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For all the on-field success Antonio Conte has enjoyed in guiding Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table, even he wont be able to avoid the storm clouds gathering over Stamford Bridge and all of English football.With the club now one of the primary focuses of a sex abuse scandal that appears to be growing daily and roiling the country, the Blues crunch clash versus Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday has been pushed to the backburner as the sordid allegations mount and more former players come forward to level further charges.Earlier this week, The Daily Telegraph reported the London club made a secret payment within the last three years to a former youth player over allegations of sex abuse in the 1970s by the late Eddie Heath, the teams one-time chief scout. Though there was originally a confidentiality agreement between the two sides, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich did not deny a claim they paid Heaths accuser, but The Times of London picked up on the report and claimed in a story Thursday the board knew of the payment.If that were to be proven true, Chelsea could face sanctions from both the FA and the Premier League since both organisations rules state that clubs should notify them of any evidence of abuse towards a child or adult at risk.The club has not addressed the matter beyond a statement released on its website Tuesday saying in part, Chelsea Football Club has retained an external law firm to carry out an investigation concerning an individual employed by the club in the 1970s, who is now deceased.The club has also contacted The FA to ensure that all possible assistance is provided as part of their wider investigation. This will include providing The FA with any relevant information arising out of the clubs investigation.The wider investigation now includes 14 police municipalities across England, which originally began two weeks ago when former Crewe Alexandra defender Any Woodward recounted the repeated sexual abuse he endured by convicted pedophile Barry Bennell in an interview with The Guardian.Bennell, who also was a player on one of Chelseas youth sides that Heath oversaw, also had links to Premier League clubs Manchester City, Stoke City as well as Leeds United. He was originally convicted in the United States on an abuse charge in Florida in 1994 and served four years in prison. Upon his return to England, he was convicted of 23 offenses against six boys and sentenced to nine years in jail.Bennell was paroled this year after serving two years in prison for a 2015 arrest related to an offense that took place in 1980. On Monday, he was found unconscious in a park and was hit with eight new offenses against boys under the age of 14 that are alleged to have taken place between 1981 and 1985.Former Manchester City youth players Jason Dunford and Chris Unsworth have leveled allegations they were abused by Bennell, with Unsworth telling the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme he had been abused starting at the age of nine and raped between 50 and 100 times.Manchester City said they will be conducting an internal investigation into what links between Bennell and the club existed amid a report by the Times of London that the club is facing a potential seven-figure compensation claim by a former youth player alleging he suffered sexual abuse by a team scout.The outpouring of abuse allegations and claims by more than 20 ex-players has taken the country by storm following the creation of a help line by the NSPCC for footballers who had suffered sexual abuse. The organisation, which has the backing of the FA, claims it has received 860 calls in the first week of its operation and made 60 referrals to police or social services in the first three days.The FA, however, is also in line to face increased scrutiny after the Victoria Derbyshire programme reported earlier this week it pulled all funding from a review of its child protection policies in 2003, which was only two years into the five-year study it commissioned.With this somber backdrop, Chelsea (10-1-2) are trying to maintain their tenuous hold atop the table, with Manchester City (9-3-1) lurking one point behind in third place, also trailing Liverpool on goal difference.But it has been the Blues who have been the talk of the Premier League, winning seven on the bounce since being overrun 3-0 at Arsenal on Sept. 24 and enjoying their longest single-season winning streak since reeling off nine straight victories in 2006-07.Conte used the second half of that defeat to the Gunners as his testing grounds for the three-man backline that brought him success at Juventus and the Italian national team. With their 3-4-3 formation, Chelsea have outscored opponents by a staggering 19-1 margin during their run to first after rallying to beat Tottenham 2-1 in a London derby last weekend.Its a big test because Man City are a fantastic team, but (last) Saturday was a good test for us, Conte told Chelseas official club website. Now we are a different team to two months ago … I love the mentality of my players, I saw a great attitude and great commitment from all of them. I see the will to change something from the past, now its important to continue.That goal was allowed last week to Tottenham Hotspur, ending a 601-minute shutout streak, but no matter -- the Blues won as Pedro scored right before halftime and Victor Moses netted the match-winner shortly after the interval. For the Nigeria international, it appears he has finally settled at Stamford Bridge after predecessor Jose Mourinho loaned him out to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United after signing in 2012.Im pleased to be playing this season. The manager has given me an opportunity to express myself and Im relishing it at the moment, Moses said. I just want to keep playing football and enjoying myself whenever Im out there.Chelsea have received the bulk of their goals during this winning streak from Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro -- the trio have accounted for 13 of the 19 goals. Pedro has notched four assists in this span and Costa, making the same type of incisive and smart runs that helped propel Chelsea to the 2014-15 EPL title, has contributed three assists.But it has been Pedro, who looked out of sorts last season after arriving from Barcelona, who was singled out for praise by teammate and captain Gary Cahill for his goal which pulled Chelsea level versus Spurs.He whipped it into the top corner and that is the sort of player we have got, ones to change games like that, said Cahill of Pedro, who has already exceeded his assist total of all of last season. We have been on the other side of that and it is not nice.Manchester City have not been nice to opponents of late, entering this match unbeaten in their last six matches overall (4-2-0). They finally appear to have got themselves righted in league play, having won back-to-back matches following a 2-1 victory at Burnley -- a win made possible by Sergio Agueros brace from close range on either side of halftime.From the beginning, he was ready, manager Pep Guardiola said of Aguero, who has a staggering 33 goals in his last 34 league matches and 37 overall for club and country in 2016. His body language was really good. Of course, he has the quality to score amazing goals but we need him in the box.The Argentina international has also delighted in tormenting Chelsea, recording nine goals against them in 11 lifetime matches. He posted a hat trick in the most recent meeting, powering City to a 3-0 romp at Stamford Bridge on April 16. Agueros next goal with City will be his 153rd, putting him level with Colin Bell for third on the clubs all-time list.With the exception of talisman and central defender Vincent Kompany, sidelined at least another month due to injury, Guardiola should be able to field a full-strength lineup considering their Champions League match at Celtic on Tuesday is meaningless since theyre already locked into second in Group C behind Barcelona.The surplus is most noticeable in the midfield, where Yaya Toure has made an immediate impact in his two league matches since returning to Guardiolas good graces. The former Ivory Coast international is vying for a spot on Citys Champions League roster come February, but he may be the odd man out if the gaffer restores Ilkay Gundogan to the centre of the midfield.One player Chelsea are wary of is winger Kevin De Bruyne, whose tireless work rate serves as the perfect foil to Aguero as the two wreak havoc on opposing backlines. De Bruyne has only three goals, but all three have been match-winners.He is a top player, Hazard said of his Belgian compatriot to Sky Sports. He didnt get his chance here at Chelsea, but he did very well in Germany and since he went to City hes been on fire. Sometimes you dont get the chance to play, or the system the manager uses isnt right for you, not now hes full of confidence.Manchester City have struggled to assert themselves at home in league play of late, recording three consecutive draws and recording just one clean sheet at the Etihad while going 3-3-0. Thats in stark contrast to their Champions League supremacy there, having beaten Barcelona and Borussia Monchengladbach by a combined 7-1 scoreline.Aguero also had a goal in last seasons corresponding fixture, another 3-0 City victory. The Citizens are 2-2-0 in their last four league matches against Chelsea, though the Blues rolled to a 5-1 victory last season in the League Cup. Not much could be taken from that match, though, since previous manager Manuel Pellegrini opted to field a weakened lineup and sacrifice his teams trophy hunt since they were chasing silverware on three other fronts.A.J. Brown Jersey . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Jurrell Casey Jersey . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-74-Bruce-Matthews-Womens-Jersey/ . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Nate Davis Youth Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Steve McNair Youth Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift.CHASKA, Minn. -- The Latest on the Ryder Cup (all times local):10 p.m.President Barack Obama congratulated the winning U.S. team in a tweet, referencing late golf great Arnold Palmer.What a win by the USA in (hash)RyderCup. Proud to see our guys bring the trophy back home. Arnie is smiling down, Obama said.Palmer died a week ago.---7:20 p.m.There were birdies flying far and wide across Hazeltine on Sunday, and Europes Justin Rose wasnt too happy about it.The Olympic champion blistered the course setup, calling it incredibly weak and unbecoming of the event it was hosting. Rose played at Hazeltine at the 2009 PGA Championship and said the course can be as tough as you want it to be.The pin on 17 is an absolute joke, Rose said. Its a 9-iron into the middle of the green and you stiff it. So with a match on the line, you kind of feel like you want a player to step up a little bit more than they have to.---5:30 p.m.Bubba Watson has two green jackets and is ranked No. 7 in the world. For him, none of that compares to winning the Ryder Cup on Sunday. And Watson didnt even play.This is the greatest thing Ive done in golf, the vice captain said after the U.S. beat Europe 17-11. Im so happy for this team. This team was amazing. They took me in their arms and let me be a part of it.Watsons graciousness came after he was surprisingly left off of the playing roster by captain Davis Love III. But Loves decision was validated when captains picks Rickie Fowler, J.B. Holmes, Ryan Moore and Matt Kuchar combined to go 7-6-0 at Hazeltine. The seven wins were the most by a set of captains picks in Ryder Cup history.After the initial disappointment, Watson accepted Loves invitation to be a vice captain.A guy like him, showing up here, putting his ego to the side and saying, `I want to be a part of this, Brandt Snedeker said. And hes the reason why I got around today. Hes the reason why I got my point today. He was in my ear all day.---5 p.m.As one of the most well-known vice captains in Ryder Cup history, Tiger Woods spent the week in Minnesota trying to help the Americans shake an ugly losing streak in the event while also trying to keep as low a profile as possible.Mission accomplished.Woods helped captain Davis Love III with several key decisions over the weekend, including keeping Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed together for the afternoon fourball play Saturday. It all added up to a victory on Sunday and Woods said he could not have been happier to be involved.We were a team. Whether I was playing or not, I was part of a team, Woods said. And our team won.---4:40 p.m.Victorious U.S. captain Davis Love III says he is proud of his team for handling all the pressure that was on it over the last two years.After the Americans wrapped up their first Ryder Cup victory since 2008, Love said the work and preparation that went in to assembling this team helped lay the groundwork for success that eluded them so many times before.Im just proud of these guys. They had a lot of pressure on them for the last two years, Love said. Every time we picked a guy, they had more and more pressure, more and more questions. Im just so proud of the way they played.It was a special redemption for Love, who captained the team at Medinah that gave up a 10-6 lead on the final day in 2012.---4:10 p.m.The United States has won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008.Ryan Moore two-putted on No. 18 for a 1-up victory over Lee Westwood, giving the Americans a 15-10 lead that sealed the win over Europe.The victory completed a two-year soul search for the Americans after they were routed in Gleneagles for a third straight defeat. They formed a task force to address the shortcomings and delivered an emphatic performance at Hazeltine.The Americans needed just five points in the 12 singles matches Sunday.The U.S. wins started with Patrick Reeds thrilling 1-up victory over Rory McIlroy. Rickie Fowler edged Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker beat Andy Sullivan, Brooks Koepka routed Danny Willett and three matches were still being played.---3:50 p.m.The Americans are closing in on their first Ryder Cup victory since 2008.Rickie Fowler closed out Olympic champion Justin Rose, 1 up, when Rose missed a short birdie putt on No. 18 and Brooks Koepka finished an easy 5-and-4 victory over Danny Willett to give the U.S. a 12+ to 9+ lead.Rose missed a short birdie putt that would have halved the match, and Fowler celebrated with a handshake from Michael Jordan.The Americans are two points away from clinching the cup and hold the lead in four of the six remaining matches on the course.---3:15 p.m.Patrick Reed hit the tape ahead of Rory McIlroy for a 1-up win in the first -- and arguably most contested -- match of the day. The win gave the U.S. side its first point and moved the Americans within four of the match.Reed and McIlroy threw birdies -- including the final hole -- and chip-ins at each other, stoking the crowd and in one instance, forcing McIlroy to back off a shot. But in one of the classier gestures of the day, the two exchanged fist bumps on the eighth tee.Were playing the Europeans, but at the same time we play golf with these guys every single week, Reed said. `We want to beat them at their best, they want to beat us at our best.---3 p.m.Henrik Stenson was already 2-up and Jordan Spieth was looking at a shot out of the pond alongside No. 17 when he conceded the match and gave Europe the first point of the day to pull within 9+-7+.Stensons 3 and 2 win puts a bow on a great year for the Swede. He won the British Open and a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and now has kick-started Europes campaign to come back from a big deficit in singles. He made seven birdies andd was credited with an eagle on the final hole after the concession.dddddddddddd---2:45 p.m.The first match of the day has turned out as good as advertised as Patrick Reed moved to 2-up against Rory McIlroy with two holes to play. Throwing birdies at each other, neither player led by more than one through the first 15 holes.But McIlroy put himself in trouble at the par-5 16th with a tee shot in the right rough, and had to punch out. Then a heckler caused McIlroy to back off his third shot, a wedge that eventually wound up well short. Reed, who was in a greenside bunker in two, took advantage with an explosion to set up a short birdie.---2:05 p.m.The first six pairings are through the front nine and Europe is clinging to hope that captain Darren Clarkes strategy will start to pay dividends.Clarke front-loaded his team for singles play on Sunday, hoping that some strong play early would rattle the Americans and embolden the younger charges set to tee off for Europe later in the day.Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Pieters and Justin Rose led off for the Europeans, with Spaniards Rafa Cabrera Bello and Sergio Garcia rounding out the top six. The Europeans started the day trailing by three points, with the United States needing only five to clinch its first cup since 2008.So far, the U.S. leads in two of the first six pairings, but it is up in four of the final six. That means Clarke needs strong finishes from McIlroy and his top guns to give Europe a chance at the comeback.---1:20 p.m.The golfers on both sides have brought their A games to the final day of the Ryder Cup.The Americans and Europeans are raining birdies all over Hazeltine, a remarkable level of golf being played under perfect weather conditions.There were 46 birdies and one eagle through the first 118 holes played on Sunday. Thats a birdie rate of 39 percent. Among the highlights is a run of four straight birdies from American Phil Mickelson.With all 12 matches now in play, the Europeans lead in six and the Americans are up in two, with four all square.---12:39 p.m.European captain Darren Clarke called the leadoff matchup in singles on Sunday between Rory McIlroy and American Patrick Reed mouth-watering. Its been all that and more through eight holes.The two fiery competitors have traded jacked-up celebrations on the front nine, whipping themselves and the crowd into a frenzy.McIlroy took a 1-up lead after four, pumping his fists and staring down the gallery with each big shot. He also shushed the crowd after a birdie putt on No. 7. When he rolled a long birdie putt into the hole on No. 8, he yelled to the gallery I cant hear you!Reed has been every bit as demonstrative. He rolled a 20-footer in to match McIlroys birdie on No. 8 and waved his finger right in McIlroys face.Earlier, after McIlroy rolled in a birdie putt on No. 6, Reed responded with one of his own, taking a bow as the ball dropped into the hole.It was a sarcastic bite at McIlroy, who bowed after a match-winning eagle putt on Friday evening.---NoonAmerican captain Davis Love III says he and his vice captains will be vigilant in identifying unruly fans in the galleries at the Ryder Cup.Love says they will be watching and listening for heckling that goes out of bounds and will not hesitate to help security officials throw fans out.Love says 97 percent of the fans at Hazeltine have been great, but its the 3 percent were hearing out there. Love says he has even dispatched his son on a cart to monitor the situation over the last two days, particularly during Rory McIlroys rounds.Love says his son identified several fans that crossed the line on Saturday and had security officials eject them from the course.Hes a Rory fan and he was throwing people out that were ugly to Rory, Love said in a television interview.---11:40 a.m.Henrik Stensons opening tee shot in his match against Jordan Spieth wound up behind a stand of port-a-potties on the left side of the first fairway.Undaunted, the Swede took a free drop two club-lengths to his right, because the stand is considered an immovable obstruction not normally part of the course, then knocked his approach on the green.The recovery, though, did him little good, since Spieth chipped in from the fringe just behind the flag to take a 1-up lead.---11:05 a.m.Hearing chants of Welcome Rory! Welcome Rory! European star Rory McIlroy got the final day of the Ryder Cup off to a raucous start when he teed off on No. 1.McIlroy teed off first in a highly anticipated showdown with Patrick Reed to begin the singles matches. McIlroy and Reed have been the two best performers for the two sides all weekend. And both have fed off the rowdy Hazeltine crowd.McIlroy found the fairway on No. 1 while Reeds tee shot went left into the rough.---10:30 a.m.The PGA of America is pleading with the raucous, rowdy crowd at Hazeltine National Golf Club to be respectful of all participants heading into the final day of the Ryder Cup.The PGA issued a statement Sunday saying security staff will remove any fans that are disruptive in any way, including the use of vulgar or profane language directed at the players.Galleries of more than 50,000 have packed the golf course over the first two days of the event and have made their voices heard as they back the Americans in the biennial event.Europes Rory McIlroy has been at the center of much of the heckling, and has responded forcefully after making big shots.The Americans lead the Europeans 9+ to 6+ heading into singles play, needing five points in the 12 matches to win for the first time since 2008. ' ' '