Sport

Matheus Nascimento and Joseph Paintsil each scored on Saturday night to help the Galaxy beat Minnesota United 2-1 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Minnesota (16-8-10) is fourth in the Western Conference and will play fifth-seeded Seattle in the best-of-three first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Nascimento gave the Galaxy (7-18-9) the lead for good when he scored on a first-touch shot from the center of the area in the 12th minute.

Paintsil, on the counterattack, outraced the defense down the left sideline and then bounced a low shot off the far post and then slammed home his own rebound to make it 2-0 in the 52nd.

Joaquín Pereyra scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Minnesota.

A couple of minutes later, the Galaxy’s Edwin Cerrillo was shown a yellow card in the 67th and another, resulting in a red, in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

“I’ve absolutely loved my time at Saracens and have made some friends for life,” explained Reading-born Willis, whose brother Jack plays for French club Toulouse.

“I will continue to give everything for this club for the remainder of the season and I’m very excited about what this squad can achieve.”

The Telegraph, external has reported that Willis is set to rejoin Bordeaux-Begles, having left them for Saracens in January 2023.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said he is “disappointed” by Willis’ desire to leave but respected the player’s “decision to pursue a new challenge”.

“He [Willis] has made a great impact on the field and been a popular team-mate off it,” McCall added.

“I know he is determined to give everything to the group over the coming months.”

Banned from playing football at home, they’re now back on the world stage. For the first time since the Taliban regained power in 2021, Afghanistan’s women’s football team will compete in an official tournament, albeit under a different name. Samantha Johnson looks at the remarkable journey of a team seeking recognition

The sight of the fit-again Ollie Rathbone – last year’s player of the season – in the matchday squad for the first time since early pre-season adds weight to those sentiments.

At the same time, Parkinson is unlikely to be swayed in ignoring the steady progress so far, even if many fans saw the Stoke display as a step backwards.

While the run of games will bring pressure, it also brings opportunity, with Kieffer Moore among those adamant that Wrexham are not far from clicking and that they will be a real threat when they do.

Before the next international break – and all inside the space of three weeks – Wrexham also have games against Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic, even if the Addicks have done eye-catchingly well since their own promotion.

And then there is the small matter of the chance to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup when they welcome Welsh rivals Cardiff City.

Get it right and Wrexham will have people talking for all the right reasons. Something Parkinson will know full well.

“We need to just analyse the performance and not get too down about it,” Parkinson said.

“It says something about how far we’ve come that we come to Stoke in front of 25,000 and are disappointed not to get something from the game.

“But we have got to look at ourselves. I think it’s good to be frustrated, I think it’s good to be a bit annoyed and that we don’t have pats on the back and say ‘Oh, we’ve come to Stoke and done okay’.

“They are a good group of lads who are working really hard and I’m excited about what we’ve got in the building, I really am.

“We have taken a knock, but we’ll come back fighting on Wednesday.”

And with plenty looking hard at Wrexham – and maybe even looking for them to fail – a win would do much to wrestle back control of that narrative.

De Ridder’s four-fight UFC winning streak was snapped after he was unable to continue against Brendan Allen.

Brendan Allen shook up the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division in a big way, handing Reinier de Ridder his first promotional loss by securing a technical knockout (TKO) after the Dutchman’s corner deemed him unable to continue ahead of Round 5.

De Ridder was visibly exhausted in his neutral corner at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver on Saturday night, leading to the sudden ending in the main event of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Allen (26-7 MMA) avoided de Ridder’s (21-3 MMA) devastating kickboxing ability by utilising his wrestling and controlling de Ridder with strikes from the top position.

De Ridder had few answers for the American fighter, as Allen stepped in on short notice after replacing fellow contender Anthony Hernandez (15-2, 1 no-contest MMA).

“It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do,” Allen said. “This was me three and a half weeks off the couch. I told you I’m a different monster. When my head is clear and we’re on, I’m the best in the world.”

With the UFC’s middleweight logjam in full effect, Allen said post-fight he has done enough to earn a title shot opposite champion Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA).

“Come get it, baby,” Allen said.

De Ridder had not lost in 19 months.

In the co-main event, welterweight Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA) dodged a bullet by avoiding a no-contest against Kevin Holland (28-15 MMA) after Holland’s protective shorts cup was compromised from a Malott leg kick gone wrong early in the fight.

A Malott arm-triangle choke attempt in the third round was not enough to secure the win either. Malott was eventually awarded the highly competitive five-round fight via decision: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

Aiemann Zahabi won his bantamweight bout by decision against former title challenger Marlon Vera (23-11-1 MMA). The final score had Zahabi victorious by a judges’ score of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.

In women’s flyweight action, former title challenger Manon Fiorot (13-2 MMA) delivered a devastating TKO over Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius (14-4 MMA), set up by a flurry of punches to secure the stoppage win at 1:14 of the opening round.

Seth Jarvis scored 1:45 into overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes extended their undefeated start to the season to five games despite giving up a three-goal lead in a 4-3 win over the Kings on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Jarvis netted his sixth goal of the season, capitalizing on a fortunate bounce after Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke blocked Sebastian Aho’s shot, scoring into an open net with goalie Anton Forsberg unable to get back in position.

Jordan Staal had two goals, Jesperi Kotkaniemi also scored, and Brandon Bussi made 25 saves for the Hurricanes.

Kevin Fiala tied it midway through the third period for the Kings, who have lost four straight. Trevor Moore and Andrei Kuzmenko also scored, and Forsberg made 36 saves.

The Hurricanes went up 3-0 early in the second period before the Kings responded. Moore got the Kings on the board and looked to have picked up a second less than a minute later, but it was waived off for goaltender interference by Warren Foegele.

Kuzmenko cut it to 3-2 on the power play with 3:56 left in the period, the first conceded by Carolina this season in 10 road penalty kills.

For all of its dominance, Carolina had scored two goals in the first period coming into the night. Staal doubled that in the opening 3:58, including scoring 12 seconds into the game when William Carrier found him alone at the back post for his 300th career goal.

Staal joined his brother Eric in the 300-goal club, making them the fourth brother pair to accomplish it and joining Maurice and Henri Richard, Bobby and Dennis Hull, and Brent and Brian Sutter.

Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere played 4:06 in the first period before exiting the game with a lower-body injury.

Match of the Day’s Alan Shearer breaks down Jean-Philippe Mateta’s movement and what makes him so difficult to defend against following the striker’s hat-trick against Bournemouth in the Premier League.

WATCH MORE: Mateta hat-trick earns Palace draw in thriller against Bournemouth

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It was an ominous bit of imagery at what could be the bitter end of a century-long series. Dark clouds descending over Touchdown Jesus, and a heavy downpour soaking every soul in Notre Dame Stadium, as if Mother Nature herself was lashing out at the prospect of one of college football’s defining rivalries dying in vain.

Both USC and Notre Dame have suggested they want the rivalry to continue if they can come to an agreement in the coming months. But if this was indeed the end, 99 years since USC and Notre Dame first met on a football field, it would be a particularly crushing finale for the Trojans, who fell 34-24 and now find their hopes of a College Football Playoff bid hanging by a thread.

Saturday seemed well on its way to a different sort of conclusion, when the Irish shanked a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Three plays later, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava found wideout Makai Lemon downfield for a 42-yard gain.

All the game’s momentum was suddenly in the hands of USC coach Lincoln Riley and his offense. That’s when Riley dialed up a hair-brained trick play that he’d surely regret later.

Sprinting right on an end-around, Lemon took the handoff from Maiava and immediately found himself trapped by the Notre Dame defense. Lemon cocked the ball as if he were going to throw, only to have the ball stripped away.

It was a rare misstep from the Trojans star, but an especially costly one. It took seven plays for Notre Dame to find the end zone after that, as quarterback C.J. Carr punched it in from one yard out to put the game away.

The crash and Verstappen’s subsequent sprint win cut the four-time champion’s deficit to Piastri to 55 points, while he is now 33 behind Norris.

The Australian led Verstappen by 104 points after the Dutch race on 31 August, so nearly half that advantage has been eroded in three grands prix and a sprint. There are still six races and two further sprints to come.

In the normal run of things, it seems inevitable that Piastri will lose more ground to Verstappen on Sunday in Texas. Norris has a chance to get ahead, but as he pointed out, the McLaren has not looked like a Verstappen-beating car at any point this weekend.

“It’s going to be difficult,” Norris said. “We were hoping to learn a lot in the sprint in terms of how the car set-up would be from qualifying to race and hopefully make tweaks but that didn’t go to plan so we are certainly on the back foot. But we won’t make it an excuse for tomorrow.

“It’s clear we were not going to be as quick as the Red Bull so we have to be happy with second. It’s not being distracted by the mess and nonsense that everyone creates.

“Saturdays have never been as good this year so I’m hoping we can turn it up tomorrow and be a little bit quicker.

“I have to be optimistic. Every lap we did today was 0.3-0.5secs off Max so to turn that around will be pretty difficult. I’m sure if Max had done his final lap he would have gone a good step quicker anyway.

“They have been quick in a lot of races recently. They have been doing a very good job and seemed to catch us up a little bit. It’s not a lot, just enough that they are more consistently ahead. And then you can get more opportunities and of course Max is good at making the most of them.”

Meanwhile, Stella admitted that McLaren were even more aware of just how potent Verstappen can be for the remainder of the season.

“I would have expected a smaller gap here, if anything, so we have to look at the facts, we have to look at the numbers,” he said. “Just objectively, not necessarily we maximised what the performance was available today in the car.

“But we need to be ready as a team and as drivers for Max and Red Bull being competitive and possibly the fastest car at every one of the remaining races.”

Would the Dodgers have paid $4 million for Shohei Ohtani’s production on Friday night?

“Maybe I would have,” team owner Mark Walter said with a laugh.

Four million dollars is how much Ohtani has received from the Dodgers.

Not for the game. Not for the week. Not for the year.

For this year and last year.

Ohtani could be the greatest player in baseball history. Is he also the greatest free-agent acquisition of all-time?

“You bet,” Walter said.

Even before Ohtani blasted three homers and struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings in a historic performance to secure his team’s place in the World Series, the Dodgers were a target of complaints over the perception they were buying championships. Their payroll this season is more than $416 million, according to Spotrac.

During the on-field celebration that followed the 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, manager Dave Roberts told the Dodger Stadium crowd, “I’ll tell you, before this season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

What detractors ignore is how the Dodgers aren’t the only team that spent big dollars this year to chase a title. As Ohtani’s contract demonstrates, it’s how they spend that separates them from the sport’s other wealthy franchises.

The New York Mets spent more than $340 million, the New York Yankees $319 million and the Philadelphia Phillies $308 million. None of them are still playing.

The Dodgers are still playing, and one of the reasons is because of how opportunistic they are.

When the Boston Red Sox were looking for a place to dump Mookie Betts before he became a free agent, the Dodgers traded for him and signed him to an extension. When the Atlanta Braves refused to extend a six-year offer to Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers stepped in and did.

Something else that helps: Players want to play for them.

Consider the case of the San Francisco Giants, who can’t talk star players into taking their money.

The Giants pursued Bryce Harper, who turned them down. They pursued Aaron Judge, who turned them down. They pursued Ohtani, who turned them down. They pursued Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who turned them down.

Notice a pattern?

Unable to recruit an impact hitter in free agency, the Giants turned their attention to the trade market and acquired a distressed asset in malcontent Rafael Devers. They still missed the postseason.

The Dodgers don’t have any such problems attracting talent. Classified as an international amateur because he was under the age of 25, Roki Sasaki was eligible to sign only a minor-league contract this winter. While the signing bonuses that could be offered varied from team to team, the differences were relatively small. Sasaki was urged by his agent to minimize financial considerations when picking a team.

Sasaki chose the Dodgers.

Players such as Blake Snell, Will Smith and Max Muncy signed what could be below-market deals to come to or stay with the Dodgers.

There is also the Ohtani factor.

Ohtani didn’t want the team that signed him to be financially hamstrung, which is why he insisted that it defer the majority of his 10-year, $700-million contract. The Dodgers are paying Ohtani just $2 million annually, with the remainder owed after he retires.

Without Ohtani agreeing to delayed payments, who knows if the Dodgers would have signed the other pitchers who comprise their dominant rotation, Yamamoto, Snell and Tyler Glasnow.

None of this is to say the Dodgers haven’t made any mistakes, the $102 million they committed to Trevor Bauer a decision they would certainly like to take back.

But the point is they spend.

“We put money into the team, as you know,” Walter said. “We’re trying to win.”

Nothing is stopping any other team from making the financial commitments necessary to compete with the Dodgers. Franchises don’t have to make annual profits to be lucrative, as their values have skyrocketed. Teams that were purchased for hundreds of millions of dollars are now worth billions.

Example: Arte Moreno bought the Angels in 2003 for $183.5 million. Forbes values them today at $2.75 billion. If or when Moreno sells the team, he will receive a huge return on his investment.

The calls for a salary cap are nothing more than justifications by cheap owners for their refusal to invest in the civic institutions under their control.

The Dodgers aren’t ruining baseball. They might not do everything right, but as far as their spending is concerned, they’re doing right by their fans.

Two-time Paralympic champion Stephen Bate secured a golden finish to his 12-year career by winning the men’s tandem individual pursuit title at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Bate and pilot Christopher Latham achieved victory by catching Italian rivals Lorenzo Bernard and pilot Paolo Toto in an impressive display.

It ensured Bate ended his career as a five-time world champion across road and track events, and a five-time Paralympic medallist.

It was in Rio nine years ago where he and then-pilot Adam Duggleby achieved a golden Paralympic double in the individual pursuit and road time trial events.

Partnered by Latham on his return to the Brazilian capital, with whom he won individual pursuit silver at his final Paralympic Games in Paris last summer, Bate signed off in style on another hugely successful day for the British team.

That was one of three gold medals won by the British team on Saturday, as 21-year-old Archie Atkinson regained the men’s C4 10km scratch race title.

Elizabeth Jordan and pilot Dannielle Khan also triumphed, retaining their women’s B 1km time trial title.

Finlay Graham made it three medals in as many days as he clinched silver in the men’s C3 elimination race.

There was also silver for Kadeena Cox in the women’s C4 Sprint Race.

Those successes took GB’s tally to seven golds, five silver and five bronze medals overall.

A look at the top performers from high school football across the Southland during Week 7.

RUSHING

Garfield running back Ceasar Reyes is lifted up by Angel Jimenez. He rushed for school-record 420 yards in win over South Gate.

(Nick Koza)

• Ceasar Reyes, Garfield: Rushed for a school-record 420 yards in 42 carries and scored four touchdowns in win over South Gate.

• Lenny Ibarra, Los Alamitos: Rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns in win over Edison.

• Jerod Terry, Sierra Canyon: Rushed for 241 yards and two touchdowns in win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

• Brian Bonner, Valencia: Rushed for 150 yards in win over Golden Valley.

• Ethan Mundt, Troy: Rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in win over Anaheim Canyon.

• Domenico Doran, Bishop Amat: The quarterback rushed for 122 yards and one touchdown and passed for 141 yards and two touchdowns in win over Loyola.

• Ronnell Hewitt, Chaminade: Rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns in win over Gardena Serra.

PASSING

• Jaden Jefferson, Cathedral: Completed 14 of 18 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns in win over Paraclete.

• Khalil Abdul-Aziz, Orange Vista: Passed for 402 yards and three touchdowns in win over Vista del Lago.

• Koa Malau’ulu, St. John Bosco: Passed for 283 yards and four touchdowns in win over Santa Margarita.

• Dane Weber, Chaparral: Passed for 291 yards, rushed for 110 yards and accounted for six touchdowns in win over Norco.

• Luke Fahey, Mission Viejo: Passed for 292 yards and one touchdown in win over San Clemente.

• Caden Jones, Crean Lutheran: Completed 19 of 23 passes for 314 yards and five touchdowns in win over La Habra.

• Michael Wynn Jr., St. Genevieve: Passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another, in win over Oakmont.

• Jacob Paisano, Hart: Passed for 164 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns in win over Canyon.

• Ford Green, Westlake: The freshman passed for 287 yards and three touchdowns in double overtime win over Newbury Park

• Thaddeus Breaux, Hamilton: Passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns in loss to Westchester.

RECEIVING

• Zayshawn Washington, Orange Vista: Caught seven passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns vs. Vista del Lago.

• Madden Williams, St. john Bosco: Caught six passes for 113 yards and one touchdown vs. Santa Margarita.

• Jack Junker, Mission Viejo: Caught seven passes for 100 yards vs. San Clemente.

• Ty Johnson, Crean Lutheran: Caught five passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns and returned interception for touchdown vs. La Habra.

DEFENSE

• Dutch Horisk, St. John Bosco: Recorded two sacks vs. Santa Margarita.

• Jaden Walk-Green, Corona Centennial: Had a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown and 95-yard kickoff return in win over Murrieta Valley.

• Somto Nwute, Crespi: Recorded three sacks in win over Salesian.

• PeeWee Wilson, Oxnard Pacifica: Had six solo tackles and 10 overall in win over Camarillo.

• Jordan Hicks, Mission Viejo: Had two interceptions vs. San Clemente.

• Nicholas Stratman, Venice: Had 11 tackles, three for losses, in win over Fairfax.

• Armani Walker, St. Bonaventure: Returned interception for touchdown in shutout win over Oaks Christian.

• Sam Crawford, Bishop Diego: Had two interceptions in win over Simi Valley.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• CJ Wallace, St. John Bosco: Had five booming kickoffs into the end zone vs. Santa Margarita.

• Blue McFarland, Crespi: Contributed a 44-yard run on a fake punt vs. Salesian.

• Caleb Sylvia, Mission Viejo: Kicked field goals from 47 and 25 yards in win over San Clemente.

• Jake Vega, Lakewood: Made a 34-yard field goal for the game’s only points in a win over Long Beach Millikan.

• Oscar Orozco, St. Bonaventure: Made field goals from 45 and 25 yards vs. Oaks Christian.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen beat McLaren’s Lando Norris to pole position at the United States Grand Prix with championship leader Oscar Piastri down in sixth.

After the McLaren drivers crashed out of the sprint earlier on Saturday, neither was able to challenge Verstappen even though the world champion failed to complete a final run in qualifying.

Verstappen was sent out too late to get around in time to start a last lap before the chequered flag but still beat Norris by 0.291 seconds.

It was an imperious performance that underlined why McLaren are concerned about his threat in the drivers’ championship.

Norris saved his best for last in a difficult session to pip Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to second on the grid by just 0.006secs.

But Piastri, who has looked out of sorts all weekend, was not quick and he ended up 0.574secs off the pace, and behind Mercedes’ George Russell and the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton.

Wow, what a week in sports. USC defeats Michigan, a Dodger pitches a complete game for the first time in the postseason since 2004 and they sweep the Brewers to go to the World Series for the second consecutive year after being 0-6 against Milwaukee during the regular season. Perhaps Michael Conforto will be added to the roster and win MVP in the World Series.

Jeff Hershow
Woodland Hills

While basically sleepwalking through the first three games of the NLCS, Shohei Ohtani saves his best for last. He goes “Hollywood” and produces the single greatest performance in MLB history as the final curtain comes down on the Milwaukee Brewers and extends the Dodgers’ magical journey to repeat as World Series champions.

Stay tuned for the sequel!

Rick Solomon
Lake Balboa

It’s a bird, it’s a plane … no, it’s superhuman Shohei! He pitches a shutout, strikes out 10, and hits three tape-measure home runs. Wow!

Marty Zweben
Palos Verdes Estates

In the history of Major League Baseball, has there ever been a player like Shohei Ohtani? I don’t think so. Shohei is the best ever. Enough said.

Chris Sorce
Fountain Valley

Now that the Dodgers have effortlessly powered their way back into the World Series, it’s quite obvious that $400 million actually does buy what it used to!

Jack Wolf
Westwood

At last, the second coming of the Dodgers has happened. We’ve been waiting for it and hoping for it, and now it’s here. Great offense, great defense and superb pitching. Our new chant should be “all the way L.A., all the way.”

Cheryl Creek
Anaheim

Statistically speaking, there is a case to be made in comparing the postseason accomplishments of Sandy Koufax and Blake Snell. From a historical perspective, there is no comparison.

Koufax is a legendary lifetime Dodger who pitched until he physically was no longer able to do so. Snell famously refused to take the ball in his last Giants start to save himself for a free agency money windfall.

Bill Waxman
Simi Valley

Stop the presses! The world is still spinning on its axis! Holy Toledo, Dave Roberts finally figured out a starting pitcher’s arm doesn’t fall off after 100 pitches. Too bad he didn’t come to that revelation during Blake Snell’s Game 1 performance, but better late than never as the saying goes.

Ken Blake
Brea

Given the turbulence at the club over the last decade, Sunderland fans could be forgiven for feeling apprehensive on their return to the Premier League.

Their route back to the top division has been a long one, with the Black Cats experiencing back-to-back relegations and spending four years in League One.

Even last season’s promotion was dramatic.

Having finished 16th the season before, Sunderland upset the odds to beat Sheffield United in the play-off final with a last-gasp winner in injury time at Wembley.

But there has been more than good fortune to Sunderland’s revival.

There were fears after the Black Cats made 14 first-team signings this summer that Le Bris’ side could lose the togetherness that helped them earn promotion.

But the Black Cats have more than maintained the momentum so far this season.

With 14 points from eight matches, Sunderland have matched their best start to a Premier League campaign.

Not that manager Le Bris is taking anything for granted.

“For me it’s just a question of the next game,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s a long journey and a tough journey. If we can win points early, it’s good for the confidence.”

The Black Cats’ fine start has been built on their home form, with 10 of their 14 points coming at the Stadium of Light – only leaders Arsenal have as many.

Perhaps the most impressive element of Sunderland’s form is that they have bucked the trend of promoted sides in recent times.

Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich – who were all relegated last season having earned promotion the season before – managed just 14 points between them after eight matches last season. Sunderland have already matched that total on their own.

In fact, Sunderland’s points tally is the best from a promoted since since Wolves in the 2018-19 campaign.

If 40 points is the benchmark for survival, then Sunderland are already well on their way to safety.

Arsenal overcame a fierce test at struggling Fulham to squeeze a 1-0 win that maintained their lead at the top of the Premier League, which had been threatened earlier in the day by Manchester City.

Leandro Trossard’s 58th-minute tap-in turned a game that had seen Fulham, now on a three-match losing streak, dominate the first half at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Manchester City had climbed to the top of the table with a 2-0 win at home to Everton, prior to the Gunners’ late kickoff in the London derby in the west of the capital.

The result moves Arsenal three points clear at the top, although defending champions Liverpool can cut that to just a point if they beat Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

Fulham, who had lost at Aston Villa and Bournemouth, prior to the international break, enjoyed the better of the early chances with Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson both dragging efforts that should have heavily tested the keeper.

Arsenal, in contrast, enjoyed some nice spells in possession, but failed to test their former keeper Bernd Leno, in Fulham’s goal, in the opening 30 minutes.

Instead, it was the openings Fulham continued to find that nearly upset the odds when Tom Cairney found room from a corner and rifled a drive back across the face, but there were too many bodies in the way, allowing Arsenal to block the goal-bound effort.

The first moment of note came for record-signing Victor Gyokeres, who had endured a painfully slow start due to a lack of service. The Swedish striker found space in the box, but at a tight angle and his low drive was comfortably parried clear.

The best moment was the final kick off the half when Declan Rice struck a trademark drive from range, but the curl from his instep took the ball just wide of the post with Leno cemented to the spot.

Bukayo Saka nearly opened up Fulham immediately at the start of the second period as he shimmied in from the right and stabbed the ball towards goal. Sander Berge stuck out a leg at the ball and nearly deflected it into his own net, but for a Fulham bundle on the line swinging the danger away.

It wasn’t long until the breakthrough came, though, as Gabriel rose highest to flick Saka’s corner to the back post where Trossard turned in with his thigh.

Saka nearly doubled the lead moments later with a low drive, which Leno did well to turn wide, while the England man also had a penalty awarded and overturned after VAR asked Anthony Taylor to review his decision after substitute Kevin clearly played the ball first.

Despite the respite, Fulham were not able to muster the challenge in the second half that they had in the first period.

Another week at the top for @Arsenal 👏 pic.twitter.com/tg5Up9dCgE

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 18, 2025

Man City eye return to the top of the Premier League

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland kept up his torrid scoring pace with two goals in five second-half minutes early on Saturday, which lifted City provisionally top of the table with victory over Everton.

Pep Guardiola’s men moved to 16 points after eight games, dropping Arsenal and Liverpool to second and third, respectively. Everton dropped to 10th on 11 points.

The 25-year-old Haaland – who scored in an 11th consecutive game for club and country for a season total of 23 goals – broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when he leapt to head home Nico O’Reilly’s cross from the left.

The Norwegian doubled City’s lead five minutes later when he latched onto Savinho’s cross and struck a blistering left-foot shot from the middle of the box that was slightly deflected by Everton’s James Tarkowski past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Haaland was hungry to complete a hat-trick, with three brilliant chances in the dying minutes, with Pickford racing out to save two of them with his legs. Haaland took the ball around Pickford on the third, but his looping shot from an impossibly tight angle dropped wide of the net.

Haaland shook his head in frustration, while the crowd chanted “Haaland! Haaland!” for his efforts.

City’s Phil Foden hailed Haaland for breaking the deadlock, calling the moment “very important”.

“We know he’s got that quality to time his runs to perfection and be in the right position. If they mark him out of the game, he is still capable of scoring, and we know he only needs one chance to score.

“He remained very patient; there wasn’t a lot of space for him today. And as you can see, he is always there for us at the right times; that is the sign of a world-class striker.”

There was no emotional homecoming for Everton winger Jack Grealish, who was ineligible to face his parent club. A TV camera showed Grealish at the game, but the absence of the league’s joint assist leader was a gaping hole for David Moyes’s team.

City, who thoroughly dominated in the second half, had 19 shots to Everton’s five, and seven on target to the visitors’ one.

Everton squandered a handful of chances. Early in the game, Iliman Ndiaye raced down the right side before sending a cross to Beto, who slid to just get his foot on the ball but poked it wide.

City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped a long shot from Ndiaye over the bar later in the first half.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

(All matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

First Round

DIVISION 2

Rosary Academy at Rancho Christian

Murrieta Valley at San Marcos

Yorba Linda at Long Beach Poly

Beaumont at Corona Centennial

Louisville at San Clemente

Etiwanda at Redlands

Chaminade at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

Los Osos at Santa Margarita

Sage Hill at Thousand Oaks

Windward at JSerra

El Segundo at Murrieta Mesa

Xavier Prep at Bishop Montgomery

Tesoro at West Ranch

Bishop Amat at Eastvale Roosevelt

Sunny Hills at Orange Lutheran

Marina at Cerritos Valley Christian

DIVISION 4

Marlborough, bye

Heritage Christian at Diamond Bar

Western Christian at Portola

La Canada at San Dimas

Arcadia at Dana Hills

Fullerton at Quartz Hill

Crossroads at Southlands Christian

Peninsula at Corona Santiago

Palm Desert at San Jacinto

Hesperia Christian at Linfield Christian

Sultana at Oak Park

Northview at Ridgecrest Burroughs

Rancho Cucamonga at Ventura

Yucaipa at Santa Rosa Academy

Cerritos at West Torrance

La Serna at Paloma Valley

DIVISION 6

Desert Christian Academy at Oakwood

Western at Garden Grove Pacifica

Norwalk at Trinity Classical Academy

Pasadena Marshall at Charter Oak

Gabrielino at Arrowhead Christian

South Hills at Coachella Valley

Rialto at St. Paul

Cantwell-Sacred Heart at Academy of Academic Excellence

Oxnard at Wiseburn Da Vinci

Indio at Bishop Diego

Lakewood at Woodcrest Christian

Rim of the World at Burbank Providence

Norte Vista at Ocean View

Capistrano Valley Christian at Webb

Segerstrom at Valley View

Oxford Academy at Barstow

DIVISION 8

University Prep at Foothill Tech

Holy Martyrs at Rancho Alamitos

Santa Maria Valley Christian at Wildwood

Malibu at Firebaugh

St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy at Arroyo Valley

Big Bear at Victor Valley

Rancho Verde at Whittier

Eastside at Schurr

Pilibos at Paramount

Canoga Park AGBU at Downey Calvary Chapel

Garden Grove at Loma Linda Academy

St. Monica Academy at Katella

Lighthouse Christian at St. Mary’s Academy

Patriot at Vistamar

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Artesia

DIVISION 10

Noli Indian at River Springs Magnolia

Packinghouse Christian at Colton

Edgewood at Newbury Park Academy

Lucerne Valley at Thacher

Joshua Springs at Anaheim

New Covenant at Hueneme

Compton Early College at Rosemead

Santa Barbara Providence at Indian Springs

Desert Chapel at San Luis Obispo Classical

Gorman at Desert Hot Springs

Waverly at Lakeside

San Bernardino at Mesa Grande

Animo Leadership at Bassett

Mesrobian at Moreno Valley

Highland Hall at Pacific Lutheran

Oak Grove at Glendale Adventist

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

First Round

DIVISION 1

Sierra Canyon, bye

Oaks Christian at Temecula Valley

Newport Harbor at Mira Costa

Marymount, bye

Mater Dei, bye

Crean Lutheran at Harvard- Westlake

Los Alamitos at San Juan Hills

Redondo Union, bye

DIVISION 3

Lakewood St. Joseph at South Torrance

Crescenta Valley at Glendora

Agoura at North Torrance

Newbury Park at Flintridge Prep

Mayfield at Corona del Mar

Claremont at Burbank Burroughs

Campbell Hall at South Pasadena

Aliso Niguel at Foothill

Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Saugus

Santa Monica at Pasadena Poly

Hesperia at St. Margaret’s

La Salle at El Dorado

Trabuco Hills at Long Beach Wilson

Riverside Poly at Cypress

Village Christian at Hemet

Summit at Millikan

DIVISION 5

Granite Hills at Downey

Warren at Ontario Christian

Villa Park at Culver City

San Marino at Camarillo

Canyon Country Canyon at Gahr

Highland at Orange County Pacifica Christian

Paraclete at Santa Barbara

Grand Terrace at Sacred Heart LA

Lancaster Desert Christian at Alta Loma

Jurupa Valley at Placentia Valencia

St. Bonaventure at Valencia

Irvine University at Royal

Whitney at San Gabriel

Palm Springs at El Toro

Chadwick at La Palma Kennedy

Buckley at Corona

DIVISION 7

Pomona Catholic at Ontario

Santa Clarita Christian at Elsinore

Beverly Hills at San Jacinto Leadership Academy

Century at Esperanza

San Jacinto Valley at Faith Baptist

Calvary Baptist at West Valley

Rowland at Eisenhower

Bell Gardens at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian

Laguna Blanca at Cate

San Gabriel Academy at Santa Fe

Tustin at Temecula Prep

Chino at Coastal Christian

San Gorgonio at Pasadena

Geffen Academy at Lancaster

Azusa at CAMS

DIVISION 9

Cathedral City at Beacon Hill

Redlands Adventist at Westminster La Quinta

Tarbut V’ Torah at Crossroads Christian

Avalon at Los Amigos

Santa Ana Valley at Anza Hamilton

Ganesha at United Christian Academy

California School for the Deaf Riverside at Lawndale

Acaciawood Academy at Nogales

Cobalt at Nordhoff

Santa Paula at Estancia

Legacy Prep at Fairmont Prep

Montclair at Buena Park

Cal Lutheran at Riverside North

Miller at Victor Valley Christian

Sierra Vista at South El Monte

Ambassador Christian at Loara

Note: Divisions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 second round Oct. 23; Divisions 3, 5, 7, 9 second round Oct. 25; Division 1 quarterfinals Oct. 28; Divisions 2-10 quarterfinals Oct. 29; semifinals Nov. 1; finals Nov. 8.

The crash was a gift for Verstappen, who McLaren have always insisted remained a threat in the championship despite his significant deficit, especially as Red Bull have returned to form in recent races.

The crash brought out the safety car for five laps and after the restart Verstappen was tracked by Russell, who made a bold move into Turn 12 on lap seven, a late dive that ended up with both going off the track.

Verstappen retained the position and soon began to edge away and took control of the race.

Sainz was no threat to Russell, but he had to watch his mirrors for Hamilton.

The seven-time champion passed team-mate Charles Leclerc on lap eight down the back straight after the Monegasque lost control of his car through the high-speed Esses earlier in the lap.

Leclerc had a snap through the Esses, cut one of the corners, and that allowed Hamilton to close up. He then passed down the straight as Leclerc edged him right to the edge of the track on the inside.

Leclerc tried to fight back through the series of slower corners through the stadium section but Hamilton held on.

Leclerc took fifth place, with Williams’ Alex Albon sixth and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda seventh.

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli took the final point after a 10-second penalty for Haas driver Oliver Bearman, who was adjudged to have gained an advantage by leaving the track after the Italian tried a passing move into Turn 12 late in the race.

Bearman could not believe the penalty when told about it by his team during the race, obviously feeling Antonelli had forced him off track with his late move.

The race ended under another safety car after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll T-boned Esteban Ocon’s Haas into the first corner, leaving his team with a massive repair job on both cars in the gap before grand prix qualifying at 22:00 BST.

It’s confusing enough that senior Maggie Kearin attends Louisville High in Woodland Hills and will soon attend the University of Louisville in Kentucky on a full scholarship.

Let’s forget about the two Louisvilles for a moment. Did you know she has a scholarship awaiting her based on her skills in field hockey? And the high school she attends doesn’t have a field hockey team.

She earned the offer based on her play in club field hockey. At Louisville High, she’s perfectly happy playing volleyball and soccer when outsiders have no idea she’s one of the top field hockey players in Southern California.

Her father is Jeff Kearin, the former Loyola High and Cal State Northridge football coach who’s the JV football coach at Crespi and has been transporting her for years to competitions. He consulted with others about whether Maggie should go to a high school that has field hockey, and they told him being good in several sports will help her versatility in field hockey.

Maggie has been playing the sport since she was 5.

“She came home one night from a sleepover, ‘I want to play the game with a stick.’ I thought it was lacrosse,” her father said.

Now she has a way to pay for her college education. “No one is happier than Mom and Dad,” her father said.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].