Sports
Sanchez hits top form before incredible 26-penalty shoot-out in California
Manchester United registered the first of their US pre-season tour in the US after a penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan.
Jose Mourinho’s side drew with the Serie A side but eventually came out on top in a mammoth shoot-out which saw 26 penalties taken before United emerged triumphant.
Alexis Sanchez gave United the lead in the 12 minute, but that was cancelled out by Milan’s Suso three minutes later.
Sanchez was United’s stand-out performer and continued to look sharp on his second tour appearance, but was unable to inspire United to victory.
United were without striker Anthony Martial, who left the tour party to be with his partner, who is due to give birth to their son at any time.
Sanchez took Martial’s place up front for United and was full of energy and enterprise, marking him out as his side’s best player.
Here are five talking points from the game…
1. Sanchez fills the void
With Anthony Martial having left the US tour to be with his partner, who is about to give birth, and Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford on extended post-World Cup breaks, there was a void up front for United.
It was filled by Alexis Sanchez, who opened the scoring in the 12 minute with a composed finish after being put through by Juan Mata.
Sanchez was United’s stand-out player, causing Milan problems with his pace, movement and guile, and the Chilean looks hungry and fresh after a first full summer off for nine years.
2. United’s three-man defence caught out
Mourinho experimented with a back three, but the system fell apart for Milan’s equaliser in the 15 minute. Axel Tuanzebe lost Suso, while Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling proceeded to play the Milan striker onside.
So ponderous was United’s defending that Suso was even afforded the luxury of allowing the ball to bounce once before hitting it flush and sending an angled shot beyond the reach of Lee Grant.
Mourinho was rightly furious, gesturing as much to his coaching staff, his actions confirming His belief that his defence were guilty of switching off at a critical moment.
3. Darmian could earn reprieve
With United skipper and first-choice right-back Antonio Valcencia having flown home after suffering a torn calf muscle in the second game of the tour, Matteo Darmian – who was set to be offloaded this summer – fulfilled both roles against Milan.
Darmain may yet be sold abroad after the Premier League’s transfer deadline on August 9, but with Valencia and new right-back Diogo Dalot both sidelined through injury, the Italian is in line to start United’s opening game of the season at home to Leicester on August 10.
Darmian got into plenty of forward positions in his wing-back role here, but is likely to play in a traditional full-back role if he gets the nod, with Mourinho more than likely to start the season with a flat back-four.
4. Shaw struggles to impress Mourinho
Like Darmian, Luke Shaw is set to start the new season, as United’s first-choice left-back, with Ashley Young on an extended break following his World Cup heroics, Marcos Rojo also absent and with Daley Blind having returned to Ajax.
Shaw is entering a make-or-break season, the biggest of his turbulent four-year United career, with only one year left on his current contract.
Mourinho has kept faith in Shaw, despite publicly berating and shaming him during his two years in charge, in a bid to get the best out of the 23-year-old. Shaw lasted 74 minutes here, but did little of note, and lost the ball right under Mourinho’s nose, moments before he was hooked, and walked straight to the dressing-room with a member of United’s backroom team.
Shaw, who continually cut back inside on his forays down the left and who frequently lost possession, must do better than this if he is to totally convince Mourinho of his worth, and there is still much work to do be done before he can reach that stage.
5. Bonucci shows his enduring class
Mourinho wants to sign a centre-back before the transfer deadline in a fortnight’s time and has targeted Leicester and England World Cup star Harry Maguire.
But the United boss could do worse than make a bid for Milan skipper Leonardo Bonucci, who oozed class in the middle of defence for the Serie A side, and played an exquisite ball over the top to Suso for his side’s equaliser to cancel out Sanchez’s opener.
While United’s three-man defence struggled at times, Bonucci showed great awareness and anticipation of danger, and is the commanding centre-half figure Mourinho craves.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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