Category Sports News

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Leinster (12) 25

Tries: Kenny 2, Van der Flier, Henshaw Con: Prendergast Pen: Byrne

La Rochelle (7) 24

Harry Byrne scored a match-winning penalty with the last kick of the game as Leinster moved closer to securing a home last-16 game in the Investec Champions Cup with a nail-biting victory over rivals La Rochelle at Aviva Stadium.

At the end of a ding-dong latest edition of one of Europe’s most compelling rivalries, replacement fly-half Byrne nailed his kick in the 83rd minute to put Leinster five points clear of the Stormers at the top of pool 3.

With three wins from three, the four-time champions are guaranteed to be in the top two when they travel to Bayonne in the final round of pool fixtures next week.

But Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle – who beat Leinster in the 2022 and 2023 finals – are in danger of missing out on a knockout place after failing to bounce back from last month’s defeat by the Stormers.

O’Gara will lament a slow start by his side as Leinster raced into a 12-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes with two tries by European debutant Joshua Kenny.

However, after Georgian winger Davit Niniashvili’s score narrowed the deficit before half-time, La Rochelle moved 17-12 clear when Nolann Le Garrec’s penalty was followed by Ihaia West’s converted try.

In an absorbing conclusion, Josh van der Flier and Robbie Henshaw crossed to push Leinster 22-17 and seal the bonus point, but the visitors looked to have snatched a dramatic win when West scored his second.

While it was a painful defeat for La Rochelle, the victory extended Leinster’s winning sequence to eight in all competitions since their United Rugby Championship loss to Munster at Croke Park in October.

Leo Cullen’s side came into the game beset by front-row injury troubles, with Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani and Jack Boyle all missing.

However, they still produced a blistering start as Kenny finished two sweeping moves in the corner with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell watching in the stands.

But the hosts struggled to maintain momentum as Tommy O’Brien was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on during a promising La Rochelle attack.

Having been made to wait, Niniashvili struck for the Top 14 outfit in the 28th minute, with Leinster’s woes deepened when Joe McCarthy was sin-binned before half-time.

While Leinster – who lost Ireland internationals Ciaran Frawley and Paddy McCarthy to injuries – held La Rochelle scoreless with Joe McCarthy off the field, Le Garrec slotted a penalty over and converted West’s try to give La Rochelle a 17-12 lead.

La Rochelle were guilty of spurning try-scoring opportunities, however, and they were made to pay when Van der Flier and Henshaw both crossed in the right corner in the space of four minutes to move Leinster clear.

However, with Prendergast and Byrne both having missed conversion attempts, La Rochelle edged ahead when Le Garrec coolly added the extras to out-half West’s second score, leaving Leinster on the brink of a first pool defeat since 2018.

Leinster: Frawley; O’Brien, Ioane, Henshaw, Kenny; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson, J McCarthy, Ryan; Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, Cahir, Sparrow, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Byrne, Osborne.

Sin-bin: O’Brien (13), J McCarthy (37)

La Rochelle: Leyds; Nowell, Favre, Daunivucu, Niniashvili; West, Le Garrec; Wardi, Latu, Atonio, Kante-Samba, Skelton, Jegou, Botia, Alldritt (capt).

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Assistant referees: Adam Leal (RFU) & John Meredith (RFU)

Having signed off at Bournemouth in fairytale fashion, Antoine Semenyo started life at Manchester City in a similarly dreamy manner just four days later by stealing the show in a record-equalling win for the club.

The forward completed a transfer from the Cherries on Friday and, although it was Exeter City in front of him for his debut, the 26-year-old duly impressed in a 10-1 FA Cup third-round mauling of the League One side.

Semenyo showed early signs of why City decided to spend £65m to bring him to Etihad Stadium.

He became a fans’ favourite during his three years on the south coast and a goal and assist on his first start will go a long way to ensuring supporters at his new club take to him in the same way.

The Ghanaian was named man of the match in a contest where City racked up double figures for the first time under Pep Guardiola and matched the biggest victory in their history – a 10-1 Second Division thrashing of Huddersfield in 1987.

It was also the biggest FA Cup win from a top-flight side since Tottenham Hotspur beat Crewe 13-2 in a fourth-round replay in 1960.

With boss Guardiola serving a one-game touchline ban for receiving three yellow cards, assistant Pep Lijnders stood in for duties during the game and post-match.

“I think a lot of good performances today,” said Lijnders. “A lot of good individual performances. I think when the team plays like that it becomes easier for the individual, but Antoine is settling well.

“He is a humble guy and we have followed him for a long time, but he brings something to the frontline – what we really want and what we need.

Semenyo’s beaming smile at full-time was as bright as the stadium floodlights after playing a major part in his side’s rampant and ruthless success.

Star striker Erling Haaland played only the first 45 minutes, missing Semenyo’s goal contributions, but will be licking his lips at the service he may well receive from City’s new recruit.

A delightful ball into the box from the left flank was finished off by Rico Lewis for their fifth goal, before he showed class and composure to make it 6-0.

“It’s not a surprise for us because everyone has seen how good of a player he is in the Premier League,” said Lewis.

“Everybody wanted him, there’s a reason for that and he’s shown that today. It feels like a seamless transition into the team.

“He’s a really good person as well which is another positive.”

Having scored 10 Premier League goals this season for Bournemouth, Semenyo’s first for City saw him run on to Rayan Cherki’s pass and slipping a finish under Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.

In turn, he became the first player to both score and assist a goal on his City debut since Sergio Aguero against Swansea in August 2011.

That is some player to emulate, given the Argentine striker went on to become City’s record goalscorer during a decade with them, lifting five Premier League titles, six League Cups and an FA Cup triumph in 2019.

Semenyo has started in perfect fashion as victory over Exeter made it 12 unbeaten games in all competitions for City as they continue to fight on all fronts.

Three consecutive Premier League draws has left them six points behind leaders Arsenal, while their next game is the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle on Tuesday.

Lijnders said: “The last three games we wanted, of course, we created the chances to score more goals and to win the game. That would have already created a different position in the league.

“But overall, I think we have a really special group. The amount of experienced players who take lead of the team, the way they guide all the others, the way new players are settling in and the energy. I’m not only talking about the games, but especially training. In the training centre it’s special and we are on our way.

The scoreline ticked to 9-0 on 86 minutes when impressive debutant Ryan McAidoo drilled in and the 17-year-old’s finish was greeted with chants of “we want 10” from the home supporters.

Although 19-year-old George Birch pulled a stunning goal back for the Grecians, Lewis smashed home as City became the first top-flight side to score 10 or more goals in any English competition since Liverpool beat Fulham 10-0 in the League Cup in September 1986.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell, who was part of the Wigan Athletic squad that upset City in the 2013 FA Cup final, said: “When the team sheet came in, it was an experience we didn’t envisage.

“I think my players were excited for two or three minutes, but then they got on the pitch and realised he [Haaland] is the best number nine in the world.

“It’s a lesson that when one of the best managers of all time needs to win a game he picks a team to win it. The respect they showed was outstanding – they did what Man City should have done to us.

It came as something of a surprise when London City Lionesses announced they had parted company with manager Jocelyn Precheur last month.

The Frenchman had led the club to the Women’s Super League 2 trophy last season, securing promotion to the top flight for the first time in their short history.

And they were sixth at the halfway point of their debut WSL campaign, with five wins from the first 11 league matches, when Precheur was sacked.

But the controversial decision was not based on results.

Owner Michele Kang wanted a coach capable of implementing a unique style of football – one that aligns with the club’s vision of playing in European competition by 2027.

Maestre’s last job was at CD Tenerife Femenino in Spain’s top-tier, where he guided them to a sixth-placed finish last season.

He resigned from the side – based in the Canary Islands – in December, with the club fifth.

“Without a doubt, Eder Maestre was one of the most talented coaches in the Liga F, and it was expected that sooner or later he would get an opportunity like this one with London City,” Spanish football journalist Marta Grinan told BBC Sport.

Maestre himself said the job was one he could not refuse.

“When I resigned at Tenerife, I was thinking of getting home, taking some rest days, but in a few days, my agent says to me that I have a lot of options to join some clubs, and one of them was London City,” said the Spaniard.

“This, in my opinion now, is the best female project in football. So I cannot say no.”

When Maestre held his first press conference on Friday, he repeatedly returned to his two core principles – ambition and humility.

“I’m here – very far from my family – because I am that ambitious,” he added.

“I want to be a piece in the new building steps, they [London City Lionesses] are trying to become a top level club in the world.”

The 39-year-old’s sense of purpose is rooted in how closely the club’s vision mirrors his own personal values.

“One of my own phrases is ‘dream big, great realities’,” said Maestre.

“The club goals are very aligned to my individual values in my life, so this alignment gave me confidence to try to use this this season to keep building that foundation, to dream big in the next one.”

While he is fully aware of London City’s desire to stand alongside the elite of women’s football, he believes progress must be rooted in humility.

“If you want to win, the first step or the first pillar is being humble, respecting the opponent that you have faced,” Maestre explained.

“We cannot lose the humble vision this season, because it’s going to be a very strong pillar to build and continue building the foundations.

Maestre describes himself as a “perfectionist” with a love of the English game.

“I am from the north of Spain, and the Basque Country is very connected to British mood,” he said.

“I’ve loved English football since I was a child, it’s my favourite league, I know a lot of the players, I grow with that energy.”

While Maestre might have been inspired by English football, Grinan believes his three seasons as assistant manager to Natalia Arroyo – now Aston Villa’s manager – at Real Sociedad has heavily influenced his playing style.

“He is a modern coach, a tactician and very demanding of his players and their talent. He has always advocated possession football, intelligent pressing and verticality when looking for goals,” said Grinan.

“His season and a half with Tenerife was spectacular, and in Spain we are very happy that he is now one of the coaches who will take the particularities of our country’s style of football, tiki-taka, to a country like England.”

Regardless of his tactical approach, Maestre insists there is only one thing on his mind.

Sixth-tier Macclesfield could lay claim to having produced the greatest shock in the FA Cup’s 155-year history.

The National League North side defeated FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday despite being ranked 117 league places below the Premier League club.

That makes it the biggest shock in the competition’s history in terms of difference in league position.

But where would you place it among the biggest surprises in football’s oldest cup competition?

Despite being 117 league places below their opponents, Macclesfield thoroughly deserved to win.

Paul Dawson’s brilliant header in the first half sent the home fans delirious, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts prodded in a second after the break.

Yeremy Pino set up a nervous finish for the hosts when he fired home a free-kick in stoppage time, but Macclesfield held out.

Palace arrived in Cheshire with an injury-hit squad and without a win in eight games, but few expected them to lose less than eight months after beating Manchester City in the 2024-25 FA Cup final.

The victory is made even more remarkable by the fact that this iteration of Macclesfield was only started playing in 2021-22.

The club is the successor of Macclesfield Town, who were liquidated and expelled from the National League in 2020 because of huge debts.

When Bournemouth were drawn to face FA Cup holders Manchester United in the third round in 1984, few people gave the struggling Third Division side much chance of causing an upset.

But led by young and inexperienced boss Harry Redknapp, the Cherries produced one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history. Bournemouth matched United for an hour before five dramatic minutes brought goals from Milton Graham and Ian Thompson, and gave them a 2-0 lead.

Despite boasting a star-studded side that included England captain Bryan Robson, United could not deny Bournemouth a famous victory.

League Two Stevenage, enjoying their first season of league football, beat Premier League Newcastle with a dominant performance.

The underdogs enjoyed more of the possession and more of the shots to hand their opponents their biggest cup upset since they were defeated by non-league Hereford in 1972 – more on that shortly.

Stacy Long’s deflected strike gave Stevenage the lead, before Michael Bostwick added a second. Cheick Tiote’s dismissal did not help Newcastle’s cause and even though Joey Barton pulled one back, Peter Winn sealed a famous victory.

It was surely written in the stars that Shrewsbury, managed by Everton’s most successful captain Kevin Ratcliffe, would cause an upset against his former club.

Everton were pushing for a place in Europe and boasted a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney among their ranks, but were dominated by a Shrewsbury side 80 places below them in the pyramid.

Shrewsbury’s 34-year-old captain Nigel Jemson opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick and then, after Niclas Alexandersson equalised, the veteran struck again with a header to send the Shrews into the fourth round.

Arne Slot made 10 changes to his Liverpool side after they had won an EFL Cup semi-final in their previous game – and they were made to pay.

Eight minutes after the interval, the Pilgrims were awarded a penalty after Harvey Elliott’s handball and Ryan Hardie drilled home from the spot in emphatic fashion.

Hardie almost added a second shortly afterwards when his shot was turned on to the post by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Bradford ranked 49 places below their opponents as they travelled to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, who at that point were top of the Premier League.

Gary Cahill and Ramires netted to put the hosts 2-0 up and give Chelsea firm control of the fourth-round tie.

Bradford had other ideas, though, as Jon Stead pulled one back before Filipe Morais side-footed in an equaliser.

Premier League giants Liverpool had ample strength at Boundary Park, with Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge all starting.

League One hosts Oldham were in the midst of financial problems but produced a spirited display against the odds, with Matt Smith nodding in a Youssouf M’Changama cross to open the scoring.

Suarez levelled, but Smith soon took advantage of an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones before Reece Wabara netted a back-post header to give the Latics a 3-1 lead.

Arsenal were reigning First Division champions and second in the top flight. Wrexham had finished the previous season bottom of the Fourth Division.

The Gunners made the trip to Wales as firm favourites and were just 10 minutes from securing a spot in the fourth round after Alan Smith’s first-half opener.

Sutton United had a memorable cup run in 2016-17, beating three EFL teams – including Leeds United – before losing to Arsenal in the fifth round.

They have also produced one of the biggest shocks of all time.

The non-league side took on a Coventry team who were then in the First Division and had won the FA Cup in 1987.

Top-flight Newcastle were beaten in the third round of the FA Cup by non-league opposition when they took on Hereford United in 1972.

Hereford took the tie to a replay after a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park, but Newcastle looked destined to make it to the fourth round thanks to a late goal by Malcolm McDonald in the rematch.

However, the non-leaguers had other ideas and Ronnie Radford popped up to score the most famous 30-yard goal in FA Cup history to take the game into extra time.