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Man Utd Must Step up for FA Cup, Says Dalot

Manchester United's Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot chases the ball during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on April 13, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester United's Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot chases the ball during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on April 13, 2024. (AFP)
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Man Utd Must Step up for FA Cup, Says Dalot

Manchester United's Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot chases the ball during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on April 13, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester United's Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot chases the ball during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on April 13, 2024. (AFP)

Manchester United cannot afford the errors they have made in their recent Premier League fixtures if they want to win the FA Cup, defender Diogo Dalot said after Saturday's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.

United, who take on Coventry City on April 21 in the FA Cup semi-finals, have been winless in their last four league games and slipped to seventh place on Saturday.

Bruno Fernandes equalized twice to salvage an unconvincing 2-2 draw after goals by Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert had put Bournemouth in front.

United were again guilty of allowing opponents far too many attempts at goal, Bournemouth having 20 to United's eight. Erik Ten Hag's side have scored 47 goals this season, the lowest among the top 10 teams in the standings, and conceded 48.

"It's something we have to improve because it's been nowhere near good enough for the level of this club," Dalot told reporters on Saturday when asked about United allowing opponents so many attempts on goal.

"We need to take responsibility for, we cannot hide from it. The standards are always high at this club."

"We have to be accountable for these types of mistakes that we are making as a team that we cannot if we want to fight for the big trophies. We have a huge opportunity to be in the FA Cup final"

United have picked up 50 points from 32 league games and trail sixth-placed Newcastle United on goal difference. They take on Coventry at Wembley on April 21 and host Sheffield United in the league three days later.

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Goffin Stuns Alcaraz, Djokovic Makes Winning Miami Return

David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Goffin Stuns Alcaraz, Djokovic Makes Winning Miami Return

David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during Day 4 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 21, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

Carlos Alcaraz fell 5-7 6-4 6-3 to Belgian David Goffin in the Miami Open second round on Friday while Novak Djokovic tied Rafa Nadal for most ATP Masters 1000 match wins and Russia's Mirra Andreeva took another step toward a "Sunshine Double".

Goffin led the second seed by a break in each of the three sets and secured the victory on his second match point when a sliding Alcaraz was unable to retrieve a forehand the Belgian ripped into the corner.

Up next for Goffin is Brandon Nakashima, a 6-4 4-6 6-3 winner over Roberto Carballes Baena.

Six-times champion Djokovic made his long-awaited Miami Open return and defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-0 7-6(1) to reach the third round.

It marked Djokovic's first Miami appearance since 2019 and the Serbian fourth seed's victory was his 410th ATP Masters 1000 match win, tying him with Rafa Nadal atop the all-time list.

"I wanted to make a statement to myself and to others, as well, that I'm still able to play on a high level," Djokovic told reporters.

"I lost (my last) two tournaments in my first rounds, so I really was eager to get the win in the first match in Miami Open."

It was all one-way traffic in the opening set as Djokovic showcased his superior shotmaking from the baseline along with a lethal service game to make a perfect start and needed just 27 minutes to wrap up the opening set.

But Hijikata refused to back down and his confidence grew during a tightly-contested second set where neither player could manage a break, but Djokovic took over in the tiebreak where he won the final six points.

Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Miami champion who arrived this year fresh off a run to the Indian Wells semi-finals, crashed out at the first hurdle as he fell 6-2 6-3 to Spaniard Jaume Munar.

Former Miami finalists Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov both advanced while Australian Kyrgios, who this week earned his first win since 2022, fell 7-6(3) 6-0 to Karen Khachanov.

On the women's side, Andreeva, making her Miami Open debut fresh off winning the first leg of the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells, was a 6-0 6-2 winner over Veronika Kudermetova and will next face Doha champion Amanda Anisimova.

Polish second seed Iga Swiatek beat Caroline Garcia for the second time in as many tournaments with a 6-2 7-5 victory that sets up a third-round clash with Belgian Elise Mertens, a 6-4 6-1 winner over American Peyton Stearns.

Australian Open champion Madison Keys advanced with a 6-3 6-3 win over Armenia's Elina Avanesyan to set up a third round clash with Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala, who beat Latvian 25th seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(2) 7-5.

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu also advanced with a 7-6(6) 2-6 7-6(3) win over Emma Navarro. Among the other women advancing were Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa and Czech 15th seed Karolina Muchova.