Category Uncategorized

The captain had one of his poorest games in the crunch moment of the season while the defender's poor form since returning from injury continued

Manchester United's dreams of saving their worst season in half a century with Europa League glory were shattered as they limped to a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the final. Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu both defended poorly to allow Brennan Johnson to score the only goal of the game in the 40th minute.

It was a suitably scruffy goal to win a final severely lacking in quality between the two worst English sides not to be relegated this season, and the ragged Red Devils simply had no response to going behind, with Bruno Fernandes failing to inspire his troops.

Harry Maguire and the tricky Amad Diallo were the only bright spots from a drab first half which ended in terrible fashion. Shaw, who had looked unconvincing from the start and has really done so ever since returning from injury, allowed Johnson to get in front of him and diverted the ball towards his goal before the forward got the final touch. Patrick Dorgu had not done his team-mate a favour either as he did not even try to stop Johnson, who should have been his man.

Ruben Amorim took too long to make his changes, although Alejandro Garnacho gave them faint hope with some thrusting runs down the left side. United came closest to scoring when Rasmus Hojlund had a header cleared off the line brilliantly by Micky van de Ven, while Shaw got power on a last-ditch header deep in injury time, but Guglielmo Vicario saved well.

It was too little too late from a United side who never deserved to win the final and, to tell the truth, did not deserve a good ending to this miserable campaign.

GOAL rates United's players from San Mames…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Andre Onana (5/10):

The goal was not totally his fault, but he did not help himself with slow reactions and diving backwards into his own goal. Before then he had left Yoro in the lurch by failing to come out of his area and sweep up Richarlison's pass.

Leny Yoro (5/10):

Didn't have the best communication with Onana and did not carry the ball as well as he can. A little rustiness should have been expected given he rushed back from injury for this final.

Harry Maguire (6/10):

Gave a strong display, particularly in the first half. Moved the ball well, especially with his defence-splitting pass to Dorgu. But there were no miracles down the other end.

Luke Shaw (3/10):

Looked shaky from the off, letting Johnson start a dangerous attack early on. He totally botched his next match-up with the forward, being too weak to get in front of him and then diverting the ball inside the near post. Nearly made amends with his last-gasp header but was denied by Vicario.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Noussair Mazraoui (6/10):

Defended well, clearing a dangerous ball from Porro and then making a superb tackle on Son. Didn't get forward much.

Casemiro (5/10):

Made some aggressive tackles but lacked ideas with the ball and didn't cause a nuisance of himself in the box.

Bruno Fernandes (4/10):

Uninspiring when it mattered most. His shot at Vicario was one of United's few efforts on target. A loose pass invited a dangerous Spurs break and he couldn't muster any magic at all as the minutes ticked away.

Patrick Dorgu (4/10):

Too passive for the goal, standing still and letting Johnson attack the ball. Tried to make up for it with some positive play down the left, but couldn't make a tangible difference.

Getty Images SportAttack

Amad Diallo (7/10):

United's brightest player from start to finish. Fired inches wide, tested Vicario in the first half and tried desperately to get his side back in the game.

Rasmus Hojlund (5/10):

A bit unlucky. Got hardly any service and his one good effort was sensationally cleared off the line by Van de Ven. Taken off for Zirkzee.

Mason Mount (5/10):

Offered little in the first half, and although he improved in the second, he lost his footing after his best piece of play inside the area. Taken off for Garnacho.

Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):

Instantly created danger, getting at Porro and then forcing Vicario into a fine save.

Joshua Zirkzee (5/10):

Offered very little going forward, although he did halt a dangerous counter by taking a booking.

Diogo Dalot (N/A):

Replaced Mazraoui in the 85th minute.

Kobbie Mainoo (N/A):

A desperate substitution in added time.

Ruben Amorim (4/10):

His line-up was risky, fielding Yoro so soon after injury, but more seriously starting Shaw despite his poor form, as well as picking Mount over Garnacho. And now there is no golden ticket after all, the benefit of the doubt he has been getting will disappear.

Visitors made to follow on after Somerset declaration as Gregory, Abell share seven

ECB Reporters Network22-Sep-2023Relegation-threatened Kent had to endure the ordeal of a final day follow-on before emerging from the rain-ruined LV= Insurance County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton with a potentially valuable draw.The visitors were bowled out for 235 after Somerset had declared their first-innings total on an overnight 404 for 4, Joe Denly making a priceless 73 to guide his side from a perilous 31 for 4. Skipper Tom Abell was the pick of the home bowling attack with 4 for 52, while Lewis Gregory claimed 3 for 49.Trailing by 169 and faced with a possible 41 overs in their second innings, Kent made a better fist of things and were 44 for 2 when the players shook hands at 4.30pm. They took six points from the game and Somerset 12.The home side’s decision to declare on their overnight total robbed Tom Kohler-Cadmore of the chance to break Viv Richards’ record for the fastest first-class century scored by a home player at Taunton – 48 balls against Glamorgan in 1986. The former Yorkshire player was left unbeaten on 68, off 31 deliveries, having struck eight sixes and two fours.But the declaration also offered the hosts their only chance of winning the game. And it soon looked more than an outside bet as Kent lost four wickets in the first 10.3 overs of the day, Gregory claiming three of them from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End.The experienced allrounder had Ben Compton caught behind pushing forward, Daniel Bell-Drummond pouched at midwicket off a full toss and Jack Leaning leg-before in a seven-over opening spell of 3 for 30 that included four no-balls.Jack Brooks, on his final Somerset appearance, weighed in with the wicket of Tawanda Muyeye, well caught low down by Andy Umeed at second slip and there was clear evidence of help for the seamers in a pitch that retained a tinge of greenness.The number of times Kent batsmen played and missed offered evidence that their own bowling attack had failed to capitalise on favourable first-day conditions after skipper Leaning had won the toss.The visitors’ need for batting points saw them bat positively in adversity, aided by an unusually wayward three overs from Neil Wagner, which cost 32 runs, mainly due to over-pitching. Denly and Harry Finch added 54 in 10.1 overs before the latter nicked a drive off seamer Abell through to wicketkeeper James Rew.Denly was severe on anything around half-volley length, producing a string of well-timed straight and cover drives to move to 40 by lunch, which was taken at 110 for 5.The afternoon session began well for Kent with Marcus O’Riordan providing good support for Denly, who went to a precious half-century off 74 balls, with eight fours. The pair built on the score with increasing confidence and had added 71 in 17.2 overs when O’Riordan fell lbw moving across his stumps to a delivery from Abell.Still it seemed Kent might avoid the follow-on and perhaps notch a batting point until a clatter of wickets with the total on 200 saw Abell gain another leg-before decision to remove Denly before striking again four balls later, bowling Jas Singh for a duck.With no addition to the score, Joey Evison, who had batted well for his 23, pulled a short ball from Wagner to Tom Banton at square leg. Michael Hogan, injured bowling on the first day, walked out with a runner and contributed 19 to a last-wicket stand of 35 with Arafat Bhuiyan before having his stumps scattered by Abell, who had been prevented from bowling by a side problem for much of the season.Tea was taken before Compton and Muyeye launched the Kent follow-on, knowing their side had garnered only one bonus point from the match and desperate to ensure five for the draw.There was greater assurance to their batting in bright sunshine, but with the total on 34 in the 11th over Josh Davey had Muyeye well caught by the diving Abell at third slip for 24. Compton edged a ball from Wagner that left him through to Rew, but by then the draw was inevitable and after one over from occasional spinner Banton the players shook hand.

Wrexham’s promotion fate rests in their own hands, but what happens if they finish level with Wycombe on points and goal difference?

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Red Dragons sit second with two games left
• Chairboys still in the promotion picture
• Dramatic finish to 2024-25 campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  That remains a possibility in League One, while Charlton Athletic will believe that they are not out of the top-two picture just yet. There are just two more rounds of fixtures to be taken in by teams in the third tier of English football.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As it stands, Wrexham – who have welcomed Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to fixtures in recent weeks – occupy second place. If they can cling on to that position, then history will be made when taking a third successive step up the EFL ladder.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wycombe are, however, just two points adrift of the Red Dragons. There are a number of scenarios that could play out and see the Red Dragons finish on the same number of points as the Chairboys. They are also level pegging in the goal difference department at present.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT THE EFL HANDBOOK SAYS

  If there was to be no separating the two teams on those fronts come the end of play on May 3, then Reynolds and McElhenney would face an agonising end to the regular season. That is because the EFL handbook states: “If any two or more Clubs have scored the same number of points and have the same goal difference, the higher or highest placed Club shall be the Club having scored the most goals in League Matches in that Season.”

Quadricep tear could force her to miss eight of Sydney Sixers’ 10 league games

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2024New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against India after tearing her left quadricep muscle. Kerr picked up the injury during the opening game on Thursday, which India won by 59 runs, and is expected to take approximately three weeks to recover. She will not be replaced in the ODI squad.This also puts her WBBL participation in serious doubt for Sydney Sixers with the tournament set to start on Sunday. Amelia was a big-name pre-signing for Sixers as a platinum-category pick and could miss eight of Sixers’ 10 league games even if she recovers in three weeks.An NZC release stated Amelia was taken for scans on Friday morning, which revealed a grade-one quadricep tear, and that she would return home on Sunday to start her rehabilitation.”We’re really gutted for Melie,” New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer said. “Injuries are always a challenging time for a player and we know how disappointed she is to not be able to play these games.”Everyone knows how much of an integral part of this team Melie is so we’ll certainly miss her but we’re wishing her a speedy recovery.”Soon after playing a pivotal role in New Zealand’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps, Amelia was New Zealand’s best bowler in the opening ODI too, taking 4 for 42 before scoring an unbeaten 25 off 23 in the chase. The remaining two ODIs are on October 27 and 29, also in Ahmedabad.Amelia’s absence could hurt New Zealand’s hopes of climbing the Women’s ODI Championship table, where a top-six finish will ensure direct qualification for the ODI World Cup in 2025. New Zealand are currently placed sixth out of 10 teams and will next play Australia in December.

Fans of both Ted Lasso and Mumford & Sons were taken by surprise as an unexpected collaboration took place on stage during a Kansas City concert.

• Ted Lasso cast joined Mumford & Sons on stage
• They sang the show's theme tune
• Season four filming is underway

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lead actor Jason Sudeikis and other members of the Ted Lasso cast such as Hannah Waddingham made a show-stopping appearance on stage during the concert to sing and dance along to the show's theme song, as promotion continues for the upcoming fourth season of the iconic show.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sudeikis is a Kansas City native himself and so this was the perfect location for a surprise guest appearance. The much-loved show, which follows American Ted Lasso on his unexpected journey into football management in England, is gearing up for a fourth season after much critical acclaim and many awards won during the first three seasons, including 13 Emmys.

• Apple TV
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR TED LASSO?

  This on-stage appearance will only have done more to build anticipation for fans for the next season of the show when is does hit screens across the globe. Maybe we will see Sudeikis and Co. make more surprise public appearances before then.

West Indies made light work of their run chase under the Kensington Oval floodlights, centuries from Keacy Carty and Brandon King setting up a dominant eight-wicket win that sealed a 2-1 series victory over England.Carty’s maiden hundred, from 97 balls, made him the first cricketer from St Maarten to reach the landmark for West Indies. He was followed to three figures by King, who made the most of being dropped twice with a timely knock, his first 50-plus score in ODIs since the World Cup Qualifier in July 2023. Their double-century stand, eventually worth 209, was the highest for West Indies against England in the format.England had scrapped their way up to what might have been a competitive total after a nightmare start saw them 24 for 4 at the end of the first powerplay. Phil Salt knuckled down to play his longest international innings, in terms of balls face, while Dan Mousley was inventive on the way to a maiden ODI fifty. With an injury to Romario Shepherd forcing Shai Hope to turn to Sherfane Rutherford – whose 3.5 overs at the death disappeared for 57 – England had at least given themselves a glimmer.It took one ball of the reply to suggest that conditions for batting had eased, as King spanked Jofra Archer’s opening gambit through the covers. He did the same to the second delivery, with Archer’s first three overs eventually costing 24 – and although Jamie Overton claimed a first ODI wicket with his third legitimate ball, Evin Lewis bounced out for 19, West Indies were already up and running.King finished the powerplay by bashing Reece Topley for two fours in three balls, putting West Indies ahead of the asking rate at 65 for 1 after ten. And while Carty, who picked up his first four by gliding Topley behind square in the same over, had some uncertain moments against the legspin of Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone early on, the second-wicket pair were soon motoring towards the target.Rashid’s first three overs had gone for just seven, but King pumped him down the ground for six to mark a shift in the mood. An edge off Livingstone evaded Salt’s gloves when King was on 44, and the West Indies opener went to a 60-ball fifty in the next over, clubbing Rashid emphatically through midwicket.Carty had been given out lbw to Livingstone’s first ball, but reviewed in the knowledge that there was bat involved. He cut and swept consecutive boundaries in the same over, and later launched Rashid over the deep midwicket boundary as West Indies steadily brought the required rate down while negotiating England’s seven bowling options. After bringing up a 61-ball fifty, Carty again took back-to-back fours off Livingstone, before doing the same to Sam Curran.A muscular pull for six off Topley ended up in the crowd at deep midwicket, as Carty overtook his partner, followed up by a flat-batted four down the ground. Having surpassed his previous ODI best of 88, he reached his hundred with a glide for four off Jacob Bethell’s left-arm spin – removing his helmet and raising his arms aloft as applause rolled around the ground.The moment was repeated at the start of the following over as King, who also saw a cut off Archer burst through the hands of Jordan Cox in the covers on 86, swatted the same bowler through fine leg to raise his third century in the format. King was bowled by Topley with 13 required but the result was beyond doubt.The alacrity with which West Indies hunted down their requirement amply demonstrated why both captains had wanted to bowl first at the toss. Shai Hope, who grew up at Kensington Oval, said he was “not sure what we’re going to get” from the surface – but his seamers certainly knew how to exploit the conditions, leaving England four down and tottering inside the first powerplay.The main source of discomfort for West Indies early on came via an extraordinary on-field contretemps between Alzarri Joseph and Hope, the fast bowler seemingly unhappy with the field set for England’s No. 3, Cox. Joseph could be seen repeatedly remonstrating with his captain from the top of his run-up, and he took his frustration out on the batter, Cox barely seeing a 148kph/92mph lifter that flicked the glove on its way through. Joseph didn’t celebrate and walked off at the end of the over, briefly leaving West Indies with 10 men on the field.Matthew Forde had already struck in his second over, responding to being driven for four by Will Jacks with a similar delivery that went away just enough to take the outside edge. Shepherd then enjoyed immediate success when replacing Joseph, as Bethell slashed at a wide delivery only to be spectacularly held by the leaping Roston Chase at point. When Livingstone fell to another catch at the wicket trying to force a drive off Shepherd, England were flatlining at 24 for 4 with one ball left in the powerplay.One of the England batters still standing was Salt. His half-century in the second ODI was the first time he had batted through the powerplay since June 2022, but he backed up that effort in Barbados – albeit 11 not out off 26 balls told of England’s struggle.He found useful allies in Curran and Mousley, adding consecutive stands of 70 for the fifth and sixth wickets. Curran, again up the order at No. 6, was proactive from the outset but fell looking to take on Chase’s offspin. Mousley then continued the rebuilding effort, with Salt grinding away to a 79-ball fifty – by far the slowest of his five in ODIs.England were 163 for 5 at the end of the 40th but lost Salt in the following over, King’s athleticism at deep midwicket resulting in a comfortable relay catch for Joseph. Shepherd then collapsed after catching his studs in the turf and had to be helped from the field, as the momentum shifted again. Mousley fell shortly after reaching fifty but lower-order cameos from Overton (32 off 21) and Archer (38 not out off 17) saw Rutherford’s medium-pace take a battering and 100 runs bleed from the last ten overs. That ended up as a footnote after King and Carty took charge.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!