Sports
Man United’s thriller against Bournemouth is advert for January transfer window
MANCHESTER, England — The half of the Manchester United team that was strengthened in the summer played well against AFC Bournemouth. The other half — the one the club hope to put right next summer — didn’t.
The result was a chaotic 4-4 draw at Old Trafford, which showcased everything Ruben Amorim’s side are good at, but also highlighted all the work that still needs to be done. United made a conscious effort to remedy their chronic lack of goals last season by buying some.
But with most of the budget spent on attacking players, it meant that the defensive part of the squad has been overlooked. The end product is a team that is capable of scoring goals, but not keeping them out.
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United have found the net 30 times in the Premier League — the same number as Arsenal and bettered only by Manchester City — while also keeping just one clean sheet, one fewer than 19th-placed Burnley.
“It was a fun game for everyone at home,” said Amorim.
“People enjoy seeing Manchester United this season, but we need to put both things together.
“If you understand a little bit, if you follow the club like I followed the Premier League for so long, you have a duty not just to win the games, but the way is so important for the fans.
“They are desperate to win but also to be inspired. Today was inspiring, but there is also the feeling of frustration from not winning.”
United are hoping to follow up the £200 million investment in their forward line with a similar outlay on at least one central midfielder and a couple of wing backs. Until they get a chance to open the checkbook — possibly in January but more likely next summer — Amorim is left to work with a lopsided group.
At times, summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, along with Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Mason Mount, looked scintillating going forward.
United peppered Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic‘s goal with 12 shots inside the first 30 minutes and managed 17 by halftime. Amad and Fernandes both scored either side of a Casemiro header and when Cunha added his name to the scoresheet in the 79th minute, it put United in front for the third time.
It still wasn’t enough to secure all three points and Bournemouth, who arrived at Old Trafford winless in six games and without a goal in more than four hours, found a late equalizer through substitute Junior Kroupi. Earlier, Antoine Semenyo scored his first goal since October. That was before Evanilson‘s first goal since August.
After watching their team score three goals at Old Trafford in each of the last two seasons, at one point the Bournemouth fans tucked in the corner of the stadium began singing “Man United, it’s happened again.”
“It’s really difficult to explain,” said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.
“A lot of ups and downs. United were much better than us for 20 minutes. Overall, I’m happy apart from that 20 minutes.
“They were punishing us with Amad and Mbeumo. We’ve scored four and conceded four. We needed some players on the scoresheet and it’s good for their confidence.”
It would have been even worse for Amorim — who tinkered with his 3-4-3 system for the first time to create a hybrid formation which at times looked like 4-4-2 — if United goalkeeper Senne Lammens hadn’t pulled off a fantastic save from David Brooks in stoppage time. It left the home fans who streamed out at the final whistle in near-stunned silence, not quite knowing what to make of it all.
Are United closer to the team that has lost just one of their last 10 games, or is two wins from six a more accurate way to view it?
Both, of course, are true. Afterwards, Amorim stopped short of saying he wants the investment made in the attack last summer to be poured into the midfield and defense ahead of next season, but the inference was there nonetheless.
“We are lacking quality when we defend our goal,” said the Portuguese coach.
“It’s something we need to address. It is different when you suffer so many goals and the opponent does not have what we create.
“I think we have talent at the back and quality players, we just have to be better at defending. We took care of the offence. We have the characteristics, we just need to work together.”
The worry for Amorim now is that it’s his attack — the one part of his team that is functioning — which will be hit hardest when the Africa Cup of Nations begins later this month. Mbeumo and Amad — perhaps United’s best two players — will now join up with Cameroon and Ivory Coast, respectively, and could miss a month if they reach the final on Jan. 18. Noussair Mazraoui has already joined up with Morocco.
It leaves the United boss to head to Aston Villa, the Premier League’s most in-form team, with the best parts of his squad ripped out. Casemiro, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, will also miss out. If there were holes in Amorim’s team against Bournemouth, there are set to be even more at Villa Park on Sunday.
Until the club can implement the next phase of its recruitment plan, he must make the best of what he’s got.
Sports
McKendree wins inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling team title
CORALVILLE, Iowa — Yu Sakamoto beat Riley Rayome of North Central (IL) 4-3 to win the 117-pound crown and clinch the team title for McKendree on Saturday night at the inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling championships.
After a wild scramble in the final seconds, a challenge by North Central and a review, Sakamoto’s win gave McKendree a 167-166 lead over Iowa — which finished with three individual champions and a runner-up but had no remaining competitors with two matches remaining. The Bearcats finished with 171 points and third-place North Central had 123.5.
Grand Valley State’s Katerina Lange, the No. 1 seed, beat second-seeded Claire DiCugno of North Central 4-1 to claim the 138-pound title and become the first women’s wrestling national champion.
North Central’s Bella Mir won at 145 pounds, beating No. 1 seed and former teammate Reese Larramendy of Iowa in the first round to avenge her only regular-season loss. The second-seeded Mir — an Iowa transfer and the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion, Frank Mir — reversed a takedown attempt, immediately rolled and pinned Larramendy with 34 seconds left.
Iowa’s Valarie Solorio, the No. 2 seed, beat fourth-seeded Rayana Sahagun of Grand Valley State by technical fall in the second round to win the 103-pound title. Sahagun beat No. 1 seed Heather Crull on criteria (7-7) in the semifinals.
Lehigh’s Audrey Jimenez pinned Sage Mortimer of Grand Valley State just 1:19 into the first round to claim the crown at 110 pounds.
Quincy’s Xochitl Mota-Pettis won at 124 pounds, beating Shelby Moore of McKendree by technical fall (10-0) in the second round.
Cameron Guerin of McKendree beat Alexis Janlak of Aurora on criteria (5-5) to win the championship at 131 pounds in the final match of the night.
Iowa’s Kennedy Blades, the No. 1 seed, pinned third-seeded Tiffani Baublitz of East Stroudsburg in 1:19 to claim the 160-pound crown.
Iowa’s Kylie Welker outscored Destiny Rodriguez of McKendree 11-0 in the first round to win the 180-pound title by technical fall.
McKendree’s Tristan Kelly beat Sabrina Nauss of Grand Valley State by technical fall (11-0) in the second round to secure the national championship at 207 pounds.
Sports
Longtime Blackhawks great and broadcaster Troy Murray dies at 63, team says
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Former Chicago Blackhawks standout Troy Murray, who transitioned to the broadcast booth after his playing career, has died, the team announced Saturday. He was 63.
The Blackhawks said he died earlier in the day.
It’s unclear where Murray spent his final moments. Murray publicly disclosed his cancer diagnosis in August 2021. While he revealed he had been undergoing chemotherapy, details about the type of cancer he was fighting were kept private.
Murray, affectionately known as “Muzz,” continued to appear on Blackhawks broadcasts during his cancer battle, though his appearances eventually tapered off. He stepped away from the booth entirely ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.
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Troy Murray is honored during Hockey Fights Cancer night during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks at United Center Nov. 28, 2021, in Chicago. (Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
For more than a decade, Murray starred at center for the Blackhawks. CEO Danny Wirtz said the loss of one of the franchise’s most respected leaders left the team “deeply heartbroken.”
“Troy was the epitome of a Blackhawk so far beyond his incredible playing career, with his presence felt in every corner of our organization over the last 45 years,” Wirtz said.
“During his long and hard battle with cancer, it was often said that Troy didn’t have any ‘give up’ in him,” Wirtz added. “While our front office won’t be the same without him, we will carry that spirit forward every day in his honor. We’ll miss you, Troy.”

Troy Murray, a former player for the Chicago Blackhawks, is honored during the “One More Shift” campaign prior to a game against the Ottawa Senators at the United Center Feb. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
After 12 seasons with the Blackhawks, Murray finished his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche, winning the 1996 Stanley Cup.
After spending the following season with the International Hockey League Chicago Wolves, Murray stayed in the city to begin his broadcasting career in 1998. Murray was also named the president of the Blackhawks alumni association.
“Troy Murray is remembered for not only his contributions on the ice, but for his professionalism and humility and dedication to the city of Chicago,” the team said in a release. “He leaves behind a lasting legacy within the Blackhawks family and the broader hockey world.”

Chicago Blackhawks radio announcers John Wiedeman and Troy Murray wear lavender ties in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer night during a game against the Vancouver Canucks Oct. 20, 2010, at the United Center in Chicago. (Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
From Calgary, Alberta, Murray topped 20 goals five times, but he also became known for his defensive play. In 1986, he became the Blackhawks’ first player to win the NHL’s Frank J. Selke Trophy, the award for the league’s top defensive forward.
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Murray finished with 197 goals in 688 games over two stints with the Blackhawks and also played for the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, he had 230 goals in 915 career games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
D.C. United 1-2 Miami (Mar 7, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN
Lionel Messi scored the 899th goal of his career to help Inter Miami to a 2-1 win over D.C. United on Saturday in front of 72,026 fans at the home of the Baltimore Ravens.
With interest in Messi obviously high, the game was held in downtown Baltimore instead of at D.C. United’s smaller venue in Washington. Messi gave many fans what they came to see when he put Inter Miami (2-1-0) ahead 2-0 in the first half.
“It’s definitely nice to be able to go to away stadiums and know that you probably have more supporters than the actual home team,” Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair said. “Obviously that won’t be the case in every single stadium. I think it was definitely a case tonight.”
Rodrigo De Paul also scored for the defending MLS Cup champions. Tai Baribo pulled D.C. (1-2-0) within one in the 75th minute, but the home side was unable to equalize.
It was an eventful week for Messi and his team, which visited the White House on Thursday. Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 17th minute when De Paul collected the ball about 15 yards from goal and struck a shot into the far side of the net.
Messi then scored his fourth goal of the young season, slipping behind the D.C. defense to receive Mateo Silvetti‘s pass, then flicking the ball with one touch past goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
The 38-year-old will next look to become just the second men’s player in history, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to reach 900 career goals when Miami visits Nashville on Wednesday for its first game in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said the team will be competing to win every title this season, though at some point players’ minutes will need to be managed.
“I think it would be a big mistake to choose which competitions to focus on,” he said in his news conference. “We’re a team that has to compete equally in every competition.
“For us, the Champions League in this first half of the season is a very important competition, and we’re going to give it that value. We’ll try to go as far as possible, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to throw away the league matches.
“Last year, the team was able to compete in every competition we entered, and we did so at a high level, reaching almost the final in all of them except the Club World Cup. So, this year, we’ll try to do the same and even go further in the Champions League.
“Clearly, at some point we’ll have to start managing the players’ minutes as well. Playing every three or four days is a big drain, especially in this first part of the season where we’ve had to play away games all the time. That’s also something to keep in mind, and it does generate even more wear and tear.”
Inter Miami has won two straight since dropping its league opener 3-0 to LAFC.
D.C. United broke through in the second half. Jackson Hopkins‘ shot forced a save, and Baribo put away the rebound.
ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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