Sports
Alex Iwobi’s Late Strike Seals Fulham’s First Home Win of the Season
Alex Iwobi’s decisive 70th-minute goal ensured Fulham secured a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in their first Premier League home game of the season. The Nigerian winger’s composed finish through the legs of Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen restored Fulham’s lead after Wout Faes had equalized for the Foxes before halftime.
Fulham started the match strongly, with their dominance evident throughout. The Cottagers took the lead when Emile Smith Rowe, recently signed from Arsenal for £34 million, slotted home his first goal for the club. Smith Rowe, who struggled for game time at Arsenal last season, showed his quality by collecting a pass from Adama Traore, driving into the box, and firing a low shot into the far corner.
Leicester managed to level the score 20 minutes later through Wout Faes. Initially, referee Darren Bond disallowed the goal, ruling that Jamie Vardy had interfered with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno from an offside position. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, allowing the goal to stand.
Despite Leicester’s equalizer, Fulham continued to control the match, creating numerous chances. Iwobi eventually found the breakthrough in the 70th minute, coolly finishing past Hermansen after a slick move. Leicester struggled to regain momentum after falling behind again, with Wilfred Ndidi coming closest to an equalizer in injury time, only to see his shot saved by Leno.
Fulham’s win marks a strong response after their narrow defeat to Manchester United in their opening game. Manager Marco Silva, who expressed the need for more signings, will be pleased with the performances of his new recruits, especially Smith Rowe, who showed great promise in his debut.
Leicester, on the other hand, were unconvincing at both ends of the pitch. Despite Faes’ goal, the Foxes struggled to create clear-cut chances and were defensively vulnerable, narrowly avoiding conceding more goals thanks to some excellent saves from Hermansen. Jamie Vardy, Leicester’s talisman, had little impact on the game and was substituted in the second half after failing to register a single shot.
British tennis player Jack Draper has secured a spot in the Japan Open last 16 after defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Draper, ranked world number 20, claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory, marking his first win since his US Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
The 22-year-old’s triumph in Tokyo comes as a welcome return to form following a challenging Davis Cup in Manchester, where he lost both of his singles matches to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, contributing to Great Britain’s failure to reach the knockout stages.
After a tightly contested first set against world number 103 Bellucci, Draper dominated the second set, building a 5-1 lead before closing out the match. He will face Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained in Wolves’ 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Colombian twisted his knee after a collision with Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the 82nd minute and was stretchered off the pitch.
Scans confirmed that Mosquera suffered damage to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will require surgery. Wolves’ head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said, “We will be visiting specialists to finalise the plan for surgery, and it’s highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”
Mosquera had been a key part of Wolves’ defense this season, starting all five Premier League games after returning from a loan spell at Villarreal. His absence further deepens Wolves’ defensive issues, as they did not secure a replacement for Max Kilman following his £40m move to West Ham.
Wolves, currently winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, face Liverpool at home in their next match.
Raphael Varane, former defender for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and the French national team, has retired from professional football at the age of 31. Varane, who joined Italian side Como in July, sustained a knee injury on his debut, prompting his decision to step away from playing. He will remain at Como in a non-playing capacity.
In an emotional Instagram post, Varane wrote, “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct,” explaining his desire to leave the sport on his own terms.
Varane began his career at Lens before a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he won 18 major trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He later joined Manchester United in 2021, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Reflecting on his career, Varane expressed pride in both his achievements and staying true to his values.
He hinted at future projects with Como, adding, “Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Varane has also been vocal about the dangers of head injuries in football, having played through concussions during his career, and he has called for better protection for players.
Iceland Demands Supermarket Rivals Stop Selling Prawn Rings
Coldplay Set to Break Taylor Swift’s Wembley Record with 10-Night Run
Naomi Campbell Banned from Charity Work Following Misuse of Funds
-
Spotlight4 days agoTop Legal Pitfalls Employers Must Avoid to Prevent Wrongful Termination Claims
-
Sports4 days ago‘Haaland throwing ball at Gabriel a coward’s move’
-
Business5 days agoBritish Airways Suspends Summer 2025 Flights from Southampton Airport
-
Sports4 days agoBarcelona’s Ter Stegen to Undergo Knee Surgery After Injury
-
News4 days agoJapan Battles Devastating Floods Following Record Rainfall, Six Dead
-
Entertainment4 days agoDeadline Set for Bids on Historic Peter Pan House in Dumfries
-
Sports5 days agoStones Snatches Late Equaliser to Deny Arsenal Victory at Etihad
-
News15 hours agoIsraeli Airstrikes Hit Beirut, Hezbollah Leader Targeted Amid Escalating Conflict