Sports
New season, same struggling Man United: Myriad problems across the pitch exposed at Fulham
LONDON — Optimism is a short-lived emotion at Manchester United. After 180 minutes of the new Premier League season, the tank is almost empty after a worrying 1-1 draw at Fulham that felt more like a repeat of last year’s horror show than the redemption that Ruben Amorim wants time around.
An error-prone goalkeeper, a captain who lets himself down by doing too much, midfielders who can’t create and a forward line that fails to put the ball into the net. Sound familiar? That was the tale of United’s 2024-25 season — a campaign which ended with their lowest-ever Premier League finish (15th) and worst season overall since 1974 — but this year was supposed to be different.
Yet after missing a penalty — Bruno Fernandes skied his first-half spot-kick over the bar — Man United threw away a second-half lead earned by Leny Yoro‘s deflected header and were fortunate that Fulham, who equalised through Emile Smith Rowe, did not go on to win the game.
A £200-million summer spending spree on forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko has certainly given United more pedigree and goal threat than they carried last season, but no forward can score if he doesn’t receive the ball.
Cunha, at least, did have two clear chances in the first-half at Craven Cottage, but one hit the post and the other was well saved by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. After that, not so much.
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Mbeumo chased plenty of lost causes down blind alleys and Sesko offered a focal point when he was introduced into the action in the second-half, but they have been signed to score goals and turn draws into victories for United rather than merely give the team extra energy in the attacking third.
It was a similar story against Arsenal at Old Trafford last Sunday, when United were unlucky to open the season with a 1-0 defeat against Mikel Arteta’s side. Mbeumo and Cunha both looked dangerous, yet neither scored. At Craven Cottage, they once again trudged off the pitch without a goal.
The reasons for that are because of what is happening behind them, starting with the goalkeeper and culminating with a midfield unit that still looks way short of mid-table level than the Champions League-chasing quality that United need.
Let’s start with the goalkeeper. Against Arsenal, Altay Bayindir‘s failure to deal with a corner led directly to Riccardo Calafiori‘s goal, but despite his mistake and obvious weakness when dealing with set-pieces, Amorim surprisingly retained the Turkey international in goal ahead of fit-again first-choice André Onana.
Onana is not perfect, with the former Inter Milan number one making plenty of mistakes in a United shirt, but he is better than Bayindir. Yet Amorim’s decision to keep him out of the team, after failed United attempts this summer to sign Aston Villa‘s Emi Martinez and Paris Saint-Germain‘s Gianluigi Donnarumma, hints at the coach making a point that to the club’s recruitment team that he doesn’t really rate or trust either of his keepers and that whoever he selects will be an accident waiting to happen.
It was the same story for Bayindir at Fulham. Every time a corner was delivered, Bayindir flapped and flailed with Fulham using Sander Berge, Timothy Castagne or Ricardo Muniz to nudge the United keeper at a crucial moment. A top keeper would deal with that problem, but on more than occasion, Bayindir fell to the floor.
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Michallik: Man United performed like last season vs. Fulham
Janusz Michallik reacts to Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.
It is clear that the defenders in front of Bayindir are nervous with him behind them. The same applies with Onana — an erratic risk-taker.
United are in talks with Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens over a move to Old Trafford, but sources have said that the 23-year-old is not being signed as a No. 1, so Amorim may end up with another goalkeeper who not quite good enough to start every week.
An unreliable goalkeeper always a weakens a team, but so does a midfield that cannot run or create.
Fernandes can do both, but the defensive side of his game lets him down — the problem there is that he has to do the job of two players because those alongside him, namely Casemiro and substitute Manuel Ugarte, either can’t run or can’t pass. More often than not, Ugarte can do neither.
Mason Mount is a talented player, but he is neither a midfielder nor a forward, yet he is being used at the start of games in a forward position by Amorim because he needs somebody capable of alleviating Bruno’s workload.
But Mount is not quite the player that United need — they need a midfielder who can cover the defensive third and leave Bruno to create for the forwards who continue to be starved of the ball, but Amorim said after the Fulham game that his team are “more robust” with the former Chelsea player in his side.
Robust, perhaps, but still lacking in creativity and that gets back to the issue with Bruno being pulled in too many directions. Amorim still hasn’t found a way to make his best player work in the best way for the team, though.
And all the while, as the rest of the team splutters like an old car, three expensive forwards are still waiting to get the chances from which they will score the goals to help take United back to where they want to be.
If they don’t score them this week, against League Two Grimsby in the Carabao Cup and then against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, the alarm bells will start to ring again.
They have become an all-too familiar sound around Old Trafford.
The playing control teams for the April 28 qualifier, April 29 eliminator 1 and May 1 eliminator 2 of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 have been appointed, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.
Member of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Sir Richard Richardson will lead the playing control team for the qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
Earlier, he made his HBL PSL debut as the match official on April 15 and will bow out for this season, having officiated 10 games.
Christopher Gaffaney of New Zealand will be joined by Alexander Wharf of England as an on-field umpire for the qualifier. Both are part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
Faisal Khan Aafreedi, ICC International Panel Umpire, will serve as the third Umpire, while PCB’s National Elite Panel Umpire Zulfiqar Jan will be the fourth umpire for the all-important 41st HBL PSL 11 match.
Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka will lead the playing control team in both eliminators.
He has the honour of officiating in all 11 HBL PSL seasons, and his tally of games as match referee in the league currently stands at 127.
In the Hyderabad Kingsmen v Multan Sultans eliminator 1 in Lahore, ICC Elite Panel Umpire Shahid Saikat from Bangladesh will join ICC Emerging Panel Umpire Asif Yaqoob as on-field Umpire, while Rashid Riaz Waqar of ICC Emerging Panel of Umpires will be the third Umpire.
Nasir Hussain of ICC International Panel of Umpires will perform duties as the fourth Umpire.
The eliminator 2 on May 1 between the winner of eliminator 1 and the losing team of qualifier will be officiated on-field by ICC Elite Panel Umpires Ahsan Raza and Shahid Saikat, while Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz will carry out the duties of third and fourth Umpire, respectively.
The match officials for the highly anticipated May 3 final will be announced in due course.
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The most pressure-packed scoring opportunity in soccer might be the one where no one is defending: the penalty kick.
A goal is almost certain, so long as you keep a cool head and beat the goalkeeper. Simple enough, right?
But what exactly is a penalty kick, and how is it awarded? Here’s everything you need to know about the penalty kick ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
What Is A Penalty Kick?
A penalty kick — or “PK” — is a one-on-one duel between a field player and a goalkeeper in which the field player tries to score a direct kick from the penalty spot.
How Is A Penalty Kick Awarded?
A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a foul — tripping, pushing or a handball — inside the penalty area, which is a large 18-yard box that extends from the goal line into the field of play. The total width of the box is 44 yards.
A penalty can be awarded in the run of play or during a Video Assistant Referee check.
Who Takes The Penalty Kick?
The designated penalty taker is usually predetermined based on a player’s proven ability to score, from the penalty spot or otherwise. For example, Harry Kane, the active leading goalscorer for England, is the designated penalty taker for the Three Lions.
How Far Is The Penalty Spot?
The penalty is 12 yards from the center of the goal line, meaning that there are just 12 yards that separate the penalty taker and the goalkeeper at the time of a penalty kick.
What Are The Rules For The Penalty Taker?
The penalty taker is given freedom to confuse the goalkeeper during their run-up to the kick so long as:
- The penalty taker doesn’t attempt a fake kick or a “feint” while attempting to strike the ball AND
- The penalty doesn’t make contact with the ball more than once during their attempt.
If a penalty taker participates in illegal feinting, they will be cautioned and an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
If a penalty taker makes contact with the ball more than once during their attempt and the attempt is successful, the penalty kick will be retaken. If it isn’t, it will be recorded as a miss and play will resume.
What Are The Rules For The Goalkeeper?
The goalkeeper must follow three key rules during a penalty kick: face the kicker, stay between the goalposts and keep at least one foot on or over the goal line until the kick.
If a goalkeeper leaves their line during a penalty attempt and the attempt is unsuccessful, it will be retaken. If the attempt is successful, it will result in a goal.
Additionally, goalkeepers may not touch the goalposts, crossbar or netting as an intimidation tactic. Trash-talking is also not permitted.
How Often Are Penalty Kicks Awarded?
There were 23 penalty kicks awarded at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which was six fewer than in 2018. Argentina led all countries in penalty attempts with five, and its designated penalty taker, Lionel Messi, converted all five attempts.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled ticketing information for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, set to take place at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
According to the cricket board, E-Tickets for the high-stakes fixture can be purchased from tonight, with prices for all enclosures of the aforementioned venue set at Rs500.
Furthermore, the physical tickets will be available for sale from Tuesday morning and can be bought at the TCS Express Centre at the China Ground situated opposite the venue.
The PCB further advised fans with tickets to reach the stadium “well before the start of play” to avoid any inconvenience. Notably, the coin toss for the Qualifier will take place at 6:30pm as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ticket details for the remaining two playoffs, set to be played in Lahore, will be announced in due course.
The cricket board announced the ticketing details hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoffs of the ongoing PSL 11.
Taking to X, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said he had a meeting with the premier, during which the cricket board secured his approval for allowing fans in the stadia for the upcoming playoffs of the eight-team tournament.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on the microblogging website.
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