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Desire Oparanozie opened her goal account with a brace as Dijon defeated Standard Liege 2-1 in Saturday's pre-season friendly.

The Nigeria international joined Yannick Chandioux's team this summer after ending her six-year stay with rivals Guingamp in June, and is gradually adapting to life at Stade des Poussots.

The 26-year-old made her debut in Dijon's 2-1 friendly win over Swiss outfit Servette Chenois on August 5 before starring in a 3-0 win over French second-tier side Thonon-Evian a week later.

She was handed a starting role on her third appearance against the Swiss giants, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Reims on Wednesday.

The French side dominated the encounter and found the breakthrough in the 23rd minute when Oparanozie beat an opposing defender to fire beyond the visitors' goalkeeper at Phalsbourg.

The forward was set up brilliantly in the opponent's box and made no mistake to double the lead for the hosts in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper on the brink of the half-time break.

After the interval, the Swiss team fought hard and eventually pulled one back through Constance Brackman, who struck in the 56thm minute but the hosts held their nerve to claim a morale-boosting win.

Oparanozie, who was in action for 84 minutes before being replaced by Ines Barrier, has now scored two goals in three matches for Chandioux's team in the ongoing pre-season friendlies.

Besides the Nigerian, French-Moroccan Elodie Nakkach, who captained the team against Liege, played for 84 minutes, while compatriot Salma Amani was not dressed for the tie.

It was the third win in a row for Dijon and they will take on Reims at the same venue on Sunday before slugging it out with Chaimaka Nnadozie's Paris in Beaune next Saturday, August 22.

We are all fresh from that 8-2 drubbing Bayern Munich handed out to Barcelona in the Champions League. Lets take a look back at the biggest wins in Indian football now.

So, this time around we have for you a quiz on the some huge margins of victories that Indian football has seen over the years.

This edition of Goal 's 'Sharp Minds' quiz is for the fans who remember such momentuous occasions.

As we see football take a backseat among the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, here's your chance to while away some time.

We will bring you a set of 10 questions, a mixture of easy and tough ones, every week on Indian football. Try answering them on your own (without googling, we hope) and see how much you know about Indian football.

Share your scores with others and showboat. The latest edition of Sharp Minds is right here. Have fun.

NOTE : You are welcome to contact us through social media, if you need any clarification on the answers. We will try, to the best of our abilities, to explain.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas paid tribute to coach Rudi Garcia following the surprise 3-1 Champions League quarter-final win over Manchester City.

The Ligue 1 side were outsiders for the contest in Lisbon despite progressing past Juventus in the previous round, but they produced a memorable victory.

Maxwel Cornet opened the scoring in the first half as City appeared uneasy with Guardiola's altered set-up and starting XI, choosing to go with a back three.

Kevin De Bruyne levelled deep into the second period, but howlers from Ederson led to Moussa Dembele netting twice in the closing stages to secure a famous win for Lyon.

It takes them to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 10 years and Aulas believes the achievement vindicates the decision to appoint Garcia in October after a shambolic start to the season under Sylvinho.

"It's a huge achievement, well done to Rudi, Juninho [Pernambucano, sporting director] and to the players who were magnificent," an emotional Aulas told RMC Sport . "We had a terrible year, we started badly, we changed coaches, we had terrible injuries. We were able to recruit and react strongly.

"We have a talented team. You have to have a bit of success beyond talent, we've had some, that's why we have to remain humble. It's a very great performance.

"Garcia is a boy who does his job well. We had identified him to straighten out OL. He knew with humility, and sometimes difficulties, to do his work.

"It is the evolution towards what we have wished. Juninho knew how to support him in difficult times. It is a confirmation for me, he deserves the recognition."

Bayern Munich await in the semis, as they did a decade ago, and Aulas applauded his players for what he feels is a response to perceived injustice with the early end of Ligue 1, which left Lyon finishing the season seventh and requiring to win the Champions League just to qualify for Europe again.

"It's wonderful," Aulas said. "We have a group that has been able to transcend itself, to come together. As we have good players and only the psychological side was missing, we see that this competition comes at the right time.

"We are living fantastic moments, I'm very happy. It's great to have been able to string together a qualification against Juve and then against City.

"We know they [Juve and City] are fantastic powers. We feel that normally this team [City] should have progressed, it's a feat and a kind of resonance compared to everything we have been through in recent months.

"The players seized on this injustice which has nailed us to seventh place [in Ligue 1]. We are making results, we had to beat this team. It was excellent coaching from Rudi. I think of all our supporters who find pride again."

Zenit Saint Petersburg striker Tatiana Ekogo says she has set herself targets in terms of goals as she looks to excel in the Russian Superliga this season.

The 23-year-old sealed her move to the Saint Petersburg-based side on Saturday from Yenisey after concluding her usual medicals and agreeing on personal terms with the blue-white-blue club.

At Yenisey, the Cameroonian enjoyed an exciting debut season in the Russian top-flight as she featured in 18 matches in all competitions and scored four goals in the process last season.

Having completed her paperwork, the forward, who was delighted about joining Olga Poryadina's team, is upbeat on adapting quickly to life and hitting the ground running for Zenit.

"I'm glad to be here, I feel great. It is a great honour to be part of this team," Ekogo told the club website. 

"I am sure that there are many interesting games and bright moments ahead of us. I haven't had time yet to get to know all the girls on the team properly. 

"But I see that there is a pleasant atmosphere here, everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Hope to adapt quickly as a team."

While having many goals in mind, she expressed her eagerness to make the best of the opportunity given to her to play in the top-flight.

"My target is to score as many goals as possible, to benefit the team," she continued.

"I remember my feelings when I scored the first goal in the Russian championship. It was a goal against Chertanovo. 

"I want to experience such emotions as often as possible, playing for Zenit. Yes, I have already seen a lot, so I can say with confidence that Saint Petersburg is a very beautiful city.

 "I really like it here.  I think that in the future I can learn a lot of interesting things about the history of this place and become a part of it."

Hyderabad FC defender Adil Khan has played at various positions throughout his career and has often been referred to a versatile player.

After playing as an attacker during his formative days, Adil was moulded into a defensive midfielder during his time at Sesa FA under the tutelage of Anthony D'Souza, Ajay Acharya and Vishwas Gaonkar. He was reunited with Gaonkar at Sporting and nailed down his position as a defensive midfielder and made his Indian national team debut in 2012.

The uncharted story of Adil Ahmed Khan

He was also deployed as a right back during his first stint in the Indian Super League (ISL) at Delhi Dynamos under Dutch manager Harm van Veldhoven.

"I played in around seven games and I mostly played as a right back because in the first season (2014) Indians were there just to make a number with six foreigners starting," he pointed in a conversation with  Goal .

Adil was eventually deployed as a centre-back by Derrick Pereira at Churchill Brothers but was once again used in the midfield by former FC Pune City (later Hyderabad FC) coach Phil Brown. Current India coach Igor Stimac has also preferred using him at the heart of the defence. 

"Stimac wanted me to play as a defender but Phil Brown wanted me to play as a midfielder. He (Brown) always saw me as a defensive midfielder to destroy the opponents' game and to win the ball for the team, but Stimac has a different thought about me. I was about 30 that time (June 2019)," Khan chronicled. 

"He (Stimac) personally spoke to me about it and said 'I know that you play as a midfielder but I know that you play in different positions as well. If you're comfortable, I want you to play as a centre-half' because Anas (Ethadodika) retired [from international football] that season, (Sandesh) Jhingan had a calf injury and Rahul Bheke was struggling with a groin injury.

"So that's how I trained and played a practice match as a centre-back. After the match he said 'Adil, I want you to play as a centre-back because you read well and you keep the ball'. Being a midfielder, I am very comfortable keeping the ball. So it becomes easier to play as a centre-back when it comes to keeping the ball possession. That's how it worked for his plan and for me and hopefully it will in the coming years also."

As such, Khan also touched upon how the players have to adapt to a new coach, just like when Stimac came in with a very different philosophy.

"When there is a different philosophy, then players have to adjust as per the coaches' philosophies. Alo it takes times. That's why we always say that 'it's a long process, you can't get results overnight'. It takes time to adjust to the philosophy, to know what the coach exactly wants from you," the former Sporting Goa medio stated.

In fact, ever since Brown parted ways with Hyderabad FC, Adil has been utilised as a centre-back by the interim coach Javier Lopez. It remains to be seen how incoming coach Albert Roca deploys him.

Regarding the role he expects at his club in the coming season, Khan admitted, "I think, at this stage, I am comfortable playing as a centre-back because I can save my energy and do a lot of things at the back rather than playing in the midfield and losing my energy.

"I think playing as a centre-back will give me more games and more years. So I think it would be better for me to play as a centre-back but it depends on the coaches. I am open to play as a right back or in the midfield also. I have spoken to the coach (Roca). He said that according to his foreign signings, he will decide where he wants me to play but at the national team I have to concentrate as a centre-back."

Sanjiban Ghosh, who played for Chennaiyin FC last season, is all set to join NorthEast United FC on a free transfer ahead of the upcoming 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) season, Goal can confirm.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper started his career with now defunct Mumbai FC in 2011 and played there for five seasons. In between, he had moved to Delhi Dynamos on loan during the 2015 ISL season.

After leaving the Mumbai-based I-League club, he played one more season at Delhi during the 2016 ISL before moving to Jamshedpur FC.

At Jamshedpur, he was overshadowed by the presence of Subrata Paul and had managed to play just one ISL match under Steve Coppell’s tutelage. He played in the Super Cup 2018 and was also the club’s hero in the very first match against Minerva Punjab FC where he had pulled out some exceptional saves to guide his team to the next round.

In 2018-19, Ghosh moved to Chennaiyin FC on a free transfer and remained at the club for two seasons. He appeared in just three ISL matches in his first year but unfortunately in the second season, he did not get a single chance.

Hoping for greener pastures, Ghosh is now all set to reunite with his former Mumbai FC boss Khalid Jamil at NorthEast United FC.

The Highlanders have been on a signing spree this season. They have already signed Ponif Vaz from Churchill Brothers, Gurjinder Kumar and VP Suhair from Mohun Bagan and Lalkhawpuimawia and Rochharzela from Aizawl FC. Former Mohun Bagan winger Britto PM is also set to join the club soon.

Moussa Dembele admitted to being "sad" about starting on the bench before producing his heroics for Lyon against Manchester City.

Dembele was introduced in the second half and struck twice in a 3-1 win in the Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday.

Kevin De Bruyne had earlier cancelled out Maxwel Cornet's opener before Dembele helped deliver Lyon's surprise victory.

The 24-year-old said he was upset about not getting a start and joked on social about how many goals he could've scored had he played the full 90 minutes.

"Of course, a player is always sad when he doesn't start a game," Dembele said.

"But it's important to stay focused because a match is long. As long as the referee hasn't blown the whistle, it's not over.

"When I came into the pitch, I did everything I could to help the team win."

Lyon's shock win sent them into a semi-final against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Dembele believes Lyon, who finished seventh in Ligue 1, have been a different side since returning from the coronavirus-enforced break last month.

"After the break, we promised ourselves that we would give everything. Every time we are on the pitch, we try to give 100 per cent," he said.

"I think the spirit of the group has changed and that's good for the future. We're still in this competition so that means we're a great team."

Dembele began his senior career in the Premier League with Fulham before joining Scottish champions Celtic in 2016. 

The now 24-year-old linked up with Lyon in 2018 and has scored 24 goals in all competitions for the club this season. 

Lyon manager Rudi Garcia was happy to see Dembele make the most of his limited minutes on Saturday. 

"Moussa was disappointed but as I said before the match, I knew he was going to be decisive when he came on," Garcia said.

"I am delighted that he scored twice as he had not yet scored in the competition."

Dembele has now scored four goals against Manchester City in the Champions League - the joint-most against the club in the competition since Guardiola took over in 2016.

Manchester United midfielder Aliou Traore will join French side Caen on loan next season, Goal understands. 

The 19-year-old has agreed to terms with the Ligue 2 outfit and will wear the number 15 shirt as he looks to secure more senior game time. 

Caen finished 13th in France's second division last season after being relegated from Ligue 1 in 2019. 

Traore is yet to feature for the Red Devils' first-team but made 14 appearances for their Premier League 2 outfit this season where he scored four times. 

The talented Frenchman moved to Old Trafford in 2017 after coming through Paris Saint-Germain's academy and recently declared his desire to step up to a first-team environment.

"I have become a more complete player in three years," Traore told RMC Sport. 

"I have put on a fair amount of muscle and I am stronger physically, I have become better tactically...I think that I am a player who is ready for professional football.

"In terms of how I have progressed, I am happy with my three years. But at the same time I imagined that I would already be a bit further ahead. Playing and training more regularly with the first-team squad.

"Now, these three years must enable me to play at the professional level. I’ve acquired a background at the youth academy in Manchester that I want to use at a higher level now.

"I hope that happens in Manchester, if not then why not go and get playing time elsewhere. But if I leave, it is for a first team. I do not want to leave Manchester to be in the same situation elsewhere."

Traore has previously been billed as the next Paul Pogba and the teenager revealed the France star has taken him under his wing.

"I speak a bit with him, notably when I go and train with the first team," Traore said. "He is a bit like how he is on social media, a bit crazy! He does look after the Frenchies." 

Traore is currently contracted to Old Trafford until 2021 making this next season a decisive one for the young midfielder. 

Manchester United face Sevilla in a blockbuster Europa League semi-final on Sunday night with the Red Devils desperate to claim their first trophy since 2017. 

For the first time since 1996, no English or Spanish sides will compete in this year's edition of the Champions League semi-finals. 

Manchester City's shock 3-1 defeat against Lyon on Saturday night means two clubs from France and Germany respectively are left alive in the competition this season. 

Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig join Lyon as the other surprise packets in the final four after they beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 earlier in the week. 

Barcelona, Spain's last remaining hope in the Champions League, were themselves sent packing from the competition in humiliating fashion on Friday night as Bayern Munich claimed an 8-2 victory in their quarter-final. 

With only French and German teams left standing, this is the first time since 2013 that just two nations are being represented at the semi-final stage of the Champions League. 

Paris Saint-Germain will face Leipzig in the first final-four showdown on Tuesday before Bayern tackle Lyon on Wednesday. 

Lyon's impressive run to the semi-finals has seen them knockout Serie A champions Juventus and now City after they only just managed to escape their group courtesy of a 2-2 draw against Leipzig that secured them second spot. 

Rudi Garcia is the first French manager to guide a French team to the Champions League semi-finals since 2010 when Claude Puel did the same with Lyon. 

"Proud of my troops, proud of my players. We believed in us, that we could achieve this feat. We conceded only one goal and that is due to the team spirit of the group," Garcia said after the City win. 

"With Pep [Guardiola], you have to expect anything. We knew he could find something to destabilise us, but we can say we won the tactical battle.

"After Leipzig [their group clash], we mainly wanted to be in the round of 16 and that's what we had achieved. If we show the right mindset, we can do something against Bayern." 

Lyon finished seventh in Ligue 1 this season, winning just 11 of their 28 league games before the campaign was ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic. PSG, who were handed the title, managed to accumulate 28 more points than Lyon across their 27 matches. 

Raheem Sterling will struggle to sleep after his big miss against Lyon in the Champions League quarter-final, according to Gary Lineker.

Usually so reliable in front of goal for Manchester City, Sterling blazed a glorious open-goal chance over the Lyon bar when the French side were 2-1 ahead.

An equaliser then could have seen the game swing City's way, but instead Lyon poured forward and scored another against Pep Guardiola's team, wrapping up a shock 3-1 win.

Former England striker Lineker, now a presenter with BT Sport, said Sterling got his technique wrong and attempted to apply too much power to the cross from Gabriel Jesus.

"He looked like he was in the perfect position to hit it, but he's not going to sleep very well tonight, Raheem Sterling," Lineker said.

"I tell you why he's missed it: because he's tried to hit it too hard. 

"When you're in that position where you know you've got an open goal, the only way you can miss it is putting your foot through it, and if there is a slight bobble there is a chance it'll go over the bar.

"It's almost like he's trying to hit it with a little bit of force and there's obviously been a little bit of lift of the ball, a little bobble. But if you take the weight off it, you can’t miss."

Guardiola refused to single Sterling out for his miss post-match stressing City shouldn't have conceded the goals they did. 

"I didn't see the players, we're going to talk now in the hotel. So after the, the locker room  the players were, of course sad. Now we're going to do it in the hotel but it's part of the game," he said.

"The football in this competition, we know we can do many things but in the boxes you have to be serious. Not concede the goals we concede, especially the second one.

"I think the statistics showed that we created more than the other teams in terms of everything but it was not enough." 

Lyon will now face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals next week as City try to accept a third consecutive quarter-final exit in the competition. 

In the other semi-final, Paris-Saint Germain will tackle RB Leipzig, after the Ligue 1 giants banished their own quarter-final demons against Atalanta. 

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City are "too far ahead" as he called on the club to spend money on better players. 

While Solskjaer's side finished the season strongly to secure third-place in the Premier League, they ended up being 15 points behind City and 33 points shy of the Reds. 

The Red Devils haven't won the league since 2013, with their last piece of silverware now dating back to 2017. 

Ahead of a Europa League semi-final against Sevilla on Sunday, Solskjaer admitted the cub still has plenty of work to do as he called on them to splash the cash in order to close the gap. 

“It’s a race. You can see teams building. We’re always looking at the squad and player logistics," Solskjaer said. 

“It is definitely about quality – and it is going to cost money to get in players who are better than the ones we already have.

“We still have a way to go to get to the level of the teams at the top of the Premier League. They are too far ahead of us.

“We are still growing, getting better of course, but we are not the finished article. Nowhere near.”

United continue to be linked with a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho but have struggled to agree on a fee. 

The Red Devils' mid-season signing of Bruno Fernandes proved crucial with the Portuguese attacker scoring eight goals and contributing seven assists across just 14 Premier League appearances. 

Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui believes the Manchester United side his La Liga side will face on Sunday is the best the club has assembled in some time. 

"This United is the best Manchester United in recent years, a team that has found its way, that's why they haven't lost in the Premier League since January," he said. 

"They have found the space for the many quality footballers that they have. They are complete, they will force us to play a great game to compete with them.

"This is what I hope for tomorrow, a semi-final in a game of maximum difficulty and that will require us at all levels to play collectively."

Pep Guardiola explained his tactical tweaks in Manchester City's shock Champions League loss to Lyon were to try to cover his side's weaknesses and rued Raheem Sterling's costly miss.

City fell to a 3-1 defeat in Saturday's quarter-final in Lisbon, with Moussa Dembele striking twice after Kevin De Bruyne had cancelled out Maxwel Cornet's opener.

There will be much scrutiny of the tactical choices made by Guardiola, who opted to line up with an unfamiliar three-man defence with wing-backs, while Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were unused substitutes despite the need for goals.

When asked about his line-up by BT Sport, Guardiola said: "No, what we have done is try to cover our weak points in comparing with the strong points, like they make incredible [moves] in the channels with the two-v-two.

"[After the] first 15-20 minutes of the first half, it was magnificent, we unblocked our respect a little bit, or we struggled to find our spaces to attack and in the same shape we played well in the final 10-15 minutes. 

"We created chances, scored a magnificent goal, but unfortunately missed another one."

The match was defined by a scarcely believable period in which Sterling blazed over the crossbar with the goal wide open before Dembele pounced on a poor parry from Ederson at the other end to make it 3-1 and all but end City's hopes.

Guardiola accepted that to progress in the Champions League such errors cannot occur.

"In this situation, you have to equalise and go to extra-time in the last minutes, and after, we concede the third goal," he added.

"In this competition, you have to be perfect. We created more chances, more shooting, but unfortunately we are out again."

It marks the third straight season City have fallen at the quarter-final stage under Guardiola, who remains convinced his side will eventually end that hoodoo.

"One day we will break this gap to the semis. In the first 20, 25 minutes, we struggled to find spaces to attack," he said.

"The second half was okay - we were there. I had a feeling we were better. You have to be perfect in this competition."

Lyon's second goal was not without controversy with the VAR checking for a potential foul on Aymeric Laporte, while City also appealed in vain for offside against Karl Toko Ekambi, who let the ball pass through his legs to the onside Dembele.

Guardiola was not in the mood to find excuses for his team's failure, though.

"I don't know. I don't want to talk about the circumstances sometimes, you know I don't wanna talk, it looks like i am complaining or finding excuses, we are out," he reasoned. 

"I had the feeling we were incredible already. We did a lot of good things, but we made a lot of mistakes in the boxes in the key moments."

Manchester City defender Eric Garcia affirmed that he "could not comment" on speculation concerning his future at the Etihad Stadium after seeing the club eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of Lyon. 

Two goals from Moussa Dembele late in the second half inspired the French side to a 3-1 victory over City, who were hot favourites to advance from the quarter-finals prior to kick-off on Saturday. 

Kevin De Bruyne scored the Premier League side's sole strike over a disappointing 90 minutes, although Raheem Sterling was guilty of spurning a golden chance to level at 2-2 moments before Dembele put the result beyond doubt. 

Garcia, 19, has already turned down a contract offer this summer to renew his link with City, and, despite ongoing links with Barcelona, refused to talk about the issue after going down to defeat in Lisbon. 

"The only thing I can say is that now we will have some days of rest and then we will see," he told Movistar after the final whistle on Saturday. 

"I cannot say anything else, least of all after this elimination."

Despite the negative result, however, Garcia remains convinced that City are on the right track under manager Pep Guardiola, who once more failed to guide his men through to the Champions League semi-finals. 

"We are very sad about this defeat, we came here with a plan to hurt Lyon. We had chances score and then on the counter they made it 2-1," he added. 

"We have been working here for years and there is a clear upward trend. We thought we had a great chance because we were three games away from being champions. 

"The quality of the players and all the staff is beyond doubt. Year after year we have to keep trying and it will surely come in the end."

One man who will definitely not be around to see City lift the title in the future is David Silva, who played his final competitive game for the club after years of sterling service. 

"Of course [we wanted the final for Silva]. One of our goals was to win for him," Garcia said of his compatriot, who played just seven minutes in Lisbon as a late substitute.

Lyon coach Rudi Garcia was elated after leading his side to a shock Champions League victory over Manchester City, affirming that he got the best of Pep Guardiola when it came to tactics. 

Moussa Dembele's late double sealed a 3-1 triumph for the French side in Saturday's quarter-final clash, after Kevin De Bruyne had earlier cancelled out Maxwel Cornet's opener. 

After the fury of seeing Ligue 1 cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic - a decision that left Lyon out of European competition for 2020-1 - they have now disposed of two continental giants, having squeezed past Juventus on away goals in the previous round, leaving Garcia in awe of his battling charges.

"Proud of my troops, proud of my players. We believed in us, that we could achieve this feat," the coach explained to RMC Sport after the final whistle. 

"We only conceded one goal and that is due to the team spirit of the group. Moussa was disappointed but as I said before the match, I knew he was going to be decisive when he came back. I am delighted that he scored twice as he had not yet scored in the competition.

"With Pep, you have to expect anything. We knew he could cook up something to destabilise us, but we can say we won the tactical battle. After Leipzig, we mainly wanted to be in the round of 16 and that's what we had achieved. If we show that mindset, we can do something against Bayern."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas was also on top of the world after seeing his side progress to the semi-final against Bayern, telling RMC Sport: "It's wonderful. We have a group that has transcended itself. We already had good players but the psychological side was missing.

"I am very happy tonight. It's great to have pulled off qualification against Juve and City. We know that Manchester City are a machine and that they should have passed so yes it is an achievement.

"It is also a huge feat after what has been going on for months with this League which stopped ten rounds from the end [with Lyon] in seventh place.

"We must underline the coaching of Rudi and the will of the players at the time of the equaliser. I think Rudi is a boy who does a good job even though it hasn't been easy. He knew, with humility and sometimes difficulties, how to do his job and he made sure that this work allowed him this recognition so no, it's not revenge, it's confirmation."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the club will break their Champions League curse eventually after the Premier League side were knocked out of the competition at the quarter-final stages for a third straight season. 

Despite being strong favourites against Lyon, City struggled to against their French opponents on Saturday, with two late goals from Moussa Dembele ensuring Rudi Garcia's side triumphed 3-1. 

Aside from the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1970, Manchester City have never won a continental piece of silverware with Guardiola so far unable to break that drought.

While 2020 looked like it could have City's year in the Champions League, their manager is adamant their bad luck in the competition will end one day. 

"It is what it is. One day we will break the gap to the semi-finals," Guardiola told BT Sport post-match.

"Second-half was okay, we were there, I had the feeling we were better, but you have to be perfect in this competition and we weren't. 

"Sometimes you have to break this [barrier to the semis]. The team over last few years deserves it. Maybe one day we'll break this gap.

On a possible foul in the build-up to Lyon's second goal, Guardiola added: "I don't want to talk about these circumstances. It looks like I'm complaining and finding excuses.

"We did a lot of good things, but it wasn't enough. We made mistakes in the boxes in key moments. We struggled to find our spaces to attack." 

After Dembele had restored Lyon's lead, Raheem Sterling missed a golden chance to equalise for City as he somehow scooped the ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Sterling had enjoyed an otherwise good performance for City, setting up Kevin De Bruyne for City's only goal, but Guardiola conceded he needed to do better when presented with his chance to equalise. 

"In this situation you have to equalise to take it to extra time, but then we concede the third and it's over. We created more chances and more shots," Guardiola said. 

"We are disappointed. We now go on holidays. Then we have to lift the players when they return to the club again." 

While City are once again left to pack their bags after a quarter-final exit, Lyon will now face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals next week with another massive upset in their sights. 

Bidvest Wits forward Terrence Dzvukamanja seems to be unfazed over his future with his current club set to be sold.

The Clever Boys' have agreed to sell their PSL status to National First Division (NFD) side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and the club would then relocate to the Limpopo Province.

Dzvukamanja is amongst Wits players, whose futures are still uncertain with the team set to be renamed Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila ahead of next season once the deal is approved by the PSL.

Recent reports have indicated the reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns are monitoring Dzvukamanja's situation at Wits.

However, the Zimbabwe international is dreaming of a move to Europe having established himself as one of the top strikers in the PSL.

“It is my dream to play in Europe one day,” Dzukamanja said about his ultimate destination when speaking to Daily Sun.

The 26-year-old player, who joined Wits from Zimbabwean side Ngezi Platinum FC in 2018, will be hoping to emulate his compatriots, who have left the PSL for European clubs over the years.

Former Kaizer Chiefs duo Knowledge Musona and Teenage Hadebe and ex-Orlando Pirates defender-come-midfielder Marshall Munetsi have left South Africa for overseas clubs since 2010.

Dzukamanja remained tight-lipped about his future as he said: "For now, I’m still a Wits player. As for other things, we will see later after this season."

The speedy player has netted eight goals across all competitions this season including one in the Caf Confederation Cup.

“We want to be in the top three,” Dzvukamanja said when asked by his ambitions for the remainder of the current campaign.

Wits are currently placed fifth on the league standings - three points behind third-placed Orlando Pirates, but the former have two games in hand. 

Three of Dzvukamanja's goals have come in the Nedbank Cup where he is amongst the leading goalscorers. 

The left-footed attacker grabbed a brace in Wits' 3-2 defeat to Sundowns in the semi-final encounter at Orlando Stadium in Soweto last weekend.

Dzvukamanja reflected on the loss to the Brazilians and he said had it not been for the injury which led to his substitution, he was chasing a hat-trick. 

“Yes, I was going to try to find a third goal or an assist to help the team,” the hard-working player added.

Wits' next match will be against Lamontville Golden Arrows in a league encounter at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, August 18.

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne admitted he cannot wait to return home after seeing his side's Champions League hopes go up in smoke against Lyon on Saturday. 

Hot favourites to advance to a last-four clash against Bayern Munich before kick-off, Pep Guardiola's men were shocked as Lyon went through with a 3-1 victory in Lisbon. 

Moussa Dembele proved the hero for the Frenchman with two late goals after Maxwel Cornet opened the scoring, while City were left to lament Raheem Sterling's terrible miss with the net gaping at 2-1 down. 

De Bruyne's 69th-minute strike proved insufficient for the Premier League club, who once more fell short in Europe; and now he is only looking forward to a reunion with his wife and unborn child. 

"I need to go home because my wife is expecting - I need something to focus on," the Belgium international told BT Sport after the final whistle in Lisbon. 

"It's a different year, same stuff. First half wasn't good enough. Second half we played really well. Came back 1-1 and had couple of chances. It was then 2-1 and 3-1.

"The second half we played well had them under pressure. We were more offensive. Even at 2-1 if Ras (Raheem Sterling) scores the goal it's 2-2. They made it 3-1 and the game's over.

"Lyon didn't really create but we need to learn."

City boss Guardiola once more failed to make a mark on the Champions League, with his record of never reaching the final with either Bayern or the Citizens after winning the competition twice at Barcelona still intact. 

Pep's men are still yet to make it to the last four after five attempts and like De Bruyne, he is already looking forward to a break as the 2019-20 season finally comes to a close for the club.

"We are disappointed. We now go on holidays. Then we have to lift the players when they return to the club again," Pep explained to BT Sport.

"Sometimes you have to break the [barrier to the semis]. The team over last few years deserve it. Maybe one day we'll break this gap."

Former Berekum Chelsea coach Randolf Stephen Armarh believes moving on from the club has been the best thing to do at this stage of his life.

The trainer has decided to call it quits with The Blues after helping the club through last season's Ghana Premier League (GPL) campaign which was ultimately prematurely terminated in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. News of his departure broke earlier this week.

Ahead of the commencement of last season, Armah was demoted to assistant coach for the appointment of Serbian trainer Svetislav Tanasijevic. Chelsea sit second on the standings, only two points behind leaders Aduana Stars at the end of last season.

“I have been with the club for six years and I believe it’s enough," the coach told ghanasportspage.

"I’ve served in various capacities; from fitness trainer to team manager, assistant coach, head coach, youth coach, you name them.

“If a position within the team becomes vacant, I move to fill that position so the team can run. I’ve served in various capacities.

“For now not. I have to deal with something and am not available for clubs. Covid-19 has changed the dynamics of human life so I have to do a lot of rethinking before I come back.

“If I come back, you will all get to know when I’m back. So for now, I’m doing some sort of rethinking with regards to the dynamics of our life. I’ve got to deal with something else."

Chelsea, though, have not made an official announcement about Armah's departure.

The Blues are one-time winners of the Premier League, the success coming in 2010-11 when they beat Ashanti Gold, Asante Kotoko and Medeama to win a heated Top 4 race.

The Berekum-based side is fondly remembered for their Cinderella run on their maiden participation in the Caf Champions League in 2012 when they reached the group stage. Two years later, they made the first round.

Chelsea are bracing themselves up for the 2020-21 Ghana Premier League season which has been tentatively set to kick off in the second week of October, subject to the coronavirus safety clearance from the Government of Ghana.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has decided to postpone the first round 2021 Women's World Cup qualifying matches, given the travel restriction situation in numerous countries on the continent.

Caf had earlier chalked out a schedule to hold the first round in September before the second and third in October and November. Now the matches have been further postponed indefinitely.

Morocco were billed to face Algeria. Gabon take on Congo, while Liberia engage Cameroon just as Burkina Faso tackle Nigeria, with the first leg between September 4-6 and second leg a week later. 

In other first-round fixtures, Ghana face-off with Guinea-Bissau and Senegal battle Tanzania, while Botswana fight it out with South Africa as Ethiopia challenge Zimbabwe.

A statement from Caf read:" Due to travel restrictions across parts of Africa as a result of COVID-19, the qualifiers for the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica/Panama 2020 scheduled for September 2020 has been postponed.

"The first round first leg was fixed for 3-5 September 2020 with the return leg from 10-12 September 2020. 

"The revised fixtures for the qualifiers will be announced in due course after consultation with various stakeholders.

"Meanwhile, Caf is monitoring the situation closely and working with the relevant authorities with regards to the hosting of the matches, and will make pronouncements accordingly in the event of developments that will affect playing a match at the designated venue."

Two teams will qualify to represent Africa at the final tournament from 20 January – 6 February 2021 in Costa Rica and Panama.