Scott Murray's Blog, page 25

Copenhagen 4-3 Manchester United: Champions League – as it happened

Manchester United led 2-0 but Marcus Rashford’s red triggered the hosts’ fightback, capped by 17-year-old Roony Bardghji

1 min: A high ball is intercepted by McTominay just inside the United box. He kicks it onto Maguire’s arm. No penalty, and it would have been extremely harsh … and yet, seeing nobody knows anything any more, some referees would surely have given it. Maguire’s arm wasn’t right by his side, put it that way.

Copenhagen get the party started. A fine post-pyro party atmosphere at Parken, a little smoke lingering.

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Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Newcastle United: Champions League – as it happened

Goals from Niclas Füllkrug and Julian Brandt diminished Newcastle’s chances of reaching the knockout stage

2 min: Willock stays down for a worrying few seconds, Hummels having caught him on the ankle. Oh no, not yet another injury? But after a tense beat, he springs back up and is good to go. Eddie Howe breathes again.

1 min: The hosts are immediately on the front foot, Sabitzer failing to control on the edge of the Newcastle box. The visitors then counter, Willock blazing up the left wing only to be stopped unceremoniously by Hummels. A bright start.

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Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Anthony Gordon’s goal, which survived three VAR checks before being awarded, settled a fierce battle at St James’ Park

Arsenal get the ball rolling. Raya immediately launches long towards Havertz, who loses possession. Joelinton sends Gordon away on the counter then makes himself available for the return, but the pair can’t unlock the Arsenal defence. A front-foot start for both teams.

… but before kick-off, there are Remembrance duties to carry out. The Last Post is played before a round of warm applause.

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Manchester United 0-3 Newcastle: Carabao Cup – as it happened

Newcastle swept aside a dismal Manchester United, who went down 3-0 at Old Trafford for the second time in four days

4 min: Martial was near Targett but didn’t touch him. Targett gets up and traipses off sadly. A chance to impress gone in 90 seconds. Almiron will come on in his place.

2 min: Newcastle, on the front foot and with 9,000 travelling fans making the most noise right now, press the hosts hard. Targett stretches for a loose ball in midfield and falls to the ground, clutching his hamstring. He hammers the ground in frustration while prone. This doesn’t look promising at all.

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Belgium 3-2 England: Women’s Nations League – as it happened

England slipped to third in their Nations League group after Tessa Wullaert’s double earned the hosts victory

4 min: Russo is impeded out on the left flank and it’s an early chance for England to send a free kick into the Belgian box. Kelly to swing it in. Evrard punches miles clear with confidence.

3 min: Since you ask, the brass band are playing a version of The Final Countdown by Europe. A strange choice for the first couple of minutes, but each to their own.

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Chelsea 0-2 Brentford: Premier League – as it happened

Brentford won at the Bridge for the third successive season as Chelsea’s woeful home form continued

4 min: Flekken hits a free kick long. Wissa wins a throw out on the right. Jensen flings it long. Brentford win another throw. Jensen flings this one long, too. It drops to Mbeumo, who scuffs his shot. Chelsea counter swiftly through Sterling, who rampages down the left before finding Palmer down the inside-right channel. Palmer tries to return it to Sterling, but his team-mate can’t control. Goal kick. Had Sterling stunned the pass, he’d have been one on one with Flekken, ten yards out.

2 min: A fairly scrappy start, all told.

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Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened

Tottenham went five clear at the top of the Premier League after patiently seeing off Palace

2 min: Romero launches long. Maddison nearly gets on the end of the pass, but Johnstone comes to the edge of his box to claim. Otherwise, a quiet start.

Spurs kick off. It’s a crisp, clear night in south London. A full moon.

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Newcastle 0-1 Borussia Dortmund: Champions League – as it happened

Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha finished off a clinical counter-attack to condemn Newcastle to their first defeat in Group F

Dortmund – who have to do without their injured playmaker Julian Brandt tonight – get the ball rolling. They launch it long. Burn wins a header and earns the first reactive roar of the evening. What a noise!

The teams are out! Newcastle in their famous black and white, Dortmund in their bespoke European tweak to their equally storied neon yellow and black. Fluttering flags spell out HOWAY THE LADS. SJP is jumping. Can Der BVB survive the cauldron in a manner beyond PSG? We’ll find out PDQ. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!

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Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen: Champions League – as it happened

Old Trafford veered from the emotional to the excitable as respects were paid to Sir Bobby Charlton and André Onana saved a last-gasp penalty to secure a vital win

United have faced Copenhagen on three previous occasions. Two of those games were in the 2006-07 Champions League groups: goals from Paul Scholes, John O’Shea and Kieran Richardson gave them a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, but Marcus Allbäck’s goal was enough for the Danes in the reverse fixture. United also beat Copenhagen in the 2020 Europa League quarter-final, a Bruno Fernandes penalty the difference during extra time of a one-off tie.

Manchester United make two changes from the side that won 2-1 at Sheffield United on Saturday night. Sergio Reguilon is back after injury and illness, while Raphael Varane steps up from the bench. Heading the other way: Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof. Harry Maguire keeps his place. Is he winning Erik ten Hag over? Meanwhile Rasmus Hojlund faces the club that nurtured him as a youth player.

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Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

The Gunners stay unbeaten after grabbing a dramatic draw from 2-0 down after defensive errors from both sides

Pochettino emerges from the tunnel and his old Parisian buddy Arteta can’t suppress a big, warm smile as the pair embrace. A lovely moment. Then a silent one as a moment of reflection for the victims in Israel and Gaza is pretty much perfectly observed. Both teams will wear black armbands.

The teams are out! Chelsea in blue, Arsenal in red. It’s tipping down in south-west London. The hosts line up for the pre-match pleasantries wearing waterproof jackets, as though they’re heading out for 18 holes of golf. Might as well whip them off now and get used to the conditions, chaps. Anyway, slick-passing entertainment ahoy!

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