Saturday, 28 September 2024
BRENTFORD MAKE HISTORY
#BrentfordFC are the first team in Premier League history to score in the first minute in three consecutive matches 👏
CHELSEA'S COLE PALMER SCORES RECORD FOUR FIRST-HALF GOALS
Cole Palmer became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match as the forward repeatedly found the back of the net in Chelsea's extraordinary game against Brighton at on Saturday.
The 22-year-old scored four times in a devastating 20-minute spell against the south coast club as Chelsea bounced back from Georginio Rutter's opener to lead 4-2 at half time.
Palmer scored in the 21st, 28th, 31st and 41st minutes.
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| Cole Palmer has scored six goals in Chelsea's first six Premier League matches this season. Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images |
He previously scored four goals in a single match for Chelsea last season in a 6-0 win over Everton in April.
Palmer has become the fourth player -- alongside Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink -- to score three Premier League hat tricks for Chelsea.
The game against Brighton was only Palmer's 39th league appearance for Chelsea after joining from Manchester City in 2023.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report
- ESPN
LALIGA CALL FOR ARRESTS AFTER VINICIUS JUNIOR HATE CAMPAIGN
LaLiga has called for the arrest of fans behind a hate campaign aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior ahead of Sunday's derby against Atlético Madrid.
Some fans had claimed on social media that they would attend the game at the Metropolitano wearing masks, enabling them to racially abuse the Brazil international without being identified
Vinícius has frequently been targeted with racist abuse from opposition fans, including at the Madrid derby. Last year, four Atlético fans were charged after an effigy of Vinícius was hung from a bridge.
"LaLiga wishes to announce that it will proceed to formally report and request the immediate arrest of the instigators behind a hate campaign seeking to promote racist and derogatory acts at the upcoming match between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid," the league said on Saturday.
"The aforementioned campaign constitutes the crime of incitement to hatred, as clearly defined in the Penal Code. LaLiga vigorously condemns these actions that -- directly or indirectly -- encourage, promote and incite hatred against an individual, in this case, the player Vinícius Jr., because of his race.
"These actions also involve the aggravating circumstances outlined in sections 3 and 4 of Article 510 of the Penal Code, as 'the acts are such to disturb public peace.' LaLiga will not tolerate such behaviour under any circumstances."
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| Vinícius Júnior has been the target of multiple instances of racist abuse. Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
It's not clear how many fans intended to participate in the campaign, with media coverage based on a handful of posts on social media. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was reluctant to discuss the issue on Saturday.
"Obviously we aren't thinking about that," Ancelotti said. "We don't talk about that. The justice system is taking action... We have to focus, there are other bodies that must worry about that."
In June, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing Vinícius during a LaLiga game in May 2023, in the first verdict of its kind in Spain.
- Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez
SOURCES: KNICKS TO SEND RANDLE,
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| Brad Penner-Imagn Images |
The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing a blockbuster trade involving All-Stars Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday night.
The deal would see Randle and Donte DiVincenzo wind up in Minnesota and Towns in New York. The Knicks are set to add a center in Towns to shore up their biggest weakness, and Minnesota is adding shooting and versatility in its quest to exceed last season's run to the Western Conference finals.
Minnesota also will receive a 2025 top-13-protected first-round pick from New York via the Detroit Pistons, sources said.
The Charlotte Hornets are the third team in the trade, sources added, and they are expected to receive draft compensation for helping make the deal work financially.
Talks between New York and Minnesota had taken place all summer but picked up steam in the past few days when Charlotte was brought in as the third team, sources said.
The trade was not expected to be completed for a few days.
Having just arrived back in Minnesota for the start of training camp next week, Towns was focused on building off the Timberwolves' West finals run, and the development was "completely unexpected," a source familiar with his thinking told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Towns, who grew up a little under an hour outside of New York City in central New Jersey, will immediately slot into New York's starting lineup at center, filling a massive need for the Knicks -- particularly in light of incumbent center Mitchell Robinson being ruled out for at least the first two months of the season earlier this week because of offseason ankle surgery.
Towns, 28, is a four-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection who has career averages of 22.9 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 39.8% from 3-point range. Last season in Minnesota, he averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range. The No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft helped Minnesota advance in the playoffs for the second time in the franchise's 35-year history while making the West finals for the first time in 20 years (it lost to Dallas in five games).
Towns, who is in Year 1 of a four-year, $220 million supermax extension he signed in 2022, will reunite with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, whom he played under in Minnesota (2016 to 2019).
Randle, who turns 30 in December, averaged 24.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists for New York last season in 46 games before suffering a dislocated right shoulder Jan. 27. After two months of rehab, he opted to undergo season-ending surgery in April.
Randle has spent the summer rehabilitating and was expected to be ready for the start of training camp, sources said.
Randle signed with New York in 2019 and has played the best basketball of his career, making three All-Star teams and a pair of All-NBA teams while helping the Knicks make the playoffs in three of the past four seasons -- matching an accomplishment the franchise has achieved only one other time this century.
He has $28.9 million on his contract for this coming season and a $30.9 million player option for 2025-26.
He and the Knicks had not made progress on a contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN's Shelburne, essentially signaling the Knicks' willingness to trade him.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch previously coached Randle in New Orleans, when Finch was a Pelicans assistant coach in 2018-19. He is said to have an affinity for the star forward, sources said.
DiVincenzo, 27, signed a four-year free agent deal with the Knicks last summer and went on to make a career-high 283 3-pointers. Sources told ESPN that Minnesota was high on DiVincenzo as a free agent after he played one season with the Golden State Warriors, and his shooting will be especially needed on a Wolves team that was already a bit light in that area and now is losing Towns, one of the best shooting big men in the league.
Making the deal now means the "Villanova Knicks" -- DiVincenzo, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges -- never will play a game together after New York made another massive trade earlier this summer to acquire Bridges from its crosstown rival, the Brooklyn Nets.
In that deal -- the first trade between the two New York teams in 40 years -- New York sent out four of its unprotected future first-round picks, a future protected Milwaukee Bucks pick, a future first-round swap and a second-round selection.
Because Minnesota was well into the second apron and New York was bumping up against the first one, a third team was needed to make the deal work financially. That's where Charlotte came in, sources said, as the Hornets were able to use salary cap exceptions to take on money from the Knicks to make the deal legal.
Doing the deal now will result in Charlotte getting draft capital for its exceptions -- ones it otherwise could have held until later in the season, sources said.
At ESPN BET, the Knicks entered the day at +800 to win the NBA title this season. After the trade, those odds moved to +700, behind only the defending champion Boston Celtics (+340) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (+650).
The Knicks and Timberwolves are scheduled to play a preseason game in New York on Oct. 13. They play the first of two regular-season contests against each other Dec. 19 in Minneapolis.
The Athletic first reported talks on the deal.
- Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks
SLOT COY ON SALAH, VAN DIJK, ALEXANDER-ARNOLD LIVERPOOL FUTURE
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has remained tight-lipped on the futures of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohammed Salah at a pregame news conference on Friday.
All three players have been crucial parts of Liverpool's success in recent years but reach the end of their contracts next summer. When asked for updates on the trio's futures at the club, Slot brushed off the question with a brief response.
"I'm very happy that these players are in my team at the moment," the Liverpool manager said. "There's a lot of games this season and in the upcoming weeks, let's see what happens in the future."
Slot was pleased with his team headed into their Premier League meeting at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday as the home side search for their first win of the season.
"Overall, it's been a good start, not perfect," he said. "Should have won against Forest ... Fixture list has been good to us. Although maybe 17 or 18 games, these teams maybe come up the table. Good start, not perfect.
"I don't think it [Wolves' points] represents how Wolves have played. A tough fixture list, Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea ... more difficult than we have had for example," Slot said.
"[We] need to take this into account. I have seen their games and they deserved more than they got. They will be fine this season, hopefully not tomorrow."
REAL MADRID CAN COPE WITHOUT KYLIAN MBAPPÉ IN DERBY - ANCELOTTI
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| Helios de la Rubia |
Carlo Ancelotti has said that Kylian Mbappé's injury-enforced absence from the Madrid derby will not cause a major change in how his Real Madrid team approaches Sunday's game.
Mbappé -- who has already scored five league goals this season -- is expected to be out for around three weeks with a thigh injury picked up during Madrid's 3-2 LaLiga win over Alavés on Tuesday.
Madrid go into the clash with Atlético at the Metropolitano on a 39-game unbeaten run in LaLiga, with their last defeat coming in September 2023, in the same fixture.
"Obviously without Mbappé, it changes a bit, but not a lot," Ancelotti told a news conference on Saturday. "We're used to playing without him. Last year he wasn't here. It's a shame that he's not here for this game, but I think we can deal with his absence well."
Ancelotti said that Mbappé's absence would not necessarily mean a switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 formation.
"I don't focus much on the system," he said. "A 4-3-3 can change. You can have a 4-4-2 with the same players. Adding an extra midfielder doesn't mean 4-4-2 , or an extra forward 4-3-3. We can play with three forwards in a 4-4-2, with Vinícius [Júnior] or Rodrygo on the right wing. I don't focus on that, I focus on the team playing for each other, with commitment."
Atlético head coach Diego Simeone said Real's most significant absentee would be midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired this summer.
"Our opponent has lost a really important player in midfield, Kroos, necessary in any team to give balance," Simeone said. "I think they're looking for that player who can give them calm, to make the most of all the offensive power they have.
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| Kylian Mbappé suffered a thigh injury against Alavés on Tuesday and is expected to be out for around three weeks. JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images |
"I don't think it will be very different from recent games we've played against them. We've brought in new players, but as for them, whether it's [Luka] Modric, Endrick or [Arda] Güler, Madrid's plan won't change ... Knowing [Ancelotti], I think he'll look to play [Jude] Bellingham as a number 10, or with Modric behind Rodyrgo and Vinícius."
Ancelotti confirmed that midfielder Eduardo Camavinga had recovered from injury and was available, but would not say if he'd start Sunday's match.
Last year's game at the Metropolitano saw Atlético race into a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes, and go on to win 3-1.
"Yes, 100%, we have to avoid the mistakes of last year," Ancelotti said. "We've improved defensively. We've learnt from last year."
Madrid go into the derby two points ahead of Atlético, with both teams unbeaten this season.
- Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez
WADA TO APPEAL JANNIK SINNER DOPING VERDICT, SEEKS SUSPENSION
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| Jannik Sinner defeated Jack Draper in the U.S Open final earlier this month. Julia Nikhinson/AP |
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an independent tribunal's decision in August to clear world No.1 Jannik Sinner of wrongdoing after he failed drug tests, WADA said on Saturday.
The tribunal's finding of "no fault or negligence" was not correct under the applicable rules, WADA said in a statement.
WADA said it would seek "a period of ineligibility of between one and two years" for Italy's Sinner, who won the Australian Open and the US Open this year.
The announcement was made while Sinner was on court against Roman Safiullin at the China Open in Beijing.
Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March but was not banned in a decision by an independent tribunal announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Aug. 20 because the ITIA determined he was not to blame.
Sinner's accepted explanation was that the banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray containing the steroid to treat their own cut finger.
WADA said it filed an appeal on Thursday to the Switzerland-based CAS.
"It is WADA's view that the finding of 'no fault or negligence' was not correct under the applicable rules," WADA said in a statement. "WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance."
WADA suggested the rules were not followed correctly despite a prosecutor for tennis's integrity body -- which accepted Sinner's version of events -- being a lawyer who regularly works on high-profile cases for the global watchdog, including the successful appeal against Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva.
An appeal verdict at CAS could come quickly -- even within just a few months -- if the parties agree to cooperate. That's how it worked in another high-profile doping case in tennis involving Maria Sharapova.
Still, the case likely won't be resolved before Sinner begins the defense of his Australian Open title in January.
Sharapova tested positive at the Australian Open in January 2016 for the newly banned heart medication meldonium. She was banned for two years in June that year by the International Tennis Federation.
The Russian star appealed to CAS, had an appeal hearing in New York before three judges that September, and four weeks later got the verdict that cut her ban to 15 months.
The entire process for Sharapova with CAS took just four months -- far shorter than most doping cases, which typically last for about one year. The timeline can stall with the complexities of picking a judging panel, finding a hearing date and parties exchanging documents and evidence from expert witnesses.
During the Indian Wells hard-court event in March, Sinner tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological use. It's the same drug for which San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended by MLB in 2022.
Sinner tested positive again eight days later in an out-of-competition sample.
He was provisionally suspended twice by the tennis integrity body because of those test results, but he successfully appealed twice to an independent tribunal judge and was allowed to keep competing on tour.
Sinner said his test results happened because his fitness trainer purchased an over-the-counter spray called Trofodermin in Italy that contained Clostebol and gave it to Sinner's physiotherapist to treat a cut on the physiotherapist's finger. The physiotherapist then treated Sinner without wearing gloves.
The ITIA said it accepted Sinner's explanation, after 10 interviews with the player and his entourage, and the independent panel agreed at a hearing on Aug. 15.
Sinner later announced that he had fired his two trainers.
Information from Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.
- ESPN News Services
Friday, 27 September 2024
MAN CITY BOSS PEP GUADIOLA CONFIRMS RODRI OUT FOR SEASON
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| Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss the remainder of the season. Michael Regan/Getty Images |
MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss the rest of the season after surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Friday.
Rodri suffered a knee injury during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal and traveled to Spain for tests on Monday. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Guardiola confirmed the Spain international had an operation and will be sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
"Surgery this morning, ACL. Next season he will be here. This season is over. Unfortunately we got the worst [news] but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step," Guardiola said.
City struggled to cope with Rodri's absence last season and lost the only three Premier League games he missed. Guardiola has called the 28-year-old "irreplaceable" but said he has options in midfield including Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gündogan and even defender John Stones.
"What he gives us, we don't have a similar player," Guardiola said. The City manager also confirmed Kevin De Bruyne will miss the trip to Newcastle on Saturday with a thigh injury.
"But the others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.
"Mateo Kovacic, and I have a few more. Ilkay Gündogan can play in that position, John Stones [has] too. We have alternatives."
Guardiola also left the door open to replacing Rodri in the January transfer window. Last season's backup, Kalvin Phillips, has moved to Ipswich Town on loan and the City boss said the club could look to sign another midfielder when they get an opportunity after Christmas.
"We will see," he said. "We talked today with [sporting director] Txiki [Begiristain] and we'll see how it's going. We don't have to decide tomorrow, right? We have time to see potential problems we have, and we'll see."
+ Rob Dawson, Correspondent
ARSENAL'S JACK PORTER, 16, BECOMES CLUB'S YOUNGEST-EVER STARTER
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| Jack Porter travelled with the Arsenal squad for their Champions League opener against Atalanta. Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
Jack Porter became Arsenal's youngest-ever player to start a first-team game when the 16-year-old goalkeeper made his debut in a 5-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
At 16 years, 72 days old, Porter surpassed club icon Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years, 177 days when he started against Rotherham in October 2003.
Porter was selected in place of first choice David Raya, who was ruled out with a thigh injury, Arsenal said. Raya left Etihad Stadium with a bandage around his right knee after picking up an injury in last weekend's 2-2 draw at Manchester City.
With Neto -- a summer loan signing from Bournemouth -- cup-tied and 18-year-old understudy Tommy Setford also injured, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has called on Porter, who only turned 16 in July.
Porter has trained with the first team on a few occasions previously and was named among the substitutes for last week's Champions League trip to Atalanta which ended 0-0.
He only signed scholarship terms with the Gunners in the summer and cannot agree a professional contract until next year when he turns 17.
As ESPN reported on deadline day, Arsenal attempted to sign two goalkeepers late in the window, having allowed Aaron Ramsdale to join Southampton in a permanent deal and Karl Hein to move to Real Valladolid on loan.
After securing Neto's arrival, they explored a deal for Joan García at Espanyol while also making an approach for Wolves' Dan Bentley but were unable to secure an agreement.
Arteta rotated his side for the game against Bolton with youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly among those included, while Raheem Sterling made his first start after arriving on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Nwaneri, who scored twice against Bolton, holds the record as the youngest player to represent Arsenal's first team after coming on as a substitute aged 15 years, 181 days in September 2022.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC
SPURS OVERCOME RED CARD, DELAY TO WIN EUROPA LEAGUE OPENER
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| Pape Matar Sarr's goal helped Tottenham beat Qarabag. |
LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur got their Europa League campaign off to the perfect start on Thursday as they overcame Qarabag 3-0 at home, despite being forced to play the majority of the match with 10 men after defender Radu Dragusin was shown an early red card.
Brennan Johnson's third goal in as many games put Spurs ahead before Pape Matar Sarr and Dominic Solanke made the points safe in the second half.
Tottenham's victory came after kickoff was delayed by 35 minutes due to "severe travel disruption" in the local area. The Qarabag team was caught up in the chaos caused by heavy rain that caused the MetOffice to issue a "yellow weather warning."
Having waited for more than half an hour for the game to start, fans didn't have to wait for long for the on-pitch drama to begin.
Dragusin was shown a straight red card in the seventh minute for hauling down Juninho as the last man after the Qarabag forward robbed him of possession deep inside the Spurs half.
The Romania international's red card prompted Postecoglou to swap midfielder Lucas Bergvall for Destiny Udogie as he sought to restore some balance to his team.
"The red card was not ideal, we started really sloppily but the reaction afterwards was good," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. "We wanted to press high, even with 10 men."
Whether by fortune or design, it took Spurs a matter of seconds after the substitution to open the scoring. Solanke set up Johnson to score in his third successive game, finishing confidently across Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski.
Postecoglou's team showed little willingness to follow Arsenal's lead from their draw with Manchester City on Sunday as they continued pressing high up the pitch despite being a man light. Their high defensive line left space in behind that was almost exploited by the lively Juninho, but the Qarabag forward sent a presentable chance wide of Guglielmo Vicario's goal in the 40th minute.
Sarr doubled Spurs' lead shortly after half-time, punishing Kochalski for a weak punch clear by volleying an effort into the bottom corner despite the best efforts of a man on the line to keep it out.
Spurs rode their luck six minutes later after Yves Bissouma gave away a penalty for a lunge on Elvin Cafarquliyev inside the box.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Tural Bayramov saw his spot kick clip the top of the crossbar on its way over Vicario's goal.
Solanke scored his second Spurs goal to put the result beyond doubt in the 68th minute. Similar to his maiden strike for the club against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, the Spurs No. 19 was presented with an open goal to finish into after a teammate -- Son Heung-Min this time -- saw an effort parried by the goalkeeper.
It proved to be Son's final involvement in the game as he limped off the pitch after receiving treatment from the physio.
Despite the scoreline, Qarabag continued to pose a threat. Juninho saw a header narrowly ruled out for offside either side of two fine saves from Vicario to deny goal-bound strikes from Yassine Benzia and Cafarquliyev.
Postecoglou delighted the home crowd by introducing much-hyped 17-year-old Mikey Moore for the closing stages, but he struggled to get involved in the game as Spurs played out the last few minutes without major incident.
Spurs travel to face Hungarian side Ferencváros in their next Europa League fixture on Oct. 3 after facing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Game Information
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
10:35 PM, September 26, 2024
London, England
Line: TOT -2.5
Over/Under: 3.5
Attendance: 51,757
Referees: Willy Delajod
COWBOYS HOLDS OFF NFC EAST RIVAL GIANTS IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE
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| Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images |
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Entering Thursday night's game, the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys shared last place in the NFC East at 1-2, a game behind the 2-1 Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys scored two first-half touchdowns and limited the Giants to three field goals to lead 14-9 at the half. It was a defensive battle the rest of the way, as neither team scored a touchdown in the second half.
Dallas picked up their second win of the season with a final score of 20-15, but star edge rusher Micah Parsons was carted off the field late in the game to get an X-ray.
Here are the most important things to know from Thursday night for both teams:
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott did not speak to the media prior to Thursday's game against the New York Giants. He said he would speak "post win." The Cowboys got the win, but it wasn't an artistic beauty. However, after the Cowboys were embarrassed in back-to-back home losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, the only thing that mattered was getting a win on a short week.
Being 2-2 is so much better than 1-3. Had the Cowboys lost, it would have marked the first time they lost three September games since 2001, and they would have been in last place in the NFC East.
Prescott was sharp, especially in the first half with touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb (55 yards) and Rico Dowdle (15 yards). The defense finally stopped the run and stiffened in the red zone, holding the Giants to five field goals.
Prescott has now won 13 straight against the Giants. His last loss came in 2016 as a rookie. He tied the second-longest win streak by a quarterback against a single opponent since quarterback stats were first tracked in 1950. Tom Brady beat the Buffalo Bills 13 straight times from 2003 to 2010, and Steve Young beat the Rams 13 straight from 1987 to 98. He will get a chance for No. 14 on Thanksgiving.
Promising trend: When Lamb has some sideline issues, the best seems to come out of him. During last year's loss at San Francisco, Lamb kept to himself on the sideline and then followed with six games with at least 11 catches and seven games with more than 100 yards. In last week's loss to New Orleans, Lamb had a spat with Prescott and did not speak to the media after the game. On Tuesday, Lamb was apologetic and said he would be better. In the first half alone, he had six catches for 94 yards (both season highs) and a touchdown.
Eye-popping stat: Brandon Aubrey has played 21 games for the Cowboys. He has three field goals of 60 yards in his career, including a 60-yarder in the third quarter against the Giants. That's one off the NFL record held by Brett Maher, who made four with the Cowboys over two different stints. Aubrey made a 60-yarder last week against the Ravens. He is 2-for-2 from 60 yards this season. The rest of the league is 0-for-2, according to ESPN Research.
Silver lining: The Cowboys will have 10 days to get ready for the presently undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. The time will help because there is still a lot that needs to be corrected, even with the win. In the past three games, opposing quarterbacks have missed on only 19 passes. Against the Saints and Ravens, that was understandable because both teams were so dominant on the run. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had too much time to throw for much of the game after previously being tormented by the Cowboys, who sacked him 24 times in eight games prior to Thursday. Oh, and they were penalized nine times in the first half alone. --Todd Archer
Next game: at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 6.)
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| Luke Hales/Getty Images |
New York Giants
The Giants kept it close against the Cowboys, but they still didn't come away with a win. After last season, when the Giants were outscored 89-17 in their two meetings with the Cowboys, this has to be viewed as progress, right?
Sure there are no moral victories in the NFL, but this was the third straight step in the right direction for the Giants (1-3) after an ugly opener.
The gap, at least to some degree, has narrowed between the division rivals. Dallas still owns the Giants. It has won 14 of the past 15 matchups, and Prescott has beaten them 13 straight times. New York still isn't quite there yet, but this proved its at least improving.
QB breakdown: Jones was efficient, completing 29 of 40 passes (73% completion) for 281 yards with an interception on a Hail Mary in the finals seconds. But the Giants were kept out of the end zone and Jones was short on most of his deep throws. It's especially notable considering this was a problem early in training camp. There was a lot of good for Jones, but it was not quite enough. Jones is clearly playing better since the opener. Having rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (12 catches for 115 yards) certainly helps.
Eye-popping stat: Nabers keeps adding to his records. He became the first player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions and three touchdowns in his first four career games when he caught a 3-yard pass early in the second quarter. He now has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in four games.
Troubling trend: Giants top cornerback Deonte Banks has been the nearest defender on four touchdown passes already this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Banks was beat again on Thursday night, this time by Lamb for a 55-yard score in the second quarter. The Giants were hoping Banks would step into the CB1 role this season. Instead, it has been a struggle so far.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Giants weren't able to get anything going in the running game against the league's worst run defense. Dallas came into the contest allowing 185.7 yards on the ground per contest. The Giants came into the game thinking they would have success, but had only 29 yards rushing in the first half -- and they finished with 26 yards on 24 carries. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 6)
- Todd Archer and Jordan Raanan
Thursday, 26 September 2024
JEREMY CLARKSON JUST REVEALED THE STIG'S FINAL IDENTITY AFTER MORE THAN JUST
Sure, you’ve heard that The Stig was actually Perry McCarthy and Ben Collins, but did you know a third driver donned the iconic suit?
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| Some say that he only knows two facts about ducks and both of them are wrong. Photo: YANN COATSALIOU/AFP (Getty Images) |
After more than two decades, Jeremy Clarkson finally hung up his driving gloves after the final episode of ‘The Grand Tour’ aired on Amazon Prime. When the show’s finale aired last week, Clarkson hosted a viewing party at his British pub, where he shared a few secrets from the show and its predecessor, ‘Top Gear,’ including the identity of tame racing driver The Stig.
The Stig was a fixture of BBC show ‘Top Gear’ while it was presented by Clarkson alongside James May and Richard Hammond, and also featured in later incarnations with hosts like Matt Leblanc and Chris Harris.
Over the years, the tame racing driver was a personality embodied by several racing drivers, with the first two each revealing themselves while the show was still on air. First, Perry McCarthy donned the black helmet in 2002 and 2003 before his cover was blown by a British tabloid and the character was killed off.
From 2003, the white Stig appeared on our screens with touring car racer Ben Collins playing the man behind the mask for seven years. However, Collins elected to burst his own bubble when he wanted to release a book about his career and time at ‘Top Gear,’ so he was soon kicked off the show.
From 2010, another tame racing driver has filled the shoes of The Stig, covering episodes hosted by Clarkson and co as well as new ‘Top Gear’ hosts Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff. Now, Clarkson has revealed the true identity of the third incarnation of The Stig.
While speaking with a crowd at his British pub, Clarkson said “The original Stig was Perry McCarthy, followed by Ben Collins, followed by Phil Keen. There isn’t a current ‘Top Gear’ so there isn’t a current Stig, but the last one was Phil Keen.”
So, there you have it, from 2010 until the show’s last episode in 2022 The Stig was actually British GT racer Phil Keen.
In case that name isn’t familiar to you, let me give you a run through Keen’s credentials. Keen is regarded as the most successful driver in British GT history, having claimed 24 wins, 16 pole positions and a British GT Championship win in 2009.
The British racer has also taken on the European Le Mans Series, driving in the LMGT3 class in which he has so far picked up two top 10 finishes so far this year.
What this revelation means for Keen’s future in the role remains to be seen. However, as the show’s future was thrown into doubt following a serious crash involving host Flintoff in 2022, he may now be known as the final Stig.
- Owen Bellwood
NAPHEESA COLLIER DROPS 42 TO TIE RECORD AS LYNX SWEEP MERCURY
MINNEAPOLIS -- Napheesa Collier scored 42 points to tie a WNBA single-game playoff record, and the Minnesota Lynx swept the Phoenix Mercury 101-88 on Wednesday night.
Collier tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the 42-point record when she made one of two free throws with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter. It was one of only two misses from the free throw line in 14 attempts for Collier, who was subbed out with 58.3 seconds left.
Collier, who scored a career-high 38 points in Game 1, became the first player in WNBA history with 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games. She also set a WNBA record for the most points (80) in a two-game playoff stretch. Collier reached 38 points in Game 2 with 5:55 left in the fourth.
Minnesota plays Sunday against Connecticut, which advanced to its sixth consecutive semifinals after an 87-81 victory over Indiana earlier Wednesday.
Kayla McBride added 15 points, and Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith each scored 12 for Minnesota. Courtney Williams had 11 points.
Brittney Griner scored 24 points for Phoenix and Diana Taurasi finished with 10 before fouling out with 2:34 left. Taurasi left to a standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd before Collier came over to the Mercury bench for a brief handshake with her fellow former UConn star.
Taurasi hasn't announced whether this is her final year in the WNBA, but the Mercury honored her at their final home regular-season game.
Collier scored 11 of Minnesota's 21 first-quarter points after making five of six shots. Collier finished the half with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting to help Minnesota take a 49-47 lead into the intermission. The rest of her teammates combined to go 10 of 26 from the field.
The officials reviewed a physical play in the third quarter involving Carleton and Phoenix guard Sophie Cunningham, who was assessed a flagrant 1 foul after the review. Williams was also assessed a technical foul. After it was all settled, McBride sank a wide open 3-pointer to give Minnesota a 58-53 lead.
Williams gave Minnesota its first double-digit lead of the second half at 72-60 with 2:17 left in the third quarter. The Lynx led by double digits the entire fourth quarter.
Minnesota improved to 5-1 against the Mercury this season.
It was Collier's third straight playoff game overall with 30 points, tying the A'ja Wilson for the longest streak in WNBA history, after scoring 31 points in a Game 3 loss to Connecticut last season.
- Associated Press
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