New York: Pemain Korea Selatan, Kim Sei-young yang sedang memburu kejuaraan utama buat kali pertama, melakukan lima birdie pada enam lubang terakhir untuk mendahului satu pukulan selepas berakhir pusingan kedua PGA Championship wanita.
Berusia 27 tahun dan berasal dari Seoul, Kim mencatat lima bawah par 65 untuk catatan keseluruhan empat bawah par 136 di Aronimink dekat Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
“Saya berusaha meletakkan bola menghampiri lubang bagi mengurangkan tekanan. Ia ternyata banyak membantu saya.
“Saya juga kekal fokus kepada permainan. Secara jujur, saya tidak melihat papan markah sebab saya berada pada momentum yang baik dan mahu meneruskan aksi konsisten itu,” katanya.
Sensasi Malaysia yang berkongsi kedudukan pendahulu hari pertama, Kelly Tan pula melakukan satu atas par 71 di pusingan kedua untuk keseluruhan dua bawah par 138.
Catatan itu menyaksikannya berkongsi kedudukan keenam bersama empat pemain lain, iaitu Ashleigh Buhai, Lydia Ko, Lauren Stephenson dan Linnea Strom.
Kim pernah menamatkan saingan di kedudukan lima terbaik dalam enam kejuaraan utama dengan paling hampir untuk muncul juara adalah pada PGA Wanita 2015 yang menyaksikannya menduduki tempat kedua selain berkongsi penamat kedua di Evian Championship pada 2018.
Ditanya adakah dia bersedia untuk memenangi kejuaraan utama, Kim berkata: “Ia sentiasa menjadi sasaran saya.”
Jelas Kim lagi, cabaran sengit yang diberikan oleh barisan pesaing lain memberi motivasi tambahan kepadanya.
“Mereka membantu saya mengekalkan momentum dan menamatkan saingan dengan keputusan yang baik,” katanya.
MANCHESTER – Nama Ole Gunnar Solskjaer santer diperbincangkan dalam beberapa hari terakhir. Menurut laporan media-media Inggris seperti The Sun dan Daily Mail, wakil presiden Manchester United Ed Woodward sudah menghubungi pelatih asal Argentina, Mauricio Pochettino.
Nantinya, Pochettino diproyeksikan sebagai suksesor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yang posisinya berada di ujung tanduk. Posisi Solskjaer sebagai pelatih Man United dalam ancaman karena hampir dua tahun berada di Old Trafford, pelatih asal Norwegia itu gagal mendongrak prestasi Man United.
(Masa depan Solskjaer dalam ancaman)
Alih-alih meningkat, performa Man United cenderung menurun. Buktinya musim ini, yang mana Manchester Merah hanya mendapatkan tiga angka dari tiga laga awal Liga Inggris 2020-2021!
Karena itu, jika Solskjaer dipecat, nama Pochettino berada di garis terdepan untuk menggantikan juru taktik 47 tahun tersebut. Lantas, akankah Pochettino membawa sejumlah mantan anak asuhnya di Tottenham ke Old Trafford? Jawabannya sangat berpeluang.
Lantas, siapa saja pemain Tottenham yang dibawa Pochettino ke Man United? Saat ini, Man United memilki titik lemah di tiga posisi yakni bek tengah, winger kanan dan penyerang tengah.
Man United membutuhkan tandem sepadan bagi sang kapten Harry Maguire. Karena itu, nama Toby Alderweireld bisa dikedepankan. Bek 31 tahun ini sangat dikagumi Pochettino.
Terbukti Pochettino merupakan sosok yang membawa Toby Alderweireld dari Atletico Madrid pada bursa transfer musim panas 2015. Jika tidak mengalami cedera atau terkena akumulasi kartu, Alderweireld merupakan pemain belakang andalan Pochettino.
Kemudian, bergeser ke posisi winger kanan ada Lucas Moura. Pochettino seperti kembali menghidupkan gairah bermain sepakbola Lucas Moura. Sempat terkatung-katung di PSG, Pochettino membawa Lucas Moura ke White Hart Lane pada musim dingin 2018.
Sempat kesulitan beradaptasi, Lucas Moura menjadi andalan Pochettino per musim 2018-2019. Bahkan winger Brasil itu merupakan sosok utama yang mengantarkan The Lilywhites –julukan Tottenham– ke final Liga Champions 2018-2019.
(Lucas Moura (kanan), bisa gabung Man United)
Kemudian bergeser ke penyerang tengah adalah Harry Kane. Pochettino merupakan pelatih pertama yang memberikan kesempatan kepada Harry Kane menjadi ujung tombak Tottenham Hotspur.
Pada Liga Inggris 2014-2015 atau musim pertama Pochettino menangani Tottenham, pelatih asal Argentina itu memberikan kepercayaan kepada Kane untuk menjadi penyerang utama The Lilywhites.
Hasilnya luar biasa. Dari 34 penampilan Liga Inggris 2014-2015, Harry Kane mengoleksi 21 gol! Koleksi 21 gol itu hanya terpaut lima bola dari top skor musim itu yang disabet Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).
England will face Belgium for the first time since 2018 | PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images
Weekends are made for one thing: watching a whole lot of football.
Most league football is on hold for the time being, with players jetting off around the globe to strut their stuff on the international stage, and that always throws up plenty of intriguing clashes.
Here are seven must-watch games coming up this weekend.
It may be the international break, but the Women’s Super League is still going strong, and you can start your weekend with an intriguing clash between Tottenham and Manchester United.
Could we finally see Alex Morgan’s return to action? The United States legend hasn’t kicked a ball competitively in well over a year as pregnancy and the COVID-19 pandemic kept her on the sidelines.
United are yet to lose a game this season, and they’ll be determined to avoid picking up that first loss in this one.
Switzerland are already falling behind in Group 4 of the UEFA Nations League. They’ve picked up just one point from their two games so far and need to start winning games now.
Unfortunately for Vladimir Petković’s side, they will be coming up against group leaders Spain, who will be looking for a better performance than the one they offered up in the recent 0-0 draw with Portugal.
It’s still all to play for in the group. The four teams are separated by just three points, so a positive result could change things in an instant.
The other game in Group 4, Ukraine’s meeting with Germany promises to be just as intriguing.
Germany are still trying to prove that they haven’t fallen off on the international stage. They’re yet to win in the Nations League this season, drawing both their opening games, and shared the spoils last time out in a friendly against Turkey.
A loss would see Germany fall well behind, but Ukraine will be ready for any reaction from Joachim Löw’s side.
As close to a derby as you’re going to find on the international stage this weekend, Wales will take a trip to the Aviva Stadium to face the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.
Having lost 3-0 to England in the recent friendly, Wales will be determined to bounce back with a victory against another local rival.
Ireland will be desperate to salvage some form of positivity from the international break, having failed to qualify for Euro 2020 after crashing out of the play-offs against Slovakia.
There aren’t many clashes in the women’s game more appetising than Chelsea vs Manchester City.
The two sides, who battled it out for the league title last year and the Community Shield this season, are two of the strongest sides around, and they’ve both strengthened during the summer.
The likes of Pernille Harder and Melanie Leupolz arrived at Chelsea, while City added Champions League winners Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood alongside the 2019 World Cup winning duo of Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, so there’ll likely be some real quality on show.
Group 2 could well throw up the game of the weekend as Belgium make their way to Wembley Stadium to face England.
Belgium are unbeaten in their last 13 games, winning 12 in a row before the recent 1-1 draw with the Ivory Coast, and Roberto Martínez’s side will come into the game as slight favourites.
A victory for England would see them move about Belgium in the group, but a defeat would see them fall a whopping five points behind. For the Three Lions, it’s a must-win.
Reigning world champions vs defending Nations League champions, France vs Portugal shouldn’t need much selling.
They’re two of the biggest sides in the world, and they’re also both unbeaten in Group 3. This fixture could go a long way to deciding the final standing of the group.
Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and a whole host of the game’s biggest names are likely to be in action, so you definitely don’t want to miss this one.
FC Internazionale v ACF Fiorentina – Serie A | Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
Một trong những cầu thủ nổi bật từ thời Antonio Conte sẽ bị ra rìa tại Chelsea.
Chelsea vừa có một mùa hè cực kỳ sôi động khi chào đón đến 7 tân binh cập bến Standford Bridge. Sẽ là môt mùa giải hứa hẹn với Chelsea khi những ngôi sao đã cập bến CLB. Và để cân bằng quỹ lương của Chelsea, sẽ có nhiều cầu thủ phải ra đi.
Sau một mùa giải thi đấu dưới dạng cho mượn tại Inter Milan, hiện Victor Moses đang lâm vào cảnh “ngồi chơi xơi nước” do anh đã không còn nằm trong kế hoạch của HLV Frank Lampard. Dễ hiểu, bởi chiến lược gia người Anh không cần một mẫu “wingback” trong đội hình mùa này.
Đáng chú ý, dù từng là “khai quốc công thần” của HLV Antonio Conte khi ông dẫn dắt Chelsea, giờ đây chiến lược gia người Ý lại không có ý định tiếp tục gắn bó với cậu học trò cũ. Thực tế, trước đó Moses chỉ thể hiện tốt trong giai đoạn đầu khi được cho mượn ở Inter, trước khi trở nên sa sút bắt đầu từ nửa cuối mùa giải.
Dù bị cả Chelsea lẫn Inter bỏ rơi, nhưng dự kiến Moses sẽ sớm có cho mình một bến đỗ mới. Vừa qua, Fabrizio Romano đưa tin, ngôi sao người Nigeria đang trên đường chuyển sang Spartak Moscow thông qua một bản hợp đồng cho mượn. Hiện tại, TTCN tại Nga vẫn chưa chính thức đóng cửa, và The Blues hoàn toàn có thể thực hiện được thương vụ này một cách thuận lợi.
New York: Sensasi golf Malaysia, Kelly Tan melakukan tiga birdie di empat lubang pertama untuk catatan tiga bawah par 67 sekali gus berkongsi kedudukan pendahulu bersama pemain Amerika Syarikat (AS), Brittany Lincicome pada pusingan pertama PGA Championship wanita.
Tiga birdie itu menyelamatkan Kelly yang menduduki ranking ke-189 dunia dan sedang memburu kemenangan pertama di LPGA, selepas melakukan dua bogey pada pusingan pertama yang sangat sukar di Aronimink di Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
“Saya berasakan dapat melakukan pukulan di kedudukan yang tepat dan menyempurnakannya dengan baik sekali,” katanya.
Pencapaian terbaik Kelly pada LPGA adalah berkongsi penamat keempat pada Marathon Classic 2014 dan selepas itu gagal meraih kedudukan 10 terbaik sehinggalah Ogos lalu apabila dia berkongsi penamat kesembilan di Marathon.
“Saya sentiasa memberitahu diri sendiri bahawa setiap hari saya mempunyai sasaran dan cuba untuk memenuhinya selain membina keyakinan.
“Aksi cemerlang hari ini memberikan saya lebih keyakinan untuk mengharungi pusingan seterusnya,” katanya.
Lincicome pula melakukan empat birdie dan satu bogey dalam usahanya untuk melakar kemenangan ketiga selepas merangkul kejuaraan di ANA Inspiration pada 2009 dan 2015.
“Sangat gembira. Hari ini saya seperti meletakkan kepercayaan kepada diri sendiri. Lapangan ini agak sukar.
“Keadaan cuaca juga berangin dan sentiasa berasa sejuk sepanjang masa,” katanya.
MANCHESTER – Masa depan Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sebagai pelatih Manchester United berada di ujung tanduk. Menurut laporan Daily Mail, manajemen Man United sudah menghubungi Mauricio Pochettino untuk menggantikan posisi pelatih asal Norwegia tersebut.
Jika Pochettino yang berpaspor Argentina ditunjuk sebagai pelatih Man United, semakin lama The Red Devils –julukan Man United– tidak ditangani pelatih lokal Inggris. Terakhir kali Man United ditangani pelatih Inggris pada 1986.
(Solskjaer segera dipecat Man United)
Saat itu dari 1981 hingga 1986, tampuk kepelatihan Man United dipegang Ron Atkinson. Selama lima tahun mengabdi di Old Trafford, Ron Atkinson menghadirkan tiga trofi bagi publik Old Trafford. Sebut saja gelar Piala FA 1982-1983, 1984-1985 dan Community Shield 1983.
Lantas kenapa Ron Atkinson kala itu dipecat? Pria yang kini berusia 81 tahun itu gagal mengangkat prestasi Setan Merah di awal musim Liga Inggris 1985-1986. Alhasil, Ron Atkinson dipecat dan posisinya digantikan Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex Ferguson kemudian meraih kejayaan bersama Man United. Selama hampir 27 tahun (1986-2013) mengabdi bersama Man United, Sir Alex Ferguson menghasilkan 37 trofi bagi publik Stadion Old Trafford.
Dari 37 trofi yang dimenangkan, 13 gelar di antaranya merupakan trofi Liga Inggris. Setelah Sir Alex Ferguson angkat kaki pada 2013, sejumlah pelatih asing bergantian mengisi kursi juru taktik Setan Merah.
Sebut saja David Moyes pada 2013-2014, Ryan Giggs (2014, caretaker), Louis van Gaal (2014-2016), Jose Mourinho (2016-2018) dan kini Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Nama-nama di atas tidak benar-benar sukses bersama Man United.
(Mourinho bawa Man United juara Liga Eropa 2016-2017)
Prestasi terbaik dicatatkan Jose Mourinho. Selama 2,5 tahun mengabdi di Old Trafford, ia memenangkan tiga gelar yakni Piala Liga Inggris, Liga Eropa dan Community Shield. Jelas, untuk klub sekelas Man United, gelar tersebut tidaklah prestisius.
Lantas, haruskah Man United beralih ke pelatih lokal? Sayangnya, saat ini tidak ada pelatih lokal yang berada di level tertinggi.
Sekalinya ada pelatih bertalenta, sosok itu sedang repot menangani tim nasional. Sosok yang dimaksud adalah juru taktik Tim Nasional Inggris, Gareth Southgate.
Danny Ings scored an overhead kick in England’s 3-0 win over Wales | Pool/Getty Images
A debut goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin helped England ease to a 3-0 friendly victory over Wales on Thursday evening.
In a first half of few chances, the hosts took the lead when Jack Grealish’s pinpoint cross was nodded home by the in form Calvert-Lewin.
England then doubled their lead after the break with Conor Coady finishing well from Kieran Trippier’s cross. An audacious Danny Ings overhead kick then put the Three Lions 3-0 up.
Here are 90min’s player ratings for both sides…
Nick Pope (GK) – 7/10 – Commanded his area particularly well. Did no damage to his case for the number one spot.
Joe Gomez (CB) – 6/10 – A few clumsy moments in possession. At least he didn’t concede seven like he did on Sunday.
Conor Coady (CB) – 8/10 – Spurned a good chance to score his first England goal in the first half. Made up for that by grabbing one after the break.
Michael Keane (CB) – 7/10 – Spun by Kieffer Moore on several occasions. Looked a lot more comfortable when the big man was withdrawn.
Kieran Tripper (RWB) – 8/10 – Handed the captain’s armband and rose to the occasion. His trademark dead ball delivery led to Coady’s goal.
Kalvin Phillips (CM) – 7/10 – Early on, he seemed to get in the way of Winks and visa versa. As things progressed, the pair gelled nicely, keeping possession well and offering the Three Lions protection on the counter.
Harry Winks (CM) – 7/10 – See above.
Bukayo Saka (LWB) – 7/10 – Looked nervy early on in his international debut. Eventually settled down and put in a performance that will have Ben Chilwell sweating over his international future.
Danny Ings (RW) – 7/10 – Sometimes struggled in a unfamiliar wide right role. Then again, he also scored an overhead kick – and that’s the only thing that really matters.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ST) – 8/10 – One international cap, one goal. The David Nugent special.
Jack Grealish (LW) – 8/10 – Wondrous piece of play to create the game’s opener. England’s brightest spark going forward. Must play some part against Belgium.
Reece James – 6/10
Tyrone Mings – 7/10
Mason Mount – 6/10
Harvey Barnes – N/A
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – N/A
James Ward-Prowse – N/A
Wayne Hennessey (GK) – 6/10 – Very little he could do about the goals. Made a few good saves to keep the score down.
Connor Roberts (RB) – 5/10 – A very naughty foul on Saka just before the break earned him the yellow card. Come on mate, it’s supposed to be a friendly.
Joe Rodon (CB) – 6/10 – Dealt with everything that came his way before being substituted at half time.
Chris Mepham (CB) – 4/10 – Properly rubbish marking for the game’s opening goal. Slightly less rubbish marking for the second.
Ben Davies (LB) – 5/10 – Struggled against Grealish and rarely ventured over the halfway line.
Joseff Morrell (CM) – 6/10 – Helped Wales dominate possession for portions of the first half. Not much invention though.
Ethan Ampadu (CM) – 4/10 – Looked strangely off the pace, committing a string of clumsy fouls which eventually earned him a caution.
Jonny Williams (CM) – 6/10 – Some lovely touches and turns. Exactly what England were missing in midfield during the first half.
Tyler Roberts (RW) – 4/10 – Started on the right and move centrally after Moore’s injury. Was equally ineffectual in both roles.
Kieffer Moore (ST) – 6/10 – Caused England’s defence a few problems before being forced to withdraw with injury just before half time.
Rabbi Matondo (LW) – 4/10 – Had a very quiet evening and struggled to impose himself.
