Rob Smyth's Blog, page 55

French Open 2023: Djokovic and Alcaraz through in straight sets – as it happened

Carlos Alcaraz produed a scintillating display against Lorenzo Musetti, while Novak Djokovic played his best tennis of the tournament so far

Khachanov 1-6, 3-2 Sonego In the other game, Khachanov has broken Sonego to go ahead in the second set.

Pavlyuchenkova 3-6 1-3 Mertens

Continue reading...

Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United: FA Cup final 2023 – as it happened

Ilkay Gundogan scored two volleys, the first after 13 seconds, as Manchester City won a hard-fought game to move within one game of the treble

Third round Everton (H) 3-1

Fourth round Reading (H) 3-1

Fifth round West Ham (H) 3-1

Quarter-final Fulham (H) yep, 3-1

Semi-final Brighton (N) 0-0 (7-6 pens)

Third round Chelsea (H) 4-0

Fourth round Arsenal (H) 1-0

Fifth round Bristol City (A) 3-0

Quarter-final Burnley (H) 6-0

Semi-final Sheff Utd (N) 3-0

Continue reading...

Dreams come true for Halifax and Ascot United on non-league finals day | Rob Smyth

FC Halifax Town won the FA Trophy thanks to Jamie Cooke and Kai Walters seized the FA Vase for Ascot United

English football’s elite have never felt so far removed from the everymen further down the pyramid, but there remains one bit of common ground: Wembley Stadium, a place that defines seasons and sometimes careers. At non-league finals day, the double header that has become a rich addition (spiritually if not financially) to the English football calendar, Kai Walters of Ascot United and Jamie Cooke of FC Halifax Town were carved on to the list of players who have lived the ultimate childhood daydream by scoring a winning goal at Wembley.

Non-league finals day, which started in 2016, is an opportunity for four teams from outside the English Football League to see how the other half live. It combines the finals of the FA Vase, the knockout trophy for teams in tiers nine and 10 of English men’s football, and the FA Trophy (tiers five to eight). There’s none of the entitlement and ennui you sometimes see when the biggest clubs return to Wembley, and the mood around the stadium is subtly different: eyes are a little wider, smiles a little broader, songs a little lustier.

Continue reading...

Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened

Spurs came back from 3-0 down to equalise in injury time, only for Diogo Jota to settle an extraordinary game

Match report: Man Utd 1-0 Aston Villa

Lads. LADS!

Continue reading...

Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester United: Women’s Super League – as it happened

The substitute Millie Turner scored an immense injury-time header to give the leaders a vital victory that maintained their title challenge

4 min Another long-range shot from Zelem goes a few yards wide of the left post. She made the opportunity for herself with a lovely first touch away from Staniforth (I think).

3 min Zelem slips while hitting a long-range shot; it’s straight down Hampton’s throat and she holds on despite an awkward bounce just in front.

Continue reading...

Football Daily | Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and two bites of the Championship cherry

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!

For those who don’t believe in the sporting concept of mental scarring, 2022-23 has been a smugness-inducing season. Arsenal, who missed out on Big Cup qualification last year after a shattering collapse, were supposed to start this season with a hangover. Instead they Tiggered their way to the top of the Premier League, staying there for almost the entire season, and ultimately what has happened in the last three weeks has got nothing to do with the narrative we’re peddling! An even more impressive – and sustained – display of bouncebackability, mind, has occurred in League One. A year ago this weekend, a wobbling Plymouth Argyle played their last league game at home to MK Dons, knowing a win would almost certainly ensure a playoff place. They lost 5-0.

Continue reading...

Everton 1-4 Newcastle, Southampton 0-1 Bournemouth: clockwatch – as it happened

Callum Wilson scored twice as Newcastle hammered Everton, while Marcus Tavernier’s goal moved Bournemouth closer to safety

GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea (agg: 2-1: Reiten 67)

Ahem! Chelsea are back in tie thanks to Guro Reiten, who slammed the ball into the net after Sandra Panos made a terrific save from Sam Kerr.

Continue reading...

Brighton 0-0 Man Utd (6-7 on pens): FA Cup semi-final – as it happened

Solly March’s miss was decisive as Manchester United went through on penalties after an absorbing goalless draw

“I used to think ‘and Smith must score’ was a bit harsh,” says Niall Mullen, “that it wasn’t that easy a chance. But, watching it again recently, he really should’ve scored.”

I don’t think it’s that bad – it’s not like he launched it towards Enfield. It’s the context that makes it so famous I guess. Also, of course, we didn’t have xG in 1983. Looking back, they were chilling times.

Continue reading...

Liverpool 3-2 Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton: clockwatch – as it happened

Mo Salah settled an Anfield ding-dong, Everton held on with 10 men and Leicester won for the first time since mid-February

Pre-match reading

“Dearest, Rob,” writes, Liverpool, fan, Ian Copestake. “I have a frien...acquaintance who has let it be known that if his and my own team loses against Forest this will be a good thing because it may cause Everton to circle the drain. I tell you I am shocked by the lack of neighbourliness.”

Continue reading...

Arsenal 3-3 Southampton: Premier League – as it happened

Arsenal scored two very late goals to rescue an astonishing game, but a draw wasn’t much good to either side

“Very stressed about this one,” says Rachel Clifton, and she’s not talking as an Arsenal fan. “At least it’s a gorgeous spring day in nyc (that I am missing to sit inside the pub to watch the football obvs).”

“Rob, I assume that you have an army of sulky interns who do your bidding, as you sit back in your easy chair and watch the game while sipping something enjoyable?” says Charles Antaki. “If so, you might get them to look out one of those ‘Game Over!’ gifs from old video games to play when Arsenal go 3-2 down after being 2-0 up. Just to beat the rush, I’m getting my fatalism in now.”

Continue reading...