The Nation Newspaper

Tag: goal

  • Iheanacho wins Man City’s EDS Goal Of The Season

    Iheanacho wins Man City’s EDS Goal Of The Season

    Kelechi Iheanacho’s first goal in Manchester City’s 3 – 1 win over Manchester United has been voted the best goal scored by an academy player last season by the official website of Manchester City.

    Manchester City have posted on their official website the top ten eye – catching goals scored by the Elite Development Squad during the 2014 – 2015 season.

    And in number one position is Nigeria youth international Iheanacho, who netted in the 55th minute in the game staged at the Academy Stadium on May 23.

    The 18 – year  – old expertly turned his man in the center before slotting into the bottom corner. It was a goal of technique, skill and composure, mcfc.co.uk said.

    Iheanacho failed to take that form to the Under 20 World Cup, having fired blanks in the two matches he featured in during the tournament in New Zealand.

  • Martins scores seventh goal of the season

    Martins scores seventh goal of the season

    Lamar Neagle, Obafemi Martins and Leo Gonzalez scored second-half goals as the Seattle Sounders beat Dallas 3-0 on Saturday to regain the overall Major League Soccer points lead.

    Late in the 55th minute, Neagle took a pass from Brad Evans, ghosted towards the left side of the penalty area and drilled a 20-yard shot into the far right corner past goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.

    Martins, subbed on in the 61st minute and wearing a mask to protect a surgically repaired broken nose, made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute with his seventh of the season.

    Gonzalez scored in second-half stoppage time to secure a comfortable win and move Seattle to 29 points, one point ahead of D.C. United atop the table.

    New England Revolution got goals two minutes apart to start the second half as they defeated Chicago Fire 2-0.  After playing a goalless first half, the Revolution won a corner kick in the 48th minute.

    Chris Tierney sent the ball to the front edge of the six-yard box, but Andy Dorman’s header floated high towards an unmarked Diego Fagundez.

    His drilled shot went inside the far post to open the scoring.

  • Bulbwa: My wonder goal was no fluke

    Bulbwa: My wonder goal was no fluke

    Flying Eagles forward, Bernard Bulbwa, who  scored the cracking goal in the final of the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) against Senegal, has explained how he performed the trick, saying it was no fluke.

    “I saw the run of my striker, Taiwo Awoniyi and the initial thought I had was to play a through pass to him,” he told sl10.ng.

    “But as the ball was approaching, I noticed it would be a bit difficult to play an accurate pass to him (Awoniyi), so I decided to control it. As I did that, I knew I had to hit the ball because I was within the goal area and that was it,” he said.

    When asked if it was a fluke goal that was dented by a stroke of luck and fortune, the forward said it was no luck, as his intention to score.

    “I knew what I was doing, so it was no luck because I scored a similar goal at the U-17 championship in Morocco in 2013. I saw the ball coming and I knew I was in a dangerous position.

    “I wanted to play a pass to Awoniyi initially, but the ball was a bit too high and may have been a wayward pass if I had gone with it. So I decided to do what I did, which was to control and hit, and I’m glad I did,” he stated.

  • Martins happy to open goal account for Sounders

    Martins happy to open goal account for Sounders

     

     

    Nigerian international, Obafemi Martins has  expressed delight after opening his goal account in the new Major League (MLS) season which kicked off last weekend.

    Martins, who scored 17 goals last term, began this season with a goal and made an assist as Seattle Sounders got off to a flying start with a 3-0 victory over New England Revolution in front of 39,782 fans at the CenturyLink Field, Seattle in Washington on Sunday.

    Two-goal hero, Clint Dempsey opened scoring via a penalty in the 25th minute before Martins doubled the tally with a powerful header in the 41st minute.

    In the 67th minute, midfielder Marco Pappa sent a through ball forward that Martins caught up with and could have put into the net himself. Instead, he tapped it back to Dempsey for the easy score.

    As for passing up what could have been his second goal of the night in favour of Dempsey, the weapon of Mass destruction said: “I think, yeah, I can do it, but Clint is there. So I just played it and scored so we can win. It was me and the goalkeeper one on one, so I don’t want to risk. (The pass from Pappa) was a good one.

    Speaking on the chemistry with Dempsey compared to last year, Obagoal said: “This is what we’ve (been) doing since last year, same thing in the preseason. We’ve never stopped doing our thing but at the end of the day we did very well as a team and we’re very happy (with the three points.”

    Martins is expected to continue with the scoring form as the Sounders return to action on Saturday when the San Jose Earthquakes visit CenturyLink Field.

  • Suarez pleased to end goal drought

    Suarez pleased to end goal drought

    Luis Suarez admitted his relief after ending his four-week goal drought in Barcelona’s 5-2 Primera Division win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening.

    After his free-scoring form for Liverpool last season many expected the 28-year-old to light up La Liga, but he has found goals harder to come by since his £75million move to Spain.

    It looked like being another frustrating day in a Barca shirt for Suarez when his header from two yards out was remarkably punched clear by Gorka Iraizoz, but in the 25th minute he finally had something to smile about.

    The Uruguay striker combined well with Lionel Messi on the right and then swept home a first-time shot from the edge of the box that gave Iraizoz no chance and put the visitors 2-0 up.

    “I wasn’t nervous,” said Suarez, who had not scored in La Liga since the 3-1 victory over champions Atletico Madrid on January 11. “(But) I was very worried because I am very self-critical and I worry when I can’t help the team with everything I have to offer.”

    On Iraizoz’s early save, the Barca frontman added on www.fcbarcelona.com: “That stop was amazing and I thought that that ball just didn’t want to go in.”

    Messi, an Oscar de Marcos own goal, Neymar and Pedro were also on the scoresheet for Luis Enrique’s side at San Mames.

    “We’re aware that in these kinds of matches the intensity should be maximum, because they press really well,” Suarez said. “So we knew we had to be very focused from the start.”

    Hopes of an Athletic fightback were dented in the 75th minute when defender Xabier Etxeita was shown a straight red card for nasty high tackle, with studs up, on Suarez. The 28-year-old went down clutching his knee, before hobbling off. He tried to carry on before being withdrawn after 80 minutes.

    The result lifted Luis Enrique’s side within a point of leaders Real Madrid, who were thrashed 4-0 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday afternoon.

    But the Barca coach was not getting carried away with his side’s title prospects.

    “During the season there will be better moments and worse moments for every team,” Enrique was quoted as saying at his post-match press conference.

    “I think the most consistent team is going to win this competition. We’ll have to wait until the last weekend or the penultimate weekend – maybe it’ll be decided like last year on the last day of season.

    “I’m not going to make strange predictions – there’s still a long way to go. There will be difficult moments along the way and we will have to overcome them.”

  • Nwofor scores first goal of the year

    Nwofor scores first goal of the year

    SKLierse drew 1-1 with Wassland Beveren in the Belgium Juplier League despite taking a 13th minute lead through their Nigeria import Uche Nwofor.

    Nwofor’s first goal of the year 2015 was cancelled out in the 59th minute by Renaud Edmond who drew Waasland level.

    Nwofor’s only other goal for Lierse came in the 3-3 draw with Westerlo on December 13, 2014, when he scored with six minutes left in the game to help snatch a point for his side.

    Since joining Lierse from VV Venlo,where he had an unhappy loan spell at Heerenveen last season, he has made nine appearances in the League for them.

    The 23-year-old terminated his contract with Venlo in the summer by mutual consent to join Lierse as a free player in the summer.

    His best goal-scoring season till date still remains the 2012/2013 season, but his eight goals from 25 games couldn’t save Venlo from relegation from the Eredivisie to the second tier of Dutch football.

  • Ike Uche starts 2015 with goal

    Ike Uche starts 2015 with goal

    Nigeria international Ike Uche began 2015 with a bang as he scored in Villarreal’s 2-2 draw at Elche on Saturday.

    The 30-year-old striker has now scored five goals in 15 games this season and Villarreal are now sixth on the Spanish La Liga table with 31 points from 17 matches.

    Uche scored in the 17th minute to put his club 2-0 ahead, before the hosts scored two goals to earn a point.

    The former Real Zaragoza player lasted for 75 minutes before he was replaced by Giovanni Dos Santos.

    He thanked the fans for supporting the club throughout the encounter.

    “2-2 draw against #elche Thank you fans for supporting us all game long. Keep working for next game @VillarrealCF,” Uche tweeted.

  • WARRI WOLVES ETEBO CLINCHES WONDER GOAL 7 AWARD

    WARRI WOLVES ETEBO CLINCHES WONDER GOAL 7 AWARD

    Etebo Oghenekaro of Warri Wolves has emerged the winner of the Glo Premier League Wonder Goal Award.

    Warri Wolves thus becomes the second Club to produce back to back winners as Etebo emerged the seventh winner on the heels of Freedom Omofoman who was voted the sixth winner. Rangers International had earlier had two players, Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze winning the first and second edition of the award.

    Etebo secured 72.2% of the votes to beat a field of four other nominees including the League’s joint top scorer, Emem Eduok of Dolphins who came second with 12.8 votes. The other nominees, Bobby Clement of Heartland scored 9.8% of the votes leaving Bayelsa United’s Samuel Tswaya with 5.3% in fourth place.

    Fans, who participated in the voting exercise, chose Etebo’s goal in Warri Wolves defeat of Bayelsa United on Match Day 32 in Benin while Eduok was nominated for his fifth goal in the historic six he scored against Nembe City in Port Harcourt on Match Day 35. Bobby’s nomination was for his goal against Kano Pillars, a cheeky side flash on Match Day 30 in Owerri while Tswaya got on the nomination for his smashing shot against Sunshine Stars in another Match Day 30 fixture in Benin.

    Etebo will thus receive the N100, 000 prize money when the presentation ceremony holds in Warri this Sunday during their Match Day 37 fixture with Crown of Ogbomosho.

    The player, who took the league scene by storm two seasons’ ago before going for a spell in Turkey, described the award as a ‘a new inspiration for me to get back to the top of my game”.

    “Just last week, we watched our team mate receive the award from the NFF President and I never had the inkling that I would be the next considering that it is for every player in the league. I am grateful and will build on this success not only for my career but also for the club which has given me the opportunity to show my talent”, stated Etebo.

    The Wonder Goal Award is an initiative of the LMC to build closer relationship between clubs and their communities of domicile and also show-case spectacular goals scored during the season as well as the team work  behind the goals. Half of the cash prize is donated to a Charity located within the city of the club. Past winners, Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze of Rangers recently made donations to the Holy Child Orphanage in Enugu after winning the first and second edition of the Awards. In Aba, Rasheed Olabiyi of Enyimba made his donation to the Ngwa Road Motherless Babies Home after emerging the fourth winner of the award.

  • Samuel can’t describe goal technique

    Samuel can’t describe goal technique

    Guangzhou R&F forward, Aaron Samuel, has said the technique he employed in executing his debut goal for the Super Eagles is indescribable.

    An orthodox finish from the former Sarspong 08 forward, helped him react quickly to a loose ball to put the Eagles 2-1 up before Musa wrapped things up with a third.

    He profited from a drop catch by the Sudan goalkeeper to finish with a diving two footed volley of his left to cap a memorable first start for the Super Eagles.

    “All I know was the ball dropped and I needed to react to get it on target, it was getting away from me, I had to reach it in time and put it on target,” he told SL10.ng.

    “The technique I used, I wish I can describe, it was reflex and nothing more, I can’t describe it, just wanted to direct my shot on goal by any means necessary.”

    He blamed the team’s slow start to the pressure of needing to win the game.

    “We started a bit cautiously, which is expected after our disappointments from previous games but unlike the past games our second half recovery was brilliant.”

    However, he refused to be drawn into the Eagles chances of qualifying for next year AFCON, insisting on one game at a time.

    “We still have two games left, so we take it game after game. I love if we focus on the games and what we need to do is get ahead of ourselves talking about qualifying.”

  • ARINZE CLINCHES WONDER GOAL AWARD

    ARINZE CLINCHES WONDER GOAL AWARD

    EL-KANEMI WARRIORS Arinze Obioma has emerged winner of the 5th Glo Premier League Wonder Goal Award, beating Heartland’s Julius Ubido and Dolphins forward, Emem Eduok.

    In the latest poll for the Wonder Goal Award, Arinze attracted 59.3% of the votes by fans who participated in the online voting while Heartland’s Ubido came second with 23.7 votes and Super Eagles invitee, Eduok finished third with 17% of the votes.

    He is the fifth to win the award previously won by Rangers duo of Osaguona Ighodaro and Emeka Eze and Bayelsa United’s Oghogho Oduokpe and Enyimba’s Rasheed Olabiyi.

    The award is an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) aimed at deepening Clubs and Community engagement and to showcase some of the quality goals scored by players in the Glo Premier League as well as the team effort behind those goals.

    Arinze was nominated for his goal against Lobi Stars in a Match Day 6 fixture played at the Kano Pillars Stadium on April 13. He had received a pass while backing the Lobi Stars goal and executed a turn-around to fire to the far left side of the keeper in his side’s 2-0 win against the Benue team.

    The player will receive the cash prize of N100, 000 attached to the award and is expected to donate 50% of the reward to a Charity of his choice in the city where the club is based. The award will be presented to Arinze on Match Day 34 in Kano on Sunday during their match against  Nembe City.