Philippa Kaur

WHEN your Champions League hopes are fading away it’s handy to have a THREE TIMES Champions League winner to rely on.Unai Emery’s Villa were on the brink of running up the white flag on their chances of finishing in the top five as they trailed to Enzo Fernandez’s early opener.Marcus Rashford twice turned provider as Marco Asensio scored his first goals for Aston VillaCredit: ReutersThe Spaniard netted a dramatic winner infront of the Holte End and even used Rashford’s trademark celebrationCredit: GettyEnzo Fernandez gave Chelsea an early lead at Villa ParkCredit: GettyThe Argentine pounced following good work from Pedro NetoCredit: GettyBut Emery was able to get out of jail thanks to his two January jokers – and a choker in the Chelsea goal!He sent on Marcus Rashford at half-time and the on-loan Manchester United forward set up fellow January signing Marco Asensio twice for a dramatic second half double.The former Real Madrid man scrambled the ball home from a Rashford cross just before the hour to haul Villa level.Then, one minute from the end, he got on the end of another Rashford delivery to hook the ball towards goal.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLIt should have been a bread-and-butter save for Filip Jorgensen but somehow the blundering Dane let the ball squirm through his gloves to gift Villa all three points.Chelsea may have splurged a billion on signings in the Todd Boehly era – but their failure to sign a world class No.1 could cost them a Champions League place next season.Villa moved to within a point of the Blues who could and should have had this game in the bag.But in the end, their ambition in the January transfer market paid off as loan signings Rashford and Asensio showed their class to pull them through.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEnzo Maresca sprang a surprise with his team selection as he moved Reece James into a midfield three beside Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.But it was his decision to play Pedro Neto as his lone striker which raised eyebrows.Marco Asensio scores a brilliant flicked goal in Real Madrid training It was a major change of position for the Portuguese winger.However, the little guy loved it and had Villa’s back four chasing shadows as he ran them ragged from the start.He wriggled free in the Villa penalty area after three minutes but his shot was desperately blocked by Tyrone Mings who slid in to block.Chelsea suffered an early blow when Trevoh Chalobah hobbled off clutching his lower back following a clash with Asensio and had to be replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo. However, Villa were sleepwalking into this crunch clash and they fell behind six minutes later after some more Neto magic.This time the winger drifted out to more familiar territory wide on the right and fronted Ian Maatsen up with the ball at his feet.A sudden shimmy and burst of acceleration saw him skin the Dutchman on the outside to get in behind the Villa defence.And when he took out Martinez and Mings with a low cut back, Enzo Fernandez came steaming in to knock the ball into the empty net from close range for his fourth goal of the season.Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was forced off injured early in the contestCredit: ReutersFilip Jorgensen had a game to forget in the Chelsea goalCredit: GettyIt was knife-through-butter stuff for Chelsea who were calling all the early shots.Mings had to block Neto who almost wriggled through on goal again.Then Palmer picked out Fernandez’s brilliant late run between Cash and Konsa, only for the Argentine midfielder to glance his header wide when he should have hit the target at least.It took Villa almost 20 minutes to show any threat at all as Jorgensen reacted instinctively to block Ollie Watkins’ shot with his legs.Two minutes later it was Marc Cucarella’s turn to frustrate Watkins when he blocked his attempt on goal.Neto seemed to be everywhere and the wee man left towering Mings in a heap as he snapped at his ankles.Asensio bundled in Rashford’s cross to equalise early in the second halfCredit: EPAChelsea stars were left devastated after throwing away another leadCredit: GettyVilla were ragged and when Matty Cash stumbled over the ball Christopher Nkunku rolled the ball to Fernandez who curled his shot over Martinez and onto the roof of the Villa net.Watkins could only get an outstretched toe to Tielemans’s low cross and Jorgensen saved the day with his outstretched right boot.Palmer’s shot deflected off Mings to ripple the side net before Martinez got down low to smother Malo Gusto’s shot.Reece James then gave the ball away to Watkins who blasted the ball into the side net from a tight angle.Chelsea were well worth their half-time lead and Villa needed a shot in the arm.Emery turned to his bench to provide it as he sent on Rashford for Jacob Ramsey to a huge roar of approval from Villa fans.Boy, how it paid off!Rash hadn’t even been on the park for 15 minutes before he made a major impact, setting up Villa’s equaliser to send the Holte End wild.But it took a VAR check for offside before bedlam broke out.Cash’s cross from the right was aimed towards the back post where Rashford was lurking.Gusto desperately tried to clear the dropping ball but could only get a toe to it and Rashford did brilliantly to retrieve a seemingly lost cause.He managed to dig the ball back across goal and, though it fell behind Asensio, the Spaniard somehow managed to claw the ball back and screw it across the line. Standside assistant ref Stuart Burt flagged for offside.But after a lengthy wait, VAR Paul Tierney at Stockley Park decided Fernandez had played Rashford onside.Villa had to replace Mings with Lamare Bogarde on the hour after the England defender picked up another knee knock.And as the game became heated there were bookings for Fernandez and Nkunku of Chelsea and Villa’s McGinn.Chelsea thought they were going to grab a winner when Caicedo sent Palmer through on Martinez – especially when the ‘keeper lost his footing.But Palmer slipped too and when he finally got his shot off Konsa had raced back to block on the line.That turned out to be a major turning point as Asensio snatched that late winner.READ MORE SUN STORIESRashford worked a short corner with Tielemans and crossed for Asensio to test Jorgensen.Unfortunately for Chelsea, the keeper spectacularly flunked it! 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DANIEL MUNOZ savoured a moment of history for Crystal Palace as they sunk Fulham – and put a halt on their opponents’ European dreams.The energetic Colombian, a product of the hard streets of Medellin, has adapted excellently to life in England since moving over last summer to South London.Daniel Munoz sealed another win on the road for PalaceCredit: PAThe Colombian doubled the Eagles’ lead at Craven CottageCredit: GettyJoachim Andersen netted an unfortunate own goal to give Palace a first half leadCredit: GettyAnd the highlight of his £8million move from Belgian side Genk was a tremendous turn-and-finish that bamboozled poor Fulham defender Calvin Bassey in a feisty London derby.The Eagles – who benefited in the first half from an own goal scored by ex-player Joachim Andersen – celebrated a FOURTH successive top-flight away victory.That had never happened before in 119 years and ironically all of the results have been by 2-0 scorelines.It also reminded Fulham – who had been hoping to use their passports next season for possible European competition – that they need to discover some form of consistency if they wish to stay in the top half.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLOn an unseasonably mild February afternoon in West London, referee Robert Jones chose to take a lenient approach to any full-blooded tackles or niggly challenges.This greatly annoyed Fulham fans, particularly when Chris Richards swiped down home favourite Emile Smith Rowe and no foul was called, allowing Palace to instigate an attack.And there was the time when Will Hughes collided with Bassey but play was permitted to continue.At times, Fulham boss Marco Silva could be seen shaking his head in disbelief that the cards had remained in the ref’s pocket.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnger towards the official intensified when Palace took the lead on 37 minutes from a Hughes corner, which was bundled in off the side of Andersen’s head, following pressure from Maxence Lacroix in front.It might have been scored in messy fashion but the away fans did not care one jot.Fulham boss Marco Silva regrets ‘cruel’ loss to Man Utd Calls from a Fulham perspective that there had been a push as the corner came over were ignored.And the fact the Danish defender wore Palace colours up until last August’s £30million switch was not lost on anybody.”You’re not fit to referee” was one of the few chants that could be repeated before the watershed.Loud boos echoed around this old arena by the river and Jones was not exactly given a warm reception as he walked off at half-time.It had been a first half of few chances, one that was really devoid of any top-class quality, but ever-present goalkeeper Bernd Leno did pull off two decent saves from Eberechi Eze.Munoz’s goal gave Palace a fifth-consecutive away win in all competitionsCredit: GettyJean-Philippe Mateta had a goal disallowed for offsideCredit: GettyTen minutes into the second half, Palace talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta thought he had scored his 12th league goal this term when he thumped home, latching onto a clever backheel by Eze.But VAR technicians had other ideas and though it was a fractional call, the Frenchman’s trademark booting of the corner flag was all in vain.In the build-up, Smith Rowe had collapsed to the floor in the centre circle due to a calf problem – because it was not a head injury, the visitors did not have to stop play.And soon the former Arsenal midfielder was hobbling off to the treatment room.It was Munoz’s second goal of the season since arriving from GenkCredit: ReutersLacroix was a clear threat for Palace at set-pieces and his header on 61 minutes required a magnificent reflex save from Leno, who has played every Premier League minute this season.Five minutes later and Palace had the second goal that they deserved, the architect being the exceptional Mateta who outrageously glided past several Fulham players on a quick, long-busting counter-attack.READ MORE SUN STORIESMunoz completely fooled with Bassey with his quick feet and then rifled home his shot from a tight angle – his fourth goal for the club.It was a result that edges Palace further away from the drop zone and is the first time they have won consecutive top-flight away London derbies in the same season since beating Wimbledon and Tottenham in 1997-98. More

A THIRD-DIVISION game in Germany has been suspended after wild scenes both on and off the field.Rostock’s 3. Liga showdown with Dynamo Dresden was halted for almost half an hour as riot police struggled to gain control.Police and fans clashed during a German third-division match on SaturdayCredit: GettyFans of both Rostock and Dresden were seen sending fireworks into each other’s sectionsCredit: GettyFans also clashed with police during the bad-tempered gameCredit: GettyPlay was suspended for almost half an hour as riot police battled to regain controlCredit: GettyNils Froling gave Rostock an early lead in the contest, with Dresden arriving chasing an automatic promotion spot.But it was events off the field which derailed the bad-tempered clash at the Ostseestadion.During halftime, Dresden fans unveiled a banner which led to police heading into the visiting supporters, per Welt. Various videos circulating on social media showed fireworks being fired at riot police from the away section. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLPolice stood firm as various pyrotechnics were sent their way. Fans from both teams then began sending pyrotechnics towards each other on the terraces.Dynamo captain Stefan Kutschke attempted to calm proceedings, only for a brawl to break out on the field. Coaches and players from both sides were involved in the fracas, with the game in total suspended for 28 minutes.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPleas were made over the tannoy for fans to stop firing fireworks into their respective sections. And the game was even threatened with abandonment if the crowd continued. Dynamo Dresden fans put on crazy firework display outside team hotel ahead of first match back after quarantineTempers eventually cooled enough to resume the game, with Rostock holding on for a 1-0 victory.The result leaves Dresden second in the table, three points behind leaders Cottbus.Rostock meanwhile are now 7th and within just four points of the playoff spot. Police in the city were stretched on Saturday due to huge demonstrations taking place in Rostock city centre.Elections are taking place in Germany on Sunday, with an AfD rally and a counter-demonstration being held ahead of the polls. More

DJED SPENCE’S case for a possible England call-up is growing stronger by the week.The versatile defender, 24, has been Spurs’ form player over their difficult, injury-ravaged last few months, handling Mo Salah brilliantly in the Carabao Cup in January.Brennan Johnson was hero for Spurs – scoring twice to down Ipswich TownCredit: ReutersJohnson opened the scoring for the away sideCredit: RexIt has led to talk of possible inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad.And if the German was watching this performance, which saw Spence net his first Premier League goal to kill off Ipswich’s resistance, he may have found it quite persuasive.Ange Postecoglou, who talked up Spence’s credentials on Friday, saw his side race into a 2-0 lead thanks to a Brennan Johnson double.But given his team’s habit of chucking away leads, the fear was it would happen when Omari Hutchinson curled home before the break.Read more football newsYet in the end England hopeful Spence’s deflected effort ensured a third straight league victory for Spurs, before Dejan Kulusevski’s stunner added some gloss to the scoreline.Meanwhile Kieran McKenna’s Town are now five points adrift in the relegation zone after yet another home humbling.It is now four straight home defeats for the Tractor Boys with 14 goals shipped in the process, leaving their survival prospects looking bleak.Tottenham… or Spurs, or Tottenham Hotspur, whatever the club wishes to be called… can be a curious team under Postecoglou.Most read in FootballThey seem to live in ‘moments’ – modern-day football-speak for spells in games – more than most sides.Emotional ex-Tottenham star Nabil Bentaleb, 30, scores just four minutes into return after suffering cardiac arrestAnd those moments can shift dramatically from exhilarating ones to desperate ones and back again in any game, against any opposition.They survived a bad one in the opening six minutes as Ipswich livewire striker Liam Delap ripped them apart.Delap raced clear and had a shot well-saved by Guglielmo Vicario inside the first 30 seconds.Jaden Philogene’s rebound strike would have gone in had it not hit an offside Hutchinson near the line.Delap then breezed past Archie Gray, restored to the heart of Spurs’ backline in Ben Davies’ absence, and prodded a shot just wide of the far post.Spurs’ scare from the ex-Manchester City man continued when he flicked Kalvin Phillips’ free-kick onto the post before it was hacked away.But then came a moment of devastating brilliance from Postecoglou’s side.Gray, deployed at right centre-back with Kevin Danso switched to the left, lofted an inch-perfect ball over the top to Son Heung-min.Omari Hutchinson got the home team back in it in the first haldCredit: AFPHowever, Djed Spence killed off all hope of a comebackCredit: RexThe South Korean still had plenty to do and proceeded to fool Ben Godfrey with a clever step-over, before fizzing the ball across the six-yard area for Johnson to convert.Johnson and Son’s double act was repeated on 26 minutes as Rodrigo Bentancur sent the latter clear down the left.Son cut in and was afforded an age to pick out Wales star Johnson, back in the starting line-up for the first time since January’s win at Tamworth due to a calf issue, to slot home.In between the two clinical strikes, Danso had pulled off an audacious Cruyff-turn to get himself out of trouble when last man, to the delight of the travelling fans.The home supporters, meanwhile, had gone quiet, but their enthusiasm was reignited when their side grabbed one back out of nothing – and in style.Phillips played the ball out to former Spurs kid Jack Clarke, whose first-time ball was met with a beautiful, first-time strike from Hutchinson that found the corner.Dejan Kulusevski put the gloss on a fine away performance by SpursCredit: GettyKulusevski celebrates scoring his side’s fourth goalCredit: PALuke Woolfenden, on for Godfrey at half-time, thought he had levelled around the hour mark but he had wandered offside when heading in from close range.READ MORE SUN STORIESFormer Norwich man James Maddison was booed every time he touched the ball but it was his dancing feet which teed up Spence to find the net via Woolfenden’s hefty deflection.If the game was not up then, it certainly was seven minutes later when Kulusevski curled in off the post before roaring in relieved celebration. More