Everton of England midfielder, Alex Iwobi failed to get into action for The Toffees on Sunday, and the former Arsenal star was not part of his team’s victory away to West Ham United, while Semi Ajayi went crashing into relegation with West Bromwich Albion.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, in Iwobi’s absence, Carlo Ancelotti’s side ensured West Ham suffered a major blow to their UEFA Champions League hopes, while Everton revitalised their own with a hard-fought 1-0 win at The London Stadium.
Everton stay in eighth place, but move to within three points of their opponents in fifth, after Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the crucial goal on 24 minutes when he latched onto Ben Godfrey’s through ball to steer his low shot beyond The Hammers’ goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski.
The visitors’ goal led a charmed life at times, with Said Benrahma missing a glorious first-half chance before Vladimir Coufal struck the inside of the post after the interval, with Iwobi now hoping to return to action when The Toffees go for their game in hand against Aston Villa on Thursday.
Also in the English Premier League on Sunday, Ajayi starred for 90 minutes on an evening Arsenal sent his team down with a 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium and The Baggies’ coach, Sam Allardyce suffered relegation from the EPL for the first time in his career.
The Gunners, 10th on the table ahead of kick-off and playing for pride after their UEFA Europa League exit on Thursday, took the lead in the 29th minute, when the excellent Bukayo Saka, playing at left-back, crossed for Emile Smith Rowe to volley home.
Arsenal doubled their advantage soon afterwards when Nicolas Pepe cut inside from the right flank and curled a stunning effort beyond the outstretched Sam Johnstone, but they had some nervy moments after that.
In an encounter that saw Arsenal’s Nigerian-born whiz-kid named man of the match, West Brom pulled a goal back in superb style when Matheus Pereira broke forward from inside his own half and fired a diagonal shot into the corner.
The hosts struggled to regain control, despite Mikel Arteta sending on Kieran Tierney, Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Partey, but Willian eventually made the result safe when he found the top corner with a brilliant free-kick to notch his first Arsenal goal in the 90th minute of play.
Arsenal’s first home win in two months was not entirely convincing but it did at least provide some relief after a dismal week, but Ajayi’s West Brom return to the English Championship after a single season in the top flight.
In France, Lesley Ugochukwu made his starting debut for Stade Rennes in a French Ligue 1 clash with Paris Saint-Germain at Roazhon Park, where PSG’s Brazilian icon, Neymar celebrated his new contract with a goal from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.
However, PSG could not hold on to dent the full debut for 17-year-old Ugochukwu, who had been previously included in Rennes’ matchday squads on six occasions this season and entered the game against Dijon on April 25 as a late substitute, prior to Sunday night’s fixture.
Eight minutes after Ugochukwu was substituted, Sehrou Guirassy headed home from a corner to put Rennes back on level terms, thereby providing relief for the nephew of former Super Eagles’ central defender, Onyekachi Apam, who played for Rennes from 2010 to 2014.
For Sunday’s game, Rennes’ coach, Bruno Génésio was forced to hand Ugochukwu a starting spot due to the unavailability of Eduardo Camavinga, Steven Nzonzi and Jonas Martin, but the lad born in France held his own firmly for the duration of his time on the pitch.
An 87th minute red card shown to PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe aided the course for Ugochukwu’s side and ensured that Rennes ended the home encounter in a 1-1 draw, a day after Terem Moffi played 72 minutes for FC Lorient in a 4-1 loss away to Olympique yon, while Samuel Kalu missed action for Bordeaux, in a 3-0 loss away to FC Nantes, who had Moses Simon on for 81 minutes.
