsenal have scored from corners this season – the most in Europe’s top five leagues.

    Substitute Viktor Gyokeres made sure it was a comfortable end to the match when he curled in a great strike from the edge of the area for their third six minutes from time.

    Along with missing the play-offs in February, the Gunners will also have home advantage in the second leg in the knockout phase.

    BBC SPORTS

  • Messi fumes after Copa America defeat to Brazil

    Lionel Messi accused Copa America officials of favouring hosts Brazil after Argentina’s hopes were ended in Belo Horizonte.

    Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino handed the Selecao a place in Sunday’s final with a 2-0 win over their most bitter rivals in Wednesday night’s semi-final.

    Argentina had chances themselves, with Messi and Sergio Aguero both striking the woodwork, and were arguably the better side throughout the 90 minutes.

    However, it was the officials who drew the ire of Messi after the game with the Barcelona superstar scathing in his assessment of referee Roddy Zambrano and the Video Assistant Referee.

    Messi had approached the officiating team at full-time for a frank exchange of views.

    READ ALSO: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores 600th career club goal

    Messi was furious at a decision not to award Aguero a penalty after he appeared to be cleaned out when running through on goal shortly before Firmino doubled the hosts’ advantage.

    The challenge on Aguero wasn’t even looked at by VAR, something which – given the use of VAR at the tournament – left Messi enraged.

    He fumed: “They were not better than us. They found the net early and the second goal came from a penalty [to Aguero] they didn’t award,” Messi told reporters.

    “They [the officials] had called a lot of bulls**t, but they didn’t even check the VAR, that’s unbelievable.

    “That happened all over the game. At the first glance of contact, they ruled in their [Brazil’s] favour and this kind of bulls**t distracted us from the game.”

     

  • Breaking: Manchester City beat Crystal Palace, back on top

    Raheem Sterling’s double and another goal from Gabriel Jesus fired Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League ahead of Liverpool’s game against Chelsea as they won 3-1 at Crystal Palace.

    Sterling had already wasted a great chance by the time he shot high into the net to give City the lead after 15 minutes, and he wrapped up the points with a close range finish after the break.

    Luka Milivojevic made it an unexpectedly nervy finale for Pep Guardiola’s side when he whipped in a free kick from the edge of the box nine minutes from the end, but Jesus had the last word as he rounded off a 90th-minute counter-attack.

    City started purposefully, fashioning an early half-chance for David Silva, who was just unable to connect cleanly with a low Kyle Walker cross.

    They missed a golden chance after 10 minutes when Silva did brilliantly to reach the byline and cut the ball back to the unmarked Sterling, who could only roll it past the post.

    But Sterling made amends on the quarter of an hour mark when Kevin De Bruyne’s pass down the right enabled him to advance into the area and fire home an angled finish.

    The home side soon had an injury concern, Jeffrey Schlupp limping off after a collision and being replaced by Cheikhou Kouyate, with City continuing to threaten and Scott Dann doing well to clear another Silva cross.

    Sterling showed the other side of his game, tracking back to help Walker deal with Wilfried Zaha, and Aguero fired over as City maintained their control.

    But Palace showed a flicker of attacking life soon afterwards, Milivojevic crossing and Christian Benteke heading down before City hacked clear.

    Read Also: Aguero ruled out of Man.City/ Liverpool UCL clash

    Soon after the half-hour, Sane forced a good save from Vicente Guaita when he fired an angled drive towards the near post.

    Guaita was in the thick of the action again when the ball fell to De Bruyne and he fired goalwards, and then Benjamin Mendy’s strike was straight at the Palace keeper.

    City began the second half in the same dominant way, De Bruyne narrowly failing to play Sergio Aguero through and Guaita gathering well when a De Bruyne cross deflected off Martin Kelly.

    But the visitors doubled their advantage after 63 minutes, Sterling again on the mark when he coolly converted Sane’s angled cross from the left.

    Bernardo Silva came on for David Silva as Guardiola made the first change of the afternoon, and then Ederson made a straightforward save as Benteke swivelled to bobble a strike towards goal.

    Dan headed well over from a Palace corner, and City took off Aguero and replaced him with Gabriel Jesus with one eye on next week’s Champions League game against Spurs.

    Palace introduced Max Meyer for Andros Townsend – and they found a route back into the game when James McArthur was fouled and Milivojevic thumped the free kick home.

    McArthur made way for Bakary Sako for Palace, John Stones replacing Sane for City, who removed any lingering doubts about the result when Jesus kept his cool after De Bruyne had played him into the area.

     

  • Early Jesus goal sends Man City into FA Cup final

    Gabriel Jesus’s early headed goal was enough for quadruple-chasing Manchester City to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 on Saturday and reach the FA Cup final.

    Back at the scene of their League Cup triumph over Chelsea, Pep Guardiola’s side were not at their rampant best against a Brighton side with their minds still on top-flight survival.

    It took City three minutes to go ahead at a less-than-full Wembley, Jesus diving full length to connect with Kevin De Bruyne’s superb whipped cross.

    Whatever game-plan Brighton boss Chris Hughton had devised to stop a relentless City side was presumably now in tatters, but the expected onslaught did not materialise.

    Read also: Benzema brace gives Real Madrid victory over Eibar

    City had a let-off when Kyle Walker was perhaps fortunate not to get a red card in the first half following a clash with Alireza Jahanbakhsh and they never looked totally secure as Brighton caused problems.

    There were not too many major alarms, however, as City claimed their 21st win from their last 23 matches in all competitions.

    They will play the winners of Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers who meet in the second semi-final on Sunday.

    City lost the Premier League top spot to Liverpool on Friday, although they are only two points adrift with a game in hand. They face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League quarter-finals. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Aguero ruled out of Man.City/ Liverpool UCL clash

    Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg tie against Liverpool at Anfield after failing to recover in time from a thigh injury.

    The Argentine is City’s all-time top scorer having notched 199 goals in all competitions for the club.

    “He has stayed in Manchester, he didn’t come,” City manager Pep Guardiola told a news conference ahead of training on Tuesday.

    “He’s been injured for the last two weeks and he still isn’t fit,” added the Spanish manager.

    The City boss was unable to say if Aguero will be fit for Saturday’s Premier League derby clash with Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

    Aguero’s absence means a likely start for Brazilian Gabriel Jesus in attack.

    There was some good news on the injury front for City with left back Fabian Delph, who has been out since February, fit again and in contention for a place in the starting line-up.

    NAN

     

  • Gabriel Jesus: From street painter to £75,000 a week super star

    Gabriel Jesus: From street painter to £75,000 a week super star

     

    Gabriel Jesus may be living the high life after emerging as one of the most exciting young strikers in world football, but the Manchester City star’s humble beginnings are still fresh in the memory.

    Standing barefoot on a cobbled street in Sao Paulo, a 17-year-old Jesus was just another youngster dreaming of playing in the yellow shirt of Brazil. He was, like many, preparing for the World Cup to come to his homeland.

    In a series of photos posted on his social media account, the diminutive forward revealed he was helping to paint the streets of his neighbourhood in patriotic colours in preparation for the tournament just three years ago.

    He would have watched the World Cup play out on television with Brazil making their way to the semi-final before a crushing 7-1 defeat by Germany in Belo Horizonte.

    Little would he have guessed that he would be favourite to lead the line when the Selecao have another crack at winning their sixth World Cup in Russia just four years later.

    Indeed, so much has changed for Jesus in the time between these photos and the present day. Then, he was just a youth player for local professional side Palmeiras and earning the modest sum of just £3,500 a year.

    Soon after, his talents would be recognised and he would be thrust into the senior squad only for Manchester City’s South American scouting network to take notice and alert a certain Pep Guardiola.

    A £27million move to the Etihad was agreed in August 2016 with his move going through the following January. He signed a five-year deal with the Citizens worth £75,000 a week, although his mother recently revealed she still controls his wage and hands him pocket money each month.

    It was clear Manchester City had a major star on their hands when Jesus inspired Brazil to the first Olympic gold medal in their history, scoring three goals in six games to help to heal the damage caused by that devastating World Cup defeat.

  • Man city move closer to top four finish

    Man city move closer to top four finish

     

    Manchester City took a step closer towards guaranteeing a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Etihad Stadium, but were helped by a disallowed Riyad Mahrez penalty.

    Goals from David Silva and Gabriel Jesus were enough for Pep Guardiola’s side to make it back-to-back wins in the top flight, despite a fine strike from Shinji Okazaki for the visitors.

    Mahrez saw his converted second-half spot kick ruled out for touching the ball twice as Leicester pushed for an equaliser, but Manchester City held firm for an important, if not wholly convincing, victory.

    Leicester, who saw their title officially taken from them by Chelsea on Friday, won the reverse fixture in December 4-2 but found themselves behind in controversial fashion here.

    Silva’s second goal in as many games was allowed to stand despite uncertainty over whether Raheem Sterling had made contact with the ball from an offside position as it found the net.

    Jesus’ penalty doubled the lead before Okazaki halved the deficit shortly before the break, and although Mahrez thought he had levelled the scores in the final 15 minutes, his penalty was disallowed after he touched the ball twice.

    The victory moves Manchester City onto 72 points and above Liverpool into third in the table, with a six-point cushion between them and fifth-placed Arsenal .

  • Gabriel Jesus set return against Arsenal

    Gabriel Jesus set return against Arsenal

     

    Pep Guardiola has revealed that Gabriel Jesus could play for Manchester City in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal just 10 weeks after suffering a broken metatarsal.

    The Brazil star was expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for the injury he sustained at Bournemouth on February 13 in only his fifth game for the club.

    But the 20-year-old forward, who was an instant hit following his £27million move from Palmeiras in January, has made a remarkable recovery and will be included in City’s squad for Wembley.

    ‘He’s really, really much, much better,’ said Guardiola. ‘He will take part in training with us [on Friday]. He’s coming back with his happiness and we are so happy he’s back again.

    ‘We are going to travel with all the squad to Wembley, all the group, and he will be part of that. After that, we will see.’

    Asked if he has ruled out starting Gabriel Jesus against Arsene Wenger’s side, Guardiola added: ‘No. All the squad are travelling down [on Saturday] and we will watch the match between Tottenham and Chelsea. After dinner I will decide the team.’

    However, City will definitely be without John Stones who has been ruled out with a muscle injury. The England centre back has an outside chance of being for Thursday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad.

    ‘He has a muscular injury,’ added Guardiola. ‘It happened one day in a training session. Maybe he come back for United, but I don’t know.

    ‘Of all the players who are injured I am happy when they come back but especially for him. He had all Europe in his hands and he came here to join us. We cannot forget that. I am so happy he joined us here.

    ‘He arrived and suddenly can play after just two or three weeks. That’s why we’re so happy he can help us to score goals at the end of the season.’

    Guardiola admits that Wembley will always hold a special place in his heart after seeing Barcelona win the European Cup there.

    He was a player in the 1990 final when Ronald Koeman’s winner beat Sampdoria in extra-time, and the coach in 2011 when a Lionel Messi inspired Barca overcame Manchester United.

    ‘Definitely the word Wembley in my life is so important,’ he said. ‘We were able to win the first Champions League (there). Ronald Koeman made a fantastic goal beating Sampdoria and (Roberto) Mancini.

    ‘The second one we beat one of the best teams in the world in Manchester United at Wembley, and especially the way we played.

    ‘I will always remember in my heart. It was an outstanding performance in all senses. We played for 25 minutes second half where I will not be able to forget it.

    ‘That’s why Wembley is an important part of my life. Coming back there will always be special for me.’

  • Gabriel Jesus dedicates new phone celebration to mum

    Gabriel Jesus dedicates new phone celebration to mum

    Manchester City ace Gabriel Jesus is on the verge of making his comeback from injury and to celebrate the Brazilian youngster has got a brand new tattoo, dedicated affectionately to his mother Vera.

    The starlet made a blistering start to life in the Premier League prior to suffering a broken metatarsal, even managing to dislodge star man Sergio Aguero from the starting XI.

    Following the goals which instantly began to flow for Gabriel, his ‘phonecall celebration’ quickly became a trademark.

    And now the youngster has immortalised the gesture with ink upon his body, in a tattoo which pays tribute to his mother.

    Taking to social media platform Instagram Gabriel shared a snap of the fresh tatt, along with the captoin ‘Alo Mae’ – translating to ‘Hello Mother.’

    Gabriel showed off his new ink to his 2.2million followers which quickly gathered rave reception.

    The design features Gabriel’s phone symbol hand gesture which he first produced after scoring for the Brazilian national team in a 2-0 win over Venezuela.

    His mother Vera had rang him prior to the match, concerned about the pressure that was being placed upon her son in the absence of star man Neymar.

    The youngster took to the match with aplomb and bagged a spectacular effort before sealing it with his now famous phone celebration.

    Gabriel later explained: ‘It was a joke with my friends, a ‘hello, mother’. My friends know why. My mother knows too. It was a celebration for them.’

    City are hoping on an outside chance that Gabriel could return from injury in time to face Arsenal in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

    The skillful forward has returned to training recently for his side, though boss Pep Guardiola is unconvinced on a potential early return for his player.

    Gabriel has returned to training and is on the brink of making his return for Manchester City

    ‘He’s getting better. The last two sunny days he was on the pitch. Normally when you see the weather in Manchester, you stay off the pitch,’ Guardiola said this week.

  • Gabriel Jesus picks up guitar to aid recovery

    Gabriel Jesus picks up guitar to aid recovery

     

     

    Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has plenty of time to kill after being ruled out through injury.

    The Brazil star could miss the rest of the season after breaking his metatarsal in the Premier League clash with Bournemouth in February, but he has been able to keep his spirits up, and now has a new pastime to take his mind off the pain.

    Gabriel Jesus was pictured on his Instagram account with his guitar as he relaxed on his bed

    The 19-year-old has been forced to wear a protective boot as he steps up his recovery in a bid to play at least some part for Pep Guardiola’s side before the end of the season.

    However, that hasn’t stopped the Brazilian from getting out and about, with Gabriel spotted out last week to celebrate his mother’s birthday at the San Carlo restaurant.

    The player was at home on Wednesday night as he watched City book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup from the comfort of his own home.

    The player posted a short video on his Instagram story as he watched the BBC coverage as his team-mates easily swept aside the Championship outfit 5-1.

    City have yet to announce when they expect to have their £27million man back in training, but any news of a return before the season ends would be music to the fans’ ears.