MANCHESTER, England: Marcus Rashford led Manchester United to its first Premier League win in six weeks as Erik ten Hag’s team overcame Brentford 1-0 to move back into the top four on Wednesday.
Winning the English League Cup in February underlined the progress overseen by Ten Hag this season, but United has failed to win any of its three league matches since the victory at Wembley.
A meek defeat at Newcastle on Sunday led Ten Hag to once again publicly question his players’ hunger, but United showed more character three days later to edge out Brentford in the pouring rain at Old Trafford.
Rashford struck the first-half winner from the impressive Marcel Sabitzer’s knockdown, putting the hosts on course for just their fourth Premier League win in 10 matches.
United dropped off after the break as Brentford bounced back from a subdued first-half display, but Thomas Frank’s team was unable to eke out an equalizer.
David De Gea spread himself to block substitute Kevin Schade’s effort as United gained a measure of revenge for the 4-0 loss to the Bees in August in Ten Hag’s second match in charge.
Ten Hag reacted to last month’s 7-0 loss at Liverpool by sticking with an unchanged side in the next game and he did similar this time around, making only one change from Newcastle.
It meant Wout Weghorst dropped to the bench for the first time since joining on loan in January, and United had to remain patient as the Bees’ five-man backline sat deep and frustrated.
A lack of movement and creativity meant the Red Devils offered little in response until showing flickers of life. Scott McTominay shot narrowly over after Antony caught Brentford off guard by cutting back with his weaker right foot.
The Brazil international was again involved as United opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Antony collected a cleared corner and lifted the ball back into the box, with Sabitzer smartly cushioning a header into the path of Rashford to fire home from six meters.
That lit up a drab game played in miserable conditions at Old Trafford, where Luke Shaw’s 250th United appearance lasted just 37 minutes before he was replaced by Tyrell Malacia because of an apparent injury.
Antony volleyed wide shortly after Shaw’s exit and had two further shots before the break, with Rashford having two himself as he attempted to extend United’s lead.
Brentford was surprisingly passive but De Gea nearly gave the visitors a way back in shortly after the break as Ivan Toney charged down his kick. The ball flew just wide.
Jadon Sancho and Antony had efforts before Sabitzer was denied as United again pushed for a second, but Brentford was growing in confidence.
Substitute Shandon Baptiste had a shot deflected wide and De Gea bravely stood his ground to block an attempt by fellow replacement Schade. The United goalkeeper required treatment after the collision.
Man United back in EPL’s top four after beating Brentford 1-0
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Man United back in EPL’s top four after beating Brentford 1-0
- Rashford struck the first-half winner from the impressive Marcel Sabitzer’s knockdown, putting the hosts on course for just their fourth Premier League win in 10 matches
Postecoglou ‘hopeful’ Son will return for Spurs against Palace
- South Korea international Son, 32, has missed the club’s past seven fixtures with a foot injury
- “Half hopeful that we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow so he’ll be the only one that sort of can come back in,” Postecoglou said
LONDON: Ange Postecoglou says he is “half hopeful” that captain Son Heung-min will return on Sunday as he makes plans for Tottenham’s showdown with Manchester United in the Europa League final.
South Korea international Son, 32, has missed the club’s past seven fixtures with a foot injury, including both legs of Tottenham’s 5-1 aggregate win against Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semifinals.
“Everyone got through OK the other night. Half hopeful that we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow so he’ll be the only one that sort of can come back in,” Spurs boss Postecoglou said on Saturday.
“I think what we do know about Thursday night, playing on an artificial pitch (in Norway) takes a lot out of the players, it’s fair to say they were sore.”
Defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie are expected to be rested against Palace.
Tottenham are a lowly 16th in the Premier League ahead of their match against Palace — a point and a place below United.
But they reached the semifinals of the League Cup and have a chance to win their first silverware for 17 years in the Europa League.
The Australian will bring up a century of fixtures as Tottenham boss in the Europa League final against United in Bilbao on May 21.
“It’d be a nice little bow there for that 100 and it’s been a really full 100,” he said. “It’s fair to say I’ve experienced just about every emotion in it and hopefully the one main emotion we’re all after will be the joy at the end of it.
“We have had a ridiculous injury-riddled season coupled by the fact we’ve done really well in two competitions and that is 60 games.
“So, it has felt — and certainly for me personally it has felt — like a really, really long season.
“But you just get energy and realize what happened the other night and you’re so close to achieving something special that it all dissipates into the background, so you get the energy you need.”
Yuri Cesar the hero as Shabab Al-Ahli beat Sharjah to take President’s Cup
- A 2-1 win at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium secures UAE league, cup double for Paulo Sousa’s men
DUBAI: Brazilian winger Yuri Cesar emerged as the hero for all-conquering Shabab Al-Ahli as his brace of goals secured a come-from-behind 2-1 President’s Cup final victory against Sharjah and the fourth trophy of an unforgettable campaign.
Paulo Sousa’s troops walked out at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday fresh from securing ADNOC Pro League glory with three matches remaining, adding to their UAE-Qatar Challenge Shield and Emaar Super Cup triumphs.
But their latest pursuit of glory got off to a tricky start when UAE utility player Marcus Meloni slotted in an early cross for The Kings, led by Cosmin Olaroiu.
Ex-Flamengo youngster Cesar levelled in stunning fashion deep into first-half injury time with a superb free-kick, before a dizzying solo run and precise low strike from the edge of the penalty box proved decisive just past the hour mark.
Sousa told Abu Dhabi Sports: “Myself and my staff decided to come here (last summer) because we felt we had the ambition from the club, then we built it up. We deserve all these treasures; it was amazing.
“It’s a very difficult team to play (Sharjah). They are really mature; without too many things they create lots of difficulties because they are really compact and determined in individual challenges.”
Under the guidance of Sousa — and including the likes of Iran’s superstar Sardar Azmoun and emerging UAE goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali in their ranks — Shabab Al-Ahli have been this term’s dominant force. They were only denied a clean domestic sweep after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Al-Jazira in last month’s ADIB Cup showpiece.
Shabab Al-Ahli are now the President’s Cup’s most successful team with 11 titles, one more than Sharjah.
Friday’s clash represented another near miss for their opponents, who are on course to finish a distant second in the top flight.
Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach
- Arnold left Australia in September
- Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
BAGHDAD: Iraq hired former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach of their national team on Friday.
Arnold left Australia in September after six years in charge during which he took the Socceroos to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.
Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and Arnold will start with two crucial games against leader South Korea in Basra on June 5 and second-placed Jordan in Amman five days later.
Six points from these two matches would seal Iraq’s place at the tournament for the first time since their 1986 debut.
FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031
- The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104
- The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams
PARIS: The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, like the men’s competition, starting with the 2031 edition, FIFA announced on Friday.
The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to enlarge the competition “given the remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.
The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week, FIFA said.
FIFA have still to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts.
The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the move followed the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia won by Spain.
The 2023 tournament was “the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” said Infantino.
“This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally.
“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing ... but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures.”
The decision, FIFA said, will broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.
The men’s tournament will be expanded to 48 teams for the World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year
- Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool
- The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements
LONDON: Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool’s march to a record-equalling 20th English title.
Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League campaign as Arne Slot’s side romped to their first title since 2020.
Salah secured almost 90 percent of the football writers’ votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century.
Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk came second in the contest, with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth.
Salah, who was previously given the award in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is now level with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as the only players to win it three times.
The 32-year-old recently ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.
Salah’s decision to commit to Liverpool will make them favorites to win a record 21st title next season as they look to move ahead of Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.
Alessia Russo became the second Arsenal player to land the women’s award as the striker finished ahead of last year’s winner Khadija Shaw.
