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PORTLAND, Ore. — Through all the matches, goals and titles, Christine Sinclair’s favorite memory of the Thorns was one of her earliest, when she walked on the field in Portland for the very first National Women’s Soccer League season. More than 16,000 fans were at Providence Park for the Thorns’ home opener in 2013, a harbinger of the sport’s popularity in Portland in years to come. “It was very special and just something that not many players in that opening year got to experience playing in their home parks,” she said. “So it was just special and I was so proud to be able to call Portland home in that moment and share it with my teammates because I knew that was possible.” Sinclair, 41, is retiring from professional soccer at the end of the season. She will be honored Friday night when the Thorns host Angel City in the final game of the regular season. It happens to be an important match, too. The Thorns need a win or a draw to outright capture a playoff spot. With a loss to Ange...

LISBON, Portugal — Manchester United target Rúben Amorim has promised to clarify his future coaching plans after his Sporting Lisbon team plays a Portuguese league game on Friday evening. Amorim spoke on Thursday at a news conference ahead of league-leading Sporting facing Estrela da Amadora. Sporting has started its title defense with nine straight wins. “After the game tomorrow, we will have the decision made,” Amorim said. “It will be very clear, so it’s one more day.” The 39-year-old coach’s growing reputation and two Portuguese league titles in four seasons attracted Man United, which fired Erik ten Hag on Monday with the team 14th in the English Premier League. Sporting’s statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange said United was interested in paying the release clause in Amorim’s contract worth 10 million euros ($10.8 million). “It is a negotiation between two clubs,” Amorim said on Thursday. “It’s never easy. Even with the clauses it’s never easy, they have ...

Cavalry FC’s Ali Musse, last year’s winner, and Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker, runner-up in 2023, are among the 10 finalists for the Canadian Premier League’s Players’ Player of the Year award, the lone CPL award decided by the players. The other contenders are Forge’s Beni Badibanga, Tristan Borges and Alessandro Hojabrpour, Cavalry’s Daan Klomp and Tobias Warschewski, Halifax’s Lorenzo Callegari, Atletico Ottawa’s Ruben del Campo and York United’s Brian Wright. The award is separate from the league’s Player of the Year Award. Klomp finished third in last year’s voting while Callegari was fourth. Atlético Ottawa’s Ollie Bassett won in 2022. The award honours the best player over the 2024 regular season, with CPL players providing a three-man shortlist that is used to determine the 10 finalists and ultimate winner. Players can’t vote for themselves or a teammate. The winner will be announced Nov. 7 in Calgary as part of the CPL championship game festivities. Cavalry is hosting the...

There’s an ACL epidemic in women’s soccer, and Canada’s Cloé Lacasse is the latest victim. On Wednesday, the Utah Royals announced their star forward has been placed on the season-ending injury list with a ruptured ACL and a sprained MCL. The CanWNT mainstay will also miss a portion of the 2025 NWSL season, as well as any international breaks until she is healed. The 31-year-old injured her knee in the Royals’ match against Angel City on Oct. 20. Since then, the winger has undergone successful surgery and will work with Utah’s medical staff on a return to play program. On Oct. 21, Lacasse withdrew from the Canada camp ahead of its international friendly with Spain, with Benfica’s Marie-Yasmine Alidou taking her place. Canada went on to draw the current world champions 1-1, with Alidou netting the only goal for Les Rouges . Since joining the NWSL side in August, Lacasse has been a lynchpin for the Royals’ attack, scoring four goals in nine games. The Sudbury, Ont.-nativ...

MILAN — Davide Frattesi was given a rare start and responded with his first-ever double to help Inter Milan beat 10-man Empoli 3-0 in Serie A on Wednesday. Frattesi, who spent a season on loan at Empoli five years ago, scored both of his goals in the second half and Lautaro Martínez sealed the result. The match had turned when Empoli defender Saba Goglichidze was sent off in the 31st minute. Second-placed Inter moved to four points behind Serie A leader Napoli, which won 2-0 at AC Milan on Tuesday. Inter and Napoli meet at San Siro on Nov. 10. Inter was looking to bounce back from a disappointing Derby d’Italia draw, which saw it held 4-4 by Juventus after leading 4-2. But the Nerazzurri knew Empoli would be hard to break down. The Tuscan team was unbeaten in the first six rounds and then only lost narrowly to Lazio and Napoli. Moreover, it had only let in one goal at home. Both sides had chances and Matteo Darmian had a goal ruled out for Inter by the video assistant ref...

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City star Vivianne Miedema has had another operation on her left knee, the club said Wednesday. The 28-year-old Netherlands forward first tore her ACL in December 2022 when playing for Arsenal and was out for most of the next year, including the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Miedema needed a minor operation last season and the latest surgery was successful, Man City said. The club gave no timetable for Miedema’s expected return in a season where her new team is unbeaten and top of the English league and its Women’s Champions League group. Man City beat European champion Barcelona on Oct. 9 and the return in Spain is in the final round of group games on Dec. 18. Miedema did not join the Dutch squad last week ahead of two international friendlies to try to manage the injury.

Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim said Tuesday his future “hasn’t been decided yet” amid interest from Manchester United. “Nobody knows if this was my farewell match, or if there will be a farewell match,” Amorim said in quotes reported by Portugal’s sports daily A Bola after Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup quarterfinals. Hours earlier, Sporting released a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange, saying it has told United that Amorim has a release clause worth 10 million euros ($10.8 million) in his contract. The Portuguese champions said United “has shown interest” in paying that amount for Amorim. United is looking to replace Erik ten Hag, who was fired on Monday with the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. Ten Hag was the 20-time English champions’ fifth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. United hasn’t won the league since Ferguson’s departure. The 39-year-old Amorim has coached Sporting since 2020, leading th...

LONDON — Premier League teams Brentford and Southampton both squeezed past second-tier opponents to reach the quarterfinals of the English League Cup on Tuesday. Brentford needed a penalty shootout to get past Sheffield Wednesday after a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken saved from Liam Palmer off the last spot kick of a high-quality shootout that Brentford won 5-4. James Bree scored an 88th-minute winner as Southampton beat Stoke 3-2. A cup run is proving some respite for Southampton, which is in last place in the Premier League. The rest of the last-16 matches are played on Wednesday, with all of the competition favourites in action. Defending champion Liverpool visits Brighton, Premier League leader Manchester City is away to Tottenham and there are three other all-Premier League matchups: Newcastle vs. Chelsea, Manchester United vs. Leicester and Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace. Arsenal visits second-tier Preston.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Last season’s German Cup winner Bayer Leverkusen cruised into the third round with a 3-0 win over second-tier Elversberg on Tuesday, while Leipzig held off a St. Pauli comeback. Patrik Schick scored twice in the first nine minutes and Aleix Garcia converted a free kick for his first goal since joining Leverkusen from Girona for this season. Leipzig beat St. Pauli 4-2 to avoid a repeat of last season’s second-round exit when it was the two-time defending champion in the cup. Leipzig had a 3-1 lead after 30 minutes but St. Pauli got back into the game with Eric Smith’s lob in the 58th and was pushing to level the score. The 19-year-old Norway winger Antonio Nusa dribbled past two defenders and scored Leipzig’s fourth to secure the win. Augsburg beat second-division Schalke 3-0 to reach the third round for the first time since 2018-19. The lowest-ranked team left in the competition, fourth-tier Kickers Offenbach, was beaten 2-0 by sec...

It may not have received much attention in Canada this past weekend, but our very own Alistair Johnston accepted the captain’s armband for Glasgow Celtic’s trip to Motherwell. Usually, the man with the armband for the Bhoys is Callum McGregor, but he was injured for the first time this season, so it was the Canadian full-back — who just four years ago was bossing the pitches in League 1 Ontario — that took on the responsibility of leading one of the most famous and storied clubs in world soccer. The fact that he scored in the 3-0 win was some rather sumptuous gravy! Sure, he’ll relinquish the captaincy once McGregor returns from injury, and yes he’s technically taken on the role before late in previous matches when McGregor has subbed off. But this is an honour worth recognizing and applauding. Celtic, after all, have had the likes of Billy McNeil, Kenny Dalglish, Paul McStay and Scott Brown all captain the side at one point — absolute legends to a man! For the Canadian men’s natio...

Veteran goalkeeper Erin McLeod, whose soccer career has taken her to Sweden, Germany, Iceland and the Unites States, is coming back to Canada as the first player signed by the Northern Super League’s Halifax Tides FC. The 41-year-old McLeod announced her retirement from international football in January 2023, after 119 caps. But the native of St. Albert, Alta., continued her club career, most recently with Stjarnan FC in Iceland. The Northern Super League is slated to kick off in April with teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa as well as Halifax. “I’ve wanted this league since I was a kid,” McLeod said in an interview. “I’m 41 years young and that’s a reality,” she added. “But I definitely want to compete. I’m just excited to be able to extend my career, and, honestly, to come home.” McLeod is the new league’s fifth player signing, following forward Jade Kovacevic (AFC Toronto), midfielder Charlotte Bilbault and goalkeeper Gabrielle Lambert (both Montreal Rose...

A new era is underway in soccer and a new player has taken the top spot as the best player in the world. Manchester City defensive midfielder Rodri was presented with the Ballon d’Or at the annual ceremony in Paris on Monday. The award recognizes the player deemed to have been the best in the sport over the previous season. His win marks the first time since 2006, when Real Madrid’s Fabio Cannavaro won, that a defensive-focused player was given the award. The last time a defensive midfielder won was in 1996 with Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer. On the women’s side, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati took home the Ballon d’Or Féminin. This is the second consecutive year that the Spanish midfielder takes home the prestigious award. Rodri had an exemplary year for both club and country, tallying 12 goals and 13 assists from his deep-lying midfield position. His individual success led to team success, as he helped Manchester City collect their fourth-consecutive Premier League title and ...

Manchester United are not waiting long to replace outgoing manager Erik ten Hag, with multiple reports indicating that Sporting Lisbon’s Rúben Amorim is in line for the position. According to a report by The Athletic , the English giants will pay 10 million euros ($15 million) to release him from his obligations with the Portuguese club, which was due to run for another year and a half. The 39-year-old Amorim has been in charge at Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon since March 2020, accruing a 170-34-33 W-D-L record, while leading the club to two league titles. Ten Hag was fired Monday with United sitting 14th in the 20-team Premier League. Amorim has previously interviewed or been considered for jobs with Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham. More from Sportsnet Manchester United fires manager Erik ten Hag Premier League Roundup: Liverpool fights back for draw at Arsenal

Tobias Warschewski’s 27th-minute goal sent Cavalry FC into the Canadian Premier League championship game with a 1-0 win over Forge FC in the qualifying semifinal Sunday. Defending champion Forge still has a chance to join second-seeded Cavalry in the Nov. 9 final in Calgary, however. No. 1 Forge will host next Saturday’s semifinal against No. 3 Atletico Ottawa, which edged No. 4 York United FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout earlier Sunday after their quarterfinal finished tied 2-2 after extra time. It’s the third trip to the CPL final for Cavalry, which lost to Forge in 2019 and 2023. Forge, meanwhile, suffered only its second defeat in 14 career playoff games (10-2-2). Cavalry almost went ahead in the 24th minute Sunday at Tim Hortons Field only to see Forge’s Alessandro Hojabrpour acrobatically clear away a Callum Montgomery header destined for a goal. But Warschewski made no mistake three minutes later, taking advantage of a long free kick from goalkeeper Marco Carducci from just ou...

SAO PAULO — Brazilian authorities said a Cruzeiro soccer fan has died after a roadside ambush by rival supporters in São Paulo state on Sunday morning. The fan was confirmed dead at a hospital in the city of Mairipora, 46 kilometers (28 miles) north of Sao Paulo. Local media reports said at least 12 fans were injured in the same attack. The Cruzeiro fans were traveling back to Belo Horizonte by bus after their team’s 3-0 loss at Athletico Paranaense in the top-tier Brazilian league on Saturday. Brazil’s federal road police told journalists the victim was a 30-year-old man, but did not provide more details. São Paulo’s public security secretariat said the attack was carried out by ultra supporters of rival Palmeiras. Footage on Brazilian TV showed a bus on fire and several Cruzeiro fans lying on the sidewalk as Palmeiras supporters punched them and hit them with sticks. Cruzeiro said on its social media channels that it “deeply regrets yet another incident of fan violence” in Brazi...

PARIS — Vanderson’s red card proved costly as Monaco lost its unbeaten record with a 2-1 defeat at Nice and missed the chance to move top of the French league on Sunday. Paris Saint-Germain can move three points clear at the top with a win later Sunday at bitter rival Marseille, while a Marseille win would leave all three sides level on 20 points. Monaco took the lead through Switzerland striker Breel Embolo’s 39th-minute strike as he latched onto Maghnes Akliouche’s defense-splitting pass for his second goal in six days. After Evann Guessand equalized with a fine downward header in first-half stoppage time, Vanderson picked up a second yellow card moments later following an altercation with forward Mohamed-Ali Cho. A terrible backpass from Krépin Diatta gifted Nice a second goal as striker Gaëtan Laborde latched onto it and neatly clipped the ball over the goalkeeper in the 71st. “(The) red card dropped us in it a bit,” Akliouche told beIN Sports television. “Then we made an erro...

SAO PAULO — A Brazilian striker was sent off in a top flight division match on Saturday after hitting a rival with his elbow just three seconds into a match. Cruzeiro’s Rafa Silva left his team one man down in what ended as a 3-0 defeat at Athletico Paranaense. Silva hit Athletico’s Kaique Rocha slightly below his neck as they challenged for the ball shortly after kick off. Referee Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima duly sent the 32-year-old Cruzeiro player off for one of the earliest red cards in soccer history. Athletico is fighting against relegation in the Brazilian league. Cruzeiro is seeking one of the top positions to secure a direct berth in the next edition of the Copa Libertadores. The team from Belo Horizonte rested some of its players for the match in the city of Curitiba ahead of the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana at Argentina’s Lanus next week. The first leg ended 1-1.

Canadian international winger Liam Millar will miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The injury was suffered in Hull City’s 1-1 draw Wednesday with visiting Burnley in England’s second-tier Championship. “Unfortunately that’s my season over,” Millar said in a social media post. “Never would have wished something like this would have happened but unfortunately sometimes that’s football. I will continue to stay as positive as I can and take the time to improve my self as much as possible, and also to make sure I come back stronger than before.” Hull coach Tim Walter address Millar’s injury after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Derby County. “He has an ACL (injury). He’s out for the whole season,” Walter said. “For him, it’s so frustrating — I’m so with him. I was so shocked and him as well. “It’s not about the club. It’s not about us, it’s about him. I’m really so sad, feeling with him. “It’s not easy this moment but we will give him all the help we can give ...

England (AP) — When Chris Wood scores Nottingham Forest don’t lose. The big New Zealander proved it again on Friday as he scored twice in a 3-1 win over Midlands rival Leicester in the English Premier League. Wood’s second-half double was his sixth and seventh goals in nine games. On each occasion, Forest has won or drawn. “It’s all down to the team,” a modest Wood said. “They supply me with a lot of chances. I’m not one who’s going to beat four players and stick one in the top corner. I rely on the service of my teammates and they just keep delivering for me.” Friday’s win came just five days after Wood scored for Forest to beat Crystal Palace 1-0, and sent Nuno Espirito Santos’ buoyant team from eighth place to fifth. Leicester was 14th. Ryan Yates put Forest ahead with a lovely strike after 16 minutes. The Leicester defense failed to clear its lines and the scuffed clearance fell to the feet of Yates, who drove a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 meters out. Leicester t...

Calgary Wild FC has named Afghanistan women’s soccer captain Farkhunda Muhtaj its first player signing and also announced Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey as an investor in the team. Wild FC is one of six Northern Super League teams that will begin play in 2025 in a Canadian women’s pro soccer league. Calgary’s club introduced Muhtaj and Morrissey at a Friday news conference in downtown Calgary. “This comes with a ton of responsibility, making sure we are at the top on the pitch, but also recognizing that we have a social responsibility to our community, and that’s part of the foundation of who we are at the Wild and that’s certainly played a huge role into why I decided to join,” Muhtaj said. “I truly believe Calgary Wild is the perfect fit.” Muhtaj was captain of the Afghanistan women while the team played internationally, played Canadian university soccer at York University and has played professionally in Turkey and the Netherlands. The midfielder’s parents,...

Udinese moved into the top four in Serie A after beating 10-man Cagliari 2-0 at home on Friday. The turning point came after half an hour when Cagliari’s Antoine Makoumbou was sent off for a second yellow card offense. Eight minutes later, Udinese led when Lorenzo Lucca scored with a powerful header. Former Aston Villa and Watford striker Keinan Davis clinched the win 12 minutes from time with a fine individual goal. Udinese has 16 points, the same as third-placed Juventus, which has a superior goal difference. Inter has 17 points and leader Napoli 19. Napoli faces Lecce on Saturday, and Inter and Juventus meet on Sunday at San Siro. Cagliari remained in 15th place.

ISTANBUL, Türkiye — Jose Mourinho received a red card but his Fenerbahce team still held his former club Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League on Thursday. Erik ten Hag’s squad led early from Christian Eriksen’s 15th-minute goal only to see Youssef En-Nesyri equalize in the 49th, heading home unmarked from close range on a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin. It was United’s third straight draw in the second-tier competition. Mourinho received a red card after his team was not awarded a spot kick around the hour mark. “My boys played an amazing match,” Mourinho told TNT Sports. “We played against a team that is at a superior level to us. We finished the game with a center-back playing at right-back and a right-back at left-back. We had to do a crazy puzzle but our performance was extraordinary and I couldn’t ask for anything more from the players.” Mourinho led United to the Europa League title in 2017 during his 2 1/2 years at Old Trafford. He took the Fenerbahce jo...

Former Canadian international Diana Matheson is getting a taste of how the other half lives. The 40-year-old Matheson, who won 206 caps for Canada from 2003 to 2020, is part of the Canadian coaching staff for Friday’s international women’s friendly against World Cup champion Spain in Almendralejo, Spain. “It’s been really interesting just to live on the staff side — in the black hoodie, as they say. The dark side, as the players call it,” Matheson said Thursday in a virtual availability from Spain. “Imagine you did a job for 18 years and then you took five years off and you came back and did a slightly different job in that same environment,” she added. It hasn’t been all new. Matheson said she joined training briefly on Wednesday. “So I’m also very sore,” she said. Matheson, no fan of early-morning starts, is adjusting to the hours of a coach, “You’re looking at 12 to 16-hour days. As a player, your job part of the time is to rest and recover. So that’s been a transition as well...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Roberto Mancini has left his role as head coach of Saudi Arabia’s national team, the country’s soccer federation said Thursday. Mancini, who won the European Championship as Italy coach in 2021, left by mutual consent, it said. The former Inter Milan and Manchester City manager won multiple titles in a storied career as both player and coach. But he failed to lead Saudi Arabia to victory at the Asian Cup this year — exiting the tournament in the round of 16. His actions during that match in Qatar also sparked controversy when he walked off before the end of his team’s losing penalty shootout against South Korea. He later apologized. Mancini had been hired by Saudi Arabia in August 2023 — two weeks after he left his job in charge of Italy. As manager of Inter Milan, he won three Italian league titles and went on to win the Premier League with Manchester City in 2013 thanks to Sergio Aguero’s dramatic late goal on the fi...

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Former Uruguay striker Diego Forlán will make his professional tennis debut next month when he plays doubles at an ATP Challenger tournament. The 45-year-old Forlán will play with Argentina’s Federico Coria at the clay court Uruguay Open, tournament organizers confirmed. It starts Nov. 11. Forlán, who retired from soccer in 2019, played for Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, Internazionale and Penarol.  He helped Uruguay reach the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup and win the Copa America title in 2011. Forlán has played ITF Masters tournaments since last year. He said his father, Pablo Forlán, who was also a footballer, also played tennis after his retirement. “He started playing at age 41. That’s also why I have played (tennis) since I was 2,” the former Uruguay striker said. More from Sportsnet Champions League Roundup: Brest frustrates Leverkusen in draw Tearful Suarez retires from Uruguay’s national team at age 37

Canadian Karina LeBlanc has been named executive vice-president of strategic growth development for RAJ Sports, which owns the NWSL’s Portland Thorns and the new Portland WNBA franchise. RAJ Sports, the sports investment platform for the Bhathal family, telegraphed the move earlier this month when it announced that LeBlanc was stepping down as Thorns general manager at the end of the NWSL season to transition to a new role with the organization. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join RAJ Sports and to continue the mission of evolving women’s sports for the greater good of the Portland community,” LeBlanc said in a statement. “I look forward to connecting with fans, supporters, partners and local leaders in our community to share the collective impact of the Portland Thorns and Portland WNBA.” The expansion WNBA team is set to begin play in Portland in 2026. RAJ Sports also named Mike Whitehead as managing director. Whitehead previously held various positions in the NFL, NBA and...

Calgary Wild FC has named Lara Murphy the women’s pro soccer team’s first chief executive officer and Lisa Oldridge its chief financial and operating officer. Wild FC is one of six teams in the new Northern Super League slated to start in April 2025 alongside clubs in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. Calgary is also expected to announce its first player signing this week. Murphy, who played university soccer at Mount Allison in New Brunswick, is the co-owner of a Calgary construction company. Oldridge has worked in equity capital markets and spent the last decade advising boards of venture capital funds. The immediate priorities for Murphy and Oldridge are hiring coaches and team staff, as well as player signings.

MONTREAL — CF Montreal’s season came to a heartbreaking end with a 2-2 (5-4) penalty shootout loss to Atlanta United at Stade Saputo on Tuesday. Brooks Lennon and Stian Gregersen scored for Atlanta, while Josef Martinez registered a brace for Montreal in their first playoff game since 2022. Montreal took control of the game early, dominating possession and working to break down a resolute Atlanta defence until the 30 minute-mark when the visiting side opened the scoring against the run of play. Taking advantage of a marking error, Lennon got on the end of a perfectly delivered cross from Pedro Amador and directed the ball into the bottom corner with his head. Two minutes later, Lennon found himself in the exact same position and with a chance to double Atlanta’s lead, but sent the shot high and wide.  Gregersen cemented Atlanta’s lead in the 44th minute through another defensive breakdown. With a set piece coming from the left-side, the Norwegian international’s header sent Uni...

PARIS — A section of Paris Saint-Germain fans loudly jeered an announcement before Tuesday’s home game against PSV Eindhoven in the Champion League that reminded supporters that any discriminatory chanting is prohibited. PSG faces potential disciplinary action after some fans at Parc des Princes made homophobic chants about bitter rival Marseille during last Saturday’s home game against Strasbourg. While the chanting was happening, the stadium announcer twice asked for the chants to stop and was jeered. The league’s disciplinary committee is looking into evidence from that game and is set to announce its findings next week. “Paris Saint-Germain reaffirms its commitment against all forms of discrimination including homophobia,” PSG said following the Strasbourg game. “The club takes all necessary measures, before and during matches, to ensure that the Parc des Princes remains an inclusive place for all.” PSG plays Marseille at Stade Velodrome on Sunday.

Christian Pulisic scored direct from a corner and there was VAR heartbreak for 16-year-old Francesco Camarda as AC Milan beat Brugge 3-1 to end its wait for a Champions League win, while Monaco kept its unbeaten start going. American forward Pulisic seemed stunned by his feat — known as an “ Olimpico ” — as Milan finally earned its first three points, having lost its opening two games in the new-look format. Belgium’s Brugge had to play most of the game with 10 men after Raphael Onyedika was sent off in the 40th minute but still levelled the score with a goal from Kyriani Sabbe in the 51st. Tijjani Reijnders later scored twice to give Milan the much-needed win. Camarda was brought on in the 75th minute and became the youngest Italian debutant in the Champions League. He briefly thought he’d broken the record for youngest Champions League scorer too, but his header was ruled offside to halt joyous celebrations. Elsewhere, Wilfried Singo scored from around 30 metres out as Monaco s...

Marie-Yasmine Alidou has been called in to replace the injured Cloe Lacasse ahead of the Canadian women’s international friendly in Spain on Friday. The sixth-ranked Canadians face No. 3 Spain, the reigning World Cup champions, at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo. Lacasse was forced to leave in the 36th minute of the Utah Royals’ 1-1 draw at Angel City FC on Sunday with an apparent knee injury. The 31-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., was coming off a three-goal performance in a 3-0 win over Seattle Reign, the first hat-trick in Utah Royals history and the first in the 2024 NWSL season. Alidou, a 29-year-old from Saint-Hubert, Que., who plays in Portugal for Benfica, has two Canadian senior caps already. More from Sportsnet Jade Kovacevic excited to live dream as AFC Toronto’s first-ever signing Canadian women’s national team announces interim coaching staff for October window

Having already recorded the greatest regular season in Major League Soccer history, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami now have their sights set on winning their first MLS Cup.  The MLS playoffs kick off this week and not surprisingly the major storyline surrounds Messi. The Argentine ace had an MVP-type year in his first full campaign with Miami, scoring 20 goals and tallying 16 assists in only 19 appearances.  The World Cup winner’s explosive offensive production helped Miami win the Supporters’ Shield as the regular-season champions. Messi saved the best for last in Saturday’s 6-2 home win over the New England Revolution with a five-point night (a hat trick and two assists) as Miami established a new league record for the most points (74) in a single MLS season.   Nobody scored more goals in MLS in 2024 than Miami (79), who only suffered four losses in 34 games. The Herons never lost consecutive matches, their last defeat came on July 6 and they ended the regular sea...