Sports

Manchester City Overcomes Early Scare to Defeat Plymouth in FA Cup

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1 year ago

March 1, 2025

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At the Etihad Stadium, Plymouth Argyle shocked the crowd by taking an early lead against Manchester City in the FA Cup with a goal from Maksym Talovierov in the 37th minute. However, Manchester City, not to be outdone, responded with goals from Nico O’Reilly and Kevin De Bruyne, clinching a 3-1 victory.

This game was a testament to the competitive spirit of the FA Cup, where underdogs like Plymouth can challenge giants. Despite the loss, Plymouth’s campaign was celebrated for its resilience and spirit, having previously shown their mettle against top-tier teams. Kevin De Bruyne was named MVP, reflecting his pivotal role in the match.

Pep Guardiola’s side, featuring 11 changes from their midweek win over Tottenham, responded just before halftime. Kevin De Bruyne, the FA Cup’s assist king over the past decade with 18 contributions, delivered a pinpoint free kick that Nico O’Reilly headed home to level the score at 1-1. The 20-year-old academy product, who nearly joined Chelsea last month, proved his worth again in the 78th minute, nodding in a Phil Foden corner to put City ahead 2-1.

With Plymouth’s resistance waning, Guardiola unleashed Erling Haaland off the bench, and the Norwegian striker set up De Bruyne for a tap-in in the 90th minute, sealing the 3-1 triumph. City’s shot count of 28 to Plymouth’s 1 underscored their eventual control, though the scoreline flattered a performance that required grit to overcome an inspired underdog.

Plymouth, managed by Miron Muslic, exited with pride intact, having forced City to dig deep and swap shirts with stars like Haaland and Foden as souvenirs. For City, the win keeps alive their last realistic shot at silverware in a season of struggles, though it highlighted persistent vulnerabilities. O’Reilly’s brace and De Bruyne’s composure spared Guardiola’s blushes, but the scare from a team 62 places below them in the English football pyramid serves as a reminder of City’s fragility. They now await the quarter-final draw, hoping to build momentum from a victory that, while hard-fought, keeps their FA Cup dreams alive.

Sports

Ghana’s Black Queens Thrash Russia 4-0 in Pink Ladies Cup

Published

2 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Samuel Kobina Amu

back-to-back 4–0 victories for the Black Queens against Russia and Hong Kong at the Pink Ladies Cup (@GFA)

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The Ghana Black Queens delivered a dominant performance by thrashing Russia 4-0 in their Matchday 2 fixture at the 2026 Pink Ladies Cup in the United Arab Emirates (held at venues like Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium).

This follows their opening 4-0 win over Hong Kong, making it back-to-back clean-sheet victories with 8 goals scored and none conceded so far. The result positions Ghana at the top of the four-nation tournament table involving Ghana, Russia, Hong Kong, and Tanzania, as they prepare for the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers.

Match Highlights

- Stella Nyamekye opened the scoring early in the 8th minute with a well-taken finish.

- Doris Boaduwaa added a brace (goals in the 17th and 33rd minutes, including one described as a super finish).
- Patience Ajegipina Zakaria (Ampem Darkoa Ladies striker, on debut form from the first game too) sealed it with the fourth in the 88th minute.

The Black Queens showed strong composure, high pressing, and clinical attacking under head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren, who reportedly called this one of the best performances he’s seen from the team since taking charge.

This comes amid some reported tensions in the region (mentioned in Dubai context), but the team stayed focused and impressed. The Queens will take on Tanzania on Friday, March 6, 2026, in their final group game.

Sports

Asare’s Stunning Save Secures Hearts Point in Tense Draw

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1 week ago

February 23, 2026

Samuel Kobina Amu

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The Ghanaian prolific goalie proved his inclusion into Ghana’s goalkeeping history over the weekend as Accra Hearts of Oak and Berekum Chelsea battled to a 0-0 draw in Ghana Premier League Matchday 23, with Asare’s world-class save proving decisive amid Hearts’ dominance in possession and shots.

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Sports

Twenty-three (23) Ghanaian referees officially presented with FIFA badges

Published

1 month ago

January 22, 2026

Samuel Kobina Amu

Twenty-three (23) Ghanaian referees have been officially presented with their FIFA badges. Image Source (Ghana Football Association)

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This milestone was celebrated at a ceremony held at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, January 21, 2026.

Ghana Referees honored with their FIFA badges

A cross section of the twenty-three Ghanaian referees honored with their FIFA badges.

The badges, awarded annually by FIFA based on performance, fitness tests, and assessments from the previous year, authorize these officials to officiate international matches throughout 2026 across various formats.

The group includes:

10 Centre Referees
10 Assistant Referees
1 Futsal Referee
1 Beach Soccer Referee (notably, Portia Oppong, highlighted as a historic first female in this category for Ghana)
1 Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

Veteran referee Daniel Nii Laryea lead the list, retaining his status with dual recognition as both a Centre Referee and VAR official, showcasing his consistent excellence on the African and global stages.

Veteran Ghana referee Daniel Nii Laryea

In his address the GFA Vice-President Mark Addo congratulated them and urged them to aim for world-class standards: “Aspire for greatness. You are the soul and heart of the game.” He emphasized impartiality, fairness, and the responsibility that comes with representing Ghana internationally, with continued FIFA recognition depending on ongoing performance.

This achievement reflects Ghana’s strengthening presence in global refereeing, especially after past challenges in the sport. These referees are now set to take the pitch in international competitions, bringing pride to the nation.

Well done to all involved—keep upholding the highest standards!