Lukaku Brace Lifts United, Lloris Saves Spurs in Derby Draw

Lukaku Brace Lifts United, Lloris Saves Spurs in Derby Draw

Manchester United moved into fourth place in the Premiership table with a dramatic 3-2 win against struggling Southampton at Old Trafford yesterday.
Yan Valery smashed a fierce drive past United goalkeeper David De Gea for a memorable first goal of the young Southampton defender’s career in the 26th minute.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team equalised in the 53rd minute as Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira bagged his first Premier League goal with a long-range curler.
Romelu Lukaku, back in form after a long barren spell, put United in front six minutes later with a composed finish.
James Ward-Prowse drew fourth-bottom Southampton level with a superb 75th-minute free-kick.

However, in the 89th minute, Belgian forward Lukaku made it four goals in two games with the last-gasp winner.
Paul Pogba’s stoppage-time penalty was saved by Angus Gunn, but Solskjaer’s unbeaten domestic run as United boss has now reached 15 games.
“The belief is there, they have gone so long without losing games (domestically). The dressing room is bouncing at the moment. They were class finishes from Romelu,” Solskjaer said.

Riyad Mahrez fired Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League as the champions won 1-0 against Bournemouth, while Hugo Lloris saved Tottenham in their draw with north London rivals Arsenal yesterday.

Pep Guardiola’s side sit two points above Liverpool thanks to Mahrez’s second-half winner at Dean Court. The only frustration for City in a hard-fought victory were injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, which could significantly impact their bid to win an unprecedented quadruple.
De Bruyne hobbled off after the Belgian midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in the first half.
City, who are already without injured duo Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte, also lost England defender Stones with a groin problem just after the interval.

But, showing the depth of City’s squad, it was Mahrez, who had come on for De Bruyne, who finally gave the champions the lead in the 55th minute. Mahrez claimed his first league goal since December, the Algeria winger driving his shot under Bournemouth ‘keeper Artur Boruc.

“We made one of our best performances. People should understand how difficult it is to attack 11 players who are defending,” Guardiola said.
“We demand a lot of the players without giving them the time to rest physiologically, that is why it is incredible. No matter what happens this season they deserve my admiration.”
At Wembley, Lloris saved a 90th-minute penalty as Tottenham salvaged a 1-1 draw in a pulsating derby. Mauricio Pochettino’s side fell behind in the 16th minute when Aaron Ramsey slotted home from Alexandre Lacazette’s pass.

But Harry Kane won a controversial 74th-minute penalty to equalise for Tottenham. Kane was offside when Christian Eriksen sent over a free-kick, but the flag stayed down and the England striker was bundled over by Shkodran Mustafi.
Kane calmly notched his 22nd goal of the season and his ninth in nine Premier League games against the Gunners.

Arsenal had a golden opportunity to take the points when Davinson Sanchez was penalised for a soft challenge on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Referee Anthony Taylor felt the minimal contact was enough to justify a penalty, but Lloris came to Tottenham’s rescue as the France star dived to his right to keep out Aubameyang’s low penalty.

Arsenal finished a bruising contest with 10 men after Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira was sent off for a studs-up foul on Danny Rose.
“VAR is coming to help them,” Arsenal manager Unai Emery grumbled when asked about Tottenham’s equaliser.
The dramatic finale ensured Pochettino, celebrating his 47th birthday, avoided a third successive defeat as Tottenham’s record run of 33 league games without a draw came to an end.
“Lloris’ save was a massive present. I am so happy because we didn’t deserve to lose the game – we were better than them,” Pochettino said.
Third-placed Tottenham remain four points ahead of Arsenal as the fight for Champions League qualification heats up.

Arsenal dropped to fifth place after Manchester United moved one point above them.
Federer wins 100th ATP title in Dubai
Roger Federer has won his 100th ATP Tour title at the Dubai Tennis Championships – 6,600 days after winning his first in Milan. The 37-year-old Swiss – a 20-time Grand Slam champion – beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4.
Federer’s first ATP title came at the Milan Indoors on 4 February, 2001, when he beat Frenchman Julien Boutter.
“It is an absolute dream come true right now,” said Federer, who will become world number four tomorrow.
He is just the second man, after American Jimmy Connors in 1983, to reach the landmark.
“I’m delighted. It’s great to win my eighth here in Dubai and in combination with my 100th singles title,” he added. “To win in Marseille and then come here was difficult for Stefanos.
“I don’t know if Stefanos was born when I won my first title (he was, in August 1998). It’s a privilege [to play against possible future champions] because I’ll be watching them on the TV. It was a treat to play Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. I’m sure Stefanos will have a wonderful career.
“Tennis is in good hands regardless if I’m there or not.”
Federer broke Tsitsipas, 20, in the first game of the match before saving two break points at 5-4 to see out the first set.
The Greek – who will break into the world top 10 for the first time tomorrow – held his nerve in the second set until 4-4, before Federer broke his serve once again to wrap up the final in 69 minutes.
World number 11 Tsitsipas was Federer’s 50th different final opponent and the 25th different nationality.
Federer will have to win 10 more titles to beat Connors’ men’s record of 109, while Martina Navratilova holds the all-time record having won 167 women’s singles crowns during her career.

RESULTS & FIXTURES

Tottenham 1 – 1 Arsenal
Bournemouth 0 – 1 Man City
Brighton 1 – 0 Huddersfield
Burnley 1 – 3 Crystal Palace
Man United 3 – 2 Southampton
Wolves 2 – 0 Cardiff
West Ham 2 – 0 Newcastle United
Lazio 3 – 0 Roma
Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona
Watford v Leicester 1pm
Fulham v Chelsea 3:05pm
Everton v Liverpool 5:15pm
Napoli v Juventus 8:30pm

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