Burnley’s sensational quest for European football continued apace Tuesday with an improbable 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Ashley Barnes gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the third minute after a free kick into the box was eventually scrambled home, then Steven Defour went direct with a sensational effort in the 36th minute, leaving David de Gea fanning the air.
It's a SportsCenter Top 10 certainty.
In an age when almost every USMNT-eligible soccer player is intensely analyzed, scrutinized and often idealized, one American has gone more or less unnoticed throughout a lengthy, still-ongoing career that included starting for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. California-born Paul Rachubka has played for 17 different clubs in 17 years, but who the heck is he?
It’s the festive season in the English Premier League. While most leagues are hibernating for the holidays, the world’s richest league doubles its fixture list. All 20 clubs play an immense amount of games and everyone’s depth is challenged to the limits. But one club is taking particular offense this year, with Manchester United’s official website complaining about fixture congestion.
Bristol City will be taking its fantastic goal GIFs straight to the Carabao Cup semifinals, joining Premier League giants Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal after knocking off defending champion Manchester United on Wednesday.
A 2-1 victory in the Bristol City vs Man U quarterfinal spurred remarkable scenes at Ashton Gate, with local fans storming the field and one man even giving a kiss to match winner Korey Smith.
It’s hugely unfortunate for Carabao Cup quarterfinalists Bristol City, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s feel-good return following last season’s significant knee injury found its happy ending Wednesday after the big Swede scored in his first start of the 2017-18 season.
It’s a deflected effort from a free kick that should’ve never been awarded, but Bristol’s anger is Zlatan’s sweet redemption. Ibra has made substitute appearances for United in both the Premier League and Champions League over November and December, but the 36-year-old was handed his first start in the League Cup.
It’s not football’s best kept secret, but Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has confirmed that much like Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa before him, 26-year-old center forward Antoine Griezmann will be allowed to leave the club for “a once in a lifetime chance to play for a certain team.”