Sports
AC Milan Ends U.S. Preseason Tour with Thrilling 2-2 Draw Against FC Barcelona
AC Milan concluded their preseason tour of the United States with an exciting 2-2 draw against FC Barcelona in Baltimore, showcasing a game characterized by two contrasting halves.
The Rossoneri surged ahead early, with goals from Luka Jovic and Christian Pulisic. However, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski quickly responded and scored another in the second half to level the match. The game proceeded to penalties, where Lorenzo Torriani emerged as the hero, making three crucial saves.
Milan’s head coach, Paulo Fonseca, fielded the strongest lineup of the preseason, featuring an attacking trio of Samuel Chukwueze, Christian Pulisic, and captain Rafael Leao supporting striker Luka Jovic.
The action began swiftly, with Milan opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Yunus Musah’s 50-yard run down the right flank culminated in a pass to Samuel Chukwueze, who set up Pulisic. Pulisic’s cut-back was met by Jovic, who buried it at the far post.
Barcelona, however, posed a constant threat. Defensive heroics from Alexis Saelemaekers and Malick Thiaw kept Milan’s lead intact temporarily. Milan doubled their lead six minutes later, as Pulisic converted Rafael Leao’s perfectly weighted through ball from a narrow angle.
Barcelona responded in the 22nd minute, with Lewandowski curling a low shot from 20 yards out into the bottom corner. Milan’s goalkeeper, Lorenzo Torriani, made three crucial saves in the first half, denying Raphinha twice and Lewandowski from close range.
In the second half, Barcelona exerted pressure, and their persistence paid off when Lewandowski netted his second goal following a pass from Pau Victor. Milan made tactical changes, introducing Davide Calabria and Ismael Bennacer for Leao and Jovic, switching to a more fluid front four.
Yacine Adli and Noah Okafor later replaced Pulisic and Musah, receiving warm receptions from the Baltimore crowd. Despite both teams pushing for a winner, the match ended in a draw, leading to a penalty shootout where Torriani’s saves secured Milan’s triumph.
This match concluded Milan’s preseason tour on a high note, leaving fans eager for the upcoming season.
Novak Djokovic made history at the Australian Open, surpassing Roger Federer’s record for the most major singles matches played in tennis history. The 37-year-old Serbian star achieved the milestone with a hard-fought win against qualifier Jaime Faria, triumphing 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the tournament’s third round.
With his 430th Grand Slam singles match, Djokovic now holds the all-time record for the most Grand Slam matches played by any tennis player, male or female. He overtakes Federer, whose last Grand Slam match was at Wimbledon in 2021, solidifying his place in tennis history.
Reflecting on his achievement, Djokovic expressed gratitude and passion for the sport:
“I love this sport. I love competition. I try to give my best every single time. It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level. Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I’m just blessed to be making another record.”
The victory adds another chapter to Djokovic’s illustrious career, as he continues to push the boundaries of excellence in tennis. With his relentless drive and unmatched consistency, Djokovic remains a dominant force on the court and a source of inspiration to fans around the world.
Jack Grealish scored his first goal in over a year and James McAtee delivered a stunning second-half hat-trick as Manchester City demolished League Two side Salford City in the FA Cup third round. The 7-0 victory was City’s biggest win since January 2019.
Grealish opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a calm penalty after being fouled, jokingly deferring to usual spot-kick taker Erling Haaland, who was rested on the bench. This marked Grealish’s first goal since December 16, 2023, when he netted against Crystal Palace, ending a prolonged struggle for form.
Twenty minutes later, Grealish passed penalty duties to Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, who confidently converted. Doku, instrumental throughout, set the tone for the dominant performance, helping City capitalize on their first-ever competitive meeting with Salford City, a club owned by Manchester United’s famous “Class of ’92.”
City’s youth players made the most of their opportunities. Divin Mubama, making his debut, tapped in Matheus Nunes’ precise low cross to claim his first senior goal. Nico O’Reilly also opened his City account, firing a low shot into the far corner from Doku’s cut-back.
The star of the match, however, was James McAtee. The England Under-21 midfielder, often overlooked this season, stole the spotlight with a clinical hat-trick. His first came in the 62nd minute, courtesy of another Doku assist. McAtee completed his treble within 19 minutes, with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish providing the setups for his second and third goals, respectively.
With key players rested, Pep Guardiola’s side showed their depth and quality, dominating possession and dismantling a Salford team that struggled to cope with the Premier League giants’ intensity.
David Moyes has been reappointed as Everton manager, marking his second tenure at the club. The 61-year-old Scot signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after Sean Dyche was dismissed on Thursday. Everton currently sits 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone, with only three wins from 19 matches this season.
Moyes expressed his excitement about returning to Goodison Park:
“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club. Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”
Moyes first managed Everton from 2002 to 2013, during which he transformed the club from relegation candidates to regular top-half finishers. His achievements included:
- Guiding Everton to the FA Cup final in 2009.
- Securing a fourth-place finish in 2004-05, leading to Champions League qualification.
- Developing young talent, including giving Wayne Rooney his professional debut.
- Signing iconic players like Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.
After leaving Everton to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013, Moyes managed Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham United, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2023. Moyes had been out of management since leaving West Ham at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Everton faces significant challenges, but Moyes brings vast experience and a deep understanding of the club’s culture. His goal is to stabilize the team and ensure their place in the Premier League as they prepare to transition to their new stadium.
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