The Mets dropped a critical game on Friday, losing 6–2 to the since-eliminated Marlins on a night where the club's competition for the final National League wild card spot, the Reds, were victorious. The loss evened the clubs in a tie for the last postseason spot in the NL, which effectively meant the Mets were on the outside looking in in terms of the playoff picture due to tiebreakers.

And the night started out well for the Mets, who jumped out to a 2–0 lead, which they held until a disastrous six-run inning for Miami in the bottom of the fifth, a cacophony of errors and mental mistakes for New York. First, there was a Marlins single that glanced off first baseman Pete Alonso's glove. Then, after a two-run triple, another grounder, not fielded cleanly by Alonso, allowed a Miami run to score. Finally, Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez stole second and third without a throw from the Mets, preceding a Marlins RBI single and two-run homer.

In the midst of the fiasco, the Mets broadcast booth had seen enough, as they proceeded to tear into the club.

"The Mets—a lack of attention to detail, which has cropped up repeatedly during this slow-motion backwards march over the last three-and-a-half months," play-by-play broadcaster Gary Cohen said, "comes up to bite them again."

Color analyst Ron Darling was no kinder.

"You might take your whole travel ball squad off the field if something like that happened," Darling said. "Here's a team that is fighting to get to October. What are you going to do in October with an inning like that?"

Fellow color analyst Keith Hernandez finished up the broadcast booth's skewering.

"And it's not the first time too," Hernandez said. "They've made a lot of mental errors over the past what? Nine, 10 games down the stretch."

New York, through play on June 12, owned the best record in baseball and a 5 1/2-game lead over the Phillies. Since then, the Mets are an incomprehensible 37–54 and its playoff hopes are on the brink.

The Mets need to win the final two games of the regular season and hope for a Reds loss.

Manchester City fans arriving at the Etihad on Tuesday evening might well have been somewhat perplexed by the lineup that was announced.

Indeed, for the showdown with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola would ring the changes, with a mammoth ten alterations on display from the 2-1 defeat versus Newcastle United.

Nico Gonzalez was the only player remaining in the XI from that humbling loss.

The Spaniard’s widespread tinkering did not work the way he would have wanted, whatsoever, as City ended up crashing to a second successive defeat in all competitions, with Leverkusen taking advantage of the disjointed feel to the hosts to inflict a 2-0 loss.

While Leverkusen were ultimately clinical and deserving of all three points, several of Guardiola’s reserve personnel did let him down big time against the visitors from Germany, with Savinho – in particular – putting in another poor showing down the flanks.

Savinho's poor performance in numbers

The Brazilian would have been hopeful that he could change Guardiola’s mind about who his starting attacker should be down the left wing by putting in a high-octane performance against Leverkusen, with Jeremy Doku pushing Savinho to one side with ease as of late.

Instead, however, the below-par forward remains on just one paltry goal for the season, with social media account City Chief going as far as to bash his display against Kasper Hjulmand’s men as offering “no end product” again.

The numbers don’t lie in this regard, too, with Savinho coming off the pitch at the end of a frustrating 90 minutes with just one shot attempted at the Leverkusen goal.

Moreover, despite successfully completing four successful dribbles from nine attempts, as per Sofascore, all of the South American’s trickery and flair on the night ultimately went to waste, with just one accurate cross amassed.

On top of that, the hit-and-miss 21-year-old also gave away possession 24 times, with his decision-making labelled as “puzzling” by journalist Amos Murphy.

Guardiola has defended Savinho in recent weeks by calling him an “aggressive” threat in attack at his best, with this criticism rampant when you consider he has put away just four goals from 64 City appearances.

But, even the Spaniard deciding to wear rose-tinted glasses at times can’t defend that shoddy showing against the Bundesliga giants, with the £30m attacker going down the route of becoming the club’s next Jack Grealish, in being another flashy and inconsistent flop.

He isn’t the only struggling star up top where the Grealish comparison rings true, however, as another underperformer begins to worry if he, too, is a high-profile acquisition gone wrong.

The Man City star turning into the next Grealish

At least Savinho, even if his efforts were largely inaccurate and clumsy, got himself involved in the thick of the action, having accumulated a mighty 76 touches of the ball come the full-time whistle.

On the contrary, Omar Marmoush – with his own tally of 18 touches – faded in and out of the contest as an unmemorable focal point, with his £59m price tag now weighing him down, much like Grealish’s excessive £100m valuation would be his dismal undoing.

Yet, Grealish did show flashes of his excellence at City here and there before an Everton loan move came to fruition, with 17 goals and 23 assists to date helping the sky blue half of Manchester to three Premier League titles.

Marmoush hasn’t quite got that in the bank, but he does have a respectable nine goals next to his name from just 36 outings.

Still, football is a fast-paced and fickle game, and for the riches that were splashed out on his services, after amassing a jaw-dropping 50 goal contributions for Eintracht Frankfurt, just one goal this season won’t cut the mustard, with his goal-shy display on Tuesday night further reinforcing how reliant City are on Erling Haaland to get them out of trouble.

Minutes played

65

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

18

Shots

0

Accurate passes

7/9 (78%)

Possession lost

7x

Total duels won

2/5

From his minimal touches of the ball, despite lasting 65 minutes on the Etihad turf, Marmoush would fail to register a single effort on Mark Flekken’s busy net.

In stark contrast, the constantly dangerous Haaland would manage a colossal four shots, from just nine touches.

With only two duels won, too, it’s unlikely that Guardiola will be keen to utilise the Egyptian as his lone striker moving forward, as he now finds himself in danger of fading into the background, rather than being an impactful statement signing, like the former Aston Villa man.

Time will only tell if he can kick on this season to show he belongs, with injuries not helping him this campaign so far, either.

But, based on his Leverkusen showing alone, he will be pushed back to the bench, alongside Savinho, when Premier League action returns at the weekend.

Man City preparing £158m+ bid for star who wants to work under Guardiola

The Citizens are keen to make new signings and could now look to acquire one of Europe’s most prominent attackers.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 24, 2025

Former Manchester City forward Shaun Wright-Phillips has urged Harry Kane to team up with Erling Haaland at Manchester City next season, should he decide to call curtains on his Bayern Munich career. The talismanic English striker's contract with the Bavarians runs until June 2027, but reports have claimed that he could depart Allianz Arena at the end of this season.

• Kane and Haaland vying for the 2025-26 European Golden Shoe

  The duo have made a blistering start to the 2025-26 season, scoring crucial – and plenty of – goals for their respective sides. Kane has beautifully led Bayern Munich's charge in the opening three months of the ongoing campaign, having already netted a staggering 24 goals in just 18 games for Die Roten across all competitions.   

  In September, he became the quickest man in the history of Europe's top five leagues to reach the milestone of a century of goals for a single club, taking 104 games to achieve the feat. In the process, he toppled Cristiano Ronaldo and Haaland, both taking 105 games for Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively.  

  Kane's ridiculous form in front of goal has played a big part in Vincent Kompany's side breaking AC Milan's record of 13 consecutive wins at the start of the 1992-93 season, as Bayern went on to win 16 in a row before being halted by Union Berlin following a 2-2 draw.  

  On the other hand, Haaland's importance to this City side cannot be understated. The Norwegian has already breached the 30-goal mark for both club and country, 19 of those coming under the orders of Pep Guardiola in the sky blue of City. His absence was sorely felt against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, as the German outfit pulled off a shock 2-0 win against a City side that didn't have the services of Haaland and several other regulars from the beginning. 

  That said, the form of both Kane and Haaland has been imperious since the season kicked off. They, along with Kylian Mbappe, have become the early frontrunners in the race for the 2025-26 European Golden Shoe, scoring 14 league goals each. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Kane urged to team-up with Haaland

  Former Premier League winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who spent nine years with City, believes that Kane and Haaland could coexist at the Etihad Stadium next season and beyond, thus urging the former to return to the Premier League instead of the speculated move to Barcelona in Spain.   

  "If you were Harry Kane you could win more silverware at Barcelona, or Real Madrid, why would you turn that down?" he told

  "But if he wants that record in the Premier League, then I think Manchester City would welcome him with open arms. I think even if they only play with one striker, they can rotate with Erling Haaland. I think both players would accept that as long as they were winning trophies.   

  "More than that, I think they can play together, because Kane is an exceptional No.10 too, and it would free Haaland up. As soon as Kane has the ball and turns. Haaland would be running in behind and Kane would find him." 

• Kane has no interest in leaving Bayern Munich

  Earlier this season, dropped a bombshell by claiming that Kane has a 'secret' €65 million (£57m/$76m) release clause inserted into his Bayern contract, which runs until June 2027. For the clause to take effect, though, the 32-year-old is required to inform the club’s executives at Sabener Straße of his desire to depart by the end of January 2026.

  Despite the reports, Kane seems to be pretty relaxed, even admitting that he is open to considering extending his stay at the Allianz Arena beyond 2027. "I have almost two years left. It’s not like I’m in the final year of my contract and anyone is panicking," he told reporters in September. "I’m fine. The club is fine. I think they’re happy with me, and I’m happy with them. Those discussions can take place.”

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• AFP
  

  Barcelona consider Kane to be the ideal Lewandowski replacement

  Barcelona are set to undergo a big summer of squad changes at the end of the season. Robert Lewandowski, whose contract with the Catalans will end next summer, has one foot out of the Camp Nou as things stand. 

  The prevailing speculation, then, is that the reigning La Liga champions are determined to pull out all the stops in their pursuit of Kane, whom they view as the ideal successor to the ageing Pole. Moreover, his €65m release clause is believed to fall within the financial reach of a club carrying one of the largest debt burdens in world football. 

  As for Kane, he isn't entertaining any suggestions of a potential move to Barcelona or elsewhere. "I haven't had any contact with anyone, nobody has contacted me," he told recently. "I feel very comfortable in the current situation, even though we haven't yet discussed my situation with Bayern. 

  "There's no rush. I'm really happy in Munich. You can see that in the way I'm playing. If there's contact, then we'll see. But I'm not thinking about the new season yet. First up is the World Cup in the summer. And it's very unlikely that anything will change after this season."

  On whether Bayern fans should be worried about his future at the club, he responded: "I don't think so."

Allrounder Cameron Green suffered low grade side soreness and will miss the entire series in order to rehabilitate before WA’s next Shield match on October 28

Alex Malcolm17-Oct-2025

Australia have copped another major injury blow with Cameron Green ruled out of the ODI series against India with low grade side soreness, which could have significant implications for the upcoming Ashes.The 26-year-old Green was ruled out of the series on Friday with Marnus Labuschagne called into the squad to replace him. Labuschagne will fly from Adelaide at the completion of the Sheffield Shield match on Saturday night to join Australia’s squad in Perth ahead of the first ODI on Sunday.Green had only just returned to competitive bowling following back surgery last year, and missed the T20I tour of New Zealand to play in the opening Shield round for Western Australia against New South Wales in Perth last week. He was due to bowl eight overs in the match but only bowled four, and took a wicket – he was not allowed to bowl on consecutive days by Cricket Australia’s medical staff when Western Australia were unable to bat long enough in their first innings to allow for a full day’s rest between four-over spells.Related

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Zampa, Inglis to miss Perth ODI against India

Labuschagne dropped from Australia ODI squad

He was unlikely to bowl in the first two ODIs against India but was continuing to build his loads with a view to bowling more overs in round three of the Shield, which starts on October 28. He was going to be rested from the third and final ODI in Sydney and was also going to miss the T20I series that follows in order to play in the third and fourth rounds of the Shield to prepare for the Ashes.Green pulled up sore after bowling at training this week and will undergo a short rehabilitation period with the hope that he can still play and bowl in Western Australia’s third Shield game against South Australia at the WACA starting in 11 days’ time.The injury is a concern for Australia, who had been banking on Green being fully fit to bowl without any restrictions in the Ashes. Australia are already sweating on the fitness of Test skipper Pat Cummins, who said earlier this week he was “less likely than likely” to play in the first Test against England starting November 21 in Perth.Australia’s other Test allrounder Beau Webster is also carrying an injury concern at the moment, having missed the opening two Shield matches for Tasmania after rolling his ankle at training two weeks ago. But it is understood that CA has been ultra cautious with him and that he will be fit for Tasmania’s next Shield game on October 28.Marnus Labuschagne has been in prolific early-season form•Getty Images

“I’m sure he’s going alright, he’s in good hands,” Travis Head said. “We’ll work through it, like anything else with guys who have some injuries. We’ve got Josh [Inglis] in the same position as well.”I don’t think it will have any impact on the Ashes. It’s more disappointing that he’s not here at the moment for the next three games, so he’ll work through that.I I don’t think it’s too serious, so probably more precautionary leading into the next five weeks.”Green’s injury has shorn Australia’s ODI team of yet another first-choice player. He made 118 not out off 55 balls in Australia’s last ODI, against South Africa in August.World Cup-winning skipper Cummins is unavailable for the entire India series, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will miss at least the first two ODIs as he recovers from a calf strain.Adam Zampa is missing the Perth ODI to remain at home in northern New South Wales with his pregnant wife. Alex Carey, who is normally in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI as a specialist bat and is also the back-up wicketkeeper to Inglis, is also missing the first ODI in Perth to prioritise playing the Shield match between South Australia and Queensland in Adelaide as part of his Ashes preparation.Labuschagne has been recalled to the ODI squad after peeling off 159, his fourth century in five domestic innings. Labuschagne was dropped from the ODI squad ahead of the India series after lean returns over the last 12 months. But he has been the form player in the One-Day Cup for Queensland since posting scores of 130 off 118 against Victoria and 105 off 91 against Tasmania.

South Africa were the second team to qualify for the semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025, and did so with two league games still to play. They have been on a remarkable run in ICC tournaments in recent years – reaching the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup in 2017 and 2022, and of the T20 World Cup in 2020 and 2023. They were also runners-up at the T20 World Cup last year.Batter Anneke Bosch felt that the recent experience of making the knockouts puts South Africa in good stead to make their maiden ODI World Cup final. They will play their last league game of the competition against Australia at the Holkar Stadium on Saturday. The winner will head to Navi Mumbai for the semi-final against India, while the losing team will face England in Guwahati in the first semi-final.”We’ve been really good at being consistent in big tournaments, and different players doing well at different stages of the tournament,” Bosch said. “It’s just something that works for us when we get to tournaments like these and motivates us to do well. Reaching a couple of semi-finals in the [recent] past just gives us more confidence.Related

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• Wolvaardt's South Africa keep solving problems, one match at a time

“But now obviously we want to take it one step further because in the ODI World Cup, we haven’t [reached the final] before. So, it would mean a lot to us – and that’s what you compete for and what you’re here for – to make it to the final and, hopefully, lift the trophy. The fact that we have participated in a couple of semifinals now just helps us to deal with that pressure.”What has helped South Africa continue to perform well is a settled core. Twelve players in the current World Cup squad have been part of the T20 World Cup squads in 2023 and 2024. Bowlers Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune and Nonkululeko Mlaba have been consistent fixtures in the national side since the 2022 ODI World Cup.And it’s not just the senior women who have enjoyed success at World Cups. The men’s team reached the final of the T20 World Cup last year and the semi-final of the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The Under-19 women’s side were runners-up at their T20 World Cup earlier this year, while the men’s Under-19 team made the semi-finals in 2024.”It’s a combination of a lot of things,” Bosch said of the winning culture. “We are a massive sporting nation and we love to play for the country, and make the country and the people back at home proud. [A key factor is] our resilience and the way we come together as a country in big tournaments like these. We play for each other and we play for people back at home.”South Africa’s road to a first Women’s ODI World Cup title starts with a tough assignment against Australia in their final group-stage match. They have beaten Australia just once in 18 ODI meetings. With a solid core and the belief to go where they never have before, they’ll be aiming for a second ODI win against the defending champions.

Early next year the selectors will need to decide if there’s a spot in a 15-player squad for a reserve keeper

Andrew McGlashan13-Aug-2025

Alex Carey completed an unusual stumping on his T20I return•AFP/Getty Images

The second T20I in Darwin was lit up by Dewald Brevis’ century, but it also highlighted a question Australia have to answer before the T20 World Cup: do they need to have wicketkeeping cover in their 15-player squad?With Josh Inglis suffering from flu which he had played through in the opening game, Alex Carey was flown in ahead of schedule and earned his first T20I since 2021. He pulled off one of the more unusual stumpings to remove Lhuan-dre Pretorius and was Australia’s second-highest scorer with 26 off 18 balls.Related

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In a home bilateral series it was easy enough for the selectors to make a quick phone call to Carey and have him fly up to Darwin at short notice. But things are trickier in global tournaments where squad sizes are restricted, replacement players need approval and once a player is removed from the squad they can’t return.Inglis is locked in as Australia’s white-ball keeper but there would be a risk of entering a World Cup without another option on hand to take the gloves, particularly with Inglis managing ongoing back problems. None of the other batters in the current T20I squad, which seems likely to form the core of the World Cup group, are viable alternatives behind the stumps.Australia nearly found themselves in such a situation at the 2022 T20 World Cup when Matthew Wade came down with Covid prior to the game against England. Inglis, who was in the original squad, had suffered a hand injury playing golf prior to the tournament and been replaced by Cameron Green. As it was, the match was washed out although Wade would likely have pushed through and played. Australia’s contingencies on that day were potentially David Warner, who once took the gloves in a Test match, and captain Aaron Finch.In Darwin, Alex Carey batted as low as No. 7 in a T20 only for the seventh time, and the first since 2018•Getty ImagesAt the most recent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last year, Wade and Inglis were both in the 15-player squad, as they were for the 2021 edition in the UAE that Australia won. At the 2023 ODI World Cup, Inglis was in the squad and replaced Carey after one game. Now the duo feature together in the one-day side, with Carey playing as a batter in the Champions Trophy earlier this year.In the 50-over format they can both carry themselves as frontline batters, but that is not so clear cut for the T20I team. Tuesday was only the seventh time Carey had batted as low as No. 7 in a T20 and the first since 2018, with everyone else moved up a place in Inglis’ absence. His two BBL hundreds have come as an opener while he also has a solid record at No. 4. Overall in T20, Carey’s strike-rate is 129.04 compared to Inglis’ 150.98. However, in limited BBL appearances over the last three seasons, Carey has lifted his strike-rate to 146.52, which is higher than Inglis’ 138.57 over the same period.The issue the selectors will need to ponder early next year is whether there’s a spot in a 15-player squad for Carey, where the choice could come down to between him and another frontline batter, to cover for the eventuality where Inglis is unavailable for a game but hasn’t suffered a tournament-ending injury.On the recent tour of West Indies, a key reason Jake Fraser-McGurk was called in as a replacement when Spencer Johnson was ruled out was because the selectors are looking to build on the wicketkeeping side of his game and they wanted cover for Inglis in a condensed series.There is a chance he will have the gloves at some point for Australia A in the one-day series against India A in late September with him and Lachlan Shaw the two keeping options in that squad. But currently Fraser-McGurk doesn’t warrant a place as a batter in the national side – he made 2 in his one innings in West Indies to continue a lean year in T20s where he is averaging 19.41 albeit with a strike-rate of 150.22.

Despite registering an assist against Nottingham Forest, Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson has struggled to find his best form this season. Indeed, that strike he set up at the City Ground was only the second time in 2025/26 he’s chipped in with a goal or assist, despite playing 11 Premier League games.

It might not be a surprise to see the United States international struggling for form in the Premier League. Despite a dominant season in the Championship last term, former Leeds man Jon Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds that he doesn’t think he is “good enough to play in the Leeds United team.”

With Aaronson’s poor form continuing, it might lead Daniel Farke to look at alternative options on the right wing against Aston Villa.

Farke's options to replace Aaronson

One candidate to replace the American international against Villa is Wilfried Gnonto. The 22-year-old Italian is on the cusp of returning from a calf injury which has kept him out for most of the season, but Farke confirmed pre-match that his side have “not one player injured” this weekend.

Assuming the former Inter winger is back, he could get some involvement this weekend. Last term, Gnonto was excellent, scoring nine goals and assisting six in 43 second-tier games, and his direct nature could offer a new threat for Leeds.

However, given his recent fitness issues, this game may have come too soon for him to start.

An alternative option could be Jack Harrison. The 29-year-old Englishman has had a bit-part role this season in the Premier League, playing ten games, but featuring for just 262 minutes in total.

He is a player who certainly splits opinion at Elland Road. The former Everton loanee returned to the club this season after two years on Merseyside. He was not given a warm reception upon that return, though, and was booed by fans in preseason.

With Gnonto’s lack of game time and Harrison’s lack of form, there could be an ideal alternative to replace Aaronson.

Farke’s perfect Aaronson replacement

It would certainly be a fair call if Farke were to drop Aaronson from the side against Villa. He has struggled to have a real impact on the Leeds side this season, and has left a little to be desired creatively.

If the American were to be dropped from the side against the Villans, the man who could replace him is Daniel James. The Wales international has also not been fully fit this season, having racked up just eight Premier League appearances.

Yet, he played an hour for Wales over the last week as they beat Liechtenstein, a game in which he grabbed an assist, and North Macedonia, against whom he scored.

He is back fit and firing and in good form, which is a huge positive for Farke and Leeds.

Despite a lack of involvement this term, the former Manchester United star has previously impressed for the West Yorkshire side. In their Championship title win last term, he chipped in with a strong tally of 12 goals and nine assists in just 36 appearances.

He averaged 0.72 goal involvements per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 2% of Championship attackers.

Goals and assists

0.72

98th

Passes into penalty area

2.17

97th

Crosses into penalty area

0.9

96th

Goal-creating actions

0.52

90th

Progressive carries

4.04

87th

The Welsh international could hurt Villa in transition, too. It is no secret that he is lightning fast, with a top speed of 31kph, according to Speeds Database. Well, if Leeds decide to sit in a low block and hit Unai Emery’s side on the counterattack, James could be imperative to executing those fast transitional moments.

Statman Dave once described the 28-year-old as someone who is “unstoppable on the break.” If Leeds do decide their best way of winning is to try and hit the Villans on the counter, his pace and recent form in the final third could be pivotal.

It would be a bold call for Farke to drop one of his most trusted lieutenants in Aaronson, but James has the skillset to really hurt Villa and help his side pick up a huge win in dire circumstances.

Leeds flop is turning into an even bigger waste of money than Illan Meslier

Leeds United now have a bigger waste of money than Illan Meslier in this £28.5m flop.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 20, 2025

Was this Trinity Rodman’s last match for the Spirit – and is Gotham’s quiet confidence about to reshape the league? Here’s what comes next for both finalists after a dramatic NWSL final.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Trinity Rodman’s mermaid hair drew attention, but the real statement on Saturday came from Gotham FC. The New York/New Jersey side quieted doubts with a disciplined, composed performance, capped by Rose Lavelle’s decisive 80th-minute finish. In a match defined by defensive control rather than flair, Gotham’s poise consistently stood out, even as the Spirit produced the flashier moments.

Their mix of belief and smart, efficient soccer ultimately carried them to the title. And, as with any championship, it leaves both teams facing significant questions about what comes next.

For the Spirit, will Rodman stay? Is there pressure on manager Adrián González after questionable late decisions with substitutions? From a squad standpoint, questions will remain on whether the team can keep its midfield together. 

For Gotham, this is a second title in three years, which naturally raises the question: how do they push for a third? The club navigated injuries and setbacks throughout the season, so the challenge now is whether two-time NWSL champion Juan Carlos Amorós can sustain this standard – and keep marquee talents like Jaedyn Shaw in the fold.

Spirit fall short again in NWSL Championship

For the second straight year, the Washington Spirit fell short in the NWSL Championship. Last season, Orlando beat them with two late strikes; this time, a single tense moment in a chippy, defensive match denied them another shot at the trophy.

The Spirit entered the final with everything seemingly aligned: Rodman was off the injury list, Croix Bethune looked back to her dynamic self, and Tara McKeown – fresh off Defender of the Year honors – anchored the back line. But the team lacked its usual attacking spark, and a sloppy transition, compounded by a poor clearance, opened the door for Gotham’s 80th-minute breakthrough.

"We had a hard time keeping it and being patient in the final third," Rodman said after the match. 

The Spirit forward admitted she wasn't 100 percent in the Championship match. 

"As much as I don't want to admit it, I still don't feel like I was my full self tonight, which sucks. I feel like this is the second year I've gone to a final, not feeling myself. So it just makes me sad. But yeah, for me, I was just trying to go out there and do what I could. I definitely underperformed."

After conceding, Washington struggled to generate urgency. Even with late substitutions injecting some energy, Gotham managed the closing stages and saw out the win. Spirit coach Adrian Gonzalez acknowledged he could have handled Hal Hershfelt's late substitution better. 

"Obviously took maybe more time than we were expecting, but a player like her, she always wants to play, and I can imagine that in a final you always want to play, and you don't want to get subbed," he explained after the match. 

"But it is circumstances that we need to learn [from]. But obviously she wanted to be with the team and with that, obviously now we can say that maybe the sub was late but she was trying to push and that's the only reason."

The loss stings even more for a Spirit side that believed this was their year after last season’s near miss. Fans also wondered whether this might be Rodman’s final appearance for the club amid reports of overseas interest. Rodman said afterward that nothing has been decided.

"Like I've always said, we're sisters forever," she said. 

The Spirit still boast a deep roster – Gift Monday, Hal Hershfelt, Aubrey Kingsbury, and others – so the question now is whether they reassess the group or continue building on the core they’ve established.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWill Rodman stay go or go?

The question hanging over championship week was whether Trinity Rodman will leave the Spirit after this season. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman told reporters the league would “fight for her” to stay, while Rodman fielded speculation throughout the week with steady answers like, “I’ve made no decisions.”

After the match – and the sting of another final loss – Rodman was asked whether the result might influence her choice. She didn’t hesitate: “Every team loses,” she said.

Rodman has been linked with a potential move to Europe – a shift that could be hard for Washington to counter, especially with the WSL operating without a salary cap. There have also been reports connecting her to a possible move within D.C., with the USL’s D.C. Power seen as an alternative destination. The USL also doesn't have a salary cap. 

It’s been a rollercoaster season for Rodman, marked by injuries and stops and starts, yet her impact when available has been unmistakable. Even her nine-minute cameo in the semifinal was enough to lift the Spirit’s energy and help push them through.

Throughout the week – from the NWSL Awards to Media Day to training sessions – Rodman appeared focused and upbeat, fully present with her teammates. But with her contract expiring this offseason, key decisions await.

Getty ImagesGotham win second NWSL Championship in three years

With everything on the line – and plenty of setbacks along the way – it would’ve been easy for Gotham to bow out early in the NWSL playoffs. Instead, there was a quiet assurance within the group that they had more to give. Emily Sonnett acknowledged the team knew it played under expectations during the regular season but rallied once they got into the postseason.

"It wasn't a secret that we underperformed," Sonnett said in an interview with CBS's Good Morning America. "Making the playoffs was definitely that reset moment that this team needed."

Gotham entered as the eighth seed, but carried an unspoken belief that they could surprise people. They went on to knock out two of the league’s best teams, the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride, earning a second NWSL Championship appearance in three years. Washington had the better regular-season record and were coming off a finals run of their own, but Gotham were peaking at the right moment. Their late-season addition of Jaedyn Shaw proved pivotal, while the return of Rose Lavelle – plus major contributions from rookies like Lilly Reale, Sarah Schupansky, and Sofia Cook – added balance and depth.

Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós has now guided Gotham to two titles, a significant achievement and a reflection of the standard he has set. 

“We worked so hard for this moment,” he said  “To become a champion is the moment the referee blows the whistle. Until that moment, you’re trying to be a champion – and then you’re a champion forever.”

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Getty Images'We have such a special group'

Gotham's win can’t be discussed without looking at Lavelle’s overall impact. The U.S. international has been part of plenty of contenders, but an NWSL Championship had always eluded her – until Saturday night at PayPal Park. Her decisive goal sealed Gotham’s second title in three seasons and earned her MVP honors in the process.

This year marked a long-awaited return for Lavelle, who spent more than a year recovering from ankle surgery. Once she was back, she quickly reestablished herself for both Gotham and the U.S. women’s national team.

Her impact was immediate. Lavelle brought a creative spark and technical sharpness that both club and country had been missing – and on Saturday, that blend proved to be the difference.

Lavelle joined Gotham in 2024 after leaving Seattle Reign, arriving alongside U.S. national team teammates Emily Sonnett, Crystal Dunn, and Tierna Davidson. She has settled quickly with the Bats and often highlights the collective effort behind their postseason run.
"We have such a special group, and I'm so excited to be able to win this with them." She said. 

With an established core, led by Lavalle, the future looks bright in the New York metro area for the NWSL side. 

"The sky's the limit. We can do so much with this group. So, I think we really leaned on that during this playoff run, and it worked out," she told ESPN. 

Manchester United’s work in the transfer market over the last couple of seasons has certainly been brought into question, amid the big money spent and lack of impact produced by some players.

The Red Devils hierarchy have spent upwards of £800m on new additions since the summer of 2022, but the signings have been unable to catapult the club to any Premier League glory.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck in the role at Old Trafford, with the 40-year-old already spending just shy of £250m in his first 12 months at the Theatre of Dreams.

Big names like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu have all arrived under his guidance, but it’s evident that the manager still wants added reinforcements.

With January now just around the corner, he’s already started to rack up a shortlist of talents, with more transfer business expected to take place in the coming months.

United’s early work ahead of the January transfer window

Over recent weeks, United have been linked with a plethora of new options in multiple areas of the pitch to try and sustain their positive start to the season.

A new forward could well be on the cards for Amorim, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo just one player they’re said to be considering at present.

However, he will cost a pretty penny this winter, with his current employers currently demanding a fee in the region of £65m to part ways with the Ghanaian international.

Semenyo isn’t the only attacker being eyed up by Amorim, with Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi another option that’s being discussed ahead of the winter window.

According to German outlet BILD, the 23-year-old is said to be unhappy with the lack of progress in contract talks, which could open the door to a move to Old Trafford.

The report claims Amorim’s side are closely monitoring the situation at present, but like Semenyo, it could cost a small fortune, with the Bundesliga setting a £70m asking price for his signature.

Why United’s £70m target would be a Sesko repeat

During the summer transfer window, United finally ended their pursuit for a new talisman, after forking out a reported £74m on the signature of Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian international arrived from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, with such a move generating huge excitement within the fanbase – no doubt due to the nature of the transfer fee.

However, his start to life in Manchester has been far from ideal, with the 22-year-old only able to find the back of the net twice in his first 11 top-flight appearances.

It’s safe to say he’s presented an inconsistent figure at the top end of the pitch, often struggling to make the desired impact after his mammoth transfer to Old Trafford.

He will certainly need time to settle into life in England, but as seen with Rasmus Hojlund, the professional game is a cutthroat business and it can be unforgiving.

However, they could be about to land a similar talent in Adeyemi this winter, with the German replicating Sesko in joining the Red Devils from a Bundesliga side.

The winger is also an inconsistent figure, as seen by his tally of two goals in ten appearances, with both of his efforts coming back-to-back, just like Sesko managed in the Premier League.

Adeyemi is a rapid forward who loves to get in behind the opposition backline whenever possible, which has led to former boss Edin Terzic labelling the 23-year-old as a “roadrunner”.

His underlying stats do showcase his quality at present, even resulting in analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing the youngster “world-class” despite his inconsistent nature.

The forward has completed 2.3 dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga to date, whilst also notching 6.8 touches in the opposition’s box per 90 – highlighting his all-round threat in attacking areas.

Adeyemi has also registered 2.8 shots per 90 this campaign, showcasing his ability to add the end product to his mazy runs when taking on the opposition.

The prospect of the German linking up with Sesko at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, with the pair potentially able to aid one another and transform the club’s frontline.

£70m would be another huge investment, but it’s one that could prove to be worthwhile if he can replicate his recent numbers produced in the Bundesliga this campaign.

Their new McTominay: Man Utd in talks to sign £25m future "superstar"

Manchester United look set to make a move for a star who could emulate Scott McTominay.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 21, 2025

He is the youngest to score a T20I century for South Africa, and also made the highest T20I score against Australia

Namooh Shah12-Aug-2025

Dewald Brevis’ 41-ball century was the second-fastest by a South African in T20Is•AFP/Getty Images

218 for 7 – South Africa’s total in the second T20I against Australia in Darwin is their highest against Australia, going past 204 for 7 in Johannesburg in 2016.125* – Dewald Brevis’ score in Darwin is the highest for South Africa in T20Is, bettering Faf du Plessis’ 119 against West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.Brevis’ performance is also the highest in a T20I in Australia; the previous best was Shane Watson’s 124 against India in Sydney in 2016.22y 105d – Brevis’ age, making him the youngest South African to score a century in T20Is. Richard Levi was 24 years and 36 days old when he scored a hundred against New Zealand in 2012.Dewald Brevis has the highest score by a South Africa batter in T20Is•ESPNcricinfo Ltd41 – Number of balls Brevis took to reach his hundred, the second fastest for South Africa in T20Is. David Miller scored a 35-ball hundred against Bangladesh in 2017.Brevis is the first batter to score a T20I hundred against Australia in Australia. He also has the highest T20I score against Australia, a record previously held by Ruturaj Gaikwad.161 – Runs added by South Africa after the fall of the third wicket, the most they have added in a T20I. Brevis and Tristan Stubbs added 126 runs for the fourth wicket against Australia in Darwin, with Brevis scoring 91 of those runs.1 for 56 – Josh Hazlewood’s figures in the second T20I against South Africa; his most expensive in T20Is.