List of All Articles with Tag 'al'

St. Louis Cardinals legend Adam Wainwright is just two wins away from 200, though there's no guarantee he'll reach that mark. It's one of several ways the 2023 season has let Wainwright down.Not all athletes get to walk off into the sunset as they retire, ideally still with enough...

Only one match was played in the 2023 Leagues Cup, Round of 16, but if you were into amazing-looking goals, own goals, and a penalty shootout, then you had it all in the Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas match.This was, for sure, a great way to start off the 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 16 matches.Inter Mi...

Today's USMNT newsincludes Matt Turner's imminent transfer from Arsenal to NottinghamForest.Malik Tillman's move to PSV is progressing and Haji Wright made his debut for Coventry City.USMNT news: Matt Turner to Nottingham ForestMatt Turner was on Arsenal's bench as they defea...

Incredibly, there was another level of noise for the crowd of over 75,000 at the Olympic Stadium to reach. The loudest roar of the night came when Australia were already through. Leading Denmark by two goals, the Women’s World Cup and its co-hosts got the moment they had been waiting for. Sam Kerr, the face of the tournament, had finally arrived. Ruled out of the group stages due to injury, Kerr got her first minutes of the World Cup as the Matildas stood with one foot already in the quarter-finals. With the game won and Denmark well beaten, Kerr’s touches were inconsequential; that her only shot from the angle flashed over the bar did not matter. But Australia have their star back, the final piece for a team who are delivering for their country and are growing with the competition. Kerr’s introduction came moments after Hayley Raso had sent the home crowd into a frenzy, doubling Australia’s lead with a crisp finish from another clinical counter-attack. The crowd in Sydney had been electric when Australia attacked, a rolling wave of noise that grew from Caitlin Foord’s sublime opening goal. Nothing, though, could compare to the welcome Kerr received and what it represented for a team who are starting to believe they are contenders again. For so long at this World Cup, Kerr had been forced to watch on as a kind of mascot: the star who could not play. A calf injury had cruelly ruled the Chelsea star out of Australia’s opening game, an absence that grew to three matches as the Matildas were forced to find a way to survive the group stage without their leader. But Australia’s performance in thrashing Canada 4-0 also ensured that Kerr did not need to be used. Once again without Kerr, this time in the last-16, their display against Denmark meant the game was won when she finally arrived. Because with Kerr sidelined, Australia have managed to adjust, instead becoming a different side entirely. It clicked against Canada, a 4-0 win that not only saved their World Cup but sparked their tournament into life. Players who looked lost without Kerr were suddenly released, and they have now grown with the responsibility. Foord was outstanding once again against Denmark, a constant, driving threat on Australia’s left. She was released for the opening goal by the brilliant Mary Fowler, the 20-year-old who excelled as she manipulated the space between the lines, while Raso scored again with another clinical finish. Suddenly Australia now have goal threats across the front line, with the best striker in the world still to add against either France or Morocco in the quarter-finals. “It’s the icing on the cake,” beamed the Australia manager Tony Gustavsson, but Kerr also returns to a team who have changed in her absence and where actually she isn’t guaranteed a start in the quarter-final given how the side has performed. Australia now have multiple goalscorers and other players have taken some of the weight off her shoulders. “It’s a massive boost,” Foord said. “For other teams looking ahead, it’s pretty scary for them that she’s back with us.” The question now, though, is how and when Kerr returns to the starting line-up, and who drops out. Without Kerr, Australia have settled on a 4-4-2 system that is devastating on the counter-attack, an unassuming loaded gun of formation that is built to spring into life on the break. In the atmosphere of the Olympic Stadium, this sort of gritty, counter-punching team, willed on by a wall of sound, looks so dangerous. Foord fits it superbly. A forward with guts and spirit and as well as skill, who has found her confidence since her underwhelming opening displays against Ireland and Nigeria, she was Australia’s player of the match for the second match in a row. She was released by Fowler’s stunning turn and pass for the opener: Foord, with so much time in which to find the finish, kept her head to bury the shot through the legs of Lene Christensen. Australia’s second was also played out to the soundtrack of a team crashing forwards. The break developed on the left, with Kyra Cooney-Cross’ overlapping run from midfield. Emily van Egmond laid it back to Raso, a player who has found her scoring touch. The finish was fired low into the corner for her third goal of the World Cup. Kerr had called to warm-up only a couple of minutes earlier, the excitement rippling around the stadium, yet Australia did not need her really. This was a composed and confident performance, entirely measured, and avoiding the sort of draining emotional energy that accompanied England’s penalty shootout victory over Nigeria earlier in the day. Denmark barely threatened after going behind. Their early chances invariably came through Pernille Harder, their roaming menace who Denmark are just unable to support. Harder went through twice in the opening stages - driving at a retreating Australia defence, first she went to the outside and shot wide, before then ducking inside and firing straight at Mackenzie Arnold. On both counts she knew she should have done better. Denmark were largely forgotten about here as the hosts cruised through and the Kerr mystery was solved. The theories that the extent of Kerr’s injury was being covered up would have grown when she only watched on during Australia’s warm-up, wearing her boots but wrapped under a heavy coat that did not come off. At half time she was not among the players loosening up on the pitch. But for Australia, getting Kerr back was the final step of a tournament that has been defined by their reaction to overcome challenges. After the chaos of the group stage, where they stood on the brink of an early exit, there was finally a comfortable win. This is a team who are galvanised, coming together, and just at the right time. Read More England survive penalty drama to reveal vital quality in Women’s World Cup dream Who and when do England play next? Lionesses route to the World Cup final Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Chloe Kelly: England’s woman for the biggest occasion strikes again A timeline of Donald Trump’s spat with Megan Rapinoe How many games will Lauren James miss at Women’s World Cup after red card?

Bayern Munich learn the response to their club record bid for Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

There wasn't to be any tearing off of shirts in jubilation on this occasion but England's footballing history has a new Chloe Kelly routine that will seize space in highlight reels for years to come. Kelly hadn't been entrusted with a starting role but knew she had the chance to steal the show – and as she skipped towards the penalty spot in the shootout, it was clear she was going to do just that. Chiamaka Nnadozie guessed correctly but didn't stand a chance. Kelly pranced with the chance to rescue her nation's hopes from tatters and unleashed a rocket. And while her actions may not have won England a trophy this time around it didn’t feel too dissimilar. The wayward passing no longer mattered; the fact England were toothless could be forgotten about; Lauren James' rash foul and subsequent sending off was something to be dealt with at a later date. It may have been ugly but the Lionesses refused to let their World Cup hopes die this early. England are lucky that they are not planning their flights home but they're unlikely to dwell on that fact. It, too, is likely to be wiped from history. All that is going to be remembered is that when it was needed the most it was Kelly who was there once again – first she won her country the Euros, now she's given them a fighting chance at success on the world stage. How, then, does a player react after something like that? What do they say when they know the magnitude of what they've just accomplished? If your name is Chloe Kelly it seems that you act quickly to divert any attention. "It's the team, this team is special," she said. "We did it at the Euros, we did it at the Finalissima, there's more to come from this team." Kelly's modesty is ever-present. The team – for the most part at least – hadn't done what was needed. They were lacking in creativity and handed Nigeria the opportunity to send them packing. The fact that this game had even got to a penalty shootout showed a failure to perform but that hadn't crossed Kelly's mind. It may be cliché but it is of course the results that matter and Kelly made sure the result went her team's way. She didn't even muster a touch in Nigeria's box after being brought on as an 87th-minute substitute but, once again, that is now immaterial. When this game is remembered in years to come Kelly will be remembered for one solitary moment, and she will be remembered as England's saviour. And if one thing is certain it's that England needed saving. They started nervously and that became the theme of the match. Their freewheeling demolition of China was a distant memory in the face of a Nigeria side who seemed to be outclassing them in nearly every area of the pitch. England gave the ball away; Nigeria saw that they were there for the taking. By the time the whistle blew for the break Sarina Wiegman's side had already had to face nine shots, the most in any opening 45 minutes while she's been in charge – they had been sluggish and borderline beleaguered. Things weren't going well in the middle of the park and it wasn't any better up top. Alessia Russo hit straight at the keeper when gifted the ball on the edge of the box, Rachel Daly saw two efforts saved from corners, but apart from that they produced little of note. Had Nigeria been more clinical the game wouldn't have even seen extra time, never mind penalties. Ashleigh Plumptre thundered an early effort against the crossbar and, after that, the woodwork was her side's greatest adversary; when they managed to find ways to wrong-foot the English defence it was there to do the Lionesses' bidding. It looked to be yet another of those nights that English supporters have got used to feeling at major tournaments: just as any hint of positivity arises a calamity ensues and so too does an early exit. When James made the immature decision to stamp on Michelle Alozie's back and was sent off after a VAR review it only compounded the sense that all hope was lost. When it became apparent that penalties were a certainty things didn't feel much better; the sizable English support in Brisbane couldn't muster any atmosphere as they awaited what felt so likely to be yet another crushing tournament defeat. The United States had exited the tournament after a shootout a day prior and England's record – defeat in both of theirs in major tournaments – made for grim reading. Their path towards the final looked to have opened up, Keira Walsh had made a miraculous recovery to return from injury in time to take on Nigeria, but they were on their way to being victims of their own errors. Kelly's heroics made sure that eventuality was avoided and rescued her country from the jaws of defeat. Now they've booked a spot in the quarter-finals, against either Colombia or Jamaica on Saturday, and are just three wins from lifting the World Cup. The fact they once again managed an unlikely win should boost their confidence. Winning teams need times like these in tournaments; it won't always be plain sailing. The best have their character tested but find a way to come out on top – just as England did when they narrowly edged past Spain in added time at the Euros last summer. They're going to have to play the rest of this tournament without the dynamism of James but they're still in with a shout. The players will know it could take just 270 more minutes for them to achieve their goal – and they'll know that they owe it to Kelly. Even if she doesn't get many more chances to play this summer and remains a bench player, she will forever be remembered for providing the needed miracle in Brisbane. English success would be nothing without her. Read More Lauren James sent off for stamping on opponent during England’s World Cup clash England survive penalty drama to reveal vital quality in Women’s World Cup dream How many games will Lauren James miss at Women’s World Cup after red card? England players rush to console Nigeria’s goalkeeper after winning shootout 4-2 England scrape into Women’s World Cup quarter-finals after penalty shootout drama Sarina Wiegman: The Lionesses’s all-conquering coach in profile

Baltimore Orioles fan blasted.

Bill Simmons took time out of vacation to rip the USWNT.

No Eduardo Rodriguez, no regrets: The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be doing just fine after missing out on their top trade target.This should come with a preface: It's only the start of August. The trade deadline was justa weekago. Calling any player the "best pickup of the deadline&q...

If England are to win this World Cup, they will scarcely endure a game as testing or as tense as this. A positive spin on this penalty shoot-out victory over Nigeria is that it could again be the making of them, adding to their resolve, with Chloe Kelly once more offering a decisive kick. A negative is that this should bring a reconsideration about what is possible, especially with the likelihood that Lauren James will miss two games if not all three potential ties left. Her teammates did her a huge favour here. This World Cup still remains as hard to work out as James’ decision to stand on Michelle Alozie in the second half, receiving a red card. England came very close to another surprise elimination as Nigeria proved to be their equals throughout the match. England should have been their superiors, really. The great irony is that the red card almost served England better – at least in this situation. Before then, the system and the set-up had been all wrong, as it clearly didn’t suit the returning Keira Walsh. She picked up another injury during this arduous evening in Brisbane. This strategic misstep meant Nigeria did all the attacking and had all the play. After the red, though, it was as if Randy Waldrum’s side didn’t know how to play against 10 women. Both sides looked like they’d forgotten how to attack. That continued into the shootout as the first two were missed. It was only Bethany England that set things right. For all the criticisms and questions that could come with this game, one element should be noted. It would have been very easy for England to wilt here, especially given the very feel of this World Cup with the United States going out the night before. Instead, there was a mental resolve there, that was clearly set by last summer. It was visible in the penalties too. It does give Sarina Wiegman even more to think about, though. She must reshuffle this team again, accommodating the absence of James – maybe until the final, if England even get that far. Jamaica or Colombia will give Wiegman’s side as tough a test in the quarter-final in Sydney. It is England’s attack – and in fact their very attacking mentality – that now requires the most consideration. England had specifically prepared for Nigeria’s physicality in the tackle, seeking to step off so as not to play that game, but it quickly became apparent this was almost too meek. They were giving up too much space and too many chances. Nigeria had more shots in the first half than any team that Wiegman’s England have faced. One of them was Ashleigh Plumptre’s thunderous strike off the bar, before the former English underage international then forced a scrambled save from Mary Earps. England were looking for that spell of control, but it was almost too methodical, lacking real energy. The strangeness around the penalty decision only added to this. Even if it wasn’t a penalty in the first place, despite the fact there didn’t look to be enough obvious evidence to see it overturned. The referee made the call just as Georgia Stanway was motioning to shoot, making it all the more frustrating for England. This was the story of almost every move forward. It was also the story of Stanway’s penalty later on. James, admittedly, was being superbly shuttled out of the game by Nigeria. That surely led to the frustration she took out later. In the moment, it meant that any time England got forward there were vast differences between their attackers. On the one occasion in the first half when Nigeria’s occasional sloppiness brought a defensive error, Alessia Russo opted to smash the ball when she should have gone with more subtlety. Goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, well off her line, was just waiting to be chipped. She instead got down well to save an effort that should have made it much more difficult for her. Space was so difficult to find for James, however, that she increasingly had to drop back and get the ball. England did gradually solve one issue, mind. For the first half, and going into the second, Nigeria were creating panic every time they got into the box. There was one desperate and defiant block from Jess Carter. There were more than a few moments when the ball could have gone anywhere. That did come with a cost, though. It almost seemed like England were so concerned with Nigeria breaking – especially when the half-fit Asisat Oshoala came on – that they were too reluctant to commit players forward. The wing-backs rarely crossed the halfway line. There were no real chances created. It said much that the best of normal time was a corner, Rachel Daly’s thunderous header just a little too central. Nnadozie still reacted superbly, though. The same, alas, could not be said of James. Alozie’s own reaction said enough. It was almost one of disbelief. She was far from the only person thinking that. The oddity was that the situation served England better. It was as if Nigeria weren’t able to capitalise against 10, especially with the onus now on them. From then, penalties seemed inevitable. England going through certainly didn’t look as inevitable as many would have thought. Read More Lauren James sent off for stamping on opponent during England’s World Cup clash England vs Nigeria LIVE: Score and updates as Women’s World Cup game goes to penalty shootout How ‘arrogance’ and ‘complacency’ led to United States’ decline A timeline of Donald Trump’s spat with Megan Rapinoe How many games will Lauren James miss at Women’s World Cup after red card? Keira Walsh: England’s deep-lying playmaker in profile

With the MLB trade deadline squarely in the rearview mirror, which teams went up or down in this week's MLB Power Rankings?It's been nearly a week since all of the dust from the MLB trade deadline settled, and we now know which teams strengthened their rosters for a postseason run in 2...

Braves star Matt Olson just recorded a truly epic homer against the Cubs over the weekend, solidifying his MVP case for 2023.The Atlanta Braves already have one MVP frontrunner in the mix: star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. On Sunday, Acuna's teammate, Matt Olson, proved why he was deserv...