All posts by n8rngtd.top

The stars were in attendance at Elland Road but Aaronson didn't have a winning return to Leeds from the international break.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Aaronson played 68 minutes in the loss
• Superstar actor Will Ferrell was in attendance
• Leeds fall to ninth on the table

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United returned from the international break but unfortunately suffered a 1-0 loss to Burnley at Elland Road Saturday.

  Burnley, who count former NFL superstar J.J. Watt among their owners, did the damage early as American-born, Italian youth international Luca Koleosho scored in the 18th minute. Anchorman star Will Ferrell, who owns shares in Leeds, was also in attendance.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This continues a tough month for Aaronson after the 23-year-old returned from a winless trip with the U.S. men's national team in their September camp.

  Yet, there could be some optimism for the midfielder with Mauricio Pochettino now officially in the fold as USMNT manager.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Aaronson enjoyed much better fortunes with Leeds in August, being named the Fans' Player of the Month after a sizzling start to the season. This is a far cry from the preseason and past matches when the midfielder was booed at Elland Road.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR AARONSON?

  Aaronson and Leeds return to action on Sept. 21 when they travel to Wales to face Cardiff.

Manchester United continued their winning start in the Women's Super League as they edged past a resilient Everton side 1-0 at Walton Hall Park.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• United beat Everton 1-0
• Clinton got the vital goal
• United unbeaten in two

• TELL ME MORE

  It was by no means a classic, but during the fourth minute of the game, Grace Clinton managed to light the game up for a brief spell, in only her second game for the club. The midfielder read Justine Vanhaevermaet's wayward pass, then rushed towards goal and coolly clipped a shot over Courtney Brosnan to score the only goal of the game.

  The Belgian defender did make up for her mishap by preventing a late United second when she threw her body in the way of Hinata Miyazawa's shot, and United were kept at bay when trying to extend their lead.

  United have subsequently moved up into second in the WSL table, while Everton remain winless, having lost 4-0 to Brighton last weekend.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Clinton's game-winning strike was her second of the season after netting United's third against West Ham last week, and she has continued her incredible form from last season's loan spell at Tottenham.

  While on loan in north London she was awarded the Young Player of the Season award, and it has resulted in her returning to Marc Skinner's side.

• THE MVP

  It wasn't just the goal that made Clinton stand out in this game, as she was involved in just about every effective United attack. She was unlucky not to record an assist as well as a goal, and would have done if not for poor finishing from her team-mates. She linked up well with the likes of Ella Toone, with her reading of the game also being key for United's success in Merseyside.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  THE BIG LOSER:

  The game just passed Geyse by completely. The Brazilian was marshalled well by Everton's defence and at times she made it too easy for them. She started her season with a goal last weekend but could not have a similar effect on this game, even when found in positive positions.

The Championship play-off final is now known as the richest game in football, with the third and final promotion spot to the Premier League on offer to the winners.

Win at Wembley in front of up to 90,000 fans, and you’ll bring in hundreds of millions through TV deals, sponsorships and additional revenue. Lose, and you’ll have to prepare for another season in the second tier.

Facing those prospects this year were Sheffield United and Sunderland, who finished 3rd and 4th in the Championship respectively.

The Blades were seeking an immediate return to the top flight and booked their place at Wembley with a comfortable 6-0 aggregate win over Bristol City in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have had quite the journey since their last Premier League season, having dipped to the depths of League One and suffered Championship play-off heartache before making the final in dramatic circumstances courtesy of Dan Ballard’s extra-time header to see off Coventry City.

Ahead of this year’s showdown at Wembley Stadium, one that the Black Cats won in dramatic circumstances late on, we took a look back at 10 of the best Championship play-off finals of all time, ranking them based on the drama they provided.

10

1996 – Crystal Palace 1-2 Leicester (aet)

Claridge scores with last kick of the game

At the old Wembley Stadium, Leicester City, who finished 5th in the league, defeated Crystal Palace, who finished 3rd, with a dramatic late winner.

The Foxes were behind for most of the game but levelled things up from the penalty spot. Extra time looked like it would result in a penalty shootout, however, Steve Claridge struck in the 120th minute in what was all but the last kick of the game to seal promotion for Martin O’Neill’s side.

9

2014 – Derby 0-1 QPR

Zamora wins it at the death for 10-man R's

Harry Redknapp led Queens Park Rangers to the Premier League in 2014 with a dramatic victory over Derby County. QPR midfielder and current Wolves boss Gary O’Neil received a red card on the hour mark, and it looked as if it would be the Rams who would earn promotion to the top flight.

However, Rob Green refused to be beaten in the Hoops net, and in the 90th minute, a mistake from Derby captain Richard Keogh resulted in the ball falling to Bobby Zamora, who produced a brilliant finish to send the R’s up.

The highest points tallies in Championship history

Leeds and Burnley recently made second-tier history.

By
Charlie Smith

May 17, 2025

8

2002 – Norwich 1-1 Birmingham (2-4 on penalties)

Penalty perfect for the Blues

Everyone loves a penalty shootout, and that is what we got between Norwich and Birmingham in 2002. The game actually didn’t burst into life until extra time, when Iwan Roberts put the Canaries in front. However, before the end of the first period of extra time, Geoff Horsfield levelled the scores and ensured promotion would be settled from 12 yards.

The Blues would be the ones celebrating at the end of the shootout, scoring all four of their spot kicks, with Philip Mulryne and Daryl Sutch missing for the Canaries.

7

2012 – Blackpool 1-2 West Ham

Vaz Te the Hammers hero

West Ham secured promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt under Sam Allardyce, doing it the hard way via the play-offs.

The Hammers came up against Blackpool and went ahead through Carlton Cole before Tom Ince drew the Tangerines level after the break. Both teams had glorious chances to win it in normal time, and eventually, Hammers forward Ricardo Vaz Te wrote his name into West Ham history by scoring with just three minutes remaining.

6

1989 – Blackburn 3-4 Crystal Palace

Two-legged final produces Eagles comeback

1989 was the last time the play-off final would be played across two legs, but it was certainly one to remember, involving Blackburn Rovers and Crystal Palace.

It was Palace who finished higher in the league but suffered a 3-1 first-leg defeat at Ewood Park. In the return fixture at Selhurst Park, goals from Ian Wright and David Madden ensured the final was level at 3-3 after 180 minutes, resulting in extra time.

Penalties appeared to be on the cards, but Wright scored his 33rd goal of the season with three minutes remaining to send Palace up.

5

2011 – Reading 2-4 Swansea

Super Scott Sinclair for Swansea

Swansea City booked their place in the Premier League for the first time back in 2011, mainly thanks to Scott Sinclair’s brilliance at Wembley.

It looked as if Brendan Rodgers’ side had the tie wrapped up after a brace from Sinclair and a goal from Stephen Dobbie put them 3-0 up at half-time. However, the Royals threatened a comeback with two second-half goals before the hour, only for Sinclair to seal his hat-trick and Swansea’s place in the top flight from the spot late on.

4

2010 – Blackpool 3-2 Cardiff

First-half madness at Wembley

If play-off finals finished at halftime, then the clash between Blackpool and Cardiff City in 2010 would comfortably top the list. It was Cardiff who went in front early on through striker Michael Chopra before Charlie Adam’s free-kick levelled things up for Ian Holloway’s side.

The Welsh side went in front again through Joe Ledley, but in the final five minutes of the opening 45, Blackpool scored twice through Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Brett Ormerod.

The second half was full of chances with Chopra hitting the post for Cardiff, but it was Ormerod’s effort that proved to be the winner.

3

1995 – Bolton 4-3 Reading (aet)

Super-sub De Freitas the hero

It looked as if Reading would be the ones celebrating a routine 2-0 win at Wembley against Bolton in 1995, however, late goals from Owen Coyle and substitute Fabian de Freitas took the final to extra time.

The drama didn’t stop after 90 minutes, with Bolton then going in front through Mixu Paatelainen before De Freitas scored his second of the day in the 118th minute. There was still time for more goals, though, with Reading player-manager Jimmy Quinn getting on the scoresheet to set up a dramatic final few minutes.

2

1993 – Swindon 4-3 Leicester

Bodin’s penalty derails Leicester comeback

It’s hard to believe that the 1993 play-off final between Swindon Town and Leicester City was still goalless after 40 minutes, knowing that it would result in a seven-goal thriller.

It was the Robins who scored three times in the space of 11 minutes either side of half-time, and they appeared to be cruising towards the Premier League. However, Leicester then scored three times in the space of 12 minutes to draw things level in a chaotic second half.

Extra time looked to be on the cards before Swindon substitute Steve White was fouled in the box, with left-back Paul Bodin scoring the winner late on.

1

1998 – Charlton 4-4 Sunderland (7-6 on penalties)

The best play-off final ever?

The 90s produced some classic play-off finals, but the best of the bunch and of all time is arguably Charlton’s penalty-shootout win over Sunderland.

The Addicks were in front at half-time before the final turned into chaos in the second half. Sunderland turned things around through Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips before Charlton drew level, and the Black Cats thought they were up again when Quinn netted his second of the game.

Richard Rufus took the game to extra-time with another equaliser for Charlton, but Sunderland once again went in front in extra time. Clive Mendonca was the hero of the day for the eventual winners after making it 4-4 with his third of the afternoon in extra-time before putting Charlton on their way in the shootout.

At 7-6 to Charlton in sudden death, Sunderland’s Michael Gray was the unfortunate player to have his spot kick saved from 12 yards by Sasa Ilic to spark wild scenes.

AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca is concerned about Christian Pulisic's return from international football as Mauricio Pochettino reveals his worry.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Fonseca concerned about Pulisic's fitness
• Pulisic to return to Italy just two days before AC Milan's match
• USMNT take on Panama on Sunday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States men's national team star is currently on international duty and he is set to return to Italy just two days before AC Milan's upcoming Serie A clash against Udinese. Per La Gazzetta dello Sport, manager Fonseca is worried that he might not get Pulisic at his very best in their next Serie A fixture as the player will have very little time to prepare for the game after a long journey from Mexico to Milan. The former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund winger is off to a flying start in the 2024-25 campaign having scored five times and providing two assists in seven league appearances.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While the Rossoneri boss remains concerned about the star player's fitness, new USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino heaped praise on the attacker as he spoke highly of the player's current run of form. However, the former Tottenham coach remained cautious ahead of the national team's upcoming games as he stressed the importance of protecting a player of Pulisic's stature.

• WHAT MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

  Speaking to reporters ahead of his first game in charge of the USA, Pochettino said, "I think he's a fantastic player, one of the best offensive players in the world. I think that we are a little bit worried that sometimes we need to protect [Pulisic].

  "We see because he arrived a little bit tired, but that is a thing that I told him before is to build a very good relationship with the club and try to help. And when we really need him, he needs to be in form, happy, strong and the quality is there because he has an enormous talent."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR USMNT?

  The Americans will play their first match of the ongoing international break on Sunday as they take on Panama in a friendly clash before facing Mexico away from home on Wednesday.

After parting ways with David Wagner following their promotion failure and edging closer to appointing Johannes Thorup, Norwich City could soon add the cherry on top by sealing their first deal of the summer.

Norwich transfer news

Norwich confirmed the news of Wagner's sacking after they were smashed 4-0 in their Championship play-off semi-final second leg by eventual Wembley losers Leeds United. Speaking about the news, the club's sporting director Ben Knapper told the official website: “David has operated with class and dignity throughout his period as Norwich City head coach, but we now feel that the time is right for us to move in a different direction.

"We remain committed to progressing our football club, in both the short and long-term, working through a diligent and thorough strategy. The appointment of a new head coach is an important one. We will now work and continue our due diligence with the view of making an appointment in the near future.”

Now, it seems increasingly likely that Thorup will be the next man in charge after two seasons at Danish side Nordsjaelland. The manager is certainly rated highly among those who have watched his side play too in what is a promising sign for all those in Norfolk.

The new manager's first act may well be welcoming a new young defender to fit in with Connor Southwell's discovery too. According to Nabil Djellit, Norwich are "very close" to signing Jose Cordoba, who just saw a proposed move to Rangers collapse when all seemed on course to reach completion.

"Fast" Cordoba can thrive under Thorup

With a manager who favours the use of young players, Cordoba should have to waste no time before receiving an opportunity at Carrow Road. It's then up to him to take that opportunity. At a club stuck at a crossroads, however, there will be time for the 22-year-old to find his feet if he needs it and develop into the player that Norwich hope they are getting.

Cordoba has certainly earned some promising plaudits during his time at Bulgarian side Levski Sofia, including from Petar Petrov, who described his ability to break lines as "great" on X.

It's quite the twist, but Cordoba now looks increasingly likely to be plying his trade in the Championship, rather than the Scottish Premiership, at the start of next season.

Tottenham fans called Timo Werner out after a horror moment against West Ham as even Alan Sugar was caught shaking his head.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Tottenham beat West Ham 4-1
• Werner not up to scratch
• German forward mocked by fans

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Werner, who is struggling for form, made a mess while attempting to control the ball, only to misplace it and send it out of play. Immediately after the error, the camera was panned on Lord Sugar and the former Spurs chairman was seen shaking his head in disappointment with a wry smile on his face.

Advertisement

• TNT Sports Screenshot
  

  WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Spurs fans had a field day on social media after the notable blunder from Werner.

  One of them, @Js_Jordsz, wrote: "LOOOOOOOOOL Werner you are so rubbish even Alan Sugar shook his head."

  Meanwhile, @SB8308715342770, wrote: "Alan Sugar shakes his head in the VIP area as Werner gives up the ball".

  @MichaelMhangam2 tweeted: "Alan Sugar even laughed at him. Werner is awful."

  Meanwhile, @Lozzykinz, wrote: "That was an entertaining 2nd half! Werner though. Even Alan Sugar in the crowd shook his head in disbelief when he couldn't keep possession! So. Werner tho? #coys."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite the light-hearted criticism aimed at Werner, the game itself proved to be a memorable one for Tottenham fans. West Ham initially took the lead just 18 minutes into the game, with Mohammed Kudus striking to give the Hammers an early advantage. Just moments after the visitors' goal, Dejan Kulusevski levelled the match, putting Spurs back in contention. The second half belonged to Tottenham as Ange Postecoglou’s side found their rhythm and took control of the game. Yves Bissouma netted a crucial goal in the 52nd minute to give Spurs the lead before Alphonse Areola's own goal and Son Heung-min's strike sealed a comfortable victory for the hosts.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

  Tottenham will return to action on Thursday evening against AZ Alkmaar in a Europa League encounter.

Philippe Clement has acted swiftly since the end of the season, making two signings already for Glasgow Rangers as he seeks to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Jefte and Oscar Cortes are the two arrivals at Ibrox as Clement’s transfer strategy begins to emerge; signing talented youngsters who could develop into sellable assets further down the line.

This philosophy makes sense. Hopefully, the days of signing players in their late 20s/early 30s on bumper three or four-year contracts are long gone. Instead, a new model will be put in place from this summer onwards. One that could see Rangers close the financial gulf to Celtic.

Money might not always be spent on incomings, with several players who are out of contract targeted, including a young centre-back who is on the books at AC Milan…

Rangers transfer news

As revealed by the Gallant View podcast earlier this week, the Ibrox side are showing interest in Clinton Nsiala as they aim to secure his signature on a free transfer from Milan.

With Clement’s budget for the transfer window unknown, he may have to rely on exploring players who are out of contract, which means Nsiala could arrive in Glasgow for nothing.

While interest is there for the youngster, it remains to be seen whether he fancies making the move to Scotland, although it looks as though he may have a better chance at playing at Rangers.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Gers have signed a talented defender for nothing, as the likes of Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun and John Souttar cost nothing in transfer fees.

Should Nsiala sign for the Light Blues, he could potentially be an ideal partner for Souttar, especially with Connor Goldson’s future up in the air.

Why Rangers could sell Connor Goldson this summer

According to Saudi Arabian outlet Al-Riyadiya, former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard – who is now in charge of Al-Ettifaq – is keen on making a move for Goldson this summer.

Not only that, but James Tavernier is also being lined up for a reunion with his old boss. The duo are on the wrong side of 30 and, as the Ibrox faithful saw towards the end of last season, their performances dropped significantly as Celtic pipped the club to the Premiership and Scottish Cup.

Moving on Goldson could see Souttar return to his favoured slot as a right centre-back, which will allow Nsiala to play as the left-sided centre-back, and it could make for a solid partnership.

John Souttar's 2023/24 season in numbers

The former Hearts defender missed practically the entire 2022/23 season after suffering an ankle injury just 45 minutes into his league debut for the Light Blues.

The 2023/24 campaign was much more productive. Souttar showed resilience way beyond his 27 years in order to fully recover and make 41 appearances for Rangers in all competitions, even chipping in with two goals and two assists.

The Scot ranked third among his teammates for accurate passes per game (58.3) in the top flight, along with ranking second for interceptions (1) and for clearances (3.5) per game, showing how solid he was at the heart of the defence.

These performances came after he was regularly deployed alongside Goldson in the left centre-back slot.

If the Englishman does leave, it could leave a gap in which Souttar could fill, allowing Clement to bring in a left-sided defender who is comfortable on the ball and can build play from the back.

What Clinton Nsiala could offer Rangers

While he has shown plenty of promise, the former French U16 starlet has yet to make his first team debut for Milan, mainly playing at U19 level for the Italian giants.

Last season, the 20-year-old made 40 appearances for the U19 side in both the UEFA Youth League and in the Primavera 1, registering four goals and two assists.

This shows he could add a few goals into the side from the heart of the defence – similar to Souttar – but his abilities go way beyond that.

Throughout the 2023/24 season for Milan U19s, Nsiala finished with an impressive 87% pass success rate while also averaging 5.1 accurate long balls per game, evidence that his passing is among one of his finer attributes.

The youngster also averaged 3.2 interceptions per game along with averaging a staggering 10.8 ball recoveries per game while winning 6.8 total duels each match.

These statistics certainly indicate that the defender has plenty of promise, but they came during an U19 league season rather than a top flight league.

Earlier this year, scout Ruairi Criscuolo profiled Nsiala, saying that Nsiala was “another exciting French prospect” before also saying: “As well as short passing he has the vision and ability to spot runners and find them with his long passes.

“Tall and powerful enough to be a threat in the box.”

It would be a major gamble for Clement to bring him to Ibrox and deploy him in the starting XI straight away, yet he has clearly demonstrated plenty of potential during his spell with Milan and this is the type of profile in which the Belgian must sign this summer.

Experienced players will be required during the transfer window, but having a mix of old and young players could be the perfect recipe for success next season.

Souttar is coming into his peak years as a defender and if he can maintain his form from last season, there is no doubt he will be one of the first names on the team sheet for Clement.

Clement could wave bye-bye to Goldson as Rangers eye 20 y/o colossus

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the centre-back this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 5, 2024

A change of mentality is needed ahead of next term, especially considering how badly the club stuttered when the pressure was on during the final few weeks of last season.

Perhaps making some bold calls in the transfer market could be a good thing for Clement and his backroom staff, going against the grain by luring talented youngsters who could make an impression if given a chance.

With Everton desperately needing to raise funds this summer, Sean Dyche has the job of being in charge of a rebuild job at Goodison Park to avoid a relegation battle in the Premier League next season.

The club are in danger of a further breach of PSR next season if they fail to offload any talents during the off-season, with the Toffees at risk of losing some of their key talents.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana are the two most likely to depart Merseyside this summer, with the youngsters subject to interest from various other English sides with any deal for the pair costing any interested party upwards of £50m for their signatures.

However, the club could also offload numerous other first-team members to combat their current financial situation, with the club able to sell a handful of other talents.

One player in particular could be set for a Goodison exit, failing to live up to the expectations he once had upon his big-money move to the club a couple of years ago.

Everton could part ways with talent this summer

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Everton defender Ben Godfrey has rejected a new deal at the club ahead of the summer, prompting interest from Italian sides AC Milan and Roma.

The 26-year-old has just one year left on his existing deal with the Toffees, with Dyche’s side potentially losing him for nothing in January should any of the Serie A clubs offer him a pre-contract agreement.

Godfrey has previously been linked with a move to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, but the defender rejected interest to stay at Goodison, but could now be on the move.

This summer could be the last opportunity for Dyche’s side to offload the former Norwich City man, in a bid to raise funds in their PSR battle, but they will undoubtedly lose money on the fee they paid for him under Carlo Ancelotti.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 16, 2024

Ben Godfrey’s market value in 2024

After joining the club from Norwich for £25m back in October 2020, Godfrey looked to be a real coup for the club – with the defender previously being linked with Manchester United.

He made an immediate impact at the heart of the Everton defence, featuring 36 times for the club in all competitions. However, that was by far his best campaign at the club, with his minutes and appearances gradually declining after his first campaign.

During the 2021/22 season, Godfrey made 27 appearances for the Toffees, featuring for 2,345 minutes as the club narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship.

The arrival of Tarkowski last season saw his appearance tally drop further, with the former Norwich defender only able to play 13 times for the Toffees, with minutes decreasing by more than 50%.

As a result, the centre-back has seen his market value plummet to just £3.8m, as per Football Transfers – a drop over £21m from the fee the Toffees forked out for his signature nearly four years ago.

He's clearly the third-choice centre-back under Dyche, with the boss favouring the likes of Branthwaite and James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence, with Godfrey often having to feature at right and left-back as a result.

The club need to be brutal with outgoings given their current financial situation, with Godfrey personally needing a move away from the club in order to resurrect his once-promising career.

What Everton's starting XI could look like after £85m+ spending spree

The Toffees will be looking to strengthen this summer despite the looming PSR threats.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 9, 2024

Decision Day 2024 more than lived up to the hype as the MLS regular season closed on a dramatic note

Christian Benteke's face said it all.

Here was a man who sealed Major League Soccer's Golden Boot, but was covering his eyes to hide the pain he felt from missing the MLS postseason on the final day of the regular season, as D.C. United lost 3-0 to Charlotte FC Saturday night. It was raw. It was emotional. It is what MLS more of.

MLS has grown dramatically, especially over the past decade and a half, and it can certainly make a case that it is a more efficiently run league than some of its European counterparts. But one area in which it struggles to match the old continent's leagues is the week-to-week drama that appears on a consistent basis in the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and La Liga.

Decision Day is certainly a step in the right direction.

Now the challenge for the league is to find more ways to bottle that energy and excitement and spread it more throughout the season, especially during the times where the season can feel a bit more routine.

Moving forward, there were plenty of storylines to follow on Decision Day.

Here are the top four.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• Imagn
  

  Troy Lesesne deserves criticism after failed tactical plan

  D.C. United had one job: Draw or win and they're in. And they were at home.

  Despite a favorable setup, United failed miserably, losing 3-0 to Charlotte and extended a playoff drought that started following the 2019 season in which Wayne Rooney brought them to the postseason.

  Manager Troy Lesesne, who had a decent first season in D.C., deserves criticism for getting the tactics wrong in this match. United dominated possession with a 58.3 percent advantage, but it had no answers for Charlotte FC's counter attack and conceded three goals. In attack, the home side wasn't much better as it over relied on Benteke to create magic. Charlotte, which didn't have as much at stake, had an xG of 2-1.

  Considering everything that was at stake for D.C., focusing on a more defensive gameplan might have worked towards its favor. Unfortunately, the team's fans will spend the entire offseason wondering what if.

Advertisement

• Late night thriller from both Los Angeles teams

  What a night for MLS.

  For about 30 seconds it appeared as LAFC would steal back the Western Conference from its Carson rivals in the LA Galaxy. LAFC sealed a 3-1 win over Wooden Spoon holders and the Galaxy were trailing 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo. Then insanity ensued.

  LA would draw a penalty, which was soundly converted by Newcomer of the Year favorite Gabriel Pec. The Galaxy were on top of the Western Conference summit – for about another four minutes. As broadcast cameras panned in on a devastated LAFC fanbase in Los Angeles, a defensive lapse by the Galaxy would ultimately bring joy to BMO Stadium. Ex-Galaxy man Daniel Steres would score 11 minutes into extra time to seal a 2-1 win for Houston and the West for LAFC.

  It was top-level action that would remind Premier League fans of Manchester City's title steal over Sir. Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012.

• USA Today Images
  

  Montreal, Atlanta United peaking at the right time

  Both CF Montreal and Atlanta United had in-season turmoil. First-year Montreal manager Laurent Courtois found himself on the hot seat after a mid-season cold spell and USMNT legend Carlos Bocanegra lost his job as United's VP and technical director.

  Then throw in the fact that Atlanta lost its three best players to transfers in Caleb Wiley, Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis while Josef Martinez publicly criticized Courtois – tronger clubs have collapsed under these circumstances.

  However, pressure forms diamonds right?

  While neither team is expected to hoist the MLS Cup this year, there will be plenty of intrigue when they meet in Stade Saputo midweek. And at the very least, the remarkable 18-year career of Dax McCarty will extend for at least one more game.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Philly's long postseason run comes to an end

  The Philadelphia Union are a well-run organization that has a strong coach in Jim Curtin and one of the best scouting and development programs in all of North America. That makes the fact that they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017 following a 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati standout even more. This seems like a changing of the guard for a team that just lost the MLS Cup final in 2022 on penalties.

  Longtime midfielder Alejandro Bedoya is very likely out of the door and he'll probably be joined by other veterans who no longer fit the team's plan. And the Union have arguably the best homegrown cast in the league, with Jack McGlynn, Quinn and Cavan Sullivan poised for big jumps in the years to come.

  Yet, it did feel as if something was a amiss in Philly. And if certain quotes circulating around social media are indicative of a larger issue, it could point to a need of investment in the squad.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticised INEOS for their decision to axe Sir Alex Ferguson from his ambassadorial role.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd remove Ferguson from position
• Held ambassadorial role at club
• Scholes critical of INEOS' call

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ferguson remains the most successful manager in the history of Manchester United, having won 38 trophies in 26 years. After retiring in 2013, he was named as a club ambassador. For more than ten years, the Scotsman was paid £2.16 million per year for fulfilling the role.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, as part of a cost-cutting initiative, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS chose to terminate his contract last month, which has outraged supporters. It has also drawn criticism from legendary midfielder Scholes, who has labelled INEOS' decision as 'disrespectful'.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT SCHOLES SAID

  Speaking on , Scholes said: "I thought it was a little bit distasteful for what that man has done for the club.

  "Almost a little bit disrespectful but they're new owners and new owners makes changes and they think what they're doing is best for the club. If they think they can save whatever money I know it's been talked about £2m, if they think they can use it elsewhere then so be it. This club owes a lot to Sir Alex Ferguson. It's where it is now mainly because of the success he had for so many years.

  "The timing of it was poor because you think they're in a really bad run of form, could you have waited or done it before the season started, at the end of the season. The publicity wasn't great around but Sir Alex Ferguson will be fine he will go on and still be the best ambassador the club has had."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR FERGUSON?

  Reports claim the termination was completely cordial on both sides and that Ferguson, who will continue to hold his position as a non-executive director, is still on good terms with the club and will always be welcome at Old Trafford.