2022 – Football Flame

31Dec

By Football FlameNo Comments

Manchester United, Marcus Rashford, PREMIER LEAGUE

Dropped Rashford comes off bench to score winner

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates scoring a disallowed goal with Antony & Bruno Fernandes during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on December 31, 2022 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.Marcus Rashford turned from villain to hero as he came off the bench to score the only goal against Wolves and move Manchester United into the Premier League top four. Manager Erik ten Hag left Rashford out of his starting line-up for “internal disciplinary” reasons. But after a disappointing opening period, in which Rashford’s replacement Alejandro Garnacho wasted the visitors’ best chance when his shot was saved by Jose Sa, the England man scored 14 minutes from time. Rashford picked the ball up outside the Wolves area, then, after ...

31Dec

By Football FlameNo Comments

BARCELONA FC, LALIGA, Marcos Alonso

Barcelona held by Espanyol in chaotic derby

Barcelona's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso reacts during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 31, 2022.Barcelona were held to a draw by local rivals Espanyol in a chaotic New Year’s Eve derby at the Nou Camp. Marcos Alonso gave Barca the lead after seven minutes, however they were pegged back by a Joselu penalty. Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba received a second yellow card in the final minutes, while Vinicius Souza was also dismissed for the visitors. The referee also sent off Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera, although that was overturned by VAR. Despite failing to win, Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Real Valladolid 2-0 on Friday. On Saturday, Alonso nod...

31Dec

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Karim Benzema, LALIGA, Real Madrid, Real Valladolid

Late Benzema double sends Real Madrid top

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's second goalduring the LaLiga Santander match between Real Valladolid CF and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla on December 30, 2022 in Valladolid, Spain.Karim Benzema has scored a late double to hand Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Valladolid and move them a point clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Ballon d’Or winner Benzema returned to the starting lineup after missing the World Cup for France having suffered a thigh injury the day before the start of the tournament. Both teams had several chances to open the scoring in the first half but superb goalkeeping from Valladolid’s Jordi Masip and Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois kept the game goalless at the break. As the game entered its closing stages, Real Madri...

31Dec

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Cristiano Ronaldo, TRANSFERS

Cristiano Ronaldo joins ‘very inspiring’ Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the World Cup match between Morocco v Portugal at the Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha Qatar.Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a 2-1/2 year contract after leaving Manchester United to become a free agent. Al Nassr on Friday announced the signing of the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus superstar, ending speculation about Ronaldo’s future. “I am eager to experience a new football league in a different country. Al Nassr Club’s vision is very inspiring,” the club quoted Ronaldo as saying. Al Nassr posted a picture on social media of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner holding up the team’s jersey, with the club hailing the deal as “history in the making”. “This is a signing that will not...

30Dec

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Lionel Messi, NEWS, Real Madrid

Real Madrid boss explains why he won’t call Lionel Messi the GOAT

Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup trophy as he celebrates with the Argentina fans following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.Lionel Messi is a World Cup winner. Argentina went on to end a 36-year wait this time around to lift the coveted trophy for the third time in their history, following arguably the greatest final of all-time. And many have hailed the PSG star as the greatest of all time following his recent success on the international stage, filling the only void left in his trophy cabinet. Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti, is not still sure about those claims though. Despite of his storied past with Barcelona, even most Real Madrid fans would admit that Messi is ...

30Dec

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Enzo Fernandez, NEWS, TRANSFERS

Liverpool target Enzo Fernandez says yes to Chelsea move

Enzo Fernandez #24 of Argentina presents his Young Player trophy during the award ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, who has been linked with a host of sides including Liverpool, has given his nod of approval to a move to Chelsea, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.The midfielder won the Young Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded World Cup and played a key role in Argentina winning in Qatar. Fernandez joined Benfica last summer but the club could already lose him in the winter window with clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool chasing him. Chelsea are now going ahead with an attempt to get a deal o...

29Dec

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NEWS, Pele

Football legend Pele has died aged 82

A banner of former brazil player Pele displayed during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea at Stadium 974 on December 5, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Football legend Pele has passed away. He was 82. Pele passed away at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo on Thursday following a long battle with cancer. The Brazilian, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time and won the World Cup for Brazil three times. He was a prolific goal scorer, banging 77 into the net in 92 games for his country and 643 in 659 games for his Brazilian club, Santos. In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people o...

29Dec

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Liverpool FC, Mohamed Salah, PREMIER LEAGUE

Mohamed Salah out to break Robbie Fowler goalscoring record against Leicester

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool FC at Villa Park on December 26, 2022 in Birmingham, England. Mohamed Salah could break Robbie Fowler’s record for the most left-footed goals in Premier League history when Liverpool face Leicester City on Friday evening. The man affectionately referred to as ‘God’ by supporters of the red side of Merseyside scored 105 goals with his left foot in his multiple stints in the Premier League. The Egyptian has scored four goals in the last four games, and is sat on 104 left-footed goals, just one behind the former England international. One goal would equal the record, while two would leave Salah as the new record-holder to add to the multiple compe...

29Dec

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Mykhaylo Mudryk, Shakhtar Donetsk, TRANSFERS

Shakhtar Donetsk executive reveals Mykhaylo Mudryk transfer fee amid Arsenal talks

Mykhaylo Mudryk in action for Shakhtar Donetsk during a UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic Park, on October 25, 2022, in Glasgow, Scotland.Shakhtar Donetsk executive Carlo Nicoloni insists the club are looking for the kind of money Jack Grealish generated if they are to sell Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk. The Ukraine international is Mikel Arteta’s top target ahead of the January transfer window and the Premier League leaders have already seen an opening offer worth around £55m rejected. Arsenal are expected to return with another bid as talks continue, with Mudryk himself indicating he would be keen on the move by watching the Gunners in action against West Ham. An injury to Gabriel Jesus has prompted Arsenal into action, though their interest stret...

29Dec

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Kylian Mbappe, Ligue 1, PSG

Mbappe to the rescue after red card spoils Neymar’s return to PSG duty

Kylian Mbappe #7 of Paris Saint-Germain controls the ball against Jean Ricner Bellegarde #17 of RC Strasbourg Alsace during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and RC Strasbourg at Parc des Princes on December 28, 2022 in Paris, France.Kylian Mbappe scored an injury-time penalty to seal a 2-1 win for Paris Saint-Germain over Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Wednesday before admitting he will never get over France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina. Mbappe was back in action 10 days after scoring a hat-trick in the final but then seeing the South Americans win in a penalty shootout. PSG had Neymar sent off for two yellow cards as the Brazilian made an unhappy return to action following his country’s elimination in the World Cup quarter-finals. Captain Marquinhos had put the hosts ahead...