Crawley boss Scott Lindsey admitted Klaidi Lolos would be too good for the League Two play-off hopefuls if he added more goals to his game following his brilliant winner against Harrogate.
The 23-year-old Greek striker sealed a 2-1 comeback win when he slammed in a thunderbolt from the edge of the box after he had deftly lifted the ball from his right foot to left.
He had earlier teed up Harry Forster for a second-half equaliser to cancel out George Thomson’s 13th goal of the season for the hosts.
Lolos’ match-winning goal was only his sixth league effort of the campaign, however, and Lindsey said: “It was an unbelievable goal and a great bit of skill. He has terrific technique and, if he could add goals to his game, I don’t think he’d be with us in League Two.
“He could play a lot higher. There are a lot of occasions when he drives into the box and, then, wants an extra touch, but we’re coaching him to make the right decisions at the right moments, because he has so much ability and I don’t think there’s a ceiling for him.”
Victory kept Crawley within striking distance of the play-off positions and Lindsey is challenging his players to target a top-seven finish.
“Their goal rocked us a bit, but the message at half-time was that we are in a position and a point in the season where we need to win games,” he said. “Our season isn’t over and I keep banging that drum with the players.
“We’re still alive and kicking and right in there with a chance. I wanted their keeper to be busier than he had been and for us to be braver and more of an attacking threat and we certainly were in the second half.”
A run of six games without a win, meanwhile, has seen Harrogate’s own promotion aspirations doused with manager Simon Weaver lamenting the defensive efforts of his side, who have kept just one clean sheet in their last
19 home games.
He said: “I’m disappointed with the way we came out for the second half, because everything was there for us to go on and get a result after the first half. We’d scored a fantastic goal and were doing the gritty side of the game well.
“But we did not defend anywhere near well enough to cope with the pressure they put us under at the start of the second half. We had enough numbers back for their goals but there were individuals who were two yards off play.
“You have to get closer and make a tackle and we’ve got to find a way to fight ourselves out of this blip, because I don’t want us to limp over the line this season through malaise and a lack of adrenalin.
“We’ve got to show a consistent energy and desire to make a difference.”
USWNT goalkeeper Naeher to retire from international football
United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is to retire from international football next month.
Naeher has won 113 caps for the USWNT and was a regular between the sticks during their most recent World Cup-winning campaign in 2019, also starting for Emma Hayes' Olympic Gold medallists in Paris earlier this year.
The 36-year-old, who has represented the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL since 2016, will link up with Hayes' side for their upcoming friendlies against England and the Netherlands, but that will be the final camp she attends.
Naeher said in a statement posted to her Instagram account: "With immense gratitude and very thoughtful consideration, I have decided to retire from the international game.
"Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honour.
"This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime.
"I know one chapter is ending, but I am so excited to continue to see the growth of this team going forward and what more they can accomplish."
Hope Solo (202) and Briana Scurry (175) are the only goalkeepers to make more appearances for the team than Naeher, who made her debut versus Argentina in December 2014.
Mbappe position switch works wonders for Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied his tactical decision to switch Kylian Mbappe's position in attack paid off in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Leganes.
Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the season to help Madrid to a comfortable victory in LaLiga on Sunday.
However, his position in Madrid's front line has been a topic of debate since he joined the Spanish champions, with Mbappe having often played out wide while at Paris Saint-Germain.
And Ancelotti elected to switch Mbappe out to the left flank against Leganes, with Vinicius Junior spearheading Los Blancos' attack.
"Mbappe played on the left side, where he did well, and Vinicius on the inside," Ancelotti told reporters.
"We have to highlight their play to open the scoring. They did very, very well. Mbappe scored, after a fantastic assist from Vinicius. Little by little, they're both improving.
"Kylian is more used to playing there and today, for the team and for him, it was the best thing.
"Because playing on the outside brings more effort and Vinicius was back on Thursday. Meanwhile, Kylian had been training here for a week and a half, he was fresher."
Mbappe was not called up by France coach Didier Deschamps for this month's Nations League games, despite being Les Bleus' captain.
With an injury crisis at the back and a trip to Anfield to face Premier League and Champions League leaders Liverpool coming up, Ancelotti added he was hopeful of Lucas Vazquez, who has a hamstring strain, and Aurelien Tchouameni, who is recovering from a sprained left ankle, returning to action.
He was also upbeat about the contribution of Federico Valverde, who scored from a free-kick while filling in at right-back.
"The truth is that Fede, at the back, has done very well," said Ancelotti of the Uruguayan, who also wore the captain's armband.
"He's a fantastic fullback. After Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, the best right-back in the world. His problem is that he can play at this level in many positions and is the coach's problem to choose the best position for the team.
"Let's see if Lucas and Tchouameni can recover. If not, we will make decisions."
Jude Bellingham netted Madrid's other goal as Ancelotti's team closed to within four points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona, who drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Madrid also have a game in hand on Hansi Flick's side.
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