firstever

Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 to qualify for the football World Cup for the first time. The island nation, with a population of just 600,000, is the second smallest country ever to reach the tournament, finishing ahead of Cameroon to top their group.

EDDIE NKETIAH sealed a comfortable win as Crystal Palace set a new club-record 19-game unbeaten run.

The former Arsenal striker came on for Jean-Philippe Mateta at the break to fire home from Yeremy Pino’s brilliant 58th-minute cross.

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Daniel Munoz had headed the Eagles into a 31st-minute lead against the Ukrainians in Poland.

That broke their existing 56-year record.

But they ended the game with 10 men when Borna Sosa was sent off for a second yellow with 14 minutes left.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was given a boost before kick-off by being named in the France national team for the first time for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps said: “He’s not exactly young, even if he went through almost all the youth national teams. 

“Wherever he plays, he has the ability to score goals. He has an interesting profile.”

And Mateta almost got Palace off to a flying start.

Adam Whartons pushed a ball toward Daniel Muniz down the right and his low first-time cross found the striker lurking at the near post.

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But Taras Mykhavko was quick to get a block in with Mateta set to pounce.

And the Dynamo defender just managed to get a ball forward to Mateta to clear the danger.

Palace moved in front with a peach of a goal.

Yeremy Pino appeared to have overhit a free-kick from the right yet Munoz somehow managed to get up to it and steer a brilliant header into the top right corner.

And Palace were denied a second when Borna Sosa slid in to attack a brilliant Wharton’s 20-yard diagonal pass.

But keeper Ruslan Neshcheret managed to get his body in the way to block the attempt.

Mateta broke through just before the break with only keeper Ruslan Neshcheret to beat but he blazed over.

Nketiah had the ball in the net after coming on at the break when he got on to a Wharton pass but was fractionally offside.

But moments after he did get his goal — converting with a lovely finish from Pino’s cross.

Palace were having fun. Wharton again released Nketiah but Neshcheret managed to deflect it behind.

Sosa, who had been booked three minutes earlier for hacking down Shola Ogundanam, received his marching orders for barging over Tymchyk.

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Longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp has been introduced as the PGA Tour’s first chief executive officer.

While news of that move had leaked last week, another tidbit emerged on Tuesday from the official announcement, as the tour revealed that Commissioner Jay Monahan will step down at the end of next year after transferring his day-to-day responsibilities to Rolapp.

“A year ago, I informed our Boards that upon completing a decade as Commissioner, I would step down from my role at the end of 2026,” Monahan said in a statement released by the PGA Tour. “Since then, we’ve worked together to identify a leader who can build on our momentum and develop a process that ensures a smooth transition. We’ve found exactly the right leader in Brian Rolapp, and I’m excited to support him as he transitions from the NFL into his new role leading the PGA TOUR.”

Monahan, who was named the organization’s fourth commissioner in January 2017, will shift his focus to his roles on the Tour’s policy and enterprises boards during the remainder of his time with the group.

“Commissioner Monahan is an incredible leader, and it has been a pleasure getting to know him throughout the interview process,” Rolapp said in the PGA Tour’s statement. “I greatly appreciate his commitment to making me successful in the role and look forward to working with him in partnership throughout this transition.”

Rolapp has been with the NFL since 2003, most recently serving as its chief media and business officer. Multiple media outlets reported last week that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had sent out a company memo regarding Rolapp’s upcoming departure.

“Brian’s appointment is a win for players and fans,” 15-time major championship winner Tiger Woods, a member of the Tour’s search committee that unanimously recommended Rolapp for the job, said in the same statement.“He has a clear respect for the game and our players and brings a fresh perspective from his experience in the NFL. I’m excited about what’s ahead — and confident that with Brian’s leadership, we’ll continue to grow the TOUR in ways that benefit everyone who loves this sport.”