Antony and Fred took the game by storm at Old Trafford after a first-half horror show that ended with a brilliant Casemiro blockWhat a night, what an equaliser from Fred, what a winner from Antony, in a tale of two Brazilians who downed Barcelona and lit up Old Trafford for Manchester United.Fred blazed his equaliser home moments into the second half - off his right shin - and 10,000 volts jolted through the stadium because United had just turned frustration to joy. Whatever occurred from that juncture, Erik ten Hag’s men had already stunned Barça, informing Xavi’s side that they intended to keep on keeping their fans bouncing – and singing. Marcus Rashford and Antony raced in, and the congregation...
Manchester United manager deserves credit for unlocking striker’s full potential in a way his predecessors never couldThe clock had not quite struck 8pm local time when Marcus Rashford began to glide across the Camp Nou turf in pursuit of a pass from Fred. And Rashford really is a beautiful runner in full flow: all clean lines and clear air, a player who moves as if he will never get mud on his boots. Marcos Alonso, the man who had headed Barcelona 1-0 up barely a minute earlier, moved across to jack-knife his run.Well, of course Rashford scored. The ball was running away towards the goalline and the angle was tightening and Marc-André ter Stegen is one of the best goalkeepers...
Europa League final evoked showpieces of old and marked the moment Frankfurt’s goalkeeper became a heroGlory comes in many forms and it came for Kevin Trapp in the form of an astonishing save in the final minute of extra time. When Kemar Roofe’s cross was deflected into the path of Ryan Kent six yards out, a late winner seemed certain. But Trapp scuttled across his goal, spread himself and the ball cannoned away off his outstretched right leg, a block rooted in hour upon hour on the training ground, honing reflexes and response times, getting the angles right.He had four years at Paris Saint-Germain, but that save, even more than keeping out Aaron Ramsey’s penalty in the shootout, is what...
With the Europa League final just days away, Robin McKie recalls the Scottish side’s magical Cup Winners’ Cup runRangers take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final on Wednesday, an extraordinary achievement for a club in administration 10 years ago. This chance of glory is particularly remarkable given Rangers have triumphed in Europe on one previous occasion.Fifty years ago this month, they lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Barcelona after the most torrid, draining – and violent – football match I have attended. I fervently hope victory can be repeated but not, I pray, in similar circumstances. Continue reading...
Ride to Europa League semi-finals has been a joy for fans but club must now decide if it wants more or just treads waterThe clock was ticking. Eintracht Frankfurt, two goals up on aggregate, looked comfortable but not impregnable. And even with 10 men, West Ham were enjoying plenty of possession and had four substitutes left to deploy. And so, with a European final at stake and the climax approaching, the world eagerly awaited David Moyes’s next move.As it turned out, Moyes’s next move was to attack a ball boy and get himself sent off. So close. The margins in this game, and all that. And although this tie was probably already gone by the time he was slinking down...