MLS

JAKOB GLESNES lived up to his Thor nickname with a thunder strike for Philadelphia against Atlanta United on the weekend.The defender spared his team’s blushes with a 93rd-minute hammer blow which pinged the cross-bar three times before going in.
Glesnes wowed fans with his Thor like strike against AtlantaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Glesnes lets fly with a thunderous strike from 35 yards
Brad Guzman in goal is left powerless as the ball hits the bar
Defeat had looked certain for Philadelphia who were trailing Atlanta 2-1 as the game drew to a close.
But Glesnes had other ideas and ploughed forward in the dying seconds before driving the ball past the helpless Atlanta and ex-Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzman.
The ball thumped against the bar and then bounced down on to the goal line.
But it was hit with such amazing power it rebounded back up to the bar, and then did it again before finally ending up in the goal.
The Norwegian’s effort stunned fans who sung his praises on Twitter.
A fan exclaimed: “Don’t normally watch MLS, but this has to be GOAL OF THE SEASON.”
Glesnes seems to be developing a knack of scoring thunder-bolts for his team.
Last year, he struck a similar effort for Philadelphia against rival Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC).
He smashed it in from a free-kick which soared straight into the top-left hand corner.
The ball hits the bar, falls the goal line, and bounces back to hit the bar again
The ball hits the bar for a third time before ending up in the net
Fans were claiming that Glesnes’ strike was goal of the season
Other supporters who rarely watch American football agreed

Fans gave Glesnes the nickname Thor after that wonder strike.
And the god of thunder didn’t disappoint with his hammer strike against Atlanta.
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RYAN SHAWCROSS was sent off for brutally grabbing an opponent’s neck as nine-man Inter Miami suffered another disastrous defeat.The former Stoke defender, 33, let frustrations get the better of him with seven minutes to go away at DC United on Saturday night.
Inter Miami defender Ryan Shawcross was sent off for trying to get an opponent in a headlockCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He wrapped his arm around Joseph Mora and grabbed him to the ground
Miami were trailing 1-0 when the centre-back tried to launch an attack down the right wing.
But after miscontrolling and running into trouble, he was tackled by DC substitute Joseph Mora.
Instead of accepting the throw-in, though, Shawcross decided to wrap his arm around the Costa Rican defender and haul him down to the ground.
The one-cap England man – who joined on a free transfer in February – tried to walk off and get away with it but when Mora stayed down and the players and crowd reacted angrily, the referee brandished the red card.
That was the second an Inter player was sent off with Gregore handed a second yellow for a body-check tackle ten minutes after the break at Audi Field in Washington DC.
To make matters worse for Phil Neville and his side, DC were awarded a controversial penalty 20 minutes from time.
The ball was crossed in from a free-kick wide on the left and headed into Christian Makoun’s arm from point-blank range.
Ola Kamara stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, rolling it into bottom corner with ease.

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The ex-Stoke man was tackled on the sideline as Inter chased an equaliser
Mora was clothelined to the floor as team-mates reacted angrily

That proved the only goal of the game as Miami’s miserable start to the season continued.
The team – co-owned by David Beckham – have picked up just eight points from nine games, winning two and losing five.
They sit 11th in the MLS Eastern Conference, with all three of the teams below them having at least one game in hand.
Tyson Fury watches Inter Miami lose to Montreal in mixed start for Phil Neville More

GONZALO HIGUAIN believed he could play in the MLS ‘with a cigarette’ in his mouth – but admits he has been surprised by its high standard.The Argentina striker left Juventus a year ago once his deal had expired and had plenty of big-money offers to go elsewhere in Europe.
Gonzalo Higuain revealed he has been impressed by the standard of the MLSCredit: Getty
Instead he opted to join Inter Miami – the club owned by David Beckham – in the States.
The 33-year-old initially thought it would be easy for him out there, but after completing his first campaign in America, he insists that the MLS is just as competitive as Serie A.
Higuain told Christian Vieri’s Twitch channel Bobo TV: “I thought I would come here and play with a cigarette in my mouth and, instead, it is difficult.
“It is a tough league. I learned that it is similar to Italian football.
“In Spain and England it is easier to do well, while in Italy, if you do not know the league, you suffer.”
After missing a penalty on his debut he has since appeared in six more MLS games and scored four goals.
Following his brief spell with Chelsea in the Premier League, Higuain returned to Juventus in 2019 and scored eight times as they won a ninth successive Scudetto.
But after realising he was no longer a regular and issues in his private life, the veteran says he left to ‘find joy and fun’ again.

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Higuain added: “I couldn’t find the right determination and serenity outside of football.
“I had nothing more to give.
“A great friend of mine like Buffon told me: ‘If you no longer feel that fire inside in training, if you no longer feel the determination to be at high levels, you have to go’.
“Football gave me a lot but it was time to say enough and find joy and fun and new football in a city that surprised me because it was wonderful.”
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Gonzalo Higuain and his brother make MLS history with Inter Miami goals in same game More

GONZALO HIGUAIN claims the only way to play alongside legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is to “serve” them obediently.Higuain happily admits he became a servant on the pitch for Messi with Argentina and Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Juventus.
Gonzalo Higuain played alongside Lionel Messi for Argentina for nine yearsCredit: AP
Ex-Argentina hitman Gonzalo Higuain was briefly in the pink with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus before a permanent move to Inter Miami last yearCredit: Getty – Contributor
The former Chelsea flop is now with David Beckham’s Inter Miami after the rare honour of being a team-mate to football’s two greatest superstars of the century.
And the striker, 33, told Christian Vieri’s Bobo TV: “I was fortunate to play with both. 
“They are at a level so high that you have to adapt them to serve them.
“With Messi and Ronaldo the side have at the least three or four goal situations a game, if you ‘re smart and you understand. 
“For me it was a privilege.”
Becks has publicly stated he would love to lure Messi, who is 34 next week, and/or Ronaldo, 36, to his fledgling MLS club.
And in fact Barcelona’s one-club icon Messi has been buying up property in Miami.
But Higuain insists the USA is not the gentle step-down he thought it would be – and might even be TOUGHER than the Premier League.

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He said: “I thought I would come here and play with a cigarette in my mouth and instead it is difficult.
“The MLS is a tough league. I learned that it is similar to Italian football. 
“In Spain and England it is easier to do well, while in Italy, if you do not know the league, you suffer.”
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DAVID BECKHAM is ready to take his Inter Miami project up a gear.. by signing Lionel Messi.Golden Balls is passionate about his MLS franchise, and determined to turn them into one of the world’s most popular teams.
Inter Miami could be a big threat in two seasons’ time
Lionel Messi could head Stateside in two yearsCredit: AFP
To do this, the 46-year-old is ready to complete a deal that would see Messi turn out for Miami before the end of his career.
SunSport last night revealed that Inter Miami are ready to sign the Argentine in two years’ time, with Barca’s No10 to see out his playing career Stateside.
Messi would then become a Barcelona ambassador after hanging up his boots.
MLS rules dictate that each team may only have three Designated Players – stars that don’t apply to the strict salary cap.
Inter Miami will have to be especially careful, having recently fallen foul of the rules.
So Beckham and boss Phil Neville will have to be creative with how they mould their squad around Messi.
But there is still quality to be found.
Miami could move to try and sign US Men’s National Team star Ethan Horvath, who is currently playing for Club Brugge in Belgium.
Phil Neville and David Beckham have big plans for Inter MiamiCredit: Getty Images – GettyWIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!

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Their back four is already brimming with Premier League experience, with Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Shawcross providing a solid base.
They are joined at the back by leader Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and experienced right-back Kelvin Leerdam.
French World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi could be joined in midfield by Mexican star and MLS stalwart Victor Ulloa.
And Miami’s strike force will be filled with attacking talent.
Messi could play on the right flank, with former Celtic starlet Lewis Morgan pinching himself on the opposite wing.
Miami could also try and bring Julian Green to the States, with the former USMNT wonderkid’s career having stalled in Germany.
The former Bayerrn ace scored at the 2014 World Cup for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side as a teenager – but is currently playing in the second-tier with Greuther Furth. A move to MLS could kickstart his fortunes.
With this talent behind him, Gonzalo Higuain would be bound to score goals by the hatful.
World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi now plies his trade in the USCredit: AP
Gonzalo Higuain can expect some further attacking reinforcementsCredit: Getty
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Tyson Fury watches Inter Miami lose to Montreal in mixed start for Phil Neville More

PHIL NEVILLE went from a problem off the pitch to one very much on it.The Inter Miami boss was rocked on Friday after an MLS investigation into financial irregularities ended with a record fine for the club and vital transfer money docked.
Phil Neville’s side have won just two of their opening eight MLS games this termCredit: Getty Images – Getty
DC United celebrate their opening goal in a blow to Inter MiamiCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And on Saturday night, in front of almost 16,000 at DRV PNK Stadium, struggling DC United did one hell of a number on Miami to compound a nightmare few days for David Beckham’s side.
There was certainly no party in South Florida for loyal fans who have waited more than six years to see the stands jumping.
This was the first time the newly-built arena in Fort Lauderdale was close to its 18,000 capacity thanks to Covid restrictions being relaxed further.
But that was the only spot of joy for the locals.
Instead it was DC who bagged just their third win of the season thanks to a brace from Ola Kamara, who scored in both halves with a strike from Paul Arriola sandwiched in between.
Nev has now lost three of his last four and this particular display was well below par.
Miami have eight points from eight matches with problems at both ends of the pitch but the former Manchester United man refused to use the MLS probe as an excuse.
He told SunSport: “The investigation seemed to have taken ages for the punishments to come out but we told the players on Friday.
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“We also told them that it’s not something we think should affect them on the pitch. We take responsibility as a club but my job is to coach and the players’ job is to perform on the field.
“Whatever happens away from it isn’t a distraction for us. We aren’t using that [the investigation] as an excuse tonight.”
Both of Neville’s wins this term have come away from DRV PNK Stadium and he added: “We aren’t dominating games at home, while also giving teams a feeling they can score against us.
“The team were focused to go out and put on a performance for the fans in a packed out stadium but we didn’t do it.
“That’s the biggest disappointment.”
Miami now have a much needed three-week international break to lick their wounds before meeting DC United again.
Ex-Stoke City skipper Ryan Shawcross fails to stop DC United’s Ola Kamara from scoringCredit: AP

Neville said: “Now is not the time to be pointing fingers, we have to be better as a collective unit.
“One of my non-negotiables is that the buck always stops with me but we have to be together.
“There are four or five players that need four days off. That is imperative.
“It has been an intense period with a lot happening so there needs to be some clearing of minds for a few days.
“We have to come back and make sure we are better, harder to beat and eradicate the mistakes which are costing us goals.”
Scottish winger Lewis Morgan, who battled hard when top earners Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi failed to impress, added: “We need to start repaying the fans.”
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Tyson Fury watches Inter Miami lose to Montreal in mixed start for Phil Neville More

DAVID BECKHAM’S Inter Miami were hit with a £1.4MILLION fine by MLS bosses last night for a series of financial irregularities. Following a lengthy investigation into a number of player contracts, Becks’ transfer fund was also slashed for the next two years. 
David Beckham’s Inter Miami plans have hit a roadblockCredit: Getty
Blaise Matuidi raised eyebrows when he joined Inter MiamiCredit: AP
Boss Phil Neville was left devastated at the substantial hit to his ‘targeted allocation money’ meaning his transfer plans have been destroyed by £2m in signings for the next two years. 
Former sporting director Paul McDonough, who was sacked at the end of last season, was also banned for two years to compound a serious mess for Becks to deal with. 
The investigation into the signing of Blaise Matuidi from Juventus last summer also discovered multiple players were earning top wages despite strict MLS rules stating only three Designated Players are allowed to pocket the most. 
It’s a massive blow to Beckham and Neville with both furious at the mess left by former agent McDonough who had rejoined Atlanta United after getting the boot in Miami. 
One source said:”It’s a nightmare.”
Major League Soccer has strict rules in place regarding spending on players, including a salary cap.
Each team can have a maximum of three Designated Players, who do not apply to the limit on each star’s wages.
When 2018 World Cup winner Matuidi, 34, arrived from Juventus last August, he was surprisingly named as a ‘targeted allocation money player’, meaning that he couldn’t be paid more than £1.14m for last season.
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Gonzalo Higuain subsequently joined Inter Miami as a DPCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Paul McDonough, left, has left Inter in a messCredit: Getty

He was made a Designated Player for the 2021 campaign, but MLS have been investigating his arrival last year – and whether he was paid too much.
An official statement read: “The integrity of our rules is sacrosanct, and it is a fundamental principle of our league that our clubs are responsible for adhering to all league regulations.
“Our rules will not be compromised. These sanctions reflect the severity of Inter Miami’s violations, should encourage complete cooperation by all parties in future investigations, and will serve as a deterrent for clubs from violating roster rules.”
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Inter Miami issued a statement acknowledging the club violated league rules in its first season.
It read: “We have worked closely with MLS to address these issues and have made significant changes in our management structure.
“Following our inaugural season, we took a deep look at our soccer operations leadership group and made decisions that not only strengthened our internal roster compliance measures, but also better positioned us to build a sustainable, long-term competition strategy.”
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Tyson Fury watches Inter Miami lose to Montreal in mixed start for Phil Neville More