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.
Paul Pogba’s four-year doping ban has been reduced to 18 months after a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The Juventus midfielder will be able to return to training in January 2025 and resume playing by March of the same year. Initially suspended after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels in February, Pogba had consistently maintained that he did not knowingly breach any anti-doping regulations, attributing the result to a supplement prescribed by a doctor.
In a statement, Pogba expressed his relief, saying, “Finally the nightmare is over,” and thanked the Cas judges for their decision. He acknowledged the strict liability of the offence but reaffirmed his commitment to integrity in the sport. Without the reduced ban, Pogba would have been sidelined until 2027.
This marks the end of a challenging chapter in Pogba’s career, allowing him to focus on returning to the pitch in 2025.
FIFA is set to consider potential sanctions against the Israel Football Federation (IFF) following a proposal from the Palestine Football Association (PFA). The PFA’s call for sanctions stems from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with the association accusing Israel of violating FIFA regulations.
The issue was raised by the PFA in March, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the FIFA Council would make a decision after a legal assessment. The council will review the matter during its upcoming meeting on Thursday, October 3rd, where the PFA’s proposal is officially listed on the agenda.
The Palestine FA is seeking sanctions against Israel’s national teams and clubs, citing violations of FIFA’s regulations. In response, IFF President Shino Moshe Zuares condemned the proposal, calling it “a cynical political and hostile attempt” to undermine Israeli football.
Israel has been playing its Nations League home matches in Hungary due to security concerns, and recent international games have been relocated for similar reasons. They are slated to face France and Italy during the upcoming international break.
Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner in a thrilling China Open final. The 21-year-old Spaniard fought from a set down to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 7-6 (7-3), marking his fourth ATP Tour title of the year and the 16th of his career.
In a match filled with high drama and intense rallies, Alcaraz praised Sinner’s performance, calling him “unbelievable” and recognizing the Italian’s exceptional level of play. Despite losing the first set in a closely contested tie-break, Alcaraz remained resilient, ultimately turning the match in his favor.
Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz said, “I never lose hope. I knew I had to give everything I had to give myself the opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s Dan Evans, 34, faced a tough loss in the first round of the Shanghai Masters. Despite leading 4-2 in the deciding set, Evans was eventually beaten by Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild, who won 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-3) to progress to a second-round clash with Russian world number five Daniil Medvedev.
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