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They might not have won, but Chelsea put in an incredible performance against Arsenal on Sunday evening.

Enzo Maresca’s side were comfortably on top for most of the first half, and even when Moises Caicedo got himself sent off, they remained competitive.

Moreover, there were sensational displays from across the pitch for the hosts, including, of course, Reece James.

However, there was another starter, someone who was previously lambasted by Gary Neville, who was just as crucial to the result.

James' performance vs Arsenal

James has undoubtedly been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League for some time now, but Maresca has taken to playing him in midfield more often this season.

The Italian opted to start his captain there again on Sunday, and while there was plenty of talk around the battle between Declan Rice and Caicedo, it was the Cobham graduate who stole the show.

For example, while Trevoh Chalobah was the one who headed home the Blues’ goal, it was the versatile James who delivered it with pinpoint accuracy from the corner.

However, the academy graduate did far more than just provide an assist.

In his 94 minutes of action, he played two key passes, won 100% of his tackles, won 11 of 12 duels, didn’t get dribbled past at all, recovered the ball twice, completed three of his four crosses, took one shot and completed 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

94′

Assists

1

Big Chances Created

1

Key Passes

2

Crosses (Accurate)

4 (3)

Shots

1

Touches

50

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls Won

4

Interception

1

Clearances

1

Recoveries

2

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (6)

Aerial Duels (Won)

6 (5)

In addition to all the measurable metrics, the 25-year-old also showed his leadership skills, helping to marshal the team in the moments the Gunners exerted pressure of their own.

Described as “absolutely ridiculous” by one analyst and “gargantuan” by presenter Olivia Buzaglo, the Redbridge-born international was unsurprisingly, and deservedly, named as the man of the match.

Without him in the middle of the park, there is a good chance that Chelsea would not have won that game, which is what could be said about another starter who has been heavily criticised over the last few seasons.

The Chelsea star on a par with James

The excellent news for Maresca and the Stamford Bridge faithful is that there were more than a few starters who truly shone last night.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Be it Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernández or even Pedro Neto, who carried the ball up the pitch and into dangerous areas again and again.

However, when it comes to someone who was previously lambasted but exceptional against Arsenal, it’s impossible to look past Robert Sanchez.

Prior to this season, the Spanish goalkeeper was seen as something of a blunder waiting to happen between the sticks, and to some extent, that is what he’s been for much of his time in West London.

In fact, just last season, after a loss against Manchester City in which he was at fault for one of Erling Haaland’s goals, Gary Neville claimed “he’s not good enough.”

However, since the start of this season, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has been far more impressive, and on Sunday evening, he was as important as James for the Blues’ win.

On top of stopping a number of good efforts, like Gabriel Martinelli’s in the first half, the 28-year-old was effective in possession and confident in collecting crosses.

In fact, football.london’s Bobby Vincent awarded the keeper an 8/10 match rating at full time, writing that it was a ‘top performance.’

Minutes

94′

Total Saves

3

Saves in the Box

2

Goals Prevented

1.18

High Claims

2

Key Passes

1

Touches

60

Recoveries

11

Unsurprisingly, the statistics back up this appraisal: in his 94 minutes of action, the shot-stopper made three saves, two of which came inside the box, prevented 1.18 goals, made two high claims, played one key pass, took 60 touches and recovered the ball 11 times.

Ultimately, while it will take some time to shift his old reputation, Sanchez is well on his way to doing so, and was as important as James in Chelsea’s draw on Sunday.

Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"

The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 30, 2025

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Durante a partida contra o Bolívar pela Libertadores, os torcedores do Flamengo aproveitaram para criticar o desempenho de Wesley na altitude. Para alguns rubro-negros o lateral-direito está dando um desgosto absurdo. Confira as reações abaixo.

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Veteran starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel is in agreement with the Kansas City Royals on a minor league contract, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The 37-year-old former Cy Young winner held a workout last week and hit 92 miles per hour on the radar gun. He will report to Triple-A. If he makes it back to the majors, he will earn $2 million prorated.

Keuchel started four games for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, where he gave up 10 runs over 16.2 innings pitched – good for a 5.40 ERA. He was designated for assignment following his four starts with the franchise.

Keuchel has bounced around quite a bit in recent years, but the Royals are taking a shot on him in hopes he can find a semblance of prior form.

Returning to the SA fold for the first time since March, he says the time away has left him clearer about the next phase of his career

Firdose Moonda08-Dec-2025

David Miller last played for South Africa in the Champions Trophy semi-final in March•Associated Press

South Africa’s serious stuff, in the form of back-to-back Test series in the subcontinent, is over. Their experimental stuff, over the course of an ODI series that began preparations for the home World Cup in 2027, is also over. Now, it’s time for the fun stuff, with a T20 carnival that will last for the next three months.There’s five against India, a month of the SA20 over the holiday season, three against West Indies and then the big one: the T20 World Cup, where South Africa are aiming to go one better than they did in 2024. There, they went on a magnificent eight-match unbeaten run to reach the final and had one hand on the trophy before a spectacular collapse saw India claim a sensational win. David Miller, who was dismissed as the final over began with 16 runs to get, was among the most distraught as South Africa watched another trophy slip away.Post-tournament, he has only played 10 white-ball internationals out of a possible 54. His last appearance for South Africa was in the Champions Trophy semi-final in March, where he scored a hundred in a losing cause. Since then, South Africa have had a change of white-ball coach, gone on to win the World Test Championship final and have played in some entertaining series everywhere from Zimbabwe to India.Miller, who is halfway to 37, may have raised questions about his future through his absence but it’s explainable. He was given special dispensation to miss the Australia series to play in the Hundred. He then picked up a hamstring injury that sidelined him for several months. Now, he is fully fit and raring to go as South Africa begin the quest to complete unfinished business.Related

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“It’s just great to be back. It’s been great watching the guys back at home even though I always feel I want to be there, but the guys have been doing so well, and it’s been lovely to watch,” Miller said from Cuttack, where the series against India will begin on Tuesday. “It’s been an interesting couple of months for me, just being at home and reflecting on a few things was really cool. I moved into a different space by trying out different things with my body and tapping into a few different training regimes. It was actually a really good time away. I enjoyed it. You’ve got to take the positives from what’s negative so it was really good. I’m feeling strong. I’m feeling fit and I’m feeling ready to go.”Is the possibility of trying for another World Cup title what keeps Miller going? Maybe, because he seems to suggest South Africa are getting closer. “I’ve spoken to a lot of different people and teams that have been very successful over the years with league trophies and World Cups and I don’t think there’s really one recipe to win a World Cup. It takes a team effort, it takes a group effort, management and players included. And it’s about standing up when the moments matter,” he said.”Looking back on that previous World Cup where we got to the final, there were some very, very close games throughout that World Cup and we got over the line, so you build confidence as you go along. We’re going to need some of that moving forward. In terms of players, there’s a huge group and pool of players that are putting up their hands so it’s going to be tough for the selectors. We’re really in a good space.”In personnel terms, South Africa have welcomed back two of their standout performers from the last T20 World Cup in Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. Though Heinrich Klaasen has retired from international cricket, and Bjorn Fortuin and Gerald Coetzee were not chosen, they have Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch and George Linde while only Kagiso Rabada (who has a rib injury) is missing from a first-choice squad. They also have a different support staff to the one that oversaw the last T20 World Cup after Rob Walter’s resignation. Shukri Conrad has taken over the all-format coaching duties, with a support staff that includes batting coach Ashwell Prince, bowling coach Piet Botha and fielding coach Kruger van Wyk.It will be Miller’s first time working closely with Conrad. With the success Conrad has had with the Test, Miller is looking forward to the interaction. “I’ve dealt with Shukri very briefly in the past, in the one-off series against England a couple of years ago (January-February 2023) in South Africa where he was an interim coach and then a couple of A-side games in the past quite a few years ago. I’ve not had a lot of dealing with Shukri, but obviously over the years you always see each other and we get on really well,” Miller said. “He’s done superbly well, so it’s good to be on the train.”Along the way, Miller will also begin to have discussions with Conrad about his ODI role, as South Africa build to the home World Cup in 2027. “I haven’t had good chats yet with Shukri but now that I am back in the mix, we’ll be opening up those conversations and seeing where we’re at,” Miller said. “The ODI World Cup is just under two years away, there’s a lot of new players that have come through and a big pool of players now that are doing really well. I feel like I can add something with my experience. In terms of selection, you’re never guaranteed with certain things in life so it’s a conversation that will unfold as the months go on and see where we’re at.”Given the choice, Miller would opt in as South Africa’s stocks seem to keep rising and the fun, just beginning. “Obviously, I would love to play a part for South Africa as long as I can, but it’s just being real with certain conversations and time,” he said. “I’m 36 now and I’m feeling that I do have to step up off the field. I’m being a lot more diligent and a lot more consistent in training and being as fit as I can is something that I’m going to focus on a lot. I’m also a lot more in control with my emotions and pressure. I’m a lot clearer in my thinking, making better decisions under pressure and understanding the match situation.”

أثنت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو المقربة من نادي برشلونة على لاعب الفريق، وذلك في انتصار الفريق الكتالوني أمس الثلاثاء على أتلتيكو مدريد بالدوري الإسباني.

وحسم برشلونة قمة الجولة الـ15 من الدوري الإسباني، وذلك بعدما حقق الانتصار على أتلتيكو مدريد بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف على ملعب كامب نو.

وشارك بيدري جونزاليس لأول مرة مع برشلونة بشكل أساسي منذ عودته من الإصابة، والتي كان يعاني منها وأبعدته عن صفوف البارسا لمدة تجاوزت الشهر.

بيدري لعب كبديل خلال مباراة برشلونة أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس يوم السبت الماضي، والتي انتهت بفوز برشلونة 3-1، قبل أن يلعب بشكل أساسي أمس.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بالدي بعد فوز برشلونة على أتلتيكو مدريد: نشعر بـ”قلة تقدير”

وأشادت موندو بمستوى بيدري في مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد، حيث صنع اللاعب الشاب هدف برشلونة الأول والذي جاء عن طريق رافينها.

وأشارت الصحيفة، إلى أن عودة بيدري إلى تشكيلة برشلونة الأساسية أتت تأثيرها سريعًا مع البلوجرانا، حيث كان الفريق الكتالوني يفتقد إلى قوته وقدرته على السيطرة على الخصوم وخلق الفرص.

وخشى مدرب برشلونة، هانز فليك، على بيدري من الإصابة ليقوم باستبداله في آخر 20 دقيقة من المباراة ضد أتلتيكو مدريد ليحل محله مارك كاسادو.

وأبرزت موندو أرقام بيدري في المباراة، والذي أكمل 60 تمريرة صحيحة من أصل 64 تمريرة ولمس الكرة 70 مرة، كما قام بالربط مع زملائه في برشلونة في الثلث الأخير من الملعب 14 مرة، في حين أكمل ثلاث مراوغات ناجحة من أصل ثلاث محاولات.

ولم يكتفي بيدري بتأثيره الهجومي فقط ضد أتلتيكو مدريد، حيث تحدثت موندو عن دور اللاعب الدفاعي والذي استعاد الكرة أمس 8 مرات كثاني أكثر لاعب في الملعب يستعيد الكرة بعد زميله في برشلونة، لامين يامال برصيد 9 مرات.

وينتظر برشلونة مباراة صعبة الأسبوع المقبل ضد ريال بيتيس، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة ال16 من الدوري الإسباني في لقاء صعب لرفاق بيدري.

Marlins rookie Maximo Acosta had a moment he'll never forget in Miami's win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night and making things all the more special was that his family was in the crowd to witness it firsthand.

Acosta, the No. 25-ranked prospect in the Marlins' organization, not only got his first career hit in the victory but he did in style, sending a 1-0 pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning well over the wall in straightaway center field.

Acosta's family was shown on the broadcast going nuts in celebration of his incredible achievement as he circled the bases.

This was a pretty awesome scene at LoanDepot Park:

Acosta had gone hitless in his first eight at-bats in the majors before crushing that home run.

What a night for the Acostas.

Teams settle for enthralling draw after Hampshire’s enterprising declaration

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025 Hampshire 293 (Middleton 79, Weatherley 62, Taylor 5-55) and 313 for 7 dec (Gubbins 84, Organ 45*) drew with Worcestershire 249 (Libby 100*, Hose 82, Baker 5-72) and 303 for 8 (Libby 106, Kashif 65)Worcestershire produced a bold and spirited run-chase on the final day at Visit Worcestershire New Road, before the Rothesay County Championship Division One fixture against Hampshire ended in a gripping draw.Chasing a daunting target of 358 in just 53 overs after Hampshire’s enterprising post-lunch declaration on 313 for 7, the home side carried hope of completing one of the Championship’s most dramatic final-day turnarounds.In a match that ebbed and flowed throughout, it was Jake Libby’s second magnificent century of the game, a perfectly judged 106 off 122 balls, that fuelled Worcestershire’s pursuit. With solid support from Kashif Ali (65 from 79) and a string of aggressive cameos down the order, the chase was very much alive deep into the final hour. But with wickets falling, the hosts closed on 303 for 8, 55 runs shy of their target.Resuming on 139 for 2 overnight, Hampshire batted with purpose to build their second-innings lead, despite a short interruption from rain. Nick Gubbins anchored the innings with a fluent 84, while Tilak Varma added 38 and Felix Organ struck an unbeaten 45 from 54 balls.There were contributions all the way down the order, with Joe Weatherley (25), Tom Prest (27), and James Fuller (26) all chipping in to maintain momentum. Ben Allison (2 for 58) and Ethan Brookes (2 for 54) were the pick of the Worcestershire attack, with Taylor, Waite, and Finch each taking a wicket.Hampshire’s declaration just after lunch, setting Worcestershire 358 to win in a minimum of 53 overs, showed real intent, and set the stage for an enthralling afternoon.Worcestershire’s chase got off to a stuttering start when Gareth Roderick was adjudged run out for 4 in the very first over, but from then on, the home side turned the game on its head.Libby and Kashif added a superb 134 for the second wicket in just over an hour and a half. The pair struck the ball cleanly and rotated the strike with authority, bringing up their respective half-centuries in fine style. Libby, who had scored just one previous Championship hundred this season, was timing the ball sweetly and accelerated confidently after reaching fifty.Kashif, too, looked composed, striking six fours and two sixes before falling lbw to Sonny Baker for a brisk 65. At tea, Worcestershire were 61 for 1 from 15 overs, very much in the game.The final session saw drama at every turn. Worcestershire kept pushing with a string of aggressive middle-order contributions. Adam Hose clubbed a quick 25 from 18 balls before being bowled by Eddie Jack, who proved a key figure with 3 for 63. Brookes (12), D’Oliveira (37 off 23), Waite (19), and Taylor (25 from 18) all took the fight to Hampshire’s bowlers, but wickets began to fall regularly.Libby reached a majestic hundred, his 13th for Worcestershire, but was finally bowled by Fuller as he looked to push on, the score 213/5.Still, the hosts didn’t relent. D’Oliveira’s cameo, five crisp boundaries in 23 balls, briefly reignited hopes, but follow the Worcestershire skippers dismissal, Allison and Finch saw the Pears safely through to the close.

Thursday night's Game 4 of the ALCS was as close to must-win as a non-elimination game could get for the Blue Jays.

After all, the Jays lost both home games to start the series, and traveled to Seattle with a 2–0 deficit and the tide up against them. But Toronto took Game 3 in decisive fashion, and Game 4 put the Blue Jays in a position to tie the series up.

Toronto gave the ball to 41-year-old Max Scherzer, a career bulldog whose production has tapered off over the last few seasons while he has battled various injuries. But Scherzer had his stuff on Thursday night, and as he pitched into the fifth inning with a 5–1 lead, a runner reached first base when Jays manager John Schneider paid the veteran a mound visit.

There was no way Scherzer was going to let his skipper take him out of the game.

Scherzer won the debate with Schneider, and proved his manager's decision to leave him in the game to be the right one. Scherzer struck out Randy Arozarena on an off-speed pitch to get out of the inning, and celebrated emphatically as he exited the field toward the dugout.

Scherzer would ultimately pitch into the sixth inning before being pulled with two outs in the frame, exiting with a 5–2 lead and in line to earn the win. He picked up the playoff W later when Toronto secured the 8–2 victory to even the ALCS against Seattle at two games apiece.

What a night for the 41-year-old when the Jays needed him most.

Game 5 of the series is Friday at 6:08 p.m. ET.

Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left his team's game Monday against the Pirates after he made an incredible stretch to get an out at first base.

Shortstop Bo Bichette made an off-balanced throw to first on a ground ball that forced Guerrero to stretch as far as he could to capture the ball before Pirates shortstop Jared Triolo could touch the bag. Guerrero did the splits as he caught the ball and kept his back foot on the base to record a miraculous final out to the third inning:

He may have gotten slightly injured on the play, however, as the Blue Jays pinch hit Ty France for Guerrero in the fifth inning, removing the star first baseman from the game. The team provided an official update that he was removed from the game with left hamstring tightness. He did come up a bit gingerly after the acrobatic play, but ran back to the dugout following the out. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

Guerrero leads the Blue Jays with 21 home runs this season. He's slashing .300/.398/.500 and has added 68 RBIs in his seventh season with the team. He made a similar play last week to get an out.

Clayton Kershaw has seen just about everything one possibly could on an MLB pitcher's mound throughout his 18 years in the show. But he may have experienced a career first during his outing on Thursday against the Rockies.

Midway through the third inning, Kershaw had a batter pinned with an 0-2 count when he went for the payoff pitch. While winding up to throw, however, something malfunctioned, and Kershaw ended up stuttering before spiking the ball into the ground not even halfway to the plate.

Kershaw typically has a pretty slow pitching motion, but he seemed to take a bit of extra time to get the ball out in this instance. Whatever hitch occurred was an awkward one, as he delivered maybe the worst pitch of his entire career.

The pitch was officially tracked as a 58 mph curveball, which of course, bounced on the grass in between the mound and the batters box. Ball one.

Kershaw ended up getting the strikeout on Ryan Ritter, though it certainly didn't look how he'd imagined it in his head. The 37-year-old improved to 8-2 on the season after throwing 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts, three earned runs and one walk on the road in Colorado.