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Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus left the FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United on a stretcher after being injured.
The Brazilian covered his face as he was carried off in the first-half with the game goalless, following an innocuous coming together with United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Jesus clipped Fernandes just outside Arsenal's 18-yard box, causing Fernandes' boot to come loose.
The United midfielder then twice threw his boot to the ground in frustration at referee Andrew Madley deciding against rewarding a free kick, earning him a booking for dissent. However, while Fernandes fumed, Jesus stayed down and required a stretcher.
Jesus is the latest injury to one of Arsenal's starters, with Bukayo Saka ruled out until March after he required surgery on a hamstring injury.
Arsenal are also without Ethan Nwaneri (muscle injury), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Ben White (knee).
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur needed extra time to beat brave fifth-tier Tamworth, 96 places below them in the English football pyramid, 3-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
The game had the makings of a huge upset from the opening whistle as Tamworth more than held their own but the team of part-time players tired and were unable to secure one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history.
"We should be proud, we took a top-six team to extra time," Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh, whose day job is as a building surveyor, told ITV. "We had chances as well, that's the frustrating bit."
After a goalless 90 minutes, Nathan Tshikuna's own goal in the 101st minute put Spurs ahead after Brennan Johnson had fired a low cross into the area.
Substitute Dejan Kulusevski doubled the lead when he latched onto a pass from Son Heung-Min to shoot across Singh and Johnson added a late third.
Tamworth gave their fans at a rocking Lamb Ground plenty to cheer when Beck-Ray Enoru -- who works as a shop clerk -- forced Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to make a diving save in the opening minute.
Before kickoff, Enoru had climbed on a teammate's shoulders to repair a gap in the net with a roll of tape as an Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou watched on chuckling and Tamworth's Tom Tonks, renowned for his long throw-ins, sent one clattering off Spurs' far post.
Tom McGlinchey and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd had excellent chances to notch a late winner for the home side which had manager Andy Peaks -- who quit his day job as support worker to become full-time manager ahead of Sunday's game -- holding his head in disbelief.
Singh, whose partner had given birth to a baby boy the previous evening, was excellent in goal, turning away several Spurs shots including a couple from James Maddison.
IPL begins March 21 weekend; WPL to start from February 7
The 2025 IPL is set to start on March 21, with Eden Gardens hosting both the tournament opener as well as the final on May 25. It is also understood that the 2025 WPL will be held between February 7 and March 2.
Ahead of the mega auction in November, the IPL, in an unprecedented move, had shared with the franchises the windows for the next three seasons (2025-27). For 2025, the window was earmarked between March 15 and May 25. However, with the 2025 Champions Trophy final scheduled for March 9, the IPL has decided to keep close to a two-week gap between the tournaments. in March 21 as the start date. The full IPL schedule is expected to be out later this month.
As has generally been the case, the home venue of the defending champions will host the opener and final, which this time will be Eden Gardens, home base of Kolkata Knight Riders who won the 2024 IPL. While Eden Gardens will also host Qualfier 2, the first two matches in the playoffs - Qualifier 1 and Eliminator - will be played in Hyderabad.
Four venues shortlisted for WPL
The BCCI has also decided to add two new venues for the WPL. Along with Mumbai and Bangalore, the WPL will also be played in Baroda and Lucknow this year. The exact number of matches at each venue is not known as the WPL schedule is not yet out.
Fit-again Ibrahim Zadran, AM Ghazanfar in Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy
"Mujeeb Ur Rahman was not available for the selection as he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery before returning to ODIs," Ahmad Suliman Khil explained. That was also the reason he missed on the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe."
"Conditions in Pakistan are similar to those in Afghanistan and the UAE, where we usually play. We will conduct a preparation camp in multiple phases before embarking on our journey for the big event. The expectations are high, and I hope the team will prepare well and deliver some excellent performances, just as they did in the last two World Cups."
"The appointment of mentors has proven to be quite beneficial for us in both of the last two events," ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf said. "Given this success, we have appointed Mr. Younis Khan, who has extensive international and local experience, and we look forward to making full use of his expertise during the event."
Ace spinner Rashid Khan will lead the spin attack along with Noor Ahmad. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai, meanwhile, can operate with the new ball. Abdul Malik, Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti and Bilal Sami, who were all named in the squad for Afghanistan's most recent ODI assignment in Zimbabwe, have been excluded from the main squad for the Champions Trophy.
Rasooli, Kharoti, and Sami, however, will travel with the squad as reserve players.
Afghanistan will open their Champions Trophy campaign with a clash against South Africa in Karachi on February 21 before they will head to Lahore for their last two league matches against England and Australia.
Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan slam tons to take Dhaka Capitals to record total
Rajshahi had elected to bowl in the game and it seemed like a sound decision when Dhaka got to 22 for 0 after four overs. But then Tanzid took 21 off a Sunzamul Islam over, and Dhaka never looked back. By the end of this over, the fifth, Litton was 10 off 9, but he got going in the next, the last of the Powerplay, hitting SM Meherob for 4, 6, 4 off consecutive deliveries.
Litton brought up his fifty in the ninth over, with a six off a no-ball. By the end of ten overs Dhaka were 115 for 0 and they just kept going. Tanzid also brought up his fifty with a six, off Ryan Burl to end the 11th. Litton continued the pair's pattern of bringing up their landmarks with a boundary, getting to his hundred in the 16th with a four off Shafiul Islam.Tanzid completed the set in the final over, taking four first ball to bring up his hundred, before hitting Shafiul for six more and then holing out for 108 off 64 balls (six fours, eight sixes, strike rate 168.75).
By then Dhaka already had the record for highest total in the BPL, and the wicket hardly slowed them down with Sabbir Rahman and Litton hitting one more six apiece to close out the innings on a dazzling 254 for 1.
In response, Rajshahi quickly wilted, falling to 34 for 5 before an unbeaten 47 from Ryan Burl held off the inevitable. Eventually, they were bowled out for 105 in the 16th over, falling short of their target by 150 runs.
Rodrigues: 'Like the way I showed patience and switched gears'
"Feels great, it was a long-awaited one, and glad I could do it for the team today," Rodrigues said. "I just tried to keep small targets and just kept achieving it. And I like the way that I shifted gears today. Initially I showed a lot of patience, which was again a big positive for me because it was important for me to spend time there to get those runs. And you know, I was getting the runs. But I was not spending enough time to make it bigger. So I was happy I could do that today."
"I got angry with myself [the way I got out in the first ODI]," she said. "I needed to be positive towards myself because that works for me. If I keep being too harsh on myself, I go very low. But it was important for me to keep being positive rather than thinking, 'okay, I got out but next match what could I do better'. I tried to get back to Under-19 where I've scored a lot of 100s, I've scored a 200 too. I tried to get back to what I used to do then and today I try to apply it, and it came off well."
Regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur's absence meant it was "an added responsibility" for her to contribute, more so because she's been pushed up the order to play at No. 4. While Rodrigues took time to settle in, bringing up her half-century off 62 deliveries, she shifted gears in the last ten overs taking just 28 balls to her ton. On her way, she also raised a 183-run stand with Harleen Deol, who scored an 89. Before their partnership, openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal had put together a total of 156 runs.
"If your openers give you that kind of a start, you know it's always much more easier for us to handle the middle overs and take it well," Rodrigues said. "[There were] two back-to-back wickets, so Harleen and I had to just give ourselves some time because I think Ireland bowlers are also on top at that time. So I think one thing about 50-over matches, you know we can take a little bit of time and that's what we did. We calculated well. We settled the 40s, just play risk-free cricket and we know we can always make up for it."
Rodrigues mimicked playing a song on her guitar with her bat after reaching her milestone, a celebration she'd been waiting to do "for the last seven years". While she was relieved to have finally been able to do that, she hoped it was the first of many hundreds for her. Her next goal is also to help India get to the 400-run mark.
"It feels good. But there are lot of places we can still improve as a team because we always look to keep improving. We've spoken that when we do well try and be a little more critical about how we can get better than that. So yeah, next game hopefully 400."
Shreyas Iyer appointed Punjab Kings captain for IPL 2025
"I am honoured that the team has reposed its faith in me. I am looking forward to working again with coach [Ricky] Ponting," Iyer was quoted as saying in a release. "The team looks strong, with a great mix of potential and proven performers. I hope to repay the faith shown by the management to deliver our maiden title."
"Shreyas has a great mind for the game. His proven capabilities as captain will enable the team to deliver," PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting said. "Shreyas has a great mind for the game. His proven capabilities as captain will enable the team to deliver. I have enjoyed my time with Iyer in the past in IPL, and I look forward to working with him again. With his leadership and the talent in the squad, I am excited about the seasons ahead."
Ponting also dropped strong hints about appointing Iyer as captain after the mega auction. "I wanted to work with Shreyas," Ponting told Star Sports after the auction. "I've worked with him before and he is a great guy and a great player. He'll be a great leader for our team if we decide to go that way, which I'm pretty sure we probably will. And obviously, he was the championship-winning captain last year. So there are lots of great things about bringing him to Punjab."
Smith digs at ex-Raven Queen: 'He'll be in Cabo'
Roquan Smith insists he is still friends with Patrick Queen, even after the former Baltimore Ravens linebacker joined the rival Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
Smith did not miss an opportunity, however, to trash talk his former teammate Saturday night after the Ravens eliminated the Steelers from the playoffs, saying Queen will "be in Cabo, or somewhere."
Smith was referring to a comment Queen made ahead of the previous time these AFC North rivals squared off in Week 16, when the Steelers could have clinched the division title with a win. Queen had called the Dec. 21 contest a "chance to get T-shirts and hats."
The Steelers fell well short of T-shirts and hats that night and were overmatched again Saturday night in their return to Baltimore, as the Ravens rolled to a 28-14 victory and a spot in next weekend's AFC divisional round. Smith clearly relished ending Pittsburgh's season and sending Queen and the rest of the Steelers home.
"I think I remember my guy PQ saying the last time we played them was [for] a hat and T-shirt," Smith said. "But I guess he [got] the T-shirt he got on and he'll be in Cabo or somewhere."
Queen was not asked about Smith's postgame comments. The five-year veteran recorded 10 tackles Saturday night as the Steelers yielded 464 yards of total offense -- including 299 on the ground -- en route to a fifth consecutive loss to end the season.
Queen became a focal point of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry last summer when, after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with Baltimore, he signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh. The 2020 first-round draft pick said in November that he "wasn't wanted back" with the Ravens, who declined his fifth-year option.
Smith was Queen's teammate on the Ravens for parts of two seasons and said in November that he was "happy for [Queen] as a brother" when asked about being on opposite teams. The three-time All-Pro linebacker added Saturday that Queen "is still my guy, much love."
Smith and the Ravens will either play the Bills in Buffalo or host the Texans next weekend, depending on the outcome of Sunday's AFC wild-card matchup between the Bills and Broncos.
Queen and the Steelers, on the other hand, saw a once-promising season end in disappointing fashion. Pittsburgh was 10-3 entering Week 15 and owned a two-game division lead over Baltimore at the time before faltering down the stretch.
"I think we just got too comfortable," Queen said when asked about the Steelers' defensive struggles. "We started chasing too many things. I think we just let off the pedal."
Notre Dame LT Knapp ruled out for CFP title tilt
Notre Dame starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp will miss the Jan. 20 College Football Playoff National Championship game against Ohio State with a high ankle sprain, coach Marcus Freeman said Sunday.
Knapp suffered the injury in Notre Dame's 27-24 Capital One Orange Bowl win against Penn State. Graduate senior Tosh Baker replaced Knapp in the second quarter.
Freeman also said starting right guard Rocco Spindler, who suffered an apparent ankle injury against Penn State, will try to practice this week. Charles Jagusah replaced Spindler against Penn State.
"We'll see how he progresses the week of practice," Freeman said. "I know he'll give everything he has to make sure he's prepared. As far as the starting lineup, we'll do what's best for our program. We've got to figure that out. We have a week of preparation to make sure we get the right guys to start this game, and we'll see what that is here in the next couple of days."
Freeman said running back Jeremiyah Love, who has been dealing with a right knee injury, is expected to be "full go" against Ohio State, but wide receiver Beaux Collins is still dealing with a calf strain that sidelined him for much of the Penn State game. Collins is second on the team in receptions with 37 for 458 yards, three touchdowns and 30.5 yards per game.
"J-Love is good to go," Freeman said of his leading rusher. "Beaux's still healing. ... He'll work back into practice here the next couple of days, but I hope that as long as he progresses, he'll be good to go for the game. But we've got to make sure that he progresses as we go through this week."
Homecoming: Vrabel returns to Pats as new HC
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Mike Vrabel has returned to the New England Patriots, who hired the former longtime player to become their new head coach.
The Patriots did not disclose terms, but sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Vrabel and New England agreed to a multiyear contract. The team confirmed the hiring Sunday morning, announcing Vrabel as the 16th head coach in franchise history.
Vrabel played linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and was an integral member of three Super Bowl championship teams. He served as Tennessee Titans coach from 2018 to 2023, posting a 54-45 regular-season record and 2-3 mark in the playoffs, which included a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019.
Vrabel, the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2021, replaces Jerod Mayo, who was fired Jan. 5 after posting a 4-13 record in his one season as Patriots coach. The Patriots will formally introduce Vrabel during a noon ET news conference Monday at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots also interviewed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton for the opening.
While Vrabel is identified most as a Patriot from his playing career that also included time with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1997-2000) and Kansas City Chiefs (2009-10), he has never served in New England as a coach. His coaching career began in 2011 working with linebackers at Ohio State, his alma mater.
Vrabel spent three seasons at Ohio State then four with the Texans before his six-year stint as Titans head coach that ended when he was fired after consecutive losing seasons. In 2024, he was a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns.
Vrabel, 49, was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023 and shared his affinity for the franchise and owner Robert Kraft that day, saying, "This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction and great coaching. ... It's not like this everywhere."
He noted that day that it was only the fifth time he had returned to New England since being traded to Kansas City in 2009 and shared fond memories of his life there, including he and his wife, Jen, raising two sons, Tyler and Carter, in their early years.
As a player in New England, Vrabel was credited by coach Bill Belichick for his fundamentals, commitment to team success, toughness, leadership, situational awareness and intelligence, among other things. Vrabel's Titans teams mostly reflected that, with his command of game management -- which include many things learned from Belichick -- among the areas that impressed Kraft, according to a team source.
One example came in the Titans' 20-13 road playoff win over the Patriots on Jan. 4, 2020, when Vrabel took advantage of a loophole in the rulebook that allowed him to burn 1:49 off the clock in the fourth quarter without running a play -- helping keep quarterback Tom Brady off the field.
In his Patriots Hall of Fame speech in 2023, Vrabel said what he experienced in the locker room as a player in New England remains the standard of what he hopes to achieve as a coach.
"We held each other accountable, because there was trust, there was an understanding, a respect that you could say things that needed to be said to each other," he said. "Every day that's what I'm trying to recreate wherever I coach. I don't know if we'll get it, but every day I'm going to try because nothing was more important than the team."
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