SPORTS Sunday, November 26, 2017 23 United maintain pressure,

TottenhamLondon held at homeMamadou Sakho in added time anchester United saw off beat visiting Stoke City 2-1. a determined Brighton & A brilliant individual MHove Albion 1-0 yesterday to effort by Xherdan Shaqiri reduce Manchester City’s lead eight minutes after halftime at the top of the ensured they would not keep to five points, as Tottenham a first clean sheet, but within Hotspur’s pursuit stalled with three minutes new England a home draw against West international Ruben Loftus- Bromwich Albion. Cheek, on loan from Chelsea, United’s unbeaten home scored the equaliser. record stretches back 14 Sakho’s winner, jabbing in a months, to when City beat them rebound off the post, brought last September, but it was not Palace within three points of plain sailing against promoted 17th-placed West Brom. Brighton, who proved spirited “That goal is worth its opposition in the first league weight in gold,” said manager meeting between the sides . since 1983. His team made up two Ashley Young forced the points on Swansea City, who goal in the 66th minute, his could only draw 0-0 at home to shot deflecting off defender Bournemouth. Lewis Dunk to beat goalkeeper The Welsh side were upset Matt Ryan. to have a goal disallowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who just before the interval when has not started a game since Wilfried Bony, starting in place injuring his knee in the Europa of Tammy Abraham, found the League last April, came off the net. substitutes’ bench near the The referee decided that end. team mate had “Brighton deserved more Manchester United’s in action with Brighton’s Lewis Dunk fouled a defender. than they got,” United’s Watford maintained their manager Jose Mourinho told points from 13 games, ahead advantage of rivals Liverpool West Bromwich Albion. reliable 16 minutes run of having scored at least . “They played really of City’s match at Huddersfield and Chelsea meeting each other They were behind at from fulltime to salvage a draw. twice in every away game well and when they had the ball Town on Sunday. Tottenham, in the late game yesterday, halftime to an early goal by Bottom club Crystal Palace with a comfortable 3-0 win they were dangerous.” however, stayed fourth on 24. dropped two points in a home Salomon Rondon and needed earned only their second win at Newcastle to consolidate United moved up to 29 Spurs, hoping to take 1-1 draw with managerless an equaliser from the ever- of the season as a goal by eighth place. (Reuters) Messi extends Barcelona contract Ronaldo rebound gives Real Barcelona Maria Bartomeu to get Messi to put pen to ionel Messi ended months of speculation paper. Bartomeu was heavily criticised for his Lwhen finally putting pen to paper yesterday role in ’s departure and a haphazard nervy win at home to Malaga to extend his contract with Barcelona until search for replacements in the final weeks of the Barcelona 2021, the club announced, making official an transfer window. ristiano Ronaldo scored agreement reached in July. However, Bartomeu saw off a vote of no on the rebound after The Spanish giants had announced in the confidence measure launched by havingC a penalty saved to summer that Messi, 30, had committed his disgruntled fans thanks to Barca’s give champions Real future to the club but the Argentine had not fantastic start to the season, in Madrid a scarcely-deserved signed the new deal. large part inspired by Messi’s 3-2 win at home to Malaga With his previous contract set to expire form. yesterday, which moved them in 2018, Messi could have left Barca for And Bartomeu now has the provisionally seven points free next summer had he not extended his image he craved of a smiling behind leaders Barcelona. deal. Messi tying the remainder Ronaldo had failed to score “FC Barcelona and signed on of his peak years to in his last four league games for Saturday morning a new contract that will the club. Messi’s 30 Real and his rotten run in front keep the Argentinian superstar at the club trophies are along of goal looked set to continue Real Madrid’s scores their third goal, through the 2020/21 season,” read a club with teammate when his spot-kick was turned which is a rebound from a penalty miss statement. “The buyout clause was set at Andres Iniesta away by visiting goalkeeper 700 million euros ($835 million).” the most Roberto. but Malaga levelled in the 16th Malaga pulled level again The steep rise in the five-time in Barca’s He was well-placed, however, through Uruguayan Diego 12 minutes into the second World Player of the Year’s history, to knock in the rebound for Rolan after an awful misplaced half following two errors from buyout clause from 300 including Real’s third goal in the 76th pass in the area by Real’s Toni Madrid. First Raphael Varane million euros eight La minute. Kroos. gave the ball away and then in his Liga and four An unconvincing Real had Germany Kroos goalkeeper Kiko Casilla let previous Champions League twice thrown away the lead made amends by whipping in a Gonzalo Castro’s shot from contract titles. The diminutive against Malaga, who have lost corner which Casemiro leaped distance slip through his hands. is designed to Argentine, who joined every away game so far this to head Real back in front in Real took the lead for the third avoid any repeat of Saint- Barca at the age of 13, season. the 21st minute, while Malaga time when Luis Hernandez Germain’s capture of Neymar from has also smashed 523 nudged were denied an equaliser on the tripped Luka Modric in the Barcelona by paying the Brazilian’s 222 goals in 602 games to in Real’s opening goal in the stroke of halftime for a foul by area, allowing Ronaldo to million euro buyout clause in August. become the Catalans’ ninth minute after Ronaldo’s defender Paul Baysse on Dani convert at the second time of Pressure has been mounting on Lionel Messi all-time top goalscorer. header came back off the bar Carvajal as he headed home. asking. (Reuters) beleaguered Barca president Josep (AFP)