English football record champions Manchester United celebrated an important last-minute victory in the Premier League on Saturday. The team of German coach Ralf Rangnick won 1-0 (0-0) against West Ham United with a goal by Marcus Rashford in the third minute of injury time and thus passed their table neighbors and direct competitors for a Champions League place .
After the first half at Old Trafford went without convincing chances for either side, both Man United and the visitors from London invested a little more after the break. But it was not until the final phase that an entertaining game developed – with the better ending for Manchester. Edinson Cavani provided the assist for Rashford’s goal after an Anthony Martial pass. Rangnick had both come on shortly before. Fourth in the table, the Red Devils now have 38 points, a point more than West Ham United, who have played a game more.
Behind them, two rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are lurking, who still have a few catch-up games to play and could catch up with Man United with victories. At the top of the Premier League table is United’s local rivals Manchester City by a wide margin. The defending champion came 1-1 (0-1) after falling behind at FC Southampton thanks to Aymeric Laporte (65th minute). Kyle Walker-Peters scored for the Saints (7th).
A curious incident occurred in London during the game between Brentford FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Because a drone was circling over the field, the referee interrupted the game after half an hour when the score was 0-0 for more than 15 minutes and sent the players into the dressing room. The game ended 1:2 (0:0).
Former Wolfsburg Dzeko scores the decisive goal for Inter Milan
Italy’s soccer champions Inter Milan have clinched a last-minute victory in the race for the Scudetto and thus avoided a minor embarrassment. The leader prevailed against promoted FC Venice 2-1 (1-1) on Saturday, the former Wolfsburg Edin Dzeko (90th) made the decision late. Relegation candidate Venice has been waiting for a win for nine league games, but surprisingly took the lead: Frenchman Thomas Henry (19th) scored with a header. Inter was clearly superior, but for a long time did not achieve more than equalization through European champion Nicolo Barella (40th). Then Dzeko used a cross after all.
Inter Milan saved the match day: Edin Dzeko.
(Photo: Daniele Mascolo/REUTERS)
Michael Cuisance, who moved to Venice from FC Bayern at the turn of the year, was in the visitors’ starting XI. The Nerazzurri now have 53 points. Local rivals AC Milan (48 points) receive record champions Juventus Turin (41) on Sunday (8:45 p.m., DAZN) and can shorten, but Inter has played one game less.
Sevilla are three points behind leaders Real Madrid
The six-time Uefa Cup and Europa League winner FC Sevilla made a surprising mistake in the Spanish football championship and was just able to avert the first home bankruptcy of the season. Against Celta Vigo it was only enough for the Andalusians to score 2-2 (0-2). Papu Gomez (71′) and Oliver Torres (74′) scored to equalize.
Sevilla have remained undefeated in LaLiga for the past eight games. Seville, second in the table, is three points behind record champions and leaders Real Madrid, who meet FC Elche on Sunday (4:15 p.m., DAZN). Franco Cervi (37′) and Iago Aspas (40′) scored the goals for Celta.