Connect with us

Sports

Liam Rosenior rues ‘two key moments’ that cost Chelsea victory against Leeds

Published

5 hours ago

on

Liam Rosenior said it was a “bitter pill to swallow” after Chelsea threw away a two-goal lead to allow Leeds to leave Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw.

A dominant display from the Blues which had them coasting to a fifth straight Premier League win through goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer’s penalty suddenly gave way to chaos midway through the second half.

Lukas Nmecha halved the arrears from the penalty spot before a remarkable passage of play in which Jayden Bogle singlehandedly paralysed Chelsea’s defence allowing substitute Noah Okafor to tap into an empty net.

It had looked like being another step forward for the hosts who have been steadily growing into an exciting, watchable outfit under their new head coach.

Their abrupt collapse though pointed to a fragility in the face of setbacks that appears no closer to a resolution, as two points slipped away.

Advertisement

“Two key moments in the game that we don’t take care of,” said Rosenior. “We don’t stay calm. How the play gets there, we make a few poor decisions in the way we press and we give away a penalty.

“I can’t remember Leeds having a shot or a moment in the game. Some of our football in possession, our press and our energy was everything I wanted to see. That makes it even more of a bitter pill to swallow that we haven’t won the game.”

Leeds’ equaliser owed as much to Bogle’s tenacity in outmuscling Chelsea’s defence as it did to the Blues’ own hesitancy in dealing with the danger, though Rosenior believed his team should have had a free-kick.

“The lad handballs it,” he said. “It affects my players in that moment, they think it’s a handball, they switch off, we don’t clear the ball and they score. Then for 25 minutes it was wave after wave of attack.”

Advertisement

Under Rosenior there have been encouraging signals of a more dynamic approach to possession that has made Chelsea more threatening, and here again the ball moved with urgency, particularly through midfield where his side constantly seemed to outnumber Leeds.

In the end, it counted for little as old frailties were once more brought to the fore.

“We have to make sure we take care of moments and be professional,” said Rosenior. “It’s not about reacting to setbacks. You’re always going to have a spell in they game when you’re not on top. The ridiculous thing for us is that they’ve managed to score two goals in a five-minute period when for the other 90 minute we were by far the better team.”

Leeds boss Daniel Farke, whose team have lost just twice in their last 13 in the league going back to December’s 3-1 win over the Blues, reflected that there was much for his players to take pride in.

Advertisement

“A proper night of football,” he said. “A great night for everyone involved with Leeds United. I’m very proud of the players. Such a fightback.

“We have a never-say-die attitude. We have a self-belief that whatever happens we can always come back.

“I’m proud of this mentality.”

Source link

Advertisement
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

There’s a Rory McIlroy-Patrick Reed battle brewing. Here’s why

Published

3 minutes ago

on

11 February 2026

By

There’s a battle brewing between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed.

Another battle, that is.

These guys have history. Complex history. Feel-good history and feel-weird history. And they’re about to add to it.

Before we look forward, let’s go back.

Advertisement

There was the wild back-and-forth match at the Hazeltine Ryder Cup, the match that launched the shush and the I-can’t-hear-you and helped elevate the biennial event into the stratosphere.

Reed and Rory at the 2016 Ryder Cup.
Reed and Rory at the 2016 Ryder Cup.

Getty Images

There was the final group in the 2018 Masters, where McIlroy faltered and Reed prevailed, one man’s best chance at the career grand slam vanishing while the defining moment of his opponent’s career unfolded beside him.

These were good times. Relations seemed great. Game respected game. When Reed found himself at the center of a rules controversy, McIlroy said he’d only ever had “great interactions” with Reed.

Advertisement

“I don’t think it would be a big deal if it wasn’t Patrick Reed. A lot of people within the game, it’s almost like a hobby to sort of kick him when he’s down,” McIlroy said at the time.

Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy played together in the final pairing at the 2018 Masters.
Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy played together in the final pairing at the 2018 Masters.

Getty Images

It was years later that things went sideways.

Reed left the PGA Tour for LIV in 2022. Later that year he enlisted the services of (now-suspended) lawyer Larry Klayman and sued various media members for the better part of a billions dollars. In a separate lawsuit Klayman also sued the PGA Tour — and in the process served McIlroy with subpoena papers at his home on Christmas Eve. What’s a lawsuit amongst friends, right?!

Advertisement

As it turns out, McIlroy didn’t see things that way. When Reed came over to say hello on a Dubai driving range several weeks later, he received something less than a warm welcome. McIlroy did not say hello back, Reed walked away and tossed a 4Aces tee back in his direction.

A couple charged quotes followed. First this one, from McIlroy:

Advertisement

“I’m living in reality, I don’t know where he’s living. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t expect a hello or a handshake.”

And then this, from Reed:

“He saw me and he decided not to react. It’s unfortunate. But it is one of those things: if you’re going to act like an immature little child then you might as well be treated like one.”

The incident also included one of the most incredulous expressions in the history of incredulous expressions:

Advertisement

All of that brings us back to the present day. Three-plus years later, McIlroy has his Masters, Reed has spurned LIV for a PGA Tour return and we’re likely to get an uneasy reunion between the two at some point. There have been signs of goodwill; McIlroy hasn’t exactly offered to throw Reed a welcome-back party, but he’s now endorsed Reed’s return as “good for the PGA Tour” on multiple occasions.

But Reed hasn’t been immediately reinstated for PGA Tour play; he’ll have to sit until the fall season, once his one-year ban expires. As a result, he’s in a funny limbo between LIV and the PGA Tour, which puts him into a third league: the battleground territory of the DP World Tour.

Once the calendar flipped to 2026, Reed found some special form. He won in Dubai. He lost in a playoff in Bahrain. And just last weekend he won in Qatar. That win-T2-win catapulted him to No. 17 in the world and, interestingly, a clear No. 1 in the DPWT’s Race to Dubai.

That’s important for two reasons. The first is that Reed was only guaranteed partial status on the PGA Tour for upcoming seasons; he was a Past Champion but needed to finish among the DPWT’s top 10 to earn full status for 2027. Now, based on historical data, he’s almost certain to accomplish that.

Advertisement

Which brings us back to the entire point of this preamble.

Reed’s recent play is also important because of what it means for McIlroy. The World No. 2 has won four consecutive Races to Dubai and seven in total — one shy of Colin Montgomerie’s all-time record. Surpassing that record is high on McIlroy’s list of remaining goals, and despite a limited international schedule, he’s made it look relatively breezy.

But Reed’s quarantine season is throwing an extra variable into this year’s equation. While McIlroy is at Pebble Beach this week, beginning his PGA Tour season, Reed will play wherever and whenever he wants on the DPWT. He could stack up points for months without McIlroy in fields alongside him. It’s unclear how much he’ll play — but it’s clear the title is on his mind.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be an American who wins the Race to Dubai and we’re off to a fast start,” Reed said after his latest win, flashing a characteristic grin.

Advertisement

It’s early yet, of course. The biggest points hauls come at the four major championships, where McIlroy and Reed will go head-to-head. McIlroy will also play the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open, where Reed, too, will be eligible to compete. McIlroy won last year’s Race to Dubai with 5,975 points; Reed currently leads with 2,260. He has a long way to go. But he also has a healthy head start — especially given McIlroy has just 269.

McIlroy won’t need extra motivation when he returns to Augusta National as defending champion. Nor will Reed, whose fire always burns bright. But it’ll be an intriguing subplot as these two tangle at their sport’s biggest events, a decade after their Hazeltine showdown.

It’s only February, but one thing seems certain: In mid-November these two will each be back in Dubai teeing it up at the DP World Tour Championship. There’s no guarantee that either of them will leave with the season-long title, of course.

But there is a guarantee that one of them won’t.

Advertisement

“>

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

T20 WC: ICC, Coca-Cola join hands to launch initiative for cleaner stadiums | T20 World Cup 2026

Published

11 minutes ago

on

11 February 2026

By

The International Cricket Council (and Coca-Cola India have launched the #MaidaanSaaf initiative during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India, aiming to promote responsible waste management and cleaner stadiums. The programme, led by Coca-Cola India’s foundation Anandana, focuses on improving waste segregation, recycling, and on-ground awareness across tournament venues, while encouraging fans to play their part in keeping stadiums clean. 


Strengthening waste management at venues


The initiative will be rolled out across five host stadiums in India during over 30 matches, working closely with stadium authorities, housekeeping teams, recyclers, and local partners. Clearly marked waste segregation points, material recovery systems, and fan awareness drives will be introduced to help ensure efficient collection of recyclables and compostable waste. Ek Saath – The Earth Foundation and Greenmyna will support the execution, focusing on practical solutions that can handle large match-day crowds.

 
 


A key part of #MaidaanSaaf is recognising the work of “safai saathis”, sanitation and housekeeping staff who manage waste during high-footfall events. The programme aims to provide better segregation infrastructure and structured processes to support their work. Fans will be encouraged to contribute through simple steps such as using designated bins and keeping shared spaces litter-free, helping create a more responsible stadium culture during the tournament.

Advertisement


Sustainable cups and on-ground activations


As part of the campaign, sustainable beverage cups will be introduced at select venues. Designed as collectible merchandise, the cups aim to promote mindful consumption while reducing waste. Organisers say such visible initiatives help reinforce responsible habits among spectators without affecting the overall match-day experience.


Building on earlier tournament initiatives


#MaidaanSaaf returns after earlier activations at ICC events, including the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. During the 2023 tournament, Coca-Cola India supported the creation of recycled PET country flags and ICC Unity flags made from reused material, highlighting the company’s broader focus on improving collection and recycling systems through partnerships and community-based efforts.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

There’s only one WWE star who should be allowed to dethrone Becky Lynch

Published

25 minutes ago

on

11 February 2026

By

Becky Lynch is set to defend her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against AJ Lee at Elimination Chamber. Rumors have been swirling that WWE has plans to do another singles match between the two at WrestleMania 42. Therefore, all roads currently lead to one direction, hinting that this rivalry might culminate with Lee taking the coveted title away from Lynch.

However, this should not happen, given the broader picture. If someone actually deserves to dethrone Big Time Becks, it’s none other than Lyra Valkyria. Ever since losing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship last year, The Bird Lady of WWE has fallen down the ranks. She has been wandering directionless on RAW, with her career taking a downward trajectory.

WWE desperately needs a big breakthrough for Valkyria that could once again push her into the limelight. Winning the Women’s Intercontinental Championship from Becky Lynch would give her the push she has been seeking. What makes it logically appealing is that both women have a storied history and their feud in 2025 was one of the most compelling in the women’s division.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, AJ Lee is one of the most decorated stars and she does not need a championship to add to her resume at this point in her career. The Black Widow dethroning Lynch could be a “feel-good” moment in terms of the current storyline. But it wouldn’t benefit the Stamford-based promotion in the long run. Instead, WWE should use that moment to elevate Lyra Valkyria.

The company’s primary focus should be on building future talents and rising stars instead of elevating part-time veterans. Valkyria is the cornerstone of the WWE women’s division and is a future world champion contender. Dethroning a big star like Becky would solidify her as a main-event-level star, reigniting the red-hot momentum the 29-year-old lost in recent months.

Besides, the condition that Lyra Valkyria cannot challenge Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Title after SummerSlam 2025 as long as Becky remains champion seemingly became null and void. That stipulation was perhaps valid for Lynch’s that very reign. Now that Big Time Becks is on her second and fresh title reign, this may allow Valkyria to go after her.

Advertisement
youtube-cover

Becky Lynch and AJ Lee’s feud should have only one outcome

Becky Lynch has been embroiled in a heated rivalry with AJ Lee since September last year. The two superstars competed against each other twice, once at Wrestlepalooza and the other at Survivor Series: WarGames. This months-long feud seems to be in its final stretch now and it could culminate at WrestleMania 42.

However, this storyline should have only one outcome and that is Lynch wrapping up this feud with a big win. It is because AJ Lee has had the upper hand in this feud so far. She defeated Becky Lynch in the Mixed Tag Team Match that took place at Wrestlepalooza last September. The former Divas Champion once again beat Lynch in the Women’s Survivor Series match last year.

Well, things did not end there. Lee also cost The Man the Women’s Intercontinental Championship at Madison Square Garden. Therefore, this feud must end with Becky Lynch having the last laugh. Big Time Becks suffered too many setbacks against AJ Lee, which dealt a major blow to her credibility.

As a result, it has become necessary for her to defeat The Black Widow and put a definitive end to this feud. Beating Lee would serve as poetic justice for Lynch after months of setbacks and embarrassment against the former. Hence, this seems to be the only logical end to this heated feud in WWE.