Man Utd U21s won 3-2 against Sunderland in the Premier League 2 Round of 16 play-off and Shea Lacey stole the show.

16:00, 26 Apr 2026

After watching Shea Lacey more than a dozen times at Leigh Sports Village, it has never been clearer that the youngster is ready to contribute on the pitch for Manchester United’s first-team.

There weren’t many fans in attendance to watch the Under-21s against Sunderland on Sunday afternoon, but Lacey made those who did make the trip gasp twice in the first half with different pieces of skill.

Lacey cheekily nutmegged a Sunderland player and later executed a deft touch around the box to fashion a yard of space to have a shot. The 19-year-old was toying with Sunderland because they weren’t at his level.

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Lacey is physically ready to compete in senior football, which was the area that he needed to work on. His shoulders are broader, and he walks around the pitch with the aura of someone who should not be playing at academy level.

The youngster now trains with the senior group on a day-to-day basis, meaning he is viewed as a first-team player, but the lack of senior fixtures this season has seen him drop down to the U21s for minutes

When Darren Fletcher was in charge in January, Lacey came close to scoring a winner against Burnley at Turf Moor, striking the crossbar from the edge of the box. “Where has he been?” Gary Neville quipped on commentary.

Lacey was excellent from the bench against Brighton in the FA Cup, but received a second yellow card after throwing the ball away in frustration. Since then, he has been included in three senior squads, though that number would have been higher if he hadn’t picked up a minor injury in March.

Despite getting a taste of Premier League football and receiving a promotion to the first-team, there are no airs and graces with Lacey, who still tracks back and defends diligently in youth fixtures.

The Liverpool-born lad was up and down the wing against Sunderland, but it’s the final third where he truly comes alive. Lacey has magical feet and looks capable of finding the net every time he has the ball around the box.

Chido Obi opened the scoring against the Mackems and Jack Fletcher extended the advantage, however, the eye was regularly drawn to Lacey, who is the kind of player worth paying the turnstile fee to watch in the flesh.

Lacey is an old-school, entertaining United winger, which is why he was applauded off the pitch by fans at Old Trafford despite being sent off against Brighton: supporters appreciated the initiative he showed during the cameo.

Importantly, Lacey can entertain and also provide an end product, though. For example, he was involved in United’s second goal against Sunderland, forcing a save from the goalkeeper, which fell to Fletcher in the box.

And his reaction when he sent a good chance over the bar at the start of the second half shows he has high standards. Lacey slumped to his knees and cursed himself for not finessing the shot into the top corner.

However, Lacey is not the kind of player to become demoralised by missing chances. “If something didn’t come off on the pitch, he would just try it again,” his former coach told the Manchester Evening News in January.

That quote sprang to mind when Lacey made it 3-1 against Sunderland in the 57th minute. The forward had tried unsuccessfully to score by cutting inside twice, but he kept going and scored on his third attempt.

Although Lacey’s goal essentially wrapped up the victory for the U21s in the Premier League Round of 16 play-off, he hardly celebrated. He looked unbothered, just like he’d found the net in a kickabout with his mates.

The adrenaline would have rushed through Lacey’s veins when he played in front of a sold-out Old Trafford, and he will be desperate to get more of that feeling next season. The question is whether Lacey can force his way into the first-team XI, which is his target after contributing from the bench.

Alejandro Garnacho managed to do so, and Kobbie Mainoo made the jump up shortly after him. Before that pair, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford won spots in the first-team. That shows the required level.

Lacey is the most exciting talent to progress through the academy since that quartet. It will be fascinating to see whether he can stake a claim and contribute regularly to the first-team in 2026/2027.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Coco Gauff overcame a dramatic on-court illness, vomiting during her Madrid Open match, to secure a remarkable victory, as a stomach virus appears to be circulating among players.

The American third seed, who was a set and a break down against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, had to rush off court to be sick during the second set. This incident follows Iga Swiatek‘s withdrawal from the tournament, with the Pole revealing a stomach virus was affecting players in the locker room. Swiatek retired during the third set of her third-round match against Ann Li.

Despite calling a medical timeout, Gauff displayed incredible resilience, turning the match around to win 4-6 7-5 6-1.

Reflecting on her challenging experience, Gauff told Sky Sports: “I don’t know how I got it done. Just dealing with a lot of trying to keep my food down. But once I threw up – and I was able to throw up after the first set – I felt a bit better.”

“It was just a tough match. I think I got the Madrid stomach virus that’s going around. I’m usually someone who doesn’t get sick. My luck today just wasn’t good.”

Gauff will hope to recover in time for her fourth-round clash against 13th seed Linda Noskova.

The Czech benefited from a walkover on Sunday, with 20th seed Liudmila Samsonova apparently another victim of the virus and not able to take to the court.

Clay specialist Marta Kostyuk dispatched fifth seed Jessica Pegula in an emphatic 6-1, 6-4 victory in just an hour and 13 minutes.

Jannik Sinner dropped a set in his opening match to Benjamin Bonzi but was much more comfortable in beating qualifier Elmer Moller 6-2 6-3 to move into the fourth round.

The Italian is doing his best to avoid catching any germs, saying: “I heard (there were) many withdrawals.

“I don’t spend a lot of time here. I come match days a little bit earlier, but practice days very late. I practise and then I get away. But this is how I do every tournament.

“I don’t know if it’s something what’s just around here, or in general, but this can happen. When one gets sick, you’re always quite close to each other in the dining rooms and in the gym.”

The victory was Sinner’s 19th in a row as he chases a record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title.

Sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti saw off Tallon Griekspoor 6-4 7-5, while in-form Frenchman Arthur Fils is also through to the fourth round.

The record books of the Indian Premier League were rewritten by a familiar face once again on Friday as Virat Kohli crossed the historic milestone of 300 IPL sixes during the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. By hitting his 303rd maximum during a match-winning 81 against the Titans, Kohli solidified his place in an elite list of power hitters that consists only of Chris Gayle (357) and Rohit Sharma (310). While the numbers are staggering, former India batter Mohammad Kaif highlighted the story behind this milestone: it is not one of raw, innate power, but of an extraordinary evolution.

Unlike Chris Gayle, whose game was built on the foundation of clearing the ropes, or Rohit Sharma, who possesses a natural, effortless loft, Virat Kohli was originally identified as a player who played more through the ground. In the early years of the IPL, Kohli’s batting style relied on finding gaps, running hard between the wickets, and punishing the turf with exquisite cover drives.

However, as the T20 format evolved into a game of high-velocity boundary-hitting, Kohli refused to be left behind. His journey to 303 sixes is a testament to his adaptability; he did not necessarily change his technique, but added subtle variations to remain relevant in the shortest format. Even at the age of 37, he continues to evolve.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mohammad Kaif summed it up perfectly: “Virat Kohli taking his IPL sixes tally to 303 is an incredible achievement… Kohli isn’t a natural six-hitter, but he worked on his game… His greatness is his adaptability and showing courage to come out of his comfort zone.”

Virat Kohli taking his IPL 6s tally to 303 is an incredible achievement. Imagine Gayle has 360 and Rohit 310. Kohli isn’t a natural six-hitter but he worked on his game to meet the demand of the modern game. His greatness is his adaptability and showing courage to come out of his…

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 24, 2026

After the game, even Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya heaped rich praise on Kohli, saying the former India captain’s relentless drive and hunger to improve continue to set him apart. Kohli won the Man of the Match award for his match-defining 44-ball 81 in RCB’s five-wicket win against GT.

Dahiya revealed that Kohli was disappointed despite his strong innings, reflecting the batter’s high standards.

“After the game, he was saying he could have converted it into a hundred. That tells you about his mindset,” Dahiya said at the post-match press conference.

Highlighting what makes Kohli special, Dahiya pointed to his energy, awareness, and ability to control the game.

“When you are commanding the situation, you make bowlers bowl where you want. He made the wicket look easy, but it wasn’t,” Dahiya noted, adding that the knock came against “world-class bowlers”.

With ANI Inputs

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IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

The Minnesota Vikings exited the 2026 NFL Draft with zero rookie wide receivers, despite doing extensive homework at the position in the last two months. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski snagged some undrafted free-agent wideouts, but those usually cannot be trusted as immediate contributors. Therefore, Minnesota needs a WR3 from free agency if last year’s rookie, Tai Felton, is not ready for the post following Jalen Nailor’s departure to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Minnesota has internal upside, but the free-agent market still offers familiar names.

Thankfully, the free-agent market has plenty of options.

Seven Veteran WRs Who Could Still Fit Minnesota’s Offense

Ranked in ascending order, these are the top WR3 options for the Vikings (No. 1 = best).

7. Stefon Diggs

Diggs is navigating a bizarre choking incident, where he was alleged to have assaulted his personal chef. Accordingly, he’s a free agent. If the legal woes dissipate, some team will sign him in the next four months.

In New England last year, Diggs was by far the New England Patriots’ most productive receiver. He still has gas left in the tank. It’s all a matter of whether the Vikings want the legal circus that could accompany his presence.

Reminder: Diggs spent his first six seasons in Minnesota. In theory, he could book-end his career in the spot where it started.

6. Keenan Allen

Most might have Allen higher on a list like this, but the Vikings’ offense lacks speed after losing Jalen Nailor, Ty Chandler, and Rondale Moore (RIP). Allen has zero speed and never had much in the first place.

However, if Kevin O’Connell wants a straight possession receiver, Allen can be the guy. He’d likely tally around 600 receiving yards in 2026, give or take.

5. De’Andre Hopkins

Hopkins outranked Allen in this article for two reasons: a) He’s already stated this offseason that he wants to play for the Vikings b) He has history with Kyler Murray, who is one of his closest friends.

The five-time Pro Bowler could especially cook in the redzone. Like Allen, though, Hopkins lacks speed.

4. Tyreek Hill

Hill, on the other hand, does not lack speed, or at least he didn’t before his gruesome 2025 injury. It’s unclear if Hill will be ready to go by September, but general managers will find that out soon. If he’s ready, the Vikings should pounce, if only to have the Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tyreek Hill monster on paper.

Remember: Hill’s offensive coordinator for the last four seasons — Frank Smith — now works for the Vikings as an assistant head coach.

NFL writer Evan Massey noted on Hill + the Vikings earlier this offseason, “Why not take a look at Tyreek Hill? He is coming off of a brutal knee injury, but if he can get back to full health the addition of Hill would make the Vikings nearly unstoppable on offense. A healthy Tyreek Hill would make the Minnesota offense unfair. It’s hard to even imagine what a passing game that features a healthy Hill, Jefferson, and Addison could look like. No opposing defense would be able to stop them.”

“Granted, there is no guarantee that Hill will be able to revert back to those bigger numbers following the knee injury. Despite the potential concerns, taking a flier on Hill if the price is right would be a wise move for Minnesota.”

Hill also grew up as a Vikings fan.

3. Jauan Jennings

Jennings probably still thinks he’s worth a huge contract, and Minnesota doesn’t have a ton of cash lying around. That prohibits this fit just a bit.

Still, if Jennings’s asking price comes down to earth, he’s one of the best possible free agents for the Vikings to consider. Everything he does — O’Connell covets from a wide receiver. Jennings is one of the best blocking WRs in the league, in addition to his impressive pass-catching acumen.

2. Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk isn’t a free agent — yet. The San Francisco 49ers oddly insist on trading him, though everyone knows he’ll never play another snap in The Bay.

Perhaps Brzezinski can dangle a late-round pick in front of John Lynch and call it good. Aiyuk turned 28 last month, meaning he has three prime years left, assuming he gets back on track. By far, Aiyuk has the highest upside on this list if the goal is to find a wideout who can tabulate 1,000 yards or more.

1. Deebo Samuel

These days, Samuel totals around 700-800 receiving yards per season, and that’s exactly what the Vikings need. His speed isn’t the same as five years ago, but he also isn’t as slow as Allen or Hopkins.

He might be a little expensive — a $15 million estimated market value — but if that number comes down to $10 million or $12 million, the Vikings should pounce. Samuel turned 30 in January. He’s not ancient.

Chiefs linked with Super Bowl-winning WR post-draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs, at least right now, appear to be in a good spot, roster-wise, for 2026.

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Granted, player acquisition is a 365-day-a-year job, and the trade deadline still has a handful of months to go, so the Chiefs can still add pieces to the roster.

But who?

Right now, it is hard to guess, as the franchise addressed many needs in free agency and the NFL Draft, but CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo thinks one move might be worth a gamble for Kansas City.

And that’s bringing back Tyreek Hill.

“It’s been a quiet offseason for Hill, who is still working his way back from last year’s horrific, season-ending knee injury,” DeArdo writes. “At age 32 and coming off a major injury, Hill’s best chance at playing this season might be back in Kansas City in a complementary role.

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“The Chiefs aren’t lacking at receiver, but can you really ever have too many wideouts in today’s NFL? The answer is no, which is one reason why a Hill-Chiefs reunion is likely. Hill’s rapport with Patrick Mahomes doesn’t hurt, either.”

More: Browns’ Todd Monken has incredible response to QB competition

Does a Hill move make sense?

To an extent, yes.

The Chiefs and Hill have history, and a good one at that. But Tyreek would come to Kansas City and likely be nothing more than a complementary piece for Andy Reid.

With Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Royals, there is a spot for him on the depth chart.

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But coming back from such a nasty injury, what Hill are we going to get? Plus, what sort of money will he command? The Chiefs aren’t likely to offer him a $15 million APY deal, are they?

So, a reunion makes some sense at face value, but I just think the juice might not be worth the squeeze.

More NFL news:

Lisandro Martinez was shown a red card for Manchester United vs Leeds after being adjudged to have pulled Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.

The discussion around Lisandro Martinez‘s red card during Manchester United’s Premier League loss against Leeds United in April continued after an incident during Chelsea vs Leeds United in the FA Cup on Sunda.. The defender was shown a straight red after being adjudged to have pulled Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.

United were trailing 2-0 at the time and went on to lose 2-1. The incident was not spotted by referee Paul Tierney, but was picked up by VAR.

United were later unsuccessful with an appeal against the decision, meaning that Martinez is serving the full three-match suspension. The debate over the decision was raised again during Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final between Leeds and Chelsea.

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With Chelsea 1-0 up thanks to Enzo Fernandez’s header, the game was temporarily stopped with VAR having a second check of a potential hair pull incident, ironically involving Calvert-Lewin.

Speaking on TNT Sport, commentator Darren Fletcher said: “The game is being delayed at the moment, because they’re just having a look at a potential pull of Marc Cucurella’s hair by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

“It’s just been fed into Jarred Gillett, the referee, that the video assistant wants to look at it.”

Upon seeing a replay, co-commentator Ally McCoist said: “Not a lot in that for me.”

Fletcher then explained the decision not to award a red was reached, but touched on the Martinez incident: “So, Paul Howard has had a look, and he’s kind of said it’s ok and he’s gone through the explanation that it was the flat of the hand,” he said.

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“It’s very much en vogue at the minute this pulling hair isn’t it? We’re all talking about it at the minute after the Martinez thing.”

McCoist made his feelings on the Martinez decision clear: “Lets cover it and say Martinez was never a sending off, never a sending off,” he said.

“And that’s (the Calvert-Lewin decision) not even worth talking about, I don’t think.”

It’s not the view shared by former United full-back Gary Neville. Commentating on the Martinez decision at the time, he said: “You are not getting away with a hair-pull.”

Neville added: “Martinez is looking perplexed and confused. But a hair-pull results in a red card these days. He knew what he was doing.”

The suspension saw Martinez miss United’s 1-0 win over Chelsea last weekend. The defender will also miss Monday night’s clash against Brentford and the visit of Liverpool to Old Trafford.

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After every NFL draft, several losers from each team emerge from the fallout of the event — even though they personally did nothing wrong. The 2026 campaign is no different, so let’s examine the “losers” for the Minnesota Vikings from the last few days.

Minnesota’s draft class created fresh pressure at running back, offensive line, and along the defensive interior.

Ranked from smallest to largest — No. 1 is the biggest loser — here’s the list.

Ten Vikings Facing a Tougher Path after Draft Weekend

Not everyone had a swell event per long-term roster trajectory.

10. Michael Jurgens (C)

In Round 7 — too late, according to some fans’ estimation — the Vikings took a plunge with a center of the future, a man named Gavin Gerhardt from Cincinnati.

Gerhardt was not a coveted draft prospect, but since the draft, some credible reporting has indicated that he was the Vikings’ rookie center plan all along. They basically knew they could wait until Round 7 to get their man.

Blake Brandel will probably start in September, but Minnesota appears comfortable pivoting to Gerhardt — not Jurgens — in the somewhat near future.

9. Walter Rouse (OT)

Minnesota employs two stud offensive tackles: Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Since the start of the offseason, the club has signed free-agent OT Ryan Van Demark from the Buffalo Bills, and it drafted Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan in Round 4. Players from Round 4 should be reasonably expected to play before too long.

In short, it’s Rouse in the backseat, with Van Demark and Tiernan elevated. In fact, Rouse may have to battle for a regular season roster spot in the preseason.

8. Fans Who Wanted a Rookie WR

The Vikings did homework on oodles of wide receivers before the draft. That trail convinced onlookers that they’d leave the event with one — and then that theory was just wrong.

For now, Tai Felton is on tap for WR3 duty in 2026. Last summer, Minnesota traded for a washed Adam Thielen — using a 4th-Round pick to get him — a maneuver to keep Felton sidelined. The guy must be sitting on a breakout season, or so goes the working theory after the Vikings didn’t take any wideouts.

7. Johnny Hekker (P)

Minnesota signed Hekker last month, its punting solution after Ryan Wright skeddaled in free agency to the New Orleans Saints. For Hekker, life was good.

But on Saturday evening, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski captured Georgia’s Brett Thorson from undrafted free agency. He’s one of the best punters in college football, and some wild rumors suggested he could be drafted in Round 3 or so on Friday.

While that didn’t happen, Hekker, who thought he’d be the Vikings’ punter in 2026, must now look over his shoulder at training camp.

6. NFC North RBs

Fans thought the Vikings might leave the draft with one new defensive tackle. Instead, Brzezinski (or Brian Flores?) pressed the button on two: Caleb Banks (Florida) and Domonique Orange (Iowa State).

After mostly failed experiments with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in 2025, Minnesota opted for youth at DT, and if one or both men pan out, running backs from the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears won’t enjoy life when facing the purple team for the next 4+ years.

5. WR Coach Keenan McCardell

Entering the draft, McCardell had Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tai Felton, and Myles Price as his four main wideouts for 2026.

Exiting the draft, McCardell had Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tai Felton, and Myles Price as his four main wideouts for 2026.

McCardell pitched the shutout from Thursday through Saturday, and not in a fun way.

4. Zavier Scott (RB)

Demond Claiborne became a Viking on Saturday, and he won’t be cut in August. Minnesota usually keeps three tailbacks on the September roster, so folks are looking at Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Claiborne for Week 1.

That puts Scott on the roster bubble, for better or worse.

3. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (DT)

There was a world — perhaps in a far-off galaxy — where the Vikings promoted Ingram-Dawkins to a starter’s job while drafting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, for example, in Round 1. That didn’t happen, and with the snap of two fingers, Banks ended any dream of Ingram-Dawkins slipping through to the starting lineup.

He is now what his draft stock in 2025 originally suggested: a backup interior defensive lineman.

2. Ivan Pace Jr. (ILB)

Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson will start as off-ball linebackers in 2026. Then, the Vikings used a 2nd-Round pick on Jake Golday. He’s the new youth movement at ILB.

Pace Jr. is scheduled to be a Viking through the 2026 campaign. If Golday is worth the draft pick, that probably puts Pace Jr. on the chopping block next offseason.

1. Levi Drake Rodriguez (NT)

Nobody anywhere in the Vikings’ fan or analyst orbit expected the team to draft two defensive tackles before the end of Round 3. But when Orange’s name was read on Friday night, well, that ended Rodriguez’s realistic hopes of being the long-term nose tackle for Kevin O’Connell’s team.

If Orange matures and develops as his scouting report suggests, Drake Rodriguez will be the NT2 in Minnesota for the rest of his rookie contract, not the NT1, which might’ve been the case without the Orange selection.

Big Citrus squeezed Rodriguez.

A new American has joined the long line of Borussia Dortmund debuts as 16-year-old winger Mathis Albert made his senior debut for the German club on Sunday. Joining the likes of Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and others who have played for the club, Albert has now become the youngest American to ever play in the Bundesliga, entering Dortmund’s 4-0 victory over Freiburg in the 88th minute.

Albert broke Reyna’s record as the youngest American to ever play in the Bundesliga after only signing his first professional contract with the club in July of 2025. His appearacnce on Saturday saw his debut come at 16 years and 340 days old. Both Pulisic and Reyna were 17 when they debuted.

A native of Greenville, S.C., Albert was able to obtain French and German citizenship through his parents, allowing him to join the youth reserves of Dortmund in 2024 and leave America before his 18th birthday. A strong dribbler, Albert is at home on the left wing, but being such a young player, it’s hard to tell if he will stick there or end up moving central or further back on the pitch.

Background

Before joining Dortmund, Albert was a member of the LA Galaxy youth academy while also making appearances for the United States youth teams, first being capped at the U-15 level in 2023 before debuting for the U-19 team in March of 2026 in a victory over Wales. He also represented the U.S. U-17 team at the Under-17 World Cup in 2025. Already moving up age levels with the youth national teams alongside making his debut at such a young age, it’s clear that the Black and Yellow have a serious talent on their hands. That dual citizenship is something to watch here, though, since while Albert has youth national team caps, he could be eligible to represent Germany or France if one of those nations comes knocking.

It’s something that the USMNT are currently experiencing with Noahkai Banks. Called into the USMNT squad during the September international window of 2025, Banks wasn’t capped, but he continued to excel for Augsburg, earning the attention of the German national team. Only 19, he now has a decision on his hands of which nation he’d like to commit to. Represent the United States, and there’s a chance that he could be in the squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but committing to Germany, there’s a higher chance that he could win the World Cup in the future. It’s a decision that many have to make, but it’s also a reason why it can’t be assumed that just because someone is born in America, they’ll wear the colors.

Esmir Bajraktarevic hails from Wisconsin, and while he also has USMNT youth caps, he’ll be representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup.

Albert has some time, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Other Americans to represent Dortmund

While Pulisic and Reyna were the most notable Americans to play for Borussia Dortmund, Albert is actually now the seventh American to make an appearance for the club. He joins Lennard Maloney, who is now with Mainz, Joe Gyau, Jovan Kirovski, and Cole Campbell, who is on loan at Hoffenheim, as American representatives for the club.

Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin intend to travel north with Blind Raise to Brisbane following his standout effort at Flemington.

Blind Raise won the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) this Saturday, the identical race stablemate Epimeles took in 2024.

Busuttin and Young chose to rest Epimeles post-win for a spring assault, yet they plan differently for Blind Raise this time.

Ridden by Beau Mertens as $2.15 favourite, Blind Raise won by two lengths from Profligate ($7.50) and Seraphox ($4.40) who was a half-head further back in third.

According to Busuttin, upcoming plans feature the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) next month at Eagle Farm and the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in June for the horse.

“Plenty of things can go wrong between now and when they turn three and that’s why we want to go to Brisbane,” Busuttin said.

“When Epimeles won this race, we said we’d spell and go for the spring, but things haven’t stopped going wrong with him ever since.

“For this bloke, there’s two one-million-dollar races up in Queensland and I might even get a trip up there.”

With two wins from two attempts, Blind Raise first succeeded at Sandown earlier in April.

Busuttin noted satisfaction in Blind Raise’s elevation from maiden win to Stakes glory on Saturday.

“He did it pretty impressively and the market said he would and you always want to see them do it, especially at their second start,” Busuttin said.

“He’s taken that next step, and he’s done it pretty easily, although he floated out in front by himself a bit, but it’s good to get the job done.”

Bred in New Zealand for $70,000, Blind Raise is sired by Victoria Derby winner Ace High from a progeny of Group 1 star Seachange.

“This horse has got some of his sire’s ability and his granddam’s ability, Seachange,” Busuttin said.

“She was a proper horse, and the blood always seems to come through out of those good mares, probably not the first line but in their second.”

Discover competitive racing betting markets for Blind Raise’s Brisbane campaign among the leading sports betting platforms.

Trevor Bauer, the former Cy Young Award winner and MLB All-Star, tossed a no-hitter for the independent Long Island Ducks in a 13-0 win over the Lancaster Stormers on Sunday afternoon at Penn Medicine Park in Pennsylvania.

It was just Bauer’s second start in the United States since 2021, and he faced just one batter over the minimum in a scheduled seven-inning game of a doubleheader against the Stormers.

Bauer threw 84 pitches, striking out seven hitters and walking just one to lose out on the perfect game.

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Trevor Bauer smiles after pitching no-hitter for Long Island Ducks on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)

But Bauer unleashed a roar on the mound after a called strike three to notch the third no-hitter in Ducks history.

Combined with his first outing for the Ducks on April 21, Bauer has a strong 1.64 ERA to start the season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which is a “Professional Partner League” of MLB.

Fans might have been supporting the opposing Stormers, but they understood what was at stake as Bauer was mowing down hitters throughout his start. They were even heard chanting his name at one point, hoping he could keep his hitless streak alive.

After the game, Bauer returned the favor for those at the Pennsylvania ballpark, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans after entering his name into the Ducks’ record books.

TREVOR BAUER SIGNS WITH PRO BASEBALL TEAM IN UNITED STATES AMID MLB RETURN HOPES

“I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season,” said Bauer when he signed with the Ducks earlier this month. “The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be part of that tradition.”

Ex-MLB stars like Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne have played for the Ducks in the past. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, with the latter also being a part-owner.

Bauer’s first start for the Ducks impressed an AL team scout in attendance, saying he was pretty impressed by Bauer’s arsenal on the bump.

“He showed flashes of the guy he used to be and a guy who can help a club,” the scout told the New York Post. “He went out and handled himself well. He showed flashes of the breaking ball he had in the past. Certainly the velocity is not what it once was, but it’s still solid, mostly 92-94. He didn’t throw the ball particularly well on the inside part of the plate with his fastball, but I think it was a really good first outing. You’d expected him to get sharper and probably tick up in velocity.

Trevor Bauer and catcher high-five after finish inning for Long Island Ducks in no-hit bid on Sunday April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)

“You’re talking about a guy who was at the top of the game. Is he back there? No, but he looked like a guy who could go out and compete.”

Bauer pitched in Japan in both 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico came in 2024. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico, those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, though, his ERA shot up to 4.41, and he struck out just 8.2 batters per nine innings.

This June will mark five years since Bauer, as the reigning Cy Young Award winner, last appeared in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he tossed six innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters, recording the win.

Two days later, Bauer was hit with sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to a 324-game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons). It was eventually reduced to 184 games for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

Bauer has maintained his innocence, settling with one accuser while another is facing 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud for faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.

Trevor Bauer pitches for Long Island Ducks during no-hitter on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)

Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021, settled their case in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said that Bauer would be her “next victim,” among other damning messages. Hill has since said that MLB has more evidence of Bauer’s alleged misconduct.

Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating settlement terms. Hill breached their settlement agreement with each other by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he “may have no other choice” but to sue Major League Baseball “if I continue being kept out” of the league. Bauer has said he’d “play for the league minimum,” but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.

“Anyone that’s willing to sit down with me and listen: I’d like to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half,” Bauer told Fox News Digital in January 2024. “I’d like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then be better in the future. I think that’s something us as humans have to do and should be doing constantly.”

Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer throws against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y., on April 21, 2026. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images)

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Bauer has since called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former players were taken off the league’s permanently ineligible list.

“So, since Pete is welcome back now, does that go for everyone who has been blackballed?” Bauer asked on X. “Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to qualify for that?”

Bauer was performing well for the Dodgers at the time of the allegations, pitching to a 2.59 ERA.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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