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Manchester United beats Brentford 2-1 to take huge step forward for Champions League return  Third-placed Manchester United put some daylight between itself and chasing Liverpool and Aston Villa with a clinical 2-1 win at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Monday.United moved three points above its rivals and took a huge step toward ensuring it will play Champions League football next season for the first time since 2024.Casemiro, just weeks before he departs the club, sneaked in at the back post to head United into the lead after 11 minutes. It was his 11th headed goal since he joined United in August 2022, a record bettered only by Erling Haaland (18), Ollie Watkins (16) and Chris Wood (13).Although Brentford was equal to the host in an entertaining first half it was United which doubled its lead on the cusp of the break.Benjamin Sesko took a simple pass from Bruno Fernandes to finish off a swift counterattack and assure the talismanic midfielder of his 19th assist of the season, a league high, and only one away from equalling the Premier League record.“Me and Bruno Fernandes work a lot on the training pitch and it is paying off,” Sesko said. “Knowing I have a teammate with this quality is a pleasure and I have to use it.”Both sides had chances in a quieter second half but Brentford especially was profligate in front of goal.Mathias Jensen’s long-range strike in the 87th minute gave it some hope but United held on to ensure another disappointing result for Keith Andrews’ men.“Bitterly disappointed,” Andrews told the BBC. “Overall our performance was very good. As a collective we went toe to toe with a good side and controlled large parts of the game. They were more clinical than us.”Brentford remained in ninth place, tied on points with Chelsea and Fulham, but it has not won in the league since February.However, its hopes of clinching European football for the first time remain alive and Andrews was optimistic.“There is absolute belief in everything we do,” Andrews said. “We are not playing safe, I don’t want us to be that team. We set up in a brave fashion against a top team tonight and unfortunately we couldn’t quite get there’”Published on Apr 28, 2026  #Manchester #United #beats #Brentford #huge #step #Champions #League #return

Manchester United beats Brentford 2-1 to take huge step forward for Champions League return

Third-placed Manchester United put some daylight between itself and chasing Liverpool and Aston Villa with a clinical 2-1 win at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Monday.

United moved three points above its rivals and took a huge step toward ensuring it will play Champions League football next season for the first time since 2024.

Casemiro, just weeks before he departs the club, sneaked in at the back post to head United into the lead after 11 minutes. It was his 11th headed goal since he joined United in August 2022, a record bettered only by Erling Haaland (18), Ollie Watkins (16) and Chris Wood (13).

Although Brentford was equal to the host in an entertaining first half it was United which doubled its lead on the cusp of the break.

Benjamin Sesko took a simple pass from Bruno Fernandes to finish off a swift counterattack and assure the talismanic midfielder of his 19th assist of the season, a league high, and only one away from equalling the Premier League record.

“Me and Bruno Fernandes work a lot on the training pitch and it is paying off,” Sesko said. “Knowing I have a teammate with this quality is a pleasure and I have to use it.”

Both sides had chances in a quieter second half but Brentford especially was profligate in front of goal.

Mathias Jensen’s long-range strike in the 87th minute gave it some hope but United held on to ensure another disappointing result for Keith Andrews’ men.

“Bitterly disappointed,” Andrews told the BBC. “Overall our performance was very good. As a collective we went toe to toe with a good side and controlled large parts of the game. They were more clinical than us.”

Brentford remained in ninth place, tied on points with Chelsea and Fulham, but it has not won in the league since February.

However, its hopes of clinching European football for the first time remain alive and Andrews was optimistic.

“There is absolute belief in everything we do,” Andrews said. “We are not playing safe, I don’t want us to be that team. We set up in a brave fashion against a top team tonight and unfortunately we couldn’t quite get there’”

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#Manchester #United #beats #Brentford #huge #step #Champions #League #return

Third-placed Manchester United put some daylight between itself and chasing Liverpool and Aston Villa with a clinical 2-1 win at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Monday.

United moved three points above its rivals and took a huge step toward ensuring it will play Champions League football next season for the first time since 2024.

Casemiro, just weeks before he departs the club, sneaked in at the back post to head United into the lead after 11 minutes. It was his 11th headed goal since he joined United in August 2022, a record bettered only by Erling Haaland (18), Ollie Watkins (16) and Chris Wood (13).

Although Brentford was equal to the host in an entertaining first half it was United which doubled its lead on the cusp of the break.

Benjamin Sesko took a simple pass from Bruno Fernandes to finish off a swift counterattack and assure the talismanic midfielder of his 19th assist of the season, a league high, and only one away from equalling the Premier League record.

“Me and Bruno Fernandes work a lot on the training pitch and it is paying off,” Sesko said. “Knowing I have a teammate with this quality is a pleasure and I have to use it.”

Both sides had chances in a quieter second half but Brentford especially was profligate in front of goal.

Mathias Jensen’s long-range strike in the 87th minute gave it some hope but United held on to ensure another disappointing result for Keith Andrews’ men.

“Bitterly disappointed,” Andrews told the BBC. “Overall our performance was very good. As a collective we went toe to toe with a good side and controlled large parts of the game. They were more clinical than us.”

Brentford remained in ninth place, tied on points with Chelsea and Fulham, but it has not won in the league since February.

However, its hopes of clinching European football for the first time remain alive and Andrews was optimistic.

“There is absolute belief in everything we do,” Andrews said. “We are not playing safe, I don’t want us to be that team. We set up in a brave fashion against a top team tonight and unfortunately we couldn’t quite get there’”

Published on Apr 28, 2026

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#Manchester #United #beats #Brentford #huge #step #Champions #League #return

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Deadspin | Report: Kevin Durant to miss Game 4 against Lakers <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28782577.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28782577.jpg" alt="NBA: Playoffs-Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks on from the court in the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Houston Rockets star forward Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers with an ankle injury, ESPN reported hours before the start of the Sunday night game.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Durant was initially listed as questionable by the Rockets.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Durant has a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, according to the report. That injury would typically keep him out for 2-to-3 weeks.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-4"> <p>The 16-time All-Star has only appeared in one game in the series; he logged 41 minutes in Game 2, scoring 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 1 of 4 from 3-point range. Despite his presence, Houston still dropped the contest 101-94.</p> </section> <section id="section-5"> <p>The Rockets have floundered this series, falling to a 0-3 deficit against an injury-depleted Lakers team. As a team, the Rockets are shooting an abysmal 28.7 percent from three.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Houston will look to stay alive in the best-of-seven series on Sunday night at home.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Report #Kevin #Durant #Game #Lakers

Deadspin | Aaron Judge hits 11th homer, Ben Rice hits 10th as Yankees top Rangers  Apr 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) bumps elbows with right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images   Max Fried pitched six scoreless innings and was backed by three homers as the New York Yankees recorded a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Monday night in Arlington, Texas.  Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered as the Yankees won for the ninth time in 10 games. New York hit at least three homers for the seventh time in its first 29 games.  Fried (4-1) allowed four hits and produced his fourth scoreless start this season. The left-hander notched three of his five strikeouts against Corey Seager and walked two.  Fried was also backed by a pair of double plays started by Jose Caballero in the first and sixth against Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo. Fried also notched his MLB-best 38th pickoff since 2017 when he picked off Jung in the fourth.  Rice hit a two-run shot off Texas starter Jack Leiter (1-2) in the second after a single by Trent Grisham. Rice homered for the sixth time in his past 11 games when he drove a first-pitch fastball into the visiting bullpen beyond the left field fence.  Judge followed by sending a full-count curveball to left field. Judge homered for the eighth time in 15 games and his 11th homer tied Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami for the major league lead.   Chisholm gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead by lifting a first-pitch slider into the right field seats in the fourth. It was the second baseman’s third homer in his past five games after not going deep in his first 23 games.  Judge finished with three hits and reached base four times as the Yankees improved to 6-1 on their nine-game road trip.  Leiter allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out four, walked one and tied a career high by allowing three homers.  Joc Pederson hit a pinch-hit homer off Camilo Doval in the seventh but Texas lost for the sixth time in nine games. Seager grounded out with two on in the eighth against Tim Hill and David Bednar allowed an RBI single to Alejandro Osuna in the ninth before securing his eighth save in nine chances.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Aaron #Judge #hits #11th #homer #Ben #Rice #hits #10th #Yankees #top #RangersApr 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) bumps elbows with right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Max Fried pitched six scoreless innings and was backed by three homers as the New York Yankees recorded a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Monday night in Arlington, Texas.

Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered as the Yankees won for the ninth time in 10 games. New York hit at least three homers for the seventh time in its first 29 games.

Fried (4-1) allowed four hits and produced his fourth scoreless start this season. The left-hander notched three of his five strikeouts against Corey Seager and walked two.

Fried was also backed by a pair of double plays started by Jose Caballero in the first and sixth against Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo. Fried also notched his MLB-best 38th pickoff since 2017 when he picked off Jung in the fourth.

Rice hit a two-run shot off Texas starter Jack Leiter (1-2) in the second after a single by Trent Grisham. Rice homered for the sixth time in his past 11 games when he drove a first-pitch fastball into the visiting bullpen beyond the left field fence.


Judge followed by sending a full-count curveball to left field. Judge homered for the eighth time in 15 games and his 11th homer tied Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami for the major league lead.

Chisholm gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead by lifting a first-pitch slider into the right field seats in the fourth. It was the second baseman’s third homer in his past five games after not going deep in his first 23 games.

Judge finished with three hits and reached base four times as the Yankees improved to 6-1 on their nine-game road trip.

Leiter allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out four, walked one and tied a career high by allowing three homers.

Joc Pederson hit a pinch-hit homer off Camilo Doval in the seventh but Texas lost for the sixth time in nine games. Seager grounded out with two on in the eighth against Tim Hill and David Bednar allowed an RBI single to Alejandro Osuna in the ninth before securing his eighth save in nine chances.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Aaron #Judge #hits #11th #homer #Ben #Rice #hits #10th #Yankees #top #Rangers">Deadspin | Aaron Judge hits 11th homer, Ben Rice hits 10th as Yankees top Rangers  Apr 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) bumps elbows with right fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images   Max Fried pitched six scoreless innings and was backed by three homers as the New York Yankees recorded a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Monday night in Arlington, Texas.  Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered as the Yankees won for the ninth time in 10 games. New York hit at least three homers for the seventh time in its first 29 games.  Fried (4-1) allowed four hits and produced his fourth scoreless start this season. The left-hander notched three of his five strikeouts against Corey Seager and walked two.  Fried was also backed by a pair of double plays started by Jose Caballero in the first and sixth against Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo. Fried also notched his MLB-best 38th pickoff since 2017 when he picked off Jung in the fourth.  Rice hit a two-run shot off Texas starter Jack Leiter (1-2) in the second after a single by Trent Grisham. Rice homered for the sixth time in his past 11 games when he drove a first-pitch fastball into the visiting bullpen beyond the left field fence.  Judge followed by sending a full-count curveball to left field. Judge homered for the eighth time in 15 games and his 11th homer tied Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami for the major league lead.   Chisholm gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead by lifting a first-pitch slider into the right field seats in the fourth. It was the second baseman’s third homer in his past five games after not going deep in his first 23 games.  Judge finished with three hits and reached base four times as the Yankees improved to 6-1 on their nine-game road trip.  Leiter allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out four, walked one and tied a career high by allowing three homers.  Joc Pederson hit a pinch-hit homer off Camilo Doval in the seventh but Texas lost for the sixth time in nine games. Seager grounded out with two on in the eighth against Tim Hill and David Bednar allowed an RBI single to Alejandro Osuna in the ninth before securing his eighth save in nine chances.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Aaron #Judge #hits #11th #homer #Ben #Rice #hits #10th #Yankees #top #Rangers

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu squandered a strong position as India failed to capitalise on chances, going down 0-5 to China to end its campaign at the Uber Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark.

The Indian women’s team had opened with a 2-3 loss to host Denmark before bouncing back with a 4-1 win over Ukraine.

China, the most successful team in Uber Cup history with 16 titles, was always going to be a formidable opponent, with India having lost to it three times in its last three major ties.

While Sindhu remained the leader of the group, Isharani Baruah and Devika Sihag were drafted in place of Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma for the other two singles.

Sindhu raised hopes as she looked set for a statement win before letting slip an 18-12 lead in the decider to go down 16-21, 21-19, 19-21 to world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in the opening singles, handing China a 1-0 lead in the must-win Group A tie on Monday.

It would have taken a miracle to upset the defending champion thereafter, and though the young Indian shuttlers showed fight, they lacked the finishing touch and faltered at crucial moments.

Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra were no match for world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, losing 11-21, 8-21 in the first doubles.

Tasked with keeping the tie alive, Isharani produced a fast-paced display to trouble Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei but left too many shuttles and committed errors at the net.

The world No. 38 Indian missed a sitter at 20-19 in the opening game as the world No. 4 Chinese eventually sealed a 22-20, 21-13 win in 44 minutes to give China an unassailable 3-0 lead.

The pair of Treesa Jolly and Kavipriya Selvam also had their moments before going down 10-21, 21-12, 19-21 in a 59-minute clash against Luo Xu Min and Zhang Shu Xian.

World No. 43 Devika, who had won her maiden Super 300 title in Thailand this year, also made a strong start but failed to sustain the momentum, losing 21-19, 17-21, 10-21 to world No. 97 Xu Wen Jing in the third singles.

Sindhu vs Wang

Sindhu recovered from an early 4-7 deficit in the first game, drawing level at 9-9 before reeling off five straight points to take an 11-9 lead at the interval. She maintained control with sharp net play and attacking smashes to move to 14-10, but Wang raised her intensity late, using deception and precise placement to claw back.

From 16-16, the Chinese edged ahead and closed out the game with a series of winners.

The Indian responded aggressively in the second game, opening up a 9-4 lead with a barrage of smashes. Wang fought back with her trademark angles and deception to level at 10-10, but Sindhu held her nerve in the closing stages.

Leading 18-16, she earned two game points and converted on the second with a powerful smash to force a decider.

Sindhu carried the momentum into the third game, racing to a 9-3 lead and extending it to 11-6 at the break. She continued to dictate play, stretching the advantage to 18-12 with relentless attacking strokes.

However, the momentum swung dramatically thereafter. Wang mounted a remarkable comeback, stringing together six consecutive points to level at 18-18. The Chinese then edged ahead 19-18 before Sindhu drew level once again.

Wang earned match point with a steep smash and sealed the contest when Sindhu found the net, completing a stunning turnaround.

All eyes will be on the men’s team to avenge the loss when it takes on China on Wednesday in the Thomas Cup.

India, the 2022 champion, sealed a place in the Thomas Cup Finals quarterfinals with a commanding 5-0 victory over Australia in a Group A tie on Monday.

India and China now occupy the top spots in the group. The 2022 champion had opened with a 4-1 win over Canada, while China blanked Australia 5-0 and beat Canada 4-1 earlier in the day.

The two sides will clash in their final group tie on Wednesday to decide the group topper.

China boasts a formidable line-up, featuring world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi, world No. 7 Li Shi Feng and world No. 15 Weng Hong Yang in singles, while world No. 6 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, along with He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, lead its doubles strength.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#Uber #Cup #Finals #India #loses #China #campaign">Uber Cup Finals: India loses 0-5 to China to end campaign  Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu squandered a strong position as India failed to capitalise on chances, going down 0-5 to China to end its campaign at the Uber Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark.The Indian women’s team had opened with a 2-3 loss to host Denmark before bouncing back with a 4-1 win over Ukraine.China, the most successful team in Uber Cup history with 16 titles, was always going to be a formidable opponent, with India having lost to it three times in its last three major ties.While Sindhu remained the leader of the group, Isharani Baruah and Devika Sihag were drafted in place of Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma for the other two singles.Sindhu raised hopes as she looked set for a statement win before letting slip an 18-12 lead in the decider to go down 16-21, 21-19, 19-21 to world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in the opening singles, handing China a 1-0 lead in the must-win Group A tie on Monday.It would have taken a miracle to upset the defending champion thereafter, and though the young Indian shuttlers showed fight, they lacked the finishing touch and faltered at crucial moments.Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra were no match for world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, losing 11-21, 8-21 in the first doubles.Tasked with keeping the tie alive, Isharani produced a fast-paced display to trouble Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei but left too many shuttles and committed errors at the net.The world No. 38 Indian missed a sitter at 20-19 in the opening game as the world No. 4 Chinese eventually sealed a 22-20, 21-13 win in 44 minutes to give China an unassailable 3-0 lead.The pair of Treesa Jolly and Kavipriya Selvam also had their moments before going down 10-21, 21-12, 19-21 in a 59-minute clash against Luo Xu Min and Zhang Shu Xian.World No. 43 Devika, who had won her maiden Super 300 title in Thailand this year, also made a strong start but failed to sustain the momentum, losing 21-19, 17-21, 10-21 to world No. 97 Xu Wen Jing in the third singles.Sindhu vs WangSindhu recovered from an early 4-7 deficit in the first game, drawing level at 9-9 before reeling off five straight points to take an 11-9 lead at the interval. She maintained control with sharp net play and attacking smashes to move to 14-10, but Wang raised her intensity late, using deception and precise placement to claw back.From 16-16, the Chinese edged ahead and closed out the game with a series of winners.The Indian responded aggressively in the second game, opening up a 9-4 lead with a barrage of smashes. Wang fought back with her trademark angles and deception to level at 10-10, but Sindhu held her nerve in the closing stages.Leading 18-16, she earned two game points and converted on the second with a powerful smash to force a decider.Sindhu carried the momentum into the third game, racing to a 9-3 lead and extending it to 11-6 at the break. She continued to dictate play, stretching the advantage to 18-12 with relentless attacking strokes.However, the momentum swung dramatically thereafter. Wang mounted a remarkable comeback, stringing together six consecutive points to level at 18-18. The Chinese then edged ahead 19-18 before Sindhu drew level once again.Wang earned match point with a steep smash and sealed the contest when Sindhu found the net, completing a stunning turnaround.All eyes will be on the men’s team to avenge the loss when it takes on China on Wednesday in the Thomas Cup.India, the 2022 champion, sealed a place in the Thomas Cup Finals quarterfinals with a commanding 5-0 victory over Australia in a Group A tie on Monday.India and China now occupy the top spots in the group. The 2022 champion had opened with a 4-1 win over Canada, while China blanked Australia 5-0 and beat Canada 4-1 earlier in the day.The two sides will clash in their final group tie on Wednesday to decide the group topper.China boasts a formidable line-up, featuring world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi, world No. 7 Li Shi Feng and world No. 15 Weng Hong Yang in singles, while world No. 6 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, along with He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, lead its doubles strength.Published on Apr 28, 2026  #Uber #Cup #Finals #India #loses #China #campaign

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