Translate
12 February 2018
Newcastle Stun Manchester United as Liverpool Cruise to a win over Southampton (2 Video)
Joy for Benitez as Newcastle stun Mourinho's United, Liverpool cruise
FOOTBALL
Monday, 12 Feb 20184:06 AM MYT
by martyn herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United's manager Rafa Benitez would have taken a victory against just about anyone on Sunday, such was his side's predicament, but a 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho's Manchester United would have tasted that bit sweeter.
Huddersfield Town's 4-1 home victory over Bournemouth earlier in the day meant Newcastle started their home clash against United in the Premier League's bottom three.
Yet they responded with a gritty display, riding their luck at times to take the points courtesy of Matt Ritchie's 65th-minute winner which propelled them from 18th to 13th.
The result also left second-placed United a whopping 16 points behind leaders Manchester City and looking anxiously over their shoulders in what looks like becoming a tense battle for the remaining Champions League places.
Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday had lifted the north London club to within four points of United and Liverpool sliced the gap to two after Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored in a nonchalant 2-0 win at Southampton in Sunday's late kickoff.
Fifth-placed Chelsea can move to within three points of United with victory at West Brom on Monday.
There was a warm handshake between Benitez and Mourinho when the final whistle sounded at a tumultuous St James' Park to confirm Newcastle's first home league win since October.
But their previous history has been marked by frostiness -- a result of former Liverpool manager Benitez twice getting the better of Mourinho's Chelsea in Champions League semi-finals.
ADVERTISING
The fact that they have both managed Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, with Mourinho enjoying a superior record, meant Benitez's triumph on Sunday, only his second in the Premier League against Mourinho, had added meaning.
Ritchie rifled a shot past David De Gea in the 65th minute to punish a profligate United side who wasted several good chances with Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez culpable.
Newcastle dug deep for their manager and debutant keeper Martin Dubravka made several superb saves.
"They fought like animals," Mourinho said of Benitez's side.
"Newcastle's players gave the sacrifices all managers like to see. Were they lucky? Yes. But sometimes you deserve that luck. They fought for their lives and that's a beautiful thing."
TOO SLICK
Martial was denied by a great save from Dubravka and had two efforts cleared off the line after the break.
Sanchez inexplicably failed to fire into an empty net after rounding Dubravka, shortly before Ritchie struck the winner.
"We had games in the past when we conceded late. We got lucky with some shots, but we showed the character, the commitment and the desire today," Benitez said.
Liverpool were too slick for a feeble Southampton as they condemned the south coast side to a place in the bottom three.
Salah punished a mistake and squared for Firmino to score in the seventh minute and the livewire Egyptian then stroked home the second before halftime after a snappy passing move.
United have 56 points, Liverpool 54 and Tottenham 52 with Chelsea on 50.
It is equally tight at the bottom where the so-called trap door is looking more like a revolving door.
Huddersfield escaped the bottom three on Sunday as they snapped a five-game losing sequence.
Alex Pritchard fired Huddersfield in front after seven minutes and although Junior Stanislas levelled, the hosts were ahead again before the break thanks to Steve Mounie's 27th-minute header from Aaron Mooy's delivery.
Beninese striker Mounie's shot was deflected in by Steve Cook after 66 minutes and Rajiv van la Parra tucked away a stoppage time penalty to complete a satisfying afternoon for David Wagner's side.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2018/02/12/joy-for-benitez-as-newcastle-stun-mourinhos-united-liverpool-cruise/#OXes17j3Gbjlhqb3.99
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
Dua buah helikopter milik Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dilaporkan terhempas ketika menjalani raptai di Kem Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysi...
-
Abdul Rahman lepas jawatan dalam CIMB Group, terajui semula PNB Bernama April 16, 2024 Abdul Rahman merupakan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpu...
-
Dua helikopter TLDM bertembung semasa Latihan Lintas Hormat Sambutan Hari Ulang Tahun TLDM Ke-90. Pesawat HOM (M503-3) yang membawa tujuh or...
-
PM Anwar tubuh Jawatankuasa Penasihat Dasar Kepada Perdana Menteri - PMO Bernama 22/04/2024 PM Anwar tubuh Jawatankuasa Penasihat Dasar Ke...
-
TOP 100 AIRPORTS https://www.worldairportawards.com/worlds-top-100-airports-2024/
-
70 PCT OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IN FOREST CITY SOLD - EXCO 20/04/2024 KULAI, April 20 (Bernama) -- Seventy per cent of the property develop...
-
KL20 Summit 2024 to attract high-quality investments - PM Bernama 22/04/2024 PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the summit marks a comprehens...
-
The Royal addendum order from the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which would allow Datuk Seri Najib Razak to go under house arrest, does exi...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
Saudi says application for 1444 H umrah visa opens from today Bernama Julai 14, 2022 The Ministry of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has ann...
-
Kedah MB: ECK no longer part of Kulim airport project Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Muhammad Sanusi announced that the ECK Group of Companies (EC...
-
King presents appointment letters to four new envoys Bernama Julai 12, 2022 His Majesty presenting the letter of appointment to M'sian...
-
Wan Saiful confirms he is no longer PTPTN chairman Bernama Julai 12, 2022 Bersatu Information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan today confirm...
-
Following is BEST FBKL's selection of The Top Ramadan 2024 Buka Puasa Buffet's in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. We hope that y...
-
Naz Empire's defamation lawsuit against Awal Ashaari to go to trial as mediation fails Bernama Julai 12, 2022 The defamation lawsuit f...
-
Paris court grants Malaysia's application to suspend claims by purported heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Dr Wa...
-
‘Alas pintu’ dengan gambar Kaabah sebenarnya sejadah mini - AEON BiG April 13, 2024 Susulan penularan gambar yang mendakwa penjualan ‘alas ...
-
Seven million Malaysians yet to take booster dose against COVID-19 - PM Bernama Julai 11, 2022 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaako...
Blog Archive
-
►
2023
(3771)
- December (311)
- November (322)
- October (286)
- September (288)
- August (365)
- July (349)
- June (372)
- May (316)
- April (279)
- March (301)
- February (245)
- January (337)
-
►
2022
(4309)
- December (352)
- November (422)
- October (288)
- September (281)
- August (347)
- July (303)
- June (335)
- May (406)
- April (341)
- March (371)
- February (390)
- January (473)
-
►
2021
(9030)
- December (636)
- November (647)
- October (809)
- September (797)
- August (880)
- July (894)
- June (747)
- May (780)
- April (580)
- March (629)
- February (643)
- January (988)
-
►
2020
(6800)
- December (819)
- November (698)
- October (832)
- September (729)
- August (548)
- July (558)
- June (615)
- May (394)
- April (368)
- March (453)
- February (439)
- January (347)
-
►
2019
(4089)
- December (411)
- November (425)
- October (375)
- September (279)
- August (397)
- July (353)
- June (326)
- May (315)
- April (266)
- March (318)
- February (293)
- January (331)
-
▼
2018
(4100)
- December (305)
- November (304)
- October (357)
- September (352)
- August (420)
- July (442)
- June (366)
- May (412)
- April (343)
- March (275)
- February (233)
- January (291)
-
►
2017
(3888)
- December (268)
- November (293)
- October (352)
- September (309)
- August (356)
- July (300)
- June (319)
- May (354)
- April (316)
- March (335)
- February (306)
- January (380)
-
►
2016
(4563)
- December (331)
- November (328)
- October (378)
- September (415)
- August (404)
- July (380)
- June (310)
- May (370)
- April (430)
- March (484)
- February (355)
- January (378)
-
►
2015
(4588)
- December (402)
- November (392)
- October (393)
- September (375)
- August (450)
- July (392)
- June (456)
- May (407)
- April (408)
- March (374)
- February (262)
- January (277)