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Vitor Pereira will be well aware that the Wolverhampton Wanderers job he has taken on isn’t going to be a walk in the park.

But, having managed all over the world in the likes of Germany, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the nomadic 56-year-old will hope he can be a success in another new country in England.

After all, fresh ideas from the dugout could be just what is needed to break away from the dire end of Gary O’Neil’s reign, with Pereira perhaps preparing to drop Andre in the centre of the park for his first Premier League test versus Leicester City.

Andre's struggles at Wolves

It does feel harsh to single out some Old Gold underperformers, considering the collective effort hasn’t been up to scratch, with the recently dismissed manager winning just two of his last 16 matches in charge.

But, summer recruit Andre has visibly struggled in matches over the last couple of weeks for the relegation candidates, leaving many worrying that his bumper £21m cost wasn’t value for money.

He would only last 45 minutes against Ipswich Town during O’Neil’s final game at the helm, having only won two of his five duels in the middle of the park, as the likes of Jens Cajuste for the visitors ended up controlling proceedings centrally.

Pereira could opt to start Tommy Doyle in his place instead when travelling to the King Power Stadium on Sunday, therefore, with the former Manchester City youngster notching up two key passes in a spirited second-half showing.

Of course, Andre did win Wolves’ September Player of the Month when O’Neil’s job security wasn’t a constant conversation, but in the here and now, Pereira might well deem him as not being worthy of being a concrete starter.

More pressingly, away from the midfield positions, the Portuguese boss will also need to show he can shore up the defence if survival is to be on the cards, with Santiago Bueno another name who could be axed for the game at the Foxes.

Bueno's poor performances in December

Once regarded as a “promising” talent by football journalist Lewis Kenn when signing an improved deal at Molineux in 2022, Bueno has slowly but surely become a regular in the first team.

This season, the Uruguayan has picked up nine Premier League starts, but he might not be able to get to double digits when facing off against Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s men next, when you look at how dire his numbers have been over December to date.

Stat

Everton

West Ham

Ipswich

Minutes played

77

90

90

Touches

59

42

67

Accurate passes

41/54 (76%)

28/38 (74%)

58/61 (94%)

Possession lost

13x

10x

3x

Total duels won

3/6

5/8

3/8

Tackles

1

0

2

Interceptions

0

0

0

Stats by Sofascore

In truth, no defenders exited the pitch away at Everton at the start of the month with their heads held high, but Bueno was notably below-par in that shocking 4-0 defeat, with possession squandered 13 times alongside only 50% of his duels being won.

His woes have continued on from this dire day out to Merseyside – with his showing against Ipswich also out-of-sorts – as only three duels were weakly won, resulting in his side succumbing to a third league defeat on the spin which ultimately cost O’Neil his job.

Pereira might well be prepared to bring in Craig Dawson into his side in his place, who will want to exorcise his own December-related demons if he is picked versus Leicester, having scored two tragic own goals against Everton.

Whilst Bueno has shone in the past for the Old Gold, bringing in someone of the 34-year-old’s experience could be key in initially attempting to fix such a porous defence, with Dawson amassing 300 appearances in the Premier League and counting.

Whatever lineup Pereira does field, the well-travelled manager will pray he can pick up a debut win against a fellow relegation rival to start his new tenure off on the best possible footing.

Pereira could turn "lightning" Wolves flop into his very own Neto

This Wolverhampton Wanderers flop could turn around his time at Molineux under Vitor Pereira.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 17, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur’s defensive injury crisis has been well documented in recent months, undoubtedly contributing massively to the recent slump in form under Ange Postecoglou.

Saturday’s clash with Newcastle United saw Archie Gray feature in an unnatural centre-back role once more, with Djed Spence also having to do the same on the left-hand side of the backline.

Brandon Austin was brought in between the sticks for his first-ever Premier League appearance, as a result of Fraser Forster’s illness, which kept him out of the meeting with his former side.

Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have all sustained various setbacks in recent times, with the aforementioned players the main crop of defensive talent currently in the Aussie’s first team.

Such absences have seen Spurs plummet down the table, with the supporters desperately hoping for the return of the stars as soon as possible to help save their campaign, which is rapidly declining week after week.

However, with the January transfer window now open, Ange has an opportunity to add depth to his defensive unit, leading to one name already being linked with a move to North London.

Spurs in the race to land defensive wonderkid

According to CaughtOffside, Spurs have entered the race to sign Lens star Abdukodir Khusanov this window, but face stiff competition from various other top-flight outfits.

Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers have already enquired about a move for the 20-year-old, with Newcastle United also on the list of potential destinations for the youngster.

The report mentions that Khusanov could be available for a fee in the region of €20m (£16.6m) a potential bargain given his recent form for the French side in Ligue 1 throughout 2024/25.

He’s started 11 times in the league, with Lens currently occupying seventh place and looking to secure a third consecutive season of European football, with the Uzbekistan international playing a crucial role in their ambitions.

Given the interest from elsewhere, the Spurs hierarchy will have a huge battle on their hands to secure the services of the young star, but he would be an impressive addition – one that could push two current stars for their first-team spots in the coming months.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Why Khusanov could become better than Van de Ven & Romero

Over the last 12 months, Van de Ven and Romero have often been Postecoglou’s main centre-back partnership, handing the pair the responsibility of leading the club up the Premier League table.

However, the recent injury issues have highlighted the need for added depth in the backline, which could prevent the likes of Gray from featuring in such a role down the line.

All supporters will be desperate for the return of the aforementioned players, but one of them may struggle to regain their regular starting role should any deal be completed for Khusanov in the next few weeks.

The 20-year-old, who’s been dubbed as a “future legend” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has produced various stats in the current campaign that are better than Van de Ven and Romero could muster, highlighting what a quality addition he would be.

Games played

13

9

12

Minutes played

975

788

974

Short passes completed

93%

92%

92%

Blocks made

1.6

0.9

1.2

Interceptions

2.4

1

1.2

Clearances

5.3

3.3

3

Aerials won

69%

50%

54%

The Lens ace has made more blocks per 90 minutes whilst also making more interceptions per 90, showcasing his defensive qualities that could improve a Spurs backline that has shipped 21 goals in all competitions since the start of December.

Khusanov has also won more aerials along with more clearances per 90, providing Ange with the star quality his side has desperately lacked recently as a result of the injury crisis in North London.

Such figures could see the Aussie replace either of the regular starters after January should they strike a deal with the French outfit before the end of the transfer window.

The club’s lack of depth has been desperately highlighted, with Khusanov undoubtedly a stellar talent who could provide the depth and quality to help transform their fortunes during the second half of the season.

£16.6m would be an absolute bargain for a player of his star quality, having the potential to turn into a potential world beater, but it’s pivotal that they fend off interest from elsewhere to secure his signature during the ongoing window.

Fewer touches than Werner: Ange must sell 3/10 Spurs flop who won 0 duels

Tottenham fell to another Premier League defeat against Newcastle United.

4 ByAngus Sinclair Jan 5, 2025

Fast bowler likely to make international debut at Headingley as England manage workloads

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Jun-2022England’s men have reinforced their bowling stocks with Jamie Overton ahead of the third LV= Insurance Test against New ZealandOverton, 28, has been one of Surrey’s stand-out performers in their unbeaten start to the season, clocking the kind of speeds that would make him the quickest on show if he were to debut at Headingley next Thursday. The chances of his inclusion in the XI seem quite high given England took an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series after victory at Trent Bridge and the need to manage the workload of what has been an unchanged pace trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts.Like his brother Craig – who has also been retained in the 14-man squad – Jamie has been long touted for international honours since the England age-groups. Despite being a frequent flyer on pace programmes, Lions tours and in various squads, the first being a call-up in 2015 for an ODI series against New Zealand, he has yet to be capped for his country.That looks set to change, in part due to a realisation of potential that has seen him take 21 Division One wickets for Surrey in the LV= Insurance County Championship, at a miserly average of 21.61. He has also featured in all seven of the club’s Vitality Blast matches where he has contributed handsomely with the bat, averaging 27 at an emphatic strike rate of 209. Though not an allrounder , such handiness would be welcome in what has been a lengthy English tail.Primarily, though, he will bring some much-needed speed at a time when the likes of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Olly Stone are sidelined with injury. Over the last few seasons, he has often been cited as one of the more hostile quicks on the domestic circuit, which was reinforced in his previous appearance against his former county Somerset when he felled brother Craig and Josh Davey. Craig was able to return but Davey was subsequently ruled out of the match. Overton went on to take five wickets in the match as Surrey secured a final-day win by three wickets.He will join the rest of the squad who are due to report to Headingley on Tuesday afternoon as England look to rubber-stamp what has been a blockbuster start to new life under Brendon McCullum, led by Ben Stokes. The pair will run the rule over Overton in training before deciding on which of Anderson, Broad or Potts will be rested, if at all. The trio have taken 30 New Zealand wickets between them, with 39-year-old Anderson, the leader of the pack, in front with 11. Broad, meanwhile, has got through the greater amount of work with 85 overs across the first two Tests. Only Trent Boult, with 87.2, has sent down more this series.The only other change to the squad that reported to Trent Bridge is the omission of the legspinner, Matt Parkinson, who debuted at Lord’s as a concussion substitute for Jack Leach, but has been deemed surplus to requirements for Headingley, following Leach’s return to the side for the second Test. Harry Brook, the Yorkshire batter who was an unused squad member for the first two matches, also remains with the squad.England squad for 3rd Test Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes (wk), Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Joe Root

Marcus Rashford scored his first goals for Aston Villa as they saw off Preston 3-0 at Deepdale to progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

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Villa into the FA Cup semi-finalsBeat Preston 3-0 at DeepdaleRashford nets first goals for the clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE

The Manchester United loanee broke the deadlock 13 minutes after half-time, converting Lucas Digne's cross after a crisp Villa move.

Five minutes later, Morgan Rogers was fouled inside the box and Rashford stepped up to stroke home his second from 12 yards.

Soon enough, the game was completely killed off when Jacob Ramsey turned on the afterburners to race through midfield and slam home a third.

Preston had been competitive in the first hour, Stefan Thordurson heading a presentable chance wide in the first half, while their Premier League visitors were limited to chances from set-pieces.

Suffering a long list of absences, however, North End could not keep up the pace and it is Unai Emery's side on their way to Wembley.

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By progressing to the semis, Villa are in the final four for the third time since 2000. Martin O'Neill's side lost to Chelsea 3-0 at that stage in 2010, while under Tim Sherwood they went one better in 2015 before losing 4-0 to Arsenal in the final.

THE MVP

The afternoon undoubtedly belonged to Rashford, who finally added goals of his own to what has been a hugely encouraging loan spell in the Midlands. With Ollie Watkins only fit for the bench, Rashford started through the middle and scored a poacher's goal to break his duck after Digne's square cross. His calm penalty that followed was a sure sign of a player whose confidence has been restored and he looks set to be a major player for Emery between now and the end of the season.

AFPTHE BIG LOSER

Preston did themselves justice and manager Paul Heckingbottom will be left ruing what might have been had his list of absentees not been so long. For a variety of reasons, North End were without Freddie Woodman, Ryan Porteous, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Ryan Ledson and Sam Greenwood, all of whom may have started, and did run out of steam once Villa had their noses in front. It means there will be no Championship representation in the semi-finals for the first time since 2022.

Birmingham City showed no signs of fatigue or complacency in the FA Cup on Saturday as Chris Davies’ Blues secured a 2-1 win over Lincoln City at a frosty St. Andrew’s.

Away from this cup distraction, Birmingham also sit right at the top of the League One table on a mammoth 53 points, with an instant return to the Championship looking likely at this moment in time.

But, nothing is final until that dream is officially confirmed, with this January transfer window giving Davies an apt opportunity to tweak here and there with his side to add in some top-quality additions to make his high-flying team even more formidable.

The Birmingham boss will just pray this window is as successful as his first one at the helm, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur figure arriving on the scene keen to build his own promotion-winning team.

Birmingham's best summer business

The popular Blues manager signed off on a bumper 17 new purchases in the summer, with many going on to be rip-roaring successes in their fresh environment.

Jay Stansfield is the obvious success story, with the statement buy going on to score 12 goals in League One action from 17 clashes to date after putting pen to paper on a permanent stay.

Away from the flashier signings in the striker department, Birmingham have also struck gold in terms of some left-field purchases in defence and in the middle of the park, particularly in the capture of Christoph Klarer who was once plying his trade in Germany.

Now, the ex-SV Darmstadt 98 man is a tough, no-nonsense battler on English shores, with a ridiculous 6.7 duels won on average per third-tier contest.

This left-field approach paying off could result in the Blues picking up another gem from Germany very soon, with the player in question giving Davies another option centrally.

Birmingham pursuing deal for £2k-p/w star

As per a report last week by Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Birmingham are looking at clinching a deal for 1. FC Heidenheim star Lennard Maloney this January, with three other Bundesliga clubs also interested.

But, with how seamless Klarer has found adapting to the pressures of the English game, Maloney might well fancy his chances of starring in an unknown location in League One too.

The American has notched up 85 appearances for Heidenheim to date, with one of those appearances seeing him star against Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League in November by successfully winning five duels, albeit losing 2-0.

He could well give Birmingham something different in the middle of the park with Paik Seung-Ho and Tomoki Iwata both similar in terms of their composed nature on the ball, whilst Maloney excels at doing more of the dirty work away from spraying the ball about competently.

Games played

11

19

Goals scored

0

5

Assists

0

1

Touches*

35.5

73.5

Accurate passes*

17.6 (72%)

54.0 (86%)

Tackles*

1.8

1.2

Ball recoveries*

3.6

4.5

Clearances*

3.4

1.1

Total duels won*

3.7

3.2

As can be seen looking at the table above, it’s clear the former Celtic midfielder is far more comfortable in his duties in helping out with attacks with five goals and one assist tallied up.

On the contrary, the Birmingham target stars more when rolling up his sleeves up and getting stuck in with more tackles and duels won on average this season, with his ability to play in the heart of defence also a major plus point for Davies to consider.

Davies will know he needs a substantial squad in order to get this team over the line in their quest for promotion, and with Maloney only earning £2.3k-per-week at Heidenheim currently, this feels like a shrewd acquisition to make to boost his camp.

Winter transfer window 2025: All the latest deals from England and Scotland

Find out who is on the move this winter with our comprehensive list of done deals from the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership.

ByStephan Georgiou Feb 3, 2025

The Inter Miami co-owner and defender delighted fans by joining the prematch tailgate festivities ahead of the team's 1-1 draw

Beckham and Boatwright surprise fans at pre-match tailgateClub legends interact with supporters, sign autographsInter Miami draws 1-1 with Toronto FC in tight contestGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowSam Navarro-Imagn ImagesWHAT HAPPENED

Inter Miami owner David Beckham and player Israel Boatwright made an unexpected appearance at a tailgate party before the team's home match against Toronto FC. The duo spent time mingling with fans, taking photos, and signing autographs, creating a buzz of excitement among the supporters gathered outside Chase Stadium.

AdvertisementWHAT INTER MIAMI POSTEDTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The event highlights the unique atmosphere surrounding Inter Miami, a club that continues to blend superstar power with grassroots fan culture. The match itself was a testament to the team's competitive spirit, with Lionel Messi scoring a crucial equalizer to maintain Inter Miami's unbeaten run in the 2025 MLS season.

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AFPWHAT’S NEXT?

Following their 1-1 draw, Inter Miami retain their unbeaten start to the league season but have dropped out of first place in the Eastern Conference into second, with Columbus Crew leapfrogging them by one point. The club now shifts its focus to a crucial CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal match against LAFC on April 9 at Chase Stadium.

His absence opens the door for either Haris Rauf or Faheem Ashraf to make the XI

Sreshth Shah21-Jul-2022Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle that begins on Sunday. The PCB said in a statement that Afridi suffered a knee injury during the fourth day of the first Test that Pakistan won by four wickets.Afridi had played a key role in Sri Lanka’s first innings in the opening Test, taking 4 for 58 in 14.1 overs to bowl the hosts out for 222. But he bowled just seven overs in Sri Lanka’s second innings that lasted for 100 overs, and left the field after appearing to be in discomfort on day three. He will, however, stay back with the Pakistan contingent in Sri Lanka till the end of the Tests “where his initial rehabilitation and management will continue under the supervision of the team’s medical staff.”Afridi was initially seen hobbling in the field after a diving effort, and was spotted with an ice pack wrapped around his knee thereafter. He had also undergone an MRI scan in Galle.Afridi’s absence opens the door for one of fast bowler Haris Rauf or bowling allrounder Faheem Ashraf to make the XI for the second Test, if Pakistan opt for another seamer despite Galle providing spin-friendly conditions. Afridi’s injury also delays his bid to become the 11th Pakistan seam bowler to take 100 Test wickets. He is currently on 99 scalps in the format.Pakistan’s next commitment is a three-match ODI series in the Netherlands starting August 16, after which the Asia Cup T20 competition is scheduled to be held later that month. It is still unclear whether Afridi’s injury is serious enough to put his participation for those games in jeopardy.Sri Lanka have injury concerns of their own too ahead of the final Test of the series, that is also part of the World Test Championship. On Thursday, it was learnt that offspinner Maheesh Theekshana was ruled out of the second Test with a finger injury.

Arsenal are in widely-reported talks to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi for the summer, but he isn’t the only midfielder who could be seriously considering a move to N5 this year.

Arsenal in "advanced" negotiations to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad

Earlier this week, Daily Mail journalists Sami Mokbel and Ben Willcocks broke the news that Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Zubimendi, with a plethora of credible news outlets soon backing up their information.

Arsenal offer £25m plus Tomiyasu and Kiwior in part-exchange bid for player

The Gunners are getting creative.

9 ByEmilio Galantini Jan 18, 2025

Fabrizio Romano released his own update just moments after The Mail’s exclusive bombshell, revealing that negotiations are indeed at an “advanced” stage and talks are also underway with the Spaniard’s camp in an attempt to secure his signing for the end of this season.

Mikel Arteta will also be a key factor in persuading Zubimendi to swap his boyhood club for a move to the Premier League, but that isn’t to say it’s a done deal yet, as other reliable media sources report that more elite clubs could still come to the table.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated on Wednesday, via X, that Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on this situation, despite Arsenal “pushing a lot” to sign the 25-year-old and showing “very concrete” interest.

Aston Villa (home)

Today

Wolves (away)

January 25

Man City (home)

February 2

Leicester City (away)

February 15

West Ham (home)

February 22

There’s even been some talk that Arsenal have offered players to Sociedad in talks for Zubimendi, as they attempt to acquire him for a much-lesser fee than his £51 million release clause. This big story is one to watch, as Arteta has targeted Zubimendi “for years”.

“This is one that we’ve been on for years,” said Arsenal-supporting journalist Steve Kay on KS1TV.

“We know Arsenal love this player. We’ve said many times he’s the number one signing. Liverpool nearly got him last year, but he decided he didn’t want to go.

“He’s special, he’s special, speaking to a few people today what he is mainly is a single pivot in that number six mixed in with a bit of a box-to-box at the same time. He’s excellent at playing through the lines, he breaks up play, he’s fantastic.”

Sverre Nypan really wants to join Arsenal with Martin Zubimendi

According to reliable journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, another midfielder on their radar is Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan.

The 18-year-old, who’s drawn comparisons with captain Martin Odegaard, is rumoured to command a £20 million price tag and is seriously impressing with Rosenborg.

Ornstein reports that Nypan is very keen on making the move to Arsenal, so interim sporting director Jason Ayto won’t have too much trouble convincing the teenager to swap Scandanivia for England.

“There are young players that will be on their agenda now,” said Ornstein on The Athletic’s podcast (via GiveMeSport). “I know I reported recently like Nypan from Rosenberg, one of the top young midfielders from what I’ve heard across the game, he’d be very keen on a move to Arsenal. They like him.”

Nypan’s branded an “extremely exciting” talent to watch out for by pundits, and it appears this isn’t lost on Emirates Stadium chiefs, who are taking note.

They overcame a 74-run stand for the eighth wicket between Dockrell and Hand to keep the series alive

Sruthi Ravindranath12-Aug-2022A superb batting display from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran, followed by a complete performance from the bowling unit took Afghanistan to a win in the third T20I against Ireland in Belfast, as they kept the five-match series alive.Afghanistan bounced back from two consecutive defeats as Gurbaz and Najibullah set up a total of 189 for 5. Ireland were reduced to 85 for 7 in the chase, following which George Dockrell and debutant Fionn Hand took them close with a 74-run stand. But the hosts eventually fell short by 22 runs.Gurbaz steps up after sedate start
A bit of nip in the air made Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai – who returned to the side after an illness – start off rather watchfully against the Ireland quicks. Ireland had also gone for an extra seamer in their attack, handing a debut to Graham Hume in place of offspinner Andy McBrine. Afghanistan finished the powerplay with 41 for no loss as the duo kept rotating the strike, following which Gurbaz took control of the scoring.After hitting three consecutive boundaries off Curtis Campher in the ninth over, he took Hand for two fours and a six to move to 49 off 31 balls. An overthrow on the last ball of the over gave Gurbaz his fourth T20I fifty, which also took Afghanistan’s score to 83 for no loss at the end of 10 overs. Josh Little, who produced a Player-of-the-Match performance in the second T20I, finally got the breakthrough with Gurbaz’s wicket.Zazai was still going at a sedate strike rate but he broke the pressure with a massive six over long-on off legspinner Gareth Delany in the 13th over. But just when he had started showing intent to score, he became Hand’s maiden international wicket in the very next over, as he played a slower delivery too soon and edged the ball to a diving Paul Stirling at short third. Zazai took 40 balls in his score of 39.The Zadrans punish the hosts
The Zadrans – Ibrahim and Najibullah – made sure they kept the momentum going despite the two quick wickets. The Ireland quicks had been bowling harder lengths on the day, and Ibrahim, in particular, used that to his advantage – the short-of-length delivery around off from Hand was pulled in front of square for a boundary while a short-ish one from Hume was hoicked through square leg for a six. Little stuck to the shorter lengths even as Ibrahim hit him for two consecutive fours in the 18th over.But the ploy finally worked on the fourth delivery when he ended up ramping one straight into the wicketkeeper’s hands. With captain Mohammad Nabi arriving at the crease, Afghanistan were all set for a big finish. But it was Najibullah who made the statement. After plundering two sixes off Hume to finish off the 19th over, he cracked a couple of more in the final over to take Afghanistan’s total to 189. An attempt to flick a full toss fine brought an end to his stay at the crease on the last ball, but by then Afghanistan already had a match-winning total on the board.Where’s the intent?
Ireland came into this game on the back of two wins but that did not show in their batting. Fazalhaq Farooqi plucked out the experienced opening pair of Stirling and Balbirnie cheaply, following which Naveen-ul-Haq dented them further by removing Harry Tector and Curtis Campher. At the end of the powerplay, they were 36 for 4, going at a run-rate of six when they actually needed to go at 11 per over.Fionn Hand and George Dockrell added 74 in just 38 balls•Sportsfile/Getty ImagesWhile Lorcan Tucker displayed some aggression, smashing a slower ball from Farooqi over midwicket and then taking on spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan for boundaries, most of the runs for Ireland otherwise came from ones and twos. There was another slide that followed: Mujeeb removed Tucker and Mark Adair, while Nabi struck between these two dismissals to send Gareth Delany back. Afghanistan had pretty much stamped their authority by then, with Ireland reeling at 85 for 7. Enter Dockrell and Hand.Dockrell, Hand take Ireland close
It could’ve been a legendary chase. But Ireland could come only close – which has been their story for most of the summer. The duo didn’t seem to give up. After Hand punished Nabi for three fours in the 14th over, Dockrell followed with two fours and a six off Rashid in the 15th. They not only targeted the spinners but also went after the fast bowlers – even Naveen, who was the best bowler of the day.After Dockrell smashed Naveen’s slower short ball mid-off in the 17th over, Hand smoked a short ball over extra cover to finish off the over to bring the equation down to 51 off 18 balls. Dockrell continued the carnage, hitting two fours off Rashid in the next over as he brought up a 28-ball fifty. Rashid went wicketless for the third game in a row – before this series, he had never gone wicketless in two successive T20Is.Hand hit another six in the next over before Naveen finally made him his third victim of the evening. With 28 needing off the last over and despite Dockrell staying till the end, the equation proved too much for Ireland. Azmatullah Omarzai ended up giving away just five runs off the over as Afghanistan clawed their way back into the series.

Marc Skinner's side will face Chelsea at Wembley next month, in a rematch of the 2023 final which the Blues won 1-0

Manchester United will be back at Wembley next month to defend their Women's FA Cup title, after beating Manchester City 2-0 in Sunday's semi-final. Celin Bizet's early stunner set the Red Devils on their way and Grace Clinton's header made the visitors' position even more comfortable before a quarter of the match had even been played, with City's defence unable to contain United's attack.

That lively performance in the final third was fuelled by the creativity of Ella Toone, who was brilliant whenever she got on the ball. Indeed, it was she who picked out Bizet to break the deadlock with just six minutes on the clock, the Norwegian matching a great ball with an excellent finish that flew into the top corner. A packed away end didn't have to wait long to celebrate again, either, with Clinton stretching to get on the end of a Gabby George corner just 16 minutes later in order to deservedly double United's advantage.

City grew into the game from there and forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce, fresh off the back of her international debut for the United States, into several top saves, but the visitors continued to have plenty of chances of their own, too. Indeed, Bizet was twice denied by Khiara Keating, with her also prodding the rebound of one of those opportunities wide, and Elisabeth Terland sent her one big chance well over the bar.

Fortunately, none of that would come back to haunt United, whose solid defence kept another clean sheet to book a rematch of the 2023 Women's FA Cup final against a Chelsea team that beat them 1-0 on that occasion and, this year, remain in the hunt for a quadruple.

GOAL rates United's players from the Joie Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (8/10):

Made a few superb saves to preserve her clean sheet and prevent City from getting back into things.

Jayde Riviere (8/10):

Fantastic performance on both sides of the ball. Was an outlet in attack and dealt with Murphy in defence.

Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

A little loose in possession at times, but was generally solid and helped keep City's attack quiet.

Millie Turner (7/10):

Had one nervy moment when Kerolin pressed her with real intensity. Otherwise, was assured at the back.

Gabby George (7/10):

Great corner delivery for Clinton's goal. The stand-out moment of a strong display.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):

A really focused performance in the middle. Covered the defence well and always stuck to her task.

Grace Clinton (8/10):

Brought so much energy to the table and made a real impact in both boxes. Did well to stretch to head home for 2-0 and made a goal-saving tackle on Coombs at the other end.

Ella Toone (8/10):

Absolutely superb all afternoon. Caused City so many problems and created plenty of chances.

Getty ImagesAttack

Celin Bizet (7/10):

Broke the deadlock with a stunning strike and really should've had another, too. Her movement was a nightmare for a City defence that was all at sea.

Elisabeth Terland (7/10):

Didn't get much service, but worked hard to win her duels and link play.

Leah Galton (7/10):

Was dangerous when she got going down the left, creating a few chances.

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Subs & Manager

Dominique Janssen (7/10):

Replaced Clinton with just over 20 minutes to go and her defensive know-how brought added assurance to the midfield in the closing stages.

Anna Sandberg (N/A):

Brought fresh legs to left-back for the final 10 minutes.

Lisa Naalsund (N/A):

Introduced at the same time as Sandberg to freshen up the midfield.

Aoife Mannion (N/A):

Gave Riviere a well deserved and slightly early rest when brought on for the final few minutes.

Melvine Malard (N/A):

Another late sub.

Marc Skinner (7/10):

Set his team up well to cause City problems, particularly with an aggressive press. Stuck with Miyazawa in midfield, rather than bringing Janssen back in there, and that was a call that paid off, too, with him able to introduce the Dutchwoman in the second half for Clinton to help United see the win out.