I Dig Sports
Olise, Kane fire Bayern to first-leg win over Celtic
Bayern Munich scored either side of halftime through Michael Olise and Harry Kane but had to endure late pressure from hosts Celtic before securing a 2-1 victory in their Champions League playoff first leg on Wednesday.
Olise's stunning shot in the 45th minute put the German side in front and Kane doubled the lead with a 49t-minute volley at the far post.
Celtic, who put the ball in the net with Nicolas Kuehn, but had the effort ruled offside in the very first minute of the game, cut the deficit in the 79th minute thanks to Daizen Maeda's close-range header to inject late drama into the match.
"There were definitely areas in the game in which we could have done better and we'll need to improve for next week, but overall we scored at the right times," Kane said.
"They put us under pressure at the end and we had to stay strong, which we did. Whenever you win a game like this, you're always pleased because it's not an easy place to come," the England striker added.
The visitors, bidding to reach this year's final to be played in their own Allianz Arena in Munich, had close to 70% possession in the first half but struggled with Celtic's disciplined backline.
Bayern did have a chance through Kane but it took a superb effort from Olise to break the deadlock on the stroke of halftime.
AP Photo/Scott Heppell
The attacking midfielder controlled a deep cross from Dayot Upamecano, cut in and hammered an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
They struck again four minutes after the restart when Kane was left completely unmarked at the far post to volley in straight from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Kane's goal made him the first English player to score 60 goals in UEFA club competitions.
Bayern were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 57th minute after Upamecano stepped on Arne Engels' foot in the box, the referee deciding against a spot-kick after a lengthy VAR review.
The hosts came close in the 74th when Neuer was beaten to the ball by Maeda but the Japanese player's shot rolled parallel to the empty goal before being cleared. He did better a few minutes later, nodding in from close range to pull a goal back.
"The last 25 minutes, we started to press the game, we were more active at the top end of the pitch and you see what it brought - aggression," Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers said.
"At 2-1, Bayern Munich are hanging on. That's what we can take from it. We've got one more shot."
Bayern defended well as Celtic poured forward, and they needed a fine save from Neuer in stoppage time to hold on to victory ahead of Tuesday's return leg in Munich to decide a place in the round of 16.
Miami signings: 'Messi factor' sealed decisions
New Inter Miami CF signings Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján and Telasco Segovia have said that the chance to play on the same team with Lionel Messi was an integral part of their respective decisions to join the Major League Soccer team this offseason.
"Well I would be playing with the best player in the world in my opinion. It was a great factor in my joining, but this is also a great club," Segovia, who arrives at the club from Casa Pia on a four-year contract, told ESPN.
Allende, who joins the Herons from Celta Vigo on loan through the end of the 2025 season, admitted he never expected to share the field with Messi before Miami presented an offer.
"It influenced [my decision] a lot, it influenced a lot because also to learn from him and not only from him but from Sergio [Busquets], Jordi [Alba] and Luis [Suárez] who, as I said before, are highly competitive players who want to win everything and that requires us to live up to them. It is not easy but we have to achieve it and that will make us improve because we have to follow in their footsteps," Allende told ESPN.
"When the proposal came to me, I was never going to imagine that I could get to play and share the field with him because I saw everything and I saw him in videos and he's my idol as the idol of so many, but being on the field with him is a different thing, not only on the field, in the locker room, seeing him up close is different."
Luján experienced a similar reaction when receiving that first phone call from new Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano before signing a two-year deal with the club.
"It was an incredible experience [to receive that phone call]. I didn't doubt the decision for a second. Masche told me he was interested in me coming, and I was interested in coming," Luján told ESPN.
"It was super important [the factor of playing with Messi], there are many players who are very great, successful and winners. It is a team that is seen a lot because Leo is there, he is very important. You can learn a lot of them, so I'm super happy. They received me very well, I am happy."
Messi stands as an integral part of Inter Miami, on and off the pitch. Since joining in the summer of 2023, the Argentina forward has contributed 22 goals and 19 assists in 28 MLS appearances while also playing a crucial role in the team's 2023 Leagues Cup title and 2024 Supporters' Shield victory.
The three players serve as some of Mascherano's first signings at the club, after being appointed manager in November 2024. The new coach craved depth in the roster as Inter Miami prepares to compete in four competitions throughout 2025 including the MLS regular season, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The campaign kicks off on Feb. 18 when the Herons travel to Kansas City to confront Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup. The team then faces a quick turnaround as the MLS season begins on Feb. 22 against New York City FC at Chase Stadium.
Van Dijk on Merseyside derby: Ref lost control
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he believes referee Michael Oliver "lost control" of Wednesday's Merseyside derby which ended in a drama-filled 2-2 draw that saw four red cards shown after full time.
The game ended in chaotic scenes, with Everton defender James Tarkowski scoring a superb volley deep into stoppage time before an interaction after the final whistle between Abdoulaye Doucouré and the away crowd sparked a brawl.
First, Liverpool's Curtis Jones confronted Doucouré before both benches became embroiled in the incident that was broken up by stewards and police officers.
Referee Michael Oliver handed out red cards to both Jones and Doucouré. Minutes later, he sent off Liverpool boss Arne Slot for his protests, as well as Liverpool assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff.
"Obviously you saw how they celebrated the goal, and they have every right to," Van Dijk told TNT Sports after the match.
"I think Doucouré in the end wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis didn't think that was the right thing to do and obviosuly you know what happens when there is a tussle.
"I think the ref didn't have the game under control in my opinion ... Both teams have to deal with it. It is what it is. We just need to move on."
Everton boss David Moyes said the emotions in the stadium were a fitting end to what was the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, although he did not reference the scuffle after the final whistle.
"It was right up there and it was great at the end and I think the night was maybe meant for something to happen," Moyes told TNT Sports. "It wasn't the cleanest, it wasn't the best game of football you've ever watched, but it was a wee bit of a throwback, bit scrappy from both sides.
"I mean it was more important that we probably made it that way. Liverpool are an incredibly talented team and are proving it in the league this year. So we had to find a way of making that gap not so big tonight and I thought we've done a good job at it."
Slot's red card meant he was unable to give a post-match news conference.
Merseyside derby ends in brawl, four reds after FT
Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré were sent off after an on-pitch brawl as Liverpool and Everton dramatically drew 2-2 in the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday, with visiting head coach Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff also receiving red cards after an interaction with referee Michael Oliver.
A 98th-minute strike from James Tarkowski caused emotions to spill over after the final whistle when Everton midfielder Doucouré celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans who had been moments from seeing their side open up a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool midfielder Jones appeared to take exception to Doucouré's actions as he ran over to the Everton player and a scuffle developed. Their grappling led to a brawl between both teams in front of the away fans.
Both Jones and Doucouré had been booked during the 90 minutes, but they were each shown a second yellow by Oliver after coaches, stewards and police officers broke up the melee.
Liverpool boss Slot was then shown a red card, as was his assistant Hulshoff, after an altercation with Oliver.
Tarkowski's late goal was savoured by the home fans who had sought to dent their archrivals' title hopes since the match was postponed on Dec. 7 because of the effects of Storm Darragh.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk suggested he felt Oliver could have officiated the game differently and said the referee didn't have the game under control.
"Obviously you saw how they celebrated the goal, and they have every right to," the centre-back told TNT Sports. "I think Doucouré in the end wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis didn't think that was the right thing to do, and obviously you know what happens when there is a tussle.
"I think the ref didn't have the game under control in my opinion ... Both teams have to deal with it. It is what it is. We just need to move on."
Slot's red card meant he was unable to speak to the media at the postmatch news conference.
The delayed fixture heightened emotions that had already been raised by the fact it would be the last meeting between the teams at Everton's 131-year-old stadium. Everton are set to move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
As well as damaging Liverpool's title aspirations, the draw earned Everton a vital point in their battle against relegation. Moyes' return as head coach on Jan. 11 has sparked an upturn in form for Everton and the Scot said he felt something dramatic was always likely to happen at Goodison on Wednesday.
"It was right up there and it was great at the end and I think the night was maybe meant for something to happen," Moyes told TNT Sports. "It wasn't the cleanest, it wasn't the best game of football you've ever watched, but it was a wee bit of a throwback, bit scrappy from both sides.
"I mean it was more important that we probably made it that way. Liverpool are an incredibly talented team and are proving it in the league this year. So we had to find a way of making that gap not so big tonight and I thought we've done a good job at it."
Champions League as it happened: Bayern win, Feyenoord stun Milan
Welcome to the second day of the knockout phase playoff first legs of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season! Europe's premier club competition has now reached the knockout stage as we now figure out which teams will make it to the round of 16.
Enjoy the play-by-play from all the games such as Bayern Munich against Celtic, AC Milan against Feyenoord and AS Monaco against Benfica.
'That's the way cricket is meant to be played' - Gambhir backs India's left-right combination
"That's the way cricket is meant to be played," Gambhir said of Axar's promotion. "I know a lot of people talk about it, but that's the way we got to play the game, and that's the way cricket should be played. It's not about the batting order, it's about who can create what impact. And it's about just if you have the option of putting a quality left-hand batter in the middle; why won't you do that?
"Why would you want to have top five as right-handers? We don't look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. Both the games [in which] he got the opportunity, he delivered for us. I know there will always be talk - there will always be people talking about it - but I think that's the way we want to go in future as well."
That Gambhir likes right-left combinations is no secret. When he came back to Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor, their right-left partnerships went up from 58% in 2022 and 2023, to 74% in 2024. Having said that, it doesn't seem to be an unhealthy obsession. For example, it doesn't penalise Rahul, who has done his job in the middle order well, just for being a right-hand batter.
Gambhir: Wanted to see what Jaiswal can bring to the table
"He wasn't supposed to be benched throughout the series," Gambhir said. "We wanted to give Yashasvi a go in the first game and see what he can bring to the table because he was in really good form in Australia. So we wanted to see what kind of an innings can he play. I know you can't judge someone by one innings, but we always knew that Shreyas is going to be an important player for us. What he's done at No. 4, be it the World Cup or forget about even the World Cup, he's just an important player.
"So sometimes when you've only got three games, you want to try and rotate your squad as well. See, like for today, we could have easily played Shami but we wanted to give Arsh a go. We could have played Jadeja as well, but we gave Washi a go as well. So when you've got Champions Trophy around the corner, you want to try and maximise these three games and try and give everyone an opportunity. Shreyas was always in the scheme of things, and good that he played all the three games."
Ed Joyce to step down as Ireland Women head coach
Joyce, who represented both Ireland and England during his playing career, was appointed on a permanent basis in September 2019, having spent three months as interim head coach after the departure of Aaron Hamilton. Ireland have enjoyed some notable successes on Joyce's watch, including T20I series wins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as beating Sri Lanka 2-1 in ODIs last summer.
They followed that series triumph by winning an ODI against England for the first time since 2001, then securing a maiden T20I success to draw the series 1-1.
Joyce's time in charge was interrupted by Covid-19, during which time Ireland went 20 months without a competitive fixture; the pandemic also denied his side a chance of qualifying for the 2022 50-over World Cup. Although they reached the T20 World Cup in 2023, they missed out on last year's edition after being pipped by Scotland at the qualifier.
"It has been a privilege to lead Cricket Ireland's women's performance programme and to work with this group of dedicated cricketers and support staff," Joyce said. "The last six years have been an incredible journey - not just for me personally, but for the players, coaches and, indeed, the entire performance programme.
"When I came on board we had just announced first-ever part-time contracts for women cricketers in Ireland. Those six part-time contracts have grown over subsequent years to now 23 players under some form of contract - a number of these being full-time. This process of professionalisation alone has been rewarding yet challenging. Throw the Covid pandemic into the mix, the constant need to juggle the availability of players who are still studying - all while meeting the demands of international cricket - the role has been all-encompassing.
"Just as in my professional playing career, I recognise the natural cycle of coaching. There comes a time when a system benefits from fresh perspectives and new voices, allowing players to explore and develop their skills in diverse ways."
Cricket Ireland's director of high performance, Graeme West, said the board had wanted to keep Joyce on but that they would now work to ensure a smooth handover for the team's next head coach.
"While it's a sad day to see such a respected figure step down, Ed's impact on the senior women's programme will be felt for years to come," West said. "He has been instrumental in transforming the senior women's set-up during his tenure, instilling in the players a sense that they belong at the sport's top table.
"While we tried to convince Ed to extend his time in the role, he felt that this was an appropriate time to refresh the leadership. He'll lead the team one last time at the qualifier in Pakistan this April, then handover what is a strong foundation for the next head coach to build upon. We're immensely grateful for Ed's contributions in this latest incarnation of his wonderful service to Irish cricket - and as he says, we hope to see him back in some capacity in the future. It's also important to send our thanks to Ed's family - Fran, Georgiou and Sebastian - for their unwavering support over the last six years."
GMR agree deal for Southern Brave to conclude Hundred sell-off
GMR Group have, as expected, secured a stake in Southern Brave to conclude the ECB's process of selling equity in the Hundred. GMR, co-owners of IPL team Delhi Capitals, were already the majority shareholders of host county Hampshire, having bought out former owner Rod Bransgrove last year.
GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, owns teams in a number of T20 leagues around the world, including Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, as well as being principal investors in MLC side Seattle Orcas.
It brings the number of Hundred teams bought into by IPL owners to four, after Northern Superchargers (Sun Group), Manchester Originals (RPSG Group) and Oval Invincibles (Reliance). The ECB's hopes for a spread of investment from around the world had already been realised by deals for Birmingham Phoenix (Knighthead Capital), Welsh Fire (Sanjay Govil), London Spirit (Silicon Valley consortium) and Trent Rockets (Cain International).
GMR had become the first overseas owners of an English county when they agreed a deal for Bransgrove's majority shareholding last September. The acquisition did not guarantee a stake in Southern Brave, however, with a mechanism requiring GMR to pay fair market value for 49% of Brave before the ECB would sanction the remaining 51% being transferred to Hampshire.
Brave won the inaugural men's Hundred in 2021, as well as finishing as runners-up last year. In the women's competition, they were twice runners-up, in 2021 and 2022, before lifting the trophy the following season.
Glamorgan to sell Govil extra 1%
Glamorgan have confirmed that they have entered into an exclusivity agreement with Sanjay Govil, the owner of MLC franchise Washington Freedom, at the start of talks to finalise Govil's investment in Welsh Fire. Glamorgan are planning to sell 1% of the 51% transferred by the ECB as Welsh Fire's host county, to "create an equal ownership split" with Govil.
Glamorgan chair, Mark Rhydderch-Roberts, said: "It was vitally important for us that any investment partner shared our values, our strategic and commercial aims and our ambition to grow as an international brand. Washington Freedom ticked all of the boxes and has been our preferred bidder for some time so we are delighted that they have chosen to partner with us.
"They share our belief that both Glamorgan and Welsh Fire have huge potential and that Welsh Fire, in particular, can become a global brand, opening commercial opportunities on a different scale across the whole spectrum of Welsh cricket.
"The growth of the global game and the role of the Hundred in engaging new audiences, transforming the Women's game and showcasing the best global talent means that we are really excited by the endless opportunities that this partnership will present to both parties."
He said: "I'm thrilled for this next step forward in renewing and expanding cricket for the next generation of fans. I'm looking forward to the benefits our partnership will have not only for recreational cricket in the United Kingdom, but for strengthening the cross-border relationship between international teams, franchises, and fans for years to come."
WR Toney arrested, allegedly strangled woman
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney was arrested last week in Georgia on two counts, according to online records.
Toney was booked in a Douglas County (Georgia) facility on Feb. 6 on counts of aggravated assault -- strangulation and obstructing/harassing 911 calls. A judge set a bail of $25,000 on each count.
Records show Toney was not in custody on Feb. 7.
TMZ Sports, citing police documents, reported that on Jan. 14, Toney allegedly put his hand around a woman's throat and squeezed "with enough force to cause her to be unable to [breathe]." Red marks were spotted on the woman's neck, and petechial hemorrhaging was noticed in her eyes.
Toney also allegedly took the woman's phone to prevent her from calling authorities.
Toney, 26, appeared in three games for the Cleveland Browns last season before he was released in December following a taunting penalty and a muffed punt in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A 2021 first-round pick by the New York Giants, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in the middle of the 2022 season. He had a key punt return in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII that helped deliver the Chiefs a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs hoped he could become their No. 1 wide receiver in 2023, but that never developed, and he was inactive for all four playoff games that season as Kansas City won back-to-back championships.
Barkley backs Swift, doesn't get fans' 'hate' at SB
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said he doesn't understand why fans booed pop superstar Taylor Swift when she was shown on the videoboards at the Caesars Superdome during Super Bowl LIX.
"I remember that they showed her on the jumbotron, and she got booed. I don't get it. I don't get why she was getting hate there," Barkley said Wednesday during an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" on SiriusXM.
Barkley's response came after he was asked if he thought Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, would get engaged. He didn't have an opinion on that question but, unprompted, came to the defense of Swift.
"We're trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don't get the dislike she's getting." Saquon Barkley, on Taylor Swift
He credited Swift with helping to grow the popularity of the NFL.
"She was there supporting her significant other, and she's made the game bigger," Barkley said. "In football we're all about, 'How can we expand the game and make it more [international]?' We're traveling to Brazil, we're traveling to Mexico. Apparently, we're traveling to Australia soon. We're trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don't get the dislike she's getting."
Swift, who grew up near Philadelphia but now roots for the Chiefs and Kelce, was booed when shown alongside rapper Ice Spice during the first quarter Sunday night. She appeared to mouth "What's going on" in response to the booing.
Many of the boos Sunday night likely came from Eagles fans. Barkley, however, has been embraced by the team's supporters after leaving the New York Giants to sign in Philadelphia last offseason and enjoying a historic season in which he rushed for 2,476 yards, the most in a single season, including playoffs.
"They just shower you with love," Barkley said of the team's fans. "And it's been pretty cool for me and my family 'cause kind of how things ended in New York. There was always love and support there, but things didn't end off on a great note, I guess you could say. And to be able to come here and just the way how they've taken me in and my family in, and my daughter is the star here. They love my little daughter. So it's been pretty cool."
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
