A horror challenge in the Honduran top flight has gone viral after it left two opponents injured. 

The two-footed lunge by Marathon’s Andre Orellana came in the closing stages of his side’s 1-0 defeat to Liga Nacional leaders Olimpia.

The visitors had taken the lead just moments beforehand, and Orellana clearly allowed his frustration to get the better of him. 

The defender went flying into a tackle with opponents Carlos Pineda and German Mejia, leaving the ground before clattering into the pair with his studs showing. 

But perhaps the most shocking aspect of the incident was that Orellana is currently on loan at Marathon from Olimpia, and shared a dressing room with Pineda and Mejia last season. 

The referee was left with little option but to show the 21-year-old a red card, with the ferocity of the tackle undeniably dangerous.

Pineda and Mejia were left strewn on the turf as Orellana received his marching orders. 

The commentators on Deportes TVC’s broadcast of the game were initially speechless before admonishing Orellana upon seeing a replay of the incident. 

The defender may now have some apologising to do when he return to his parent club at the end of the year.

Orellana told DIEZ: ‘The truth is I was wrong and I apologise to everyone, you are human and you learn from mistakes.

‘I think it was a play where the momentum and courage for the game overcame me, it is not correct at all. Germán Mejía told me that nothing was happening, that he loves me and that I was part of the game, that I should not lose my DNA and that I should continue working, that I have a lot to continue growing.

‘This is part of football, all that remains for me is to correct and know how to control each impulse. I have to know how to have a balance. I tell you that this will not happen again.’

England captain Owen Farrell is free to play in the World Cup after a disciplinary panel made a shock decision to rescind his red card.

The No 10 was sent off for a high shot on Wales flanker Taine Basham at Twickenham on Saturday but contested the decision in a video hearing on Tuesday.

He is now free to play immediately, meaning he can feature in this weekend’s warm-up game against Ireland.

It was anticipated that Farrell was in line for a significant ban that would have ruled him out of a portion of England’s World Cup campaign. 

But Steve Borthwick and the Saracens man can breath a sigh of relief, with the key man freely available for selection.  

It is understood that the red card was struck off because England hooker Jamie George shoved Farrell into contact. 

Farrell was therefore not seen to be to blame for his shoulder connecting with the Welshman’s head. 

Evidently this was the defence that England based their case on and it proved to be successful in Tuesday’s hearing. 

Farrell had been in grave danger of being suspended for up to six weeks, in light of his track record of similar offences – including earlier this year, when he received a three-game ban – reduced from four because he took part in a ‘coaching intervention’ (tackle awareness) course. 

Fellow England back Joe Marchant claimed that the Red Rose skipper was ‘gutted’ after the 19-17 win against a back-up Wales side. 

So it will be a significant boost to the group now that he has been cleared.  

More to follow… 

Injecting drugs directly into the lungs to tackle life-threatening blood clots can halve the risk of death, a study has found.

Blood clots in the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism, lead to about 25,000 deaths in the UK every year.

The condition is usually treated using blood thinners, administered into the bloodstream via a drip in the arm.

However, Israeli researchers have found that feeding low doses of blood thinner directly into the pulmonary arteries – the blood vessels where these clots form – is more effective.

The study, published by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found the technique reduced the risk of death by 55 per cent. Researchers say this is because the method immediately directs the blood-thinning drugs to the clot, breaking it down significantly quicker.

Private dentist charges soar

The cost of visiting a private dentist has risen by 15 per cent in the past year alone.

An initial consultation now costs an average of £75, compared to £65 in August 2022, according to independent consumer information website My Tribe Insurance.

The firm also found that the price of certain types of fillings have shot up by more than a quarter.

My Tribe founder Chris Steele says the price rises have been driven by an increase in demand, due to few NHS dentists taking on new patients, adding: ‘As people struggle to find an NHS dentist, more are needing to go private, and the cost is increasing quite quickly.’

Asthma patients can now access an inhaler that tracks how severe their breathing problems are. The device, called a Digihaler, contains medicine that relieves the symptoms of the chronic condition, such as coughing, wheezing and feeling breathless, that affects 5.4 million people in the UK.

It also holds sensors that can measure how much air the user can inhale in one breath – a reliable indicator of the severity of asthma.

The Digihaler, created by Israel-based medical firm Teva, can then send these readings to the patient’s doctor, who can spot any deterioration in their breathing abilities.

People in the UK are far more likely to have genetic mutations that lead to skin cancer than those living in sunny climates, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that the British population, on average, has four times as many DNA mutations linked to skin cancer than people in Singapore, which is near the equator.

The scientists, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in London, say the findings explain why rates of skin cancer in the UK are 17 times higher than in Singapore. This is despite the fact that UV light from the sun is three times stronger in the Asian city-state.

An Argentinos Juniors defender suffered a full dislocation of his left knee on Tuesday during a Copa Libertadores match in Buenos Aires.

Luciano Sanchez, 29, suffered the serious injury after a challenge by veteran left-back Marcelo, now playing for Brazil’s Fluminense. His teammates initially believed he had broken his leg, but a medical report published by the club said it was a full dislocation.

The former Real Madrid player was sent off in tears as the Argentinian screamed on the pitch, surrounded by concerned players on both teams. The incident took place in the 56th minute of the match, which finished 1-1.

Local media say doctors at the Sanatorio Finochietto hospital estimated Sanchez’s recovery time between eight and 12 months due to the incident.

‘I lived a very tough moment on the pitch today,’ Marcelo said on social media. ‘With no intention I injured a fellow footballer. I want to wish you the best possible recovery, Luciano Sanchez.’

*GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING* 

 

Argentinos Juniors thanked the Brazilian club and the footballer for their concern for Sánchez.

‘We are rivals, not enemies,’ the Argentinian club said.

Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz, who is also Brazil’s national team coach until the middle of next year, said in a press conference that Marcelo did not deserve to be sent off and called the incident ‘an unfortunate event.’

Gabriel Avalos opened the scoring with a volley for the hosts in the 14th minute of the first leg of the round-of-16 match. 

Argentinos later saw its goalkeeper Alexis Martin Arias sent off in the 76th minute, and be replaced by substitute midfielder Luciano Heredia until the end of the match.

Fluminense took advantage of the opportunity and equalized with Samuel Xavier in the 87th minute from long range.

The teams will play again next Tuesday at the Maracana Stadium for a place in the quarterfinals.