After a slow start to the season, Manchester City's Phil Foden shines in a new midfield role and scores within the first three minutes against Sparta Prague. Despite Sparta's defensive tactics, City continuously press forward and create numerous chances. Manager Lars Friis may have his hands full trying to stop City's attack, led by the talented Kane and Foden.
Manchester City Dominate Sparta Prague in Champions League, Phil Foden Shines
Background
English Premier League giants Manchester City hosted Czech club AC Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League group stage at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. After a challenging start to the season with two consecutive Premier League losses, City were eager to assert their dominance in the European competition.
Match Summary
From the opening whistle, Manchester City took control of the match. Just three minutes in, Phil Foden opened the scoring with a low drive into the bottom corner. The English midfielder, who has been deployed in a more advanced midfield role this season, continued to impress with his movement and passing.
Despite Sparta Praha's defensive approach, City remained patient and created numerous scoring opportunities. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Riyad Mahrez all came close to extending City's lead but were denied by some excellent saves from goalkeeper Florin Nita.
In the second half, City continued to control the possession and press forward. Pep Guardiola's side managed 30 shots on goal, 14 of which were on target. Phil Foden sealed the victory in the 79th minute, doubling his tally with a close-range finish.
Phil Foden's Resurgence
Phil Foden has been one of the standout performers for Manchester City in recent weeks. After a slow start to the season, the 21-year-old has found his rhythm and impressed with his performances in a new midfield role.
Against Sparta Prague, Foden showed his versatility and attacking instincts. He was constantly involved in City's attacking play, creating chances and scoring important goals. His performance is a testament to his talent and the tactical flexibility he offers to Pep Guardiola.
Top 5 FAQs
Manchester City had a challenging start to the season due to a combination of factors, including injuries to key players, a congested fixture schedule, and a lack of preseason preparation due to the late conclusion of the previous season.
Pep Guardiola has deployed Phil Foden in a more advanced midfield role this season, where he is tasked with creating chances, scoring goals, and supporting the attacking players.
Sparta Prague opted for a defensive approach, sitting deep and trying to frustrate Manchester City's attack. They were successful in limiting City's chances in the first half but eventually succumbed to the pressure.
The win against Sparta Prague provides Manchester City with a much-needed boost in confidence and momentum. It also gives them a strong start in the Champions League group stage, as they look to improve upon their disappointing showing last season.
Manchester City face a busy schedule in the coming weeks. They host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, September 25, before traveling to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, September 29.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt's outstanding 169-run innings propels South Africa's total to 320 runs in the first innings of the Women's ODI World Cup semi-final against England. Her performance draws comparisons to iconic knocks by Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj in past World Cups. Despite early wickets, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt-led team needs a similar performance to keep their World Cup dream alive.
The England cricket team is anxiously waiting for updates on the fitness of star spinner Sophie Ecclestone ahead of their Women's ODI World Cup semifinal match against South Africa. Ecclestone has been a key player for England in the tournament so far, picking up 12 wickets in six matches. However, she injured her shoulder in the last group-stage match and her participation in the crucial knockout match remains uncertain. All eyes will be on her fitness as England looks to secure a spot in the finals.
South Africa's Marizanne Kapp grabbed two wickets in the very first over, dealing a huge blow to England's chances of chasing South Africa's massive total of 319 in the ICC Women's World Cup semifinal. Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt's fantastic 169-run knock set the stage for a dominating performance by South Africa. This victory comes as a stunning turnaround from their previous match where they were all out for just 69 runs against England.
The much-anticipated Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal between England and South Africa is set to take place on Wednesday at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Both teams have a strong lineup, with players like Tammy Beaumont, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Heather Knight leading England, and Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Ayabonga Khaka standing out for South Africa. With a spot in the finals at stake, this match is bound to be an intense and exciting one for cricket fans. Don't miss out!
In a thrilling semifinal match between England and South Africa at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt equaled former Indian captain Mithali Raj’s record for the most 50+ scores in the tournament. With her stunning 169 off 143 balls, Wolvaardt led her team to a total of 319/7, the highest ever for South Africa in World Cup matches. She now shares the top spot with Raj, while Debbie Hockley and Charlotte Edwards follow closely with 12 and 11 scores respectively. This achievement solidifies Wolvaardt's position as one of the top players in women's cricket.
Despite the anticipation for a thrilling match, the opening T20 International between Australia and India was washed out by rain in Canberra. This was a huge disappointment as India had put up a decent score of 97 for 1 in just 9.4 overs, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav and opener Shubman Gill bringing some excitement to the game before the rain intervened. The Indian team will now look to maintain their momentum from the one-day international series as they prepare to defend their T20 World Cup title in 2022. In addition, an injury to all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has dampened the spirits of the Indian team.
The Indian team's decision to bench Arshdeep Singh in favor of Harshit Rana for the first T20I against Australia has sparked a wave of criticism from fans. Despite holding the record for the most T20I wickets, the left-arm pacer from Punjab was overlooked for the series opener. Fans took to social media to express their outrage and question the logic behind the team management's decision. Will this favoritism and politics continue to hinder the talented Arshdeep's career in T20Is?
After a lackluster 3-3-1 start to the season, NFL Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin has been highly critical of team owner and general manager Jerry Jones. In particular, Irvin has been vocal about the team's defensive struggles and the departure of promising rookie Micah Parsons. With Parsons no longer on the field, the Cowboys have seen a decline in their interception game, leading to more big plays for their opponents. Despite Jones's efforts to find a replacement for Parsons, it seems the Cowboys are missing his presence on the field more than ever, according to Irvin.
Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh emerged victorious against American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura at the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown, redeeming himself after the controversial king-throwing incident in an earlier match. With his respectful and calm conduct, Gukesh showed the world what true sportsmanship is all about, in stark contrast to Nakamura's earlier theatrics. His win not only restored his pride, but also reinforced the values of dignity, patience, and respect in competitive chess.
During the third ODI between Australia and India in Sydney, Shreyas Iyer sustained a serious rib injury while attempting to catch Alex Carey. Despite his valiant effort, Iyer's injury has been revealed to be more severe than initially thought, with a laceration injury to his spleen in addition to the impact injury to his ribs. The BCCI is closely monitoring Iyer's recovery, as he is expected to be out for at least three weeks and miss the upcoming South Africa ODIs.