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Após Gabi desperdiçar uma chance clara de gol no jogo contra o Resende, neste domingo, alguns torcedores do Flamengo que estão no Nilton Santos perderam a paciência com o atacante e o vaiaram. O camisa 9 rebateu com gestos irônicos e recebeu xingamentos.

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>Flamengo se vê ‘forçado’ a travar negociações no mercado; entenda

O lance aconteceu já na reta final do primeiro tempo. O Fla dita o ritmo da partida, mas depois todas as chances que criou e viu o Resende abrir o placar em uma falha de Diego Alves.

Durante um contra-ataque, Rodinei limpou a marcação e tocou na medida para Gabi finalizar. O atacante, contudo, demorou para concluir, a marcação chegou e afastou o perigo. O LANCE! acompanha o jogo em tempo real (clique aqui e acompanhe).

Xingamentos a Gabigol. Não entendi o que rolou entre ele e a torcida ali, daqui não deu pra ver #lanceNILTAO pic.twitter.com/E5JtCuPC6P

— Lazlo Dalfovo (@lazlodalfovo) February 27, 2022

Those who play sport at a professional level are often more disciplined and talented in other areas, having spent time during their youth focusing on multiple events in order to broaden their experiences.

While some athletes have to prioritise one sport over another, several footballers have given other sports a go following retirement. Some have even played another sport to a high standard while playing football at the top level.

Former Manchester United and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan made headlines in November 2024 as he made his pro tennis debut at the ripe old age of 45 – though it ended in defeat in his hometown of Montevideo.

Varane, Van Basten, Zidane: 11 footballers who retired early

Following Raphael Varane’s recent decision to bring an end to his career, here’s a look at players who retired earlier than expected.

ByMark Marston Sep 25, 2024

We have taken a look at those who have managed to pursue another sport after retiring, or even those who have managed to perform at a high level across two sports at the same time…

1 Diego Forlán Tennis

The Uruguayan is best remembered on these shores for his poor spell with Manchester United, scoring just 17 goals for the Old Trafford side before joining Villarreal.

He lived up to his potential in Spain and led Uruguay to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, scoring five goals in the process. He has taken up tennis since retiring, making his professional debut in 2024.

Playing in the doubles alongside Federico Coria at the Uruguay Open, the former striker and his partner ended up losing 6-1 6-2 in the first round.

2 Andy Goram Cricket

Andy Goram will be remembered as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Glasgow Rangers history, playing under Walter Smith for seven years and being a key component of the team that claimed nine league titles in a row.

However, he could well have made it as a cricketer. Goram is the last person to represent Scotland at both football and cricket, playing five times in the latter between 1989 and 1991.

He even faced Australia, scoring six runs against them in the process.

3 Curtis Woodhouse Boxing

Curtis Woodhouse played in the Premier League during his spell at Birmingham City, while also enjoying stints with Sheffield United, Peterborough United and Hull City, eventually making over 300 professional appearances.

After he retired, Woodhouse began making a name for himself on the boxing scene, turning professional in 2006.

During his second career, the former defender fought 31 times in total, winning 24 of those bouts, with 13 of those coming via knockout. A solid record indeed.

4 Petr Cech Ice hockey

Petr Cech was arguably one of Chelsea’s finest signings during the Roman Abramovich era, making nearly 500 competitive appearances for the Blues over 11 years, winning the Champions League, four Premier League titles and a host of other honours in London.

Once he hung up his gloves, Cech started playing ice hockey for Guildford Phoenix, before making his professional debut for the Belfast Giants in the Elite League last November.

The 42-year-old has certainly transferred his skills over from football to hockey, and he could well be a fixture in the latter sport for the next few years.

Todd Boehly's worst transfers at Chelsea… so far

There are plenty to choose from, but who has been Boehly’s biggest mistake at Stamford Bridge?

2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 5 Tim Wiese Wrestling

Tim Wiese was known for his seven seasons with German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen between 2005/06 and 2011/12, where he made a total of 266 appearances for the club, winning the German Cup in 2009.

The former goalkeeper kept 81 clean sheets for the club during his spell while receiving six caps for the German national team. Wiese was part of the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship squads, but didn’t make an appearance in either competition.

Following his retirement, Wiese revealed that he had been offered a WWE developmental contract, making the transition from football to wrestling.

He went on to sign for WWE in 2016, wrestling for them in November 2016, where he acquitted himself fairly well, possible due to the incredible physique he had developed since retiring from football.

6 Rafael van der Vaart Darts

In recent years, darts and the Netherlands have become as synonymous as football and Brazil, producing players such as Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen.

Former Ajax and Real Madrid star Rafael van der Vaart, who played over 100 times for his country, turned to darts following his retirement from football, although he wasn’t exactly destined to be like Van Gerwen.

Playing in the BDO Denmark Open in 2019, the former attacking midfielder made an impressive start, winning his first tie, but he lost in the following round to Mogens Christensen, averaging just 54 in the process.

7 Bixente Lizarazu Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Bixente Lizarazu made over 600 appearances in a career which saw him shine for France as they won the World Cup and European Championship in 1998 and 2000 respectively, before claiming the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2001.

After retirement, the defender turned his eye to something new – Brazilian jiu-jitsu – which he started in 2009. He even became the European champion of the sport in the senior division, showing how good Lizarazu had become at the sport.

8 Gareth Bale Golf

After Wales secured qualification for Euro 2020, Gareth Bale unfurled a banner which read: “Wales. Golf. Madrid.,” which worsened his relations with the club side Real Madrid.

It was no secret that Bale’s love of golf had seen him get out on the course more often than playing for his club, but since retirement, the Welshman took it up a notch.

He has played in several events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, BMW PGA Pro-Am, and the All-Star Ryder Cup. At the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am, Bale shot under par during his round at Carnoustie – no mean feat considering how difficult the course is, even for professionals.

With plenty of time to spare now he has retired, Bale has the chance to play as often as he likes, wherever he likes. He is also an ambassador for Underrated Golf, which provides opportunities for youngsters in Wales to hone their skills on the course.

The allrounder has a calmness about his game: “I’m not overthinking stuff…it’s all automatic”

Alex Malcolm20-Oct-20213:11

What’s behind Glenn Maxwell’s incredible six-hitting ability?

Even geniuses need reassurance from time to time. For Glenn Maxwell that came during the most recent IPL, in part because his genius was not only recognised but genuinely appreciated by two of the game’s greats in Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.”I was extremely fortunate to have two of the greats of the game in the same team and in the same batting line-up who were open to share their experiences and talk to me about their game,” Maxwell said. “It makes you feel 10 feet tall when you’ve got their backing and they’re watching you, they’re asking you questions and it just makes you feel confident, it makes you feel happy.”Maxwell was a revelation for RCB producing one of his best IPL tournaments following some lean runs in previous editions. He made 513 runs at a strike-rate of 144.10 with six half-centuries in 14 innings after scoring just 108 runs from 11 innings for Punjab Kings last season at a strike-rate of 101.88. He had the second highest strike-rate against spin and was ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats batting MVP.Royal Challengers Bangalore assistant coach Adam Griffith told ESPNcricinfo that those conversations with Kohli and de Villiers were on another level.Related

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“When you see the best in the world when they’re together, it’s amazing the conversations they have and they’re on a different level,” Griffith said. “The type of conversation is different to a normal player. They move past the basics of the game to those extra little one or two-percent things that can mean the difference between having a good innings or not. The way they talk about the game, it’s great to sit and watch them.”Now Maxwell’s challenge is to try and translate that form into World Cup success for Australia. There is a huge burden of expectation externally on Maxwell’s shoulders, but the man himself has a calmness and clarity about his upcoming role.”I’m not overthinking stuff once I get in-game,” he said. “It’s all automatic. I’m trying to play against the conditions and the opposition and that’s all I’m thinking about. It’s not [a case of] if I play well, we’re going to win a World Cup. There’s no thoughts of that. It’s just if I’m in a contest, I’ll give my best on the day, and then I’m sure that will be a positive impact on the team.”His ability to read the conditions so quickly in the difficult middle overs role was what impressed RCB the most. Maxwell has an excellent record in T20 cricket in the UAE with eight half-centuries in 31 innings at a strike-rate of 146.26. He will be set to bat No. 4 for Australia, or more specifically post the powerplay as he did for RCB, and will be pivotal to Australia’s chances. Maxwell said the key to that role in the UAE was taking the time in the middle to understand how each surface in the UAE was playing.Glenn Maxwell fed off AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli•BCCI”I think it just takes a little bit more time to soak in a bit of information. I think you can get to Australia and bat in that time [the middle overs], and you can probably go a lot earlier, you can try and hit boundaries a lot earlier. It just takes like a few extra balls to actually get used to what’s facing you out there. I think having spent a fair bit of time in the middle over the last month and a bit has really helped me sort of start to get used to that and get used to the pace of the game and pace the wickets.”RCB also gave him a leadership role. Having thrived in the captaincy role at Melbourne Stars, RCB were keen to utilise his experience in the field.”Having a bit of responsibility around the group out in the field and he’d speak really well in team meetings,” Griffith said. “Giving him that responsibility to lead different parts of the group fielding positions and making sure everyone’s where they need to be, driving that intensity in the field is a big one for him as well and I think his preparation was great.”Maxwell also played his part with the ball in the IPL after doing a lot of technical work on his bowling with both Craig Howard in Victoria during his off-season, and RCB and Australia spin coach Sridharan Sriram, particularly on bowling to right-handers.”We actually had a bit of a joke that he bowled over the wicket to a right-hander for the first time in a couple of years this tournament,” Griffith said. “That just shows you the confidence he’s got in his bowling at the moment. He’s getting up and over and bowling proper offspinners instead of coming round-arm around the wicket and slinging that ball in a fast and flat. He’s in a pretty good space.”Maxwell wants to give Australia captain Aaron Finch another versatile spinning option alongside Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa, rather than just a specific match-up for left-handers only.”I think the biggest thing for me first and foremost is to be able to bowl not just to left-handers but to be able to bowl to right-handers and not have to, I suppose, worry about two right-handers being out there,” Maxwell said. “Still be able to close down one side the ground and an offer Finchy an extra option. I suppose that’s the biggest thing I’ve been working really hard on, bowling from over the wicket and being able to attack right-handed batters and it feels like it’s going really well.”

The former Aston Villa and Juventus midfielder believes he can revamp a struggling side that finished 12th in the Western Conference

MIAMI – Olof Mellberg just wants to talk about football. The new St. Louis City SC manager arrives in the midwest to take charge of a team that underwent a fairly remarkable downturn from in 2024. The expansion franchise enjoyed arguably the best first regular season in league history in 2023, topping the Western Conference — a smartly constructed roster pieced together by former Hoffenheim Head Scout Lutz Pfannenstiel rolling through the summer months.

They went the opposite way the year after, and finished 12th in the West – 16 points out of the final playoff spot. Bradley Carnell was dismissed halfway through the campaign. The critics were vocal. Was that first season – that ended with a first-round playoff loss – just a fluke? Was this team really midtable all along, and riding its luck, backed by the pulse of a new town?

Soccer, it turns out, is more complex than that. But change was needed in some way. And Mellberg is the man charged with turning this all around. Sit down with him, and the laser focus of a man who, again, just wants to talk about football, shines through. It might just be a good start.

"I'm an attack-minded coach that likes to be in control of games, which means organization defensively, and balance in transition," Mellberg told GOAL at MLS media day.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGettyRallying a team

St. Louis' early success can really be tracked back to one signing. Roman Burki has been here since the beginning. The former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper was one of the expansion franchise's first arrivals. Some teams might have chased down European royalty, or gone for a star. Instead, the club went for a fringe Swiss international, the wrong side of 30, and made him their highest paid player. It seemed, at the time, a puzzling move.

But it worked a charm. Burki was named club captain in February 2023 and was named MLS goalkeeper of the year in his first season in the league.

Then, things turned south. It wasn't necessarily that Burki's individual levels dropped in 2024. Look at the stats – save percentage, post shot expected goals allowed, clean sheets – and everything suggested that this was mostly the same player. The issue was what was happening in front of him. St. Louis conceded 45 goals in their first season in the league. The year after, that spiked to 63.

Meanwhile, they scored 12 fewer goals. It's not hard to see, statistically at least, how the team fell so far, so fast. It got so bad, in fact, that head coach Carnell was dismissed in early July. Six new faces came in during the summer months. In effect, they started an offseason rebuild four months early. For Burki, reversing some of the fortunes is simple.

"We need to trust the coach's plan, invest a lot of time and energy in training every day to try and get better," Burki told GOAL.

AdvertisementGettyMellberg and his style

And that's where Mellberg comes in. Interim coach John Hackworth was rumored to be among the frontrunners for the job. But instead, Pfannenstiel looked abroad. The former Aston Villa man has quietly made a solid managerial career for himself in Swedish football. He has two league titles with Brommapojkarna and a promotion to his name. At one point, he was reportedly in the running for the Swedish national team job.

But St. Louis, and its roster constructed ideally for his possession-heavy style of soccer, was too good of an opportunity to turn down.

"Most of my teams have had more possession than the opponents," Mellberg said. "You can dominate games without having the ball as well. But I really like to be structured and organized."

More broadly, though, he wants his team to put in the legwork that he felt was lacking at times over the course of the 2024 season.

"I see a lot of qualities in the team. I think we can be really hard-working," Mellberg continued.

That would seem to add up. Former manager Carnell was something of a curious choice. Here was a Red Bull school protege, raised on the German school of Geggenpressing, asking a technical team to be ferociously direct. Mellberg, who is far happier to slow the game down, organize off the ball, and create with it, appears a far more natural fit.

"He had success at his previous clubs, otherwise he wouldn't be here," Burki said.

Getty Images SportThe glaring weakness

For Mellberg, the real weakness in last year's squad wasn't the spike in goals conceded or dip in goals scored. It wasn't weaknesses at center back or No. 6. Rather, it was St. Louis' miserable away form. At home, they were 7-5-5, picking up 26 points. On the road, the numbers make for miserable reading: just one win, eight draws, and eight losses. Eleven points total. They were last in MLS in away wins.

It should be emphasized that this isn't a St. Louis-specific issue. MLS, historically, is a tough place to pick up points away from home. LA Galaxy, eventual champions, picked up 42 points at home and just 22 away. It's what made Inter Miami so good – they had a perfect 37-37 split en route to a Supporters' Shield win.

Mellberg wants to reverse that trend in his new job.

"We need to do better away from home. Most teams are really, really strong at home but have poor away records. We are definitely one of them," he said.

There is no easy solution here, he admitted.

"For me, it's about style of play. It's important to have good organization. We are a team with physicality, and endurance, which I think is important away from home," Mellberg said.

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IMAGNConnecting with the fans

In all likelihood, Mellberg won't have much problem with the home fans. Drive around St. Louis, and the pulse of this club is everywhere. There are pink stickers on cars, banners up in bars, and jerseys spotted around shopping malls and restaurants. The club, before its first year, lobbied hard for the city being a soccer stronghold. The 22,000 fans that regularly pack Energizer Park – flares, tifos, and all – have backed up that message in full.

Mellberg believes that his style of football can mesh well with that passion.

"It's the identity of St. Louis: hard working, energy, intensity. Those are qualities we can see more of," he said.

And perhaps more importantly, Mellberg sees a real opportunity here. Despite St. Louis's poor 2024 campaign, the summer retool has given him some real quality to work with. Burki is set to stick around. Burki, Cedric Teuchert, and Marcel Hartel can all be difference-makers. Meanwhile, Mellberg insists that the inherent chaos of the league can only benefit the team.

"I watched a lot from last season, and it's not like a few teams stand out, and that we have no chance against them. It feels like anyone can beat anyone," he said.

A return to the top of the Western Conference is admittedly unlikely. LA Galaxy, LAFC, Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders will be as good – if not better – than last year. But St. Louis is better than its 12th-placed finish. And with a new manager at the helm – one who there's a real buzz again.

"For sure playoffs is the goal of the season," Mellberg said. "And we take it from there."

Everton finally managed to secure their first Premier League victory of the season, beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Despite going 1-0 down after just ten minutes, the Toffees were able to pull it back, with Dwight McNeil scoring a second-half brace to win them the game, securing three points.

This win takes Sean Dyche’s side to 15th in the Premier League, having lost four games, drawn one and won one in their opening six.

This could see Dyche’s job safe – for now – after last weeks of speculation that he could be sacked after his poor start to the campaign.

Dyche's torrid start to the season

This was Everton’s first win of the season in the Premier League, with their only other point coming in a 1-1 draw against Leicester.

One of their most disappointing performances came against Bournemouth, where the Toffees were leading 2-0 in the 86th minute before three late goals (87th, 92nd, and 96th) saw the Merseysiders lose yet again.

Everton hold the least amount of possession in the league, with 36.9% on average, and also have the worst pass accuracy, with 76.3% on average, but they aren’t defending well either.

Most sides that concede this amount of possession rely on their defensive structure to keep them in games, looking to hit teams on the break to get a result.

The Toffees have conceded 15 goals in six matches, the second worst in the division, only better than the 16 conceded by Wolves.

However, Everton may have just been handed their lifeline, with Jarrad Branthwaite’s return, which could play a huge part in saving Dyche’s job.

Branthwaite the saviour

On his return to action, Branthwaite scored an 8/10 match rating from the Liverpool Echo, making five clearances, three interceptions, two tackles and completing 100% of his dribble attempts throughout the clash.

The 22-year-old defender was one of Everton’s standout players last season, attracting interest from clubs such as Manchester United this summer.

The English defender also won 100% of his ground duels (4/4), and 50% of his aerial duels (3/6) during the game, playing a big part in Everton only conceding one goal, and managing their first victory of the campaign.

Passes Attempted

40.0

40.8

45.1

Pass Completion %

79.8%

77.1%

77.4%

Progressive Passes

2.14

3.42

2.86

Tackles

1.91

1.61

1.43

Blocks

1.47

2.16

1.02

Interceptions

1.34

1.48

1.59

Aerials Won

2.72

3.68

3.27

Comparing Branthwaite with the two Everton central defenders that started this season, James Tarkowski, and Michael Keane, you can see the 22-year-old offers the highest pass completion – a stat Everton are struggling with this season – and tackles made, a particularly important one for defenders.

The return of the young centre-back to the side will help improve them in important metrics, whilst also adding a 6 foot 5 frame to the backline, who can also recover at speed.

This is a rare profile, having a player with such physical attributes, who is also tidy on the ball, and his timely return could be exactly what is needed for Dyche to save his job.

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Sean Dyche faces a critical few weeks at Everton

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 23, 2024

After a disappointing draw prior to the international break and injuries to Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal steadied the ship on Sunday with a statement win in the North London Derby.

Despite missing their captain and Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta’s side put in a defensive masterclass and limited Tottenham Hotspur to few, if any, genuine chances before Gabriel Magalhães nodded home the winner in the 62nd minute from a Bukayo Saka corner.

It was a goal that we have become accustomed to seeing from the Gunners in recent years and was the perfect way for the Brazilian colossus to top off an exceptional display and brush off some of the mistakes he’s made in his first few games this season.

Alongside his defensive partner, William Saliba, the 26-year-old fan favourite has become an essential part of the North Londoners’ title-challenging side over the last couple of years, and while fans will be hoping he stays at the club for many years to come, they can rest assured that a promising youngster in the academy could be his long-term heir down the line.

Gabriel's Arsenal career

It’s been just over four years since Arsenal agreed to pay LOSC Lille around £23m for the services of a then 22-year-old Gabriel, and while that was a reasonable sum of money for a player not many were familiar with in England at the time, it would be fair to describe it as a bargain in the years since.

While the São Paulo-born titan’s early years in England went under the radar somewhat due to the club’s position at the time, he has since established himself as one of the very best defenders in the league over the last couple of seasons, as demonstrated by his inclusion in the most recent PFA Team of the Year.

Moreover, not only has the “absolutely unstoppable” monster, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, helped create a brilliant defence that was the most effective in the league last season, but he’s also become a source of goals for the North Londoners.

Appearances

136

Goals

15

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

For example, since joining, the 6 foot 3 ace has made 172 competitive appearances for the club, in which he has scored 16 goals and provided one assist, although 15 of those goals have come in just 136 Premier League games..

Overall, Gabriel has become an undroppable star in Arteta’s title-challenging Arsenal side, and while he’ll likely remain a starter for quite some time, the club already have a youngster on their hands who could eventually step into the team in his place.

Why fans should be excited about Ayden Heaven

Yes, the academy gem in question is 17-year-old Ayden Heaven.

Now, due to his age, it’s unlikely that the young Englishman is going to see much in the way of significant game time this season or the next, for that matter, but he was on the bench alongside several other Hale Enders on Sunday afternoon, which is an indication in and of itself that the club think there is something there.

The good news is that they’re right, and while most fans will be familiar with the 6 foot 2 centre-back thanks to his impressive appearances during preseason, he’s also been putting in brilliant performances for the junior sides.

For example, the young “beast”, as dubbed by podcaster Will Balsam, has already racked up 36 appearances across the Gunners’ various youth teams in which he’s provided an assist, and while the vast majority of said appearances have been at centre-back, he’s also played at left-back and even in midfield.

It’s this flexibility, along with his “insane” passing range, as described by Balsam, that could see the exciting prospect finally push his way into the first team a couple of years from now.

Ultimately, Heaven is not going to replace Gabriel anytime soon, but he has been consistently impressive in the junior sides and seems to be edging closer and closer to a competitive first-team debut, which could signal the start of a remarkable career.

Arsenal teen who's "the fastest star at Hale End" could replace Martinelli

The promising 18 y/o has a bright future ahead of him.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 17, 2024

South Africa have won successive T20I series, and the second in seven rubbers in the format under Mark Boucher, with a game to spare and under severe pressure. South Africa recovered from 58 for 5 at the halfway stage of their innings to post a more-than-respectable 159, thanks to David Miller and Wiaan Mulder.Miller’s spectacular 44-ball 75 was largely responsible for South Africa scoring 101 runs off the last 10 overs and 68 in the last five to ruin an Irish display that started off miserly. Josh Little’s economy rate shot up after his first spell of 1 for 14 in two overs to 1 for 42 at the end while Mark Adair’s more than doubled from 1 for 8 in his first two overs to 2 for 33 in his final analysis.

Bavuma pulled up for ‘audible obscenity’ in first T20I

Temba Bavuma has been reprimanded for the “use of an audible obscenity” during the first T20I against Ireland, played on Monday.

The Level 1 breach of the ICC’s code of conduct came when the South Africa captain was given out caught behind off Simi Singh for a run-a-ball 13 after opening the innings.

Bavuma received an official reprimand for his act, and had one demerit point added to his disciplinary record (it was his first offence in a 24-month period).

Only Mulder and Aiden Markram suffered similarly expensive fates as South Africa defended their total albeit with a new look attack. With Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje rested, Lungi Ngidi was the pace spearhead, assisted by left-arm quick Beuran Hendricks, who made his first appearance in the series. While Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin held their ends, Hendricks made key incisions but it was the world’s top-ranked T20I bowler who stole the show.Tabraiz Shamsi finished with 3 for 14 to pull six clear on the leading wicket-takers’ list in 2021 and was responsible for dismissals of Ireland’s big players, Paul Stirling, George Dockrell and Shane Getkate. Ireland will be disappointed with their batting effort, though. No Irish batter made more than 24 and no partnership was worth more than 31.Getting their ducks in a row
South Africa endured their worst start in a T20I after they lost their first two wickets in four balls without a run on the board. Temba Bavuma and Janneman Malan were dismissed in identical fashion, playing away from the body and edging to short third man. Little was the man in place and took the first catch low down and the second at shoulder height to dismiss both batters for ducks and add to the many firsts South Africa have already had on this tour. Not only did they lose to Ireland for the first time in an ODI and play them for the first time in a T20I, but they have also now lost two wickets without scoring a run for the first time in a T20I.It’s Miller-Mulder time
While there is still much work for South Africa’s middle order to do, their finishers played their part after coming together at the end of the 10th over, with the score on 58 for 5. Miller and Mulder put on 58 for the sixth wicket, in 43 balls. They started out watchfully with boundary-less overs off Stirling and Little, and Miller should have been out for 19 when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker. Miller then pulled Simi Singh through deep midwicket for four before Mulder hit him for six over deep midwicket to bowl his exceptional figures. The pair scored a combined 25 runs off the 16th and 17th overs and were well set to end the innings strongly. Mulder didn’t last to the end and was caught at long-on off the first ball of the 18th over but Miller went on to his third 50-plus score batting at No. 6 or lower. He single-handedly scored 32 out of the 36 runs off the last two overs, including five sixes and three in succession of the last three balls that came off Little.0 is still for O’Brien
Things are not getting better for Kevin O’Brien who collected his second duck of the series and third successive in international cricket. On the evidence of his dismissals, O’Brien seems to be struggling with his timing on the drive as he was bowled by Fred Klaasen playing away from his body in an ODI against Netherlands last month, then chipped a ball that moved a touch late back to Kagiso Rabada in the first T20I and then attempted to drive an overpitched Fortuin ball in this match but gave the left-arm spinner a simple return catch. Ireland were 1 for 1 after one over and may need to look at other options in the top two.Drop, drop, catch (again)
South Africa have made a habit of putting down chances in Ireland and, as was the case in the first T20I, they dropped two before they started holding on. Andy Balbirnie was let off in the second over when he steered Ngidi to Fortuin at short third man. The ball hit him in the chest area and he could not clasp it. Five overs later, Dockrell should have been Hendricks’ second wicket when he drove to mid-on where Aiden Markram dived to his left and tumbled, without the ball. But that’s where the fumbles stopped. Shamsi had Stirling caught by Miller at deep midwicket before Fortuin made up for his blunder and held on to a low chance, diving forward at cover, to dismiss Tector, and Markram also redeemed himself with a well-judged catch on the long-on rope to end Dockrell’s knock.

GOAL analyzes some of the brightest prospects that have declared for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft

While MLS Commissioner Don Garber recently noted the league's SuperDraft has been deemphasized compared to other player acquisition mechanisms, it remains a valuable tool for unearthing talent. Players such as Duncan McGuire and Moises Bombito are just two examples of standouts discovered in the past five years.

Last week, 44 players participated in the 2025 MLS College Showcase in San Diego, vying for a chance to shine and secure selection in the upcoming SuperDraft on Dec. 20.

The four-day event gave coaches, scouts, and front-office staff a closer look at NCAA collegiate players who may have slipped through the cracks. For MLS clubs, it’s an opportunity to uncover the next diamond in the rough – or perhaps the next Cyle Larin. The Canada international, the 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year, has become a gold standard for SuperDraft success: a regular with his national team and now a top forward in Europe.

The 2025 MLS SuperDraft takes place Friday at 2 p.m. ET, offering the next generation of North American talent a shot at stardom.

There are list 477 players available in this year's draft. However, five players on that list truly stand out from the rest, and could be some of the first names off the board. GOAL takes a look at the top five prospects.

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• Pape Mar Boye, Phoenix Rising

  Offered a Generation Adidas Contract after winning the 2023 NCAA Championship with Clemson, the 20-year-old turned down the opportunity and signed with USL side Phoenix Rising FC instead – opting out of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. However, he is available for selection for the 2025 edition, and may be the first overall pick as a result.

  With Rising across 2024, he appeared 31 times, becoming a Young Player of the Year finalist and an all-League second team selection in his debut professional season.

  The young central defender turned heads in his freshman season at Clemson, and he was even named Defensive MVP after their College Cup National Championship victory. Now, two years later, he appears to have his sights on MLS after opting in for the 2025 Draft.

  Born in Dakar, Senegal, the 20-year-old stands six-foot-one and he scored two goals and recorded two assists in the USL Championship in 2024.

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• Hakim Karamoko, NC State

  In 2024, Karamoko scored seven goals and recorded two assists as one of the standout players in the country. A left-footed inverted winger, Karamoko can play on both sides of the pitch, but excelled on the right. Aat 6-0, he was a foul magnet for The Wolfpack on the right side of the pitch, but was often found dribbling out of tight spaces or delivering outstanding holdup play in the final-third.

  The combination of size, skill and pace could entice an MLS side to take him early on in the draft simply due to the potential profile he presents. That, and his highlight reel in 2024 included a few superb long-range efforts with his left boot.

• Emil Jaaskelainen, Akron

  The nation's top scorer, Jaaskelainen was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year after he scored 23 goals over the course of the 2024 season. Son of Jussi Jaaskelainen, Bolton Wanderers goalkeeping legend, Emil is expected to be one of – if not the first – strikers off the board.

  He led the nation in game-winning goals in 2024 (six), goals per-game (1.10) and in points per match (2.57). He finished 2024 as Akron's second all-time leading scorer across a single season.

  Four of his 23 regular season strikes came from the penalty spot, but he expressed versatility in and around the box throughout the entire campaign, whether on his left or right foot – or his head. A massive presence in the box, his aerial prowess may be what sets him apart from other forwards this draft.

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• Michael Adedokun, Ohio State

  Adedokun might well be the first midfielder off the board. The Ohio State man, who can slide into a winger role, scored eight goals and recorded 11 assists in 2024 for the Buckeyes.

  Nominated for the MAC Herman Trophy this year, the Nigeria native broke out in 2024, named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Big Ten selection. He led the Big Ten entering the postseason in total points with 27.

  His physical composure in the midfield, along with his dominant presence caught attention in 2024 as he displayed a blend of speed, strength and dynamism in the middle of the park.

Sean Dyche’s Everton will be looking to make amends for last weekend’s 3-0 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion as they travel to face Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon.

His side will be without numerous key first-team members for the trip to the capital, with Ashley Young suspended after his red card last time out, with regular centre-backs Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski both nursing injuries.

It will likely be a makeshift backline, a scary thought when coming up against the likes of Heung-min Son, Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski, as Ange Postecoglou's side look to claim all three points in their first league game of the season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Alongside the injuries, Dyche has numerous dilemmas across the pitch, as he tries to secure the Toffees’ first win of the new Premier League campaign.

23/12/2023

2-1

Loss

15/10/2022

2-0

Loss

07/03/2022

5-0

Loss

13/09/2020

1-0

Win

06/07/2020

1-0

Loss

He could look to drop one player who failed to impress during the season opener, despite producing some impressive numbers during the 2023/24 season.

Abdoulaye Doucoure’s stats against Brighton

Despite finishing the season prior as the club’s joint-top scorer, midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure produced a performance to forget on the opening day of the new season last weekend.

The 31-year-old started in a similar role to last season, in a more advanced berth just behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but he was unable to make a positive impact on the game or the result.

In his 63 minutes on the pitch, the Malian only managed 23 touches – just one touch nearly every three minutes – giving possession away eight times, as he failed to make the most of his time on the ball.

Doucoure was also caught offside four times, with all of his offences coming within the first 45 minutes, putting an end to any momentum the Toffees had within the final third.

Minutes played

63

Shots taken

1

Passes completed

12/17 (71%)

Times offside

4x

Tackles won

0/1 (0%)

Possession lost

8x

Touches

23

As a result, he could be replaced by one Everton talent who is more than deserving of a start after his cameo off the bench during the defeat.

The man to replace Doucoure against Spurs

After joining the Toffees in a £15m deal from Marseille during the off-season, attacker Iliman Ndiaye was restricted to a place on the bench during last weekend’s loss to the Seagulls.

However, he was brought on for Doucoure with just 27 minutes remaining, making more of an impact on the encounter than the former Watford ace despite featuring for 36 minutes fewer.

The "outrageous" talent, as previously described by ex-teammate Chris Basham, only had 13 fewer touches, but managed to achieve a higher success rate of duels won – putting himself about in the hope of changing the game for Dyche’s side.

Despite being brought on for his attacking abilities, Ndiaye managed to win three tackles – an average of one every nine minutes – as he worked tirelessly to make an immediate impression on the fanbase.

In what was a disappointing day for the entire side, he was unable to provide that spark that could change the game for the Toffees, but did demonstrate moments of quality which could earn him a start in North London this afternoon.

Out of the new additions this summer, the 24-year-old was arguably the most exciting after his previous stint in England for Sheffield United, where registered 36 goals and assists in just 88 games in total.

However, he’s yet to be handed that opportunity from the start to showcase what he’s capable of, with Dyche needing to hand him a first start over Doucoure if his side are to have the best opportunity of claiming anything from the meeting.

Fewer touches than Pickford: Dyche must axe 5/10 Everton man after Brighton

He couldn’t get into the game as the Toffees slipped to an opening weekend defeat.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Aug 17, 2024

It has been a busy summer at Molineux for Wolverhampton Wanderers so far. The Midlands club have made some moves in the summer transfer market, whilst also having some major outgoings, as they hope to improve on their impressive 14th-place finish during the 2023/24 campaign.

Firstly, the outgoings, one of which went through just days ago. Portugal international Pedro Neto left Molineux to join Chelsea for a fee of £54m, a deal which was confirmed on Sunday. Gary O’Neil’s side also sold club captain Max Kilman to West Ham United, as he linked back up with former manager Julen Lopetegui, joining for £40m.

So far, the money made from those sales has been spent sporadically. Jorgen Strand Larsen joined on loan, and Tommy Doyle signed permanently for the club after spending the previous season on loan from Manchester City. They have also signed Rodrigo Gomes from Braga, who could be a direct replacement for Neto, and young Brazilian right-back Pedro Lima.

However, O’Neil’s side are not done there when it comes to incomings. The Midlands club could also strengthen up front and have recently been linked with one Premier League player who could bring quality and experience in the striking department.

Wolves target Premier League striker

The player in question here is West Ham and Jamaican international striker Michail Antonio. The 34-year-old centre-forward could leave the London Stadium in the wake of Niclas Fullkrug joining the Hammers after an injury issue and sporadic minutes hampered his season in 2023/24.

According to an exclusive report from GiveMeSport, O’Neil and the Wolves scouting department have ‘been monitoring’ the striker’s situation this summer, with just one season left on his current deal.

However, they might not be the only side thought to be interested in a deal for Antonio during the 2024 summer window. The report from GiveMeSport explains that the Midlands side are one of ‘a host of clubs scoping out whether Antonio is available’ for transfer this summer.

A price for the Jamaica international has not yet been named by West Ham, although it is safe to assume it will be fairly low given his contract expires in less than 12 months time. In fact, he is valued at just £3.3m by Football Transfers, which seems like a fair representation of his price.

Why Antonio would be a good signing

Although he struggled for fitness at times during the 2023/24 campaign, Antonio still featured 26 times in the Premier League, getting on the scoresheet six times and grabbing two assists. That was a record that included a run of four goals in the final ten games of the season.

The 34-year-old, who was described as “unplayable” by former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp, is actually the East London club’s top goalscorer in the Premier League era, netting 67 times in the competition.

West Ham's all-time top PL goalscorers

Name

Goals

Length of spell

Michail Antonio

67

2015-present

Paolo Di Canio

47

1999-2003

Mark Noble

45

2005-2022

Jarrod Bowen

43

2020-present

Carlton Cole

41

2006-2015

Stats from West Ham website

Signing the Jamaican would certainly bring experience to the Wolves forward line and add goals to an attack that boasts the likes of Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan. In fact, there are statistical comparisons to be made between the South Korean forward and Antonio – as noted by FBref.

As per FBref, last season in the Premier League, the 27-year-old had an expected goals tally of 7.7xG, compared to Antonio who averaged 5.8xG. Per 90 minutes, that breaks down to 0.33 for the Wolves forward and 0.31 for the West Ham man, a very similar tally. They also have a similar amount of shots each game, with Antonio averaging 1.59 and Hwang 1.87.

Antonio is also an effective ball carrier, and actually averaged more progressive carries per 90 minutes to that of Hwang last season. Specifically, the 12-time international averaged 2.55, compared to just 1.57 for Hwang. That is a trait that would certainly stand him in good stead in O’Neil’s transitional system.

There are certainly plenty of similarities between the pair, and they could be an effective duo up front, especially given Antonio’s carrying ability and Hwang’s natural poacher’s instinct in the penalty box.

Should Wolves get this deal over the line, it could be an astute capture and a perfect move for O'Neil. The former Bournemouth boss would be adding an experienced top-flight striker with 67 goals in the competition to the squad for a small fee, which could help provide his side with the edge to climb up the table.

It could be a wonderful piece of business for the Molineux outfit.

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