IN ENGLAND

Brighton produced a superb fightback to come from two goals down and beat Tottenham three-two in a Premier League thriller on the south coast.

Spurs looked to be heading to a sixth successive victory in all competitions as they led two-nil after thirty-seven minutes.

Brighton’s three goals were scored by Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck, while Tottenham’s two goals were scored by Brennan Johnson and James Maddison.

Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag will hope a battling draw as Aston Villa will relieve the fierce scrutiny of his position.

The club’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance at Villa Park to see United at least show some of the resilience that was missing in the collapse at home to Tottenham and the defensive solidity lacking in Porto in the Europa League.

Marcus Rashford twice tested Villa keeper Emi Martinez while United captain Bruno Fernandes came closest with a second half free-kick that bounced back off the bar.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag feels Manchester United’s hierarchy would have told him if his job was under threat.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was at Villa Park for the goalless Premier League draw with Aston Villa, played against mounting pressure on Ten Hag for a run that now extends to five matches without a win, including the woeful three-goal home defeat by Tottenham.

Ratcliffe was emotionless on the final whistle, with the only noticeable interaction from the travelling executives a conversation between chief executive, Omar Berrada and sporting director, Dan Ashworth following a game that leaves United 14th in the table.

Ten Hag said he had not spoken to any of them between the end of the game and carrying out his media duties.

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest played out a tactical and feisty one-all draw at Stamford Bridge.

Forest went ahead when Chris Wood slid in a finish past Robert Sanchez after a good set-piece routine involving James Ward-Prowse and Nikola Milenkovic in the 49th minute.

Chelsea responded quickly as Noni Madueke equalised eight minutes later after cutting in on his left foot and shooting, his fourth such effort having had the beating of left-back Alex Moreno.

The Blues’ five-game winning run ended but they remain unbeaten in the league since the opening match of the season, while Forest are undefeated on the road in six matches, their longest such run since 1995.

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White are doubts for England duty after sustaining injuries.

Konsa suffered a hamstring injury and left the field just twelve minutes into Villa’s goalless draw against Manchester United.

Both players have been named in Lee Carsley’s twenty-five-man squad for England’s Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland.

Arsenal have suffered another injury setback as Kai Havertz was left out of Germany’s 23-man squad for the UEFA Nations League, due to a knee problem.

Havertz has been in fine form for Arsenal this term, scoring six goals in ten appearances across all competitions, including four goals in seven Premier League matches.

He was on target and played the full 90 minutes in the Gunners’ three-one comeback victory at home to Southampton, equalling a club goalscoring record set by Robin van Persie.

Manchester City women picked up a comfortable Women’s Super League victory against West Ham women as Jill Roord started her first match since recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Netherlands midfielder Roord, the club’s record signing, came off the bench in last week’s 1-0 victory over Brighton but played 45 minutes from the start at Joie Stadium this time around.

She contributed to a routine win for City despite manager Gareth Taylor leaving several key players out of the starting eleven.

IN NIGERIA

The Flying Eagles, will move to Ikenne, Ogun State for a final camping programme ahead of their participation at this year’s WAFU B Under-twenty Championship in Togo.

The 2023 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists will camp at the high-grade Remo Sports Institute for a week before departing for Lome.

They will tackle Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire in a three-team Group B, in their quest to defend the title they won in Niger Republic two years ago.

The championship in Togo serves as the qualifying tournament for next year’s Africa Under-twenty Cup of Nations.

The top-placed four teams will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at next year’s FIFA Under-twenty World Cup finals in Chile.

Referee Godfrey Nkhakananga, of Malawian nationality, will be at the centre for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

The Confederation of African Football also appointed Nkhakananga’s compatriots, Clemence Kanduku and Joseph Nyauti as assistant referees one and two, while Botswanan Keabetswe Dintwa will serve as fourth official for the Matchday three clash.

Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the commissioner, while Issaka Boubacar from Niger and Mayowa Akingbemisilu will be in the roles of referee assessor and broadcast venue manager.

The Super Eagles top Group D with four points from two games, while Libya occupy bottom spot with one point.

Kano Pillars star Ahmed Musa scored a brace as the team defeated Sunshine Stars two-nil at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Sunday.

Musa gave Pillars the lead after five minutes, and added the second five minutes after the break.

It was Kano Pillars’ second win in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, this season.

Also, Rivers United secured top spot on the log following a hard-earned two-one win over Akwa United.

Stephen Manyo and Ndifreke Effiong scored a goal each for Rivers United, while Akwa United’s only goal was scored by Friday Apollos.

Meanwhile, Remo Stars suffered their first defeat of the season to Kwara United, as Abdulraheem Shola scored the only goal for Kwara United.

Super Falcons star, Rasheedat Ajibade has been named Spanish Liga F’s Player of the Month for September.

Ajibade scored five goals and provided two assists in four appearances for Atletico Madrid.

She beat Barceona’s Ewa Pajor, Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir, Levante Badalona’s María Llompart, and Athletic Club Femenino’s Nerea Nevado to the award.

Ajibade has been one of Atletico Madrid’s standout performers this season.

OTHER LEAGUES

Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski scored a first-half hat-trick as the team re-established their three-point advantage at the top of La Liga with a comfortable win at Alaves.

The team which suffered a shock defeat by Osasuna last weekend always looked in control after Lewandowski nodded them in front early on from Raphinha’s curling delivery.

The 36-year-old’s second, a close-range finish, came after more good work from the Brazilian.

And Barcelona’s third came as he reversed a shot past home goalkeeper Antonio Sivera from Eric Garcia’s pass.

The Poland forward scored twelve goals in eleven games in all competitions for Barcelona, who are averaging over three goals a game in the Spanish top flight this term.

Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush scored deep into stoppage time to earn the team a dramatic three-all draw against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Omar Marmoush scored a brace, as Hugo Ekitike netted the third goals for Eintracht Frankfurt, while Bayern Munich’s three goals were scored by Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise.

The draw means Bayern are without a win in three games across all competitions, losing one and drawing two, as Kompany’s honeymoon period appears to be over.

Celtic have showed a great resilience and mentality to come from behind against Ross County and maintain their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season.

Manager Brendan Rodgers had asked his players to bounce back even higher from their midweek Champions League dismantling by Borussia Dortmund.

Celtic’s two goals were scored by Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn, while Ross County’s only goal was scored by Ronan Hale

Aberdeen have maintained their perfect Scottish Premiership record through a late goal from Ante Palaversa and poor finishing from ten-man Hearts at Pittodrie.

Palversa crashed in a rising shot on 88 minutes following a bustling run and cut-back from fellow substitute Duk, making his first appearance of the season.

Topi Keskinen and Nicky Devlin scored a goal each for Aberdeen, while Hearts’ two goals were scored by Frankie Kent and Blair Spittal.

OTHER SPORTS

In Tennis, World number six Coco Gauff has dominated unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova to win the China Open the eighth WTA title of her career and first since January.

The American fourth seed had struggled with her serve earlier in the week and was forced to battle back from a set down in her three previous matches en route to her first final since winning in Auckland at the start of the year.

But the 2023 US Open champion showed little sign of that fragility as she claimed a 6-1, 6-3 win in one hour-17 minutes.

Victory in the WTA 1,000 event in Beijing moved Gauff up to fourth place in the Race to the Finals, with the top seven qualifying for the season-ending tournament in Riyadh in November.

Still on Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner came through tough tests at the Shanghai Masters to reach the last 16.

World number one Sinner recovered from a set down to beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, while Alcaraz earned a 7-6, 6-3 victory against Yibing Wu.

Sinner won six titles this year, including two Grand Slams, but is playing amid the World Anti-Doping Agency appealing against the decision to clear him of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.

In Cricket, Scotland have suffered their second defeat of the Women’s T20 World Cup as West Indies strolled to a six-wicket win in Dubai.

In another low-scoring encounter, Scotland were restricted to just 99-8 from their twenty overs, with West Indies reaching their target in 11.4 overs.

Deandra Dottin, who came out of retirement to play in the tournament, rolled back the years with an explosive 28 not out from 15 balls and sealed the dominant win in style with a six.

Meanwhile, Scotland face last year’s finalists South Africa on Wednesday.

In Rugby, Saracens went back to the top of the Premiership with a win over Exeter, who have made their worst start to a top-flight season.

After an even first sixteen minutes, Saracens’ Jamie George, Tobias Elliott, Ben Earl and Fergus Burke all scored in a 20-minute spell to earn a bonus point before half-time.

Earl got a second try soon after the break, before Josh Hodge got his second try of the day for Exeter to cut the gap to fifteen points.

Exeter’s defeat means they have lost their opening three matches for the first time in their fifteen seasons in the Premiership.

In Golf, England’s Tyrrell Hatton survived a late scare before securing a record third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title at St Andrews.

Hatton had equalled the course record to hold a one-shot lead going into the final day and he went three ahead thanks to four birdies in his first 11 holes.

Hatton also finished second in the team event alongside his father Jeff, the pair finishing two shots behind Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Irish businessman Dermot Desmond.

The win ensures he will be at the DP World Tour’s season-ending event in Dubai and means he can also attend the upcoming wedding of Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

You can motivate by fear, and you can motivate by reward. But both those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self motivation….Words from Homer Rice.

THAT ENDS TBS SPORTS AS EDITED BY BABAJIDE ALLI-BALOGUN AND TOSIN OJOBORUN.