I Dig Sports
GRAND BLANC, Mich. Must See Racing recognized its top drivers and teams from the 2024 season during the sanctioning bodys Night of Champions celebration Saturday at the Fairfield Inn & Suites of Grand Blanc.
Chief among the banquets honored guests were Must See Racing National Sprint Car Series presented by Perfit champion Joe Liguori and Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights titlist J.J. Henes.
Liguori wasnt able to celebrate his championship season at the racetrack after the finale was lost to a combination of weather and extenuating circumstances back in September, but collected the major hardware by 42 points over runner-up and fellow owner-driver Kevin Mingus.
After a top-shelf, post-COVID 2021 season that couldnt be formally recognized at the time, Liguori was able to nod in his title acceptance speech to the fact that 2024, in effect, marked his second time at the top of the Must See Racing mountain.
Weve just somehow made a habit of not being able to celebrate until a lot later, joked Liguori of his championship crown.
My daughter Emilee was supposed to help me write a speech, but Ill just wing it, he continued. For the five years weve been on tour, Jim and Nancy (Hanks, series owners) have given us a great platform and I appreciate them accepting us into the series and dealing with our antics, because I know we can make it difficult sometimes (laughter).
But Im glad to race with everyone that we do and that were all able to be at the racetrack having fun, because thats really what this is about. None of this is our profession, but its what we all love to do and I think thats what separates this series from anywhere else, is the passion thats brought to the table.
Henes also returned to the pinnacle, topping the Midwest Lights crate sprint car division for a second time after previously winning the tours inaugural title in 2020.
Its been a pleasure to race against Cody (Gallogly, Midwest Lights runner-up) but man, hes been putting a whooping on us up until this past year, noted Henes. My dad and I had been talking about building a new race car (after the 2022 season) and we finally decided to do it last offseason because we were tired of Cody beating up on us (laughter).
Going into the year, I was scared, to be honest. When you build a brand-new race car and dont know anything about it (on-track) because its completely different to anything that youve done before, its a lot of unknown but as soon as we got that first (win) at Owosso (Speedway) I knew we had something really good, he added.
To capitalize the way that we did as a family team it means a lot and you cant ask for much more.
Among the other Must See Racing national honorees Saturday was Dick Myers, the longtime leader of the iconic RAM Engineering No. 50m sprint car team, who received Car Owner of the Year honors.
Liguori was named Driver of the Year for the third time in his decorated career, while his chief mechanic Brad Ringer secured Crew Chief of the Year laurels for a second time.
Additional Midwest Lights award recipients included Ethan Rader (Rookie of the Year) and Terry Bogusz (Crew Chief of the Year), while Jon Henes and J.J. Henes were named Car Owner and Driver of the Year, respectively.
The nights highest honor, the Jerry Caryer Ironman Award for commitment to Must See Racing, was presented to journeyman Rick Holley as the driver who most exemplified loyalty to pavement sprint car racing as a whole and for his spirit in making nearly every series race over the last five years.
Holley joined Tom Jewell (2021), Charlie Schultz (2022), and Ryan Litt (2023) as the fourth recipient of the perpetual honor, which is housed at Must See Racings series headquarters in Holly, Mich.
I truly wasnt expecting this, said an emotional Holley, who was joined by son Chance and granddaughter Frankie at the podium afterward. Jerry was a friend and loved this series as much as anyone before we lost him, so to be honored like this I hope hed be proud.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has solidified and updated the entry list for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona Intl Speedway, building on what was revealed in mid-December 2024.
The same 61 cars announced are confirmed for the mandatory three-day test, where all four WeatherTech Championship classes gain key track time and learning to prepare for the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 23-26. While most lineups are confirmed, a handful of teams are yet to reveal their finalized lineups.
In a change from recent years, the Roar test features just practice sessions for WeatherTech Championship competitors as qualifying for the Rolex 24 shifts to Thursday of race weekend, January 23. As the Roar is a test only, times are unofficial and do not count towards track records if they were to go quicker than existing records.
All four classes are active over two sessions Friday, January 17, three sessions Saturday, January 18 and a morning session Sunday, January 19. The seventh and final session of the weekend on Sunday afternoon is reserved for Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) Bronze-rated drivers only.
Quick fast facts for the Rolex 24 At Daytona are below:
WeatherTech Championship Track Records Daytona International Speedway
GTP: Pipo Derani, Cadillac V-Series.R, 1:32.656 / 138.318 mph, January 2024
LMP2: Paul-Loup Chatin, ORECA LMP2, 1:35.532 / 134.154 mph, January 2022
GTD PRO: Seb Priaulx, Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), 1:44.382 / 122.780 mph, January 2024
GTD: Parker Thompson, Lexus RC F GT3, 1:44.494 / 122.648 mph, January 2024
2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona Motul Pole Award Winners:
GTP: Pipo Derani, No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R
LMP2: Ben Keating, No. 2 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07
GTD PRO: Seb Priaulx, No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
GTD: Parker Thompson, No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3
2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona Winners
GTP: Felipe Nasr/Dane Cameron/Matt Campbell/Josef Newgarden, No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963
LMP2: Ryan Dalziel/Dwight Merriman/Connor Zilisch/Christian Rasmussen, No. 18 Era Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07
GTD PRO: Alessandro Pier Guidi/James Calado/Davide Rigon/Daniel Serra, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
GTD: Russell Ward/Philip Ellis/Indy Dontje/Daniel Morad, No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
Storylines
- Star Alignment: The usual bevy of extra Rolex 24 drivers boasting experience from Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar join the wealth of international sports car stars the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship fields on a full season basis. Some of the extras this year include Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen, Colton Herta, Felipe Massa, Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch, Austin Cindric, James Hinchcliffe and Parker Kligerman.
- From Timepieces to Titles: Porsche Penske Motorsport (Grand Touring Prototype, GTP) and Winward Racing (Grand Touring Daytona, GTD) kicked off 2024 with Rolex 24 victories and the Rolex custom timepiece that went with it. Nine months later, their opening round success propelled them to season-long WeatherTech Championship titles.
- Reshuffled GTP Grid: All 12 GTP cars spread among Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porsche have some degree of difference to kick off the 2025 season after ending 2024, whether in drivers, team names or manufacturers or in some cases, all of the above.
- Deep GTD PRO/GTD Fields: A 15-car Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class field sets the record for the greatest number of cars in the category, ahead of its fourth season. Additionally, 22 cars in GTD bring the combined number of GT cars up to 37. Entries come from Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
- Fresh Blend in LMP2: In two cases, GTPs loss is a gain for Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) with Dane Cameron (No. 99 AO Racing ORECA LMP2 07) and Sebastien Bourdais (No. 8 Tower Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07) joining an already stacked 12-car class.
- Lallys Last (Full-Time) Laps: The most successful active Rolex 24 race winner anticipated to race this year, Andy Lally, is set for his last race before retiring from full-time driving. Sharing the No. 44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO in GTD, Lally has won five Rolex 24 races and is set for his 23rd consecutive start in the race this year.
With most of the field confirmed, there will be more than 50 Rolex 24 winners, more than 50 IMSA champions and more than 40 24 Hours of Le Mans winners in this years field, with potentially more in each category to come.
Rolex 24 Winners in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (59)
- Andy Lally (5): SRPII 2001; GT 2009, 2011, 2012; GTD 2016
- Scott Dixon (4): DP/Overall 2006; P/Overall 2015; GTLM 2018; DPi/Overall 2020
- Filipe Albuquerque (3): GT 2013; P/Overall 2018; DPi/Overall 2021
- Colin Braun (3): PC 2014; LMP2 2020; GTP/Overall 2023
- Ryan Dalziel (3): DP/Overall 2010; LMP2 2021, 2024
- Antonio Garcia (3): DP/Overall 2009; GTLM 2015, 2021
- Richard Lietz (3): GT 2012; GTLM 2014; GTD 2022
- Jordan Taylor (3): P/Overall 2017; DPi/Overall 2019; GTLM 2021
- Tom Blomqvist (2): DPi/Overall 2022; GTP/Overall 2023
- Mirko Bortolotti (2): GTD 2018, 2019
- Sebastien Bourdais (2): P/Overall 2014; GTLM 2017
- Matt Campbell (2): GTD PRO 2022; GTP/Overall 2024
- Indy Dontje (2): GTD 2021, 2024
- Philip Ellis (2): GTD 2021, 2024
- Maro Engel (2): GTD 2021; GTD PRO 2023
- Colton Herta (2): GTLM 2019; LMP2 2022
- Oliver Jarvis (2): GT 2013; DPi/Overall 2022
- Kamui Kobayashi (2): DPi/Overall 2019, 2020
- Daniel Morad (2): GTD 2017, 2024
- Felipe Nasr (2): GTD PRO 2022; GTP/Overall 2024
- Alessandro Pier Guidi (2): GTD 2014; GTD PRO 2024
- John Potter (2): GT 2012; GTD 2016
- Spencer Pumpelly (2): GT 2006, 2011
- Rene Rast (2): GT 2012; GTD 2016
- Gar Robinson (2): LMP3 2021, 2022
- Ricky Taylor (2): P/Overall 2017; DPi/Overall 2021
- Renger van der Zande (2): DPi/Overall 2019, 2020
- Russell Ward (2): GTD 2021, 2024
- James Allen (1): LMP2 2023
- Townsend Bell (1): GTD 2014
- Gianmaria Bruni (1): LMP2 2023
- Nick Boulle (1): PC 2017
- James Calado (1): GTD PRO 2024
- Andrea Caldarelli (1): GTD 2020
- Dane Cameron (1): GTP/Overall 2024
- Paul-Loup Chatin (1): LMP2 2021
- Roman De Angelis (1): GTD 2023
- Pipo Derani (1): P/Overall 2016
- Philipp Eng (1): GTLM 2019
- Felipe Fraga (1): LMP3 2022
- Misha Goikhberg (1): PC 2016
- Jules Gounon (1): GTD PRO 2023
- Joey Hand (1): GTLM 2017
- Ben Hanley (1): LMP2 2020
- Mathieu Jaminet (1): GTD PRO 2022
- Daniel Juncadella (1): GTD PRO 2023
- Ben Keating (1): GTD 2015
- Kenton Koch (1): PC 2016
- Edoardo Mortara (1): GT 2013
- Tommy Milner (1): GTLM 2016
- Franck Perera (1): GTD 2018
- Christian Rasmussen (1): LMP2 2024
- Zacharie Robichon (1): GTD 2022
- Mike Rockenfeller (1): DP/Overall 2010
- Daniel Serra (1): GTD PRO 2024
- Marco Sorenson (1): GTD 2023
- Nick Tandy (1): GTLM 2014
- Nico Varrone (1): LMP3 2023
- Connor Zilisch (1): LMP2 2024
IMSA Champions in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (55)
- Ben Keating (7): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 2021, 2023; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2017, 2018, 2019; LMP2 2021, 2022
- Antonio Garcia (6): American Le Mans Series GT 2013; WeatherTech Championship GTLM 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM 2015
- Felipe Nasr (6): WeatherTech Championship Prototype 2018; DPi 2021; GTP 2024; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype 2018; DPi 2019; GTP 2024
- Dane Cameron (5): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2014; Prototype 2016; DPi 2019; GTP 2024; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTP 2024
- Colin Braun (4): WeatherTech Championship PC 2014, 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup PC 2014; WeatherTech Championship LMP3 2022
- Pipo Derani (4): WeatherTech Championship DPi 2021; GTP 2023; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi 2019, GTP 2023
- Mikkel Jensen (4): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 2021; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 2021, 2022, 2024
- Andy Lally (4): GRAND-AM SRPII 2001; GRAND-AM SGS 2004; GRAND-AM GT 2006; GRAND-AM North American Endurance Cup GT 2012
- Tommy Milner (4): American Le Mans Series GT 2012; WeatherTech Championship GTLM 2016; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM 2016, 2021
- Jordan Taylor (4): GRAND-AM DP 2013; WeatherTech Championship Prototype 2017; GTLM 2020, 2021
- Mario Farnbacher (3): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2019, 2020; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2017
- Felipe Fraga (3): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2019; LMP3 2022, 2023
- Gar Robinson (3): WeatherTech Championship LMP3 2021, 2023; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP3 2021, 2022, 2023
- Ricky Taylor (3): WeatherTech Championship Prototype 2017; DPi 2020; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi 2021
- Filipe Albuquerque (2): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype 2017; DPi 2021
- Tom Blomqvist (2): WeatherTech Championship DPi 2022; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi 2022
- Philip Ellis (2): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2024; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2024
- Joey Hand (2): American Le Mans Series GT 2011; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM 2018
- Trent Hindman (2): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2019; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2021
- Oliver Jarvis (2): WeatherTech Championship DPi 2022; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi 2022
- Alexander Sims (2): WeatherTech Championship GTP 2023; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTP 2023
- Renger van der Zande (2): WeatherTech Championship PC 2016; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi 2020
- Laurens Vanthoor (2): WeatherTech Championship GTLM 2019; GTD 2021
- Russell Ward (2): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2024; WeatherTech Championship GTD 2024
- Earl Bamber (1): WeatherTech Championship GTLM 2019
- Ben Barnicoat (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO 2023
- Townsend Bell (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2015
- Nick Boulle (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 2024
- Josh Burdon (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP3 2023
- Matt Campbell (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO 2022
- Paul-Loup Chatin (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 2023
- Roman De Angelis (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2022
- Tom Dillmann (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 2024
- Indy Dontje (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2024
- John Farano (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 2022
- Jules Gounon (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO 2023
- Mikael Grenier (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2023
- Jack Hawksworth (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO 2023
- Ben Hanley (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 2023
- Laurin Heinrich (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO 2024
- Brendan Iribe (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2022
- Mathieu Jaminet (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO 2022
- Daniel Juncadella (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO 2023
- Kenton Koch (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2023
- George Kurtz (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 2023
- Hunter McElrea (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 2024
- Jordan Pepper (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2022
- John Potter (1): GRAND-AM North American Endurance Cup GT 2012
- Davide Rigon (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO 2022
- Zacharie Robichon (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD 2021
- Daniel Serra (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO 2022
- Mike Skeen (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2023
- Luca Stolz (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2018
- Nick Tandy (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM 2021
- Steven Thomas (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 2024
24 Hours of Le Mans Winners in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (45)
- Gianmaria Bruni (4): GT2 2008; GTE Pro 2012, 2014, 2022
- James Calado (3): GTE Pro 2019, 2021; Hypercar/Overall 2023
- Antonio Garcia (3): GT1 2008, 2009; GTE Pro 2011
- Brendon Hartley (3): LMP1/Overall 2017, 2020; Hypercar/Overall 2022
- Richard Lietz (3): GT2 2007, 2010; LMGT3 2024
- Alessandro Pier Guidi (3): GTE Pro 2019, 2021; Hypercar/Overall 2023
- Earl Bamber (2): LMP1/Overall 2015, 2017
- Oliver Jarvis (2): LMP2 2017, 2024
- Ben Keating (2): GTE Am 2022, 2023
- Tommy Milner (2): GTE Pro 2011, 2015
- Nicklas Nielsen (2): GTE Am 2021; Hypercar/Overall 2024
- Daniel Serra (2): GTE Pro 2017, 2019
- Will Stevens (2): GTE Am 2017; LMP2 2022
- Nico Varrone (2): GTE Am 2023; LMP2 Pro-Am 2024
- Filipe Albuquerque (1): LMP2 2020
- James Allen (1): LMP2 Pro-Am: 2022
- Ben Barnicoat (1): LMP2 Pro-Am 2024
- Mathias Beche (1): LMP1-L 2014
- Townsend Bell (1): GTE Am 2016
- Sebastien Bourdais (1): GTE Pro 2016
- Colin Braun (1): LMP2 Pro-Am 2023
- Matt Campbell (1): GTE Am 2018
- Nicky Catsburg (1): GTE Am 2023
- Albert Costa (1): LMP2 2023
- Antonio Felix da Costa (1): LMP2 2022
- Ryan Dalziel (1): LMP2 2012
- Kevin Estre (1): GTE Pro 2018
- Antonio Fuoco (1): Hypercar/Overall 2024
- Bijoy Garg (1): LMP2 2024
- Ben Hanley (1): LMP2 Pro-Am 2021
- David Heinemeier Hansson (1): GTE Am 2014
- Neel Jani (1): LMP1/Overall 2016
- Kamui Kobayashi (1): Hypercar/Overall 2021
- George Kurtz (1): LMP2 Pro-Am 2023
- Alex Lynn (1): GTE Pro 2020
- Maxime Martin (1): GTE Pro 2020
- Miguel Molina (1): Hypercar/Overall 2024
- Alessio Rovera (1): GTE Am 2021
- Marco Sorensen (1): GTE Am 2022
- Nick Tandy (1): LMP1/Overall 2015
- Jordan Taylor (1): GTE Pro 2015
- Nicki Thiim (1): GTE Am 2014
- Steven Thomas (1): LMP2 Pro-Am 2022
- Dries Vanthoor (1): GTE Am 2017
- Laurens Vanthoor (1): GTE Pro 2018
IndyCar Champions in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (2)
- Scott Dixon (6): 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020
- Alex Palou (3): 2021, 2023, 2024
Indianapolis 500 Winners in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (1)
- Scott Dixon (1): 2008
NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Winners in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (1)
- Austin Cindric (1): 2022
Supercars Champions in 2025 Rolex 24 Field (2)
- Scott McLaughlin (3): 2018, 2019, 2020
- Shane van Gisbergen (3): 2016, 2021, 2022
DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau's No. 8 jersey was retired by the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday night during an emotional ceremony before their United States Hockey League game against Sioux City.
Gaudreau and brother Matthew died Aug. 29 when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles on a rural New Jersey road near their hometown of Carneys Point. The driver charged with killing them pleaded not guilty earlier this week after turning down a prosecution offer of 35 years in prison.
Johnny Gaudreau was the USHL's rookie of the year in 2010-11 in his lone season in the junior league, helping the Fighting Saints win the Clark Cup title. In 2018, he became a minority owner of the club.
USHL commissioner Glenn Hefferan announced the creation of the Gaudreau Award for the player "who best embodies the legacy of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau." Matthew Gaudreau also played in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers.
Dubuque won the game 4-3 in overtime.
RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons scored twice on his comeback from injury to help his team to a 4-2 victory over visitors Werder Bremen on Sunday as new Red Bull Head of global soccer Jürgen Klopp watched from the stands.
Klopp, who ended a successful nine-year stint at Liverpool last season and has coached Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, started his new role on Jan. 1 and will act as advisor for the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, the United States, Brazil and Austria.
Simons had been out of action since a ligament injury in October but he looked in top form as he fired Leipzig into a 24th-minute lead in his first start since.
Werder, who had won their last three league games before the winter break, levelled two minutes later through Mitchell Weiser but Xavi bagged his second goal of the afternoon with a superb solo effort and a slightly deflected effort that went in off the crossbar.
Benjamin Sesko put the game to bed two minutes after the restart with a stunning strike from 25 metres which had a speed of 126km/h.
The hosts went close to a fourth goal in the 81st after a sensational solo run by Antonio Nusa but his low shot bounced off the post. Christoph Baumgartner did better in stoppage time to make it 4-1 before Werder pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Oliver Burke.
Leipzig are in fourth spot on 30 points, level with third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern Munich lead the title race on 39 points following their 1-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. Werder dropped to eighth on 25.
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."
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