List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

With the Lionesses’ Euro 2022-winning captain Leah Williamson forced to miss out on the World Cup through injury, coach Sarina Wiegman has entrusted the responsibility for leading the team to experienced Chelsea centre back Millie Bright. Bright has been passed fit for England’s match against Haiti after recovering from knee surgery and the defender will lead the Lionesses in their Group D opener. Now 29, Bright grew up in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, overcoming infant pneumonia and asthma to enjoy a career as a top level athlete, although her first love was equestrianism, not football. Showing early promise when she did take to the field aged nine, she was soon scouted playing for Killamarsh Dynamos by Sheffield United and joined their academy before moving to Doncaster Rovers Belles aged 16 in 2009. Making her debut that same year and scoring on her first start, Bright spent a year on loan at Leeds Ladies before establishing herself at Doncaster, where she played with future Lionesses Mary Earps and Bethany England. In December 2014, she signed for Chelsea and has remained with the West London club ever since, picking up four Barclays Women’s Super League titles, three FA Women’s Cups and reaching the UEFA Champions League Final, scoring 14 times across 218 appearances. For England, she was an essential part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the last FIFA World Cup in France in 2019 and of last summer’s triumphant Euros team. She has represented her country, to date, 66 times and scored five international goals, striking up solid defensive partnerships with Williamson and Houghton during that time and posing a significant aerial threat from set plays. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup?

England begin their Women’s World Cup campaign against Haiti as the Lionesses look to follow up last summer’s Euros triumph with another major tournament victory. Sarina Wiegman’s side come into the World Cup as one of the favourites, despite losing stars Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby to injury, and are expected to get off to a winning start in Group D against debutants Haiti. With Williamson out, her centre-back partner Millie Bright will captain the side in Australia and the Lionesses have been boosted by the news that their stand-in skipper is fit to start. Haiti, who are ranked 53rd in the world, are joined by China and Denmark in Group D. England’s build-up to the World Cup has come amid a row with the Football Association over bonus payments and other commercial concerns, but the players have agreed to pause discussions during the tournament. Follow live updates as England take on Haiti at the Women’s World Cup. Read More How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today

Republic of Ireland midfielder Denise O’Sullivan has reflected on an “unbelievable” first taste of World Cup football and admitted adrenaline meant she felt no pain during Thursday’s defeat to Australia. O’Sullivan had been a doubt for their Group B opener after she suffered a soft tissue and bone bruise injury during last week’s warm-up match with Colombia that was cancelled after only 20 minutes. North Carolina captain O’Sullivan was able to recover in time to play the whole match in front of a record crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia and she has talked up the vocal support of the Irish fans even before the narrow 1-0 loss. “It was sore in the game, but the medical team done a few things to make sure I wasn’t in that much pain. I think honestly the adrenaline was so high I didn’t feel anything,” O’Sullivan told RTE after Ireland’s major tournament debut. “It was unbelievable. I can’t even describe it. We were in the tunnel waiting to walk out and we could already hear the Irish fans. “We were just all smiling and looking at each other. It was a moment I will never forget and then walking out. “Even to do the warm-up, they started singing right away and that’s all you could hear in the stadium, Irish fans. We definitely have the best fans in the world. It was an unbelievable experience for our opening game.” A 52nd-minute penalty from Australia’s stand-in captain Steph Catley consigned Ireland to an opening defeat, but there were plenty of positives for Vera Pauw’s side who play Olympic champions Canada next on Wednesday in Perth. Eighteen-year-old Abbie Larkin was a bright note for the Girls in Green and she has been backed to further shine. O’Sullivan said of Larkin: “Honestly, no fear. She is a little gem. I have been saying it in training leading up to this game, she is a different player. “She’s been excellent and coming into the game, it is a lot of pressure for an 18-year-old, your first World Cup game, but she took it in her stride. She came on and was absolutely fantastic so I am really happy for her.” When O’Sullivan broke through as a teenager in 2011, the state of Irish football was markedly differently but the 29-year-old is delighted with their progress and to finally make her major tournament debut with so many long-serving team-mates. It was unbelievable. I can't even describe it. We were in the tunnel waiting to walk out and we could already hear the Irish fans. Republic of Ireland midfielder Denise O'Sullivan She added: “It was tough back then. I don’t think we had many resources and facilities or investment as we do right now. “I would have dreamed to be at a World Cup when I was 18-years-old but it just wasn’t possible back then. “Always in the back of my mind I did have that belief that some day I would make it to a World Cup and I am just really grateful I am here with this group of players. Some of them I have been playing with for 10 plus years and it is great to be on this journey with them.”

British High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell believes England’s Lionesses have a vital role to play in the diplomatic mission of fighting for the rights of women and girls around the world. England players on Tuesday released a collective statement, posted on Twitter by captain Millie Bright, outlining their “disappointment” in not reaching an agreement with the Football Association over performance bonus payments and commercial structures ahead of their World Cup opener against Haiti in Brisbane. That fight, they said, was driven not solely by personal gain but by “a strong sense of responsibility to grow the game” globally – a sentiment reiterated by numerous players over the last few days in the Queensland capital, where defender Lucy Bronze explained “we’re not only doing this for ourselves, we’re doing it so that we can set a standard.” Asked how she felt about the Lionesses’ advocacy, Treadell told the PA news agency: “I’m hugely proud. If you have a platform you should use it for global good. “I think the Lionesses are doing just that. They are personalities, they have a profile, it’s part of a much broader global agenda of closing the gender pay gap. [In many professions] women are still behind the men. “We must all work together to say ‘that is wrong’. If we’re doing the same job we should have equal pay. So if they voice that, if we voice that it’s about pushing that and getting people to say actually, that is about equality, that is about fairness. “Football is played on every continent. The English Premier League, the Women’s Super League in the UK, has a global audience. It’s a great soft power asset. More people watch British football than any other nation’s football. They are personalities, they have a profile, it's part of a much broader global agenda of closing the gender pay gap Vicki Treadell “So for us they are amazing brand ambassadors entering every room.” This is not the first time the Lionesses have used their platform politically. Days after lifting the Euro 2022 trophy, they collectively released a letter to then-Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss with a host of demands including a school football provision for girls identical to that offered to boys. Their campaign paid off in March when the government responded with a new package of measures designed to grant equal access to all school sport, backed by over £600 million in funding over the next two academic years. According to last year’s FIFA benchmarking report on women’s leagues and clubs, the average salary in the women’s game worldwide is just USD 14,000 (£11,000). And at international level, players from World Cup nations including France, Spain, Jamaica, Canada, South Africa and Zambia have all called out or taken action over issues ranging from playing and training conditions to personnel, while this is the first World Cup the United States will play following their landmark legal battle for equal pay. An increased prize pot of 110 million US dollars (£84.2m) for this World Cup came after an open letter to FIFA signed by 150 players from 25 national teams called for equal conditions and a guarantee that at least 30 per cent of prize money would be allocated to players. That pot is more than three times that of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, but still pales in comparison to the 440 million USD (£342m) doled out after the 2022 men’s edition in Qatar, though FIFA has outlined ambitions for parity by the next World Cups. Bright will for England’s second match wear an armband advocating for Indigenous People, a collective choice she said was “massively important to us as a team” after meeting members of the community in Australia. Treadell lauded that decision, adding: “It’s really important cultural understanding and awareness. The wonderful thing is that it’s the women of those First Nations who have been at the forefront of these welcomes. “Women to women, gender empowerment, inspiring young girls of whatever race, religion, ethnicity, that there is potential that they can realise their dreams. “And of course the Lionesses are role models about realising your dreams.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live On this day in 2012: Bradley Wiggins celebrates historic Tour de France victory Day four of fourth Ashes Test: Eyes on the skies as England chase victory Tommy Fleetwood vows to give chase as Open history favours Brian Harman

The battle for the Women’s World Cup is underway, but the contest for the best kit at the tournament has never been stronger. The biggest ever Women’s World Cup means there are more new shirts to dive into than ever before, while Nike and Adidas have taken their creative experimentation process to another level in Australia and New Zealand. Like in 2019, the Women’s World Cup features a host of unique designs - with Adidas unveiling a selection of nature-themed kits and Nike taking inspiration from various artistic movements. The results are wild. Here are the Women’s World Cup 2023 kits, ranked and rated from worst to best: China - away A rival to Liverpool’s disastrous 2014-15 away kit as football’s answer to Thunderbird 4. Yellow and red is a dangerous combination which, unless you are Partick Thistle, is very difficult to pull off. Switzerland - away Incredible: this isn’t just leaving your class project until the night before its due, but finishing it on the bus into school. If you need to spell out your country’s name on the front you’re probably not doing a great job of selling any sort of identity. South Korea - home South Korea’s big twist for the World Cup is a flash of vibrant pink on the sides. The question is why. Zambia - away Let’s be honest: it doesn’t look like a lot of effort has been put into this. It’s a reverse of the home shirt, which is at least decent, except the all-black side strip just looks like something has driven over it. Portugal - away Arguably, too much effort has been put into this. Over to Nike, as football meets “modern art”. Explanation: “The away kit features a vibrant colour scheme and bespoke pattern inspired by the country’s famous calçada Portuguesa design.” Ok, great, but it also looks like a two-year-old just been let loose with a paint brush, which may reveal my feelings about modern art. Vietnam - away What a remarkably strict collar this is from Vietnam - it would suit a midfield enforcer rather well. A disciplined kit lacking in vibes, aside from the faint swirly pattern in the background. Haiti - home and away A rogue entry from the good people of SaetaSports, who based their promotion of this Haiti kit around “armour”. It perhaps explains why they appear to be so tight. There are so minor tweaks to the away, but it follows the same design. The problem is neither look like real kits. USA - home Even the defending champions can’t escape another Nike dive into modern art! This time the final product is a statement featuring the “movement of abstract expressionism”. I’ll let Nike explain: “the home kit features a distinct drip-paint technique pattern, highlighting the energy of the women’s national team — though different, they are united”. Excellent chat, but again, a five-year-old has just been let loose with a bucket of paint and you won’t convince me otherwise. It’s a wild move from the four-time winners. Australia - away A training top at best, but Australia should only have to wear yellow at their own World Cup and, thankfully, their home kit is a beauty. Norway - away Clearly, Norway missed out on Nike’s funky away shirt list. This is bland, and the mismatch between the shoulder and sleeve trim isn’t working for me. China - home China have no interest in taking part in Nike’s experimental designs. The home is an obvious improvement, but neither will win awards. New Zealand - home New Zealand are called the Football Ferns, so it’s fairly obvious to see what is going on here. I like the ambition, but the spray paint pattern is faint, looks like it’s fading and doesn’t quite hit. It’s certainly no Canada home. Canada - away Incredibly plain, but the budget has been spent elsewhere (you’ll understand why when you get to what has been created for Canada’s home kit). Costa Rica - home The collar area features a clean trim but Adidas have left very little else to get excited about. Moving along. Panama - away It’s good to see Reebok making an appearance at the World Cup. It’s a shame they’ve brought this weird shoulder trim with them. Vietnam - home Vietnam will carry a bright, bold sheen into their first World Cup with this kit, which carries a much more relaxed vibe with the collar area loosened around the neck. It’s fine. Costa Rica - away Is this Costa Rica or a World XI kit from an old Fifa game? This is a smart kit, sure, but it’s not screaming Costa Rica to me - and I don’t think you can get away with gold trim with having only one appearance at the Women’s World Cup (2015: played three games, two draws, one defeat, no wins). Italy - away We begin the Adidas ‘nature’ series with Italy... and marble. “This Italy away jersey owes its eye-catching look to a rock that has permeated the region’s culture for millennia,” Adidas explain here. I’m not against it, but I’m not a fan either. When you’re designing football shirts from rocks you’ve probably gone a bit meta. Panama - home This looks like a little ‘early 2000s unlicensed soccer movie’. A big moment for hexagons. Denmark - home Welcome to the party, Hummel. Clearly, there were several texture designs on the table here, they couldn’t decide what to go for, so threw as many as they could onto the shoulders and sides. The background looks like a sketchbook and it’s all a bit too whacky. Denmark - away I will include Denmark away here as the approach just seems to be, ‘the same, but a bit less, and with a reverse colour scheme’. It has been marked accordingly. USA - away It feels like the USA’s away kit was an after-thought following on from the home. A dark blue and red combo peaks with the cuffs but is quite forgettable elsewhere. Netherlands - away Cool colours, but this is all a bit too wild. No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you, those splodges are actually lionesses, with the designers taking the team crest and “combining its shape with geometric modern patterns”. They are still splodges to me. Philippines - away The overall colour palette is refreshing and the shading of the stripes is interesting, but I fear this kit will be quite forgettable. England - home Struggles to even attempt to recapture the magic of last year’s home kit at the Euros, leaving it looking just a bit bland and missing something… Hopefully not an omen for England’s World Cup! Sweden - home Sweden go again with the home kit they wore at the Euros last summer, which on the inside was said to have instructions on how other teams could beat them. Whether that remains this year, after Sweden’s 4-0 defeat to England in the Euros semi-finals, is unclear - but what remains is a Sweden home kit that should look a lot more iconic than this. You’d think a Sweden kit would be hard to mess up, but then you’d think you wouldn’t but both crest and kit manufacturer slap bang in the middle, wouldn’t you. Spain - away Spain’s away kit “puts the nation’s colourful marine life front and centre” with a design “inspired by coral from the Mediterranean Sea”. Of all the nature themes Adidas have served up, this is one of the weaker efforts, probably because the “coral” is spilling over the sides rather than properly flourishing all over the shirt. The contrast of the blue and red is pleasing but the overall print doesn’t quite add up, for me. South Korea - away The colour blocking on the sides here is a clear improvement on the home and at least follows the traditional colours of the South Korea flag. A minor detail but a big improvement on the home. Norway - home Bold, strong colours and no messing around on the combinations this time from Norway. It’s not a disaster, but does it add a second star above the crest? Absolutely not. Colombia - home There are few thrills on this Colombia home kit (very much saved for the away) but it remains a classic combination. Nigeria - away Zoom into these squiggly patterns close enough and you’ll find a series of very intricate designs featuring traditional prints, each one different from the next. It’s a smart feature, but zoom out and those squiggles start to look like… squiggles. Or the groovy bug emoji. Brazil - away “Inspired by the Amazon”, Brazil have gone bright for this World Cup, like they are pitching a cartoon version of themselves. Leaves on the sleeves, but not quite packing a punch. Ireland - away I’ve been caught out here by Ireland changing their badge since the last time I saw an Irish football shirt. This badge now features a much more distinct three leaf clover, which makes sense, but does it come across just a bit clip-arty? Like the logo of an Irish pub that doesn’t quite know how to be Irish? Safe to say I preferred the old one. The thin hoops make this look very Celtic, which tells you Castore have delivered an Ireland away kit, because there really is no difference. Philippines - home It’s a shame better commercial images weren’t available, because this looks like the makings of a very tidy kit from the Philippines as they make their World Cup debut. From the colouring of the collar to the continuation of the red on the shoulders through to the pinstripes, there’s a lot to admire here. Germany - home The same as Germany’s men’s kit at the 2022 World Cup, except with two stars representing victories at the 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cup. The black middle panel is so strong and imposing, perfect for a player like Lena Oberdrof. On the whole, Germany will hope it’s more fitting than it was when the men’s side crashed out at the group stages in Qatar. Zambia - home Much better from Zambia here. A rare kit at this World Cup that manages to be impactful while remaining fairly simple in its design. Zambia aren’t overdoing anything but the vertical stripes of red, black and orange in front of the dark green is a smart nod to the nation’s flag. Sweden - away Honestly I’m annoyed because this is so close to being perfect. “The new Sweden World Cup away kit stands out with a design inspired by Sweden’s glacial rivers,” says Adidas, but what’s really happened here is a classic, deep blue away shirt with perfect hints of yellow has been tarnished by some icy light blue blobs. I’m disappointed, but I’m keeping it high because I can see why it’s still nice. France - home Yes, for a France kit the blue here is far too light. But hold your anger, the “light blue and lilac hues” are a nod to the first France women’s teams of the 1920s. Still, you want a France kit that is deep, dark blue, like the tricolour. Switzerland - home Pinstripes from Puma! But not just pinstripes: pinstripes punctuated by spots, which gets a bit too much if you stare at it for too long. There’s a lot going on across the chest, too, while Puma feature their own refrence to nature with some subtle mountain gradients. Imagine what Adidas would have done. Brazil - home The tropical vibes continue for Brazil. I would like to see a stronger shade of yellow and green rather than these more playful tones - this is Brazil we are talking about. It’s fine, but it’s not a classic. Ireland - home Again, no messing about from Castore in delivering an ‘Ireland shirt’. Once more, I’m left wobbling by the new badge design (unlicensed ProEvo vibes), but there are some fine details elsewhere here. The colours of the pinstripes and the trim cuffs are tidy touches. Edges ahead of the away kit because it’s more green. Netherlands - home After the controversy of the men’s World Cup in Qatar, where the Netherlands appeared in a home kit that was not actually, eh, orange, this is a much-needed return to convention and form. It’s a bit plain, lacking any interesting details other than the bold crest, but at least the colour is right this time, and that’s enough for me. Spain - home Royal. Regal. Very Spain. Clean and crisp with a lovely trim around the collar. I’m pleasantly surprised that the lack of yellow stripes on the sleeves isn’t taking anything away. Argentina - home Another returning shirt from the men’s World Cup, except this time of course the familiar look of Lionel Messi’s winners. As a design, it’s timeless. South Africa - home Loving the energy. Full yellow is a lot, but Banyana Banyana can pull off this bold look. New Zealand - away This bright blue trim is stunning, “futuristic” according to Nike. Just look at those sleeves and the little hints of fern on the cuff. A striking shirt, while remaining subtle at the same time. Nicely done. Italy - home An Adidas Italy kit still takes some getting used to, but this is a lovely effort and is far more natural than Sweden’s previous attempt at a dark blue with its marble effect and gold trim. Pure Azzurri. Portugal - home Sometimes you’ve got to just play the hits: Nike, Portugal, striking red with a deep green trim - it’s a classic combination that works and evokes strong World Cup memories. And with Portugal making their debut at the Women’s World Cup, this was always the way to go. Japan - home A dazzling effort. There’s a lot going on here across the front, an adventurous texture of shading and patterns. Does it make sense? Probably not. Does it look good? For me, yes. South Africa - away Lovely from South Africa. While it may immediately remind you of the Springboks, this is classic. Green and gold is a timeless combination. France - away I’m a sucker for a clean, crisp France away shirt and this is ticking all the boxes. The design background design, if you’re interested, features “bespoke, hand-painted patterns” cut into hexagon shapes - the contrast with the sleeve cuffs adds a dimension as well. Argentina - away One of the maddest shirts at this World Cup, and that’s saying something. It’s about as unconventional as you can get: a completely new design and a totally new colour scheme for Argentina, inspired by the country’s colourful Quebrada de Humahuaca mountain range. Give that a quick Google and you’ll understand how this shirt came about. You have to applaud the invention. Nigeria - away True to form, Nigeria will bring another sizzling home kit to the World Cup, as Nike this time steer into “electric green”. Perhaps a tad plainer than previous tournaments, but this is another shirt that features a stunning sleeve cuff. A fine addition to Nigeria’s growing catalogue. Australia - home Beautiful. This swirly, marble-looking, pour pattern is exactly the bold and fearless attitude Australia will need if they are to win the World Cup on home soil. Overall a tremendous effort to make the yellow colour so deep - Sam Kerr will score goals in this, obviously, but Sam Kerr would also score goals in anything. Jamaica - away This isn’t just a reverse of the home kit, it’s so much more, retaining the feel of a Jamaica shirt while reimagining the colour scheme. The design feels high-end, classy, and as a pair to the home kit, it’s pretty much perfect. Canada - home I’m on my feet applauding this after being knocked off my seat by what Canada and Nike have produced here. The vision. England - away A stunner - capturing the essence of World Cup nostalgia and throwing it forward for the Lionesses to make new memories. No more notes - it’s just a thing of beauty. Jamaica - home An instant classic. What Adidas have created here is not just the quintessential Jamaica home kit, but a fashion item and piece of street wear without going over the top with its design. It’s a beauty. Colombia - away Stunning. Who knew a football kit could look like what Matthew McConaughey flew into at the end of Interstellar. I guess there was always a risk this kaleidoscopic design would be too much, but the way it seems to shimmer and move makes it an another instant classic. Japan - away Wow. This is… a masterpiece? Adidas and Japan knock it out of the park with an away shirt that combines the pink of the country’s iconic cherry blossom and the hue of a morning sunrise. The colour appears to shift and shine everywhere you look. Land of the rising sun indeed. Germany - away Just an unreal piece of work. Inspired by the country’s forests, this is majestic. The brilliance of these Adidas designs, when they hit, is that they represent a reimagining of what a football kit can look like, producing an item that is completely unique. This is the pick of the bunch. Our winner. Read More Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Canada held to Nigeria draw before Spain begin tournament against Costa Rica How to watch England vs Haiti: TV channel and start time for Women’s World Cup opener How to watch every Women’s World Cup match on TV England women World Cup fixtures and route to the final FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today

A pre-season friendly football match between Gateshead and local rivals Dunston was abandoned on Friday after masked men drove a hearse into the ground and abandoned it in the centre of the pitch. Several men drove the hearse and a second vehicle, a silver car, to the centre of the pitch at half-time during the match at Dunston’s UTS Stadium in Tyne and Wear. They drove the vehicles from the car park into the pitch and spun them around in circles, throwing leaflets from the cars’ windows. Two men wearing ski masks then exited the hearse and joined the second car, which was driven out of the stadium, breaking through a barrier. The hearse was left behind on the pitch. Amid the chaos that ensued the decision was made to evacuate fans from the stadium, and the match was abandoned with the score at 1-1. “Due to an incident on the pitch occurring shortly after half time, tonight’s match has been abandoned by the referee,” tweeted Gateshead FC, who play in the fifth tier of English football and only six days earlier faced Premier League side Newcastle United in front of a sold-out stadium of 7,200 spectators, losing 3-2. While no one is reported to have been injured or threatened during the incident, local police said they have launched an investigation, adding that those found to be involved “will be dealt with robustly”. Dunston FC also tweeted that the match had been abandoned “due to an incident at half-time.” “While inquiries are at an early stage, it is believed that those involved are known to each other and there was no wider risk to the public,” a police spokesperson said. With videos of the incident being circulated on social media, police encouraged the public not to speculate and share any footage with them to assist with the investigation. They have called for “anyone with information or footage capturing what happened” to contact Northumbria police or reach out to officers on duty in the area carrying out inquiries.

Lionel Messi began his Inter Miami career with a bang as the Argentinian magician ended his debut with a stunning free-kick winner against Cruz Azul deep in stoppage time. Seven months on from lifting the World Cup, the eyes of the footballing world were trained on Florida as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner made his eagerly anticipated first appearance. Messi’s Miami debut has been years in the making and proved well worth the wait. After Robert Taylor’s excellent opener was cancelled out by Uriel Antuna, the 36-year-old struck at the death to send DRV PNK Stadium delirious and seal an unforgettable 2-1 Leagues Cup win. It was the dream end to an evening that attracted fans of all ages in ‘Messi 10’ shirts, with stars like LeBron James, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian and, of course, David Beckham among those in the sold-out, expectant crowd. The proud Miami co-owner watched on from a box next to the dugout, where the early exchanges made for uncomfortable viewing as Miami looked every bit the Eastern Conference’s bottom side. Inter rode out that early storm and took the lead just before the break as Taylor’s exquisite low strike went in off the post to Messi’s delight. The forward was cheered throughout and received a rapturous reception when brought on in the 54th minute, taking the armband as Sergio Busquets also came on for his debut. Jordi Alba has also signed up to join their former Barcelona boss Tata Martino in Miami, but there remains work to do and that was clear as Cruz Azul deservedly levelled through Antuna. The Mexicans could easily have won it as the clock wound down, but this was Messi’s night. The 36-year-old won a free-kick deep in stoppage time and there was an air of inevitability before he sent the resulting set piece into the top left-hand corner as fireworks filled the air. This was a huge moment for Major League Soccer and momentous night for North American football, 48 years on from Pele’s New York Cosmos bow and 16 years to the day since Beckham made his LA Galaxy debut. Messi’s name was chanted by excited fans through a match that the hosts began in ragged fashion as Cruz Azul toyed with the hosts. Carlos Rotondi sent an early effort off the post during that early barrage. Miami offered precious little in return but – following a break to deal with Ian Fray’s nasty-looking injury – a moment of magic lit up the game. Robbie Robinson’s diagonal pass found Taylor high and wide on the left, with the Finland international cutting inside, making space and slamming a low right-footed shot in off the far post. Messi was on his feet celebrating and soon gearing to come on, with the big moment eventually arriving in the 54th minute. Benjamin Cremaschi made way as the Argentina skipper jogged on to a huge roar and took the captain’s armband. Former Barca team-mate Busquets and Josef Martinez joined him as part of an exciting triple substitutions. There was an electric atmosphere whenever Messi touched the ball but the Mexican visitors were still making opportunities and drew level in the 65th minute. Antuna collected the ball in a dangerous and Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender was unable to deal with his drilled strike. Messi showed flashes of quality, skill and poise as play swung from end to end with both sides seeking a winner. Ignacio Rivero was denied Callender and there were a few hairy moments as this helter-skelter clash continued, with Messi threaded through by Busquets only to see a shot blocked. Martinez looked to have won it but Messi had strayed well offside before passing it and at the other end Christian Tabo was brilliantly stopped by Callender. Play was set to end in a penalty shoot-out but Messi had other ideas. Fouled by Carlos Salcedo, it set up the chance for an unforgettable finish and the debutant delivered a thrilling final blow. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lee McGregor loses unbeaten record in punishing title contest Dunston v Gateshead friendly abandoned after masked men drive hearse onto pitch Jonny Bairstow hits back at critics after putting England on top in fourth Test

The United States begin the defence of their Women’s World Cup crown as the four-time champions play Vietnam in Auckland tonight. The USA are aiming to become the first team to win the World Cup three times in a row, with stars such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe returning from their victory in France four years ago. The defending champions are favourites to retain their title but they will face competition from the top European sides, such as England and Germany, who are confident they have closed the gap. The stage is set for the next generation to shine, such as star forward Sophia Smith, who is one of 14 players in the squad who are making their first appearance at the World Cup finals. The USA also have a new head coach from four years ago, with Vlatko Andonovski taking over from Jill Ellis, who led the team to titles in 2015 and 2019. Follow live updates as the USA begin their Women’s World Cup campaign. Read More FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures and full schedule Are the United States still the team to beat at the Women’s World Cup? Everything to know about Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird’s relationship, from Olympic first meeting to engagement

Gateshead’s pre-season friendly against local rivals Dunston was abandoned at half-time after a hearse was left in the centre of the pitch. The hearse had been driven onto the pitch at Dunston’s UTS Stadium along with a second car, with both vehicles spinning around in circles while leaflets were thrown from the windows. Eventually masked men left the hearse and joined the second car, which was driven off the pitch and out of the stadium. Gateshead tweeted: “Due to an incident on the pitch occurring shortly after half time, tonight’s match has been abandoned by the referee.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Oklahoma football fans did a victory lap on Friday when five-star running back Taylor Tayum chose the Sooners over Lincoln Riley and USC.Lincoln Riley is still persona non-grata in Oklahoma, so you better believe the Sooners took extra joy in pinching five-star running back Taylor Tatum out from...

Nick Saban not having a good feel about the quarterback situation this late into the offseason is less than ideal for the Alabama Crimson Tide's chances of winning another national title.Eventually, Nick Saban will have to choose who will be the next Alabama starting quarterback.During ...

The curse of Chelsea’s number nine shirt claimed its latest victim after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s unhappy 21-game spell was ended by a move to Marseille. The last dozen players to wear the shirt have struggled to make a prolonged impact – including three club-record signings up front, but also a holding midfielder and a certain Dutch defender. Here, the PA news agency looks at the “Curse of Khalid Boulahrouz”. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 2022-23 “It’s cursed, it’s cursed, people tell me it’s cursed!” said then-manager Thomas Tuchel last summer, adding: “There was not a big demand for number nine, nobody wants to touch it.” Aubameyang was not deterred but, after arriving with a broken jaw sustained in a robbery at his Barcelona home and seeing his former Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel sacked the day after his debut, he failed to establish himself under Graham Potter – he was not even included in the squad for the Champions League knock-out stages, despite scoring two of his three Chelsea goals in the group stage. Romelu Lukaku, 2021-22 The Belgium striker returned from Inter Milan for a second spell at the club for £97.5million but within months his frustrations became clear in an interview with Sky Sport Italia. Despite 15 goals in all competitions, it was no surprise when he returned to Inter on loan. He scored 14 goals in the season while wearing number 90 at San Siro and has been left out of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America. Tammy Abraham, 2019-21 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the last inarguably Chelsea number nine but amid almost £250m spent to fill the troublesome shirt in the 18 years since his departure, academy product Abraham produced arguably the most successful spell with 15 league goals and 18 in total in 2019-20. Twelve more the following year earned a move to Roma under former Blues boss Jose Mourinho. Gonzalo Higuain, 2018-19 The Argentinian’s loan from Juventus yielded five goals in 18 appearances. He was shunted to number 21 on his return to Juve and terminated his contract early the following season to move to Inter Miami. Alvaro Morata, 2017-18 A then club-record buy for £60m, the Spaniard scored 15 goals in his debut season but fell out of favour, switching to number 29 and adding another nine goals before joining Atletico Madrid. Radamel Falcao, 2015-16 The Colombian scored once in 12 games in an injury-hit season. Fernando Torres, 2011-14 The then British-record £50m signing from Liverpool got the longest run at making the Blues’ number nine shirt work for him, wearing it 172 times across three and a half seasons. He scored 45 goals, including a memorable Champions League semi-final clincher against Barcelona, and set up another 26 but several prolonged scoring droughts saw him move on to AC Milan on loan and then his boyhood club Atletico Madrid. Franco Di Santo, 2008-09 Fourteen scoreless substitute appearances were all Di Santo had to show for his time in west London. Steve Sidwell, 2007-08 The former Reading midfielder managed only 24 appearances, scoring once. A largely defensive player, he would have been a glaringly unlikely wearer of the number nine shirt had it not been for his immediate predecessor… Khalid Boulahrouz, 2006-07 The versatile Netherlands defender was assigned one of the few available numbers after his £8.5m arrival from Hamburg. He lasted one season and 23 appearances in all competitions before a loan to Sevilla and a permanent exit to Stuttgart. Hernan Crespo, 2005-06 The Argentina striker had already spent a season at Stamford Bridge wearing number 21, scoring 12 goals, and a year on loan at Milan before Mourinho recalled him and gave him number nine as a show of faith. He added another 13 goals and a league title but soon returned to his earlier employers Inter. Mateja Kezman, 2004-05 Inheriting the shirt from Hasselbaink, Kezman failed to make a similar impact with just seven goals in his sole season. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Marcus Smith teased by England team-mates over Racing 92 speculation England’s Lotte Wubben-Moy begins Doodle Diary again – Friday’s sporting social Rory McIlroy feels he still has chance of winning 151st Open despite Friday’s 70