حسم نادي لوس أنجلوس إف سي تأهله إلى كأس العالم للأندية 2025، بعد فوزه المثير على كلوب أمريكا بنتيجة 2-1 في مباراة فاصلة عن قارة أمريكا الشمالية.

وأقيمت المباراة بين لوس أنجلوس إف سي وكلوب أمريكا على ملعب “بي إم أو” في مدينة “لوس أنجلوس”.

اقرأ أيضًا | منافس الأهلي.. بورتو يهزم الوداد في ختام استعدادات كأس العالم للأندية

A recap of tonight’s match 🤩

Catch @LAFC at the @fifaclubworldcup | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC | #TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/d6xFuSoG3I — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 1, 2025

وكان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم قد أقام تلك المباراة بعد استبعاد ليون المكسيكي من كأس العالم للأندية الذي سيبدأ في 15 يونيو الجاري بسبب أنه تحت ملكية نفس ملاك نادي باتشوكا المشارك في البطولة، وهو ما تمنعه لائحة المونديال.

وتقدم كلوب أمريكا أولًا بهدف سجله، برايان رودريجيز، من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 64، بعد تدخل من حكم الفيديو المساعد.

لكن لوس أنجلوس أدرك التعادل القاتل في الدقيقة 89 عن طريق، إيجور جيسوس، لينقلوا اللقاء إلى وقت إضافي.

وفي الدقيقة 115، سجل الجابوني دينيس بوانجا هدف الفوز القاتل للوس أنجلوس بعد تمريرة من، أوليفييه جيرو، ليقود فريقه إلى تأهل تاريخي هو الأول له في البطولة العالمية.

بهذا الفوز، ينضم لوس أنجلوس إف سي إلى المجموعة الرابعة في كأس العالم للأندية إلى جانب تشيلسي، فلامنجو، والترجي الرياضي، في نسخة موسعة تضم 32 فريقًا وتُقام في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية. مباريات لوس أنجلوس في كأس العالم للأندية 2025

16 يونيو – أمام تشيلسي (أتلانتا)

20 يونيو – أمام الترجي (ناشفيل)

24 يونيو – أمام فلامنجو (أورلاندو)

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including milestone goals and promotion celebrations

The European season is coming to an end. In fact, for several U.S. men's national team stars playing abroad, it ended this weekend. For those that continue to play on, though, the heat is being turned up as races tighten across the game's top leagues.

In England, it was all to play for in the Championship, and Brenden Aaronson and Leeds left with the ultimate prize: the title. He wasn't the only American celebrating after the league's final games of the season. Daryl Dike's season is over, but it ended with a feel-good goal that has been a long-time coming. Haji Wright's season, meanwhile, will continue as the forward helped his team push into the playoff for Premier League promotion.

The race is tight at the top of Serie A, too. While Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and Milan won't take the field until Monday, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus earned a good-but-not-great result. They entered the weekend one point ahead of Bologna, and there they'll stay after a 1-1 draw that Sunday in which they wasted a 1-0 lead. Now, the top-four race in Serie A has tightened even more, with teams four through eight all separated by four points.

Bigger games are ahead, and the stage is being set for final weeks of the campaign.

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.

Getty Images SportWright leads Coventry's Premier League push

The Championship season is over, but not for Haji Wright. Coventry City are playoff-bound, and that means Wright is set for the biggest matches of his club career.

Everyone knows the stakes that come from the promotion playoff. A spot in the Premier League is the prize, but this is about so much more than that. The money is astronomical. The boost to reputation is, too. Players can change the course of their clubs, and their lives, over the course of just a few games.

Wright and Coventry had some work to do to even get into the playoff, as they went into the final week knowing they needed a result. They got it, taking down fellow hopefuls Middlesbrough, 2-0, to set up what's to come. Coventry will now look ahead to two legs against Sunderland in the coming days as they look to push to the Premier League.

In many ways, Wright has proven he belongs. Despite playing 16 fewer games than second-leading scorer Jack Rudoni, Wright finished atop the club's goalscoring charts with 12 in 27 matches. It's the type of haul that can elevate a player to a higher level, whether that comes with Coventry or elsewhere.

We'll find out soon enough where Coventry will be playing next season. Can they survive the high-stakes playoff to get Premier League soccer and all that comes with it? Or will they be one of the three teams to miss out on those riches? Wright will be key, no doubt, as the club heads into some of the biggest games in the world.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMcKennie and Juve waste opportunity

On Saturday, reports emerged that Weston McKennie is set to commit to Juventus for the long-haul. That commitment will come with a well-deserved pay raise, but it will also likely come with an understanding that, while McKennie may be locked in, change is coming.

How much change? That will depend on the next few weeks. It didn't get much clearer on Sunday, as Juventus settled for a 1-1 draw with Bologna. Both teams are among those fighting for a top-four spot, and that fight is even tighter than before with this weekend's results. Juventus still hold onto fourth, but that hold is shaky with Roma, Lazio, Bolgoa and Fiorentina all lurking heading into these final three games.

McKennie started for Juve, as he so often has this season. Playing in a more advanced midfield position, he created multiple chances and had some good moments in the final-third. He also did his work defensively, making several plays to help Juve initially protect their early lead. He was joined in the XI by Tim Weah, who had a quieter game, but was decent at his wingback spot.

Sunday will feel like two points dropped, though. Juventus had a chance to put some real separation between themselves and the teams chasing them. Instead, one slip-up could be the difference between a Champions League spot or missing out on Europe entirely.

The club is walking on a tightrope, and McKennie, Weah and Co. will need to get things right over these final few weeks to keep them balanced.

Getty Images SportDike's feel-good moment

No one deserved a moment like this more than Daryl Dike. Given all he's fought through and, more specifically, come back from, he's more than earned it. Saturday's goal won't make it all worth it – nothing ever will – but it certainly marks a return towards normalcy for a player who has been sidelined far too long.

On Saturday, Dike scored his first goal since January 2024, helping close West Brom's season with a win over Luton Town. Making his first – and only – start of the season, Dike headed home in the first half to mark his long-awaited comeback.

Over the last few years, Dike has been plagued by multiple injuries, including two separate Achilles tears. You could see the weight of all of that on his face the moment the ball hit the back of the net.

"When you have an injury like that," Dike said, "especially the second time around, all the things you think are like 'Is it going to happen again?' Am I going to be the same?' But with training sessions the last few months and games like today, it pushes a little bit of that today and shows I can still do it and be confident in myself."

Dike can carry that feeling into summer one that, for the first time in a few years, won't all be centered on rehabilitation. Dike will be working to make sure he's ready and fit for next season, one that will hopefully see him get back to his best.

"I want about six more games now," he said, "but there's another year next year so let's get going."

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Getty Images SportCelebrations and lessons for Aaronson

It hasn't always been easy for Brenden Aaronson, to put it lightly. The last few years have been challenging and have forced the American midfielder to reckon with some very tough questions. Those doubts are still in the air, particularly after he was left out of the USMNT's CONCACAF Nations League squad.

This weekend, then, will have been a reward for all of those difficult moments. Aaronson and Leeds already knew they were going up to the Premier League but, on Saturday, they made sure they'd go up in style.

Thanks to a late a last-gasp goal from Manor Solomon, Leeds earned a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle that officially claimed the Championship title. The celebrations were emphatic and they were deserved.

Leeds earned their place as the Championship's best from start to finish, and it took them just about every second of this season to prove that fact. Aaronson played his part. He finished the season as Leeds' fourth-leading scorer with nine in the Championship.

A turbulent start to 2025, ultimately, prevented him from running up that total after a strong close to 2024. Still, this was a good year for Aaronson, one that provided both lessons and celebrations in equal measure.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após vencer o rival Palmeiras e esboçar uma arrancada no Campeonato Brasileiro, o São Paulo voltou a decepcionar a torcida. Ema uma fria noite no Morumbi, com Rogério Ceni poupando mais da metade do time titular, o Tricolor não saiu de um empate em 0 a 0 com o Juventude, neste domingo (26).

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ATUAÇÕES
> Nestor incendeia a partida, mas não evita o empate do São Paulo

Ao apito final, o time tricolor teve que deixar o gramado sob vaias da torcida. Não era para menos, visto que o adversário alviverde vinha de quatro derrotas consecutivas na competição.

Com o resultado, o São Paulo cai para a 11ª colocação na tabela, com 18 pontos. O Juventude segue na lanterna, com apenas dez.

MISTÃO TRICOLOR CONTRA O BAIXO ASTRAL

Sabe aquele limite físico que Rogério Ceni vinha falando há algumas coletivas? Pois bem, deve ter chegado. E por conta disso o comandante tricolor decidiu mandar a campo na frita noite deste domingo uma equipe mista a campo. Foram sete alterações em relação ao time que venceu o Palmeiras pela Copa do Brasil, na quinta-feira (23).

Sem o entrosamento necessário dos mandantes, talvez, o Juventude aproveitou. Estreando novo técnico, os gaúchos apareceram em um 3-6-1 apostando muito na velocidade dos contra-ataques. Deu certo logo aos 2′. Chico avançou livre pela esquerda e tocou para Jadson, que finalizou próximo à trave de Jandrei.

RESPOSTA SÃO-PAULINA NÃO TARDA, MAS FALHA

A resposta do Tricolor não demorou. Logo aos 3′, Rafinha apareceu com liberdade pela direita e cruzou na medida para Éder, que se antecipou à marcação e desviou de cabeça com perigo.

Aos 19′, mais uma vez o São Paulo apareceu com perigo. Luciano avançou pelo meio, ignorou algumas opções livres que apareceram do lado e resolveu chutar de fora da área, para a defesa de César.

MELHOR MOMENTO DO TRICOLOR, MAS NÃO RENDEU NADA

Aos poucos, se valendo dos vacilos de marcação do Juventude, o São Paulo ia se impondo em campo. Aos20′, o time conseguiu uma falta na entrada da área que Rigoni bateu por cima do gol.

Aos 24′, em um lance idêntico ao ocorrido antes, mas do outro lado, Wellington cruzou certinho na cabeça de Éder, que desviou por cima do travessão.

JU SE ACERTA E AS COISAS SE COMPLICAM PRO TRICOLOR

Aos 30′ o São Paulo levou perigo com uma boa jogada ensaiada. Rigoni fez o cruzamento, Patrick escorou de cabeça e Luciano tentou a finalização, falha, que saiu pela linha de fundo sem maiores perigos.

O lance, contudo, é sintomático por vários motivos. O principal deles é pelo fato de que o Tricolor expôs que sua principal jogada ofensiva era pelas pontas e com cruzamentos à área. O time gaúcho percebeu. E passou a armar seus contra-ataques em cima dos laterais tricolores. Aos 31′, em um desses lances, Jadson inverteu a bola para Moraes que, livre, avançou em velocidade e cruzou com perigo para boa defesa de Jandrei.

PRIMEIRO TEMPO TERMINA, SEM TRICOLOR CONVENCER

Aos 37’após roubada de bola no meio-campo, Luciano apareceu livre na entrada da área e arriscou o chute, que César conseguiu espalmar.

Parecia perigoso, mas não tinha nada demais. O São Paulo terminou o primeiro tempo sem encontrar outros métodos de ataque que não pelas pontas. E com o Juventude explorando muito bem os espaços deixados, mas claramente esbarrando nas suas limitações.

CENI MEXE, MAS TRICOLOR CONTINUA ERRANDO

Para o segundo tempo, Ceni decidiu ir para o abafa. Colocou em campo os titulares Calleri (muito pedido pela torcida) e Rodrigo Nestor. A esperança era crescer de produção ofensiva. Mas o ritmo foi o mesmo.

Aos 2′, Igor Gomes achou Luciano na entrada da área. Mesmo sob forte marcação, o atacante conseguiu o giro para finalizar, mas bateu em cima do goleiro César.

EM MEIO À PASMACEIRA, MIRANDA PERDE O GOL DO JOGO

O tempo ia passando, o São Paulo pouco ia se acertando. Pragmático, insistia nas jogadas pelas pontas. Mas o Juventude estava mais do que ligado na jogadinha manjada.

Até que apareceu uma luz no Morumbi. Aos 19′, Calleri dividiu cabeçada em cobrança de escanteio e a bola sobrou livre, leve e solta para Miranda, que com o goleiro batido, chutou para fora e perdeu aquele que seria o primeiro gol tricolor. Incrível!

LANCE DE MIRANDA ANIMA, MAS FERROLHO GAÚCHA SEGURA TRICOLOR

Talvez inspirado pela oportunidade de Miranda, o São Paulo foi ao ataque. Aos 28′, Nestor recebeu passe no canto da área e arriscou o chute, obrigando César a desviar para escanteio.

Aos 37′, a última grande oportunidade são-paulina. Calleri tocou curto na área para André Anderson, que entrara pouco antes e chutou em cima da defesa. Foi a chance derradeira para o Tricolor, que nos minutos finais tentou ir para o abafa, mas parou na bem amarrada defesa do rival gaúcho.

PRÓXIMOS JOGOS

O São Paulo volta a campo pelo Brasileirão no próximo domingo (3/7) contra o Atlético-GO, fora de casa, às 16h (de Brasília). Antes, o Tricolor tem o duelo de ida das oitavas de final da Copa Sul-Americana contra a Universidad Católica, no Chile, às 21h30 (de Brasília), de quinta-feira (30). O Juventude encara o Atlético-MG, no sábado (2/7), às 16h30 (de Brasília), em Belo Horizonte (MG).

TABELA
> Confira jogos, classificação e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22
> Conheça o novo aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

FICHA TÉCNICA
SÃO PAULO 0 x 0 JUVENTUDE

Data e hora: 26/06/2022 (domingo), às 18h (de Brasília)
Local: Morumbi, em São Paulo (SP)
​Árbitro: Andre Luiz de Freitas Castro (GO)
Auxiliares: Bruno Raphael Pires e Fabricio Vilarinho da Silva (ambos da Fifa-GO)
VAR: Pablo Ramon Goncalves Pinheiro (RN)
Público e renda: 20.466 pagantes/R$780.806,00

Cartões amarelos: Patrick e Rodrigo Nestor (São Paulo); Capixaba, Vitor Mendes e Jadson (Juventude)

SÃO PAULO
Jandrei; Rafinha (Diego Costa, 12/2), Léo, Miranda e Welington; Igor Gomes, Pablo Maia e Patrick (Rodrigo Nestor, intervalo); Rigoni (André Anderson 34/2), Éder (Calleri, intervalo) e Luciano (Igor Vinícius 23/2)
Técnico: Rogério Ceni

JUVENTUDE
César; Rodrigo Soares, Thalisson, Rafael Forster e Moraes; Yuri (Jean (42/2), Jadson, Capixaba (Guilherme Parede 23/2), Oscar Ruiz (Edinho 23/2), Chico (Paulo Henrique 49/2); Ricardo Bueno
Técnico: Umberto Louzer

Lahore Qalandars release Fakhar Zaman, while Quetta Gladiators let go of Naseem Shah

Umar Farooq11-Nov-2022

Karachi Kings have traded their captain Babar Azam to Peshawar Zalmi to get Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik for the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League. Quetta Gladiators were also interested in Babar but couldn’t close the deal.At the moment, Babar is the only player in Platinum category for Zalmi, who also got the first pick in the supplementary round of the draft in exchange. Similarly, Haider is currently Kings’ only player in Platinum category, while Malik joins Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir in Diamond.Kings is the third team Babar will represent in the PSL. He started with Islamabad United in 2016 before moving to Kings the next year. Since then he was with them. Malik, on the other hand, returns to Kings. He played for them in 2016 and 2017, moved to Multan Sultans for 2018 and 2019, and was with Zalmi from 2020 to 2022.Foreign players in draft (top two categories)

Platinum: Aaron Finch, Adil Rashid, Akeal Hosein, Alex Hales, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Colin de Grandhomme, Dasun Shanaka, David Miller, Dawid Malan, Evin Lewis, Jimmy Neesham, Lungi Ngidi, Martin Guptill, Moeen Ali, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nicholas Pooran, Odean Smith, Rahkeem Cornwall, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Rassie van der Dussen, Reece Topley, Saqib Mahmood, Shakib Al Hasan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Wanindu Hasaranga

Diamond: Adam Hose, Andre Fletcher, Andrew Tye, Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Bas de Leede, Ben Mike, Ben Cutting, Bjorn Fortuin, Brandon King, Cameron Delport, Carlos Brathwaite, Chadwick Walton, Charith Asalanka, Craig Overton, Daniel Sams, Daniel Worrall, David Wiese, Dominic Drakes, Dushmantha Chameera, Dwaine Pretorius, Evan Jones, Fabian Allen, Fazalhaq Farooqi, George Dockrell, Gulbadin Naib, Hayden Walsh, Hazratullah Zazai, Imran Tahir, Jacques Snyman, James Bracey, James Fuller, James Vince, Jamie Overton, Janneman Malan, Jason Roy, Johnson Charles, Josh Little, Keemo Paul, Kevin Sinclair, Kieran Powell, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Laurie Evans, Lendl Simmons, Lewis Gregory, Lewis McManus, Liam Dawson, Liam Norwell, Luke Wood, Maheesh Theekshana, Mahmudullah, Marchant de Lange, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Michael Rippon, Migael Pretorius, Mushfiqur Rahim, Najibullah Zadran, Nkrumah Bonner, Ollie Pope, Olly Stone, Oshane Thomas, Pathum Nissanka , Paul Walter, Qais Ahmad, Rehan Ahmed, Richard Gleeson, Rilee Rossouw, Roelof van der Merwe, Roston Chase, Ryan Gibson, Shai Hope, Shane Dadswell, Sherfane Rutherford, Sikandar Raza, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed, Thisara Perera, Thomas Kaber, Wayne Parnell, Will Jacks

During the trade and retention window, each side could assemble up to eight players. Zalmi were the only one to retain seven players.In the draft, the franchises can increase their squad size to 18. In all, teams can pick up to three each in Platinum, Diamond and Gold categories, five in Silver, two in Emerging and two in Supplementary categories. Just like the last year, the franchises will have the Right-to-Match card to pick any player they have released from their roster.Lahore Qalandars, the defending champions, retained their core set of players except for Fakhar Zaman. ESPNcricinfo understands Fakhar will be picked by Qalandars anyway as the franchise will open the draft with their first Platinum pick. Qalandars retained Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, David Wiese, Abdullah Shafique, Harry Brook and Kamran Ghulam. Zaman Khan will continue to represent Qalandars as their emerging player. They parted ways with Mohammad Hafeez, though.Gladiators retained their long-term captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, but the PCB demoted him from Platinum to Gold category. However, they released Naseem Shah, who will now go in the draft. In the draft order, Gladiators have the second turn in the first round of Platinum category. They have let go of Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi, who is now retired. Mohammad Nawaz is their Platinum category player. Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Mohammad Hasnain, Naveen-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal and Will Smeed are the others who have been retained.PCB/PSL

Sultans retained their captain Mohammad Rizwan in Platinum category. Tim David was also retained but was demoted from Platinum category to Gold. Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw, and Shahnawaz Dahani, who is now Sultans’ brand ambassador as well, too will continue with the franchise. Abbas Afridi and Ihsanullah are the emerging-category retentions.Shadab Khan, Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain who has been the nucleus of United, will stay with the franchise, alongside Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali (demoted to Diamond) and Mohammad Wasim. Top-order batters Colin Munro and Paul Stirling, and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan rounds up their eight-man line-up ahead of the draft.For the draft, 493 overseas players have registered in different categories; the most being from England (140), followed by Sri Lanka (60), Afghanistan (43), West Indies (38), Bangladesh (28), South Africa (25), Australia (14), Zimbabwe (11) and Ireland (9). From those, 29 are listed in Platinum category and 81 in Diamond category. Further details about the draft will be announced at a later date.The 2023 season will start on February 9, and the final will take place on March 19. Four venues – Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan – will host the matches, a change from the previous two seasons, when Covid-19 forced the whole tournament to be played at just two centres, Lahore and Karachi.PSL squads after retention and trade window•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Full list of retained players:Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum). Asif Ali (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim (Diamond). Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali (Gold). Colin Munro and Paul Stirling (Silver).Karachi Kings: Haider Ali (Platinum). Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik (Diamond). Aamir Yamin, Mir Hamza and Sharjeel Khan (Silver). Qasim Akram (Emerging)Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rashid Khan (Platinum). Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and David Wiese (Diamond). Abdullah Shafique (Gold). Kamran Ghulam and Harry Brook (Silver). Zaman Khan (Emerging).Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (Platinum). Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw and Shan Masood (Diamond). Shahnawaz Dahani (Brand Ambassador) and Tim David (Gold). Abbas Afridi and Ihsanullah (Emerging).Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (Platinum). Sherfane Rutherford and Wahab Riaz (Diamond). Mohammad Haris (Gold). Aamir Jamal (Brand Ambassador), Salman Irshad and Tom-Kohler Cadmore (Silver).Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz (Platinum). Iftikhar Ahmed and Jason Roy (Diamond). Mohammad Hasnain and Sarfaraz Ahmed (Gold). Naveen-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal (Mentor) and Will Smeed (Silver)

Michael Neser and Mark Steketee again dominated with the ball against Victoria

AAP15-Nov-2022Queensland’s bowlers and batter Sam Truloff fired to secure the Bulls their first Marsh Cup success of the summer in a comfortable seven-wicket win over Victoria.Bulls captain Usman Khawaja won the toss and elected to bowl at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field, with Michael Neser and Mark Steketee taking wickets at the start and end of the visitors’ innings to dismiss Victoria for 171.In reply, Truloff played with panache with his drives off the quick bowlers a highlight. Khawaja and Matt Renshaw chipped in with sold knocks before Max Bryant upped the ante to secure a bonus point for Queensland with victory in the 36th over.Truloff, 29, has been in and out of the Queensland system after making his first-class debut in 2016. He broke an all-time season aggregate record in Brisbane first grade cricket last summer while batting for Wests to earn a recall and a new contract.”I am a big fan of Sammy. He has been a terrific player for a long time and has scored a truckload of runs,” Khawaja told AAP. “He will get a few more opportunities as more boys leave for representation with the Aussie team and the [Prime Minister’s XI]. He is a very good batsman and it is terrific to see him doing well.”Queensland’s fielding was also top shelf, with none better than Truloff who took two catches and was the instigator of the run out of Marcus Harris.Neser and Steketee had taken 15 wickets between them in the recent Sheffield Shield win over Victoria at the same venue and picked up where they left off.”They both got injured early last season and that hurt us but they have both been on the park this year and when that happens you can string a few good games together,” Khawaja said.Fast bowler Kane Richardson, who joined the Queensland squad after completing his T20 World Cup duties with Australia, played his first game for state.His impact was immediate in a spell of 1 for 12 off eight overs that dried up the runs. Campbell Kellaway (34) and Sam Harper (31) steadied the Victorian innings but were unable to press on and make a big score.

Ollie Rathbone was named Wrexham's Player of the Season at the club's end-of-campaign awards after he starred in their League One promotion.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Rathbone named Wrexham's Player of the Season
• Summer signing has shone in League One
• Mullin scoops Goal of the Season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rathbone has made 48 appearances for the club since signing from Rotherham last summer, proving instrumental in their midfield on the way to winning automatic promotion from League One. Club legend Paul Mullin, meanwhile, was awarded Wrexham's Goal of the Season for his spectacular volley against Blackpool on Boxing Day.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham are celebrating again after winning their third consecutive promotion and booking their place in the Championship for next season as League One runners-up behind Birmingham City. Rathbone signed a three-year deal in August 2024, so will hope to feature heavily again at the next level.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Manager Phil Parkinson has admitted that players could leave the club this summer, with Mullin reported to be potentially on his way. The club aim to assemble a squad that can be competitive in the second tier.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Parkinson has revealed the club's transfer plans are already in full swing, with the manager having "a lot of thinking to do" ahead of their Championship campaign. Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will likely provide another injection of cash to help Wrexham reach the Premier League promised land.

Before Arne Slot, there was Jurgen Klopp.

Over on Merseyside, Liverpool are thriving this season, holding a seven-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League. The Reds have also reached the final of the Carabao Cup and the last 16 of the Champions League. More on the latter two next month.

Slot has inherited an elite bunch, but his predecessor is hardly the driving force of this campaign. Slot is his own man, painstakingly picked from a shortlist by FSG toward the end of the 2023/24 season, with the American owners now reaping the rich rewards of their decision.

However, it would be remiss not to pay homage to Klopp’s last hurrah. Last season was fun and gripping – Liverpool won the Carabao Cup. But, however, it was the German’s success in the transfer market, rebuilding the midfield, that has had such a profound effect on this iteration.

Jurgen Klopp's last hurrah

Liverpool couldn’t get it wrong. The 2022/23 campaign had seen Liverpool splutter to the finish line like an engine running on fumes. The midfield, chiefly singled out as the crux of the issue, needed refitting.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita were all leaving at the end of their contracts, but the sales of captain Jordan Henderson and number six Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League were unanticipated twists.

With Michael Edwards and then Julian Ward gone, Klopp was working with surrogate sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, but after activating Dominik Szoboszlai’s £60m release clause, freeing him from his contract with RB Leipzig and signing Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister for £35m, widely regarded as a bargain, Liverpool looked to have hit the jackpot.

A holding midfielder was still coveted, needed, but after botched bids for Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, both of whom joined Chelsea, Klopp made the surprising move to sign Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for £16m.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, not least because we can look back and note Endo’s monstrous performance against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, helping Klopp to win one more piece of silverware and restore Liverpool’s place in the Champions League.

The 2023 summer window is about to close. Liverpool have done their business, and done it well. The midfield was still missing a piece so, a certain something. That something was Ryan Gravenberch.

Ryan Gravenberch's Liverpool journey

On Saturday, September 2, 2023, Gravenberch left Bayern Munich to join Klopp’s Liverpool cause. He signed a five-year deal at Anfield, with the German giants receiving £34m.

Gravenberch is still only 22 but he’s cultivated a reputation as one of Europe’s most talented young midfielders since leaving Ajax in his homeland, and Klopp took a calculated risk on a multi-functional and gifted player.

However, his impact on Liverpool’s season was marginal, only starting 12 Premier League matches and even being branded a “passenger out of possession” by journalist Danny Corcoran, who also noted that he was “weak in the duel.”

Such issues have been ironed out in a fresh role under Slot’s wing, typically sat deep in the centre of the park, collecting and ferrying the ball into dangerous positions, so crisp and cultured and composed.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

24 (24)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

2

Touches*

28.8

67.8

Pass completion

83%

90%

Key passes*

0.6

0.9

Dribbles*

0.9

0.9

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.6

Total duels (won)*

2 8 (47%)

4.9 (59%)

As you can see above, the changes have been significant. Gravenberch’s rebirth in Slot’s project has been a surprise to many, for he has long been regarded as a rangy and skilful attacking midfielder, thrusting into the half-spaces and looking to make things happen from an offensive standpoint.

At Bayern, both Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel harboured frustrations about the prospect’s lack of application defensively, stuck between natural-born ability and half-heartedness across the scope of the game, across the grittier and less expansive parts of football.

But this new number-six-but-not-really role at Liverpool has finally given the £150k-per-week star the freedom to perform at a consistent and high level. Finally, at last, Gravenberch is a round peg slotting into a round hole, in fact becoming increasingly important for the Reds.

When Liverpool failed to convince Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to leave the mountainous Basque County for Merseyside, all felt lost in the prologue of the 2024/25 campaign, but Slot proved from the offing that he’s a resourceful man, a determined gaffer.

Liverpool endured, and oh how they are reaping the rewards. Titles lay on the horizon; you can see them already. Without Gravenberch’s rise and rise, Anfield would be languishing among the Champions League hopefuls – or would be lower still.

The Dutchman’s silky motions – he’s been hailed as a “gliding machine” by podcast host Ilyas Noreaga – and intelligent decisions have seen his market value skyrocket. In fact, CIES Football Observatory’s player valuation model has revealed that Gravenberch currently boasts a market value of £82m, which equates to a 126% rise.

Just for contextualisation, CIES record that he’s currently worth more than superstars such as Alexander Isak, Martin Odegaard and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, which makes for an interesting and conclusive comment on his calibre.

Liverpool reporter DaveOCKOP has even gone as far as to say that Gravenberch “is turning into one of the best midfielders in the world.”

Perhaps the most exciting part is that Gravenberch still has so much room for growth. He’s already indispensable within Slot’s Liverpool and may just bloom into one of the best players in Europe.

For sure, if he replicates the 2024/25 campaign across each and every year, such a tag will be universally accepted.

Market Movers

Klopp’s last hurrah provided Liverpool with the framework for future success; last season, Gravenberch’s signature felt almost inconsequential, something that would be moved on after a year or two, but here he is, thriving.

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Tottenham Hotspur are now “in the running” to sign a “freak of nature” midfielder this summer, having conducted scouting missions this season, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Spurs eyeing move for midfielder

Tottenham’s midfield has looked solid at times when everyone is fully-fit, with the trio of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall performing well in the recent 1-0 victory against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Maddison bagged the winner in the narrow victory over the Red Devils, which saw the Lilywhites rise to 12th place.

However, Ange Postecoglou clearly feels some additional depth is required, given that the manager has been left short on midfield options at times this season due to the injury crisis he has had to deal with.

Several targets have been identified by Spurs, with the likes of Palmeiras’ Richard Rios and Real Betis’ Johnny Cardoso on the shortlist, and there is now a feeling they are also keen on signing one of the Championship’s stars.

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In a recent interview with Football Insider, ex-scout Mick Brown stated Tottenham are one of the clubs keeping a close eye on Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham, who could leave this summer if the Black Cats receive a big offer.

“Crystal Palace and Tottenham have had scouts watching him this season so they’ll be two of the teams in the running if he is going to leave. So it’ll be up to them to assess whether he’s ready to make that jump.

“From a Sunderland point of view, knowing the way the owners want to operate, I think if they get a huge bid for him then they’ll let him go.“

Amid links to Arsenal last month, the Sunderland star was thought to have a price tag of £20m, but the asking price could theoretically rise if he continues to impress over the course of the next few months.

Bellingham emerging as key player for Sunderland

The Black Cats are pushing for promotion to the Premier League this season, and the 19-year-old has established himself as a key player, making 28 appearances in the Championship, during which time he has picked up four goals and three assists.

Not only is the teenager a threat going forward, but he has also done a stellar job defensively over the past year, ranking in the 90th percentile for aerials won and the 87th percentile for clearances, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

Fellow Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil has lauded his teammate in the past, saying: “He’s an absolute freak of nature, physically. I have never seen a 17-year-old that size. Technically, he is a top, top, player as well.”

As such, it is exciting news that Tottenham could be in the race to sign Bellingham in the summer, and they should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

South Africa have “no regrets,” after their washout against Zimbabwe in Hobart saw them drop a point in the T20 World Cup and believe they are “still in control” of their destiny in the tournament.”We haven’t had a good history with rain,” the outgoing coach Mark Boucher said, bringing to mind how South Africa lost in a rain-affected semi-final in the 1992 World Cup, misread a DLS sheet and exited the first round of 2003 World Cup and lost in another reduced match in the 2015 fifty-over World Cup final four. “But we’d rather have it in the first game, now where we are still in control with what we can actually do.”South Africa did everything they could to beat the weather. Chasing a revised target of 64, they hurtled to 51 for 0 in just three overs. And from that standpoint Boucher did admit they were “frustrated,” to get “so close,” only to see it “get taken away”.”You walk away from this game thinking we were hard done by, whether the game should have taken place or not,” he said.That’s where some may disagree. Zimbabwe’s coach Dave Houghton was critical of the officials’ decision to keep the players on the field on a night dominated by bad weather and a wet outfield. But Boucher only went as far as calling conditions “tough,” and indicated there was a willingness on all sides to get the match underway.”We are here to play a World Cup and obviously we wanted to play. It seemed like both captains wanted to play from the start,” he said.3:36

Boucher: ‘If Zimbabwe were in our position they would have wanted to carry on’

South Africa vs Zimbabwe was delayed by a rain interruption in the earlier game between Bangladesh and Netherlands and took place 30 minutes after it was originally scheduled. Play would have started 15 minutes from then but persistent drizzle forced a two-and-a-half hour delay and reduced the contest to nine overs a side. Zimbabwe’s innings was uninterrupted, despite some spitting that turned into a light shower, and they set South Africa a target of 80.Each team has to play a minimum of five overs for it to constitute a T20 game. This one ended 12 balls short of that cut-off.At that point, South Africa were 51 for 0 – well past the five-over DLS par score for the loss of no wickets (44). So if the rain had relented at least to the point where the umpires believed a five-over game could take place, South Africa would’ve won without even going back on the field. But the rain didn’t relent, no play was possible and the points were shared. A similar thing had happened in the 2017 Champions Trophy.Instead of dwelling on the what-ifs of the situation, Boucher was pragmatic. “There’s not much more we could do. We maximised what we could, so there’s no regrets in our dressing room,” he said. “We did what we could and unfortunately we just didn’t get another 10 balls to get the job done.”Even if the target had remained 64, they probably wouldn’t have needed that many deliveries given how Quinton de Kock (47* off 18) was playing. “Quinny is one of the most dangerous batters in the world when he plays like that. It’s nice from a coaching perspective to see him going out there and playing with that freedom,” Boucher said. “In a competition like this, sometimes guys can tense up a bit. It’s very good to see Quinny play the free-flowing game we know he is very dangerous with.”3:03

Flower: ‘Bavuma will be a talking point until he starts scoring runs’

Asked whether, especially with the rain threat, South Africa considered sending someone other than out-of-form captain Temba Bavuma to knock off the chase, Boucher said if they had that idea, it was only fleeting. “There might have been a thought but it’s a decision where you can’t play for rain. I thought it was a good opportunity for Temba to express himself and lead from the front. We want to keep giving Temba opportunity to get some sort of rhythm in his batting.”Bavuma continues to receive the coach’s backing, even as he keeps the in-form Reeza Hendricks out of the side, with Boucher using the example of benching their highest-ranked bowler in the format – Tabraiz Shamsi – as a comparison.”Temba was injured, he did own that spot and he is the captain. He hasn’t been in great form but he got sick in India and these conditions suit his game a lot better as well. He has been batting really well in the nets, is also what I can say,” Boucher said. “It’s tough, not only on him (Hendricks). We decided to go with the extra seamer today, which was a bit harsh on Shammo, but I think it was the right decision. We’ve got some good options going forward.”South Africa will continue to adopt a horses-for-courses selection strategy as they move through the tournament and into must-win situations. “It’s a tough group and there’s probably one game that is going to be a game we are really going to have to win.”Barring any major upsets in this group, South Africa’s match against Pakistan on Thursday November 3 could be the virtual quarter-final but there’s a lot that has to happen before then. South Africa play Bangladesh this Thursday and India on Sunday in results that could prove crucial later in the piece.

Looking to continue their push towards the top half, Crystal Palace have now been boosted by the availability of Eberechi Eze, Eddie Nketiah and one other star who could return against Everton.

Crystal Palace injury news

The Eagles have rediscovered their best form under Oliver Glasner and are pushing towards the top half. On a run of one defeat in their last nine games in all competitions, those at Selhurst Park will certainly be in a confident mood ahead of what once looked destined to be a relegation six-pointer between themselves and Everton.

A key part of that recent run has, of course, been the form of Jean-Philippe Mateta who has shaken off any early season struggles in front of goal to steal plenty of headlines in South London.

The arrival of Everton won’t present Palace with a simple task this weekend, however. After all, the Toffees just quite literally battled their way to a last-gasp point against Liverpool in the final-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Recent injury news has certainly provided the Eagles with plenty of hope though.

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As revealed by Glasner, Ismaila Sarr could now return from injury against Everton alongside Eze and Nketiah to hand Palace the ultimate triple boost. Missing his side’s FA Cup victory over Doncaster, the winger will be keen to return and instantly add to the four goals that he already has to his name this season.

When asked for an injury update, Glasner told reporters: “Fortunately no new issues and all three [Eze, Nketiah, Sarr] are back and available for tomorrow.”

With fixtures coming thick and fast, Palace couldn’t have asked for much better news on the injury front, handing them every chance of continuing their excellent form.

"Direct" Sarr must rediscover early season form

Since getting his Crystal Palace career off to a solid start with four goals and one assist in his first 17 Premier League games, Sarr has struggled to steal the same headlines, with his last goal involvement coming through an assist against Leicester City midway through January.

With Palace’s frontline all back together and Mateta firing on all cylinders, however, the former Watford man should have ample opportunity to improve his output and pay Glasner back for his praise a few months ago.

The Austrian told reporters when asked about Sarr in December: “Ismaila is more of a direct runner with a lot of pace. We knew if we get him into the right areas in the right moment he will get chances to score goals.

“I don’t think it was his best performance. He had fantastic performances in other games. He was always a very positive impact at the beginning of the season as a substitute, so he could have six or seven assists as well. Sometimes we missed the chances.”

As Everton prepare to arrive, Sarr could yet receive the chance to return with a bang and fire Palace to yet another victory in what has been a fine run of form.