Sport

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has named his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Evan Ferguson included despite struggling with an ankle problem.

The forward – on loan at Roma from Brighton, who scored in the 1-0 win against Armenia in October, picked up the injury against Parma on 29 October. However, he is included in the 25-man squad for the final two group games that begin at home to Portugal on Thursday, 13 November (19:45 GMT) before a trip to Hungary on Sunday, 16 November (14:00 GMT).

Hallgrimsson’s side go into the final round of matches in Group F sitting in third, one point behind Hungary who travel to Armenia in the first of their games, knowing qualification for the 2026 World Cup could be out of their grasp with a game to spare should they lose to runaway leaders Portugal.

Missing for that game will be Jayson Molumby and Ryan Manning through suspension, but both are included in the squad.

There is a return for Mark Sykes despite his club Bristol City revealing he would miss their next two games after sustaining a gash on his leg in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers.

With Callum O’Dowda out, Jimmy Dunne retains his place in the squad after coming in as a late replacement for the October internationals, while American-born 26-year-old Kevin O’Toole receives a call-up with the left-sided New York City player eligible through his grandfather.

However, there is no call for Celtic’s Johnny Kenny – despite scoring three goals in his last two games, including the opener in the League Cup semi-final win over Rangers at the weekend – even though Hallgrimsson is without the injured Sammie Szmodics.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WATER POLO

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

OPEN DIVISION
Pool A — Third Round
#1 Newport Harbor 12, #4 Oaks Christian 6
#5 JSerra 14, #8 Laguna Beach 6

Pool B — Third Round
#3 Corona del Mar 13, #2 Santa Margarita 11
#6 Mira Costa 10, #7 Long Beach Wilson 6

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 5 p.m. unless noted)
Quarterfinals

DIVISION 1
Loyola vs. San Marcos at Dos Pueblos
Dos Pueblos vs. Buena at Rio Mesa
Mater Dei at Sage Hill
Harvard-Westlake at Westlake

Note: Divisions 2-5 quarterfinals Nov. 7; Open Division crossover round Nov. 8 at higher seeds; Divisions 2-5 semifinals Nov. 11; Open Division semifinals Nov. 12 at Woollett Aquatics Center; Division 1 semifinals Nov. 12; Finals (all divisions) Nov. 15 at Mt. San Antonio College.

The Ashes returns on 21 November and plenty of batters will be dreaming of runs before the opening Test in Perth.

Just 10 England players have scored a century in a men’s Ashes Tests in Australia since 2005, can you name them all?

There’s no timer on this quiz. Good luck!

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals

DIVISION II
#1 East Valley d. #5 North Hollywood, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11
#2 Mendez d. #6 Maywood CES, 25-23, 25-18, 8-25, 25-18

DIVISION III
#1 Panorama d. #12 New West Charter, 25-22, 25-13, 25-23
#2 Sun Valley Poly d. #3 Chavez, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 15-5

DIVISION IV
#1 Marquez d. #13 Fairfax, 3-0
#7 South East d. #3 Huntington Park, 27-25, 25-11, 25-16

DIVISION V
#5 Legacy d. #9 Santee, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20
#11 Sotomayor d. #7 Jefferson, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 15-11

FINALS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
At Southwest College

DIVISION V
#11 Sotomayor (12-11) vs. #5 Legacy (9-15), 5:15 p.m.

OPEN DIVISION
#2 Palisades (34-7) vs. #1 Venice (32-10), 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY
At Birmingham High

DIVISION IV
#7 South East (10-14) vs. #1 Marquez (15-21), 10 a.m.

DIVISION III
#2 Sun Valley Poly (13-19) vs. #1 Panorama (15-14), 12:30 p.m.

DIVISION II
#2 Mendez (25-8) vs. #1 East Valley (13-6), 3:15 p.m.

DIVISION I
#3 Granada Hills Kennedy (31-9) vs. #1 LA University (20-6), 6 p.m.

Manchester City players including Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Khiara Keating and Kerstin Casparij share their confessions, including things they got away with growing up, their mid-game thoughts and what football rule they would like to change.

Watch live coverage of Everton v Manchester City on Sunday 9 November from 14:30 BST on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app.

WATCH: ‘Defenders work harder than attackers’ – Man Utd Confession Cam‘

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
First Round

DIVISION 2
Woodbridge 13, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 5
Orange Lutheran 13, Great Oak 5
Redondo Union 10, Santa Margarita 6
San Juan Hills 13, Diamond Bar 5
Aliso Niguel 10, Newport Harbor 8
Chadwick 14, Laguna Beach 4
Tesoro 13, Huntington Beach 5
Calabasas 15, Temecula Valley 3
Crean Lutheran 15, Los Osos 3
Peninsula at Bonita
Marlborough 10, South Pasadena 8
San Marino 14, Crescenta Valley 4
Crossroads 16, Claremont 2
Westlake 13, Yorba Linda 5
Troy 10, Oak Park 8
Harvard-Westlake 15, Northwood 3

DIVISION 3
Anaheim Canyon, bye
Santa Monica 12, Patriot 6
Whitney 15, Arlington 3
Cate 13, Dos Pueblos 5
Temple City 13, Buckley 5
San Clemente 10, Cypress 8
Eastvale Roosevelt 11, Riverside King 7
El Toro at Los Alamitos
Brentwood 16, Liberty 2
West Ranch 10, CAMS 8
Campbell Hall 17, Yucaipa 1
Capistrano Valley 9, Ayala 9 (CV wins on games 75-68)
Flintridge Prep 10, Long Beach Poly 8
Arcadia 11, Sunny Hills 7
Corona Santiago 13, Redlands 5
Palm Desert, bye

DIVISION 4
Sierra Canyon 12, Quartz Hill 6
Esperanza 12, Fullerton 6
Pasadena Poly 11, Mission Viejo 7
Placentia Valencia 11, Camarillo 7
Rancho Cucamonga 10, Carpinteria 8
Dana Hills 10, Fairmont Prep 8
San Dimas 10, Irvine 8
Oaks Christian 11, La Serna 7
Keppel 9, San Marcos 9 (Keppel wins on games 79-74)
Murrieta Mesa 14, Silverado 4
Torrance 11, Orange County Pacifica Christian 7
Simi Valley 10, Alta Loma 8
Geffen Academy 11, Mayfield 7
Agoura 10, West Torrance 8
St. Margaret’s 12, Warren 6
Marymount 16, Westminster La Quinta 2

DIVISION 5
Thacher, bye
Valencia 11, Oxford Academy 7
Milken Community 10, Louisville 8
Riverside North 13, Valley View 5
Burbank 16, Long Beach Wilson 2
Millikan 14, Oak Hills 4
Maranatha 14, Rowland 4
Golden Valley 15, Chaparral 3
Chino Hills 10, Webb 8
Lakewood St. Joseph 13, Burbank Burroughs 5
Santa Barbara 13, Laguna Blanca 5
Beverly Hills 10, Citrus Valley 8
Santa Fe 11, Serrano 7
Cerritos 12, Pasadena Marshall 6
Bishop Montgomery 13, Xavier Prep 5
Paloma Valley 9, La Palma Kennedy 9 (PV wins on games 87-75)

DIVISION 6
Woodcrest Christian 10, La Habra 8
Flintridge Sacred Heart 15, Lancaster 3
Garden Grove 10, Mayfair 8
Ontario Christian 10, Estancia 8
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 9, Western Christian 9 (PC wins on games 70-66)
Villa Park 10, Corona 8
Vista del Lago 11, San Bernardino 7
Linfield Christian 10, La Quinta 8
San Jacinto 12, Riverside Notre Dame 6
Village Christian 16, Indio 2
Downey 11, Summit 7
Hillcrest 10, Western 8
Montclair 14, Hesperia 4
El Modena 14, Hacienda Heights Wilson 4
Heritage 13, Chino 5
Saugus 14, La Mirada 4

DIVISION 7
Temescal Canyon 11, Los Altos 7
Los Amigos 9, Rosemead 9 (Los Amigos wins on games 79-78)
El Rancho 10, La Sierra 8
Malibu 16, Twentynine Palms 2
South Hills 13, Azusa 5
Laguna Hills 17, Orange Vista 1
Ventura 12, Savanna 6
Apple Valley 10, Chaffey 8
Norwalk 9, Canoga Park AGBU 9 (Norwalk wins on games 70-66)
La Salle 13, Coachella Valley 5
Ramona 12, Granite Hills 6
Segerstrom 11, San Gabriel 7
Bolsa Grande 12, Westminster 6
Oakwood 17, Miller 1
Northview 12, Indian Springs 6
Arroyo 17, Highland 1

DIVISION 8
Alhambra, bye
Bishop Diego 14, YULA 4
Rim of the World 10, Foothill Tech 8
Nogales 13, Paramount 5
Tahquitz 13, Grand Terrace 5
Costa Mesa 12, Knight 6
Duarte 10, Workman 8
Whittier 11, de Toledo 7
St. Bonaventure 12, Edgewood 6
Oxnard 10, Channel Islands 8
Bellflower 10, Rancho Alamitos 8
Arroyo Valley 10, Moreno Valley 8
Canyon Springs 12, Cathedral City 6
Garden Grove Santiago 14, Carter 4
Hueneme 14, Banning 4
Academy for Academic Excellence 14, La Puente 4

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Matches at 3 p.m. unless noted)
First Round

DIVISION 1
Sage Hill at Corona del Mar
JSerra at Mater Dei
Mira Costa at Palos Verdes
Fountain Valley at Portola

Second Round

DIVISION 2
Orange Lutheran at Woodbridge
San Juan Hills at Redondo Union
Chadwick at Aliso Niguel
Calabasas at Tesoro
Crean Lutheran vs. Bonita / Peninsula
San Marino at Marlborough
Westlake at Crossroads
Harvard-Westlake at Troy

DIVISION 3
Santa Monica at Anaheim Canyon
Whitney at Cate
Temple City at San Clemente
Roosevelt vs. El Toro / Los Alamitos
Brentwood at West Ranch
Campbell Hall at Capistrano Valley
Flintridge Prep at Arcadia
Corona Santiago at Palm Desert

DIVISION 4
Esperanza at Sierra Canyon
Pasadena Poly at Placentia Valencia
Rancho Cucamonga at Dana Hills
San Dimas at Oaks Christian
Keppel at Murrieta Mesa
Simi Valley at Torrance
Agoura at Geffen Academy
Marymount at St. Margaret’s

DIVISION 5
Valencia at Thacher
Milken at Riverside North
Millikan at Burbank
Maranatha at Golden Valley
Lakewood St. Joseph at Chino Hills
Santa Barbara at Beverly Hills
Santa Fe at Cerritos
Bishop Montgomery at Paloma Valley

DIVISION 6
Woodcrest Christian at Flintridge Sacred Heart
Ontario Christian at Garden Grove
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Villa Park
Linfield Christian at Vista del Lago
San Jacinto at Village Christian
Hillcrest at Downey
El Modena at Montclair
Heritage at Saugus

DIVISION 7
Temescal Canyon at Los Amigos
Malibu at El Rancho
Laguna Hills at South Hills
Apple Valley at Ventura
Norwalk at La Salle
Ramona at Segerstrom
Bolsa Grande at Oakwood
Arroyo at Northview

DIVISION 8
Bishop Diego at Alhambra
Rim of the World at Nogales
Tahquitz at Costa Mesa
Whittier at Duarte
St. Bonaventure at Oxnard
Bellflower at Arroyo Valley
Garden Grove Santiago at Canyon Springs
Academy of Academic Excellence at Hueneme

Note: Quarterfinals (Divisions 2-8) Nov. 10; Semifinals (all divisions) Nov. 12; Finals (Divisions 1-4) Nov. 14 at University of Redlands; Finals (Divisions 5-8) Nov. 14 at The Claremont Club.

Craig Bellamy laughs when asked about Rubin Colwill, the 23-year-old forward currently impressing for Cardiff City.

“He’s big for you, isn’t he?,” Bellamy asks the reporter who brings up his name.

Not that Bellamy is not a fan of the nine-cap midfielder, to the contrary.

However, Colwill has not always featured in Bellamy’s Wales squads despite playing a starring role in Cardiff’s League One promotion bid and their quarter-final EFL Cup run.

“Rubin is able, there’s still one or two bits that we need more from, but he’s capable,” insists Bellamy who has plenty of other reasons to be a regular at Cardiff City Stadium.

“For the first time in a long, long time, I’ve really enjoyed coming away from Cardiff games with a smile,” he added.

“Last year was difficult, the atmosphere was down, but now I get to see a number of Welsh young players playing in a way I like.

“I only see them improving and selfishly I just see that this is going to benefit the country, so I’m over the moon with that.”

Phil Foden’s dazzling double against Borussia Dortmund kept Manchester City unbeaten in UEFA Champions League after four matches.

Phil Foden sent an emphatic reminder to England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel with two brilliantly taken goals in Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“He is back,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “He is a special player.”

Tuchel will name his latest England squad this week after overlooking Foden so far this season, and with time running out before next year’s World Cup.

But the City forward strengthened his case for a recall with an inspired performance against Dortmund. He scored in each half at the Etihad Stadium, with star striker Erling Haaland smashing home his 27th of the season in between. Substitute Rayan Cherki got the other after Waldemar Anton scored for Dortmund.

Tuchel is set to announce his squad on Friday for the final World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, with England having already secured qualification.

Foden has rediscovered some of his best form this season after enduring a frustrating campaign last term as City relinquished the Premier League title. His goals on Tuesday – both swept low into the bottom corner – took his tally on the season to four and could have come at just the right time to capture Tuchel’s attention.

“There’s no person in this country or around the world that doesn’t know his quality and ability, but England is so lucky to have this amount of good players,” Guardiola said. “In his position there are a lot, and that’s why he has to push himself to be better and better and better.”

Foden’s omission from England’s four games this season has been a talking point, with players like Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon all adding to the competition for places.

Despite being widely regarded as one of the most gifted English players of his generation, Foden is still to consistently perform for England.

And it appears he is yet to convince Tuchel after being given chances in the German’s first games in charge earlier this season.

“Thomas is so smart and wise and knows exactly what the team needs,” Guardiola said. “I think Thomas knows perfectly [about] Phil. What Phil wants to do is play better and better and better.”

Haaland achieves new goal record

Haaland set another scoring benchmark in the Champions League after finding the back of the net for the fifth consecutive game for City in European club football’s elite club tournament.

According to City, he is the first player to achieve that feat with three different teams, having previously done so with former clubs RB Salzburg and Dortmund.

His latest goal – a powerfully struck effort from close range – was his 54th in 52 games in the Champions League. Lionel Messi has the record for reaching 60 goals in the fewest number of games, at 80. Haaland looks certain to beat that – possibly before the league phase of this year’s tournament is completed.

Rodri didn’t even make the bench after returning from a hamstring injury against Bournemouth last weekend. Guardiola said City was being cautious about the Spain international, but his absence raises doubts over whether he will be available for the league clash against Liverpool on Sunday.

Rodri missed the majority of last season with an ACL injury, and his contribution has been limited this term.

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS

Saturday at El Modena High

DIVISION 1
JSerra (27-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (24-2), 7 p.m.

DIVISION 2
Corona del Mar (17-14) vs. Westlake (17-6), 5 p.m.

DIVISION 3
La Serna (17-11-1) vs. Eastvale Roosevelt (14-10), 3 p.m.

DIVISION 4
West Ranch (17-3) vs. Riverside Poly (19-11), 9 a.m.

DIVISION 5
Castaic (15-10) vs. Anaheim (15-10), 1 p.m.

DIVISION 6
Adelanto (14-6) vs. Bishop Alemany (10-11), 11 a.m.

This is the first Champions League season to feature six clubs from one nation and history will be made if all six of England’s representatives go through.

Back in 2017, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed, making England the first country to have five teams in the knockouts of the competition.

However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.

In the final, Liverpool were beaten by Real Madrid.

According to Opta’s predictions, Arsenal have a 99.8% chance of progressing to the knockouts, with Manchester City on 97.4% and Liverpool on 95.5%.

However, the predictions model is a little less confident over the automatic progress of the other three sides with Newcastle on 82%, Chelsea on 80.8% and Tottenham on 72%.

Former Liverpool midfielder Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport: “I’d say at the moment it is [significant what English teams are doing], but it doesn’t matter what goes on at the moment because we saw what happened last year, when Liverpool were dominating and finished top of the league stage – and then they were suddenly knocked out by PSG who had been rubbish up until then.

“So I just don’t see at the moment, unless you get knocked out, what effect it is going to have and it does not mean the English teams are going to get through the knockout stages because it all depends on the draw, and how you are set up later in the competition.”

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

DIVISION 4
La Canada (22-18) at Ventura (21-9), 6 p.m.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

At Cerritos College

DIVISION 1
Sierra Canyon (38-3) vs. Mater Dei (31-4), 6 p.m.

DIVISION 2
Santa Margarita (23-10) vs. West Ranch (25-5), 12:30 p.m.

DIVISION 3
Santa Ana Foothill (27-10) vs. Cypress (20-12), 10 a.m.

DIVISION 5
Ontario Christian (13-8) vs. Chadwick (22-18), 3 p.m.

At Arrowhead Christian

DIVISION 6
Wiseburn Da Vinci (19-14) vs. Arrowhead Christian (18-11), 6 p.m.

At Carpinteria

DIVISION 7
West Valley (13-18) vs. Cate )13-6), 4 p.m.

At Artesia

DIVISION 8
Schurr (15-19) vs. Artesia (14-10), 6 p.m.

At South El Monte

DIVISION 9
Nogales (16-14) vs. South El Monte (16-11), 6 p.m.

At Anaheim

DIVISION 10
Moreno Valley (16-15) vs. Anaheim (16-12), 6 p.m.

Available for 29 days

It was another successful night for Premier League clubs in the Champions League with wins for Manchester City who beat Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle who got the better of Athletic Club at St James Park – and a draw for Chelsea away to Qarabag in Baku.

Kelly Cates has all the reaction and is joined by Premier League legends Michael Brown, Leon Osman and Tim Krul. They start at the Etihad where Phil Foden and Erling Haaland dazzled again for Manchester City on bonfire night – and Pep Guardiola even pops on the pod to chat to John Murray after his side’s 4-1 victory.

Tim gives his thoughts on Joelinton and Dan Burn after they scored for his former side, giving Newcastle a 2 nil win.

And Chelsea came from 2-1 down to draw two all with their opponents, after Alejandro Garnacho got Chelsea’s second and proved that he was indeed the impact substitution that manager Enzo Maresca needed.

Timecodes:
00:40 – Manchester City section.
10:25 – Pep Guardiola with John Murray.
14:30 – Newcastle section.
18:08 – Eddie Howe interview.
22:35 – Chelsea chat.
29:53 – Enzo Maresca audio.

Thursday 6th November
EUROPA LEAGUE: Midtjylland v Celtic 1745 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: AEK Larnaca v Aberdeen 1745 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA 2
EUROPA LEAGUE: Rangers v Roma 1945 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Saturday 8th November
PREMIER LEAGUE: West Ham v Burnley 1500 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE
PREMIER LEAGUE: Everton v Fulham 1500 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sunderland v Arsenal 1730 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE
WSL: Arsenal v Chelsea 1200 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Sunday 9th November
PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest v Leeds United 1400 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE
PREMIER LEAGUE: Brentford v Newcastle 1400 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA
PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa v Bournemouth 1400 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA 2
PREMIER LEAGUE: Crystal Palace v Brighton 1400 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA 3
PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester City v Liverpool 1630 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE

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Brugge had the lead three times against Barcelona and had a fourth goal chalked off, but ended up sharing the points.

Spanish giants Barcelona needed to come from behind three times to earn a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League, with teenage winger Lamine Yamal back to his best for Hansi Flick’s side to help them earn a point in a gripping clash in Belgium.

Barca’s defence was shredded on multiple occasions on Wednesday by the hosts as Brugge winger Carlos Forbs struck twice and set one up for Nicolo Tresoldi.

Ferran Torres, Yamal and a Christos Tzolis own goal saved Barcelona from what would have been a humiliating defeat, even though they have several players out injured.

Barcelona have been in shaky form in recent weeks, including a Clasico defeat by rivals Real Madrid in La Liga.

The hosts took an early lead at the Jan Breydel Stadium through Tresoldi, who was set up by the electric Forbs.

With Forbs rampaging in behind Barcelona’s high defensive line, Brugge set an early blueprint for how they could consistently hurt the Catalans.

Flick’s side hit back quickly through Torres, who produced a clever finish after Fermin Lopez played him in.

Midfielder Lopez struck the woodwork before Forbs netted Brugge’s second in a relentless battle between two sides determined to attack.

The Portuguese winger played a one-two with Tzolis to burst into space behind Barca’s defence once more before finishing with aplomb past Wojciech Szczesny.

Barca defender Jules Kounde crashed a shot against the bar at the other end as last year’s semifinalists sought a leveller.

Yamal, who was once again his side’s key player after some recent flat displays, created a fine chance for Torres to score before the break, but the striker nudged the ball past goalkeeper Nordin Jackers and wide.

Szczesny saved well from Joaquin Seys at the near post as Brugge continued to attack in the second half, showing no intention of trying to protect their lead.

Eric Garcia almost scored from long range but became the third Barca player to hit the frame of the goal, as his effort slapped against the crossbar.

Barcelona eventually pulled level with a brilliant goal, as Yamal combined with Lopez superbly to break through.

Lopez backheeled the ball into the teenager’s path, and Yamal flicked it past Jackers and into the bottom corner.

Forbs wasted a fine chance to put his team ahead again, but given another chance minutes later, he took it with a stylish finish.

Hans Vanaken played him through on goal, and he delicately dinked it past Szczesny for his second and Brugge’s third.

Forbs was awarded a penalty when he went down after a collision with Barca’s Alejandro Balde in the box, but it was cancelled after a VAR review showed he had actually bumped into the Spaniard.

Jackers produced a superb save to tip away a Yamal effort bound for the top corner, but could do nothing about Barca’s equaliser, which arrived in a similar fashion.

Yamal’s curling effort from the right deflected off Tzolis’s head and beat the goalkeeper.

Brugges thought they had won it in stoppage time when veteran goalkeeper Szczesny tried to turn in his area but lost the ball as Romeo Vermant slid in on him.

Vermant rolled the ball into the empty net, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review after the Belgian forward was ruled to have fouled the relieved Szczesny.

Elsewhere in the Champions League on Wednesday, Erling Haaland scored against his former club as his Manchester City cruised to a 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen scored a second-half hat-trick to ensure a comfortable 3-0 away win over hapless Ajax.

Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, defeated Benfica 1-0 to bounce back from a 7-2 defeat to title holders Paris Saint-Germain in the previous matchday two weeks ago.

Runners-up Inter Milan made it four wins in as many games with a 2-1 triumph against Kairat Almty. Inter, Arsenal and leaders Bayern Munich are the only teams that have won all of their Champions League games so far this season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 and Atalanta claimed a narrow 1-0 win at Olympique Marseille.

The Rams are no longer kicking the can down the road when it comes to their kicking problems.

On Wednesday, the Rams signed kicker Harrison Mevis to the practice squad to compete with second-year pro Joshua Karty. The move came a day after the team signed veteran long-snapper Jake McQuaide to compete with Alex Ward.

“It’s all geared toward trying to be able to just get some solutions and some kick consistency really with our field-goal operation,” coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I think it’s important to have good competition at some spots that we feel we can have improved play.”

The Rams are preparing for their game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

The Rams are 6-2 — and their losses against the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles and the 49ers both resulted from problems in the kicking game that resurfaced without dire consequences in last Sunday’s rout of the New Orleans Saints.

Against the Saints, Karty missed a 39-yard field goal attempt and an extra-point attempt. Karty has made 10 of 15 field-goal attempts and 23 of 26 extra-point attempts.

McVay said after the game that the Rams would evaluate “all parts of where we go with this operation.”

On Tuesday, they turned to McQuaide, 37, who played for the Rams from 2011-2020 and was part of a special teams unit that also included kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter/holder Johnny Hekker.

“If all things go well with Jake, we expect him to be our long-snapper,” McVay said.

On Wednesday, they brought in Mevis, who made 89 of 106 field-goal attempts at Missouri, including one from 61 yards. In the United Football League this past season, he made 20 of 21 field-goal attempts.

So Karty and Mevis will duel during expanded special teams drills this week.

“We’ll implement more than we normally would on a Wednesday and a Thursday and truly be able to kind of use it as a competition,” McVay said.

Former USC and NFL linebacker Keith Browner died Tuesday morning in San Leandro, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau confirmed Wednesday. He was 63.

Keith Browner Jr. told TMZ that he talked to his father Monday night when the elder Browning was having stomach problems, vomiting and feeling tired. Browner Jr. said his father told him he would go to the hospital the next morning.

Browner was getting ready to go to the hospital Tuesday morning, according to TMZ, “when he curled over the side of a chair and collapsed to the floor next to his girlfriend.” TMZ also reported that “it appears” Browner suffered a heart attack and that his death was “unexpected and sudden.”

Alameda County authorities provided no cause of death Wednesday.

Born in Warren, Ohio, Browner was the fifth of six brothers, all of whom played college football and four of whom went on to play in the NFL. A second-round pick (30th overall) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984, Browner also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and San Diego Chargers during a five-year NFL career.

Oldest brother Ross Browner spent 10 years in the NFL, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers. Jimmie Browner Jr. played two years with the Bengals. Joey Browner was a six-time Pro Bowl player who spent nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and one with the Buccaneers.

Browner Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps as a college and pro football player. A standout defensive end at Dorsey High, Browner Jr. played three seasons at California and one season with the Houston Texans.

A nephew, Ross Browner’s son Max Starks, played nine years for the Pittsburgh Steelers and one for the St. Louis Rams.

Browner — who was 14 when his father, Jimmie, died of cancer at age 49 — said his mother Julia was the driving force behind her sons’ passion for the sport.

“She’s the one who always urged us to play,” he told the Dayton Daily News in 2023, “and sometimes she’d be right out there with us in the yard when we were having pick-up games.”

A three-sport standout at Warren Harding High, Browner spent four seasons at USC (1980-83), overlapping with brother Joey for the first three. He was named a captain for his final season and finished his college career with six interceptions in 34 games played.

Browner made the NFL’s all-rookie team in 1984. After three years with the Buccaneers, he split the 1987 season between the 49ers and Raiders before spending his final NFL season with the Chargers.

He finished his NFL career with 10.5 sacks, four interceptions (including one returned 55 yards for the Chargers against the Seattle Seahawks in 1988) and five fumble recoveries, then played two seasons in the Canadian Football League and six in the Arena Football League.

Browner is survived by his son and four daughters.

Northern Ireland captain and Birmingham City striker Simone Magill has announced she is pregnant.

The 31-year-old shared the news with her Birmingham team-mates on Wednesday and announced it on social media along with her husband, Mark.

“Something tells me next year is going to be the best one yet,” Magill posted on Instagram.

Magill will not feature for Birmingham for the rest of the season or for Northern Ireland in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, which begin in March.

WSL2 club Birmingham City say Magill will continue “light training” with the team and that the club’s medical and performance staff will support her “throughout her pregnancy and beyond”.

Amy Merricks, Magill’s head coach at Birmingham, said she would “make an amazing parent”.

“We’re looking forward to supporting her on this journey through her pregnancy and as her baby comes into the world, we’re excited to have a Bluenose baby,” Merricks said.

“We want to keep Si in and around the environment as much as possible.

“She wants to remain sharp and play a critical part in this season and we’re looking forward to supporting her with her journey.”

Magill missed Northern Ireland’s Nations League play-off defeat by Iceland at the end of October and last played for Birmingham in September because of a hip issue.

She won the first of her 95 NI caps as a teenager in 2010 and was named captain by Tanya Oxtoby in October 2024.

Magill played a key role in Northern Ireland’s qualification for Euro 2022 – her country’s first major tournament – but sustained a knee injury in the first match against Norway.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame confirmed on Wednesday that 6-foot-7 Tyran Stokes, considered the No. 1 high school basketball player from the class of 2026, has withdrawn from school.

Stokes arrived last season from a Northern California prep school and helped the Knights reach the Southern Section Open Division championship game and the Southern California Regional final.

His departure could produce changes in national TV game plans for Notre Dame. The Knights are still expected to be one of the top teams in Southern California with San Diego State commit Zachary White and top junior NaVorro Bowman.

Stokes leaving Notre Dame makes Sierra Canyon the Mission League preseason favorite.

Second alternate Alexandrova had sat on the sidelines all week but her patience proved worthwhile on Wednesday when Keys – unable to advance – withdrew just hours before her match with Rybakina.

The 30-year-old, who has enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2025, received the nod after fellow Russian and first option Mirra Andreeva, who is also competing in the doubles, declared she was not fit to play.

Alexandrova started impressively but squandered three break points before returning a forehand wide to hand the first break and a 5-4 lead to Rybakina.

The big-hitting Rybakina, sporting tape on her serving shoulder, served out the first set to love before breaking early in the second courtesy of a backhand error off her opponent’s racquet.

As Alexandrova’s serve faltered, Rybakina stepped up a gear and she doubled her advantage with a brutal forehand winner on break point, only to immediately lose one of her breaks when serving for the match.

Her struggle to get over the finish line continued, forced to save two break points in her next service game, before eventually sealing victory on her second match point as Alexandrova sent a backhand long.

“Each win gives you confidence,” said Rybakina, 26. “Hopefully I can continue.”

In the doubles, 2022 champions Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens confirmed their semi-final berth with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Italian pair Paolini and Sara Errani.

They join Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko in advancing from the Martina Navratilova Group.

The Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Tucker runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of Game 4 of their NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.

(Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)

The most obvious area of need for next year’s Dodgers will be in the outfield.

Andy Pages will be back, trying to build upon his 27-homer campaign in 2025. Teoscar Hernández will enter the second of his three-year contract, trying to rebound from his injury-plagued struggles this past summer.

But the third spot remains wide open, with Michael Conforto hitting free agency after his dismal performance on a one-year, $17 million deal this past year, and Alex Call having been used in more of a depth role after his arrival of this year’s trade deadline.

Internally, the Dodgers don’t have an immediate plug-and-play option, as top prospects Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero and Mike Sirota remain a ways away from the majors.

Thus, don’t be surprised to see the Dodgers linked with big names on either the free-agent or trade market this winter, starting with top free-agent prize Kyle Tucker.

Since the summer, industry speculation has swirled about the Dodgers’ expected pursuit of Tucker this offseason. The four-time All-Star did not finish 2025 well while nursing a couple injuries, but remains one of the premier left-handed bats in the sport, and could command upward of $400-$500 million on a long-term deal — a hefty price tag, but certainly not one beyond the Dodgers’ capabilities.

Free agency will include other notable outfield options. Cody Bellinger is hitting the open market, though a reunion with the Dodgers has always seemed like a long shot. Harrison Bader and Trent Grisham could provide more glove-first alternatives, and have been linked with the Dodgers in the past.

Then there are potential trade candidates, from left fielder Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians to utilityman Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, also players the Dodgers have inquired about in the past.

The Dodgers could construct their 2026 roster in other ways, thanks to the versatility Tommy Edman provides in center field. But another outfield addition remains their most logical priority this winter. And there will be no shortage of possibilities.