Reading keeper Adam Federici has taken to Twitter to apologise for his gaffe in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal.
With the game finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes, the Australian inexplicably let a tame Alexis Sanchez shot slip through his grasp in extra-time and could only watch on as it trickled over the line.
The 30-year-old has received unwavering support from his manager and team-mates but issued an apology to Reading’s fans.
“Just like to say thank you for all your messages and how sorry I am for my mistake, we gave our all and deserved to at least take it to the penalties,” he posted on his official Twitter account.
“It’s part of being a goalkeeper and I’m sure it will make me stronger! Thank you again for your amazing support #readingfc.”
Cellino dismisses strike claims
Leeds president Massimo Cellino insists he had nothing to do with the events that led to six players pulling out of Saturday’s match against Charlton.
Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Dario Del Fabro, Marco Silvestri, Souleymane Doukara and Edgar Cani withdrew from the squad on the eve of the trip to The Valley citing injuries, prompting some accusations that the players had gone ‘on strike’.
Cellino distanced himself from any possible conspiracy theory.
“I am not a coward and not the sort of guy who tells his players to go on strike,” he said.
“This looks like a fight between manager Neil Redfearn and the ownership of the club.”
Man. United ask about Depay – PSV
Manchester United have made an enquiry over the availability of the Dutch league’s leading scorer Memphis Depay, his club PSV Eindhoven said.
“We have had a telephone call from them about him,” PSV’s technical director Marcel Brands said.
“But no talks have been held yet. There are several top clubs who have expressed an interest.”
Brands said the 21-year-old Depay would cost more than the €20 million Tottenham reportedly bid for the striker.
“It will be much higher than the offer from Tottenham. He will be very expensive,” Brands added.
Baggy World Cup kit
Norway’s chances of winning this year’s women’s World Cup are being hampered by a problem with their new kit
They were looking forward to wearing the kit made by Nike as they head to Canada to face Germany, Ivory Coast and Thailand in the World Cup in June.
But the manufacturer has not yet produced a kit designed for the female figure and the players were provided with “unisex” tops in a recent photoshoot.
“We know they have done their best but it is a bit unfortunate that we should walk around with strips that look like tents,” Norway captain Trine Roenning told state broadcaster NRK.
No fracture for Man. City’s Silva
Manchester City have revealed playmaker David Silva did not suffer any fractures in Sunday’s Premier League victory over West Ham United.
Silva was taken to hospital for checks on his cheekbone and collarbone after being caught in the face by an elbow from Hammers midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate at the Etihad Stadium.
The 29-year-old required around eight minutes of treatment on the field before being carefully lifted onto a stretcher and carried off.
Manchester City are not likely to be in a position to fully update on the Spaniard’s condition until later in the week but are now hopeful no serious injury has been suffered.
Olympiakos champs
Olympiakos Piraeus celebrated wrapping up the Super League title with three matches to spare by thrashing visitors Levadiakos 4-0 late Sunday to claim their 42nd championship.
Vitor Pereira’s team had already secured their fifth domestic title in a row after title rivals Panathinaikos earlier suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Panthrakikos.
Olympiakos have now won 17 of the last 19 league titles.
Flamengo fume after dubious penalty
Flamengo were left fuming after a controversial penalty saw the heavyweights fall to Vasco da Gama in the semi-finals of the Rio de Janeiro state championship in Brazil on Sunday.
Flamengo’s Wallace was adjudged to have pushed Serginho in the box on the hour mark at the Maracana stadium, allowing Gilberto to score the game’s only goal and Vasco to enter the title-decider against Botafogo.
Botafogo beat Fluminense 2-1 but had to secure their place in the final by winning a tense penalty shoot-out 9-8 after Fluminense won their first leg 2-1 last week.
Both Flamengo and Fluminense have been critical of the Rio football federation and even announced they might form a breakaway league in 2016.