Late Ronaldo winner rescues Real at Getafe

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo crosses himself to celeBrrate his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match Getafe CF vs Real Madrid CF at the Col. Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe on October 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / OSCAR DEL POZO

Cristiano Ronaldo struck his first La Liga goal of the season five minutes from time to save Real Madrid from losing more ground in the title race with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe on Saturday.

Real looked on course for a comfortable three points when Karim Benzema fired the visitors into a deserved half-time lead.

However, Jorge Molina’s equaliser early in the second half and an incredible miss by Ronaldo left the European champions needing a late saviour.

And Ronaldo rode to the rescue and made amends for his earlier profligacy with an accurate volleyed finish into the far corner.

Victory takes Real up to second and within four points of Barcelona, who travel to Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.

Despite being shorn of Gareth Bale, Dani Carvajal and Keylor Navas through injury and illness, Zinedine Zidane surprisingly left Luka Modric and Isco on the bench after their exertions on international duty and with one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

However, that decision backfired as once again Zidane’s men produced a lacklustre performance in La Liga.

Real dropped points at home to Valencia, Levante and Real Betis to allow Barcelona to open up a seven-point gap at the top of the table and even failed to find their top form in seeing off Alaves and Espanyol in recent weeks.

Part of Madrid’s pR0blem has been Ronaldo’s poor league form since returning from an early season five-game suspension.

Ronaldo’s first effort did at least produce a stunning save from Vicente Guaita as he drove Benzema’s neat layoff goalward from the edge of the box.

Guaita was left helpless six minutes before half-time, though, when Benzema latched onto Ronaldo’s pass and kept his composure to fire low into the far corner for his first league goal of the season.

Getafe had barely Thre.atened before levelling in fortunate circumstances 11 minutes into the second half when Molina bundled home Francisco Portillo’s low cross despite appearing to be in an offside position.

The equaliser awoke Real from their second-half slumber and Guaita produced another great double save to block at Ronaldo’s feet before tipping Marcelo’s follow-up effort over.

Ronaldo drilled a free-kick just wide, but his embarrassing moment was still to come 17 minutes from time.

With the goal at his mercy as the ball rebounded into his path from a free-kick, the Portuguese somehow skewed wide at the far post.

Zidane threw on Isco, Theo Hernandez and Borja Mayoral from the bench in the search for a winner.

And it was Isco who provided the inspiration as his through ball released Ronaldo to finally break his duck in La Liga for the season by firing into the far corner.

Getafe could still have salvaged a point in stoppage time when Mehdi Lacen’s shot flew inches over with Real ‘keeper Kiko Casilla stranded.

Real jump into second thanks to Sevilla’s 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao earlier on Saturday as Mikel Vesga got the only goal two minutes before half-time.

Zaha inspires Palace to Chelsea win

Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta (L) vies with Crystal Palace's Ivorian striker Wilfried Zaha during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park in south London on October 14, 2017 / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON 

Wilfried Zaha returned to inspire bottom club Crystal Palace to their first win and first goals of the Premier League campaign with a shock 2-1 defeat of champions Chelsea on Saturday.

Hodgson’s side finally broke their seven-game goal drought when Yohan Cabaye’s 11th-minute shot deflected in off Cesar Azpilicueta, prompting a huge outpouring of relief around Selhurst Park.

Tiemoue Bakayoko levelled with an 18th-minute header but Zaha — back in the side for the first time since injuring his knee in the opening-day defeat to Huddersfield — secured the victory with the second on the stroke of half-time.

Palace remain rooted at the foot of the table despite this notable win but Hodgson’s side were handed a much-needed boost by a victory that revived memories of last season’s dramatic survival bid.

For Chelsea, this was an early blow in their efforts to defend their Premier League title.

Having gone into the international break on the back of a home defeat to leaders Manchester City, a second loss leaves them already trailing Pep Guardiola’s side by nine points after just eight matches.

Palace manager Hodgson insisted he had seen positive signs from his players on the training pitch during the international break despite the dismal run of early-season form.

And the home side’s approach during the opening stages of the games suggested the manager had done a good job in restoring confidence to a side that has endured the worst start in Premier League history.

It helped that Zaha was back in the ranks and partnering Andros Townsend up front, the winger quickly demonstrating he had the capacity to worry the Chelsea backline.

He was not alone in that as Hodgson’s side quickly pressed the reigning champions back on their heels, particularly when Patrick van Aanholt found space on the left to deliver a testing low cross.

The breakthrough, though, came from the other flank after James McArthur had sent Townsend heading towards the byline

– Palace fortune –
The England international pulled the ball back towards Cabaye and while there was a huge amount of luck in the way the ball bounced off the Frenchman, against David Luiz, and then again off Cabaye, before deflecting past Thibaut Courtois via a hefty deflection from Cesar Azpilicueta, Hodgson’s side were grateful for any fortune that came their way.

It was the kind of goal that in normal circumstances would be quickly forgotten, but the reaction from within Selhurst Park confirmed the strike’s significance.

Palace, though, are not in desperate trouble for nothing and they quickly demonstrated the side of their game that has been far more prominent this season when they gifted Chelsea a route back into the match.

Tiemoue Bakayoko produced a good downward header from Cesc Fabregas’s corner but the way the French international was allowed to drift away from marker Van Aanholt was frustrating for Hodgson.

Chelsea may have been back in the game but Antonio Conte’s side were far from convincing.

Alvaro Morata was sidelined with a hamstring injury and deputy Michy Batshuayi struggled to make an impression as the focal point of the Blues At-tack.

And while Fabregas was Chelsea’s most Thre.atening player when he advanced from central midfield, it was clear the industry of N’Golo Kante — another hamstring casualty — was missed.

Palace could sense they had an opportunity to claim a morale-boosting win and restored their lead immediately before half-time after Mamadou Sakho stepped up from the backline to dispossess Willian and release Zaha inside the Chelsea box.

The Ivorian did the rest, moving past Azpilicueta and placing a right-footed shot across Courtois and inside the far post.

Chelsea dominated the second half with Fabregas hitting the bar and Pedro, Charly Musonda and Marcos Alonso coming close but Palace defended impressively to hold on to their advantage.

Man City crush Stoke with magnificent seven, Palace stun Chelsea

Stoke City's Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher reacts as Manchester City players celeBrrate their victory at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY

Manchester City maintained their blistering start to the season as the Premier League leaders demolished Stoke 7-2, while champions Chelsea crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Crystal Palace on Saturday.

With second placed Manchester United settling for a drab stalemate at Anfield earlier in the day, it was their Manchester rivals who provided the thrills as City moved two points clear at the top.

Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring side struck three times in the first 27 minutes at Eastlands, securing their sixth successive league win in swashbuckling style.

City took the lead through Gabriel Jesus in the 17th minute and Raheem Sterling doubled the advantage two minutes later with a tap-in that capped a flowing move.

David Silva got City’s third with a simple finish after another incisive raid in the 27th minute.

Stoke’s Mame Biram Diouf reduced the deficit with a deflected effort in the 44th minute and City’s defence was breached for just the fourth time in the league this season when Kyle Walker scored an own goal two minutes after the interval.

But Jesus’s second goal in the 55th minute restored order and his compatriot Fernandinho put the result beyond doubt five minutes later.

City reached six goals in a game for the second time this season as Leroy Sane netted in the 62nd minute.

Bernando Silva’s first City strike, in the 78th minute, made it 24 goals in his team’s last five league games.

Bottom of the table Palace had lost their opening seven league games without scoring a goal, the worst start to a season in English top-flight history.

But stunningly it was Chelsea who were the victims as they finally ended that goal drought at Selhurst Park.

Palace took the lead in the 11th minute when Yohan Cabaye’s effort was deflected in for an own goal by Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta.

Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised for Chelsea seven minutes later as the France midfielder headed his first Premier League goal from a Cesc Fabregas corner.

However, Chelsea were already without injured duo Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante and they suffered another setback when Victor Moses limped off in the first half.

There was even worse to come for Chelsea as Wilfried Zaha restored Palace’s lead with a fine curling strike in first half stoppage-time.

Infuriated
Fabregas hit the crossbar but Chelsea were unable to avoid a second successive league defeat after their damaging 1-0 loss to Manchester City before the international break.

Antonio Conte’s fouth placed side, beaten three times this term, are now nine points behind City.

At Anfield, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was left infuriated by United boss Jose Mourinho’s ultra-cautious game-plan.

Mourinho’s team had just six touches in Liverpool’s penalty area as United goalkeeper David De Gea made a superb save from Joel Matip to maintain the visitors’ unbeaten start to the season.

Klopp’s spluttering side have only one win in eight games in all competitions.

“I think Man United came here for the point and they got it,” Klopp moaned.

“I’m sure if we played like this, you could not do this at Liverpool. Obviously for Man United it is OK.”

Inevitably, Mourinho had no regrets, saying: “Their midfield today was stronger than my midfield. I had (Ander) Herrera and (Nemanja) Matic and nobody on the bench to make it different.

“The second half was a bit of chess, but my opponent didn’t open the door for me to win the game.”

Tottenham finally won for the first time at Wembley in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had failed to win their first three league games since moving into Wembley while White Hart Lane is redeveloped, but Christian Eriksen’s deft 47th minute finish ended that frustrating streak.

Chris Wood’s 85th minute equaliser rescued Burnley in their 1-1 draw against 10-man West Ham at Turf Moor.

Michail Antonio gave West Ham the lead in the 19th minute, but Hammers striker Andy Carroll was sent off after catching Mee with an elbow less than two minutes after being booked for the same offence.

Swansea climbed out of the relegation zone as Tammy ABrraham’s Brrace sealed a 2-0 win against Huddersfield.

ABrraham put Swansea in front three minutes before half-time at the Liberty Stadium and the on-loan Chelsea forward struck again with his fifth goal of the season in the 48th minute.

Bayern thrash Freiburg on Heynckes return

Freiburg's German forward Janik Haberer (L) and Bayern Munich's German midfielder Joshua Kimmich vie for the ball during the German First division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs SC Freiburg in Munich, southern Germany, on October 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Christof STACHE

Jupp Heynckes made a perfect start to his fourth spell as Bayern Munich coach with a 5-0 thrashing of Freiburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

An own goal from Julian Schuster put Bayern in front on seven minutes, and a flying header from Kingsley Coman doubled the lead shortly before half-time.

A fine strike from Thiago Alcantara put the reigning champions 3-0 up on 63 minutes, just moments after they had been denied a penalty by VAR. Further goals from R0bert Lewandowski and Joshua Kimmich completed a perfect start to Heynckes’ fourth reign.

The win saw Bayern move within two points of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga table, before the league leaders’ match against RB Leipzig later on Saturday.

Heynckes’ men are two points clear of third-placed Hoffenheim, who twice threw away the lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Augsburg.

After Michael Gregoritsch had cancelled out Benjamin Huebner’s opener 15 minutes from time, Mark Uth restored the lead with a curling strike into the top corner for Hoffenheim.

Augsburg, though, equalised once again in the 89th minute, with Kevin Vogt deflecting a Jeffrey Gouweleeuw cross into his own net.

At the other end of the table, Hamburg could celeBrrate scoring their first goal since August despite losing 3-2 to Mainz.

Alexandru Maxim’s second-minute opener for Mainz was quickly cancelled out by Walace, the Brrazilian’s equaliser ending a five-game goal drought for Hamburg.

Stefan Bell restored the lead shortly after half-time, however, before a Christian Mathenia error allowed Danny Latza to add a third. A late penalty from Sejad Salihovic was not enough for Hamburg to avoid defeat.

Elsewhere, disciplinary mistakes saw Hertha Berlin suffer a 2-0 defeat by Schalke 04.

Genki Haraguchi was sent off before half-time, while Vladimir Darida conceded a penalty after the break. Leon Goretzka scored from the spot, before Guido Burgstaller added a second on 78 minutes.

Schalke moved up to fifth, after Hanover 96 were defeated 2-1 by a late Ante Rebic winner against Eintracht Frankfurt.

A Salif Sane header had cancelled out Sebastien Haller’s early goal in the first half, but Rebic struck on 90 minutes to inflict a first home defeat on Hanover this season.

Man Utd got point they came for, says Klopp

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Manchester United got the point they came for at Anfield on Saturday after a dour 0-0 Premier League draw.

Free-scoring United came into the match second behind Manchester City at the top of the league only on goal difference but Jose Mourinho set out his team to frustrate the home side’s At-tackers and had only one shot on target.

“Manchester United came here for a point and got it,” said Klopp, whose side went close either side of half-time through Joel Matip and Emre Can.

“For sure you could not play this way at Liverpool but it’s OK for Manchester United,” he added.

Mourinho said his team had good control in the first half.

“The opposition was good today, but we played our game,” said Mourinho. “In the first half we had a couple of very good chances and good control of the game.

“In the second half (Nemanja) Matic tired and I had no solutions on the bench. I tried with my substitutions to make us more dynamic in At-tack, but in reality we lost power and energy and control in midfield.”

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have now won just once in eight matches, but this was a brighter showing on a warm Merseyside afternoon.

The second successive goalless draw between the teams at Anfield preserved United’s seven-point advantage over Liverpool in the table.

Romance Sc.am: Two Nigerian nationals arrested in Bangkok for posing as rich Europeans to defraud women on social media (photos)

hehehehe………Two Nigerian nationals were arrested by The Immigration Bureau (IB) on Thursday, in Bangkok for allegedly running romance Sc.ams.

The suspects — Lawrence Osita Nwaenyi, 32, and Peter Stanley Chukwuebuka, 33, were arrested at a C0ndominium in Prawet district.

According to IB acting commissioner Suthipong Wongpin, the duo allegedly used social media and chat programmes to trick unsuspecting women into wiring money to them.

Pol Lt Gen Suthipong Wongpin said the suspects had opened Facebook pages using false identities. They posed as rich Europeans and approached and befriended female Facebook users.

If the women agreed to a chat, the suspects would make romantic overtures and express interest in investing in businesses with the victims.

In most cases, the IB acting commissioner said, the suspects told the victims they had gifts for them, sending them photoshopped pictures to make the Sc.am look believable.

Other gang members would then call the victims, pretending to be either customs or embassy officials, to seek a fee for the delivery of gifts.
Many victims fell for the trick and wired money to the suspects’ accounts.

The gang ceased contact with victims who became suspicious and would move on to find other people to hoodwink online.

Pol Lt Gen Suthipong said the two Nigerians spent most of their day working on the computer in their rented condo.

Police raided the room and caught the men red-handed as they were communicating with their victims, using chatting apps.

Police have charged Mr Osita with staying illegally in the kingdom and Mr Chukwuebuka with overstaying his visa.

They are reviewing evidence gathered from the condo to identify the victims, who will be interviewed later.

-Bangkok Post

MY FRIEND IS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS CAKE