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Manchester United 4 Athletic Club 1 (7

Published

7 months ago

May 9, 2025

It really will be Bilbao or bust for Manchester United, who will chance their arm at saving their season against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final later this month.

Ruben Amorim’s side came from behind to defeat Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford and book a high-stakes showdown with their fellow Premier League underachievers Spurs.

United were put through the wringer by Athletic for long spells, with their La Liga opponents taking a first-half lead through a powerful Mikel Jauregizar strike before substitute Mason Mount scored with the home side’s first shot on target of the game with 72 minutes on the clock.

Casemiro then stooped low to head home their second of the night, Rasmus Hojlund tapped home from a low cross from Amad, and then Mount got his second in style as he took advantage of out-of-position goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala and swept home into an empty net.

It all means that United will go toe-to-toe with Spurs at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium on Wednesday, May 21, after they swept aside Bodo/Glimt.

Laurie Whitwell, Anantaajith Raghuraman and Thom Harris break down the main talking points from United’s semi-final success.

United suffer first, then they shine

United’s first-half performance was nervous and error-strewn. Athletic Club taking the lead made the possibility of a dramatic, unprecedented collapse seem plausible.

But the game changed on Amorim’s substitutions. Mount, Luke Shaw and Amad all brought technical quality to United’s team. Mount’s first goal, a smart swivel and finish, eased the pressure entirely and United began to play proper football.

Casemiro celebrates putting United 2-1 ahead on the night (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Amad was central to Hojlund’s goal and Mount topped off the night with a stunning strike off his weaker left foot from near the halfway line — a semi-final sealed in style.

“It was too long (waiting for a night like that),” Mount said to TNT Sports after the game. “I carried on going, working hard in training every day and tried to stay positive and when I had an opportunity to try to make an impact.

“When I saw him (the goalkeeper) come out, I had it in my head if it comes to me, ‘first touch and shoot’. I didn’t want it to come on my left foot, and then I was just trying to get it on target. Same with the first goal: create the turn and try to get it in the net.

“The crowd has been unbelievable; they have stuck with us. These were my first goals at Old Trafford, a night I’ve been waiting a long time for. To go back to Bilbao is a special moment, and we want to finish strongly.”

Laurie Whitwell

Amorim’s substitutes change the game

Nothing wakes a team up quite like a triple substitution. With the game still hanging in the balance and United still nervy in and out of possession, Amorim replaced Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte. Amad, Shaw and Mount made their way on and that began United’s comeback on the night.

Dorgu shifting over to right wing-back meant United played two left-footed players on the right side — a rarity — but the reasoning was sound as it stretched the pitch against a tiring Athletic team.

Amad’s dribbling ability and pressing was valuable on both ends, with one turn away from an Athletic marker from the halfway line in the 83rd minute standing out. His combination with Dorgu produced a telling moment as well with the duo combining before Amad set up Rasmus Hojlund for United’s third.

Amad, Hojlund, Yoro and Dorgu celebrate with a selfie (Carl Recine – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Behind him, Mount put in a collection of actions that United have simply not seen since signing him from Chelsea, largely due to injuries. His goal, a curler from the right after a slaloming forward run from Leny Yoro, was brilliant but his off-the-ball work stood out too.

A crafty backheeled flick to fellow substitute Harry Amass was the biggest sign that this was a player who had got his confidence back. If that wasn’t enough, he scored a goal from near the halfway line from a poor goalkeeper clearance — a goal worthy of that heavy United No 7 jersey.

Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo, who replaced Casemiro after the Brazilian headed home Fernandes’ free-kick to make it 2-1, helped United see out the game with minimal hiccups.

Amorim has previously shown that he is shrewd with his substitutes. With a largely healthy squad finally available for him to call upon, that ability could prove crucial in the Europa League final against Tottenham: a team they are winless against in six games.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

Fernandes’ quality shines through

There was space to attack this evening for United, but throughout much of the early stages, there was only one player — no prizes for guessing — who looked genuinely capable of exploiting it.

The first half was particularly frantic, with Athletic pressing unusually high in search of a way back into the tie. They were frenetic on the ball too, anxious to get it forward quickly, and a moment of brilliance from Jauregizar aside, they missed the technical quality and composure of Oihan Sancet in midfield.

Centre-forward Maroan Sannadi threw his weight around, makeshift winger Unai Nunez huffed and puffed, but given the number of players the visitors committed forward, and how liable they were to losing it, the breakaway was always on.

Fernandes was the player to set United away for their first fast attack, poking a long ball through to Dorgu on 16 minutes, who took a fraction too long to release the pass. He produced an incisive, slide-rule pass for Dorgu again six minutes later, leading to a strong penalty claim, before zipping it up to Hojlund moments before Jaureguizar’s goal to start another quick break.

After practically winning this tie in Bilbao with two goals, his free-kick assist for Casemiro to finally see off the valiant visitors was just reward for another forward-thinking, adventurous display, a consistent bright spark in for what could have turned into a nervy night.

United eased away as Athletic ran out of steam, their substitutes stealing the late show with fluid football, but Fernandes’ threat — as always — bubbled beneath the surface, even when things were tough.

Thom Harris

Was the early pressure nearly too much for United to handle?

“We are prepared to fight to win the game, not thinking about the result (of the tie). Of course, that matters, in the way we are going to do things, especially at the start of the game, but we are thinking about winning the game.”

Those were Ruben Amorim’s words while previewing the second leg, and you get the sense he had something very different in mind compared to what unfolded on the pitch.

Athletic were always going to be the aggressors to start this game, with their press causing United the same issues they faced in the first leg. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte were denied easy access to the ball when United’s defenders had it as Athletic pressed forward in numbers.

It led to multiple unsuccessful attempts to play over the press. The one notable time they played through the press with short passes saw Bruno Fernandes release Patrick Dorgu, who went down in the box under minimal pressure from Andoni Gorosabel.

Without the ball, United’s structure took various forms. Athletic alternating between passing short when United pressed with two players and going long when Ugarte pushed up the pitch to join the front three caused issues. One of those long passes led to Jauregizar’s opener following a miscued Harry Maguire pass under no pressure, another sign of United’s nervousness to start the game.

That continued into the second half, too. Alvaro Djalo grew in confidence on the right flank, United misplaced passes, and their press was worked through far too easily, with Casemiro left alone to defend too much space. United were required to make numerous last-ditch interventions and it was a surprise Amorim waited more than an hour to make a triple substitution.

Amorim tries to cajole Manchester United into life against Athletic Club (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

Anantaajith Raghuraman

Dorgu’s mixed bag of a night

Before the game swung in the home side’s favour, Dorgu’s chaotic performance mirrored United’s in many ways. The wing-back was often the outlet down the left as he set off on speedy overlapping runs, but translating that into meaningful contributions was a harder task.

One such moment came after half an hour, when a set routine build-up saw Fernandes, under pressure, fire a sharp pass up to Hojlund, who held off the ball to Casemiro as Dorgu sprang down the wing. Casemiro’s pass set Dorgu free, but his cross to Garnacho was way off target, with Yuri Berchiche heading clear.

Dorgu also took the unusual approach of stealing a shot off Fernandes, bursting into the box from a deeper position on the left to take Garnacho’s cross. Fernandes, United’s top scorer, was primed, and Dorgu’s effort was blocked.

Patrick Dorgu goes down in the Athletic box (MB Media/Getty Images)

There were good moments too, though. He could have had a penalty when driving into the area and tangling with Andoni Gorosabel. Dorgu does invite contact when he dribbles, and while VAR neglecting to intervene was understandable, had the challenge happened anywhere else on the pitch a foul would likely have been given.

Then he should have had an assist when roaming into a central position, picking up the ball from Hojlund – curiously in deep midfield – and threading a pass to send Garnacho clear. Garnacho’s finish was too cute, but Dorgu had shown his adaptability.

He displayed more versatility after the break when switching to the right once Luke Shaw was introduced. It was his flick by the touchline that teed up Amad for a trademark burst into the box and shot.

So, much like United, Dorgu’s was not a perfect performance, but there was effort and, at 20 years old, scope to improve.

Laurie Whitwell

What did Amorim say?

Amorim told TNT Sports: “It is the least we can do for these fans for the support they give us in this tough season but I am stressed already because of the final.

“If you don’t win it, it is nothing. We are happy to be there. Let’s see.”

On Mount: “It is important for every player but when you see that kind of guy working hard every day, eating well, resting ice bath; he does everything.

“When you have this kind of player, you just want to help him and then the quality he has, he is perfect for that position because he can be a midfielder, he can run like a winger, he can play with this back to the goal, so I am really happy for him.”

What next for United?

Sunday, May 11: West Ham (Home), Premier League, 2.15pm UK, 9.15am ET

(Top photo: Carl Recine – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

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Dominique Brown Breaks Longstanding School Record As 31 Spartans Set PR’s at Visit Winston-Salem College Kick Off – University of South Carolina

Published

1 minute ago

December 7, 2025

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – USC Upstate track and field began the indoor season at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick Off today.
The first meet of the season was a successful one, highlighted by freshman Dominique Brown breaking the school record in the women’s 400m with her time of 57.51. The previous school record has stood for 10 years.

Head Coach Carson Blackwelder said, “This was a great start to the track season. We have a very talented team with a lot of potential ahead of us.” A total of 31different Spartans all set personal records in today’s meet.

In addition to Brown, Jenelda Aristhil earned a top finish in both the weight throw and shot put. Michael Moody placed third in the men’s long jump, going a distance of 7.00m.

Coach Blackwelder continued to praise his team, saying, “The 400m runners did a great job on Saturday, and we saw some of the fastest times in school history. The throwers hit some big marks and achieved PRs all around.”

Top Performances (Women):

Dominique Brown – 400m- 57.51 – fifth place (School Record)

Jenelda Aristhil – Weight Throw – 16.96m – fourth place (third all-time in school history)

Shot Put – 12.40m – seventh place (10th all-time in school history)

Paden Bell – 400m – 59.77 (eighth all-time in school history)

Ayla Osterkamp – 400m – 59.85 (ninth all-time in school history)

Aryanna Perez – High Jump – 1.49m (10th all-time in school history)

Jamyllah Handy – Triple Jump – 11.17m (seventh all-time in school history)

Personal Bests (Women)

Brittany Benson– 60m, 200m

Dominique Brown– 60m

Mya Jackson– 60m

Aryanna Perez– 60m Hurdles

Richard’ia Allen– 200m

Paden Bell– 400m

Ayla Osterkamp– 400m

Nia Glover– 400m

Emma Grace Kutilek– 800m

Aryanna Perez– High Jump, Long Jump

Jamyllah Handy– Long Jump, Triple Jump

Jenelda Aristhil– Shot Put, Weight

Saniyah Joyner– Shot Put

Top Performances (Men):

Michael Moody – Long Jump – 7.00m – third place (fifth all-time in school history )

Quintavius James – 60m – 6.83 – fourth place

Jalen Clark – Long Jump – 6.95m – fifth place (sixth all-time in school history)

Collin Bui-Hayes – 60m – 6.88 – seventh place (fourth all-time in school history)

Jeremiah Harris – 200m – 21.53 – seventh place (second all-time in school history)

Shriyaan Krishnaraj – 400m – 48.94 (second all-time in school history)

Elias Harrison – 800m -1:57.98 – 7th place

Pierce Mosley – Shot Put – 14.46m (sixth all-time in school history

Weight – 15.48m – sixth place

Joshua Sterling – Weight- 17.52m – 3rd place (fourth all-time in school history)

Shot Put – 13.68m (10th all-time in school history)

Hunter, Walston, Ruff, Krishnaraj – 4x400m – 2:22.12 – fifth place

Personal Bests

Collin Bui-Hayes– 60m

Evan Daniels– 60m

Jared Isley– 60m Hurdles

ZaCorian Johnson– 200m

Khalif Walston– 200m

Cason McKinney– 200m

Jeremiah Harris– 200m

Shriyaan Krishnaraj– 400m

Chandler Hunter– 400m

Jacob Ruff– 400m

Aidan Kenny– High Jump

Michael Moody– Long Jump

Pierce Mosley– Shot Put

Joshua Sterling– Shot Put

Sam Ketch– Shot Put

Nathaniel Bruce– Shot Put

Tristan Pressley– Triple Jump

Jaylen Pressley– Triple Jump

Up Next for the Spartans

The Spartans resume the season in January, competing at the Tryon International Classic held on the 16th and 17th.

Connect with the Spartans

Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics

Twitter | @UpstateXCTrack @UpstateSpartans

Instagram | @UpstateXCTrack @UpstateSpartans

YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans

INVEST IN CHAMPIONS – Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!

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Where to stream Kansas State Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament today

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2 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers look to keep their impressive season going on Saturday night, as they get set to host the Kansas State Wildcats in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Nebraska looked impressive in the first round of the tournament, vanquishing the Long Island Sharks in straight sets.

The Cornhuskers rolled toward another Big Ten championship. Nebraska has been dominant. Not only are they undefeated, but they have also been nearly untouchable. For two months, the team did not lose a set. The team then went on to win its final five matches in straight sets, clinching a third consecutive Big Ten Championship.

Now, the program that has played in every national tournament since the AIAW days has its sights set on advancing to the final four for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Nebraska looks to avenge last year’s disappointing semifinal exit at the hands of the eventual national champions, Penn State.

They take on a Kansas State that had to work hard to upset San Diego in the opening round, winning in straight sets on Friday. The Wildcats, who are playing in the national tournament for the first time in four years, look to grab the biggest of upsets and move on to the regional semifinal for the first time since 2011.

NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Second Round

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

When: Saturday, December 6

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center (Lincoln, Neb.)

Stream: ESPN+

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Jane Hedengren Obliterates the NCAA 5K Record in Boston

Published

18 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Two weeks after finishing second at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships, freshman Jane Hedengren shattered the collegiate record in the 5,000 meters.

On Saturday, December 6, the Brigham Young University standout won the women’s elite race in 14:44.79 at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. With a huge surge in the second half of the race, Hedengren improved on the previous indoor collegiate record (14:52.57) set by Doris Lemngole of Alabama at the same meet in Boston last year.

Hedengren also broke the combined collegiate record (indoor and outdoor track), 14:52.18, set by Parker Valby at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hedengren is now No. 2 on the U.S. all-time list and No. 11 on the world all-time list in the event, indoors.

“This season, there’s been a lot of growth, and I think there’s still so much to build on, lots of gratitude approaching this race and this season, and I’m excited to keep working,” Hedengren told Nia Gibson on the FloTrack broadcast after the race.

Hedengren showed her dominance early at Boston University’s indoor facility. From the gun, Hedengren and Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico both positioned themselves behind pacesetter Ellie Leather through the first mile in 4:48, on pace for a 14:55 finish. By the 2K split, both athletes had pulled ahead of the chase pack by 50 meters.

That gap continued to grow heading into the halfway mark as the cross-country rivals dueled for the lead. Just after the 3,000-meter split, which the pair covered in 8:59, Hedengren surged ahead of Kosgei and never looked back.

For the last 2,000 meters, Hedengren knocked off blazing 34 to 35-second splits for each lap until throwing down an impressive 66-second close for the final 400 meters. Her teammate, Riley Chamberlain, battled for second-place in 14:58.97, a 25-second personal best. Kosgei finished third in 15:05:41.

Before she graduated from Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, last spring, Hedengren broke nine national records on the track—including the 5,000 meters in April when she became the first high school girl to go sub-15 for the distance.

At 19 years old, Hedengren has already emerged as an NCAA leader in her first season running for the Cougars. In October, she dominated the Pre-National Invitational and shattered the course record in her collegiate cross-country debut. She went on to win the Big 12 Championships and NCAA Mountain Region Championships by huge margins.

In late November, Hedengren was competing for the win at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships but couldn’t match the closing speed of Lemngole, the defending champion. With a surge in the last kilometer of the race in Columbia, Missouri, the junior from Kenya claimed the 6K title in 18:25, about 13 seconds ahead of Hedengren.

In a quick turnaround to the track season, Hedengren earned a form of redemption in Boston. She is the most recent athlete in the last several years to break the collegiate record at the indoor season opener, which many elite athletes utilize as a final push of fitness before the holidays. Lemngole—and Valby prior to her—set the indoor record at the same meet.

Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.

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Gophers volleyball wins NCAA Tournament opener, avoids St. Thomas matchup

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19 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

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Minnesota volleyball opened NCAA Tournament play on Friday at Maturi Pavilion with a dominant sweep over Fairfield University. It marks the 11th straight year that the Gophers have won a first-round game.

And we dance on 💃 pic.twitter.com/k5zoEO1vPU

— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) December 6, 2025

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The Gophers were seeded fourth in their region after a 22-9 regular-season campaign. The other game in their Minneapolis pod was five-seed Iowa State against in-state foe St. Thomas, which played its first-ever game in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Cyclones won a five-set battle before Minnesota’s game.

“I’m proud of our team for playing our brand of volleyball. Serving, blocking and playing really clean. Tomorrow will be a big challenge. Iowa State is a great team in a lot of facets, especially defensively,” Minnesota head coach Keegan Cook said after the game.

Minnesota already beat St. Thomas three sets to one in a nonconference game in August, but an NCAA Tournament clash in the Tommies’ first season eligible would’ve felt like a huge contest. Ultimately, Iowa State will face the Gophers on Saturday night at 7 p.m. CT at Maturi Pavilion with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

The Cyclones had an impressive 22-7 regular-season campaign, and a 12-6 mark in the Big 12. Saturday’s showdown should be a great contest between two of the better college volleyball programs in the Midwest.

Elliot and Thuotte Highlight Men’s Indoor Track and Field Season Opener

Published

34 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

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BOSTON, Mass. — Regis College men’s track and field kicked off their indoor season today at the Reggie Lewis Center, competing in the Suffolk Relays and setting two new program records.

Senior Brady Elliot (Charlestown, N.H.) made an impressive debut for the Pride, placing second in the men’s high jump with a leap of 1.85 meters, establishing a new indoor program record. Elliot also competed in the long jump, finishing 12th with a distance of 6.06 meters. Joseph Doughty (Woburn, Mass.) added a seventh-place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.70 meters.

Justin Thuotte (Lebanon, Conn.) earned three top-ten finishes. His best came in the shot put, where he took third with throw of 12.82 meters to set a new personal best. Thuotte also placed fifth in the long jump, setting a new indoor program record with a leap of 6.65 meters, and finished seventh in the weight throw with a mark of 13.28 meters. Ryan Sweeney (Lynn, Mass.) joined Thuotte on the shot put leaderboard, finishing fourth with a toss of 12.65 meters. Sweeney also set a personal best in the weight throw with an 11.28 meter toss.

Jalen Jones (Everett, Mass.) claimed fifth place in the triple jump with a mark of 11.94 meters. Meanwhile, DJ Marks (Medford, Mass.) and Luc Willems (Belchertown, Mass.) rounded out the top ten finishers in the high jump and men’s 1000m, respectively. Marks cleared 1.60 meters in the high jump, and Willems crossed the line in 3:18.18 in the 1000-meter run.

In the men’s 1600 sprint medley relay, the team of Zach Olaywole (Marlborough, Mass.), Jones, Elliot, and Nathan Thomas (Medford, Mass.) finished 13th overall with a time of 4:13.28.

The Pride will quickly turn around as they head to UMass Boston tomorrow for the Beacon Season Opener.

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No. 25 Women’s Volleyball Falls to No. 3 Texas in NCAA Second Round – Penn State

Published

35 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 25 Penn State’s 45^th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament came to an end in the second round Saturday with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19) loss to No. 3 Texas at Gregory Gymnasium. The Nittany Lions close the season at 19-13 overall, while the Longhorns move on with a record of 25-3.

The loss snapped Penn State’s seven-match NCAA Tournament winning streak, which included six victories on the way to last year’s national title. The Nittany Lions remain second in the nation with eight national titles, trailing only Stanford’s nine.

Kennedy Martin tallied 16 kills for Penn State and has now recorded double-digit kills for the 83^rd-consecutive match when she plays at least three sets. Caroline Jurevicius finished with seven kills, while Emmi Sellman chipped in with five.

Gillian Grimes wrapped up an outstanding collegiate career with a team-high 11 digs. She leaves Penn State as a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, making the first team this season and the second team as a junior last season. She now turns her attention to the pro ranks, where she will play for the San Diego Mojo of Major League Volleyball. Grimes was recently picked by the Mojo in the third round of the MLV Draft.

Torrey Stafford led Texas to the win, hitting .556 with 21 kills. Abby Vander Wal joined her in double-digits with 10 kills, while Cari Spears was next with nine.

Penn State now holds an 11-10 lead in the all-time series with Texas. The teams are knotted at 2-2 in NCAA Tournament matchups against each other.

Saturday’s matchup featured the past three national champions as Texas won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 and Penn State took home the trophy last season.

The 2025 Penn State women’s volleyball season is presented by Musselman’s.

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