Manchester United, Tour De France and NBA Finals all feature on our weekend news update.
Man United lose EPL opener
Wilfried Zaha scored twice on his return to Manchester United as a controversial retaken penalty helped Crystal Palace to an impressive 3-1 win at Old Trafford.
In the game’s major flashpoint, referee Martin Atkinson awarded Palace a penalty after VAR Jon Moss instructed him to consult his pitch-side monitor. Jordan Ayew’s cross deflected off the arm of Victor Lindelof, but after Ayew’s spot-kick was saved by David de Gea, the Spaniard was deemed to have encroached on the taker.
Donny Van De Beek came on for his United debut in the second period and the Netherlands midfielder reduced the deficit with a well-taken effort, but Zaha’s superb finish ensured a second successive victory for Palace at Old Trafford.
The result keeps the visitors perfect this season with two wins from two while United suffered their first league defeat in 15 Premier League games stretching back to January.
Boston Celtics Bounce Back In Eastern Conference Finals
Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, Jayson Tatum added 25 and Gordon Hayward made his return on Saturday night as the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat to haul themselves back into contention in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After falling 2-0 behind in the series following Thursday’s defeat, Celtics players reportedly aired their frustrations in a raucous locker room and it seemed to do the trick as they were never behind in a 117-106 victory.
The Celtics were also boosted by the return of Hayward, who scored six points in 31 minutes of a welcome return from an ankle injury that has kept him out since August 17. After three games in five days, the teams now have a three game break before Wednesday’s all-important Game 4 in the best-of-seven series.
Tadej Podagar Set To Win Tour De France
Tadej Pogacar is set to win the Tour de France ahead of strong favourite Primoz Roglic in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the race’s history. Pogacar, 21, will be confirmed as the youngest winner for 111 years at the end of Sunday’s largely processional stage to Paris.
The UAE-Team Emirates rider overhauled a 57-second deficit to Roglic, who was thought to be a far stronger rider on stage 20’s time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles. It will be a first Grand Tour victory for Slovenian Pogacar, who took the yellow jersey from compatriot Roglic after he had held it for 13 days.
Pogacar is now 59 seconds ahead of Roglic at the end of a day of drama reminiscent of the 1989 Tour, when Greg LeMond unexpectedly overhauled Laurent Fignon in a final-day time trial to win by eight seconds. Richie Porte of Trek-Segafredo will be on the podium in Paris for the first time, taking third, three minutes and 30 seconds down.
Pogacar won the stage, one minute 21 seconds ahead of Roglic’s Jumbo-Visma team-mate Tom Dumoulin. Porte climbed to third overall after finishing in third place on the stage.