Football

The draw left Stanley two points outside the top seven, while the Mariners, who came so close to snatching victory at the death, remain in 20th place.

Captain Danny Rose’s header in the second minute of added time was superbly saved by on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek.

Grimsby keeper Harvey Cartwright tipped over a Ben Woods effort in the second minute and also pushed away a low angled drive from Jack Nolan on the half-hour mark.

Stanley’s Radek kept out Arthur Gnahoua’s long-range effort, their only shot on target in the first half.

After the break it was Grimsby who dominated the chances.

Former Stanley defender Harvey Rodgers headed wide from a corner, while substitute Kieran Green could not find the target following another corner.

Green headed a Denver Hume corner just over the crossbar in the 82nd minute before Rose came so close to earning Grimsby a first win of 2024.

Bryn Morris put County ahead after 13 minutes with a stunning 25-yard strike that arrowed into the top corner.

But Accrington levelled nine minutes later when Jack Nolan crossed for Alex Henderson to head in at the far post.

Shaun Whalley then flashed a shot across goal before Tommy Leigh missed the target with a header from close range.

Leigh made amends just 20 seconds after the interval when he controlled Ben Woods’ ball into the six-yard box on his chest before hooking it past a helpless Jonny Maxted in the home goal.

Nolan should have made it 3-1 but somehow fired high over the bar, and it was left to substitute Joe Pritchard to wrap up the win midway through the second half when he prodded in Whalley’s pass from a few yards out.

County’s misery was complete when Adam Lewis was sent off in stoppage time after a touchline fracas.

The Exiles started well, with Seb Palmer-Houlden blasting over in the third minute while Jack Nolan’s 22-yard strike for Stanley was pushed over the bar by keeper Nick Townsend.

Stanley, relegated last season, opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Tommy Leigh’s through ball split the Newport defence and found Nolan who rounded Townsend and slotted home.

Kelvin Mellor’s strike for Accrington was narrowly over the bar while, at the other end, Brad Hills hooked a Ryan Delaney header off the line in the eighth minute of first-half added time.

Stanley came close to a second after 50 minutes but Townsend superbly kept out a Lewis Shipley header.

Newport then upped the pace with Adam Lewis and Will Evans coming close to an equaliser.

The Reds made it safe in the 80th minute when substitute Seb Quirk’s ball into the area was headed home by fellow substitute Shaun Whalley.

They added a third in the fourth minute of added time when a cross by Hills was forced home from close range by Korede Adedoyin.

Joe Pritchard’s brace either side of Tommy Leigh’s effort gave Stanley a 3-0 lead and, despite two goals from Dons substitute Omar Bugiel, Brad Hills added a fourth late on.

Stanley opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Dons keeper Alex Bass’ fumble allowed captain Pritchard to bundle the ball into the net.

The visitors deservedly doubled their lead five minutes later when Leigh let go of a stunning 25-yarder that nestled in the top right corner.

Dons boss Johnnie Jackson made a triple switch at half-time but within 24 seconds of the restart the hosts were 3-0 down, Bass parrying straight into the path of Pritchard to tap home.

Jackson’s changes took effect after 50 minutes when Bugiel swept home with his left foot and the substitute looked to have set up a grandstand finish when he forced home a second from James Tilley’s corner.

But the hosts’ comeback was quashed in the 83rd minute when Norwich loanee Hills headed home Pritchard’s free-kick.

Achraf signed a two-season loan deal with Dortmund in 2018 and the Morocco international full-back has starred for the Bundesliga side.

The 21-year-old is set to leave Dortmund at season's end but not necessarily for a return to the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

"Real Madrid are the club I call home," Achraf, who has scored 10 goals during his time with Dortmund, told Telefoot. "I've really enjoyed myself there and played lots of games there.

"If Madrid want me to go back, I'll go back. And if not, I'll have to write the next chapter at another great club."

Achraf added: "[Madrid head coach Zinedine] Zidane is the man who gave me my chance and the confidence to be able to play professional football.

"I'm grateful to him for his faith in me and the way he has treated me. I'll always be grateful to him."

Reflecting on his decision to move to Dortmund, Achraf said: "When I stop and think, I realise that it was the best decision I could have made, because I'm playing and developing as a footballer, which is what I need to be doing."

Achraf and Dortmund are preparing for Wednesday's Champions League last-16 return leg away to Paris Saint-Germain.

Dortmund won the opening leg 2-1 thanks to Erling Haaland's second-half brace and Achraf is eyeing silverware.

"I hope we can achieve as much as possible; in the short term beat PSG, and in the longer term try to win a trophy like the Bundesliga or go as far as possible in the Champions League," said Achraf, who has scored seven goals in all competitions this season.

"Anything's possible. Hopefully we can go as far as possible and win it if we can. And if not, then come away with the feeling that we've done well and given our all."

Top scorer Armstrong scored one and set up Che Adams, Ryan Fraser and Sekou Mara as Saints leapt into the top two for the first time since the opening day and closed the gap to table-toppers Leicester to 10 points.

Saints are now unbeaten in 19 league games and 20 in all competitions, which is their best run since becoming a Football League club in 1920.

The club’s all-time record, the only better than the current run, of 24 in 1896 and 1897 came when they were known as Southampton St Mary’s and had yet to move to the Dell.

The hosts would enjoy the better of the first half but the first two minutes belonged to Wednesday.

First, Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu took a heavy touch and was mugged by Josh Windass, but the attacker could not squeeze in.

From the corner, Michael Ihiekwe headed wide – but the visitors would not have another first-half shot as Saints monopolised the possession.

Centre-back Ihiekwe had to think fast to run back onto his own goal line after Fraser had volleyed into the ground and over goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed a corner over but otherwise, it was a test in patience until Adams opened the scoring in the 35th minute.

Adams, who is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a Premier League move this month, latched onto an Armstrong cross via a Bambo Diaby error, beat a defender and lashed into the bottom corner.

It was the Scotland international’s eighth goal of the season, and Armstrong’s 10th assist.

Wednesday brought on Ashley Fletcher and Will Vaulks at the break and rallied when the former pinged a low effort towards the bottom corner, with Bazunu flinging himself to his right to save.

In the 63rd minute, Saints gave themselves daylight with a smart counter which saw Adams nick the ball off Diaby and slot through to Stuart Armstrong. He found Adam Armstrong in acres of space to notch for the 14th time this campaign.

Bazunu battered away a Windass free-kick before Di’Shon Bernard cleared Adam Armstrong’s attempt off the line as the game became open.

Fraser continued from the two goals he scored against Walsall in the FA Cup by adding a third in the 75th minute.

The Newcastle loanee steered in but Adam Armstrong’s burst, stepovers and vision to pick out Fraser across the box was the catalyst for the goal.

Armstrong was at it again with five minutes to go when he squared for substitute Mara to tap in to make it nine straight St Mary’s wins.

Omar Bogle cancelled out an early Nick Tsaroulla strike for the Exiles but the Reds took control after the break on a swelteringly hot day in West Sussex, with Ben Gladwin adding the fourth.

Crawley made the perfect start with Tsaroulla bursting through after a pass by Liam Kelly to drill the opener under goalkeeper Nick Townsend after only five minutes.

Newport hit back to equalise in impressive fashion with striker Bogle firing in a left-foot shot on the turn from the edge of the area in the 10th minute.

Crawley re-took the lead nine minutes after the break, Campbell lashing in a low shot after Danilo Orsi had a goal-bound effort blocked.

Former Gateshead striker Campbell struck again to make it 3-1, curling a beauty into the top corner after Tsaroulla’s assist on 67 minutes.

Bogle had the ball in the net again for Newport but he was clearly offside before Gladwin rifled home from 25 yards in the 79th minute to cap a comfortable win.

Lee Carsley’s Young Lions were crowned continental champions over the summer and kick off qualification for the next edition at Luxembourg on Monday.

Under-21s boss Carsley is assisted by former England star Ashley Cole and goalkeeping coach Tim Dittmer, with Lallana joining the coaching staff for this month’s camp.

The 35-year-old is still plying his trade for high-flying Brighton, with the 2016 England Player of the Year coming off the bench in three of their opening four league games.

Lallana has now temporarily turned attentions to the Under-21s, heading to St George’s Park in a bid to learn from the set-up, while acting in a mentorship role for players.

This is not the 34-cap former international’s first dalliance with coaching.

Lallana assisted Andrew Crofts during his time as interim Brighton boss after Graham Potter joined Chelsea last September.

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill was on loan at Albion last season and, speaking after his first England senior call-up, was full of praise for Lallana’s impact on his career.

Asked for the biggest influences on his career, the England new boy said: “Last year Adam Lallana.

“I am someone who is a chilled person and sometimes I need someone to give me a bit of a push. And at first I did not really understand why he was always on me, trying to help me.

“But then once it clicked in my head, I realised that he was only trying to help me.

“I was happy and lucky to play alongside him and he definitely helped me.

“There were times when I was having an off day or not really feeling like myself and he was there, no matter what, pushing me.

“It has definitely made me wake up a bit and realise the opportunity I have got and that I cannot waste it.

“Just in training. Giving me compliments, if I needed them. If I was struggling a bit, asked me if I was alright. If I am doing well, he would push me to make sure I was still doing well. Communication.

“He was always putting his arm around me, the same as Lewis Dunk.

“At Chelsea, I have Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva, leaders in the team for a reason. That is their job to help the young ones and I have had that. I have had the best.”

Sonny Bradley put the visitors ahead in the Sky Bet League One contest but the hosts responded impressively.

Derby were the first to threaten when Conor Hourihane capitalised on a defensive error from Donovan Pines and fired in a shot which was deflected wide.

The resulting corner saw Eiran Cashin’s header cleared off the line and then Hourihane’s 18th-minute corner was met by Bradley, whose header found the net.

Barnsley equalised 15 minutes later when an attempted clearance fell to Phillips, who chested the ball down and hammered a volley just inside Joe Wildsmith’s right-hand post from the edge of the area.

Barnsley’s Nicky Cadden had a shot comfortably saved soon after the restart but Phillips was on target again to score the winner in the 66th minute, meeting Cadden’s corner with a near-post header.

Max Bird fired in a shot which flashed wide as the visitors looked for a quick response – but they were unable to find a leveller.

The result takes Barnsley to within three points of second-placed Derby following a run of just one defeat in their last 15 games.

Ruel Sotiriou’s 10th-minute goal looked to have secured Orient a big away win.

But Phillips equalised in the 88th minute and, after Tykes team-mate Luca Connell saw red, he bagged a winner five minutes into added time.

The visitors went ahead when George Moncur drove to the byline and cut the ball back to Sotiriou who applied the finish.

Barnsley dominated possession and chances for the rest of the game but could not find a way past the inspired visiting goalkeeper Sol Brynn.

But the resistance was ended when Mael De Gevigney launched a ball in behind the Orient defence and Phillips flicked a header over the onrushing Brynn.

Connell was shown a second yellow card as he protested to the referee that Orient were taking too long to restart the game.

But despite the numerical disadvantage, Phillips won it for his side when he connected with Corey O’Keefe’s free-kick from the right and turned it in for his second.

Rob Harker fired the visitors ahead after 31 minutes with a superb long-range strike.

Oldham were level five minutes before the break when Mark Shelton fired home from a corner.

Harker went close against for Halifax before the resulting corner fell to Adam Senior, who scrambled home from close range.

The substitute scored via the underside of the crossbar after 85 minutes to cancel out Paul Mullin’s header.

Former Bradford manager Phil Parkinson returned to the club for only the second time since leaving in May 2016, and his Wrexham side had a good shout for a penalty rejected when Steven Fletcher went down under a challenge from Sam Stubbs.

Mullin then had the best chance of the first half, putting a diving header wide from Ryan Barnett’s cross.

Andy Cook and Emmanuel Osadebe shot straight at visiting goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo as Bradford finally rallied before Fletcher, making his first Wrexham start, fired wastefully wide.

Bradford looked the more threatening team in the second half and Okonkwo tipped away a low shot from Walker.

However, Wrexham went ahead after 68 minutes from their first effort on target as Mullin made no mistake with his header from another Barnett cross.

That threatened to be enough for Parkinson’s side but Wilson hit back to ensure a share of the points from a captivating contest.

Adebola Oluwo met Jordan Cropper’s long throw six minutes from time to send a looping header over Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi.

Finley Potter almost put third-placed Barnet – 2-0 winners at Southend on Boxing Day – ahead after 15 minutes, but he was denied by a wonderful stop from Andeng-Ndi.

Barnet goalkeeper Laurie Walker kept Southend at bay with an excellent one-on-one save from Brooklyn Kabongolo.

The 22-year-old, who was an unused substitute in Dortmund's 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, has been out of action since sustaining a muscle injury in October.

Adeyemi made just five Bundesliga appearances before his injury, but still has the joint-most assists of any Dortmund player in the competition (three), while he also scored twice and created nine chances so far this term.

"Karim already wanted to play against Barcelona," Sahin told reporters. "He's training very well, he's very stable.

"He looks fresh and is definitely a candidate for the last two games of the year."

Sahin's side have been hit by injuries in recent weeks, with defenders Nico Schlotterback, Niklas Sule and Waldemar Anton currently out, while the head coach was unsure about the availability of Julian Ryerson, Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier.

"We still have to wait and see with Ryerson, Brandt and Beier," he added.

"We have our final training session tomorrow and will then decide who will start alongside Emre Can in central defence."

Dortmund currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga table with 21 points from 13 matches, their worst start to a league campaign in seven years. They trail leaders Bayern Munich by 12 points, having drawn their last two league outings 1-1.

With 19 points at the Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund are the Bundesliga's best home team this season – they have only been better off after seven top-flight home games in 2021-22 (21 points).

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are still winless away from home in the competition this season, picking up just three points, though Sahin is still expecting a stiff test against the side sitting 14th in the table.

"We've completely analysed Hoffenheim. We know what we're up against... But now we're focussing on ourselves and our game," he said.

Crafted for the Reggae Boyz (Men’s Team) and Reggae Girlz (Women’s Team), the collection is available for purchase from today via www.adidas.com and select adidas stores and retailers.

The home jersey features the country’s national colours of black, gold, and green. The energy of the island is highlighted by fine pinstripe details that decorate the shirt, echoing the subtle groove of Jamaican music and style.

A woven team badge on the chest and Wales Bonner signoff on the back neck complete the eye-catching look.

The away jersey was crafted to represent the collective memories of proud Jamaicans and celebrates a commitment to fine craftsmanship, with its premium collar and cuffs in the signature Wales Bonner crochet texture.

“As a British born designer with Jamaican heritage, my work has always been imbued by cultural references from all sides of my identity. This collection is no different, when working with adidas and the Jamaica Football Federation, we set out to create a range that reflects the diverse nature and soul of today's Jamaica, authentically connecting with the Jamaican community across the globe,” said Wales Bonner.

As we celebrate the intrinsic relationship between Jamaican culture and football, it’s a collection that I’m hoping players and fans can wear with huge pride - on and off the pitch,” she added.

JFF President Michael Ricketts also gave his remarks.

“Ahead of an exciting year for our Reggae Boyz and Reggae Girlz teams, we’re incredibly proud to unveil these very exciting team kits and sportswear. We believe these designs captures the essence of Jamaica’s culture, as it not only represents Jamaican football but through the mixture of the distinctive Jamaican colours and the designs, highlights the greatest part of our world-renowned Jamaican culture.

We can’t wait to see Jamaican fans and players alike wearing the kits with pride on the world’s biggest sporting stages, as they cheer on the Reggae Boyz and Girlz.

With a bold ambition to further develop the opportunities for girls and boys to play grassroots football at home in Jamaica, this only marks the start of what we are certain will be an incredibly important partnership to inspire future Reggae Girlz and Reggae Boyz.”   

LFSTLR blurs the lines between football performance and streetwear culture, re-defining what it means to represent your team away from the terraces.

The collection is designed for all fashion-conscious fans who live and breathe football as much as they value their own individual style.

The heart of the collection is the LFSTLR jersey. A tribute to early 90s football, all the retro details are there.

The jersey boasts a unique blend of dull shiny trefoil engineered fabric, classic puff transfer prints, and refined flat knit cuff details.

This fashion-forward design is complemented by a polo collar, which was a stand-out design feature from the matchday jerseys worn by Jamaica's historic FIFA World Cup 1998 squad.

The full collection also features a supporting capsule of tracksuit, tee-shirt and shorts based on the iconic Adidas Originals Rekive silhouette.

With its vibrant combination of the unmistakable black, green and yellow of Jamaica, the collection’s colour arrangement is inspired by the heroics of the 1988 Jamaican bobsleigh team.

The iconic trefoil logo, rendered in white, stands out against the nation's colours. The collection's launch coincides with the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and vibrant spirit of the Jamaican community in London.

Reflecting the link between football and the island’s distinctive musical flavour, Jamaican dancehall star, Shenseea joins the collections launch campaign in a series of exclusive shots.

The adidas Jamaica LFSTLR collection is available from Thursday from adidas.com and selected adidas stores and retailers.

Though it has been 30 years since Robinhood last graced the tournament, this will be the club's 18th appearance overall, with a new generation of players, led by midfielder Renske Adipi, aiming to carve out a legacy of their own on this occasion.

Adipi, steered Robinhood to the mountaintop in both the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield and Concacaf Caribbean Cup. He was named Best Player in the Caribbean Cup.

The 24-year-old scored a goal, contributed an assist, made eight steals, three clearances and completed more than 83 percent of his passes in the tournament.

Adipi and his Robinhood teammates recently returned to training following a well-deserved break and are busy preparing for the Champions Cup which gets under way with Round One action next month.

“This is a team with a lot of young players, but we trained hard, the coach worked very hard with us so we could reach a level at which we could compete in the Shield and the Caribbean Cup,” Adipi said in an interview with Concacaf.com.

“For Robinhood as a team, it means that we are back at the level we had in previous years in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. We are very proud to be back at the international Concacaf level and proud to be back in Champions Cup,” he added.

As Caribbean Cup champions, Robinhood will start the tournament in the Round of 16 where they will face the winner of the Round One contest between Costa Rica's Herediano and two-time Concacaf champions Toluca of Mexico.

While Robinhood's players are just now returning to the training field, the coaching staff has already been studying the club’s potential opponent.

“Our coaching staff is already busy analyzing Toluca and Herediano, so we will be prepared for whichever team we play,” Adipi shared.

On that note, Adipi reflected on last year's campaign which will forever live in the minds of Robinhood's players, coaches and supporters alike, even more so as their impressive double Caribbean triumph has etched the club's name in the annals of Suriname's sporting history.

Adipi recalled how the team registered big wins in the Shield, and later took that momentum all the way to the Caribbean Cup title.

“At the start of the Shield, we were a little nervous, but when the tournament started after the first game, we grew into ourselves and grew in the tournament, and we became champions. When we entered the Caribbean Cup, we were surer of ourselves. We played a good tournament and also became champions of that event. For the fans they enjoyed it very much and they have not stopped celebrating it. They were great fans in the games, even though it was late at night," he said with a smile.

Robinhood’s Caribbean conquest and Champions Cup qualification was timely, too. On the horizon is the beginning of a new professional league in Suriname, so no doubt Robinhood’s appearance in this year’s Champions Cup will bring plenty of eyes to the country's football and, by extension, its development.

“We know that not only are we playing for Robinhood, but we are also playing for the country of Suriname. It is a very important moment so that Robinhood can have prestige in this tournament, because we are going to start a professional league in Suriname. This is a welcomed moment that everyone can now see the level that Surinamese football has,” Adipi ended.

De Mesa played for Barca for two years as a youngster but has plied his senior trade lower down the leagues and now plays for fourth tier Barbastro.

The side from the province of Huesca in Aragon sit ninth in Group Two of the Segunda RFEF division and are preparing for the biggest game in their history when they host Xavi’s side on Sunday.

Barbastro have already claimed a LaLiga victim having beaten Almeria 1-0 in the previous round and a place in the last 16 will be at stake against Barca.

Asked about his links to Barca, De Mesa said on fcbarcelona.com: “You maybe feel it much more when you are young, that’s kind of normal, but I am a Barca fan and I always want Barca to win, except on Sunday.”

The 32-year-old knows the odds are massively against his side, and he added: “We are aware that Barca might not be firing on all cylinders but this is Barca and there is no comparison, regardless of how good our form is.

“We knew we might have a chance against Almeria, but we know that it’s one in a 100 when it comes to Barca. We will go for it if the chance arrives. We will try.”

Barca will be without Joao Cancelo, who suffered a knee injury early in their 2-1 victory over Las Palmas on Thursday.

Tests showed the defender has strained a ligament but it does not appear that his absence will be lengthy.

Xavi must decide whether to hand a first start to young Brazilian Vitor Roque, who made a lively cameo against Las Palmas following his arrival from Athletico Paranaense.

The 18-year-old is making his first foray into European football and will be keen to open his account as soon as possible.

De Mesa, meanwhile, will have no hesitation in celebrating should he do the unthinkable and score against Barca.

He said: “Who doesn’t want to celebrate a goal? Obviously I played with Barca but this is completely different. It was many years ago, youth football, nothing to do with first-team football. I am very unlikely to score but, if I do, I will celebrate. You won’t get another chance to experience such a day.”

Les Bleus secured a place at next summer’s tournament in Germany last month before completing their home fixtures with Saturday’s record-breaking 14-0 demolition of Gibraltar in Nice.

Didier Deschamps’ side have little to play for on Tuesday evening in Athens.

But Juventus midfielder Rabiot dismissed the notion of a dead rubber as he outlined ambitions of leapfrogging Argentina, who defeated France in last year’s World Cup final, in the global rankings and finishing Group B with a 100 per cent record.

“I am motivated by the idea of winning a match,” the 28-year-old told a press conference, according to L’Equipe. “I think it’s the same for my team-mates.

“We have challenges together, like finishing with the maximum number of points.

“If we win and do better than Argentina, we will finish the year first in the FIFA rankings. These are small goals that we have in mind.”

France boss Deschamps has confirmed Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba will start in place of AC Milan’s Mike Maignan at Agia Sophia Stadium.

He is planning further changes, with a host of his squad poised to return to club action on Friday evening when Paris St Germain host Monaco in Ligue 1 and Bayern Munich travel to Cologne in the Bundesliga.

At least one alteration will be enforced after 17-year-old PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery suffered an ankle injury on debut against Gibraltar which will keep him sidelined for the remainder of 2023.

“I have eight players playing on Friday evening,” Deschamps replied when asked about managing players’ minutes and avoiding further injuries.

“If I take all that into account, I bring the technical staff into play!

“We are never safe from anything. Football is a contact sport. If there is a feeling from a player, I take it into account. If I have negative elements, I will not force it.

“I take all of that into account as much as possible and distribute the time with the five changes (substitutions). We have to adapt for the future.”

Sullivan came on from the bench to make his debut for the Philadelphia Union in a 5-1 win over the New England Revolution on Wednesday.

At the age of 14 years and 293 days, midfielder Sullivan is the youngest player in MLS history, breaking the record set by Adu in 2004.

Indeed, it is not only an MLS record that Sullivan has now taken. He is also the youngest player to make his regular-season debut among the top North American professional sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and CFL).

"Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record-breaking debut today," Adu wrote on X.

"That's a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man."

Speaking to the Union's official media channels, Sullivan said: "It's pretty awesome, there's no feeling like this, it's pretty cool. The leagues get younger, so I might not hold it for a while, but I'll cherish it for sure."

Sullivan came on in the 85th minute, just after his older brother Quinn had scored the Union's fifth goal.

"I asked him a few questions along the way, he's always helpful," Sullivan added. "To watch him score, I'm really proud of him."