EPL UPDATES: Allison blow for Liverpool as host beat Norwich City 4-1 in league opener.

Liverpool kicked off the new Premier League season with a comfortable  4-1 victory over newly promoted Norwich City at Anfield.

 Jurgen Klopp's men wasted no time in setting about getting maximum points, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk adding to Grant Hanley's comical own goal within the opening 30 minutes.

Divock Origi made it four in the 42nd minute on his 100th Reds appearance but Jurgen Klopp's side were unable to add to their tally nor keep a clean sheet as Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki netted a consolation strike for the newly promoted side.

However, Liverpool will hope that their number one would be back on time after lossing goalkeeper Alisson to injury, as the Brazilian had to be replaced by debutant Adrian in the first half. The shoot-stopper looked  to have suffered a problem with his right calf when taking a routine goal-kick, seven minutes before half-time. As the game briefly continued, Alisson signalled immediately to the bench and, after a lengthy delay, was helped from the field by Andy Massey, the club doctor.

The home side  got off to a flying start when Origi's cross from the left wing was diverted into the back of the net by Norwich captain Hanley in the seventh minute.

Marco Stiepermann wasted a second decent chance to get the Canaries on the board and they were punished when Roberto Firmino teed up Salah to slide a cool finish past Tim Krul.

Norwich continued to threaten but Van Dijk made light work of shaking off Jamal Lewis to power in a header from Salah's corner.

Despite losing Alisson to injury, Liverpool remained in the ascendancy and took a four-goal lead into half-time when Origi nodded Trent Alexander-Arnold's fine delivery home.

Krul tipped a shot from Jordan Henderson onto the crossbar early in the second half and, after Salah kept the ball alive and played in Alexander-Arnold with a delightful backheel, Firmino was unable to convert fronm the England defender's cutback.

Moritz Leitner rattled the upright with a swerving effort as the Canaries regained some courage and they were rewarded when Pukki found the bottom-left corner lashing into a lovely through ball by Emiliano Buendia for a consolation. 

Alexander-Arnold's powerful free-kick was saved well by Krul in the 85th minute and Adrian kept out Onel Hernandez in stoppage time as Liverpool comfortably saw out a routine victory.

AFON 2019 MATCH REPORT: Eagles beat South Africa to book semi-final place

Super Eagles soared high into the semi finals of the 2019 AFCON after beating South Africa 2-1 in the quarter finals of the ongoing tournament in Egypt. Two strikes in either halves by  Samuel Chukwueze and Williams Troost Ekong was enough  to to seal Nigeria qualifications  
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr made two changes to the made two changes to the starting XI, that played against  the indomitable lions with Nigerian young talented forward Samuel Chukwueze returning to the starting lineup for the second time in the competition while Jamilu Collins started in place of Torino left back Ola Aina.
Nigeria looked th better side very early into the game as the kept pressurising the South Africans, the pressure eventually paid off in the 27 minute after a wonderful play from Ahmed Musa and Alex Iwobi on the left wing.  The Arsenal’s forward cross was met with a first attempt from Samuel Chukwueze but was blocked from the centre of the box before his second strike hits the back of the net to give Nigeria the lead.
Rohr’s men looked to increase their tally as  Chukwueze had his attempt sail way over the bar with the Villarreal  man continously tormenting the Bafana Bafana defenders  when he failed to connect with his teammates as the super eagles dominated for the large part of the first half.
Nigeria started the second 45 minutes in the same vein they ended the first. Stoke city midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo had his neatly struck freekick saved by  goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The tie wasn't over yet as South Africa levelled up from their first shot on target in the 71st minute from Bongani Zungu header from the left side of the six yard box to Zungu who sends a wonderful header into the net following a set-piece but immediately there is a VAR check after the assistant first ruled the goal as offside. Replays show the ball came off the back of Nigeria’s Ighalo before Zungu planted his header. There was a delay of two to three minutes before South Africans can celebrate their goal.

Super Eagles got the lead back few minutes from the final whistle. William Troost-Ekong right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Moses Simon with a cross following a corner.

AFCON 2019 MATCH REPORT : Tunisia vs Ghana (Pen. 5-4)

Tunisia will now face tournament surprise package Madagascar in the quarter final in Al Salaam on Thursday after substitute keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha proved a gamble which eventually payed off when head coach Alaine Giresse brought him on for the penalties, as he saved Caleb Ekuban spot-kick.

Tunisia took the lead in the 72nd minute courtesy of a Taha Khenissi goal, before  Substitute Rami Bedoui scored an own goal at the stroke of full time to change the face of the encounter,sendin the game into extra time after he dipped a header beyond his keeper Hassen Mouez as he deflected Mubarak Wakaso's freekick.

Ghana who had the best scoring chances felt as though they should have gone ahead before the break but had a late first half goal disallowed, after skipper Andre Ayew back-heeled the ball into the net off his brother Jordan’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up.

Ghana had another close chance quarter of an hour into the game when Kasim’s header from a Wakaso corner struck the upright while Andre Ayew had his effort from the rebound saved by the keeper.

Prior to the own goal, Tunisia came close to taking the lead when Khazri cut back a cross from the left for Khenissi to shoot home, but his effort was blocked by Nuhu Kasim.

In the 70th minute, Khazri swung in a corner from the right met by Khenissi again, this time the striker’s effort struck the crossbar.

But two minutes later, his industry paid off when he won the ball on the right before playing Wajdi Kechrida through with the right back’s low cross into the box being turned home beyond Richard Ofori by Khenissi.

With Tunisia’s late own goal, the game was forced into extra time and even then, it was a full contest despite the tired legs. Khazri forced off a great save from Ofori with a strong shot from the edge of the area.

Asamoah Gyan who was a late second half substitute brushed a header his way,with the ball going wide.

Before heading into the penalties with the Tunisian substitute goal keeper Farouk  Ben Mustapha  being the hero of the night saving a spot kick which gave North Africans the advantage.

Eagles should be wary of Tau and Lorch threat - Okocha

Former Super eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha has stated his worries about the damage South Africa duo Percy Tau and Thembinkosi Lorch could cause the Super Eagles defence in Wednesday's Afcon 2019 quarter-final fixture at the Cairo International Stadium with a semi-final ticket up for grasp in the continental showpiece.

Stuart Baxter's side knocked out the host nation Egypt in the Round of 16 match on Saturday, Okocha while speaking  with on SABC FOOTBALL, has picked out match-winner Lorch and Tau as Bafana's threats to the Super Eagles' progress.

"I believe in the team but I'm worried about Lorch and Tau, they look the most dangerous players for Bafana Bafana going forward and they have been instrumental, especially in the last game. Lorch made his debut and he justified his selection, so these are two players I'm worried about". Okocha said.

Speaking about his expectations from the encounter, he also added; 

"It will be a great match and the good thing is that both teams found good form at the right time but of course, as a Nigerian, I will like to see Nigeria go through.

"I will also like to see a good derby match, a match that will represent African football, a classic Afcon match but at the end of the day, let us narrowly win the game."

Nigeria and South Africa have played on 13 occasions, with the Super Eagles winning five while Bafana have won just four, although Baxter's men are unbeaten in the previous five meetings. Both nations most recent meetings was during the qualifying rounds for Afcon 2019, with Gernot Rohr's men claimed a 1-1 draw  last November in Johannesburg. 

[New] WOMEN WORLD CUP FINAL HIGHLIGHTS : USA 2 vs NETHERLANDS 0

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WOMEN WORLD CUP: USA beat Netherland to win fourth world cup

Megan Rapinoe struck a 61st-minute penalty before Rose Lavelle netted a fine solo goal as the United States beat European champions Netherlands 2-0 to become Women's World Cup winners for the fourth time.

Reign FC forward Rapinoe scored the opening goal in the encounter and her sixth goal of the tournament to ensure Jill Ellis' side successfully defended their title at the expense of a Netherlands team that fought bravely to overcome their underdogs tag but ultimately came up short. The goal, which came after a VAR review showed Netherland's Stefanie van der Gragt's foul on Alex Morgan. The spot kick brought Rapinoe level with Morgan and England's Ellen White in the goalscoring stakes, while Netherlands forward Lieke Martens cut a frustrated figure as the Dutch struggled to create chances.

Lavelle provided the best moment of an entertaining clash in Lyon when she carried the ball from the centre circle to the edge of the box before producing a classy finish to her solo run, the quality of which reflected everything fans at this World Cup have come to expect from its dominant team.

[New] AFCON 2019 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS : South Africa 1 vs Egypt 0

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