Sport

Manchester United hold on after Cunha’s cool finish to hand Chelsea latest loss
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

A makeshift Manchester United defence did not even have to resort to hair pulls to keep out a goalshy Chelsea. The unfamiliar pairing of Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui grew into a tepid game after a shaky start, making the full-time boos inevitable. Stamford Bridge was an unhappy place again, the unrest in the stands growing as a fourth consecutive defeat in the Premier League approached, and the only time the home fans stopped pining for the old Chelsea was when Mason Mount came on to help United protect their 1-0 lead.

Think back to Porto in May 2021. Back then, long before anyone in west London had heard of BlueCo, it was Mount who created the winner when Chelsea became kings of Europe for the second time. Five years on, though, this is a club that cannot even be sure that they will be in the Champions League next season.

Spurs’ survival hopes hit after Rutter rescues dramatic late point for Brighton
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

Roberto De Zerbi could only watch in stunned silence. The Italian had been a crucible of emotions as Tottenham tried to hold out against his former club after Xavi Simons scored the goal that looked like ending their long wait for a victory. But football is capable of providing the cruellest twists and Georginio Rutter’s late dramatic equaliser must have felt like a dagger to the heart for De Zerbi and the Tottenham fans.

The draw leaves Spurs marooned in the relegation zone having failed to win in the league in 2026 and it is 15 games since they last achieved that feat. Fail to beat the bottom side Wolves next week and they will have matched the worst winless run in their history. De Zerbi was right to point to the positives afterwards even if the preposterous prospect of this magnificent stadium hosting Championship football next season is growing by the day. Victory for West Ham against Crystal Palace on Monday night would leave them four points from safety and almost needing a miracle.

AFC Bournemouth’s owner Bill Foley behind US takeover of Exeter Chiefs
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

Chiefs’ new owner will be Black Knight Sports and Entertainment
Michael B Jordan has stake in company that owns Bournemouth

Bill Foley, owner of AFC Bournemouth, is poised to take control of Exeter Chiefs in a multimillion-pound deal that will bring Premier League and Hollywood glamour to English club rugby.

The Guardian revealed this week that Exeter’s chair, Tony Rowe, had agreed to sell the club to a wealthy American investor, and can now disclose the club’s new owner will be Foley’s multisport investment company, Black Knight Sports and Entertainment.

England do just enough as Russo seals Women’s World Cup qualifying win over Iceland
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

Iceland 0-1 England
Russo goal and Hampton saves keep Lionesses top of group

Snow-capped mountains provided an idyllic backdrop to a less impressive performance, but England’s 1-0 win over Iceland ensured they maintained a three-point gap over Spain in their bid to earn an automatic place at the 2027 World Cup.

Only the four League A teams who top their groups will avoid the playoffs and qualify automatically, and with the European and world champions drawn in the same group, one will be left frustrated and with more games required to book their trip to Brazil.

Eddie Howe claims he retains his self-belief after Newcastle suffer another defeat
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

Bournemouth score late winner for 2-1 victory
‘Recently we’ve become too easy to beat’

Eddie Howe insisted his self-belief remained intact and unshakeable after watching Newcastle sustain an eighth defeat in their last 11 Premier League matches.

“My belief in myself can’t waiver and it’s not,” said Newcastle’s manager after Bournemouth’s 2-1 win at St James’ Park. It was a fourth straight reverse in all competitions for Howe’s team and arrived after goals from Marcus Tavernier and Adrien Truffert extended the visitors’ unbeaten run to 13 league games.

Okafor on target again as Leeds sink doomed Wolves to pull away from danger zone
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

The ink is not dry yet, but the mood around Elland Road on this springtime Saturday afternoon perhaps told you that what many have started to truly believe over the last few days could soon become official.

There have been some wobbles throughout Leeds’ return to the Premier League, not least prior to this season-defining week, when a run of six games without a win had threatened to suck Daniel Farke’s side back towards a bottom three they have been outside since the start of December. Heck, there were even a couple of hair-raising moments during this game.

NFL will not investigate Mike Vrabel’s behavior amid Dianna Russini fallout
Posted on Saturday April 18, 2026

NFL says no probe into Vrabel over resort photos
Patriots silent on whether team will launch review
Russini resigned from job after images surfaced

The NFL is not investigating Mike Vrabel’s behavior after published photos of the New England Patriots coach and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort prompted her resignation and an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to the Associated Press on Saturday the league is not looking into the matter. The Patriots didn’t immediately respond to a question about whether the team has launched its own review of Vrabel’s actions.