WATCH: Sebastian Berhalter nets first USMNT goal and sets up Alex Freeman’s first international goal on two stunning set pieces

U.S. international Sebastian Berhalter delivered an impressive opening spell in the Americans’ friendly against Uruguay, scoring his first national team goal from a well-placed set piece in the 17th minute. Minutes later, he set up Alex Freeman for his first international goal, assisting on a driven header to give the U.S. an early boost.

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    Two MLS stars deliver big

    Freeman’s goal came in his 13th cap for the U.S., with Berhalter’s assist marking his third for the national team. Freeman added another in the 31st minute to complete a strong first-half showing.

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    What comes next?

    The fixture is Mauricio Pochettino and Co.'s last of 2025. They will resume action next March. 

Mayank Agarwal set to join Yorkshire on short-term stint

He is set to join the team ahead of Yorkshire’s game against Somerset starting September 8

Shashank Kishore04-Sep-2025India opener Mayank Agarwal is set to join Yorkshire on a short-term deal for the remainder of the County Championship.Agarwal, who is expected to link up with the squad ahead of their match against Somerset on Taunton starting September 8, will play three matches in all before returning to India in time for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. This will be Agarwal’s first county stint.He was most-recently in action at the Maharaja T20 Trophy, Karnataka’s flagship T20 tournament. Prior to that, he was part of an IPL-title winning campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after being signed as a late replacement for the injured Devdutt Padikkal.Agarwal, 34, is no stranger to England, having been on two tours previously with the Test side – in 2021-22 and for the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.He had been in line to open during the 2021-22 tour, which India drew 2-2, but was ruled out prior to the series opener due to concussion. He has also been on two tours with the India A team.Agarwal, currently Karnataka’s all-format captain, comes with rich first-class experience. He has 8050 runs in 190 innings at an average of 43.98 with 18 hundreds and 44 half-centuries.In all, Agarwal has hit 1488 Test runs in 36 innings at an average of 41.33, with four Test centuries, including a best of 243 against South Africa. He played the most recent of his 21 Tests in March 2022 against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.Other prominent Indians to feature in the UK domestic season this year are Khaleel Ahmed (Essex), Tilak Varma (Hampshire), Yuzvendra Chahal (Northants), Ishan Kishan (Notts) and Sai Kishore (Surrey). Jaydev Unadkat is set to join Sussex this month.

Man Utd have a "future £100m" star who's Carrington's very own Anderson

Manchester United’s main priority during the summer transfer window was to bolster the club’s frontline – something which was achieved as seen by their £200m investment in such an area.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all made the move to Old Trafford, forming a new deadly trio for Ruben Amorim to work with during his tenure at the helm.

However, after completing such deals, the hierarchy turned their attention to a new number six to help bolster the strength and quality within the midfield department.

Carlos Baleba was identified as the Red Devils’ primary target during the summer, but they were unable to strike a deal, with Brighton & Hove Albion demanding over £100m for his signature.

No doubt, Amorim’s men will still hold a keen interest in his signature this January, but another Premier League option has since emerged on their radar over the last few weeks.

How Anderson compares to Man Utd’s CMs in 2025/26 so far

In an attempt to bolster the midfield ranks, United have been hugely touted with a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the upcoming January window.

It’s been reported that Amorim’s side have already made contact with Sean Dyche’s men over a deal for his signature this winter, but it could cost a fee in the region of £100m.

Such a deal would be a mammoth backing from the board, but how does the 23-year-old compare to current starters Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro?

Both the current Red Devils are experienced options, with both now over 30, but it hasn’t stopped Anderson from massively dominating the pair in such key areas.

The Englishman has topped 13 separate metrics in the Premier League this campaign, with many showcasing his talents with and without the ball at his feet.

He’s completed 113 passes into the final third, with his tally of 706 passes completed, the most of any player in the division – subsequently showcasing his fantastic ability in possession.

Elliot Anderson for Nottingham Forest

Without the ball, the youngster has also dominated, with such a skillset potentially putting an end to Casemiro’s career at Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.

Anderson has entered the most defensive duels of any player in the division, whilst also winning the most duels – potentially making him the perfect deep-lying option for Amorim’s side.

At just 23, the Forest star has all the tools to transform into an elite-level talent, but it remains to be seen if the hierarchy would be prepared to fork out £100m for his signature.

The United star who’s their homegrown version of Anderson

Given the rumoured price tag for Anderson’s signature, it shows the importance of being able to identify talent at a young age, or even produce your own versions from the academy setup.

United have no doubt shifted their recruitment focus over the last couple of months, as seen by their deals to land Diego Leon and Senne Lammens – with both talented youngsters with huge potential.

However, the academy ranks have also proven fruitful in recent years, as seen by the emergence of the Class of 92, with the graduates playing a huge role in Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure.

The likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have all operated at the heart of the side throughout their respective careers – helping the club win 13 separate Premier League titles.

The fans will no doubt be hoping that Anderson can add himself to such a list in the near future, but Amorim could save himself and the club millions by unleashing Kobbie Mainoo.

Like the aforementioned academy stars, the 20-year-old burst on the scene as a teenager, making an immediate impact and becoming a key member of the United squad.

His major breakthrough came in 2023/24, where the youngster racked up 32 appearances across all competitions, scoring on five separate occasions – many of which proved to be crucial efforts.

Mainoo scored a last-minute victory in a close clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, whilst also scoring against bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final triumph.

However, he’s been unable to reach such heights over the last 12 months, with current boss Amorim preferring the likes of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte ahead of him.

Such a decision may come as a surprise to the fanbase, especially given his stats from last season, which saw him outperform Anderson in numerous key areas – that’s despite making just 25 league appearances.

Mainoo completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst also completing more of the crosses he attempted – leading to Alex Turk dubbing him a “future £100m+ footballer”.

How Mainoo & Anderson compared in the PL (24/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Mainoo

Anderson

Games played

25

37

Goals & assists

0

8

Pass accuracy

87%

82%

Crosses completed

29%

26%

Dribbles completed

1.3

1.1

Dispossessed

1.9

2.6

Dribbled past

0.8

2.1

Interceptions made

1.1

0.9

Stats via FotMob

He also completed more of the dribbles he attempted, whilst also being dispossessed on fewer occasions, subsequently showcasing his incredible ability in possession.

However, without the ball, Mainoo was dribbled past on fewer occasions, along with more interceptions made – highlighting he’s able to beat the £100m star when given the chance.

It’s evident that Mainoo is still a player with bags of talent, but the manager desperately needs to swallow his pride and hand the 20-year-old the chance to stake his claim as a first-team regular.

He’s for so often had to settle for minutes off the substitutes’ bench, which has no doubt hindered his chances of continuing his progression and building on his incredible start to his career in 2023/24.

Upon his return from injury in the near future, the 40-year-old needs to hand the youngster the opportunity to have a consistent run as a regular starter to allow him to reach his full potential at the Theatre of Dreams.

Such a decision would save the club millions of pounds, with the academy graduate having the chance to lead the Red Devils to new heights in the years ahead.

Forget Sesko: Man Utd's "anxious" dud is now becoming INEOS' worst signing

Manchester United have one player who has massively struggled to meet expectations at Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 11, 2025

David Ortiz Played Weatherman As Speedway Classic Started in Disappointing Rain Delay

A lot of planning went into Major League Baseball's Speedway Classic between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway.

An entire field was constructed in the middle of the race track, custom uniforms were handed out and there was even a pregame concert with Pitbull and Tim McGraw. Unfortunately, the one thing you can't plan for wouldn't comply for the first MLB game in the state of Tennessee.

Weather hit in Bristol, Tenn. which forced the contest between the Braves and Reds to start in a rain delay. A disappointing start to an event that was months in the making. But what can you do? Boston Red Sox legend and current MLB on Fox broadcaster David Ortiz provided plenty of optimism and kept the energy light during the delay by showing his skills as a weatherman.

"I'm a meteorologist," Ortiz joked on the broadcast as he analyzed the radar. "It's a little bit of green over Bristol, let's see the weather right here. See that little bit of green open? It will be gone in a little bit people. Don't rush it out, sit down and have a drink because that's going to go away in a little bit. It's a lot of green but I can see a little window right there."

You can watch the hilarious clip below:

First pitch at Bristol Motor Speedway was scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET. Starting lineups were announced and the national anthem was sung but the tarp had to be rolled out due to rain in Bristol that delayed the action.

At least Big Papi brought the fans at home some rain-delay entertainment.

Nissanka, Pathirana in focus as SL tune up for Asia Cup with Zimbabwe T20Is

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will be banking on their allrounders to make a difference in the two-match series

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Sep-2025Who is going to bat in Sri Lanka’s lower-middle order?Sri Lanka are on the hunt for batters who can finish with big hits, and right now, that role is being filled by Dasun Shanaka. But are there better options in those positions? Seam-bowling allrounder Chamika Karunaratne is in the squad, as is spin-bowling allrounder Dunith Wellalage, both of whom have been working on their batting. Batting allrounder Vishen Halambage is also around. This has long been a problem area for Sri Lanka, and they will be keen to figure out their best lower-order hitters before the Asia Cup begins, in a little over a week.Related

  • Taylor, Williams back in Zimbabwe's T20I squad

  • Nissanka's 122 leads Sri Lanka to 2-0 series sweep

  • Hasaranga fit for Sri Lanka's Asia Cup campaign

How effective will the allrounders be?Sri Lanka’s squad is packed with multi-dimensional cricketers, but Zimbabwe favours allrounders even more. With Sikandar Raza, Brad Evans, Ryan Burl, Sean Williams, Tony Munyonga and Brian Bennett all in the side, they will almost certainly have variety in their XI. In the ODIs, Sri Lanka’s batters largely prospered against Zimbabwe’s middle-overs bowling options, but on a large Harare Sports Club ground, in a more explosive format, Zimbabwe have various avenues through which to target Sri Lanka batters’ weaknesses. Both captains will have an array of bowling resources at their disposal, which means both are likely to be flexible with their bowling plans.Sikandar Raza will back himself to come good against Sri Lanka•Zimbabwe CricketWill Raza’s form hold?If it’s a series against Sri Lanka, Raza will be making runs. He’s been outstanding against this opposition in ODIs especially, but has only faced them in three T20Is so far. No one in the Zimbabwe side picks Sri Lanka’s spinners better than Raza, as evidenced by scores of 92 and 59 not out in the ODIs. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of this series through injury, Raza’s chances of succeeding in he middle overs again are higher. And while Sri Lanka will not be daunted by his bowling, he has tended to bowl plenty of cheap overs against them in the past.Can Nissanka’s good form unlock a new level to his career?Since June, Pathum Nissanka has been outstanding. He hit hundreds in each of Sri Lanka’s Tests against Bangladesh in June, and although he hadn’t been quite as good in the T20s against Bangladesh, he did clobber a 16-ball 42 in the one match Sri Lanka won in that series. He was an obvious choice for Player of the Series in the ODIs, having top-scored in both matches. If he is effective in T20s in the next six months though – in which there is an Asia Cup, and a T20 World Cup which Sri Lanka are due to co-host, he could take his career into the stratosphere.Will Matheesha Pathirana start for Sri Lanka in the T20Is?•Associated PressHow will Sri Lanka use Pathirana?</b?Although a regular for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, and one of their most-valued players over the last three seasons, Matheesha Pathirana has trouble making it into any Sri Lanka XIs. He didn't play the ODIs, and is not guaranteed to play in the T20Is either. Mostly, Sri Lanka have wanted him to prove that he is a viable wicket-taking option at the start of the innings, as well as at the death. His not having been in prime wicket-taking form this year may count against him, with Sri Lanka having plenty of other seam-bowling options – Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, and Dushmantha Chameera are all in the mix.

'What the f*ck has he been watching?' – Kvicha Kvaratskhelia claims Tottenham will trouble PSG but fans question winger's statement following Spurs' horror run

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has insisted that Tottenham "attack and defend well" and warned that Paris Saint-Germain face a "difficult match" in the Champions League, but his comments have sparked backlash on social media. With Spurs battered against Arsenal on Sunday and PSG pushing for a top-eight finish, fans are stunned by the Georgian winger’s assessment ahead of the high-stakes clash.

  • Kvartskhelia causes stir with Tottenham comments

    Speaking before Wednesday’s showdown, Kvaratskhelia said: "Tottenham attack and defend well… It won't be easy, it will be a difficult match. But we feel good, we are really ready." He then doubled down, explaining: "We have a big match in store against Tottenham. The Champions League is always special. We've already played them this season, in the European Super Cup. It was a difficult match, but we won. Tomorrow will be different, it's a different competition, and we've had good preparation, the team is in good shape, and we're looking forward to it."

    His words come at a tense moment for both clubs, with PSG looking to secure a top-eight finish and direct knockout qualification while Tottenham arrive on the back of a humiliating 4-1 derby defeat at Arsenal. Kvaratskhelia’s insistence that Spurs remain dangerous surprised many given their domestic inconsistency, though Tottenham’s unbeaten Champions League form does support his argument that European competition has brought out a different version of the side.

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    Fans surprised by Kvaraskhelia's comments

    Supporters did not take long to voice disbelief at Kvaratskhelia’s comments, with many questioning whether he has watched Tottenham at all this season. @JaseL2022 wrote on X: "What the f*ck has he been watching??"

    @cowdray19 mocked Spurs' attack, posting: "We deffo don't attack to be honest, I'm sure half of em can control a football. It will be training day for PSG, the keeper, get a deck chair, put your feet up, xmas has come early for ya."

    More criticism followed, with @citycyborg22 adding: "He obviously hasn't been watching their PL games….those lots are complete jokes."

    @MacAllisterEra insisted: "They will batter Spurs."

    @ary4n117 joked about the confusion surrounding the winger’s assessment: "Is he watching the same Tottenham as me."

    The backlash reflects a growing scepticism surrounding Spurs’ domestic displays, which have been inconsistent and, at times, chaotic under Thomas Frank. Fans argue that Tottenham’s lack of attacking cohesion and vulnerability under pressure make Kvaratskhelia’s description wildly optimistic. While some acknowledge Spurs’ contrasting strength in Europe, the overwhelming sentiment online is that PSG remain overwhelming favourites and that the Georgian international may have overstated the threat.

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    PSG and Spurs meet for second time this season

    PSG enter this clash with the expectation of dominance but an awareness of their own recent inconsistencies, having fallen to Bayern Munich in their previous Champions League outing. Their domestic form, however, remains strong, with PSG positioned near the top of Ligue 1 and boasting one of Europe’s most dangerous forward lines despite significant injury concerns. Luis Enrique’s team has also already beaten Tottenham this season, edging them in the UEFA Super Cup, which Kvaratskhelia referenced when noting the difficulty of their previous meeting.

    Tottenham arrive in France under pressure after a painful north London derby defeat that exposed tactical and structural flaws in both attack and defence. Yet their Champions League performances have been a completely different story, with Spurs remaining unbeaten in the league phase and demonstrating a resilience that has surprised even their harshest critics. Their transition under Frank has been uneven, but their continental approach has positioned them closer to the top eight than their Premier League form would suggest.

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  • Wednesday's showdown at Parc des Princes

    Both sides head into the match on Wednesday knowing the outcome will directly influence their Champions League destiny, with three fixtures remaining in the league phase after this. PSG will look to exploit home advantage at the Parc des Princes, where they rarely falter against English opposition and where their attacking depth gives them clear superiority on paper. Tottenham, meanwhile, must translate their continental resilience into a complete performance, especially after the morale-shattering derby defeat that left supporters questioning their readiness for elite opposition.

    Should PSG win, they would strengthen their grip on a top-eight finish and take a major step toward defending their European crown. If Spurs pull off an upset, they could leapfrog PSG in the standings and transform their struggling domestic narrative with another impressive European statement.

Sri Lanka focus on the present as England challenge looms

Past history counts for little, says coach Ratnayake, as co-hosts return to action after two-week hiatus

Madushka Balasuriya10-Oct-20251:26

‘Sri Lanka are excited about the big stage’

It’s been a longer wait than most for Sri Lanka between their first and second games this World Cup. Since playing the tournament opener on September 30, a wash-out against Australia means their match against England on Saturday comes after a near two-week gap. So unsurprisingly, they are a side that’s itching to get back out in the middle.Against England though they’ll be up against a side they’ve beaten just once in WODIs in 18 attempts. But for coach Rumesh Ratnayake, dwelling on such records makes little sense.”The last meeting will be tomorrow,” said Ratnayake on the eve of the game. “So those are the things which we will encourage them with just before the match. But in our preparation we talk of the present, and we talk of the present team and where they are and what we can do.”What our strengths will be against them, and where we are going to bowl – if it is bowling – at a particular batter at what stage. So we have broken it into three stages, that’s just an example. And even in our batting, I think what we want most is patience and discipline.””That’s what we lacked maybe against India, not deliberate, but it needs more focus so that it could be established.”Coming into this game, Sri Lanka have had a fair bit of time to ponder on that defeat to India. Having had the hosts reeling on 124 for 6, they let the game slip. But even so, a chase of a target a shade under 250 should not have been beyond them.After that game skipper Chamari Athapaththu had not held back in her assessment of her side’s shortcomings, calling on her batters to shoulder more responsibility going forward. And in the build-up to this game, plans surrounding their batting have featured heavily.Related

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“In our batting, the girls are really up to it and wanting to do well,” Ratnayake said. “That’s a huge plus because they know it’s a big stage. Sometimes we need to bring it down and say it’s just another match. But they are excited about this big stage. To capitalise on that, to maximise on that, they need to have runs on the scoreboard. They are aware of that. They are also aware that somebody, at least one or two, should bat till the end.”One of the more prevalent themes across this tournament, particularly for matches played in Colombo, has been a tendency for batting to get easier as the innings has gone on. This has left a lopsided run-scoring burden on lower order batters towards the end of an innings. For Sri Lanka, who lack any real batting prowess beyond the top seven, Ratnayake feels they will need at least one batter to take it deep to ensure they effectively exploit conditions at the tail-end of the innings.”We actually spoke about this in detail, about how those coming lower down the order – even below number seven – need to score more. Our main responsibility, is that top seven needs to score the most runs. We’re addressing it differently, because even in the last game no one scored even 50 – not that 50 would have been enough.”We’ve spoken about how you need to bat deep – at least one of the top six needs to hang around. It’s because none of those batters hung around that we were unable to chase down India’s score.”What we have learned from the spinning wickets is about those who have scored runs. Like [Beth] Mooney. Her batting discipline, her focus, and the ability to do what was needed in those situations. So we need to learn from that.”The extra preparation time leading up to this game has also allowed the Sri Lankans to extensively analyse this England side, weaning through their strengths and weaknesses and how exactly to make use of any advantages they might have over such an experienced outfit.”England is a very experienced side, even though they don’t have left-handers they are quite well equipped, so we understand their strengths, we know what they’re strong at and we’ve seen them do it all so to speak, and we believe that we are ready to sort of counter-attack that and do the best we can in the best way we could.”With our coaches, we scrutinised every batter of the English team – not just their top seven, we analysed their top nine. But the time for observing is over, now we need to take ownership of the situation, and go out there and perform.”

Thelwell can upgrade on Souttar by signing £8m defender for Rangers

Rangers were certainly busy in the transfer market last summer, but supporters will be demanding more new recruits come January.

13 new additions were made in July and August, but this team has got significantly worse, leading to sporting director Kevin Thelwell feeling the need to do an interview with the club’s in-house TV channel during the international break.

Having sacked Russell Martin after only 15 games in charge and appointed Danny Röhl, the German will surely demand new recruits when the winter window opens in just 41 days time, so could Rangers bring in some much-needed defensive reinforcements?

Rangers' need for defensive depth

After taking a couple of matches to figure things out, new coach Röhl has settled on a back three, notably deploying this shape against Hibs, Roma and Celtic.

As a result, centre-back will surely be a key position he’ll seek to strengthen in January, given the Light Blues’ lack of depth and quality in this position.

Summer signing Nasser Djiga has regularly proved himself to be an unreliable figure, making a high-profile error against Club Brugge, having been sent off on his home Premiership debut against Dundee, thereby losing his place in the side (video below).

Meantime, John Souttar has been Rangers’ most impressive centre-back so far, starting 23 of 24 fixtures to date, albeit he can unfortunately never be relied upon to remain fit for a long period of time.

He withdrew from Scotland’s starting lineup mere minutes before Tuesday’s historic World Cup qualifying win over Denmark after suffering an injury in the warm-up and was at fault in the game against Greece, with James McFadden stating that he had a “nightmare” in that clash.

So, right now, even when everyone is fit, Röhl has just four senior centre-backs for three starting positions, one of which is Emmanuel Fernandez, who has not started a match since August.

Perhaps an addition in January would do the trick.

Rangers targeting a new centre-back

According to reports in Belgium earlier this month, Rangers have “made enquiries” as they aim to sign defender Mujaid Sadick from Genk.

Well, Football Transfers believes the 25-year-old is worth around £8m, which would make him one of Rangers’ most-expensive signings of all-time, so would he be worth the investment?

Mujaid began his senior career at Deportivo La Coruña in Spain, making 55 appearances for the fallen Spanish giants, before moving to Belgium in 2021, appearing 136 times for current employers Genk, who finished third in last season’s Jupiler Pro League.

This season, he has been a near ever-present for the Smurfs, including starting all four of their Europa League matches, the first of which was a 1-0 victory at Ibrox, with former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu the match-winner.

The Spaniard’s statistics certainly make for impressive reading, as outlined below.

Mujaid Sadick stats 25/26

Stats

Mujaid

League rank

Minutes

1,203

33rd

Completed passes

848

5th

Pass completion %

94.4%

1st

Tackles

28

20th

Clearances

75

15th

Aerials duels won

25

34th

Total duels won

61

40th

Stats via FBref and SofaScore

As the table highlights, Mujaid’s statistics in Belgium’s top-flight this season are generally pretty imperious.

No players boast a higher pass completion %, while he is also in the top 20 when it comes to tackles and clearances.

The Rangers Journal described the Spaniard as “physical, athletic, good on the ball and aggressive”, while his “versatility” has also been praised, which would certainly enhance his reputation with Röhl, who regularly tinkers with his shape and formation both from one game to the next but also within a match.

Thus, what is clear is that Rangers really need to sign another centre-back in January to avoid having to play stop-gaps as part of Röhl’s back three.

Mujaid’s statistics and potential, still only 25 years and playing in the sixth-strongest league on the planet, according to Global Football Rankings, all suggest he would represent an upgrade on Djiga and Souttar, the latter has been in good form, but is injury prone and whether or not his performances as sustainable remains a question mark.

The Spaniard would be an expensive investment, but one Rangers may have to make to correct the errors made in the summer.

Rangers star looks set to become Ibrox's new Hamza Igamane under Rohl

As Rangers seek to replace Hamza Igamane, who has been on fire for Lille, which “exciting” forward, not Youssef Chermiti, could replicate his success?

By
Ben Gray

Nov 16, 2025

‘SportsCenter’ Anchors Lay Into Phillies Fan Over Home Run Ball Controversy

The Phillies defeated the Marlins on Friday night in Miami by a score of 9–3, with the win helping Philadelphia hold on to the No. 2 spot in the NL standings with just under a month to go before the postseason.

But while it was a good outcome on the field for the Phillies, for some fans in the stands, Friday night was quite an ordeal. After centerfielder Harrison Bader hit a home run into the stands in the fourth inning, one fan, who did not come away with the home run ball, insisted that their claim to the ball was valid, despite the ball already being in the hands of a child.

Eventually, the fan who had gotten the ball relented, taking the ball out of the child’s glove and giving it to the insistent fan, who walked away in a huff. It was a bizarre scene.

The Phillies fan who ultimately left with the ball came under fire from fans across the internet, and also left anchors Nicole Briscoe and Michael Eaves in disbelief as they recapped the interaction.

“Really lady?” Eaves asked, incredulous. “Hate to call her a Karen, but…” Briscoe said.

“I don’t care lady who you are. You didn’t have a kid with you. He did. It is about them,” Briscoe concluded. “What the hell? What is wrong with people?”

“You didn’t catch it! It’s fair game!” Eaves insisted.

Thankfully, despite the awkwardness of the moment, the story had a happy ending, with the fan who gave up the ball receiving a nice prize package from the Marlins staff at the stadium and getting to meet Bader after the game to receive a signed bat.

A lesson for everyone though—when in doubt, let the kid keep the ball.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Perhaps to be expected of this modern-day Manchester United team, the recent five-game unbeaten run was merely a false dawn, as Ruben Amorim’s tenure reached another low on Monday evening.

That wet and miserable night at Grimsby is arguably the nadir of the Portuguese’s year in charge, although the latest loss to Everton could well run it close, following what was simply a lifeless performance from the hosts at Old Trafford.

Handed a bizarre advantage following Idrissa Gueye’s slap on ex-United man, Michael Keane, the Red Devils contrived to slip up against their ten-man opponents, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall firing in a deserved lead on the hour mark.

Despite having ample time and opportunity to get back into the game, the Red Devils barely threatened Jordan Pickford’s goal from then on, albeit with the Englishman making one notable save to deny Joshua Zirkzee’s goalbound header.

The Dutchman, to his credit, came as close as anyone to getting the home side level on the night, but that should not overshadow what was another desperate display from United’s number 11.

The 24-year-old wasn’t the only INEOS signing under the microscope against the Toffees – far from it – but his performance certainly warrants further scrutiny.

Joshua Zirkzee's dismal Everton display in numbers

On a different day, the £36.5m man might have been the hero had his well-taken header evaded the sprawling Pickford, with the striker’s last Premier League goals having actually come against the Merseysiders almost a year earlier.

As it is, Amorim is left to reflect upon a largely limp showing from Zirkzee in attack, with the ex-Bologna man’s woes only heightening the frustration regarding Benjamin Sesko’s absence.

Sesko – with just two goals for United to date – hasn’t been perfect, but even amid his struggles at Spurs, he was still a handful, a physical outlet whom Amorim’s side can look to.

Zirkzee might be a self-described ‘nine and a half’, but at 6 foot 4, he should be doing far better, notably losing the ball on 12 occasions from just 35 touches.

Far too frequently, the struggling forward dallied in possession or produced an errant touch or flick, looking distinctly uncomfortable with his back to goal.

The caveat to that, of course, is that he had featured for just 90 minutes in total this season prior to that, with there likely to be an element of ring rust for a player handed just his first league start of 2025/26.

That being said, on a wider focus, this remains a striker who has scored just three top-flight goals since signing back in the summer of 2024, with United again left looking desperately short at the top end of the pitch.

Problems at the other end also persist, however, with the backline looking particularly erratic.

Amorim must bench Man Utd's "best in the world" star

Much of the blame for Monday’s defeat lies at Amorim’s door, with the 40-year-old’s failure to release the handbrake and shuffle his system having been desperately evident, as his side toiled for an equaliser amid their second-half dominance.

In the ex-Sporting CP man’s defence, however, he must have been scratching his head at the laboured showing of those on the pitch, with Leny Yoro notably putting in a tame effort to try and prevent Dewsbury-Hall from converting.

That weak act – which was followed by another weak stop from the previously impressive Senne Lammens – came amid a largely frustrating display from the young Frenchman, with Harry Maguire’s absence felt again in the back three.

Yoro’s pace and recovery speed is a useful tool, although he has the tendency to be bullied up against a physical forward line, winning just two of his five ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Perhaps more frustrating were his woes in possession, losing the ball on ten occasions, while failing to really drive forward from his right-sided role, even with ample time and space afforded to him.

Yoro – 25/26 PL stats

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games (starts)

12 (8)

Goals

0

Assists

0

Key passes*

0.3

Pass accuracy*

88%

Successful dribbles*

0

Tackles*

1.0

Interceptions*

1.0

Total duels won*

58%

Aerial duels won*

72%

Dribbled past*

0.4

Stats via Sofascore

Unlike last term, when the 20-year-old was a central figure in United’s Europa League charge, he appeared hesitant to get forward, rarely attempting to burst into space to support the likes of Amad ahead of him.

There is an argument to suggest he may need to shift to a left centre-back role, having thrived there in the second half of last season, although with Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven already in contention there, Amorim surely can’t make that switch.

Currently ranking in the bottom 2% of European centre-backs for blocks, the bottom 9% for clearances and the bottom 27% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, the ex-Lille starlet certainly isn’t thriving as expected, having previously been described as the “best in the world” for his age by Rio Ferdinand.

Options at right centre-back really are quite limited – particularly in the absence of Maguire – although Amorim may have to consider relocating Noussair Mazraoui, and shifting Yoro back to the bench.

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As Ferdinand suggested, the France U21 international is a massive talent, but United and Old Trafford are yet to see the best of him.

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By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 25, 2025