Sports
Man United up to third as Sesko’s hot streak of crucial goals continues
MANCHESTER, England — Of all the things Ruben Amorim said during his time as Manchester United‘s head coach, the one that annoyed his bosses most was something about Benjamin Sesko.
Asked in November about the 22-year-old striker, signed for £73.7 million from RB Leipzig in the summer, Amorim said it was “a fact” that he had “struggled” to come to terms with the Premier League. The view from above was that the comments weren’t helpful to a young player trying to adapt to a tough league in a new country.
Sesko scored two goals in 17 games for Amorim. But since Amorim’s departure in early January, Sesko has seven goals in eight.
Starting under Michael Carrick for the first time Sunday, Sesko scored for the third game in a row as United came from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 and move up to third in the table behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
Struggling? Not anymore.
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“I’m delighted for Ben,” said Carrick. “We’re working closely with him and connecting with him and building that relationship and trust. A lot is on Ben. He has put the work in. He is a good player and he has got some great strengths and scoring different types of goals.
“He is such a real threat. I am really excited where he can get to. He has got huge potential.”
Sesko is not just scoring goals — he’s scoring important goals. In his past three games, he has a stoppage-time equalizer against West Ham United, the winner against Everton and another winner against Palace.
Since Amorim was sacked, Sesko’s Premier League goals against Burnley, Fulham, West Ham, Everton and Palace have earned the team eight points. Without them, United would be outside the top six. Instead, Carrick’s team is third with 10 games left and on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2023.
“He has had a huge impact and he’s making big improvements,” said Carrick. “Part of it is getting used to being here. He is desperate to do well, he works so hard and he is a pleasure to work with. It’s a fantastic goal.”
Sesko’s revival started under Amorim’s initial replacement, Darren Fletcher. After the Slovenia international scored twice in United’s 2-2 draw with Burnley, Fletcher revealed he used the day before the game to show Sesko a video “showing his movement and showing his goals.”
The run of form which started at Turf Moor has continued under Carrick. Fletcher said he told Sesko he “needs to keep believing,” and there has been a similar boost of confidence delivered by Carrick.
Shortly after scoring at Everton, Sesko stopped in the mixed zone to tell reporters that one of the big changes is that “everyone believes in me.” It became an open secret toward the end of Amorim’s reign that he wanted to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins instead. If Carrick has injected some self-belief into Sesko, the former England midfielder also deserves credit for playing to his strengths.
One of the criticisms of Amorim’s football was that he played with a central striker, but didn’t appear to ask his wide players to put crosses into the box. Sesko started Amorim’s last game in charge — a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on Jan. 4 — and didn’t have a shot on target. Under Carrick, his goals against Fulham, West Ham and Palace all came from crosses whipped in from wide areas.
With long limbs and a gangly style, Sesko can still sometimes look awkward when asked to take part in the buildup. But at 6-foot-5, he’s terrific in the air and sharp in and around the penalty area. His goal against Palace was a bullet header.
First, Bruno Fernandes equalized with a penalty following an incident for which Maxence Lacroix — Palace’s goal scorer in the first half — was sent off for pulling back Matheus Cunha. Then Fernandes popped up on the right and delivered a cross from which Sesko darted ahead of Jaydee Canvot and arrowed his finish past former United goalkeeper Dean Henderson. He went off 10 minutes later to a standing ovation.
“We were a bit off to start with and they started really well,” said Carrick, who has now registered six wins from seven games in charge. “At about 20 minutes it started turning in our favor and we finished the half stronger and then talked to them at halftime about being in that position and showing personality and belief.
“To come back like we did in the second half and to turn the game in our favor is the biggest thing. To put together the run we have and to do it in different ways is encouraging to me.”
United are flying, and so is Sesko. No other Premier League team is unbeaten since Boxing Day, and no player in the league has scored more non-penalty goals in 2026 than Sesko.
Amorim’s reign looks worse with every win under Carrick, while every Sesko goal makes those “struggling” comments look ever more misplaced. United are heading for a Champions League return, and Sesko is proving the doubters wrong.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lindsey Heaps had a goal and an assist, and Jaedyn Shaw also scored to propel the United States to a sixth straight shutout victory with a 2-0 win over Argentina in the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday.
The U.S. has outscored opponents 27-1 over its past seven games. Coach Emma Hayes’ squad hasn’t lost since falling 2-1 to Portugal in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 23.
Heaps scored from the top of the box in the 19th minute. Emma Sears worked the ball out of the left corner and into the box, then passed to a wide-open Heaps, who converted with her left foot. It was her 39th international goal, the most on the current U.S. roster.
Shaw found the back of the net from the top left corner of the box. Her right-footed shot curved toward the left post and into the net for her 10th international goal.
After Shaw scored, Lilly Reale was treated for a right leg injury and replaced by Emily Fox.
During stoppage time, Argentina’s Milagros Martín was assessed a yellow card for shoving Trinity Rodman in the back after she came on as a second-half substitute. Rodman was treated on the field in second-half stoppage time and did not return for the final minutes of the match.
The U.S. dominated possession, holding the ball 67.7% of the time. The Americans had three shots on target, while Argentina had just one on target against U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
The SheBelieves Cup — a four-team round-robin that also includes Canada and Colombia — moves to Columbus, Ohio, on March 4, when the Americans will take on Canada. The Canadians beat Colombia 4-1 earlier Sunday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
KUALA LUMPUR: Riyadh’s King Fahd Sport City Stadium will host the opening and closing matches of next year´s Asian Cup, officials announced Monday, the football showpiece seen as a precursor for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia was awarded the World Cup but will first host the Asian Cup from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
“The King Fahd Sports City Stadium… will provide the backdrop for both the eagerly anticipated Final as well as the opening match, featuring hosts and three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia,” the AFC said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur.
The 70,000-plus venue in Riyadh will also host four group stage battles, a round of 16 tie and a quarter-final match before the final in early February, the AFC added.
Popularly known as “The Tent” because of its roof, inspired by a traditional Bedouin dwelling, the stadium is the largest of the eight venues hosting the soccer showpiece.
Asian Cup matches will also be played in Jeddah and Al Khobar.
Match pairings and kick-off times will be confirmed at the AFC’s final draw on April 11 in Riyadh, the AFC said.
Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, staged and won the Asian Cup two years ago.
The tournament was supposed to take place in China in 2023, but was moved out of the country because of the country’s Covid policies at the time.
Bayern Munich want striker Harry Kane to sign a new contract, and Real Madrid want the same for star forward Vinícius Júnior. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Bayern Munich are ramping up their efforts to get striker Harry Kane to extend his contract, according to Fabrizio Romano, amid interest from clubs in the Premier League and Saudi Pro League. The 32-year-old, whose existing deal has just over a year remaining, has been inspired form this season as he closes in on Robert Lewandowski‘s infamous 41-goal single-season Bundesliga record.
– Vinícius Júnior remains in constant contact with Real Madrid over a contract extension with the club, reports AS. The 25-year-old has a deal that expires in 2027, and while he has been a key player for Madrid, there have been doubts over his future. Frustrations under former boss Xabi Alonso led to reports over a possible exit from the Bernabeu, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League and the Premier League linked with a switch. However, a recent uptick in form under Alvaro Arbeloa could see him extend his deal beyond next summer, with discussions ongoing.
– Manchester City are willing to break the world record transfer fee for a full-back in order to sign Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento this summer, according to TeamTalk. The existing record is Achraf Hakimi‘s £60-million move from Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. City have been impressed with Livramento’s form this season, and Newcastle are keen for the 23-year-old to extend his contract, which runs until 2028.
– Manchester United scouts have been left “impressed” by Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andrés, according to TeamTalk. The 20-year-old came through the ranks at Real Madrid, making three senior appearances for the Spanish giants, before moving to Germany in the transfer window for just £2 million. While United are joined by Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle in sending scouts to watch Chema, it is claimed that any deal is complicated by Real Madrid having a buyback clause worth £10 million.
– United are willing to move Mason Mount on this summer, according to Ekrem Konur. The midfielder has struggled to gain consistent minutes for the Red Devils since his £55 million move from Chelsea, with injuries plaguing his time at the club. With Mount approaching the final two years under contract at Old Trafford, an exit could be on the cards, with Aston Villa named as one of the teams showing interest.
OTHER RUMORS
– Newcastle are showing interest in Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is set to be a free agent this summer when his contract with the Cherries expires (The Sun).
– Aston Villa are keen on a move for Nicolas Jackson this summer, who is expected to return to Chelsea at the end of his loan deal with Bayern Munich (Football Insider).
– Liverpool ace Alexis Mac Allister is fast becoming a top target for Real Madrid in the midfield this summer (TeamTalk).
– Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are monitoring a potential move for 19-year-old PSG midfielder Senny Mayulu, amid a contract stalemate (CaughtOffside).
– Fulham and West Ham are willing to meet AC Milan’s asking price for former Arsenal academy star Yunus Musah this summer, following the conclusion of his loan spell with Atalanta (Ekrem Konur).
– Manchester United are stepping up plans to sign a goalkeeper in the summer, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayandir free to leave the club in the upcoming transfer window (Football Insider).
– Nottingham Forest are not planning on triggering a permanent deal clause in the loan move for Lorenzo Lucca, with the striker expected to return to Napoli at the end of the season (Nicolo Schira).
– Barcelona are intending on sealing a new contract for Ferran Torres, with his current deal expiring in 2027, but talks are yet to open between the parties (AS).
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