Latest news with #Durán
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Premier League 2024-25 review: goals of the season
It took something special from Mitoma to bring down the raking long pass of the Brighton goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen. The Japan winger's first touch as the ball came down over his head was sublime, each alternate angle proving better than the next, before he dribbled away from Trevoh Chalobah and curled a low shot past Filip Jörgensen. Mitoma has often received plaudits for his technical ability, but this one truly felt like one of his best. 'The touch is as good as anything you will see in the Premier League this season. And the finish isn't bad either,' said Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports. 'That's Messi-like and I don't say that lightly. Pure genius.' Mitoma's goal started the rush against Chelsea, with Yankuba Minteh adding two goals in the 3-0 victory. 'I don't know if I ever saw something like this as a coach from my own player,' said Fabian Hürzeler. 'To coordinate everything – the speed of the ball, the height of the ball and your legs – is a special thing. We shouldn't underestimate that he was in a full sprint. I wouldn't try it at home, but he has a special talent.' It was a shock early in the season when Everton, who had yet to earn a Premier League point three games in, went 2-0 up at Villa Park with goals from Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Ollie Watkins restored parity for Villa either side of half-time but ultimately the substitute Durán was the hero, firing home a long-range screamer into the top corner 14 minutes from time to complete the turnaround. It was the third time in four Premier League matches Durán had scored a winner from off the bench and the effort was so impressive it stunned even his teammates, with Youri Tielemans and Emi Martínez holding their heads in disbelief after the winner. 'It takes a moment of magic like that and Jhon has come up with it,' said Watkins. 'Everyone knows what he can do and when he's got the opportunity he shows it. It's one of the best we've seen. If you back yourself to shoot from that far, why not?' Fulham were a goal behind entering the final minutes of stoppage time when Wilson, who had come on with eight minutes remaining, met Adama Traoré's cross with the outside of his boot in an audacious midair backheel that looped over the Brentford goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, and into the net. He scored again in the seventh minute of added time to snatch all three points. 'The manager told me to find space and when the ball gets wide try to get in the box, and that's what I did,' said Wilson. 'The first one, I just helped it on to the back post. That moment when it left my foot, it seemed to take for ever to loop in. There was silence, and then the roar when it hit the net was amazing. That feeling will live with me for a long, long time.' Ipswich are heading back to the Championship but they will not go down without their fair share of memorable moments. One of them being Davis's stunning strike against Leicester when the left-back took Sam Morsy's lofted pass first-time and volley the ball across the face of goal from a tight angle into the far corner for the opener. It was the 25-year-old's first Premier League goal but talk after the match mostly surrounded Kalvin Phillips's red card and the referee not awarding the hosts a penalty before Leicester equalised. 'I'm buzzing that is my first goal but I would have been happier with the three points,' said Davis. 'I was just in the right place at the right time. I've always wanted to score in the Prem.' Few things are as satisfying as seeing a routine straight from the training ground come to life on the pitch. Arsenal, who have found success hurting teams from set pieces, were given a dose of their own medicine when a clever corner manoeuvre allowed the Bournemouth substitute to open up his body and slam home an emphatic opener with some great technique. The short, low corner from Lewis Cook was followed up with Justin Kluivert's clever nonchalant flick near the penalty spot before Christie sidefooted the bouncing ball high into the net. A few months later, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah delivered a similar blow to Manchester City but Christie's effort just edges it on our list because of Salah's deflecting in off a heavy touch from Nathan Aké. 'The advantage they have at set plays is they are taller than us,' said the Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola. 'So we had to find another way to make a difference. Today it worked and it was important.' Marmoush wasted no time in atoning for his disappointing FA Cup final penalty miss against Crystal Palace. In Manchester City's push for a Champions League place, the Egyptian opened the scoring against Bournemouth with a fizzing 30-yard strike that clipped a post before crashing into the top-left corner. Kepa Arrizabalaga was left rooted as the shot almost took the net off the goal and the roof off the stadium as fans were sent into a frenzy. What made the goal particularly special was the dip Marmoush got on the ball, as it initially appeared to be sailing high and wide when it first left his foot. The match marked Kevin De Bruyne's farewell at the Etihad Stadium after a decade at the club and, while the Belgian did not score, Marmoush's goal felt reminiscent of many the legend had amassed, a perfect ode to his time at the club.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer: Closers to acquire in deals and ones to move now
After diving deep into the starting pitcher market last week, I'm going to turn my attention to the pool of relievers this time around. Closers tend to deliver their production in clusters, as they are at the whim of the save chances provided by their team. And as we flip the calendar to May on Thursday, it's time to capitalize on managers who are overreacting to early season trends. [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] Buy low Jhoan Durán, Minnesota Twins With just two saves, Durán has been a massive disappointment. But outside of a couple extra walks, there aren't any reasons to worry about this fireballer, who continues to record triple-digit radar gun readings. The Twins have provided him with just a pair of save chances, and the rest of the bullpen has combined for one save. Perhaps most importantly, Durán's biggest competition for saves, Griffin Jax, has an 7.50 ERA. Minnesota has plenty of effective starters and should eventually go on a run of collecting narrow wins. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Félix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles Bautista is in a similar situation as Durán, as the talented Orioles have provided their bullpen with few leads. The right-hander has collected all four of the team's saves. It's worth noting that Bautista has allowed six walks in eight innings, but he hasn't issued a free pass in his past three outings. I would rather acquire Durán, but a buy-low offer for Bautista could work as well. Devin Williams, New York Yankees I can't provide any statistical reasons related to the current season to encourage managers to acquire Williams. He has been awful, missing his spots and frustrating himself, his teammates, Yankees fans and fantasy managers. And manager Aaron Boone has taken notice, removing Williams from the closer's role. That being said, Williams was the No. 1 closer off the board in many drafts, and he entered the season with eye-popping career numbers (1.83 ERA, 14.3 K/9 rate). Managers who can add Williams at an extreme discount and stash him on the bench may want to make the move. Buy high Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers Scott has thus far been everything the Dodgers wanted when they signed him to a lucrative four-year contract, posting a 14:0 K:BB ratio while ranking fifth in baseball with eight saves. Sure, he has blown a couple saves, but he hasn't allowed more than one run in any outing. Most importantly, the Dodgers are using Scott as a full-time closer, which was the biggest offseason question surrounding their bullpen. Los Angeles will eventually pull away from the pack, and Scott will rack up many saves along the way. Sell low Ryan Pressly, Chicago Cubs Managers who drafted Pressly may wish to trade him away while he still has a ninth-inning job. The veteran has posted a poor 5:7 K:BB ratio after entering the season with concerns that his skills are declining. Porter Hodge is also off to a slow start but is a superior talent who has an excellent chance to steal the closer's role from Pressly during May. In fact, if we remove one disastrous outing, Hodge has allowed two runs in 13 innings. The trade return on Pressly won't be sizable, but it will be better than the return in a few weeks. Sell high Carlos Estévez, Kansas City Royals Estévez is off to a solid start (2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, eight saves), which should make him valuable on the trade market. But there are reasons to doubt the veteran righty, as his 12:9 K:BB ratio is terrible, and he has found success thanks to an unsustainable .171 BABIP. Lucas Erceg (0.79 ERA, 0.53 WHIP) is the best reliever on the Royals and could eventually take over ninth-inning duties. Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals I hesitated to put Finnegan in this space, since I often recommended trading him last year and he defied the odds en route to collecting 38 saves. But I'm going back to the well and predicting that lightning won't strike twice for a closer with mediocre skills who pitches for a below-average team. Finnegan continues to allow too many baserunners (1.54 WHIP) for consistent success.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer: Closers to acquire in deals and ones to move now
After diving deep into the starting pitcher market last week, I'm going to turn my attention to the pool of relievers this time around. Closers tend to deliver their production in clusters, as they are at the whim of the save chances provided by their team. And as we flip the calendar to May on Thursday, it's time to capitalize on managers who are overreacting to early season trends. [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] Buy low Jhoan Durán, Minnesota Twins With just two saves, Durán has been a massive disappointment. But outside of a couple extra walks, there aren't any reasons to worry about this fireballer, who continues to record triple-digit radar gun readings. The Twins have provided him with just a pair of save chances, and the rest of the bullpen has combined for one save. Perhaps most importantly, Durán's biggest competition for saves, Griffin Jax, has an 7.50 ERA. Minnesota has plenty of effective starters and should eventually go on a run of collecting narrow wins. Advertisement Félix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles Bautista is in a similar situation as Durán, as the talented Orioles have provided their bullpen with few leads. The right-hander has collected all four of the team's saves. It's worth noting that Bautista has allowed six walks in eight innings, but he hasn't issued a free pass in his past three outings. I would rather acquire Durán, but a buy-low offer for Bautista could work as well. Devin Williams, New York Yankees I can't provide any statistical reasons related to the current season to encourage managers to acquire Williams. He has been awful, missing his spots and frustrating himself, his teammates, Yankees fans and fantasy managers. And manager Aaron Boone has taken notice, removing Williams from the closer's role. That being said, Williams was the No. 1 closer off the board in many drafts, and he entered the season with eye-popping career numbers (1.83 ERA, 14.3 K/9 rate). Managers who can add Williams at an extreme discount and stash him on the bench may want to make the move. Buy high Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers Scott has thus far been everything the Dodgers wanted when they signed him to a lucrative four-year contract, posting a 14:0 K:BB ratio while ranking fifth in baseball with eight saves. Sure, has blown a couple saves, but he hasn't allowed more than one run in any outing. Most importantly, the Dodgers are using Scott as a full-time closer, which was the biggest offseason question surrounding their bullpen. Los Angeles will eventually pull away from the pack, and Scott will rack up many saves along the way. Sell low Ryan Pressly, Chicago Cubs Managers who drafted Pressly may wish to trade him away while he still has a ninth-inning job. The veteran has posted a poor 5:7 K:BB ratio after entering the season with concerns that his skills are declining. Porter Hodge is also off to a slow start but is a superior talent who has an excellent chance to steal the closer's role from Pressly during May. In fact, if we remove one disastrous outing, Hodge has allowed two runs in 13 innings. The trade return on Pressly won't be sizable, but it will be better than the return in a few weeks. Advertisement Sell high Carlos Estévez, Kansas City Royals Estévez is off to a solid start (2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, eight saves), which should make him valuable on the trade market. But there are reasons to doubt the veteran righty, as his 12:9 K:BB ratio is terrible, and he has found success thanks to an unsustainable .171 BABIP. Lucas Erceg (0.79 ERA, 0.53 WHIP) is the best reliever on the Royals and could eventually take over ninth-inning duties. Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals I hesitated to put Finnegan in this space, since I often recommended trading him last year and he defied the odds en route to collecting 38 saves. But I'm going back to the well and predicting that lightning won't strike twice for a closer with mediocre skills who pitches for a below-average team. Finnegan continues to allow too many baserunners (1.54 WHIP) for consistent success.
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester City vs Aston Villa odds: Is Joško Gvardiol Pep Guardiola's secret weapon?
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic's sports betting section and have them added to your feed. The Premier League may have robbed us of a thrilling title race and dogged relegation battle, but it has delivered on the Champions League qualification front. Five points separate seventh-place Chelsea from third-place Newcastle – and there's no guarantee it'll remain that way after the mid-week slate. Advertisement Fortunately, the fixture gods have pitted two contenders against each other on an otherwise uneventful Tuesday evening: Aston Villa versus Manchester City. The Villans sit sixth in the table on 57 points, trailing Nottingham Forest only by goal differential, while the wounded Citizens are currently fourth on 58 points. Due to injuries and various transfer endeavours, we aren't expecting a repeat of last Christmas Eve's fiery 2-1 showdown. So, we've assessed each side's chances and their potential betting value… In the latter stages of 2024, City resembled a team made up of sentient traffic cones. With each turnover of possession, their defensive vulnerabilities became more and more apparent. Meanwhile, Villa's attack relied heavily on super-sub Jhon Durán, who was drastically overperforming his underlying metrics. Four months into 2025, neither side are recognizable. Since February 15th, the Villans have become the third-most potent attack in the league, only trailing behind Liverpool and Brighton in Expected Goals (xG) created, per Understat data. Coincidentally – or not – that date coincided with the first time Marcus Rashford joined fellow January transfers Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen on a pitch. Before their arrival, Villa's chance creation was at a crossroads. Durán was a game-changer off the bench but failed to mesh with the incumbent Ollie Watkins. Both players favoured a 'shots only' approach, which, when combined, wreaked havoc on the team's attacking dynamics. While Durán's one-dimensional approach posed problems, relying on the fading Leon Bailey was far more concerning. The injection of Rashford, Malen and Asensio offered more quality and, perhaps even more importantly, versatility. Each player could play multiple positions across the field, either pairing with Watkins or replacing him outright. This flexibility is why Villa's attack has remained productive and consistent despite Unai Emery's frequent squad rotations. Advertisement For Pep Guardiola, the task has not been about rejuvenating the attack but fortifying the midfield and defence. Bringing in former Eintracht Frankfurt winger Omar Marmoush was a flashy purchase. But, the recent improvement in performances suggests the Catalan coach has also strengthened the defence – and the data proves it. Since February 15, Villa rank third in xG creation, while Man City position third in xG allowed during that same time frame. The catalyst for the defensive improvement should largely be credited to Nico González. The 23-year-old's xG-allowed splits are particularly eye-opening. Per FBref, Only John Stones, Nico O'Reilly and Jeremy Doku's xG-allowed per 90 rank lower than González's 0.96 mark. It's important to remember that xG on/off splits are very volatile and require a lot of contextual framing. But in this case, it's a welcome arrival of fresh legs to an ageing midfield. Erling Haaland's absence is glaringly obvious. But, sidestep the ruse, and you'll see the biggest area of concern is the defence – or what's left of it. No John Stones to command the back line or Rodri to anchor ahead has forced Guardiola to deploy left-back Gvardiol in a more central position. While he's no longer getting the freedom to combine with attackers, supply his teammates with shrewd passes in the box, or let loose screamers from tight angles, the Croatian international is still doing a lot for the City attack. Josko Gvardiol vs. Everton Successful Passes: 81 Expected Threat: 0.17 Progression via pass: 7.23 Progression via carry: 3.1 Donations — markstats bot (@markstatsbot) April 19, 2025 Draw, Both Teams to Score (15/4) The one caveat to include when talking about City's defensive turnaround this year is that the teams they have faced recently haven't been strong opponents. Since March, they've held four sides to 1.0 xG or less. Those four clubs – Forest, Leicester City, Manchester United and Everton – are not just struggling (Forest) or holistically bad (the other three) but also rank among the bottom seven clubs in xG created this season. Advertisement A trip to Manchester could make things dicey for Emery's troops, but Villa's results on the road suggest otherwise. Five of the Villan's last six away games have resulted in victories, with their only loss during that stretch coming against arguably the best team in world football – Paris Saint-Germain – in the Champions League quarter-finals. Incidentally, the last time City played a strong attacking team at home was a 2-2 draw to Brighton in March, where even the Seagulls managed to slightly edge the Citizens in the xG battle. Given the tactical similarities between Brighton and Villa, getting nearly 4-to-1 odds to see a similar result seems too good to pass up as the top four race intensifies. Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Josko Gvardiol: Matt McNulty / Getty Images)
Gulf Insider
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Insider
Al Nassr Reclaims Third Place With 3-0 Victory Over Al Fayha As Jhon Durán Shines
Al Nassr reclaimed third place in the Saudi Pro League standings after securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Al Fayha on Friday night, with Colombian forward Jhon Durán making an instant impact by scoring his first two league goals. The win propelled Al Nassr to 41 points, reinforcing their position in the top three, while Al Fayha remained at 16 points, slipping to 14th place in the table. Durán opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, marking his first goal in the Saudi Pro League, before doubling his tally in the 72nd minute to strengthen his team's lead. The night was also special for Cristiano Ronaldo, who celebrated his 40th birthday as fans at Al Awal Park chanted his name in the 40th minute. Just minutes later, the Portuguese star sealed the victory in the 74th minute, scoring his 16th goal of the season to maintain his position as the league's top scorer. Head coach Stefano Pioli opted to rest Otávio and Mohamed Simakan, ensuring they are fresh for Al Nassr's highly anticipated clash against Al Ahli in the next round.
