League Cup semifinal: Manchester United torch Nottingham Forest
Manchester United are in firm control after leg 1 of their League Cup semifinal tie with Nottingham Forest after securing a 3-0 victory at the City Ground on Wednesday.
[ MORE: Newcastle score first-leg win away to Southampton ]
Marcus Rashford put the Red Devils ahead after just six minutes, when he got the ball inside his own half and not another player in a white shirt touched the ball before it hit the back of the net. Rashford went past two defenders then split the difference between them as he cut inside from the left wing and lashed a right-footed shot past Wayne Hennessey at the near post. A truly special solo goal.
MARCUS RASHFORD WHAT A RUN ????
His 10th goal in 10 games since the World Cup!! pic.twitter.com/iIXRLGwyfe
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 25, 2023
Nottingham Forest thought they’d reach halftime down only a goal, but Wout Weghorst put home the rebound after Antony’s initial shot from 20 yards out was saved by Hennessey. It’s the first goal for the Dutchman since joining Manchester United on loan from Burnley earlier in January.
WEGHORST SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL FOR MAN UNITED ???? pic.twitter.com/Jicdxo07Fi
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 25, 2023
Bruno Fernandes added the third goal on 89 minutes, assisted by Anthony Elanga, to all but put the tie to bed before heading back to Old Trafford for leg no. 2 next Wednesday.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United live, stream link and start timeKick off: 3pm ET, Wednesday
TV Channel: ESPN+
Online: Updates via NBCSports.com
Forest have looked more solid defensively and now they have a cutting edge in attack. Brennan Johnson has delivered goals and runs in-behind and having a solid midfield foundation of Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala and Remo Freuler getting the ball to Morgan Gibbs-White is really working out. Signing Chris Wood on loan seems like a very smart piece of business.
United’s main man has been Marcus Rashford as he’s scored nine goals in nine games since the World Cup break. Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes have been excellent too, while Casemiro has been key to United looking so much better defensively.
Nottingham Forest team news, injuries, lineup optionsDean Henderson couldn’t play anyway as this game is against his parent club but he has a thigh injury which will keep him out for a month. Joint-top goalscorer Taiwo Awoniyi has a groin injury which could see him out until March, while Cheikhou Kouyate, Giulian Biancone, Omar Richards and Moussa Niakhate are all out. Chris Wood is not eligible to play as he already played for parent club Newcastle in this competition.
Manchester United team news, injuries, lineup optionsAnthony Martial, Jadon Sancho and Diogo Dalot remain out injured, while Donny van de Beek is out for the season. Casemiro is available after his suspension so he should come straight back in to central midfield. Expect Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Fred and maybe Anthony Elanga to start too.
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FIFA have released their global transfer report for 2022 and there are some intriguing findings, especially when it comes to the Premier League and the domestic game in the United States of America.
We all love talking about, and dissecting, transfers and now FIFA have taken a deep dive to reveal the themes and patterns from every transfer around the globe in 2022.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]England once again came out on top in terms of the most money spent on transfers by a single country, with almost $2.2 billion spent. For the first time in history a single country, led by clubs across the Premier League, spent over $2 billion on new players.
Six of the top 10 player transfers of 2022 were conducted by Premier League clubs with Darwin Nunez, Antony, Casemiro, Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Luis Diaz the most expensive signings in terms of the fixed transfer fee. Also, 11 of the top 16 clubs in Europe (in terms of their transfer spending in 2022) were from the Premier League.
Looking elsewhere around the globe, Brazil and France continue to be the two countries who produce incredible amounts of money from selling players with over $843 million spent on players from Brazil alone in 2022. In terms of spending by association, the USA ranked at No. 8, ahead of both Brazil and Portugal in terms of transfer fees spent in 2022.
MLS clubs also dominated transfer fees spent in the CONCACAF region, with seven of the top 10 clubs in terms of spending hailing from the USA as Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire, Orlando City and Atlanta United led the way. Clubs from the CONCACAF region also received almost $142 million from UEFA clubs for their players, which ranked second behind South America in terms of the transfer funds received for players moving to UEFA from a different confederation.
Below are some big takeaways from the fascinating report, which you can read in full here.
Biggest player transfers of 2022
Manchester United looks to stay in the mix for a pair of domestic cups when it hosts old pal Paul Ince and Reading in the fourth round of the 2022 FA Cup on Saturday.
United scored a solid win at midweek to move within 90 minutes of the League Cup Final and of course also harbors hopes of winning the Europa League and, perhaps less so, the Premier League.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
Reading sits 14th in the Championship, five points off the playoff places and fairly clear of the relegation mess.
Manchester United vs Reading, FA Cup fourth round: How to watch live, stream linkKick off: 3pm ET, Saturday
TV Channel: ESPN+
Online: Updates via NBCSports.com
Tom Ince, Paul’s son, is leading the club both in goals and assists, and sits among the leaders in pretty much everything else from tackles to completed dribbles. Yakou Meite has also been a busy piece of what Reading has done well.
United’s stars are well-known, as Marcus Rashford continues to thrive at forward. Wout Weghorst picked up his first Man Utd goal at midweek and could be in line for more playing time while Anthony Martial recovers from injury.
Manchester United team news, injuries, lineup optionsManchester United won’t have Anthony Martial, Axel Tuanzebe, Diogo Dalot, Donny van de Beek, and Jadon Sancho, while Luke Shaw is a question mark with an illness.
Reading team news, injuries, lineup optionsPaul Ince’s bid to upset United will not include Naby Sarr, Sam Hutchinson, and old foe Andy Carroll.
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The FA Cup always delivers shocks and plenty of Premier League clubs have tricky tasks facing them in the fourth round.
After Aston Villa, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were all knocked out by lower league opponents in round three, plus Everton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Brentford knocked out by fellow Premier League sides, there are only 11 top-flight teams left in the last 32.
[ LIVE: Follow FA Cup scores, updates ]
The fourth-round draw’s already been conducted and Arsenal will tangle with Manchester City in a tantalizing tie, while Brighton against Liverpool has the makings of a classic and Manchester United will be on upset alert against Reading and so too will West Ham as they face a tough trip to third-tier Derby County.
Read on for FA Cup stream info, fixtures, and predictions.
FA Cup live scores, schedule, dates, how to watchDates: Fourth round (January 27-30)
Times: Below
Online: Live updates via NBCSports.com
How to watch: ESPN+
All games 10am ET unless otherwise stated
Friday
Man City vs Arsenal – 3pm ET
Saturday
Accrington Stanley vs Leeds United – 7:30am ET
Walsall vs Leicester City – 7:30am ET
Fulham vs Sunderland
Bristol City vs West Brom
Sheffield Wednesday vs Fleetwood Town
Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City
Luton Town vs Grimsby Town
Ipswich Town vs Burnley
Southampton vs Blackpool
Preston North End vs Tottenham Hotspur – 1pm ET
Manchester United vs Reading – 3pm ET
Sunday
Brighton vs Liverpool – 8:30am ET
Stoke City vs Stevenage – 9am ET
Wrexham vs Sheffield United – 11:30am ET
Monday
Derby County vs West Ham – 2:45pm ET
Friday
Man City 2-1 Arsenal
Saturday
Accrington Stanley 1-3 Leeds United
Walsall 1-2 Leicester City
Fulham 1-2 Sunderland
Bristol City 1-2 West Brom
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Fleetwood Town
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Birmingham City
Luton Town 3-1 Grimsby Town
Ipswich Town 1-3 Burnley
Southampton 2-0 Blackpool
Preston North End 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United 2-1 Reading
Sunday
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
Stoke City 2-1 Stevenage
Wrexham 1-2 Sheffield United
Monday
Derby County 1-1 West Ham
Tuesday
Swansea City 1-2 (AET) Bristol City
Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Birmingham City (original tie postponed due to waterlogged pitch)
Wigan 1-2 Luton
Wolves 0-1 Liverpool
West Brom 4-0 Chesterfield
It's @LFC through thanks to a rocket from Harvey Elliott ????#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/nwhsjXXMfp
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 17, 2023
Wednesday
Leeds United 5-2 Cardiff City
????????????????????
It was a 5️⃣ star performance from @LUFC, as their young forward Willy Gnonto shone to help book their place in the #EmiratesFACup fourth round after a 5-2 victory over @CardiffCityFC! ???? pic.twitter.com/IdESqMk8Br
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 18, 2023
Tuesday, January 24
Accrington Stanley vs Boreham Wood
FA Cup third round resultsFriday
Manchester United 3-1 Everton
Marcus Rashford forces an own goal from Conor Coady.
He's playing on another level right now ???? pic.twitter.com/EOLEtnpowz
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 6, 2023
Saturday
Preston North End 3-1 Huddersfield Town
Reading 2-0 Watford
Tottenham 1-0 Portsmouth
Gillingham 0-1 Leicester City
Forest Green Rovers vs Birmingham City — PPD
Crystal Palace 1-2 Southampton
Hull City 0-2 Fulham
Middlesbrough 1-5 Brighton
Fleetwood Town 2-1 QPR
Ipswich Town 4-1 Rotherham
Bournemouth 2-4 Burnley
Blackpool 4-1 Nottingham Forest
Chesterfield 3-3 West Brom
Millwall 0-2 Sheffield United
Boreham Wood 1-1 Accrington Stanley
Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Sunderland
Brentford 0-1 West Ham
Coventry City 3-4 Wrexham
Luton Town 1-1 Wigan
Grimsby Town 1-0 Burton Albion
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Newcastle
Liverpool 2-2 Wolves
Simply ????????????????????????????, @HKane ????????@SpursOfficial #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/aamAMdtOtL
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
A goal of @FIFAWorldCup winning quality from Alexis Mac Allister ????@OfficialBHAFC#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/rrBFSLXo5l
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
Signed. Sealed. Delivered ☑️
Shane Long confirms @ReadingFC's spot in the #EmiratesFACup fourth round pic.twitter.com/6zlfgsOHZg
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023
Sunday
Bristol City 1-1 Swansea City
Derby County 3-0 Barnsley
Cardiff City 2-2 Leeds
Stockport 1-2 Walsall
Hartlepool 0-3 Stoke City
Norwich 0-1 Blackpool
Aston Villa 1-2 Stevenage
Man City 4-0 Chelsea
The @StevenageFC players are definitely going to enjoy this win ????#EmiratesFACuppic.twitter.com/2CUSMOZbqG
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 8, 2023
Monday
Oxford United 0-3 Arsenal
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U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that sporting director Earnie Stewart will be leaving the federation in mid-February to assume the same role at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Stewart joins former U.S. Soccer men’s general manager Brian McBride as big names to leave their roles at the federation following the World Cup. The moves also follow a tempestuous month that saw a terrible controversy involving then-USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter and the family of Borussia Dortmund star Giovanni Reyna.
[ MORE: USMNT falls 2-1 in friendly vs Serbia ]
USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone thanked both Stewart and McBride for their contributions and said that Berhalter remains a candidate for the USMNT head coach job. However, both Cone and U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson will be hiring a new sporting director who will have the job of hiring the next USMNT head coach.
They insisted that the ongoing investigation regarding the incidents between Berhalter and the Reynas had “no impact whatsoever” on the departures of McBride and Stewart.
“No impact whatsoever, We’re using this as an opportunity to review our sporting structure and make sure we’re set up for success. This is something we want to bring to life quickly.”
Earnie Stewart, Brian McBride timelines for departure“Before the World Cup in Qatar I was informed that Brian would be moving on after the World Cup,” Cone said. “We asked him to extend his contract through the end of January to help us through this transition because we knew we were going to have a transitional moment with Gregg’s contract.”
“Earnie is an accomplished and highly sought-after leader. There have been many roles that have come his way through his time at U.S. Soccer. This was one both JT and I understood why he couldn’t turn this down, to be near his family and return home. We agreed to let him out of his contract. Though we’re sad to see him go, we’re focused on the opportunity ahead and it gives us the opportunity for a fresh look. We did not plan it this way but we find ourselves in this position and we’re going to take this opportunity on the sporting side to be as effective as possible.”
The hierarchy said they let Stewart out of an agreed and extended contract in order to take the job at PSV. Stewart was raised in the Netherlands and boasts a decorated resume from his time there as a player and executive.
Latest on USMNT coaching search, USSF director searchCone said that these unexpected developments give them a chance to change how they approach the men’s soccer program, and the federation in general.
“This is an opportunity for us to take a more holistic view,” Cone said. “While we didn’t plan it this way, it presents us with a great opportunity. In my short time as president, we’ve made a lot of progress on the business side and now we have the opportunity to do it on the sporting side. It’s urgent but we aren’t going to rush it. I’m working with experts and our team to take a deep dive on our organization. I know this moment feels a bit uncertain but what it actually is is a clean canvas. We’re working with Sportsology to get into the weeds and continue a full review of our men’s national team. We are still undergoing a technical review. Thanks to the rest of our sporting team and to JT, we have a great plan in place to lead us through a transitional time and into the next chapter.”
Cone said they hope to have a new sporting director and men’s head coach in place by the end of the summer. Current interim boss Anthony Hudson oversaw the Yanks’ 2-1 loss to Serbia on Wednesday and will be at the helm Saturday against Colombia in California. The federation says he’ll be with the team until a permanent successor is appointed later this year.
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