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EspañolLiverpool's 5-2 win over West Ham still falls short of elite standard
Liverpool's emphatic 5-2 victory over West Ham was a statement on the score sheet, but the match revealed that the team still falls short of the club's elite standard. With an xG of 1.75 against West Ham's 1.84, the win was built on three first‑half corner goals and a reliance on set‑piece efficiency rather than true dominance.
Arne Slot's initial vision of a PSG‑lite, vertical, positional side has been replaced by a pragmatic approach that prioritises dead‑ball work. Nine set‑piece goals since January show the shift, yet defensive frailties and a lack of a natural defensive midfielder leave Liverpool vulnerable in transition.
Noahkai Banks mulling international future as USMNT, Germany seek towering Augsburg teen
Hawaii-born center back Noahkai Banks continues to pile up strong performances for Augsburg in the Bundesliga, and he's "very torn" while on the radar of Germany's powerful national team.
MORE — Breaking down the USMNT’s World Cup group
Banks just turned 19 in December and has represented the United States at the U17, U19, and U20 levels. He made his Bundesliga debut last season and has started 18 of his 20 appearances for the Fuggerstädter.
Augsburg are ninth on the Bundesliga table, and the 6-foot-4 Banks has played the fifth-most minutes for the club while chipping in a goal and an assist.
MORE — USMNT schedule, scores | USMNT records
Banks second on the side in accurate passes per 90 minutes including 2.7 accurate long balls/90. He's also piled up a respectable 2.2 tackles per 90.
Noahkai Banks: Head turned from USMNT to Germany?
Banks told reporters last month that he was very happy with the U.S. set-up despite contact from Germany, and he was called into USMNT camp this Fall but did not play in a game (The friendlies wouldn't have cap-tied him to the country).
And while the Yanks may be more ready to dangle a World Cup spot to tie him to the country, he's made clear that's not the deciding factor.
“It’s a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I’m very torn,” Banks told Sky Sports Germany, as translated by Ryan Tolmich of Yahoo!. “I’m in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches."
Germany have a great group of defenders ahead of the World Cup, and he wouldn't easily slot into the team. Newcastle's Malick Thiaw, Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, and Bayern's Jonathan Tah are all stars. Antonio Rudiger and Robin Koch weren't even called into Germany's last camp.
Coincidentally there's also Nathaniel Brown, the 22-year-old who was eligible for USMNT duty.
As for the USMNT, there's no question that Tim Ream and Chris Richards will be with the team for the World Cup and Pochettino may carry more center backs due to his recent use of a back three and a long-term injury to Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Banks' inclusion with or even over Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty, and/or Mark McKenzie would be a smart move for the future.
GV's Sirrine selected Northeast Lakes District D-VI Coach of the Year
Zach Sirrine was selected the Northeast Lakes Coach of the Year for Division VI in girls basketball.
In the regular season, Sirrine guided the Mustangs to a 19-3 overall, 13-1 Northeastern Athletic Conference mark, and a conference championship.
In the postseason, the Mustangs defeated Springfield 44-34 for a sectional final win.
GV advanced to the district tournament for the first time in 11 years, and set a single-season school record with 20 victories in the process.
"It has everything to do with the girls," Sirrine said of the honor. "It's a reflection of much hard work they put in."
First-team Ashtabula County-Madison selections were Madison sophomore Gianna LaMarco in Division III (20 points per game); Edgewood junior Carly Kray (23.5 ppg.) D-IV and Grand Valley junior Cloe Turk (14.0) and freshman Riley Rowland (13.1) D-VI.
Second team choices consisted of Edgewood senior Annie Johnston and junior Faith Vencill in D-IV; Pymatuning Valley junior Mckenna Jordan, D-V and GV sophomore Bre Rowland, and Saint John freshman Milani Johnson, both D-VI.
Madison freshman CC Alley, in D-III, and Conneaut senior Alexis Kiser and junior Alexis Warner, D-IV, were among the D-III third-team all-district selections.
The honorable mention all-district teams included: Geneva senior Tahkyah Myers and freshmen Isabel Stocker and Elli Burns, Madison sophomore Maddie White and Lakeside senior Daneja Holley and sophomore Elyzah Maunus in D-III; Jefferson seniors Abby Feick, Dani Furman and Leah Valenti, D-VI; Pymatuning Valley senior Sadie Paul, D-V and Saint John freshman Riley Ann Hatfield and seniors Marissa Arrieta-Williams and Alexa Jordan, D-VII.
The Northeast Lakes All-District girls basketball teams are picked by OPSMA members from the Ashtabula Star Beacon, cleveland.com, the News-Herald in Willoughby, Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria and Morning Journal in Lorain.
The All-Ohio teams will be announced after the conclusion of the boys state championships during the week of March 23.
The Northeast Lakes All-District girls basketball teams include players in schools from Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties.
Find out below who made the teams:
DIVISION I
First team
Sidney Butera, Strongsville, 5-4, jr., 25.9 points; Nina Rodriguez, Mentor, 5-5, sr., 19.2; Regan Braaten, Berea-Midpark, 5-7, jr., 19.0; Jordyn Webb, Cleveland John Hay, 5-10, jr., 19.6; Lindsay Meriwether, Parma Normandy, 5-9, jr., 15.2; Ashlyn McKinney, Mentor, 6-1, fr., 15.3.
Second team
Bella Pinkney, Lorain, 5-3, fr. 14.9; Ziley Minich, Parma Normandy, 5-6, jr., 14.5; Keira Coleman, Mentor, 5-6, so., 10.2; Carly Fisher, Cleveland John Hay, 5-4, jr., 17.0; Lilly Jones, Berea-Midpark, 5-8, fr., 9.4; Emma Arnold, Berea-Midpark, 5-8, jr., 9.2.
Player of the Year: Nina Rodriguez, Mentor
Coach of the Year: James Hrusovsky, Mentor
Honorable mention
Lyla Willis, Mentor; Rosie Jordan, Strongsville; Casey Friel, Berea-Midpark; Hayley McClintock, Mentor; Peyton Willis, Mentor; Addi Keeper, Mentor; Sana Hicks, Cleveland John Hay; Concenstance Mallett, Cleveland John Hay; KaMariana Scott, Elyria;
DIVISION II
First team
Jesse Simon, Olmsted Falls, 5-11, sr., 15.4; Gemma Wichman, Rocky River Magnificat, 5-11, sr., 14.6; Emma Shaefer, Olmsted Falls, 6-0, jr., 11. 5; Kaitlin Dobida, Eastlake North, 5-10, sr., 19.5; Marissa Blackford, Solon, 5-11, sr., 13.4; Ashley Perdion, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 5-9, jr., 10.8; Charleigh Doxley, Lakewood, 5-5, jr., 16.5.
Second team
Camilynne Shields, Cleveland John Marshall, 5-5, jr., 14.0; Oceanne Kabore, Shaker Heights, 6-0, so., 8.0; Dayvon Evans, Cleveland Heights, 5-8, sr., 14.0; Emma Wilhelm, Painesville Riverside, 6-1, jr., 9.3; Brooke Haddad, Cleveland St. Joseph Acdemy, 5-8, sr., 12.0; Brooke Schroeder, North Ridgeville, 5-6, jr., 12.5; Caiya La, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 5-8, jr., 12.1.
Player of the Year: Gemma Wichman, Rocky River Magnificat
Coach of the Year: Joe Zenir, Brecksville-Broadview Heights
Honorable mention
Sydney Montgomery, Mayfield; Ariana Hueter, Lakewood; Elise Laporte, Rocky River Magnificat; Izzy Wilson, Rocky River Magnificat; Elle Lakios, Rocky River, Magnificat; Danielle Brown, Cleveland John Marshall; Santiyana Dorsey, Cleveland John Marshall; Alexa Januszewski, Mayfield; Paige Swoope, Cleveland Heights; Grace Largent, Olmsted Falls; Avery DeLisio, Olmsted Falls; Maddy Ferrari, Eastlake North; Josalyn Hackney, Brecksville-Broadview Heights; Nalani Grayson, Cleveland John Marshall; Aniyja Hayes, Cleveland John Marshall; Maya Woods, Brecksville-Broadview Heights; Kaylie Gaiter-Davis, Solon; Madeline Kormuth, Solon; Sophie Stehik, Cleveland St. Joseph Academy; Lily Sanfilippo, Cleveland St. Joseph Academy; Nyah Dowdell, Cleveland Rhodes; Karmella Haywood, Cleveland Rhodes; Trinity McKenzie, Cleveland Rhodes; Ra’Nayuia Rose, Cleveland John Adams; Azhar’ie Willis, Cleveland John Adams; Lizzie Godlewski, Rocky River Magnificat; Reyna Balderas, North Ridgeville; Abby Owens, Avon; Alaina Pagan, Avon; Lauryn Bohannon, North Ridgeville; Jordyn White, Painesville Riverside; Aubrey Laurenty, Painesville Riverside; Madison Owens, Painesville Riverside; Rhys Shantery, Painesville Riverside.
DIVISION III
First team
Tatiana Mason, Lyndhurst Brush, 5-10, jr., 24.6; Gianna LaMarco, Madison, 5-5, so., 20.0; Nylah Mason, Lyndhurst Brush, 5-8, so., 20.3;. Izzy Lapp, Parma Padua Franciscan, 5-11, so., 16.9; Morgan Cicek, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 5-6, sr., 16.7; Olivia Miller, Avon Lake, 5-10, sr., 15.9; Nora Bruder, Rocky River, 5-7, jr., 16.9; Skyler Ballard, Warrensville Heights, 5-5, so., 17.4.
Second team
Elizabeth Lang, Rocky River, jr., 13.5; Leah DiFranco, Grafton Midview, 5-7, sr., 13.9; Madelyn Lee, Bay Village Bay, 5-7, so., 11.9; Maria Goske, Cleveland Heights Beaumont, 5-7, sr.; Coco Cochran, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 5-10, so., 13.0; Jakalyn Brown, Lyndhurst Brush, 6-2, sr., 9.0; Sophia Spade, Parma Padua Franciscan, 5-6, jr., 14.5; Molly Milligan, Avon Lake, 5-11, jr., 12.5.
Third team
Cameron Gerlica, Chardon, 5-7, sr., 13.0; Aadriana Moses, Warrensville Heights, 5-8, jr., 18.4; C.C. Alley, Madison, 5-6, fr., 12.1; Chloe Kazma, Bay Village Bay, 5-11, fr., 11.5; Aurora Young, Chagrin Falls Kenston, 5-11, sr., 11.8; Norah Trefz, Bay Village Bay, 5-4, sr., 11.3; Ella Stanton, Westlake, 5-5, sr., 12.0.
Player of the Year: Tatiana Mason, Lyndhurst Brush
Coach of the Year: Jamey Pfahl, Rocky River
Honorable mention
Evelyn Ritt, Avon Lake; Trinity Osterman, Chagrin Falls Kenston; Maddie White, Madison; Carolina Chilton, Bay Village Bay; Anna Weingart, Bay Village Bay; Hunter Crum, Grafton Midview; Leila Morgan, Grafton Midview; Kamila Roman, Cleveland Garrett Morgan; Nia Sims, Cleveland Garrett Morgan; Yahira Oliver, Cleveland JFK; Maliyah Rankin, Cleveland JFK; Char’laya Sanders, Cleveland JFK; Taniyah Lewis, Warrensville Heights; Amaya Capps, North Olmsted; Liana Ostrowski, Westlake; Daneja Holley, Ashtabula Lakeside; Elyzah Maunus, Ashtabula Lakeside; Tahkyah Meyers, Geneva; Isabel Stocker, Geneva; Elli Burns, Geneva; Addisyn Harris, Lyndhurst Brush; Juliana Ferreira, Lyndhurst Brush; Capril DuFour, Chardon; Ava Arnold, Chardon; Lilli Dillworth, Chardon; Julia Scales, Gates Mills Hawken; Brynn Munn, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin; Maya Rowan, Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.
DIVISION IV
First team
Tristan Williams, Shaker Heights Laurel, 5-8, sr., 22.8; Annie Sullivan, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 6-2, fr., 17.3; Ari Dimacchia, Elyria Catholic, 5-11, so., 11.0; Claire Coljohn, Parma Heights Holy Name, 5-9, jr., 20.1; Faelynn Beckrest, Chesterland West Geauga, 5-7, jr., 22.8; Carly Kray, Ashtabula Edgewood, 5-7, jr., 23.5; Emily Mechenbier, Perry, 6-1, so., 13.7;
Second team
Jordyn Copley, Oberlin Firelands, 5-10, sr., 14.4; Aliciana Medina, Rocky River Lutheran West, 5-6, sr., 14.9; Maliona Martin, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East, 5-7, jr., 12.0; Annie Johnston, Ashtabula Edgewood, 5-6, sr., 12.2; Faith Vencill, Ashtabula Edgewood, 6-0, jr., 13.7; Jordyn Meyer, Shaker Heights Laurel, 5-7, jr., 12.5; Claire Petrus, Elyria Catholic, 6-0, jr., 10.7; Olivia Schneider, Shaker Heights Laurel, 5-8, sr., 11.4;
Third team
Alexis Warner, Conneaut, 5-6, jr. 13.3; Mia Lynch, Perry, 5-9, jr., 12.1; Gabby Rodriguez, Elyria Catholic, 5-5, sr., 9.2; Jaila Wiggins, Garfield Heights Trinity, 5-8, sr., 10.3; Maddie Kandrach, Rocky River Lutheran West, 5-8, sr., 13.5; Morgan Pfundstein, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 5-7, jr., 9.0; Alexis Kiser, Conneaut, 5-9, sr., 12.3; Anaya Domanski, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, 5-8, so., 8.3; Jordan Cremona, Parma Heights Holy Name, 5-10, 10.1.
Player of the Year: Tristan Williams, Shaker Heights Laurel
Coach of the Year: Amber Iwais, Parma Heights Holy Name
Honorable mention
Reese Grammes, Shaker Heights Laurel; Sydnee Robinson, Shaker Heights Laurel; Sophia Niederst, Elyria Catholic; Addison Schrader, Oberlin Firelands; Princess Gray, Garfield Heights Trinity; Janae Smith, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East; Imani Dotson, Cleveland Central Catholic; Aubrey Hopkins, Perry; Dakota Porter, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East; Taliyah Pollard, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East; Layla Rudolph, Parma Heights Holy Name; Nilah Thorton, Garfield Heights Trinity; Payton McCorvey, Garfield Heights Trinity; Erin Rossoll, Gates Miles Gilmour; Sophie Sivon, Perry; Payton Winters, Perry; Devinae Sanders, Cleveland East Tech; Abby Feick, Jefferson Area; Dani Furman, Jefferson Area; Leah Valenti, Jefferson Area Jefferson; Heaven Thorn, Cleveland East Tech. Zariah Berry, Cleveland Bard; Chalai Mack, Cleveland Bard; Mariyah Benjamin, Cleveland Glenville.
DIVISION V
First team
Madyson Sokolowski, LaGrange Keystone, 5-6, jr., 24.8; Zoe Walters, Beachwood, 5-5, so., 20.0; Avery Russell, Chagrin Falls, 5-8, jr., 18.4; Elizabeth Dunmire, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, sr., 16.7; Stella Bateman, Burton Berkshire, 5-11, so., 13.6; Jayda Gaines, LaGrange Keystone, 5-6, so., 14.5.
Second team
Lizzie Bammerlin, Mentor Lake Catholic, 5-5, so., 13.1; McKenna Jordan, Andover Pymatuning Valley, 5-5, jr. 9.0; Claire Dahler, Fairview Park Fairview, 5.6, so., 11.7; Ivy Martin, Burton Berkshire, 5-6, jr., 10.5; Sydney Dunmire, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, jr., 11.5; Bella Diaz, Sheffield Brookside, 5-0, sr., 12.7; Ella Zampedro, Mentor Lake Catholic, 5-5, sr., 12.3.
Player of the Year: Madyson Sokolowski, LaGrange Keystone
Coach of the Year: Brittany Laseak, Chagrin Falls
Honorable mention
Ryane Kerrigan, Fairview Park Fairview; Abby Kay, Chagrin Falls; Sophia Clarico, LaGrange Keystone; Bailey Brennen, Sheffield Brookside; Gabby Byrne, Chagrin Falls; Olivia Kruse, Chagrin Falls; Emily Larkin, Fairview Park Fairview; La’Nayshia Bailey, Cleveland Collinwood; Sadie Paul, Andover Pymatuning Valley; Julia Young, Burton Berkshire; Blyth Bors, Burton Berkshire; Kiera Schulz, Mentor Lake Catholic; Madelyn Gibbons, Mentor Lake Catholic; Leila Johnson, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph; Geanice Bostick, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph; Cecelia Oriani, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
DIVISION VI
First team
Honor Hall, Richmond Heights, 5-11, sr., 20.0; Natalie Miller, Columbia Station Columbia, 5-10, so., 12.4 Alyssa Goebel, Columbia Station Columbia, 5-6, sr., 11.4; Vinae Williams, Richmond Heights, 5-6, fr., 12.0; Anna Dumstorff, Kirtland, 5-4, jr., 11.4; Cloe Turk, Orwell Grand Valley, 5-9, jr., 14.0; Riley Rowland, Orwell Grand Valley, 5-3, fr., 13.1.
Second team
Janiah Bowen-Pride, Oberlin, 5-3, sr., 13.0; Ella Adams, Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding, jr., 14.5; Bre Rowland, Orwell Grand Valley, 5-7, so., 8.7; Aniyah Johnson, Willoughby Andrews Osborne Academy, 5-6, jr., 10.4; Raquel Dickson, Richmond Heights, 6-1, so., 8.0; Milani Johnson, Ashtabula St. John, 5-5, fr., 8.0.
Player of the Year: Honor Hall, Richmond Heights
Coach of the Year: Zach Sirrine, Orwell Grand Valley
Honorable mention
Shelby Gallion, Wellington; Jana Vale, Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding; Jayana Jones, Oberlin; Lauren Palagyi, Kirtland; Gabby D’Amato, Kirtland; Bella Herhuth, Columbia Station Columbia; Lexi Miller, Columbia Station Columbia; Riley Ann Hatfield, Ashtabula Saint John, Marissa Arrieta Williams, Ashtabula Saint John, Alexa Jordan, Ashtabula Saint John; Lauren Palagi, Kirtland.
DIVISION VII
First team
Briella Bendik, Elyria Open Door Christian, 5-7, fr., 27.0; Riley McPeek, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian, 6-2, fr., 14.5; Brooklynn Domzalski, Cuyahoga Heights, 5-6, so., 13.1; Ivy Kaminski, Middlefield Cardinal, 5-9, jr., 19.5; Kamryn O’Leary, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian, 5-4, sr., 10.2; Kate Burman, Elyria First Baptist, 5-4, sr., 17.0; Emily Pleva, Middlefield Cardinal, 5-6, jr., 8.5;
Player of the Year: Briella Bendik, Elyria Open Door Christian
Coach of the Year: Lisa Stopp, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian
Honorable mention
Alexis Unger, Cuyahoga Heights; Alyssa Mason, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian; Mari Hopkins, Cuyahoga Heights; Hope Murphy, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian; Addie Deka, Cuyahoga Heights; Kara Gravley, Elyria First Baptist; Jo Wacker, Elyria First Baptist; Kathryn Krueger, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Academy; Natalie Soltis, Middlefield Cardinal.
“Aperti al mondo. Dal 1908”: A celebration of Inter’s 118-year history
To celebrate the 118th anniversary of the Club’s founding on March 9, Inter presented “Aperti al mondo. Dal 1908”(Open to the world. Since 1908), a theatrical piece recounting the Nerazzurri’s history, written and performed by Gianfelice Facchetti.
The project was commissioned by the Club, with the support of the minority shareholders’ associations Asso.PAI and AMI, and in collaboration with Pirelli. It was designed to shine a light on the true meaning of being part of Inter: an identity rooted in openness, courage and inclusion since 1908.
The show was performed twice at the Auditorium Pirelli in Milano. The first performance, dedicated to the Club’s Youth Academy players and Special Teams, formed part of its Educational programme. It was a moment of reflection aimed at helping younger generations understand what it truly means to wear these colours, and the weight, pride and responsibility they carry.
At the end of the first performance President and CEO Giuseppe Marotta addressed the audience:
The second performance was dedicated to the representatives of the minority shareholders and their guests, to the partners of the Club, to the Inter Clubs, as well as the Nerazzurri staff and executives.
Joining Gianfelice Facchetti on stage were several Nerazzurri legends: Vice President Javier Zanetti, Riccardo Ferri, Samir Handanovic, Aristide Guarneri, Gianfranco Bedin, Giuseppe Bergomi, Francesco Toldo and Walter Samuel. They took the audience on a journey through the different eras of Inter’s history, revisiting iconic line-ups, unforgettable moments and the anticipation that builds before every match.
In closing, President Marotta reiterated the cultural and social value of the initiative:
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