St Mirren ended a run of four straight defeats as Scott Tanser’s stunning goal helped them come from behind to beat St Johnstone 3-1 at the SMISA Stadium.
The Perth side had taken an early lead as Benjamin Kimpioka’s flicked finish was given by VAR after being initially chalked off for offside.
But Tanser curled home an incredible long-range equaliser against his old club and St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara’s back-post header put the Buddies in front.
Three further goals were disallowed on an evening dominated by VAR, before substitute Jonah Ayunga put gloss on the win in stoppage time as St Mirren leapfrogged St Johnstone to move up to seventh place in the William Hill Premiership.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson had named an unchanged team from the side who lost narrowly against Rangers on Sunday, while St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari made just one alteration from their win against Dundee, with Kyle Cameron coming in for Andre Raymond.
It was the Perth side who got their noses in front in the eighth minute through in-form Kimpioka, who deftly flicked Jack Sanders’ towering header past Ellery Balcombe following a St Johnstone corner.
The offside flag initially came to the home side’s aid but a lengthy VAR check confirmed Kimpioka was, in fact, onside as the goal was given.
Kimpioka had the ball in the net again on 18 minutes but his left-footed finish was ruled out for offside again and VAR confirmed this decision was correct as the score remained 1-0.
St Mirren had started poorly but they began to exert themselves and they drew level on the half-hour mark in spectacular fashion.
The home fans were still appealing for a penalty as Matt Smith tangled with Toyosi Olusanya following a corner when the ball was cleared out to initial corner-taker Tanser, who curled an inch-perfect strike beyond Ross Sinclair and into the top corner from 25 yards.
It had been a wide open half and the Perth side thought they were going to go in a goal in front as Adama Sidibeh superbly chipped Balcombe but the play was brought back for what looked like a clear foul by Sidibeh on defender Charles Dunne.
In a topsy-turvy game, the home side started the second half brighter and were inches away from a second goal in the 50th minute as Killian Phillips’ deep cross came back off the angle of post and crossbar.
That second goal did come in the 57th minute as Marcus Fraser drove to the byline before crossing for O’Hara, whose header took a slight deflection as it evaded St Johnstone keeper Sinclair and trickled in off the post.
St Mirren appeared to have made the game safe in the 65th minute as Phillips drove forward and slotted through the legs of Balcombe after exchanging passes with Greg Kiltie.
But once again the celebrations were cut short by VAR, with referee Steven McLean disallowing the goal for a foul by Phillips on Kimpioka after being called to the pitchside monitor.
That decision would not matter though, as St Mirren wrapped up the win in added time, with Mikael Mandron releasing fellow substitute Ayunga whose composed finish settled an entertaining contest and gave the hosts a much-needed victory.
Lucy Bronze refused to count Chelsea out of the Champions League after they went down 4-1 to holders Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final in Spain.Ewa Pajor fired the hosts in front in the 35th minute at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and substitute Claudia Pina made it two with 20 minutes left.Sandy Baltimore pulled one back in the 74th minute, but Irene Paredes got Barcelona’s third wi...
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold says his late winner at Leicester, which put his side on the brink of the Premier League title, will live with him forever.Alexander-Arnold made a stunning return from injury as he climbed off the bench to score the decisive 76th-minute goal in the visitors’ 1-0 triumph at the King Power Stadium.It relegated Leicester and left the Reds needing just t...
Chelsea gave themselves plenty of work to do at Stamford Bridge after substitute Claudia Pina’s brace inspired holders Barcelona to a 4-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Spain.Ewa Pajor opened the scoring for the hosts in the 35th minute at the Johan Cruyff Stadium after Blues keeper Hannah Hampton had saved a ninth-minute penalty.Pina scored her first with 2...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has his sights set on history after his side moved another step closer to a sixth treble in nine years.A 5-0 Hampden win over St Johnstone set up a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on May 24.Rodgers and Jock Stein have both completed two trebles, while Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou have one each, and Celtic won three trophies ...
Trent Alexander-Arnold put the Premier League title champagne on ice for Liverpool after scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win which confirmed Leicester’s relegation.Alexander-Arnold, making his comeback from injury, climbed off the bench to score the 76th-minute winner at the King Power and put his side on the brink of glory.The Reds will get their hands on a 20th top-flight title ...
Ruben Amorim admitted Manchester United “lack a lot” as their ongoing struggles in front of goal saw them return to earth with a bump in Sunday’s Premier League defeat at home to Wolves.Three days on from the dramatic 5-4 Europa League quarter-final comeback win against Lyon, the rotated Red Devils’ positive performance counted for nothing due to their futility in the final...
Mikel Arteta said he hopes Leif Davis’ “dangerous” red-card tackle on Bukayo Saka will not stop his star winger from playing in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain.Saka was withdrawn just 10 minutes into the second half of Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Ipswich and had an ice pack applied to his right ankle following Davis’ late challenge.Davis ...
Celtic hit four goals in 12 first-half minutes to sweep past St Johnstone and into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final.The holders wreaked vengeance following defeat in Perth two weeks ago as they won 5-0 to set up a return trip to Hampden to face Aberdeen on May 24.With Celtic needing just one point from their last five matches to wrap up the William Hill Premiership title, the final is set to gi...
The 26-year-old has done quite well for the Italian club this season, and he has five assists in all competitions. He is capable of operating as a full-back as well as a winger. He could prove to be a quality squad player for Tottenham if they can get the deal done. The South American has been linked with Newcastle in the past.According to a report from Spanish publication AS, Barcelona are intere...
Rashford, 27, has rediscovered some form since joining Villa on loan from Man United in the January transfer window, scoring three goals and providing five assists in his 15 games across all competitions.The England international is still expected to leave Man United permanently in the summer, however, and his boyhood club are working on creative ways to ship him out.United have struggled in front...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 4 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 5 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 6 Ronaldo shows a side fans never see in tender video for their daughter birthday
- 7 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 8 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 9 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 10 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive