Tag Archives: FA Cup

Regional, Sports

Welbeck haunts former club as Brighton knock Manchester United out of FA Cup

Shaffie A Mtambo

MANCHESTER-(MaraviPost)-Manchester United’s FA Cup journey came to an abrupt end on Sunday night after a shock 2–1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The third round clash was played in front of a tense crowd with United supporters hoping the FA Cup could offer relief from an inconsistent season.

Instead, they were left stunned as Brighton produced a composed and fearless performance on enemy territory.

Brighton showed their intent early in the match, pressing high and refusing to be overawed by the occasion. Their confidence paid off in the 12th minute when Brajan Gruda exploited defensive uncertainty to fire the visitors into a deserved lead.

United attempted to respond by increasing the tempo with Bruno Fernandes and other senior players trying to drag the team back into the contest.

However, Brighton’s defensive organization limited clear chances, frustrating the home side.

As the first half wore on, United dominated possession but lacked cutting edge in the final third.

Brighton, meanwhile, remained dangerous on the counterattack, keeping United’s backline under constant pressure.

The second half followed a similar pattern with United pushing forward and Brighton waiting patiently for openings. That patience was rewarded just after the hour mark in dramatic fashion.

Former United striker Danny Welbeck delivered the decisive blow in the 64th minute, scoring Brighton’s second goal with a powerful finish.

The strike silenced Old Trafford and underlined Brighton’s growing belief.

Welbeck’s celebration was met with mixed reactions joy from Brighton fans and painful recognition from United supporters, who watched a familiar face deliver another setback to their club.

Facing elimination, United threw everything forward in search of a lifeline. Their efforts were finally rewarded late in the game when Benjamin Šeško pulled one back in the 85th minute, reigniting hope of a comeback.

For a brief moment, the stadium came alive as United pressed for an equaliser. Brighton, however, held their nerve and defended resolutely under intense pressure.

United’s hopes were dealt a further blow in stoppage time when young winger Shea Lacey was sent off for dissent after receiving a second yellow card, leaving the hosts with ten men at a crucial moment.

The final whistle confirmed a famous 2–1 victory for Brighton, sending them through to the next round and condemning Manchester United to an early FA Cup exit.

Lifestyle

Alexander-Arnold confirms departure from Liverpool after 20 years

Maravi Post Reporter

Trent Alexander-Arnold sat down, took a deep breath and uttered the words many Liverpool knew would be coming.

“After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club,” he said into a camera, “I will be leaving at the end of the season.”

Alexander-Arnold didn’t mention his next destination when confirming his imminent departure from Liverpool on his social media accounts but the England right back is widely expected to move to Real Madrid on a free transfer.

The locally born Alexander-Arnold, who joined Liverpool at the age of 6 and has won every major honor with the club, said it was “easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.”

He has announced it barely a week after clinching a second Premier League title with the Reds, pushing them onto 20 English top-flight championships — tied for the record with Manchester United.

“This club has been my whole life — my whole world — for 20 years,” the 26-year-old Alexander-Arnold wrote. “From the academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.

“But, I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally. I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club, and I hope you feel like I’ve given back to you during my time here.”

Fans might feel let down

While Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have recently signed new two-year deals with Liverpool, there was lingering uncertainty over the future of Alexander-Arnold, who was also out of contract at the end of this season.

Some fans will be unhappy he has run down his contract and not allowed Liverpool to get any money for one of its star assets.

“I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset,” Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool’s official website. “Obviously that went into the decision as well — it’s something you don’t want to do, you don’t want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down, you’re disappointing a lot of people.

“But I’ve had to make a decision for me, it’s as simple as that. It’s a difficult one, it’s one that has played on my mind for a long time but being able now to get it off my chest will feel like a weight is lifted.”

Alexander-Arnold said he hasn’t spoken publicly about his future in recent months because he wanted the “to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No. 20.”

His trophies and that assist against Barcelona

Alexander-Arnold won the Premier League in 2020 and again this year, as well as the Champions League in 2019, the FA Cup, English League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Since making his senior debut in October 2016, he has been key to revolutionizing the role of a full back, with Alexander-Arnold having been Liverpool’s most creative player at times with his marauding runs down the right and his ability to come infield and pick out passes to the team’s attackers.

Arguably the most famous moment of his Liverpool career was when his quickly taken corner set up a goal for Divock Origi to complete a memorable comeback against Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals in 2019.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody — my coaches, my managers, my teammates, the staff and our incredible supporters — for the last 20 years,” Alexander-Arnold wrote.

“I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all. My love for this club will never die.”

Another potential bargain for Madrid

If he does go to Madrid, it would be as a free agent and he’d follow in the footsteps of the likes of Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Xabi Alonso in swapping Anfield for the Santiago Bernabeu.

Alexander-Arnold would be joining England teammate Jude Bellingham in Madrid as well as Kylian Mbappé, who moved there in June 2024 on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool said Alexander-Arnold “will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has Conor Bradley as a ready-made back-up for Alexander-Arnold, but is likely to go into the transfer market for another replacement.

The Club World Cup

Liverpool said Alexander-Arnold will be departing “once his deal ceases on June 30, 2025,” though there’s a chance he will leave earlier should he go to Madrid.

In October, FIFA announced interim transfer rules allowing players whose contracts expire on June 30 to sign early as free agents for one of the 32 teams — such as Madrid — who qualified for the relaunched Club World Cup.

If Madrid and Liverpool were to come to an agreement, Alexander-Arnold could represent the Spanish team for two weeks from mid-June on an exceptional basis — before his formal contract expires — in a tournament that is technically still part of the current season.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/08/44/09/ED_PYR_1408449_20250506052102.mp4
Sports

Arsenal’s talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang magic boot pains Chelsea to win FA Cup

Lloyd M’bwana
Arsenal’s talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Arsenal’s talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang worked his Wembley magic once again as they came from behind to beat Chelsea (2-1) and win the FA Cup for a record 14th time.

Chelsea took the lead in the Heads Up FA Cup final inside five minutes through Christian Pulisic’s smart finish but then fell victim to the brilliance of Aubameyang, who was also Arsenal’s hero when he scored twice in the semi-final win over Manchester City.

The Gabon forward drew Arsenal level from the penalty spot before the break after he was fouled by Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, then produced a moment of world-class finishing to make the defining contribution to the first behind-closed-doors FA Cup final.

According to BBC, Chelsea were hampered by a first-half injury to Azpilicueta and were struggling even further when they lost the outstanding Pulisic to a hamstring problem after the break.

As the Blues battled to overcome those setbacks, the brilliant Aubameyang was able to give Mikel Arteta silverware in his first season as the Gunners’ manager.

Aubameyang, who Arsenal are understandably desperate to secure on a new long-term contract, turned Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma inside out in the 67th minute before delivering the most audacious finish, chipping over keeper Willy Caballero from an angle.

Chelsea’s agony increased further when Mateo Kovacic was very harshly sent off for a second yellow card, awarded by referee Anthony Taylor for the most innocuous of challenges on Granit Xhaka.

Arsenal closed out the win to secure a place in the Europa League next season but it was bitter disappointment for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard at the conclusion of his first campaign in charge.