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Former Barcelona scout Bojan Krkic Sr. has revealed the reason why the Catalan club did not sign Aurelien Tchouameni before his move to Real Madrid.

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• Barcelona scouted Tchouameni at Monaco
• Reports put Barca off
• Krkic Sr. claimed that midfielder lacked creativity

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tchouameni had made a name for himself as one of the best midfield prospects in the game during his time at Monaco playing alongside Barcelona legend Fabregas. The Spanish midfielder had suggested the Catalan side look into signing the Frenchman, and so Barca sent scout Krkic Sr. to scout Tchouameni.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Barcelona rejected the opportunity to sign the Frenchman as Krkic Sr.'s scouting reports suggested that Tchouameni had poor creativity, and was 'excessively' aggressive in marking. Tchouameni then went on to sign a deal with Barca's bitter rivals Real Madrid in 2022, though has recently struggled at points of their underwhelming 2024-25 season.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT KRKIC SR. SAID

  Speaking to , Krkic Sr. said: "I went to see him two or three times, against PSG and Marseille. In my reports I always put the same thing: he has power, strength, and aggressiveness in marking, perhaps in excess, but creativity; little. He was not for a big club, I didn’t like him."

• WHAT NEXT FOR TCHOUAMENI?

  Real Madrid are reported to be unhappy Tchouameni's performances of late and he has been linked with a move away from the club. Liverpool are said to have shown interest in the Frenchman having previously courted him in 2022.

It might sound like trite at this point, but Fabrizio Romano has moved to mollify Liverpool fans with claims that FSG are stirring up a transfer sauce somewhere in the background of another gripping summer window.

This effectively just corroborates comments made by sporting director Richard Hughes during Arne Slot's first press conference as head coach, stressing that the emphasis is on working with the current crop. Signings, it was said, will be made, but later down the line, probably in August.

Jurgen Klopp bowed out with a Carabao Cup and a third-place Premier League finish last term, restoring the Reds' Champions League pedigree and enforcing sweeping midfield changes after his long-standing engine room malfunctioned, sapped and having run its course.

Liverpool are well stocked across the field, with a cascade of academy talent stretching tendrils into the first team too. However, one or two improvements must surely be made to close down Manchester City and Arsenal, and indeed fight for the prize in Europe's elite continental competition.

Liverpool interested in wide options

There's hope that FSG will move to strengthen Liverpool's senior set-up with an exciting new attacking option, and according to Football Insider, that man could be Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with the Anfield side among the favourites to sign the talent.

Eze was excellent last season and is also being targetted by Tottenham Hotspur, but after the Eagles sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich for roughly £50m, signing the 26-year-old won't be easy.

Still, the England international is understood to have a £60m release clause in his contract – now, Liverpool just need to lodge an official bid.

Why Slot wants Eberechi Eze

Eze signed for Palace from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, completing a transfer rising to £20m after dazzling in the second tier. Fleet-footed and an adept dribbler, Eze has since sharpened his striking skills to a fine point, praised as a "Champions League player" by pundit Danny Murphy.

Murphy also claimed that the Englishman is "on a different planet", though inserted the caveat that he's not always fit – something that has inhibited Eze throughout his four years at Selhurst Park.

He has only reached 30 top-flight starts once in a single campaign, having completed his fourth year with Palace, but the sheer level of his quality suggests that he would be worth every penny.

Look, for example, at how his efforts in the Premier League last season compare to the performances of Luis Diaz. Off the bat, it can be noted that Eze is more progressive, potent and powerful in his displays.

Even creativity, which Diaz appears to have pipped Eze in, boils down to circumstance. Eze created more big chances and placed key passes into his teammates' paths with greater regularity, though was let down by poor finishing and decision-making.

Of course, though, Eze's glowing attacking traits is his finishing, so clinical, so effective. This is corroborated by FBref's statistical analysis, marking him as one of the Premier League's deadliest of his position last season.

Indeed, ranking among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in 2023/24 for goal scored and shot-creating actions, the top 5% for shots taken and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, Eze is on the way to becoming a "superstar" – as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Who knows, he might prove to swiftly surpass Liverpool's Colombian flanker and prove to be Anfield's finest left winger since the days of Sadio Mane.

Why Eze would be Liverpool's best LW since Sadio Mane

Firstly, this is not to discredit Diaz, who was tireless and tenacious down the flank last season, breathtaking in his dribbling feats at times and invariably determined to aid the team.

But the Colombian has faced criticisms revolving around his output. 13 goals and five assists across 54 appearances is not the dazzling tally that befits his lofty talents.

It's certainly not the tally that Mane would put up each season. The Senegalese winger is one of Liverpool's most iconic figures in modern history, forming a crucial part of Klopp's deadly frontline.

He was sold to Bayern Munich in 2022 but still bagged 23 goals and four assists across all competitions during his final year as a Red, ever incisive in front of goal.

His movement, intelligence and fluidity across the frontline have established him as one of the Premier League's finest forwards of all time, described as "world-class" by Klopp and adored by the Liverpool masses.

He was at his barnstorming best during that final term, an all-encompassing, fear-inducing forward. He ranked among the top 7% of positional peers in the Premier League for goals scored, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for passes attempted and the top 12% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Truly, Diaz has not fallen short by failing to emulate Mane to the same degree – there are scant few forwards littered across the last decade of European football who would have been able to do as such. But indeed, Diaz's underlying numbers are not as impressive as Eze's, who would stand an excellent chance of making his mark on Liverpool's left flank and bringing some newfound attacking impetus to Slot's outfit.

Liverpool, indeed, were plagued by poor finishing last year, with wayward shooting at the crux of the late-season wobble that ruined title aspirations across three competitions. Still, having created the most big chances in the Premier League with 102, Eze would enter the right zone to continue his free-scoring success.

Liverpool need to add an ingredient or two to their unit under Slot, and Eze could be the perfect man for the job – the second coming of an unforgettable 'superstar'.

Liverpool targeting £30m ace who'd be their most creative CM since Coutinho

He’d be an interesting addition to Arne Slot’s budding project.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 21, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil is leaving no stone unturned in his goal to take the club into the top half of the Premier League next season.

If it weren’t for a late-season collapse during 2023/24, they might have achieved that goal. It was an encouraging start by the former Bournemouth manager, however, and the onus is for him to improve the Old Gold next term.

Having made a few signings so far this summer, will he bring in another couple of players to bolster his squad before the transfer window closes?

Wolves could move for Colombian sensation

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey last week, the Molineux outfit have been offered the chance to sign James Rodriguez, who ended his recent spell with São Paulo by tearing up his contract.

Having shone at the most recent Copa América tournament, Rodriguez should have no shortage of offers, especially in Europe.

Could O’Neil tempt the former Real Madrid playmaker into moving to the Premier League, as he would be a wonderful signing.

Why James Rodriguez would be a perfect signing for Matheus Cunha

Last season saw Matheus Cunha emerge as one of O’Neil’s key players at the Old Gold, scoring 14 goals while chipping in with eight assists, becoming their top goalscorer in the process.

There is no doubt he can get even better next season, especially if there is someone like Rodriguez playing just behind him, creating plenty of chances for the Brazilian to slot away on a regular basis.

The 33-year-old didn’t exactly enjoy the best spell in Brazil, scoring just twice in 22 matches for São Paulo, but he did enjoy a decent stint at Olympiacos in Greece during the 2022/23 season.

The attacking midfielder rolled back the years in the Greek top flight, scoring five and grabbing five assists in just 17 games, showing that he can still shine in Europe if given the chance.

Despite his club form not being the best, he shone for Colombia at the 2024 Copa América as they reached their first final since 2001.

Colombia may not have won the competition, but Rodriguez was certainly one of the finest performers throughout the tournament.

Across six matches, Rodriguez scored once while registering an impressive six assists, showcasing his attacking talents in the USA.

Not only that, but the former Real Madrid gem also created five big chances, averaged 3.3 key passes per game and averaged 1.3 shots per game, giving Colombia the best chance for success.

He was hailed as a “superstar” by journalist Nico Cantor following his exploits at the Copa América, while his former manager Carlo Ancelotti dubbed the midfielder as “fantastic” during his spell with Everton.

Rodriguez may be coming towards the end of his career, but his displays for his country this summer certainly prove that he has the ability to make a difference.

Cunha may find himself with the chance to score more than 20 goals should the Colombian join the Old Gold this summer, and it would signal a major statement of intent by O’Neil.

More creative than Ait-Nouri: Wolves explore move for £3m Neto replacement

Gary O’Neil is targeting another teenage signing after Pedro Lima…

By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 24, 2024

Liverpool are believed to be in final negotiations with a 23-year-old who Zinedine Zidane rates as a player, according to a report from his homeland.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds are still waiting for their summer to ignite in terms of new signings to bolster Arne Slot's squad, but some business should still be expected in the coming weeks and months.

Adrien Rabiot is a reported target for Liverpool this summer, with the 29-year-old wanted by a number of other clubs, including Premier League rivals Manchester United. He is now available on a free transfer having left Juventus, so there could be a scramble to snap him up – though the Merseysiders are thought to be the current frontrunners.

Another transfer claim has stated that the Reds are interested in signing Celtic attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley, who looks increasingly likely to leave the Hoops during the current window. That being said, Atalanta appear to be in pole position to sign him.

Dani Olmo is arguably one of the summer's most talked-about players having starred for champions Spain at Euro 2024, and Liverpool are seen as one of the teams in the mix to acquire his signature. Again, United are battling with them, as well as Manchester City.

Liverpool in talks with player who Zidane rates

According to Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon (via This Is Anfield), Liverpool are in the "final stages" of negotiations over Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, with a potential £50.6m deal on the cards.

In fact, the 23-year-old's agent has already reportedly headed to England to strike a deal, with the situation seemingly gathering steam all the time.

While a new winger isn't necessarily seen as priority business for Liverpool this summer, Kubo could represent a fascinating option in terms of increasing competition for places out wide.

The Japan international bagged seven goals and four assists in La Liga last season and is a former Real Madrid player, albeit having never made an appearance for them. He caught Los Blancos manager Zidane's eye during that period, with the legendary Frenchman saying of him during his loan spell at Real Mallorca:

"I think he’s having a good season. He’s playing a lot and that’s what we all wanted. He is a very interesting player, for the present and the future. I’m happy he’s doing well."

Liverpool eyeing "dominant" £25m Matip heir on way out of European giants

The Reds are yet to start their summer business.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 21, 2024

At 23, Kubo is still a young player who could improve further alongside superior players under Slot, and his searing pace down the right flank could be a great weapon to have off the substitutes' bench.

He could even be viewed as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, although whether he can ever reach the Egyptian's level or not is up for debate. Their compared stats last season show that there isn't too much difference in certain areas, though:

India’s convincing win came despite a whole day’s play lost to rain and more showers expected on the final day

Sidharth Monga30-Dec-20216:41

Polite Enquiries: Will an actual fishing trip stop Kohli fishing outside off?

India began the year by defending Sydney with their lives and then breaching Fortress Gabba. At 12.50pm on the final day of Test cricket in the year, they finished conquering Centurion, South Africa’s best venue, consigning them to only their third defeat in 27 Tests there. India’s complete and deep attack provided a resolute South African batting no respite and kept coming at them until the pitch yielded or the batters made a mistake, beating them by 113 runs despite a whole day’s play lost to rain and more showers expected on the final day.South Africa began the day needing 211 runs with six wickets in hand, but the only realistic tussle was between India and time. Forecast suggested rain could interrupt the final session, and led by a cussed Dean Elgar, South Africa would have wanted to last till then and then take it from there.Elgar played one of his typical nuggety knocks, but eventually Jasprit Bumrah and the conditions proved to be too good for him. In the 10th over of the day, even as runs came quickly as India hunted wickets, Bumrah bowled an unplayable delivery to Elgar. On the surface it was not spectacular, but it was a rare kind of ball, one you can’t intend to bowl.Mohammed Shami finished with eight wickets in the match•AFP/Getty Images

Bowling around the wicket, Bumrah pitched short of a length, seam upright, but the ball hit a crack and cut back in. For a moment it seemed Elgar had that movement covered, but then the ball kept swinging further in. You have seen this swing after the ball bounces in England, but it happens on the way to the wicketkeeper not in the short flight from the pitch of the ball to striking the batter. Elgar tried to cover the movement, but ended up missing the ball, and was trapped lbw.Now the next plan for South Africa was going to be a Quinton de Kock counterattack. This was a low-percentage approach, but the only sensible one given the amount of time left in the day. The ball was more than 50 overs old, and the ask was a further 175 runs. The pitch might have slowed down a little, but it wasn’t such that de Kock could block out for a draw. Not against this attack.So de Kock tried the counterattack, but one particular shot kept getting him in trouble: the dab, which also got him out in the first innings. Despite racing away to a quick 20, de Kock still didn’t get any loose balls. India were into their second string now – that of Mohammed Siraj and R Ashwin – but there was nothing available to hit. Two balls after being beaten on that late-cut, de Kock finally chopped Siraj on to make it 161 for 6.With lunch not far away, Virat Kohli asked Mohammed Shami for one more effort, and his seamer delivered the allrounder, Wiaan Mulder. This ball was a thing of minimalistic beauty. The seam of the 60-over-old ball bolt upright, it landed on a length, just outside off, making the batter play the angle, and then left him ever so slightly, taking an edge so thin that the seam remained proud and upright till the time the ball landed in the wicketkeeper’s gloves.South Africa survived till lunch, but post the interval, the end was swift, taking only two overs and bringing two bonus wickets for Ashwin.

Both sides might be in a dilemma with the potential return of Shikhar Dhawan and Kieron Pollard in their respective XIs

Hemant Brar10-Feb-20221:44

Should India test their bench? Should West Indies rejig their batting order?

Big picture

Since the start of the ODI series against South Africa, India have been talking about building a side for the 2023 World Cup. One of their pain areas in the last couple of years has been the lack of a wicket-taking seamer in the powerplay and middle overs. They changed their strategy in the third ODI against South Africa by picking a tall, hit-the-deck bowler in Prasidh Krishna, and continued with it in the West Indies series too.The rewards are there to be seen. Hitting the short-of-a-good-length area, Prasidh picked up 2 for 29 in the first ODI and 4 for 12 in the second. One would think he has presented a strong enough case to be in the XI even when Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami return. In the batting department, Suryakumar Yadav seems to have made a middle-order spot his own. Now that India have won the series, they might consider trying out even more options in the third ODI.West Indies, on the other hand, have been let down by their batting. Before the series, their captain Kieron Pollard underlined the importance of playing out full 50 overs but his side failed to do that in the first two ODIs. On paper, West Indies have a long batting line-up – Odean Smith came in at No. 9 in the last game – but their batters don’t bat deep. Can the likes of Shai Hope, Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran take the responsibility and step up?Related

• Prasidh Krishna's hit-the-deck style just what India needs

• Odean Smith makes a splash in his maiden outing in India

West Indies might have lost the series, but they would like to avoid a whitewash. In more tangible terms, there are ten World Cup Super League points at stake, and West Indies are currently ninth on that table in terms of percentage points.

Form guide

India WWLLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
West Indies LLLLW

In the spotlight

Since his last ODI hundred, Virat Kohli has made ten half-centuries in 20 innings in the format. However, in the last few weeks, the narrative has shifted from Kohli-not-getting-a-hundred to Kohli-needs-a-break. In the first ODI in this series, he played a strange four-ball knock where he seemed to be in a hurry. In the second, he was more measured but a loose shot outside off stump ended his stay on 18. On Friday, the question will once again be: will he get his 71st international hundred?West Indies will expect more from their opener Shai Hope•BCCI

Among those who have scored at least 1000 ODI runs for West Indies, no one averages higher than Shai Hope’s 51.13. He doesn’t have a great strike rate (74.70), but it’s his ability to play the anchor’s role that makes him a valuable asset in this West Indies line-up. He has an excellent record against spin too. With the team struggling to last 50 overs, West Indies will expect more from their opener. He wasn’t as tidy behind the stumps in the second ODI, so eyes will be on his wicketkeeping as well.

Team news

After the second ODI, Rohit Sharma had said Shikhar Dhawan would be back for the final match. That means either Suryakumar or Deepak Hooda will have to sit out; this, despite Suryakumar doing well in his limited ODI appearances, and Hooda providing India with the sixth bowling option. Therefore, it is also difficult to see Shreyas Iyer getting a game, even though he is out of isolation now after testing positive for Covid-19. In the bowling department, India could play Kuldeep Yadav.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 KL Rahul, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Deepak Hooda/Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Mohammed Siraj, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Prasidh KrishnaSmith was impressive with both bat and ball in the second ODI. So if Pollard returns, West Indies will have a tough call to make. Can they retain Smith and leave out Bravo, who has had scores of 1, 18, 18, 0 and 2 in his last five innings?West Indies (probable): 1 Shai Hope (wk), 2 Brandon King, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Shamarh Brooks, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Kemar Roach

Pitch and conditions

The pitches so far have helped both seamers and spinners, and it will not be a surprise if that’s the case on Friday as well. The temperature is expected to hover around mid to late 20 degrees Celsius for the majority of the match. There was no dew during the second ODI, and it could stay that way for the third as well.

Stats and trivia

• Prasidh has an economy rate of 2.15 in the series.
• Since 2020, Rahul has had an average of 67 and a strike rate of 109.23 in the middle order in ODIs.
• West Indies have failed to last full 50 overs in the last seven ODIs where they batted first.

Quotes

“I have been striving to get more consistent. When I started, I used to get excited and have too many emotions running through me. But over time, I have had my plans and I have been very clear on what I needed to work on.

Robert Lewandowski became only the second Barcelona player to score 16 goals in his first 16 league games on Saturday, matching Lionel Messi.

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• Lewandowski scored against Betis
• Barca drew 2-2
• Messi feat matched by Poland star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Poland international netted the opening goal of the game against Betis on Saturday, as he tapped home from close range. Barca would go on to draw the game 2-2 in disappointing circumstances, as they conceded an injury-time equaliser to Assane Diao, but Lewandowski has matched a record in the process, as he became the first player since Messi to score 16 goals in his first 16 league appearances of the season.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lewandowski has been in remarkable form this season and has also scored seven goals in five Champions League outings. His run of form in La Liga saw him net seven times in three games in October, scoring back-to-back braces against Sevilla and Real Madrid after a hat-trick against Alaves. In 18/19, when Messi scored 16 in 16, he ended the season with 36 league goals.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi ended the 18/19 season with over 50 goals in all competitions, as Barcelona won La Liga and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. It remains to be seen if Barca can replicate that this season, or go one step further in Europe.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek in an intriguing tie. They then face Leganes as they try to get back to winning ways in La Liga.

Plays of the day from the second T20 international between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, in Auckland

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Jan-2016The swirler
Eden Park is a well-enclosed ground, but in the fifth over, Tillakaratne Dilshan managed to get a ball into the windswept higher reaches of the stadium. This ultimately worked to his advantage. Spotting a short-of-a-length delivery from Mitchell McClenaghan, Dilshan swung hard across the line and gave up a big top edge. The ball shot up in the direction of third man, and Trent Boult peeled off from gully to chase it. It looked like it would be a comfortable running catch, until the ball had risen enough for the wind to catch it. It’s descent was several metres to Boult’s right. He dived to intercept it, but managed only to get fingertips to the ball.The gate

Aiming a wild stroke over the legside, Danushka Gunathilaka left a gaping space between bat and pad in the second over, for Adam Milne to slip a length ball through. Gunathilaka’s bat was some distance from the ball that clattered into his stumps, but the dismissal was also a gate for other reasons. He was the first of several Sri Lanka batsmen to get out slogging.The spurned chance
When Martin Guptill top edged his own hoick across the line in the first over of New Zealand’s chase, Sri Lanka had an opportunity to dismiss the opposition’s form batsman cheaply. Perhaps due to a lack of confidence, the wrong fielder went for the ball. Thisara Perera sprinted in from long-on and had the ball fall just short of him, but it should have been Shehan Jayasuriya pursuing it from midwicket. The ball had dropped only about seven metres away from where he had been originally standing.The flamingo shot
Colin Munro blasted three sixes from four Jeffrey Vandersay deliveries in the eighth over, but his most memorable shot came against Isuru Udana soon after. Munro ran at the bowler and made room to swing the bat, but when Udana sent a full delivery wide of off stump, Munro had to manufacture a shot. He threw one leg backwards, in the air, and leaned over to strike the ball towards wide long-on, connecting well enough to fetch himself another six.

A seventh win for the Outlaws puts them in a strong position to claim a quarter-final place

ECB Reporters Network20-Jun-2023Joe Clarke hit three sixes in a 41-ball 72 and Colin Munro 28 off 17 as a blistering start by the Outlaws proved to be enough to set up a 22-run North Group victory over Leicestershire Foxes in the Vitality Blast.The Outlaws were 78 for 1 after eight overs having opted to bat first, and though the Foxes came back strongly with the ball to restrict the visitors to 165 for 8, their efforts with the bat proved woefully inadequate.Nick Welsh (32 from 30) and Peter Handscomb (28 from 30) put on 63 for the first wicket but despite Wiaan Mulder striking 38 from 26 balls late in the innings, the Foxes fell 23 runs short of their target, Steven Mullaney taking 3 for 18 from his four overs, leg spinner Calvin Harrison 2 for 14 and Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 for 28.Pace-bowling all-rounder Tom Scriven took a career-best 4 for 21 for the Foxes in only his fifth Blast appearance, backed up by 3 for 22 from canny left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson, while Mike Finan equalled the county record for the format with four outfield catches.Yet they ended on the losing side again as their side suffered their ninth defeat from 11 matches to remain rooted to the bottom of the group.A seventh win for the Outlaws puts them in a strong position to claim a quarter-final place, although they suffered a double blow on the night with overseas star Munro unable to field after suffering what looked like a hamstring injury while batting, and veteran all-rounder Samit Patel leaving the field with an apparent ankle injury after the fourth ball of his third over.The Outlaws were 60 for 1 after an eventful powerplay which saw Parkinson dismiss Alex Hales for the fourth time in five seasons but then drop one of two catching chances the Foxes failed to hold.Munro was put down at short fine leg on five off left-armer Finan before Parkinson spilled an easier one at short third man as Clarke, on 26, went for the ramp against Matt Salisbury, Munro finishing the over with four and six. The Foxes were generally sloppy in the field in the powerplay.Munro needed lengthy treatment in the seventh over, was able to continue as Colin Ackermann’s first over went for 15 but fell in the ninth as he mistimed a lofted drive against Rehan Ahmed to be caught at long on, two tidy overs from the leg-spinner checking the Outlaws’ progress a little as they reached the halfway point at 91 for 2.Clarke stepped on the accelerator, adding sixes off Finan and Scriven to an earlier maximum off Ackermann as the next 22 balls saw the Foxes leak 41 runs but the shape of the Outlaws innings then changed dramatically with the loss of three wickets in seven balls.Scriven, hammered down the ground for six by Clarke the previous delivery, took revenge when the Outlaws’ leading run-scorer miscued high in the air to backward point, before Parkinson struck twice in five balls, having Matt Montomery caught at long off before trapping Tom Moores leg before on the back foot.Notts had slipped from 133 for 2 to 136 for 5, a triple blow that cost them all their momentum with only 29 added in the final five overs as Scriven rounded off a fine performance with three wickets and just eight runs conceded in his two death overs.Samit Patel holed out to long off and Finan became the third Foxes player – along with Arron Lilley and Wiaan Mulder – to take four outfield catches in a single Blast innings by safely pouching Shaheen Afridi and then Mullaney in the deep on the leg side.Foxes openers Welch and Handscomb were not able to match the Outlaws’ explosive start but did not lose a wicket in posting 42 runs from the powerplay, although the Australian would have been run out on seven had a Hales’ throw hit.Yet they struggled to find any acceleration and were already lagging behind the required rate at 74 for 1 after 10, having by then lost Handscomb, stumped going down the pitch to Mullaney, as Moores made amends for missing him off Samit Patel the over before.Rishi Patel announced himself with a pulled six off Calvin Harrison but perished in the next over, well caught on the extra cover boundary as a reverse-sweep went wrong and Mullaney claimed a second wicket.Next over, Welch holed out to Hales at deep midwicket before Ackermann departed in the most bizarre fashion, handing Mullaney a caught-and-bowled chance which he dropped but claimed at a juggling second attempt as the ball bounced back to him off the chest of Mulder, who was standing a yard from him at the non-striker’s end.By now, the run-rate was beginning to look beyond the Foxes, who lost Ahmed caught behind as Harrison completed the stricken Samit Patel’s unfinished over before Scriven found Hales on the long-on boundary, with 70 needed from 27 balls.Mulder launched back-to-back sixes off Jake Ball but they were no more than a consolation with 29 needed off a final over in which Shaheen bowled him and Finan in the space of four balls.

The amateur side founded by a Mexican restaurant has pulled off another remarkable upset in the US Open Cup after they beat the Real Monarchs

• El Farolito secures a 2-1 victory over Monterey Bay FC
• Amateur side continues their giant-killing run in the US Open Cup
• Victory showcases the magic of the cup and the strength of grassroots soccer

• WHAT HAPPENED

  El Farolito, affectionately known as or stunned Monterey Bay FC with a 2-1 victory in the second round of the 2025 US Open Cup. The amateur side from San Francisco came from behind to secure the win, with Edgard Kreye scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute. The goal sent the fans wild as their side produced yet another upset in America's premier cup competition.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  El Farolito has won the hearts of American soccer fans across the country as they continue to find upsets every season in the U.S. Open Cup. The San Francisco-based team joins other amateur clubs like Virginia Dream FC and Little Rock Rangers in pulling off upsets against professional opposition this year. Not only that, this is not El Farolito’s first run at the US Open Cup as they won the tournament in 1993 under their previous name Club Deportivo (CD) Mexico.

• WHAT’S NEXT?

  El Farolito will now advance to the third round of the US Open Cup, where they could potentially face higher-division professional teams, including MLS sides. However, the second round is not yet over, and draws will be revealed following its conclusion.