Amad Diallo keeps coming up with big late goals for Manchester United.
There were three of them Thursday in a remarkable 12-minute flurry that rescued United from an embarrassing loss to the Premier League’s worst team.
Diallo, a 22-year-old winger from the Ivory Coast, scored a hat trick from the 82nd minute to earn United a 3-1 victory over last-place Southampton — just when it looked like his team was heading for a fourth straight home loss for the first time since the 1930s.
“In football you have to believe. We believed until the end,” said Diallo, who signed a new five-year contract with United last week as a reward for becoming one of its most important players.
That’s because Diallo is proving a man for the big occasion. Two weeks ago, he scored an 80th-minute equalizer at Anfield to secure a 2-2 draw against Liverpool; a month ago, he scored a 90th-minute winner at Manchester City; and who could forget his winner in stoppage time of extra time as United ousted Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Now he is a mainstay of the team, even trusted by manager Ruben Amorim to play the demanding position of right wing back. By the end of the game against Southampton, Diallo was playing like a forward and he equalized in the 82nd minute, scoring at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked.
Diallo put United ahead in the 90th minute when he ran onto Christian Eriksen’s chip over the defense and volleyed home, and added a third goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time after dispossessing a Southampton defender in front of an empty goal.
“I am ready to play every position — I am ready to play as a wing back, No. 10, where the manager likes to put me,” said Diallo, the second-youngest scorer of a Premier League hat trick for United, after Wayne Rooney. “I am ready to fight for this club.”
Amorim said “good things are going to happen” for the Ivory Coast international if he continues to train well.
“He is in a great moment and he is having a very good season,” Amorim said.
The victory continued an uptick for the fallen English giant, which beat Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup on Sunday and was impressive in a 2-2 draw at first-place Liverpool in United’s previous league game.
United climbed to 12th place in the league but was largely poor against Southampton, which took the lead thanks to an own-goal by Manuel Ugarte in the 43rd minute.
Southampton stayed on just six points for the season and looks a near-certainty for relegation. The team is 10 points from safety.
Ipswich drops into relegation zone
The three relegation places are now filled by the teams promoted last season after Ipswich lost at home to Brighton 2-0.
Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter scored second-half goals for Brighton, which climbed to ninth place.
Ipswich dropped below Wolverhampton into third-to-last place and is only ahead of Leicester and Southampton.
Amad Diallo scores late 12-minute hat trick to rescue Man United in 3-1 win over Southampton
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Amad Diallo scores late 12-minute hat trick to rescue Man United in 3-1 win over Southampton
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka is into the fourth round at the Australian Open
- It was Aryna Sabalenka’s eighth match victory in a row to start the season after winning the Brisbane International 10 days ago
MELBOURNE: It wasn’t often pretty, but two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks on Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year’s opening Grand Slam tournament.
In a tougher-than-expected match, Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a poor early serving display by both players to open the sixth day of play on Rod Laver Arena. It was Sabalenka’s eighth match victory in a row to start the season after winning the Brisbane International 10 days ago, and her 17th win in a row at Melbourne Park.
As well, it’s been nearly three years – the 2022 French Open – that the top-ranked Sabalenka has failed to advance past the third round of any Grand Slam tournament in which she played.
Both players lost their first three service games, and it became seven service breaks in a row when Sabalenka lost her fourth service game at love. After Tauson fired an unreturnable backhand cross-court to set up break point, Sabalenka managed a wry smile.
Tauson finally held a service game to lead 5-3 and Sabalenka also won her service game to stay in the first set. But no surprise – the Danish player lost her service while serving for the first set to leave it at 5-5, eventually going to a tiebreaker which Sabalenka won despite leading 4-1, taking the opening set in 63 minutes.
“The conditions are really tough to serve, heavy conditions,” Sabalenka said. “It was really important to get all of those breaks back. It could have gone either way.”
In mostly routine men’s play, second-seeded Alexander Zverev beat Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2. Earlier American Tommy Paul beat Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-0 to also advance to the fourth round.
Sabalanka broke Tauson’s serve in the third game of the second set and from there the odds were in Sabalenka’s favor – when Sabalenka has an early break in a set, she wins it 88 percent of the time. But she still needed a break after seven deuces in the ninth game to put her in control and served out the match – after saving two break points in the final game.
“That was a great battle, she played unbelievable tennis,” Sabalenka said. “I am super happy I was able to push myself. I told myself, ‘well girl, you are tough.’ So many times I thought I was done.”
In another early match Friday, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-2 to also advance to the fourth round. Siegemund beat Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in the second round.
Also advancing Friday were 11th-seeded Paula Badosa, who beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and 18th-seeded Donna Vekic, who defeated 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider 7-6 (4), 6- (3), 7-5.. And 14th-seeded Mirra Andreeva beat Magdalena Frech 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.
Poor visibility delays toss in Pakistan-West Indies Test in Multan
- Pakistan regularly suffers from winter smog which has dire health consequences
- Air quality in Multan was ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ and set to rise during the day
MULTAN, Pakistan: Toss in the first Test between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan on Friday was delayed because of poor visibility, as air quality monitors recorded high levels of pollution.
Pakistan regularly suffers from winter smog which has dire health consequences.
“The visibility has been affected due to fog so the toss has been delayed,” Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
“Once the visibility improves the two umpires will inspect the conditions.”
A pitch inspection was due at 9:30 am (0430 GMT).
The air quality in Multan was “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and set to rise throughout the day, according to monitoring site IQAir.
The two-match Test series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle (2023-2025) in which Pakistan are eighth and the West Indies ninth and last.
The second Test starts from January 25, also in Multan.
Kvaratskhelia posts farewell video to Napoli fans ahead of expected transfer
- “I spent an amazing time here, we shared a lot of memories together, experienced a lot of amazing emotions,” a solemn-looking Kvaratskhelia said
- Napoli coach Antonio Conte confirmed last Saturday that Kvaratskhelia requested a move
NAPLES, Italy: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia posted a farewell video to Napoli fans on Thursday ahead of a widely expected transfer away from the Italian league.
The 23-year-old Georgia winger, who starred in Napoli’s Serie A title-winning team in 2023, has been linked in France with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, while Premier League leader Liverpool also are reportedly interested.
Kvaratskhelia posted a video on Instagram, with subtitles in both Italian and English, to directly address Napoli fans who affectionately nicknamed him “Kvaradona” in homage to late Argentina great Diego Maradona, the club’s greatest-ever player.
“It’s hard for me, but it’s time to say goodbye. I spent an amazing time here, we shared a lot of memories together, experienced a lot of amazing emotions,” a solemn-looking Kvaratskhelia said. “Napoli was my home, where I felt wonderful thanks to each of you. The path we went through together is still in my mind and it is very emotional. I remember my first goal and feelings.”
Napoli coach Antonio Conte confirmed last Saturday that Kvaratskhelia requested a move.
“I spoke to the player who confirmed this decision to me,” Conte said at that time. “I am disappointed, it was a bolt from the blue, and I am taking a step back.”
PSG have lost superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and need to reinvigorate an attack lacking efficiency.
Kvaratskhelia fits the bill as both a scorer and skillful provider with both speed and devastating dribbling ability.
He scored 30 goals in 107 games overall for Napoli and had great chemistry with striker Victor Osimhen during the title-winning campaign — which ended a 33-year wait for the Serie A title, with Maradona starring in that 1990 team.
“Napoli is a football city, Napoli lives with football and I am happy to have been part of this great history,” he said, before stroking a ball attached to leg of a statue of Maradona, and then bowing his head. “It was a great honor for me to wear this journey.”
He pledged to explain the reasons for his decision to leave when the time is right.
“I say goodbye but you will always be in my heart,” said Kvaratskhelia, who wore the No. 77 jersey.
“I know that your heart is very broken but one day I will tell you everything.”
He ended the video with a visit to the Spagnoli district where Maradona’s giant mural is located. Maradona, who died in November 2020, is revered in the city.
“I could not leave without visiting this special place as this is where you get the most genuine feeling of what Diego means to this city. Here he is admired above all else,” Kvaratskhelia said. “I have to say goodbye to Diego. Goodbye Diego, Goodbye Napoli.”
Pakistan hopes its spin tactics work wonders against West Indies in test series
- Both Pakistan and West Indies are placed at bottom of World Test Championship table
- Pakistan used industrial-sized fans to prepare spinning track in October to beat England
MULTAN: Pakistan hopes its tried and tested spin template will be successful against the West Indies as the two bottom-placed teams in the World Test Championship gear up for the two-test series starting from Friday.
The same pitch has been prepared for the first test in Multan on which Pakistan spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali neutralized England’s aggressive “Bazball” in October when the groundskeepers successfully dried out the 22-yard strip with the help of giant industrial-sized fans and patio heaters.
“We emphasized during the England series that home conditions are very important in test cricket,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said on Thursday.
“We adapted a style of play, style of pitches, (and) now we will try ... to carry forward the momentum of the England series.”
Pakistan came from behind to beat England 2-1 on engineered dry pitches in Multan and Rawalpindi after losing the first test by an innings when the tourists amassed a record 823-7 declared in the first innings.
Off-spinner Sajid and left-arm spinner Noman grabbed 39 of the 40 wickets in the last two test matches against England, and were in the 15-man squad after being overlooked for the away series against South Africa, which Pakistan lost 2-0.
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who missed the home series against England because of illness, was included as the third specialist spinner in the playing XI with off-spinner Salman Ali Agha giving the home team a fourth spin option.
Pakistan has lost eight of its last 10 test matches under Masood’s captaincy since he was elevated to red-ball skipper in December 2023. But the skipper believed Pakistan couldn’t capitalize a number of times against Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa after putting opponents on the back foot.
“There are lots of test matches during last year when we lost the games after coming into a winning position,” Masood said. “There were only one or two one-sided matches … we came into good positions but couldn’t finish it. The lesson for this team is how we can convert it into victories.”
Pakistan will be without its in-form opening batter Saim Ayub, who was ruled out of competitive cricket for up to six weeks after fracturing his right ankle during the series in South Africa. Ayub will be replaced by Mohammad Huraira, who scored half-centuries in both innings during the three-day warmup game against the West Indies in Islamabad.
The West Indies has yet to win a series in this WTC cycle. It has lost to India, England and South Africa while drawing 1-1 against Australia and Bangladesh.
But captain Kraigg Brathwaite was hopeful that his team could finish the WTC cycle on a high.
“This series is very important for us,” Brathwaite said. “It’s a new year … it is important to finish this cycle strong and that’s our focus.”
Fast bowler Shamar Joseph was ruled of the series due to shin splits while another pacer, Alzarri Joseph, preferred to play in the ILT20 league in the United Arab Emirates.
Brathwaite said the tourists have left out vice-captain Joshua Da Silva from the playing XI while fast bowler Kemar Roach misses out because of illness.
Multan will also host the second test, starting from Jan. 25 due to ongoing upgrades at Pakistan’s two main stadiums in Karachi and Lahore for next month’s Champions Trophy.
McIlroy hits ‘scrappy’ two-under first round on Dubai return
- US amateur David Ford, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Australian David Micheluzzi all fired opening round 65s to sit top of the leaderboard
- Northern Irishman McIlroy won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November for his third successive Race to Dubai title
DUBAI: Rory McIlroy got his 2025 season underway with a two-under-par 70 first round at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday, five shots off the three leaders.
US amateur David Ford, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Australian David Micheluzzi all fired opening round 65s to sit top of the leaderboard.
Northern Irishman McIlroy won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November for his third successive Race to Dubai title.
And making his first start in two months, the 35-year-old hit four birdies for two bogeys at Emirates Golf Club.
“Yeah, pretty scrappy,” McIlroy said.
“Actually I felt I played probably better the first eight holes where I was one over compared to the last 10 where I was three under.
“It was a bit scrappy. First competitive round of the year. First competitive round in a while. Definitely not as comfortable as I was in practice and coming in here.
“But it’s nice to get a card in your hand. I got it around and got it in in a couple under, which is nice, and didn’t put myself out of the tournament, which is the main thing.”
McIlroy is aiming for his third successive Dubai Desert Classic win, and fifth overall.
Spanish rival Jon Rahm carded a 69 after an eagle on the par-five 10th mixed with four birdies and three bogeys.
McIlroy and Rahm are in a battle of the No.1 players on the DP World Tour and LIV Golf Tour at the $9 million Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
On the first day of action, Ford, who plays University golf in the United States and was part of their winning Walker Cup side in 2023, eagled the tenth — his first hole of the day — and mixed six birdies with a single bogey.
“I try to keep my expectations low,” added Ford, 22, who sits sixth on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
“I know where my game is at right now and I have got a lot of people around me believing in me which is really helpful going into this week.”
Micheluzzi had seven birdies in a flawless opening round with Gouveia firing eight birdies and one bogey as he chases his maiden DP World Tour win in his 190th event.
World No.8 and 2022 champion Viktor Hovland of Norway had six bogeys and three birdies in a three-over round of 75.
Dubai-based world No.10 Tommy Fleetwood of England carded 71 and American phenomenon Akshay Bhatia had an opening 69.
