Seamer Lahiru Madushanka also did not a find a place in Sri Lanka’s finalised 18-man squad
Madushka Balasuriya24-Jul-2019Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Madushanka and Amila Aponso have missed the cut, as Sri Lanka announced their finalised squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh which starts on July 26.As such there will be five changes to the squad that travelled to England for the World Cup, with Shehan Jayasuriya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya and Lahiru Kumara all coming in. Dasun Shanaka, meanwhile, is set to play from the second ODI onwards as a replacement for the retiring Lasith Malinga.ALSO READ: Malinga to retire from ODIs after first match of Bangladesh seriesOf the newcomers, Jayasuriya, Kumara and Hasaranga all stand a good chance of being included in the side for the first ODI. Jayasuriya, who is also a part-time offspinner, impressed in the warm-up game with a gritty fifty, legspin-bowling-allrounder Hasaranga had a wicket to go with an impressive 28-run cameo, and pacer Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers in largely unhelpful bowling conditions.Dananjaya, being the only specialist spinner in the squad, will almost certainly feature.Among those who missed out, Dickwella, who was out for three-ball duck in the warm-up, and Gunathilaka, who squandered an impressive start, will rue a missed opportunity to get back into the first-team fold. Slow left-armer Aponso meanwhile had gone wicketless in the warm up game.Both Sandakan and Madushanka, though, can count themselves a touch more unfortunate. Despite being named in the original 22-man squad, Sandakan wasn’t even named in warm-up side, while Madushanka, who has impressed with the emerging team and was name-checked by captain Dimuth Karunaratne earlier this week, was available to play but featured neither as a bowler nor batsman.Sri Lanka’s finalised squad for Bangladesh ODIs: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana.
Manchester United are set to present their long-term striker plans to Benjamin Sesko as they prepare a formal offer for the RB Leipzig star. The Red Devils are determined to prove that the Slovenian is their No.1 priority this summer, amid rival interest from Newcastle. Sesko is expected to make a final decision in the coming days between the Red Devils and the Magpies.
Man Utd prepare formal bid for RB Leipzig striker SeskoRed Devils to present striker project to convince SlovenianSesko weighing United and Newcastle offers ahead of decisionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that Manchester United have informed RB Leipzig of their intention to submit a formal bid for Sesko. The Red Devils are also preparing to present a detailed plan to the player outlining how he fits into their future. Sesko is weighing up proposals from both Manchester United and Newcastle, with the Old Trafford outfit currently in pole position.
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The move for Sesko is reportedly being pushed by Manchester United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, despite manager Ruben Amorim preferring other options. The £64m-rated striker has become the Red Devils' top target following internal disagreements over striker priorities. INEOS sees Sesko as a key piece in their rebuild, and believes he could thrive alongside Rasmus Hojlund.
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Sesko is believed to favour a move to Manchester United, with Newcastle still hopeful of swaying the decision. Despite speculation, Hojlund is not expected to leave, and Amorim sees Sesko’s arrival as healthy competition for the Dane, who scored in United's 4-1 win over Bournemouth in a recent friendly and reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
WHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?
Manchester United are expected to submit their official bid in the coming days and present their project directly to Sesko. The striker will then make a final decision between the two Premier League suitors. RB Leipzig are open to selling if the valuation is met, paving the way for a potential transfer before mid-August.
Glasgow Rangers will be working hard to secure another signing or two before the January transfer window slams shut tomorrow.
Philippe Clement’s side have returned from the winter break in solid fashion, securing three victories in a row, but it is no secret that the Belgian manager is looking to add some fresh faces to his squad ahead of a Premiership title tussle with Celtic.
Mohammed Diomande was the Gers' second winter arrival, joining on an initial loan deal from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland with an obligation to buy in the summer, and it could be a shrewd signing.
Brazilian left-back Jefte also looked like he was closing in on a move to Ibrox, but recent reports have suggested that no deal has been agreed for the player, although things could change suddenly on deadline day.
The 49-year-old manager will be working hard to further improve the squad, and they could be close to landing a young South American talent…
Rangers search for new signings
Earlier this week, a link emerged out of the blue that stated Rangers were showing interest in Colombian winger Oscar Cortes with regard to a potential winter swoop, according to prominent journalist Chris Jack.
Fast-forward a couple of days and Jack has provided an update on their chase for the highly rated youngster, saying:
“Rangers are still working to finalise a deal for Oscar Cortes. Suggestions of a previous knee injury have been dismissed. No truth in reports linking Rabbi Matondo with a move to Germany.”
This is promising news with regard to signing Cortes, and it looks as though it could be a loan move with, hopefully, an option to buy in the summer.
While Jack dismissed the notion that Matondo could depart this month, things often change without prior warning in the last few days of the transfer window.
Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo.
The former Schalke man has improved this season, yet Cortes may be an upgrade on the Welshman, especially if he can hit the ground running.
Rabbi Matondo has improved this season
Having joined in the summer of 2022 for around £3m, much was expected of the rapid young winger, especially as he had scored ten goals for Cercle Brugge the season prior.
Matondo endured a difficult debut campaign at Ibrox, however, registering only five assists in 28 matches, and it looked as though Michael Beale was going to move him on last summer following just 12 months at Ibrox.
The 23-year-old knuckled down in pre-season and began to fight for his place, impressing during the opening few weeks of the campaign.
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Not only did he score against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifiers, but he also began to show the sort of form which led Giovanni van Bronckhorst to splash millions on him in the first place.
While he has had to battle an injury that has kept him out of a few matches this term, along with competing for a spot on the left wing with Abdallah Sima, the former Manchester City starlet is still a useful option to have.
If Clement can get a deal for Cortes over the line before tomorrow night, however, Matondo may find his chances limited due to his presence.
Oscar Cortes could be an ideal Sima replacement on the left wing
Rangers were given horrible news last week that Sima will be out of action for the foreseeable future due to suffering an injury while training with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, and it is a huge blow for the club.
The on-loan winger has scored 15 times this term and the Ibrox side are losing one of their most reliable attacking threats.
Rangers winger Abdallah Sima.
Matondo can offer pace and the ability to take the ball past opponents, yet he does not have the same clinical nature as Sima and this is a big worry.
Cortes, on the other hand, is much more flexible – being able to operate out wide or through the middle – and this could lead him to become a perfect replacement for Sima on the left flank.
Although right-footed, the youngster could use his ability to cut in from the left to devastating effect. His spell at Lens has not gone to plan since joining from Colombian side Millonarios last summer, scoring just once and grabbing an assist in four Ligue 1 matches, yet he has not been given enough time to shine.
Despite averaging only 13 minutes per game, the 20-year-old has still created one big chance while having a goal conversion rate of 100% and this indicates that if he appeared more regularly, he could be an even bigger threat.
Lens forward Oscar Cortes.
His performances for Colombia during the U20 World Cup last year were arguably what led him to making the move to Europe, as he was one of the stars of the competition.
Indeed, not only did he rank second in the tournament for overall Sofascore rating (7.6), but he also ranked fourth for goals and assists (six) and first for big chances created (four), showcasing his wonderful potential alongside other emerging talents.
Rangers could sign dream Shankland alternative before the deadline
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ByRoss Kilvington Jan 30, 2024
Signing a player with this type of potential could be vital for Clement, as if Cortes hits the ground running, the Gers could secure a profit on him in the next few years.
Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson lauded the youngster amid the links to the Light Blues, saying: "Rangers need options on the wing and the young Colombian is a very exciting prospect.
“He’ll provide pace, power and will get goal contributions.”
It looks as though he needs a fresh start in order to build on his displays for his country last year and a move to Rangers could certainly provide him with that.
Matondo has shown great maturity to come back after a poor first season at the club to provide Clement with a solid option on the wing, but Cortes is clearly showing much bigger potential.
The next 24 hours will be key to any sort of progress regarding a deal and Clement will be hoping it is sorted swiftly, so he can potentially move on to other targets before the window closes.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put on their eighth century stand in T20Is to lay the platform for Pakistan’s victory
Sreshth Shah13-Oct-2022An unbeaten 20-ball 45 from Mohammad Nawaz helped Pakistan overcome their middle-overs jitters to defeat Bangladesh in the last league game in Christchurch. Pakistan now face New Zealand in the final on Friday, while Bangladesh head to Australia for the T20 World Cup having lost all their four games in the tri-series.Even though Pakistan won the match by seven wickets, the finish was closer than what the scorecard suggests. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan set up the platform with their eighth century stand in T20Is, but Pakistan did not run away with the chase because of some disciplined bowling from Bangladesh.It was Nawaz’s innings at a strike-rate of 225 that finally swung the game decisively towards Pakistan. It also helped him redeem his bowling figures, having conceded 37 runs in three overs in the first innings. Nawaz was Pakistan’s most expensive bowler as Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan scored fifties to help Bangladesh score their highest total of the tri-series.Litton’s turnaround, Shakib’s consistency Bangladesh tried another new opening pair with Soumya Sarkar partnering Najmul Hossain Shanto but they once again lost an early wicket. That brought in Litton at No. 3 but he suffered a muscle strain early in his innings, which suggested that he would not be able to bat much longer. Instead, his inability to run fluently freed him up and he relied on hand-eye coordination to dominate a young Pakistan pace attack comprising Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Wasim.Luckily for Bangladesh – especially with the T20 World Cup looming – Litton’s muscle strain seemed to go away, and he built an 88-run stand for the third wicket with Shakib Al Hasan. Their partnership allowed Bangladesh to build some momentum through the middle overs, a contrast to their previous three performances in the tri-series.Shakib and Litton batted together from the sixth over to the 15th, dominating Shadab Khan’s legspin and Nawaz’s left-arm orthodox spin. When the pacers went short, the batters countered with pulls and cuts, and Litton also enjoyed a bit of luck when Pakistan dropped a catch and missed a chance to run him out.Shakib batted until the penultimate over to score his second consecutive fifty in the tri-series. He used his feet to get to the pitch of the spinners and exploited the leg side in the slog overs. Bangladesh, however, could score only six runs off the last eight balls after Shakib was dismissed. They finished on 173 when they were looking for a total above 180, credit for which goes to Wasim who conceded only three runs in the 20th over.Nawaz ensures Pakistan finish the job Bangladesh had a young seam-bowling unit too and it was their most inexperienced medium-pacer Hasan Mahmud who impressed the most. He took 2 for 27 in four overs and did not allow Pakistan’s openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to dominate him.Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam also used changes of pace to force mis-hits from the batters, and though Babar and Rizwan raised their century stand in the 13th over, the game remained in the balance.In his last spell, Mahmud dismissed Babar and Haider Ali in the same over, which fuelled Bangladesh’s hopes of victory. What they needed was a couple of tidy overs, perhaps with another wicket before the death, but it wasn’t to be as Rizwan stayed steady while Nawaz found the boundary early in his innings.Mohammad Saifuddin was the weak link in the Bangladesh attack on the day, conceding 53 runs, and Nawaz and Rizwan entered the slog overs with momentum on their side.Though Rizwan fell in the 19th over, Nawaz played the field, hitting the ball into gaps and milking a hat-trick of twos to shut Bangladesh out in the final over. He ended the contest with a boundary off the penultimate ball of the match.
This Premier League season has been Ipswich Town’s first in 22 years, and to say it’s been tough so far would be an understatement.
Kieran McKenna’s side have already played Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in their first 14 games, and while they’re down in the relegation zone, they’ve looked better than people were expecting.
Much of their success has come thanks to the signings made over the summer, but not everyone bought in over the window has been a roaring success in Suffolk.
In fact, one addition, who the manager was particularly excited about, has been dreadfully underwhelming and should be axed from the team for some time.
Ipswich's summer success
So, starting with the positives, and while there have been several successes from the summer arrivals, the most obvious is Liam Delap.
The young striker joined the club from Manchester City for around £20m, and while he was a relative unknown then, he isn’t now, as several clubs from the ‘big six’ have supposedly taken interest following his impressive return of six goals and one assist in 15 games.
He’s not been the only new arrival to have found the back of the net, though, as Irish international Sammie Szmodics appears to have found his feet at Portman Road following his £11m move from Blackburn Rovers.
He hasn’t been quite as prolific as the former City man, but given that he’s played out on the left, his haul of three goals in 13 games isn’t too bad.
Finally, while he was signed on loan last year, Omari Hutchinson made his move to East Anglia permanent in the summer, and while he endured a slow start to the campaign, he once again looks like one of the best players in the team.
He was sensational in the win against Spurs and then scored a brilliant goal to secure a point at home against Manchester United. However, while all three of these signings have made the team better, the same cannot be said of another wide player signed from a Championship giant.
The Ipswich player who must be axed
So, with most of the significant summer signings already covered, it should be no surprise that Jack Clarke is the one we are talking about.
Ipswich spent £15m plus add-ons to sign him from Sunderland in the summer, and considering he produced 44 goal involvements in 92 games across the last two seasons, it was easy to understand the move.
In fact, the club were so pleased with the additions that when speaking to the press, McKenna said of the York-born ace that he’d prove to be a “terrific asset” for the Tractor Boys.
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Unfortunately, that has not proven to be the case so far this season, and after being given another chance to start in the game against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night and failing to reach the required level, the manager simply must axe him from the starting lineup.
It might sound harsh, but it’s fair, and it may well be the best thing for the 24-year-old, as his display against the Eagles did not impress the watching press, with the East Anglian Daily Times’ Alex Jones giving him just a 4/10 at full-time.
In all, the former Sunderland star has only been able to muster a single assist in his 13 appearances this season, which is a far cry from his form in the northeast and certainly not enough to warrant a start ahead of Szmodics tomorrow afternoon.
Ultimately, Clarke is not a bad player, but he’s in undeniably poor form at the moment, and with every game being a must-win for Ipswich, McKenna would be doing him and the team a favour by taking him out of the firing line for a while.
Al-Hamadi 2.0: Ipswich could sign £5m Clarke rival in promising EFL star
The exciting talent could be a brilliant addition to Ipswich’s squad.
Moreno reacted to Pulisic's comments about the "aggression" narrative, tells U.S. star "I'll spell it out for you"
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USMNT lost to both Panama and CanadaChristian Pulisic says "aggression" narrative is "easy"ESPN's Ale Moreno goes in on AC Milan starFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Following the USMNT's disappointing 2025 Nations League showing, a semifinal defeat to Panama and a third-place match loss to Canada, critics have come in fast and come in harsh on their performances.
Ex-players such as Landon Donovan and Kasey Keller and Tim Howard have asked for more from the players and staff. ESPN analyst and former Venezuela international Alejandro Moreno joined the chorus.
"I need to see an improvement – that is obvious to see," Moreno said on ESPN FC. "And while Christian Pulisic said, 'Well, you know, the easiest thing to point out is the aggression' … Yes! Because it's obvious! It's obvious that this team lacks aggression. And so if he wants me to spell it out for him, I will: Christian, I'll spell it out for you, I'll define it for you: 92nd minute, your team is losing 2-1, and you guys are keeping possession in the back line and in the midfield.
"Again, let me repeat that you're losing 2-1 in a game in which you were supposed to show a response. And you're keeping possession of the ball in the midfield and the back line without actually showing aggression to get the ball forward, to manufacture chaos, to push for a goal your team. The United States never looked likely to score a game-tying goal. In fact, I would argue that Canada looked more likely to score at their own goal themselves."
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Moreno's comments were in response to Pulisic, who said after the Canada match that critics asking for the USMNT to be aggressive were giving an "easy" analysis of their performances.
"It's an easy thing to say we lacked aggression, there's a lot of things that go with that – it's not just fighting and kicking," Pulisic said after the match. "You know the other team, you've got to play better football, you've got to have better ideas, you've got to be more aggressive in the way we attack… just creating more, getting more opportunities and just being more of a threat to the other team."
The AC Milan star was substituted 69 minutes into their loss against Canada, and played 90 minutes against Panama.
DID YOU KNOW?
The U.S. failed to win the Nations League for the first time in the competition's history in 2025. They had won all three previous editions.
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The U.S. return to the pitch in June for the FIFA international break, where they will play both Switzerland and Turkey in a pair of friendlies leading up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
“What stood out was her accuracy. She was not much of a swing bowler, she was more of a bowler who would get the ball in and out”
PTI24-Sep-2022Jhulan Goswami’s commitment to the game was such that she would “spit fire” even while bowling in the nets, according to her longtime team-mate and captain Mithali Raj.Having shared the dressing room for close to two decades, Raj and Goswami saw the massive growth of women’s cricket in India, shared many memorable wins and also some heartbreaking losses.”We are of the same age, so we have that comfort level and communication,” Raj said. “It was always very easy to reach out to her and speak to her. Someone who was always high on energy on the ground, may be because she is a fast bowler.”Related
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Though swing was not her biggest weapon, accuracy and use of the seam got her a bagful of wickets as Goswami eventually became the leading wicket-taker in ODIs.The competitive spirit in Goswami was very much evident even in the nets, recalled Raj.”In the nets, I would often ask her ‘why are you spitting fire, you are my team-mate only na’. Then she would say ‘to get out is the toughest’. She always had the competitive streak including domestic cricket where we played against each other often. I enjoyed that rivalry as well.”Raj also recollected a game in domestic cricket that revealed Goswami’s softer side.”We were playing in the semi-finals [Railways versus Bengal]. I did not carry my helmet during that domestic season. Jhulan was aiming right at my head and I did leave a lot of her bouncers.”After a while, she came up to me and said, ‘Why are you not wearing a helmet?’ I was like, ‘I did not carry a helmet, how will I wear one?’ Those were the fun times.”The former India captain said even the opposition would give her due respect, especially when she was at her peak.”What stood out was her accuracy. She was not much of a swing bowler, she was more of a bowler who would get the ball in and out. The cutters were her strength. At her peak, she would hardly give loose balls.”After the retirement of pacers Rumeli Dhar and Amita Sharma, Goswami was the constant in India’s pace attack, even as the team relied heavily on spin.”She was a lone ranger from one end for a very long time. She would get support at times but often she would be the only one trying to put pressure. That holds true even in recent times.”Both Raj and Goswami started playing at a time when women’s cricket was a neglected sport, before it finally came under the BCCI’s umbrella in 2006.”We had a lot of fun probably early in our careers though she was more at the receiving end of my pranks. As we got older and matured, we saw many of our team-mates leave the game and both of us were left among a bunch of new faces.”Having her in the team helped because she was also that person who would speak to everybody and communicate. Whenever I needed an opinion she would always give one.”Raj also fondly remembers their partnerships in the middle.”I enjoyed batting with her as well and I always thought she could contribute a lot more with the bat. There were some good partnerships, some amazing wins, some bad losses, we have seen it all through. It is a sad moment [that she is retiring] but also a moment to celebrate someone who played for such a long time. It is not easy to have a career like that as fast bowler.”
Nathan McSweeney’s 85 held Australia’s innings together but they were dismissed for 185
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2025A collective bowling effort from India A, followed by KL Rahul’s 74 from the top, kept them in the hunt on day three, chasing a daunting 412 set by Australia A. They raced to 169 for 2 in the final two sessions, at over four runs an over, to keep up with the high-scoring rates seen through this series.Rahul retired hurt in the final hour of play, paving the way for Devdutt Padikkal to walk in at No. 4. He has been picked for the home series against West Indies, but could not capitalise on the game time, falling to Todd Murphy for just 5. Earlier, Murphy had also claimed the wicket of N Jagadeesan (36) to break an 85-run opening partnership. Sai Sudharsan looked on course to hit his second fifty of the match at stumps, and finished the day on 44 not out alongside Manav Suthar, promoted to nightwatcher.The day began with Australia A on 16 for 3, which soon became 17 for 4. Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney, unbeaten overnight, consolidated for the visitors with a 90-run partnership alongside Josh Philippe. Suthar dismissed Philippe after he had scored a 48-ball 50.Josh Philippe came in at 17 for 4 and made 50•Tanuj/ Ekana Cricket Stadium”I like having that approach against spin,” Philippe said when asked about his aggressive batting in this match. “You know, especially now with the rough and the left-arm spinner coming around the wicket… I feel like sort of that hard sweeping – both reverse and normal – are really good options for me and shots I’m quite good at. So, yeah, [I was] just really trying to stick to my strengths.”McSweeney, who had already made 74 in the first innings, did not find much support from the lower order as the frontline India bowlers shared the wickets among them. Suthar took three wickets to finish with 8 for 157 in the match, accounting for Phillipe and Todd Murphy (12), having scalped up Oliver Peake in the final over of the second day. Gurnoor Brar added Jack Edwards (10) and Will Sutherland (0) to his own tally to finish with three in the innings too, while Mohammed Siraj and concussion substitute Yash Thakur finished with two wickets apiece.The hosts’ bowling effort meant Australia A were restricted to 185, and India A’s start kept their chances of chasing a stiff target alive. Philippe identified the need for early wickets when Australia A take the field tomorrow. “We just sort of need that one breakthrough early tomorrow and yeah, hopefully we can get on a roll on and yeah, get three or four [wickets],” he said.Negotiating the spinners will be India A’s biggest challenge as they enter the final day with 243 runs to get with eight wickets in hand.
Donald Trump, president of the United States of America, once hinted at which Premier League he supports in a chat with Arsenal fan Piers Morgan.
Donald Trump is a sport fanatic with love for golf, UFC, football and baseball
The 79-year-old, who is currently into his second term as president, has never hid his love for sport and recently made the trip to New York to watch The Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
Trump regularly plays golf and through his holding company, the Trump Organization, even owns 17 different courses around the world.
Trump also enjoys watching UFC and his relationship with UFC president Dana White has been well-documented.
When it comes to American Football, Trump’s team is thought to be the New England Patriots due to friendships with CEO Robert Kraft and legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Also a fan of Major League Baseball, Trump’s team appears to be the New York Yankees, although he does have appreciation for the New York Mets as well.
Over in England, Trump even appears to have a favoured football team in the Premier League, and it isn’t Chelsea despite being involved in the Blues’ Club World Cup celebrations.
Donald Trump hints at which Premier League team he supports
Talking to journalist and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan back in 2018, Trump was presented with a Gunners shirt with his name on the back. Trump’s son, Barron, is a fan of Arsenal, with Morgan looking to make the President a supporter of the north London side.
However, Trump admitted that his allegiance lies with another Premier League giant, Manchester United.
That “friend” in question appears to be Edward Glazer, co-owner of the Red Devils. In fact, it is claimed that Glazer donated £45,000 during Trump’s first ever US presidential campaign.
The American president isn’t the only famous Man Utd supporter from across the pond, with singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake also a huge Old Trafford fan.
Chelsea made Women's Super League history on Sunday afternoon despite being held to a 1-1 draw. The Blues have made an unbeaten start to their title defence but their stalemate with Liverpool at the Totally Wicked Stadium means they have now failed to win back-to-back league matches for the first time since the 2021-22 season as they were pegged back by the Reds.
Getty Images SportChelsea fail to make dominance count at Liverpool
Chelsea set out their intentions early on as Erin Cuthbert dragged an effort wide in the first minute following some good work by Alyssa Thompson down the left flank. And the Blues were ahead in the ninth minute as Thompson fired past Faye Kirby after cutting onto her right foot.
The west London side pushed for a second but were unable to capitalise on their dominance and were made to pay in the 33rd minute as they came undone owing to a 33rd minute Beata Olsson strike. Nathalie Bjorn failed to successfully cut out Lily Woodham pass leaving Olsson one-on-one with Livia Peng, and the Reds striker made no mistake from close range.
Chelsea controlled proceedings but were unable to carve out chances as they failed to break Liverpool down on Merseyside, as they were unable to muster a shot on target since Thompson's opener. As such, the Blues lost ground on their way to defending their crown but did make history in the process.
AdvertisementChelsea make WSL history at Liverpool
While the result wasn't ideal for Chelsea, they still set the record for the longest unbeaten run in Women's Super League history. Indeed, the Blues are now unbeaten in 34 league matches, a record that stretches back to the end of the 2023-24 season.
Incidentally, the last team to beat Chelsea was Liverpool back in May 2024, as the Reds came from behind to claim a late 4-3 win. Aggie Beever-Jones had put Chelsea ahead, but found themselves behind midway through the second half as a Sophie Haug and an Erin Cuthbert own goal turned the clash on its head.
Beever-Jones scored hers and Chelsea second but the Reds were ahead again a minute later owing to a Leanne Kiernan strike. Teagan Micah's own goal drew Chelsea level again late on and the game looked destined for a draw only for Gemma Bonner to bag an injury time winner for Liverpool.
Getty Images SportMan City going top changes nothing claims Bompastor
Chelsea went into the weekend second in the WSL as their 1-1 draw with Arsenal combined with Manchester City's win over Everton saw City moved to the top of the table. And City opened up a four-point lead at the WSL summit as they trounced Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.
The draw may have closed the gap at the top by a point, but Chelsea lost ground in their title defence. Blues boss Sonia Bompastor isn't worried by City's rise to the top and that competition is good for the league and Chelsea.
"The league is really competitive here. I understand from an outside point of view that last season, maybe the competition was not that high because we finished in a really strong position, 12 points ahead of everyone," Bompastor said ahead of Sunday's stalemate.
"But for us, it always felt that every weekend was tough and the competition was high. Nothing has changed this season. We know a lot of teams in this league can compete for the title.
"The title race has been really tough, and Man City are now at the top of the table, but it doesn't change anything for us. We are still early in the season. We know what we want to achieve, and we keep this in mind. We are focused on achieving our goals, and we are still in a good position for that.
"It's really good for the women's game to have that competition and to have many teams who are in the title race and compete at the highest level with us."
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Chelsea back in Champions League action next week
Chelsea remain unbeaten in the WSL but will rue a missed opportunity to put further pressure on City. Bompastor will hope to see her Chelsea side return to winning ways when they face Barcelona in the Champions League next week.
The Blues were imperious in their 6-0 win over St. Polten last time out, a result that means Chelsea sit fourth having collected seven points from the opening three matches of the European campaign.