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Soccer Extras: PSG beaten again; O'Shea to retire

May 01, 2019 10:55 IST

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field. 

IMAGE: Montpellier players celebrate after defeating Paris St Germain in Ligue 1, at Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France. Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

Montpellier veteran Souleymane Camara netted a late winner as they came from behind to beat Paris St Germain 3-2 in Ligue 1 on Tuesday as the champions continued their stuttering end to the season.

 

It was a third defeat in their last four league games for PSG, who also let a two-goal lead slip in Saturday’s French Cup final before losing to Stade Rennes on penalties.

PSG, who secured the Ligue 1 title earlier this month, remain 16 points ahead of second-placed Lille despite the latest setback.

PSG and Montpellier exchanged own goals in the first half before Angel di Maria put the visitors 2-1 ahead just after the hour mark.

Yet Andy Delort equalised after a quick attack launched from the back by Montpellier with 11 minutes left before a horror defensive error allowed the hosts to steal the ball and 36-year-old Camara’s shot was deflected in to win the game with time running out.

Former Man United defender O'Shea to retire at end of season

IMAGE: Reading's John O'Shea with Manchester United's interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before their match in January. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Former Manchester United defender John O'Shea will retire from professional football at the end of the season, his current club Reading said on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old's decision was announced on his birthday. He has spent the final season of his career at Reading after a seven-year stint at Sunderland.

O'Shea came through the ranks at United and helped the club to five Premier League titles, as well as the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

He won 118 caps for Ireland before his international retirement in June last year.

"Just a very small part of his playing days have been spent with the Royals, but he has amassed a medal collection that any player would be extremely proud of, winning almost everything possible during almost 20 years as a professional footballer," Reading said on Twitter.

O'Shea played in virtually every position for United, including in goal when he deputised for the injured goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after the club had already used all three of their substitutes in a win over Tottenham Hotspur in 2007.

After leaving United for Sunderland in 2011, O'Shea spent years battling for Premier League survival before succumbing to relegation in 2017.

He failed to prevent Sunderland suffering back-to-back relegations and dropping to League One before he moved to Reading at the start of the current campaign.

He could feature in Reading's final Championship game of the season, at home to Birmingham on Sunday.

Sheffield United promoted to Premier League

Sheffield United sealed promotion to the Premier League after Leeds United were held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa in a controversial Championship encounter at Elland Road in which tempers flared on Sunday.

Second-placed United had beaten Ipswich Town 2-0 on Saturday to move on to 88 points in the second-tier table. They are now five points ahead of third-placed Leeds with one more game to go.

Norwich City, with 91 points, were promoted on Saturday following a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Leeds opened the scoring in controversial circumstances when Villa's Jonathan Kodjia was down injured on the pitch. Leeds were about to put the ball out of play but Mateusz Klich picked it up and fired it into the bottom corner to spark a melee.

Villa's Anwar El Ghazi was sent off for his role in the protests after which Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, who was seen arguing with former England captain and assistant Villa coach John Terry on the touchline, asked his players to allow Villa to score unopposed when the game was restarted.

Albert Adomah was allowed to dribble past the Leeds team but even then Leeds defender Pontus Jansson attempted to stop him as he fired it past goalkeeper Kiko Casilla who stood at the edge of the box.

Villa boss Dean Smith said Klich apologised for his goal and also gave credit to Bielsa for allowing Villa to score unimpeded.

"Klich has apologised," Smith told Sky Sports. "Every credit to Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa for putting that right. I asked him and he agreed. He said 'yes'. He apologised for what happened.

"Fair play to them. It was a good game of football until that moment."

Bielsa said he had allowed Villa to score in the spirit of sportsmanship.

"We gave the goal back," Bielsa said. "English football is known for its sportsmanship so I don't need to comment on this kind of thing which is common in English football."

Villa defender Tyrone Mings also praised Leeds for allowing them to score the equaliser after failing to put the ball out of play so Kodjia could get treatment.

"We kicked it out for them," Mings said after the game. "But listen each to their own. Fair play to their manager for saying we can go and score a goal, full credit to them for saying we could go and score."

Leeds, who were league leaders until February, will now have to vie for promotion through the Championship playoffs with West Bromwich Albion and Villa also involved.

The fourth and final spot is yet to be decided with Derby County, Middlesbrough and Bristol City all in contention.

 

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)

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