Watch Cristiano Ronaldo Score A Hat Trick In Eight Minutes For Real Madrid

For those who didn't wake up at 6 a.m. ET to watch Real Madrid annihilate Granada 9-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, you missed a lot of goal scoring – the majority of it done by Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Ronaldo helped Real unmercifully tear apart a Granada side that sits 19th in the La Liga standings by scoring five times – including a hat trick in just eight minutes – to help Los Blancos move within a point of first-place Barcelona (which plays Sunday at Celta de Vigo). Ronaldo now has 36 league goals, four more than Messi, in the race to become La Liga's top scorer.

Amazingly, Ronaldo had never scored five goals in a game for Real Madrid before Sunday. After Gareth Bale opened the scoring in the 25th minute, Ronaldo began his assault on Granada with a curling strike set up by James Rodriguez in the 30th minute.

Six minutes later, goalkeeper Oier Olazabal deflected a hard cross by Marcelo high into the air. The ball fell at the feet of Ronaldo, who let it bounce before burying the one-time strike for goal No. 2.

Ronaldo's third goal probably should've been saved, but it was a classic CR7 strike nonetheless with him dribbling from the left wing. Instead of feeding an overlap run on the outside, Ronaldo caught the Granada defense ball-watching as he quickly unleashed a vicious strike straight at Olazabal, whose parry attempt couldn't keep the ball out for a 4-0 Real Madrid cushion.

Ronaldo could've ended up with eight goals. After Karim Benzema scored his second to make it 7-0, Ronaldo failed to convert on chances created by Bale and Alvaro Arbeloa and missed out on a tap-in on Granada defender Diego Mainz's own goal that made it 8-1 Real.

Can't wait to see what Messi does against Celta.

Emenike Dropped To The Bench Following Besiktas Incident

 

Fenerbahce coach, Ismail Kartal, has explained the reason for omitting Emmanuel Emenike from the starting line-up in the Super Lig clash against Rizespor on Saturday evening.

 

Before the international break, remember that the Nigeria international was booed by his own fans after missing an open goal against Besiktas, and he reacted by attempting to walk away from the pitch.

 

That incident was played down when the striker resumed training after he was given two days casual leave, with his teammates joking with him after he failed to convert chances during the practice sessions.

 

Nonetheless, Kartal has posited that the Super Eagles star was not in the right frame of mind to make his 20th start of the season today at the Yeni Rize Sehir Stadium.

 

''It is not easy the things we witnessed last time. Psychologically, Emenike is not in the first eleven,'' Ismail Kartal said just before the start of the week 26 encounter.

 

With Fenerbahce five goals ahead of the opponents, Alper Potuk was subbed off for the Nigerian in the 57th minute.

 

Emmanuel Emenike has failed to score for the Yellow Canaries since their league game against  Gaziantepspor on February 14.

Atletico Ease Past Cordoba

 

Spanish La Liga

Result: Cordoba 0-2 Atletico Madrid

Venue: Estadio Nuevo Arcangel

Date: 4 April 2015

Atletico Madrid beat Cordoba 2-0 at the Estadio Nuevo Arcangel on Saturday night in the Spanish La Liga.

The reigning league champions did the damage in the first half thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann and Saul.

The match got off to a lively start and it was only five minutes into the game when Griezmann jumped onto a mistake in midfield and fired home a left-shooter into the bottom right corner.

Atletico continue to press forward and looked most likely to score again, and in the 23rd minute Griezmann had another chance but his header was off target.

However in the 40th minute Saul headed in the second for Atleti after some good work from Giminez in the build-up.

It took Cordoba 48 minutes to get their first shot on goal, but substitute Cartabia’s effort was easily dealt with by Jan Oblak.

Atletico though were in full control, however struggled to break down Cordoba in the second stanza.

Bebe had a chance for the hosts in the 78th minute, but it crashed into the top of the bar.

Oblak was back in action a few minutes later, this time making a top save to deny Crespo.

In the end Atletico held out for a comfortable away win and move onto 62 points, six points behind leaders Barcelona, and two behind second-placed Real.

Lewandowski Hands Bayern Victory Over Dortmund

 

German Bundesliga

Result: Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Bayern Munich 

Date: 04 April 2015

Venue: Signal Iduna Park

Robert Lewandowski scored the only goal of the game to hand Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday night.

The game got off to a cagey start, as both sides were content to just size each other up, while both sides failed to create chances in the opening 30 minutes.

However, it was Bayern who broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, as former Dortmund striker, Robert Lewandowski, headed into an empty net, after Thomas Muller's shot had been saved by Roman Weidenfeller.

That was as good as it got in the opening 45 minutes, as Dortmund failed to register a single effort on target.

Dortmund could have found themselves level in the 60th minute when Marco Reus got beyond the Bayern defence but the midfielder could only fire into the side-netting.

Jurgen Klopp decided to change things up midway through the second half, as he brought on Shinji Kagawa and Adrian Ramos in the hope of bagging an equaliser.

However, Manuel Neuer came to Bayern's rescue in the 87th minute, as the German shot-stopper pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Reus's curling free-kick.

Pep Guardiola's side managed to see out rest of the game and claim a valuable three points on the road, while midfielder Thiago Alcantara also made his return to first team action, following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Awoniyi: We Want To Win The World Cup

 

Flying Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, says just like the expectations of Nigerians, he's also expecting they win the U20 World Cup for the first time in the country's history.

 

Nigeria has had relative success at the U20 level, but are yet to win it at the world stage, not even when they hosted in 1999.

 

The belief amongst Nigerians is that the current crop is potentially the best ever U20 side ever assembled by Nigeria, hence the expectation for them to go all the way in New Zealand.

 

And Awoniyi says he also shares the sentiments of the fans.

 

"I know a lot of people expect so much from us and that is because they believe in us," he began.

 

"They expect us to win the World Cup which is what we are also expecting. We are expecting to go there and win it.

 

"The support and encouragement from the fans have been good and we appreciate them. And the way we can really show our appreciation is by always doing well and that is what we want to to," he said.

 

The 17-year old however adds that winning the U20 World Cup would not be as easy as saying it.

 

"It won't be easy so we have to work hard for it. We must fight and give our best there.

 

"Our coaches have also told us that we must improve and that is what we all want to do before the World Cup.

 

"We want to go there and showcase ourselves to the world and also do our country proud and hopefully we will get there and win it,"he said.

Akpom More Accurate Than Alexis Sanchez At Shooting

 

It has emerged that Chuba Akpom pays more attention to details than Alexis Sanchez after the Chile international was upstaged by the Anglo-Nigerian in a shooting competition organized by Arsenal to mark the Easter holidays.

 

Joining the duo at the training ground was Spain international Nacho Monreal, who finished in second position after knocking down one Easter egg hanging from the crossbar.

 

In order to score points,  a player has to knock down as many eggs as possible more than the two other opponents.

 

After the opening round, Akpom and Monreal were tied at 1-1, with Alexis Sanchez failing to score a single point, and the teenager admitted that he was under pressure going into the last round.

 

''I am feeling the pressure now, I need to get one more to stay safe and get that win 100 percent,'' said Chuba Akpom.

 

At the end of the contest, the England youth international, who is on loan at Nottingham Forest now, ranked higher than Sanchez and Monreal.

 

The 19-year-old made his official debut for The Reds in their 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton on Friday night.

Pillars Crash Out Of CAF Champions League

 

CAF Champions League

Result: Kano Pillars 2-1  Moghreb Athletic Tetouane

Date: 04 April 2015

Kano Pillars crashed out of the CAF Champions League when they were beaten 5-2 on aggregate by Morocco's Moghreb Athletic Tetouane at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday.

The Nigerian side won 2-1 in Kano thanks to second half goals from Tony Edjomariegwe and Rabiu Ali, but the result was not enough to overturn the 4-0 deficit from the first leg clash at the Stade Saniat Rmel.

Ali was outstanding for Pillars at the heart of the midfield. He was no doubt the best player on the pitch.

Pillars were annihilated 4-0 in the first leg battle at the Stade Saniat Rmel on Saturday 21st March.

The Okey Emordi led team were taught a lesson at Tetouane, with Mouhcine Yajour scoring thrice in a one-sided affair which saw Pillars needing a miracle to progress in the second leg match which got underway by 16h00.

Tetouane goalkeeper saved superbly from Ali after the playmaker was played through, and Ezekiel Mba also dragged his shot wide when he should have punished the Moroccans in the 16th minute.

Pillars increased the tempo and power as the match went on. A criminal miss from Adamu Hassan wasn't what Pillars needed.

The home fans were silenced in the 33rd minute when usual suspect Iajour put the visitors ahead with a fine finish.

There was a big let-off from Pillars though as Hassan escaped and set up his team mate who couldn't level up for the hosts.

Tetouane ended up winning the first half 1-0 as the home fans wondered what went wrong with their darling team.

After the break, Pillars were looking to create a spark and they controlled the game with ease.

They soon got the much needed equaliser through Edjomariegwe on the hour mark.

The impatient home fans threw empty cans and bottles into the pitch expressing their disappointments in Pillars' inadequacies as the clock started thicking.

Ali passed the ball with ease and rallied his team mates to score goals in order to at least win the match.

Tetouane were down to 10 men when Hazael Houssani got the marching order following a second yellow card.

Pillars had chances to win the match in normal time and bombarded the stubborn Tetouane defence line.

The excellent Ali broke through Tetouane's resistance with a late goal to clinch a 2-1 over the 10-man visitors, but the 90th minute strike wasn't enough as Pillars crashed out of the competition.

Kano Pillars Starters: John Lawrence, Promise James, Samuel Tswanya, Mohammed Shagari, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Joel Djongdong, Azeez Shobowale, Tony Edjomariegwe, Ezekiel Mba, Rabiu Ali, Adamu Hassan

Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool: Gunners Go Second After Scintillating First Half (Video)

Arsenal beat Liverpool 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, as a stunning eight-minute spell at the end of the first half helped the Gunners record a seventh-straight Premier League win.

[ RELATED: Watch full match replays ]

A wonderful strike from Hector Bellerin set them on their way, then a curling free kick from Mesut Ozil doubled their lead before Alexis Sanchez smashed home a third on the stroke of half time. Liverpool improved in the second half and pulled one back late on through Jordan Henderson‘s penalty kick, but Olivier Giroud scored a stoppage time stunner to make it 4-1 as Arsene Wenger‘s side prevailed in sensational fashion.

With the win Arsenal move up to second in the PL on 63 points, four points behind leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool stay in fifth and could move eight points away from the top four by the end of the weekend.

[ RELATED: Latest Premier League standings ]

Early on the Gunners came flying out of the traps and forced Simon Mignolet into two fines saves inside the first five minutes. First, Sanchez cut inside and drilled a shot on goal which Mignolet saved well and moments later Arsenal really should have been 1-0 up as Aaron Ramsey capitalized on Kolo Toure losing the ball but the Welshman had his effort saved by Mignolet and Toure cleared he loose ball as Santi Cazorla looked to pounce.

After a shaky start, Liverpool settled down and Raheem Sterling caused plenty of problems with his pace on the break. In the 19th minute the Reds wasted a glorious chance to go ahead as Philippe Coutinho played in Lazar Markovic and as the Serbian went clean through he tried to slot in Sterling for a tap-in but put too much on his ball as a superb opportunity to open the scoring was squandered.

[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]

Sterling had another chance on the break as Liverpool started to grow into the game, as Arsenal’s fans became restless, but before the break they were celebrating. In the 37th minute right back Bellerin cut in off the flank, beat Alberto Moreno and curled in a wonderful shot with his left foot to put the Gunners 1-0 up. 

In the 40th minute it got even better for Arsenal as Ozil curled in a stunning free kick into the top corner from 25-yards out to make it 2-0. On the stroke of half time the Gunners made it 3-0, as Sanchez picked up the ball and rifled home an unstoppable strike from the edge of the box. Liverpool were in shock, as the Gunners stuck three times in eight minutes at the end of the first half.

In the second half Arsenal’s onslaught continued, as Mignolet tipped Giroud’s header over the bar as Liverpool’s back line struggled to contain the Gunners. Emre Can, who was shifted to right back at half time with Liverpool in full damage-limitation mode and reverting to a back four, broke forward and forced David Ospina into a fine stop as the Reds threatened again through Coutinho soon after but his shot squirmed wide.

Late on the Gunners gave away a penalty kick as Bellerin brought down Sterling in the box and Henderson stepped up to slam home the spot kick and make it 3-1 but that was as good as it got for Liverpool, as Can was sent off for two yellows late on and they lost a second-straight match. Giroud smashed in a great late goal to make it 4-1, as Arsenal continue their surge towards the top.

LINEUPS

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny (Gabriel, 49′), Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey (Flamini, 62′), Ozil (Welbeck, 73′), Sanchez, Giroud

Goals: Bellerin (37′), Ozil (40′), Sanchez (45′), Giroud (90+1′)

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Toure, Sakho, Allen, Lucas, Moreno, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic (Sturridge, 45′), Sterling

Goal: Henderson (77′)
Red card: Can (84′)

Chelsea 2-1 Stoke City: GK blunders, Hazard PK Highlight Blues Win (Video)

Two big goalie blunders highlighted Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Stoke City on NBC this Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

After an Eden Hazard PK put Chelsea up 1-0, Thibaut Courtois was caught off his line by a 65-yard bolt from Charlie Adam to tie it at 1, only to see Stoke counterpart set Hazard up for Loic Remy‘s match-winner.

Top of the table Chelsea has a 7-point lead on Arsenal with a match-in-hand, and a nine-point lead on Manchester City.

Stoke’s 42 points sit mid-table, level with ninth-place West Ham.

[ RELATED: Watch full match replays ]

Chelsea nearly scored in the third minute, as Asmir Begovic had to leap to deprive Loic Remy’s shot from near the spot.

What followed was a lot of tight quarters play, almost a feeling out period between the two sides apart from Eden Hazard’s speculative blast from 25 yards out that sailed over the goal.

The first half wasn’t too lively for most of the first half hour, with Hazard the only threat. Oscar hit a low ball wide in the 30th minute that should’ve made it 1-0.

[ RELATED: Latest Premier League standings ]

Then Cesc Fabregas worked Phillipp Wollscheid for a 39th minute penalty kick, and Eden Hazard hit a low strike barely left of the middle to make it 1-0.

You’re lying if you thought a first-half equalizer was coming, but Adam found it from well inside his own half. Thibaut Courtois had drifted past his 18, and Adam unloaded a 65-plus yard shot that sailed over the Chelsea keeper and into the goal. Wow.

Diego Costa was unveiled at halftime, and lasted a walloping 11 minutes before his wonky hamstring went out again. It would be Didier Drogba joining Loic Remy for the rest of the match.

[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]

Fittingly, it was a goalkeeper error that undid Stoke. Begovic rolled out a poor offering from the top of the 18, and Hazard dribbled into the 18 before deferring to Remy, who passed it home and subbed off with Chelsea up 2-1.

Steven N’Zonzi put a shot past Courtois but off the right post moments later.

Begovic made a pair of huge saves as the clock hit 80, denying Juan Cuadrado twice after a nice combination play with Hazard.

LINEUPS

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar (Costa, 46′; Drogba, 57′), Hazard; Remy (Cuadrado, 63′).

Goal: Hazard (PK, 39′), Remy (62′)

Stoke City: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross (c), Wollscheid, Wilson; Ireland (Crouch, 78′), Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam (Pieters, 79′); Walters, Diouf (Arnautovic, 62′).

Goal: Adam (44′)

Chioma Gets A Goal On Arsenal Ladies Debut

Nigerian born Chioma Ubogagu started her Arsenal Ladies career on a positive note after scoring a cracker in the 1-1 draw against Notts County on Thursday.

Ubogagu, a 2012 FIFA Women U-20 World Cup winner for the USA played 89 times for the US team, scored 27 goals with 37 assists which has earned her a fourth place position on Stanford’s list of all time assists, she joined Arsenal ladies from US team, Stanford Univers.

The 1-1 draw remained a fair result for Arsenal Ladies who struggled in the first half and failed to stamp their dominance but the Gunners put up an interesting performance in the second half that saw Chioma Ubogagu level with a 20-yard volley on her debut.

Chioma Ubogagu got her Arsenal debut on the hour mark with an instant impact when she wind past an opponent at the edge of the 18-yard box then released a curler that swept off the face of the goal post.

It wasn't a surprise when Chioma Ubogagu who came in as a substitute gave the fans a special, she got the ball 20-yards out an launched an unstoppable shot that went straight into the net to earn the Gunners a point against Notts Count.

Lawson Not Sure Of Pillars

 

Coach Tunde Lawson concedes Kano Pillars needs massive improvement if they are to make any significant impact in the second leg of the CAF Champions first round match against Moghreb Athletic Tetouane of Morocco at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday.

 

The reigning Nigeria Professional Football League champions were annihilated 4-0 in the first leg battle at the Stade Saniat Rmel on Saturday 21st March.

 

Pillars were taught a lesson at Tetouane, with Mouhcine Yajour scoring thrice in a one-sided affair which will see the Pillars needing a miracle to progress in the second leg match on Saturday.

 

Lawson, the winning coach of the Lagos State football team to the 2012 National Sports Festival admits Pillars' quality is not up to scratch and will need a lot of improvement to win.

 

“If Pillars will do well, it will all depend on their mindset,” he told SL10.

 

“The way they are playing now, I don’t think they will score up to four goals in front of their fans.

 

“They have to pick up in all areas. This team has not peaked yet and that's the raw truth.

 

The Nigerian champions have struggled to replicate their outstanding performances in the Nigerian League on the continent and that has left Kano Pillars try on two previous occasions back-to-back without reaching the group stage of the competition. Though a stellar performance in 2009 saw them make a last four appearance – but since then Kano Pillars have struggled.

 

The match has been scheduled for 1400h on Saturday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Enyimba In Make Or Mar CCL Battle In Egypt

 

Enyimba FC need to get a positive result in the second leg encounter of the CAF Champions League first round against Smouha SC at the Alexandria Stadium on Sunday.

 

The two-time Champions League winners are under enormous pressure to advance to the next stage despite winning 1-0 in the first leg clash in Aba.

 

The People's Elephants required the brilliance of their Cameroonian import Raphael Boumsong to seal a crucial home win.

 

Enyimba will take some solace in the knowledge that the Egyptians managed only two shots on target throughout the game, showing just why they had scored only one goal in three CAF Champions League games.

 

Coach Kadiri Ikhana is expected to ring changes after the not too impressive performance in their last match against Bayelsa United.

 

Enyimba FC take a one-goal advantage to Egypt’s second city, Alexandria where they take on Smouha FC on Sunday, starting from 5pm Egyptian time.

 

Meanwhile, Kano Pillars will be hoping to surmount the mountain of a four-goal deficit in this weekend’s CAF Champions League first round, second leg clash with Moghreb Athletic Tetouane of Morocco.

EPL Clubs Keeping Tabs On Onuoha

 

Stoke City and Hull City are monitoring 28-year-old Anglo Nigerian defender Nedum Onuoha, according to reports in England.

 

SL10 also scooped from reliable sources that the versatile QPR star is also on the radar of Everton and West Ham.

 

The no nonsense talent has played 15 times already this season for the relegation threatened English Premier League side.

 

According to a reliable source to Sl10, the player won't be short of suitors even if the fails to survive the dreaded drop to the English Championship.

 

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail suggests Onuoha is one of several players poised to leave Loftus Road should the club go down in relegation, and he would prefer to move on, as the club consider streamlining their squad.

 

The player who has featured regularly under QPR’s current boss, Chris Ramsey, has 15 months left on his contract, which he signed under current Stoke manager, Mark Hughes.

 

The man now in charge of Osaze and Moses at Britannia Stadium is interested in taking Onuoha to join them at The potters, while Everton, who once paid the wages for former Super eagles stars Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Anichebe are lurking round the corner, alongside West Ham, who once had Victor Obinna Nsofor on their books.