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Pogba watches as Monaco start Ligue 1 season with a win | The Express Tribune

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Pogba watches as Monaco start Ligue 1 season with a win | The Express Tribune



PARIS:

Paul Pogba watched as Monaco easily beat Le Havre 3-1 in their Ligue 1 opener on Saturday as Lyon won away at Lens.

On Friday French giants Marseille suffered a first-day upset 1-0 at 10-man Rennes.

In Saturday’s late game last season’s fourth-placed team Nice fell 1-0 at home to Toulouse, but Monaco and Lyon avoided upsets.

Georges Mikautadze scored the only goal as Lyon won 1-0 in northern France while 2018 World Cup winner Pogba’s appearance in the locker room at the Louis II Stadium was one of the highlights of the first half of Monaco’s game.

Dressed in a vintage Monaco jersey, a cap on his head, and a big smile on his face, Pogba saw his team quickly take the measure of an outclassed Le Havre.

Midfielder Pogba signed a two-year contract with Monaco from Juventus this summer in a bid to relaunch his career back home in France.

The former Manchester United player had made only 12 appearances across the last three seasons due to injuries, suspension and an extortion case in which he was the victim.

However, to see Pogba in a Monaco jersey, fans will have to wait a little longer, along with Guinea-Bissau forward Ansu Fati, the club’s other big summer signing.

Adi Hutter’s hosts proved dominant, particularly in midfield opening after 32 minutes after Gautier Lloris bundled Aleksandr Golovin’s powerful cross into his own net.

Englishman Eric Dier, also a summer signing, doubled the lead with a header from a well-taken Lamine Camara corner just after the hour mark.

Le Havre pulled a goal back six minutes later when Rassoul Ndiaye got the better of new Monaco goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky before Maghnes Akliouche put the result beyond a doubt after 74 minutes.

Earlier Mikautadze struck at the end of the first half to give seven-time Ligue 1 champions Lyon their first win since American businesswoman Michele Kang took over as president in June to save the club from relegation after compatriot John Textor resigned amid financial irregularities.

Lyon got the better against their former coach Pierre Sage, who took over at Lens after Will Still’s departure.

Financially constrained for summer signings, Lyon built its success with what it already had with strikers Malick Fofana and Mikautadze and midfield stalwart Corentin Tolisso combining well.

Fofana ran rings around the Lens defence, breaking through at the end of the first half when he provided an ideal cross to Mikautadze.

Despite 18 shots on goal, Lens were unable to deliver with Wesley Said and Deiver Machado both missing numerous chances.

New recruit Florian Thauvin came off the bench for Lens after 57 minutes to rapturous applause from the home fans but despite bringing creativity and freshness, the World Cup winner could not make the difference.

Four days after being eliminated in the Champions League qualifying round by Benfica, Nice once again displayed shortcomings in a 1-0 defeat at home to Toulouse with Djibril Sidibe scoring one minute before the final whistle.



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As the Commanders set their roster, an undrafted rookie had a ‘surreal’ day

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Dolphins GM Chris Grier says fans threatened his family in string of vile emails after team’s lackluster year

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Dolphins GM Chris Grier says fans threatened his family in string of vile emails after team’s lackluster year


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The Miami Dolphins finished last season with an 8-9 record and failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs. The disappointing year sparked ire from some of the Dolphins’ faithful. 

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier spoke to the media on Wednesday, the day after trimming the team’s roster to 53 by the league’s deadline. Grier spoke about the general structure of the roster entering the 2025 campaign and also touched on the status of specific players as Week 1 draws closer.

But the media session took a turn when Grier revealed fan angst had resulted in emails targeting his children.

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General manager Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida.  (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

“If I’m out, people have always been respectful and nice, and they just say ‘Hey, keep going. Appreciate you.’ The guys to my face have been nice. I know there’s people that are upset… (but) that’s any job,” Grier said.

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Grier acknowledged the angst that last season’s ending sparked.

“And if I was comfortable and saying I felt what things are, then I’m an a–h—  …because I’m not being realistic about where we are as a team and where things are going …after last season. I’m frustrated like [them] that we didn’t win enough games last year. I understand that, I don’t take things personally. When I’m out, people have generally been very positive and stuff to me.”

Chris Grier walks on the football field

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier walks not the field prior to the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Sept. 30, 2024. (Jasen Vinlove/Imagn Images)

“I’ve gotten some colorful emails from a couple of people…..[one] hoping my kids die of cancer,” Grier said. “That’s a fun one. That’s why I don’t take things very personal or real because other people have other issues and stuff in life.”

Dolphins helmet

Aug 3, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, US; A general view of a Miami Dolphins helmet on the field during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)

Grier was elevated to the Dolphins’ general manager post in 2016. He joined the franchise as a scout in 2000. 

As it relates to pressing roster matters, Grier confirmed that cornerback Cam Smith will start the regular season on the non-football injury list. Smith appeared in six games during the 2024 season.

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Grier gave a positive update on running back De’Von Achane’s availability for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Achane has recently been contending with a calf injury.

“All indications for us is that Achane will be ready Week 1 to go,” Grier told reporters on Wednesday. 

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Messi brace puts Miami into Leagues Cup final | The Express Tribune

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Messi brace puts Miami into Leagues Cup final | The Express Tribune



FORT LAUDERDALE:

Lionel Messi scored twice late on as Inter Miami fought back to beat Orlando City 3-1 and reach the final of the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.

After missing two straight matches with a right thigh injury, Messi converted a penalty in the 77th minute to pull Inter level at 1-1 then combined with Jordi Alba to put the hosts ahead in the 88th.

Telasco Segovia added a third in injury time as Miami returned to the final of the Leagues Cup, the cross-border competition featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga-MX.

Inter won it in 2023, Messi’s first season in MLS.

They will face reigning MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy or Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s final.

Orlando will play in a third-place game, and the top three finishers in the tournament earn berths in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

In a high-energy first half, Croatia’s Marco Pasalic silenced the crowd at Miami’s Chase Stadium with a goal in first-half added time.

Luis Muriel slipped a pass into the area and Maximiliano Falcon’s attempt to clear it instead saw the ball deflect back to Pasalic, who rifled a left-footed shot into the net.

Inter players appealed saying the ball hit Pasalic’s arm but VAR confirmed the goal.

Orlando, who had twice humbled their cross-state rivals this season, continued to stymie Inter in the second half.

Luis Suarez forced a save from Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese while Messi twice threatened in the area only to find himself swamped in a sea of defenders.

Inter coach Javier Mascherano was visibly frustrated as he watched from the stands, having received a red card during the quarter-final win over Tigres UANL.

Orlando lost some momentum in the 59th minute when Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez denied them a penalty shout after Sergio Busquets’ foul on Ivan Angulo.

And the momentum shifted irrevocably Miami’s way in the 74th minute when substitute Tadeo Allende drew a foul in the box.

David Brekalo’s challenge included a tug on Allende’s jersey and earned him a second yellow card.

He departed as Messi went to the spot, the Argentine great firing past Gallese into the lower right corner of the net.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi sparked joyous celebrations with his second goal 11 minutes later.

Orlando had won two prior matches against Miami this season by a combined 7-1 margin, including a 4-1 rout earlier this month.

 



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