Soccer News

Nakamba’s Aston Villa beat Wolves 2 – 1 #CarabaoCup

El Ghazi’s close-range shot crept past Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy to put the hosts ahead before Patrick Cutrone tapped in a Taylor Perry’s pass to equalise. But Elmohamady’s flick from a Henri Lansbury free-kick gave Villa victory.

Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady saw Aston Villa edge past a youthful Wolves side to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. Five-time winners Villa last reached this stage of the competition in 2012. The quarter-final draw will be live on Thursday at 08:45 GMT on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Two.

Villa’s experience counts
Given the additional workload that European football has brought to Wolves this season, it was no surprise to see head coach Nuno Espirito Santo make wholesale alterations.

But the inclusion of Chem Campbell among the 11 changes from their Premier League draw at Newcastle did raise eyebrows. Still too young to pen a professional deal – he turns 17 in December – Campbell’s debut saw him become the club’s second-youngest player after Jimmy Mullen in 1939.

There were also run-outs for midfielder Perry, 18, winger Pedro Neto, 19, and a debut for defender Dion Sanderson in the starting XI. Sanderson, in particular, endured a challenging introduction to senior football, with Villa’s Egypt international Trezeguet claiming a penalty after dribbling beyond the 19-year-old in the first half.

But the difference for Villa was experienced midfielder Lansbury, whose incisive pass unlocked the visiting defence and allowed El Ghazi to score with their only shot on target in the first half.

And after Cutrone levelled, Lansbury, who is yet to start a league game this season, laid on the winner with a low free-kick that Elmohamady, Villa’s captain for the night, met at the near post.

That ensured a repeat of the result from when these two sides last met in the competition back in the 1995-96 season, when Villa went on to lift the trophy.

‘Henri needed a game’ – manager reaction
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith: “I don’t think I’ve been involved in a game where we’ve had as much possession. My only gripe is that we didn’t score more goals and test their goalkeeper more.

“I thought he [Henri Lansbury] was excellent tonight. His vision is there for everybody to see. Henri needed a game and we have got out of it what we wanted, which was to progress and get minutes into some of the lads.”

Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: “For three seasons in the Carabao Cup, it’s a competition that we’ve wanted to give a chance to youth players, to make them develop and grow.

“We have competitions to play. This is the same approach we had in all the games in the Carabao Cup, which we respect a lot, we always put players in because we want to build players, build a team, build a better squad for our future.”

Source – BBC News

In other news – Lebo Mathosa’s lover Speaks Out

With just over a week to go until we get to see the dramatic Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story on our screens, one of the most interesting people in the late star’s life has spoken about what is coming our way. We’re talking about someone who knew a side of Lebo that many of us probably never got to see: the singer’s lover, Sibongile Ngubane.

Lebo Mathosa

Lebo and Sibongile’s story doesn’t always get the lion’s share of the spotlight, but the two met in 1994 and the chemistry was immediately lit. continue reading.