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T20 World Cup: Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra dismantle Sri Lanka, keep New Zealand in the hunt for semis | Cricket News
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: New Zealand kept their T20 World Cup campaign alive with a commanding 61-run win over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, a result shaped by composure under pressure with the bat, clinical precision with the ball, and an atmosphere driven relentlessly by Sri Lankan fans who refused to drift away even as the contest slipped beyond their team.Long after the outcome appeared inevitable, the stands remained full, the drums kept beating and the trumpets echoed through the Colombo night. Every boundary was still applauded, every piece of good fielding acknowledged. Wins or losses have never defined Sri Lankan fandom, and even as their World Cup campaign came to an end, the loyalty did not waver. Covering a Sri Lanka match is rarely just about cricket. It feels like a festival, and on this night, the celebration continued despite the pain.
Santner, McConchie turn the innings
Earlier, put in to bat on a surface that offered grip and variable bounce, the visitors began with intent. Finn Allen counterpunched sharply against Dilshan Madushanka, taking on the movement with instinctive aggression. But as quickly as the tempo rose, it dipped. Allen’s dismissal triggered a brief wobble, Tim Seifert followed soon after, and Sri Lanka sensed an opening.Rachin Ravindra brought fluency through the middle overs, rotating strike and finding the occasional boundary, but the introduction of spin shifted the balance decisively. Maheesh Theekshana, operating with subtle changes of pace and trajectory, strangled New Zealand’s scoring options. Ravindra fell attempting a cut hit too flat, Mark Chapman was undone by turn and bounce, and Daryl Mitchell was beaten by skid rather than spin. From a position of comfort at 75 for 2, New Zealand slid to 84 for 6 in the space of nine deliveries.It was here that Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie stepped in to rescue the innings. The approach was uncomplicated and clear-headed. Survival came first. Boundaries were not chased, singles were valued and dot balls were absorbed without panic. McConchie, playing his first major role of the tournament, broke a 33-ball boundary drought late in the 16th over with a crisp strike through the infield. The release was immediate. Santner followed by reading length early and targeting the shorter leg side boundary with authority. The momentum swing was sudden and decisive. Santner went after Theekshana, who had been Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler until then, muscling slog sweeps and punishing full tosses. McConchie matched him stroke for stroke, using clever bat angles and strong bottom-hand hits to exploit gaps behind square.What had begun as a recovery turned into a late surge. In the final four overs, the seventh-wicket pair plundered 70 runs, transforming New Zealand’s total from fragile to formidable. Santner’s 47 from 26 balls anchored the charge, while McConchie’s unbeaten 31 ensured there was no late collapse. Together, they added 84 in 47 deliveries and lifted New Zealand to a competitive 168 for 7.
Henry sets up the defence
In reply, Sri Lanka’s chase never truly found its feet and was disrupted from the first ball. Matt Henry bowled Pathum Nissanka with a delivery that jagged back to hit middle stump. It was a classic seam bowler’s dismissal and a psychological blow that stunned a full house.Henry followed it up with a wicket maiden and then struck again with the first ball of his second over, removing Charith Asalanka. Two overs, two wickets and just three runs conceded summed up his impact. Sri Lanka limped to 20 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, their lowest such total in the tournament, and the uphill climb became steeper with every over.The squeeze never eased. Lockie Ferguson’s pace added urgency without sacrificing control, while Santner and Ish Sodhi closed down scoring options from either end. The fielding mirrored the bowling intensity, with sharp catching and athletic work inside the ring ensuring Sri Lanka were forced to take risks rather than accumulate.The decisive blow came through Rachin Ravindra, whose left-arm spin turned pressure into collapse. Varying his pace and width cleverly, Ravindra lured batters out of their crease and allowed Tim Seifert to shine behind the stumps. Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were both stumped, beaten by flight, drift and turn. Ravindra struck again when Dasun Shanaka top-edged a cut, and completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing Dushan Hemantha. His figures of 4 for 27 reflected not just wickets, but an ability to sense panic and exploit it ruthlessly.Kamindu Mendis offered brief resistance, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell ensured chances were taken, Santner chipped in to close out the innings and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 107.For New Zealand, the victory does more than end Sri Lanka’s campaign. It keeps their own semifinal hopes alive in a tightly contested Super Eight phase. Their blueprint is now clear. Strike early with the new ball, suffocate through the middle overs and trust the depth in their batting to recover from adversity.For Sri Lanka, the tournament ends with disappointment, but also with a reminder of what remains unbreakable. Even as the final wickets fell, the crowd stayed. The band played on, the trumpets rang out and the applause continued. The result belonged to New Zealand, but the night, as always in Colombo, belonged to the fans.Brief Scores New Zealand: 168/7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3/30, Dushmantha Chameera 3/38)Sri Lanka: 107/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Rachin Ravindra 4/27, Matt Henry 2/14)
In the world of professional golf, which has a long history of operating as a meritocracy in which hand-outs are few and benefits are earned, sponsor exemptions can be a thorny topic — especially since the advent of limited-field, no-cut Signature Events, which boast $20 million purses.
Signature Events now make up a significant portion of the Tour calendar, and breaking into the field can be a difficult prospect. Unless, of course, you’re awarded a sponsor exemption.
At typical PGA Tour events, sponsor exemptions (usually four) are generally awarded to anyone the tournament sponsor deems worthy of entry. That could be a “deserving” pro who is not otherwise qualified for the field, an area local or tour-aspiring amateur, or even a celebrity. PGA Tour Signature Events can also designate four sponsor’s exemptions, but they must be PGA Tour members. Otherwise, there is no set criteria for selection. This stipulation — or perhaps lack thereof — has caused a bit of controversy over the last couple of years. At the 2024 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, players were peeved that three of the four sponsor exemptions — Peter Malnati, Webb Simpson and Adam Scott — were members of the PGA Tour’s board. At the time, Malnati and Simpson’s world ranking was 245 and 225, respectively.
At its core, sponsor exemptions are intended to give a leg up to up-and-comers or a playing opportunity to otherwise deserving pros. There have been many players over the years who have used sponsor’s exemptions as a launchpad for their professional careers, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. In October, Michael Brennan won the Bank of Utah Championship as a sponsor exemption in only his third PGA Tour start. President Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, was given a sponsor exemption into the Annika field last fall, although her inclusion resulted in a barrage of additional media coverage, interest and viewership for the tournament, which is what tournament organizers and sponsors often hope for with these invites.
So which players are most deserving of these coveted exemptions? That conversation is ongoing, with plenty of reasonable arguments on every side. And at this week’s Valspar Championship, two-time major champion Justin Thomas became the latest voice to wade into the fray.
;)
Thomas has been one of the world’s top players for more than a decade, but a slump in 2023 pushed him outside of the FedEx Cup top 70 for the first time in his career, and his World Ranking plummeted outside of the top 30 for several weeks. Suddenly, he said, he found himself on the outside looking in at events for which he had previously been exempt.
“It was extremely stressful,” Thomas said Wednesday in Florida. “But also I’m extremely proud of the fact that I, it was a big deal for me that I didn’t have to rely on one exemption that year. I played my way into all of them. That was a big goal of mine. Because, first off, I hated having to ask, but I did ask. It’s like I’m not shameful or like above that. I mean, I want to be playing in these tournaments. And, you know, the majority of tournaments, they were graceful and saying that, yes, if you need it, we’ll have one. But I didn’t get exemptions into some. So knowing that I needed to play into them was comforting, but also good for me.”
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American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti praised President Donald Trump after Trump signed an executive order to protect the exclusive broadcasting window for the annual Army-Navy football game.
Pernetti expressed the conference’s “deep gratitude” for the order.
“The American Conference is deeply grateful to President Trump for his strong leadership in issuing the historic executive order to preserve America’s Game,” Pernetti said in a statement.
“This is a meaningful step that protects a cherished national tradition and reinforces what makes the Army-Navy Game so special to our country.
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President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order during the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy presentation with the Navy Midshipmen football team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“The Army-Navy Game represents far more than football. It honors our service academies, highlights the character and commitment of our future leaders and brings Americans together around values that matter deeply, including service and sacrifice.
“This executive order is a positive step for the sport, for our service academies and for the enduring legacy of America’s Game. We are proud to be a part of the team working to protect it.”
ESPN ANALYST PAUL FINEBAUM QUESTIONS TRUMP’S COLLEGE SPORTS REFORM MEETING AS POTENTIAL ‘CIRCUS’
President Donald Trump is escorted onto the field to take part in the ceremonial coin toss before the start of a game between Army and Navy at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore Dec. 13, 2025. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Trump signed the order Friday as he presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Navy football team in the East Room of the White House. The order directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Commerce to coordinate with relevant parties, including the NCAA, the College Football Playoff (CFP) and broadcast partners, to secure an exclusive broadcast window for the standalone game.
The executive order came amid growing concerns that an expanding College Football Playoff calendar could encroach on the game’s traditional date, which since 2009 has been played exclusively on the second Saturday in December.
The classic rivalry, first played in 1890, has been played annually since 1930 and typically draws 7 million to 8 million viewers, making it one of the highest-rated regular-season games in college football. The current television agreement with CBS Sports runs through 2038.
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President Donald Trump tosses a coin before a game between the Army and Navy in Baltimore Dec. 13, 2025. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump, who has attended multiple Army-Navy games as president, framed the move in January as an act of patriotism, writing on social media, “Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy!”
As the postseason structure of college football continues to evolve, this executive order signals a significant commitment by the administration to maintain the standalone grandeur of a matchup defined by the phrase “sing second.”
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For most golfers, selecting a new driver shaft comes down to two numbers: the weight in grams and the flex (S, R or X). However, there is a third, often misunderstood metric that dictates whether your ball finds the fairway or the deep rough: torque. So today, we’ll chat a bit about the Diamana Gen 6 lineup from Mitsubishi and what they have done to re-think torque for the modern golf swing — and how they can match up to your swing profile.
While “flex” describes how much a shaft bends toward or away from the target during the course of the golf swing, torque measures how much the shaft resists twisting around its center. Measured in degrees, torque is the “steering rack” of your golf club. If you’ve ever felt like your swing was on plane but the club head was “wobbly” or unreasonably open at impact, you’ve experienced the effects of a poorly matched torque profile.
What exactly is torque?
In technical terms, torque is the measurement of a shaft’s angular displacement under a standard load. If a shaft has a 3.0° torque rating, it twists less than a shaft with a 5.0° rating.
High-speed players with aggressive transition moves put immense stress on the shaft. If the torque is too high for their speed, the clubhead will lag, the face will stay open and the result is usually a high, weak slice. Conversely, a player with a smooth, deliberate tempo might find a low-torque shaft feels “boardy” or “dead,” making it difficult to square the face and leading to a loss of feel, but also a significant loss in performance.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
The Mitsubishi secret: 46-ton carbon fiber
The challenge for engineers has always been lowering torque without adding excessive weight or making the shaft feel too stiff. Mitsubishi solved this in the Diamana Gen 6 by utilizing 46-ton high-modulus carbon fiber in the angle plies.
By strategically layering these high-strength fibers at specific angles, they can “lock” the shaft against twisting while maintaining the smooth, elastic feel that has made Diamana a staple on major tours for two decades.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Matching the lineup to your swing
The 6th Gen Diamana family — consisting of the WB, BB, and RB — offers three distinct ways to handle torque based on your specific swing profile.
1. The Diamana WB (White Board)
The Diamana WB is the ultimate “anti-twist” weapon. Designed for the “hitter” rather than the “swinger,” it features the lowest torque in the lineup. If you have a high swing speed and a violent transition, the WB stays stable, ensuring the face doesn’t rotate prematurely. It produces a low launch and low spin profile for maximum control.
Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft
The board is back. After a few years away, the vintage surfboard always associated with Diamana™ makes its return with Diamana WB. Built on an extraordinarily popular and tour-proven platform, WB brings classic low-low performance and the legendary stability and control you’ve come to expect after two decades.
The first in the 6th Generation Diamana™ family, WB is designed with all the traditional branding that made Diamana™ so beloved, including flowers in the handle section, a surfboard behind the Diamana logo, and return to the original 53/63/73/83 weight class designations. But rest assured, the only thing throwback about Diamana™ WB is its appearance. Indeed, super high-modulus 80-ton Dialead Pitch Fiber is used in the butt section to deliver maximum stability and increased energy transfer and high modulus 46-ton fiber is used in the shaft’s angle plies to reduce torque without increasing weight for improved control and stability. Carbon fiber orientation at the tip section is optimized to further lower torque.
The classic feel of this Diamana™ profile is achieved through the use of our proprietary Xlink Tech™ Resin System and MR70 technologies. Our Xlink Tech™ Resin System increases the strength and durability of the shaft while driving carbon fiber volume up for better feel. Feel and strength is further increased through the use of our aerospace-grade MR70 fiber – our strongest fiber to date.
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2. The Diamana BB (Blue Board) The Diamana BB (Blue Board) is the second profile in the latest generation of Diamana shafts. It features the traditional branding that made Diamana popular, including a return to the original 53/63/73/83 weight class designations. This shaft incorporates advanced engineering and material innovation, making it a top choice on tour. Maximum Energy Transfer: Utilizes super high-modulus 80-Ton Dialead Pitch Fiber in the butt section.
The Diamana BB is the centerpiece of the lineup. It offers a mid-torque profile that provides that signature “smooth” feel. By utilizing an 80-ton dialead pitch fiber in the butt section, Mitsubishi ensures that even though the shaft feels active and responsive, it remains stable through the hitting zone. This is for the golfer looking for a classic mid-launch, mid-spin flight.
Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana BB Wood Shaft
Key Features:
Greater Stability: Employs high modulus 46-ton fiber in the shaft’s angle plies to lower torque.
Enhanced Feel and Durability: Mitsubishi’s proprietary Xlink Tech system increases the overall strength and durability of the shaft while enhancing carbon fiber volume for a superior feel.
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3. The Diamana RB (Red Board) Diamana™ RB (Red Board) – the third profile in the most recent generation – is designed with all the traditional branding that made Diamana so beloved – including a return to the original 53/63/73/83 weight class designations – and all the engineering prowess and material innovation that made the brand dominant on tour.
The Diamana RB is designed for players who need a bit more help getting the ball in the air. While it has a more active tip section to increase launch, the torque is still strictly controlled by the 46-ton fiber. This allows for a high-launch profile without the “loose” feeling often associated with draw-biased or high-launch shafts. A first for the Diamana brand; a lower torque profile for early release golfers.
Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB Wood Shaft
Offering a slightly higher launch angle than BB, Diamana™ RB was engineered to promote ease of launch while also maintaining control down field. Diamana RB is a classic “Red Board” profile — not available since the 2nd Generation of Diamana — that features an active tip section while still retaining the same material technology package and low-torque control characteristics as its lower launching counterparts.
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Stability is speed
Choosing the right torque isn’t about finding the “best” number; it’s about finding the number that matches your tempo. A shaft that twists the right amount for your swing allows you to release the club with total confidence. Keep in mind that weight and flex will also affect torque. Within the same profile a heavier shaft or a stiffer flex will have a lower torque rating.
As always, the best place to find the right driver shaft for you is to visit your local Authorized Mitsubishi Dealer, like your local True Spec Golf.
Mar 20, 2026; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; Jordan Spieth during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images Jordan Spieth walked off the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook on Friday just five shots off the morning lead at the Valspar Championship, but still very disappointed in his 1-over-par round of 70.
That’s because Spieth had a potentially far better round unfold over his final few holes for the second consecutive day in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Spieth was at 5 under for the tournament before he bogeyed his final two holes. That included leaving his third shot in a green-side bunker on the ninth — his final hole of the day — and Spieth had to hit a 9-foot putt to avoid a closing double. That followed an opening round in which Spieth was 5 under before suffering a double-bogey and bogey over his final three holes.
The result is that after 36 holes, Spieth feels like he is playing well but now also has significant work cut out for him in order to be in contention come Sunday.
“I’m extremely frustrated when I don’t get the most out of my round because I’m playing better than I’m scoring on a week like this week,” he said. “That’s the frustrating part. But I would much rather be on that side of it than anywhere else.”
Spieth has now made six of seven cuts so far in 2026. However, he has yet to post a top-10 finish, with his best result a T11 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. While he feels his game is in excellent shape all around, Spieth acknowledges that claiming his first PGA Tour victory in four years will require eliminating the untimely miscues that regularly pop up in his rounds.
“I think I’m driving it in the top 20, I think I’m striking it in the top 20, I think my short game’s in the top 20, I think my putting’s in the top 20,” he said. “I’ve made some bad decisions or hit some wrong tee shots at the wrong time or missed contact that have cost me from having a chance to win three or four times and finishing where I finish.
“So it’s a good place to be. Those are normally easier things to solve, they’re just more reps and I’m in a confident place.” Spieth likely has at most six competitive rounds remaining before the Masters next month. He will skip the Texas Children’s Houston Open before likely playing in the Valero Texas Open the first weekend in April.
He was asked if most of the mistakes are mental miscues.
“Yeah, or just a contact mishap, which is an execution error, but it’s like random. Like if I toed one on this hole I would be fine, but I toed it on the wrong hole or I necked it on the wrong hole. Just like random little stuff. I had three plugged lies in bunkers today off pretty good iron shots that if I was playing a different wind — just random stuff.
“Then I made a couple really bad decisions which probably cost me three two or three shots. That’s unacceptable. I’ll fix that this weekend. That’s not hard to fix.” –Field Level Media
In a training career spanning more than 30 years, Mick Price has come across only one similar instance to the problem that kept Reserve Bank out of action for almost a year.
The winner of The Goodwood prepares for a return via the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, arriving back at the stable for spring targets when handlers flagged odd behaviour.
“I walked in at four o’clock one morning and the girls said, ‘come and have a look at this’,” Price said.
“He was absolutely shaking life a leaf on the spot, which was really unusual.
“We couldn’t work it out initially. We thought it might have been a vertebrae problem, but it turned out to be Ross River virus based on his blood picture.”
This mosquito-spread virus, often seen in humans, also hits equines, manifesting as fever, swollen joints and sluggishness.
Having trained just one other horse with it, Price recalls that one failing to thrive post-issue, contrasting sharply with Reserve Bank’s positive rehabilitation signs.
“It was a horse called Blazing Harry. He came back and he did not race well, and he didn’t look to bloom,” Price said.
“I don’t have much experience or knowledge with it. I don’t know what to expect. But Blazing Harry, he didn’t have a lot of life looking at him, and this horse looks beautiful.
“I think he just needs racing.”
Last autumn the four-year-old secured three stakes wins in a row, highlighted by his Goodwood conquest.
He holds a fine fresh record yet Price views the Saturday assignment as preparatory and is sceptical about gate two’s prospects.
“The horse is going super, but I can’t picture how he wins a The Galaxy from that inside gate, first-up after a long time,” he said.
“He’s a four-year-old bull. I’m just looking for him to run well and please, and then I’ll work out a program.”
“He just needs to go to the races to bring him on.”
Damian Lane takes the mount on Reserve Bank, quoted at $8.50 in a wide-open betting contest.
Discover racing betting markets for The Galaxy among top betting sites.
Devin Haney and Rolando Romero are expected to collide in a welterweight title unification this May, and potential 147lb rival Keyshawn Davis has offered his prediction for the contest.
Haney dethroned Brian Norman Jr to become the WBO welterweight champion in November, whereas Romero won the vacant WBA Regular title with a win against Ryan Garcia last May, before later being upgraded to full champion.
Meanwhile, Keyshawn Davis was stripped of his WBO lightweight crown when he missed weight ahead of a planned first defence versus Edwin De Los Santos. He moved up to super-lightweight as a result, knocking out Jamaine Ortiz back in January to rediscover some momentum.
However, during his post-fight interview, Davis revealed plans to move up to welterweight and take on Haney, despite just one fight above the lightweight limit since 2021.
It appears as though Haney has instead opted for this title unification opportunity against Romero, but ‘The Businessman’ is sure to pursue a clash with the victor, claiming to have already agreed to a ‘championship contest’ in the welterweight division.
Speaking to FightHype, Davis looked ahead to the bout, which he labelled as a ’50/50 fight’ after sharing a phone call with Romero.
“Haney-Romero? I got it 50/50. Definitely a 50/50 fight. I have been talking to Rolly on the phone, I know how serious he is. Everybody know Devin for his last fight. So, I got it being a 50/50 fight.”
Haney-Romero is anticipated to take place on Saturday, May 30, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, pending official announcement.
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Bruno Fernandes fumes over controversial penalty decisions as Manchester United draw at Bournemouth
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes voiced his frustration at perceived inconsistencies in refereeing decisions as his side were not awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Referee Stuart Atwell looked at an incident in the second half when Amad Diallo went down under contact by Adrien Truffert in the box, but determined it was not worthy of a penalty.
VAR agreed with the on-field decision but Atwell later gave Bournemouth a penalty for a similar-looking challenge, with Harry Maguire seeing a straight red for pushing Evanilson in the penalty area with the latter through on goal, and conceding a spot-kick, which Eli Junior Kroupi duly converted.
Fernandes said afterwards: “I think we could have gone 2-0 up, and then we ended up conceding a goal, not getting a penalty and then we get a penalty against, where more or less it’s the same situation as Amad.
“One is rewarded as a penalty, the other one not. I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation or with Harry [Maguire] because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are.
“Amad is getting to a point where he’s going to shoot and he gets pushed – you can see that something puts him completely out of balance.
“It’s frustrating for the small players because they always say the small players are soft and when it’s the bigger players they end up giving the fouls. I think the other situation is a penalty, but I also think the one on Amad is a penalty and that could’ve changed the game.”
Fernandes had earlier opened the scoring for United from the spot after Michael Carrick’s side were awarded a penalty for a foul on Matheus Cunha by Alejandro Jimenez.
The Premier League Match Centre explained the decision not to award United another penalty on X, writing: “The referee’s call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.”
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick agreed with his captain, saying: “We should have had another penalty. Obviously, if you get one, you must get the other.
“It’s pretty much identical for me, two-hand grab. Either way, he’s got one wrong, but to give one and not give the other, I can’t get my head around it, I think it’s crazy. It’s a bit baffling, really.”
Carrick said the decision not to award the Amad penalty was pivotal to the outcome of the game. He added: “Because of that, they score and then it’s chaos after that, really.
“We should have had another penalty and the game would have been totally different.
“That’s what VAR was for: clean it up and consistency. Surely whatever they think, if one’s been given there’s enough people to decide that it’s the same as the first. It’s two different decisions, so a bit baffling really.”
Liverpool FC have strongly condemned racist abuse aimed at Ibrahima Konaté following their convincing win over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool secured a 4-0 victory at Anfield, completing a 4-1 aggregate win to book their place in the quarter-finals. However, the result has been overshadowed by online attacks directed at Konaté after the match.
The defender played a key role in the game but was involved in an early incident with Victor Osimhen. Both players collided, and the Nigerian striker suffered a serious arm injury from the impact.
Konaté was also involved in other tense moments during the match, including a situation where he pulled a teammate away during a confrontation involving Noa Lang, and another clash with Mauro Icardi near the goal area.
After the game, some fans took to social media to post racist messages targeting the French defender. The abuse included offensive words and monkey emojis, a trend often seen after emotional matches.
Liverpool reacted quickly by releasing a strong statement to defend their player. The club said it was shocked and angered by the abuse directed at Konaté and made it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable.
They also stated that they are monitoring the situation and have called on social media companies to take firm action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has returned to Nigeria as he continues his recovery from the injury he sustained during the match.
The striker was hurt in the first half after the collision with Konaté. Although he tried to continue, he was later taken off at half-time. Medical tests confirmed that he fractured his right forearm, which has now been placed in a cast.
Reports say Osimhen will wait for the swelling to reduce before deciding if he needs surgery. If an operation is required, he could be out for about six weeks.
This could be a major setback for Galatasaray, with the striker likely to miss important matches, including games against Trabzonspor, Kocaelispor and Gençlerbirliği. He is also in a race to be fit for a key fixture against Fenerbahçe on April 26.
Osimhen has already missed out on international duty, as he was not included in the squad for Nigeria’s upcoming friendly matches.
Despite his injury struggles this season, the former African Footballer of the Year remains one of Galatasaray’s most important players, contributing 26 goals with 19 goals scored and seven assists across all competitions.
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Former Major League Baseball player Larry Stahl died at age 84 Tuesday at Caseyville Nursing and Rehab in Caseyville, Illinois.
Stahl, who played 10 seasons with four different teams, was best known for spoiling a perfect game.
On Sept. 2, 1972, Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas had retired the first 26 batters he had faced and was one out away from etching his name into the history books.
Stahl, a left-handed hitter, was playing for the San Diego Padres at the time and was sent out to pinch hit against the right-handed pitcher by manager Don Zimmer.
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Zoilo Versalles (2) of the Minnesota Twins attempts to turn a double play as Larry Stahl (24) of the Kansas City Athletics slides into second base during an MLB game at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis in 1965. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Stahl worked the count full and, on the payoff pitch, checked his swing and controversially drew a walk, ending Pappas’ perfect game bid. Pappas retired the next batter and ended the game with a no-hitter.
Pappas blamed the home plate umpire for making the incorrect call years later.
“They were strikes or ‘that close’ to being strikes that he should’ve raised his right hand,” Pappas told ESPN in 2007. “I had the opportunity for a perfect game, and, unfortunately, Bruce Froemming did not help me at all.”
Larry Stahl played 10 seasons in the big leagues. (Aaron Doster/Getty Images)
In 10 seasons, the Belleville, Illinois, native had a .232 batting average with 36 home runs and 163 RBIs.
He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Kansas City Athletics, then two seasons with the New York Mets, four with the Padres and the final season of his career with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Stahl played for four teams in his MLB career. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Stahl’s best season came with the Padres in 1971, when he hit .253 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs.
The only time Stahl made the postseason was in 1973, the final year of his career, with the Reds. He played in four games and had two hits in four at-bats.
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The Minnesota Vikings fell into the fortune of signing Kyler Murray for just $1.3 million. The Arizona Cardinals are stuck paying the bag for a quarterback they no longer have interest in. Minnesota also further solidified its quarterback room by bringing back veteran Carson Wentz. That leaves former first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy twisting in the wind.
While this seemed like a logical outcome, it puts McCarthy in a spot where he and the Vikings may have little interest in moving forward. McCarthy looks like a nothingburger sent to the doldrums, and Kevin O’Connell may not have the time to devote to a guy who will be the QB3 on the depth chart.
McCarthy-to-Cardinals Trade Actually Makes Sense
Trade rumors surrounding McCarthy have been prevalent since the Vikings signed Murray. Nobody being honest with themselves sees it as a competition, and it became clearer once Wentz joined the fray. Of course, Minnesota won’t recoup the value needed to land the Michigan product at 10th overall, but maybe they could find something and do right by the player as well.
There’s little reason to believe that McCarthy doesn’t have a future in the NFL. He’s still incredibly raw and could be a very good developmental project. The problem is that his timeline doesn’t align with his current employer’s. Through no fault of his own, and aside from an inability to stay healthy, a parting of ways makes sense.
It’s pretty straightforward to suggest that Minnesota could ask the Indianapolis Colts to swap post-hype first-round prospects. Anthony Richardson is now Daniel Jones’ backup. The Colts gave Jones, who had a brief stop in Minnesota, a sizable payday this offseason. McCarthy would join the same quarterback room as a guy who had no interest in sitting behind him an offseason ago. This time, though, the roles would be reversed.
Beyond that, there aren’t a ton of suitors. Bad teams already have options, or are in a position to grab one. The Titans just took Cam Ward. New York is running it back with Geno Smith. The Raiders will land Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in April.
Arizona, however, where Murray came from, could not look more inept.
Jacob Brissett is a fine retread veteran backup. The same can be said about Gardner Minshew. Neither is going to reinvent the wheel at this point in their careers, and expecting the franchise to build their future around them would be the foolish lunacy that has them in this predicament.
Enter J.J. McCarthy.
If a team actually wants to watch McCarthy compete for a starting job, then the Cardinals should be it. Maybe he’s not ready to come in and beat out Brissett and Minshew immediately. That would be disappointing for him, but further indicative of the status Minnesota currently sees. What he should be, though, is a future option.
This will be McCarthy’s third year in the NFL. At some point this season, if and when the Cardinals are again bad, they can turn over the offense to the Wolverine championship winner. He then has a runway to stake a claim for the job and would give Arizona indications of whether they’d want to pick up his fifth-year option when prompted next year.
McCarthy sees little benefit in stashing an inactive for Minnesota, and there’s probably no team that should be willing to pony up draft capital for a young quarterback swing like Arizona. The fit is there. Make the call.
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