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Kamal Sowah got an assist as OH Leuven silenced Club Brugge 2-1 in Saturday’s Belgian First Division A outing.

The Blue-Black went to the King Power Stadium on the back of their 1-0 victory over Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League. Against Marc Brys’ team, however, they were unable to get a win as manager Philippe Clement rested captain Ruud Vormer, Nigeria’s Emmanuel Dennis and Charles De Ketelaere

Club Brugge’s Siebe Schrijvers had the first chance at goal but he was unable to beat goalkeeper Rafael Romo.

In the 20th minute, referee Alexandre Boucaut pointed to the spot after Ukrainian defender Eduard Sobol pulled down Mathieu Maertens in the goal area. Thomas Henry slotted the ensuing kick past goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

The goal was a reality check for the visitors who put up a strong attacking display as they searched for an equaliser. Nevertheless, they levelled matters on the stroke of half-time as Noa Lang converted from the penalty mark after Hans Vanaken was fouled by one of OH Leuven’s defenders.

Xavier Mercier gave the hosts a well-deserved lead in the 57th minute – finishing off a cool pass from Somah. The goal was initially ruled off for offside, but several VAR replays upheld the strike to the dismay of Clement’s team.

As the game drew to a close, De Ketelaere, Vormer and David Okereke were thrown into the fray, albeit, their presence could not make the difference. With the last kick of the game, Okereke was presented with a fine chance to equalise but his effort went wide.

Ghana's Sowah who is on loan from Premier League side Leicester City was in action from start to finish while his compatriots Jonah Osabutey and Isaac Asante were not dressed for action as well as South Africa's Darren Keet, Benin Republic's Yannick Aguemon, Burkina Faso's Dylan Ouedraogo and Cote d'Ivoire's Aboubakar Keita.

For Club Brugge, Angola's Clinton Mata, Senegal's duo of Krepin Diatta and Youssouph Badji were in action for the entire duration of the game. Despite surrendering their seven-game unbeaten run, they remain at the summit with 19 points from 10 outings.

They welcome Lazio to the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday before facing Mechelen in a Belgium topflight clash three days later.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described the decision to award Sheffield United a penalty on Saturday as an "injustice" as the Reds came from behind to claim a 2-1 win. 

After just 11 minutes at Anfield, Fabinho was ruled to have fouled Oli McBurnie on the edge of the box with Sander Berge making no mistake from the spot to give the Blades an early lead. 

Despite the early setback, the Reds fought back and pulled level just before half-time as Roberto Firmino scored his first goal of the season from close range. 

Klopp's side then secured all three points in the 64th minute as new recruit Diogo Jota headed home a Sadio Mane cross just minutes after Mohamed Salah had a goal ruled out for offside. 

While full of praise for Sheffield, Klopp was quick to question the penalty they were awarded as he applauded his side's desire to fight back from the "injustice" and earn the win. 

"The penalty was not even a foul. During a season there are so many different periods, we have had an injustice and we have had to go again," Klopp told BBC Sport post-match. 

"I love these games, as you earn all of the rest. You earn the easier games when it all goes your way on nights like this.

"We struggled with McBurnie in the first half but we changed our positioning and won the second balls. We were dominating at 2-1 and had some really good football but then they came back.

"I'm not surprised at all, you always have to work hard against Sheffield United. It's hard to take for Chris Wilder. They never give up, I respect that so much. They go and go and go. Chris is doing a wonderful job."

Speaking about the penalty to Sky Sports, Klopp added: "The penalty conceded was clear it was a challenge to win the ball. We are on the wrong end of another decision, but luckily we could sort that tonight, so maybe I should not talk too much about that." 

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was impressed with the Reds desire to down an opponent they have now beaten for a fourth consecutive time in the Premier League. 

"It was hard as expected, they are a good side who work really hard. We knew it would be difficult and we are delighted to get the points," Henderson told Sky Sports. 

"McBurnie was very good in the air so it was hard for the lads at the back but they coped and worked it out better in the second half. We should have killed the game off with another goal or two.

"I am only interested in the mentality in our changing room and I see hunger, resilience, character to dig in and win if you are not playing at your best. We showed we can dig in and see results out."

Chippa United came from behind to claim a 1-1 league draw against Cape Town City at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening. 

The Citizens had drawn first blood in the 22nd minute when Mduduzi Mdantsane netted his first goal for the club since arriving from Baroka FC midway through last season.

The goal followed a mistake by keeper Veli Mothwa, who gave the ball away to Craig Martin who in turn cut it back for Mdantsane to score with a composed finish from about 10 metres out.

Chippa nearly managed a spectacular equaliser in first-half added time, but Frederic Nsabiyumva's overhead kick was superbly saved by home keeper Peter Leeuwenburgh.

The Chilli Boys kept pressing for a goal after the restart and they had their reward in the 53rd minute when Chidi Kwem finished neatly.

Sniffing blood the visitors continued to attack and were unlucky not to get a winner as Isaac Nhlapo's cross-cum-shot struck the woodwork in the 67th minute before debutant Bienvenu Eva Nga's effort was cleared off the line by Thato Mokeke 10 minutes from time.

Meanwhile, Mokeke's former club SuperSport United were involved in another Premier Soccer League match on Saturday night, against Black Leopards at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

It proved to be a marathon encounter - after just nine minutes of action, the game was halted for around an hour as a lightning storm together with very strong wind and rain made conditions too dangerous to continue.

When the match resumed, it was Matsatsantsa who shocked Leopards with a 24th-minute goal, thanks to a quality finish by Bradley Grobler, following an assist by Jamie Webber.

Lidoda Duvha also had their moments in front of goal though it was the hosts who nearly scored again when Tebogo Mokoena hit the crossbar three minutes before the interval.

After the break, Leopards piled the pressure on the SuperSport defence as they searched for an equaliser and the home team's task got even harder when Onismor Bhasera was sent off on the hour mark after getting a second yellow card.

The Limpopo side kept on coming at Matsatsantsa, but some resolute defending and brave goalkeeping by Ronwen Williams enabled the Tshwane club to maintain their lead before Grobler completed his brace in the final minute of added time.

Marcos Llorente and Luis Suarez earned Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over 10-man Real Betis at Wanda Metropolitano as Diego Simeone's men made it a club-record 21 LaLiga games without defeat.

Atleti lost 4-0 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday - their joint-heaviest defeat under Simeone - but were back to their solid defensive selves in Saturday's clash, which was won with two second-half goals.

After a balanced opening 45 minutes in the Spanish capital it took just 19 seconds for Llorente to open the scoring in the second half with a smart finish from a tight angle.

Suarez added a late second to seal a victory that lifts Atletico up to third, two points off leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand to play, after Betis had been reduced to 10 men for Martin Montoya's red card offence.

No team had attempted more shots in LaLiga this term than Betis heading into this weekend's games and the visitors twice tested Jan Oblak in the opening 15 minutes.

Oblak has only conceded one goal this season, however, and he was equal to William Carvalho's header and Nabil Fekir's long-range curler.

Atleti had a couple of good chances of their own in the first half, both falling to Suarez, who dragged wide from 12 yards and then missed the target after racing through on goal.

But the hosts made the breakthrough early in the second period through Llorente, the versatile attacker catching out Claudio Bravo at his near post for his second goal of the season.

Oblak was again required to block Antonio Sanabria's poked attempt but Betis' hopes of a rare point in this fixture were effectively ended when Montoya brought down Yannick Carrasco and was issued a red card following a VAR check.

Bravo did well to keep out Carrasco from a one-on-one but Suarez tapped home a second goal for Atletico in the first minute of added time following some good play from substitute Renan Lodi to tee him up.

What does it mean? Atletico respond with trademark display

Simeone admitted the thrashing at the hands of European champions Bayern left a "bad taste" in his mouth as he challenged his players to quickly respond.

They did that here with what can best be described as a trademark Atletico display, stifling their opponents and scoring a couple of goals in a much improved second half.

Atleti had no shots on target in the opening 45 minutes but forced four Bravo saves after the interval and found the net twice, despite seeing just 40 per cent of the ball overall.

Llorente making an impact

Simeone has fielded Llorente as a second striker this season and that decision has massively paid off. The Real Madrid academy product has now scored seven goals and set up five more in all competitions in 2020 - more than any other Atleti player.

He gave Bravo the eyes and found the back of the net from a very tight angle via his only shot in the entire contest, though he did give the ball away 13 times - only Kieran Trippier (17) did so more often for the home side.

Persistence pays off for Suarez

The Uruguay international has scored more goals against Betis (11) than any other LaLiga opponent but it looked like being a day of frustration for large parts of the contest.

Suarez, who missed a couple of good chances in the first half, finally found a way through from his seventh attempt to make it goals in back-to-back league outings.

Key Opta Stats

- Under Diego Simeone, Atletico have only lost one of their last 16 LaLiga games versus Betis (W12 D3), with that defeat coming away from home in February 2019.

- Atleti have conceded just one goal after five LaLiga games this season - their best start in terms of goals conceded at this stage since 1995-96 (also one), when they won the title.

- Llorente's goal 19 seconds after the restart was the fastest in the second half of a LaLiga game this season and Atletico's quickest since February 2017 against Sporting Gijon (12 seconds).

- Atletico are unbeaten in their last eight home league meetings with Betis, all since Simeone joined the club, and have kept a clean sheet in seven of those matches.

- Real Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini is winless in his last five managerial games against Atletico (D2 L3).

What's next?

Atletico host Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Betis are back in LaLiga action a week on Sunday with a home match against Elche.

Moise Kean scored his first Paris Saint-Germain goals as the Ligue 1 champions bounced back from their Champions League disappointment by beating lowly Dijon 4-0 at the Parc des Princes.

PSG, finalists in Europe last season, started the new continental campaign with a surprise home defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday.

Perhaps with one eye on their next Champions League assignment at Istanbul Basaksehir, Thomas Tuchel started with Kylian Mbappe on the bench against Dijon but there was never any serious prospect of a second straight loss on Saturday.

The division's bottom side performed admirably but lacked the sort of cutting edge displayed by Everton loanee Kean, with his first-half brace, and substitute Mbappe, who added a late double of his own.

A lively start brought the opener inside three minutes as Mitchel Bakker's left-wing cross was volleyed high into the net by Kean at the near post.

It was far from one-way traffic, but Dijon's most presentable early opportunity passed when Abdou Diallo bravely blocked Mama Balde's shot following an awful Marquinhos pass across his own area.

Although Neymar headed a Pablo Sarabia centre onto the post with the goal gaping, then improbably scooped the rebound over, PSG's number 10 created the second with a run from halfway that left Kean with a simple finish into an empty net.

Saturnin Allagbe saved instinctively from Danilo Pereira's header, yet the game slowed considerably after half-time.

Julian Draxler hobbled off with just over half an hour remaining and Kean also sustained a knock before making way for Mbappe.

The substitute sent a clinical third between Allagbe's legs with eight minutes remaining having been set up by Neymar.

And Mbappe still found time to get another, tapping in after 88 minutes when Neymar and Sarabia combined, with the latter unselfishly squaring to the France international in front of goal.

What does it mean? Champions League the focus

Hampered by injuries, suspensions and coronavirus cases, this has been a tough season so far for Tuchel. PSG went top with this win but can be knocked off the summit by Lille on Sunday, while the United defeat quickly put the Ligue 1 giants under pressure in the Champions League, too.

The decision to rest Mbappe - along with Keylor Navas, Alessandro Florenzi, Presnel Kimpembe and Ander Herrera, all also on the bench - suggested the coach is not willing to take any risks ahead of the trip to Turkey.

New man Moise makes his mark, Neymar superb

Kean did not excel as expected at Everton but is getting another chance in Paris. Tuchel's early season selection headaches have played into the 20-year-old's favour and he took his chance.

The Italy international attempted only seven passes - the fewest of any starter - but still had four openings and took two of them.

Neymar, meanwhile, was superb despite not scoring - he had two assists and added a 'second assist' with PSG's fourth goal. The Brazil star created an astonishing eight chances in the match.

Wide-ranging impact of Verratti absence

PSG lack an obvious alternative to Marco Verratti in terms of a midfield metronome, with Tuchel seemingly believing captain Marquinhos - a centre-back - represents his best option there at present.

That meant midfielder Danilo Pereira moving into defence and the champions never really looked comfortable. Dijon had 10 attempts and six corners before half-time - although Danilo made two clearances, an interception and a block in that time - while Marquinhos almost gifted the visitors an equaliser.

What's next?

Basaksehir welcome PSG on Wednesday, where only victory will do for Tuchel's side. Dijon play next at home to Lorient next Sunday.

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League as Diogo Jota's second-half goal secured a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Anfield on Saturday.  

A controversial draw with Everton last time out followed a 7-2 humiliation at the hands of Aston Villa before the international break and Jurgen Klopp's side looked set for more disappointment when a Sander Berge penalty put the Blades ahead after 13 minutes.  

Robert Firmino's first of the season drew them level ahead of the interval, though, before Jota sealed all three points in the 64th minute with his second goal for the club following his move from Wolves last month. 

The result moved Liverpool up to second, level on points with leaders Everton, while Chris Wilder's side - who have failed to win so far this season - remained in 19th.  

Liverpool almost went ahead inside the opening five minutes but Aaron Ramsdale backtracked well to tip over Trent Alexander-Arnold's audacious free-kick from 45 yards.  

The hosts then conceded their first penalty at Anfield in the Premier League since October 2018 when Fabinho was deemed to have brought down Oliver McBurnie just inside the area, with Berge stepping up to coolly slot past Alisson.   

The Liverpool goalkeeper kept out Ben Osborn's powerful volley soon after as Wilder's side threatened to double their advantage.   

It was the hosts who scored next, though, Firmino slotting home four minutes before the break after Ramsdale parried Sadio Mane's header. 

George Baldock and Mohamed Salah exchanged half-chances at the start of the second period before the latter saw a fine effort ruled out for offside shortly after the hour mark. 

The Reds' disappointment did not last long, however, with Jota superbly heading home Mane's left-wing cross to put the hosts ahead. 

Salah clipped an effort against the post with 10 minutes remaining but it mattered little as Klopp's men ultimately held on with the minimum of fuss to extend their unbeaten Premier League run at Anfield to a whopping 62 games. 

What does it mean? Reds made to sweat by plucky Blades 

Liverpool avoided making it three Premier League games without a win for the first time since May 2018 but they did not have it all their own way against a spirited United, who had 13 shots on goal. 

Without the injured Virgil van Dijk for the first time in 95 top-flight games, the Reds could easily have been 2-0 down before Firmino pounced late in the first half. 

While they ultimately came through unscathed, there was enough vulnerability on show to suggest there will be some difficult tests ahead for Klopp's men.  

Alexander-Arnold excels again 

The England international continued his mission to reinvent the role of a full-back with another display brimming with attacking intent. Alexander-Arnold made three key passes - more than any other player on the pitch - among a team-high of 96 passes. He did blot his copybook by losing possession 26 times but Klopp will forgive that after yet another impressive all-round display. 

Brewster makes flat return to Anfield 

Rhian Brewster struggled to make an impact against the team he left earlier this month in a reported £23.5million deal. The 20-year-old failed to register a shot during his 54 minutes on the pitch and made just eight successful passes, comfortably the fewest of any United starter. 

Key Opta Facts

- Liverpool are unbeaten in their past 13 Premier League home games when conceding the first goal (W10 D3), winning each of the most recent nine in succession. 
- Jota has scored in each of his first two Premier League home games for Liverpool, the first player to do so for the club since Sadio Mane in September 2016. 
- The Blades are winless in nine Premier League games (D1 L8), the longest active run of any side in the competition. 
- Jota’s 64th-minute headed goal was the only attempt on target in the second half, despite there being 17 shots in total between the two teams after half-time. 

What's next? 

Liverpool will expect to follow up their opening Group D win over Ajax last week when they host Midtjylland in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Blades, meanwhile, welcome Manchester City to Bramall Lane in the Premier League on Saturday. 

Edouard Mendy came up with two huge saves to deny Marcus Rashford and Manchester United on Saturday, earning him the praise of Chelsea boss Frank Lampard. 

After a week in which Rashford hit the headlines for his work off the pitch, the United striker was in the thick of things at Old Trafford during the Premier League clash. 

The youngster had two glittering chances to take victory for the Reds but each time Mendy was up to the task, stopping Rashford when he was clear on goal before flying through the air to turn a shot that looked destined for the net over his own bar. 

United and Chelsea ultimately settled for a 0-0 draw, and after so many defensive and goalkeeping headaches Lampard was delighted to see Mendy take the plaudits. 

"His performance was very good. You rely on your goalkeepers in those moments in a tight game, not full of many chances," the manager explained to reporters after the final whistle. 

"Rashford's first chance was a mistake from us, the one at the end was a moment of quality from him. He showed us what he is there for.

"We brought him in for his quality. He showed great composure in the games he's played already and with the saves today in a tight you rely on them moments."

Aside from Rashford's chances, one of the few other talking points in a prosaic clash came when Harry Maguire felled Cesar Azpilicueta in the penalty area. 

VAR was consulted and declined to give a spot-kick, which for Lampard was the wrong decision. 

"It was a clear penalty. Clear penalty. I didn't see it from where I was standing at the time and I know it's a hard call for the referee on the pitch but that's why we brought VAR into the game," he added.

"VAR was very quick to dismiss it in my opinion. It should take time, the referee should watch the monitor. If he watches the monitor he has to give a penalty. It's very confusing in my opinion.

"Should referees consult monitor more frequently? I'm not sure. There's a frustration at the fact when something moves seemingly in the right direction, we're all pretty happy with referees going to the monitor.

"It happened a bit more at the start of the season. The players on the pitch should always say it and the referee should always take responsibility. We have that back to the referee with the monitor but for some reason we've come off that. I don't understand it.

"It was an easy decision, not a difficult one for the VAR to give anyway but the referee on the pitch should make the main call. Ask him to review it and if that happened today it would have been a penalty."

Antonio Conte has praised the improvement in Romelu Lukaku's all-round game after another decisive display from the Belgian in Saturday's 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa. 

Lukaku's 10th goal in eight matches this term for club and country put them ahead at Stadio Luigi Ferraris before Danilo D'Ambrosio added a second to move the visitors up to third.

The former Manchester United striker now has 22 goals for Inter since his Serie A debut in August 2019, excluding penalties, which is more than any other foreign player in the competition.

Conte says he has been a long-time admirer of Lukaku and has been impressed with how he has added more to his game than just goals over the past 12 months.

"Romelu is a different player to what he was a year ago," he told Sky Sport Italia. "I always said in the past he was a rough diamond that I wanted to work with. 

"He is working and you can see just the way he receives the ball, the way he moves. Everything has improved."

Christian Eriksen was handed his first league start in a month but struggled before his departure shortly before the hour mark, failing to register a single shot or any key passes. 

Conte was frustrated at being asked about the 28-year-old but did concede he needs to improve his "intensity".

"I think you're getting too focused on this Eriksen issue," he added. "You've been underlining and asking about him since January. He is part of the squad, like everyone else. He plays if he deserves it and won't play if he doesn't.

"You see Christian's characteristics. I am trying to get the best out of him, but I don't like that you keep trying to make me speak ill of Eriksen rather than praise others.

"He is with us, that's not a problem. It's inevitable we need to find the right way to get the best out of him. At times it works, at others it doesn't. We need to work with him and get him to increase the intensity. 

"He's trying, he's giving it all, but we can't keep analysing and underlining how Inter play when Eriksen is on or off the field. It's not fair."

Following an opening 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in Group B, Inter are back in Champions League action on Tuesday with a trip to Shakhtar Donetsk. 

RS Berkane are ready to fight for the 2019-20 Caf Confederation Cup title, according to coach Tarik Sektioui.

The Botola Pro 1 side defeated Hassania Agadir 2-1 in the semi-final of the championship with captain Mohamed Aziz netting a brace inside Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. With that result, they will now face Egypt’s Pyramids in the final on Sunday.

Berkane lost to Zamalek on penalties in the 2018-2019 final, however, the Moroccan handler stated his men are primed to challenge for the ultimate prize this time around.

"I took charge of RS Berkane who were the Total Caf Confederation Cup runners-up. It was a big challenge as I had to maintain the team’s high level,” Sektioui told the Caf website.

“But with hard work, sacrifice and the support of the club's officials, we have done a great job so far, competing for the league title until the last round, and reaching the Caf Confederation Cup final.

"We are ready to fight for our dream and win the Caf Confederation Cup title.

“We have all the potential and abilities to make our supporters and all the Moroccan fans happy, although we know it is not an easy task.”

The former FC Porto player who is fondly remembered for his beautiful goal against Olympique Marseille in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage - rounding five defenders, and the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net – also revealed his gloomiest memory in football.

"I am proud and satisfied with my playing career, as I scored so many unforgettable goals,” he continued.

“Maybe the saddest memory was to miss the 1998 Fifa World Cup in France due to an injury that was about to cost me my career.

“But I am satisfied with what I achieved. I reached the Uefa Cup semi-final with AZ Alkmaar, and I won three Portuguese League and two Portuguese Cup titles with Porto.”

On the international scene, he helped the Junior Atlas Lions win the 1997 African Youth Championship.

After hanging up his boots in 2011, he went into administration and has since managed Morocco U19, Maghreb Fez and Moghreb Tetouan before taking up his role at RS Berkane in 2019.

Liverpool supporters were left less than impressed with the workings of the Video Assistant Referee after seeing a penalty given to Sheffield United on Saturday. 

The Reds fell behind after 13 minutes at Anfield when Fabinho clattered into Oliver McBurnie on the edge of his own penalty area. 

Referee Mike Dean initially blew for a free-kick, but changed his decision upon consultation with VAR and pointed to the spot. 

Sander Berge subsequently stood up and converted past the newly returned Alisson to give the Blades the lead, to the anger of the Reds looking on. 

And while Roberto Firmino restored parity just before half time, discontent over the call did not quell. 

Indeed, the Premier League's efforts to explain VAR's reasoning only heightened discussion over whether Fabinho deserved to have a penalty called against him. 

Many observers believed that the Brazilian's challenge did not merit any kind of sanction, leading to fierce debate once more over the use of technology in football. 

One of the main talking points from Kaizer Chiefs' 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon was the error-riddled display of legendary goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

After a couple of shaky moments early in the match against Sundowns, including a goal-line clearance by Ramahlwe Mphahlele after a Khune error, the Pretoria side took the lead in the 37th minute when the former Bafana stopper missed his attempt to clear a corner, which allowed Peter Shalulile to head in.

Khune attempted to blame Themba Zwane for interference, but replays showed his was grasping at straws, which only served to further highlight the initial blunder.

For Sundowns' third goal, Khune was also at fault after he clumsily brought down George Maluleka to concede a penalty which was converted by Zwane.

However, two former Chiefs players Jimmy Tau and Mark Williams, now working as television analysts, both had a different take on the matter, believing that Khune was let down by his defenders.

They weren't referring to the first goal though, but rather the second and third goals - which both came after some intricate Sundowns passing coupled with excellent off-the-ball movement,

"Every time Sundowns bypasses the defence, [Khune] is the last option that Chiefs have," Tau said during his post-match comments on SuperSport TV.  "You look at the goal that was scored by Kermit Erasmus, and then later on, the penalty - identical move [from Sundowns].

"You then have a situation where the [Sundowns] players run from the second line and they are not being tracked into the box.

"For the third goal, it was the same run which was being made [earlier for the second goal] by Zwane. In this case it was [George] Maluleka. [In terms of] tracking down players, that is where Chiefs have got it wrong," Tau concluded, with Williams later sharing the same sentiments.

"I think Jimmy's hitting it right on the head," the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward nodded.

It may be hard though to ignore some of Khune's obvious mistakes and not to be concerned about his confidence levels, but at the same time, Sundowns did carve open the Amakhosi defence several times.

So, perhaps Tau and Williams have identified an additional problem, rather than finding an excuse for Khune's poor performance.

These are things head coach Gavin Hunt will be pondering as the Glamour Boys line up their next matches against Chippa United in the league and Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-finals.

Evelyn Nwabuoku impressed for Pozoabense as they beat Cordoba 2-1 in the Cordovan derby in Saturday's Reto Iberdrola encounter.

The Nigeria international joined Pozoablense from Nigerian side Rivers Angels a week ago along with goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi and only the defender earned her maiden outing as a substitute. 

Ariel Montenegro's side struggled to outplay their visitors in the local derby as the effort of new signing Cintia Hormigo almost handed the Blanquiverdes the lead in the ninth minute.

However, Encarni also came close for Montenegro's team but her effort from the left in the 18th minute went inches wide.

In the 30th minute, Maria Marin drove the ball into the hosts' box before setting up Karla Riley to open the scoring for Pozoablense.

The visitors' celebrations of the lead did not last for too long as the hosts responded almost immediately when Hormigo's fine pass found Nati Francisco to bag the leveller two minutes later.

On the brink of half time, Marin benefited from a defensive blunder off a corner kick to hand Manuel Fernandez's team the crucial away lead.

After the break, Pozoablense held their nerve despite the hosts' pouring attack before coach Fernandez brought on Nwabouku late and the Nigerian ensured a second-half clean sheet. 

Nwabouku was in action for the final six minutes of the match against Cordoba after she replaced Karla Riley in the 84th minute, while compatriot Oluehi was an unused substitute.

The victory puts Pozoalbense on top of the Iberdrola Group A log with three points after the first match and they will aim to maintain their winning start, at home, against Granada on October 31.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United are missing their fans after continuing their winless run at Old Trafford with a goalless draw against Chelsea.

Following defeats to Crystal Palace and Tottenham, United have now failed to win any of their first three home games in a season for the first time since 1972-73.

Five matches without a home league win stretching back into last season is also United's longest such streak since February 1990.

Victories on the road over Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain heading into the contest could not inspire Solskjaer's men to get over the line on home turf, where Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made two excellent stops to deny Marcus Rashford.

The United boss felt both sides' exploits in Europe during midweek - Chelsea earned a 0-0 draw against Sevilla in the Champions League - took its toll, but he was fixated on the lack of fans as the behind-closed-doors reality of the coronavirus era continues in the UK.

"Two teams who played in Europe this week, I think it showed in the first half. It was not the greatest," he told Sky Sports.

"I think in the second half we pushed on. If that Stretford End is full we might get some help and get the ball over the line.

"We pegged them back and created some half-decent opportunities. There was a great block by Thiago Silva and the goalkeeper has made a couple of fantastic saves against Marcus.

"All in all, a good defensive performance and we created enough chances to give ourselves a win."

Edinson Cavani - United's oldest Premier League debutant since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in August 2016 - almost scored with his first touch for United after coming off the bench.

But that incident again prompted Solskjaer to speculate over the effect the United fanbase might have had upon an often dour encounter.

"A nice little run towards the near post and a nice little flick. That would have been great for him," he said.

"If we'd had that Stretford End behind the goal it would have created more pressure and more urgency. That lacks, you're watching the game and it's a different sport.

"With the fans here, they help you and we miss them.

"It's the same for all teams but I think everyone agrees that there's a little bit less in football. The edge has gone and I can't wait to get them back."

Orlando Pirates came back to hold AmaZulu FC to a 1-1 draw in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on Saturday night.

The Buccaneers opened the scoring when Frank Mhango converted from the spot-kick, but Usuthu were also awarded a penalty which was scored by Lehlohonolo Majoro. 

Usuthu were hoping to start a new era under new ownership with a victory with the club having made three high profile signings, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Luvuyo Memela and Augustine Mulenga.

However, Mulenga and Tshabalala were not part of the matchday squad, but Luvuyo Memela faced his former employers, Pirates, after being handed a start by coach Ayanda Dlamini.

On the other hand, Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer made one charge to the team which faced and defeated Cape Town City in the MTN8 quarter-final match last weekend.

Vincent Pule was dropped and he was replaced by Innocent Maela as the Buccaneers looked to start their league campaign with a victory over Usuthu.

AmaZulu were the better side in the opening stages of the encounter as they searched for an early goal which could have unsettled the Pirates defence.

However, the Buccaneers did well to contain the hosts and they began launching attacks as the match progressed with Siphesihle Ndlovu making forward runs from midfield.

The former Maritzburg United midfielder was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Sibusiso Mabiliso and Pirates were awarded a penalty which was converted by Frank Mhango in the 18th minute.

Pirates' defence looked shaky every time they were forced to defend and they conceded a penalty when Memela, who tormenting the visitors' defence, was pushed by Fortune Makaringe in the box.

Lehlohonolo Majoro was denied by Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands from the spot-kick, but the AmaZulu striker reacted quickly and scored from the rebound to make it 1-1 just after the half-hour mark.

It was nearly 2-1 to AmaZulu just before half-time when Sandilands dropped the ball on the edge of the box, but he pulled off a great save to deny Andre De Jong and the score was 1-1 at the interval.

Zinnbauer made a double substitution prior to the start of the second-half as he introduced an attack-minded duo of Vincent Pule and Thembinkosi Lorch.

However, it was Usuthu who were the better side after the restart and they kept Sandilands busy in the Bucs goal-posts as he produced two magnificent saves to deny Majoro.

Pirates found it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities for their lone striker Mhango with the AmaZulu defence which was marshalled by former Kaizer Chiefs defender Mario Booysen looking solid and compact.

Mbatha dealt well with three long balls from Wayde Jooste as the visitors resorted to kicking the ball forward with the hosts' backline impenetrable.

The last chance of the game fell for Memela from Majoro's delightful cross, but the attacker's header was brilliantly saved by Sandilands, who ensured that the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Lassina Traore scored five goals and provided three assists in Ajax’s 13-0 thrashing of VVV-Venlo in Saturday’s Eredivisie game.

The 19-year-old forward was handed his second start this season and sparkled to help Erik ten Hag’s men decimate the Yellow Black Army.

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp ignited the game in the 12th minute when he smashed home his effort past hapless Delano van Crooij after benefitting from Traore’s assist.

The Burkina Faso international then doubled the lead five minutes later and moments after the half-hour mark, he netted his second goal in the encounter.

Dusan Tadic made it four before the half-time break and after the restart, Ajax continued their goal-fest when Traore scored the fifth goal for his side in the 54th minute.

A minute later, he found Anthony with a fine pass and the winger swiftly tucked home his effort to compound the woes of their hosts.

Ekkelenkamp got his second in the 57th minute, Daley Blind also found the back of the net after benefitting from another Traore assist.

In a reciprocal manner, Anthony set up the 19-year-old for his side’s ninth goal before Klaas Jan Huntelaar bagged a brace within two minutes.

Lisandro Martinez increased the lead with another well-taken effort before Traore sealed the commanding display from Ajax with his 87th-minute strike.

Traore featured for the entirety of the game along with Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, who kept a clean sheet in the encounter.

The 19-year-old centre-forward teamed up with Ajax in January 2019 and has been turning heads since his arrival

The Burkina Faso international started his career from his home country with Rahimo and also played for Ajax Cape Town in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands.

He will hope to continue his impressive form in front of goal when Ajax take on Fortuna Sittard in their next league game.

Kevin-Prince Boateng scored his maiden goal in Serie B on Saturday in Monza’s 2-1 defeat to Chievo.

Boateng fired Cristian Brocchi's side ahead in the 29th minute with his effort from the penalty spot, but they failed to protect their lead in the second-half as Filip Dordevic's brace stretched their winless run to four games.

The result was Monza’s first loss of the season having drawn their opening three games in the Italian second-tier.

Boateng played for 45 minutes and he was substituted before the start of the second half. He has made three appearances in the Serie B since his loan arrival from top-flight club Fiorentina last month.

Nigeria international Joel Obi was also in action for Chievo but he was replaced in the 82nd minute as his team extended their impressive run to three wins in a row.

Monza are 15th in the second division table having gathered three points from four matches while Chievo are placed fifth with 10 points after five outings.

Next Saturday, Boateng will be aiming to help Monza grab their first win of the season when they visit high-flying Citadel for their next Serie B fixture.

Ritah Kivumbi was on target as her goal guaranteed Mallbackens 2-0 victory over Alvsjo AIK in Saturday's Swedish Elitettan encounter.

The Uganda international made her 19th appearance of the season for Conny Johansson's team and she ensured her fifth outing as a  substitute, helping her side extend their winning momentum.

Mallbackens aimed to continue from a 3-0 win against Brommapojkarna in their last outing but could not find a breakthrough in the opening half against Alvsjo.

After the break, the visitors maintained their search for the opener against the hosts and eventually found a breakthrough through Ida Hallstensson's brilliant strike in the 53rd minute.

The Ugandan, who replaced Emmie Johansson after the restart, came close to doubling the lead for the visitors in the 67th minute before she scored eight minutes later to wrap up the victory.

Kivumbi, who featured for the final 44 minutes, has now increased her season tally to seven goals in 19 matches, while Nigeria's Micheal was in action from the start to the end of the match.

The win was Mallbackens' fourth in a row and moves them to fifth spot on the Elitettan table after accruing 38 points from 23 games.

In their next encounter, Conny Johansson's team will aim to extend their impressive run, at home, against Kvarnsveden on October 31.

New Ghana technical director Benhard Lippert believes early talent identification will go a long way to improve the nation's football fortunes.

The German was appointed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) earlier this month, taking over from Francis Oti Akenteng who exited the job in March.

Lippert first linked up with Ghana's team when they recently played Mali and Qatar in international friendlies in Turkey.

"There are lots of departments which have to be developed and it starts with children in the school [grassroots football] which must be better organised," Lippert said, as reported by the GFA official website.

"Football in schools or festivals should be able to produce the best talents between 10 and 14 years.

"We need early talent identification and so we have to define the most talented children within this age and train them in a holistic way to find out the best talent.

"We have to also write down programs for all youth national teams to develop them step by step and if we follow this way, I am sure we will be successful."

Until his Ghana appointment, Lippert was technical trainer of the Associations of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), a role he has held since 2008.

He was once coach of German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.

"Football is not so difficult; it is the same everywhere but we only have different kinds of organisations, structures and different kinds of culture, education which is very important to develop a country’s football," Lippert added.

"We have to find out the DNA of this country, which means we have to develop our national football philosophy which I cannot decide alone.

"So I need the help of the people in this country to define the DNA of the country and then follow a structured way through which youth football will be organized and bring it through the youth national teams to the top."

The 58-year-old, who also coaches Azerbaijan’s national U17, U19 and U21 teams during his 12-year stay, has previously also had coaching spells with German football giants Bayern Munich and English side Leeds United.

Former Tusker FC and Nairobi Stima striker Stephen Owusu has passed away.

The 37-year-old died on Saturday evening after a battle with a long illness that forced him to go back to Ghana for treatment. 

Owusu was part of the Brewers team that won the 2016 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) as well as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Shield Cup in the same year. 

After a poor 2017 season in the Kenyan top-tier, Owusu was among the 14 players released by coach Robert Matano. Others who were shown the door alongside the Ghanaian was Anthony Ndolo, George Mandela, Moses Ndawula, Victor Ndinya, Luis Tera, Danson Kago, Noah Wafula, Martin Kizza, and Clifford Alwanga. 

Humphrey Mieno, Allan Wanga, James Situma, and Cercidy Okeyo were also axed.

Owusu's last assignment in Kenyan football was in the National Super League (NSL) with Nairobi Stima.

Several sports personnel have taken to their social media accounts to mourn the fallen striker.

"I am left with no words," Tusker FC media liaison officer Dianah Yonah posted on her Facebook account. "[Rest in peace] Owusu, [double double] champion. Until we meet again.

Herbert Mwachro, who lost in the recently held FKF elections also tweeted his condolence message after learning of the former striker's demise.

"Football is poorer without you," the former FKF Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) tweeted.

"Thank you for the many memories, rest in peace Stephen Owusu."

Ronald Okoth, who recently retired from football after a stint with Sofapaka, was not left behind.

"My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Stephen Owusu," the former player tweeted.

"Definitely one of the best opponents I have ever played against. Unplayable on his good day and a sharp thorn in the flesh of our defence line. 

"May his soul rest in peace."

Owusu started his football development with minnows Mine Stars in Ghana back in 2001 before joining Asante Kotoko a year later until 2005. Heart of Lions snapped him up from 2006 to 2010 and he was shipped on loan to Tunisia outfit Esperance Tunis. 

He has also played for Nigerian outfit Sharks FC and Ghanaian side Aduana Stars FC before coming to Kenya.

Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana was on target in Eibar’s 2-0 triumph over Deportivo Alaves in Friday's friendly in Amurrio. 

Iker Dorronsoro's team went into the women's international break on a disappointing note following a 1-0 defeat at home to Madrid CFF at the Unbe Sports Complex last week.

In the build-up to the Espanyol showdown on November 1, Eibar tested their strength against the Reto Iberdrola side and the South Africa international proved a huge bargain in the contest.

With both teams sharing the spoils at the end of the first half, Kgatlana's superb strike handed the visitors the lead in the 66th minute of the encounter against the Gloriosas.

Seconds from regulation time, Arene Altonaga struck late to guarantee the victory for Dorronsoro's side over Mikel Crespo's team.

Kgatlana was in action for almost the whole duration and has continued to impress in the colours of Eibar, scoring twice.

Since she was not called up for the Cosafa Women's Cup, the 24-year-old will focus on breaking into Eibar's starting line-up, having appeared thrice as a 66th-minute substitute.

Eibar will continue their campaign at Espanyol in their next Primera Iberdrola encounter next week, while Alaves will welcome Collerense in their next Reto Iberdrola fixture next weekend.