Columbus Crew ownership has been setting the stage for Saturday’s showdown with Inter Miami inside Cleveland’s NFL stadium for years, well before Lionel Messi began drawing record crowds across the league. More than 60,000 fans are expected at Huntington Bank Field to watch MLS’ last two unbeaten teams play. Back in 2018, as Jimmy and …
Cardiff sack Omer Riza and hand reins to Ramsey in last-ditch bid to avoid drop
- Aaron Ramsey takes over for last three games of season
- Bluebirds currently languishing 23rd in Championship
Aaron Ramsey has been given the task of trying to save Cardiff City from relegation after Omer Riza was sacked on Saturday. The Bluebirds parted company with their manager after a 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Good Friday left them 23rd in the Championship, one point from the last safe spot with three games left.
A statement from the Welsh club read: “Cardiff City can confirm that a decision has been taken to relieve Omer Riza of his duties as first team manager. Aaron Ramsey will lead the club for the remaining three games of the Championship season, beginning with Monday’s match at home to Oxford United.
Continue reading...Tottenham showed true selves in Frankfurt, claims Guglielmo Vicario
- Spurs won in Germany to reach Europa League semis
- Goalkeeper admits team have ‘suffered a lot this season’
Guglielmo Vicario believes Tottenham showed their true colours as they progressed to the Europa League semi-finals and admitted they had “suffered a lot” during an otherwise disappointing season.
A first clean sheet since the 16 February 1-0 win against Manchester United, who Spurs could meet in next month’s final if they beat Athletic Bilbao, helped overcome Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on aggregate thanks to Dominic Solanke’s penalty. Ange Postecoglou’s side face the Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt as Spurs attempt to make up for an underwhelming Premier League campaign by claiming their first trophy since 2008.
Continue reading...LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo will step down at end of season and return to Germany
The club's winningest coach said that in the best interests of his family it is time to return to Germany, where he played as a pro for Hannover 96.
Championship roundup: Solomon keeps Leeds top with victory at Oxford
- Bristol City and Coventry tighten grip on playoff spots
- Plymouth stay bottom after injury-time Boro winner
Leeds are on the verge of promotion after Manor Solomon’s goal secured a 1-0 victory at Oxford. The win keeps Leeds top of the Championship and five points clear of third-placed Sheffield United with three games remaining.
Daniel Farke’s side scored the decisive goal in the first half with Jayden Bogle’s cross finished at the far post by the Tottenham loanee Solomon.
Continue reading...Premier League team news: predicted lineups for the weekend action
Aston Villa host Newcastle in a top-five battle while Leicester will be relegated if they fail to beat Liverpool
Saturday 3pm Venue Gtech Community Stadium
Continue reading...Premier League money matters: the table that really counts in May
With one trophy and hundreds of millions up for grabs, league position means more than pride as TV payouts shape the financial future of every club
Points mean prizes. And money. Lots and lots of money. Only one trophy is handed out at the conclusion of the Premier League season, meaning the most tangible reward most teams are playing for over the final few weeks of the campaign is a bigger check.
Last season, each Premier League team received anywhere between £175.9m and £109.7m for their participation in the self-styled Greatest League in the World. These payouts take into account everything from league position, the number of matches broadcast on TV and commercial revenue among other factors.
Continue reading...Party like it’s 1999: Amorim uses treble as ‘inspiration’ for crazy Lyon comeback
- ‘I was watching the 1999 documentary … A great night’
- United score three goals in extra time to progress in Europa League
After Manchester United scored three times in the last seven minutes of extra time to knock Lyon out and progress to a Europa League semi-final versus Athletic Bilbao, Ruben Amorim stated he had drawn on the 1999 Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich.
Losing 1-0 going into added time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær claimed European glory for United 26 years ago.
Continue reading...Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Brighton hope their injury problems ease, Palace must stem the tide and Forest could do with Chris Wood fully fit
Considering the length of Brighton’s injury list, Fabian Hürzeler will be desperate to get Kaoru Mitoma back in time for Saturday’s trip to west London. The Japanese winger sustained a heel injury against Crystal Palace, ruling him out of the draw with Leicester. It was the first time he had missed a Premier League game all season after making 31 appearances. Whether he will be available against Brentford is yet to be seen but, with three teenagers on the bench last weekend, the more experience Hürzeler can name on the teamsheet the better. James Milner, Igor Julio, Georginio Rutter, Adam Webster, Ferdi Kadioglu and Tariq Lamptey are all out, while the goalkeeper Jason Steele returned to action for the under-21s this week but Carl Rushworth will remain the backup to Bart Verbruggen for now. If Mitoma can recover in time, it will be a timely boost as Hürzeler’s side fight for a European place. Will Unwin
Brentford v Brighton, Saturday 3pm (all times BST)
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
Everton v Manchester City, Saturday 3pm
West Ham v Southampton, Saturday 3pm
Continue reading...Maguire heads winner as Manchester United pull off chaotic comeback against Lyon
Manchester United unveiled a giant tifo that declared “Never Gonna Stop”, then did precisely this by knocking out 10-man Lyon in an electrifying end to extra time that ranks second in the club’s pantheon of late, late continental finishes.
For those here the drama of minutes 114-120 (+34 seconds) will never be forgotten. At this juncture United had gone 4-2 down to a Rayan Cherki strike and an Alexandre Lacazette penalty (on 104 and 109 minutes) that had the French side leading 6-4 on aggregate and apparently dumping Ruben Amorim’s men out of Europe.
Continue reading...Manchester United 5-4 Lyon: Europa League quarter-final, second leg – as it happened
United looked like exiting the Europa League meekly before pulling off one of the great comebacks
2 min: A little smoke from the pre-match pyro party still floating about. A couple of early touches for Onana. Casemiro has the opportunity to send Dorgu into space down the left but overcooks the pass and clanks it out for a throw.
A blast of John Denver, then Lyon get the ball rolling, with the aggregate score 2-2 after the first leg. The hosts are kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.
Continue reading...Spirit animal Lewis-Skelly leads Arsenal’s youthful puncturing of Madrid mythology
Teenager looked at home in Bernabéu contest as Mikel Arteta’s side celebrated progress six years in the making
Where is la remontada? Seriously. There really was supposed to be a remontada around here somewhere. Of all the sprinkles of sugar, the crispy, salty, crunchy morsels for Arsenal’s supporters to pick over after Wednesday night’s brilliantly assured victory at the Bernabéu it is probably Myles Lewis-Skelly’s part that will give the most lasting satisfaction.
Sadly for the banter-angle it seems the immediate post-match rumour that Lewis-Skelly had approached Jude Bellingham and asked him: ‘Where is la remontada?’, as recycled across social media in a dizzying range of languages, turns out to have been, of all things, made up.
Continue reading...Champions League review: Arsenal conquer Bernabéu as elite reshuffle
Arteta’s side delivered a performance for the ages to knock out Real Madrid, while PSG held firm at Villa Park and Inter outlasted Bayern to set up a semi-final of contrasts
Arsenal
Continue reading...Championship anxiety and emotion heighten in the race for promotion
Leeds and Burnley are trying to hold off Blades at the top and thrilling race for playoff spots must be whittled down
Ao Tanaka sat in the away dressing room and started crying. The Japan midfielder had just helped Leeds win a vital match at Middlesbrough this month but they were not tears of joy. “I asked Ao: ‘Why?’” said his manager, Daniel Farke. “He said: ‘I don’t know boss, I’m just so empty.’”
Given it is April and, with four games remaining, a gruelling, painfully tight, Championship promotion race is drawing towards a denouement, no one seemed too surprised. “It’s hard for all my players at the moment,” said Farke, whose team could, like Burnley, be promoted as early as Easter Monday. “We’re working for the most emotional club in the UK and the outside world is always nervous and panicking.”
Continue reading...Bayern’s Josip Stanisic admits pushing ballboy was ‘a bit stupid’ in exit at Inter
- Defender reacted after ballboy threw ball away from him
- Bayern were chasing goal to force extra time at San Siro
Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanisic said it was “stupid” of him to push a ballboy off his stool after he tossed the ball away in stoppage time of their Champions League match against Inter on Wednesday.
A 2-2 draw in the second leg at San Siro enabled Inter to advance to the semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate.
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