Sport

Word Wheel

The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel. Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.

s

e y h j l i f l

Use this area to write the words you have found.

Last week’s words: Here are some words you may have found from last week - you may have found more! die ere ire pie red rep see deem deep deer dies dime dire meed mere mire peer perm pier pies reds reed reps ride rime ripe rise seed seem seep seer side sped deems deeps deers dimes dries imped meeds mired mires miser peers perms piers pride pried pries prime prise reeds rides rimes sired speed spied spire spree demise dermis desire dimers empire impede permed premed prides primed primes prised reside simper spider spired empires impeder impedes premise preside premised simpered epidermis

34 SPORT TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488 13 DECEMBER 2018

PORTSS

EEKLYW

LOCAL AND NATIONAL COVERAGE... THE ENTIRE PICTURE

Sixteen-goal Lions rout Scrabble in Cup Gunners and City lead way in title race

BY DAVID SAFFER BY DAVID SAFFER Reiss Mogilner scored six goals as Maccabi The battle for the Premier League is taking London Lions thumped Scrabble A in the second round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup. shape with Arsenal and Manchester City Th e Premier League side racked up a 16-0 win with Daniel Green and Michael Kenley leading the way at the top of the table. both bagging a hat-trick. Ed Brafman, David Dinkin, and Adam Hassanali completMikel Arteta has rejuvenated The Gunners ed the rout in a mismatch of a tie. Lions could have scored in the opening who have seven wins from eight matches. minute of the clash but soon opened the scoring and led 9-0 by half time. Pep Guardiola’s City are a point back and Th e Division One team, though outclassed, battled away to the end. scoring for fun with sharpshooter Erling Lions boss was lost for words at full time such was the display from his team who Haaland ripping up the record books. gave every respect to the opposition. “I’m not really sure there’s anything to Arsenal came through their stiffest test to say, we are happy to make it through to the next round of the cup,” he commented. date in the north London derby against TotHendon United Sports ran out 3-1 victors against League One outfi t North London tenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. Raiders. Th e Premier side led early in the second Thomas Partey opened the scoring only half only for Raiders to equalise but struck two late goals to book a place in round for Harry Kane to level matters before the three of the competition. Hendon now turn their attentions to the break with a penalty. But a mistake by Spurs league as they travel to Oakwood A for a crucial top of the table clash on Sunday keeper Hugo Lloris saw Gabriel Jesus tap (10am). Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league home before Emerson Royal was dismissed leaders last month when they won 2-0, a victory would move them to within a point for a foul on Gabriel Martinelli. Granit Xhaka of Hendon with a match in hand. Elsewhere in the latest round of fi xtures, wrapped up a 3-1 win. 10-man North London Galaxy made it a three-way title race in the only Division One Arteta told BBC Sport: “The players clash of the day after defeating Oakwood B. Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy grabbed the game and deserved to win the rallied with goals from Josh Cohen and Jacob Leigh to record an important 2-1 away it. It was the whole team, starting from the win. Galaxy head Redbridge Jewish Care A in back to front. They really connected today.” the table by just one point after 10 matches, third place Fairlop FC are fi ve points beArsenal have impressed after a number of hind with two games in hand. Rafi Bloom scored for Oakwood.

“It was a fantastic performance in a must-win game,” commented Galaxy player-manager Luke Lewis. “We sat back and allowed Oakwood the ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace. “Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the fi rst one into Cohen to fi nish, before slotting home himself. Up to fi rst we go.” Th e Division Two title race also took a twist with league leaders Herstwood Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple Fortune. Faithfold B have played a game more than Vale but moved level with a 5-3 win at North London Raiders Masters. Jacob Kalms struck twice for Fortune who scored through leading scorer James Milletwith his 17th goal of the season. Th e result was all the more remarkable as Temple were down to 11 players with ‘keeper Ben Rebuck dislocating a shoulder in the warm up. “Th is was a fantastic win given the circumstances,” said delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden.

“We had a number of players out, Rebuck got injured, so I couldn’t have asked any more from the players. We wish Ben a speedy recovery.

“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner. It’s a big win, one we will enjoy and we hope to build on it in 2019.”

He added, “Th is win marks 50 years as a football club and will be one Nigel Kyte and everyone associated with the club from day

16-goal Maccabi London Lions one will enjoy.”

Vale boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to wish Rebuck well following his injury.

“First and most importantly, everyone at Vale would like to wish the Fortune ‘keeper a quick recovery, we hope to see him back on the football pitch as soon as possible,” he said.

As for the defeat, Emanuel commented, “It doesn’t matter how big a squad you have, you can never account for unavailability or injury. Only fi ve of today’s team played in our recent win over FC Team, a lack of togetherness and poor individual

seasons off the pace but it will take something special to stop defending champions City retaining the title even at this early stage of the season.

Guardiola’s side annihilated Manchester

United 6-3 at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Make no mistake, this was a statement performance. United were 6-1 down before substitute Anthony Martial grabbed two consolation goals. Phil Foden opened the scoring before Haaland struck twice to settle the contest. Foden bagged a second against a shellshocked United before half time. Haaland and Foden completed hat-tricks. Guardiola has pulled off a masterstroke in “It was a proper old school performance, signing Haaland who has notched 14 goals in eight league games. Haaland is the first player to score hat-tricks in three successive Premier we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.” games and has 17 goals in all competitions.

He will break a host of records this season at this strike rate.

Guardiola told Sky Sports: “Perfection doesn't exist, it's impossible. But we must try to look there.”

Regarding Haaland, he said: “The numbers

PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER Phil Foden scored a hat-trick against Manchester United

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

speak for himself… The numbers are scary, honestly.”

As for Foden, Guardiola added: “His desire, how he runs, is the main thing. He deserves to play every time and then he has quality.”

United had improved in recent weeks. Manager Erik Ten Hag criticised his side’s “unacceptable” lack of belief. He has a huge task to restore the clubs’ status in the Premier League.

Arsenal and City are seven points clear of fifth place occupied by Chelsea who won 2-1 at Crystal Palace. Liverpool continue to struggle but did recover from going 2-0 behind against fourth-place Brighton to share the spoils in an exciting 3-3 draw.

There could be a huge battle for Champions League places this season with a number of the ‘big six’ making slow starts but there will certainly be an enormous scrap to avoid relegation.

Currently, six points separate ninth-place Liverpool from bottom club Nottingham Forest who went down to a 4-0 defeat to Leicester City in the Monday night game.

The Reds will not be in the relegation shakeup but eighth-place Fulham and every team below are targeting safety this season as their major objective.

Brendon Rogers described the Foxes first win of the campaign “season-changing” but Forest manager Steve Cooper must be concerned at the number of goals being shipped as his 23 summer signings continue to look a disjointed side.

This weekend Arsenal face another test as they welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Sunday (4.30pm kick off). But they will be confident with the Reds looking for consistency.

City host Southampton and Haaland will be eyeing another treble. A home win seems assured and another bagful of goals to add to the 20 plus goal difference in the league at the moment.

The standout fixture of the weekend however could be Brighton’s home clash with Tottenham.

The Seagulls might have lost their manager Graham Potter to Chelsea, who should defeat lowly managerless Wolves following the sacking of Bruno Lage after a 2-0 loss to West Ham last time out, but Roberto de Zerbi has come in and they will trouble Antonio Conte’s high flyers.

Brighton will move alongside third placed Spurs with a win.

Julen Lopetegui and Bo Svensson are reportedly top targets to replace Lage at Wolves.