IN ENGLAND
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Manchester City star Erling Haaland’s goal has helped City win a highly controversial Manchester derby at rivals Manchester United despite playing with ten men for more than seventy minutes.

City midfielder Phil Foden was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes and United followed it with a period of dominance, hitting the post either side of half-time.

City scored the game’s only goal on the break in the 60th minute when Haaland tapped in Josko Gvardiol’s low, deflected cross at the back post.

Haaland had immediately been flagged for offside but a lengthy video assistant referee check ruled the Norwegian to be on, while the offside Enzo Fernandez was not deemed to be affecting play as he stretched to connect with the cross before it reached the scorer.

The result continued City’s perfect start to the Premier League season under new manager Enzo Maresca and moved them level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table.

United dropped points for the third time in four league matches and stayed 13th.

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Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has slammed the decision that cost United in their one-nil defeat to Manchester City.

Carrick admitted he has been left ‘really worried’ after Erling Haaland’s winner was allowed to stand despite an offside Enzo Fernandez appearing to interfere with play.

He was left fuming by the decision to allow the goal to stand and subsequent explanation that Fernandez hadn’t impacted play despite being marked by his fellow countryman.

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The Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref has admitted an error of judgement in awarding Erling Haaland’s Manchester City winner against Manchester United.

As City celebrated a remarkable derby victory over Manchester United, there were questions as to whether Haaland’s winning goal should have stood in a match fraught with controversy.

Following intervention from the video assistant referee, the goal was awarded – the Norwegian ruled to have been played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s boot.

In a statement, Pro Ref said It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective.

United defender Lisandro Martinez said it was an injustice while boss Michael Carrick said he was confused by the decision.

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Thousands of Manchester United fans held protests inside and outside Old Trafford against the club’s ownership.

Huge numbers with flares protested outside the ground, heeding a call from the 1958 Group, before making their way through the Munich tunnel under the stadiun.

The Red Army group of fans opted not to bring in their usual banners – instead display a single banner above the players’ tunnel stating: “The way you treat us is a disgrace.

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Coventry’s dismal return to the Premier League continued as Brighton condemned them to a fourth successive defeat of the season, while the Sky Blues’ wait for a league goal goes on.

Frank Lampard’s side became only the second in Premier League history to lose their first four matches without scoring – after Crystal Palace in 2017-18 while it is the first time in Coventry’s history they have failed to register a goal or point in their first four league matches.

Only in 1919-20 – their first league campaign have they lost each of their first four league matches.

Victory lifts Brighton to fourth in the table, while Coventry remain rooted to the bottom.

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Manchester City women have continued the perfect start to their Women’s Super League title defence with an emphatic four-one victory at Aston Villa.

They were up against a Villa side who produced an impressive one-all draw with Chelsea last weekend but were gifted an early opener when goalkeeper Akane Okuma punched a clearance in the air.

The ball fell to the feet of City defender Jade Rose, who drilled home from six yards to open the scoring and begin a period of dominance for Andree Jeglertz’s side.

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IN NIGERIA
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Nigeria’s Falconets have hammered debutants New Caledonia ten-one in their final Group F game at the 2026 FIFA Under women’s World Cup in Poland.

The win means the Falconets advanced to the round of 16 after finishing second on four points.

Spain topped the group on nine points after ending their group campaign with a three-one win against China

It was a must-win for the Falconets, who entered the game with just one point from two matches (a 2-0 loss to Spain and a 0-0 draw with China).

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El-Kanemi Warriors have advanced to the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup despite suffering a one-nil defeat to UDIB of Guinea-Bissau in the second leg of their preliminary-round tie in Bissau.

The Maiduguri-based club progressed three-one on aggregate after securing a commanding three-nil victory in the first leg at home.

El-Kanemi now face a tougher test against Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca in the next round.

The first leg is scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne between 16th and 18th October.

Raja will host the return fixture in Casablanca between 23rd and 25th October.

The winner over the two legs will secure a place in the lucrative group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

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Rivers United have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after playing out a two-all draw with San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Finidi George’s side staged a spirited comeback after falling two goals behind, but the result was not enough to secure their place in the next round.

The Port Harcourt-based club crashed out after both teams finished level at three-all on aggregate, with San Pedro advancing on the away-goals rule.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s other representatives in the CAF Champions League, Enugu Rangers, secured their place in the second preliminary round after defeating Beninese side Sobemap FC five-four on penalties.

Rangers will now face Algerian giants MC Alger next month, with a place in the lucrative group stage at stake.

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CS Sfaxien star Iyed Belwafi scored twice as the team defeated Nigeria’s Shooting Stars two-nil in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie in Sfax.

The Tunisian side overturned a one-nil deficit from the first leg to progress to the second preliminary round with a two-one aggregate victory.

Belwafi opened the scoring four minutes before the half-hour mark, putting CS Sfaxien ahead on the night and level on aggregate.

The striker completed his brace in the 67th minute to give the hosts a two-nil lead and put them firmly in control of the tie.

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Super Eagles star, Kelechi Iheanacho has continued his remarkable scoring run for Bursaspor on Sunday, finding the net again in their thrilling two-all home draw against Esenler Erokspor.

The Nigeria international opened the scoring in the 16th minute, giving Bursaspor an early advantage and further underlining his importance to the Turkish side.

Despite Erokspor fighting back to earn a share of the spoils, Iheanacho’s latest strike took his tally to nine goals in seven league appearances this season.

The forward also contributed two assists, highlighting his growing influence in Bursaspor’s attacking play.

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Super Eagles midfielder Akinsanmiro is in action as Monza lost three-two to Lecce in  the Serie A game.

The Nigerian international, who was making his third appearance, is yet to bag an assist this ongoing season.

He was substituted in the 83rd minute for Mout after an impressive performance for the visitor.

Monza responded on 20 minutes when Ricardo Mangas finished a high‑value chance from close range.

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OTHER LEAGUES
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Barcelona has survived a late fightback from Levante to continue their perfect start to the La Liga campaign and move three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.

The defending champions appeared to be cruising towards a fifth-consecutive league victory when Lamine Yamal scored his second goal of the game, and Barcelona’s third, from the penalty spot just three minutes into the second half.

The Spain international’s first strike had come after a cut-back from Raphinha, adding to the opener scored by fellow teenager Xavi Espart inside five minutes.

Barcelona’s fourth goal was scored by Karim Adeyemi.

Barcelona are next in action on Wednesday against Racing Santander.

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Bayern Munich star Harry Kane scored his 150th goal for the team to help the German champions narrowly defeat Bundesliga new boys Elversberg two-one.

Kane netted the winner, receiving the ball in the box and blasting a shot which beat Elversberg keeper Nicolas Kristof at his near post.

Bayern took the lead in the 26th minute when Ismael Saibari’s low cross deflected off Kane into the path of Lennart Karl who tapped in at the back post.

Elversberg’s only goal was scored by Maurice Krattenmacher.

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Rangers has progressed to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals as they delivered an emphatic and dominant three-nil win over Celtic at Ibrox.

Captain Dan Neil’s superb double, sandwiched by Kevin Kelsy’s thumping half-volley, left an insipid Celtic well beaten, chasing answers throughout as the hosts advanced to meet Aberdeen.

Victory delivered a dream Old Firm managerial debut for Derek McInnes who has overseen a sharp upturn in form and results after early season struggles.

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Portugal star, Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the late Diogo Jota’s name towards his international team-mate Ruben Neves.

Liverpool forward Jota died in a car crash at the age of 28 in July last year, and was a close friend of midfielder Neves, having played together for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal.

Supporters appeared to target Al-Hilal midfielder Neves before his side’s six-nil win against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday by repeatedly shouting “Jota” at him.

Neves also now wears the number 21 shirt for Portugal in Jota’s memory, and has a tattoo on his calf of him and Jota embracing.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, Alexander Zverev has used his greater experience to beat home hope Ben Shelton in the US Open final and quiet a partisan crowd hoping to laud a rare American men’s champion.

German top seed Zverev lifted a heavy burden by winning his first major title at this year’s French Open and has quickly added another with a 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Shelton in New York.

At the start of the season, there were question marks over whether 29-year-old Zverev would ever win one of the sport’s biggest prizes.

Now he is celebrating becoming a multiple Grand Slam singles champion, having seen the path to glory partially cleared by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

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In Formula one Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has won the Spanish Grand Prix after McLaren’s Lando Norris lost out because of the timing of a virtual safety car.

Norris was leading comfortably from pole position when the VSC was called on lap 15.

That meant Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were able to pit under the VSC, saving time, while the caution period ended before Norris could make it around to the pits again.

Antonelli’s eighth win in 14 races this year puts an even tighter stranglehold on the championship for the Italian.

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In Cricket, England’s Test opener does not necessarily have to be a specialist at the top of the order, according to Marcus Trescothick.

England have a decision to make over how to accommodate Jacob Bethell when he returns from a knee injury for the tour of South Africa in December.

Emilio Gay, in his first summer as a Test cricketer, has opened alongside Ben Duckett.

Gay made three half-centuries, though he ends the season with an average below 25.

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In Rugby, South Africa has completed a 3-1 series win over New Zealand as the world champions’ consistency, power and cohesion once again proved too much in the fourth Test in Baltimore.

After victory in the series opener in Johannesburg last month, the All Blacks jumped to the top of the world rankings and threatened to shake up rugby’s world order.

However, South Africa clawed their way back to triumph – just as their director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had predicted.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships…words from Basketball Legend Michael Jordan.
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