LONDON, May 19 (Xinhua) — Manchester City claimed the Premier League title on Sunday as Phil Foden scored two early goals that helped them to a 3-1 win at home to West Ham.

The doubts over who would win this season’s Premier League only lasted the two minutes that Phil Foden needed to open the scoring for City in their home game against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.

The destiny of the title always rested in Manchester City’s hands as they looked to defend a 2-point lead against Arsenal, knowing a win would give them a fourth consecutive title.

Arsenal needed City to draw or lose while winning their game at home against Everton, but Foden’s opening goal must have felt like a bucket of ice water for the Arsenal fans in the Emirates Stadium hoping for a miracle.

Foden rifled the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area and then made it 2-0 in the 18th minute to finish off a typical City attacking move.

When Idrissa Gueye gave Everton a 40th-minute lead away to Arsenal, it looked as if everything was going to be over before halftime, but Mohammed Kudus pulled a goal back for West Ham with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 42nd minute and when Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly drew Arsenal level, the title race still had life in it.

It was all over in the 59th minute when Rodri re-established City’s two-goal lead with a powerful shot from the edge of the West Ham area that Alphonse Areola got his fingertips to, but was unable to keep out.

Arsenal also fulfilled their obligations in the 89th minute of their game as Kai Havertz scored a goal that was given after a long VAR check.

The results mean that both Man City and Arsenal have both won their last nine games and the last time either of them failed to win in the Premier League was a 0-0 draw between the two sides in the Etihad Stadium two months ago.

Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp said an emotional goodbye to Anfield with a 2-0 win as Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers with first half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah, with his side’s task made much easier by Nelson Semedo’s 28th-minute red card for the visitors.

Chelsea’s 2-1 win at home to Bournemouth with goals from Moises Caicedo and Raheem Sterling means they finish sixth and will play next season’s Europa League unless Manchester United beat Manchester City in next weekend’s FA Cup final.

Newcastle United won 4-2 away to Brentford with goals from Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes and if Man City win the FA Cup, they will go into the Conference League.

Manchester United warmed up for the Cup final with a 2-0 away to Brighton on Roberto De Zerbi’s last game as home coach, with second half goals from Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund.

In the remaining matches, Tottenham won 3-0 away to Sheffield United to end their hosts’ miserable season and celebrate their fifth-place finish.

Crystal Palace ended the season on a high with a 4-0 win at home to Aston Villa, who had already assured fourth place.

Nottingham Forest ended any tiny survival doubts with a 2-1 win away to relegated Burnley and Luton Town saw their Premier League adventure end in a way that just about summed up their season as they battled hard, but slipped to a 4-2 defeat at home to Fulham.

Source(s): Xinhua

LONDON, May 18 (Xinhua) — The Premier League title race goes to the wire in a dramatic last weekend in England, which will also see an emotional farewell at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium.

Although many questions have already been resolved before the final weekend in England, with Aston Villa claiming the fourth place in next season’s Champions League and Luton virtually confirmed as the third side to be relegated to the Championship due to their vastly inferior goal-difference to Nottingham Forest, the big question of who lifts the title is still in the balance.

Manchester City have a two-point lead over Arsenal and if they win at home to West Ham, they will lift the title for the fourth consecutive year, irrespective of Arsenal’s result at home to Everton.

However, if Pep Guardiola’s side lose or draw and Arsenal win, Arsenal would be Champions as they have a goal difference advantage.

Both sides have kept their nerve, traded blows and been unstoppable since they dew 0-0 in City’s Etihad Stadium in March, with eight consecutive wins each.

City’s 2-0 win away to Tottenham on Wednesday looks as if it could be the decisive moment, as they held on against a rival that had chances to take a point, but in the end, key saves from Stefan Ortega and the goals of Erling Haaland made the difference.

Ortega will be in goal on Sunday after it was confirmed that Ederson suffered a fractured eye socket making a save on Wednesday, and although West Ham coach David Moyes will no-doubt instruct his players to give everything in his last game at the club, anything other than a Man City win and another title would be a surprise.

Liverpool’s title challenge ran out of steam in the last weeks of the season and they will have to settle for third place in what will still be an emotional afternoon at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp steps down after nine seasons in charge.

Klopp brought the Champions League 2019 and the much-desired 2020 Premier League titles to Anfield and can expect an emotional 90 minutes at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The other main question to be resolved is who finishes sixth and has the chance to play in Europe next season. Chelsea’s run of four wins has given them a three-point lead over Newcastle United and Manchester United, and three points at home to Bournemouth would see Mauricio Pochettino’s side return to continental competition after a year on the sidelines.

A Bournemouth win at Stamford Bridge and a win for Newcastle away to Brentford would see Newcastle move into sixth place, however, Manchester United’s dreadful goal difference means they have no options even if they win away to Brighton.

Erik ten Hag’s side could still have the last laugh, however, if they beat Manchester City in next weekend’s FA Cup final, as that would give them the last Europa League spot.

Other games this weekend see Sheffield United end their difficult season at home to Tottenham, while Burnley also wave goodbye to the elite with a home game against Nottingham Forest.

Strictly speaking, Forest need a point to seal their survival, but they would need to lose 7-0 and Luton Town to beat Fulham 6-0 for Luton to swap places in the relegation zone.

The remaining game sees Crystal Palace at home to Aston Villa, with the home side aiming for their fifth win in six games as they end the season on a high.

Source(s): Xinhua

The table tennis star, Fathimath Dheema Ali, who will be partaking in the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, has received a warm welcome upon returning to Male’ City. Dheema showcased her exemplary skills amidst stiff competition from the finest table tennis players in South Asia and emerged victorious in the South Asia Regional Olympic Qualifications. Her triumph signifies a momentous milestone for the Maldives in the realm of international sports.

Upon arrival back to the Maldives, the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu and senior officials of the ministry along with the President of Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC) Mohamed Abdul Sattar and key figures from the Table Tennis Association of the Maldives extended their heartfelt and warm welcomes to Dheema. The minister organised a special ceremony held in the Youth Centre, commemorating the groundbreaking achievement of Dheema.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of the table Tennis Association Ali Rasheed rejoiced, stating that Dheema’s historic performance marked a significant milestone in the history of the Maldives. Highlighting that this remarkable victory was a result of 10 years of her unwavering commitment and dedication, Ali affirmed that the administration and countries in which she received training played a pivotal role for her success. On this stance, he expressed heartfelt gratitude towards all who were engaged in assisting to ensure this significant opportunity was secured.

While Dheema successfully qualified for the Olympic Games, previously Maldivian athletes competed in the games in invitational (tripartite) opportunities provided. As such, Maldivian athletes have been actively participating and competing in athletics, badminton and swimming since 1988.

Source(s): PsmNews