CHICAGO (AP) — As Pete Crow-Armstrong came up with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, the Wrigley Field crowd chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” — and not for the first time Wednesday night.
The fans serenaded the Chicago star after his first home run, his 43rd to break Billy Williams’ Cubs record for left-handed hitters. They made their feelings known after his RBI triple and after his 44th home run.
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Even when Crow-Armstrong struck out on five pitches in the eighth, he still received a standing ovation on his way back to the dugout at the end of a 3 for 4 night with three RBIs and three runs in an 8-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves, his seventh multi-home-run game of the season.
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With Shohei Ohtani still on the injured list with right biceps inflammation, Crow-Armstrong keeps hitting home runs, closing in on the first 40-40 season in Cubs history, putting the finishing touches on his MVP case, at least as far as Cubs fans are concerned.
“You’re shaking your head in amazement, sometimes,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “In amazement. You know, you don’t get to see this. That’s what I told Alex (Bregman): ‘We don’t get to see things like this.’ You spend your whole life in baseball and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field.
“You’re grateful to be a part of it. You’re grateful to see things like this. And then you’re grateful the fans get to see a season like this. They’re going to talk about it. They’re going to tell their kids about it. They’re going to tell their grandkids about a season like this.”
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Yet as he’s gone from breakthrough player to MVP candidate to MVP favorite, Crow-Armstrong has been unfazed by the pressure, his performance unwavering as the Cubs chase a wild-card spot.
“I keep it pretty simple,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I enjoy just kind of laying low, as I always do and always will. I’ve got a really nice support system.”
Only one home run behind Philadelphia‘s Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead, Crow-Armstrong is hitting. 283 with 105 RBIs, 29 doubles and 37 stolen bases to go with Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.
Crow-Armstrong’s breakthrough season at age 24 has him at or near the top of every offensive metric in the NL while also tapping out the vocabulary of Wednesday’s winning starter, Shota Imanaga.
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“We can always say he’s great, or he’s excellent, but really there’s no words to describe him,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “So I’ll think of a new word in English for that.”
Twitch streamer Nick “Nmplol” has refuted MisterArther’s allegations that he emotionally abused Katchii, also known as “ItsKatchii.” For context, on September 16, 2026, MisterArther spoke with Dean “Deansocool” on his livestream and claimed that Katchii was a “prime example” of Nmplol’s alleged emotional abuse.
The German personality also described an incident at a winter party with other prominent streamers, where Katchii was “crying, sobbing, and chasing” Nmplol after he “drove off in the car.” According to MisterArther, while “sobbing to everybody,” Katchii stated “all the bad things” Nick allegedly had “done to her and said to her.”
On the same day (September 16, 2026), Nmplol connected with Deansocool to address MisterArther’s allegations. While “adamantly denying” the Twitch streamer‘s accusations, Nick stated:
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“So, in the time that I was walking up the stairs, I had to turn on the computer to join Discord; there are some allegations that I missed there that Katchii just texted me. And I have to adamantly deny that. That really makes me look really, really bad. I was talking about the streaming stuff and running streams in a certain way. Katchii says, ‘Nick, did you listen to what Arther was saying before you called? Why didn’t you deny anything? He called you abusive to me. And your response was, ‘Everyone knows; I’m so happy.” I didn’t hear that! My phone was not with me. Okay?”
The OTK (One True King) member then stated that claims about his concurrent viewership and “strict schedules” were “true”:
“Now when it comes to, like, being very anal about CCV, strict schedules, all this sort of stuff – yes, this is true. It works! Look at Arther’s numbers when he was with me; look at Arther’s numbers without me. Look at Greek. It just works! I know what I’m doing. I built an empire doing this. If you don’t like it, I really don’t care.”
“Everything I’m getting accused of, he’s done the same thing” – Nmplol “completely denies” MisterArther’s allegations that he emotionally abused Katchii
Nmplol continued his conversation with Deansocool by “completely denying” MisterArther’s allegations that he emotionally abused Katchii. The 35-year-old also claimed that “everything he was getting accused of,” MisterArther had “done the same thing.”
He elaborated:
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“I didn’t even hear what he said about Katchii. I just got texted from her. So, again, I’ve got to completely, you know, deny whatever he said. And all I got to say is just one quick: I’d like to defend, because why wouldn’t you defend yourself? ‘Oh, Arther can’t stream with his sisters.’ Why haven’t I streamed with Clara and Acie? Everything I’m getting accused of, you know, he’s done the same thing.”
As of this writing, Katchii has not issued a statement in response to MisterArther’s allegations against Nmplol.
New Inter Miami manager Cristian Gonzalez couldn’t have asked for a better start to life with the club, winning a trophy in his first match as Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup, defeating Cruz Azul 2-0. A rare header from Lionel Messi helped the Argentine score his 100th goal for the club, the same way that he scored his first goal, against the Mexican side. Casemiro added the insurance goal as rain fell over the Nu Stadium, scoring his fourth goal in his last five starts for the club. This also christens their new home with its first trophy since opening in April of 2026.
The Campeones Cup pits the reigning MLS Cup and Liga MX champions against each other to determine the best team from the two leagues. This is the first time that an MLS side have won the competition since New York City FC defeated Atlas in 2022, and it’s the first time ever that Inter Miami have lifted the Campeones Cup. Failing to win in their last three matches, drawing them all, this is an important moment for Inter Miami despite not coming with points in the MLS table.
The need to start off this new era on the right foot and Luis Suarez coming back into the lineup has made a difference alongside Messi and German Berterame. While Berterame hasn’t been the goal scorer that he was expected to be since coming from Monterrey in Liga MX, his work rate has helped Miami defend from the front.
In scoring his 100 goals for Inter Miami, Messi has quite a breakdown: 69 came with his left foot, nine with his right, 10 from free kicks, six from headers, five from penalty kicks, and even one with his chest. There aren’t enough words to show how Messi is one of one, but you have to appreciate each time that we get to see the Argentine cook on a soccer pitch as he lifts the 49th trophy of his career.
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It’s not all smiles as Facundo Mora left with an injury in the 75th minute. Already missing Ian Fray, Gonzalo Lujan had to be subbed in to see out the rest of the game as Cruz Azul grew into things. But a header from Casemiro would wipe that all away as Miami added another trophy to their coffers with Messi. The Herons haven’t seen a season with Messi where they haven’t won a trophy, winning the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, MLS Cup, and now the Campeones Cup.
Of course, this is far from over as now that Miami’s winless streak is over, they’ll want to get back on the right foot to defend their MLS Cup title. Nashville SC may be in the driver’s seat to win the Eastern Conference in the regular season, but it’s still anyone’s guess who will take home the MLS Cup, and the Herons will certainly have a say in the playoffs.
“This brings a lot of confidence to us throughout the group, and we know that once you get the taste of one trophy, you definitely want to push for more,” Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair said about the trophy following the match. “Because the expectation isn’t just one, it’s to go and win multiple [trophies].”
Next up, the Herons will stay at home facing San Diego FC with a chance to secure three more points and continue the strong start to the Gonzalez era after also securing their first clean sheet in 12 matches in all competitions.
Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has dismissed concerns about Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu, saying the forward has no problems at the Turkish club.
Doğan spoke during a live appearance on A Spor ahead of Trabzonspor’s weekend match against Galatasaray.
According to the Trabzonspor president, Onuachu remains committed to the team and continues to work hard in training and matches.
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“Onuachu has no problems whatsoever. He’s someone we’re constantly in contact with. He’s one of the rare players who gives his all in training,” Doğan said.
“He also does his best in matches. Sometimes he seems to play poorly in terms of the system; sometimes he doesn’t play where he wants, but he’s one of the top three strikers in this league.”
Onuachu returned to Trabzonspor after a spell in England and was the club’s leading scorer last season.
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Doğan said the club expects even more from the 32-year-old striker.
“He was last year’s top scorer. He’s someone who can do anything he wants when he sets his mind to it, and we expect even better from him going forward,” he added.
According to Dempster’s story, the Lothians Golf Association said at the time that Surgeon had contacted the group after his day’s round to report that he had played a wrong ball and that he had disqualified himself. On the X social media platform, Surgeon confirmed a post that said there had been “a major incident” at the event and that a player had been “caught red-handed.”
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“Unfortunately it’s true,” Surgeon’s post read. “It was me, I DQ myself and I have owned up and am facing the consequences. Everyone knows, it’s no secret. Again to everyone I’m sorry and it’s something Iv got to deal with moving forward. Thank you.”
Over several responses to questions, Surgeon then explained what he did.
He wrote that he had hit his tee shot “necky” and into the trees, then hit a provisional “on a similar line but smoked inside the tree line (should be safe but further up).” But he found the first ball and not the provisional — both of which were the same style of ball, which, he wrote, might have led to some doubts.
So he put down a “new” provisional and picked it up.
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“Id found the first one,” Surgeon wrote, “but panicked in the heat of the moment as I didn’t think my playing partners would believe me.”
There was a problem with his plan, though. “Someone,” he wrote, had seen his move, which he learned when he got home. “Then I DQ myself,” he wrote.
An X user then asked what Surgeon would’ve done had he not been told he’d been caught. Would he have still disqualified himself?
“Hard to answer … coz it didn’t happen that way,” he wrote. “someone did see to make the decision easy.”
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Recently, the Lothians Golf Association sent a statement to the Scotsman’s Dempster regarding “an incident” at the tournament and the ensuing five-year suspension, though it didn’t name Surgeon.
“Following an incident that occurred during the qualifying rounds of the Lothians Amateur Championship in July, the Association investigated one player’s actions. As a result of these investigations and the information available, they have now concluded that investigation.
“Subsequently, a player has been suspended from entering all Lothians Golf Association events for a period of five years, with the last three years suspended.
“The Association feels its actions are justified, prioritizing the integrity of golf. The player and his club have now been informed and the Association now considers the matter closed.”
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Surgeon’s Scottish club, Kingsknowe Golf Club in Edinburgh, also sent a statement to Dempster, saying that it would “replicate” the Lothians’ punishment.
“Kingsknowe Golf Club has been made aware that a member has received a suspension from county golf by the Lothians Golf Association following a confirmed incident of cheating during a regional event.
“Although the individual has only been a member of Kingsknowe for a short period, the club wishes to make its position absolutely clear.
“Kingsknowe Golf Club does not tolerate or condone any behavior that undermines the integrity of the game. Honesty, respect and adherence to the rules are fundamental values of our club and essential to the spirit of golf.
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“In line with the Lothians Golf Association’s decision, Kingsknowe Golf Club will replicate the suspension and the individual concerned will not be permitted to represent the club in any capacity for the duration of the county ban. A formal disciplinary proceeding is also underway as per club policy.”
Editor’s note: To read Dempster’s stories, please clickhereandhere. To read Surgeon’s X thread, please clickhere.
Mike Vrabel had a blunt response when asked how the New England Patriots can stop T.J. Watt, but Aaron Rodgers presents another major challenge in Week 2.
Cleveland Browns fans celebrate after quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) connected with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Huntington Bank Field, Dec. 7, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The NFL season has gotten underway, and we’ve seen some teams make some massive statements in week one. On the other hand, we’ve also seen some teams put up some stinkers.
Here are the three teams that I feel are the most miserable after week one and will be looking forward to fighting for the number one overall pick throughout the year.
#1 Cleveland Browns
When you’re compiling a list of the most miserable fans in sports, you have to start with the Cleveland Browns. Fortunately for the Cleveland faithful, they’re pretty used to being miserable on Sunday.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Deshaun Watson is one of, if not the worst, quarterbacks in the league; he’s still an egomaniac, and he’s due $120 million over the next two seasons. Everyone knows how horrible the quarterback situation is, and it’s an embarrassment to their fans that they’re still trotting him out there. However, the Browns were still expected to be one of the better defenses in football.
Well, Trevor Lawrence turned that defense into Swiss cheese, and instead of feeling like they were a quarterback away from competing, they’ll now have way more issues to fix this upcoming offseason, all while working around Watson’s $80 million cap hit.
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#2 Tennessee Titans
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward (1) scrambles under New York’s pressure during their season opener at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.
When compiling this list, I almost put the Titans at number one, because they might be in a worse position than the Browns. Cleveland at least knows that they don’t have the fix at QB in-house; the Titans thought they did with Cam Ward.
In a week one matchup against the New York Jets, they made one of the worst teams in football last season look like they could fight for a playoff spot this year. Geno Smith completely outperformed Ward, and the Titans might have the worst offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. Tennessee will play Ward every game they can this year, and hopefully he shows some potential to become a number one in the NFL, but I’m concerned he’s a lot closer to being a Jameis Winston than even a Baker Mayfield.
#3 Atlanta Falcons
Sep 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
While I don’t believe the Falcons are the third-worst team in the NFL, their fans are easily some of the most cursed in the sport. Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix aren’t the most exciting QB1 options, but they’re certainly better than Cooper Rush.
The Falcons at least have Bijan Robinson to make Sundays a little less painful, but the team feels sort of directionless. Kevin Stefanski is once again part of an organization with some talent, but not enough to contend for the playoffs.
What’s the plan moving forward for the Falcons? Robinson only has so much tread on his tires, and defense wasn’t entirely inspiring against a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. It’ll be interesting to see if the Falcons decide to blow it up or try to get over the hump of a 7-8-win ceiling.
The Kansas City Chiefs might be back, and if that’s the case, the NFL might be doomed.
Monday Night Football was interesting, because the Denver Broncos looked really bad, and the Chiefs looked really good. Just a few months ago, these teams were in very different spots, as the Broncos were in the AFC Championship following a stellar performance from young quarterback Bo Nix in the divisional round while Patrick Mahomes was injured and the Chiefs were out of the postseason mix for the first time in awhile.
All of that could be changed now, as the Chiefs dethroned the Broncos 31-10, sending a major statement in primetime to start the season.
At times, Mahomes looked a bit rusty coming off of his serious knee injury, but it didn’t even seem to matter.
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The real story of the game was Chiefs new addition Kenneth Walker III. The former Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl MVP joined Kansas City in free agency on a three-year, $43.05 million contract. That’s just the ninth highest-paid running back salary in the NFL, and for one week, Walker played like the best player at the position.
Walker’s 23 carries for 173 yards and one touchdown could’ve had the Seahawks kicking themselves for losing Walker in free agency, even though they have a shiny Lombardi Trophy on the shelf.
K9 is the lead running back with the Chiefs, and their only other rusher on Monday was Emmett Johnson, who carried the ball eight times for 24 yards, also catching two passes for another 44 yards. Walker had three catches of his own, for 18 yards and an additional touchdown.
Mahomes is in his 10th season in Kansas City and he’s never had a 1,000-yard rusher. The hope for the Chiefs should be that Mahomes won’t have to be Superman anymore, especially early in the season while he knocks off the rust from his repaired knee.
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Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce turned back the clock, as well. He caught three passes for 73 yards, including a long 59-yard run.
Maybe the Chiefs won’t get this level of production every weekend from their supporting cast, but if they do, you can see a world where this is a formidable AFC contender again this year.
And that’s without even mentioning the defense.
Even though he was injured in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, the football universe crowned Bo Nix for an impressive season in Denver, and an impressive start to his career with the Broncos.
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The Broncos looked ready to go all-in with this young quarterback and head coach Sean Payton, trading their first-round pick for Miami Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Waddle was held to one catch. Starting running back J.K. Dobbins was held to 36 yards. And Nix was kept in check, too.
Kansas City’s defense dominated. Even though much has been made about Davis Webb’s first time calling plays in life without Declan Doyle, the Chiefs are the real story coming out of Week 1.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé played up his chances of the winning the Ballon d’Or this year after scoring 10 goals at the recent World Cup to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. Nominees for the prestigious award will be unveiled on Tuesday.
When Russia‘s parliamentary elections are held from September 18 to 20, Alexander Ovechkin won’t be there to cast his ballot in person. On Monday he took his first few strides back on the ice in the United States as he starts gearing up for a new National Hockey League (NHL) season with the Washington Capitals, his 22nd in the world’s best league.
Before leaving his homeland, where he spent his summer break, he did make his contribution to the election campaign, however, appearing in a video promoting the ruling United Russia party, which steadfastly supports President Vladimir Putin.
In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, Ovechkin doesn’t speak but can be clearly seen in the third row of a group of supporters behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is heading the United Russia list for the parliamentary vote.
Ovechkin’s appearance has faced criticism, including from Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the 2026 Olympic Games for insisting on wearing a helmet depicting athletes killed in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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Ovechkin a long-standing Putin supporter
This is certainly not the first time that Ovechkin has expressed his support for Putin, with whom he shares his profile photo on his Instagram account.
Ovechkin’s Instagram account features a profile photo of him with PutinImage: @aleksandrovechkinofficial/instagram
And, at times, Ovechkin’s public support has appeared even more active than in the current United Russia video. Back in 2017, Ovechkin used his Instagram account to announce the creation of “PutinTeam” a group to help support Putin in the 2018 presidential campaign.
“I have never hidden my feelings about our president; I have always openly supported him. I am certain there are many of us who support Vladimir Putin! So let’s unite and show the world a strong, united Russia!” he wrote.
“Being part of such a team is a source of pride for me; it feels just like pulling on the Russian national team jersey, knowing the whole country is rooting for you.”
The creation of PutinTeam came three years after Russia had invaded and seized the Ukrainian territory Crimea in 2014, a move that was met with widespread condemnation in the international community. Later that year, Ovechkin appeared to express support for the operation, posting a photo of himself on Instagram holding up a sign with the message: “#savechildrenfromfascism.”
“Our grandfathers and grandmothers witnessed all the horrors of fascism! We will not let it happen in our time,” he wrote.
Putin has painted the Ukrainian authorities as “neo-Nazi” or fascist, in particular when justifying Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. What Putin calls a “special military operation” raised questions in the minds of many about how this might affect Ovechkin’s view of the man he had always so publicly supported.
On February 25, 2022, a day after Russia launched the invasion, a reporter covering the Washington Capitals asked Ovechkin if he still supported Putin.
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“Well, he’s my president,” Ovechkin replied. “But how I said, I’m not in politics, I’m an athlete.”
He did issue a vague appeal for peace but declined to criticize Moscow’s military action.
“Please, no more war. It doesn’t matter who’s in the war — Russia, Ukraine, different countries,” he said.
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Capitals: ‘Ovechkin asked by his country’
Approached for comment on Tuesday, the NHL referred reporters to the Washington Capitals.
“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement,” team spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said in the statement.
“This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign. As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C., and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”
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Back on the ice
Whatever you may think of his political views, Ovechkin is without a doubt one of the best players to ever lace on a pair of skates.
Now, back on the ice in Arlington, Virginia, ahead of the Washington Capitals’ training camp, “Great8” is focused on getting his aging body (he turns 41 on Thursday) ready to compete for what would be a second Stanley Cup for both him and the Caps.
For much of the offseason, Ovechkin had left open whether he would return for another year. After all, he has achieved just about everything you can in the NHL, having broken Wayne Gretzky’s career goal-scoring record two seasons ago. Going into the 2025-26 campaign he has 929 goals in 1,573 regular season games. In July though, after a conversation with his wife, he decided to come back for one more year in Washington – and he hasn’t ruled out extending his career beyond that.
Over 40 and still going strong
“I’m going to be 41. I’ve had a lot of pressure on my shoulders over the years,” he said. “I’m going to focus on the game and helping my team to win,” he told reporters after his first skate. “I’m still a good player and can still help the team to win.”
His numbers support that last assertion, having scored 32 goals in 2025-26. Only two other players have ever scored more over the age of 40.
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“I can’t wait for the season,” he said. “On paper, you can see our team is one of the best teams but now we have to work for the Stanley Cup.”
The bookies disagree, however, with some putting the Capitals way down at 18 (of 32) on their list of Stanley Cup candidates for 2027.
On the other hand, the prospect of United Russia’s winning this weekend’s parliamentary elections, the first since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, appears a safe bet.
There was history in the ignominy. Manchester United can specialise in finding new ways to rewrite the record books. For a club who keep recording new lows, this was not one, but several.
It was the first time in half a century that United had led 2-0 at Old Trafford and lost, since a 3-2 Tottenham triumph over Tommy Docherty’s team in 1976. Not since 1984 had they been winning at home at half-time and been beaten; Ipswich’s 2-1 victory against Ron Atkinson’s United has now been superseded. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United had gone 2-0 up on their own turf 145 times, won 143 and lost none.
They never surrendered such a lead at Old Trafford under David Moyes or Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho or Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag or Ruben Amorim. They did under Michael Carrick as his dreadful week took a turn for the worse.
Brighton celebrated as Man United were left bereft (AP)
Michael Carrick has plenty to ponder (PA)
United went 2-0 up and went from euphoric to embarrassed. “The feeling at the start of the game to the feeling at the end of the game couldn’t have been further apart,” admitted Carrick.
After the Manchester derby defeat, after JJ Gabriel’s shock revelation that he wants to leave came a capitulation to bring elimination from the Carabao Cup. Lose at Fulham on Sunday and United’s will be out of the Premier League title race before the end of September. As it is, United have now lost their last four domestic cup ties and while going out to Grimsby last year was excruciating, it was the manner of this collapse that was so shameful. “We can’t accept that as a group,” said Carrick. It was unacceptable, in every way.
Amid the inquest into their latest humiliation, Brighton & Hove Albion merit praise: for a remarkable comeback and an extraordinary record at Old Trafford. They have triumphed on United turf in five successive seasons. They have knocked them out of two cup competitions in 2026 alone.
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A night that began terribly for Fabian Hurzeler ended superbly and, as both managers used their squads, Brighton’s capacity to find unheralded gems was a factor. They have also pocketed £65m from United for Carlos Baleba who, still injured, watched on. He has joined a club heading towards crisis.
Carlos Baleba is still yet to make his Man United debut after a big-money move from Brighton (PA Wire)
Certainly United illustrated why they could do with Baleba. Given an ideal start, they were overrun and outmanoeuvred in midfield, losing all control. The partnership of the summer signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans – the latter captaining United on just his sixth appearance – floundered at Hull last month, were reunited and fared just as badly.
Yet United were still worse in the heart of defence, in the absence of the rested Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire. Meanwhile, Carrick’s decision to give Senne Lammens a night off backfired when the debutant goalkeeper Karl Darlow was at fault for Brighton’s first goal. He wasn’t alone in that, however.
Brighton’s trio of goals were proof of their resourcefulness and attacking spirit. They were also awful defensively.
United switched off on the stroke of half time as Jaouen Hadjam, making his first start for Brighton, caught Ayden Heaven dozing with a diagonal ball. Darlow was too slow to come off his line and Charalampos Kostoulas drove in a first-time shot.
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Charalampos Kostoulas got Brighton back intot he game with his goal on the stroke of half-time (Getty)
Diogo Dalot made the initial error for Albion’s equaliser, looking for Benjamin Sesko but seeing Luka Vuskovic intercept his pass and head the ball forward from the centre circle. United had a void where they needed a centre-back partnership, meaning Pascal Gross was unmarked. The German, a familiar scourge of United, scored his seventh goal against them; there are plenty of United players who have got fewer goals at Old Trafford than Gross. “Compare him with a good wine, the older a wine gets the better,” said Hurzeler.
The impressive Kostoulos is 16 years younger than Gross. The striker carried on bullying the United defence. After he broke clear and saw a cross deflected off Noussair Mazraoui, Maxim De Cuyper lifted a shot into the roof of the net. The substitute had only been on the pitch for three minutes. Perhaps he symbolised how Hurzeler’s changes first failed and then succeeded spectacularly.
The German made six alterations, gave three full debuts and switched to a back three. “When you go to a place like here you need to have belief and then to show it when you are 2-0 down shows real character,” said Hurzeler. It was required when United took what should have been a comfortable lead inside 10 minutes.
Initially, United got a welcome antidote to Gabriel’s news: a goal from a teenage winger and from an academy product. The 15-year-old had been pencilled in to play. Only Carrick may know if it would have been instead of Shea Lacey but the 19-year-old became the first United youth product to score on his maiden start for the club since Marcus Rashford a decade ago. “It’s a shame Shea’s moment got lost a bit,” Carrick said.
Shea Lacey’s goal was an early bright spot for United (Reuters)
But things still ended catastrophically (Getty)
Lacey held off Hadjam and powered in a left-footed shot from 16 yards. Then Rashford – perhaps proof to Gabriel that forwards can change their mind and choose to stay at Old Trafford – had a shot blocked and Mason Mount converted the rebound.
Two goals ahead, United seemed to have booked their spot in the next round. Not so. “The game can’t go in that direction from where we were,” rued Carrick.
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He seemed too ineffective as Brighton took the ascendancy. “The longer the game went, the more we had control,” said Hurzeler and, while Jason Steele made a terrific save to deny Benjamin Sesko an equaliser, otherwise Brighton were rampant.
United were shambolic at the back. Old Trafford booed at the end. “I totally take responsibility,” said Carrick. But there should be plenty of blame to go around.
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