BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Romelu Lukaku came on to score his first Premier League goal since September to keep Chelsea in the title race as the European champions came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1.
Reece James’ own goal put Villa ahead, but Jorginho quickly levelled from the penalty spot in a clash between two of the many English sides hit by cases of coronavirus.
Lukaku was one of Chelsea’s absentees due to a positive test for draws against Everton and Wolves last week that saw them lose ground in the title race.
But he made his return off the bench at the break and made an almost instant impact to head home Callum Hudson Odoi’s cross.
The Belgian’s blistering run then won a second Chelsea penalty in stoppage time that Jorginho slotted home.
Thomas Tuchel’s men move level on points with Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and back to within six of Manchester City, who were 6-3 winners over Leicester earlier on Boxing Day.
Villa’s own Covid outbreak saw manager Steven Gerrard forced into isolation after he tested positive on Christmas Day.
Gerrard has made a big impression since taking over in November, but this was another lesson in the gap he has to bridge to the Premier League’s top three after defeats to City and Liverpool.
The home side got off to the perfect start when James flicked Matt Targett’s effort over his own goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to open the scoring on 28 minutes.
However, the lead lasted just six minutes due to Matty Cash’s rash challenge on Hudson-Odoi inside the area.
Jorginho was Chelsea’s top league scorer last season despite all of his goals coming from penalties and the Italian international is his side’s leading marksmen in all competitions thanks to nine spot-kicks this season.
Lukaku will expect that to change over the coming weeks as the club’s record signing finds his form after a disrupted start to his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
He is still yet to start in the Premier League since suffering an ankle injury in October, with his positive test for Covid coming just as he was returning to full fitness.
But a Lukaku in form is what Chelsea need if they are to mount a serious title challenge with clashes against Liverpool and City to come in January.
The former Manchester United striker took just 11 minutes to make the difference as he timed his run perfectly to meet Hudson-Odoi’s cross and powered a header low past Emiliano Martinez.
Chelsea should have run out more comfortable winners as Mason Mount dragged his shot wide with the goal gaping after rounding Martinez.
The Argentine then spread himself to deny Hudson-Odoi when one-on-one.
But the only way Ezri Konsa could stop Lukaku as he powered his way through the Villa defense late on was by hauling him down and Jorginho got the better on Martinez once more from the spot.
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Lukaku revives Chelsea’s title bid at Aston Villa
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Lukaku revives Chelsea’s title bid at Aston Villa
- Lukaku was one of Chelsea's absentees due to a positive test for draws against Everton and Wolves last week
- The Belgian's blistering run then won a second Chelsea penalty in stoppage time
Mayweather to fight Pacquiao in Las Vegas in September
- Manny Pacquiao: ‘Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history. The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch’
- Mayweather beat fellow welterweight Pacquiao in their money-spinning 2015 'Fight of the Century,' which generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys but largely failed to live up to the hype
LOS ANGELES: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will meet in a long-awaited rematch of the highest-grossing clash in boxing history this September at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Netflix announced Monday.
The bout between two of boxing’s biggest names — who famously fought a blockbuster clash in 2015, and are now both in their late forties — comes days after Mayweather announced he is coming out of retirement.
It will be broadcast live September 19 on Netflix, as the global streaming platform increasingly moves into live sports with glitzy one-off events.
“Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history. The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch,” said Pacquiao, 47, in a joint statement.
Mayweather beat fellow welterweight Pacquiao in their money-spinning 2015 “Fight of the Century,” which generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys but largely failed to live up to the hype.
Mayweather is believed to have earned an estimated $300 million from the unanimous points victory over the Filipino icon, which remains the most lucrative fight in history and generated more than $600 million revenue.
Former multi-weight world champion Mayweather retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 bouts, though he has continued to fight in exhibitions since, including an upcoming clash this spring with Mike Tyson.
Pacquaio, also a multiple world champion, retired for a four-year period from 2021 in which he unsuccessfully ran for the Philippine presidency. He came out of retirement last year.
‘One loss’
Rumors of a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch have circulated for years, and speculation soared following Mayweather’s announcement last week that he would return to the professional arena this year.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” said Mayweather, in the statement.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” said Pacquiao.
The clash will be the first-ever professional boxing match to take place at Sphere, a venue primarily used for concerts and films which opened in 2023 and features an immersive 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen on its curved interior walls.
It will be shown globally on Netflix, which boasts some 325 million subscribers.
The streamer has recently increased its sports offerings, with a super middleweight clash between Terence Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas last September viewed by 41 million people.
It also aired divisive fights pitting YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul against a 58-year-old Tyson in November 2024, and versus Anthony Joshua last December.
Both were criticized for proving to be lackluster contests, but drew enormous global attention.
‘Glory’
Nicknamed “Money,” former multi-weight world champion Mayweather was once the world’s highest-paid athlete. His last professional bout took place in 2017 against UFC star Conor McGregor.
The 48-year-old American has long been a controversial figure, often criticized for an overly defensive style, and accused by some of dodging the most dangerous opponents simply to embellish his record.
Mayweather has also spent time in prison for one of a string of domestic violence incidents.
Pacquaio known at home as “The National Fist” and more broadly as “PacMan,” is an eight-division world champion.
He is beloved in the Philippines for his rags-to-riches story, having dropped out of high school at 14, selling donuts on the roadside and working as a grocery stacker.
Pacquaio, having already served as a Philippines senator from 2016, retired for a four-year period from 2021 in which he tried and failed to win the country’s top political office.
The diminutive southpaw came out of retirement last year. He was held to a draw by Mario Barrios, putting his professional record at 62-8-3.
“As always, I dedicate this fight to my fellow Filipinos around the world and to bringing glory to the Philippines,” said Pacquiao.
The bout between two of boxing’s biggest names — who famously fought a blockbuster clash in 2015, and are now both in their late forties — comes days after Mayweather announced he is coming out of retirement.
It will be broadcast live September 19 on Netflix, as the global streaming platform increasingly moves into live sports with glitzy one-off events.
“Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history. The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch,” said Pacquiao, 47, in a joint statement.
Mayweather beat fellow welterweight Pacquiao in their money-spinning 2015 “Fight of the Century,” which generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys but largely failed to live up to the hype.
Mayweather is believed to have earned an estimated $300 million from the unanimous points victory over the Filipino icon, which remains the most lucrative fight in history and generated more than $600 million revenue.
Former multi-weight world champion Mayweather retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 bouts, though he has continued to fight in exhibitions since, including an upcoming clash this spring with Mike Tyson.
Pacquaio, also a multiple world champion, retired for a four-year period from 2021 in which he unsuccessfully ran for the Philippine presidency. He came out of retirement last year.
‘One loss’
Rumors of a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch have circulated for years, and speculation soared following Mayweather’s announcement last week that he would return to the professional arena this year.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” said Mayweather, in the statement.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” said Pacquiao.
The clash will be the first-ever professional boxing match to take place at Sphere, a venue primarily used for concerts and films which opened in 2023 and features an immersive 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen on its curved interior walls.
It will be shown globally on Netflix, which boasts some 325 million subscribers.
The streamer has recently increased its sports offerings, with a super middleweight clash between Terence Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas last September viewed by 41 million people.
It also aired divisive fights pitting YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul against a 58-year-old Tyson in November 2024, and versus Anthony Joshua last December.
Both were criticized for proving to be lackluster contests, but drew enormous global attention.
‘Glory’
Nicknamed “Money,” former multi-weight world champion Mayweather was once the world’s highest-paid athlete. His last professional bout took place in 2017 against UFC star Conor McGregor.
The 48-year-old American has long been a controversial figure, often criticized for an overly defensive style, and accused by some of dodging the most dangerous opponents simply to embellish his record.
Mayweather has also spent time in prison for one of a string of domestic violence incidents.
Pacquaio known at home as “The National Fist” and more broadly as “PacMan,” is an eight-division world champion.
He is beloved in the Philippines for his rags-to-riches story, having dropped out of high school at 14, selling donuts on the roadside and working as a grocery stacker.
Pacquaio, having already served as a Philippines senator from 2016, retired for a four-year period from 2021 in which he tried and failed to win the country’s top political office.
The diminutive southpaw came out of retirement last year. He was held to a draw by Mario Barrios, putting his professional record at 62-8-3.
“As always, I dedicate this fight to my fellow Filipinos around the world and to bringing glory to the Philippines,” said Pacquiao.
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