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Man City: Vivianne Miedema has knee surgery

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Man City: Vivianne Miedema has knee surgery

Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema has had surgery on her left knee.

The 28-year-old Netherlands international has not played since the Champions League victory against Barcelona on 9 October.

City have not revealed the extent of Miedema’s injury or said how long she could be sidelined for.

“Everyone at City would like to wish Viv a full and speedy recovery,” City said.

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Miedema has scored two goals in five games in all competitions since joining in July after her contract with Arsenal expired.

In her final two seasons at Arsenal Miedema played only eight Women’s Super League (WSL) games after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee in December 2022.

City are top of the WSL after five games, one point above Chelsea.

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Loose-lipped Amorim’s incredible Sporting press-conference shows new Man Utd boss will be non-stop entertainment in Prem

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Loose-lipped Amorim’s incredible Sporting press-conference shows new Man Utd boss will be non-stop entertainment in Prem

RUBEN AMORIM accepts he is a nightmare for the press officers who sit next to him at each media conference.

They often want him to stop talking but here is a man who does not believe that silence is golden.

Ruben Amorim was refreshingly honest in his press conference on Friday night

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Ruben Amorim was refreshingly honest in his press conference on Friday nightCredit: EPA
He revealed he wanted to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season

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He revealed he wanted to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the seasonCredit: EPA

This is why he will be enormously entertaining once he gets his feet under the table at Old Trafford.

Although Amorim has never been one to criticise referees, you still get the feeling the Portuguese will talk himself into trouble over other issues once he is properly settled in English football.

Admittedly, in his first press conference since being confirmed as United manager — after the outgoing Sporting Lisbon boss oversaw a 5-1 win over Estrela Amadora on Friday — he refused to speak about his new employers in Manchester.

He also avoided talking about facing Manchester City, Sporting’s Champions League opponents on Tuesday.

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Nevertheless, speaking 11 hours after the Red Devils announced his appointment, Amorim delivered a string of fascinating soundbites, most of which were completely unprompted.

He also apologised to Sporting’s media man, sitting to his right, for ignoring the club’s pleas during the week for him to not to talk to the media about the speculation with United.

Amorim, 39, has agreed a £6.5million-a-year deal at United but — remarkably — has claimed he turned down THREE TIMES that amount from another club who met his £8.3m buy-out clause.

He spoke to West Ham and Liverpool in the summer but they did not make a firm offer.

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While his claim of being offered nearly £20m a season surprised even the most well-briefed Sporting journalists, the feeling is that this club could have been Chelsea, who spoke to Amorim in 2023.

But £20m a year would have been a huge amount, even by their money-is-no-object standards.

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Watch as Sporting CP’s fans jeer at new Manchester United Manager Rúben Amorim

During his 30-minute press conference, Amorim seemed more serious compared to his previous media appearances during the week.

You can imagine what he might look like after a season in Manchester if things do not go to plan.

Amorim insisted that he was only ever interested in United — although he was bound to say that.

He then revealed he wanted to remain in Lisbon and move to the Premier League at the end of this season.

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United said it had to be now and you could hardly blame them.

Amorim also revealed he told Sporting at the start of the season that this would be his last year at the club.

But despite the approach of United after the sacking of Erik ten Hag, Amorim conceded it was still not a straightforward decision to leave Sporting and he agonised over taking the plunge.

He said: “United came along, paid the clause, above the clause, and the chairman defended his interests.

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“The only request I made to United was that it would be at the end of the season and they told me that wasn’t possible, that it was now or never.

“I had three days to decide on something that would completely change my life. It’s not the first time that I’ve had my clause paid by another club.

“Nor is it the second. It’s very hard for me to leave.

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“The club knew that if I rejected it, I wouldn’t have it in six months.

“And I knew that in six months I would know that I wouldn’t be at Sporting. The only club that I wanted, and that moved me, was United.

“It got to a point where I had to decide — and I did. Now I’m going home much more relaxed.

“I would earn three times more with the last club that offered to pay my clause. I gave everything I had for the club.

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“I changed my mind several times. My concern is not to harm the Sporting team. And we’ll see later. I’ll have that concern when I’m at United.”

After the midweek Champions League clash against City, Amorim will head to his former club Braga next Sunday when he will wave goodbye to Portuguese football for now.

He heads to Manchester a week tomorrow and that will be the day Sporting plan to name their next manager, which is expected to be B team boss Joao Pereira.

While there remains some anger at the timing of Amorim’s departure, many Sporting fans have taken the news well.

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And the majority gave him a good reception before and after Friday’s 5-1 Primeira Liga win.

And he has certainly left Sporting in a good place. Having already won the title twice, they are top with a 100 per cent record from ten games. They are also unbeaten in the Champions League after three games and are in eighth spot.

Amorim added: “I’m leaving here today feeling much more relieved. I was a little surprised by the fans’ reaction.

“But I’m more relieved that everything is clearer now. My smile is always there but it’s a difficult time.”

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Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd

WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.

Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.

But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.

Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.

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He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. 

The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.

And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.

Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.

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Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.

United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”

And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.

For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.

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Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi full fight video highlights

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Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi full fight video highlights

In the main event of UFC Edmonton, Moreno put on a clinic for five rounds, nearly shutting Amir Albazi out on the scorecards and leaving Canada with a unanimous decision win. It was the first win for Moreno since January 2023 after he suffered back-to-back split decision losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval.

Those setbacks left Moreno, a two-time UFC flyweight champion, in limbo, and he had to deliver against Albazi or potentially lose his spot in the contenders’ line forever. Once the bell rang, Moreno left no doubt that he’s still champion-caliber as he out-struck and outworked Albazi for 25 minutes.

At the conclusion of the bout, a bloodied Albazi could only embrace Moreno, knowing that he’d lost to the better fighter on this night. The judges scored the contest 49-46, 50-45, and 50-45 in Moreno’s favor.

See the highlights from the bout below.

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Walkouts

Albazi walks out to something that sounds awesome. He’s draped in the Iraqi flag and grinning ear to ear. He’s rocking white shorts and looks ready.

Moreno hits the arena and he’s got his mean face on. He’s stalking his way to the cage. Honestly, looks fairly scary. And the crowd LOVES him. A beloved figure in this sport. He’s in his custom shorts (which are cool as hell) and it’s almost time.

Tale of the Tape and Announcements

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Moreno is 1 year younger, 2 inches taller, and has a 2 inch reach advantage. He’s also a betting favorite at -180 with the comeback on Albazi at +150.

Bruce Buffer gets things going. The judges are Derek Cleary, Eric Colon, and Sal D’Amato. Marc Goddard is the referee.

The crowd is lively as Buffer does the intros. Albazi shadowboxes and receives loud boos. Moreno paces back and forth and the crowd cheers with enthusiasm.

The two men meet in the middle for final instructions and touch gloves. It’s go time!

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Round 1

Both men out in orthodox and the meet in the center to start, probing with jabs right away. Moreno holding the center early as Albazi flits around the outside behind a high guard. Tentative first minute as both men feel things out.

Moreno playing around with different looks on his lead hand and with his feet. Moreno with a long jab into an entry and a collision but break immediately. Albazi lands an inside low kick. Moreno hits a fadeaway hook over a right hand that falls short from Albazi.

Morenogive him the movement, the shifts. Albazi not reacting and he now takes the center. Moreno draws hands low with a body kick then sneaks a good right hand over the top. Albazi presses him back and lands a front kick to the body. Still very tense early.

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Good low kick from Albazi takes Moreno off balance and Albazi sticks a good jab. He’s starting to feint very slightly and open opportunities up. Moreno appears quicker but not by much as Albazi lands aright hand.

Leaping left hook from Moreno glances. Then a stepping left hook. He’s a little unorthodox and lands a good right hand! Albazi got off-balanced by that one but he appears to be OK and then lands a low kick. He’s gone to that well a few times with success.

Moreno loops wild punches in and then they trade uppercuts. Albazi with another front kick that falls short. Moreno with a nice punch-kick combo just before the horn.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno.

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Round 2

Albazi’s corner told him he’s waiting too much. Let’s see if that changes.

Albazi right to the center to start but Moreno backs him up with some jabs and an inside low kick.

OH! Moreno hit a switch head kick and Albazi is hurt! He’s got a good poker face but Albazi’s knees buckled! He’s circling out and shaking it off but Moreno charged in at him and Albazi had to get out of there.

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Albazi grabs a clinch but Moreno breaks and Albazi seems to have his feet under him. Moreno lands a left hook. And another. He’s starting to consistently sneak that looping left around the guard. And this round Albazi is really defensive. May still be recovering.

Moreno rips the body as Albazi jabs at him. Nice work. Then Albazi changes levels and gets the takedown but Moreno immediately pops up to his feet. That is bad news for Albazi as we approach the halfway mark.

Albazi starting to put some offense out but still low volume overall and Moreno hits him with an uppercut. Then a cross counter. Moreno starting to get saucy in there but Albazi showing some really nice head movement to slip a lot of these funky combinations.

Moreno sticks a nice jab. And a left hook off-balances Albazi again. Albazi back to the well with kicks and those are his best offense right now. He’s losing the boxing exchanges as Moreno starts really loading up his combinations now, 5-6-7 punches at a time.

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MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 20-18 Moreno overall.

Round 3

Albazi’s corner was a bit stern with him, telling him to get more active. And he comes out with that in mind but Moreno meets him in the middle and gets the better of the initial exchange.

Moreno is now never throwing just one punch. Everything is in combination and at least some of those shots are getting home. Moreno rips the body and he’s starting to swing hard now too. Confidence out the wazoo for the former champion.

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Albazi is cut under his right eye. Not sure what did it but he’s eaten a bunch. Then Albazi lands his best punch of the fight. A clean right hand that Moreno takes on the chin. But Moreno’s chin is exceptional. Albazi almost lands a huge knee as Moreno ducks but it just misses and instead Moreno tags him with a big left.

This fight is slipping away from Albazi as Moreno is just piling damage on him. And Albazi simply isn’t meeting the output. He lands a good hook but not enough. He needs more volume, or one BIG shot and neither have come yet as Moreno keeps walking him around the cage.

Albazi changes levels and Moreno dismisses it then whacks him again.

Oh! Moreno lands a punch to the eye and Albazi calls for a poke but Goddard sees it and tells him to keep fighting. Albazi clearly compromised right now and Moreno charges in on him so Albazi has to retreat and clear his eye as best he can. The crowd starts changing “Mo-Re-No” and Albazi dives on a single leg but Moreno punches himself out of it.

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This was a better round from Albazi but he still lost it handily.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 30-27 Moreno overall.

Round 4

Albazi’s corner told him the truth, he’s down three rounds. He comes out with fire and Moreno is happy to meet him in the middle and swing. And Albazi quits after a moment. He doesn’t want a brawl.

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But at space he’s getting chewed up too. Moreno lands a great left hook up top, then one to the body. He’s simply steps ahead out there and has no fear of Albazi’s offense at this point.

Moreno putting a lot of little volume out there now, just keeping his fists in Albazi’s face. Albazi is having moments of success but he’s a kite dancing in a hurricane right now — getting buffeted around every which way.

Good front kick from Albazi and a jab. Like I said, he’s having moments. But then he eats a series of jabs and a hook and it’s all for naught.

Moreno slowing down a bit now though. Not nearly the same high-energy output he was throwing out there. Albazi can’t really respond appropriately though and Moreno can still turn on spurts of offense whenever Albazi gets frisky. Just a master class in managing this fight from Moreno who isn’t getting hit too much, is landing a lot, and controlling the action in all phases.

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Albazi appears out of answers. He’s doing the same stuff and not even more now. Just running the same old things out there and he needs a miracle.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 40-36 Moreno overall.

Round 5

Credit to Albazi’s corner, they shoot him straight and tell him he needs a finish. And he does. Unfortunately, Moreno has never been finished to that’s a tall task. Especially as Moreno’s corner tells him to be disciplined this round.

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Jabs from both sides early and Albazi doesn’t have the urgency you would like to see. Actually, Moreno seems to have more. He’s trying to put a statement out there and swings at Albazi. They brawl and then a takedown gets stuffed by Moreno. And oh no, there’s a bad eye poke from Albazi.

Break in the action and replay is clear. Not intentional, just a wild brawl and fingers found the eye. Moreno shakes it off and we restart for the final 4 minutes.

Moreno is the one pushing the action despite clearly being ahead. Albazi doens’t look lost, but he’s not doing much.

Moreno goes for a takedown, Albazi stuffs it and Moreno cracks him!!! Albazi is on shakey legs! A left hook on the break clipped him and Moreno chasing him down! Albazi is damn tough though and he moves off and gets his feet back.

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Moreno with another left hook and he wants a finish here but Albazi seems to be recovered and ducks for a clinch. Albazi is busted up now though. Blood all over his face and he eats another left hook. Moreno is hunting now and that left hook is catching fire.

Now Moreno backs off. Maybe catching his breath, he’s inviting Albazi forward and credit to Albazi, he’s still in this fight. But now Moreno is back on the gas. Albazi still hanging tough.

Ooooo. Nasty standing elbow from Moreno gets Albazi moving back and then a big right hand clubs him as well. Moreno really going for a finish with one minute left. And wit 30 seconds left, Albazi points to the center for the Max holloway!

Moreno meets him and exchanges and Albazi backs up after a brawl. More exchanging! Moreno throws a rolling thunder before the bell and that was a terrific performance from the former champion.

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MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 50-45 overall.

Post Fight

Moreno is all smiles in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. The man has an infectious personality.

“I feel amazing. I feel fantastic. I feel like a new guy, a new person.”

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Clearly that break was good for Moreno. Then he shouts out his team and Canada.

Then Moreno says he thinks his in better shape for moving forward as he continues to represent Mexico. Then he says he wants to take some time, enjoy Canada, but he wants to get that title back.

What a gem.

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MotoGP Malaysian GP: Moto2 and Moto3 results

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Celestino Vietti (KTM Ajo) won the Moto2 Malaysian Grand Prix after leading every lap of a hot, tough race at Sepang.

After grabbing the lead at the first corner, Vietti’s lead fluctuated throughout a race that proved tough on both bikes and riders. The Italian, who was riding injured in Malaysia, streaked to a 1.6s advantage as early as lap two, but could not maintain such a comfortable gap.

American Racing Team’s Marcos Ramirez was briefly ahead of Vietti after the leader made a mistake at Turn 1 on lap six, before Vietti reclaimed the top spot at Turn 2.             

As Ramirez then began to fade, American  Racing Team’s Jorge Navarro (substituting for Joe Roberts) emerged as Vietti’s main challenger. He looked set for a move with a few laps remaining, but Vietti was able to put in another charge late in the race to cross the line with a lead of almost 1.5s over Navarro.

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Newly-crowned world champion Ai Ogura was running third by the time his bike suddenly lost power with a technical failure on lap 11, a development which took Jake Dixon by surprise. The British rider only narrowly avoided running into the stricken MT Helmets-MSi machine at high speed.

Dixon then suffered the ultimate embarrassment by giving away a podium in the misguided belief that the race was over a lap ahead of the chequered flag. He backed off over the start/finish line one tour from home, and by the time he had realised his mistake, his Aspar team-mate Izan Guevara had grabbed third place.

Tony Arbolino (Marc VDS Racing Team), Ramirez and KTM Ajo’s Deniz Oncu completed the top seven.

Aron Canet secured second place in the world championship with a round to go. His eighth place for Fantic Racing was enough to ensure that Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets-MSi) cannot catch him at the Barcelona finale.

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Moto2 Malaysian GP – Race results

Alonso’s winning run continues in Moto3

David Alonso, CFMOTO Aspar Team

David Alonso, CFMOTO Aspar Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

In Moto3, David Alonso survived late pressure from Honda Team Asia’s Taiyo Furusato to take his 13th win in MotoGP.

The Aspar rider’s victory made him the first rider in the junior category to score six consecutive wins since Valentino Rossi managed the feat in 1997.

It was another of the world champion’s trademark comeback rides. Alonso was forced out of the top 10 as he took evasive action to avoid Tech3’s Daniel Holgado, who highsided after an attempt to try and pass Ivan Ortola went awry on lap two.

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Alonso hit the front on lap 12 of 15, but remained in a seven-bike lead group until the end, unable to pull away from Furusato.

Jose Antonio Rueda (KTM Ajo) kept a close eye on the battling Alonso and Furosata over the final lap but had to settle for third place.

Holgado’s accident on lap two had implications for the battle over second place in the championship. Holgado came into the race 11 points clear of Collin Veijer in third and 32 ahead of Ortola in fourth.

With Ortola (MT Helmets-MSi) and Veijer (Intact GP) sewing up fourth and fifth places respectively at Sepang, that picture has now changed with one round remaining. Veijer will head to the Barcelona finale level with Holgado, with Ortola an outside shot 19 points back.

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Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) and Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets-MSI) were the last two riders to cross the line in the leading group, claiming sixth and seventh.

Moto3 Malaysian GP – race results:

1

D. Alonso CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team

80 CF MOTO 15   150.8   25
2 Japan T. Furusato Honda Team Asia 72 Honda 15 0.088 150.8   20
3

J. Antonio Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

99 KTM 15 0.323 150.8   16
4

I. Ortola MT Helmets – MSI

48 KTM 15 0.585 150.8   13
5

C. Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP

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95 Husqvarna 15 0.095 150.8   11
6 Australia J. Kelso BOE Motorsports 66 KTM 15 0.134 150.7   10
7 Japan R. Yamanaka MT Helmets – MSI 6 KTM 15 0.271 150.7   9
8 Italy S. Nepa LEVELUP – MTA 82 KTM 15 5.748 150.3   8
9 Italy M. Bertelle Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team 18 Honda 15 0.102 150.3   7
10

L. Lunetta SIC58 Squadra Corse

58 Honda 15 3.460 150.0   6
11

D. Almansa Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team

22 Honda 15 0.098 150.0   5
12

J. Roulstone Red Bull GASGAS Tech3

12 GASGAS 15 5.115 149.6   4
13

F. Farioli SIC58 Squadra Corse

7 Honda 15 4.526 149.3   3
14

X. Zurutuza Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

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85 KTM 15 0.248 149.3   2
15

T. Buasri Honda Team Asia

5 Honda 15 0.208 149.3   1
16

E. O’Shea FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing

8 Honda 15 0.230 149.2    
17 Spain D. Munoz BOE Motorsports 64 KTM 15 22.474 147.6    
18

N. Dettwiler CIP

55 KTM 15 1.454 147.5    
dnf

N. Fabio LEVELUP – MTA

10 KTM 10 5 Laps 144.8 Retirement  
dnf Japan T. Suzuki Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP 24 Husqvarna 8 2 Laps 150.4 Retirement  
dnf United Kingdom S. Ogden FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing 19 Honda 8 2’04.162 134.6 Retirement  
dnf

Á. Piqueras Leopard Racing

36 Honda 5 3 Laps 144.3 Retirement  
dnf Mexico A. Fernandez Leopard Racing 31 Honda 2 3 Laps 147.8 Retirement  
dnf Spain D. Holgado Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 96 GASGAS 1 1 Lap 144.4 Accident  
dnf Italy R. Rossi CIP 54 KTM 0     Accident  
dnf

J. Esteban CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team

78 CF MOTO 0     Accident  

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Morgan Rogers v Brennan Johnson: Aston Villa and Tottenham stars test friendship

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Morgan Rogers v Brennan Johnson: Aston Villa and Tottenham stars test friendship

Morgan Rogers and Brennan Johnson’s friendship dates back to their spell together at Lincoln City…. but how well do they really know each other?

As Aston Villa’s Rogers and Tottenham’s Johnson prepare to face off on the pitch on Sunday, we put them to the test.

WATCH: Johnson really confident Spurs can win trophy this season

Read all the latest Aston Villa news and views here.

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Read all the latest Tottenham Hotspur news and views here.

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Ex-Sunderland hero desperate for Harrogate to down Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham and seal star FA Cup dream

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Ex-Sunderland hero desperate for Harrogate to down Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham and seal star FA Cup dream

PAUL THIRLWELL almost helped his boyhood club reach the FA Cup Final – now he is desperate for one of his Harrogate Town players to secure their own fairytale.

The 45-year-old grew up following Sunderland home and away alongside his parents and brother, which included a trip to Wembley for their 1992 final defeat to Liverpool.

Paul Thirlwell, left, played for Sunderland against Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup semi-final

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Paul Thirlwell, left, played for Sunderland against Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup semi-finalCredit: Alamy
The ex-Premier League midfielder is hoping for some cup joy on Sunday with Harrogate Town

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The ex-Premier League midfielder is hoping for some cup joy on Sunday with Harrogate TownCredit: X @HarrogateTown

Thirlwell then burst on the scene aged 20 as the Black Cats thumped Chelsea, who included stars like Marcel Desailly and Gianfranco Zola, 4-1 in the Premier League in 1999.

But it would be a midfielder he came up against that day that would help inflict FA Cup heartbreak on him four seasons later when player-manager Dennis Wise guided Millwall to a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford in the semi.

Thirlwell told Sun Sport: “We’ll probably never get a better chance to get to the final with it being two Championship teams at the time. Unfortunately it didn’t go our way but it was a great experience. It’s just a shame we got done as we’d have faced Man United.

“I’d played against him [Wise] before on my debut but everyone knows what he was like, tenacious and knowing all the dark arts.

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“But Millwall had some good players like him, Tim Cahill who scored on the day and went on to have an unbelievable career, Danny Dichio, but they also had that edge that made them so tough to play against.

“Of course you want to win, but when you look back and think that you played in a semi-final then you appreciate now that it is quite a big achievement.”

These days Thirlwell is assistant manager to Simon Weaver at League Two Harrogate Town, a club he finished his playing career at after spells with Sheffield United, Derby and Carlisle.

“I moved to Wetherby and was totally unaware that it was next to one of the club’s directors. “He maybe spoke to the gaffer and then mentioned me and after a chat we hit it off straight away.

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“I didn’t just want to go anywhere as a player as I’d dipped my foot into the coaching so I wanted a bit of both.

“I got involved with coaching the U21s here and then we went full-time and the opportunity arose to become assistant manager and wow, here we are still here nearly a decade later.”

Major A-list celebs Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney expand Wrexham empire with new brewery

During that time they have climbed from non-league into the EFL and enjoyed FA Trophy joy in 2020.

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But as they prepare to host Hollywood-owned Wrexham, who are pushing for League One promotion, Thirlwell says that he is desperate for long-serving star Warren Burrell, 34, to get his big FA Cup moment this year.

He said: “You’d probably have to speak to some of the younger lads now but I think definitely for people of my era that the cup still has the magic.

“I keep trying to tell our lads, who are all Arsenal, United, Spurs supporters, that we have to get Warren, who is a huge Liverpool fan, to Anfield. It’s one of those places that he’ll never play at unless it comes in the cup, so just things like that make the cup massive for me.”

Harrogate's long-serving defender Warren Burrell would love a trip to Anfield

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Harrogate’s long-serving defender Warren Burrell would love a trip to AnfieldCredit: Rex

And Thirlwell, who admitted the game being televised adds an “extra edge”, says the whole club from top to bottom want to put on a show against the big-spending Welsh side owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

“When you get a big club at home in the early rounds then you are hoping that it gets on the tele and as it happens we have,” Thirlwell said.

“And I do think it helps, not that anybody tries harder, but it does give you an extra edge when you know it’s on TV.

“But everyone at the club wants to get everything right on the day as you are showcasing the whole club.”

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He added: “We are one of, if not the, smallest club in the Football League but we have a go on and off the pitch as best we can.

“We are realistic to the point that usually bigger clubs do win these games but we are going into it with optimism and want to cause an upset. Someone will this year so why not us?”

Who are these famous footballers?

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UFC Edmonton post-fight show: Reaction to Brandon Moreno’s vintage performance against Amir Albazi

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UFC Edmonton post-fight show: Reaction to Brandon Moreno’s vintage performance against Amir Albazi

Brandon Moreno finally got back in the win column and he did it in style.

On Saturday night the UFC returned to Canada and in the main event, Moreno stopped a two-fight losing streak with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Amir Albazi in the main event of UFC Edmonton. Plus, earlier in the evening, Erin Blanchfield got back in the win column with a hard-fought decision over two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

Following Saturday’s event, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee react to the big outcomes that took place at UFC Edmonton and where Moreno and Blanchfield go from here. Plus, the crew discusses the rest of 13-fight card that very nearly broke the record for longest UFC event of all-time, and more.

Watch the UFC Edmonton post-fight show above, or an audio-only version of the show can also be streamed below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your pods.

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