List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

The city of Laredo, Texas, has its first Olympian

Sporting Kansas City boss Peter Vermes was full of praise for his team's supporters.

If nothing else, Darwin Nunez found a novel way to create a goal. On a night where goals arrived in copious quantities at Anfield, there were two extraordinary misses. And if the Toulouse left-back Gabriel Suazo had seemed to perform an unexpected impression of Nunez, failing to score when confronted by a goal that lacked a goalkeeper, there was a certain, perverse inevitability in the Uruguayan upstaging him. It seemed another of the moments that are Nunez in a nutshell, his threat and his profligacy in the space of seconds. A lovely, deft touch to take him past a defender, the pace to burst past goalkeeper Guillaume Restes and then, with an open goal, the shot that hit the post. All was well that ended well, for Nunez and Liverpool: as he wreaked havoc, they struck anyway. Ryan Gravenberch latched on to the rebound, showed greater composure and beat Restes to score his side’s fourth goal of the night. Exit Nunez, substituted with Anfield chorusing his name. He was already on the scoresheet, with a rasping, rising shot, struck with both ferocity and an unerring accuracy some of his other efforts lack. He had been denied, too, by Restes, after a lovely, dainty piece of footwork. Full of forceful running and defence-stretching pace, it amounted to a curiosity of a performance, and yet an entirely typical one. It was a year to the day since he had missed a sitter and scored in a Champions League game against Ajax. The competition and the opposition changed but, 365 days on, some things stayed the same. But if Darwin was Darwin, the excellent and the erratic, the beneficiary of his wastefulness was the game’s outstanding performer. The Europa League can have fringe benefits for clubs such as Liverpool and, after Gravenberch’s arrival in the last couple of hours of the transfer window, it has offered him a chance to both integrate and impress. The Dutchman’s first assist for Liverpool came in Austria against Linz, his first goal in the home win over Union Saint-Gilloise. His second came against Toulouse. As Jurgen Klopp’s side completed a hat-trick of victories, his fourth summer signing made it three fine displays in continental competition. If, at times, this felt a bit too easy for Liverpool, it enabled Gravenberch to illustrate his ability. He is a rangy runner, his legs appearing telescopic as he seemed to extend them to keep the ball under control and confound opponents. One solo run, a meandering affair that took him past several defenders, culminated in a sharp turn and shot that Restes had to claw away. Another led, albeit indirectly, to Nunez’s goal. Factor in a willingness to get into the box and a habit of shooting from distance and the temptation was to suggest that Gravenberch may not be seen in the Europa League until spring. He could be starting in the Premier League instead. As Klopp made eight changes, Liverpool displayed a strength in depth that should equip them to progress deep into this competition. Mohamed Salah’s determination to play is such that he got a late outing anyway, capped with a glorious goal, hammered in off the underside of the bar to have Klopp clapping. But it is often a moot point if Diogo Jota ranks in the strongest side; at times he does and at others he does not. A fourth goal in six games was both a spectacular solo run and yet too easy. Jota ran through the heart of the Toulouse team, beating two defenders with a sharp turn, nutmegging a third and slotting a shot past Restes. There is no doubt, though, that Wataru Endo belongs in the ranks of the understudies. The Japanese has made a solitary league start, at Newcastle almost two months ago; in the glee of victory, Klopp admitted Endo did not have, in his words, “a clue” what they were doing and if he may have been referring to the reshuffle after they were reduced to 10 men, the Japanese has been confined to the midweek team since then. He had the reward of a first Liverpool goal, steering a header past a motionless Restes when he met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s chipped cross. Liverpool could, and perhaps should, have scored more goals but their clean sheets are rarities. They conceded one and their goalkeeper was fortunate it was not more. Toulouse had levelled when Thijs Dallinga, the top scorer in the Coupe de France last season, latched on to Aron Donnum’s pass, sprinted clear from the half-way line and drilled a shot past Caoimhin Kelleher. The goalkeeper was culpable, though, in a game of entertainment, some fashioned by excellence, a bit by ineptitude. After Kelleher presented Toulouse with the ball and was in no position to save, Suazo seemed certain to score. The Chilean left-back instead drilled the ball straight at Alexander-Arnold, who had retreated to the line to make a brilliant block. But Suazo did not have Nunez’s fortune: there was no teammate following up to score. And Liverpool’s superiority meant it was hard to frame it as the decisive moment: more goals were always on their agenda. Toulouse have scarcely been a case of nominative determinism, showing a greater propensity to draw thus far this season, and this was their first defeat of the campaign in Europe. But another loss in the rematch in two weeks’ time would mean Liverpool win the group with two games to go. Read More Liverpool set for boost as Cody Gakpo in line to make return against Toulouse Van Dijk holds key to trophy hopes - is he still the best centre-back around? Is Liverpool vs Toulouse on TV? Channel, time and how to watch Europa League Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami Hyypia Ashley Young’s costly mistakes gift Liverpool Merseyside derby spoils Sean Dyche hits out at referee over ‘bizarre’ decision in loss to Liverpool

Banged-up quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Washington Commanders looking to improve to 7-1 this season

Jalen Hurts is expected to start for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at the Washington Commanders despite an injured left knee

David Moyes defended his team selection after West Ham’s unbeaten European record was reduced to ruins in Athens. The Hammers came a cropper in the shadow of the Acropolis as they crashed 2-1 at Olympiacos, their first loss in continental competition in 18 matches. Moyes, who led his side to the Europa Conference League title last season, made seven changes for their Europa League Group A clash in the Greek capital with one eye on Sunday’s visit of Everton. But his tinkering backfired as a soft goal from Olympiacos captain Kostas Fortounis and an own goal from stand-in Hammers skipper Angelo Ogbonna brought their undefeated run to a halt despite Lucas Paqueta’s late volley. “Look, we changed a lot of players tonight, we’ve got the Premier League coming up and we’ve got a League Cup game next week and we’d won the first two games in the group, which gave us leeway to make changes tonight,” Moyes told whufc.com. “But maybe I have to recognise that while we didn’t win the Conference League games easily, as they were all tough games, coming to Olympiacos after winning away in Freiburg – which was a good result – this wasn’t a good result and wasn’t a good performance. “In our heads we certainly had a bigger picture in our heads and that was going into Sunday. “I don’t think anybody could say the team we started with wasn’t a good team and wasn’t a team capable of winning or performing. “Many of them have been very good players for us over the years and still are.” The local ‘ultras’ welcomed West Ham on to the pitch with a huge banner reading “tonight you dine in hell”, and the Hammers’ first-half display was certainly hard to stomach. The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute when Fortounis launched an old-fashioned toe poke from the edge of the box which flew past the flat-footed Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal. On the stroke of half-time the Hammers found themselves two behind when Ogbonna suffered his own personal Greek tragedy. The Italian veteran stuck out a foot to block a cross from Brazilian full-back Rodinei, only to help it past Areola into his own net. Moyes sent on Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio before the hour mark but the Brazilian’s strike, albeit spectacular, was all West Ham had to show for a late flurry. Fortounis admitted his goal was a shade fortuitous. He told reporters: “To be honest, it all seems like a haze. “I turned and ran towards goal, the ball was right in front of me and I couldn’t do anything else. It was literally a strike with the tip of my toe.” Read More West Ham suffer first European loss in 18 matches at hands of Olympiacos Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Man Utd expect to pay further tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton on Tuesday night We’re after seven teams – Unai Emery plays down Villa’s Champions League chances Such a good man – David Moyes hails Sir Bobby Charlton help as fans pay tribute

Even before the Michigan sign-stealing scandal, college football coaches are eager to eliminate the need for sideline signals

Lamar Jackson’s excellence was at its apex in last week’s dominant win over the Lions

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is defending himself against critics who don't think he's pushing hard enough to return from a shoulder injury

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he is elated, yet envious, as the Texas Rangers prepare to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series

Brighton enjoyed a comprehensive first victory in the Europa League as a goal in either half from Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati eased them to a 2-0 win against Ajax at the Amex Stadium. It took until the final minutes of a first half that Brighton had dominated for the breakthrough to arrive, Pedro tapping home on the rebound after an opening period in which Ajax – second-bottom of the Eredivisie – did little more than look to preserve parity, as Brighton dictated things from the first minute. The Dutch side have endured their worst-ever start to a league season, and after sacking manager Maurice Steijn on Monday they went down with barely a whimper, Fati’s goal early in the second half laying bare the gulf between Roberto De Zerbi’s team and the four-time European champions. It was a first half that Brighton controlled but were for the most part frustrated by an organised, obdurate Ajax. Pedro wanted a penalty for a shove in the back inside of three minutes, waved away by the referee with barely a glance, before Brighton’s top scorer on their European campaign tucked the only real chance of the opening exchanges wide of the near post from Karou Mitoma’s cut-back. Pedro appealed again for a spot-kick, this time with more gusto, when he appeared to be bundled to the ground by Jorrel Hato. The defender was adjudged narrowly to have reached Mitoma’s through-ball ahead of the Brighton striker as the Amex howled for a penalty. The hosts’ central-defensive pair spent much of the first half 10 yards inside the Ajax half. The plan to lure out the visitors and exploit the resulting space was resisted by caretaker boss Hedwiges Maduro’s team, who seemed content to sacrifice attacking ambition for the sake of clogging the gaps in between their lines. Simon Adingra had the best chance of the opening half-hour when he lashed a right-footed effort over the bar from Lewis Dunk’s header back across goal, as Brighton’s threat was stymied by Ajax in what was a ponderous first half from De Zerbi’s side. Mitoma and Pedro’s partnership looked the most likely avenue of success. The pair carved out the clearest opening yet when Pedro dashed into a channel down the right to reach his team-mate’s threaded ball and drove low at goal, only for goalkeeper Diant Ramaj to beat it away with a strong right hand. The breakthrough came three minutes before the break. Dunk’s pass was weighted into the path of Mitoma who dashed into the box and dragged the ball inside Josip Sutalo to make space to shoot. His effort was pushed out by Ramaj, but only to the feet of the onrushing Pedro who continued his fine European scoring run to end a frustrating half for Brighton on a high. Fati’s goal, slotted home brilliantly eight minutes after the break, cemented Brighton’s superiority. Adingra began the move from midfield, patiently stewarding the ball until Fati’s run was made, checking inside and feeding the on-loan Barcelona forward who beat his man with a devastating first touch and dispatched deftly beyond Ramaj. The game had sprung suddenly to life. Fati was inches from making it three and burying Ajax, his driven effort licking inches wide of the post, before Steven Berghuis at the other end struck the upright with Jason Steele beaten, a rare foray forward from the visitors. It was to be the closest the 2019 Champions League semi-finalists came, as Brighton’s debut European season finally got going in earnest. Read More Tyson Fury has ‘no doubt’ he will knock out former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou Aston Villa prove European credentials with triumph at AZ Alkmaar – Unai Emery David Moyes defends team selection as West Ham’s unbeaten European run ended

No. 14 Notre Dame renews its rivalry with Pittsburgh on Saturday, chasing a fourth consecutive win in the series