Football

JORGEN STRAND LARSEN’S 85th-minute winner at Portman Road almost certainly sent Ipswich Town back to the Championship and ended this season’s relegation battle.The Tractor Boys had hoped for a second win in four days to reduce the gap to their visitors to six points when Liam Delap prodded them into an early lead.Jorgen Strand Larsen scored the decisive winner for Wolves against IpswichCredit: GettyPablo Sarabia climbed off the bench to score and assistCredit: GettyBut just as it has so many times this season, Kieran McKenna’s side failed to hold onto a lead at Portman Road, conceding twice in the final 20 minutes to Pablo Sarabia and then Strand Larsen.In the process, the gap between the sides became a yawning chasm of 12 points that is surely unbridgeable.Wolves’ victory also means that Southampton will be relegated if they fail to win at Tottenham on Sunday.The question coming into the game was whether it could possibly live up to December’s reverse fixture at Molineux and its gloriously chaotic ending which shaped the relegation battle in its own way.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIpswich’s injury-time winner provoked a furious Wolves reaction at the final whistle which saw defender Rayan Ait-Nouri sent off and Matheus Cunha later banned for taking the spectacles off an Ipswich staff member.Even more dramatically, Gary O’Neil lost his job as Wolves boss 24 hours later, paving the way for Vitor Pereira to step in and oversee a Wolves revival which had them nine points ahead of Ipswich at kick-off time in Suffolk.There was plenty of passion cascading down from the sun-kissed stands at Portman Road, fuelled by Wednesday’s surprise by welcome victory at Bournemouth which kept alive Ipswich’s slim hopes of a miraculous escape.Yet while the Tractor Boys sang, it was the visitors who made the early chances.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKFirst, Joao Gomes fed Jean-Ricner Bellegarde who cut inside but lost his cool and lifted his shot wastefully over the Ipswich bar.Gomes was involved again in the 10th minute, slipping the ball to Bellegarde whose through ball invited Strand Larsen to shoot. Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer calmly closed down the angle and beat away the Norway striker’s effort.From the resulting Ait-Nouri corner, Toti sent in a looping header which Palmer carefully tipped over.The importance of Palmer’s interventions was seen after 16 minutes when Ipswich took the lead, sending the Portman Road faithful into raptures.Following a corner that was partially cleared, Axel Tuanzebe sent over a diagonal cross. Dara O’Shea, who had stayed up, rose above Ait-Nouri and headed the ball across the six-yard area. Naturally enough, it was Delap who reacted quickest to stab the ball beyond Wolves keeper Jose Sa.The Ipswich fans know only too well this season that hope can be the most dangerous emotion in football.Their side has surrendered too many leads and conceded too many late goals, especially at Portman Road, for a 1-0 lead ever to be considered safe.Scoring after 16 minutes only extends that agony and Wolves might have equalised within five minutes had Toti not missed his kick under pressure from O’Shea when no more than five yards out.The home side survived an even bigger scare eight minutes before the interval when Palmer, who has been a secure presence since being brought in from West Brom in January, almost committed a howler that would have scarred him forever.Under no pressure, the Ipswich keeper tried to control a simple back-pass from Cameron Burgess, but allowed the ball to pass under his boot.In desperation, Palmer scrambled back to his line and clawed the ball away just before it entered the net.In doing so, he conceded an indirect free-kick on the six-yard line which Ipswich defended by placing all 11 players on the goal-kick and rushing out en masse to block Emmanuel Agbadou’s shot.Wolves manager Pereira might have wondered why Palmer was not sent off when his action was a deliberately denying a goal-scoring opportunity by handling when he wasn’t allowed to do so without committing an offence.The palpable second-half tension in the Portman Road air rose further when the impressive Gomes created space for a shot in the 50th minute and sent it thudding against the Ipswich post.Just before the hour with Wolves pressing for the equaliser, the Ipswich defenders appeared to be frozen between playing the ball out of their area and hacking the ball to safety.They fell in between both options and were grateful in the end that an almighty goalmouth scramble somehow ended in a goal-kick.The Ipswich desperation did at least deny Wolves space for the most part. That was until 17 minutes from time.Ait Nouri had just seen his shot saved by Palmer when Strand Larsen ran beyond the home defence. He swivelled and picked out Sarabia who tried initially to find fellow substitute Rodrigo Gomes, but when that pass was blocked, he moved the ball to one side and whipped a low shot into the bottom corner.Sarabia then turned provider five minutes before the end of normal time, turning Andre’s cross-field ball into the path of Strand Larsen to steer home the goal that all but guarantees Wolves another season in the Premier League.Read More on The SunToday’s defeat means the Tractor Boys have now lost six home games in a row, a stat not seen at the club since 1963.They have also given away an unforgivable 23 points from winning positions.THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

FANS called for Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer to be sent off after he used his hands to clear a back-pass off the line. But a little-known rule saved him from being booked for his shocking blunder, with Ipswich 1-0 up on Wolves at the time.Fans called for Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer to be sent off after he used his hands to clear a back-pass off the lineReferee Anthony Taylor immediately awarded an indirect free-kick to Wolves inside the six-yard boxIpswich passed the ball back to Palmer but he let the ball run through his legs.It was about to roll over the line before the stopper chased back and scooped it up with his hands.Referee Anthony Taylor immediately awarded an indirect free-kick to Wolves inside the six-yard box.All 11 Ipswich player gathered across the line in unison, as seven Wolves stars stood inside the box on top of the ball. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut Wolves had to pass the ball before shooting, which allowed the relegation-threatened home side to clear.Wolves touched the free-kick to Emmanuel Agbadou who belted it from six yards but Sam Morsy was out quickly to block it away.However, fans were outraged and confused as to why Palmer hadn’t been sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.But the rules clearly show that it’s not a bookable offence.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe International Football Association Board (IFAB) who set the laws of the game state if a goalkeeper handles a backpass “an indirect free kick is awarded and no card is shown.”The Football Association’s guidance is also clear: “If the goalkeeper handles the ball inside their penalty area when not permitted to do so, an indirect free kick is awarded but there is no disciplinary sanction.”BBC pundit names England’s long-term successor to Harry Kane after Premier League star’s ‘bullying’ performance Liam Delap opened the scoring inside 16 minutes after a lengthly VAR check.THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

MANCHESTER UNITED wonderkid JJ Gabriel made history as the Under-18s thrashed rivals Leeds.During the clash in the English Under-18 Premier League, the young Red Devils produced a superb display.JJ Gabriel made history by becoming the youngest player for Man Utd’s Under-18sCredit: MuTVGabriel, right, scored a brace off the bench in the 13-1 thrashingCredit: MuTVStriker Viktor Musa lead the team by scoring a first-half double hat-trickCredit: GettyAdam Lawrence’s team roared into a 9-0 lead before half-time led by a sensational double hat-trick from 18-year-old Victor Musa.Musa, who was wearing the captain’s armband for the clash, led by example as he scored Man Utd’s first five goals, including his first hat-trick being completed in 14 minutes.There was also a hat-trick for 17-year-old midfielder Jim Thwaites in the first half before Musa notched his sixth goal in injury time.After the break, a goal from James Bailey put them 10-0 up before Kenneth Mensah managed a consolation reply from the visitors. READ MORE ON MAN UTDBut there was still more to come from Lawrence’s team, with defender Dan Armer grabbing a goal of his own before U14 star Gabriel was brought on to make his debut.Gabriel has been touted as one of the most talented stars in the Red Devils academy and made history today by becoming the youngest-ever star to play for the club’s Under-18s.After coming in the 65th minute he did not look out of place before cooly slotting a shot past the goalkeeper in the 89th minute.He then added a second on his left foot two minutes later after taking the ball down on his right outside the box, dribbling past two Leeds defenders and rolling the ball into the bottom corner.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordIt was an emphatic response from the Carrington squad after a disappointing penalty shootout exit in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals against Aston Villa.The win also kept their title hopes alive, closing the gap to Manchester City Under-18s to five points with a game in hand.What happened to these five forgotten Manchester United wonderkidsGabriel celebrated his 14th birthday in October.While playing with the Under-16s last summer, he won the Most Valuable Player award at a pre-season tournament in Hong Kong after scoring two and assisting another two goals.He has already been snapped up by Nike, signing a deal with the sportswear giant.And on Instagram he shares pictures with the likes of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son Cristiano Jr, 14.Gabriel has been on the books at Old Trafford since 2021.Gabriel won an MVP award in the Hong Kong tournament last summerCredit: InstagramHe has shared pictures alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s sonCredit: Instagram More

ARSENAL have both eyes on their mid-week tie with Real Madrid and were unable to pick up three points in the Premier League to give them momentum in Europe.The Gunners played out at 1-1 draw against Everton at Goodison Park in what, for some players, seemed like more of a fitness test for the Champions League than anything else.Leandro Trossard scored the opening goalCredit: GettyEverton’s Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the spotCredit: GettyMyles Lewis-Skelly gave away the penalty in a moment of rash defendingCredit: PALeandro Trossard opened the scoring with a fired finish into the bottom corner that gave Jordan Pickford no chance.But a defensive error from young Myles Lewis-Skelly in the second-half gifted the Toffees a penalty that was dispatched by Iliman Ndiaye.Arsenal are now 11 points behind Liverpool and the title race is dead and buried, but they will be hoping they can save their own lives, and season, on Tuesday night when Los Blancos visit the North London.Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Hall rated each Arsenal player’s performance…READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDavid Raya – 5Made a rare mistake at the start of the second half when he tried to use his feet on the edge of the box.Fortunately for him, he was saved by his defenders.Made a few good saves, but was sent the complete wrong way by Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty.Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesMyles Lewis-Skelly – 4The newly-promoted England international looks like a seasoned pro 99 per cent of the time, far wiser than his age of 18. Most read in FootballBut for that one per cent, he seems to just completely lose his mind and show that he’s not as experienced as you first thought.The teenager wrestled with Jack Harrison on the edge of the box and brought down the winger to give Ndiaye the chance to level the scores from the spot.There will be much conversation as to whether the penalty was soft or not, but the point stands that Lewis-Skelly gave the referee yet another decision to make.Tried to make up for his mistakes with a sensational solo run from deep inside his own half right until he was fouled on the edge of the Everton box. Declan Rice stung the hands of Pickford with the resulting free-kick. Myles Lewis-Skelly tripped Jack Harrison to give away a penalty that gave Everton the equaliserCredit: GettyJakub Kiwior – 8There was a lot of pressure on the Polish centre-half to perform in only his third Premier League start of the season, given the likelihood of his involvement against Real Madrid on Tuesday.He often comes in for criticism, but this was a solid audition from the defender. It was nothing spectacular, but Kiwior looked assured at the back, including an Important block to stop Iliman Ndiaye from firing a thunderous effort into the back of the net in the first half.While he played a terrific lofted ball from his own half to Leandro Trossard late in the first half, gifting the Belgian a golden opportunity at his second goal only to hit it straight at Jordan Pickford.Not really his job, but he made a really poor cross that cleared every player in red when the Gunners had stitched together some really fluid football in the first half.Jakub Kiwior looked strong in an important match for him ahead of Real MadridCredit: GettyWilliam Saliba – 7Remained so calm when called upon, sweeping up on mistakes from Ben White and Jorginho when he needed to.You’d be fair to make the assessment that Gabriel Magalhaes has been the better of the Arsenal centre-backs for the past season or two.But in the absence of his Brazilian counterpart, Saliba was assured and confident in his defensive actions. A sign of good things ahead of those Real Madrid clashes. Ben White – 7It was a first Premier League start for White since November 10, and a welcome sight for an injury-riddled Arsenal squad ahead of one of the biggest European nights in the club’s modern history.That return was typified by a monster tackle on Tim Iroegbunam that received a roar from the away support inside Goodison to his side.Looked rusty when he was caught on the ball in his own box and gifted Beto an opportunity, but had Saliba to clear up the danger.Some solid minutes in the tank for the right-back before he was replaced by Jurrien Timber.Ben White was a welcome return for ArsenalCredit: ReutersJorginho – 4The Italian was wearing the armband from the off with Odegaard rested on the bench and Gabriel Magalhaes out until the end of the season.But it wasn’t exactly a captain’s performance.Much of the game seemed to pass him by at times and he was close to a calamitous error when he tried to mess about with the ball at the back in the 16th minute and gifted an opportunity to Everton.Declan Rice – 7Consistent dangerous crosses from corners and quick passing in the midfield helped Rice to keep Arsenal ticking.While an exceptional interception helped start a first-half counter, but Trossard gave up the ball in 24th minute.Sometimes he struggles without creativity around him, but he rarely puts in a bad performance.Mikel Merino – 6Playing in midfield for the first time since he started his make-shift centre-forward role at Leicester in February.Looked good enough on the ball, but lacked any real creativity to cut Everton open when Arsenal needed to get a goal back in the second half.The Spaniard took a blow to the head after a clash of heads with Jake O’Brien too, possibly giving Arteta even more injury concern.Arsenal fans had their hearts in their mouths when Mikel Merino needed treatment for a head injury in the first halfCredit: GettyEthan Nwaneri – 5Didn’t see much of the ball at all and struggled to combat Everton’s physical defending when he did get hold of it.He’s often been a bright spark for the Gunners this season, but it’s okay to not be one of the best players on the pitch every time you play at 18 years old.Mikel Arteta swapped him out at half-time in favour of giving Bukayo Saka some more minutes ahead of Real Madrid.Raheem Sterling – 6Constantly running into Everton defenders and not knowing how to get past any blue shirt that stood in his way. However, he was alert to the situation to pick up the loose ball and kickstart a counter attack that led to Arsenal’s goal. The Chelsea loanee held onto the ball really well to draw in the Everton defenders before offloading it to Trossard for his fifth assist in an Arsenal shirt.Despite that involvement, he certainly didn’t look like a player that Mikel Arteta will want to rely on unless necessary. Leandro Trossard – 8Battled hard with Everton’s towering back line as he acted as a centre-forward for the Gunners.Found himself in behind on three occasions in the first half and made the most of one of those opportunities.A superb finish on his weaker left boot fired into the bottom corner of Pickford’s goal to put Arsenal ahead.The Belgian offers something completely different going forward to Merino, but there’s a clear lack of physical presence up top when he does play.Leandro Trossard’s drilled effort opened the scoring at Goodison ParkCredit: GettySubsGabriel Martinelli (for Sterling, 46min) – 6When he gets going and starts running at his man he causes utter havoc.Unfortunately, he just seems to lack the end product to convert all that threat into anything tangible.Bukayo Saka (for Nwaneri, 46min) – 5Wasn’t really able to influence the game despite having a full half of action to try and do so.Maybe the winger pulled his foot slightly off the gas with an eye on Tuesday.Jurrien Timber (for White, 61min) – 5Didn’t get asked to do much, but didn’t offer a lot either.Another change that felt more like it was about getting minutes in the tank for Madrid than anything else.Martin Odegaard (for Jorginho, 71min) – 5Not many players can have an immediate influence on a game when they come off the bench and only have 19 minutes to find a goal.But Odegaard is supposed to be the man who can find the key to opposition defences, and this season he has done that so few and far between.Read More on The SunKieran Tierney (for Lewis-Skelly, 75min) – 6Nice drilled pass into Odegaard late in the second half to try and snatch three points.Wasn’t on for long enough to make much more of an impact. 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