AFCON set for more penalty drama, goalkeepers under siege in Premier League and more! Gary Lemke highlights a few talking points ahead of the weekend’s football.
MOMENT OF MADNESS FOR CHELSEA FAN
Imagine this. You’re a 25-year-old who has been watching Chelsea since the age of four. Your father was a season ticket holder. Chelsea are playing Newcastle in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup and Mykhailo Mudryk scores in the 92nd minute to send the game into penalties. You run onto the field and barge into the Newcastle goalkeeper. You’re arrested and banned from football matches for three years.
That’s Jordan Chidley, a gas fitter. His barrister argued he acted “out of euphoria” and “would never do anything like this again”.
The barrister added, “he is always polite and always behaves appropriately. He is an ordinarily law-abiding citizen, who does not go out and cause trouble.” He was also issued a £1,215 fine, which he is allowed to pay off in installments.
A football fan has been given a three-year football banning order, after he assaulted Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka during a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Chelsea last year#newcastleunited #chelseafc #martindubravka #carabaocup pic.twitter.com/7hLdJoHbay
— The Chronicle (@ChronicleLive) February 9, 2024
PENALTIES AND LATE GOALS AT AFCON
Now that we’re into the final at Afcon 2023, the stats suggest that you shouldn’t get up to put the kettle on as time ticks over into the 90th minute.
There have been plenty of late goals at this tournament – four in the 90th minute itself. We’ve then seen 18 goals after 90 minutes (including extra-time)! Ivory Coast, the hosts and finalists, have actually twice scored in added time after extra time, in the 122nd and 123rd minutes, so they have plenty of stamina. Nigeria have scored in the 90th minute, while Bafana Bafana have netted in both the 90th minute and 95th.
A total of 15 out of the 24 teams scored in the 90th minute or later. Look for penalties to – 17 so far. Both finalists have scored from penalties so far. Imagine this match builder: +0.5 goals, at least one penalty awarded, at least one goal after 90 minutes.
Scenes!!!! #SoarSuperEagles #letsdoitagain pic.twitter.com/1yT5ZXKDkz
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) February 7, 2024
WHICH TEAM HAS SCORED MOST FA CUP GOALS?
I was today years old when I discovered this. It was while going through the English FA Cup results and history, after watching Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the week and then looking at the fifth-round draw. Chelsea host Leeds, which is where it all started for me supporting Chelsea (they beat Leeds in the 1970 Cup final).
I was researching Maidstone United’s chances of upsetting Coventry (highly unlikely), but that would be an enormous upset. In stumbling through my research, I came across the team that has scored more goals than any other in the history of the FA Cup, which was first played in 1871-72.
Without using Google (and even then it’s not straightforward), name the team with the most goals. The answer is at the end of this blog.
London clubs left in the #EmiratesFACup:
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 7, 2024
- Chelsea ✔️
End of list. pic.twitter.com/HeNBKc5mzA
GOALKEEPERS UNDER SIEGE IN EPL
Speaking of goals, what do we make of the goal glut in the EPL?
Last week, the 10 matches saw a record 45 goals scored, eclipsing the previous mark of 44 set last season and in 2020/21. This season the average number of goals per game has been 3.2, with 730 goals in 228 matches.
Last season, which produced an EPL record, produced 1,084 goals from 380 games. Therefore, to beat that and establish a new all-time high, 355 more goals are required from the remaining 152 matches – an average of 2.3 per game.
Will we see a record? Yes? No?
Which match are you most excited for this weekend? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/lRh8LJ6wVy
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 9, 2024
SPURS FALL VICTIM TO THE LATE SHOW
Now that I’m on a roll with goals and late goals, which EPL team do you think has conceded the most times in the referee’s added time in a league game?
If you said Burnley, you’d be wrong. If you said Sheffield United, you’d be wrong. In fact, unless you said Tottenham you’d be wrong. Spurs have already leaked eight goals in stoppage time after 90 minutes. Of the six clubs who have conceded more after 90 minutes in EPL history, four have been relegated.
That won’t happen to Tottenham, but if they continue their run they won’t make the Champions League places either. Only Burnley (11), Cardiff and Hull (10) and Hull, Southampton and Watford (9) have conceded more late on.
The points are shared at Goodison ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/eKcAH5osub
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 3, 2024
RELEGATION A CERTAINTY FOR THE BLADES
Sheffield United look increasingly doomed. They are rooted to the bottom of the EPL table, already 10 points away from being out of the relegation zone and there are only 15 games left.
They’ve won two and lost 17 of their matches. You don’t have to be an analyst to work out where it’s all gone wrong.
They simply can’t stop conceding. So far they have let in 59 goals, which is the joint most of any team at this stage in English top-flight history. They share that unwanted “record” with the Fulham team of 1965-66. Now, spare a thought for Brentford.
They are the only team in the League this season to have not scored against the basement club, losing 1-0 in December.
A trip to Kenilworth Road awaits this Saturday for the Bladesmen. 🛣️
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) February 8, 2024
🟠 #LUTSHU 🟡 pic.twitter.com/jkuCDm72LT
Answer: Kettering Town
