Batting first, Pakistan scored 145 runs before Bangladesh were restricted to 114-7 in their stipulated 20 overs.

Chasing 146 for victory, Bangladesh made a disastrous start, losing three wickets for just 20 runs. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sharmin Akter Supta then tried to steady the innings, putting together a 47-run partnership.

However, the mounting required run rate put Bangladesh under increasing pressure. Joty eventually fell while attempting a big shot, with her dismissal further denting Bangladesh's hopes of victory.

Supta continued to fight at one end, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals at the other end. She made team-best 46.

Pakistan spinner Umm-e-Hani played a key role in restricting Bangladesh, taking 3-10 from her four overs.

Bangladesh also missed opportunities in the field during Pakistan's innings. Fatima Sana was dropped early in her innings and went on to make Bangladesh pay for the reprieve with a valuable 30 ball-45 runs knock which included three fours and as many sixes.

Opener Gull Firoza was the other notable scorer with 31 while Aliya Riaz made 25.

Nahida Akter, Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni picked up two wickets apiece for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh had advanced to the semifinals after their quarterfinal match against China was washed out. They moved to the last four stage due to superior rankings but suffered a heavy 114-run defeat to India.

They then failed to recover in the bronze-medal match against Pakistan, producing an underwhelming performance with bat, ball and in the field.

Bangladesh had won a bronze medal by defeating Pakistan at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, but this time they were beaten by the same opponents and returned without a medal.

World Cup-winner Zaheer, a left-arm pace spearhead who played 309 internationals for India, succeeds Stephen Fleming, a former New Zealand skipper.

Fleming parted ways with five-time champions Chennai earlier this year after 18 years as coach of one of the most successful IPL franchises.

Zaheer, 47, featured in 100 IPL matches and followed that with coaching roles, including director of cricket operations at the Mumbai Indians.

"It's an honour to be a part of one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL," Zaheer was quoted as saying in a statement by the franchise on Monday.

"As a cricketer, I have faced CSK on the field and have thoroughly enjoyed the contests... I can't wait to join the legacy franchise with such a rich history."

Former India skipper M.S. Dhoni has been the face of Chennai since IPL's inception in 2008.

Italy-based Fariba Hashimi powered home second in the women's road race near Nagoya in Japan, calling the triumph "something special".

"I can't explain my feelings now," said the 23-year-old, before reflecting on how she was attacked with stones and trained disguised as a man when she started out in the sport as a teenager along with sister Yulduz, who is also now a pro cyclist.

"I was born inside a country where the women who dream are getting attacked, and I'm really happy that I have fought against that," she said.

"I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear."

The Taliban authorities returned to power in 2021 and have since imposed a series of rules limiting women's access to education and public life, including sport.

"They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us," said Hashimi, who hails from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan and left the country after the Taliban authorities took over.

"This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I'm really happy.

"I'm not alone, I know that behind me millions of women, from many countries, have the same dream and they are standing with me."

After fleeing Afghanistan with the help of Italian former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, Hashimi relocated to Italy, where she now lives and trains.

She and her sister competed at the Paris Olympics two years ago, and the 2028 Los Angeles Games are now looming into view.

"I never want to give up and hopefully we can see (what can happen) again in Los Angeles," she said.

Hashimi reserved a special thanks for the Japanese team for playing a part in her silver medal.

"I'm here without a mechanic, without any preparation. We brought one guy with us from the national federation, and he just drove the car," she said.

"We were fixing the bike ourselves. I was the mechanic for myself. I was washing the bike myself.

"Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me, fixed my bike."

Young speedcuber Lian Yunzhi broke the women's 3x3 average world record twice this month at two World Cube Association certified competitions in Wuhan and Guangzhou, according to state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.

She posted averages of 4.52 and 4.27 seconds, after solving the Rubik's Cube five times.

Lian, who is from Chengdu, is "the first female speedcuber to average under 4.5 seconds", CCTV added.

A video CCTV posted showed the small girl wearing a red gingham bow on her head as she deftly turned and twisted a Rubik's Cube.

After solving the puzzle she places the cube on the table, claps her hands and pumps a fist into the air.

Nicknamed "Zhizhi", Lian was first introduced to the Rubik's Cube after being enrolled into a class as a child -- one of various extracurriculars alongside dance and music lessons, her mother Lin Yangxi, told local media outlets.

Lin "gradually realised" that cubing was an "excellent activity for fostering a child's comprehensive abilities" and shifted her focus towards it, she told Chengdu's Red Star News.

Her daughter has now mastered over 1,300 Rubik's Cube solving algorithms, practising daily for two to three hours, Lin said.

Photos from Red Star News showed Lian's trophies displayed on a shelf in her home.

"Solving a Rubik's Cube improves focus, memory, logical thinking, spatial awareness, and helps develop a healthy mindset toward winning and losing," Lin said.

"It's not just about blindly memorising formulas, but using logical reasoning to find optimal solutions," she added.

Yu smashed the Games record in winning the women's 200m butterfly on Sunday in Tokyo and then repeated the feat in Monday's 200m individual medley.

The schoolgirl's 2min 06.10sec in scorching to victory in the medley was the fastest time in the world this year.

She was only 0.40sec off the world record held by Canada's Summer McIntosh.

Yu has been the talk of swimming since becoming the youngest medallist in world championships history last year with bronze for China's relay team aged just 12.

She is shaping up to be a major medal threat at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

But out of the pool she openly admits to struggling with what to say in front of large numbers of Chinese and international reporters eager to hear from her.

Yu, who turns 14 next month, has tried to shy away from speaking to journalists following her latest eye-popping triumphs.

When eventually coaxed into giving some remarks, she has done so hesitantly.

"How do I answer this question? Can you teach me? You just want me to say what I feel?" she said to reporters in Chinese this week.

"I don't feel anything in particular. I run through the technical details the coach told me once in my head.

"In the last 50 metres you can't save energy, you have to give it everything, not think about anything, close your eyes and hang on, that's it."

Under World Aquatics rules, the minimum age for major international championships is 14 but exceptions can be made for younger swimmers if, like Yu, they are fast enough.

Some in the swimming world have questioned the mental and physical impact of high-level training and competing at such a young age.

Yu has admitted to struggling to balance her school work with her status as the brightest young talent in swimming.

As well as international news headlines, her two golds so far this week at the Asian Games have caused a sensation back home.

Her back story, such as being spotted by chance by a swimming coach at a water park, and her struggle with interviews, have gone viral.

Asked if answering questions was the hardest part, she replied with a giggle: "Every time I just want to float off somewhere else."

Now 54, Zidane is widely recognised as one of the all-time great French players, alongside Michel Platini.

Deschamps was the captain of the first France team to win the World Cup, as hosts in 1998, and of the side that won Euro 2000. But Zidane was the inspiration in those sides, a majestic playmaker with balletic ball control as well as a wicked side to his game.

He bowed out of international football as a player 20 years ago with his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in extra time of the World Cup final in Berlin which France lost on penalties to Italy.

That game was the 108th and last time that Zidane, the Marseille-born son of Algerian immigrants, played for France.

But he left his home country to move abroad aged just 24, when he quit Bordeaux for Juventus.

Zidane never returned, spending five years in Italy before the finest days of his playing career came at Real Madrid. He then enjoyed two separate spells coaching the Spanish giants, winning the Champions League three years running between 2016 and 2018.

His second stint in charge at the Bernabeu ended in 2021, and ever since he has simply been biding his time, preparing for the call to come.

"I have been waiting four or five years for this day. I am filled with emotion, I am really excited. I am happy. This is huge for me," Zidane said at his unveiling in Paris in late July, as a new era started for France following the 14-year reign of Deschamps.

"Welcome home," Kylian Mbappe posted on Instagram upon Zidane's appointment.

- Attacking promise -

On Friday he announced his first squad, and there were several new faces amid expectations that his team will be more attack-minded than France were for the majority of the Deschamps era, at least up until the recent World Cup.

"You will get to see how I see football. Playing good football is what gets me going. There will always be a balance to the side, but I want to see us play and I think we have the team to do that," he said.

After years of favouring substance over style, leading to some criticism but also a World Cup triumph in 2018, Deschamps realised he had the players to play more on the front foot at this year's tournament in North America.

France were the favourites only to end up losing to Spain in the semi-finals, but captain Mbappe was the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals while Michael Olise was outstanding. Last year's Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembele shone intermittently.

That trio are all present in Zidane's squad, with the new coach confirming Mbappe as captain. Injured Arsenal defender William Saliba and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid are notable absentees, while there are several new faces.

Centre-back Jeremy Jacquet was called up as a reward for an impressive start to the season at Liverpool, while midfielder Lucas Da Cunha of Como is an intriguing addition and Esteban Lepaul of Rennes deserved his chance after top-scoring in Ligue 1 last season.

Zidane's assistant will be David Bettoni, who worked with him at Real. Fabien Barthez, who won the World Cup with Zidane, will be the goalkeeping coach.

The first major objective for the new manager will be Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, before the World Cup in Morocco, Spain and Portugal in 2030.

Deschamps has set the bar high in terms of expectations, with France getting to at least the semi-finals in five of the last six major tournaments.

First up, though, is the Nations League, which gives Zidane some tough tests to begin but without the pressure of the Euros or World Cup.

Les Bleus face Turkey and Belgium away before Zidane makes his home bow at the Stade de France on October 2 against Italy, an occasion that will stir memories of Materazzi and 2006.

The end of World Cup cycles usually herald in a host ofnew faces, however, the 2026 vintage is particularly bountiful, with no fewer than 10 European nations having appointed a new coach since this summer's tournament in North America.

Most notable are 1998 World Cup winner and France legend Zidane, who succeeds Didier Deschamps as Les Bleus boss, and former Liverpool manager Klopp, who takes over his native Germany.

When Deschamps announced the 2026 World Cup would signal the end of his 14-year reign as France boss, only one name was on the lips of football fans in the country: 'Zizou'.

They got their wish when it was announced in July that the three-time Champions League-winning coach was replacing his old team-mate and captain at the helm of Les Bleus.

"It's like a film, but it's amazing. It's real," current France skipper Kylian Mbappe told Spanish daily AS on Monday.

Finally, the 54-year-old will oversee his first matches as coach away to Turkey on Friday and in Belgium three days later, before making his touchline bow at the Stade de France on October 2 against Italy.

A second meeting against the Belgians in Paris the following Monday will bring the curtain down on Zidane's opening salvo in international management.

"The France job was the only one I wanted," former Real Madrid coach Zidane said in July.

"I've had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team.

"I'm ready for the challenge, that's what drives me."

- 'The high point' -

If Zidane's appointment marks the long-awaited return of an iconic figure to the national team in France, Klopp's has been greeted with no less excitement in Germany, even if it is the former Mainz defender's first taste of the Nationalmannschaft.

Uncapped as a player, Klopp made his name in football as a coach. After legendary spells at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, and a period away from the touchline as Red Bull's global sports director, Klopp will begin an adventure many in Germany thought would never happen.

"This is ideally the high point of my career, of my life, my professional life. I will give it everything I have," Klopp said at his unveiling after Julian Nagelsmann departed following Germany's disastrous World Cup.

The charismatic 59-year-old Klopp has already shown he will do things his way by calling up 44 players, divided into two squads, for his first matches in charge.

Those games will be against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday and at home to Greece three days later, before a meeting with Serbia in Munich on October 1 and a trip to Greece on October 4.

Other arrivals for this opening round of Nations League matches include Jorge Jesus, who will make his Portugal debut when the competition's reigning champions welcome Wales on Thursday.

Ex-Barcelona metronome and 2010 World Cup winner Xavi Hernandez replaces Ronald Koeman as Netherlands coach.

Roberto Mancini, who masterminded Italy's Euro 2020 victory, returns to try and right the course of the floundering Azzurri.

Former Bayern Munich and Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel will oversee his first Belgium match against Italy and Slaven Bilic takes over the Croatia reins for a second time, following a successful six-year spell in charge of the Vatreni between 2006 and 2012.

Spain's World Cup and European Championship-winning coach Luis de la Fuente is staying put. He was on Monday rewarded with a contract extension until 2032.

His world champions will begin their tilt at a second Nations League title with an eye-catching clash against Thomas Tuchel's England at Wembley on Saturday.

Milan beat Lecce 3-0 at the San Siro to rise to fifth, two points behind early pace-setters Roma, Inter and Lazio.

Juventus returned to form with a 2-0 home win over Atalanta as Francisco Conceicao and Gleison Bremer struck either side of half-time.

The comfortable victory relieved pressure on Milan head coach Ruben Amorim after a three-match winless run in all competitions had stalled his side's early progress.

"We still have a lot to do, but we are playing better and improving. The most important thing, though, is that we are learning," Amorim told DAZN.

"In the last few games, we had some trouble because our positional structure was too rigid, whereas today the players had a bit more freedom and played better."

Christian Pulisic marked his first start of the season with his first Milan goal of 2026, making the breakthrough in the 14th minute with an exquisite finish.

He plucked a long pass out of the air with a deft first touch before finishing calmly.

Adrien Rabiot scored at the end of a flowing move after the break, before substitute Diego Moreira struck with his third goal in two league games.

Juventus had picked up one point in their previous two league games but went in front in the 28th minute in Turin when Conceicao scored his first goal of the season with a low shot.

Chances fell at both ends in the second half as both goalkeepers were called into action and Juve striker Randal Kolo Muani made a goal-line clearance.

Bremer sealed the three points by guiding home a header from a corner with 13 minutes remaining as Juventus moved up to seventh and inflicted a third straight defeat on their former coach Maurizio Sarri.

Atalanta, who hired ex-Lazio, Chelsea and Napoli coach Sarri in the summer, sit 11th.

- 'Frosinone masterpiece' -

Earlier, Fiorentina maintained their unbeaten run under coach Paolo Vanoli with a 1-1 draw against Napoli.

Vanoli, who led the Florence club to safety in the second half of last season before being let go, returned as head coach when Fabio Grosso was sacked after losing the first three games of the new campaign.

La Viola showed improvement under Vanoli by beating Venezia in Serie A and Pisa in the Coppa Italia in his first two games, and the upturn in form continued as they fought back to claim a draw which kept them two points above the relegation zone.

Billy Gilmour put Napoli in front with a cushioned volley after Fiorentina hit the woodwork twice early on, but the home side drew level through a deflected Alex Jimenez strike in the second half.

"If we are not angry today, after failing to win against a good team like Fiorentina, it certainly means we need to improve," Allegri told DAZN. "It is not enough to keep possession if you do not take your chances."

Como had the chance to move joint-top when they travelled to newly-promoted Frosinone, but Cesc Fabregas's side suffered their first loss of the season as a 2-0 reverse ended their four-match winning run in all competitions.

First-half goals from Giacomo Calo and Giorgi Kvernadze, and a heroic goalkeeping display by Italy Under-21 international Lorenzo Palmisani, sealed a famous win for the hosts.

"Today was our first poor game in five months, the last being in the semi-final of the Coppa Italia against Inter (in April). It was a Frosinone masterpiece today," Fabregas said.

The win extended Frosinone's three-match unbeaten run and took them up to sixth.

Parma beat Genoa 2-1 to claim their first victory of the season and leave Daniele De Rossi's side winless after five games.

Yu scorched to Asian Games gold on the opening day in the pool in Tokyo, winning the women's 200m butterfly in a Games-record time of 2min 05.85sec.

It was the first major title of her young career, less than two years out from the Los Angeles Olympics.

Yu is following in the footsteps of Summer McIntosh, who made Canada's team for the Tokyo Olympics as a 14-year-old in 2021, finishing fourth in the 400m freestyle.

Haughey, a four-time Olympic medallist, said it is part of a wider trend in swimming.

"I think the general consensus is we have more and more great young swimmers swimming well," said Haughey, now a relative veteran at 28.

"When Summer first started she was also very young and swimming fast, so I think that's kind of the trend these days.

"Hopefully, swimming well that young, you can also translate to as you get older and well into your 20s and beyond, so it's exciting for the swimming world," she added.

Yu became the youngest swimming world championships medallist in history last year when she won bronze as a 12-year-old as part of China's 4x200m freestyle relay team.

She also finished just outside the medals in fourth in three world individual events.

Haughey said the evidence suggests that Yu is "definitely capable of going to the LA Olympics".

"I think she's doing well under pressure at big meets," she said.

"I think if she wants to do it, she definitely can."

Haughey became the first Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal when she picked up two silvers at the Tokyo Games.

She is looking to add to the two Asian Games golds she won in 2023 in Hangzhou this week in Tokyo.

She said watching young swimmers like Yu gives her extra motivation.

"On one hand it makes me feel I'm twice their age, but I'm still here, so that says something," she said.

"I think being an older swimmer means I have a lot more experience, and I try to use that experience to my advantage, for instance like how to handle pressure or what to expect at a big meet.

"It's so great that there are a lot of younger swimmers because you want the sport to keep moving forward and to keep evolving," she added.

Atlanta's victory also guaranteed a playoff spot for the Boston Red Sox, the sixth team to secure a post-season berth with a week remaining in the six-month campaign and six spots unclaimed.

The Braves improved to 92-64 to take their first National League East division crown since 2023.

"We've been fighting all year to get to this moment," Braves pitcher Martin Perez said. "And we're not done yet."

Houston's loss ensured an American League wildcard playoff berth for Boston despite a 5-1 loss at Tampa Bay.

"We never stopped believing in each other," Boston outfielder Wilyer Abreu said. "That's why we're here."

The Chicago Cubs, who cruised 9-1 at Cincinnati, reached the brink of a National League playoff spot but missed out when Arizona rallied to beat the visiting New York Yankees 8-4.

Entering Sunday, the Braves, Yankees, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers had clinched playoff berths, the Dodgers taking a 13th NL West title in 14 seasons and Milwaukee capturing the NL Central crown.

Host Houston grabbed a 1-0 lead over Atlanta in the fourth inning on Jose Altuve's solo home run.

The Braves, however, answered in the sixth when Ozzie Albies singled in a run and Yastrzemski followed with a three-run homer for a 4-1 Atlanta lead.

Yainer Diaz smacked a solo homer for the Astros in the eighth but Braves left-handed relief pitcher Dylan Dodd struck out the side in the ninth to give Atlanta the triumph and start the team celebration.

"When we faced our biggest challenges, that's when we've been at our best," Braves manager Walt Weiss said.

"You've got to get in and then you take your best shot. I think we've got to keep our foot on the gas."

- 'To hell with that' -

The Red Sox, 84-72, began the season 32-46 and seemed destined to miss the playoffs, but Boston responded after manager Alex Cora was fired April 25 and replaced by interim manager Chad Tracy.

"You stared impossible in the face with the position we were in and you beat it back. You said to hell with that and we're going to go to the playoffs," Tracy told his team after the bid was secured.

At Arizona, the Yankees took a 4-1 lead in the third inning on solo homers by Heliot Ramos and Spencer Jones and George Lombard's two-run homer.

The Diamondbacks seized a 6-4 lead in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk followed by a grand slam homer by Nolan Arenado.

Arizona's Geraldo Perdomo added a run-scoring triple in the seventh and scored on a Corbin Carroll single to create the final margin.

The Cubs routed the Reds as Pete Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in.

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, hitting .260 with 26 home runs and 88 runs batted in, left the game in the fourth inning after being struck in the left cheek bone by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck batter's circle.

"He had a cut under his eye," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "He was bleeding from his nose a little bit. It's pretty swollen. It was below the eye... It's just an unfortunate accident. I'm hoping and praying he's all right."

The two-time former Ballon d'Or winner skippered Barca to victory over OL Lyonnes in last season's final in Oslo before leaving for ambitious English Women's Super League outfit London City Lionesses.

Her departure attracted most headlines but other stars of the Barcelona side that has replaced Lyon as the Champions League's outstanding team have also left.

Defender Mapi Leon followed Putellas to London City, the club backed by billionaire American businesswoman Michele Kang. Full-back Ona Batlle joined Arsenal and forward Salma Paralluelo signed for Lyon.

However, coach Pere Romeu signed a new contract, while his squad for this season still features six players nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

Aitana Bonmati is not nominated for the award she won in each of the last three years, but will be hoping for a big season after recovering from a broken leg.

Barcelona have been in seven of the last eight Champions League finals, winning four.

Their aim is to retain their crown, despite deciding not to pay the kind of wages being offered to players by their leading European rivals.

"Here at Barca we can be relaxed about the fact this is a place where players grow and where we have a young squad that in some ways is still full of veterans," Romeu told El Mundo Deportivo.

"I think here we have something that is difficult to get with clubs that are run differently, which is that sense of belonging that is generated and is very important for the development of the players."

On Putellas leaving, he added: "A fundamental piece of our squad has gone, but the club as a whole is way more important than any player or coach."

Barcelona begin their campaign at home to Paris FC. Later on they will notably host Arsenal in a repeat of the 2025 final.

- Lyon roaring back? -

Lyon, another of Kang's clubs, will be determined to bounce back from their humbling 4-0 loss to Barca in Oslo, and the French champions have made some interesting additions as they look to add to their record overall haul of eight titles.

As well as Paralluelo, they have signed Scotland's Caroline Weir from Real Madrid while Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is in from Chelsea.

France forward Kadidiatou Diani has gone to London City and Lindsey Heaps has returned to the US, but veterans Wendie Renard and Ada Hegerberg remain.

Their margin over the rest of the domestic scene in France should help them to ease through to the latter stages in Europe.

They will notably face both Chelsea and Arsenal, two of the three representatives from the WSL -- the English league seems to have the opposite issue, with a strong domestic scene but no clubs yet capable of dominating in Europe.

Arsenal became the first English Champions League winner in almost 20 years in 2025, but the Gunners lost to Lyon in last season's semi-finals. Chelsea were runners-up in 2021 but have not gone beyond the semis since.

Manchester City, who start at German champions Bayern Munich, are fresh from winning a first WSL title since 2016. They have kept star striker Khadija Shaw and brought in Beth Mead from Arsenal.

While there are three clubs each from England, France and Italy, Real Madrid are the only other Spanish side involved. Bayern are Germany's only contender, after former champions Wolfsburg failed to make the league phase.

"Some clubs like Barcelona have lost one or two players," Bayern's Linda Dallmann told Sport Bild.

"This gives us the chance to close the gap a bit, because our squad this year is almost identical to last season's."

There are 18 teams in the league phase, each playing six games. The top four in the final standings advance to the quarter-finals, with the next eight involved in play-offs to determine the last berths in the quarters.

This season's final will be in Warsaw over the last weekend in May, with the Women's World Cup in Brazil starting soon after.

Two goals from Danish forward Anders Dreyer secured a share of the points for San Diego at Miami's Nu Stadium –- a result which left Miami 11 points adrift of Nashville with eight regular season games remaining.

Denmark international Dreyer fired San Diego into a shock lead after 12 minutes, latching on to a superb through ball from compatriot Jeppe Tverskov before lifting a delicate chip over Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

But Miami, who dominated territory and possession for long periods thereafter, were back on level terms in the 24th minute when Messi curled in his 101st goal for Miami.

Messi's wicked curling free-kick from the edge of the area somehow threaded its way through a crowded six-yard box and clipped the inside of the post before ending in the net.

From there Miami laid siege to the San Diego goal and it seemed only a matter of time before they took the lead.

Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul all had good chances but somehow San Diego managed to hold on.

The deadlock was broken in the 74th minute when De Paul released Suarez with a clever pass on the edge of the area and the 39-year-old Uruguayan veteran lashed home the finish for 2-1.

That looked like it would be enough as the game entered the final 10 minutes, but San Diego stunned the home crowd with a goal that echoed their first.

Tverskov once again found Dreyer with a pinpoint pass over the top and the Dane finished coolly to make it 2-2.

A frenetic finish saw San Diego almost snatch victory deep into stoppage time, but St. Clair blocked Kieran Sargeant's late effort on the counter.

Saturday's gala at the 30,000-capacity stadium officially launched the continent's premier sporting event, with Japan's emperor and empress in attendance.

Fireworks brought the show to a rousing conclusion, but while parts of the arena were full, others were noticeably devoid of people.

Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said they had to keep one block empty because of the Games flame.

"This is one part," he told reporters, adding that more than 70 percent of tickets were sold.

That contrasted with an announcement at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium that said the ceremony was sold out.

"But maybe if you remember, it was a typhoon warning coming to Nagoya and at the last minute the typhoon shifted," Al-Musallam added.

"So the same question I've been asked, what happens if the typhoon is coming? That could affect the situation."

There was no rain during the ceremony and the storm, having days earlier shaped as a potential threat to the Games, made a greater impact in the Tokyo region.

There was heavy rain there on Sunday, where some Games events are being hosted -- notably the swimming -- with possible wet weather forecast for Nagoya later Sunday and Monday.

Japan's Takumi Hojo won the men's individual triathlon in Gamagori city near Nagoya with China's Zhang Xirui second and Kazakhstan's Arlan Zhanabay taking bronze.

It was the first of 469 gold medals to be awarded at a two-week spectacle that has more athletes than the Olympics.

Action also began in the swimming pool, where Yu Zidi, who does not turn 14 until next month, was fastest by far in the women's 200m butterfly heats.

Teenager Yu was almost 2.70 seconds quicker than compatriot Chang Mohan and will be a hot favourite to take her first major gold in Sunday evening's final.

The Games were officially declared open on Saturday by Japan's Emperor Naruhito but there were a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya.

It sounded the starting pistol on two weeks of intense action as the continent's finest athletes compete in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4.

The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs but has been dogged by a series of problems in the build-up.

Accommodating the more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials has stretched organisers to the limit after they decided not to have a traditional athletes' village to save money.

Competitors instead are staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship the Costa Serena.

There was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya and a typhoon is due to skirt the area on Sunday night threatening further disruption.

Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short.

And Games organisers were forced to offer "deepest apologies" after North Korea's national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea's men's hockey team before a preliminary match.

Triathlete Hojo finished the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5,000m run in 52min 56sec, nine seconds clear of Zhang with Zhanabay a further six seconds behind in third.

"As it's our first gold medal, it's given the Japanese team a real boost," said the 30-year-old Hojo, whose win will qualify him for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"I was really fired-up. Even the rain held off, and I was in top form right up until I stood on the starting line," added Hojo, who also won the Asian Games test triathlon a year ago on the same course.

"(I knew) it'd be tough, but (I thought) I'll push myself, and if it works, I think it'll be a good race."

As always at the Asian Games -- which started in 1951 -- Olympic staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi.

There will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling. Padel and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts.

With both sides holding perfect records heading into the top-two clash in the capital, it was an early season glimpse of what may well be the Scudetto race this term.

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have arguably been the most impressive team in Italy so far this season, with Donyell Malen's free-scoring form and a miserly defence giving them four wins from four.

Manu Kone's double had given Roma a 2-0 lead at half-time but for the second time in a week Cristian Chivu's side, inspired by Martinez's brace, showed mettle as the champions fought back from such a deficit.

"There is a lot of positivity in this side, both teams could've won it," Gasperini told DAZN.

"I think we played on level terms... This match must give us confidence going forward."

Following the announcement earlier in the day of the death of Sandro Mazzola at the age of 83, both sides paid hommage to the former Inter Milan and Italy playmaker prior to kick-off, with the Nerazzurri also sporting black armbands.

Roma raced out of the blocks as Kone sent them ahead with less than six minutes on the clock when he readjusted his body well to rifle home Nahuel Molina's knockdown.

It was the France midfielder's first goal of the season as Inter again made a sluggish start that will worry coach Chivu.

The champions had also bounced back from being 2-0 down inside the opening 16 minutes at home to Udinese to emerge 5-3 winners on Monday.

But Inter were not at the races for most of the opening period at the Stadio Olimpico as Paulo Dybala twice threatened to double the hosts' advantage.

A clever Curtis Jones pass then presented Alessandro Bastoni with a chance at goal seven minutes later, but the Inter defender thrashed the ball against the post from a tight angle.

However, just as Inter slowly seemed to be waking up, Kone had the ball in the net again when he tucked in from close range at the back post on 37 minutes.

His celebrations were initially cut short by the assistant's flag before VAR intervened and, after a lengthy review, referee Davide Massa pointed to the centre circle as the 25-year-old skipped off in delight after notching the sixth Serie A goal of his career.

- Inter awaken -

Former Inter defender Chivu delivered some choice words to his charges at half-time, which will "remain between me and the players", the Romanian said.

"I will focus on the second half, which in terms of attitude, grit and character was remarkable," Chivu added. "We were up against a great opponent, we know what Roma represent, and it was an entertaining match."

Inter captain Martinez halved the deficit less than a minute after the interval with a scuffed finish from Marcus Thuram's pull-back that just crept perfectly into the side netting of Mile Svilar's far post.

Dutch forward Malen came within a forehead's breadth of adding to his tally of six goals in the 68th minute with a slick touch and turn in a crowded box, only for his venomous strike to cannon to safety off Inter stopper Josep Martinez's brow.

Just as the match appeared to be petering out going into the final 10 minutes, a sudden goalmouth scramble saw Svilar make a sharp save before Martinez headed onto the bar under pressure.

Inter, however, managed to recycle the ball and it came back to the Argentine international inside the box and this time he made no mistake as he controlled with his thigh and arrowed a finish past the Serb to ensure the spoils were shared.

Lazio joined their city rivals Roma and Inter on 13 points after beating bottom-side Venezia, who remain pointless, 2-0.

A 51st-minute Mattia Zaccagni penalty, coupled with a Tijjani Noslin goal on the hour, was enough to earn Gennaro Gattuso's team a fourth win from five outings.

Elsewhere, Cagliari climbed to 12 points courtesy of a 1-0 win at Udinese, while Bologna and Torino played out a 1-1 draw in Emilia-Romagna.

Hansi Flick's side moved six points clear of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, who visit Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday.

The Spanish champions were given the biggest test of their season to date but overcame Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan thanks to Raphinha's treble.

The Brazil international has started the season in sensational form, playing out of position as a central striker.

La Liga's top goalscorer, Raphinha reached 12 goals in seven league appearances with a second consecutive hat-trick.

"(Raphinha) had never played as a centre-forward, but the truth is he's having a great start to the season with great numbers, and I hope he keeps on scoring goals like this," Barca midfielder Fermin Lopez told Movistar.

"He's very good and can adapt to any position up front. We give him the balls and he scores the goals."

Barcelona sporting director Deco said the former Leeds winger had agreed to extend his stay at the club until 2030 ahead of the game, and Raphinha celebrated in style.

Flick handed Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic his debut in goal with Joan Garcia out injured.

Hosts Sevilla, fifth, started strongly, making Barca uncomfortable, and took the lead through Youssouf Fofana in the 19th minute.

Felix Correia escaped Eric Garcia and crossed for Fofana to nod home at the near post.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal almost pulled Barca level but Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos managed to push his curling effort against the post and out.

It was no surprise when the Catalans did equalise that it was Raphinha who was the man to score.

He cleverly shifted his body weight to escape a defender and slipped the ball home with a low finish.

- Relentless Raphinha -

Yamal sent another shot over and after Sevilla fans whistled him, goaded them to keep doing so.

Although the 19-year-old did not score himself, he did create Raphinha's next two goals.

Early in the second half Yamal crossed and Raphinha headed home to put Barca in front.

Arguably his best finish was yet to come, with Yamal sending Raphinha through, for the Brazilian to dink the ball over the goalkeeper. It was his 14th of the season between La Liga and the Champions League.

Barca missed several chances to extend their lead, with Anthony Gordon getting his feet wrong and a Dani Olmo free-kick beaten away.

Nevertheless Barca claimed an eighth win from eight games across all competitions this season, as they continue setting the pace in the Spanish top flight.

Sevilla fell to a second defeat of the season but left with their confidence intact after challenging Barca.

"We knew we were facing a tremendous opponent, one of the teams playing the best football in the world," Sevilla captain Gabriel Suazo told Movistar.

"We lacked energy in the second half but we competed until the end. We leave with our heads held high, having shown a good attitude."

Elsewhere Celta Vigo thrashed Racing Santander 5-0, Athletic Bilbao and Alaves drew 0-0 and Osasuna were held 1-1 by Rayo Vallecano.

The Czechs knocked out the Americans at the same second qualifying round stage in a decider at Delray Beach a year ago, when Jakub Mensik beat Frances Tiafoe to secure a surprise victory.

Tomas Berdych's men repeated the feat in similarly dramatic fashion, to the delight of a raucous home crowd in Prague, as Lehecka clinched a 6-3, 7-5 win over world number 13 Tien.

The USA are record 32-time winners of the competition but their wait for a first title since 2007 goes on.

The Czechs advance to the November eight-team finals in Bologna, where hosts Italy will bid for a fourth straight title.

"The wins in Davis Cup are always a little bit different because this is a team competition," said Lehecka.

After starting the day locked at 1-1, the USA nudged ahead as Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek saved four match points to outlast Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl in a thrilling 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) win.

Mensik then fought back from a set down to keep the tie alive by defeating recent US Open runner-up Ben Shelton 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Shelton took a tense first set after saving a set point when trailing 5-4, reeling off the last three games.

Mensik created a set point at exactly the same stage of the second, but this time made no mistake with a booming forehand to level the match.

The 21-year-old, a semi-finalist at this year's French Open, forced the tie into a deciding rubber on his second match point in a tense final game.

Lehecka, who beat Shelton in straight sets on Friday, recovered after giving an early break back to take the first set.

Tien forged 3-0 ahead as he attempted to force the tie to a final set, but fell away and Lehecka clinched the win on his fourth match point.

"I must say it has been a great week. But, most importantly, we made it through as a team," Lehecka said. "Without Jakub winning against Ben, I would not have the chance to play the final match."

- History-making South Korea -

Earlier, South Korea made history by beating India 3-1 in Seoul.

Kwon Soon-woo brushed aside Sumit Nagal 6-1, 6-2 to clinch the decisive point for the Koreans, who won both Friday's singles rubbers before India triumphed in the doubles.

"I feel very proud for my country and every team I play against, I give my best," said Kwon.

Canada beat France 3-1 at Quebec City to reach the last eight.

Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Felix Auger-Aliassime and Duncan Chan 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in doubles to keep France in the fight after two singles losses on Friday.

World number five Auger-Aliassime would not be denied, however, as he rallied to defeat France's Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to ensure Canada advanced.

The Canadians last won the Davis Cup in 2022 while France has not hoisted the trophy since 2017.

Austria booked their spot as Jurij Rodionov sealed a 3-1 win for the hosts in Vienna with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 victory over Zizou Bergs, Belgium's number one in the absence of Alexander Blockx.

Newly-crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 lead over Croatia in Halle, making a quick return to action as he beat Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

But Germany, who have not won the Davis Cup since 1993, were pegged back to end the first day level as Croatian youngster Dino Prizmic brushed aside Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-3.

Spain continued their tilt at a seventh title by seizing a 2-0 lead over Chile in Santiago courtesy of singles wins for Daniel Merida and Davis Cup debutant Rafael Jodar over Alejandro Tabilo and Cristian Garin, respectively.

Britain's Toby Samuel overcame Andres Andrade of Ecuador and Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery saw off Alvaro Guillen Meza as the hosts took a 2-0 advantage in London.

Hojo finished the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5,000m run in Gamagori city in 52min 56sec, nine seconds clear of China's Zhang Xirui who took silver with Kazakhstan's Arlan Zhanabay a further six seconds behind in third.

"As it's our first gold medal, it's given the Japanese team a real boost," said the 30-year-old Hojo, whose win will qualify him for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"I was really fired-up. Even the rain held off, and I was in top form right up until I stood on the starting line," added Hojo, who also won the Asian Games test triathlon a year ago on the same course.

"(I knew) it'd be tough, but (I thought) I'll push myself, and if it works, I think it'll be a good race."

Silver medallist Zhang was neck and neck with Hojo most of the way during the final 5,000m run, but in the end had to settle for silver.

"I am very happy, although disappointed to be behind Japan," said Zhang. "It is an honour for China."

Youngster Zhanabay was delighted to win a medal.

"I'm very satisfied with the result. Of course, I would like to win, but we have what we have," he said.

"I'm very proud because I'm only 20 and it's my first medal at the Asian Games."

The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men's individual triathlon, and will be followed by 468 more in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4.

The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in seven sports and will be graced by global stars.

But it has been dogged by a series of problems in the lead-up.

The 17,000 participants -- more than the Olympics -- stretched organisers to the limit as they scrambled to find accommodation for everyone.

To save money there is no traditional athletes' village, competitors instead staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship the Costa Serena.

To add to the issues, there was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya city and now a tropical storm is approaching eastern Japan that could cause further disruption on Sunday-Monday.

Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short.

In the latest mishap, North Korea's national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea's men's hockey team.

"This is a really serious problem," said South Korea coach Min Tae-seok.

On Saturday, with the opening ceremony hours away, India drafted in a new flag-bearer after shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor's luggage did not have his ceremonial kit.

Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat will replace him, Indian media said.

- 'Most spectacular' -

Organisers are insisting that the latest edition of the Games, which were first held in 1951, will be "the most spectacular for generations".

Basketball, football and cricket are among the sports already under way.

As always at the Asian Games, Olympic staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi.

In a bid to attract younger viewers there will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling.

Padel, the fast-growing racquet sport, and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts.

Among those competing will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of prodigies in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.

Yu will be in action in the pool straightaway on Sunday in the heats of the women's 200m butterfly.

Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting will also be competing, two years after she won Paris Olympics gold in the middle of a major gender row that saw her eligibility questioned.

Hosts Japan will look to their Olympic champions for success, with gymnast Shinnosuke Oka and javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi named in their team.

North Korea will have more than 100 athletes competing across 14 sports, aiming to "bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un".

China will again expect to top the medals table after winning a whopping 201 golds and 383 medals on home soil in Hangzhou at the Covid-delayed Games in 2023.

They are sending more than 800 athletes, including 36 Olympic champions.

Sooryavanshi will be part of an India cricket team looking to make a statement before the sport returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles after an absence of 128 years.

India could face bitter rivals Pakistan in the final at Nagoya's new purpose-built cricket ground -- if forecast rain does not intervene.

The match will begin at 6am Bangladesh time.

Bangladesh will play their second pool match against Malaysia on September 21, followed by matches against South Korea, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei on September 23, 25 and 27 respectively.

Team management said Ravindra dislocated his shoulder while attempting to take a diving catch during a promotional event involving the host broadcaster on Wednesday.

A statement said the 26-year-old has been cleared of major structural damage but it is "unclear" if he will play a part in the five-match T20 series starting on October 22.

Five one-day internationals and two Tests follow shortly afterwards.

New Zealand's performance manager Mike Sandle said Ravindra landed awkwardly on a safety mat during filming.

"It was a really unfortunate injury," Sandle said.

"We're gutted for Rachin and our key priority is making sure he recovers well and gets back on the field as soon as he can.

"As with all commercial shoots involving our players, the activities were agreed in advance by all parties, with appropriate safety measures in place.

"It was a bit of a freak accident, and we'll continue to review our processes around events like this in the future."

Ravindra, a left-handed batsman and spin bowler, has been a mainstay of New Zealand teams across all three formats since his debut in 2021, playing 115 international matches.

New Zealand coach Rob Walter said Ravindra's rehabilitation will be carefully managed, ahead of the Indian visit, which is followed by a four-Test series in Australia.

"With a heavy schedule of Test cricket in the next six months, we don't want to rush Rachin back sooner than we need to," Walter said.

The 26-year-old Belgian is the overwhelming favourite this weekend to win what would be a record fourth-consecutive time-trial rainbow jersey.

Only two other men -- Australia's Michael Rogers and German Tony Martin -- have won three-in-a-row before, while Martin and Swiss Fabian Cancellara are the only men to have won the discipline four times overall.

But Evenepoel, the double Olympic champion, has his eyes on an even greater prize -- he wants to be the first man to win both the road race and the time-trial at the same event.

Montreal hosts the championships for the second time, having been the first city outside of Europe to do so back in 1974, when Belgian great Eddy Merckx triumphed ahead of his French rival Raymond Poulidor, whose compatriot Mariano Martinez was third.

That was 20 years before the time-trial was added to the programme.

Evenepoel has said that winning both disciplines in the same year is a career goal, and he comes into the championships in fine form having won the GP de Quebec and then finished fifth at the GP de Montreal a week ago.

And that has come during a season in which he finished second to Pogacar at the Tour de France and won the Clasica San Sebastian and Amstel Gold Race.

"I'm looking forward to it. I think there are two great weeks ahead," he said last weekend.

"Things have started well, so I hope I can keep that momentum going."

Pogacar was also missing when Evenepoel did the double at the Paris Games two years ago.

- Only one real challenger -

At least on Sunday, Evenepoel will be the clear favourite, with only Italian twice former champion Filippo Ganna expected to cause him any concerns.

But Ganna has not beaten Evenepoel in a time-trial since the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, losing the last five times that they have faced each other, including at the Olympics and Worlds in 2024, last year's European Championships, and this year's Tour.

Beyond that, there are a handful of hopefuls more for a podium finish than overall victory.

Amongst them are the two young dynamos, Frenchman Paul Seixas, who is still a teenager but will be 20 by the time of the road race in a week's time, and Isaac Del Toro.

The Mexican was third behind Evenepoel at the Tour with Seixas fourth, and also beat the Frenchman in a two-man sprint finish to win in Montreal after both had been a fair way behind the Belgian in Quebec.

After that, Swiss Stefan Kung comes into the race off a confidence-boosting time-trial win at the Vuelta, Swede Jakob Soderqvist is the reigning under-23 champion against the clock, and Norway's Tobias Foss is a former winner of this event.

In the women's race, reigning champion Marlen Reusser is expected to face a strong challenge from European road race champion Demi Vollering.

The Dutchwoman won the Tour de France Femmes and the Giro d'Italia Women this year and has been in excellent form in one-day races.

She won the Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and La Fleche Wallonne Femmes.

She has finished second and third in the time-trial at the Worlds in the last two years, so Swiss Reusser is on notice.

Briton Zoe Backstedt, 21, is another rider to keep an eye on.

She has three time-trial world titles in junior categories, including the under-23 crown last year.

The only thing that may count against her is the length of the time-trial, which at close to 40km is more than 12km beyond the longest race against the clock that she has done before.

Before the first major test of Mourinho's second spell at the helm, Los Blancos have shown attacking dynamism the coach called "frenetic", but the Portuguese veteran acknowledged his team cannot shut the door on opponents.

Madrid trail unbeaten champions Barcelona at the top of the table by three points, after losing one of their six opening games and winning the other five, with Atletico third.

However they needed late strikes by back-up striker Carlos Espi to secure wins at Espanyol and Elche to cling to Barcelona's tail.

"The problem seems obvious to me. It's harder to know why, but it's easy to understand that there are matches that seem over and, in the end, aren't," said Mourinho.

"(There are) matches where we have three, four, five chances to finish them and don't.

"After failing to do so, it feels like we go from ease, because it seemed easy, to losing control."

Wily Atletico coach Diego Simeone will aim to punish Madrid if they take their eye off the ball in the derby.

Mourinho said his team's defensive issues were of concern for that game and beyond.

"Not just for Sunday's match, but for every match. I like my team to score goals... but I also like controlling matches," explained Mourinho.

"I don't like gifting control. It's not about the goals, it's about giving away control of the match."

Bernardo Silva is likely to start against Atletico after being rested against Elche on Tuesday, which could help Madrid take a firmer grip on the game, although Mourinho's squad does not seem ideally equipped to control matches despite a lavish summer spending spree.

"We're a frenetic side, who gets the ball back and accelerates," said Mourinho.

Madrid's team is defined by their star attacking trio of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, which effectively ensures they will play at great pace, regardless of the scenario, which can leave them exposed at the back.

- Ceuta shirt fallout -

Vinicius Junior is often jeered by Atletico Madrid fans and that could be exacerbated in Sunday's away trip after the forward, along with team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate, did not fully wear a t-shirt supporting the people of Ceuta.

The Madrid trio partially obscured a message on the shirt reading "we are all Ceutans", regarding the Spanish territory in north Africa affected by a migration crisis with Morocco.

La Liga president Javier Tebas criticised the three players on Wednesday for not wearing the shirt properly ahead of Madrid's late win against Elche.

Mbappe said his decision to roll up the shirt was to make a gesture in support of immigrants who had lost their lives while trying to cross the border, but also supported Ceutans.

Vinicius has been whistled by his own fans in recent weeks for poor goalscoring form, and he could not find the net again in the narrow victory at Elche.

Mourinho said he is waiting for the Vinicius that "kills" games and led Madrid to two Champions League triumphs to return, and Sunday would be the perfect occasion.

"The goals will come back, I can't miss so many (chances)," wrote Vinicius on Instagram after the Elche game, in which he spurned three good opportunities.

The forward has one goal this season, in contrast to Mbappe, who boasts eight across all competitions.

Mourinho hailed the lethal French striker as "not normal" and the red-hot Mbappe will see the derby clash as another opportunity to pick up votes in his Ballon d'Or campaign, as well as keeping the pressure on Barcelona.

Since Mbappe arrived in Madrid in 2024, the Spanish giants have failed to win a major trophy.

To stop Flick's free-scoring Barca, who have won La Liga two years running, Madrid cannot afford to drop many points, let alone against Simeone's side.

The coaches clashed four times during Mourinho's first spell in charge, three of which he won, but Simeone's one victory came in the 2013 Copa del Rey final.

If Madrid take the lead at the Metropolitano on Sunday Mourinho will hope his side can heed his warnings not to let Atletico back in.

Bangladesh scored 6 points from 7 rounds to secure 28th place.

In the seventh and final round held on Thursday last, Bangladesh defeated China 3–1.

For Bangladesh, FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman, Mohammad Obaidul Islam and Md. Aktar Hossain defeated China’s Guo Runpeng, Shi Kaiming, and Fu Xinyu respectively. Bangladesh’s Nurnahar Tonima lost to China’s En He respectively.

The members of the Bangladesh team were FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman, Mohammad Obaidul Islam, Nurnahar Tonima and Md. Aktar Hossain.

Mohammad Farhadur Rahman Sabab served as the team’s Chief of delegation, while Md. Arifuzzaman Arif served as the non-playing captain.

International Chess Arbiter Md. Anichuzzaman Jewel was the match Arbiter for the event.

Poland became the undefeated champion with 13 points, while Cuba finished runners-up with 12 points and Uzbekistan took third place with 11 points.

A total of 41 teams participated in the seven-round Swiss-system event.

The continent's premier sporting spectacle opens in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture on Saturday, but the build-up has been soured by several issues.

That includes a shortage of rooms for the more than 17,000 athletes and officials -- a bigger number than the Olympics.

Some teams have also criticised the quality of the accommodation, including beds that are too short.

To save money there is no athletes' village, organisers instead putting competitors in hotels, temporary cabins and on a cruise ship.

Organisers say the accommodation is safe, cost-effective and comfortable.

Chinese gymnast Zhang Boheng, who won two silver medals at the Paris Olympics and has two world championship titles to his name, said he and some of his team-mates were left waiting for six hours after landing on Wednesday.

"I'm totally exhausted," he said in a video published Thursday and shared widely on Chinese social media.

"I didn't expect that after breakfast at 7:00 am the next time I could eat would be close to 7:00 pm," the 26-year-old said.

He said the wait was caused by registration and paperwork, before heading to the cruise ship where 4,000 Games participants will be housed in Nagoya's port area.

But when they arrived at the ship, he said heavy rain prevented them from boarding.

"A whole day was basically wasted like this," added Zhang.

"In the end we really couldn't take it any more so we decided to book rooms at a hotel to rest."

The video has since been taken down but Chinese state media said that other Chinese athletes also faced travel delays upon arrival.

Beijing's consulate in Nagoya contacted Chinese citizens in the area to give the badminton team lifts after issues with a shuttle bus and a shortage of public transport tickets, Xinhua reported.

Chinese social media users applauded athletes, including table tennis star Sun Yingsha, for stretching and exercising at the airport.

The hashtag "Asian Games absurd" has since been viewed more than 94 million times on Weibo.

India's team had similar delays at the airport.

"There was an issue in getting accreditation for athletes at the airport during immigration. There were long queues with a lot of other nations there," India's chef de mission and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) treasurer Sahdev Yadav told AFP.

"But these things happen and we have got everything sorted.

He added: "These are all teething problems and our focus is now on performance."

- Warlord controversy -

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that some of the country's athletes waited at the airport for more than five hours on Thursday.

"We are aware of the situation including reports that athletes have had to wait for hours and we are doing our best to handle it," a Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) official told AFP.

Also on Friday, the KSOC said it had filed a complaint with Games organisers for featuring a Japanese warlord at a welcoming ceremony.

The event on Tuesday included a person dressed as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who led Japan's invasions of Korea in 1592-1598, and the ceremony prompted a backlash in South Korea.

Historical issues are sensitive between South Korea and Japan, with Hideyoshi's invasion a significant episode in Korean history and Korea under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

There was no immediate response from the Olympic Council of Asia or the local organising committee.

South Korea took control of the match early by taking a 3-0 lead at half-time.

South Korea scored three goals in the second quarter. Bangladesh could not score in the first half.

South Korea added one goal each in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, and Bangladesh eventually remained scoreless throughout the match.

Bangladesh will face host Japan in their second group match on Sept. 22 before playing Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India in their remaining group-stage matches on Sept. 24, 26 and 28, respectively, at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's women's hockey team will make its Asian Games debut against China on Sept. 20 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Hockey Stadium.

Traditional archery is Bhutan's national sport and has a storied history, but some fans fear for its future as development and safety concerns eat away at space for archery ranges.

Played with a bamboo bow and arrows, the sport evolved from hunting and military traditions and is now a key part of cultural events, as well as a popular weekend activity.

But it is a sport that requires space and flat terrain, which are in growing demand, particularly in the capital.

"Since now our development is coming up, archery grounds are occupied by residences, so it's very difficult to get a play ground," lamented archer Sonam Dorji, who works at a conservation group, as he competed in an all-day tournament.

Bhutanese archery is played in teams that vary in size depending on whether the game is friendly or competitive.

Each team sets up at one end of the range and aims at small wooden targets up to 145 metres away.

Players wear the country's traditional striped "gho" belted knee-length robe, complete with knee-high socks, though footwear is of the modern variety, ranging from trainers to hiking boots.

Archers get two arrows per go, and the first team to get 25 wins. A hit anywhere on the target earns points, along with an obligatory celebratory song and shuffling dance.

Play is relatively raucous -- often enhanced by consumption of beer or the local tipple ara -- with taunts and shouts of encouragement part of the fun.

Teammates often stand either side of the target and shout guidance or wave to try to guide incoming arrows, jumping aside at the last minute to avoid injury.

The sport has been struggling for years to compete with the growing popularity of alternatives like football, said Sangay Phuntsho, who had travelled several hours from Wangdue Phodrang to Bhutan's second city Paro for an all-day competition.

"Times change," he told AFP in between shots at the target.

"We have a lot of other options now with sports... young people normally they prefer to play advanced games like football."

- 'Stronger safety measures' -

The country's archery association said the declining number of ranges was also due to safety concerns over the rising use of more powerful compound bows.

"Development and increasing pressure on land are contributing factors, but safety has also become a major concern," said Pema Tenzin, general secretary of the Bhutan Archery Federation.

"Given the power and speed of compound bows, their use in long-range grounds, particularly in densely populated areas, requires much stronger safety measures."

The federation and Bhutan's Indigenous Games and Sports Association are working with the country's Olympic committee to find land to establish more ranges "in a safer and more organised setting," he added.

Jamyangla, who like many Bhutanese uses a single name, said he encouraged his son to take up the sport, but the lack of ranges made it hard for him to learn.

"He doesn't have enough grounds to test his ability," the 48-year-old power company employee said, calling for government support to set up national-level tournaments and additional ranges.

He rejected safety concerns about the sport, though injuries are reported each year, including a man who survived an arrow to the heart earlier this year.

Officials and some opponents of the sport warn that the tradition of drinking while playing makes an already risky sport all the more dangerous.

But players like Sonam consider it part of the fabric of Bhutanese life.

"We are getting more social cooperation and getting to know each other and know more about our people," he said.

"It is our national game which has come down from our forefathers... we have to preserve (it)."

While South Asia accounts for about 90 percent of cricket's billion-plus fans, the ICC is seeking to expand the sport's fan base by 500 million and sees China's 1.4 billion people as a potentially huge audience -- helped by the steady progress of its women's team.

"The continued success of their women's team has provided a major boost to cricket in the country," ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta told AFP.

China became a focus market after hosting cricket at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and through the progress of its women's national team, which has climbed 10 places in the world rankings over the past two years.

There is still far to go, however. In the ICC T20 rankings the women are ranked a modest 36th, while the men languish in 92nd place.

The women were also knocked out of the Asian Games on Thursday without a ball being bowled, two days before the opening ceremony.

A sodden outfield caused by days of rain in Nagoya, Japan, prevented any play from taking place in China's morning quarter-final against Bangladesh, who went through to the semi-finals by virtue of being the higher.

Still, China is one of several markets the ICC sees as crucial to broadening cricket's appeal beyond its traditional strongholds of South Asia, England, and Australia.

- 'Next leap' -

The ICC has spent $1.5 million in China to boost the sport over the past five years.

The country now has three top-level cricket venues, including a new 1,500-seat stadium in Taicang expected to host domestic and international matches and provide a training base for the national teams.

The ICC has begun testing the appetite for the sport in China.

Some women's T20 World Cup matches were broadcast in Mandarin, and the final week of the 2026 men's T20 World Cup generated 4.4 million video views in China.

The country's potential emergence is particularly significant for the ICC because, unlike several newer cricket nations, its men's and women's teams are made up largely of homegrown players rather than players from South Asian communities.

Indonesia, a country of around 280 million people, has also been identified as a market with growth potential. Its men's team T20 ranking is 63rd, and the women's team, 23rd.

"If even segments of the population in China and Indonesia start engaging with the sport, then they could power the next leap in the scale of cricket's fandom," Gupta said.

"It can play a significant role in the sport's ambition to add 500 million fans to its global fan base, which is the ICC chair's stated ambition."

- 'Grow the game' -

The ICC believes cricket's return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games could provide another boost, with men's and women's T20 tournaments set to award medals for the first time since the sport's lone previous appearance in 1900.

The ICC's push into new markets has paid off elsewhere.

Italy offered a glimpse of the potential of another non-traditional market when it made its men's T20 World Cup debut earlier this year, beating Nepal and pushing England close.

The ICC push has the backing of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), custodian of the game's laws.

"MCC is very pleased to be sending a women's team for an overseas tour of China in 2027," MCC director of cricket and operations Rob Lynch told AFP.

"We see this tour as a huge opportunity to be able to grow the game in China," he added.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) recently extended the official invitation to Bangladesh after the team finished as the first standby side at the U-18 Hockey5-A side Asia Cup held in Muscat, Oman, in July.

The Asia Cup also served as the qualifying tournament for the World Cup, with three teams securing direct qualification.

The U-18 Hockey5-A side World Cup will be held in Ismailia, Egypt, from December 7 to 12.

Bangladesh’s participation in the global event will provide the young players with an opportunity to showcase their talent at the international level.

Leaders West Ham travel to the Den on Saturday for the first "Dockers Derby" against London rivals Millwall in 14 years.

Wolves host fourth-placed West Brom in the Black Country derby on Sunday -- two years after their last meeting was marred by a bloody battle in the stands.

Millwall and West Ham have an especially gory history, with one supporter of each club killed in sickening clashes in 1976 and 1986.

Those horrific incidents came at the height of the hooliganism era that blighted English football.

But the enmity, born a century ago in London's docks, has lost none of its ferocity in recent years.

In 2009, a Millwall supporter was stabbed outside West Ham's former home at Upton Park before a stormy League Cup tie that culminated in several pitch invasions, prompting the government's sports minister at the time, Gerry Sutcliffe, to label the incidents "a disgrace to football".

West Ham were fined £115,000 ($153,000) for failing to prevent their fans entering the pitch, while several supporters were convicted of violent disorder.

Separated by just eight miles across the River Thames, the 100th showdown between the Lions and the Irons will play out against a backdrop of high security across south-east London.

Social media has been rife with threats between rival fans in the build-up to Saturday's game.

"We want fans to enjoy the match safely and have worked with both clubs to help this happen," a Metropolitan Police statement said on X.

"A Section 35 dispersal order will be in place, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder."

- 'It means a lot' -

Adding to the tension around the fixture, some Millwall fans will be housed in the same stand as the 1,774 West Ham supporters in a sell-out crowd of around 19,000 at the Den.

Strict segregation will be in place to keep the rivals apart.

Millwall haven't beaten West Ham since 2004 and Lions boss Alex Neil hopes the hostile atmosphere can help his team stun Nuno Espirito Santo's men.

"It should be a brilliant atmosphere. It means a lot to our fans and everybody connected with both clubs," Neil said.

"It'll be interesting to see how West Ham handle the Den and different things like that."

Just 24 hours after Millwall face West Ham, an equally explosive clash will take place in the west midlands.

The first league meeting between Wolves and West Brom in five years comes after a 2024 FA Cup tie was scarred by crowd trouble.

Wolves' 2-0 win at The Hawthorns two years ago was halted for 38 minutes after fans clashed in the stands, with police assaulted, missiles thrown and flares set off.

There were 43 arrests, with 12 sentenced and five given permanent bans.

In a joint statement, Wolves and Albion said supporters can "expect enhanced stewarding, policing, robust ticketing controls and additional safety measures" on Sunday.

Wolves and Albion emphasised the punishments dished out for the 2024 clashes show "disorder, violence and criminal behaviour carry significant consequences and will continue to be dealt with robustly".

All four clubs will hope the weekend's derbies pass off far more peacefully than some of their previous encounters.

The quarterfinal was scheduled to be played at the Korygi Athletic Park in Nisshin, but the wet outfield made play impossible.

The captains did not even come out for the toss.

Bangladesh secured a place in the last four by virtue of their higher ICC T20I ranking. Bangladesh are ranked 10th in the world, while China are ranked 37th.

The rain-hit weather had also prevented Bangladesh from completing full training sessions in the days leading up to the match.

Under the tournament rules, a Super Over could have been used to determine the result if a 20-over match was not possible.

However, continued rain ruled out that option as well, and the teams' T20I rankings were used to decide the outcome.

The match would have marked Bangladesh's first international T20I against China.

Bangladesh had previously defeated China by nine wickets after bowling them out for 34 runs in seven overs in the 2010 Asian Games semifinals, but that match did not have international recognition.

However, Bangladesh will face the winner of the India-Japan quarterfinal in the semifinals on September 20.

India are scheduled to play Japan tomorrow at 11AM Bangladesh time.

Bangladesh have previously won two silver medals and one bronze medal in women's cricket at the Asian Games.

Moriyasu will lead Japan as they try to capture the continental title for the first time in 16 years at the tournament in Saudi Arabia.

He will then hand over the reins to Go Oiwa, who is currently in charge of Japan's Under-23 team.

Japan were knocked out of this year's World Cup by Brazil in the last 32 after a last-minute goal condemned them to a 2-1 defeat.

Moriyasu kept faith with the bulk of those players as he named his squad for four upcoming home friendlies, and said he wanted to leave the job with a bang.

"The leadership will change but whoever is in charge will have the same aim, to help Japan win and develop," he said.

"We want to keep building towards the Asian Cup and then pass the baton over in a good way."

Japan will play Uruguay and Venezuela this month before taking part in a four-team tournament with Ecuador, New Zealand and Panama in October.

Moriyasu included new Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in his squad alongside Crystal Palace pair Daichi Kamada and Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ipswich Town's Daizen Maeda.

Six of the World Cup squad were left out, while there were four new call-ups including Southampton's Kuryu Matsuki.

Moriyasu said his job was "not to dismantle the team but to continue along the same path".

"I understand that staying on this course gives us a better chance of winning the Asian Cup," he said.

"But it's not just a case of more of the same -- there is always growth and competition among the players."

Japan have been drawn in an Asian Cup group with champions Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia.

They were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Iran at the tournament three years ago in Qatar.

Japan also play Brazil and Paraguay in friendlies in Singapore in November.

Carrick and his players were booed off at the final whistle following a miserable 3-2 defeat featuring a blown two-goal lead.

Shea Lacey and Mason Mount put United two up by the 10th minute.

But the hosts suffered a woeful collapse as Charalampos Kostoulas reduced the deficit and Pascal Gross equalised before Maxim De Cuyper grabbed the winner.

For the first time in 50 years, United had lost a home game after leading 2-0.

It was another brutal blow for United after their controversial 1-0 home defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.

Carrick branded the third round loss unacceptable, but took the majority of the responsibility himself.

"We had the game exactly where we wanted it and let it get away from us. That's the story of the game," he said.

"There are a number of things we will look at and dissect. I know quite a bit about where it went wrong.

"We can't accept that as a group. Listen, I take responsibility for that, with the performance towards the end of the second half. That is on me."

Having led United to third place last season in his spell as interim boss, Carrick was expected to oversee a title challenge this term after being appointed on a permanent basis.

But United have already lost three times in six games in all competitions, putting Carrick under pressure to turn the tide at Fulham in the top-flight on Sunday.

Amid criticism of United's close-season transfer recruitment, Carrick's decision to make eight changes against Brighton exposed the lack of depth in his squad.

A defeat in west London at the weekend would leave United in a full blown crisis barely a month into the new campaign.

- 'It doesn't feel good' -

"We will all be better. We have to be better. We have a big game on Sunday that we have to prepare for. We are out of this competition. We've got to get back to winning football matches," Carrick said.

"It doesn't feel good at the moment, let me tell you. It doesn't feel good. We can get back to winning football matches and we can do a lot of things better.

"We want to win and we want to win quickly. It's as simple as that. The next game is Sunday and that is purely all I'm thinking about. We will get better with a number of things."

Carrick was a decorated member of the United sides that won Premier League titles and the Champions League under Alex Ferguson.

His successful interim spell had raised hopes that he could be the man to lead United to their first English title since Ferguson retired in 2013.

But the former England midfielder, whose only previous managerial experience came with second tier Middlesbrough, is in danger of being dragged into a fight to save his job unless results improve quickly.

United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who runs the club's football operations, has already sacked Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim during his reign.

Asked if he understood why the fans were so frustrated by United's latest failure, Carrick said: "It's pretty obvious isn't it? I totally understand the feelings of the supporters.

"You have to accept it. I totally accept it. It is on me ultimately you know, as a team, what we look like, how we play, what results we get.

"I will take that. I will take the praise and I will stand here and take the criticism and the upset. I totally understand it tonight for the way the game went. We have got to win games."

The match will kick off at 1pm Bangladesh time.

Prior to the second match, Bangladesh centre-back Sheuli Azim said the team had identified the areas that need improvement following their disappointing performance against DPR Korea in their opening match.

"It gave us a clear understanding of the areas where we need to improve. We'll try not to repeat the small mistakes we made in the previous match," Sheuli said in a video message on Wednesday.

Bangladesh suffered a heavy 10-0 defeat to DPR Korea in their opening Group F match.

"We conceded 10 goals in the previous match, so our focus will be on reducing the number of goals in the next match. Our next opponent is also a very strong team. We'll try to keep the number of goals conceded as low as possible. Ideally, we would not concede any goals, but we'll do our best," she said.

Sheuli said both DPR Korea and Korea Republic are strong sides and their pace and speed would pose a major challenge for Bangladesh.

"Although there may be some differences between the two teams, their pace and speed will be a big challenge for us. We are trying to play our own game and perform according to our strengths," she said.

The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, around 600 kilometres (372 miles) north of Queensland state capital Brisbane, which will be the Olympics hub, is a controversial choice.

While a saltwater crocodile habitat, the main concerns were around technical specifications and the venue's fairness.

The river is prone to flooding and has strong currents that can create uneven competition conditions, while a lack of accommodation options for rowers and spectators was also an issue.

Thousands of people signed a petition to have the events moved to a purpose?built facility nearer to Brisbane.

But an independent assessment declared it fit for purpose and it was endorsed by governing bodies World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide (formerly International Canoe Federation), along with Olympic organisers.

World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland said ensuring fair and equal conditions for athletes was the driver in requesting a "thorough and robust" assessment, which looked at river flows, water levels, and wind conditions among other issues.

"Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games, consistent with the requirements of Olympic and Paralympic Rowing," he said in a statement.

Paddle Worldwide President Thomas Konietzko was equally enthusiastic.

"The quality and depth of the technical work undertaken has significantly improved our understanding of the field of play and provides confidence to us and our athletes that the course can deliver fair competition for Canoe Sprint athletes," he said.

The threat from crocodiles was not addressed in the assessment but officials have previously said there will be "processes in place" for reporting sightings.

Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris last year played down the issue.

"There are sharks in the ocean and we're still surfing ... it's a can do, not a can't do, please change the mindset here," he said when asked about the issue.

Sightings in the Fitzroy are only occasional, with the apex predators more prevalent further north.

"I thank both Jean-Christophe, Thomas and their teams for their expertise and collaboration as preparations continue at pace ahead of our Games in just under six years' time," Liveris said on Thursday.

"The endorsement provides additional certainty as we move into the next phase of venue planning and Games delivery, ensuring all future design and operational work continues to focus solely on Rockhampton."

American billionaires Boehly and Walter were two of the investors who partnered with Clearlake to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich for £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) in May 2022.

"Chelsea Football Club today announced affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. ('Clearlake') will acquire the ownership interest of Todd Boehly," said a club statement.

"As part of the transition, Clearlake will also acquire Mark Walter's ownership interest and therefore acquire full control of the Club," it added.

Prior to Wednesday night's announcement, private equity company Clearlake held 62 percent of Chelsea, with Boehly and Walter holding the remaining shares with fellow investor Hansjorg Wyss.

Wyss "will remain an important stakeholder and partner in the ownership group," said the club statement.

No financial terms for the deal were disclosed. Boehly and Walter were reported to have valued the club at £5 billion.

The Financial Times reported that the pair were set to receive £950 million in cash, in a deal that values the club at about $5 billion including debt.

In the statement, Boehly said it had been "an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club."

"I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the Club," he said.

"I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake's leadership."

Chelsea finished a dismal 10th in the Premier League last season and hired Xabi Alonso as their new manager.

Boehly had reportedly been dissatisfied with the direction of Chelsea, notably regarding recruitment, managers and a potential new stadium plan.

There had been reports that Boehly and Clearlake had attempted to buy each other out of Chelsea several times over the last two years.

Boehly and Walter co-own the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, while Walter recently sold the Los Angeles Lakers basketball franchise for $12.5 billion.

Clearlake Capital co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano thanked Boehly "for his time and contribution as Chairman."

"There will be no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the Club," said the statement.

The 39-year-old said in August he was retiring from Argentina duty after a two-decade international career that included winning the 2022 World Cup and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024.

"We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on October 6 here in Argentina," said Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia.

The match against Benin will take place at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Tapia has also invited all of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winners to join Messi for the occasion.

Argentina begin a series of three friendlies against Bolivia on September 30 in Cordoba -- their first match since losing the World Cup final to Spain -- before taking on Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.

Messi has been included in the squad for the third match against Benin, when he is expected to make his 208th and final appearance for the national team. He is Argentina's all-time record scorer with 125 goals.

Last month FIFA ordered Argentina to play their next home match with capacity reduced to 50 percent for breaches of its disciplinary code relating to using a sports event for making demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.

After Argentina beat England 2-1 in a tense World Cup semi-final in July, several players held up a banner saying: "The Falklands are Argentine".

The friendlies are also expected to count towards suspensions handed down following incidents after Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban, while defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games and Thiago Almada for one.

The striker, who already saved his team at Espanyol in their opening game with a late strike, tucked home at the back post in the 91st minute after Madrid threw away a two-goal lead.

Espi, who Madrid signed this summer from Levante, has not started a game for the club but both of his goals have been vital for Jose Mourinho's side.

Madrid have five wins from six matches, level on points with champions Barca, who host Racing Santander on Wednesday.

"(Espi) comes on with great motivation, (but) he has in front of him a player who is not a normal player," said Mourinho of Kylian Mbappe, who also scored for Madrid.

"Playing with the two of them is not easy... with the changes I made late on I risked everything, because a draw was not enough."

Mourinho was unhappy with his team not extending their 2-0 lead and allowing Elche, now bottom of La Liga, to fight back.

"There are games which seem to be over... which we're not killing off, and after not killing them off they go from easy to being out of control," added the veteran coach.

Mourinho rested Jude Bellingham for the first time this season, bringing Arda Guler into the team in his place.

Players from both teams wore t-shirts in support of residents from the city of Ceuta after the recent migration crisis in the Spanish territory in north Africa, although Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate rolled them halfway up, appearing to slightly obscure the message "we are all Ceutans".

Vinicius has been struggling for his best form this season and missed some presentable opportunities at the Martinez Valero stadium.

The forward prodded wide after Guler set him up in the second minute, and he also sent another effort badly off-target from the edge of the box.

Tete Morente threatened at the other end but Madrid were on top and took the lead midway through the first half.

Guler curled a free-kick around the wall and against the post, with the ball hitting Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro before it crossed the line, for an own goal.

Madrid's second came eight minutes later, created by record signing Yan Diomande, who registered his first assist for the club.

Starting for the second time, the Ivorian winger crossed for Mbappe to slip past Dituro for his eighth goal of the season across all competitions.

Mbappe collided with the goalkeeper and appeared to be hurt but soon recovered and was able to play on.

The striker combined again with Diomande early in the second half but could only head the winger's blasted cross high over the bar.

Vinicius drilled wide before he was replaced, ending a frustrating evening for the Brazil international.

- Elche battle back -

Elche pulled one back through Abiel Osorio's header from Lucas Cepeda's cross, with the forward leaping high to nod past Thibaut Courtois.

It struck fear into Los Blancos and Elche capitalised, equalising in the 83rd minute through Nino.

The Spanish striker produced a fine low finish to pull his team level with the 15-time European champions.

Mourinho threw on strikers Espi and Endrick to try and find a late winner, and he got what he was looking for.

Espi made a run to the back post where Mbappe found him to knock in the late winner.

Earlier Valencia earned a 1-0 win at Alaves, while Rayo Vallecano defeated Espanyol 2-1.

It was Valencia's first win of the season, after they sacked coach Carlos Corberan on Sunday, secured with a Luis Rioja strike with 12 minutes to go.

After a woeful start to the Premier League season, Tottenham's hopes of a morale-boosting cup run came to a dispiriting end at rain-lashed Anfield.

They were swatted aside by Liverpool, with Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai scoring for the Reds.

Conor Gallagher's reply, which came with Tottenham trailing 2-0, was their first goal against top-flight opponents this term.

De Zerbi's fourth-bottom team are without a win in their first four league matches, losing twice and drawing twice.

De Zerbi claimed Tottenham have been unlucky this season.

"We have to shoot more times, we have to shoot better, but we are sorry for the result, disappointed, frustrated for the result," he said.

"I think, unfair, but we have to accept and to be stronger than this unlucky moment.

"I'm honest with myself and I'm honest with you. I think in these five, six games, we have been for sure not lucky with Newcastle, with Everton, even with Nottingham and tonight as well."

Tottenham's only win this season has come in the League Cup against second-tier Charlton.

After successive 17th place finishes -- including avoiding relegation on the final day of last season -- the north London club spent over £300 million ($404 million) on 10 new signings since the end of last term.

Making eight changes from last weekend's draw with Everton was a gamble that backfired for De Zerbi as his side were beaten by an under-strength Liverpool line-up.

But former Marseille boss De Zerbi, whose appointment late last season saved Tottenham from relegation, is convinced they are still on the right path.

"We have to understand if we are in the right way or not," he said.

"I think watching the game, the last three games, four games, maybe until minute 60 with Newcastle, I think we are in the right way.

"I believe in my players, I have a big confidence, a big opinion of my players, and when we arrive to find the click, to win a game.

"I think we enjoy with these players, because the qualities of the players are incredible."

Accepting the blame for Tottenham's woeful start to the season, De Zerbi vowed they will bounce back at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

"I'm sorry, and it's my responsibility. Because maybe in the middle of the first half we didn't recognise the clear situation man-to-man," he said.

"It's a tough moment, but we have to be stronger to prepare our best for the next game with Villa and to find this click."

India chased down a victory target of 160 with 5.1 overs to spare to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Abhishek Sharma, who hit 39 off 19 balls, and fellow opener Samson put on 88 runs to put the team on course.

Abhishek started briskly and Samson soon took over to hit the ball to all parts of the ground as he struck sixes and fours including in a 27-run sixth over by Mohammad Nabi.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan cut short Abhishek's knock a ball after being hit for a six by the swashbuckling left-hander, who hit 82 in India's opening win also by seven wickets.

Samson reached his fifty in 20 balls to raise the noise of the home crowd but departed two balls later off Nabi. He hit seven fours and four sixes.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer fell on 11 before Ishan Kishan, who made 38, and Tilak Varma (15) guided the team home in an unbeaten stand of 40.

Earlier, Iyer won his 11th toss, the most by a captain in his first 12 T20 matches, surpassing 10 each by Qatar's Mirza Baig and Henry Tyler of Philippines.

Bowlers backed the decision and kept Afghanistan down to 159-8 with seam bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy returning figures of 3-24.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah started with a maiden over and fellow quick Arshdeep Singh reaped the benefit as he sent back Rahmanullah Gurabaz, caught behind for a duck.

Skipper Ibrahim Zadran attempted to hit back with his brisk 37 as he struck six fours in a 51-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal, who made 12.

Reddy broke the stand on his first ball as he got the batsman caught at deep mid-wicket.

Reddy got one more after leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who came in place of injured Varun Chakravarthy, sent back Atal and Afghanistan slipped to 67-4 in 10.1 overs.

Indian bowlers struck regular blows to rattle the opposition batting despite some lower-order resistence by Nabi (20) and Rashid, who made 28.

Reddy dismissed Rashid for his third strike as Afghanistan, who made 156-8 in the opener, once again finished on a below-par total on the batting-friendly pitch.

The third match is on Thursday at the same venue.

Foden kicked out at United captain Bruno Fernandes on 23 minutes to give the visitors a mountain to climb.

But a new-look City were up to the challenge as the near œ250 million ($340 million) midfield pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez proved their worth.

Haaland's winner was laced with controversy as Fernandez was deemed not to be interfering with play when he attempted to head in before the ball reached the Norwegian.

"It's worrying, if that's really how it is, if that's how the game is seen by those who are officiating it," said United boss Michael Carrick. "I just don't get it, I really don't get it, I can't understand them."

Defeat compounds a miserable Premier League start for United as they are already eight points adrift of City and defending champions Arsenal.

By contrast, victory was a huge statement for Maresca to quell fears of a major drop-off from City following Pep Guardiola's trophy-laden decade in charge.

"It's a kind of new experience to win with 10 men. It's amazing, I have to be honest," said Haaland.

The visitors had made the better start in the opening quarter but looked to have been completely undone by Foden's ill discipline.

City will argue that Fernandes should also have seen red as he fouled Foden and then seemed to kick him in the back.

But there was little case for Foden's defence as he retaliated by throwing both legs up into Fernandes's midriff.

"I think Foden's red card is a red card, but I also think that in the same action it's a red card for them," said Maresca.

Marcus Rashford was inches away from his first United goal since December 2024 when his free-kick came crashing back off the post with the home side's best effort before the break.

- Donnarumma to the rescue -

The woodwork came to City's rescue again just after half-time when Kobbie Mainoo curled onto the post from distance and the ball rebounded kindly into Gianluigi Donnarumma's grasp.

But the City sucker punch arrived on the hour mark.

Haaland adjusted his body brilliantly to sweep in Josko Gvardiol's deflected cross.

A VAR review deemed Haaland was onside and that Fernandez was not interfering as he stooped to try and head in himself.

City came close to landing the telling blow when Fernandez's effort was turned onto the post by Senne Lammens.

Haaland also should have had a second when he got onto Fernandez's wicked low free-kick delivery.

City, though, were not made to pay for failing to add a second as United lacked the composure and quality to make the man advantage count until the final minute of stoppage time.

Fernandes's reverse ball perfectly picked out Bryan Mbeumo but he was denied by a fine save from Donnarumma.

Maresca scampered down the touchline in delight at full-time.

After a battle for the title went down to the final week of last season, Arsenal and City look a class apart from the competition once more.

Both are locked on 12 points with Chelsea, Liverpool and United already cut adrift.

"Jerejef (Thank you) Senegal," Mendy posted in Wolof, the principle language of the country, above a video montage retracing his greatest moments in the Senegal shirt.

Born in France, Mendy, who has played top level club football for Marseille, Reims, Rennes and Chelsea and is currently in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, was handed his international debut by Aliou Cisse in 2018.

He was in the Senegal side that won the Africa Nations Cup on penalties against Egypt in 2021 and also played at last year's event which Senegal won 1-0 on the pitch before it was later awarded to hosts Morocco instead by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear Senegal's appeal on October 8.

Together with captain Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Gueye and superstar Sadio Mane, Mendy embodied Senegal's golden generation.

He played at the 2022 World Cup and was still a key part of the side at the 2026 edition in the United States, where they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Belgium (3-2).

The Senegalese national team, now coached by Patrick Vieira, also paid tribute to him on their social media accounts.

"There are careers that are measured in caps, trophies and statistics," they posted. "And then there are those that are measured by the place they hold in the memory of a people. Edouard Mendy, your story with the Lions now belongs to that category."

Former Spain coach Moreno, who was forced to deny earlier this year that he used ChatGPT to prepare for games, will be in charge for friendly matches in the coming months.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said he could stay on for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January-February, "subject to an evaluation".

Moreno named captain Son Heung-min in his squad for four upcoming home friendlies and said he wanted to put a smile back on South Korean fans' faces.

"We're going to try to do our work honestly and with the aim of making all Korean football fans happy," said the 48-year-old, who is the first Spaniard to coach South Korea.

"Good matches, and trying to help the players."

Moreno will lead the team against Ecuador and Uruguay in September and Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October.

South Korea had been without a coach since Hong Myung-bo quit following their shock group-stage exit from the World Cup in North America in June.

Hong's departure did little to quell public outrage over the disappointing campaign and added fuel to pre-existing questions about how he was hired.

Police raided KFA headquarters last month as part of an investigation into Hong's 2024 appointment.

The KFA also apologised for allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees.

Moreno named striker Son, now in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC, in his first squad along with Atletico Madrid's Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae.

Hong's decision to leave Son on the bench in the first half for the decisive match against South Africa at the World Cup baffled and angered many supporters.

"We're all aware of Son's versatility," said Moreno.

"For me he can play in three positions."

Moreno also addressed allegations that he used artificial intelligence during his time in charge of Russian club Sochi.

Moreno left the top-flight side in September 2025 after a poor run of results and reports said he had heavily relied on ChatGPT in his role, even using it to decide between potential signings.

Moreno called it "a piece of news that is completely false and went viral".

"Obviously I use technology," he said.

"Anyone who spends 10 minutes looking into it can see that everything has been taken out of context and put together to cause harm."

India hammered Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the T20 final in Dubai on Sunday but Harmanpreet Kaur's side skipped the trophy presentation, repeating the stance of the men's team last year.

On both occasions the trophy was supposed to have been handed over by Naqvi in his role as head of the Asian Cricket Council.

Naqvi is also Pakistan's interior minister and head of the country's cricket board.

There are long-running tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan.

A year after beating Pakistan in the final, the men's side have still not collected their trophy.

"That stand has been taken by BCCI (Indian cricket board), and we stand by it," Indian women's coach Amol Muzumdar told reporters.

"We are the champions, that's good enough."

Sunday's presentation was delayed by nearly 50 minutes, after which Naqvi distributed medals to the runners-up before the ceremony ended abruptly.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla were at the ground as India presented medals to their players themselves.

With City down to 10 men after Phil Foden's dismissal for kicking Bruno Fernandes, Haaland netted on the hour mark with a close-range finish from Josko Gvardiol's cross.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside but VAR eventually overturned that decision, even though City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and attempted to reach the ball before Haaland.

Fernandez did not touch the ball so the goal was given, allowing Haaland to celebrate his ninth league strike in Manchester derbies.

"I thought maybe someone flicked it. When I found out no one flicked it, I took it personally that they thought I was offside because I'm never usually offside," Haaland said.

"It's always nice to win football games, but especially with 10 men for 60 minutes at Old Trafford, it's such a nice feeling, especially with the fans at the end.

"To look at all the faces of the supporters at the end is just a great feeling."

City were indebted to Gianluigi Donnarumma for a superb save in the final seconds when he clawed away Bryan Mbeumo's blast from 12 yards.

"What a save from Gianluigi at the end as well. He's like a wolf in the goal, he looks like a wolf anyway," Haaland said.

"He's a madman and to have a guy like that in the goal behind you just makes you feel so much more safe."

Victory extended Enzo Maresca's perfect start to the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola as City manager.

The Italian ran down the touchline to celebrate in front of the travelling City fans at full-time.

"I think to win a game with 10 players is already special but it's even more special when it's a derby, Manchester derby, for the fans, for the club, for the players and also for the coaching staff," said Maresca.

"This kind of game, they give boost in all the aspects. Again, winning games with 10 players is already nice and then when it's a derby for the players it's even better."

Maresca has been backed by a record œ460 million splurge on new signings.

The midfield pairing of Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson shone, while Iliman Ndiaye made a massive impact as a second-half substitute.

"That's why they are here, that's why the club made an important effort," added Maresca.

The US are perennial red-hot favourites at this tournament and had not lost a World Cup match since 2006, but they were below their best for much of the competition.

They trailed by two points at half-time to an energetic France side but turned it on when it mattered, outscoring the Europeans 30-12 in the third quarter.

American veteran Breanna Stewart once again led from the front, scoring a game-high 22 points along with 10 rebounds and four assists as she became the first player to be named World Cup MVP a second time.

"I'm really happy the way we let the rest of the world know our goal is always gold," she told reporters, while describing the country's World Cup record as "an insane stat".

Coach Kara Lawson called Stewart "the greatest winner that we've had probably".

Jackie Young hit four crucial threes and finished with 18 points to extend the US record to 36 wins in a row at the tournament.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark scored just one point in the semi-final but chipped in with some crucial buckets down the stretch, scoring 12 points including two threes as the Americans silenced the pro-France crowd.

"We kind of got in a little bit of a hole there," Clark told reporters of the second-quarter.

"And then we came back in and kind of dug ourselves out of it.

"That run we went on into halftime and then came out in the second half and really just dominated from there."

Playing in their first ever World Cup final, France were seeking revenge for their one-point loss in the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics but lost their composure as the Americans turned on the afterburners in the second half, committing 16 turnovers.

France's Gabby Williams, the player of the match in their semi-final win over Germany, scored an impressive 16 points in the opening half but added just four more after that.

- Americans vulnerable -

The US, huge favourites who are used to dominating World Cups and the Olympics, came into Sunday's game looking vulnerable, having come close to defeats against unheralded Italy and again against Spain in the semi-finals.

No team had come within 20 points of France as they cruised into a maiden World Cup final and started strongly, ending the opening quarter with a three-point lead and running out to a 14-point gap midway through the second.

Forced to up the ante, the US fought back with Young hitting two quick-fire threes and Clark grabbing one of her own seconds before half-time, cutting France's lead to two points.

The US were far more composed after that, with Clark finding her range from the field.

The favourites took the steam out of the match in the fourth as they kept the French at bay.

Earlier on Sunday, Spain soothed the disappointment of their narrow semi-final loss to the US by claiming bronze with an 81-58 win over Germany.

The Spanish went close to a major boilover on Saturday, pushing the heavily favoured Americans all the way in their semi-final, levelling the scores at 58-58 three-quarters of the way through the match, before the US pulled away.

On Sunday, Spain were in control throughout against the spirited but limited hosts, who had never reached the final four of the tournament as a unified country.

Top-scorer Iyana Martin was one assist away from a double-double, with 20 points while grabbing a game-best nine dimes.

Prior to their trip to Brittany, Luis Enrique's double Champions League-winning side had managed just two points from their opening three matches in an uncharacteristically sluggish start to the league season.

They began their quest to win a third consecutive Champions League title by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 6-1 on Wednesday and four days later they are now off the mark domestically thanks to new signing Torres.

The close-season arrival from Barcelona, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final this summer, netted a hat-trick midweek and followed it up with a sumptuous early strike at Brest's Stade Francis-Le Ble.

Torres now has six goals in five outings in all competitions for PSG.

"What matters to me is always helping the team, regardless of how much playing time the coach decides to give me, and doing my part. Whether that's through goals, assists, or my work on the pitch," the 26-year-old said.

The result sent the Parisians up to eighth in the league table, with an identical record to their hosts, who had been unbeaten heading into the encounter.

Ahead of kick-off, Brest paid tribute to their former coach Eric Roy, who died in June aged 58 after suffering from pancreatic cancer.

PSG got the crucial breakthrough in the fifth minute when Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele flicked a backheel into the path of the onrushing Torres.

The Spaniard strode onto the ball just outside the 'D' and caressed it into the bottom corner beyond the dive of goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia then went close to doubling PSG's lead in an entertaining first half.

It was not all good news for PSG in the opening period, however, as Morocco captain and right-back Achraf Hakimi limped off just before half-time to be replaced by midfielder Fabian Ruiz.

Brest came within a whisker of equalising five minutes after the interval when Nuno Mendes carelessly played the ball across for Kamory Doumbia, but the forward saw his effort rebound off the post when he had only goalkeeper Matvey Safonov to beat.

The hosts then turned into their own net two minutes later but the goal was disallowed for a push by Warren Zaire-Emery, which forced the error.

Safonov was the hero for PSG late on as he got down quickly to fingertip a Pathe Mboup effort past his far post as Luis Enrique's side held on for the victory.

- Mbappe redemption -

Earlier, Ethan Mbappe redeemed himself after his Champions League red card in midweek by scoring a late goal in a 2-0 win over Troyes which sent Lille top of Ligue 1.

Mbappe, the younger brother of France and Real Madrid star Kylian, was sent off in Wednesday's 3-2 home loss to Real Betis in Europe for elbowing an opponent.

The 19-year-old put that incident behind him, though, as he came off the bench against Troyes to seal victory in stoppage time, after the hosts had taken a first-half lead through Portuguese full-back Tiago Santos.

Mbappe celebrated his first goal since December in subdued fashion by apologising to supporters for his red card, but the strike lifted Lille above Monaco and Rennes on goal difference at the top of the table.

"He came to his senses after his red card and showed maturity beyond his years; he took responsibility for his actions," Lille boss Davide Ancelotti said.

"This week has been very important for him personally, helping him to grow as a player and as a person. As for his qualities, he certainly has them -- he showed that again today."

Lille have taken 10 points from a possible 12 under new coach Davide Ancelotti, the son of Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Last season's surprise title challengers, Lens, have found the going tougher this season in Ligue 1.

A 3-2 Champions League win on Thursday at Slavia Prague and victory over PSG in the French Champions' Trophy last month stand in juxtaposition to a difficult early domestic campaign.

They now have just four points from as many outings following a 2-2 draw away to newly-promoted Le Mans on Sunday, which leaves them in 10th.

"For me, Mbappe and me, we're the two best players in the world," the 19-year-old Barcelona winger said in an interview on Movistar Plus, excerpts of which were published on Sunday.

"I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I've won," he added.

Yamal helped Barcelona retain La Liga before becoming a world champion with Spain this summer, strengthening his claim for the game's most prestigious individual award.

He had struck a more measured tone at a press conference last Tuesday, saying he believed he had a chance after an "incredible" season but would not beg for votes.

Mbappe, meanwhile, has also made his case for the award in recent days.

The France captain finished as top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, although Real Madrid failed to win a major trophy.

Yamal's Barcelona and Spain teammate Ousmane Dembele, last year's winner, believes the award should remain with a Paris Saint-Germain player after the French club retained the Champions League.

Bayern Munich striker and England international Harry Kane is also among the favourites to win the award, which will be issued in London on October 26.

The 50-year-old won multiple trophies as manager of Argentine club side River Plate, but has not previously managed an international side.

He replaces his compatriot Sebastian Beccacece, who stepped down after Ecuador's disappointing loss to co-hosts Mexico in the first knockout round of this year's World Cup.

"We sought out Marcello Gallardo for what he has won, but above all for what he represents. Welcome to Ecuador, Marcelo," said Francisco Egas, president of the Ecuador Football Federation (FEF), in a video posted on social media.

Known for his attacking style, Gallardo is the most successful coach in the history of River Plate with 14 trophies in his first stint, including two Copa Libertadores wins.

But his recent, second spell at River Plate was a disappointment. He stepped down following a poor run of form in February after failing to win any further trophies.

Ecuador have become a major force in South American football in recent years, finishing second in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after Argentina.

They boast international stars including Arsenal's Piero Hincapie and Paris Saint-Germain's Willian Pacho.

Described as the worst team to tour England in the last 50 years, Pakistan's cycle of chopping and changing continued when head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling chief Umar Gul were sacked from their posts.

Seven players were expelled from the squad as the often vulnerable batting fell to a new low, failing to cross 200 in five of the six innings.

White-ball coach Mike Hesson was brought in to take charge of the side for the third and final Test, a move which failed to reverse Pakistan's fortunes.

The turmoil intensified when expelled players Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were investigated by the national cybercrime agency on charges of leaking team information.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said he had predicted this free fall.

"It's a disappointing state but I could see this coming for the last five years and you can't blame one particular person and one factor because there are many," Akram told AFP.

His fellow former star Shahid Afridi described the situation as "bleak".

"These are gloomy times in Pakistan cricket," Afridi told AFP. "You don't disrespect players like this and your system is not strong."

- Nothing new -

Changes and upheaval after defeats are hardly new for Pakistan. The cricket team has had three captains and six head coaches for Tests over the last three years.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also had five different chairmen in as many years, resulting in a lack of consistent planning that has hurt the game's development.

Punishing players has often gone hand in hand with those changes.

The PCB banned then-captain Mohammad Yousuf and senior batter Younis Khan for an indefinite period and disciplined five other players, including Afridi, after a disastrous 3-0 whitewash in Australia in 2010.

The third-test defeat to England at Edgbaston was Pakistan's 16th in their last 21 Tests, leaving them ninth and last on the World Test Championship (WTC) table, the same position in which they finished the previous cycle.

Results in white-ball cricket have not been encouraging either.

Pakistan crashed out in the first round of the ODI Champions Trophy last year, even though the event had marked the revival of their hosting rights after a 29-year exile caused by security concerns.

Their Twenty20 fortunes have also gone into free fall.

Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup, while another campaign two years earlier ended in an embarrassing group-stage exit that included a shock defeat against an unfancied USA side.

- No quick fix -

Former leg-spinner and 1992 World Cup winner Mushtaq Ahmed blamed the decline on a lack of planning.

"We had a great number of match-winners and a strong legacy, and that is why we produced results in the past," Ahmed told AFP. "Now the decline is steep and will take time to fix."

With a flawed and inconsistent domestic system failing to prepare players for the demands of international cricket, an immediate solution appears unlikely.

"We need to realise that we lack talent in red-ball cricket. White-ball teams are okay," said Akram. "It's easy to blame the PCB chairman but when we were sleeping and not addressing the overall flaws then such a fall happens."

Meanwhile, fans are fast losing interest.

"All my four sons and I used to play in a local academy but in the last two years we all have lost interest as our team is not doing well," said Mohammad Afzal, a banker.

"Cricket is fast losing ground in Pakistan and we need strong measures to revive the glory."

Mikel Arteta's men have conceded just once in five games in all competitions but Sunderland had the chance to breach Arsenal's imposing rearguard when Raya tipped Enzo Le Fee's spot-kick onto the post.

Just over two minutes later Guimaraes silenced the Stadium of Light as the Brazilian smashed into the top corner from outside the box.

Bukayo Saka's penalty sealed the victory with the final kick of the game after Sunderland defender Reinildo saw a second yellow card for taking down the England international.

Despite the victory Arteta was still seething after the game at the award of Sunderland's penalty for Ezri Konsa's pull on Dan Ballard.

"It is unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable!" Arteta said. "This can change the course of a season, the championshipm it is not acceptable."

The Arsenal boss added: "I've been in football for almost 28 years. It is not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context, in any league."

Arsenal open up a three-point lead over Manchester City, who face local rivals Manchester United on Sunday, at the top of the table.

Their lead is already five ahead of Chelsea, six in front of Liverpool and eight clear of United as Arsenal threaten to run away with the title unless a new-look City under Enzo Maresca can keep pace.

Despite only winning by a single goal, Arsenal showed signs of blossoming into a more potent attacking force in statement wins over Chelsea last weekend and Napoli on Wednesday to get their Champions League campaign off to a flying start.

But the visitors had to rely on their organisation off the ball to grind out a vital three points as they failed to sparkle in attack but for a moment of magic from Guimaraes.

The former Newcastle captain was given a hostile reception on his arrival to the home of the Magpies' biggest rivals.

Guimaraes was Arsenal's big-money recruit of the transfer window, but the £75 million ($87 million) signing is yet to start for his new club as Arteta has kept faith with Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield.

Kai Havertz came closest to breaking the deadlock of a cagey first half when his shot on the spin was tipped over by Robin Roefs.

Arteta made his move at the break by introducing Guimaraes for Lewis-Skelly, while Jurrien Timber also replaced the injured Ben White.

Sunderland are one of few sides capable of matching Arsenal's physicality and a set-piece wrestling match led to the penalty.

Konsa dragged Ballard to the ground although Arsenal argued it was the Sunderland defender who initiated contact.

Le Fee's effort was arrowed toward the bottom corner, but Raya produced a brilliant save to turn it onto the post.

From potentially being behind, Arsenal were in front 122 seconds later.

There appeared little danger when Rice fed Guimaraes, but he took aim and rifled a shot in off the underside of the bar.

Saka was denied a second by Roefs and Havertz saw a header cleared off the line by Ballard as Arsenal sought to put the game to bed.

They eventually did so deep into stoppage time when Reinildo brought down Saka in a desperate attempt to halt the winger's charge towards goal.

The Mozambique international was reduced to tears on his sorry trudge off the field.

Roefs nearly bailed out his teammate as he got a hand to Saka's penalty, but unlike Raya he failed to get enough on the ball to turn it wide.

Jose Mourinho's side got back to winning ways after a defeat by Real Betis in their previous top- flight outing, with a convincing victory against neighbours Rayo. Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras were also on target for Real Madrid, while Sergio Camello pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half.

Champions Barcelona visit Levante on Sunday looking to extend their 100 percent start to the campaign and restore their lead on Madrid.

Mourinho's side took a commanding three-goal lead against Rayo by half-time.

"(It was) fundamental to win, above all after losing the last game in La Liga," Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.

"We killed the game in the first half -- that's not easy, working like we did after the ChampionsLeague game, not just physically, but mentally."

Los Blancos took the lead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Florian Lejeune clumsily felled Carreras. Mbappe sent Rayo goalkeeper Emil Audero the wrong way.

The French forward helped create the second, after Lejeune gave the ball away under pressure from Vinicius Junior. Carreras exchanged passes with Mbappe and drilled home.

Handed a first start for Madrid, the club's record signing Yan Diomande cut inside from the right flank with a rapid dribble that left Rayo's defence scrambling but lashed his shot high and wide.

Bellingham notched Madrid's third goal and his third of the season after Vinicius charged down the left and cut the ball back for the England international, who has started the season in top form.

Mourinho defended Vinicius in midweek after some Madrid supporters whistled him in the Champions League win over Inter Milan.

Mbappe powered a strike from distance against the post as Madrid sought a fourth, while Pedro Diaz forced a rare save from Thibaut Courtois at the other end, the Belgian with a strong hand to push away his effort.

Diaz hit the post early in the second half as Rayo tried to find a foothold at the Santiago Bernabeu.

- Golden ambitions -

Mbappe, who stated his case for why he should win the Ballon d'Or this week, almost added a second with a low drive. Rayo pulled one back in the 51st minute when Vinicius gave the ball away to Camello under pressure and the forward poked past Courtois. It was the Spanish forward's sixth goal of the campaign, making him joint-top scorer with Barcelona's Raphinha and Mbappe.

Benat San Jose's side, 15th, had further chances to score but Courtois pushed out Giorgi Tsitaishvili's drive and an effort from Lejeune.

Mourinho brought on Turkish midfielder Arda Guler to help regain some control.

"Arda is very good, he's got a lot of quality, he influences the team's play in a good way and today he made a difference in terms of the stability of the game," said Mourinho.

Guler helped create Madrid's fourth for Mbappe in stoppage time, lethally finished low and across goal. It was Mbappe's seventh goal of the season across all competitions.

"Conceding the (early) penalty was a blow, then we had another mistake when bringing the ball out," said Rayo coach San Jose.

"I think we could have scored in the first half too, but it's true that they were better..."We have to congratulate Madrid, but I'm proud of the players because the second half was much better."

On Tuesday Real Madrid travel to face Elche, while Rayo Vallecano host Espanyol.Earlier on Saturday, Racing Santander defeated third-place Alaves 2-1, while Espanyol won 2-0 at Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 at home against Elche.

The Springboks, who led the series 2-1 after the opening three Tests in South Africa, produced a devastating second-half display at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium to seal victory.

Tries from Damian de Allende, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom clinched a deserved win for the Springboks in front of a capacity 71,000 crowd.

New Zealand's tries came from recalled captain Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder and Beauden Barrett but the All Blacks were always chasing the South Africans in a fast-paced game.

There was controversy in the first half when play was held up for more than eight minutes after a failure in communication equipment between the match officials.

But that interruption had no impact on the outcome as South Africa's total dominance at the breakdown, setpiece and aerial battle proved decisive.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi paid tribute to South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus following the victory.

"He knows how to get us up, and when he speaks to us he reminds us where we come from, the country that we come from," Kolisi said.

"The players who are in the group who are not playing. We do it for them. The guys that are injured, the guys that couldn't make the tour, and also for the people of South Africa."

New Zealand skipper Taylor, meanwhile, had few complaints with the defeat.

"We talk a lot about moments throughout the week when we review our Test matches and South Africa just stacked a few more moments against us over the last couple of games," the veteran hooker said.

"Full credit to them -- they're a great side and they've proven why they're world champions."

Taylor, though, said New Zealand would take positives from the series defeat as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

"It's a good stepping stone," he said. "We're at an interesting place at the moment as a rugby nation. We've fallen short in this series but I can assure you and everyone back home that we're working hard."

first US Open title and her rise to number one barely more than three weeks after she feared injury

would force her out of the final Grand Slam of the year.

Kazakhstan's Rybakina beat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday to

claim her third Grand Slam title.

She'd already assured herself of toppling Sabalenka from the number one spot just by reaching the

semi-finals.

"I can't find words right now, honestly," Rybakina said. "I don't expect nothing like this coming to

this tournament. I've been dealing with a little bit with an injury, but somehow everything aligned

together on my side."

The "little bit of an injury" saw Rybakina hobble out of her Cincinnati quarter-final on August 20

-- 10 days before the start of the US Open -- unable to put weight on her left heel.

"It wasn't the best time, for sure, because I was so upset," Rybakina said. "I didn't know actually

how it's going to be day by day.

"We arrive to New York. We did MRI. It didn't look that great. We had to talk with a lot of doctors

to get opinion what we should do."

With a doctor in Australia providing valuable long-distance advice, Rybakina and her team came up

with a plan to manage her training, rest and treatment and give her a chance at her second major

title of the year, after her victory over Sabalenka at the Australian Open.

Her run to the final included an impressive fourth-round victory over two-time champion Naomi Osaka

before come-from-behind wins over resurgent Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and former champion

Coco Gauff.

It all led to her 18th showdown with Sabalenka in a rivalry that has emerged as the most dynamic on

the WTA tour.

Having narrowed Sabalenka's lead in their head to 10-8, Rybakina is looking forward to more chances

to take on her fiery rival, whose on-court personality is the perfect foil to her own cool approach.

"I don't know what the future will bring, but it's always very difficult matches against Aryna," she

said. "I feel like we push each other to be better after such tough battles."

The two seem destined to tussle for the top spot for some time. But other players -- Gauff and

Jessica Pegula -- also had a chance to seize the number one ranking in New York, so Rybakina knows

that Sabalenka is not the only rival she must be wary of.

She embraces the challenge.

"I feel like not only with her, with also other players, top players, you always want to try

something new, to change in your game, to be better," she said.

"I don't know what future is going to bring, but I hope success and some more wins."

Messi curled in a superb strike on 62 minutes at Miami's Nu Stadium to fire Inter into a 2-1 lead but Nashville grabbed a share of the points after striker Sam Surridge bundled in an injury-time equaliser.

The 39-year-old Messi has now scored a remarkable 17 goals in 14 games against Nashville in all competitions since joining Miami in 2023.

And Messi could have even improved his goals record against in Saturday's game between the first and second-placed sides in the Eastern Conference.

Messi saw a shot crash off the underside of the bar in the 50th minute and also saw a shot cannon off the post in the 78th minute. A late Messi effort was also headed clear by Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios before Surridge's leveler.

The result leaves Inter nine points adrift of Nashville in the race for top seeding with nine regular season games remaining.

Earlier, Nashville had got off to a dream start when English striker Surridge sprang the offside trap before burying a low shot into the bottom corner in the fourth minute.

But Miami drew level midway through the half and again Messi was involved. The World Cup-winner's wicked in-swinging corner found the head of Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting, who glanced in an own goal.

It looked as if Messi had grabbed the winner midway through the second half when he combined with former Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul on the edge of the area before curling a shot beyond the dive of Brian Schwake.

But Miami's failure to extend their lead proved costly as Surridge scored from close range in injury time to steal a point.

The victory earned Bangladesh fifth place in the tournament and marked a memorable achievement for the country's junior women's hockey.

Both teams played an attacking game from the outset, but neither could find the net in the first half.

Bangladesh broke the deadlock in the third quarter when captain Sharika Safa Rimon converted a penalty stroke to put her side 1-0 ahead.

Kona then doubled Bangladesh's advantage with a field goal in the fourth quarter.

Malaysia pulled one goal back late in the match, but Bangladesh maintained their composure to hold on for a historic 2-1 victory.

Bangladesh captain Sharika Safa Rimon was adjudged the player of the match for her impressive performance.

The victory came after Bangladesh produced a series of competitive performances throughout the tournament and successfully overcame Malaysia's strong defensive challenge in the playoff.

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation congratulated the players, coaches and officials on the team's notable achievement.

The team arrived in Japan at around 3 am Bangladesh time today (Saturday), following a preparation camp in China. The team left China on Friday, according to a message received here.

With their arrival in Japan, the Bangladesh women's team has officially begun its Asian Games campaign.

Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B and will open their campaign against DPR Korea on September 14.

They will play their second group match against the Republic of Korea on September 17 before taking on Myanmar in their final group match on September 21.

Bangladesh have participated in the Asian Games women's football competition only once before.

At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in China, Bangladesh were eliminated in the group stage after securing one draw and suffering two defeats in three matches.

The match will kick off at 8 pm Bangladesh time at JFA Field in Amman. The two-match series is part of Bangladesh's preparations for the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan.

Following their emphatic 5-0 victory over Jordan in the opening friendly, the Bangladesh team held its third training session at the match venue on Friday.

Players who featured in the first match underwent a recovery session, while the remaining squad members took part in a training programme featuring warm-ups, possession drills and small-sided games.

The players showed good intensity and commitment throughout the session, while all squad members were reported to be in good health ahead of the final friendly.

Bangladesh produced a dominant display in the first match, defeating Jordan 5-0. Alpi Akter, Reya, Mousumi Akter, Umma Kulsum and Kumari Payel Rani scored one goal each for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh squad -- Megla Rani, Jyoti Khatun, Homayara Akter, Most Mim Islam, Mousumi Akter, Tithi Rani Mahato, Sorovi Rani, Mst Amena Khatun, Mishu Rani, Junia Akter, Mst Taspia Akter Tisha, Joba Rani, Mst Amina, Reya, Umma Kulsum, Nurjahan Akter Moni, Fatema Akter, Most Runa Akter, Tangial Afroz Hira, Purnima Marma, Alpi Akter and Kumari Payel Rani.

The big-serving 23-year-old powered into the first major championship final of his career on Friday after muscling his way past close friend Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final.

The eighth-seeded Shelton was in irresistible form as he stormed to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory in front of a raucous home crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was another impressive milestone on Shelton's journey through this year's tournament, which included an epic five-set victory in the quarter-finals over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Shelton, who blasted 20 aces in Friday's semi-final win, said his success at Flushing Meadows this year has been based on his ability to align brain with brawn.

"I think that problem-solving has been the name of the game here," said Shelton, who had never beaten Alcaraz in three previous meetings before his last-eight triumph over the Spanish star.

"It's been a lot of uphill battle, so I think that I'm fully ready for the challenge to problem-solve," Shelton said.

"I feel that I'm a different player. I feel like I have so many more tools. I feel like I know my identity, am comfortable in my own skin, and I know what it takes for me to be playing top-level tennis.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge, being able to problem-solve on Sunday. I know what I'm up against, and I'm also the most confident I've ever been in my game.

"For me, this whole tournament now at this point has been uncharted territory. I'm in positions I've never been in before. I've beaten guys that I have never beaten before. I'm just excited to put it all out on the line."

Shelton is now one win away from becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam title in 23 years. The last player to lift a major was Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.

He is adamant he will not be burdened by the weight of history in Sunday's final.

"I think that I handle these big situations in my career pretty well," Shelton said. "I feel that confidence and belief take over.

"The nerves are always there. It's something that you got to kind of lean into. The nerves are as much there in the first round for me as in the semi-finals, and I'm sure that the finals will be the same.

"It's something you've got to be able to overcome, but for me I'm having fun, you know? This is an enjoyable moment for me and knowing that I can leave it all out there on the court and push myself to the absolute limit is an exciting, exciting thought."

Eighth-seeded Shelton blasted 20 aces on his way to a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court that sends the 23-year-old into Sunday's championship match against top-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany.

A pulsating all-American semi-final had seen both players vying to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time.

Shelton -- who took down defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals -- will now have the chance to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since 2003, when Andy Roddick triumphed at the US Open.

"It's a lot of emotion," Shelton said in an on-court interview after a win that was watched by a star-studded New York crowd.

"My dad, my mom have sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position today. My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she's the reason that he was able to play tennis.

"Without her, there's no Ben Shelton standing here today. So this one is for her. And I'm gonna need you guys on Sunday to to bring the energy. I'm going for it. I'm gonna leave it all on the court.

Earlier, Tiafoe got off to a bright start, claiming the first set after breaking when Shelton uncharacteristically double-faulted to trail at 5-4.

Tiafoe held to love to clinch the first set but Shelton came flying out of the blocks to start the second.

An early break helped him into a 2-0 lead before Tiafoe responded with a break to level at 2-2.

Yet with Tiafoe's serve increasingly erratic, Shelton grabbed another break in the eighth game to go 5-3 up and then held to level.

The momentum was all with Shelton and Tiafoe had to fight off two break points before holding early in the third set.

However Shelton – who had one serve initially clocked at 158mph before it was later adjusted to 144mph -- made no mistake in the fifth game with a break to go 3-2 up.

Tiafoe needed to hold to keep the set alive in the ninth game, and a furious arm-wrestle saw the 11th seed once again save three break and set points.

Shelton though earned his fourth break point after pouncing on Tiafoe's second serve once more, scorching a backhand return down the line.

Shelton converted that when Tiafoe netted a forehand to find himself 2-1 down.

The fourth set went with serve until the 12th game, when Shelton grabbed the crucial break to seal victory.

Zverev, who followed up his maiden major at the French Open with a runner-up finish at Wimbledon, saved two set points in the final tiebreaker to close out the 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6) victory.

He'll face the winner of the all-American semi-final between eighth-seeded Ben Shelton and 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in Sunday's championship match.

The German predicted an "absolutely epic" contest between the two Americans, after which he'll be out to thwart the winner's bid to become the first American man in 23 years to lift a Grand Slam trophy.

"Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday," said Zverev, who came agonizingly close to the US Open title in 2020 before falling to Dominic Thiem in five sets.

After a somewhat inauspicious start to the tournament, spending nine hours and 26 minutes on court in laborious five-set victories in the first and second rounds, Zverev has steadily upped his game.

He needed two hours and 57 minutes to deny 50th-ranked Khachanov's bid to become the lowest-ranked Grand Slam finalist since number 54 Marcos Baghdatis at the 2006 Australian Open.

But the Russian, who fell to Zverev in the Olympic gold medal match in Tokyo in 2021, put up a spirited challenge in the second and third sets.

Unable to make any real headway in the first set, Khachanov fell a quick break down in the second.

The Russian couldn't resist a grin when he snuck a passing shot by Zverev to open the fourth game, and flung his arm into the air in celebration three points later when a forehand winner gave him his first break chance of the match.

Zverev double faulted to hand him a break that leveled the set at 2-2.

Khachanov had another chance two games later when Zverev's backhand into the net to end a 32-shot rally gave him a break point.

But the German came up with a big serve and escaped the danger as they went to the tiebreaker, where Khachanov denied Zverev on two set points with thumping forehand and a brilliant backhand down the line before Zverev closed out the set.

Neither player mustered a break point in a tense third set. Khachanov had a chance to extend the match when he took a 6-4 lead in the tiebreaker, but after a pair of forehand errors from the Russian Zverev came up with his 15th ace and sealed the win on the next point when Khachanov sent a forehand long.

- US Grand Slam drought -

Shelton vanquished defending champion and seven-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz in an enthralling five-set quarter-final clash that lasted until 3:34 am -- the latest finish in US Open history.

Having notched the biggest win of his career, Shelton is now chasing his first major final as he and Tiafoe duel for the chance to be the one to end American men's Grand Slam drought.

The last US man to reach the US Open final was Andy Roddick, whose triumph in 2003 remains the Americans' last major win.

Tiafoe rallied from two sets down to hand fellow American Alex Michelsen a devastating quarter-final defeat and reach his third US Open semi-final.

The clash under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium promises an intriguing clash of styles between big-hitting left-hander Shelton and shot-maker supreme Tiafoe.

Shelton leads their head-to-head, but they have split two prior US Open meetings, Shelton winning in the 2023 quarter-finals and Tiafoe turning the tables in the third round the following year.

The women's final is on Saturday, when Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina will try to thwart Aryna Sabalenka's bid for a third straight title just days after ending the Belarusian's near two-year reign atop the world rankings by reaching the semi-finals.

In the proceeding, Mehedi and Munna scored one goal each for Bangladesh. The defeat ended the red-and-green side's chance of qualifying for the next Junior Hockey World Cup.

Bangladesh will play their final match of the tournament tomorrow when they take on their opponents in the seventh and eighth place- deciding encounter.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea ace has enjoyed a late-career resurgence and was voted the domestic A-League player of the year in 2025-26.

But the 38-year-old has decided not to play on at the club as he mulls "the next steps in his career".

He will remain involved with the Australian side after taking an ownership stake.

"I loved every minute and so greatly enjoyed everything that we achieved last season, falling back in love with football at such a special place, in an amazing city that it was a privilege to call home," Mata said.

"Now I am excited about our next chapters, believing together in the future of Australian football and inspiring the next generation of Melbourne Victory players and supporters."

Mata announced in June he would take a minority stake in Victory. The terms of the deal were not disclosed but he will become chair of their newly established football committee.

"Juan's 2025/26 season will live long in the memory of Victory fans and should be cherished by all supporters of the world's game here in Australia," said Victory's football director John Didulica.

"Everyone at the club is excited that he is part of our ownership group and, in the future, looks forward to his football intelligence leading our football committee."

Mata, who played in Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning campaign and won the Champions League with Chelsea, moved to Victory in 2025 after a season with Western Sydney Wanderers.

He also has stakes in Formula One team Alpine and Major League Soccer club San Diego FC.

In Saturday's final Rybakina will try to deal another blow to Sabalenka, having knocked her out of the number one world ranking just by reaching the semi-finals.

"I feel like I definitely need to step my game up, serve much better than today and stay aggressive," Rybakina said of her looming clash with Sabalenka.

Gauff's bid to return to the final for the first time since she defeated Sabalenka for the 2023 title had got off to a smooth start, with the American seizing the initiative in the opening set with a break to go 4-2 up.

She held to love to take a 5-2 lead and then held in the ninth game to take a one set lead.

But Rybakina hit back with an early break of serve in the second set for a 3-1 lead and held to go 4-1 up.

Gauff responded superbly to claw her way back into contention with a break to make it 4-3 before holding to square it a 4-4.

Yet she was unable to make the most of her fightback and double-faulted in the 10th game to hand two set points to Rybakina at 15-40. Rybakina pounced on that chance to take the match to a third set.

The decisive set followed a similar pattern.

Gauff conceded a break to trail 5-3 and leave Rybakina serving for the match.

But the American broke back immediately to make it 5-4 to get it back on serve.

Again though Gauff was unable to capitalise, and a deft volley from Rybakina left her with two match points at 15-40, before Gauff then hit a wide open smash long to hand her opponent victory.

"It was such a cool third set -- I feel like I was a little bit lucky on her serve," Rybakina said. "A couple of deep returns, one mistake from her, it went quickly my way...it was a real battle."

Alongside last season's top two, only newly-promoted Hull remain unbeaten but their brilliant start faces an acid test against Xabi Alonso's free-scoring Chelsea.

At the other end of the table, Fulham have yet to register a point under Alvaro Arbeloa ahead of their tough trip to Liverpool.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the weekend's action:

Haaland hungry for more

Four games in, Maresca has made the perfect start since accepting the daunting task of succeeding Guardiola as City boss.

But nine points from nine in the Premier League and a winning start to their Champions League campaign in Porto has masked some underwhelming performances.

Coventry missed a series of chances to secure their first goal and point in the top flight for 25 years at the Etihad last weekend as City clung on for a 1-0 victory, while Maresca's men needed two late goals to beat Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the season.

It was not only an off-season of change in the dugout. City splashed out a record £460 million ($623 million) on new players, including a whole new midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

That trio coud start together for the first time at Old Trafford, but one thing that has remained consistent for City is Erling Haaland's reliability to get goals.

The Norwegian has five in four games, becoming City's third-highest goalscorer of all-time in the process on 167.

"I'm really proud of these numbers but I'm only 26 and I'm hungry for more," said Haaland.

United, by contrast, have wasted the chance to make a strong start and are at risk of already being cut adrift in the title race.

Michael Carrick's men have picked up just four points from an inviting opening trio of matches against Hull, Ipswich and Everton.

Fears for Fulham

Alvaro Arbeloa's reign as Fulham boss could be short-lived unless he can summon a response on his return to Anfield.

The Spaniard is the bookies favourite to be the first Premier League coach sacked after three straight defeats.

Arbeloa has been accused of being too naive, with his expansive gameplan leaving the Cottagers' defence exposed.

A trip to Liverpool, where Arbeloa played for two-and-a-half seasons, and a visit from Manchester United is to come before a three-week international break which could allow the club to rethink the decision to hire the former Real Madrid boss.

"It is not about my position, but I am very confident and I talk to my players that they are working in the way I want," said Arbeloa.

Hull have 'to kick' Chelsea

Odds-on favourites for relegation before the season began, Hull are the only side yet to concede in a dream return to the top flight.

Chelsea's slick forward line will put the Tigers solidity to the test after Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer masterminded a six-goal second half to beat Leeds 6-3 in the League Cup.

Introduced at half-time with the Blues trailing, Palmer scored twice and Rogers provided four assists to take Chelsea's tally in five matches under Alonso to 16 goals.

"To kick them," joked Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic on his plan to stop a Chelsea attack also featuring the in-form Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto and Estevao. "If you are there man-marking, you don't have a chance."

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Bournemouth v Brentford, Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest, Chelsea v Hull, Liverpool v Fulham, Crystal Palace v Ipswich, Tottenham v Everton (1630), Sunderland v Arsenal (1900)

Sunday

Coventry v Brighton (1300), Arsenal v Chelsea (1530)

Monday

Leeds v Newcastle (1900)

The 13-year-old school girl with a pixie hair cut stunned the sporting world last year with a series of eye-popping times.

At the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore she helped China reach the 4x200m women's freestyle relay final.

She did not swim in the final but China came third, earning Yu a historic bronze for swimming in the heats.

Yu just missed out on medals in the 200m and 400m individual medley events and the 200m butterfly, coming fourth in all three races.

In November at China's National Games, having just turned 13, she clocked a blistering 2:07.41 in the women's 200m medley for what was then an Asian record.

While training with the China team in Beijing, she told local media this month she was "excited" for her Asian Games debut.

"Train well, don't slack off. Demonstrate the level of your training and work hard to break past yourself," she said, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan open on September 19.

- Pressure 'like a stone' -

A coach, Ha Sinan, once described Yu with a Chinese saying that translates as "a newborn calf fearless of tigers".

But the teenager has spoken of struggling to deal with the heavy load placed on her.

Yu grew up in the city of Baoding, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Beijing.

She started swimming aged six and since then has juggled schoolwork with training.

"Being in class all day and still having to train was really tiring," she said in January.

"Sometimes I was so tired I could fall asleep even while eating," she said at an event celebrating Hebei province's National Games wins.

Yu said she "never considered quitting" and always dreamed of being a national champion.

But during the tune-up to last year's National Games she said the pressure of wanting to win the 400m medley nearly became too much.

"It was like a big stone that weighed on me and made it hard to breathe," she said.

Yu eventually told her coach she wanted to do anything other than train.

Her coach told her to persevere and "believe in yourself", she said.

Yu went on to win four medals at the National Games.

Some in the swimming world have questioned the mental and physical impact of high-level training and competing on Yu at such a young age.

Under World Aquatics rules, the minimum age for international championships is 14 but exceptions can be made for younger swimmers if -- like Yu -- they are fast enough.

- Olympic dreams -

It seems certain that Yu will compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, when she will be 15, and on current trajectory will be a major medal threat.

She is aware that her success for someone so young has made international headlines.

But she knows hard work outweighs innate talent.

In June she won the women's 400m medley in 4:30.79 at China's national championships, a time which would easily have earned her silver at the Paris Games in 2024.

"Although talent determines where you start, going further and standing taller is dependent on perseverance and effort day after day," Yu said at the January event.

"There is still a long road ahead," she added.

"I will keep holding fast to my original dream, drawing strength from my team, to stand on the Olympic podium."

More than 100 North Koreans are set to compete in 14 sports at the Games, which take place in Nagoya-Aichi and officially open on September 19.

Nuclear-armed North Korea suspended participation in international sporting competitions during the pandemic but returned at the Asian Games in China in 2023 and also took part in the Paris Olympics.

The smartly dressed men's football team landed in Osaka on a flight from Beijing at around lunch time.

North Korea's flag was prominent on the breast of their immaculate blazers and they also wore blue trousers and light blue shirts.

They were welcomed by a large group of supporters who sang songs and waved the country's flag.

The team were presented with bouquets of flowers before they boarded a bus and waved from the windows, high-fiving well-wishers.

North Korea's women's football team, who have enjoyed stunning international success at youth level, were set to arrive in the evening.

While the Asian Games don't officially open until next weekend, some events including football get under way before then.

The North Korean men open their football campaign against China on September 16.

Their women's team face Bangladesh on Monday and have been drawn in a group that also includes South Korea, who they will play on September 21.

Japan does not allow North Koreans to enter the country as a sanction for its nuclear and missile development programmes, but exceptions can be made for visiting athletes.

The two countries have no diplomatic relations.

A pro-North Korean group in Tokyo has called for people living in Japan to come out and support the athletes.

A video published by Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korean publication based in Japan, showed students from Korea University explaining how to cheer for teams at the Games.

The smiling students demonstrate chants and songs and urge people to attend events wearing the red of North Korea.

The Belarusian -- who will surrender her world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina even if she earns the title -- was simply unstoppable in a 7-5, 6-2 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she beat Pegula en route to US Open victories in 2024 and 2025.

Sabalenka, bidding to join Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women to win three straight US Open titles, struck 29 winners, including seven aces, pounding third-seeded Pegula remorselessly with her powerful groundstrokes.

She will take on the winner of the later semi-final between second-seeded Rybakina and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff in Saturday's title match.

On the evidence of her semi-final win, Sabalenka will head into the final bristling with confidence after producing her best performance of the tournament to snuff out Pegula's dream of a first ever Grand Slam title.

"I'm super happy I was able to play such tennis," said Sabalenka, who sent down seven aces and 29 winners. "I was so desperate to win. I wanted it so badly."

Both Sabalenka and Gauff served superbly in a tense first set that came down to the final game.

Sabalenka's frustration at her inability to make any headway against Pegula's serve showed with shrugs and a bounced racquet, but she maintained her focus and was rewarded as Pegula, feeling the pressure to stay in the set as she served down 6-5, fell behind 0-40.

The American saved one set point but couldn't salvage the next as Sabalenka seized control of the point with a fierce service return and took the set when Pegula hit a forehand into the net.

Sabalenka kept rolling in the second set, attacking Pegula's suspect second serve and seizing a break for a 3-1 lead when she lasered a forehand into the corner.

She sealed the victory with another break, unleashing another thunderous forehand on match point.

It was more Grand Slam disappointment for Pegula, who fell to Sabalenka in the 2024 final -- her only major final to date -- and in the semi-finals last year.

Sabalenka, 28, has had a slow summer since winning back to back titles at Indian Wells and Miami in March, opening the door to Rybakina to end her reign atop the rankings that began in October 2024.

Rybakina was bracing for a hostile reception against Gauff, who has been a favorite of New York crowds since her US Open debut as a 15-year-old wild card in 2019.

- Rybakina eyes title -

Their head to head record is 1-1, but Gauff's win came back in 2023 with Rybakina taking their most recent encounter in the semi-finals at Toronto just last month.

The Kazakh star has appeared untroubled by the heel injury that clouded her preparations for the Open, leaving her unable to walk without pain for several days.

Rybakina had been closing in on Sabalenka's number one ranking for weeks. Having secured it, she was trying to stay laser focused on the hunt for a third Grand Slam title to go with Australian Open title she captured in January -- four years after she lifted her first major trophy at Wimbledon.

"Mostly you think about the titles in the end of the day," she said.

The men's semi-finals are on Friday, when eighth-seeded Ben Shelton takes on 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in an all-American clash.

Shelton took out defending champion and seven-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz in an epic quarter-final that ended at 3:34 am on Wednesday -- the latest finish in tournament history.

"Big Ben" and "Big Foe" will duel for a chance to end American men's 23-year Grand Slam title drought -- stretching back to Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open victory.

The winner will take on either top-seeded Alexander Zverev or unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov -- who ousted third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime on the way to his third career Grand Slam semi.

The 41-year-old former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus superstar said in August that it was "probably my last year in football".

The Portuguese attacker has nearly won it all during his club career, including five UEFA Champions League crowns.

But the Asian Champions League has so far eluded the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

His Al Nassr side go into the latest continental campaign under a new coach in former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked by Spurs in June 2025 despite taking them to Europa League glory.

Along with Ronaldo, the Riyadh-based outfit have proven international attacking quality in Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mane and Ronaldo's Portugal team-mate Joao Felix.

Al Nassr are second in the Saudi Pro League after six matches, behind Al Hilal only on goal difference.

The skipper Ronaldo has been in good form, scoring three times in five league games.

Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal present a major obstacle in Ronaldo's bid to win the AFC Champions League for the first time.

Al Hilal were major spenders in the recent transfer window, snapping up Aston Villa's England striker Ollie Watkins and Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal for a combined $150 million.

- Japan threat -

The format of the Asian Champions League is heavily skewed in favour of teams from Saudi Arabia, which is spending vast fortunes on football and will host the 2034 World Cup.

Since the 2024-2025 season the competition was rebranded as the Champions League Elite and the quarter-finals, semis and final are held in a centralised location in Saudi Arabia.

Al Ahli made the most of home advantage by winning the title in 2025 and 2026.

An Al Ahli side with England's Ivan Toney in attack beat Japan's Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time in April's final on home turf in Jeddah.

Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Al Hilal will be joined in this year's competition by Al Ittihad and Al Qadsiah, making it a bumper five Saudi sides among the 32 teams.

As in recent years, the competition is divided equally into two leagues of East and West.

Each side will play four matches at home and four away.

The biggest threat to the Saudi stranglehold will likely come from Japan -- teams from Asia's strongest footballing nation have reached the final in each of the last four editions.

There are also five J. League teams, prime among them reigning domestic champions Kashima Antlers.

Former Kashima star Yasushi Endo admitted the Saudi teams would be hard to beat.

"It's difficult for Japanese teams to be champions these days given the financial strength of teams in the West who can invest heavily in players that traditionally play in strong European leagues," he said.

"With the tournament being played in a centralised format in the West, it also makes things extra difficult.

"We cannot underplay the importance of having large fan support."

Guangdong Women's FC is a competitive club in China's top-tier women's football league. The club is currently seventh in the 2026 league standings and regularly face some of the country's leading teams.

The match marked the end of Bangladesh's China preparation phase. The team will now leave China for Japan tomorrow (Friday) and is scheduled to arrive in Nagoya at around 9 pm.

From Nagoya, the Bangladesh team will travel by bus to Osaka, where it will be based during the women's football competition at the Asian Games.

Bangladesh advanced to the knockout stage as unbeaten champions of the Challenger Pool and entered the quarterfinal with confidence. The red-and-green brigade fought hard against Japan but failed to find the net.

Bangladesh's campaign in the tournament, however, is not over yet. They will play their final classification match on Saturday (Sept 12) either with Malaysia or South Korea.

A victory in the classification match will see Bangladesh finish fifth in the tournament, while a defeat will leave them sixth.

Despite the quarterfinal setback, head coach Arif Ali remains hopeful of keeping Bangladesh's World Cup dream alive.

Bangladesh advanced to the knockout stage as unbeaten champions of the Challenger Pool and entered the quarterfinal with confidence. The red-and-green brigade fought hard against Japan but failed to find the net.

Bangladesh's campaign in the tournament, however, is not over yet. They will play their final classification match on Saturday (Sept 12) either with Malaysia or South Korea.

A victory in the classification match will see Bangladesh finish fifth in the tournament, while a defeat will leave them sixth.

Despite the quarterfinal setback, head coach Arif Ali remains hopeful of keeping Bangladesh's World Cup dream alive.

Representing Bangladesh are FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman, Mohammad Obaidul Islam Shahin, Md. Aktar Hossain and Nurnahar Tonima. 

Mohammad Farhadur Rahman is the head of delegation, while Md. Arifuzzaman Arif is the non-playing captain of the team.

Miraz, who joined Guyana as a replacement for Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi, finished with 3-13 from four overs as the Kings were bowled out for 119. Guyana raced to the victory in 18.3 overs, scoring 122-6.

The Bangladesh spinner struck in his first over and later removed John Campbell in the seventh over. He added the wickets of Kemal Savory and Charith Asalanka in his third over to cap an excellent debut.

Savory was given out leg before wicket, although a review would have overturned the decision after replays showed the delivery would have missed the stumps.

Miraz's performance was complemented by Guyana captain Imran Tahir, who claimed a remarkable 5-17 in four overs. The pair's spin attack dismantled the St Lucia batting lineup and restricted the Kings to a modest total.

Guyana reached the target in 18.3 overs after losing six wickets. Miraz, however, was dismissed for one run in the chase.

Tahir was named Player of the Match but praised Miraz after the game, saying the team had faced a challenge replacing Nabi, one of Guyana's leading performers this season.

"We had Nabi and obviously, his standards were really, really high. You know, he's been our best bowler," Tahir said after the match. "But look, Miraz came and I think he felt, to be honest with you, nothing, and then he bowled really, really well. I think just exactly how we were thinking."

He also dubbed Miraz as world class bowler and hoped that he would continue in same vein. 

"So it's really nice to have him. He's a world-class bowler and has been performing all over the world internationally. So I'm very excited, obviously, to bowl with him and all the other guys around him."

Nabi, Guyana's leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets in seven matches, left the CPL to join Afghanistan's T20 series against India. Miraz joined Guyana with eight matches remaining in the tournament.

The match kicks off at 8 pm Bangladesh time.  

The second match between the two sides will be held on September 13.
These two matches will definitely give Bangladesh a chance to measure themselves against the host side on their home ground.

Bangladesh squad - Megla Rani, Jyoti Khatun, Homayara Akter, Most Mim Islam, Mousumi Akter, Tithi Rani Mahato, SoroviRani, Mst Amena Khatun, Mishu Rani, unia Akter, Mst Taspia Akter Tisha, Joba Rani, Mst Amina, Reya, Umma Kulsum, Nurjahan Akter Moni, Fatema Akter, Most Runa Akter, Tangial Afroz Hira, Purnima Marma, Alpi Akter and Kumari Payel Rani. 

Xabi Alonso's side were in danger of crashing out following Tarik Muharemovic's first-half opener and a Brenden Aaronson goal soon after the interval at Stamford Bridge.

But Alonso sent on England forward Palmer, along with Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James, at half-time and the decision inspired Chelsea's stirring escape act.

Palmer struck twice to haul Chelsea level and Neto put them ahead before Welbeck made it four.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin got one back for Leeds, but Valentin Barco and Welbeck netted to ensure Chelsea moved into the fourth round in style.

Losing 2-1 at Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday had ended Alonso's three-game winning start to his reign.

But the Chelsea boss got back on track with the kind of chaotic victory that has defined his brief spell in charge.

Chelsea have scored 16 goals in Alonso's first five matches to showcase their attacking talent.

But they have conceded 10 to prove the defensive issues that plagued them last season have not gone away since Alonso's arrival.

Despite spending o349 million ($472 million) during the transfer window, Chelsea ended the Arsenal game with James and Malo Gusto -- two players who are usually right-backs -- operating in central midfield.

Alonso fielded another untested alignment in the midfield engine room as teenage debut Reggie Watson lined up alongside Argentine youngster Barco.

The 16-year-old Watson -- the fourth youngest player in Chelsea's history -- is the son of Ben Watson, who scored Wigan's FA Cup final winner against Manchester City in 2013.

Alonso's decision to make nine changes was in danger of backfiring when Leeds went in front from a 23rd-minute corner.

- Chelsea goal spree -

Harry Wilson's delivery to the far post caught Chelsea flat-footed and Bosnia defender Muharemovic powered a header past Mike Penders for his first Leeds goal.

Leeds seemed unfazed by the introduction of Chelsea's stars at the interval and they struck again in the 48th minute.

Ethan Ampadu's cross was flicked on by Lukas Nmecha and Aaronson finished with aplomb.

But Chelsea earned a crucial lifeline five minutes later when Daniel James's soft challenge on Pep Chavarria was deemed worthy of a penalty that Palmer stroked home.

Just two minutes later, Chelsea were level when Palmer's shot trickled past Leeds' debutant goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.

Suddenly, Chelsea were rampant and Neto curled their third goal beyond Zetterer from 20 yards in the 60th minute.

Alonso's men made it four goals in the space of just 12 minutes as Welbeck turned and smashed a powerful strike past Zetterer's weak attempted save.

Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit in the 75th minute with a clinical finish from Noah Okafor's pass.

But Barco swept into the empty net after Zetterer made a hash of Rogers's cross in the 80th minute.

And Welbeck rounded off the goal spree in stoppage time with a cushioned header from Barco's shot.

League Cup holders Manchester City and Premier League champions Arsenal play their third-round ties next week against Norwich and Ipswich respectively.

Liverpool, who host Tottenham, and Manchester United, who welcome Brighton to Old Trafford, are also in action next week.

Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Bradford all advanced to the fourth round on Tuesday.

The record 15-time European champions took a two-goal lead through Kylian Mbappe and Fede Valverde thanks to two Inter errors in the first half.

Carlos Augusto smashed home for Cristian Chivu's team in the second half but they could not find an equaliser in a pulsating battle at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid coach Mourinho led the Italian side to Champions League glory in 2010 at the same stadium, the last time either they or he managed to lift the trophy, a few days before joining Los Blancos for his first stint at the helm.

After two seasons without a major trophy and enduring early European exits, Madrid president Florentino Perez brought back the Portuguese veteran to try and stop the rot, and Mourinho got the team off to both a triumphant and entertaining start to the league phase.

Mourinho's side bounced back from a first defeat of the season at Real Betis in La Liga on Friday, although goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several smart saves and Inter were wasteful.

"It was a crazy game," Mourinho told Movistar.

"Often there's criticism when a match is boring and today it was a crazy game.

"A game that finished 2-1 could have finished 7-6 without any problems."

Mourinho admitted his team struggled to control the game but said Inter were incapable of doing so either.

"If you don't have control and they have it, it's a very difficult situation," he continued.

"However, if you don't have it and they don't have it... Courtois made a lot of saves, but how many chances did we not take?... It was a great game."

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez said his team were wasteful in front of goal as Courtois, on his 100th Champions League game, made several saves.

"We were unable to make the most of all the chances we created," said the Inter skipper.

"We still leave here with heads held high, as we played at a high level against a great opponent.

"Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but we need to improve in front of goal and could have done better."

The Italians started energetically in attack but were destabilised by two grievous errors at the back.

Madrid stopper Courtois made two saves as the visitors probed early.

However, in the 14th minute Curtis Jones's poor pass put Yann Bisseck under pressure and Brahim Diaz poked the ball through to Mbappe, who swiftly fired home.

Madrid's second was gobbled up by Valverde when Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez dallied on the ball and the Uruguay international charged straight for him and tackled the ball into the net.

- 'Crazy' second half -

Mourinho's side should have added another before half-time but Martinez made amends for his mistake with a sensational save to thwart Jude Bellingham.

Mbappe blazed past Inter's defence and Martinez saved his low shot before somehow blocking Bellingham's effort from point-blank range.

Courtois added to his collection of impressive saves by pushing away Alessandro Bastoni's low drive as Inter tried to find a foothold.

"The second half was a bit too crazy and that's something to improve," said Courtois.

Carlos Augusto then blasted past the Belgian from Lautaro Martinez's cross in the 77th minute to give Madrid a nervy ending to the game.

But Courtois saved his side again as he beat away a deflected Henrikh Mkhitaryan effort to ensure Real took all three points.

Valverde was named player of the match but he said the credit also belonged to Courtois.

"I think he saved us today, he produced an incredible performance, so I think this is his prize too," admitted Valverde.

There were also wins for Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund on the first night of action in this season's league phase, as the opening matchday spreads across three nights.

Record 15-time European champions Real have brought back Mourinho for a second spell in charge, and his first game back in the competition came against the side he led to Champions League glory in 2010.

Madrid were two goals ahead midway through the first half at the Bernabeu thanks to two gifts from the Inter defence, with Yann Bisseck at fault as Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring on his 99th appearance in the competition.

Mbappe has now scored 71 Champions League goals, equalling the tally of Real legend Raul.

The home side doubled their lead when Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez tried to turn away from Fede Valverde inside his own six-yard box only for the Uruguayan to tackle him and score.

Carlos Augusto pulled one back for Inter, but Real held on for the victory.

"It was a crazy game," Mourinho told broadcaster Movistar. "A game that finished 2-1 could have finished 7-6 without any problems."

Enzo Maresca's City won 2-0 away to Portuguese champions Porto thanks to a second-half brace by Haaland, the first coming two minutes after the restart when he headed in Enzo Fernandez's cross.

Haaland sealed the points in stoppage time and has now scored an astonishing 59 goals in 59 appearances in the Champions League.

"Erling Haaland is an animal. He is a beast, so every time he is on the pitch, I'm going to look for him, and hopefully give him many more assists," Fernandez told Amazon Prime.

It was a fourth straight victory in all competitions for City, Champions League winners in 2023, whose next European game will be at home to title-holders Paris Saint-Germain.

- Welcome win for Villa -

Villa, last season's Europa League winners, put their poor start to this campaign behind them to beat Belgian champions Club Brugge 3-2 away.

John McGinn curled into the far corner to open the scoring for Unai Emery's side, who have not yet scored a goal three games into the Premier League season.

Hugo Vetlesen equalised for the hosts, but Emiliano Buendia quickly restored Villa's lead and then Nicolas Jackson made it 3-1 two minutes before the break.

The summer signing ran through to score his first Villa goal after home goalkeeper Yann Sommer came flying out of his box and failed to get to the ball.

Nicolo Tresoldi pulled another one back just after the hour mark following a handball by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The same player hit the post soon after, but Villa claimed a welcome victory.

"We took one step forward today and it was very, very important for our confidence and stability," said Emery.

Serhou Guirassy was the chief protagonist as Dortmund, runners-up in 2024, started their campaign with a 3-2 home win against Villarreal.

Renato Veiga's own goal gave Dortmund the lead early in the second half, but Santiago Mourino headed in the equaliser for the Spanish side.

However, Guirassy put the Germans back in front with 10 minutes left, then converted a penalty for his second and his team's third. He rounded things off with an own goal when a Gregor Kobel save ricocheted back off Guirassy's face and went in.

- Ueda Champions League -

Troy Parrott was the hero for Real Betis for the second time in five days as the Spaniards came from behind twice to win 3-2 against Lille in France.

Marc Bartra equalised twice for Betis, cancelling out goals by Japan's Ayase Ueda and Brazil defender Alexsandro for Davide Ancelotti's Lille.

Irish striker Parrott, who scored his new club's winner against Madrid at the weekend, then struck the decisive goal on 53 minutes as Betis claimed a victory on their return to the Champions League after a 21-year absence.

Lille finished with 10 men as Ethan Mbappe, younger brother of Kylian, was sent off.

In the night's other game, Greek champions AEK Athens beat Austrian title winners LASK 1-0 thanks to a stunning Razvan Marin free-kick.

Bayern fell agonisingly short against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in a wild semi-final last campaign.

PSG won a manic first leg 5-4 and then frustrated Bayern in a 1-1 draw in the second in Munich to advance to the final, where they beat Arsenal on penalties to win a second straight title.

Bayern start their latest tilt at a seventh European Cup at home against Norwegians Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

Those around the club, such as former midfielder and 2013 winner Bastian Schweinsteiger, believe only a lack of squad depth in what will be another a punishing season could derail Bayern's hopes of winning the trophy for the first time since 2020.

Coach Vincent Kompany has made the Champions League the team's target, alongside Bayern's almost default domestic dominance.

"The goals with Bayern are always the highest: winning the Bundesliga, winning the Pokal (German Cup), winning the Champions League –- and maybe even winning every game," Kompany told the club magazine in August.

Bayern have twice made the Champions League semi-finals in Kane's three years at the club, but no further.

Bayern were within touching distance of the final in 2023-24, but became the latest victims of a smash and grab from a title-bound Real Madrid.

Kane was substituted with Bayern holding a one-goal lead with six minutes remaining in the second leg, only for the Spanish giants to score twice in the space of three minutes to turn the tie on its head.

"Yes, we're really close," Kane told TNT Sports on Monday of Bayern's chances this season.

"I think last year was the finest of margins -- to go out to a team who has won the Champions League back-to-back. There's no shame in that.

"We're coming into this season now saying that it needs to be our year. We need to find a way to get it done."

- 'Luck at the right moment' -

The England captain has been part of plenty of near-misses in his career for club and country.

Long derided for a lack of team trophies, Kane has five since arriving at Bayern -- including two Bundesligas and a German Cup -- and said he now knows what it takes to win.

"It is not just about being the best team. Sometimes you also need a bit of luck at the right moment," Kane said.

Fortune with injuries could define Bayern's season.

Bayern made two major additions in the summer, opting for depth and versatility in what will be a punishing campaign.

In came Ismael Saibari, who can play anywhere across the forward line, along with Germany's Nathaniel Brown, who has been shifted between left-back and midfield this season.

Schweinsteiger said Bayern "will dominate the Bundesliga" but depth may still be a concern, particularly with the uncertainty around Jamal Musiala.

After collapsing in pre-season games, Musiala revealed he is suffering from a neurological disorder which can lead to seizures, but he was able to return without incident in Saturday's scoreless draw at Schalke.

"We have to see. There are some suggestions they may still be one or two players short," Schweinsteiger told AFP.

"The situation with Jamal Musiala is difficult, so it will be interesting how Bayern Munich manage it, because over the course of a season you need strong options from the bench.

"When I think back to the matches against PSG, their options from the bench made a difference in the second leg.

"Luis Enrique made excellent tactical adjustments in the second half of the match in Munich to win and progress.

"In matches like those, Bayern Munich may need to adapt their style of play, because PSG's attacking players, and indeed the team as a whole, pose a different challenge from those Bayern Munich usually face in the Bundesliga."

Tiafoe edged 22-year-old Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6) to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows for the third time in five years.

American 11th seed Tiafoe had all he could handle from his young compatriot, who hadn't dropped a set in reaching the first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career.

He was on the brink of another three-set win when he served for the match at 5-4 in the third, but a pair of double faults opened the door to Tiafoe and the more experienced player plowed through.

"I feel like I just handed it to him," a dejected Michelsen, ranked 46th in the world, said. "Then after that he started playing really good."

It would take two more sets before Tiafoe landed a forehand winner to clinch the 10-point match tiebreaker after four hours and 38 minutes, Michelsen weeping in the winner's arms as they met at the net.

"I was trying to keep it together, and I didn't do a good job of that," Michelsen said. "The match was very emotionally draining. Frances, he's such a good guy and he said a lot of personal things and just kind of got to me."

Michelsen had come out swinging on Arthur Ashe Stadium against an uncharacteristically passive Tiafoe, who usually feeds on the energy of the crowd.

"They were flat, but I was even more flat than the fans," Tiafoe said. "I was joking about that, but they definitely woke up as I started to pick it up."

After surviving the third set, he had a new lease of life, and even when Michelsen responded with an early break in the final set Tiafoe refused to fold.

"The moment is huge," said Tiafoe, who next faces either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or eighth seeded American Ben Shelton.

"I've won a lot of great matches here. I've lost a lot of tough matches here as well. It feels amazing to get this done."

Volpato was reported in July to have allegedly tested positive for cocaine after he was pulled over for speeding in Sydney.

New South Wales police said on Wednesday that a second sample taken at the time had also tested positive.

They said a 22-year-old man -- widely identified as Italy-based Volpato by local media -- was fined Aus$722 (US$522).

His driving licence has also been suspended since July.

Volpato, an attacking midfielder for Serie A side Sassuolo, made three appearances at the World Cup after switching his international allegiance from Italy to Australia shortly before the tournament.

He was born and raised in Sydney before moving overseas and represented Italy at various youth levels.

Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.

About 104mm (four inches) of rain fell in an hour in Nagoya on Tuesday, prompting municipal officials to issue an evacuation order for parts of the city.

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather events in Japan and elsewhere.

There is no dedicated athletes' village at this year's Asian Games, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.

An official with Nagoya Port Authority told AFP that "hundreds" of athletes staying at the city's Garden Pier area, where the wooden container huts are located, were told to move to safety.

The athletes returned after the evacuation order was lifted about two hours later.

The Asian Games officially begin with an opening ceremony on September 19 but several events get under way before that.

The basketball competition begins on Thursday.

Rainwater was found in several competition venues but Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said the facilities were not seriously affected and that events would go on as scheduled.

"There has been limited impact like rainwater leaking from the roofs of some buildings, but the situation is not so serious that the opening on the 19th is in jeopardy for now," he said.

"Given the current circumstances, I believe there will be no obstacles to holding the Asian Games."

More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected at the Games -- a bigger number than the Olympics.

Subway and bus services in Nagoya were temporarily halted on Tuesday and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest flood warning for a major river in the area.

Zverev, who had been taken to five sets in his opening two matches of the tournament, raced past 21st seed Darderi 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) in 2hr 30mins on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

The 29-year-old French Open champion was in complete control throughout, punishing Darderi's woeful service game to grab an early double break in the first set for a 3-0 lead.

Darderi, who has failed to go further than the fourth round at any Grand Slam in his career, never looked like forcing his way back into the set thereafter.

Zverev mopped up the first set easily and was soon back on the attack in the second, once again securing a quick double-break for a 3-0 lead before holding with ease to go two sets up.

Darderi did manage to rally in the third set, suddenly finding his range with some blistering forehands and holding off four break points in the 11th game to help set up a tie-break.

But Zverev's superior service game meant there was only going to be one winner in the tie-break, a thunderous serve giving him a 5-2 lead before a scorching forehand into the corner took him to match point.

Zverev then wrapped up victory with his 13th ace of the game and will now face Dutch veteran Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarter-finals.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Zhang Jun, then president of the Chinese Badminton Association (CBA), was accused in April of "serious violations of discipline and law".

The phrase is commonly used in China when referring to corruption.

On Tuesday the CBA said Zhang Xin -- an official from China's General Administration of Sport -- will be the new president.

The CBA will "resolutely see through the fight against corruption, drawing lessons from previous cases", Zhang said after being appointed.

He warned people should "not dare to be corrupt, not be corrupt and not want to be corrupt".

Under Chinese President Xi Jinping there has been a widespread crackdown on officials, extending into sport.

Just as Zhang Xin came in Tuesday, CBA vice-president Xia Xuanze was removed from his post.

Xia, an Olympic bronze medallist in 2000, was placed under investigation for suspected "serious violations of the law" in August.

China is a badminton superpower and consistently the most successful country in the sport at the Olympics.

The Japanese star had received treatment during a medical timeout in her third-round win over Elise Mertens and said the problem troubled her more in her 6-1, 6-4 loss to Rybakina.

"The last match I played, I felt a lot in my leg," Osaka said. "Then this morning, it just got a lot worse. I felt like I played the best that I could given the situation.

"I can't really push off like I want, and when I land, it hurts a little," Osaka added. "I was trying to figure out ways to, I guess, minimize it. I thought if I served a little slower the impact when I land would be less."

Reigning Australian Open champion Rybakina needed just 66 minutes to get past Osaka, who is hopeful she can manage the injury through the end of the season.

"Yesterday I got an ultrasound, and then I got an ultrasound again just now, and I'm probably going to go get an MRI, because, honestly, I don't really know too much about what's going on," she said.

"Thankfully we're at the end of the year, so after the Asian swing, we do get two weeks off. I'm just going to make do with the time that I have and try to be smart about the amount of matches I play."

More than two years since she returned to the tour after an extended maternity leave, Osaka said she is pleased with her Grand Slam season.

She exited the Australian Open in the third round but made the last 16 at Roland Garros and had a best-ever quarter-final run at Wimbledon that included a vitory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.

"I started the year injured," she said. "I don't know if this counts as ending the year injured, but I definitely learned a lot about myself, about my tennis.

"I got the furthest that I've ever gotten in the French and in Wimbledon. Hopefully I can continue to build on that and just play more matches with these really good players, because I feel like I need those under my belt."

"Number one is, of course, one of the goals. But I think the main focus for me, for the team, is to win the titles, and then the ranking will follow up. We go match by match, but obviously we want to win the titles, the tournaments."

-- World number two Elena Rybakina, who reached the quarter-finals with a win over Naomi Osaka and is assured of seizing the top spot if she reaches the semi-finals.

"Physically it was a real battle today on court. I was struggling a lot with my rib, especially while serving. It kept getting worse throughout the match. Eventually the doctor gave me some medication, which really helped me towards the end of the third set, where in the fourth set I could finally serve normal again how I usually serve. I think I got a bit lucky."

-- Alexander Blockx, who beat Francisco Cerundolo in four sets to become the first Belgian man to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

"I just kind of feel like maybe I'm more at peace in a way that I'm not as demanding of myself anymore. After winning French Open, I feel like every match that I play I have to win I won the biggest tournament of my life. Now I have to go out there and win every match that I play. Now ... I'm just trying to, like, forget that it was a Grand Slam, trying not to think about it, not overthink ... chill, enjoy and that's how I approach things right now."

-- Russian Mirra Andreeva on how she's managing her own expectations after winning her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

"In tennis, you're more used to losing than winning. I don't feel like I need to, like, bounce back from anything. Just need to focus on the work before next tournaments, and there are going to be other chances to play good tennis, and I will focus on growing and developing my game. That's it."

-- Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek after falling to Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round of the US Open.

"I think I am happy that I'm taking losses differently. I'm trying to learn from them a lot more. I'm sad that I couldn't do what I've set out to do, but if I think about my life, my daughter is healthy, everyone in my family is great. I had an opportunity to play this Slam. I got as far as I could."

-- Naomi Osaka who battled an Achilles tendon injury in her fourth-round loss to Elena Rybakina.

"No clue actually ... still standing, so that's a good thing."

-- Botic van de Zandschulp after rallying from two sets down to beat Arthur Gea in five in a five-hour, 13 minute marathon.

"I would say right now, the most important challenge for me is to keep this humble and be there, fight like I have nothing. The reality is you are just 125, so you are not the top 10 you were before. Don't treat yourself so high. You are here as everyone else. You start from the ground, so stay there and keep fighting."

-- Former world No. 4 Zheng Qinwen on adjusting after her ranking dropped in the wake of elbow surgery, forcing her to come through qualifying just to get into the US Open draw.

The Dutch veteran denied 21-year-old Gea a slice of Grand Slam history. The French player had been vying to become the first men's lucky loser to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

A dozen lucky losers -- players who lost in qualifying but made it into the draw when someone withdrew -- had made it to the round of 16 at this level, but none had gone further.

Gea, ranked 87th in the world, lost in the final round of qualifying but reached the main draw when 18th-seeded Casper Ruud withdrew with a back injury.

He nearly broke through, but the Netherlands' van de Zandschulp saved a match point in the third set and almost two hours later sealed a win that put him into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2021.

The five-hour, 13-minute marathon was just shy of the record-longest US Open match, Dan Evans's five-hour, 35-minute first-round victory over Karen Khachanov in 2024.

An exhausted van de Zandschulp told the crowd he didn't know how he did it.

"No clue actually," the 30-year-old said. "Crazy comeback -- five hours, 15 minutes, still standing, so that's a good thing.

"I think this is probably even better than the first quarter-final I made here," added van de Zandschulp. "It's been some tough years, but started to play better this year again.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I think tomorrow it's going to be a great feeling."

Next up for van de Zandschulp could be top-seeded Alexander Zverev.

The Dutch player has some history with upsets at the US Open. In 2024 he stunned then third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the second round.

Gauff, seeded fourth this year, beat the 14th-seeded Jovic 6-1, 6-4 in 80 minutes.

The match marked a rare instance in which two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff, still only 22, faced a younger American in the 18-year-old Jovic, who pushed Gauff in the second set after being routed in the first.

"She plays beyond her years," Gauff said. "I'm looking to many more battles out here."

Gauff said she served "really well" and called the win, along with a second-round victory over Spain's Paula Badosa, her best matches so far this year.

Gauff has yet to lose a set so far in New York and has pointed to an improved serve as a source of confidence.

"I'm able to rely on a lot of different things to win points in many different ways, and I think that gives me a confidence," Gauff said after Monday's match.

Broken to open the contest, Gauff reeled off six straight games to take the first set.

Gauff said some of the marathon rallies left her breathless, but she came out on top of them more often than not.

Jovic picked up the pace in the second set, rushing the net behind strong shots to keep Gauff on the defensive.

Their net exchanges won loud applause from fans, and Gauff finished the match with a surprise serve-and-volley ambush, landing a volley that Jovic couldn't put back in play.

Gauff will next face French Open champion and fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia in the quarter-finals. Gauff has won all five of their prior meetings.

Despite the strong record against Andreeva, Gauff noted that most of the matches have been close. In their last contest, Gauff defeated Andreeva 6-4 in the third set in the quarter-finals of Rome, shortly before Andreeva's Paris triumph.

"She's obviously in a different mindset now, at the top of the game, coming off a Grand Slam win," Gauff said of the Russian. "So I expect her to approach the match completely differently from in the past."

Mammoth defeats in the opening two encounters mean Pakistan have already lost the three-match series in emphatic fashion.

But their response to a 194-run loss in the second Test at Lord's -- which followed an innings reverse in the series opener at Headingley -- surprised even longstanding observers of Pakistan's often volatile cricket scene.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the extraordinary step of sending seven players home and calling up another seven, five of whom are uncapped at Test level.

At the same time, the PCB also sacked Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling chief Umar Gul, replacing them with Pakistan white-ball counterparts Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.

Salman Ali Agha -- Pakistan's captain at Headingley when Babar Azam was injured -- and left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who took a five-wicket haul in that match, were among those told to leave.

So too were experienced wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq, who did not bat in either innings at Lord's because of a calf injury.

No wonder Hesson said last week: "The guys are probably more used to a little bit of chaos than I am. I don't think anyone wants this to happen in the middle of a series."

Hesson, a former head coach of his native New Zealand, added: "From my perspective, it is about putting a balanced squad together, not only for this Test, so we actually have some variety in our attack.

"Pakistan is known for the pace, unusual actions, mystery spin -- we haven't really been able to present any of that."

- 'Backfires' -

Azhar Ali, a member of the Pakistan side that topped the Test world rankings a decade ago, said much of the blame for the current debacle rests with Aaqib Javed, the PCB's high performance director since 2024.

"Every decision he makes backfires and he then says: 'It's not me'", former Pakistan captain Ali told the Guardian, with Jason Gillespie, an ex-Pakistan coach, saying Javed needed to "look at himself in the mirror".

The PCB subsequently announced Monday an investigation into the squad's conduct in England.

Of more immediate concern, however, to the incoming Pakistan players is with no tour games between the second and third Tests they will have little chance to acclimatise to conditions.

England captain Joe Root, second in Test cricket's list of all-time run-scorers, said after Lord's that a combination of seam-friendly pitches, overcast skies and responsive cricket balls had created a "perfect storm" for batsmen on both sides.

But it is Pakistan, yet to reach 200 in any of their four innings this series, who have really struggled against England's revamped pace quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.

The challenge for England, is to maintain the professionalism -- a sharp contrast to the extravagances at the end of the Bazball era -- that has carried them to a first Test series win in over a year by rounding off returning skipper Root's first series back in charge with a whitewash.

The fear among Pakistan supporters is even a win in Birmingham could do more long-term harm than good by papering over the cracks in a dysfunctional set-up.

One of cricket's enduring cliches is Pakistan are a "mercurial" team.

But a side who have lost 15 of their last 20 Tests are now all too predictable, with Ali lamenting: "We've become totally consistent -- in the most negative way."

It was one more gritty win for Zheng, the Paris Olympics gold medallist and a former world number four now ranked 121st after struggling in the wake of elbow surgery last year.

Zheng had won the last seven games saving a match point as she shocked Madison Keys in her previous match.

After falling behind 5-0 in the first set against six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek she again reeled off seven straight.

She then broke Swiatek twice in the second set to clinch the win.

Swiatek, who fell to Zheng in the gold medal match in Paris two years ago, left the Arthur Ashe Stadium in tears.

"I guess to come back from 0-5 (Saturday) is not lucky, that's all I can say," Zheng said after becoming the first qualifier or lucky loser to beat Swiatek at a Grand Slam.

Zheng said it took her some time to settle in on the cavernous Ashe court, noting it's been "a long, long time" since she'd been scheduled on a main show court.

"I just focus on point by point," Zheng said, adding that she was so focused on the rallies that she lost track of the score.

Zheng is the first qualifier to reach the US Open women's quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu -- who went on to win the title -- in 2021.

She'll next face world number two Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion who cruised past a hurting Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 in just 66 minutes.

Rybakina is not only chasing a third Grand Slam title. If she beats Zheng to reach the semi-finals she will seize the number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka -- even if the Belarusian wins a third straight crown.

"Of course I want it," Rybakina said. "I don't know anyone who wouldn't wish this."

But, she added: "I try to approach the same, fight to the end my next match -- let's see what will happen."

Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals for the first time since she won the title in 2023, beating 18-year-old US compatriot Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-4.

Gauff next faces fifth-seeded French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 winner over Anastasia Potapova.

An injury to Potapova in the final game marred an entertaining contest. When Potapova crashed to the ground lunging for a ball Andreeva rushed to her side. The Russian-born Austrian received treatment on her knee before limping to the finish line.

Alexander Blockx's dream debut continued with a gritty 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo, which made the 21-year-old the first Belgian man to reach the US open last eight.

Blockx, who started the year ranked outside the top 100, said he was "close to retiring" because of sharp pain in an injured rib in the first set.

"Even before the match I was already under medication, and during the match I had medication. So if you feel that much pain while having a lot of medication, that's not a good sign," he said.

Men's top seed Alexander Zverev was once again slated to close the action on Ashe, taking on 21st-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi.

The French Open champion has become a late-night fixture, playing into the small hours not only in two five-set marathons but also in his three-set third round win over Alejandro Tabilo.

The German is vying to make the US Open quarter-finals for a fifth time while Darderi will make the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time if he can pull off the biggest win of his career.

France's Arthur Gea was vying for a slice of Grand Slam history against Botic van de Zandschulp. He could become the first men's lucky loser ever to reach the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.

The 21-year-old Blockx, seeded 28th in his Flushing Meadows debut, out-lasted 24th-seeded Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Blockx, who upset fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli in the third round, backed up that win with a determined performance during which he received "magical medication" from the doctor to combat a "sharp pain in my rib.

"I was just holding on to be honest," Blockx said. "Even though I won that first set 6-3, it could have been the other way round."

Later, Blockx told reporters he might have retired had he lost the third set.

"I was really close to retiring, to be honest," he said. "I was just hanging in there, but I think if I would have lost the third set, I think the chances were really high of me retiring."

"Even before the match I was already under medication, and during the match I had medication. So if you feel that much pain while having a lot of medication, that's not a good sign."

But "eventually it got better," he said. "It would have been a shame if I would have retired and then it got better afterwards. I was just lucky."

The win marks the latest stepping stone for Blockx, who began the year outside the top 100 and had to qualify for the Australian Open.

After splitting the first two sets, Blockx and Cerundolo stood level at 5-5 when the Belgian fell behind 0-40 on his serve.

Blockx worked his way back with big serves and booming strokes, holding serve and breaking Cerundolo in the next game to take the third set.

A tight fourth set went with serve until Blockx gained the winning break in the final game, falling to the ground in delight when a shot from the Argentine landed out.

"This morning I stepped onto this court for the first time to warm up and that felt unreal, so to play a match here and win a match here is even crazier," Blockx said

Blockx next faces Russian Karen Khachanov, who edged 14th-seeded American Learner Tien in five sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (6/8)), 6-1, 6-4.

A former US Open semi-finalist, Khachanov beat third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.

That was the assessment of the giant 19-year-old by team-mate Han Xu after China's 74-70 overtime win over the Czech Republic on Sunday in Germany.

The teenage centre scored three points in just over 10 minutes on court against a physical Czech side, having been more of a threat against reigning champions the United States in a 94-61 loss to start the tournament.

After that defeat, USA superstar Caitlin Clark had warm words for Zhang, saying: "I've never played against a woman of that size and she obviously presented some challenges for us.

"I think she's a wonderful player and you see how young she is.

"You can tell she's still growing and learning how to play and how to leverage her advantage, which is her size.

"There's not much you can do to stop her when she gets it really close to the basket."

Zhang's height is listed at 223cm on the website of world governing body FIBA, making her already taller than NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, and even in a sport where height matters, she stands out in women's basketball.

Zhang might be destined for the WNBA, but Clark and Han warned against placing too many expectations on the teenager.

"In life she's just a little girl," said Han, who top-scored for China with 22 points against the Czechs.

"I always want to give her good energy... she can finish to the rim and protect the paint.

"I think she is a great player and we just keep thinking (about) how to use her better and hope she can be more aggressive."

The official website for the Women's Basketball World Cup describes Zhang as "epically tall", noting she first came to international prominence when she was crowned MVP at the U18 Women's Asia Cup two years ago.

Footage and images of Zhang looming over her opponents have gone viral online, but Clark said there was more to her than just that.

"She's still a very young player, but to be this young and to be in a World Cup and to go up against the top players is only going to help her continue to grow," said Clark.

"So I think if she continues to develop, then there's definitely a place for her."

A two-time semi-finalist at New York's Flushing Meadows, the 11th-seeded Tiafoe defeated seventh-seeded Medvedev of Russia 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time in five years.

Medvedev held leads in two of the three sets, but was outplayed by the American at key junctures.

"I played well when it counted," Tiafoe said. "Yeah, I came up with some crazy stuff, but it had to be that good against such a quality player in Daniil."

Tiafoe enjoyed loud support from the crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he has never lost.

After the match, Tiafoe stood before the crowd and pointed to his ear, asking for noise. He also took a virtual basketball shot, acknowledging hoop stars Lisa Leslie, AJ Dybantsa and Victor Oladipo who were in his cheering section.

"The energy has been amazing," Tiafoe told a court-side interviewer. "It's like the people's court. I'm loving the energy for sure."

Medvedev had won six of seven prior matches against the American, including a straight-set drubbing in the same round of the 2020 US Open.

But Medvedev, who won the US Open in 2021 for his only Grand Slam, has had an up-and-down 2026.

He has won two ATP titles and notched a win over Carlos Alcaraz at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.

But Medvedev, who has reached six career Grand Slam finals, failed this year to advance beyond the round of 16 at any Grand Slam.

Medvedev served for the first set, but was broken at 6-5 and then lost the tiebreaker decisively.

Too often, Medvedev was unable to consolidate lead. He hit a brilliant backhand overhead to take a 4-3 lead in the third-set tiebreaker, but followed it up with a feeble backhand error.

Still, the Russian held a set point in the third-set tiebreaker. But Tiafoe got the better of a net exchange between the men, then proceeded to take the next two points to seal the win.

"I should have played better in some moments of the match," Medvedev said.

"I should have made better shots, better decisions, actually. That's what made the difference."

Tiafoe, who reached the final of the pre-US Open warmup tournament in Cincinnati, will next play fellow American Alex Michelsen, a 22-year old who will play his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Michelsen beat 27th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4.

In the 2022 semi-finals, Tiafoe lost in five sets to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, who would go on later that weekend to win his first Grand Slam title.

The two men are in the same half of the draw, and are now just one round away from a potential rematch if both win their next matches.

Head trauma has become one of the most pressing issues facing the hugely-popular game, which is characterised by forceful collisions, tackles and high jumping catches.

Multiple players have been forced into retirement due to repeated concussions and there is a class action case pending against the AFL, the governing body.

The new rules stem from recommendations by a coroner after the death of former player Shane Tuck, who died in 2020 aged 38 and was subsequently diagnosed with the degenerative brain condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

"The health and welfare of our players is the AFL's highest priority," said Laura Kane, the AFL's executive general manager for health and football operations.

"We recognise head trauma is a risk for Australian football, as it is for all contact sports globally, which is why the AFL's comprehensive concussion and head trauma framework is in place."

Starting in 2027, all 18 clubs will be restricted to 120 minutes a week of contact training during the first month of pre-season, including just one hour of high-intensity contact work.

From week five of pre-season until kick-off, the limit will rise to 160 minutes and 120 minutes respectively to accommodate match simulation conditions.

Clubs will not be allowed to put players through high-intensity contact training on consecutive days and must provide vision to the governing body on request.

It follows a two-year consultation involving club football bosses, coaches, medical staff and players, which showed concussions occurred most commonly in match simulation and small-sided high-intensity drills.

"The framework is based on world-class medical advice and is constantly evolving as we deepen our learning and understanding," added Kane.

"The prevention and management of head trauma, and the introduction of AFL pre-season contact training limits is a further step towards achieving our goal of being a global leader in brain health and concussion and head trauma."

PSG successfully defended their title last season when they beat Arsenal on penalties in Budapest, retaining the trophy they won for the first time in their history 12 months earlier.

Luis Enrique's side have already secured their status as one of the competition's greatest teams by winning it back-to-back, something only Real Madrid had previously achieved since the inception of the modern Champions League in 1992.

Winning three in a row would be on another level entirely. Real did exactly that under Zinedine Zidane between 2016 and 2018, The only other teams to manage such a feat are Ajax (1971-73) and Bayern Munich (1974-76), while Madrid also won the first five editions of the European Cup from 1956 to 1960.

"Our objectives are clear. I want to win important trophies and there are none more important than the Champions League," said Luis Enrique, who also led Barcelona to glory in 2015.

The back-to-back titles for the French giants have coincided with the introduction of the new Champions League format, with 36 teams in the league phase now playing eight games against eight different opponents.

The Parisians struggled in the league phase in each of the last two campaigns, finishing outside the top eight and having to come through the additional play-off round to make the last 16.

Tough draws were partly responsible for that, and PSG will face some familiar opponents this time in Manchester City, Barcelona and Aston Villa.

With each passing year, the prospect of a team other than one of Europe's super clubs winning the Champions League seems more remote.

- Arsenal to take next step? -

The Premier League's financial strength means all of its representatives can be expected to feature prominently, with Arsenal chief among them.

Over the last three years, the Gunners have lost in the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and then the final. There is therefore a logical next step for Mikel Arteta's side,

Arsenal topped the league phase last season with a perfect record. They have a tough start this time away to Napoli.

There are five English clubs involved, with Manchester City and Liverpool joined by the returning Manchester United and Villa.

Bayern Munich are formidable, while Jose Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid charged with the task of leading them back to continental glory. Barcelona are itching to get their hands on the trophy again.

It is hard to see beyond one of those clubs, although Inter Milan could have a say and Atletico Madrid will be desperate to reach a final to be held in their stadium.

- Debutants -

The only club outside Spain, England, Germany, Italy and France to have won the Champions League in the last 30 years remains Mourinho's Porto in 2004.

Plenty of new names will add freshness to the competition, including Como, who finished fourth in Serie A last season under Cesc Fabregas to qualify at the expense of AC Milan and Juventus.

Viking Stavanger are in the Champions League proper for the first time after winning a first Norwegian title in 34 years.

Sabah start with a trip to Old Trafford after winning a first Azerbaijani title and coming through four qualifying ties. Their manager, Valdas Dambrauskas, got into coaching with the money he made appearing on the Lithuanian version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'.

"Since I was 12, when I realised I will not be a professional player, I knew I wanted to be a football coach," he said in an interview with Flashscore.

"I cannot guess what would have happened without this game, but I believe I would have found a way to achieve my dream."

Sabah might not qualify for the next stage -- although compatriots Qarabag did that last season -- but just being in the league phase is worth almost 20 million euros ($23.2m) at a minimum, significant sums for clubs from lesser leagues.

The Champions League winners pocket around 90 million euros in prize money, before adding millions more, notably from television -- it is understood PSG earned around 150 million euros for each of their last two victories.

The defeat made it tougher for Bangladesh to top the group and could set a potential semi-final clash against India.

In the last two editions, Bangladesh suffered defeat to India in the semi-final to be crashed out of the tournament.

Batting first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh however managed just 114 runs, setting Sri Lanka a modest target.

Sri Lanka raced to the victory in 19.2 overs with Harshitha Samarawickrama leading the charge with an unbeaten 37 ball-48.

Bangladesh’s bowlers led by pacer Marufa Akhter who claimed 3-21, produced a spirited fight back and at one stage looked to have the match firmly under control after reducing Sri Lanka to 44-5.

But a missed catch in the 18th over proved costly as Sri Lanka regained control and eventually reached the target with four wickets in hand.

Bangladesh batter Sobhana Mostary admitted that the missed chance was a turning point.

“Until the 18th over, the match was in our hands. We missed a catch at deep midwicket in that over. Had we taken it, perhaps we could have won the match,” she said after the game.

Mostary also admitted that Bangladesh’s batting effort had fallen short of expectations.

“The score was not enough because our target was more than 140. We slowed down a little in the middle overs and could not make proper use of the final three or four overs,” she said.

The defeat leaves Bangladesh with little room for error, with their next match against UAE on Tuesday effectively a quarterfinal.

A victory over their next opponents will secure their place in the semi-finals.

“Our entire focus is now on the last match. We have to win this game, and only then will we have a chance to reach the semi-finals,” Mostary said.

The Japanese has suffered multiple injuries, missing four consecutive games this week for the first time since he joined the Dodgers in 2023.

Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3. He has battled inflammation and soreness, and experienced injury setbacks after bullpen throwing sessions.

Roberts on Sunday expressed hope that Ohtani could return to the Dodgers' batting lineup as soon as Monday.

But with just three weeks remaining of the regular season, Roberts downplayed the prospect of Ohtani returning to the mound as a full-fledged starter this year.

"Obviously if you're looking at the calendar, how much he's thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math," said Roberts.

Asked if Ohtani might instead throw just an inning at a time as an opener, Roberts responded: "I think that's unlikely."

Ohtani has played a crucial role as the Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series the past two seasons, but his pitching role has been limited.

After undergoing two right elbow operations in 2023, Ohtani did not take the mound at all for the Dodgers until last June.

After a rehab-free off-season, this was meant to be the year Ohtani returned as a full-time two-way player, with the Japanese star targeting the Cy Young Award for outstanding pitching.

But that has been derailed by injuries to his left knee, right biceps and neck.

Ohtani's batting form has slumped in recent weeks as he has attempted to return as a pitcher.

South Korea's reigning Olympic and world champion will defend her crown when the Asian Games begin on September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan.

The 24-year-old will be overwhelming favourite after winning the China Masters on Sunday with a ruthless 21-17, 21-6 demolition of Tomoka Miyazaki in Shenzhen.

An did not drop a game all week on the way to her seventh title of the season.

"I'm so proud of myself. I'm really pleased with the result and I feel so happy," An said.

Despite being the undoubted dominant force in women's badminton once more this year, An said: "There are many players coming up and challenging.

"I don't think any match can be taken lightly."

The men's singles final was surprisingly an all-Hong Kong affair, with world number 32 Jason Gunawan defeating Lee Cheuk-Yiu 21-9, 21-16.

In the men's doubles, India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat home duo He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu in a three-game battle.

Shetty and Rankireddy will defend their Asian Games men's doubles title in Japan.

"Going into the Asian Games winning a title definitely reassures us what we are working on is heading in the right direction," said Shetty.

"We will go back home, push ourselves to the limit, train for the next 10 days and go all guns blazing in Japan. We want to go out there and have some fun."

China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping won the mixed doubles while Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi of Japan clinched the women's doubles crown.

Two-time women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, booking a last-eight date with Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova.

Second-seeded Alcaraz, playing his first tournament since he was sidelined by a right wrist injury in April, looked closer to his brilliant best in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Paul, the 20th-seeded American who posed the Spaniard's sternest test yet.

"I played my game," said Alcaraz, who unleashed 33 winners as he moved fluidly around the court, thwarting Paul at every turn in the two-hour 20-minute match.

He'll face red-hot Shelton -- a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 winner over Stefanos Tsitsipas -- for a place in the semi-finals.

"I tried to play my style," Alcaraz said. "Tommy is such a talented player. His shots are pretty dangerous and sometimes it's really difficult to control the ball when it comes to you.

"I just tried to be ready for a battle and tried to be aggressive all the time."

Alcaraz grabbed the first break of the contest in the final game of a tight first set.

From there he was in control. He broke Paul twice in the second set and again early in the third.

He finished it off with a gutsy hold of serve in which he saved a pair of break points, the second with a swinging forehand volley that he followed with a forehand winner to set up the only match point he needed.

"I'm really happy with the performance today," Alcaraz said.

Shelton, who needed four sets in each of his first three matches, raised his game to dismantle former world number three Tsitsipas in just one hour and 52 minutes.

The American, riding high after a strong August that included a title at the ATP Montreal Masters, blasted a dozen aces and never faced a break point.

"I played a complete match from start to finish," said Shelton, who was looking forward to taking on Alcaraz.

"I think the level that he's been playing at is really, really impressive. To not play for five months then do what he's done so far this tournament has been super-human."

"I think it's going to be fireworks on Tuesday night," Shelton said.

- Sabalenka on track -

Sabalenka kept her bid for a rare US Open three-peat on track with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over American Taylor Townsend.

The Belarusian, whose world number one ranking is on the line in New York, will face a tough quarter-final against sixth-ranked Czech Noskova, who edged dangerous Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

Sabalenka needed all of her resolve against the multi-faceted Townsend, whose blistering service returns and net prowess flummoxed the Belarusian star in a first set that opened with five breaks of serve.

But her sustained power and precision proved too much and after falling behind 3-1 in the second set she won the last five games to seal the match.

"I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball," Sabalenka said.

"I'm happy that I was able to turn around that second set."

Noskova needed six match points to seal her victory over Kostyuk, failing to convert two in the second set.

"I am more than relieved," Noskova said. "This match was so tough, emotionally more so than physically."

American Frances Tiafoe, the 11th seed who has twice reached the semi-finals in Flushing Meadows, booked his quarter-final berth with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory over former champion Daniil Medvedev.

"Hell of a match," Tiafoe said. "I played well when it counted."

Tiafoe will face compatriot Alex Michelsen for a place in the semi-finals. Michelsen defeated Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4.

Women's third seed Jessica Pegula also advanced the US cause. Pegula, one of the players with a chance to supplant Sabalenka atop the rankings in New York, reached the last eight with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

She will play fellow American Emma Navarro, who defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-2.

Number three Labuschagne has failed to score a century since 2023 and flopped again in two home Tests against Bangladesh last month with scores of one, 31 and four.

He was subsequently axed from Australia's squad for three one-dayers in Zimbabwe and another three in South Africa preceding the Tests.

But selectors opted against a red-ball change for what will be the team's first Test series in South Africa since the infamous "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

"(We're) not shying away from the fact that we'd like some more runs from Marn... but we're also confident that he can still make a positive contribution to that squad," Bailey said.

"Our batting group in its entirety, not just Marn, probably hasn't been functioning as successfully as we would like."

Asked if the South Africa series would be Labuschagne's last chance, Bailey dodged the question.

"No, I wouldn't say that. But again, it's a hypothetical, isn't it?" he said.

Cooper Connolly, Matthew Kuhnemann and Michael Neser were also included in a 16-man squad which was otherwise unchanged form the last Bangladesh Test.

All-rounder Connolly's selection is another indication that the 23-year-old is seen as a long-term prospect while Kuhnemann was preferred to Todd Murphy as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon.

Neser, who like Labuschagne was born in South Africa, provides back-up for the pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Bailey said Connolly was primarily chosen for his batting, most likely as a middle order option but potentially as high as three.

"His overall development will continue to expand his ability to bat in a range of positions," he said.

Australia travel to Durban for the first Test on October 9 before the series moves to Gqeberha and Cape Town.

Only Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw survive from their last Test series in South Africa, when Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all sent home in shame.

Smith was banned for a year and sacked as captain after conspiring to alter the ball using sandpaper during the third Test in Cape Town, while the now-retired Warner, considered the ringleader, was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles.

Australia Test squad:

Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

Jovic, the 14th seed, won five of the last six games for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over 17th-seed Eala after three hours and three minutes.

"That felt like a marathon and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match," Jovic said. "But it's really worth it for this feeling."

Two of the top rising stars of women's tennis made their Arthur Ashe Stadium debut a memorable battle that featured 17 service breaks in 33 games.

"That match, definitely the way it finished, deserved that court," Jovic said.

"It literally took everything to somehow squeeze my way through that."

Jovic, 18 and Eala, 21, are friends and sometime doubles partners, knowing each other's skills and style well. That helped produce seven service breaks in the first 11 games.

"I'm usually not one that shows that many emotions but this one really meant a lot to me. It's everything to have another match here at the US Open," said Jovic.

That match will be against compatriot Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion.

"I'm going to be more than happy to just bring this fight and this energy and whatever happens I can leave with my head high," Jovic said.

- 'Left everything out there' -

Jovic broke four times to win the first set but was broken three times by left-hander Eala to drop the second.

"The level was absolutely incredible from both sides," Jovic said.

"We definitely put on a show and it literally took everything to get through that... losing my earrings, falling literally flat-out on the floor, cuts on my knees, mental breakdowns," she said.

Eala admitted: "I had my chances. I'm happy with the match in general. Of course there is disappointment in losing, but trying to see the positive side. It was a really good match. The level was really high.

"I left everything out there. I fought through the ups and downs... What I know for a fact is that I fought so I'm happy with that."

A quarter-finalist at this year's Australian Open, Jovic won her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17.

She beat Eala at the French Open and Queen's Club in London earlier this season in their prior meetings, but that was before Eala won her first WTA title at Washington.

"She played an outrageous level tonight. She was serving very good. She was showing a lot more versatility with her returns," Jovic said of Eala.

"She's playing some of the best tennis in the world right now so it's no doubt it takes a hell of an effort to beat her."

Thunderstorms and lightning delayed the start for 90 minutes, but there were sparks aplenty on the field after with Messi, Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, at the heart of the action.

Miami grabbed the lead in the 32nd minute when Brazil's Casemiro rose to head home Messi's corner.

Atlanta equalized three minutes later when former Newcastle forward Miguel Almiron blasted home a low shot.

Former Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Suarez put Miami into the lead with a measured finish on the cusp of half-time after a move down the left started by Messi.

But Swiss striker Breel Embolo struck home an 87th-minute penalty to secure a share of the spoils.

In Toronto, Derrick Etienne scored two minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a dramatic 4-4 draw in a wild eight-goal thriller against Chicago.

Josh Sargent scored a hat-trick for Toronto, but Chicago's Maren Haile-Selassie scored twice before an own goal and Robert Lewandowski's 63rd minute strike put the visitors 4-3 up.

Philadelphia beat Montreal 2-0 as 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan scored in the 75th minute.

It gave the teenager four goals and seven assists this season, the most scoring contributions by a 16-year-old in a season, eclipsing the mark of 10 by Freddy Adu in 2005.

In Orlando, Antoine Griezmann's goal in the 28th minute gave the hosts a 1-0 home victory over San Diego

Guilherme Biro scored in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw for Austin with San Jose.

Inter and Roma sit joint-top of the table on a perfect nine points, while Atalanta are on six points and Napoli have three.

"It was a beautiful and entertaining match to watch, a great advert for Italian football," Inter coach Cristian Chivu told DAZN.

"At 2-2 both teams played an open game without thinking of defending the result, I saw big chances at both ends."

Both goalkeepers were forced into early saves in an end-to-end encounter that remained goalless at half-time after Federico Dimarco's free-kick rattled the Napoli cross bar.

The game exploded in the second half when Matteo Politano guided home a shot in the 50th minute before Rasmus Hojlund's curler doubled the Napoli lead three minutes later.

Inter responded almost immediately when Martinez hammered in his first goal of the season from a Dimarco cross. Substitute Marcus Thuram came agonisingly close to a leveller when he headed off the post.

The France international would not be denied twice, though, and smashed a towering header past Alex Meret in the 82nd minute to level the scores.

Chances fell at both ends before Martinez's penalty box instincts proved decisive in the 91st minute as Napoli failed to clear in a goalmouth scramble and the Argentina striker pounced to settle an extraordinary match.

"I'm happy we managed to fight back, that was missing last year," Martinez told DAZN.

"Every year we are raising the bar and trying to show that on the pitch."

Both sides begin their Champions League campaigns next week, when Inter travel to Real Madrid and Napoli host Arsenal on Tuesday.

- Dying minutes -

In Rome, Mario Hermoso and Matias Soule struck in the dying minutes to continue a perfect start to the season for Roma against their coach Gian Piero Gasperini's former club Atalanta.

Ederson's bullet strike early in the second half came against the run of play but looked enough for a backs-to-the-wall victory as Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi kept out wave after wave of Giallorossi attacks.

Roma scored eight goals in their opening two wins of the season, but looked almost out of ideas after replacement striker Santiago Castro was twice denied by the woodwork and Carnesecchi produced a terrific double save.

But Hermoso was left unmarked and looped a header into the far corner to level the scores in the 90th minute.

The Roma players sprinted back to the centre circle as they looked for a quick restart to push for a winner, and that was exactly what they got when substitute Soule fired a composed finish in at the near post to send the Stadio Olimpico wild.

Roma's first win over Atalanta since March 2022, a run of eight matches, will come as a confidence-booster before their eight-year wait to return to the Champions League ends away to Fenerbahce on Thursday.

Earlier, a late Che Adams strike sealed a 2-1 comeback win for Torino as Fiorentina's nightmare start to the season continued.

Mateo Pellegrino's long-range strike put Fiorentina in front early in the second half, but a pile-driver from Rolando Mandragora - who had only joined Torino from La Viola four days earlier - drew the scores level and Scotland international Adams sealed his side's first points of the season in the 82nd minute with a clever flick.

Fiorentina signed 13 players and appointed new coach Fabio Grosso over the summer after a humbling 15th-place finish last season.

The two-time Italian champions have lost their first three games by an aggregate score of 9-1, and were booed off by their own fans following a performance that left them in last place.

The hard-hitting Kazakh, who claimed her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, fell to Starodubtseva in the second round at Roland Garros, a defeat that may have been on her mind as she struggled to find her rhythm in the opening set.

Starodubtseva took full advantage of Rybakina's struggles with her forehand and broke for a 5-4 lead.

But Rybakina steadied, breaking back with an angled drop shot to level the set.

She saved a set point in the tiebreaker with one of her 12 aces, and with the first set in hand attacked in the second with confidence.

A double fault from Starodubtseva handed Rybakina a break to open the second and Rybakina maintained the edge to finish the job in just under two hours.

"It was a tough match," Rybakina said. "I feel like it wasn't my best performance, but Yuliia she's a great player. Last time we had a battle, too, and I'm glad I could win in straight sets."

Rybakina now just needs two wins -- to reach the semi-finals -- to be assured of supplanting Aryna Sabalenka atop the world rankings -- even if Sabalenka wins a third straight US Open title.

"Not there yet," she said. "It's still very far. I need to focus on my next match and not think about it."

That next match will be against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who beat Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Since Kiss took the reins from Joe Schmidt, Australia secured a 27-21 victory last week against the Pumas and had two successes against Japan before failing to capitalise on 14-0 lead in Mendoza.

Even so, the result gave the Wallabies a 1-0 series win, their first in Argentina.

"It's difficult to come here and do what we did. But we let them off the hook a couple of times," said Kiss.

"We were up two tries to nil in that first half, and just gave them field position, gave them opportunity, and that brought the crowd back in, that brought the energy back into their game.

"It was always going to become a dogfight from there on in," he added.

"But the boys had a lot of defence to do in their own line, and I thought there was some really good stuff that came from that area.

"A series win, a trophy. There's some good stuff in there as well. But we know we have things to work on."

It was a bruising affair, dominated by eager forwards, with Australian playmaker Carter Gordon a key casualty, limping off late in the second-half.

Argentina did at least halt a run of three straight defeats, although they remain on just the single victory in this calendar year, against Wales in July.

Australia opened the scoring halfway through the first half courtesy of captain Harry Wilson in a move stemming from a lineout.

After Pumas lock Franco Molina was sent to the bin, wing Max Jorgensen extended the Wallabies' advantage.

The game then turned on a yellow card for Australia lock Jeremy Williams, with Argentina responding through captain Pablo Matera despite being a man down themselves.

Back to full strength, the hosts levelled things up after Ignacio Mendy burst through a gap to score as the teams went into the sheds at 14-14.

The forward battle continued after the break as flanker Fraser McReight restored Australia's lead, only for hooker Ignazio Ruiz to level up again.

Flanker Matera barged over for his second after Argentina went through 23 phases against a desperate defence.

The Pumas then imploded, receiving two yellow cards in quick succession for deliberate knock-ons by their two most experienced backs.

Lucio Cinti went first and fly-half Santiago Carreras followed, giving away a penalty try in the process to level the scores at 28-28.

Despite playing the last 10 minutes with a significant advantage, Australia did not come close to snatching a winning score.

"We put ourselves in the position to win ... we're hurting, we really wanted to win that." said Wilson.

"But to bring back the trophy's great ... it brings some momentum and confidence into the group."

Osaka had 41 unforced errors, her backhand in particular letting her down as she was unable to build on a comfortable first set for the second straight match.

"I'm literally shocked that I won this match," Osaka, seeded 13th, told an adoring crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"There was a certain point where I felt like I put my entire heart on the court. I just kept trying every point."

After an early exchange of breaks in the second set, Osaka failed to convert a pair of chances and Mertens broke again for a 5-3 lead.

Osaka gifted the Belgian two break points with a double fault, saving one with a forehand winner before sailing a backhand wide.

Mertens finally took the set when Osaka dumped a backhand into the net.

Mertens kept the pressure on in the third and was rewarded with a break for a 3-2 lead, aided by a string of backhand errors from Osaka.

Osaka was clearly frustrated, berating herself and exchanging some testy words with her team.

"I didn't feel like I played amazing, it was really getting me down," she told the crowd, offering an apology for her behavior.

She was down a break trailing 4-3 when she took a medical timeout for treatment on her left calf and ankle.

Osaka returned with renewed vigor, breaking Mertens at love for 4-4 and saving a break point in the next game for a 5-4 lead.

Mertens didn't go quietly, saving a match point on the way to 5-5 and saving two more in the final game before Osaka secured the win.

Nico Williams, Robert Navarro and Oihan Sancet's goals gave the Basque hosts a resounding victory at their San Mames stadium.

Elsewhere promoted side Deportivo La Coruna earned an exciting 3-2 win at Villarreal to climb provisionally fourth.

Athletic secured back-to-back wins under former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, after losing their first two matches of the campaign.

Simeone's Atletico fell to their first defeat of the season, putting up little fight in the second half after Athletic made the breakthrough with two quick strikes from Williams and Navarro.

"Their two goals, in the blink of an eye, did us a lot of damage," Atletico's Pablo Barrios told Movistar.

Atletico must pick themselves up for Wednesday's visit to face Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield.

"(We had) two minutes of inattention and poor decision-making in situations we should have handled better," said Simeone. "Bilbao capitalised on that lapse."

Striker Julian Alvarez, who tried to leave the club to join Barcelona this summer, returned as a substitute after illness in an ineffective second half appearance.

The visitors had the better of the opening period, although they failed to create many clear-cut chances after an early opportunity for Lee Kang-In.

The South Korean international struck a shot against the post in the third minute after the hosts were carved open.

Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon saved from Alex Baena as Atletico threatened, while Sancet came close at the other end with a blast into the side-netting.

Pablo Barrios hit the post before the break for Atletico, who were sucker-punched early in the second half by Terzic's side.

The Williams brothers combined for Athletic's first, with Inaki's deflected shot headed home by younger sibling Nico after 46 minutes.

Navarro doubled Athletic's lead in the 48th minute, steering home after Inaki Williams played him in.

"We were good in the first half but the game got away from us in those (couple of) minutes," said Simeone.

"We lacked in the second half everything that we had in the first."

- No impact for Alvarez -

Simeone rang the changes, including sending on want-away striker Alvarez to little effect.

The Argentina international struggled to get involved in the game, and produced just one shot from the edge of the box, saved comfortably by Simon.

Sancet wrapped up Athletic's victory in the 90th minute when he stroked home a loose ball after a blocked cross.

"It's always good to win games, especially at home," said Terzic.

"Today we are happy and we are going to be very satisfied when we go to bed tonight, and then from tomorrow onwards we'll prepare everything to go for the next (game).

"We have six points from the last two games, but this won't help us to reach all our targets by the end of the season."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored for the fourth match running and set up two more as the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker excelled in Depor's surprise win at Villarreal.

Another ex-Arsenal attacker Nicolas Pepe put the hosts ahead but Luismi Cruz levelled for the Galicians before the interval.

Adama Traore's own goal gave Villarreal the advantage once more but Zakaria Eddahchouri and Aubameyang, 37, struck to claim Depor a superb victory.

Sergio Camello netted twice for Rayo Vallecano in an entertaining 3-2 win over Racing Santander.

On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona visit Valencia looking to move clear of Real Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday, among other fixtures.

Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff battled through in straight sets, but Americans were hard hit with ninth-seeded Taylor Fritz and 2025 finalist Amanda Anisimova following Keys out the door.

Fifth-seeded French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli of Italy also fell to 21-year-old Alexander Blockx.

Zheng saved a match point in her 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 triumph over Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion and a US Open finalist back in 2017.

After coming through the second-set tiebreaker, Zheng appeared to be out of steam in the final set.

The former world number four had to come through qualifying after a lengthy recovery from elbow surgery saw her ranking plummet.

Keys raced to a 5-0 lead in the third but Zheng had a last stand in her. She saved match point at 5-1 and just kept rolling, Keys's increasing frustration showing as she banged her head with her racquet after one lost point.

"I just told myself keep holding every single point, never give up, stay there. And somehow little by little it just happened," Zheng said.

Zheng, currently ranked 121st in the world, will face six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek for a place in the quarter-finals.

Swiatek saved three set points in the second set, dominating both tiebreakers in her tight 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3) win over Czech Maria Bouzkova.

Belgium's Blockx shocked Cobolli 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-0, 6-3, winning 11 straight games from 3-2 down in the second set as he reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time.

"I think this was one of my craziest experiences so far in my career," Blockx said after firing 17 aces past Cobolli.

"After the first set I told myself to stay calm. I wasn't playing bad. I know deep inside I'm a fighter and I will fight until the last ball and it paid off today."

Blockx next faces Francisco Cerundolo, who rallied from two sets down to upset ninth-seeded Fritz 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Down 4-3 on serve in the final set, the 24th seed from Argentina fought back from 0-40 down to hold, coming up with a trio of booming serves and a thundering forehand before taking the game with another service winner.

He then broke Fritz and cruised home.

Austrian Anastasia Potapova further dented US hopes with her 6-2, 7-5 victory over Anisimova.

Potapova reached the US Open fourth round for the first time, and will face fifth-seeded French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, who beat Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

- Zverev under the lights -

Former champion Gauff shook off a slow start to beat Spain's Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4, relying on her defensive skills as she climbed out of a 3-1 hole in the opening set.

"She's a tricky player, so it's tough to get rhythm," Gauff said. "Happy with how I fought through even when I wasn't playing my best."

Gauff said she'd seen the US trio go down before her match, but it didn't affect how she approached her match.

"Upsets are a thing, but at the end of the day, anybody can lose," she said. "I go into it with that mindset, and I think, if anything, it makes me have my guard up all the time, which makes me play better."

Men's top seed Alexander Zverev was again due to close out the night session, taking on Chile's Alejandro Tabilo.

In two five-set matches, both spilling into the early hours of the morning, the German has already spent nine hours and 26 minutes on court.

Zverev says he feels fine physically, but he knows he will have to play better if he wants to add a second Grand Slam title to the French Open trophy he captured this year.

Bangladesh controlled the match from the outset, playing an attacking brand of hockey and keeping Chinese Taipei under constant pressure.

Kona Akter opened the scoring before Ima and Irene Akter Ria each scored twice to extend Bangladesh's lead.

Captain Sarika Rimon added two goals in the fourth quarter to complete the 7-0 rout.

The emphatic victory gives Bangladesh a major boost of confidence as the team continues its campaign in the tournament.

Bangladesh will play its next group match against Pakistan tomorrow (Sunday).

Medical evaluations confirmed that Ismail suffered a non-displaced hairline fracture to his left ankle (distal fibula) and a contusion on his left knee. Under medical supervision, he has already begun a conservative rehabilitation program.

Fortunately, surgery is not required. His expected recovery and return-to-play timeline is ten to twelve weeks.

Following this injury, Sabbir Hossain Konok has been called up to join the squad as Ismail's official replacement for the remainder of the tournament.

The team management and federation wished Ismail a smooth, complete, and speedy recovery, and extended a warm welcome to Sabbir as he steps into the team.

The superstar sisters, whose 14 Grand Slam doubles titles include two US Opens, rallied from a break down in the third set and led the deciding 10-point tiebreaker 5-0 but fell 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7).

Venus, 46, and Serena, 44, hadn't played Grand Slam doubles since the 2022 US Open and last won a title together at Roland Garros in 2018.

They showed flashes of their brilliant best, Serena proving particularly dangerous patrolling the net but struggling with her serve.

After recovering from losing the first set to level the match in the second-set tiebreaker.

They belted no fewer than 20 winners in the set, holding serve throughout and leveled the match when Joint smacked an overhead long to roars from the crowd.

Chan and Joint regrouped to seize a 4-2 lead in the third. The sisters rallied, but get to the finish line as Taiwan's Chan and Joint fought back superbly to clinch the victory.

For Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion considered by many to be tennis's greatest women's player, it was her first return to the courts of Flushing Meadows since then.

The 44-year-old had returned to major singles play as a Wimbledon wild card four years after "evolving away" from the game.

At the All-England club she lost to Joint in a Centre Court clash that captured the imagination of both diehard and casual tennis fans.

Even that experience didn't prepare Joint for the atmosphere on the cavernous Ashe Stadium.

The sisters received a thunderous ovation when they took court, all business in understated white outfits.

Every blistering volley and overhead smash from the Americans received raucous cheers, and when they sprinted to the lead in the decisive 10-point tiebreaker the noise was deafening

"The atmosphere was surreal," Joint said. "Being able to play aginst such legends of the game is super special."

The Argentina midfielder left Stamford Bridge to join City in a British record-equalling £125 million ($169 million) deal ahead of the window closing on Tuesday.

Chelsea had hoped to offset Fernandez's exit by bringing in midfielder Lamine Camara from Monaco, but that move collapsed when the Ligue 1 side backed out having not signed a deal sheet before the window closed.

Alonso, though, insists his focus is on the future, starting with Sunday's trip across London to Premier League champions Arsenal, when Chelsea will be bidding to maintain their 100 percent start to the new campaign.

"We take all the decisions together," Alonso told a pre-match press conference on Friday. "We are responsible for them with our work together, the big ones, small ones.

"We knew ultimately the last goal is to have the best for the team, for the squad, for daily work here. We want to build a good spirit and a good team, and we have always taken the decisions thinking that we wanted to reach that."

Alonso added: "In football many things happen, and you need to be prepared for everything.

"With Enzo, we have had conversations, but always with respect as well.

"What he has done for the club, it has been great, and we are thankful, but now it is time to move forward. We have a lot of big personalities, players with a lot of quality in all the different positions and now we are ready to go."

Alonso also refused to go into fresh detail about the collapse of the deal for Camara.

"I think that we are prepared and happy with the squad, the depth, with the healthy competition we have in different positions," he said. "It is a good balance between players of different stages (of their career).

"We need to build that energy during the week to perform well at the weekends. So far, it is just two games, but it has been a good start and now we know who is in the building and that is good to have that certainty."

Chelsea's squad has undergone major change over the summer.

"We can be very happy with the whole transfer window," said Alonso, who will make a late check over midfielder Moises Caicedo, who went off during the closing stages against Brighton.

"What we started talking about in late May-early June, many things we have accomplished."

United put their efforts into rebuilding Carrick's midfield, with Casemiro's exit and a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte offset by the acquisitions of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for a combined £155 million ($210 million).

The Red Devils' fiercest rivals spent almost that budget on a single player as Manchester City broke the British transfer record for Enzo Fernandez, while Liverpool splashed up to £123 million on French winger Bradley Barcola.

Despite a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons, Carrick hinted at having to work within financial restrictions.

"We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group that we had last season. We've definitely added to that," Carrick told a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton.

"I think we've done a lot of good work in that respect and the situation is what it is in terms of finances and what we can work with and what we're trying to get the most of.

"Certainly, the players that we've brought into the group I'm absolutely delighted with and I think we've done some really good business there."

United look particularly short in defence with the injury-prone Luke Shaw their only senior option at left-back.

"What squad ever is the perfect squad? You've always got to find ways of adapting," Carrick added.

"When you're building and trying to push to go through a period where we're trying to get to the top - that's the ultimate goal - you've got to make steps."

Joshua Zirkzee was among those expected to leave Old Trafford to boost the funds available to Carrick.

Despite interest from Fiorentina and Juventus and a deadline-day approach from Everton, the Netherlands international remains at United despite limited gametime over the past two seasons.

"He wants to play more than he has done and that's the good competition and healthy competition for places," said Carrick.

"Josh can do some really, really top things. I've seen it myself, and I know he can do that and looking forward to him doing that a little bit more often for us."

After a dreadful 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull on the opening weekend of the season, United bounced back to thrash Ipswich 5-2 thanks to Bruno Fernandes's hat-trick last time out.

A trio of former women's champions -- Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka -- booked third-round berths, along with reigning Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva.

But men's third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out, along with sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur and 13th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti.

Zverev labored util 2:15 am Friday on Arthur Ashe Stadium to shake off 52nd-ranked Frenchman Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.

The four-hour 33-minute marathon followed his wild first-round five-setter against 89th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego that kept Zverev at it until shortly before 2 am on Wednesday.

"The performance was quite shit to be honest, but I won, that's the most important thing," Zverev said afterwards.

"Physically, I feel fine. I am proud, I think, to be physically quite strong. I just hope at some point I'll start playing better tennis.

"I'm winning ugly right now. It's also a skill to win ugly and when you're not playing great tennis. I think I've mastered that right now."

While Zverev survived, Auger-Aliassime fell 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, to 50th-ranked Russian Karen Khachanov, pulled away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian, who said he was "dizzy and seeing spots.

"I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't," a dejected Auger-Aliassime said.

Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve.

"I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it's part of our sport," Khachanov said. "From my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting."

De Minaur fell to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 while 123rd-ranked Australian Dane Sweeny shocked 13th seed Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of a major for the first time.

It's not the first time Van de Zandschulp has sprung an upset at Flushing Meadows, where he shocked Carlos Alcaraz in the second round in 2024.

Meanwhile top women contenders marched on.

Fourth-seeded Gauff, the 2023 champion, thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain.

Swiatek sailed through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

Australian Open winner Rybakina, the world number two who is closing in on Aryna Sabalenka's number one ranking, saw off Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4, and Andreeva rolled over Germany's Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2.

Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker.

"I knew she would raise her level. She's capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners," said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure.

"I think I need matches like this to build my confidence," the 2023 US Open winner said.

Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now 449th in the world.

She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour.

Japan's Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four majors, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point.

But the Japanese star's unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set.

Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory.

"I just felt like I had to fight," she said.

So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5).

There was a bittersweet goodbye on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils's Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

"It's been a long ride," Monfils told an adoring New York crowd. "You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can't top Paris, but you are up there!"

The 31-year-old will be replaced as skipper by deputy Charith Asalanka for the three-match series, which will be followed by three ODIs.

Sri Lanka did not say whether wicketkeeper-batsman Mendis would be available for the ODIs.

Fast bowler Binura Fernando is also undergoing rehabilitation for injury.

"Mendis suffered a right hamstring injury while Fernando sustained a back injury," SLC said in a statement.

Batsman Pavan Rathnayake and fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka replace them.

The first T20 is on September 15 at Southampton, with the second two days later in Cardiff. The final T20 is on September 19 at Manchester.

The ODI series begins on September 22 at Chester-le-Street, followed by matches at Headingley on September 24 and The Oval on September 27.

Revised T20 squad: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka.

The inquiry will focus on an incident that saw the international booked after confronting the official during a domestic women's league game between Ji's Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall.

It was sparked when Ji demanded a penalty for her side during the WK League match last month.

After approaching the referee, Ji alleged the official said: "She's been touchy since the start, she must be on her period."

A Korea Football Association (KFA) official told AFP they have referred the case to the association's disciplinary committee.

The KFA did not say when the hearing will take place.

The KFA's refereeing department previously said the word "period" was not used and that the remarks did not specifically refer to Ji, according to broadcaster SBS.

The Korea Women's Football Federation (KWFF) has said the term used was "girl's day", a euphemism referring to menstruation.

Ji told local media that she heard the referee make the remark over the communication system used by officials.

The KFA said their referee council "recognised the seriousness of the allegations" and decided to refer the case to its disciplinary committee.

The Frenchman, who has said 2026 will be his last year on tour, kept Tien in his sights, but could never seize control. "It was unbelievable atmosphere, amazing energy on the court," Monfils said. "I gave my absolute all, even I think I went over, but Learner was a really tough one tonight."

The unflappable Tien, a lefty skilled at moving opponents around the court and finishing with a big forehand or touch shot, saved all eight break points he faced over the two hour and 16 minute match. But the American rising star was not the pick of the Big Apple crowd.

"Le Monf" has amassed a sizeable following in New York since his US Open debut in 2005 where he is a fan favorite even when playing an American. A video montage of Monfils highlights shown after the contest consisted of some of the Frenchman's greatest hits on the hard courts of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including leaping smashes and unbelievable gets.

During the match, chants of "Monfils" erupted frequently, most loudly in the third set. "It's been a long ride," Monfils said as he thanked the crowd.

"I felt all the love this year," Monfils said. "You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can't top Paris, but you are up there!"

Thursday marked Monfils's 18th appearance at the New York Grand Slam, a run that began with a five-set first-round loss to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in 2005 when both men were teenagers. His best showing came in 2016 when Monfils reached the semi-finals, again losing to Djokovic.

He stole one last win on Tuesday night in four sets over Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay, just the third man 40 or over to win a match at the New York slam in the Open era after Ken Rosewall in 1977 and Jimmy Connors in 1992.

Monfils has taken a finance job in wealth management for a Swiss company, but said, "I will always have a look on tennis because I love the sport."

Monfils noted that his wife, world number nine Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, continues to play.

- Rising star -

Tien, 20, is one of a handful of American men positioned for potentially deep runs in New York this year.

Although Tien did not have the crowd during the contest, he received warm applause after the match, which concluded with a warm handshake and embrace with a smiling Monfils after match point.

"I really didn't want the greatest comeback of all time to happen against me," Tien said. "It's very special to win in your home country." Tien said he had expected a "very rowdy" court.

"I didn't expect the crowd to be for me necessarily," Tien said with a smile. "But I'm glad they really, you know, came out in full force tonight. It was cool to play in that atmosphere." Tien will next play 17th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic.

The 22-year-old American star, who is chasing a repeat of her 2023 US Open victory, had lost five of her eight previous meetings with Badosa. But Gauff never looked like letting their latest encounter slip with a largely confident performance to open the Arthur Ashe Stadium evening session.

"Obviously, you know, I would prefer maybe not to play somebody I've lost to so many times second round. But I think today was a big confidence booster. "And I think getting through in straight sets too makes a big difference. Yes, I was battle-tested, but I think it was a good battle where I wasn't out on the court for three hours."

After a steady start, the American broke Badosa in the seventh game of the opening set when the 28-year-old Manhattan-born Spaniard fluffed a risky drop shot into the net. Gauff held serve to love to go 5-3 up before comfortably clinching the set with another rock solid service game.

Gauff looked to be ready to take control early in the second set, when Badosa was broken in the third game -- again attempting a delicate drop volley which fell short. Badosa though broke back to knot the set at 4-4 and then held off two break points to move into a 5-4 lead.

After Gauff levelled to make it 5-5, the two women swapped breaks of serve to set up the tie break, with Gauff sealing victory on her second match point when Badosa smacked a backhand long. Gauff, whose game was in disarray this time last year, said she feels more at ease now in pressure moments of a match.

"I definitely feel more comfortable, especially on the serving end of things," she said. "I mean, she broke me two times, one time serving for it. I wasn't too upset. I was, like, I don't think I could have served that much better.

"So I think that's the part of my game where I feel less pressure and I know I can get a big serve in when I need to. It's just about if my opponent responds, and she did.

Defending champions Arsenal and Xabi Alonso's Chelsea are among four sides to have won their first two league games this season, along with Manchester City and newly-promoted Hull. Spurs are bottom of the table as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest while new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is still seeking his first win.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the action:

Arsenal steel v Chelsea flair

Arsenal have started their Premier League title defence as they finished last season -- looking impenetrable. Last week's 1-0 win at Aston Villa, following their opening 3-0 victory over Coventry, was a sixth clean sheet in seven league matches.

Another bonus for manager Mikel Arteta is the form of England winger Bukayo Saka, who has scored twice already following an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign. Chelsea have launched the Xabi Alonso era with three wins in all competitions, looking dangerous in attack but vulnerable at the back.

The club's new attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have scored five of the team's seven league goals in victories against Fulham and Brighton. But former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Alonso will be keen to tighten up his team's defence, which has conceded five goals in those games.

Recent history is against Chelsea, who are winless in nine Premier League games against Arsenal ahead of Sunday's clash at the Emirates.

Spurs' struggles

Roberto De Zerbi is certain Tottenham will avoid another embarrassing relegation battle despite a calamitous start to the season. The north London club, who have finished a lowly 17th in successive campaigns, lost their opener against Brentford 3-0 before a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle.

The club spent more than  350 million ($473 million) in the summer transfer window in an attempted reset, with a clutch of high-profile arrivals including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio. But there is scant evidence that things are improving as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday -- a team that beat them twice last season.

De Zerbi, who arrived in late March, remains upbeat despite his team's woes. "After two defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same story, the same as the last two seasons," he said.

"I have no doubt it's not like this. I think I can't change my opinion after two defeats. I have a big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Liverpool's Iraola eyes fresh start

New Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is still seeking lift-off after frustrating draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

France forward Bradley Barcola is in line to make his debut at newly-promoted Ipswich on Friday after his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain this week for a fee of up to  124 million.

The winger is the latest addition to an expensively assembled Liverpool attack that also includes Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and the currently injured Hugo Ekitike.

But four goals conceded in two matches suggest problems in other areas. "It does not look like a balanced squad," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "Liverpool are short in the full-back areas and probably a midfield player as well."

Iraola welcomed the end of the summer transfer window earlier this week. "Once the market is closed, we know who we are," he said on Thursday. "I think we have a lot of talent in this group of players. "Now we have to perform, we have to do our job and we have to start from tomorrow."

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Ipswich v Liverpool (1900)

Saturday

Newcastle v Bournemouth (1130), Brentford v Sunderland, Brighton v Leeds, Fulham v Crystal Palace, Manchester City v Coventry, Nottingham Forest v Tottenham, Hull v Aston Villa (1630)

Sunday

Everton v Manchester United (1300), Arsenal v Chelsea (1530)

Fahad has earned four points from five games, while another Bangladeshi IM, Manon Reja Neer, has collected three points from as many games.

The fourth and fifth rounds of the championship were held on Wednesday.

In the fourth round, Fahad defeated Vietnamese Grandmaster (GM) Nguyen Dak Hoa, while Manon Reja Neer beat Indian IM K. Ratnakaran.

In the fifth round, Fahad drew with Singaporean GM Siddharth Jagadeesh, while Manon Reja Neer shared the point with Indian FIDE Master Gajwa Ankit.

The match kicks off at 5 pm Bangladesh time.

Bangladesh, currently at the bottom of the group table, must win against Syria to remain in contention for qualification.

The eight group winners and seven best runners-up from the qualifying round will advance to the AFC U-20 Asian Cup finals.

Bangladesh will play their final group match against India on September 6 at the same venue.

Earlier, Bangladesh made a losing start to the tournament, suffering a 2-0 defeat to hosts Uzbekistan while Syria conceded a solitary-goal defeat to India.

Gabriel Martinelli scored in the final moments in Houston to give Brazil a 2-1 win and knock out Hajime Moriyasu's side at the last 32 stage.

Paraguay and Singapore will also compete in the "Mizuho Blue Challenge" from November 13 to 17 during the FIFA international window.

Singapore open the event, to be played at their national stadium, against Paraguay on November 13, with the Japan-Brazil clash the following day.

The tournament ends with a double-header on November 17, when Singapore take on five-time World Champions Brazil before Japan face Paraguay.

Alcaraz, who has only just returned from a four-month layoff caused by a wrist injury, was speaking after he moved into the third round of the US Open with a four-set defeat of Portugal's Jaime Faria.

The reigning US Open champion overcame a sluggish start before defeating his 72nd-ranked opponent 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 40 min at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Afterwards the seven-time Grand Slam champion said while he had not wanted to spend four months on the sidelines this season, he planned to make regular breaks a part of his schedule in future.

"Obviously I don't want to have this break because an injury," the Spaniard said. "But in the future I'm going to take some breaks, some long breaks. Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it's impossible to play them all."

"I think they adding more important tournaments... you know, in a way they are making us play. You can say no.

"So it's impossible, and we are seeing a lot of players getting injured, a lot of players getting tired. If they don't do anything about it, we are going to see even more in the future.

"For me, taking this break because an injury, it wasn't that good, but you know, what I'm going to say is I'm going to take some breaks and missing some tournaments in the future, for sure."

Alcaraz showed some signs of rust against Faria, blaming his first set problems on a failure to convert a golden break point opportunity that would have given him a 4-2 lead.

Instead, Faria leveled at 3-3 and then broke Alcaraz in the next game to go 4-3 up.

"Tough match for me. Obviously the first set I was feeling great, I had break point, I missed it," Alcaraz said.

"After that I was in a rush. I didn't take time, I wasn't patient and that obviously cost me the break."

Faria was left ruing his inability to build on an impressive opening set. The 23-year-old's serve fell apart in the second while Alcaraz upped the tempo and began to find a telling extra zip in his groundstrokes.

Although Alcaraz had to save two break points in the opening game before holding, it was all one-way traffic thereafter.

Faria was broken three times as Alcaraz went through the gears to take control of the contest.

The Spaniard's momentum extended into the third set, with Faria broken again to go 2-0 down.

Faria hit back with a break of Alcaraz's serve to make it 2-1, but was soon back in trouble after being broken in the next game to trail 3-1.

The set went with serve thereafter as Alcaraz took a 2-1 lead.

Alcaraz went a double break up in the fourth to move into a 5-1 lead and served out to seal victory.

McTominay, who was voted Serie A's best player during Napoli's 2024/25 title-winning campaign, spoke to reporters at the professional footballers gala in Milan on Wednesday.

He said that the issue had been known about for some time.

On Tuesday, Napoli revealed that he would be out for a few weeks due to the problem.

"Due to the onset of a mild benign arrhythmia, Scott McTominay will undergo PFA (pulsed field ablation) surgery in the next few days," said Napoli in a statement.

"He will be available again after the international break."

McTominay, 29, has been a key player for Napoli since joining from Manchester United in 2024, scoring 27 goals in 82 matches.

But he was off-form in their opening two Serie A games.

He will miss this weekend's clash with champions Inter Milan, as well as next week's Champions League encounter with Premier League champions Arsenal.

McTominay will also miss Scotland's upcoming Nations League fixtures against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia.

The Welsh side, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, had drawn with Cardiff and Watford before losing at home to Birmingham prior to this match.

But they bounced back in emphatic fashion in south London to kick-start their bid for promotion to the Premier League after narrowly missing out on the play-offs last term.

Millwall defender Zak Sturge deflected Issa Kabore's cross into his own net for a first half own goal.

Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore lashed in the second goal from 20 yards soon after half-time and Jacques Ekomie wrapped up the victory with a close-range finish.

After starting with two clean-sheets in victories over Bristol City and Norwich, it is now eight goals conceded in two games for Millwall, who were thrashed 5-1 by Southampton on Saturday.

Millwall lost striker Josh Coburn and midfielder Casper De Norre to injuries during the Wrexham game as their fitness woes mounted just 24 hours after their Nigeria star Femi Azeez joined Brighton for o15 million ($20 million).

Rumarn Burrell scored both QPR goals as they beat Cardiff 2-1 at Loftus Road to extend their impressive start to the season.

Perry Ng pulled a goal back for Cardiff but it was not enough to stop Julien Stephan's second-placed side from reaching 10 points in their opening four matches.

Ugo Raghouber's first goal for Burnley earned just their second point from their opening four league matches as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Middlesbrough at Turf Moor.

The French midfielder, signed from Lille in July, steered in a 54th-minute equaliser from Zeki Amdouni's pass.

Aidan Morris had swept Middlesbrough into a 23rd-minute lead, scoring his first goal after more than two years at the club, with a stylish finish from 20 yards.

Relegated from the Premier League last season, Burnley are in the midst of a testing period which included a 4-1 loss at Norwich last Saturday and the sale of Dutch forward Zian Flemming to Ipswich on transfer deadline day.

Charlton lost their 100 per cent record but remain unbeaten after Tyreece Campbell's second-half strike secured a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

Nathan Jones's side trailed to a thunderous Callum Styles strike just before the hour mark, before Campbell fired home from close-range after 69 minutes.

The fourth-seeded Gauff, who won the New York Grand Slam in 2023, was broken only once to top the 53rd-ranked Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-hitting battle fought mostly from the baseline.

"It's incredible to be back on this court," an exuberant Gauff told the on-court interviewer. "I love playing in this atmosphere."

Gauff, whose service woes last year prompted a dramatic coaching change days before the tournament and contributed to a fourth round exit, came into Flushing Meadows this time feeling much better about the stroke, having won the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati this month.

Gauff said she had worked make the toss more consistent under the tutelage of biomechanics expert Gavin Macmillan, who previously helped Aryna Sabalenka retool her serve, improvements that helped the Belarussian rise to number one.

"It's been a gradual change with the serve," Gauff said. "Slowly it's adapting to maybe the way it should look."

The American star blazed through the opening set without facing a break point, with Sonmez often unable to return Gauff's serve or offering only a weak reply that could be batted off easily.

Gauff broke early in the second set, but the Turkish player raised the level of her game with heavy ground strokes and sneaky forays to the net to finish points with deft volleys.

Sonmez broke back for 2-2 and briefly took the lead.

But at 2-3, Gauff fought off multiple break points in a lengthy game that the American eventually nabbed with another big serve.

Gauff called the hold for 3-3 as "real important".

"I like to challenge my opponent to let them keep up the level the whole match, and if they do, you know I clap my hands and I walk off court with my head held high," Gauff said. "But I was able to settle down."

Gauff has drawn confidence "just knowing that it does take a lot maybe to break me," she told reporters, saying of the key service game in the second set, "I knew if I could hold that game, I felt confident breaking the next game."

City spearheaded a frantic final day of spending as they aim to arm Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of winning the Premier League for the first time in three seasons.

Fernandez, who previously thrived under Maresca at Chelsea, has been linked with a move to the Etihad for months.

But it took until the final hours before the 2200 GMT deadline for an agreement to be reportedly struck with the fee for the Argentine to match the British transfer record that Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on the final day of the window last year.

Fernandez will form a completely revamped City midfield alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, who themselves cost over a combined £200 million.

"He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer," said City's director of football Hugo Viana.

City also added Senegal forward Ndiaye from Everton in a deal worth £65 million to bolster their forward options.

"I've worked my whole life for an opportunity like this," said Ndiaye.

"To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I'm determined to grab it with both hands."

Chelsea's bid to replace Fernandez with Monaco's Lamine Camara collapsed when the French side reportedly pulled out of the deal.

The Blues did agree a £40 million deal to sign 18-year-old Honest Ahanor from Atalanta from 2027, with the Italy defender spending this season on loan at Crystal Palace.

Champions Arsenal, by contrast, had a quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez fizzled out.

The Gunners had been rivalling Barcelona for the Argentine's signature, but the Spanish champions instead turned to Arsenal to fill their need for a forward with the signing of Gabriel Jesus.

"I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it's a dream for me," said Jesus.

- Liverpool frustrated -

Liverpool splashed out on France forward Bradley Barcola on Monday, spending £123 million to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.

But the Reds' attempts to further add to their squad look to have been frustrated with bids for Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh knocked back, meaning Cody Gakpo is set to stay despite interest from City and Tottenham.

Liverpool did complete the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, but the 18-year-old will be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season.

Ibrahim Mbaye was another wide player linked with a move to Anfield, but he has instead joined Aston Villa for a reported £47 million.

Mbaye played 31 times in all competitions for PSG last season as the French club won the Champions League and the Ligue 1 title.

Villa also bolstered their defence by signing Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis in a £29 million deal.

Tottenham secured a loan move for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk after missing out on Ndiaye and Gakpo, and a £7 million swoop for his Blues team-mate Tosin Adarabioyo.

Jack Grealish rejoined Everton on loan after his spell with David Moyes's men last season.

Everton are still hopeful of adding United States international Folarin Balogun from Monaco.

Newcastle landed Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a £51 million swoop.

The Magpies, who are rebuilding following the close-season departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, have also sent German striker Nicolas Woltemade on loan to Juventus.

On Tuesday, the Los Angels high school student got a taste of big-time pro tennis.

Frodin, who appeared in the Oscar-winning film "King Richard" as a body double for the actress who played a young Serena Williams, drew a tough assignment for her US Open main draw debut: Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.

Seeded second, Rybakina eased past Frodin 6-3, 6-2 in a big-hitting match. Rybakina, who has also won Wimbledon, did not lose serve in the one hour 14 minute contest.

"Obviously I had a tough first round. Rybakina is a great player," said Frodin, whose run to the US national 18 and under championship won her a wild card to the US Open.

"I tried going out there to see what it would be like just to, I guess, feel no pressure ... just go out there and have a fun time," Frodin said.

"I feel like that's what I accomplished, and obviously I have a lot to learn, but I'm excited with most of the things I did out there."

Rybakina for one was impressed, saying Frodin "played really well today."

As a 12-year-old, Frodin was the stunt and body double for Demi Singleton, the actress who played young Serena in the movie depicting Richard Williams and the rise of his daughters Serena and Venus Williams.

Frodin, who has not met Serena Williams but hopes to, has not yet settled on whether she might go to college or seek a professional career.

"I think I'm trying to just finish high school, see where the rest of this year takes me," Frodin said. "I'm not rushing into kind of making a decision with all that."

But Frodin is looking forward to getting another crack at Rybakina.

"Hopefully the next time I meet her, if I do, I can be more experienced and, yeah, see what I can do," Frodin said.

AFP Sport looks back at the moments that defined Messi's career with his country.

- Inauspicious start -

Messi's international career began as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2005. His first cap was unforgettable for the wrong reasons -- ninety seconds after coming on as a substitute in a friendly with Hungary in Budapest, he was sent off for what the referee saw as an elbow.

The following June he made his first World Cup appearance in the 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro with which Argentina began the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Messi got his team's final goal in Gelsenkirchen -- the first game and goal of what would become a legendary relationship with the World Cup.

- First World Cup final -

Messi was 26 when Argentina headed to Brazil in 2014, but was already established as one of the greats thanks to his achievements with Barcelona.

There had been numerous disappointments with Argentina: quarter-final defeats, both to Germany, at the World Cup in 2006 and in 2010, the latter with Diego Maradona as coach. There was also a Copa America final loss to Brazil in 2007, and a miserable showing at the 2011 version of that competition on home soil.

Messi went to Brazil as captain of Alejandro Sabella's team, and made a flying start by scoring in every group game. The goals then dried up, but he took Argentina to their first World Cup final since the days of Maradona, only for the Albiceleste to fall short against Germany at the Maracana.

- 2016: His lowest ebb -

The 2014 heartache was followed by the misery of losing the following year's Copa America final on penalties to Chile. Messi therefore went to the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the United States on a mission to finally win a major international title. Argentina cruised to the final.

Chile stood before Argentina once again at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York, but the outcome was identical -- another defeat on penalties, with Messi this time missing his kick.

Messi, who had already won over 100 caps, was heartbroken.

"For me the national team is over," he declared. "I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion."

Six weeks later Messi changed his mind and agreed to come out of his brief international retirement.

- A winner at last -

The second half of Messi's international career could not have contrasted more starkly, with Lionel Scaloni's appointment as coach in 2018 proving a game-changer.

In 2021, in the middle of the Covid pandemic, Messi and Argentina went to Brazil for the Copa America and beat the hosts 1-0 in the final thanks to an Angel Di Maria goal to claim their first major title in 28 years.

- The crowning glory in Qatar -

Messi could, and perhaps should, have bowed out after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Barcelona legend -- by now 35 and playing for PSG -- found another level to drag Argentina to victory.

He scored seven goals and set up three more in seven games, including a brace in the epic final against France -- when he also converted his penalty in the shoot-out which gave Argentina the trophy for the third time in their history.

"Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can't ask for any more," Messi said after that triumph.

But he wanted to play on a little longer as a world champion, and in the end he kept going all the way to this year's tournament.

- Another final defeat -

Messi skippered his country to another title at the 2024 Copa America before going into a record-equalling sixth World Cup this year in the USA. He was about to turn 39, but doubts about his age were blown away as Messi scored eight goals in his team's first five games and helped inspire them to another final.

Messi has played more World Cup matches than anyone else (34) and scored 21 goals overall. He became only the second player to appear in three different World Cup finals, but he and Argentina were abject as they lost in extra time to Spain -- an anti-climactic ending to an international career spanning 207 matches and 125 goals.

The experienced batsman, a key pillar of their World Cup-winning side in 2023, paid the price for poor recent form with his future as a Test player also on the line.

Australia play three ODIs in Zimbabwe and another three in South Africa this month, before a three-Test series against the Proteas in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town in October.

The Test squad will be named at a later date.

With Australia's World Cup defence just a year away, selectors included batting prodigy Peake, 19, and talented all-rounders Davies, 22, and Connolly, 23, as they usher in a new generation.

Fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will only play the three matches in South Africa as their workloads are managed.

But there are plenty of other pace options with Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett and Billy Stanlake all in the 17-player touring party.

Adam Zampa is the only specialist spinner, with Matthew Kuhnemann dropped.

"This six-game series is an important lead-in to next year's World Cup, being played in the same countries, for the group," said chief selector George Bailey.

"As such it's great to have Mitch (Marsh), Travis and Josh returning, then Pat and Mitch (Starc) for the SA leg. This gives us our core of players mixed with some we think will continue to make an impression.

"For Ollie and Joel, who we rate very highly, it's another fantastic opportunity and a further chance for them to continue their exposure and growth in the Australian team."

Selectors also named an Australia A squad for a tour of India later this month, which will feature two four-day matches and three one-dayers against India A.

With Labuschagne's Test place at risk, Peter Handscomb and Nathan McSweeney will be looking to impress ahead of the senior team's five-Test tour of India in January-February.

Speedsters Brendan Doggett and Jhye Richardson add plenty of firepower.

Australia one-day squad for Zimbabwe and South Africa:

Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins (South Africa only), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Ollie Peake, Matt Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (South Africa only), Adam Zampa

Australia A four-day squad for India:

Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott

Australia A one-day squad for India:

Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw

The 23-year-old is one of China's biggest sports stars and gave a similar amount of money after an earthquake in Tibet in 2025.

"(She) will continue to closely monitor the progress of relief efforts, expressing her wishes for fellow compatriots in the disaster zone to overcome difficulties as soon as possible and rebuild their homes," a social media account associated with the China Charity Federation said.

Nearly 4,500 people are missing and more than 900 confirmed dead after tsunami-like glacial floods roared down from the border between China's Tibet and Nepal last week.

Zheng, who won Olympic women's singles gold at Paris 2024, is currently in action at the US Open.

Moreno, who was forced to deny earlier this year that he used ChatGPT to prepare for games during a stint in Russia, will be in charge for friendly games in September-October.

South Korea will compete in the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Moreno could lead the team at the Asian Cup, "subject to an evaluation" of his performance.

The team have been without a coach since Hong Myung-bo quit following their shock group-stage exit from the World Cup in North America in June.

Hong's departure did little to quell public outrage over the disappointing campaign and added fuel to pre-existing questions about how he was hired.

Police raided KFA headquarters last month as part of an investigation into Hong's 2024 appointment.

The KFA also apologised for allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees.

Moreno will lead South Korea for home friendlies against Ecuador and Uruguay in September and Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October.

He would also be in charge if South Korea organise more friendlies during the November international window.

The KFA said the 48-year-old had been hired after "an open recruitment process".

He will become the first Spaniard to coach South Korea.

Moreno took over the Spanish national team on a temporary basis in 2019 from Luis Enrique.

He was appointed full-time in June that year after Luis Enrique resigned because his daughter Xana was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.

Spain rehired Luis Enrique to replace Moreno in November 2019 after his daughter's death. The coach accused Moreno of being "disloyal" for trying to stay in charge for Euro 2020.

Moreno, who has also coached Monaco and Granada, was accused by Russian media in January of using AI to prepare for games during his time in charge of Sochi.

Moreno, who left the top-flight side in September 2025 after a poor run of results, denied the reports.

"I have never used ChatGPT or any AI to prepare matches, decide line-ups or choose players. That is completely false," he wrote in an open letter sent to Spanish newspaper Marca.

Moreno said he used technology in his job but made his decisions himself and with his staff.

"My career in football began precisely through data and video analysis. It's what I specialise in and what made the difference in my early days," he said.

Uzbekistan is far ahead of Bangladesh in terms of strength, and the same disparity exists between the two countries' youth teams. 

However, given the way Uzbekistan dominated the game against Bangladesh, there were concerns that Bangladesh might suffer a heavy defeat. 

Thanks to the solid performance of goalkeeper Raj Chowdhury and the resolute defending, Bangladesh managed to restrict Uzbekistan to just a few goals.

Uzbekistan scored once in the first half, with their second goal coming in the second half.

Bangladesh will play their next match against Syria on September 3. Syria lost their opening match 1-0 to India.

The eight group winners and seven best runners-up from the qualifying round will advance to the AFC U-20 Asian Cup finals.

Sergio Camello netted a brace for the visitors at Camp Nou but Hansi Flick's Barca managed to record a third win from three matches from an entertaining battle.

With his first goal, Yamal, 19, hit the milestone of 50 for the club -- two years younger than Barcelona icon Lionel Messi was when he managed the feat.

"I think the first half we played really fantastic, the goal, 1-0 against us, can happen but the reaction was quite good and I loved a lot of things I saw in the first half," Flick told DAZN.

The Barca coach was not happy his team let Rayo score a second time when they were leading 3-1 in the second half.

"When you are 3-1 ahead especially at home you have to control the game much better," explained Flick.

"We have the quality to control it, to have more ball possession. The mentality of our team and some players is always wanting to attack."

Barcelona started brightly but fell behind after Jules Kounde allowed Alvaro Garcia to race beyond him.

The Rayo midfielder crossed for Camello to finish clinically first time into the top corner.

Stung, champions Barcelona hit back quickly with quickfire goals from Raphinha and Yamal.

Raphinha, who has played up front during the start of the season amid Barcelona's failed battle to land Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, continued his rich vein of goalscoring form.

The Brazil international showed excellent footwork to leave Pathe Ciss for dead and then produced a cool finish.

Watching on from the stands was Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, poised to join Barca before the transfer window closes on Tuesday and clearly facing a battle with his compatriot to start up front.

"For me he's a top striker and of course for us very important, he can give us a lot of things and very happy that he's here," said Flick of Jesus.

- Yamal up and running -

Shortly afterwards teenager Yamal scored his first of the season after Rayo conceded possession in a dangerous area following a defensive mix-up.

Yamal opened up some space and brilliantly whipped the ball into the near top corner to bring up his half-century for Barca.

Flick's side stretched their lead early in the second half when Florian Lejeune bundled Anthony Gordon's cross into his own net.

However, youngster Xavi Espart could not handle Camello at a Rayo corner and the forward nodded home his second of the game to give the visitors a fighting chance.

The electric Gordon helped create Raphinha's second of the night and the Brazilian's fifth of the season, making him La Liga's top goalscorer.

Former Newcastle winger Gordon backheeled the ball to Raphinha who tucked home to secure Barca's win, with Yamal further extending their advantage in stoppage time.

"In the last games (Yamal) could not score, but he's shown his quality through his career. Today he scored and we're happy for him," said Barca midfielder Marc Bernal.

The youngster, who Flick said was arriving back at his top level after suffering a hamstring injury in April, produced a lethal curling finish from the edge of the area in the 90th minute after substitute Karim Adeyemi teed him up.

The 39-year-old forward who won the World Cup in 2022 and dragged his nation to the final in the United States only to lose to Spain, said the decision had been painful.

"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time," Messi wrote on Instagram.

"I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt," he added.

Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory four years ago by winning the final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to a superior Spain side in the 2026 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Following the death of his father Jorge in August, Messi had said he had "serious doubts" about continuing to play football of any sort for "much longer".

"I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer," he said then.

Messi's contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.

In this year's finals, Messi inspired Argentina to another final by scoring eight goals and provided two assists in the dramatic late comeback against England in the semi-finals.

But the dream of lifting the trophy again proved one match too far as the South Americans lost to Spain in the MetLife Stadium.

Messi was pictured in tears after receiving his loser's medal. He said afterwards that the pain of defeat was "immense" and that it would "take a long time for this wound to heal".

- 'Thank you for everything' -

In his statement on Monday, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said it was time for a new generation of Argentina players to take up the torch.

"I love, I loved, and I will always love being on the national team," he wrote. "I gave everything I had, I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some very talented young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there."

Reacting to the news, FIFA president Gianni Infantino called Messi "one of the greatest players our sport has ever seen" and thanked him for "bringing so much joy to millions of football fans".

Argentine President Javier Milei simply posted on social media: "Thank you very much, incredible man."

First called up in 2005 by Jose Nestor Pekerman as an 18-year-old, Messi would go on to play 207 times for Argentina and become the country's leading scorer, with 125 goals.

Messi also won two Copa Americas in 2021 and 2024 during his 21-year international career.

Yet, prior to the trophy-laden later years, Messi did not hold the place in Argentine hearts reserved for other national idols such as Diego Maradona or Pope Francis.

After moving to Catalonia at 13 to join Barcelona, Messi could have represented Spain but chose Argentina.

His long-time team-mate Angel Di Maria, also a 2022 world champion, on Monday paid homage to Messi for this choice and his impact on the national team.

"We will be forever grateful to you for being Argentinian and for having taken Argentina to the top of the world," Di Maria said.

"For having chosen to be Argentinian when you could have chosen something else. Thank you for everything."

For Ernesto Godoy, a 38-year-old teacher in Buenos Aires, Messi's retirement from international football marks "the end of an incredible career, a sportsman of a calibre rarely seen".

"There was Maradona, then a void, then Messi, and now we're going to experience that void (again), life without Messi, just as Argentina did without Maradona," he told AFP of the player who hangs up his shirt assured of his place in the Argentine pantheon.

The 46-year-old Williams -- handed a wild card into the singles in New York some 29 years after reaching the final at Flushing Meadows as a teenager in 1997 -- exited 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).

Williams, though, left with her head held high after a battling performance on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court that finished at just after 2am local time.

Kenin appeared to be cruising to a straightforward win after racing through the opening set and then taking a 4-2 lead in the second.

The 27-year-old American had a break point for what would have been a 5-2 lead but was then rocked by a ferocious fightback from Williams, who recovered to force a tie-break to the delight of the late-night crowd.

An improbable comeback appeared to be beckoning when Williams sprinted into a 6-2 lead in the tie-break, but Kenin regrouped impressively to rattle off six straight points to clinch victory.

Williams and Kenin's match got under way just after midnight local time following Novak Djokovic's marathon five-set loss earlier in the night session.

Williams, who saluted fans as she left the court, has given no indication of when she plans to call time on her singles career.

Her last victory in a Grand Slam singles game came at Wimbledon in 2021, where she reached the second round. Since then Williams has made six Grand Slam singles appearances and exited in the first round on each occasion.

She will extend her US Open campaign when she plays in the women's doubles alongside sister Serena later in the tournament.

The 48th-ranked Argentine's 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory ended Djokovic's latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

It also ended his run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories, a streak stretching all the way back to Djokovic's 2006 loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.

Djokovic vomited on court and struggled with late-match cramps but appeared to have finally taken control when he broke Navone for a 2-1 lead in the fourth set with a vintage backhand winner down the line.

But Navone won the next five games, raising his arms in celebration after fighting off two break points for a 5-2 lead and breaking Djokovic again to force the fifth set.

Djokovic took a medical timeout before the final set, receiving massage on his spine and another delivery of medication.

But Navone jumped to a 3-0 lead in the decisive set and despite the urging of fans there was no road back for the Serb as his opponent dropped just one point on his own serve as he sprinted to the finish line.

"It's unbelievable," an ecstatic Navone said after triumphing in his first meeting with his longtime idol. "It's a dream come true, I mean seriously, 100%.

"This incredible court, the biggest stage ... Now I have to recover. I think it's almost 12 o'clock, so we have to go to sleep," he added after securing the win shortly before midnight after four hours and 36 minutes.

Djokovic broke Navone in the second game as he rolled to a 3-1 lead.

But the 39-year-old was clearly struggling and with Navone gaining confidence Djokovic had to claw out of 0-40 hole to hold for 4-1, looking weary as Navone began to extend the rallies.

Djokovic's double fault on break point allowed Navone to cut the deficit to 4-3, and after a brief pause to close the roof when showers struck Navone held at love to knot the set at 4-4.

Neither blinked until the tiebreaker, but pills delivered by the trainer didn't solve Djokovic's sluggishness.

He fell behind 4-2 in the tiebreaker and after a cleverly angled forehand winner to make it 5-5 Djokovic hit a forehand long and another into the net to give the set to Navone.

In a tense second set Djokovic missed break chances in the third and fifth games before breaking Navone at love for a 6-5 lead and holding at love to level the match at one set apiece.

The third set was more of the same, with Djokovic looking spent after every long rally.

He let a precious break chance go begging in the fifth game of the third and after Navone held for 3-2 Djokovic all but collapsed into his courtside chair and buried his face in a towel.

The Serb pressed on and was rewarded with a crucial break for a 5-4 lead. Navone made him work to serve out the set, saving a pair of set points and threatening to break before Djokovic held for a two sets to one lead.

He couldn't make the advantage stand. When it was all over, Djokovic embraced Navone, then departed blowing kisses to the crowd that had tried to will him to victory.

The 48th-ranked Argentine's 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory ended Djokovic's latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, the monumental achievement looking ever less likely for the 39-year-old.

It also ended his run of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories, a streak stretching all the way back to Djokovic's 2006 loss to Paul Goldstein at the 2006 Australian Open.

"I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me," said Djokovic, who vomited several times and battled late-match cramps.

"It's something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain.

"The back just gave up in the end and shoulder, I couldn't close it out."

Djokovic, who took medication during the match, appeared to have finally taken control when he broke Navone for a 2-1 lead in the fourth set with a vintage backhand winner down the line.

But Navone won the next five games, raising his arms in celebration after fighting off two break points for a 5-2 lead and breaking Djokovic again to force the fifth.

Djokovic took a medical timeout before the final set, receiving massage on his spine and more medication.

But Navone jumped to a 3-0 lead in the decisive set and despite the urging of fans there was no road back for the Serb as his opponent dropped just one point on his own serve as he sprinted to the finish line.

Djokovic, a four-time US Open champion, had never lost before the third round in Flushing Meadows, but he'd shown signs of frailty in his only tune-up, struggling physically in losing his opening match in Cincinnati.

Even as he grabbed a 4-1 lead in the first set Djokovic was clearly not himself. Every rally left him gasping, and he finally surrendered the set with a dismal forehand into the net.

In a tense second set Djokovic missed break chances in the third and fifth games before breaking Navone at love for a 6-5 lead and holding at love to level the match at one set apiece.

The third set was more of the same, Djokovic seizing the crucial break in the ninth game and fending off a break point in the next for a two sets to one lead.

That put paid to any thought he'd had of retiring.

"I have, I have," he said when asked if he'd thought of throwing in the towel. "But then I won a set and then the third. I didn't want to give up."

Determination wasn't enough. He was 2-1 up in the fourth set when the cramps struck and lost eight games in a row.

- Pegula, Medvedev advance -

Djokovic departed to cheers nearly 12 hours after world number three Jessica Pegula conquered her first-round nerves to dispatch Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.

Pegula broke Romania's Ruse twice in each set, but it was less straightforward than the score indicated as the 32-year-old veteran felt the weight of opening the action on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"Oh yeah, I was so nervous today, always the first round of a slam," said Pegula, who has won two titles this year and reached three other finals.

Her consistent high level means she could capture not only a first Grand Slam title but also the world number one ranking.

Seventh-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev also advanced with a serene 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over France's Hugo Gaston.

It was a far cry from Medvedev's meltdown in a first-round loss last year and a heartening performance in another year of mixed results for the Russian.

"I felt like I did everything I wanted to do well," he said.

But there was plenty of drama elsewhere.

Dino Prizmic saved two match points in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Aleksandr Shevchenko.

And Spaniard Jaume Munar needed nearly five hours to secure a 6-7 (5/7), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory over Frenchman Terence Atmane.

Below AFP Sport looks at three talking points that emerged as England completed their first multi-match Test series win in over a year.

Relentless Robinson

The present England management have sometimes given the impression the only thing that matters in a pace attack is sheer speed.

But Ollie Robinson has demonstrated the importance of accuracy and movement as well.

Robinson lacks the express pace and physical threat of Sussex and England team-mate Jofra Archer.

But the seamer's range of skills were on display at Lord's where, albeit helped by a green-tinged pitch, Robinson was named player-of-the-match for a haul of 8-35 that included a remarkable 4-11 in 13 overs during Pakistan's first innings.

While concerns over his fitness and questions regarding some social media posts have threatened to derail his England career, there have rarely been any doubts over the 32-year-old Robinson's talent.

In his three Tests this season the Sussex captain has taken 23 wickets at a stunningly low average of 8.34, with England skipper Joe Root saying on Sunday Robinson was "horrendous (to face) in these conditions."

Pitch problems a worry for Lord's

The way England opener Emilio Gay fell lbw for 31 to a 'pea-shooter' delivery from Pakistan paceman Mohammad Abbas was the kind of dismissal that really should not happen on the third day of a Test and certainly not at a ground that styles itself as the Home of Cricket.

For Gay, struggling to cement his place in the England side, it was a particularly cruel exit as what should be a game of skill was turned into a lottery by uneven bounce.

It was also a worrying sign for Marylebone Cricket Club, the owners of Lord's.

The pitch for the previous Test at Lord's, against New Zealand, was rated as "unsatisfactory" by the International Cricket Council, with next year's World Test Championship final relocated across London to the Oval partly as a consequence.

And while previous surfaces at Lord's, renowned for its steep slope across the ground, faced criticism for being bland and too much in favour of the batsmen, clearly there are limits.

MCC recognised they had an issue after the New Zealand match, announcing the creation of "an agronomy advisory group" and a "phased pitch-relaying programme", although any benefits from may not be seen for several years and are unlikely to be of much consolation to Gay.

Shakeel salvages some batting respect for Pakistan

Pakistan have yet to make 200 so far this series, with the tourists dismissed for 171 and 135 during an innings and 103-run defeat in the first Test at Headingley before managing 110 and 194 at Lord's.

But that Pakistan, already bottom of the World Test Championship table before this latest thumping loss, at least got close to a benchmark total on Sunday was largely down to Saud Shakeel's enterprising 97.

Coming in with Pakistan in dire straits at 14-3, he initially scored briskly without taking undue risks before a flurry of thrilling boundaries, including two superb hooked sixes off fast bowler Josh Tongue took him to within sight of a hundred.

Shakeel fell just short of what would have been his fifth century in 25 Tests when he holed out off Tongue, the left-hander failing to join Abbas on the Lord's honours boards following the veteran seamer's five-wicket haul earlier Sunday.

"In the batting, we weren't up to the mark (in the first innings)," said Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain. "Saud Shakeel showed his class and dedication in the second innings."

The 56-year-old Infantino has been under fire since his aborted plan to bring private investment into FIFA events, such as the World Cup.

He was also lambasted over a number of controversies during the recently-ended World Cup in North America.

"Economic affairs are one thing but Infantino has failed because he is the guarantor of the rules of the game and he didn't respect them," former UEFA president Platini told Canal+.

Platini hit out at the so-called hydration breaks at the World Cup, which often lasted as much as four minutes and were used by the host broadcaster for advertisements.

He also pointed to the half-time show during the final which largely overran the required maximum of 15 minutes, and the furore around FIFA suspending the red card ban given to American forward Folarin Balogun following a phone call made by US President Donald Trump to Infantino.

"The ad breaks are not in the rules, the 30-minute half-time break in the final is not in the rules, and the red card, that's the worst," said Platini.

"He's the guarantor (of the rules), he doesn't respect them, he must go," added Platini about Infantino, who was UEFA's secretary general under the Frenchman's leadership.

Since the World Cup, UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments until Infantino scrapped the FIFA Forward Enterprises plan to bring in private investment.

European football's governing body UEFA has also accused Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" over the private financing.

- 'He always loved money' -

Other regions, CONCACAF and Asia, have joined UEFA in putting pressure on Infantino, who is hoping to run for re-election in March.

"It won't be sporting institutions that sort this out and bring him down," Platini said.

"If UEFA wanta to bring down Infantino, it will be through the courts."

"I always knew that he loved money and power," Platini added about the Swiss-Italian.

Platini was himself accused of fraud in 2015 when he was UEFA president and eyeing the top job at FIFA to replace Sepp Blatter, who was likewise accused of giving an illegal 2-million-dollar payment to the Frenchman.

Platini was eventually acquitted of any wrongdoing in 2025 but was forced to step down at the time, with Infantino leaping on the opportunity to be elected FIFA president in his stead in 2016.

"He didn't bring me down, he benefitted from it," said Platini.

"But now that there are lots of investigations into him all over the world, there is some noise about how he knew about certain things -- let's see what happens next."

Platini is suing Infantino, and former FIFA officials Marco Villiger and Domenico Scala, in France "to seek compensation for all the damages he has suffered as a result of the tactics used to prevent him from being elected FIFA President in 2015".

He accuses the trio of a "criminal conspiracy to commit false accusation... influence peddling... and aiding and abetting influence peddling".

Turkey midfielder Calhanoglu guided home a first-time strike from the edge of the box after nine minutes to make it two goals in two games and set the tone for a first half dominated by the champions in Sardinia.

A combination of wayward finishing and fine goalkeeping from Elia Caprile kept the scoreline close at half-time, and Inter's profligacy continued after the break as Lautaro Martinez, Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni squandered good chances.

England international Curtis Jones made his debut from the bench in the second half, but Inter's lack of composure in front of goal almost came back to bite them as Cagliari threatened a shock equaliser with a flurry of late chances.

Cristian Chivu's side ended the game with 29 shots on the board and only one goal to show for them, but it was enough to send them top of the table after two games, ahead of AC Milan, Juventus and Lazio on goal difference.

"These are your classic games where if you don't close them out, you can run into trouble," Chivu told Sky Italia.

"In the last few minutes, we fell apart, getting confused and panicking.

"But we held firm, and we created a lot. If there is one regret, it is not finishing off the many chances we had."

Gennaro Gattuso's Lazio also made it two wins from two by beating Genoa 1-0 in Rome thanks to a second match-winning strike in a row from summer signing Davide Frattesi.

- Fabregas hopes for striker -

Earlier, Como pulled off their latest feat of Serie A giant-killing as a win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona ruined Napoli coach Allegri's home bow.

Martin Baturina fired Cesc Fabregas's enterprising side into a deserved lead in the 17th minute as chances fell at both ends in soaring temperatures in Naples.

Rasmus Hojlund's brilliant strike drew the hosts level on the half-hour mark, but his good work was quickly undone when a defensive mix-up led to Anastasios Douvikas scoring for the second game in a row.

Kevin De Bruyne, who inspired Napoli to an opening win over Genoa with a goal and assist from the bench, was unable to turn the tide after coming on early in the second half.

Como survived late pressure to hold on as Stanislav Lobotka's stoppage-time strike was ruled out for offside.

"It is a very valuable win... the first half was very good and in the second we understood that we were facing champions, and we held out," Fabregas told broadcasters DAZN.

Fabregas's side upset the established order in Italian football last season by qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, where they were drawn against the likes of holders Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United.

But the Spanish coach admitted that he is hoping for more new signings before the transfer window closes on September 1, to help cope with a busy schedule.

"Obviously, I'm expecting a striker," Fabregas said.

"Douvikas can't play both the league and the cups. We suffered a lot with (Alvaro) Morata last year, for months he was out injured.

"Playing every three days at this level isn't easy."

Como, who were held by Udinese in their opener, moved up to four points, while last season's runners-up Napoli remained on three points.

The second round of the Serie A season concludes on Monday when Roma travel to Lecce before Atalanta host Bologna.

Los Blancos scored three times in just over 10 minutes in the first half to open up a comfortable lead over the Andalusian visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Sandwiched between Bellingham and Mbappe's strikes was an own goal by Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, while Arda Guler tapped in a fourth late on.

"I've got the freedom to go higher or lower if we need, I'm enjoying myself a lot," Bellingham told Real Madrid TV of his attacking midfield role under Mourinho.

The former Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund star was given a standing ovation from the fans when he was substituted in the second half.

"It's an honour to play for this club and in front of these fans and the ovation was very nice," added Bellingham.

After two victories in their opening two games and with superstar trio Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius Junior starting the season well, Madrid's confidence was high.

Mourinho rotated, making five changes to the team that started their opening matches, giving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella among others their first starts this season.

Bellingham opened the scoring after 19 minutes with an excellent solo goal, beating two defenders before drilling through Herrero's legs.

Bellingham forced the second goal seven minutes later, after Herrero denied Mbappe.

The England international headed the rebound towards goal and defender Carlos Puga desperately tried to clear off the line, with the ball bouncing in off the unfortunate stopper Herrero.

Mbappe rattled home the third with a volley from Alexander-Arnold's cross for his fourth goal of the campaign, leaving him top of Spain's scoring charts.

Promoted side Malaga threatened just before half-time, with Rafa Rodriguez striking the post after a corner was played to him, and Chupe hitting the side netting.

- Clean sheet banked -

Madrid cruised through the second half, with Bellingham hitting the outside of the post as they occasionally threatened to extend their lead.

They only managed to get a fourth late on, when Vinicius teed up substitute Guler to finish from point-blank range.

"The second half was more about managing the game, at a lower tempo," Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.

"Malaga were calmer on the ball, but every time we stepped up the pace, it always felt like we could score one or two more.

"One of our objectives was to keep a clean sheet."

Madrid managed to do that for the first time this season and Mourinho said it was important for Los Blancos.

"Football isn't just about having fun with the beauty of the goals -- it's also about going home thinking that we're a solid unit," added the Portuguese veteran.

Deportivo La Coruna secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Valencia.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his third goal of the campaign for the Galician side, who also benefitted from own goals by Cesar Tarrega and Mouctar Diakhaby.

Edin Terzic's Athletic Bilbao also claimed their first win, 2-0 at Celta Vigo, with goals from Alex Berenguer and Robert Navarro.

On Monday, champions Barcelona host Rayo Vallecano in their third match of the campaign, having comfortably won their opening games.

German Paris Brunner scored both goals as Monaco maintained the only remaining perfect record in Ligue 1 after two matches.

"Since I joined, he's been the type of player who expresses himself on the pitch, in training, with goals, pressing, tracking back -- he wants to learn," said Monaco coach Filipe Luis about his match-winner.

"That's the way he is. It's all up to him if he wants to keep doing his talking on the pitch.

"As long as he keeps doing that, he'll be there. He's very young, I'm really happy with the way he played.

"But the most important thing is that he remains ambitious, passionate, because he is passionate when he plays and I love that."

The 20-year-old opened the scoring on 13 minutes with a header from captain Aleksandr Golovin's cross from the right.

Nine minutes after half-time, he cut inside Marseille centre-backs Geoffrey Kondogbia and CJ Egan-Riley before shooting past goalkeeper Jeffrey De Lange.

In the capital, newly-recruited Malian striker Lassine Sinayoko broke the deadlock from the penalty-spot on 20 minutes.

Samir Chergui doubled that after a blistering counter-attack after 51 minutes, while Vincent Marchetti pounced on a loose ball late on to make it 3-0 to PFC.

Former Strasbourg boss Rosenior was brought back to France following his torrid experience at Chelsea by the multi-billionaire Arnault family, owners of the Louis Vuitton brand and Paris FC.

After opening the season with a goalless draw at Troyes, the win lifted PFC into second place.

A brace from Esteban Lepaul, including a winner from the penalty spot deep into injury-time, helped Rennes up to fifth with a 3-2 win over Le Mans, for whom Louis Mafouta also grabbed two goals.

The 45-year-old 20-time Grand Slam singles champion was frequently overcome with emotion as he addressed a crowd bristling with tennis royalty at a ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Swiss legend, who retired from tennis in 2022, paid tribute to the opponents, officials, fans, family and friends who had shared his career during a lengthy address that unfolded as a love letter to the sport.

"This is one of the greatest honors of my life," Federer said. "They call this the Hall of Fame, but fame was never the goal.

"My goal was to spend my life doing something I love... with people who I love it as much as I do."

In a light-hearted preamble, the eight-time Wimbledon champion totted up his career in some of his lesser-known statistical milestones.

"Not the obvious stats like the number of majors or number of weeks at number one," Federer said. "I'm talking about the numbers that really paint a picture. Between 1998 and when I first went on the ATP tour, and when I retired in 2022, I wore more than 5,000 headbands. That's more than (Bjorn) Borg and (John) McEnroe combined.

"And if you think that's impressive, I wore probably over 7000 pairs of socks. That's probably twice as many as most of my opponents, because I doubled them up.

"But really, there's no way to measure what it means to be here. It's hard to put it into words," Federer said, reflecting on his journey from being a 13-year-old ballboy at an ATP tournament in Basel to the pinnacle of tennis.

"I really want to thank every ball kid who ever stood through my matches or all our matches, for that matter, for hours on end," Federer said. "I see you. I thank you. I was you."

Federer had to wipe away tears as he name-checked his idol Stefan Edberg, other tennis stars, family and support staff who had inspired him throughout his career.

"I need tissues and sunglasses and everything to protect me right now," he joked. "This is such a mess."

"It's been an incredible journey," Federer said. "For me, the International Tennis Hall of Fame provides a great opportunity to look back, but also to look ahead," he added.

"As you can tell, I'm still writing my love letter to tennis. My time as a player is done, but tennis will always stand at the intersection of everything I care most about: my family, our friendships, the past 40 years, the future we're building. Tennis for me is responsible for it all."

The 23-year-old Parry, ranked 50th in the world, held her nerve to seal a 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 win over the vastly more experienced Mertens, the world number 24.

Parry started confidently, clinching the first set after breaking Mertens for the second time in the 10th game of the opening set.

But Mertens, chasing her 11th singles title, came roaring back to race through the second set to love to regain the initiative.

Parry responded with an early break to take a 2-0 lead in the decisive third set, her powerful forehand continuing to cause problems for Mertens.

A further break gave Parry a 5-1 lead, and although she was broken immediately, she closed out the set to complete her first tournament win.

Miami have endured a rocky spell since the resumption of play following the World Cup finals, losing four of their previous five games heading into Saturday's clash in Florida.

But the reigning MLS Cup champions got back to winning ways with a confident performance against Montreal, who are languishing second from bottom in the Eastern Conference.

Brazil international Casemiro, who joined Miami after the World Cup, bagged his first goal for the champions with a 20th minute header at the Nu Stadium.

Montreal though hit back with a 37th-minute goal from Fabian Herbers, the German midfielder's low shot from the edge of the area squeezing into the bottom corner.

But Miami did not have to wait long to regain the lead, and went 2-1 up when a low curling free-kick from Messi somehow bamboozled Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier in the 40th minute.

Messi then extended Miami's lead shortly after half-time, the 39-year-old Argentina superstar's momentum helping him weave through a cluster of Montreal defenders before drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

Messi played a key role in Miami's fourth, laying on a superbly flighted pass to send former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez bearing down on goal. Suarez made no mistake with the finish to seal an emphatic win.

Messi secured his hat-trick on 83 minutes when he latched on to a Rodrigo De Paul pass in the 83rd minute and delicately dinked over the advancing Gillier to make it 5-1.

Teenage substitute Alex Shaw added a sixth goal in the 89th minute, rifling home a low shot from outside the area.

But there was still time for Messi to score a fourth, the veteran curling in a trademark free kick from the edge of the area in the dying minutes of stoppage time.

The victory leaves Miami in second place in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind leaders Nashville, who were playing later Saturday.

Diego Simeone's men have taken seven points from their first three matches of the league season.

The club has repeatedly ruled out a move to Barcelona for wantaway striker Alvarez, who has also been heavily linked with Arsenal.

The Argentina international was left out of the matchday squad in Seville, having been booed by his own fans last weekend in a 2-2 home draw with Villarreal.

"Julian is going through his own personal process, and we'll be here to help him -- and for him to help us on the pitch -- because he is an extraordinary player," Simeone told Movistar of Alvarez.

The two forwards who started in his absence combined to great effect to give Atletico a fourth-minute lead.

Lee Kang-in, a summer signing from European champions Paris Saint-Germain, played an excellent pass in behind for Alex Baena to rifle a low shot into the net.

The Rojiblancos doubled their advantage in the 26th minute, as Ademola Lookman planted a clever shot inside Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos's near post.

Atletico were three goals in front just seven minutes later as Spanish World Cup winner Baena scored his second.

Baena drove a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box after being teed up by Marcos Llorente.

Sevilla improved in the second half and pulled one back through Miguel Sierra's volley, but never looked like mounting a comeback.

"Being a world champion boosts your confidence, especially after the strong World Cup I had. Now the goal is to keep this momentum going," Baena said.

- Betis lose 100% record -

Earlier, Real Betis lost their perfect start as Roger Brugue helped Levante to a 5-2 victory.

Betis, whose fifth-place finish last term secured them a long-awaited return to the Champions League, would have gone top with a third win from as many outings to start their domestic campaign.

But it was not to be for Manuel Pellegrini's charges as goals from Adrian de la Fuente, Enzo Bardeli, Brugue and Jon Ander Olasagasti secured the hosts their first win of the season.

De la Fuente broke the deadlock at the Ciutat de Valencia with a glancing header from a corner in the 24th minute.

Shortly after the half-hour, former Barcelona centre-half Marc Bartra levelled for Betis with a forceful effort from the edge of the box.

The match really sparked into life under the late summer Valencian sun as the clock ticked past 45 minutes.

Bardeli displayed fantastic technique and imagination two minutes into added time as he pounced on a loose defensive pass and launched a chip from well over 40 yards that left Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles helpless.

But the visitors managed to go into the break on level terms as Rodrigo Riquelme tucked in a flick-on from a corner.

But a double from Brugue -- the first another set-piece goal, before he bundled home from close range after Ivan Romero had struck the post -- and a late Olasagasti header sealed the win.

Real Sociedad got their first points of the season with a 2-1 home win over Espanyol.

Victory was the first in a World Marathon Major for 21-year-old Gobena, who came second last year, while Jepchirchir added to her previous triumphs in Boston, New York and London.

Gobena made his move in the last kilometre to power home four seconds clear of compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta in 2hrs 04min 42sec. Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana came third.

The dominant run shattered the course record by almost one-and-half minutes, with last year's winner Hailemaryam Kiros dropping from the pace in the dying stages.

"I am very happy," said Gobena, who was a javelin thrower before transitioning to long-distance running, gaining international attention by winning the 2024 Dubai Marathon.

"Last year I came second, I learnt from my mistake, and I went back home and I worked on my mistake to perform and break the record today."

The unstoppable Jepchirchir was in a league of her own, crossing the finish line in front of the Sydney Opera House in 2:18:31, nearly four minutes ahead of fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai and Ethiopia's Shure Demise Ware.

"I was prepared, but I was not sure when I came here if I would win, so I'm so glad and I'm so happy," said Jepchirchir.

"It was so hilly. First half (of the race) was so tough, but the second was better at least. But it was not easy."

In the men's race, the leading pack had thinned to 15 by the halfway mark, with Gobena, world champion Alphonce Simbu and Kiros among them.

Dawit Wolde, Vincent Ngetich and Gobena all attempted breakaways, but they were reeled in by a pack reduced to seven with six kilometres left.

It was still the same group at the 40 kilometre mark before Gobena and Gudeta made their move, pulling clear with Gobena outkicking his countryman in the final sprint.

Kenya's Priscah Cherono went out hard among the women, opening a 20-second gap by 15 kilometres and 30 seconds by halfway.

But the lead chasers, down to just Jepchirchir and Cheptai, caught the 46-year-old Kenyan just before 30 kilometres.

Jepchirchir and Cheptai eased clear and the relentless world champion then put her foot to the floor, finishing nine seconds off the course record set by Olympic champion Sifan Hassan in 2025.

American Daniel Romanchuk won the men's wheelchair race, while Switzerland's Manuela Schar, a three-time Paralympic gold medal winner, took out the women's.

Around 40,000 runners, a record, competed over the picturesque 42.19 kilometre course through the city from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge to the finish line on the forecourt of the Opera House.

The race was elevated last year to the seventh World Marathon Major, putting it on a par with London, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York in the elite global series.

The Spaniard has drawn confidence from grueling practice sessions ahead of the Grand Slam, he told reporters at a pre-tournament media day.

"I need to come here to practice with these guys to feel the competition once again, and this is really testing," he said.

"I'm feeling great and ... that helped me a lot to to know right now that it's all in my head," he said.

Alcaraz, 23, the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam after triumphing in Australia in January, hasn't played singles since April 16, withdrawing from the Barcelona Open with a right wrist injury and subsequently skipping both the French Open and Wimbledon.

Alcaraz, who partnered Serena Williams in the US Open's mixed doubles event on Tuesday, told reporters on Friday that his coaching and support team had complete confidence that he was ready to go.

"I gotta trust my people that tell me that it's gonna be fine. So I just have to go 100 percent," he said. "So I'm just trying to to like stay away ... from that fear."

Alcaraz will open his defense against Russian veteran Roman Safiullin.

Should he clear that and the subsequent two matches, he could face a potential fourth round match with Tommy Paul or Alexander Bublik, with potentially either Ben Shelton or Arthur Fils looming in the quarterfinals.

The Spanish star would normally be an automatic favorite to win again in New York. But the injury has made him more of a question mark in 2026.

Other top players are not discounting Alcaraz' chances.

"I expect him to be maybe a bit rusty the first or second match, but once he gets through that, I think he's going to be a contender for sure here," said second-ranked Alexander Zverev, the top seed due to the withdrawal of world number one Jannik Sinner.

Coming back after a layoff at a Grand Slam where men play three out of five sets is "not necessarily easy to do," said American Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed.

"But, you know, if you can get past those first couple of rounds, you start to feel pretty good," Fritz said. "Then at that point there's no reason why he couldn't, you know, find form and play really well. Who knows?"

- Sinner rivalry on hiatus -

Fans reacted rapturously to Alcaraz' brief partnership with Williams, with the superstar pair winning their first match before losing soundly in the second round to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy.

While Alcaraz showed flashes of brilliance, he looked rusty at times, with some pundits also noting that his serve lacked its customary pop.

In 2025, Alcaraz and Sinner split the four Grand Slams with each winning two. The two young stars have been the most bankable champions since the generation of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the only one of three older greats still playing and a contender in New York.

But after Alcaraz and Sinner met in the finals of three slams in 2025, they will not face off in any of the biggest events in 2026 after Sinner's withdrawal from New York due to a knee injury.

"We are not gonna see each other for, like, six months now, seven months. So it's kind of weird situation, to be honest," Alcaraz said of his rival.

"I just wish him all the best. Hopefully a really great recovery and see him back on court at his best once again."

Alcaraz acknowledged that being out of competition was difficult, particularly early on when he couldn't use his arm, he made the most of the break.

"At the same time, I enjoyed my time," he said. "I enjoyed my time with family, with friends, staying at home."

In July, Alcaraz appeared in New York at the World Cup final to watch his native Spain defeat Argentina.

"It was a really cool experience and really cool moment," he said of the appearance, while calling the chance to see Spain win their second World Cup "a lifetime experience."

Bangladesh have been grouped in Pool B alongside Malaysia, Pakistan, hosts China and Kazakhstan.

The team will begin their tournament against hosts China on September 4. They will play their second group match against Malaysia on September 6, followed by a match against Kazakhstan on September 8 before playing their final group match against Pakistan on September 9.

Neumann's 13th-minute header put Birmingham in front at the Racecourse Ground before Callum Doyle levelled early in the second half.

Birmingham finished stronger and Neumann nodded in the winner just after the hour to leave Wrexham on two points from three league games.

Birmingham urgently needed a response from Tuesday's 6-1 League Cup thrashing at home to Brentford and delivered to give Davies some breathing space.

It was Birmingham's first Championship victory this season after draws with Sheffield United and Bristol City in their opening two games.

Birmingham are unbeaten in their five meetings with Wrexham since the fortunes of the two clubs were transformed by their celebrity owners.

Wrexham 

Milan spent 74mn euros to acquire Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain and the Portuguese delivered a goal to treasure on 69 minutes before a late own goal from Redouane Halhal settled the game.

"The most important thing isn't my goal, it's the win," Ramos said adding "I should have scored more than one goal tonight."Milan opened the season with a 2-1 win away at Torino making Friday's encounter their first home game since Franco Baresi died with hommage paid to their former skipper ahead of kick off.

New boss Ruben Amorim watched his big close-season signing Ramos fluff a first minute effort that came at him too close to his feet, but his opener from the left of the box lifted the home crowd as the striker reeled away in joy.

"We're starting to show this team's DNA and mindset; I already feel right at home in this group," said Ramos.

A break from the half-way line and shot from the edge of the box from substitute Ardon Jashari on 89 minutes came off the Venezia goalkeeper, hit the onrushing defender Halhal's knee and flew home to make it 2-0.

Milan are rebuilding under former Manchester United boss Amorim after missing Champions League qualification of the final day of last season.

Juventus host Parma in Saturday's late Serie A game. Italy's Champions League quartet are in action later. On Sunday when Como take their ambitions to Napoli, champions Inter Milan travel to Cagliari. Roma play at Lecce on Monday.

Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern were in control from start to finish in a rematch of last season's German Cup final, with Olise in spectacular form despite the greasy conditions in the Bavarian capital.

Dayot Upamecano headed the hosts in front from a corner and while Josha Vagnoman levelled things up for Stuttgart after the break, Bayern scored twice in three minutes through Olise and a Vagnomann own goal to restore control.

Bundesliga debutant Ismael Saibari created a late goal for Aleksandar Pavlovic and Diaz scored in stoppage time to extend Bayern's unbeaten run in league openers to 15 seasons.

"He relies heavily on intuition, reacting before the opponent does," Bayern defender Konrad Laimer said of Olise.

"It's an incredible quality, especially in one-on-one situations. You need that instinct to read the situation: knowing when to pass, when to dribble, and when to shoot.

"It's really fun to be out there on the pitch with him."

With 14 goals including three hat-tricks, Harry Kane had scored against Stuttgart more than any other German opponent but had a quiet night and was subbed out late in the second-half.

The big win will likely see Bayern top the table after matchday one, extending their streak to 67 matchdays dating back to September 2024.

Bayern lost just one of 40 domestic matches last year but coach Vincent Kompany said it was his job to keep the squad hungry.

"Everything starts again from zero. I hope all players are aware of that, but it's also my role to instill it into them."

- 'Lights out' for Stuttgart -

Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness revealed the players were left in the dark at half-time due to a power outage.

"The lights were out," Hoeness said, adding "but we could still see each other. We didn't trip over.

"Bayern will beat plenty of other teams here, maybe by more, but we have to improve, no question about it."

Before the match, Germany coach Jurgen Klopp told Sky he had told Bayern midfielder Jamal Musiala "the door is open for you" as he continues to return from a neurological condition from which he collapsed twice in pre-season fixtures.

Vincent Kompany made two changes to the side which won 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund in the Supercup, including returning France centre-back Upamecano to the starting XI.

Both sides started well despite the teeming rain, with Stuttgart's Tiago Tomas and Olise hitting the woodwork early.

Upamecano put Bayern in front in simple fashion with 21 minutes gone, leaping high to glance in a Kimmich corner.

Early in the second-half, Stuttgart got themselves back in the match when Vagnoman blasted in a rebound, but Bayern quickly reclaimed the initiative.

Olise converted an expert Kimmich pass from close range just three minutes before Vagnoman scored at how own end of the pitch, slipping when trying to clear a low Alphonso Davies cross.

Olise had the ball in the net again just six minutes later when he turned in a clever Kane through ball, but his goal was chalked off for a narrow offside.

Saibari cut back for Pavlovic to score late and Diaz added another in stoppage time to round out a comprehensive win.

Speaking with reporters after Bayern's dominant 5-1 home win over Stuttgart in the Bundesliga season opener, Kane said negotiations had begun a contract extension.

"The first meeting started last week," Kane said.

The 33-year-old forward is among the favourites for the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded in his hometown of London in August.

Kane said "a lot of details" needed to be discussed but hoped to continue his stay at Bayern, who he joined in 2023 from boyhood club Tottenham.

"I'm 33. It's probably going to be, not my last contract. But it's a big contract for me to sign.

"They need to make sure I'm happy. They obviously need to make sure they're happy... There's no panic from either side.

"I'm sure we'll get to a point where both sides are happy."

Bayern have repeatedly said they would like to extend Kane's deal at the club, which expires at the end of this season.

The England captain scored 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga games last term, the third most in a German top-flight campaign, while winning the league and cup double.

In total, he scored 73 goals for club and country last season, including six at the World Cup as England made it to the semi-finals.

Gerard, who has one PGA Tour victory to date and is playing in his first Tour Championship, made six birdies, including an epic 78-foot putt that rolled the length of the seventh green.

He seized the clubhouse lead with a five-under-par 65, before Hovland -- playing in the day's final pair -- birdied the 18th hole for a 66 to share the overnight lead.

The pair finished on 10-under at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, a stroke clear of American duo Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup.

A further shot back were world number one Scottie Scheffler and third-ranked Cameron Young, who catapulted from rock bottom to tied-fifth with a day's best round of 62.

"Solid so far. Just got to keep it rolling," said Gerard, who insisted the pressure of entering the weekend in first place would not be an issue.

"Love playing with the lead. Way better than playing in last," he said.

After two early bogeys, Hovland had rolled in a 27-foot putt on the par-three 15th, and saved par on 16 despite smashing a putt from off the green ten feet past the hole.

Despite his position, the Norwegian expressed frustration that he was struggling to find the consistency that propelled him to win the 2023 Tour Championship.

"It almost pisses me off more because I know that, 'oh, I used to be able to do that,' and now it feels a lot more difficult to do that," he said.

"It's not so much that I'm hitting those crazy wayward shots right now, it's just that I know when I'm swinging it doesn't feel quite right."

Min Woo Lee had entered Friday with a two-shot cushion, but had a nightmare round.

The Australian made triple bogey on five, needing two attempts to hack out of the rough, laying up then three-putting. He shanked his tee shot on eight into the water for bogey.

His round of 73 was the second-worst of the tournament so far.

Lee had scored 62 a day earlier, playing solo due to his partner JJ Spaun's withdrawal with a shoulder injury.

On Friday, with 29 players remaining, it was Cameron Young's turn to play alone, and remarkably he scored 62 too.

"It seems to be a strong pattern. It's a bit strange," admitted Young, who said it had felt like he was "playing a practice round."

"You don't have to wait for anybody else. Nothing weird happens. Just got in a really nice rhythm and kept going."

Young made seven birdies in his first 11 holes, and ended with an eagle.

- 'Bad gusts' -

Scheffler had a productive if inconsistent day.

The world number one recovered from back-to-back bogeys to pull within a shot of the lead, then bogeyed 17 as winds picked up to make conditions trickier in the closing stages.

"I watched it get in the jet stream up there and fly... it felt like any moment they could blow the horn," said Scheffler. "Yeah, just bad gusts."

Rory McIlroy suffered an embarrassing double bogey, twice chipping the ball 45 feet from the uphill third green, only for the ball to roll back to his feet each time.

The six-time Major winners managed two late birdies for a round of 69, but sits tied for 23rd on three-under par, seven shots off the pace.

It looked as though the reigning French and European champions were heading for defeat as goals by Hakon Haraldsson and Dilane Bakwa for Lille left PSG trailing 2-0 with the 90 minutes up.

But a Vitinha strike in the first added minute gave Luis Enrique's team sudden belief. The Portugal playmaker then crossed for Marquinhos to head in with the final act of the game in northern France.

It was a cruel blow for Lille and their new coach Davide Ancelotti, who worked with Marquinhos as part of the Brazil staff at the recent World Cup.

"It is never finished against PSG," said Marquinhos.

PSG remain without a victory at the start of this Ligue 1 season but this was the second successive game in which they had come from two behind late on to grab a share of the spoils.

Last weekend they trailed 2-0 away to Rennes before Spain's World Cup final hero Ferran Torres came off the bench and netted a brace to earn a point.

"It says a lot about us," added Marquinhos. "The positive thing is our mentality, and our ability to come back and get a result from behind. That augurs well for the rest of the season."

- Dembele left out -

Torres, a new arrival from Barcelona, had replaced Ousmane Dembele at half-time in Rennes, and the French international was then told by his manager to go away and have this week off.

He was therefore not involved here, while another of France's World Cup stars Bradley Barcola was also absent with a huge-money transfer to Liverpool understood to be imminent.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also benched at kick-off for the visitors, who saw Achraf Hakimi come close to giving them an early lead with an effort which grazed the post.

Haraldsson then struck in stunning fashion just before the midway point in the first half for Lille, who this week sold prodigious teenage talent Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City for an initial 100 million euros ($117m).

The Icelandic international midfielder scored with a thumping first-time effort from the edge of the area after a brilliant reverse pass by Olivier Giroud to set him up.

Kvaratskhelia and summer recruit Mika Godts both came on in the second half for PSG, but they were reeling when Bakwa -- just on for his debut after joining on loan from Nottingham Forest -- curled in for 2-0 with six minutes left.

It seemed set to be two wins out of two for Lille under new Italian coach, whose father Carlo Ancelotti -- the current Brazil boss -- watched from the stands at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Davide Ancelotti was on the staff at PSG when Carlo was in charge of the Qatar-owned club between 2012 and 2013.

But PSG's late show denied them, and Luis Enrique's side will take confidence from their remarkable comeback here as they prepare for the upcoming defence of their Champions League title.

"At this point in the season it would be very dangerous to be at 100 percent already," said the coach.

The two-time reigning European champions, who have already beaten Aston Villa to claim this season's UEFA Super Cup, will notably play Barcelona and Manchester City in the league phase of the Champions League.

Elsewhere in Ligue 1 this weekend, last season's runners-up Lens go to Strasbourg on Saturday, while Monaco face Marseille on Sunday.

NSC Executive Director (Joint Secretary) Doulotuzzaman Khan and Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation (BTF) Vice Present Md Ahaduzzaman were present in the opening ceremony as the chief guests.

A total of 450 taekwondo players from districts, associations, services teams and clubs from across the country are taking part in the fight and poomsae events.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque is expected to present in the closing ceremony on Sunday (Aug 30) and distribute the prizes. 

About 15,000 athletes and officials were initially expected at the Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4.

That was already more than the Olympics, but the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) last week put the number at 17,000 -- 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials.

There is no dedicated athletes' village, organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.

In March, the OCA added teqball and padel to the sporting programme.

Organising committee president Hideaki Omura told reporters that they had "neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements" for extra participants.

"The host city agreement specifies a delegation of 15,000 people," Omura, who also serves as the governor of Aichi Prefecture, said this week.

"We have not set aside a budget for any more than that. There is simply nowhere for them to stay."

Organisers have opted for temporary athlete accommodation to cut costs, hiring the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena for the event.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes will stay on the ship, while a further 2,000 athletes and officials will stay in the shipping container-style huts.

The rest will be in hotels, including in Tokyo, where swimming, diving and equestrian events will take place.

Reports this week said the local organising committee had asked the OCA to reduce the number of participants.

"If they still wish to come, they will have to make their own arrangements," said Omura.

AFP has repeatedly contacted the OCA for comment.

Nagoya mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, who serves as acting chairman of the organising committee, said on Wednesday that it was "difficult to accommodate this number, both in terms of time and physical capacity".

"From a cost perspective we are operating on a tight budget and it is difficult," he said.

"It's inevitable, at some point you need to have certain discussions and say certain things that sometimes are tough," said Arteta. Martinelli left training early on Thursday amid speculation he is set for a move to Saudi side Al Hilal for a fee that could reportedly rise to œ50million ($68 million).

"I think everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi (Martinelli). Whatever the outcome is, it will be because everybody agrees to that," added Arteta. Jesus has fallen well down the pecking order during an injury disrupted time in north London and was not even included in training on Thursday as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

"It's something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad at the moment and the way we're managing that kind of situation individually with all the players -- they have some personal situations," Arteta said of the former Manchester City striker.

Arsenal have been linked with bolstering their forward line with a move for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. The Argentine is caught in an acrimonious stand-off after Atletico refused to let him depart the Spanish capital for Barcelona.

"Don't go there," said Arteta about Arsenal's interest in Alvarez. "I'm not going to make any comment about any player that is not with us." Ezri Konsa is already an Arsenal player and could make his debut back at Villa Park on Monday after securing a œ51 million move from Aston Villa.

The England international could receive a frosty reception but Arteta said that would not influence his decision in throwing Konsa into action.

"If I see something different in the player then I may have a question about that, but the way I've seen Ezri since day one, knowing his personality really well and through people that have worked with him, I have no concern there."

Bruno Guimaraes could also be fit to make his first competitive Arsenal appearance after missing the 3-0 win over Coventry last weekend due to a groin problem.

The Catalan giants eased to a solid victory over their Basque visitors in their first game of the season at the partially-rebuilt Camp Nou, with new arrival Rodri coming on for his Barca debut.

Raphinha rounded the goalkeeper and slid home in the 37th minute to give Barca the lead, and Lopez netted after 82 minutes to secure the points, with the Catalans missing several chances for more goals and twice hitting the woodwork.

"Very happy to play my first game, happy with the victory, we've got two from two," Rodri told DAZN. "It's important to keep building up rhythm and adapting to this great team. My first minutes and (I had some) good feelings."

Barca coach Hansi Flick made three changes to the team that thrashed Elche 5-0 last weekend, handing Anthony Gordon his first start for the club, while bringing Pedri Gonzalez into midfield and picking Pau Cubarsi in defence.

The German kept Raphinha playing up front as a makeshift number nine, after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Barca have fruitlessly tried to pry Julian Alvarez away from Atletico Madrid, who will not negotiate with the Spanish champions for the Argentina forward.

However, Raphinha netted twice from his striker's role against Elche and was on target again for Barca at Camp Nou, giving them a deserved lead at half-time. "It doesn't matter which position Rapha plays, as a captain he's shown total commitment to this team, to this club," Flick told reporters.

"You can see the supporters are connected with him and it's really good."

The Brazilian nodded against the post from Xavi Espart's cross midway through the first half and Lamine Yamal's follow-up effort was deflected wide, with Barca controlling the game. Eventually, they took the lead when Pedri slipped Raphinha through on goal, with the Brazilian rounding Unai Simon and rolling home.

Teenage star Yamal should have doubled Barca's lead before the interval but Simon made a fine save to deny him, while Gordon complained that he would have had an open goal if the Spain international had knocked the ball across to him. Gordon arrowed a shot narrowly over early in the second half as Barcelona probed for a second goal.

Yamal, still not at his best level since suffering a hamstring injury in April, hit the crossbar with an effort from the edge of the box. Simon saved twice from Lopez, who netted a brace in the opener. Flick sent on former Manchester City midfielder Rodri for his debut in midfield, leaving 10 Spaniards and Gordon on the pitch for Barca.

- Securing the points -

The champions were in the ascendency but Athletic threatened on a rare venture forward, with Oihan Sancet drilling against the post. Barcelona eventually found their second after a mistake from Athletic defender Aymeric Laporte, clumsily nudging Barca substitute Karim Adeyemi's cross past Simon, for Lopez to tuck into an empty net.

Adeyemi should have netted a third late on when Yamal picked him out at the back post but Simon denied the German from point-blank range. Yamal's second half performance was an improvement on a disappointing opening 45 minutes and his struggles against Elche, and Rodri said that the forward is improving.

"Maybe Lamine came from a moment where he was a bit down and today we tried to help him get back up and saw his best version, even though he didn't score," added Rodri, Spain's World Cup winning captain.

"The goals will come because the talent is there."

Athletic Bilbao have started their season with two defeats under new coach Edin Terzic. "I'm not a constant winner, I'm a constant trier," said former Borussia Dortmund coach Terzic.

"I'm fully of belief and trust when I see how we worked in these two games and in the training ground, sooner or later we'll get what we deserve and turn results in our favour."

With a $10 million top prize up for grabs at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia, Collin Morikawa, Chris Gotterup and Norway's Viktor Hovland were two strokes behind the 28-year-old leader.

World number one Scottie Scheffler was among a group trailing Lee by three, after a bogey-free 65, with six-time Major winner Rory McIlroy six shots adrift on two-under par.

The opening-day heroics from Lee, ranked 31st in the world, were at stark odds with his playoffs so far -- he finished second-from-last at last week's BMW Championship, and 55th a week earlier.

"Very average two weeks, the last two weeks -- it was probably the saddest I've been on the golf course, which is not good," said Lee.

But "this week was a brand-new week, and we obviously play from scratch and everyone plays from the same score," he added.

"Being out there, I thought why not give it a good crack and have a good attitude?"

Lee's opening round featured eight birdies, including a 21-foot putt on eight that rattled the cup before dropping, and no bogeys.

Lee -- runner-up at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, and at last month's Scottish Open -- had quickly found himself in the unusual position of playing solo.

His Thursday playing partner, JJ Spaun withdrew with a shoulder injury, having struggled through just five holes at four-over par.

"It was a little strange at first, just like looking for a playing partner and you're just there by yourself," admitted Lee.

"It was more just maintaining speeds and not rushing because I would just catch the group in front and wait. So I had to just slow down a little bit. It worked out."

Spaun said it was "disappointing" to withdraw having tried to push through the pain, but "didn't want to cause any further damage."

Tied for second, two strokes behind Lee on six-under, were two-time Major winner Morikawa, 2023 Tour Championship winner Hovland, and eighth-ranked Gotterup.

"Out here these greens are fast. It's probably the fastest I've seen them over the past few years, but I saw them really well today," said Morikawa.

A further shot back were Americans Ryan Gerard and Akshay Bhatia, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, and Scheffler.

The world number one birdied his final two holes, getting up-and-down from a bunker thanks to a 10-foot putt on the 18th to stay firmly in the race.

Lee's compatriot Adam Scott and reigning British Open champion Ryan Fox were among a group on four-under that also included last year's Tour Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood.

The PGA Tour also distanced itself from Good Good Golf, announcing the company would no longer serve as title sponsor of an upcoming tournament.

The ad, released online last week before being pulled, triggered a huge backlash for its depiction of violence against women, including calls for a boycott of Callaway products.

The online video showed Garrett Clark -- co-founder of Good Good -- knocking Epson Tour professional player Alexis Miestowski to the ground when she attempts to reach for his driver, before warning her in a sinister tone: "Do not touch my new driver."

Callaway said it had reviewed the matter and "has ended its relationship with Good Good, effective immediately."

"Over the last several days, we have listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we reposted," it said in a statement.

"We heard from individuals who shared personal experiences related to violence against women, and their stories were powerful reminders that this issue touches the lives of far too many people.

"Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialized, normalized, or used as entertainment."

Callaway has taken "appropriate internal corrective actions," and will commit $1 million to support organizations working to prevent violence against women, it added.

Good Good Golf, which centers its business around a successful YouTube channel aimed at bringing a younger audience to the sport, had already apologized for the controversial advert.

"We posted a video to our channels that ultimately depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand," Good Good said in a statement.

But the backlash continued Thursday.

Good Good Golf will no longer serve as the title sponsor for an upcoming PGA Tour tournament in Texas, the circuit announced.

"The PGA Tour has been informed of Good Good Golf's decision to step away as sponsor of the event in Austin, Texas, this fall," said a statement.

"We agree with their decision to use this time to focus on their organization and work ahead."

The tournament will go ahead as scheduled from November 12-15, with details on new sponsorship arrangements to be announced at a later date, it said.

Earlier this week, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp said the circuit was dismayed by the advert, describing Good Good's initial handling of the controversy as "disappointing."

The Golf Channel also said it "will not be able to complete this season" of its reality show "Big Break x Good" due to the media company's involvement, after a sponsor reportedly asked for its branding to be removed.

Gonzalez, who hails from superstar Messi's hometown Rosario, will attempt to turn around Miami's poor run of post-World Cup form under interim manager Guillermo Hoyos.

"Inter Miami CF announced today that it has reached an agreement with Cristian Alberto 'Kily' Gonzalez to become the Club's new First Team head coach," said a club statement.

Hoyos will remain in post until his replacement's US work permit is approved, it added.

Gonzalez, 52, played left wing for European giants Inter Milan, Valencia and Zaragoza in a career that also included 56 international caps for Argentina between 1995-2005.

He moved into management in 2020, taking the helm at three Argentine club sides before his move to Miami.

The MLS Cup holders have endured a rough spell since the North American league's mid-season World Cup break, despite adding Brazil's Casemiro from Manchester United to a star-packed squad.

The side under Hoyos has lost four of its last five games, remaining second in the Eastern Conference but slipping 10 points adrift of leaders Nashville.

Hoyos on Thursday received a one-game ban and fine for the club's multiple violations of the league's late kick-off policy, his team repeatedly slow to return to the field after half-time breaks.

Hoyos, previously Miami's sporting director and a longtime friend of club captain and talisman Messi, only stepped into the temporary role in April after Javier Mascherano departed the club for "personal reasons."

"Inter Miami would like to especially highlight and thank Hoyos for his commitment and full dedication to the Club, demonstrated by his willingness to assume the role during this period, which began last April," said the club statement.

Sri Lanka, who resumed on 229-6, are leading by 116 runs after being made to follow-on in Colombo.

India looked favourites to wrap up the Test and series, but the two overnight batters put on an unbeaten stand of 111 to deny the visitors a wicket in the morning session.

It was the first time Sri Lanka had crossed the 300-run mark in the two-match series led by India.

India took the second new ball in the morning but were unable to breakthrough as the left-right pair of Dinusha, unbeaten on 55, and Nuwantha (46) batted with patience and composure.

Dinusha, who made 103 in the first innings, has stood anchor with top support from number eight Nuwantha. Dinusha had also hit 100 and 84 in the first Test.

India, who posted 503-9 declared in their first innings, enforced the follow-on after they bowled out Sri Lanka out for 290.

The hosts were in trouble at 218-6 in their second innings before Dinusha and Nuwantha got down to the grind.

The pair survived a second-set pummeling in the championship decider in New York to edge Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy, 6-3, 1-6, 10-6.

Mensik, a singles semi-finalist at this year's French Open, sealed the triumph with a searing ace to the backhand corner.

Another Mensik ace saved one of two match points earlier in the evening when the Czech pair edged the Russians Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, 5-4, 3-5, 11-9.

The back-to-back wins secured the first Grand Slam title for both Mensik and Muchova, who lost a heartbreaking Wimbledon singles final in July in three sets to fellow Czech, Linda Noskova.

"At the end the matching outfits made the difference for us," Muchova quipped during the trophy presentation, referencing the white and maroon kit worn by the team.

The mixed doubles event is in its second year with a convention-busting format which features shortened sets and multiple matches played the same day.

The competition is scheduled before the main US Open to attract singles stars who usually avoid Grand Slam doubles events to conserve energy for the concluding matches of the biggest events.

The tournament's star teams -- the cross-generational partnership of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka -- did not make it through the event's preliminary rounds.

That left open a Grand Slam opportunity for some of the game's most accomplished non-household names to nab a precious major title, resulting two semifinals and a final that all went the distance.

Earlier, Cobolli and Bencic beat the married team of Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Gael Monfils of France in a hard-fought marathon, 4-5, 4-1, 10-5.

The result ended the prospects for a fairytale finale to the career of the acrobatic Monfils, who has said 2026 will be his last season.

Sri Lanka lost their final two wickets with Sonal Dinusha scoring 103 after the hosts resumed on 265-8 in response to India's 503-9 declared.

Sri Lanka still trail by 213 runs.

About 15,000 athletes and officials were initially expected at the Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4.

But an Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) press release last week put the number at 17,000 -- 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials -- potentially putting a strain on accommodation.

There is no dedicated athletes' village, organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, wooden containers and hotels.

Japan's Kyodo news agency said the local organising committee has asked the OCA to address the surge in numbers.

The organising committee told AFP that they would "prefer not to comment on the details of our discussions with the OCA".

"We are sharing information with the OCA, the event organiser, regarding the registration status of the various national teams, and are holding regular discussions with them regarding arrangements such as accommodation for the teams," a spokesperson said.

AFP has contacted the OCA for comment.

Organisers have opted for temporary athlete accommodation to cut costs, hiring the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena for the event.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes will stay on the ship, which features 571 cabins, seven swimming pools, eight restaurants and nine bars.

Officials are confident that the plan will not be disrupted by Japan's typhoon season, which is usually in full swing in September-October.

A further 2,000 athletes and officials will stay in wooden shipping container-style huts in Nagoya's Garden Pier area while the rest will stay in hotels.

That includes in Tokyo, where swimming, diving and equestrian events will take place.

Portuguese international Fernandes broke the all-time record for Premier League assists during an outstanding individual 2025/26 season, setting up 21 goals as he surpassed Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's previous mark.

The 31-year-old also scored nine times as United overcame a poor start to finish third in the Premier League under Michael Carrick and earn a return to the Champions League.

Fernandes also won the Football Writers' Association footballer of the year award in May.

"It is obviously a very proud moment. They are the ones you go on the pitch against and it's probably not easy to vote for someone you play against, so it is a very good moment," said Fernandes.

Shaw was rewarded for scoring 21 goals on the way to a third straight Golden Boot and securing City's first Women's Super League title for a decade.

There was further success for City as Nico O'Reilly was named the men's young player of the year.

The 21-year-old scored twice in the League Cup final as City beat Arsenal and was part of the side that also won the FA Cup last season.

"I'm very proud of the season I had," said the England international. "I won two trophies with my club and managed to play at the World Cup with my country. I'm over the moon how it turned out."

O'Reilly was joined by City teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo in the team of the year.

Champions Arsenal had five representatives in David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, with Fernandes and Brentford's Igor Thiago completing the XI.

Williams, often considered the best women's tennis player in history and Spain's seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Alcaraz fell to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy, 5-4, 4-1.

The result means Bencic and Cobolli will advance to Wednesday's finale of the unorthodox competition, when the semi-finals and finals will be played back-to-back.

"We felt their aura for sure," Bencic told a television interviewer afterward. "It was an honor to play."

"Playing Serena and Carlos on Arthur Ashe is not easy," Cobolli said. "So now maybe we take a beer."

Williams and Alcaraz had shown strong form earlier defeating the British-New Zealand pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Emma Routliffe.

But Cobolli, who is having a breakout season in singles as the French Open runner-up and Bencic, an Olympic Gold medalist with singles wins over Williams, proved too much.

Williams was making her competitive return to Arthur Ashe Stadium since her 2022 retirement, paired with Spain's Alcaraz, himself back after a lengthy injury layoff.

The pair, dressed in coordinated purple and black jersey-type outfits, smiled as they bantered and joked on changeovers. The audience, which roared their arrival in Tuesday's first round, was a bit more subdued in the second match.

Earlier Tuesday, another high-wattage pairing, former world number one Novak Djokovic and four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka also were sent packing, losing to Czech Katerina Siniakova and Britain's Henry Patten in three sets.

- New champions -

The US Open mixed doubles format features a blend of doubles specialists and star singles players pairing up, sometimes with a bit an experimental mindset.

The event, in its second year, will have a new winner after defending champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, both doubles specialists, lost to the Russian pair of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev 1-4, 4-1, 11-9.

The Czech pairing of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, both highly ranked singles players, realized quickly they had to adjust when they faced Kristina Mladenovic of France and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador, both of whom have won Grand Slam doubles titles.

"They keep us more on our toes," Muchova said after a quarterfinal win put the pair in the semifinals. "They see the court I would say a little bit different."

One first-time team that scored unexpected success was the husband-and-wife pairing of France's Gael Monfils and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.

They won two matches in the shortened format, including a tightly contested quarterfinal win over Siniakova and Patten 5-4, 4-5 and 10-8 in the decisive tie-break.

"We had zero expectations," Svitolina said after the match.

The pair only learned late that they had been granted a wildcard and had joked about not winning a game.

Monfils, who will retire after this season, said it is still too early for talk about winning the title, but "we will have great images for our memory."

The hosts ought to be in utterly buoyant mood after returning captain Joe Root oversaw an innings and 103-run thrashing of Pakistan inside three days at his Headingley homeground last week.

But rather than speak about England's progress, Root spent much of a pre-match press conference talking about Brydon Carse, dropped from the squad and now under investigation by the Cricket Regulator after videos on social media showed the fast bowler being led away by police in handcuffs following an incident at a Derby nightclub on Saturday.

This is the latest in a series of alcohol-fuelled controversies that have dogged England since a disastrous 2025/26 tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Both former captain Ben Stokes -- who has since retired from all international cricket -- and paceman Gus Atkinson were stood down in June from the second Test at home to New Zealand following an incident at a London bar which came after they broke a curfew policy that has now been ditched by Root.

Carse did not feature at Headingley, and was unlikely to play at Lord's barring injury, but his conduct led a frustrated Root to say Tuesday: "If I'm being brutally honest, I'm really hacked off...It's not the isolated incident itself, it's the fact we continuously keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it's detracting from what we are doing on the field."

England, with seamers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue taking eight wickets apiece, skittled out Pakistan for just 171 and 135 in the first Test while posting 409 themselves, even though none of their four batsmen who reached fifty, a quartet including Root, went on to a century.

Nevertheless, it was a professional display lacking the self-indulgent extravagances that characterised England's cricket in the closing stages of the Bazball era under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, sacked as Test coach following the series loss to New Zealand.

- Pakistan 'hopeful' over Babar Azam -

By contrast, Pakistan were deficient in all departments with their inadequate batting compounded by an inaccurate and largely unthreatening pace attack as well as embarrassingly shoddy fielding.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, however, could return at Lord's from a finger injury initially sustained during the tour of the West Indies and later exacerbated when he was hit on the hand during a warm-up game at Beckenham.

"We're hopeful he will be available for the game and today (Tuesday) he was looking good; he batted well in the nets," said Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul. "He had a full batting session."

Azam was Pakistan's top run-scorer in the West Indies, with 193 runs during a drawn two-Test series.

He has also enjoyed success in England, with three fifties in six innings while averaging 65.75.

Azan Awais may make way if Azam returns at number four, with one of Shan Masood or Abdullah Shafique moving up the order to open.

Pakistan, who only a decade ago were Test cricket's top-ranked side, have won their last two Tests at Lord's, with Azam making 68 during a nine-wicket rout of England in 2018.

But even though Pakistan have a longstanding reputation for veering between astonishing highs and lows, a vast improvement will be required if they are to level this three-match series.

"We'll have to learn from the mistakes we made in the previous game," said Gul. "If you want to win a Test match, you have to perform in all departments. One can't be carrying the other."

Meanwhile, with England having won just three of their last 11 Tests, a wary Root said: "We know the individual brilliance that lies within that team and what Pakistan are capable of collectively.

"We also know that whenever we play anyone at Lord's, they generally raise their game. This (England) group won't be taking anything for granted."

The competition will feature singles events only in four categories - Under-19 boys, Under-19 girls, men's and women's.

The top sixteen players in the latest Under-19 boys' ranking will be eligible to compete in both the Under-19 boys' and men's categories. 
Meanwhile, players from the Under-19 girls' category will also be eligible to participate in the women's category.

Through this ranking tournament, the ranking points from 2024 will be replaced, and the new ranking list of the Bangladesh national team will be updated accordingly.

Fahad secured five points from nine games and was tied on points for 32nd place. However, according to the tie-break criteria, he finished 41st overall.

In the ninth and final round, IM Fahad Rahman drew his game against Pasham Alizada.

Earlier, in the previous round, he defeated Syria's FIDE Master Rami Talib.

Uzbekistan's Grandmaster Jakhongir Vakhidov won the title of the event with seven points.

A total of 109 players from 21 countries participated in the Masters Event, including 17 Grandmasters, five Woman Grandmasters, and 32 International Masters.

At the break Sooriyabandara was batting on 65 with Dhananjaya de Silva on four, with Sri Lanka trailing by 373 runs after India posted 503-9 declared in their first innings.

Resuming on their overnight score of 8-2, Sri Lanka were in early trouble when debutant Kamil Mishara (19) edged Prasidh Krishna behind to the wicketkeeper.

Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis (32) fought back with an 87-run stand for the fourth wicket before Mendis was dismissed seven minutes before lunch.

Mendis had a nervous start but soon adapted against the spinners.

India then switched back to seam and Krishna made the breakthrough when Mendis hit one straight to short mid-wicket. It was Krishna's third wicket in the innings.

Sooriyabandara, a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, demonstrated some elegant stroke play and was positive in his approach.

The 26-year-old, brought in as a concussion substitute in the opening match in Galle for his Test debut, drove the quicks crisply square of the wicket while using his feet effectively against spin.

Play started 15 minutes early on day three after only 56 overs were possible on Monday due to rain.

India lead the two-match series 1-0, having won the Galle Test by 165 runs.

Alonso enjoyed the perfect start to his reign thanks to his decision to give Rogers, Palmer and Pedro the freedom to tear into Fulham's defence.

Pedro took just 31 seconds to open the scoring with a composed finish from Palmer's pass.

Rogers showed he can justify the eye-watering o117 million ($159 million) fee that Chelsea paid to Aston Villa to make him the most expensive British player in history.

The England star bagged Chelsea's second goal, firing home with aplomb after Fulham had punished a mistake from Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to equalise through Josh King.

And Palmer joined the party after half-time, scoring from an acute angle to put Chelsea 3-1 up.

Chelsea's entertaining display was a stark contrast to their moribund efforts under Enzo Maresca and then Liam Rosenior last season.

"We were a threat. The three strikers were combining well and creating chances," Alonso said.

"Overall, the squad is balanced. The special players need to have the freedom but as well they need to have the responsibility to help the team.

"We know they have the talent to create many chances. It is a good start. But it is not to rely only on them. We need to have control, quality and toughness."

Alonso was sacked by Real Madrid in January after less than eight months in charge.

The former Liverpool midfielder has a point to prove as he tries to rediscover the midas touch that led Bayer Leverkusen to an unexpected German title in 2024.

- 'Roll your sleeves up' -

Chelsea had to survive Sanchez's second mistake, which handed a goal to Gonzalo Garcia, before Alonso could celebrate his debut victory in a pulsating west London derby.

"It was a really intense game. We suffered, we competed, we did whatever it takes in certain moments," Alonso said.

"The early goals helped to get confidence. We had a few chances before their equaliser.

"At the end, you know you have to roll your sleeves up and fight to defend your goal."

Palmer also has a chance to prove the doubters wrong after his struggles last season led to England boss Thomas Tuchel leaving him out of the World Cup squad.

He appeared revitalised after the arrival of his good friend Rogers.

The former Manchester City youth team graduates both celebrated their goals with the 'ice-cold' gesture that Palmar has made popular after borrowing it from Rogers.

"When you grow up, you want to play or do anything with your best friends, so playing football at the best level feels surreal," Palmer said.

Admitting he is keen to get back to his best this season, Palmer added: "Did you not watch the game? I'm only joking! I'm ready you know.

"It was a difficult season with injuries and whatnot, but through the summer and since I've been back, I've worked extra hard.

"I know the talent I've got so I can put in performances like that."

Asked if he wanted to silence the critics, Palmer added: "Normally I'm not an emotional person.

"The people who know me know I'm not usually bothered about things in life, but over the summer I rested, I recharged and yeah I'm ready and I'm hungry."

The exhibition Tuesday night during "fan week" ahead of Sunday's start of the tournament features doubles with former rivals Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, along with John McEnroe, another giant of the sport.

The group collectively has won a dozen mens' singles titles at the US Open.

"It really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you," Federer said at a news conference Monday previewing the match and his upcoming induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this week in Newport.

New York fans of Federer were deprived of a true sendoff for the 20-time Grand Slam champion as marked by Agassi, Serena Williams and some other champions.

When Federer lost in the 2019 quarterfinals to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, he had planned to keep playing. And while he did continue to compete, injuries prevented participation in the US Open in either 2020 or 2021 ahead of his last match at the Laver Cup in September 2022.

While Federer has played some other exhibitions since retiring, he said Monday that the time had only seemed to fall into place for a New York match this year ahead of the Newport ceremony.

"The kids are getting older," he said of his four children, two sets of twins now 12 and 17. "So they can also maybe enjoy a little bit seeing, their dad play."

Federer expects a "respectful" match with a not-too-intense level of competition.

"We're not playing best of five," he said "I hope it's going to be a lot of fun for us and the same for the fans to just see us back out playing."

But Federer quickly shot down any questions about a tennis comeback, saying "no" at least nine times to a question on whether he was interested in a wildcard.

"There's just way too many obstacles, and I'm too busy," he said. "All good and just just a fan now, just enjoying watching."

In a letter seen by AFP on Monday, Swiss Medical admitted that tests it released to a medical commission investigating Maradona's death "remained mistakenly filed under the name Diego Armando Maradona" when in fact they belonged to his late father, Diego Salustiano Maradona.

The older Maradona died in 2015, five years before the man considered one of football's greatest ever players.

The blunder was spotted last week by a lawyer defending one of the seven healthcare professionals on trial over Maradona's death in November 2020 at age 60.

Maradona died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema -- a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs -- at a rented home in the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre two weeks after undergoing surgery for a brain clot.

His medical team is accused of providing grossly inadequate care in the lead-up to his death. It denies the charges.

His kidney health has been a core focus of the final stages of the trial, with a nephrologist testifying that his doctors should have paid more attention to the issue.

It turns out he based his analysis on the wrong test results.

The mix-up led to the suspension of the proceedings for a week, causing further embarrassment for the court after the collapse last year of a first trial over a conflict of interest involving one of the judges.

The latest trial, which began in April, resumes on Thursday.

It is expected to continue until at least September.

Abdul Mannan passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital on Sunday, said a BHF press release here today. At his death, the handball referees association, handball coaches association and members of the wider handball community, including organisers, coaches, referees, players and sports enthusiasts also expressed deep shock and sorrow. The BHF prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their profound sympathy to the bereaved family.

A CBF delegation, which arrived in Dhaka on Sunday, inspected the facilities of the National Stadium Dhaka, Bashundhara Kings Arena and several hotels before leaving the capital early today (Monday), said a press release..

The delegation informed the BFF that it would officially submit its observations and recommendations to the CBF this week.

After inspecting the pitches and surrounding facilities at the National Stadium Dhaka and Bashundhara Kings Arena, the delegation said the quality of the pitches and infrastructure was acceptable for the Brazil national football team.

However, they noted that some improvements are needed in areas such as dressing rooms, technical zones and security at entry and exit gates. The delegation felt that these improvements could be completed within a short period.

The BFF considers the positive assessment by the delegation an important recognition of its decision to renovate and improve the National Stadium pitch through a local company. To make the National Stadium more suitable for international teams and players, the BFF plans to work with the National Sports Council to improve other infrastructure facilities as soon as possible.

At the end of the visit, a meeting was held between the CBF delegation and BFF officials. The meeting discussed cooperation in areas including infrastructure and pitch development, joint coaching programmes, sports science, and international friendly matches.

Members of the Brazilian delegation also expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the football fans of Bangladesh. They said they had seen Bangladeshi fans attending Brazil’s friendly matches in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.

They expressed hope that the Brazil national team would receive the same support and love from football fans in Bangladesh if they play here.

The BFF believes the visit will further strengthen football relations between the two countries and create new opportunities for cooperation in various areas in the future.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam inaugurated the competition at the university playground at 10am.

Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor Abdul Alim and Professor Mamunur Rashid, Treasurer Professor Matiar Rahman and other university officials, teachers and hall provosts attended the inaugural ceremony.

The programme was chaired by Professor Md. Golam Mortuza, president of the Inter-Department Games Sub-Committee and dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Director of the Physical Education Department Roksana Begum delivered the welcome speech.

After the inauguration, the vice-chancellor exchanged greetings with players from the participating teams.

On the opening day, the Arabic Department defeated the Department of Islamic History and Culture 1-0, while the Psychology Department beat the Department of Islamic Studies in a tiebreaker.

A total of 60 departments are competing in the men's tournament and 20 departments in the women's tournament.

Honours were even on the opening day after India finished on 300-5 but Pant and Jurel tilted the balance in the tourists' favour with an unbroken 112-run stand for the seventh wicket.

At the break Pant was batting on 63 and Jurel on 59.

Pant, who was forced to retire hurt on the opening day after copping a nasty blow on his forearm, resumed his innings on Monday morning and continued to bat with authority.

Sri Lanka's quicks peppered him with short-pitched bowling and the left-hander took several painful blows to the body, but refused to rein in his attacking instincts.

He pulled a Lahiru Kumara delivery for a six, with the ball sailing into the adjoining tennis courts and disappearing, forcing the umpires to call for a replacement.

It was Pant's 21st half-century in Test cricket.

Pant was well supported by Jurel, who completing his third Test half-century.

Sri Lanka's only success of the morning came with the new ball when Asitha Fernando dismissed debutant Saransh Jain for six.

Number three batsman Devdutt Padikkal posted a fine 117 on Sunday to bolster India on the opening day after the tourists lost their openers early.

India won the first Test of the two-match series by 165 runs in Galle.

Unlike the swimmers around him who rely on long strokes of their arms, Gharti powers through his legs and torso because he does not have arms.

The 21-year-old is training with three other disabled swimmers who will represent Nepal in the Asian Para Games in Japan in October, chasing medals despite limited resources in the Himalayan country.

"It is not my hope, it is my target," Gharti told AFP after finishing a gruelling session. "Just for a medal, I am giving everything... every possible thing."

A decade ago an electrocution accident near a hydroelectric project in his native Baglung district in western Nepal changed his life forever, costing him both arms.

The tragedy that could have ended his ambitions instead helped forge his extraordinary determination.

What began as an experiment with competitive swimming in 2020 soon became a passion and a career pathway.

"I love everything about swimming, whether competitive or just for enjoying," he said.

At the hostel where he lives in Kathmandu a row of medals hangs above his bed, proof of a remarkable journey.

During training he concentrates on his technique and body position in the water. On race days a different instinct takes over.

"I don't really think about the techniques or my body alignment," he said. "I just go hard. I just push fast and I just want to push power. That's it. I just think about speed and for speed I just kick harder and harder."

- Leg power -

At last year's Para Swimming World Series in Japan, Gharti's times met the minimum qualifying standards for the Asian Para Games, earning him a chance to compete on one of the biggest sporting stages.

He will participate in the S5 classification, including the 50-metre freestyle.

China's Guo Jincheng holds the men's 50m freestyle record at 29.33 seconds in the category.

Sports facilities in Nepal are modest by international standards.

Para athletes in the country often face limited funding, scarce specialised infrastructure and a lack of competitive opportunities.

His coach, Subha Shrestha, believes Gharti's greatest strength lies not in what he has lost, but in what he has built.

"When we don't have even a single finger we feel the impact," Shrestha said. "But he is working so hard with no hands.

"His feet are his pillars, his legs are very powerful."

The wider significance of Gharti's quest is not lost on Nepal's para swimming community.

The nation has had only one Asian Para Games medallist, taekwondo athlete Palesha Goverdhan, who won bronze last time out before also claiming a medal in Paralympics.

For many years Nepali athletes have arrived at major competitions with modest expectations.

"In Nepal they often say that we go only for the sake of participation," said Saroj Shrestha, president of the National Para Swimming Association of Nepal.

"But Harka and we both dream to do something in swimming that even able-bodied athletes have not been able to achieve."

- Inspiring others -

Back on the pool deck, Gharti's ambitions extend beyond sport.

Having recently completed high school, he plans to study computer science.

He navigates a computer with his toes, displaying the same determination that has become central to his swimming.

"Swimming is a platform for me where it is on me whether I can make my life better or not.

"Because if I hit a world record then of course my life will be better," he said.

"Only then can I speak of inspiring anyone else."

The Gunners' main rivals were all assailed by doubts after inconsistent performances from Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United.

AFP Sport looks at three things we learnt from the opening weekend of the Premier League:

Arsenal relish title freedom

After 22 long years, Arsenal have started a season as champions at last and Friday's 3-0 win over promoted Coventry suggested they have no desire to relinquish the title anytime soon.

The weight of so many past failures has finally been removed from Arsenal's shoulders and the freedom in their play was clear to see as Mikel Arteta's men ripped Coventry to shreds in a significant statement of intent.

The victory over Frank Lampard's side at the Emirates Stadium featured signs that should alarm any team hoping to take the title from them.

Arsenal looked more vibrant than in their tension-filled march to the trophy last term, and with new Greek winger Christos Tzolis providing a jolt of energy, they were able to rely on far more than their vaunted set-pieces to dismantle Coventry.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were the scorers, with England defender Ezri Konsa's pre-match unveiling after his move from Aston Villa providing another ominous signal of Arsenal's dynastic ambitions.

Maresca, Iraola put through the ringer

With just moments left to play at the Etihad Stadium and St James' Park on Sunday, it seemed Manchester City's new manager Enzo Maresca and Liverpool's debutant boss Andoni Iraola were destined for disappointment.

City were being held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth after Marc Guehi's 84th minute header cancelled out Marcus Tavernier's opener for the Cherries.

Liverpool were in dire straits, trailing 2-1 after Joe Willock's goal restored Newcastle's lead following a Cody Gakpo equaliser of Anthony Elanga's early strike.

In Manchester, Maresca's decision to send on France playmaker Rayan Cherki paid dividends as he set up Guehi's equaliser before providing the pass for Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time winner.

Maresca's side were fortunate to escape with three points after a mediocre display.

Replacing Pep Guardiola is a daunting task for former Chelsea boss Maresca, but he will have noted the Spaniard also needed a late goal against Sunderland to make a winning start to his reign 10 years ago.

Around 106 miles to the north of Manchester, Iraola was seconds away from defeat when Newcastle defender Lewis Hall made a clumsy challenge on Liverpool substitute Victor Munoz, conceding a penalty that Dominik Szoboszlai lashed into the top corner.

Former Bournemouth boss Iraola has been hired to start a Liverpool revamp after Arne Slot's sacking in the close-season and the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate.

The Reds remain a work in progress but the Spaniard can take heart from their gritty escape act.

'Smack in the face' for Man Utd

Luke Shaw vowed Manchester United will bounce back from their chastening 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on Saturday.

Michael Carrick's men were left with a bloody nose after Hull centre-backs Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored from first-half set-pieces.

United lacked the cutting edge required to get back into the game against play-off winners Hull, whose first top-flight match since 2017 caused the shock of the opening weekend.

After finishing third last season, United are expected to mount a title challenge but they will have to improve dramatically to dethrone Arsenal.

United left-back Shaw remained upbeat, saying: "We have the exact same feeling, even now after the game. It will be a very good season from us, I'm sure of it. We'll be up there."

Looking ahead to next weekend's clash with another promoted side in Ipswich, Shaw added: "We felt like we were in a really good place and then, of course, it's a smack in the face, really.

"But one game won't define us. We'll regroup and go again."

Thauvin converted from the spot either side of the break as the northerners continued their good form from last season when they finished second in the table behind Paris Saint-Germain.

Last weekend, German coach Dino Toppmoeller won his first competitive game in charge of Lens, beating PSG in the French Champions Trophy.

Auxerre had defender Christ Massoko red carded in the first half for a foul on Lens attacker Abdallah Sima.

Thauvin, a World Cup winner in 2018, opened the scoring after just 12 minutes after Belgium under-21's midfielder Arthur Piedfort handled the ball in the hosts' box.

Thauvin's low finish sent the packed Stade Bollaert crowd wild before the visitors were down a man as Massoko was sent off 10 minutes before the interval.

Lens continued to dominate in the sun after the break as new boy Franjo Ivanovic opened his account for Les Sang et Or on 49 minutes.

The Croatia attacker fed Simo on the edge of the box before his attack partner returned the pass to find the 22-year-old, who smoothly finished past Mamadou Diop.

Five minutes later, Thauvin, 33, turned the provider, setting up winger Saud Abdulhamid before Danny Namaso cut the deficit just before the hour mark with a penalty of his own.

Defender Ismael Ganiou re-established a three-goal cushion with 24 minutes left, then Lamine Sy claimed a consolation for Auxerre before Thauvin slotted his second penalty two minutes from time.

Later on Saturday, newly-promoted Le Mans, backed by a consortium including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and tennis star Novak Djokovic, host Brest in their first top-flight game since 2010.

Troyes, Ligue 2 champions, play Paris FC in Liam Rosenior's first league game in charge of the side from the capital city.

Champions Paris Saint-Germain begin their tilt at a record-extending 14th French top-flight title at Rennes in the pick of Sunday's matches.

On Friday, Algeria attacker Amine Gouiri scored twice in 20 minutes as Marseille beat Strasbourg 4-0 in the opening game of the campaign.

Replacement Keyliane Abdallah and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made sure of the three points for Bruno Genesio's side late on to extend Marseille's unbeaten league run over the Alsatians stretching back to 1997.

Rodri, a World Cup winner and Ballon d'Or recipient, ended a seven-year spell at the Etihad Stadium during which he helped City win four Premier League titles and the Champions League.

His exit leaves a major gap in the squad Maresca inherited from Pep Guardiola, but the Italian is confident it can be filled.

"I'll try to find a new Rodri - it is what it is," said Maresca.

"Rodri, before he arrived here, he didn't win the Ballon d'Or, he didn't win the Champions League, he didn't win the Club World Cup. Then he joined the club and then after he achieved many important things.

"Now the target for us is to try to find the new Rodri.

"When David Silva was here, everyone was worried - Kevin (De Bruyne) arrived. When Sergio Aguero was here, everyone was worried - Erling (Haaland) arrived. When Ferdinando left, Rodri arrived. It's just about this.

"When they leave, you need to be good and recruit the next one."

Rodri's departure is one of several notable exits from City during the close season, with Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders also leaving the club.

Savinho is set to join Tottenham, potentially along with Omar Marmoush, and Nico Gonzalez could also depart before the transfer window closes.

City's only major signing so far has been midfielder Elliot Anderson, but Maresca said he expected further additions before the deadline and insisted he was unconcerned by the scale of the squad overhaul.

"Hopefully we can do the things that we need to do," Maresca said ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener against Bournemouth. "It doesn't help that there are players that for different reasons want to leave, this is for sure.

"But we need to adapt and we don't want to keep players here that don't want to stay.

"The normal thing in transfer windows is that you have to wait because all the clubs try to keep players until the last week and then sell for more money.

"It's normal, I'm not worried about that. When the transfer window closes and we have all the squad there, for sure it will be different."

The reigning Italian champions needed just six minutes to break the deadlock when Hakan Calhanoglu blasted in from distance.

Monza, back in the top flight after a season in Serie B, levelled through Gustavo Varela in the 29th minute.

Inter restored their advantage shortly after the restart, with Piotr Zielinski finding the net in the 48th minute.

Pio Esposito, preferred in the starting line-up to Marcus Thuram, made it 3-1 eight minutes later with an inventive backheel finish from Andy Diouf's cross.

Yann Bisseck completed the scoring in the 63rd minute as Inter underlined their status as clear favourites to retain the Scudetto.

John Stones, one of three England internationals signed by Inter during the close season, made his debut after coming on as a substitute.

"We were a bit rusty during the first half, a bit too frantic as well," Inter coach Cristian Chivu told DAZN. "We regained our calm and clarity after the break."

Napoli, who finished runners-up to Inter last season, struck two late goals to brush aside Genoa 2-0 and get new coach Massimiliano Allegri off to a winning start.

Allegri, a six-time Serie A winner as a coach, is looking to make a statement after being dismissed by AC Milan following just one season in charge.

Napoli had to wait until the 82nd minute to break the deadlock through Kevin De Bruyne, who swung the game his team's way after coming on as a second-half substitute.

The Belgium international, who missed a large chunk of his first season in Naples with a hamstring injury, then set up Antonio Vergara to add a second to wrap up the points.

"De Bruyne is an extraordinary guy. He does things that are simply different from everyone else," Allegri told Sky Sport. "He sees things that others do not see. There are very few players at that level."

Last season's surprise package Como needed a second-half equaliser from Greece forward Tasos Douvikas to earn a 1-1 draw at Udinese.

Como will play in the Champions League for the first time next month after finishing fourth under Cesc Fabregas.

Cagliari won 1-0 at Parma courtesy of Alessandro Romano's goal 11 minutes from time.

Milan and Juventus, both seeking redemption after disappointing campaigns and further summer overhauls, begin their league seasons on Sunday against Torino and Frosinone respectively.

Miami trailed 2-0 after goals from Toronto's Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr. in the 59th and 62nd minutes.

Argentine superstar Messi pulled a goal back for Miami in the 82nd, capitalizing on a sensational through ball from compatriot Rodrigo De Paul.

But Miami's final siege yielded no reward.

With 14 goals Messi is second on the Major League Soccer scoring chart behind Dallas's Petar Musa -- who went into Saturday with 16.

But Miami have four losses and a draw in their last five matches. That includes MLS play and the Leagues Cup, in which they were eliminated in the group stage.

They remained in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference, seven games behind leaders Nashville who have a game in hand.

But Robert Lewandowski's Chicago Fire moved within three points of Miami in the standings after a 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Orlando City moved into the MLS Cup playoff positions in the East with a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake.

Orlando's French star Antoine Griezmann, recently arrived from Atletico Madrid, scored twice in the second half, his first MLS brace pulling Orlando back after Real Salt Lake took the lead through Dominik Marczuk in the 36th minute.

India thrashed Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Off-spinner Saransh Jain will make his Test debut for India, replacing Kuldeep Yadav.

Opening batter Kamil Mishara will debut for Sri Lanka, in place of Nishan Fernando.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who stepped in as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal in the first Test, is also part of the starting eleven for the first time.

India: K.L. Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (capt.), Rishabh Pant (wkt), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt.), Sonal Dinusha, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Niroshan Dickwella (wkt), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara.

Umpires: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan) and Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh)

Third umpire: Rod Tucker (Australia)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

World number three Pegula won a "crazy" match against Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Gauff powered past giant-killer Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1, ending the unseeded Czech's dream run that included a fourth-round victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Their all-American Sunday night final will a men's title clash featuring American Frances Tiafoe and Arthur Fils of France.

Fils charged into his first Masters 1000 final with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli in a match delayed for 45 minutes by rain and lightning.

Swiatek and Pegula then waited out another rain delay before their match, which was also briefly interrupted two games in.

"Crazy match today," Pegula said after needing nearly three hours to subdue Swiatek, who was coming off her first title of 2026 in Toronto last week.

"A lot of back and forth, a lot of breaks," she said, "Really windy, kind of odd conditions. I felt like we were playing well and then not playing well.

"It was really tough to kind of get a gauge on the match."

The two rode a rollercoaster of breaks and re-breaks before Pegula took a 5-4 lead in the final set, Swiatek saving three break points before double-faulting on a fourth.

Pegula quickly closed it out, firing a service winner on match point.

"I was just really happy with the way I was able to kind of handle just a lot that was going on today," the 31-year-old American said. "I did a good job of no matter what was happening."

The first five games of what evolved into an epic went against the server as Pegula and Swiatek struggled to adjust to the conditions.

Swiatek blinked first as Pegula held at love for a 4-2 lead, but Swiatek won the next three games before Pegula broke again, finally taking the set when Swiatek smacked a volley into the net on set point.

They had exchanged two breaks in the second when Swiatek broke in the final game to square the match.

Swiatek leaves for the US Open starting on August 30 with a good feeling about her game despite the defeat.

"We made some steps forward in this intensive part of the season," the six-time Grand Slam champion said. "It was tough to play today with the wind, but we each put pressure on the other. I didn't feel good in the first set but coming back in the second and using all of my chances was a good change."

Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion, got off to a hot start against Bejlek, jumping to a 4-1 lead. Bejlek fought back to 4-4, but the American regained her rhythm to close out the set and run away with the second.

"I tried not to take my foot off the gas because I knew at any moment she could come back," Gauff said.

- 'damn good' -

Tiafoe, runner-up to Jannik Sinner in Cincinnati in 2024, returned to the final with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over fellow American Brandon Nakashima.

Tiafoe saved three set points in the opening set, breaking Nakashima five times in all to earn the win in less than two hours.

"It feels damn good," Tiafoe said.

The American predicted a "hell of a show" against Fils, whose 68-minute win over seventh-seeded Cobolli made him the youngest French Masters finalist since a 20-year-old Richard Gasquet in Toronto two decades ago.

Fils admitted he had been unsettled by the weather delay.

"You come on court more nervous because it's a semi-final. The rain arrives, you wait, and when you come back conditions are completely different," he said.

"It was tough but I'm happy with how I dealt with it."

In the proceedings, Moin Ahmed scored a brace in the 33rd and 35th minutes while Tejowara Bin Kasem and Kazi Ibrahim netted one goal each for IM10 FC in the 14th and 31st minutes respectively.

Besides, Rashedul Islam of Fakir FC scored a suicidal goal in the 10th minute of the match.

For Fakir FC, Al Rahad and Moinul Islam Akash struck twice each in the 24th and 30th and 36th and 37th minutes respectively, while Foysal Hossain supported them with a lone goal in the 18th minute of the match.

The match kicks off at 2 pm Bangladesh time.

The match against Rovers will be merely a formality for Rajshahi Stars as they have already been eliminated from the tournament after losing their previous two group matches.

Rajshahi Stars suffered a 4-0 defeat to India's East Bengal FC in their opening group match and went down 2-1 to Sabah FA in their second match.

Below AFP Sport looks at three talking points that emerged from what was just England's third win in their last 11 Tests.

Cox looks the part

Any assessment of England's form at Headingley has to take account of arguably one of the weakest Pakistan teams in decades.

But the manner in which Jordan Cox made a maiden Test fifty while batting in what has often been a problem position of number three for England was an encouraging sign for Root's men.

It seemed as if Jacob Bethell was making the role his own only for the talented 22-year-old left-hander to be ruled out of the entire three-match series against Pakistan with a knee injury.

Cox, however, made 73 in just 100 balls, including 14 fours, at Headingley, but without the kind of extravagant, and indeed reckless, shot-making that characterised England's ultra-aggressive Bazball approach under now retired captain Ben Stokes and sacked Test coach Brendon McCullum.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan -- himself an elegant top-order batsman -- was among those impressed by the 25-year-old Cox.

"He just looked a player" Vaughan told the BBC. "He looks like he's got all the time and he played two or three shots that reminded me of (South Africa great) AB de Villiers."

Pakistan's comical fielding no joke

One of cricket's oldest truisms is if you want to know the state of a team, look at their fielding for this is the one aspect of the game, unlike batting or bowling, which can be improved as much by sheer hard work as raw talent.

Pakistan's fielding at Headingley, however, was woeful, with one particularly farcical incident summing up their performance.

Ali Usman lured Dan Lawrence down the pitch only for the ball to deflect off the England batsman's pad.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, fielding at slip, seemed more concerned by appealing for lbw than running out Lawrence.

By the time Agha realised the chance was on, he let fly with a panicked throw straight into the rear of wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, who was blocking the stumps.

Pakistan then failed with an ensuing review of the lbw decision as Lawrence had been struck outside off stump.

Several Pakistan fielders, meanwhile, tried to stop eventual boundaries by sticking out a boot rather than bending down, including left-arm spinner Usman whose five-wicket haul was a rare highlight for his side.

"There's no excuse for it," Usman admitted. "We should put in more effort. There were lapses in the field today and it cost us runs."

England's love affair with Leeds goes on

England have now won seven Tests in a row at Headingley -- their longest current winning streak at any ground in the world.

That sequence includes two wins over Australia yet, remarkably, Yorkshire's headquarters will not stage a Test when England's oldest rivals arrive for next year's Ashes series.

The Leeds ground has effectively lost out to Hampshire's Rose Bowl, which will be making its Ashes debut.

This is despite Headingley, one of world cricket's most storied venues, providing a pitch that is often favourable to England's seamers, with the crowd -- particularly on the old Western Terrace -- giving raucous support to the home side.

"I would love to play as many games as possible here," said local hero Root. "It's a great Test match venue and a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket.

It is hard to imagine Australia doing without a home Ashes Test at their Gabba fortress in Brisbane.

"As a player, you want to play at the grounds you have most success at as a team," said Root. "I love playing here -- as a Yorkshireman I have to say that from birth, so I'm glad it's the case."

The league's disciplinary committee said it had levied the fine "for violating the league's policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent."

Miami's Ian Fray was fined an undisclosed amount for the same infraction.

It was late in stoppage time of a testy contest when Messi approached the center circle to confront Sullivan while the ball was in play in another area of the field.

After a brief exchange, Messi took a swipe at Sullivan, who then squared up to the Argentine star in a fight-style stare-down.

Referee Filip Dujic, who had his back turned during the incident, arrived to separate the players but did not show either of them a card.

Dujic did send off Cavan Sullivan, younger brother and teammate of Quinn, and Miami's Italian midfielder Yannick Bright after their stoppage time scuffle in Miami's penalty area.

Rodrigo Riquelme's tidy volley from Cucho Hernandez's cross to the back post after 63 minutes secured all three points for Manuel Pellegrini's side from a tight and even game.

On Saturday, Jose Mourinho starts his second reign as Real Madrid coach at Espanyol, after Los Blancos went back to back seasons without winning a major trophy.

Hansi Flick's Spanish champions Barcelona visit Elche on Sunday in their first game of the season.

The American began his post-Wimbledon hardcourt run with a Washington semi-final, which he lost to Fritz, a run to the final in the Montreal Masters and now his best showing at Cincinnati -- all with the US Open start barely more than a week away.

Nakashima withstood 22 aces from Fritz -- who also bashed 31 unforced errors.

Nakashima trailed a break in the third set but broke back to knot it at 3-3 and broke again for a 5-3 lead.

He out-hit the powerful Fritz and converted on his first match point with a forehand winner.

"I've gotten a lot of confidence over the summer," Nakashima said. "In the final set I trusted my game, I'm proud with how I ended the match.

"Today I was trying to hit bigger against him than in Washington, that's what got me through.

"I've had a pretty good last few weeks, I've spent hour and hours on the court - I'm proud of myself," he added. "I now have the opportunity to win more matches."

Nakashima will face either Lorenzo Musetti or Arthur Fils for a place in the final.

In the women's quarter-finals, Sara Bejlek backed up her stunning victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Madison Keys.

The 20-year-old Czech got off to a slow start against the big-hitting American, a former Australian open champion and the 2019 winner in Cincinnati.

Bejlek trailed 0-3 on the way to dropping the first set, but rode a wave of momentum shifts into the final four where she'll face either fourth-seeded Coco Gauff or Marta Kostyuk.

Bejlek broke first in the third set only for Keys to battle back and force the tiebreaker, in which Bejlek rallied from 4-2 down on the way to a victory capped by a stinging winner down the line on match point.

"I just kept believing in the match no matter what," said Bejlek, who won the WTA title in Abu Dhabi in February as a wild card.

"I believed much more than ever, it was always in my head."

After a solid first set the 24th-ranked Keys opened the second on sweltering Stadium Court with a break in the third game, but Bejlek, ranked 35th, broke back in the sixth and held for a 4-3 lead.

Keys answered with a love game, but Bejlek turned the tables two games later, taking the contest into the third set as Keys hit the net with a backhand on the Czech's second set point.

"I was trying to cool down in the second set, I was pretty nervous so I didn't want to think about what was going on," Bejlek said.

In the proceeding, Foyez Ahmed Peash struck twice in the 9th and 24th minutes while Lihan Uddin and Masud Rana supported him with a lone goal each in the 10th and 37th minutes respectively.

Bangladesh Army ports Club reduced the margin through a suicidal goal scored by Techvill FC's Lihan in the 8th minute.

Foyez Ahmed Peash of the winning team was named the player of the match for his impressive performance. 

Mourinho's predecessors Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa struggled to strike a balance between attack and defence while lining up with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

Madrid won the Champions League in 2024 with England international Bellingham and Brazilian winger Vinicius playing key roles, but since French superstar Mbappe arrived that summer, the club have not lifted a major trophy.

"They are incredible players and incredible players want to play with incredible players," Mourinho told reporters.

"Tactically, it could be tricky. Ancelotti has found a set-up with Brazil perfect for Vini, (Didier) Deschamps has found one with France perfect for Kylian, (Thomas) Tuchel one perfect for Jude, it's harder for Mourinho to do it for the three of them.

"We're on it. I want the three, when all three play, to feel comfortable on the pitch... they are three players of great quality.

"They don't play in incompatible positions. We will have a great season with them."

However Madrid's stars can consider themselves warned -- they must contribute in defence this season.

"We have to defend with 11 players," said Mourinho.

"If a team is pushing us back and giving us problems in our final third, we all have to defend."

Seven health care workers are accused of criminal negligence over the care Maradona received before his death at age 60 in November 2020, while he was recuperating from brain surgery.

The first trial was dramatically annulled last year after two-and-a-half months of hearings, following revelations that one of the judges overseeing it took part in a clandestine documentary about the case.

A new trial began in April. It had been nearing a close when it, too, became embroiled in controversy.

The defense claimed that kidney test evidence produced at the trial belonged to Maradona's father, also named Diego, who died in 2015, not the star of the 1986 World Cup.

The court adjourned until August 27 to check whether the tests "correspond to Diego Armando Maradona or someone else," presiding judge Alberto Gaig said.

Maradona died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema -- a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs -- at a rented home in the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre two weeks after undergoing surgery for a brain clot.

His medical team is accused of providing inadequate care in the lead-up to his death. It denies the charges.

The prosecution argued that the alleged test mix-up in no way jeopardized their case.

"They (the defense) will not succeed in bringing down the trial," prosecutor Patricio Ferrari said Thursday.

If confirmed that the test results were those of Maradona's father, however, it could discredit the medical commission set up to evaluate the circumstances of Maradona's death, boosting the defence.

The commission has been highly critical of the care Maradona received in his last days.

On Tuesday, a nephrologist testified that the former player, who had a history of cocaine abuse, was suffering from chronic kidney disease which should have acted as a red flag for his carers.

He added that the patient should have undergone daily blood tests but that there was no evidence of any blood being taken during his two weeks of home convalescence.

- Experts' credibility in question -

Agustin Varela, a lawyer for one of the accused, nurse Nancy Forlini, noted that the some of the kidney tests dated back to 2015 and could not have been Maradona the player's because he was not living in Argentina at the time.

Maradona spent most of that year in Dubai before travelling to Argentina to see his father, Diego Salustiano Maradona, who died in June 2015.

Another of Forlini's lawyers, Nicolas D'Albora however denied any plans to seek a mistrial.

"I want this case to end so that my client knows her judicial fate," he said.

Rybakina's withdrawal raised concerns over the fitness of the world number two Kazakh just 10 days before the start of the US Open.

Trailing 4-1 in the opening set of Thursday's Cincinnati quarter-final, Rybakina suddenly pulled up short at 40-all, heading to her bench and consulting with the trainer.

She went back out and played one more point before quitting.

"I was feeling anxious watching the whole situation," said her opponent Swiatek. "I hope she will be fine. Health is always the priority."

"This is an important tournament, but the US Open is the US Open. I hope she is ready for that," she said, referring to the major which begins in New York on August 30.

"It was a shame she was injured, we were having a good match."

Had two-time Grand Slam winner Rybakina reached the Cincinnati final she would have risen to number one in the world for the first time in her career, following incumbent Aryna Sabalenka's shock exit to 20-year-old Sara Bejlek.

Defending Cincinnati champion Swiatek said she had "gained a lot of confidence in the last weeks," which have also included her victory over Rybakina in the final of this month's Toronto event.

"I feel great, ready to play my game... I'm happy to be playing the tennis that I am."

- 'Good record' -

Poland's Swiatek now plays a semi-final against Jessica Pegula, who is reportedly carrying a hip niggle after defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4).

Sixth-seeded Anisimova converted all five of her break points against Pegula, breaking her three times in the second set, before the world number three rebounded to win.

Pegula is setting WTA records at age 32. She is the fourth player since 2009 to reach five or more Masters 1000 quarter-finals after turning 30, along with Li Na, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Pegula needed just 34 minutes to pocket the opening set.

But Anisimova struck back in the second, earning a double break for 4-0.

After Anisimova squared the match at one-set each, Pegula regrouped with an opening break in the deciding set.

They would each be broken twice as they went to the tiebreaker, where Pegula sealed the win on her first match point.

Pegula's win was her sixth without a loss to Anisimova.

"I know I have a good record against her, but literally every single match is like it was today," she said.

- Sweet victory -

In the men's draw, Flavio Cobolli advanced to the final four with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Tommy Paul, gobbling down a handful of sweets for an unorthodox boost midway through the match.

The Roland Garros runner-up asked for the candy to be brought to the court and seemingly took energy from the pause before dispatching Paul, who had himself eliminated top seed Alexander Zverev 24 hours earlier.

"A sweet with chocolate makes me happy," Cobolli said. "I've tried it in doubles so why not singles?"

Cobolli mounted the comeback after dropping the opening set.

With the match tied at a set apiece, Paul needed an extraordinary effort to hold serve for 4-3 in the final set, battling through five deuces and saving four break points.

But Cobolli ignored the showing and closed out victory.

"It was a difficult day," the winner said. "I'm proud of my effort, my game and my mental strength. It is all good practice for the US Open.

Cobelli will play for a place in the final when he faces Arthur Fils, who defeated Thiago Tirante 6-3, 6-2 in just 64 minutes -- the shortest men's match of the event.

Fils, the eighth Frenchman to reach Cincinnati semi-finals in the Open Era, said he was impressed by the weight of his opponent's big game.

"He has an unbelievable serve, I was surprised by the speed of his ball," he said.

"I tried to make him play a bit more. I stayed solid in my head and it worked pretty well for me."

Cristian Chivu is entering his second season in charge and has reshaped a squad he inherited from Simone Inzaghi little over a year ago.

The Romanian has focused on rejuvenating an ageing team while adding a distinctly Premier League flavour during the summer transfer window.

Spanish goalkeeper Josep Martinez is expected to take over from the departed Yann Sommer as part of a refreshed rearguard that was showing signs of wear.

Veterans Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian and Stefan de Vrij have all moved on, while Died Spence, who impressed for England at the 2026 World Cup, has arrived alongside experienced Manchester City centre-back John Stones.

Manuel Akanji, another former City defender, has completed a permanent switch after joining Inter on loan last term, but Denzel Dumfries is now at Real Madrid.

Inter are also pursuing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones as they look to maintain a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.

With captain Lautaro Martinez and France forward Marcus Thuram continuing to lead the attack, supported by emerging talents Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny, Inter are targeting a third league title in four seasons.

They are also eager to make amends for a disappointing European campaign that ended in the knockout play-off round against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

"The objective is always to win, always to dominate the league," midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu recently told beIN Sports. "In five seasons I've won eight trophies and played in two Champions League finals, and we'll keep trying to win titles."

- Amorim tasked with Milan reboot -

The race to unseat Inter appears wide open, with city rivals AC Milan turning to ex-Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim in a bid to revive their fortunes after finishing fifth last season.

They splashed out a club record 74 million euros ($86 million) to sign Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain, striving to bolster the attacking options for a team hurt by a lack of goals.

"I know exactly what this club means: history, prestige and an extraordinary fanbase around the world," Amorim said after his appointment in June.

"It is a challenge I embrace with pride and enthusiasm, fully aware of what these colours represent. I can't wait to get started and to experience every day the passion that drives AC Milan."

Anything less than a return to the Champions League would represent another setback for the seven-time European champions after a series of frustrating seasons that have tested supporters' patience.

Napoli finished second last season but head into the new campaign under new management after Antonio Conte's exit.

Conte's successor, Massimiliano Allegri, boasts six Serie A titles with Juventus and Milan. He has questions to answer though after a disappointing spell at Milan ended with the club missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day.

Napoli have also had a quiet transfer window. Romelu Lukaku left for Turkey after an injury-ravaged past year, leaving Rasmus Hojlund as the main man up front for the 2024-25 Italian champions.

Juventus also view a top-four finish as the minimum requirement. The Turin giants ended last season sixth, 18 points behind Inter, and continue to grapple with financial pressures despite the backing of the Agnelli family.

The club has made sweeping changes and parted ways with Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic, previously Serie A's highest-paid player. Juventus have nevertheless invested heavily, spending more than 40 million euros to secure France forward Randal Kolo Muani.

Should Milan and Juventus fail to meet expectations again, Roma and ambitious Como could be well placed to capitalise.

Roma finished third under Gian Piero Gasperini, while Como, led by former Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, are preparing for a remarkable Champions League debut just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth tier.

Elsewhere, Fiorentina have spent more than 120 million euros to mark the club's centenary and erase memories of a disastrous 2025-26 campaign that ended with a 15th-place finish.

The Argentine superstar gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute with a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner.

After a restrained celebration with teammates, in which he allowed himself a brief smile, the Miami captain did his trademark celebration of pointing toward the sky over Philadelphia.

Messi was instrumental in Miami's first goal just five minutes earlier as he picked up a run down the left flank from Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who headed the ball across for a close-range finish by young American Daniel Pinter.

The hosts secured a point thanks to goals from Indiana Vassilev in the 11th minute and Neil Pierre in the 58th.

"We came to win but we couldn't," said Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos. "We're not happy with the draw because we don't like it, but now we need to try to rest and think about the next game, which is in less than 72 hours," he added, referring to Saturday's meeting with Toronto FC.

Messi, 39, moved into second place on the league's scoring chart with 13 goals, three behind Croatian Peter Musa, who scored two for Dallas in a 3-4 victory at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Miami's talisman had failed to find the net in the two matches played since he returned from Argentina after the death of his father, Jorge, on August 8.

In those two games Miami lost 3-2 to Mexican side Leon to be eliminated from the Leagues Cup before enduring a 4-1 MLS defeat to Nashville in which Messi missed a penalty.

Miami have now gone four matches without a victory and are seven points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville.

They beat New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Wednesday.

In a clash of two stars recently arrived in MLS, Robert Lewandowski converted the game-winning penalty in the Chicago Fire's 2-1 victory over Antoine Griezmann's Orlando City.

The Fire notched their sixth straight win -- including three in Leagues Cup play -- in a contest halted by more than an hour by inclement weather.

Puso Dithejane put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute and that's where it stood when lightning halted play.

David Brekalo pulled Orlando level with a 52nd-minute header, but Polish star Lewandowski, who signed with Chicago in June, drew a penalty when he was brought down in the box by Swedish center-back Robin Jansson and delivered from the spot with a kick that sent Maxime Crepeau the wrong way.

Griezmann had a chance to equalize in the 77th minute on a counterattack but brushed the post.

The victory moved Chicago into third place in the East, four points behind Miami with a game in hand.

The two paceman took five wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for a meagre 171 on the first day of England's post-Bazball era, with Joe Root starting his second stint as full-time England captain following the shock international retirement of former skipper Ben Stokes.

Root rounded off a fine day on his Yorkshire home ground reaching 37 not out at stumps, with England 112-2 -- a deficit of just 59 runs.

Robinson took a wicket with the very first ball of the match and dismissed four top-order batsmen in a haul of 5-51.

Tongue followed up the Sussex seamer's initial burst with 5-46.

Normally when a bowler takes five wickets in a Test innings, he keeps the ball for a souvenir.

But with both Robinson and Tongue performing the feat on Wednesday they asked a member of the groundstaff to saw it in half.

Robinson, showing off the newly-sliced ball at his post-match press conference, told reporters: "As we were walking off Tonguey said, 'I think we should split it'. I was like, 'yeah, we should actually do that, I think it'd be quite cool'.

"I said 'do you reckon they'll be able to do it?' and within five minutes they brought it back up and it was done.

"It's one of those things that you don't really have too many halves of....half a cricket ball. It's something we'll never forget really and it's not too often two guys get five in the same innings, so it's a nice gesture and something to remember."

Robinson took a career-best seven wickets in an innings during England's first Test of their home season, against New Zealand in June.

That was his first appearance for England in over two-and-a-half years, with team management long concerned about Robinson's fitness rather than his skill.

The 32-year-old seamer then suffered a knee problem that meant he missed the second Test against New Zealand, with Robinson overlooked for the series finale at Trent Bridge -- a loss that ended in Stokes's dramatic exit from international duty.

"It was frustrating not to be able to play at the Oval, it was just a bit of a freak training injury and then I was available for Trent Bridge but not selected," said Robinson.

"I was ready to go but I suppose that's part of professional sport, isn't it? I've just worked really hard on a bit more fitness and a bit more skill, so it's nice when it comes off on days like today."

Robinson, who recently became a father for the second time, added: "We had the newborn last Thursday at 2:00 am so I've been catching up on my sleep since I got to the hotel in Leeds.

"But it was a really special week last week having another baby and it almost makes today even sweeter."

Arteta's side start their bid for a second successive English title against promoted Coventry in the opening game of the top-flight season on Friday.

For the first time in 22 years, the Gunners will begin a campaign as the Premier League's preeminent force, a status Arteta is determined to maintain as he targets an Arsenal dynasty.

With Manchester City's golden era potentially at an end after Pep Guardiola resigned at the end of last season, the stage is set for Arsenal to enjoy their own sustained period of success.

Guardiola won six Premier League titles and Arteta, who worked under the Spaniard at City before taking charge of Arsenal in 2019, has no qualms about challenging his players to emulate that dominant run.

"It's certainly the ambition of the club and the owners to be the best club in the world," he told Sky Sports this week.

"In order to do that, you need the best facilities, the best stadium, the best supporters, and you need the best squad and the best players in the world.

"That's what we try to build with the actual players that we have, and with the players that we want to sign to make the difference for Arsenal."

Arsenal haven't won consecutive English titles since the 1930s, a feat that proved beyond even Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles', who were the club's last champions before Arteta's men ended the drought.

Arteta is using that goal as a rallying cry for his team, with the pain of their Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last season adding further fuel to the Spaniard's motivational fire.

"It's very difficult. You have to raise the level from every angle," he said.

"When I look into the eyes of my players, I see that fire, that desire and the will to be better every single day."

Winning the Champions League for the first time remains a burning desire for Arteta's men, but their manager's primary ambition is domestic supremacy.

Arsenal, installed as the bookmakers' favourite for the title, showed their hunger for silverware has not been sated by dispatching Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday.

- 'We want more' -

Bolstered by the arrival of Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle and Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, Arsenal looked more formidable than ever as they tore City to shreds.

Ominously for their rivals, Arteta isn't finished spending yet. The club are on the verge of tying up a deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and have also been linked with Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.

Coventry manager Frank Lampard could be forgiven for having a sleepless night or two as he ponders how to subdue Arsenal in his club's first game in the top tier for 25 years.

It is a conundrum that may well torment managers with far greater resources than Lampard this season.

City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all have major questions to answer before they can establish themselves as genuine contenders for Arsenal's crown.

Enzo Maresca has replaced Guardiola at City, while former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola succeeds the sacked Arne Slot at Liverpool and Xabi Alonso takes charge of under-achieving Chelsea.

City finished seven points behind Arsenal last term and already seem further adrift on the evidence of their Community Shield debacle.

Liverpool, who came fifth last season, and Chelsea, who ended 10th, hope for much improved campaigns, but are far from the finished article.

The same is true of United, who climbed to third under Michael Carrick last season but have taken a surprisingly low-key approach in the transfer market.

As captain Martin Odegaard says, Arsenal have the destiny of the title in their hands.

"This year we want more. We want to do it again in the league and then there are the other trophies," he said.

The capital giants eased to a record-extending 14th French top-flight triumph last season, despite often prioritising their European ambitions.

They start their Ligue 1 campaign against Rennes on Sunday, hoping to make a quick start before the Champions League begins on September 8.

"When the season starts, everyone says the league is easy," said head coach Luis Enrique.

"Nothing is easy -- I don't recall any easy French league campaigns, at least not in the last three years."

Their six-point winning margin over second-placed Lens last term was the second closest they have come to slipping up domestically since being beaten to the title by Lille in 2021.

Two seasons ago, they finished a whopping 19 points clear of closest challengers Marseille.

Across the past five campaigns, PSG have enjoyed an average title-winning margin of 10 points.

After finally ending their long wait to translate that success to Europe in 2024/25, they backed it up with a second successive Champions League final victory, over Arsenal on penalties in May.

Only three clubs have won three consecutive European Cups -- Real Madrid, Ajax and Bayern Munich.

"Everyone thinks we can win, but that's just theory. Now we have to prove on the pitch that we're up to the task," Luis Enrique said when asked PSG's Champions League chances this season.

"Historically, it's hard to find a team that wins all the time, but we're trying to be right there alongside those kinds of teams."

Qatar-backed PSG have once again strengthened in the transfer market and held on to all of their most important players.

Ferran Torres has joined from Barcelona after scoring Spain's winning goal in the World Cup final, while France left-back Lucas Digne has returned as back-up for Nuno Mendes.

"Like last year, we're still hungry for victories, trophies," said PSG midfielder Vitinha.

"It's very difficult to maintain those levels but we're still hungry and we'll be aiming to win."

PSG comfortably rotated their side in Ligue 1 last term to boost their Champions League hopes and will be expecting to be able to do so again this time around.

Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele only started 11 of their 34 Ligue 1 games last season.

- Coaching chaos -

Lens impressed by finishing second to PSG last season and led the table for long periods before falling away.

They could not hold on to coach Pierre Sage who left for mid-table Premier League club Crystal Palace.

However, they passed their first test under new boss Dino Toppmoeller with flying colours by defeating PSG with 10 men in the Champions' Trophy last weekend and will be expecting to compete for second place again.

"I have a great rapport with the coach. He called me very soon after his appointment, while I was still on vacation," said Lens playmaker Florian Thauvin.

"We share the same vision of football. We get along really well and see things the same way."

It has been a summer of managerial overhaul in Ligue 1.

Luis Enrique is one of only four coaches, alongside Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca, Rennes' Franck Haise and Le Havre's Didier Digard, to have kept their jobs across the 16 clubs who also started last season.

Marseille have replaced the sacked Habib Beye with Bruno Genesio after they missed out on Champions League qualification, while Carlo Ancelotti's son Davide Ancelotti has taken Genesio's place at Lille.

Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid left-back Filipe Luis has joined Monaco and Liam Rosenior is aiming to bounce back from his miserable stint at Chelsea with Paris FC.

The veteran Portuguese coach returns to the club 16 years after first being appointed but charged with a similar task, deposing Barcelona as the leading club in Spain.

Mourinho is also aiming to restore some of the intensity and attitude that defined his first Madrid reign, between 2010-2013, after two seasons without winning a major trophy steered president Florentino Perez back to him.

The 15-time European champions have suffered dressing room turbulence, with tensions between players and a succession of coaches unable to find a convincing balance on the pitch.

None of Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso or Alvaro Arbeloa could fit the team's attacking stars -- Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham -- in together without compromising the team defensively.

Perhaps disciplinarian Mourinho might be the man to make it work, to turn superstars into willing runners without dulling their attacking edge.

The Portuguese says he returns as a different coach, more mature after years of experience in England, Italy, Turkey and elsewhere.

"I'm much more mature, less emotional, and more in control... as always, learning from mistakes," said the 63-year-old this week, although he insisted he was not "more boring".

Mourinho made clear from his first days back at Madrid's Valdebebas training ground what it is he wants from his team.

"I am here... to create a culture of work, responsibility, ambition," said Mourinho, describing his role as a "mission".

Perez has certainly given Mourinho the ammunition he needs to catch up with Barca.

Los Blancos spent heavily this summer, making Ivorian winger Yan Diomande their record signing at 140 million euros ($163m) and bringing in Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella among a series of high-profile arrivals.

However some would argue that in not signing Rodri, who they were linked with before he joined rivals Barcelona, Madrid have not reinforced sufficiently in midfield.

Diomande's arrival adds yet another major attacking threat to a squad that already boasts plenty of them. It may be former Manchester City midfielder Silva who proves the more significant signing when it comes to balance.

Madrid have spent years trying to move on from the era of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, whose ability to control matches allowed the forwards great freedom and reduced the team's exposure to relentless opposition attacks.

Silva is not a direct replacement for either, but his technical quality gives Mourinho an option for solving a problem that has persisted since their departures.

Whether he will be enough to give Madrid a foothold in the biggest games, including against Hansi Flick's double defending Spanish champions, remains to be seen.

Mourinho's first Madrid spell was defined by his rivalry with Pep Guardiola and a Barcelona side that dominated Spanish football.

Clasicos became increasingly bitter during his time in Madrid, with touchline confrontations, accusations of refereeing bias and a succession of heated encounters making the rivalry increasingly dark and compelling.

Mourinho's Madrid eventually ended their rivals' domestic dominance by winning the title in 2011-12 with a record 100 points.

This season Madrid visit Barcelona in late October in the first Clasico of the campaign, already eagerly awaited.

Between now and then, starting at Espanyol on Saturday, Mourinho has two months to get his team fit, firing and most importantly, all on the same page.

Fixtures

Thursday (all times GMT)

Rayo Vallecano v Alaves (1900)

Friday

Real Betis v Real Sociedad (1900)

Saturday

Athletic Bilbao v Sevilla (1500), Valencia v Celta Vigo (1730), Espanyol v Real Madrid (1930)

Sunday

Atletico Madrid v Villarreal (1500), Getafe v Racing Santander (1730), Elche v Barcelona (1930)

Monday

Osasuna v Levante (1730), Malaga v Deportivo La Coruna (1930)

Set a target of 372 runs, Sri Lanka were 197 runs adrift with four wickets in hand.

A rock-solid Sonal Dinusha was batting on 65 at lunch along with Keshara Nuwantha on eight.

Resuming on an overnight score of 84-4, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva dug deep alongside first-innings centurion Dinusha, adding 95 runs for the fifth wicket.

Their stand, lasting for over two hours, ended when De Silva attempted a sweep shot off Ravindra Jadeja but ended up getting a top edge which was caught at short fine-leg by Manav Suthar.

His 59 came off 151 balls and contained seven fours.

India's perseverance paid off when Prasidh Krishna had wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella caught behind for 10.

But the 25-year-old Dinusha, who struck his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, held firm and used his feet expertly against spin.

Dinusha brought up his half-century with a six off Kuldeep Yadav.

The world number one took only 20 minutes to blow through the first set against her 36th-ranked opponent and began the second set with a break of serve.

Sabalenka kept up the pressure in the second set with Wang double-faulting on the top seed's first match point after 54 minutes.

The victory marked the 45th in a row for Sabalenka at the Masters 1000 level.

"I cannot complain. She's a tough opponent," Sabalenka said. "To win in straight sets like this in under an hour is insane.

"I'm super happy to be through. I really trusted myself and went for my shots. I wasn't over-thinking. I was able to stay focused and be in every point."

Sabalenka next plays Czach Sara Bejlek, a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 winner over Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Fourth seed Coco Gauff needed to battle following a sizzling first set in a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over fellow American Ann Li.

The 2023 champion had it all her own way in the opening set against her 29th-ranked foe, winning in 30 minutes. The pair exchanged early breaks in the second on the way to a tie-breaker, in which Gauff seized a 4-1 lead and won on her third match point.

"She played better in the second set and I missed a couple of break opportunities," Gauff said. "I tried to forget about those.

"It was hard to control the ball for both of us and it was my first time playing a day match on this center court so I had to adjust to that."

Mirra Andreeva's French Open reigning champion status counted for little as the fifth seed struggled to close out a 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Janice Tjen.

The Indonesian challenger ranked 37 was bowled over in the first set but made Andreeva work to finally advance.

"In the first I was in command and she had unforced errors here and there, but in the second after a couple of games I started getting nervous, she made fewer mistakes -- it turned into a match of mentality and physicality," Andreeva said.

Eighth seed Elina Svitolina was forced to withdraw before her match against Wang Xiyu with an ankle injury.

"I've been advised by the doctors to take a little bit of time to rest and recover completely," the Ukrainian said in a statement.

Canada's second-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime eliminated Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 in 90 minutes.

"It was a tricky start, finding my rhythm," the Canadian said. "Lefties are tricky, you don't play them so often. You can prepare all you want but until you step onto the court you can't find your right adjustments. Then you feel comfortable."

Washington winner and fifth seed Taylor Fritz fired eight aces in defeating Daniel Merida 6-3 6-4 in 83 minutes. The Spaniard made 25 unforced errors as Fritz booked a fourth-round match against Australian Chris O'Connell, who is 0-3 against the American.

- 'I played amazing' -

Last week's Montreal finalist Brandon Nakashima came from the brink to upset fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

Nakashima led 5-2 in the first set before falling in the tie-breaker, then saved three match points in the 10th game of the second set on the way to forcing a third, which he dominated.

Italian 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti defeated American Michael Zheng 6-1, 6-3 in 71 minutes.

Portugal's Nuno Borges defeated 2021 runner-up Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-4 in 72 minutes.

The 47th-ranked Borges ended a five-match loss streak in the rivalry while Rublev will drop from the ranking top 20 for the first time since January 2020.

"I played amazing," Borges said. "It means a lot to be in the fourth round. It's a big moment for me."

Lois Openda headed Lyon in front with his first goal for the French club in Istanbul, but Greenwood levelled shortly after the break to leave the tie evenly poised.

Norwegian side Viking Stavanger, competing in the Champions League for the first time in 34 years, boosted their hopes of reaching the league phase for the first time by rallying from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Dinamo Zagreb.

Dion Beljo and Mateo Lisica struck inside the opening 10 minutes for Zagreb, but Viking, who edged Bodo/Glimt to the Norwegian title last season, pulled level by half-time through goals from Peter Christiansen and Zlatko Tripic.

Levski Sofia and AEK Athens drew 0-0 in Bulgaria.

Scottish champions Celtic enter the competition on Wednesday when they host Austrian club LASK in the first leg.

The second legs are scheduled for August 25-26.

Maradona, who died aged 60 while convalescing after surgery for a brain clot, suffered from "chronic kidney disease," nephrologist Hernan Trimarchi told a court near Buenos Aires that is trying Maradona's medical team for criminal negligence.

The 1986 World Cup star died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema -- a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs -- at a rented home in the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre on November 25, 2020.

Seven healthcare professionals, including Maradona's personal physician, psychiatrist and nursing staff, are accused of providing woefully inadequate care.

The trial is also examining whether their decision to allow him to convalesce in a private home instead of a medical facility endangered his life.

He said the player's kidneys were heavy and contained lesions linked to a history of obesity, cocaine use, and hypertension.

"At a minimum," he said, the patient should have undergone "daily medical checkups, daily nursing care, blood tests and monitoring of his vital signs."

He added that there was no record of any blood test being performed during his two-week convalescence.

He added that Maradona's ballooning size and blood pressure should also have been cause for concern.

In April, the court was shown images of the star on his death bed, his stomach grotesquely distended by edema.

An autopsy showed he was in agony for several hours before his death.

Trimarchi is the third specialist to tell the court that Maradona's doctors missed crucial warning signs.

The accused, who risk up to 25 years imprisonment if convicted, deny responsibility for the icon's death.

The trial is expected to last until at least September.

Kevin Lamour, who broke ranks with senior directors at world football's governing body last month and issued a scathing statement criticising Infantino over the plans, left his job as FIFA's chief operating officer on Monday.

UEFA has been a vocal critic of Infantino and England's Football Association has also withdrawn its support for the FIFA president.

"This is a problem of FIFA's making," Masters told the BBC.

"This is a self-inflicted wound. The organisation has pressed the self-destruct button, and the consequences of that flow now into the solutions that need to be found.

"I don't think FIFA should be ever contemplating selling off a stake in the World Cup.

"They're a not-for-profit organisation. They should really be holding that competition in trust for the future of football."

Masters added: "I think it's a bad idea, and the FA have taken the right position regards to Gianni."

As for a possible rival to Infantino, up for re-election next year, Masters said: "I think an emerging unity candidate should have on his or her agenda reform of FIFA, and perhaps even reform of the president's role and how it interacts with those things."

With six wickets in hand on a pitch increasingly assisting spin with turn and bounce, the tourists are strongly placed to force a result and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

At lunch Rishabh Pant was batting on 21 off 22 balls with a four and six, alongside Dhruv Jurel, who was on five.

Devdutt Padikkal, who posted a maiden hundred in the first innings, walked in to bat in the first over of the second innings after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a third-ball duck.

Padikkal, 26, impressed again during his 44-run knock before being dismissed minutes before the lunch break.

Together with K.L. Rahul, Padikkal added 65 runs for the second wicket before Prabath Jayasuriya provided the breakthrough by dismissing Rahul for 35.

The left-arm spinner also sent back Indian captain Shubman Gill (8) when he was trapped leg before wicket.

Dinesh Chandimal hurt himself while fielding when his head hit the ground.

He was examined by the physiotherapist before being taken to hospital for precautionary scans.

Warner, a world-renowned former opening batsman for Australia, pleaded guilty last month to a "middle range" drink-driving offence.

The 39-year-old was accused of stopping short of a random testing site while driving a van in April, before being breath-tested, arrested and taken to a police station.

Judge Clare Farnan formally convicted Warner of the crime and fined him Aus$1,500, according to a court record of the sentencing at Sydney's Waverley Local Court.

He was also ordered to hold an "interlock" licence for 12 months -- meaning he must use a breathalyser device that prevents a vehicle from being used if it detects alcohol on the driver's breath.

Defence lawyer Awais Ahmad said Warner's decision to drive showed "impaired, impulsive and frankly foolish decision-making", according to Australian public broadcaster ABC.

But he said Warner had undertaken a traffic offender's programme and taken responsibility for his actions.

Ahmad also pointed to negative media coverage of the case, including personal attacks, and predicted it would continue.

"He will be publicly denounced," he said.

Police reportedly said Warner drank three glasses of wine before getting behind the wheel to drive to his family home.

The judge said one poor decision could have serious consequences on the road, according to the ABC.

"Thankfully, on this occasion that decision did not have consequences for other people, but I accept it did have consequences for Mr Warner," she said.

Warner left the court without speaking to reporters, according to AFP journalists there.

The 23-year-old will be the first Japanese goalkeeper in Premier League history when he seals his move to Aston Villa from Italian team Parma for up to 35 million euros ($40 million).

Suzuki, who was previously linked with Manchester United, was born in New Jersey to a Ghanaian father and Japanese mother and moved to Japan at a young age.

After coming through Japanese football he moved to Belgium then Italy and has already won 28 caps for his country.

Suzuki, who appeared set to join Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain before Villa came calling, believes he has the tools to make it in the Premier League.

"Of course big saves are important but above all I want to become a goalkeeper who brings stability to the team," Suzuki told FIFA's website ahead of the World Cup, where he played a central role in Japan reaching the last 32.

"Doing the simple things well consistently. Playing with the determination not to concede."

Suzuki rose through the ranks at J. League side Urawa Reds and made his international debut after only a handful of appearances for his club.

He moved to Belgian side Sint-Truiden in 2023 despite reported interest from United, reasoning that he wanted to get more experience as a first choice.

He was handed Japan's number one jersey for the Asian Cup in January 2024 but turned in a series of blundering performances before they were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

The young stopper suffered online racial abuse after a group-stage defeat to Iraq.

Suzuki said of the abuse: "I'm not about to let it beat me.

"I want to come back at them by producing good results."

- Mental strength -

Suzuki continued as Japan's number one after the Asian Cup and gradually built up his reputation.

He moved to Parma in 2024 to become the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in Italy's Serie A.

His team-mates called him "animale" because of his muscular 6ft 3ins frame.

Suzuki broke his hand in late 2025 but returned in time for this summer's World Cup and excelled as Japan progressed from a group that also included the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden.

He again impressed against Brazil in the last 32 but could not prevent his team from going out 2-1 after conceding a 95th-minute winner to Gabriel Martinelli.

His imminent transfer to Villa means he will become only the second Japanese goalkeeper to play in English professional football, following Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's short stint with second-tier Portsmouth in the early 2000s.

Suzuki, whose first language is Japanese but speaks English, says he learnt from his early shortcomings.

"At the beginning I made a series of mistakes and showed my inexperience as Japan's first-choice goalkeeper," he told FIFA's website.

"Now I feel I can bring a sense of stability to the team through my mentality."

Speaking as his reputation grew in Serie A, Suzuki said his aim was to be the best goalkeeper in the world.

"I want to be the best both as an individual and as a team, winning titles like the Champions League and World Cup," he said.

The Athletic, ESPN, USA Today and other Los Angeles outlets revealed the move, which came after Iger and Joshua Kushner paid a record $12.5 billion for the team last week from prior majority owner Mark Walter.

"We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction," the family said in a statement.

"We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can."

Jeanie Buss, who was in the trust along with her five siblings, had been the Lakers' NBA governor since 2013, taking over after the death of her father, Jerry Buss.

The Buss family sold a majority stake in the Lakers to Walter last year for $10 billion, what was then the record for largest sale of a US sports team.

Iger and Kushner would own about 83% of the Lakers provided the deal is approved by NBA club owners, a decision expected at an NBA board of governors meeting next month in New York.

German star Zverev, who won Roland Garros and finished Wimbledon runner-up this year, won his ATP season-best 46th match of the campaign by defeating Terrance Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6).

Zverev finished off the Frenchman, a 2025 Cincinnati semi-finalist, with a sizzling backhand down the line.

"He was playing incredibly aggressively, hitting forehands all over the court," said Zverev. "He made it difficult for you to play aggressive yourself."

The Williams sisters, with 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals together, were side-by-side for the first time since the 2022 US Open but lost to American Payton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.

"It was fun and special. We kicked off a little rust," Serena Williams said. "I didn't come here to win this tournament. It's about having fun and I did want to do the best I could."

The siblings each lost serve once in the first set and lost six of the final seven games, but dominated the second set and rallied from 8-2 down in the 10-point tie-breaker third set only to fall on a Venus double fault.

"It was weird to be in a full stadium. This is not my usual Monday night," said Serena, who noted the reunion is a limited-time attraction.

"This is not forever. It's... not long," she said. "We don't have to play every week. It's a bit different."

Men's fifth seed Alex de Minaur battled through multiple rain interruptions to defeat Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). The Australian was up a set and 5-1 after a 30-minute stoppage before Wimbledon semi-finalist Fery caught fire, but he took the tie-break to advance despite 29 unforced errors.

"You never want to go into a rain delay leading 5-1," he said. "It was a tough day with all the interruptions. I can't remember a match that started and stopped so many times. I'm happy with how I found a way."

He next faces France's Arthur Fils, who dumped Czech ninth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3.

Spanish teen Rafael Jodar dominated Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 6-2, 6-1 and next faces Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli.

The Italian rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Alexander Blockx 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.

"A Masters 1000 is something I dreamed of as a kid," 12th-seeded Jodar said. "I'm grateful for the position I'm in now."

Argentine Thiago Tirante, who ousted Novak Djokovic in the second round, defeated Spain's Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).

- 'A crazy day' -

Two-time Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina shook off two one-hour rain stoppages to beat Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).

"It was a crazy day, to be honest, coming out every time into clouds and humidity," Rybakina said. "I was on top of the ball in the tie-break but it was a difficult one.

"I had the opportunities on the three match points but when you are tired it's difficult to keep concentration."

There were also wins for Iga Swiatek and tournament number three Jesica Pegula.

Former world number one and defending champion Swiatek was done hours before the poor weather, turning the tables after losing the first set in defeating Maria Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Pegula, a 2024 finalist, dispatched US compatriot Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2, ending with an ace.

American billionaires Boehly and Walter were two of the investors who partnered with Clearlake to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich for £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) in May 2022.

Private equity company Clearlake currently owns 62 percent of Chelsea, with Boehly and Walter holding the remaining shares with fellow investor Hansjorg Wyss.

Boehly, Walter and Wyss control 38 percent through Blueco Holdings.

Boehly has reportedly been dissatisfied with the direction of Chelsea, notably regarding recruitment, managers and a potential new stadium plan.

There have been reports that Boehly and Clearlake had attempted to buy each other out of Chelsea several times over the last two years.

Boehly and Walter reportedly believe Chelsea are worth £5 billion if they do sell their stake.

The pair are friends and business partners, having also invested together in baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers and women's basketball franchise LA Sparks.

Chelsea finished a dismal 10th in the Premier League last season and hired Xabi Alonso as their new manager, with the 2026-27 season starting for the Blues with a trip to Fulham on August 24.

The 30-year-old midfielder will move for a fee of around 75 million euros ($87 million) according to reports.

"In the coming days there will be a statement and (the transfer) will become official," said the Barcelona source.

Rodri had been linked with Real Madrid after Spain won the World Cup in July but Barcelona pushed to sign the former Atletico Madrid star, who has played a key part in Manchester City's success since he joined in 2019.

The midfielder, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons but shone as Spain won their second World Cup.

Barca's Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to miss several months through injury, encouraging the club to move for Rodri.

The Spain captain was a vital figure for Pep Guardiola at City, leading them to the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles among 12 major trophies.

Barca's Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to miss several months through injury, encouraging the club to move for Rodri.

The Spanish champions had two bids rejected for Rodri but eventually reached a deal with City on Sunday, with the midfielder following Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu to Camp Nou this summer.

Rodri, Spain's captain, was a vital figure for Pep Guardiola at City, leading them to the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles among 12 major trophies.

Barca are also expected to complete a deal to sign Joao Cancelo in the coming days after they loaned him last season from Al Hilal.

Clocking 3min 43.14sec, he won by a margin of 1.32 seconds over Hungary's Oliver Papai. The bronze went to Germany's Lukas Martens, the world record holder.

Four-time Olympic champion Marchand had already won gold in the 200m butterfly final in Paris.

"It was a new race for me, so I really enjoyed it," said Marchand, who then helped France to bronze in the men's 4x100m medley relay later Sunday.

He also won a silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay earlier in the week.

"Basically I tried to keep my blinders on for the first 200 metres," he explained.

"Then I realised the field was going to come back strong, so that's when I gradually started kicking harder.

"I could see I was well ahead, and the crowd cheering was really spurring me on, so I fed off that energy. The last 25 metres were a bit of a struggle though.

"I think there are plenty of things I can improve, but being European champion in the 400m freestyle, I couldn't ask for much more."

Marchand was one of the stars of the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning gold in the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke, as well as the 200m and 400m individual medleys.

The 24-year-old was racing a reduced schedule at the Europeans as he continues to recover from a thigh injury.

Earlier, Hungarian Hubert Kos won his third men's 200m individual medley Euros title, in the absence of Marchand, for his third gold of the championships.

Kos completed the four-length race in 1:54.24 to add to his gold medals in the 200m backstroke and men's 100m freestyle relay.

The 23-year-old built a significant lead during the backstroke leg before seeing Spain's Hugo Gonzalez charge towards him. Kos held firm in the final metres to secure the win.

He finished two-tenths of a second ahead of Gonzalez, while 18-year-old Russian Mikhail Shcherbakov, competing under a neutral flag, took the bronze.

- Golden finale for Britain -

Britain won two more gold medals on the final night of competition to finish top of the medals table with eight golds and 14 medals in total.

Keanna Macinnes won the 200m butterfly and then helped Britain seal the women's 4x100m medley relay title ahead of Italy.

Italian teenage star Sara Curtis got her country off to a blistering start but an exceptional finish by Freya Colbert gave Britain the spoils.

Italy were second with 20 medals, of which six were gold.

Italy's Simona Quadarella finished in style, winning the women's 400m freestyle final, just days after securing titles in the 800m and 1,500m events.

After holding third place for much of the race, Quadarella (4:01.74) surged ahead in the final 100 metres to see off Germans Isabel Gose and Maya Werner.

The 27-year-old had previously achieved a 400m, 800m, and 1,500m freestyle treble at the 2018 European Championships in Rome.

She also holds three long-course world titles and an Olympic bronze medal, won in the 800m at the Tokyo Games in 2020.

Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte claimed gold in the women's 50m breaststroke for the third time.

Defending champion Apostolos Christou of Greece retained his 100m backstroke gold medal as Ukrainian teenager Nikita Sheremet won his first title in the men's 50m freestyle.

The 48-year-old took charge of Lazio in July, four months after leaving his post as Italy coach after the national team missed out on a third consecutive World Cup.

As an AC Milan player between 1999 and 2012, Gattuso won two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies, but he has yet to reach similar heights as a coach.

The 2006 World Cup winner has also managed Fiorentina, Valencia, Napoli and Marseille.

Lazio were the only one of the 12 Serie A clubs competing in the last 64 of the tournament to be knocked out.

Seven-time Italian Cup winners, Lazio lost last season's final to Inter Milan in May.

Resuming from the overnight score of 460-9, India added just two runs as last man Prasidh Krishna was caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella to give Asitha Fernando his second wicket.

Spin bowlers Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha shared seven wickets between them.

Top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal was the mainstay of the Indian innings with a career-best 167.

The left-hander batted for over five and a half hours and faced 230 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and a six.

It was Padikkal's first Test in almost two years and he made it count with a memorable knock.

It was the fourth highest score by an Indian batter on Sri Lankan soil, behind Sachin Tendulkar's 203, Virender Sehwag's unbeaten 201 and Shikhar Dhawan's 190.

K.L. Rahul with 82 and Dhruv Jurel with 51 provided solid support.

The pitch is already offering plenty of assistance to spin bowlers.

The first two days of the Test were hit by rain with only 73 overs possible on day one and 43 overs bowled on day two.

Lens were worthy winners in their first match under new coach Dino Toppmoeller, adding to the French Cup title they won under previous boss Pierre Sage in May.

PSG, who beat Aston Villa on Wednesday in the UEFA Super Cup, struggled to find their flow at Lens' Stade Bollaert-Delelis, despite their hosts having Kyllian Antonio sent off in the first half.

"I think we deserved more," insisted PSG coach Luis Enrique.

"But I have to congratulate Lens-- they won, and they played very well, with their usual intensity...

"We played a very good match, but we didn't have the luck we needed."

Paris will turn their attentions to the start of their Ligue 1 title defence at home against Rennes in a week's time.

They will be without Portugal defender Nuno Mendes for that match, after he was also dismissed late on.

Lens, runners-up in Ligue 1 behind PSG last season, qualified for this match by winning their first ever French Cup with a 3-1 final win over Nice.

Luis Enrique named a strong side, making just three changes to the team which won the Super Cup, including giving Lucas Digne his second debut after the France left-back rejoined the club from Villa.

But Bradley Barcola, widely linked with a possible move to Liverpool, was not in the squad.

- Dominated possession -

The visitors dominated possession in the opening stages but struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser making a comfortable save from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Lens grew into the contest and grabbed a 32nd-minute lead when PSG failed to clear before Thauvin slotted home at the back post from Matthieu Udol's cross-shot.

But Toppmoeller's men were dealt a big blow six minutes before half-time when Antonio was dismissed for a studs-up tackle on Maghnes Akliouche.

PSG almost made the most of their man advantage before the break but Desire Doue's effort from a tight angle bounced off the crossbar.

The European champions continued to labour after the restart, though, and Thauvin flashed a strike wide as Lens continued to threaten on the counter.

PSG substitute Mendes came close to an equaliser, drilling a dipping long-range shot narrowly over the bar.

Luis Enrique also brought on Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele off the bench, with the latter drawing another simple save from Risser.

PSG were reduced to 10 men themselves with three minutes remaining, as Mendes was shown a straight red card for elbowing Lens wing-back Michal Skoras in the face off the ball.

Seifert's 72 off just 38 balls, including seven sixes and four fours, left the Super Giants well on course to chase down a target of 159.

But former Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir dismissed South African Heinrich Klaasen and New Zealand's Michael Bracewell before Ben Sanderson bowled two dot balls to bring the equation down to three needed off three.

Veteran England all-rounder Liam Dawson, however, held his nerve to hit the winning runs with a six over mid-wicket as Manchester secured their first Hundred title.

Afghanistan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad took 3-33 as the Rockets were held to 158-8, with Aneurin Donald's 38 the top score as they failed to become the first team to win both men's and women's finals in the same season.

The Rockets had more success in the preceding women's final, thrashing 2025 winners Sunrisers Leeds by eight wickets after dismissing their opponents for just 91.

Sophia Dunkley smashed 41 off 23 balls and Beth Mooney, on the ground where she helped Australia hammer England in last month's women's T20 World Cup final, struck 31 not out off 21.

England's Sam Surridge and Germany's Hany Mukhtar scored second-half goals for the hosts in a showdown between the Major League Soccer overall leaders.

Argentina and Miami captain Messi was denied from the penalty spot in the first half and issued a yellow card in the 59th minute but also assisted Inter's lone goal.

Messi struck both posts in second-half stoppage time.

Nashville leads MLS with 43 points and a record of 13-2 with four drawn while Inter Miami are second on 38 points.

Nashville had already knocked Miami out of this year's CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of 16.

Defending MLS champion Miami, which had been a league-best 8-1-1 on the road, saw a seven-match undefeated MLS run snapped as Nashville remained unbeaten at home in the MLS campaign.

Honduran defender Andy Najar scored with a header in the 17th minute to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.

Miami had a chance to equalize with a Messi penalty kick in the 23rd minute but Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake saved his weak effort.

Messi's record from the penalty spot is poor by his sky-high standards, including missing twice at the World Cup.

The visitors netted the equalizer three minutes into first-half stoppage time when Venezuelan Telasco Segovia blasted in a right-footed shot off an assist by Messi.

Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS Most Valuable Player, put Nashville back in front in the 49th minute.

Surridge gave Nashville a 3-1 lead and Mukhtar added his second in the 63rd for extra insurance as the hosts pulled away.

Kiko Femenia's red card late in the first half for a high lunge set Getafe back and Nahuel Tenaglia nodded home the opener for the hosts after 73 minutes.

Former Real Madrid striker Mariano curled home a fine second from the edge of the box in stoppage time as Quique Sanchez Flores's team got off to a winning start.

Mikel Rodriguez smashed home the third after being teed up by Mariano as Getafe crumbled during added time.

In the second match on the opening day of the new campaign, hosts Sevilla started poorly as a defensive mix-up allowed Alvaro Garcia in to open the scoring early on.

However, Luis Garcia's Sevilla battled back in the second half, with Jon Guridi levelling from the penalty spot.

Sevilla's Kike Salas was sent off with two minutes remaining but they were able to grab a late victory after Scottish forward Robbie Ure was brought down in the box deep in stoppage time.

Former Barcelona youth player Peque took the responsibility and rifled the penalty into the top corner.

On Sunday, Villarreal visit promoted side Racing Santander, among other games.

Atletico Madrid start their season at home against Malaga on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid are not in action until next weekend, visiting Espanyol on August 22, while champions Barcelona travel to face Elche on August 23.

The 30-year-old American fired a two-under par 68 to stand on 13-under 197 after three rounds in the PGA FedEx Cup playoff opener at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

Scheffler is 11-for-17 in winning after 54-hole leads in PGA events, including triumphs in his past seven attempts.

"Strategy is still the same, just go out there and execute," said Scheffler. "This is a golf course where that's really all it comes down to. I'll just do my best to go out there tomorrow and be committed and try and execute."

Four-time major winner Scheffler, who last led after 54 holes at last year's British Open, will play Sunday's final round alongside friend and compatriot Sam Burns, who shot a bogey-free 62 to share second with South Korean Im Sung-jae on 199.

"It's always a little weird just because I want him to have success so much and I think he wants the same for me," Scheffler said.

"It will be a competition like normal. It will be fun being out there with your friend but it's also a bit weird."

Defending playoff champion Tommy Fleetwood of England shared fourth on 202 with American Jake Knapp while South Korean Kim Si-woo, Sweden's Alex Noren, American Brian Harman and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama were another stroke adrift.

Im is among those in position to jump into the top 50 on the season points list and qualify for next week's playoff event in St. Louis while Harman needs improvement on Sunday to rise from 51st.

"I always look at the leaderboard so I'll know where I'm at," Harman said. "I'll be trying to shoot it super low to win the tournament. We'll start with that and see where it takes us."

Scheffler's only victory this year came in his January season opener in the California desert, but he also has had five runner-up finishes and five other top-10 showings.

Scheffler began the day with a three-stroke lead after matching the course record with a 61 on Friday, but struggled to fight off challengers all day.

He needed an 11-foot putt to save par at the third and missed a 12-footer to bogey the fourth.

"Any time you're holing those 10- to 15-footers, it's really nice to keep the round going," Scheffler said. "It was definitely important to keep the momentum going."

Scheffler fell back into a share of the lead twice but grabbed the outright lead again each time with birdies -- from just outside 12 feet at the par-three eighth and just beyond eight feet at the par-three 11th.

- 'Frustrating' times -

Burns made eight birdies to leap into contention for his first victory since the 2023 WGC Match Play.

"It can be frustrating at times when you feel like you're playing well and you're not getting the results of a win out of it," Burns said.

"You've just got to keep putting yourself in that position. The more you do it, the better the odds are for you."

Norway's Viktor Hovland grabbed a share of the early lead with birdies at the second and fourth holes but slipped back with bogeys at nine and 10 and a double bogey at 12.

Scheffler sank a 16-foot birdie putt at 12 and a six-foot birdie putt at the par-five 16th to reach 14-under and seize a three-stroke lead, but found the right rough and a greenside bunker on the way to a bogey at 17.

The 21-year-old had a breakout season last year, scoring 17 goals and providing 12 assists in the Dutch league, where he was named young player of the year.

According to Ajax, the transfer fee was 55 million euros ($64 million), including bonuses.

Godts has been capped twice by Belgium but missed out on a spot in their World Cup squad.

After coming through the academy at Genk, he signed for Ajax in 2023.

Godts went on to make 115 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, totalling 54 goal involvements.

"I feel incredibly proud to be joining one of the best clubs in the world. I can't wait to pull on this shirt and experience the Parc des Princes and its supporters," Godts said in a statement on PSG's website.

Ligue 1 champions PSG face Cup winners Lens in the French Champions' Trophy on Sunday, before getting their league defence underway against Rennes next weekend.

The 23-year-old Dominican-American right-fielder made a debut for the ages at historic Wrigley Field, the oldest National League ballpark dating to 1914.

Baez smashed the first pitch he saw in MLB, a 93.4-mph fastball from Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd, for a two-run homer into center field that gave St. Louis a 3-0 lead.

In his second time at bat, Baez blasted a changeup pitch for a solo homer down the left field line in the fourth inning to lift the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

That made Baez only the ninth player in MLB history with two homers in his regular-season debut, and just the second since 1900 to homer on his first two MLB at bats after Bob Nieman in 1951.

And Baez was not yet done.

In the sixth inning, Baez homered again off Boyd for a 6-3 St. Louis lead to put himself alone in MLB history.

Baez flew out to left field in the eighth inning but finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three homers and five runs batted in during his first MLB contest.

Baez was set to play Friday for Memphis, the Cardinals' top developmental club, when he was told he was going to the top club.

"It was kind of like a shocking moment, just because you don't know when it's going to happen," Baez said.

Baez recalled his late father, Jose Manuel, who died in 2023.

"His dream was to play in the big leagues," Baez said. "The only promise that I made to him was that I was going to be able to do that for him.

"He's not here with us, but he's here in spirit, and I know he's so proud of me."

Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed a five-wicket haul on Day 4 to bowl out Australia for 284 in the second innings, leaving Bangladesh a target of 57 for a victory for the first time on Australian soil, a place considered as toughest for the visiting nation.

Bangladesh reached the winning target in 14.2 overs for the loss of Tanzid Hasan Tamim, brining a watershed moment in country’s cricket history.

Pallister led all the way to win in 3min 58.42sec, setting a blistering early pace and hanging on as nine-time Olympic gold medallist Ledecky charged late to take silver in 4:00.15.

"It felt good until it didn't," said Pallister, who arrived in Irvine off a four-gold performance in the Commonwealth Games and beat Canadian star Summer McIntosh in the 200m free on Wednesday, before finishing runner-up to Ledecky in the 1500m free on the same night.

Pallister, who helped Australia bag 4x200m free relay gold on Thursday, admitted she was hurting at the end.

"After having two really good 200s at the start of the week I knew I had easy speed," she said. "I think it got me on the back end."

New Zealand's Erika Fairweather took bronze in 4:02.35 as world record-holder McIntosh had to take what satisfaction she could from winning the consolation final with a time of 4:00.58.

McIntosh, winner of three individual gold medals at the Paris Olympics, said it was a case of "lessons learned" after she miscalculated her preliminary swim and ended up with the ninth-fastest time of the morning.

"I promise I'll make sure it doesn't happen again," she said.

The competition that brings together top swimmers from non-European countries has been a mixed bag for McIntosh.

She bounced back from her 200m free defeat to win the 400m individual medley but was disappointed to finish more than four seconds slower than her own world mark.

"This meet is definitely not going how I wanted it to go," McIntosh said.

Australia's Sam Short continued his stellar form with a dominant victory in the men's 400m free, clocking 3:40.52 to break legendary Australian Ian Thorpe's championship record of 3:41.83 set in 1999.

- 'So much left' -

"I really put it on the line," said Short, who came off a 400m, 800m and 1500m free treble at the Commonwealth Games and won the 800m free on Wednesday.

"I thought I was going 3:39," he added. "I had so much left at the end, but (personal best) can't complain.

"Beat Thorpey's meet record, I think that's older than me," added Short, who is indeed just 22 and said he counted Thorpe among the heroes of his youth.

China's junior world record-holder Zhang Zhanshuo was second in 3:42.42 and American Aaron Shackell bagged bronze in 3:43.44.

Matthew Temple kept the Australian gold flowing, touching in 50.39sec to lead compatriot Ben Armbruster in a 100m butterfly one-two, and Aussie Sam Williamson won a 50m breaststroke thriller in 26.36sec with South African Michael Houlie and American Van Mathias tied for second in 26.42.

World record-holder Gretchen Walsh of the United States powered to a dominant victory in the women's 100m fly in 55.15sec.

Regan Smith led Claire Curzan in a US one-two in the women's 200m backstroke and the US capped the night with a pair of rousing wins in the 4x100m freestyle relays.

The US women set an American record of 3:29.32 for a 4x100m freestyle relay triumph over Australia. They were fueled by Kate Douglass's stunning leadoff leg of 51.69 -- the second-fastest 100m free in history.

The US men -- Chris Guiliano, Patrick Sammon, Destin Lasco and Jack Alexy -- took gold in 3:09.01.

Australia took second in 3:09.57, pushing the Americans until the end in a preview of the fireworks the rivals can be expected to produce at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years' time.

The Americans and Australians didn't have things all their own way.

Japanese 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima pulled off a surprise in the men's 200m back, rallying from fourth at the halfway mark to win in 1:55.38.

Olympian Tang Qianting won the women's 50m breaststroke in 29.67 to give China their first gold of the week.

The tourists picked three left-arm spinners and two fast bowlers in Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna for India's 600th Test match.

Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar form the spin attack.

Sri Lanka handed a Test debut to 25-year-old off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha.

Galle International Stadium is hosting its 50th Test match, becoming the first ground in Asia to achieve the milestone.

India: Shubman Gill (capt.), K.L. Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wkt), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wkt), Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara.

Umpires: Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh) and Rod Tucker (Australia)

Third umpire: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)

Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

A total of 64 nominated boxing coaches from 64 districts will participate in the ten-day training course, organized by BBF.

Mohammad Zahid Parvez Chowdhury, Director of Sports of the National Sports Council (NSC), is expected to inaugurate the course as the chief guest.

The event will be chaired by Mohammad Fayazur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of the Bangladesh Boxing Federation. General Secretary M.A. Quddus Khan will also be present.

According to the BBF, the initiative has been taken to improve the standard of boxing at the district level and familiarize coaches with modern training methods.

During the 10-day course, the participating coaches will receive training on modern and technology-based coaching techniques, which they will be able to apply in training boxers in their respective districts.

Playing in the Championship for the first time in eight years following their relegation from the Premier League last season, Wolves are hoping for an immediate return to the top-flight.

Cesar Peixoto's first game as Wolves boss was just two minutes away from ending in defeat before Jimenez converted a stoppage-time penalty at Molineux.

Wolves won just three league matches last season in a dismal campaign that fuelled fan protests against Chinese owners Fosun.

Following the surprise decision to hire Peixoto from Portuguese club Gil Vicente to replace Rob Edwards, who was sacked during the close-season, Wolves need a fast start to win back their disgruntled supporters.

The early signs were good as the hosts, featuring debutant Kieran Trippier, took the lead in the 18th minute with their first shot of the season.

Fer Lopez sent a perfect pass behind the Blackburn defence and Zimbabwe midfielder Marshall Munetsi sprinted clear for a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area.

But Tony Mowbray is back in charge of Blackburn for the second time and the experience campaigner watched his side equalise in the 27th minute when Sean McLoughlin cleverly glanced a header past Dan Bentley.

Wolves were stunned by that blow and there was worse to come in the 48th minute as Blackburn forward Andri Gudjohnsen met Dapo Afolayan's cross with a close-range finish.

However, former Fulham star Jimenez came to the rescue in the first appearance of his second spell at Wolves.

Fresh from helping Mexico reach the World Cup last 16, the 35-year-old netted from the spot in the closing seconds after Ryan Alebiosu handled Jackson Tchatchoua's cross.

Wolves are second favourites for promotion behind West Ham and just ahead of Burnley, the other clubs that crashed out of the Premier League last term.

- Spygate shame -

West Ham's status is little surprise, given they kept hold of coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who led Wolves to promotion from the second tier in 2018, and influential England forward Jarrod Bowen.

The Hammers start their campaign on Sunday with a trip to Burnley, who are led by new manager Nicky Hayen.

Burnley have won promotion from the Championship in each of the past two seasons they played in the division, both times amassing over 100 points.

With the shadow of their spygate shame still hanging over them, Southampton open at Watford on Sunday.

Southampton were expelled from last season's Championship play-offs after admitting spying on Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Oxford.

Saints boss Tonda Eckert took responsiblity for the scandal, which was exposed when a member of the club's staff was found filming Middlesbrough prior to the first leg of their play-off semi-final.

Southampton beat Middlesbrough but were denied a final showdown with Hull by their expulsion, with the Tigers sealing promotion instead.

Eckert was backed by Southampton despite calls for his sacking but the German could face a ban after being charged by the Football Association.

Middlesbrough, beaten by Hull in the play-off final as last-minute replacements for Southampton, start on Saturday against Lincoln, who are in the Championship for the first time since 1961 after winning promotion from League One.

Werro ran a championship record of 1min 54.81sec for victory with Olympic champion Hodgkinson having to settle for silver with 1:55.01.

Former 400m hurdles world champion Femke Broeders-Bol of the Netherlands claimed bronze in 1:55.54.

The showdown between Hodgkinson and Werro, and to a lesser degree Broeders-Bol, had been touted as the one of the stand-out events of these championships.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, twice an Olympic 800m silver medallist and European champion in the event in Stuttgart in 1986, had predicted the race would be "one for the ages and the race of the championships".

In the end, Werro was too strong for Hodgkinson, the taller athlete pulling away on the top bend.

"It's been up and down over the last hours, I'm very happy with the medal," said Werro, who was brought crashing to the track in Thursday's semi-final and was only included in the final after appealing that she had been clipped from behind.

Hodgkinson, who was seeking a third title having previously won continental crowns in Munich in 2022 and Rome two years ago, added: "I think I'd be happier with the gold. It was a great race."

The 24-year-old said she had some "mixed emotions".

"I think with that level of competition, any medal is a really good achievement and another one to add to my collection so I can never be disappointed with that.

"But I'm defending champion so I wanted to do that.

"I knew it was going to come down to the wire but I really thought I was going to win today. But it wasn't meant to be. I didn't do anything wrong, it was just one of those things."

Hodgkinson added: "Audrey wanted to take it on and with that wind I was happy to let her. We're all really great athletes so I knew it was going to be close. I'm looking forward to the next match-up."

Hodgkinson started out fast and got out front as the athletes jostled for position after the break from lanes.

The Briton had the inside line, but Werro lurked on her outside shoulder and it wasn't long before the 22-year-old Swiss took control.

One surge from Werro and she was out in front, shooting through the bell for the final lap in a rapid-fire 56.45sec.

Hodgkinson fought back past Broeders-Bol and at 150m tried to make a move on Werro.

The Swiss athlete, however, held on for grim life and ultimately secured an impressive victory over her British rival.

The sound of cowbells rang around Alexander Stadium as Werro crossed the line.

Werro ran a blistering 1:53.80 -- the third fastest time ever -- to win at the Paris Diamond League.

The question now seems to be when, rather than if, Werro goes after the oldest world record still standing: the 1:53.28 set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova of then-Czechoslovakia.

All eyes will be on the August 21 Diamond League meet on the fast track of Lausanne, with Werro basking in the limelight of home support.

Coe, the man who delivered the London Games as head of the local organising committee, says the organisers of the Los Angeles Olympics in two years' time will have to accept working shoulder-to-shoulder with the US administration.

"I know it's really important that you have really good working relationships with government, prime ministers," said Coe, who is now head of track and field's governing body World Athletics.

The United States have just co-hosted the Football World Cup, but there were concerns raised throughout the tournament over the relationship between US President Donald Trump and FIFA head Gianni Infantino.

Infantino, a Swiss-Italian who has led FIFA since 2016, was a frequent visitor to the White House in the buildup to the World Cup.

Last year he awarded Trump a newly-created and much-mocked FIFA peace prize, which he presented to the president at the World Cup draw in Washington.

Infantino was then forced into defending the decision to reprieve US World Cup star Folarin Balogun after Trump said he had appealed directly to the head of world football's governing body over the issue.

Balogun, the US team's outstanding player at the World Cup, had been set to miss the last-16 game against Belgium after receiving a red card in the victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the previous round.

But FIFA said it was suspending the card, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium, sparking a furore.

Trump said he had called Infantino "because I didn't think it was a foul".

President Trump will still be in power by the time of the LA Games in July 2028.

- Politics with small 'p' -

Coe told journalists at the European championships on Thursday that the local organising committee of the LA Olympics had to strike a balance with the US government.

"The delivery of the Games is in large part predicated on those relationships with Treasury, Defense, Homeland Security," Coe said of the relevant government ministries in the US.

"Actually the best mitigation against risk at a Games is the relationships that you have politically, and I mean with a small 'P', in the system.

"No local organising committee can make the Games safe. That is done with a combination of intelligence services."

External interference, Coe argued, comes "entirely down to the resilience of a sporting organisation to say, 'Yeah, I hear what you say, but thank you and good night'.

"The balance is keeping the politicians on the bus, but not letting them anywhere near the steering wheel.

"I probably achieved that quite well in London."

Coe added: "That's entirely about the resilience and robust nature of your sport.

"But not having those relationships is dangerous."

Former Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry beat Coe in last year's election to succeed Thomas Bach as the new president of the International Olympic Committee.

On taking over as Olympic chief, Coventry was asked about the prospect of dealing with President Trump.

"I have been dealing with let's say difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old," she answered.

More recently, Coventry expressed confidence that the Los Angeles Olympics organisers and IOC would be able to overcome a number of the challenges that shook the World Cup, notably visa issues.

That, she said, took "consistent collaboration and learning".

"We have to just continue having faith in that process. And I do believe that we will see a successful LA 2028."

Only England (1,097) and Australia (883) have played more Tests than India and the landmark match also coincides with the anniversary of India's independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.

"It's a big honour and privilege for me to captain India in any Test match," Gill told reporters in Galle.

"Captaining India in our 600th Test is a huge honour and doing it on India's Independence Day makes it even more special."

India began their Test journey in 1932 against England at Lord's and have since won 186 matches and lost 188. They have drawn 224 games, with one match ending in a tie.

The tourists arrive in Sri Lanka looking to revive their red-ball fortunes after a difficult period under coach Gautam Gambhir.

India, who have won eight and lost 10 of their 20 Tests under Gambhir, have slipped to fifth in the World Test Championship standings, one place above Sri Lanka.

But Gill remains upbeat.

- Galle milestone -

"I'm very comfortable with the way we have progressed over the last year. I feel we are moving in the right direction," said Gill.

"Our main goal is to play in the World Test Championship final next year and if we win six or seven games out of the next nine, we have a good chance."

He added: "To get there, winning this series is very important and that's what everyone is focusing on."

The tourists have been forced to make changes in their line-up due to injuries.

Top-order batter Sai Sudharsan is unavailable, and Devdutt Padikkal, who struck an unbeaten century in the warm-up game in Colombo, is set to take his place.

The first match will also mark a milestone for Galle, which will become the first venue in Asia to host 50 Test matches.

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who has played at the venue since his school days, said it would be a "big occasion" for the picturesque venue overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The venue traditionally offers turn for spinners, with many five-day matches ending in about three days.

But de Silva said the pitch "will help the batters a lot".

Sri Lanka too have injury concerns and will be without opening batter Pathum Nissanka and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.

Wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella is set to return to the Test side after an absence of more than three years.

The team will compete under South African head coach Giles Bonnet, with the BHF selecting three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards.

The Junior Asia Cup is also an important qualification tournament for the Under-21 Junior World Cup. Bangladesh will be aiming to secure qualification by producing a strong performance in the Asia Cup in China.

The goalkeepers are Mohammad Mahmud Hasan, Mohammad Raihanul Islam and Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Zinnat.

The defenders are Mohammad Mehedi, Munna Islam, Sumanta Chakma, Mohammad Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Amit Hasan, Mohammad Shamim Ahmed, Mohammad Tarek Islam and Mohammad Tayyab Ali, who is also listed as a midfielder.

The midfielders are Mohammad Tanvir Rahman Siam, Mohammad Sohrab Hossain Choton, Mohammad Ashraful Alam, Mohammad Shimul Islam, Mohammad Sabbir Hossain Konok and Mohammad Bishal Ahmed.

The forwards are Mohammad Jony Islam, Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Mahadi Hasan, Mohammad Din Islam, Mohammad Rifat and Mohammad Tawsan Hossain.

with the Australian pace attack astutely as Bangladesh put the hosts in a commanding position in

the first Test at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin today.

A day after Hasan Mahmud's career-best six-wicket haul bowled Australia out for 198, Tanzid

hammered 101 off 197 balls on Day 2 of the match to become the first Bangladesh batter to score a

Test century on Australian soil.

The left-handed opener reached his century off 188 balls, having negotiated the pace, bounce and

movement generated by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Beau Webster on a green-looking Darwin

surface, which eased for batting as the day progressed.

Tanzid, playing only his second Test, showed unwavering resolve throughout his innings. He

reached his first fifty off 102 balls, with five fours, before accelerating to his second fifty

in just 86 balls, adding three more boundaries and a six.

He completed the milestone in the 64th over when he pushed off-spinner Nathan Lyon towards long-

on for a single.

His century came at a crucial time for Bangladesh, as the morning session of Day 2 was considered

vital in taking control of the Test.

Thanks to Tanzid's century, Bangladesh took the lead and comfortably went past the 300-run mark,

taking their lead to three figures.

Tanzid shared a 102-run partnership with Mominul Haque for the second wicket before Mominul was

dismissed for 49. The stand fell just short of Bangladesh's highest second-wicket partnership in

Australia-the 108 runs scored by Habibul Bashar and Hannan Sarkar in Cairns in 2003.

Tanzid's innings eventually ended at 101 when he attempted to hit Lyon for six but was caught at

long-off.

However, his innings was not entirely chanceless, as he was reprieved on 62 when Smith failed to

hold a chance at slip, a miss that ultimately proved costly for Australia.

The 25-year-old has already established himself in Bangladesh's white-ball teams, having played

40 ODIs and 53 T20Is, with a century and nine fifties in ODIs and 13 fifties in T20Is.

While Tanzid completed his century, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto missed out on one, despite

coming agonisingly close. Shanto was eventually dismissed for 84, but Bangladesh's lead grew to

give them genuine hope of winning a historic Test match on Australian soil.

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Abbas took 3-37 on the first day of three, including the wickets of Gay and James Rew, as the PCC Select XI slumped to 69-3.

But captain Tom Haines's quickfire 51 and further half-centuries from Caleb Falconer, Saif Zaib and Matt Fisher helped the hosts recover to 305 all out in Kent before Pakistan closed on 44-0.

This match is being played ahead of next week's series opener between England and Pakistan at Headingley -- the first of a three-Test campaign.

Gay is looking to prove his fitness after suffering a shoulder injury playing for Durham in the One-Day Cup last week, but was out at the end of the third over.

Haines's fifty helped the PCC Select XI get back into the match, with Falconer making 59 and Zaib compiling 65 before England paceman Fisher struck a valuable 62 not out batting at No 10.

Pakistan openers Azan Awais (15 not out) and Imam-ul-Haq (26 not out) held firm until the close.

Infantino came under renewed fire this week in an open letter signed by three confederations -- UEFA, North and Central America's CONCACAF and Asia's AFC -- accusing the world football boss of breaking trust "through deception".

It is believed they want the Swiss official to resign before he has the chance to seek re-election in March next year.

New Zealand Football became the latest FIFA member to withdraw support on Friday.

"After careful consideration NZF has formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football," the association said.

"An independent review is required to restore confidence and trust."

"This point in time represents an opportunity for all FIFA member associations to advocate for stronger governance, accountability and transparency, which are fundamental in maintaining confidence of the administration of the global game," the association added.

The statement follows a meeting of the regional Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), of which NZF is a member, on Wednesday.

In a statement on Friday the group said it welcomed the decision to shelve the investment plan but did not call for Infantino to go.

"Good governance, transparency and respect for established institutional processes are fundamental to the effective administration and sustainable development of football," the OFC said.

FIFA has hit back at efforts "to undermine" football's governing body and the besieged Infantino.

Last year's title in Toronto was matched by a 2026 winning performance in Montreal, with the American taking the honours without dropping a set on the way to his seventh career title.

Shelton joins Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in winning back-to-back in Canada during this century.

It was the first Masters final between Americans since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish at Cincinnati 23 years ago.

"To play the way that I have here, going through without dropping a set... it speaks to the work that I've put in and my mental toughness," said Shelton, who will rise from 10th to sixth in the rankings.

"I was able to focus this week, and it has not been such a straightforward season for me," added the player who had won just a single Masters 1000 match out of five played this season before the start of Montreal.

"I'm playing at the top of my limit -- I've got no words."

The first all-American Canada final since 1995, when Andre Agassi faced Pete Sampras, began as Nakashima, beaten by Shelton in all five of their previous matches, unleashed four aces in the opening game.

Shelton needed just one break in the seventh game to win the opener and ran off five consecutive games -- losing only five points -- to reach a set and 1-0.

He took a 6-5 lead on a pair of aces and wrapped up the win in the tie-breaker as he fired a forehand winner into the corner past Nakashima.

The 87-minute victory gave Shelton his fourth title of the season, all played on different surfaces. He also won on indoor hardcourt in Dallas, clay in Munich and grass in Stutgart.

Shelton now heads to the ongoing Cincinnati Masters in the American Midwest riding a 12-match Canada win streak and will use the final big event before the August 30 start of the US Open to try and maintain form for the last Grand Slam of the season.

His figure is the third best by a Bangladeshi pacer behind Shahadat Hossain Rajib’s 6-27 against South Africa and Ebadot Hossain’s 6-46 against New Zealand in a historic victory in Mount Maunganui.

Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain claimed two wickets apiece to complement Hasan’s magical bowling, making it only the second time that Bangladesh quicks took all 10 wickets in an innings. The first instance was against Pakistan in Rawalpindi Test in 2024.

The visitors exploited the swing-friendly conditions brilliantly after Australia surprisingly chose to bat first.

No one could stand tall against Hasan who swung the bowl admirably in both ways but the exception was Steve Smith, a  generational talent who defied all odds to hit team-best 71.

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald put on 45 runs for the opening stand, indicating a good start but Hasan accounted both of them in his consecutive two over before Ebadot dismissed Marnus Labuschgne.

With Australia reeling at 61-3 at lunch, Steve Smith made a resistance and added 55 runs with Alex Carey for the fifth wicket.

Ebadot who was the unsung hero of the match, beating every Australian batters repeatedly with his extra bounce, broke the dangerous partnership by sending back Carey who made 19.

Hasan got the better of Smith for his third five-wicket haul in his brief career before ripping through the rest of the batting line up.

Koko, who served as chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) Game Development Committee from 2002 to 2005, was credited with laying the foundation for the country's modern player-development pipeline.

The High Performance (HP) Unit, which continues to strengthen Bangladesh's cricket pipeline, was among the initiatives attributed to Koko. He also pioneered a structured pathway for young cricketers through age-group levels such as Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19, while promoting the development of a reserve bench.

Koko also played a role in upgrading the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur and decentralizing cricket infrastructure beyond Dhaka.

"We have not been able to evaluate the contributions of many people in the last 17 years. You all know what the context was. Today, an opportunity has come before us. There is nothing new to say about the contribution of BCB man late Arafat Rahman Koko to cricket," Rabbani said.

The BCB observed Koko's 57th birth anniversary with a Milad and Doa Mahfil at the Media Center of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur this evening. Senior BCB officials and employees attended the ceremony, where special prayers were offered for the departed soul. Rabbani said Bangladesh later reaped the benefits of the structures established during Koko's tenure, particularly in the development of young players.

"We have later received the benefits of the work done during that time, including the level at which BCB has reached today and the pipelines of young players that he created," he said.

He also highlighted Koko's contribution to regional and district-level cricket and his association with cricket infrastructure projects, including Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.

According to Rabbani, the BCB has already kicked off work on renovating the Bogra venue and hopes to restore international cricket there within the next one and a half to two years.

"We have taken a plan to renovate the field and some work has already started. I hope it may not be possible within a year, but InshaAllah within one and a half to two years, we will be able to bring international cricket back there," he said.

Koko, the youngest son of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was born on August 12, 1969. Koko, the younger brother of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman died of a heart attack in Kuala Lumpur on January 24, 2015, aged 45.

They had also defeated South Africa Emerging Team in their previous meeting. Bangladesh captain Zakir Hasan expressed his disappointment at missing the opportunity to play for the title. "We were gradually improving. We were looking forward to playing the final, but unfortunately that was not possible," Zakir said at the awards ceremony. The tri-series also featured the University of Sport of South Africa. Bangladesh's next assignment against South Africa Emerging Team will be a four-day match beginning on August 16, with the second match scheduled to start on August 23.

Shoriful was left out of the first Test squad after suffering from a Grade 1 left hamstring injury.

"Left arm pacer Shoriful has successfully passed his fitness test and has been declared fit," the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) revealed in a press release today. "He will fly tonight to join the Test Squad in Australia to prepare for the second Test."

The BCB also informed that wicket-keeper batter Liton Das who sustained a calf muscle injury is available for selection in the first Test match against Australia starting tomorrow (Thursday).

Meanwhile, Jaker Ali Anik and Musfik Hasan who were in the squad for Australia Tests will return to Bangladesh and begin preparations for the upcoming A Team tour of South Africa.

Afghanistan have long used India and the United Arab Emirates as home venues because of the country's political and security challenges.

The series will be played at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, 15 and 17.

The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) has supported Afghanistan's rise as a cricketing nation and hosted the neighbours for their debut Test in 2018.

"The BCCI remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and providing its players with opportunities to compete at the highest level," BCCI president Mithun Manhas said in a statement.

Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Mirwais Ashraf hailed the upcoming series.

"This series holds great significance for Afghanistan cricket and represents another important step in the development of our longstanding relationship with the BCCI," Ashraf said.

Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion from Kazakhstan, fired 13 aces in a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory.

"Super happy. It was a very difficult match," Rybakina said after a tight battle lasting 2hr 33min.

"In the first set (I made) a few mistakes, a poor start.

"It was a really tough one but I'm glad I could turn it around, I don't yet know how, but I think my serve helped me a little bit."

Gauff, a 22-year-old American, had a walkover into her first Canada semi-final when Switzerland's Belinda Bencic withdrew with a hip injury.

"I'm really sorry to not be able to compete," Bencic said in a statement. "I tried everything possible to be ready. Looking forward to being back in Toronto next time."

Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion, defeated Rybakina in their only previous meeting, which came at Toronto in a 2022 third-round match.

"She's a fighter," Rybakina said of Gauff.

"I definitely need to bring my energy and serve well."

Poland's Iga Swiatek and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina meet in Wednesday's other semi-final.

Osaka and Rybakina staged a dramatic duel in their first ever meeting on tour.

"We practised couple of times before so I more or less knew how the ball was going to come, what to expect," Rybakina said.

"In some moments my energy wasn't there but I'm glad in the end it went my way."

- 'Just keep going' -

Rybakina double-faulted to hand Osaka a break in the opening game and the Asian star held serve from there to claim the first set in 42 minutes.

The pair exchanged breaks of service twice in a drama-filled second set but in the tiebreak Rybakina never trailed and smashed a forehand winner to force a third set.

"I was trying to stay close on the score, trying not to think if I make a mistake, just keep going," Rybakina said.

Osaka was denied on four break points in the sixth game as Rybakina held

The Kazakh broke for a 4-3 lead as Osaka missed a forehand smash wide on game point, then sent forehands long and wide.

Rybakina sealed the match with a second-serve ace, winning all 18 of her first-serve points in the final set.

World number 13 Osaka, who took a break has not won a title since the 2021 Australian Open.

Rybakina is within touching distance of becoming world number one for the first time.

If two-time Grand Slam champion wins the Toronto title she would move to just four ranking points behind Aryna Sabalenka, who lost in the last 16.

The wedding capped a decade-long relationship and came after days of intense media speculation in Portugal over the location and timing of the ceremony.

Ronaldo, 41, shared a photo of the couple's hands with their wedding bands and the caption: "C (heart) G" on his Instagram account.

The couple's five children attended the "private and intimate" ceremony, the Brunswick Group, which handles the player's public relations, told AFP.

The couple tied the knot exactly one year after Rodriguez, a 32-year-old influencer, announced their engagement on Instagram.

Ronaldo, who played for Portugal at the World Cup this summer where they exited in the last 16, currently plays for Saudi club Al Nassr.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward won the Ballon d'Or for the world's best player five times.

Rodriguez boosted her own profile by starring in a Netflix show called "I am Georgina", which chronicles the family's life between football, fashion and travel.

Portuguese media had speculated that the wedding could take place in Sintra, outside Lisbon, or in Funchal on the Atlantic island of Madeira, Ronaldo's birthplace.

Reports that the ceremony would be held in Funchal last weekend drew hundreds of people to the city's cathedral hoping to see the couple.

The cathedral had previously told AFP it had no wedding ceremony scheduled for Ronaldo, while adding that hosting such an event would have been "an honour".

The couple ultimately opted for Cascais, an elite seaside resort around 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Lisbon, where they own a villa.

They met in 2016 when Rodriguez was working in a Gucci store in Madrid, with Rodriguez describing it as "love at first sight".

In an interview with Vogue Arabia in 2025, she said she almost immediately felt "a sense of peace and an inexplicable energy" when she was with Ronaldo, "as if we had known each other forever".

Together, they have amassed more than 750 million followers across social media platforms and have built one of the world's most recognisable celebrity partnerships, extending far beyond football.

The couple have a portfolio of investments that include fashion brands and a chain of hotels.

"FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the Italian-Swiss lawyer "fantastic."

Infantino, who faces reelection next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing.

Poland's Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will face either Ukraine's Elina Svitolina or Russia's seed Ekaterina Alexandrova On Wednesday for a place in the final.

Swiatek, 25, has not reached a final since winning her 26th WTA tour title at the Korea Open in Seoul almost a year ago, and has tumbled down the rankings to world number eight.

Swiatek dropped only three points on her first serve and took 11 of 16 points returning Shnaider's second serves.

Shnaider, a left-hander, swatted a backhand over the baseline to surrender a break in the opening game.

Swiatek took a 5-2 lead, breaking again when Shnaider netted a backhand, and served out to take the first set in 31 minutes.

Swiatek broke for a 2-1 lead in the second when Shnaider netted a forehand.

She smashed a forehand winner to break a second time for a 4-1 advantage and again in the final game when Shnaider sent a forehand long.

Infantino has been the butt of scathing criticism ever since launching, and then withdrawing within days, a plan to bring in private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cups.

FIFA had hit back on Saturday at "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" football's governing body and Infantino.

However, Monday's letter from the governing bodies of European football (UEFA), North and Central America (CONCACAF) and Asia (AFC), showed his critics were unbowed.

"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held," they wrote.

"When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned," the confederations added.

The 19-year-old struck after 19 minutes, slamming a rising shot past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and into the corner of the net.

It was the first goal of the tournament for Nyadjou, and it earned Cameroon a semi-final showdown on Wednesday against hosts Morocco in Rabat, and a ticket to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Record 10-time WAFCON champions Nigeria pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages only to be constantly defied by acrobatic saves from Michaely Bihina.

The closest the Super Falcons came to equalising was in the third minute of added time when Esther Okoronkwo won a race for possession with Bihina, but her shot trickled wide of the far post.

Just before the miss, Nigeria introduced six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala, who was not sufficiently fit to start.

But the Saudi-based striker was unable to make an impact and Cameroon comfortably survived the last few minutes for only their second victory over Nigeria in 14 WAFCON meetings.

As the Namibian referee signalled full-time, the Cameroon substitutes and coaches raced on to the pitch and hugged the Indomitable Lionesses.

Later in Rabat, debutants and giant killers Malawi take on three-time runners-up Ghana and the winners will meet Algeria in the other semi-final.

Kazakhstan's Rybakina recovered from 0-3 and two breaks down in the final set to beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 before American Gauff swept aside another Russian, teenage qualifier Alina Korneeva, 6-3, 6-1 in Toronto.

Rybakina will face a quarter-final against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who eliminated home hero Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4.

Gauff reached the last eight in Canada for the first time since 2023 and will come up against either Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic or Alexandra Eala, the rapidly rising 21-year-old Filipina who won her first WTA title last Monday in Washington.

"My main focus today was let me try and close it out," said Gauff, who has not dropped a set in Canada.

"Probably not the way I should be thinking but it worked today.

"I'm proud of how the last three matches have gone and just knowing if I have to go the distance I'm ready but obviously would prefer to cut it short if I can."

Osaka broke in the seventh game of each set to advance in 82 minutes.

"It was all pretty good for me," the 13th-ranked Osaka said. "She has a great attitude. She's consistent and she will fight. She's kind of like a bulldog."

The Japanese star, who has never faced Rybakina, said sound groundstrokes were key.

"When I feel comfortable or at least confident in myself knowing I can run things down, I loosen up a lot," Osaka said.

"I was catching my service toss a couple times. Hopefully in the next match I don't do that as often.

"I need to be confident in myself, execute what I can and at the end of the day just try my best and whatever happens happens."

World number 10 Shelton has not dropped a set in reaching the last eight.

The 23-year-old American left-hander will play for a semi-final berth against 13th-seeded Czech Jakub Mensik, who beat Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, claiming victory on a winning lob.

Van De Zandschulp served for the second set but was broken, with Mensik seizing the momentum as he won 12 of the final 14 points.

Brazilian teenager Fonseca, billed as one of the faces for the future of the sport, might have compromised his own chances when he landed badly on his ankle after missing a smash while leading 3-1, 40-30 in the second set.

The youngster was plagued by 32 unforced errors as his opponent mastered an annoying evening wind to earn the victory.

"It was tough today, not easy conditions," Shelton said. "With the wind I struggled to find footing on a lot of balls.

"It all came down to grit. The tennis was not clean. Beating a high-quality player like that is huge for me."

Shelton secured his ninth straight victory in Canada on the second of four match points as Fonseca hit the net with a return after leading in both sets.

Daniel Merida smothered Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-1 as the Spaniard continued his rapid adjustment to hardcourt tennis in Canada.

The world number 63 joins compatriot Rafael Jodar in the Canada quarter-finals and will break through to a career-best spot inside the top 50 as a result of his fourth-round victory.

Prior to making his Montreal debut, clay-courter Merida had never won a tour-level match on hardcourt.

He will try to extend his streak of cement success to five in a row when he plays a first Masters quarter-final against US 12th seed Learner Tien, who wore down Argentine Thiago Tirante 6-4, 6-4.

Tien saved the first eight break points he faced in the second set in a battle of big hitters and secured victory in his fifth match point, with his opponent handing over the final game with four unforced errors.

"Today was humid, conditions are always tough," Tien said. "I'm happy with how the match worked out.

"This was one of those days where I was making good contact with the ball. I was seeing the ball well and returning well."

Against Griekspoor, Merida was deadly with his backhand, leaving the Dutchman flat-footed in the 69-minute triumph.

Spain's title-winner last month on clay in Umag has now claimed 16 victories this breakthrough season.

"This is a dream come true. I'm feeling really great," Merida said. "I'm happy with the level during all the week.

"I was playing great for the last year and the beginning of this year so I just starting to believe more in myself."

Teams observed a minute of silence before the match for Jorge Messi, who died at age 68 in Argentina, where the Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi arrived on Saturday night.

"Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family," Inter Miami said in a statement.

Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul scored in the 32nd minute to give Miami a 1-0 half-time lead in the group match against the Mexican side.

De Paul took off his number seven shirt to show a number 10 underneath, in a gesture of support to Messi.

Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers leveled in the 47th minute before Uruguayan striker Diego Rossi scored a 90th-minute winner.

Major League Soccer champions Miami have won their first group match 4-2 against Atletico San Luis and next face Leon on Wednesday.

Infantino has faced calls to resign and was also subject to allegations from a British newspaper on Friday that he paid off a lover while at European governing body UEFA.

"Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President," said the FIFA statement.

Infantino served as secretary general of European football's governing body from 2009 to 2016.

According to The Telegraph newspaper, the Italian-Swiss lawyer previously used his influence to secure a promotion for a UEFA employee with whom he was in an intimate relationship.

The newspaper added -- without revealing its sources -- that the same employee received a "a six-figure sum" upon her departure in addition to the payment of tuition fees for a business school amounting to around œ45,000 ($60,700).

When contacted by AFP, UEFA acknowledged that "a departure payment was made to the individual in question" at that time, "coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school".

- Growing pressure -

In Saturday's statement on social media, FIFA insisted it "welcomes legitimate scrutiny".

"But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously," it added.

Infantino, who is standing for re-election next March, has been embroiled in a crisis since the announcement late last month of his controversial -- and ultimately abandoned -- plan to open up the World Cup to private investors.

He faces opposition in particular from UEFA, which on Thursday stood by its threat to boycott the World Cups, deeming the mere withdrawal of the controversial plan to be insufficient.

FIFA said Saturday it "will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA's Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework".

The statement added: "Those who do not have the support of FIFA's Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes."

Teams observed a minute of silence before the match for Jorge Messi, who died at age 68 in Argentina, where the Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi arrived on Saturday night.

"Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family," Inter Miami said in a statement.

Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul scored in the 32nd minute to give Miami a 1-0 half-time lead in the group match against the Mexican side.

Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers leveled in the 47th minute before Uruguayan striker Diego Rossi scored a 90th-minute winner.

Major League Soccer champions Miami have won their first group match 4-2 against Atletico San Luis and next face Leon on Wednesday.

They took contrasting paths to quarter-finals success as Morocco built a two-goal lead, then defended resolutely against South Africa for a 2-1 victory in Rabat.

Algeria fell behind against the Ivory Coast in Casablanca, then took advantage of their opponents having a player sent off to score twice and emerge 2-1 winners.

In the semi-finals on Wednesday, Morocco will face defending champions Nigeria or Cameroon while Algeria tackle Ghana or giant killers Malawi.

No north African nation has won the marquee African women's football tournament, which has been dominated by Nigeria with 10 titles.

The only other countries to became WAFCON champions since its debut in 1998 were Equatorial Guinea twice and South Africa once.

Morocco, runners-up to South Africa four years ago, led after 31 minutes thanks to a second goal of the tournament from Sakina Ouzraoui.

Hanane Ait El Haj increased the lead six minutes into the second half by converting a penalty. South African star Thembi Kgatlana then netted on 67 minutes to set up a tense finish.

In Casablanca, Ines Konan put the Ivorians ahead on 29 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 players before half-time when teenager N'Sira Ouedraogo was sent off.

Algeria struck twice within six minutes just before and after the hour mark through substitute Ines Khiri and Amira Braham to turn the match in their favour.

Between the Algerian goals, Ivory Coast squandered a chance to regain the lead when Rebecca Elloh struck the post from a penalty.

The red-carding of 18-year-old Ouedraogo, for kicking Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N'Gazi in the face, proved pivotal as her team lost the ascendancy they established during the opening half.

After barely threatening to score during the first 45 minutes, Algeria took control after the break and created enough chances to have won more decisively.

Argentine media reported Jorge Messi had passed away on Friday in a hospital in Rosario.

"His constant companionship and behind-the-scenes leadership were essential in backing every step of Lionel," Newell's Old Boys said in a social media post.

The 39-year-old Argentine star arrived in his home country on Saturday alongside his partner, Antonella Rocuzzo, and their children, with most dressed in black, an AFP journalist reported from the airport.

Messi's family asked the media for "humanity" during the recent World Cup amid persistent rumours over Jorge's health.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) sent their "condolences" to the Messi family.

"On behalf of Spanish football, we wish to convey all our love and affection to Lionel and his loved ones during this time of deep sorrow," the RFEF said in a statement.

A former metal factory worker, Jorge Messi was his son's first coach in Argentina and his sole companion when he first moved to Barcelona as a child, before later becoming his agent.

"My father helped me enormously. He is very critical of me. That made me always want to push myself further," Lionel Messi told DirecTV Sports in 2022.

In 2000, Jorge left behind a stable job in Argentina, his wife and three other children to move to Spain with his 13-year-old son.

"When we arrived in Barcelona, I used to lock myself in my room to cry alone, and my father did the same -- either without me seeing him or thinking I didn't see him. We pretended we were both fine, but we were struggling," Messi later said.

"When things were tough, my father even asked me what I wanted to do, whether I wanted to keep going or go back home. I wanted to continue, so he stayed with me."

Subsequently, Jorge finalized his son's first contract with Barcelona, becoming his agent and sole representative with the Spanish club and later at Paris Saint-Germain and in Miami.

A private man, Jorge Messi rarely gave interviews, but on the few occasions he spoke publicly of his unbreakable bond with his son, now aged 39.

"The day Leo stops playing, I think a dream will shatter for me, and I won't watch football anymore," he told German magazine Kicker in 2013.

However, his life was not without controversy.

In 2013, Spanish authorities accused both father and son of using a network of companies across the UK, Switzerland, Belize, and Uruguay between 2007 and 2009 to collect the footballer's image rights and evade Spanish taxes.

The case was resolved in 2017 following multi-million-euro fines.

In 2019, Jorge and Lionel -- along with the Leo Messi Foundation -- faced new allegations in Spain involving suspected tax offenses, fraud, and money laundering.

This second case was dismissed in 2021.

The players and coaching staff paid a courtesy visit to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Friday before starting training scheduled to commence today (Saturday).

The preliminary stage will be played in Malaysia from Aug. 17-23.

Drawn in Group A, Rajshahi Stars will face India's East Bengal, hosts Sabah FA and Guam's Rovers FC.

Head coach of Rajshahi Stars Golam Robbani Choton said the team would enter the tournament aiming to make history after completing its preparations.

“This is a historic opportunity for us. We want to prepare well and represent Bangladesh with a strong performance on the continental stage,” Choton said.

The opener polled 153 votes, one ahead of wicketkeeper and South Australia teammate Carey, and three clear of fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

Fellow players, the media and umpires select the player of the year, with the awards handed out at a function in Brisbane on Friday evening.

Head played 30 matches across all three formats during the 2025-26 international season, blasting 1,437 runs.

The left-hander's highlight was a brilliant 123 off 83 balls on day two of the Ashes Test against England in Perth which helped Australia claim an eight-wicket win.

He went on to score two more big Ashes centuries.

"To think that I've got two medals and my kids can look at them and I can tell them (about it) in 20 years' time is pretty cool," said Head.

Head was only the fifth player to win back-to-back Allan Border Medals, following in the footsteps of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, David Warner and Shane Watson.

Starc's remarkable durability through Australia's 11 Tests last season, including 31 Ashes wickets, saw him recognised as Australian Test player of the year.

Mitchell Marsh was named ODI player of the year while Tim David took the Twenty20 honour.

Earlier this year, Annabel Sutherland claimed her second consecutive Belinda Clark Award, which recognises Australia's best woman cricketer.

Maradona's goal in the quarter-final match at the Estadio Azteca saw him punch the ball past the England goalkeeper, with the South Americans ultimately winning 2-1.

After the game, the Argentine star said his goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." His nation went on to win the World Cup.

Heritage Auctions, based in Texas, expects the ball will sell for eight figures when it goes under the hammer from August 21 to 23, with a $2.5 million opening bid.

"I think it's easily the most historic ball in the realm of soccer," Dan Imler, vice president of sports at Heritage Auctions, told AFP.

He noted it is also the ball that Maradona used, in the same match, to score the so-called "Goal of the Century" in which he dribbled past several English defenders before finishing past the goalkeeper.

"Both of the goals scored are just so iconic, so memorable," Imler said.

The jersey that Maradona, who died in November 2020, wore during the Argentina-England clash currently holds the record for the most expensive soccer shirt -- standing at $9.3 million.

Tensions between old foes Argentina and England flared again in a semi-final at this year's World Cup, where the South American side prevailed before losing the final.

Politically, the two sides have a long-standing sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.

Infantino arrived early on Friday in the Colombian city of Cali to attend hard-right president Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration.

Photos released by the Colombian Football Federation show a smiling Infantino standing alongside South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Dominguez and the president of the Colombian federation, Ramon Jesurun.

The visit to Colombia comes as the head of world football has been embroiled in a storm following a much-criticised and ultimately abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

The 56-year-old Italian-Swiss lawyer, who has been in office since 2016, declined to answer a question from an AFP journalist about whether he considered FIFA's woes to be over.

Later, while attending a children's soccer festival at a sports complex in Cali, he spoke of his "happiness" at being at the event.

"It is a joy to be here today," the FIFA boss told dozens of children kitted out in football gear at an event in the southwestern city.

"Football is joy, football is happiness, football is unity," he said, adding that "so many champions" were born "in this part of the world, in this part of Colombia."

- 'Not necessary to always agree' -

Infantino, who will seek a fourth and final term in the presidential election in Rabat next March, is facing criticism, notably from European body UEFA, which on Thursday maintained its threat to boycott the World Cup despite FIFA's withdrawal of the private investment proposal.

CONMEBOL, which has only 10 FIFA-affiliated members but includes iconic federations such as Argentina and Brazil, had on Thursday expressed its "concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken" by FIFA.

However, when asked by a Colombian media outlet on Friday, the CONMEBOL president stated that "one cannot ignore the great work" done by Infantino.

"We must continue working for football through dialogue; it is not necessary to always agree," Dominguez added.

Following the powerful Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Paraguayan federation on Thursday, Infantino also received support on Friday from two other South American federations -- Venezuela and Ecuador.

In line with their confederation's statement, they welcomed the withdrawal of the controversial plan to create a commercial entity open to private investors known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise.

In a letter to the FIFA chief, Ecuadorian federation president Francisco Egas Larreategui added that he had confidence in Infantino "as well as in those currently leading football to continue working for the good of our sport".

Close to figures on the right of politics, such as US President Donald Trump, Infantino attended De la Espriella's presidential inauguration ceremony later on Friday.

Colombia's incoming leader has broken with tradition by choosing to hold the ceremony in Cali, considered the capital of salsa, rather than before Congress in Bogota.

The 56-year-old Italian-Swiss lawyer's position remains far from assured despite support from friends he has made during his 10 years in power, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and leading figures in South American football.

FIFA said it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

However, old ties have been cut loose.

European football's governing body, UEFA, who he served as secretary-general from 2009-16, is in open conflict with FIFA and on Thursday doubled down on last Saturday's statement saying it no longer has "confidence" in Infantino.

UEFA repeated its threat of boycotting the World Cups and one of its member associations, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) called for Infantino to go immediately.

"We (NFF) are going to ask the FIFA president to resign now," said its straight-talking president Lise Klaveness on Friday.

Infantino is nigh on certain not to heed such a call and carry on his campaign to be elected for a fourth and final term in Rabat next March.

Infantino, who had spent the past turbulent week amongst friends in Morocco who are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, is for the moment the only candidate.

The deadline for nominations is November 18.

There is also a mechanism whereby an extraordinary FIFA congress can be called and a vote of no confidence in Infantino held.

Klaveness, also a lawyer, would be many people's choice as a successor, and also the first woman to be head of world football.

However, Klaveness told AFP her personal ambitions had not played a role in demanding Infantino's resignation.

"We're not there yet," said Klaveness.

"For us, it's now about the issues I just mentioned, and not about particular individuals.

"It would be strange for me to start answering questions about myself, and that goes for everyone," the 45-year-old added.

- 'Public lynching' -

North and Central America's governing body CONCACAF's president Victor Montagliani has been the most oft-cited name in terms of challenging Infantino.

CONCACAF -- which includes the three co-hosts of the recent World Cup -- had been along with UEFA the most brutal in their criticism of Infantino and called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency".

However, there has been radio silence from CONCACAF since the latest FIFA statement backing Infantino was issued late on Wednesday following an emergency meeting of senior directors in Morocco.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had also been critical of the manner in which the plan had been handled but like CONCACAF kept its own counsel following the FIFA statement.

However Infantino, who has moved on to Colombia where he attended Friday's inauguration of the country's hard-right president Abelardo de la Espriella in Cali, is not without support.

Photos released by the Colombian Football Federation show a smiling Infantino standing alongside South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Dominguez and the president of the Colombian federation, Ramon Jesurun.

CONMEBOL, which includes iconic federations such as Argentina and Brazil, had on Thursday expressed its "concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken" by FIFA.

However, on Friday, the CONMEBOL president told journalists "one cannot ignore the great work" done by Infantino.

"We must continue working for football through dialogue; it is not necessary to always agree," Dominguez added.

Following the powerful Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Paraguayan federation on Thursday, Infantino also received support Friday from the federations of Venezuela and Ecuador.

Mexico -- one of the World Cup co-hosts -- also swung behind him.

"The FMF (Mexican Football Federation) supports president Infantino's leadership," it said in a statement.

CAF's executive committee "unanimously reconfirmed its support" for the FIFA president in a statement on Thursday.

The body's decision will have pleased South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie, who had urged African football to resist what he called the "public lynching" of Infantino.

"We are going to ask the FIFA president to resign now," she said, a day after a meeting of the Norwegian federation's governing bodies, which among other things examined the fate of the much-criticised FIFA chief. He is standing for re-election for a fourth and final term next March. President of FIFA since 2016 and currently the only declared candidate, Infantino must secure a majority of the 211 votes from the organisation's members in order to be re-elected.

Candidates must declare by November 18. The Italian-Swiss lawyer has come under enormous pressure since the failure of his plan -- which was revealed last week -- to open FIFA competitions, including the jewel in the crown the World Cup, to private investors.

India are led by KL Rahul in the three-day game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI starting Friday at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.

The opening Test will begin on August 15 at Galle. The second Test will be played between August 23-27 in Colombo.

"Captain Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during India's practice on Thursday," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

"As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the warm- up game against SLC XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress."

The series will be India's first in the current World Test Championship (WTC) since the 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November.

India are fifth in the WTC standings, which are led by Australia, with Sri Lanka sixth.

"In the end I finally started moving a little bit better and finding my rhythm so I'm really happy at the end it really clicked." Sabalenka said she enjoys being atop the rankings, a spot she has held for more than 100 weeks in her career. "I love it. It just means I'm ahead and they have to come up with something crazy to play such tennis and I'm only getting better from that," Sabalenka said. "I enjoy being the one being chased. It's really fun. It's tough challenges but I love to go through it and it makes me stronger."

Sabalenka next plays against Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who eliminated Australian Talia Gibson 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Sabalenka leads their personal rivalry 5-4 thanks to a victory this year on Berlin grass, but Alexandrova won their most recent hardcourt match in a third-set tie-breaker last year at Doha. "Great player. Super aggressive. Fast game. Always have to stay low," Sabalenka said. "It's always great battles and a lot of things to work on." American third seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 in 68 minutes.

Pegula will play for a quarter-final berth against Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider, who eliminated compatriot Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-3, in 77 minutes. Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 romp over Swiss Viktorija Golubic in 66 minutes, landing 18 winners and losing only 14 points on her serve. "For sure it was a good day and I'm really happy with the way I played," Swiatek said. Swiatek countered Golubic's versatile shots by forcing the match tempo.

"I played back her slice pretty well so the change of rhythm didn't bother me that much," Swiatek said. "I tried to pick the right balls to attack because I was controlling the pace. It was just about the decision making." She next faces 10th seed Marta Kostyuk, who dispatched US 19th seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-1 in 72 minutes.

The battling British winner trailed a set and a double break against the Australian third seed, who folded in the final set of an epic lasting for almost three hours.

De Minaur, who had been the highest remaining seed in a depleted draw, could have closed it out in straight sets with a match point chance in the eighth game of the second set.

The tournament had already seen an early exit from top seed Alexander Zverev, an injury pullout from Canadian second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and a loss by fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.

The US Open tuneup hardcourt event had already been hit by the absences of world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic.

The result leaves fifth-seeded holder Ben Shelton as the new man to beat going into the fourth round.

Norrie said he had to win a struggle.

"It was a great match to win and test my level," said the 2021 Masters champion at Indian Wells. "I can take so much confidence from this one.

"The level was so high in the first set. He came out firing and I had to match it. Alex stayed tough and stole the first set but took his foot off the gas just slightly in the second.

"I just battled point for point and managed to come out 6-1 in the third set. I was fortunate and I'll take (the win)."

De Minaur, losing finalist in Canada three years ago to Sinner, seized a 4-1 first-set lead to take the opener, winning six of seven games.

Norrie began turning the tide in the second set, levelling with a winning tiebreaker before running away in the third, taking match point 62 minutes after de Minaur blew his match point.

"I was in a good position," de Minaur said. "It's tennis. As we've seen, anything can happen. It's not the easiest of conditions out here.

"I gave myself chances early in the third set, and then I just played some bad points in a row and then got behind.

"It all just went very quickly."

Norrie will next play Arthur Fils after the Frenchman defeated Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-2, staking his claim for a comeback effort after missing months of play from a year ago and extending to February.

The 44th-ranked Argentine Navone lost his 22nd career match against a top-30 opponent. Fils advanced on his second match point, winning as he overcame 30 unforced errors with a solid serving performance that included four aces and four breaks of the Navone serve.

"I couldn't put in a serve during warm-up," the 24th-ranked winner said. "But I found my rhythm during the match and hit some good spots."

- 'I enjoy being back' -

With no top five players left in the depleted draw, the path is opening for the survivors in French-speaking Canada.

"It has been a tough time for me, I was injured a lot," Fils said. "But I enjoy being back on the big stage -- it means a lot."

Jiri Lehecka, at eighth the highest seed remaining after Shelton, stayed alive with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgian Alexander Blockx.

He will next face Spanish teen Rafael Jodar, the Washington runner-up who beat 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-3.

"I did a great job on returns and generally played very solid," Jodar said. "I'm super happy with the performance."

Messi, who helped Miami win the 2023 crown in his first weeks with the Florida club, took his tally in the competition for Major League Soccer and Mexican Liga MX sides to a record 14 goals.

David Rodriguez gave San Luis the lead in the fourth minute but Messi equalized seven minutes later.

Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia edged Miami ahead in the 26th minute.

Messi struck again just before half-time with Brazilian defender Micael making it 4-1 deep into first-half stoppage time.

Atletico's Rafa Llorente scored a second-half consolation.

Other Leagues Cup matches on Wednesday saw Dallas beat Queretaro 2-0 and Leon won 1-0 at Nashville.

Police conducted "search and seizure operations" at the Korea Football Association's offices, probing allegations of "obstruction of business" in the recruitment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, a police spokesman told AFP.

The 57-year-old Hong resigned in June after South Korea were knocked out following a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa.

Questions were already dogging the Korean Football Association over the 2024 appointment of Hong, but scrutiny has intensified since the team exited at the group stage.

In late July, Hong was summoned before a committee of lawmakers probing the issue, where he said he took "full responsibility" for the poor performance.

President Lee Jae Myung blamed the failure on "incompetent people" promoted to leadership in a statement alluding to "loyalty and factionalism" tainting recruitment at the sport's top level.

Beaten by 90 runs in the first Test the previous week at the Brian Lara Stadium in the south of the island, the visitors were left with a target of only 75 runs after the home side -- already in deep trouble overnight at 103 for six in the second innings -- were dismissed for 117 half-an-hour into the start of the day's play.

Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam guided their team to victory after openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais fell cheaply to pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph with Babar hoisting consecutive sixes off spinner Jomel Warrican to seal the result.

It gave Pakistan a share of the series in the same manner of their last campaign in the Caribbean in 2021, when they rebounded similarly from losing the first Test to take the second, both matches played then at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

Their last meeting in Pakistan, for two Tests in Multan in January of 2025, also finished 1-1.

This match was a personal triumph for Shafique.

Not included in the original touring party and only flown in last week as replacement for the injured Shan Masood, his unbeaten 160 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's first innings total of 387.

"This felt like a debut match for me, it was really unexpected," said Shafique on receiving the Player of the Match award and reflecting on his own stop-start international career.

"I haven't been able to get the opportunities recently, but as a professional you have to work towards a comeback and give of your best."

This was also Pakistan's first Test victory at Queen's Park Oval since 1977, when captain Mushtaq Mohammad's all-round performance took his team to a series-levelling win in the fourth Test of a five-match series. West Indies however won the decider in Kingston to take that rubber 2-1.

"Obviously you are satisfied when you win, but most important for us was the way we executed our plans," said Barbar, who has now won nine of his 12 Test matches as captain away from home.

"The way Abdullah (Shafique) played in the first innings and the way the spinners bowled in the second innings really made the difference."

- Frontline spinners star -

Pushing aside the hotly-debated omission of senior seamer Mohammad Abbas on the first morning of this Test, Pakistan prevailed with their two frontline spinners starring in the victory.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was omitted for the first Test, made the most of his recall with a match haul of eight for 117, although he was not required on the final morning as the other spinner, left-arm orthodox Ali Usman, took two of the last three wickets to fall to claim four for 39 in the innings and match figures of six for 119.

West Indies were hampered by the absence of regular opening batsman Brandon King who was unable to bat because of back spasms suffered in effecting the run out of Pakistan captain Babar Azam for 88 the day before.

Khan had taken four for 32 to engineer the West Indies second innings collapse late on day three, yet Babar opted for the combination of Usman and seamer Mohammad Ali to complete the job on the fourth morning.

They were aided though by poor shot selection from the hosts' lower order.

Kemar Roach, noted for his tailender's defiance as displayed in the first innings, swung hopefully at the second delivery he faced from Usman to be bowled for a "duck".

Justin Greaves, the last real hope for any meaningful West Indian resistance, dragged an attempted pull at Mohammad Ali onto his middle stump, and the innings was wrapped up when Shamar Joseph, having already struck two boundaries, essayed another big swing at Usman only for a skied leading edge to be easily pouched by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

"We should probably have gone into the match with an extra spinner as I underestimated the extent of my finger injury," West Indies captain Roston Chase admitted. "As for the batting, I thought we should have made a better effort of coping with the spin in the second innings so as to give our bowlers something reasonable to defend."

Pakistan's win also broke a streak of eight consecutive Test match defeats away from home, which started with a 360-run annihilation at the hands of Australia in Perth in December 2023.

The 38-year-old Jaissle, a former Germany Under-21 international, was previously in charge of Saudi side Al-Ahli but has no prior experience of managing a top-flight club.

"It is an incredible honour to become head coach of Newcastle United," said Jaissle.

"This is one of the biggest clubs in European football, with a unique history, identity and supporter base, and I am excited to experience that passion and connection first-hand.

"When Newcastle United comes your way, you take notice. The ambition of the club, the vision for the future and the opportunity ahead made this an incredibly compelling place to be. I have followed the club's journey closely in recent years and the progress that has been made is clear for everyone to see."

Jaissle was forced to end his playing career due to injury at the age of 25.

His first managerial job came with Austrian side Liefering, whom he led to a second-placed finish in the second tier, the club's joint best-ever position.

Jaissle took charge at Red Bull Salzburg in 2021, winning successive Austrian titles as well as the Austrian Cup.

Jaissle joined Al-Ahli in 2023 and led them to AFC Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026.

Although not a high-profile manager, he is well-known to Newcastle's majority owner, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which bought a controlling share in four Pro League clubs, including Al-Ahli, in 2023.

Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said: "Matthias is one of the most exciting and highly regarded young coaches in football and I'm thrilled to welcome him to Newcastle United.

"We have conducted a thorough process, and he has emerged as the clear candidate for the role. He possesses all the qualities we were looking for."

- 'Believe in the project' -

Jaissle has a tough task ahead of him given the way Howe, in his five years at Newcastle, revitalised a club that had struggled for decades.

Howe replaced Steve Bruce in November 2021 and won the League Cup in March 2025 -- beating Liverpool in the final to clinch the northeast side's first major trophy since 1969.

The former Bournemouth boss also led Newcastle to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.

But hampered by star striker Alexander Isak's protracted move to Liverpool, the Englishman came under pressure as the Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League last season, with 17 defeats in their 38 games.

Newcastle reached the Champions League last 16 but were hammered 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona.

The club have since been depleted by the close-season departures of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and England forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, with Howe reportedly frustrated at losing several of his best players in order that Newcastle could comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes is also set to leave St James' Park after reports earlier Wednesday that Premier League champions Arsenal had agreed a œ75 million ($101 million) deal to sign the Brazil midfielder.

The Magpies begin the 2026/27 Premier League season at home to Liverpool on August 23, with an upbeat Jaissle insisting: "I am incredibly excited about the future.

"I fully and unreservedly believe in this project, the ambition and the direction the club is taking. There is a clear vision, strong leadership and an exceptional platform to build on."

to have been granted Australian citizenship after being branded traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from Iran's delegation who asked for Australia's protection following the high-profile protest during the women's Asian Cup in March.

With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran's leaders but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds and returned home.

Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh stayed, however, and were granted Australian citizenship at a ceremony on Wednesday overseen by interior minister Tony Burke.

"Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen," Ramezanisadeh said in a statement.

"After everything we've been through and all the challenges we faced, this moment means more than words can express," Pasandideh added.

A week after seeking asylum, the pair was pictured smiling and training with Australian club Brisbane Roar, which on Wednesday congratulated the pair.

"What they have been through since February is more than most people deal with in a lifetime," a spokesman for the club said.

"To see them arrive at this point is something everyone here at Brisbane Roar is glad to have had a small part in," they added.

"Queensland is their home now. If they ever want to pull on a training top and come back out with us, the door will always stay open."

The plight of the rest of the team remains unclear since their return to Iran.

AFP reporters saw them cross into their homeland from Turkey on a bus wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.

Soon after, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X that the players and their support team were "children of the homeland and the people of Iran embrace them".

By returning, they had "disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements", he added.

"Salah mode: ON," Trabzonspor posted on social media alongside photos of the 34-year-old Egyptian aboard a private jet wearing the team's blue and maroon home shirt.

The club from Turkey's northeast announced on Tuesday that they had begun "negotiations" with Salah, who left Liverpool after nine seasons and as many trophies with the Reds.

He landed at around 0900 GMT in Istanbul, where he was greeted by hundreds of ecstatic supporters, AFP journalists reported.

"I'm here straight after my night shift, and now for Mohamed Salah, I am ready to spend another sleepless night," Trabzonspor supporter Abdul Kerim Yervan told AFP.

Salah is due to undergo a medical on Wednesday in Istanbul before flying to Trabzon later in the day.

The right winger, who is set to sign a two-season contract with an option for a third, will earn 17 million euros ($19.6 million) a year, according to several Turkish media outlets.

"I am really happy... and looking forward to training with the team. Everywhere I go I always win or try to win something. Hopefully we can do something within the league and in Europe as well," the Egyptian said on his arrival in Trabzon, while the club posted "Welcome, Egyptian King" on X.

Salah netted 257 goals for Liverpool in 442 appearances in all competitions, making him the third top goalscorer in the club's history.

He also scored 193 Premier League goals, 191 of them for the Reds, putting him fourth in the all-time list behind English trio Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.

Salah was far from his best in a struggling Liverpool team last term, scoring only seven times in the league.

He last played at the World Cup, helping Egypt reach the last 16 for the first time since 1934 before they blew a two-goal lead to suffer an agonising loss to eventual runners-up Argentina.

Salah had also been linked with Trabzonspor's Super Lig rivals Besiktas.

Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish top flight last season, nine points clear of Besiktas, to qualify for the Europa League play-off round.

Salah has scored 66 goals in 119 international appearances for Egypt and is one of the most successful African players in history.

FIFA chief Infantino has come under serious pressure over a failed plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Prince Ali bin Hussein, who twice ran unsuccessfully for the FIFA presidency, said the Jordanian FA was still waiting to be paid for reaching last year's FIFA Arab Cup final.

He also bemoaned that several Jordan fans were not granted visas to enter the United States for the recent World Cup despite having tickets, and said Jordan's World Cup prize money is being taxed by the "US government through FIFA".

The FA's president claimed he was told that endorsing Infantino's re-election bid "would go a long way towards helping our FA out".

"We have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a FIFA event," Prince Ali, also a former FIFA vice-president, said in a statement on social media.

"The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve.

"It is clear the problem really is with leadership.

"For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters -- until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out...

"We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that."

Prince Ali lost to Sepp Blatter in the 2015 FIFA presidential election, and was then third the following year behind Infantino and Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa.

Infantino, who succeeded Blatter in 2016, was widely expected to be re-elected as FIFA president for a fourth term next March but his position is now under threat.

Earlier Tuesday, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, and world football's governing body's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom both criticised Infantino's handling of the scrapped investor plan.

Several of UEFA's member associations -- Wales, Finland, Sweden and Serbia -- have withdrawn their letters of support for Infantino and the English FA is strongly rumoured to be on the verge of also joining them.

Four executives from World Cup cities, speaking anonymously, told the outlet that FIFA management told them they would each receive $1 million in "legacy" funds to build football-related infrastructure and support "social projects".

The Athletic reported that officials from the cities had requested the payments after Gianni Infantino, head of global football's governing body, announced such payments to host cities of the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.

"According to four executives at US host city committees, all of whom asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, FIFA management repeatedly assured the cities they would receive the same $1 million contribution towards legacy, despite no public statement ever being made by the organization," The Athletic wrote.

"The four executives said this promise was made verbally by members of FIFA's senior management, and reiterated to cities in meetings, but it has not been paid, meaning several cities are now asking FIFA staff for updates on the payments."

The US cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston and New York/New Jersey were among the host venues for the World Cup held in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The 39-day tournament, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, has contributed to record FIFA revenues reportedly hitting $15 billion for the revenue cycle of 2023-26.

The report is the latest black mark for Infantino, who is under fire from European confederation UEFA and some of its counterparts, as well as some within FIFA, over his since-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, appointed in 2019 by Infantino as FIFA's chief of global football development, said in a statement that "the decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question".

His remarks followed hot on the heels of an extraordinary internal email to FIFA staff, seen by AFP, in which secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom appeared to distance himself from Infantino on the issue.

Previously seen as close to Infantino, Grafstrom describes the fiasco surrounding the plan as "a sad and reproachable series of events".

He adds: "Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue."

FIFA had floated the plan last Tuesday, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

By Saturday, it was dead in the water as Infantino announced the humiliating climbdown after widespread condemnation, as UEFA wielded the nuclear option of boycotting all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

Far from calming the waters or shoring up his presidency, Infantino has been swamped with criticism of his style of leadership and a previously smooth path to being re-elected unopposed to a fourth and final term next March in Rabat now looks a very rocky one indeed.

He has reportedly summoned FIFA staff to a crisis meeting in the Moroccan capital as he attempts to cling onto power.

Several of UEFA's member associations -- Wales, Finland, Sweden and Serbia -- have withdrawn their letters of support for Infantino and the English FA is strongly rumoured to be on the verge of also joining them.

Jordanian FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein, twice a FIFA presidential candidate, accused FIFA of "blackmail" in a remarkable statement.

Prince Ali said he was told verbally that endorsing Infantino for re-election "could go a long way to helping our FA out".

The federation had complained about not being paid for Jordan's run to last year's FIFA Arab Cup final, and about its team's fans not being given visas to watch their World Cup debut in the United States.

The Athletic also reported Tuesday that the 11 World Cup host cities in the United States are chasing up legacy payments of $1 million each which were "repeatedly" promised to them by FIFA.

- 'Take immediate steps' -

UEFA issued a letter through their lawyers in the US threatening legal action over what they had scathingly described as a "shabby, backroom, opaque deal", despite it being shelved.

Both Grafstrom and Wenger as well as chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who had slammed the plan on Friday, are mentioned in the letter as being knowledgeable about the FFE and instructed to keep all "relevant materials".

"Dear Mr Infantino. UEFA hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints (together, the 'Proceedings') arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters as further described below," their lawyer Andrew Levander said in the letter sent last Friday and seen by AFP.

The scant comfort for Infantino came from a handful of supporters, including 2030 World Cup co-hosts Morocco, as well as Kuwait, Qatar, where he has a house, and Lebanon, which granted him honorary citizenship in February.

However, it is the damning remarks by both Wenger and Grafstrom -- who shadowed Infantino throughout the World Cup -- that will twist the knife further.

Their criticism only adds to the impression that Infantino has lost the confidence of even his closest FIFA collaborators.

One of the most devastating blows to Infantino's plan was the resignation on Friday of his special advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who is also close to US President Donald Trump.

Despite what UEFA's lawyer wrote regarding keeping material pertinent to FFE, Wenger claims to have only learned about it through the media.

"I was not involved in this strategic plan," the 76-year-old Frenchman said.

Grafstrom, for his part, tried to cheer up the staff by congratulating them on their work while admitting it had been "an extraordinary and challenging week".

For Infantino, the challenge threatens to grow, and his stated purpose when he ditched the plan, to unite football, seems unlikely to be realised while he remains president.

The Egyptian star left Liverpool at the end of last season after an illustrious nine-year spell at Anfield, during which he won the Champions League and two Premier League titles.

"Mohamed Salah, with whom we have begun transfer negotiations, will be at Istanbul Ataturk Airport... at 12:00 on Wednesday, August 5," Trabzonspor said in a statement.

"The player is scheduled to arrive in Trabzon on the same day in the evening hours."

Salah netted 257 goals for Liverpool in 442 appearances in all competitions, making him the third top goalscorer in the club's history.

He has also scored 193 Premier League goals, 191 of them for the Reds, putting him fourth in the all-time list behind English trio Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.

The 34-year-old Salah was far from his best in a struggling Liverpool team last term, scoring only seven times in the league.

He last played at the World Cup, helping Egypt reach the last 16 for the first time since 1934 before they blew a two-goal lead to suffer an agonising loss to eventual runners-up Argentina.

Salah had also been linked with Trabzonspor's Super Lig rivals Besiktas.

Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish top flight last season, nine points clear of Besiktas, to qualify for the Europa League play-off round.

Salah has scored 66 goals in 119 international appearances for Egypt and is one of the most successful African players in history.

Abdullah Shafique's unbeaten 160 ensured the visitors did not completely squander an excellent overnight platform in eventually getting to a first-innings total of 387.

Sajid Khan then made his second meaningful contribution of the day in taking four second-innings wickets, while Ali Usman claimed two, including home captain Roston Chase caught-and-bowled off the final ball of the day.

First-innings top-scorer Justin Greaves will carry the fight for the West Indies into the fourth morning with uncertainty over the availability to bat of regular opener Brandon King.

On a deteriorating pitch offering sharp turn and variable bounce, West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was as much in his element as 18 months earlier against these same opponents in Multan.

Here, his haul of six for 112, including three wickets in four balls to wrap up the Pakistan innings on the stroke of tea, would have been a portent of things to come.

Yet having started the day in the comfortable position of 266 for two and within sight of the West Indies first-innings total of 344, it took an error of judgement from Pakistan captain Babar Azam to trigger a gradual slide as the visitors' last eight wickets fell for 106 runs.

Having put the West Indies bowlers to the sword with delightful, confident strokeplay on the second afternoon, Babar was a picture of strokeless paralysis at the start of the day, as if the prospect of a first Test century in almost four years had gotten the better of him.

He managed to eke out a couple of runs to add to his overnight 86 before taking off for a non-existent single and, sent back by Shafique, dived desperately but in vain as the direct hit at the striker's end by King from point found Babar short of his ground.

West Indian delight at Babar's dismissal was transformed to concern over the welfare of King, who remained prone on the outfield after effecting the dismissal.

After several minutes of assessment of his situation he was stretchered off with what was later diagnosed to be back spasms.

That unexpected breakthrough triggered a mini-slide as three wickets fell for five runs, fast bowler Shamar Joseph and Warrican claiming a wicket each.

Khan offered a measure of stability with Shafique, the pair putting on 59 for the seventh wicket before another pacer, Jayden Seales, removed the lower-order batsman for 30.

With the door open to a vulnerable tail, Warrican wasted no time in wrapping up the innings, taking three wickets in four balls with Shafique stranded at the non-striker's end and leaving Pakistan to rue opportunities missed to earn a much more significant lead.

- 'Excellent' Warrican -

Shafique's innings occupied more than seven-and-half hours during which he faced 323 deliveries, striking 15 fours and three sixes.

"Jomel was really excellent for us today, staying at the stumps and finishing off the innings well," said West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul.

"At this stage though, and given the way the pitch is playing, if we can somehow push the lead to 150 we would have a chance."

Khan was at his most rampant in the final session, accounting for Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Amir Jangoo swiftly before adding Shai Hope and nightwatchman Seales to his list of victims.

Chase surveyed the carnage from the other end only to succumb to the constant pressure himself, the reaction of the home skipper to his demise almost a mirror of Babar's disconsolate trek to the pavilion more than seven hours earlier.

Usman also posed a constant threat, the left-arm spinner having earlier removed Kavem Hodge, whose 34 is the top score so far in an innings in danger of going into complete freefall.

Mexico-based Kgatlana struck her second goal of the tournament after 21 minutes in Casablanca, then her team withstood continuous second-half pressure in a tense match.

The winning goal will haunt Burkinabe central defender Madinatou Rouamba, who failed to cut off a cross from Fikile Magama, leaving Kgatlana to tap the ball past goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou.

Burkina Faso were awarded a penalty just two minutes into the second half, but the decision by the Cameroonian referee was reversed after a VAR review.

The rest of the half saw a string of Burkinabe attacks, but a lack of creativity, wild shooting and an impressive display from goalkeeper Kaylin Swart defied the west Africans.

South Africa, champions in 2022 and five-time runners-up in the marquee African women's football competition, had to win to survive, and also needed the Ivory Coast to defeat Tanzania.

The Ivorians obliged with a 2-1 victory through goals from N'Sira Ouedraogo just before half-time and Ines Konan midway through the second half in a match played simultaneously.

Ouedrago struck with a snap shot from just inside the area and Konan converted a penalty. Diana Msewa netted a consolation added-time goal for Tanzania from another penalty.

Ivory Coast finished Group B with seven points. South Africa had four and Burkina Faso and Tanzania three each.

In the quarter-finals on Saturday, Ivory Coast stay in Casablanca to face Group A runners-up Algeria while South Africa travel to Rabat for a showdown with host nation Morocco.

Quarter-final winners not only move closer to a record two-million-dollar WAFCON first prize, they also qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Tournament Committee Chairman Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir said the planned reforms could save the BCB between Tk 15 crore and Tk 30 crore annually, with the savings to be redirected towards cricket development.

According to Alamgir, the BCB currently spends more than Tk. 50 crore each year in organizing domestic tournaments, a figure he believes can be substantially reduced through better planning and commercialization.

"From what we have seen, the BCB spends a huge amount of money to run its tournaments. With some well-planned initiatives, we can significantly reduce those costs," Alamgir said in an exclusive interview.

"After consulting with the board president, we have undertaken several projects regarding our domestic competitions. We have already discussed the plans with our stakeholders, and the results will be visible very soon," he added.

Alamgir, a veteran cricket organizer from Chattogram, said the board is no longer interested in continuing to bear the full financial burden of tournaments such as the National Cricket League (NCL) T20, the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) four-day and one-day competitions.

Under the proposed model, the BCB plans to market the BCL four-day, BCL one-day and NCL T20 tournaments as a single commercial package. Each competition will feature six privately owned teams, with approximately 60 days allocated for the combined schedule.

The traditional eight-team NCL four-day championship, however, will continue in its existing format with divisional teams, alongside a three-day NCL Second XI competition.

"If we continue these tournaments in the conventional way, they will not benefit us financially. That's why we have decided to market them. The money we save through effective cost-cutting can later be invested in development projects," Alamgir said.

"We have already shared our ideas with the marketing department to explore how domestic cricket can be marketed more effectively."

Alamgir believes improved marketing will not only generate greater revenue for the BCB but also enhance the competitiveness and appeal of the domestic competitions.

He also dismissed concerns over possible payment complications under the proposed ownership model.

"The owners will not have to pay franchise fees like those in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). They will simply follow the existing payment structure that the BCB uses for players in tournaments such as the BCL and NCL.

Therefore, there will be no payment-related complications, while the board will save a significant amount of money," he said.

"These tournaments are marketable products. I find it hard to believe that the cricket board cannot sell its own competitions.

If we can properly demonstrate the commercial opportunities to our sponsors, I believe we will be able to market these events successfully. Discussions have already begun, and the results will be seen very soon."

He added that successful commercialization would also allow the BCB to pay players in advance, eliminating the recurring problem of delayed payments.

"There is no need to charge a huge ownership fee. The owners would simply need to advance the players' payments under the existing first-class payment structure or any other structure already in place," he added.

Alamgir also revealed plans to introduce foreign players into the domestic competitions through a player exchange programme. "The exchange programme will reduce the cost of bringing foreign players in."

"At the same time, it will make our competitions more competitive and attractive. Our local players will benefit immensely from sharing dressing rooms with overseas cricketers. Likewise, our players will also participate in tournaments abroad under the programme, gaining valuable international exposure."

In addition, the BCB is planning to introduce two new competitions to strengthen the country's talent pipeline: a Rising Star tournament for Under-23 cricketers and an Inter-University Cricket League.

"We are planning to include the Rising Star competition and the Inter-University Cricket League in the domestic calendar. We believe these tournaments will further strengthen our player development pathway, and we are committed to implementing them," Alamgir said.

He also confirmed that district-level cricket competitions will be held in phases, with each district receiving Tk. 5 lakh in financial support from the BCB.

"In the first phase, competitions will be held in 20 districts, and we have already sent official letters in this regard. Another 20 districts will host their tournaments in the second phase, while the remaining 24 districts will organize their competitions in the final phase," he said.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan is coming off a semi-final run on the hard courts of Washington, where she fell to eventual champion Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.

"I did better than last year in DC, so I'm just hoping to keep the ball rolling," Osaka said.

"I haven't historically played super, super well here, so I'm just hoping to change that this year.

"I can try to recall Montreal, but I would like to kind of treat the cities separately," added Osaka, whose best run in Toronto -- which alternates hosting duties with Montreal each year -- was a quarter-final appearance back in 2019.

The former world number one is seeded 11th this year and aiming to build momentum as the August 31 start of the US Open approaches.

Osaka earned the last of her four major titles at the 2021 Australian Open and has yet to regain the heights she reached before taking an extended maternity leave in 2023.

But she made it to the US Open semi-finals last year and reached the last 16 at the French Open for the first time this year before a career-best quarter-final at Wimbledon.

"I would just hope to gain a lot of confidence leading into New York," she said.

"I lost my last match, but it's helped me figure out what I want to do exactly, or how I want to take my tennis."

Osaka is in the same quarter as second-seeded Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and in the fourth round she could find herself up against fifth-seeded French Open champion Mirra Andreeva.

Andreeva, who suffered a shock second-round exit at Wimbledon, will face a tricky opening match against former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who beat Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-4, 6-4 on Monday.

Osaka will open against Hungary's Panna Uvardy, who was up 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-0 against Eva Lys when the German retired because of injury in a match in which she led the second set 5-2.

It was a jam-packed schedule on the second day of first-round play.

Among the winners, Poland's Magdalena Frech defeated France's Leolia Jeanjean 7-5, 6-3 to line up a meeting with third-seeded two-time champion Jessica Pegula.

Pegula beat Frech last week on the way to the final in Washington, where the American fell to Eala in the rain-delayed title match on Monday.

In other early matches, American Kayla Day beat Diane Parry of France 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to book a clash with fourth-seeded Coco Gauff.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed in the tournament.

After disappointing runs at the French Open and Wimbledon the Belarusian is aiming to reassert her dominance on hard courts, where her lone defeat this year was to Rybakina in the Australian Open final.

Just days after flying into the Caribbean as an emergency replacement, Shafique ended the day unbeaten on 107 off 185 balls with 10 fours and two sixes decorating his authoritative innings at Queen's Park Oval.

Babar, the only visitor to emerge with any credit from a disastrous second innings of the first Test when he finished unbeaten on 58, was again unbowed on 86.

His calm, classy innings has so far occupied 126 deliveries, embellished by 10 fours and one six.

Putting aside those batting woes of a 90-run loss at the Brian Lara Stadium a few miles away, captain Babar and the recalled Shafique made the most of ideal batting conditions and pleasant weather, gathering runs in style in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 168.

Recalled after Shan Masood's finger injury, Shafique looked at ease in the unfamiliar position of number three when he replaced Imam-ul-Haq, who was dismissed by Shamar Joseph.

It was his first opportunity since losing his place after the South Africa series at home last October.

He put on 64 attractive runs with Azan Awais, the opener flaying 10 fours in a 71-ball 55 before being adjudged lbw on television review to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.

Babar got into stride almost immediately and with the West Indies hampered by the unavailability of first Test match-winner Justin Greaves with a leg injury and captain Roston Chase ineffective with his off-spinners because of a lacerated finger, the tourists' task was made that bit easier.

- Shafique grabs opportunity -

Yet nothing could take away from the excellence of their strokeplay and the manner in which they dominated an attack that had them on their knees six days earlier when they crashed to 71 for nine, eventually being dismissed for 120 in the last innings of the first Test.

"Their partnership has been quite remarkable and that's just the thing we have been missing in the last two-three Test matches," said delighted batting coach and former Pakistan international batsman Asad Shafique.

"Abdullah has been scoring heavily in domestic competition and he has taken this opportunity with both hands. For me, the hallmark of his innings was the way he put away the bad deliveries and respected the good ones."

Babar, who continues to face severe criticism for what is seen as a rather passive style of leadership, was in his element with bat in hand though, playing a vital guiding role in ensuring that Shafique stayed focused.

When Shafique reached his century shortly before stumps, pulling a short ball to the midwicket boundary, Babar celebrated warmly with the 26-year-old.

Earlier, West Indies extended their first innings by 109 runs in the elongated morning session but that effort was put into context by the ease with the Pakistani top-order gathered runs in reply.

All-rounder Greaves and overnight partner Chase pushed their sixth-wicket stand to 96 before the summoning of the second new ball, unexpectedly in the hands of spinner Ali Usman, brought the breakthrough when Greaves, on 73, sliced an ambitious heave to point.

Fast-medium bowler Ubaid Shah then bowled Chase for 70 and despite more typically stubborn resistance from Kemar Roach, Sajid Khan claimed the last three wickets, the off-spinner finishing with the best figures of four for 85.

Morocco advanced to the quarter-finals by finishing with seven points after beating Kenya convincingly and Algeria narrowly in earlier mini-league matches in Rabat.

Goals from Marine Dafeur and Lynda Bendris earned Algeria a 2-0 victory over Kenya in a match played simultaneously, and they booked a last-eight place by coming second with six points.

Senegal ended with four points and Kenya with none so both were eliminated from the two-yearly African women's football showpiece.

Morocco will face the Group B runners-up and Algeria the Group B winners in the quarter-finals. They will discover their opponents on Tuesday after the final matches in that mini-league.

Ivory Coast lead Group B with four points, Burkina Faso and Tanzania have three each and South Africa one, leaving all four nations with a chance to progress.

Morocco beat Senegal 1-0 in both the 2022 and 2024 WAFCON tournaments, with the goal coming from a penalty on each occasion.

The Atlas Lionesses had a chance to repeat those feats when awarded a spot-kick midway through the second half after Marieme Babou fouled Sakina Ouzraoui.

Teenager Adji Ndiaye saved the first attempt from Yasmin Mrabet, but came off her line too early and the Ugandan referee ordered a retake.

Mrabet once again struck the ball to the left of the goalkeeper, and once again her effort was spectacularly parried to safety.

Senegal had come closest to scoring in open play when Ndeye Diakhate rattled the crossbar with a volley as half-time approached.

Algeria quickly took control against Kenya and were two goals ahead midway through the first half at another Rabat stadium.

Dafeur claimed her second goal of the WAFCON by rifling a free-kick into the net from well outside the area on 14 minutes.

Bendris dispossessed a Kenyan defender, then lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Lilian Awuor to increase the lead nine minutes later.

Apart from chasing a record two-million-dollar WAFCON first prize, the semi-finalists qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Sabalenka has won 23 of her 24 hard court matches this year, the lone defeat her loss to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.

But she was turfed out in the quarter-finals on the clay of Roland Garros and fell to Naomi Osaka in the round of 16 on the grass courts of Wimbledon.

If Sabalenka fails to reach the round of 16 in Toronto, Kazakhstan's Rybakina can rise to number one if she lifts the trophy.

Sabalenka has never made it past the semi-finals in Canada, which alternates each year between Montreal and Toronto, but she said she was feeling rested and ready to reassert herself after taking time off in the wake of her All England Club exit.

"Clay and grass, I wouldn't say they were that bad," she said. "I was trying a couple of things, didn't go the way that I expected. And now we're kind of back to basics and I really hope it's going to work out well."

Sabalenka had exited Wimbledon saying she wanted to "forget about tennis".

She did that with a summer holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos.

"I think the rest was much-needed," she told reporters on Sunday. "I spent there five, six days maybe. I felt much better, I couldn't wait to get back on court and start working towards my goals for this swing."

Sabalenka heads a top half of the draw that also includes two-time winner Jessica Pegula, the third seed, 2024 finalist Amanda Anisimova and seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland.

Former world number one Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will be aiming to regroup after slumping to a third-round defeat at Wimbledon.

Rybakina anchors a bottom half of the draw that also includes fourth-seeded Coco Gauff, four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka and newly crowned Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

Czech Noskova, who broke into the top 10 after winning her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, is seeded sixth and could face another rising star in the Philippines' Alexandra Eala in the third round.

They have met twice already this year, with Noskova winning both times.

Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova is among the notable absentees as she recovers from a minor surgery.

Reigning champion Victoria Mboko of Canada, who thrilled Montreal fans with her run to a first WTA title last year, remains sidelined with the knee injury that forced her out of Wimbledon.

- Tricky schedule -

The ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal this week has also been hit by high-profile defections, including that of Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner.

Sabalenka said the scheduling is "tricky" for any player that does well in the grass court season, with the Canadian tournaments followed by a 1000-level event in Cincinnati in a schedule that offers little respite before the US Open begins on August 30.

"If you go far at the grass court (season) you feel really fatigued and you're not able to pull out any good tennis so what's the reason of coming when your body is really so much stress," she said. "It's very tricky, but this year I didn't do well so I'm here."

All 32 seeded players received first-round byes.

Play got underway on Sunday with Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima booking a second-round meeting with Sabalenka with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain's Cristina Bucsa.

Czech Sara Bejlek posted a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over China's Wang Xiyu, who was hobbled by a left leg problem, and booked a second-round meeting with Swiatek.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams bowed out in the first round, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova.

After a match-winning display with the ball in the first Test last week, Greaves displayed what has now become his trademark ease and composure at the crease in a battling knock at Queen's Park Oval.

His only error of judgement came just after reaching the half-century mark when opposing captain Babar Azam put down a straightforward chance at leg-slip off spinner Sajid Khan.

Greaves at that time was almost hobbling after a left leg injury sustained while completing a sharp run that necessitated lengthy treatment on the field.

His sixth-wicket partnership with Roston Chase (36 not out) was worth 66 runs at the close of play and Greaves will be hoping for a return to his usual athletic mobility when he resumes the innings with his captain on the second morning.

He had come to the crease in mid-afternoon at 91 for three as Kavem Hodge became Khan's first wicket. When Amir Jangoo fell to a leg-side catch to give debutant pacer Ubaid Shah his first Test wicket with the first ball of a new spell, Pakistan sensed the chance to break the back of the West Indies resistance.

However Greaves and Shai Hope provided a measure of stability in a 53-run stand until seamer Mohammad Ali, the most impressive of the bowlers on the day, bowled Hope off the inside-edge for 29 to leave the innings in the balance at 173 for five.

- Pakistan omit Abbas -

Earlier, Pakistan's bewildering decision-making - on and off the field of play - highlighted a rain-affected morning session.

Mohammad Abbas, the tourists' best bowler by some distance from the 90-run defeat in the first Test, was dropped despite a match haul of eight for 85, including five for 22 in the second innings.

A second Pakistani debutant, Awais Zafar, got his chance due to the finger injury sustained by former captain Shan Masood while compiling a determined century in the first Test.

Pakistan's think-tank seemed convinced of the wisdom of playing an additional slow bowler on a surface devoid of grass, drafting in Khan as an off-spinning option alongside left-arm orthodox bowler Ali Usman, who went wicketless on debut in the first Test.

Khan's first notable act in the match was to take the catch at long-leg which sent Tagenarine Chanderpaul to the pavilion for 15 as he failed to control a hook shot off Mohammad Ali after a brisk opening stand of 49 with Brandon King.

"We needed those partnerships at the end of the day and it was good to see those guys (Greaves, Hope and Chase) making those contributions," said King in summing up the day's effort.

"It would be nice if we get more of the same from them tomorrow and Justin and Roston can go on to get hundreds."

As easily as the runs flowed, especially off King's bat, in the early exchanges after Chase opted to bat first, both could have been dismissed earlier with more attacking tactics as they each benefited from edges at catchable height through the vacant third slip position.

Mohammad Ali was even pleading with Babar for additional support in the slip cordon following the third of those fortunate escapes.

King's luck ran out though following the 90-minute rain break as Usman snared him for his first Test wicket, leg-before for 46.

Aquib Nabi, the up-and-coming pace bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, replaces Bumrah in the 15-member team, which will play a warm-up game before their opening Test in Galle from August 15.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said Bumrah "has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England" last month.

Nabi, who claimed 104 wickets across the last two domestic Ranji Trophy seasons, earns his maiden call-up to the senior national team.

The 29-year-old Nabi was also part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka recently, in which he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches.

The 32-year-old Bumrah has not bowled since the second ODI of the England series in Cardiff on July 16 due to an impact injury he suffered in the match.

India, led by Shubman Gill, will play the second Test in Colombo on August 23-27.

Updated India squad: Shubman Gill (capt), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi.

*Subject to fitness clearance

The stunning comeback saw Liverpool handed their first defeat under new coach Andoni Iraola, who arrived this summer from Bournemouth to replace the sacked Arne Slot.

Liverpool had notched a 4-2 win over Sunderland and a 1-0 victory against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in the first two matches of their US tour.

They looked in control on Sunday with a pair of first-half goals before Leeds stormed back against their English Premier League rivals.

US midfielder Brenden Aaronson launched the fightback in the 60th minute and Calvert-Lewin pulled Leeds level in the 71st, firing in at the back post after Joe Rodon flicked on a long Ethan Ampadu throw.

Sean Longstaff's scuffling finish in the 73rd gave Leeds a 3-2 lead and Calvert-Lewin made it 4-2 with a near-replica of his first goal in the 85th, when Ampadu's throw was sent on by Sebastian Bornauw and he headed in.

The victory was Leeds' second on their US tour, which opened with a 3-2 loss to Wrexham in Tampa, Florida before a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in New Jersey.

Liverpool had opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Dominik Szoboszlai's corner was flicked on by Milos Kerkez and slammed home by Luke Chambers from six yards out.

Florian Wirtz doubled the tally in the 40th minute, tucking in a cross from Jeremie Frimpong.

Germany's Wirtz was one of a trio of World Cup players who returned to action for Liverpool on Sunday, along with Ryan Gravenberch of the Netherlands and Alexander Isak of Sweden.

After waiting through a three-hour thunderstorm delay to start, Pegula won the first set 6-4 and Eala led 2-1 in the second set of the championship match when rain returned.

More than five hours passed with conditions remaining unplayable before organizers called off the resumption of play until Monday.

Also postponed was the entire men's final at the WTA and ATP 500-level hardcourt tournament, with 10th-ranked American Taylor Fritz set to face 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar.

The women's final will resume Monday at noon local time (1600 GMT) with the men's final not before 1 p.m. in Washington.

Pegula, who won her first WTA title in 2019 at Washington, seeks her 12th tour trophy and third of the year after Dubai and Charleston.

The 32-year-old American top seed defeated Eala in a 2025 Miami semi-final in their only prior meeting.

Philippines star Eala, cheered all week by a host of supporters, seeks her first WTA title in her second career final, having lost last year at Eastbourne.

The 21-year-old left-hander is set to jump to a career-best 24th in the world rankings.

Eala ousted former world number one Naomi Osaka, second seed Elina Svitolina and defending champion Leylah Fernandez to reach the final.

Pegula broke Eala in the fifth game, blasting a forehand service return winner, only for Eala to break back at love to 3-3 on a blistering backhand service return winner.

Pegula saved two break points in holding to 4-4, broke again when Eala sent a forehand long in the ninth game and held at love to capture the first set in 40 minutes when Eala hit a backhand beyond the baseline.

Players were on serve and in a changeover when the rain returned.

In 53 minutes before the stoppage, Pegula hit 14 winners to only four by Eala while both had 20 unforced errors.

In the men's final, Fritz seeks an 11th career ATP title and his first since last year at Eastbourne.

Jodar, assured of reaching a career-high 15th in next week's rankings, seeks his second ATP crown after winning at Morocco in April.

Liutova, ranked 229th in the world, will be the youngest player to contest a WTA final since American Coco Gauff in Austria in 2019.

The first player born in the 2010s to make a WTA final, she called her week in the 250-level event a "miracle journey" after her quarter-final win over sixth-seeded Caty McNally.

In her first WTA main draw match she advanced past top-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, who retired with heat illness with Liutova leading 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 5-4.

She beat Australian Maya Joint in the second round before knocking off McNally 6-3, 6-4.

In Sunday's final she will face either 114th-ranked Czech Darja Vidmanova or 83rd-ranked Renata Zarazua of Mexico.

The Ukraine international winger was suspended for four years after failing a 2024 drug test that revealed the presence of a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance.

He was cleared on Friday to resume his career after the Football Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency "resolved his appeal".

"We are happy, especially for him, because we are not able to understand what he has been through in this time and how he feels at the moment," Alonso said in Sydney.

"We want that he feels part of the team, because he has not had this for a long time, and that he has the support from everyone: from the club, from the teammates, from the staff.

"To be honest, we were not expecting to have this great news at this moment, so we are very happy learning that he will be here with us."

Mudryk will join Chelsea for the next leg of their pre-season tour in Hong Kong where they face Juventus on Wednesday, Alonso said, after a 2-1 defeat to London rivals Tottenham in Sydney on Saturday.

But the Spaniard cautioned that Mudryk's reintegration would be a slow process.

The 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for o62 million ($83 million) in 2023, has not played since November 2024.

"It will take time," Alonso said. "But once there's a change, things will start moving, and for him, it's a massive change (from) training on his own every day.

"I think that had to be really, really hard because he wanted to play football, he wanted to be part of the team, and he was not allowed to do that for such a long time.

"So once this meeting has happened, now we can move on and after we will see if he makes progress quicker or slower. But we need to do the work."

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi managed Mudryk at Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk and was also happy to see him back.

"He's my son, he's a cool guy, a top player, hopefully he can show what he suffered the last two seasons in this coming season, maybe not against Tottenham, but he's a lovely guy," said the Italian.

Mudryk filed his appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and changes to WADA procedures in the interim meant that had his failed test produced the same result now, charges would not have been brought.

Two weeks after Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, Messi was back on the pitch, entering in the 53rd minute to the delight of fans at Miami's Nu Stadium.

But Messi could not mark his return with a goal, twice shooting wide.

Uruguayan Luis Suarez scored his seventh goal in his last four games to put Miami 1-0 up in the 16th minute.

Miami's former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro scored an own goal in the 34th minute which drew Columbus level at 1-1.

Suarez provided the assist for Noah Allen to head Miami into a 2-1 half-time lead

But midfielder Brais Mendez, making his Columbus debut after arriving from Real Sociedad in Spain, curled in a second equalizer from an 84th-minute free-kick.

The result ended Miami's six-match winning streak and kept them in second place in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville, who drew 2-2 at DC United.

Los Angeles FC and Vancouver Whitecaps remain level at the top of the Western Conference after they drew 1-1 at Vancouver's BC Place.

Son Heung-min extended his scoring streak since the MLS resumed after the World Cup to four goals in four matches as he put Los Angeles ahead in the 37th minute.

But Vancouver's German star Thomas Mueller converted a 76th-minute penalty.

The former Tottenham star Son, who had shouldered much of the blame for South Korea's failure to make it to the knockout rounds of the World Cup, also earned MVP honors in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday.

Kerr was 12 seconds slower than the mark of 3min 42.66sec he set in London last month to break Hicham El Guerrouj's record that had stood for 27 years.

But the Olympic silver-medallist could afford to whip up the crowd in celebration as he crossed the finish line in Glasgow after pulling well clear of the field.

"This was the championships of my season," said Kerr, who finished a disappointing 12th in Birmingham four years ago.

"I didn't put my performance together like I wanted to in 2022 and I think a British crowd deserves more from me, so I owed them that for sure."

Australia's Cameron Myers took silver and Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya the bronze as another Scot and former world champion Jake Wightman missed out on the podium.

Abbey Caldwell led home an Australia 1-2-3 in the women's mile ahead of Jessica Hull and Claudia Hollingsworth.

Kenya's Mathew Kipsang produced a decisive kick away from the pack on the final lap to win the men's 5,000m and denied Australia's Ky Robinson double gold after his success in the 10,000m.

Robinson finished second with India's Gulveer Singh taking bronze to add to his 10,000m silver.

Australia edged a thrilling men's 4x100m to win gold from the outside lane.

Lachlan Kennedy, Joshua Azzopardi, Calab Law and Rohan Browning crossed in a time of 38.07 seconds to seemingly edge out Canada.

However, the Canadians were disqualified to bump Nigeria into silver and give Ghana a bronze medal.

In the afternoon session, Samuel Ogazi lived up to expectation to win gold for Nigeria in the men's 400m.

Ogazi, who set the fourth fastest time ever in the 400m earlier this year, was a class apart as he led home Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards and South Africa's Zakithi Nene.

"I didn't want to come out here and disappoint. I just had to go out there and do my thing," said Ogazi, who was not holding back on his ambitions going forward.

"Maybe an Olympic gold, a world championship gold, become the greatest athlete ever. That's what I'm working towards."

Dejeanea Oakley was just as dominant in the women's 400m for one of five Jamaican golds on the track on Saturday.

They stormed to victory in the women's 4x100m and first ever mixed 4x400m Commonwealth final.

Navasky Anderson stormed down the final straight to win the men's 800m, while Jordan Scott landed gold in the men's triple jump.

There were two more Australia golds as Matthew Denny won the discus and Kurtis Marschall the pole vault.

- Jamaicans exact Aussie revenge -

But there will be no Australian gold in the netball after Jamaica produced a huge upset to defeat the holders 46-45 in front of the watching Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, and their children.

Jamaica will face New Zealand in Sunday's final after exacting revenge for defeat in the final four years ago.

"We knew we had it in us. We're carrying a bit of vengeance from the last Commonwealth Games," Jamaican captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey said.

The royals were also spotted at the velodrome on the Games' "Super Saturday".

"Incredible atmosphere at the Commonwealth Games today. Watching world-class talent compete and seeing the power of sport to bring people together is truly special," the Prince and Princess said in an Instagram post.

Emma Finucane became the first Welsh woman to win three gold medals at a single Commonwealth Games after adding the sprint and 1000 metre time-trial titles to her part in the team sprint on Friday.

"I absolutely love what I do, so I just want to go out there and ride my bike and enjoy every moment," said Finucane, who could add a fourth gold in the keirin on Sunday.

Dressel posted his fastest 50m free time in four years with a victory in 21.35sec, four-tenths of a second quicker than runner-up Quintin McCarty.

He captured his second title of the week after a victory in the 100m free, his first triumph in a major meeting since the 2024 Olympic trials.

Dressel followed that with second places in the 50m and 100m butterfly.

Walsh powered to victory in 23.60sec, just outside the world record of 23.55 she set at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome on June 28.

"Honestly, I just wanted to execute it really well," Walsh said. I feel like I've had a great summer in that event already and it's not over yet. So this is a great tune-up for Pan Pacs in two weeks."

Walsh's world record last month came a week after training partner Kate Douglass had lowered the world record to 23.59sec at the Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis. Douglass opted not to swim the 50m free on Saturday.

But she and Walsh will be back in the same Irvine pool in August representing the United States in the Pan Pacific Championships -- where they'll be up against top swimmers from Australia, Japan, Canada and other non-European nations.

Dressel, who took a break from the sport after the 2024 Paris Olympics, didn't qualify for the US Pan Pacs team, which was decided based on times last year.

But the American, who turns 30 in August, was enthusiastic about what the week showed about the state of his swimming.

"We'll keep getting quicker," he said. "It's a really exciting year, just so much new."

The 21-year-old Philippines left-hander delivered an impressive victory over the four-time Grand Slam winner from Japan to reach her second career WTA final, having dropped the first last year at Eastbourne.

"I'm super proud of my performance," Eala said. "I played really well and I had a great mentality and I stayed locked in until the end."

Eala, set to jump to a career-best 24th in the world rankings, had previously ousted second seed Elina Svitolina for her sixth top-10 victory of the year after dethroning 2025 Washington champion Leylah Fernandez.

It was the first meeting of the Asian stars, Eala facing one of the idols of her youth.

"She definitely has aura and she definitely has power," Eala said of Osaka. "I remember watching her finals in the Australian Open and US Open so really a great experience to share the court with her and I'm really happy I was able to produce that level against her."

Osaka, ranked 13th, was thwarted in her bid for an eighth career WTA title and first since taking the 2021 Australian Open.

"I hit a lot of unforced errors, so that was probably one of the main reasons," for the loss, Osaka said.

Pegula, seeking her 12th career WTA title and third of the year, eliminated Russia's Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4 in the other semi-final.

"It's going to be a battle," Pegula said of the final. "Alex, I'm a big fan of her. She's the future of the tour and she's already here."

Pegula, who won her first WTA title in 2019 at Washington, fell behind 5-2 against Schnaider, but the 32-year-old American top seed battled back to reach her fourth final of the year.

A semi-finalist at this year's Australian Open, Pegula has lifted trophies at Dubai and Charleston this season.

- 'More well rounded' -

Pegula beat Eala in a 2025 Miami semi-final in their only career meeting.

"I'm more well rounded. I'm physically a little bit better. I've improved on a couple of my strokes. Serve has also improved quite a bit," Eala said of her game then and now.

The men's final will send American Taylor Fritz, ranked 10th, against either Chile's Alejandro Tabilo or 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar.

Fritz fired 13 aces in ousting 33rd-ranked countryman Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

"I dug very deep just to keep holding," said Fritz, who seeks an 11th career ATP title and first since last year at Eastbourne.

Jodar, assured of cracking the world rankings top 20 next week, won his first ATP title in April at Morocco.

Tabilo, ranked 30th, seeks his fourth career ATP trophy after winning at Auckland and Mallorca in 2024 and last year at Chengdu.

The 29-year-old Richarlison reinforced his importance with a last-minute winner as 10-man Spurs beat Chelsea 2-1 on their pre-season tour in Sydney on Saturday.

He also scored in their 2-0 win over Auckland FC last weekend.

Richarlison's fate has come into focus after Tottenham's aggressive summer of spending to boost their fortunes after avoiding the drop by coming 17th in the Premier League last season.

Tottenham have yet to recruit a striker, but De Zerbi has made clear he is not finished in the transfer market yet with Manchester City forward Savinho among those reportedly in his sights.

"I don't know," De Zerbi said when asked about Richarlison's future after the Chelsea match.

"As a player, as a guy, it is unbelievable his attitude and behaviour, but at the end we have to respect what he wants to do.

"For me he is still an important player because it is not so easy to find another striker as Richarlison, because Richarlison scores goals and he knows the way."

Pressed on whether he would leave, De Zerbi said: "I don't know, I didn't understand well, because sometimes he said to stay, sometimes he leaves.

"We have to speak anyway, there is not any problem. He is a lovely guy.

"All of us love him, the teammates, the club, the staff, because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can't say anything else."

Richarlison, who is entering the final year of his contract, scored 12 goals last season.

The organisers believe the participation of foreign professionals will not only enhance the standard of the tournament but also contribute significantly to the overall development of squash in Bangladesh. The organizers said that despite various challenges over the past six years, planned initiatives have ushered in a new era for squash in the country. Sustained development programmes have expanded the game's popularity while enabling Bangladeshi players to progress to the professional level. The organisers further expressed optimism that these continued efforts have helped establish Bangladesh as an emerging squash destination on the international stage.

The Group B favourites are bottom of the table with just one point after two rounds in Moroccan commercial hub Casablanca. Ivory Coast have four points and Burkina Faso and Tanzania three each.

Former champions South Africa must beat Burkina Faso and hope Ivory Coast defeat Tanzania in the final group matches on Tuesday to survive.

Burkina Faso shrugged off conceding four goals against Ivory Coast last Monday to edge Tanzania 2-1 in the other match on Friday.

Before the two-yearly tournament kicked off last Sunday, South Africa were talking up chances of competing at back-to-back World Cup tournaments.

Brazil will host the 2027 edition and the four WAFCON semi-finalists automatically qualify for the 32-nation event.

The losing WAFCON quarter-finalists will get a second chance to reach the World Cup through play-offs, first in Morocco, then in an inter-continental competition.

South Africa made a disastrous debut in their group, conceding a late goal to lose 2-1 against Tanzania, a team 65 places lower than Banyana Banyana (Girls Girls) in the world rankings.

An anticipated revival against the Ivorians did not materialise in the first half and two goals from clinical 18-year-old Grace Sery gave the west Africans a 2-0 half-time lead.

- Last-gasp equaliser -

Realising their World Cup dream was on the verge of collapse, South Africa improved dramatically in the second half and Thembi Kgatlana pulled one goal back on 71 minutes.

But all seemed lost for South Africa when substitute Hildah Magaia had an added-time goal disallowed for offside.

However, Magaia, who helped South Africa reach the last 16 at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, had the last laugh in the ninth minute of added time.

Another substitute, Ronnel Donnelly, nodded the ball into the goalmouth and unmarked Magaia beat goalkeeper Aramatou Diakite at her near post with a rising shot.

Later, Burkina Faso took advantage of a Tanzanian being red carded 10 minutes after half-time to win 2-1 through an 80th-minute goal from captain Balkissa Sawadogo.

Naomi Kabre put the Burkinabe ahead on 43 minutes with a delicate lob over goalkeeper Najiat Idrisa after Tanzania failed to clear a cross.

Hasnath Ubamba was sent off for raking the right foot of goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou, but Tanzania recovered to equalise after 62 minutes.

Dabilgou tipped a Donisia Minja free-kick on to the post and Aisha Mnunka, reacting quickest to the rebound, poked the ball into the net.

Burkina Faso regained the lead when Sawadogo side-footed a cross past Idrissa. The goal gave the Lady Stallions a first WAFCON victory at the fifth attempt spanning two tournaments.

On Saturday, defending champions Nigeria hope to put a stunning defeat by Malawi behind them when they tackle in-form Group C pacesetters Zambia.

Group B

In Casablanca

Ivory Coast 2 (Sery 18, 36) South Africa 2 (Kgatlana 71, Magaia 90+9)

Burkina Faso 2 (Kabre 43, Sawadogo 80) Tanzania 1 (Mnunka 62)

Standings (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)

I. Coast 2 1 1 0 6 3 4

B. Faso 2 1 0 1 3 5 3

Tanzania 2 1 0 2 3 3 3

S. Africa 2 0 1 1 3 4 1

Fixtures

Tuesday

In Casablanca

B. Faso v S. Africa, Tanzania v I. Coast (both 2000 GMT)

Note: Group winners and runners-up qualify for quarter-finals

"Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," Infantino said in a statement.

"As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

FIFA, world football's governing body, had floated the plan on Tuesday, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary it proposed to run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA's 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

But the idea of allowing private investors even a small stake in the FFE was quickly condemned.

European football's governing body UEFA said none of its national teams would participate in any FIFA competition "for so long as these proposals remain alive".

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and North American and Caribbean federation (CONCACAF) also condemned the move.

"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," UEFA said in a statement. "No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

Pressure mounted on Infantino on Friday with the resignation of senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who called the idea "a bad deal for FIFA's member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game".

South American confederation CONMEBOL, whose president Alejandro Dominguez is regarded as a close ally of Infantino, demanded further information on the "scope, structure, governance and potential effects" of the project.

In the late night statement announcing the plan was dead, Infantino said the project was conceived as a means of strengthening member associations, and that it would only have gone ahead if a majority supported it.

"Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place," he said.

In expressing solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF, the Kuala Lumpur-based AFC -- which represents 47 member nations -- had raised alarms at the idea of a World Cup boycott.

"The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game," the AFC said.

- 'The wrong man' -

FIFA had tried to fend off the critics, saying in a statement early Friday morning that it would continue consultations with member associations and insisting that "nobody is selling football".

But the pressure mounted, and not just within the football community.

A day after the European Union praised UEFA for "defending the integrity of the game," UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Friday that Infantino was "the wrong man" to lead FIFA.

The beleaguered Infantino said he would focus now on restoring harmony while continuing to grow the game.

"Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support," he said.

Gerhard is expected to begin working with the players currently attending the Asian Games training camp without delay. Speaking briefly upon his arrival in Dhaka, he expressed confidence in the potential of the Bangladesh team. "In my opinion, the team is much better than the results they achieved in the recent tournaments. We have to improve the current situation, and that is exactly what we'll work on," the German coach said. Referring to the challenges ahead and the long-term rewards, he added, "The players will have to go through a very tough period over the coming weeks and work extremely hard. But in the end, they will enjoy the rewards of that hard work."

Recalling his long association with Bangladesh hockey, the German coach also wished the federation's new leadership success. Gerhard has previously served as head coach of the Bangladesh national hockey team on several occasions.

In the ninth or last round games were held on Thursday last, FM Tahsin defeated GM Mikhail Bryakin of Serbia. Earlier, in the eighth or penultimate round, FM Tahsin defeated FIDE Master Artem Postnikov of Serbia. IM Sathvik Adiga of India became champion with 6.5 points.

A total of 10 players including three grandmasters, two International Masters and five FIDE Masters from Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, India, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine participated in the event which was held in a round-robin league system.

In the fifth round, he defeated his Hungarian Grandmaster (GM) Dávid Bérczes. He played with the white pieces, faced GM D vid B,rczes, who employed the French Defense.

The game continued to the Advance Variation, IM Neer secured an impressive victory at 28 moves.

"Of course if I'm here it's because of him and to help him and Inter Miami," the former Real Madrid midfielder said of the Argentine star who now captains Miami.

"I want to enjoy being with him, help him win, make him even greater. He's one of the gods, if not the god of football," Casemiro said as he was officially introduced by his new Major League Soccer club.

Casemiro, who arrived in MLS after a four-year stint at Manchester United, has already played his first minutes for the Herons in a 1-0 win over Montreal on Saturday.

Argentine star Messi sat that one out less than two weeks after his country's World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Casemiro said he was looking forward to playing alongside, rather than against, Messi, after their many battles in the Spanish league clasicos between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"I know he's impossible to stop. I never managed it," Casemiro said. "I always needed help from my teammates. And in the two training sessions I've already had with him, it's already clear he's impossible to stop."

Miami co-owner Jorge Mas beamed as he handed over Casemiro's pink jersey and denied there had been any impropriety in signing him despite MLS's investigation into possible "tampering".

The probe focuses on MLS's system of "discovery rights," which must be acquired by a cub before they can start negotiating with some high-profile players.

Casemiro was on LA Galaxy's list, and Mas said he had contacted the club before starting talks with the Brazilian.

"The rules are the rules, and we abided by those rules to the letter of the law," Mas said, saying Miami hadn't entered talks with Casemiro or his representatives before talking to the Galaxy.

Shanto’s side will tour Australia without pacer Nahid Rana, left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam and wicket-keeper batter Liton Das, all ruled out with injuries.

"In Australia, our expectation will definitely be that the pace bowlers take 20 wickets. We also have two experienced spinners who will support them," Shanto said here today.

"The pace bowlers in this squad are capable, and apart from Musfik Hasan, everyone has been playing international cricket for many years. If they bowl to their potential, it is certainly possible for us to take 20 wickets," he said.

The captain said injuries were beyond the team's control and insisted those selected were capable of delivering.

"Injuries are actually beyond our control. Any player can get injured at any time. But I have the belief on my side which is going to Australia. I believe that they can play good cricket," Shanto said.

"It would not be logical to think about whether there could have been better players. What is important is how well we can play with this team and how much faith I have in the players, and I have full confidence in them."

Shanto admitted the importance of the injured trio but said their absence also presented an opportunity for others to establish themselves.

"Nahid Rana, Shoriful and Liton Das are definitely important players. But those who are in the squad have also been playing for many years. This is a big opportunity for those who get the chance to perform," he said.

"It would not be right to expect that I will always have my best players available as captain. I have complete faith in those who have been selected."

Although Bangladesh have not toured Australia for more than two decades, Shanto said adapting quickly to local conditions would be the key to success.

"It is difficult to judge the conditions from here. We will understand them only after we arrive. Whatever the conditions are, as professional cricketers we have to cope with it," he said.

With uncertainty still surrounding the country's premier franchise competition, the BCB has yet to make an official announcement regarding the next edition.

After a board of directors meeting yesterday night, Tamim said the board would emphasize on quality regarding the BPL.

"We will not hold the BPL just for the sake of holding it. I don't think we have enough time," Tamim said.

"If we organize the BPL in the future, we will do it properly. We will organize it the way it should be," he said.

Tamim also spoke about his new role in international cricket administration after being appointed chairman of the ICC's Franchise Cricket Oversight Committee during the recent ICC Board meetings.

He said he attended the informal meeting on July 9 before taking part in the formal sessions on July 11 and 12, where he was warmly received by fellow board members.

"The ICC meeting went well. I joined the first informal meeting on July 9. I attended the formal meetings for two days on July 11 and 12. They welcomed me. I delivered my speech and spoke whenever it was necessary," he said.

Citing the appointment a proud moment for both himself and Bangladesh, Tamim said the committee would oversee the growth and governance of franchise leagues around the world.

"It is a matter of great pride for me and for the country. I was made chairman of a committee on the very first day," he said.

"Franchise leagues are being launched in different countries around the world. Our responsibility is to see whether the proper processes are being followed and whether things that should not be happening are taking place in those leagues.”

He said that his committee has also assigned several other responsibilities apart from the franchise leagues.

“The committee has also been assigned several other responsibilities related to international cricket. We will discuss those issues and take the appropriate steps."

The world governing body announced on Tuesday a plan to create a semi-private subsidiary which would sell part of its business operations in the World Cup and other competitions, hoping to raise $4.2 billion.

It sparked a furious backlash, but Football Australia said they had been contacted by but needed more information before formulating a response.

"Football Australia can confirm it has received correspondence from FIFA regarding its latest commercial proposal," said a statement.

"As this is the first time we have been made aware of the initiative, we are now working to understand the proposal in full.

"We have requested further information from FIFA to properly assess the strategic, commercial, and governance implications of such a significant step.

"We will only be able to form a position after receiving this information and engaging in further dialogue with our peer member associations and our confederation."

The plan would have to be approved by FIFA's 38-member council and the majority of its 211 member associations.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino championed the proposal as "a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally".

But critics, led by UEFA, said it "crosses a line" and the "soul and governance of football are not assets to trade".

Los Angeles FC's South Korean star Son struck in the 20th and 23rd minutes to flip the script after Luis Gabriel Rey put the Liga MX All-Stars ahead.

"I'm very happy, and I just want to say thank you to everyone," Son said after he was named All-Star MVP.

The 34-year-old former Tottenham star had shouldered the blame for South Korea's failure to make it to the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

But he's been in red-hot form since MLS resumed in the wake of its World Cup break with three goals in three matches for LAFC.

Son pulled the MLS side level in the 20th, collecting a pass from Carles Gil on the left and firing a low shot past goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo.

He put the MLS All-Stars ahead for good just minutes later with a spectacular volley off another assist from New England Revolution playmaker Gil.

Chicago Fire midfielder Philip Zinckernagel's 42nd-minute strike sent the MLS side into half-time ahead 3-1.

Salomon Rondon scored in the 55th minute to keep the Liga MX side within striking distance, but FC Cincinnati playmaker Evander restored the two-goal advantage in the 55th minute, shortly before Vancouver's German star Thomas Mueller took the field.

The MLS side needed the cushion, with Jose Paradela adding some late drama with a stoppage time goal for Liga MX.

The second straight victory for the MLS All-Stars in the mid-season exhibition extended their record over Liga MX teams to 4-1.

Superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate were excused from the mid-season exhibition, 10 days after Argentina fell to Spain in the World Cup final.

Miami posted a video on social media on Wednesday showing Messi back in training with his club teammates.

But it remains unclear when the 39-year-old will return to competition.

MLS's biggest draw Messi has never appeared in the All-Star Game.

The 2023 All-Star squad had already been announced when he arrived in the league that year and in 2024 he was sidelined by an ankle injury.

Last year Messi and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one game for failing to participate.

The all-rounder called it quits in extraordinary fashion during the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in late June, making his exit public on the fourth afternoon.

The bombshell announcement came after he returned to duty following the fall-out from a London nightclub incident also involving teammate Gus Atkinson earlier that month.

Brendon McCullum was sacked soon after as England's red-ball coach, with British media reporting this week that another New Zealander, Stephen Fleming, is poised to take over.

McDonald, whose side travel to England for the latest instalment of the Ashes next year, said Stokes still had plenty to offer and his return would be an ideal storyline for the series.

"The fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes and builds a lot of hype on the way in," McDonald told Australian radio station SEN late Wednesday.

"If you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement.

"To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him," he added.

"It'll be a fascinating watch. I think that whoever the new head coach that comes in potentially has a conversation with him."

Stokes, who is still playing at domestic level for Durham, is only 35.

By comparison, Australia could field as many five players in their Test against Bangladesh next month who are older -- Nathan Lyon (38), Steve Smith and Scott Boland (both 37), Mitchell Starc (36) and Josh Hazlewood (35).

"We don't know why Ben left. I don't think there's been anything on the record around the definitive reason as to why," added McDonald.

"He may have just called it a day on Test cricket, and that's it, so there might be a full stop there.

"Or there might be an opportunity for that new head coach to potentially twist his arm and bring him back in."

Teenage forward Rio Ngumoha scored from close range in the 75th minute, greeted by a roar from a largely pro-Liverpool crowd of more than 42,000 at the famous baseball stadium, the home of the New York Yankees and Major League Soccer's New York City FC.

The victory followed a 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, Iraola's first match in charge since the former Bournemouth manager replaced the sacked Arne Slot.

That victory was marred by an injury to defender Joe Gomez, who was among the absentees Wednesday along with new signing Jeremy Jacquet and World Cup players Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Iraola said before the game that the Netherlands' Gravenberch, Germany's Wirtz and Sweden's Isak could be back for the final game of Liverpool's US tour, against Leeds at Chicago's Soldier Field on Sunday.

Wrexham, on the rise in recent years under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, missed out on the second-tier Championship playoffs on the final day of last season.

Phil Parkinson's side arrived at Yankee Stadium after pre-season victories over Manchester United and Leeds.

A proposal to sell stakes in FIFA's major competitions sparked disbelief and outrage globally since it was revealed Tuesday, but Infantino defended the idea, saying too little of football's commercial value reached the parts of the game that need it most.

"FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, is actually a proposal, an offer. It's part of a democratic process - a consultation process - and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation," Infantino said in a video released Wednesday evening.

"It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally. But again, it is just an offer, not an obligation."

Infantino insisted the proposal was centred on unlocking "previously uncaptured commercial value" and was conditional on a democratic vote of FIFA's 211 member associations and approval by the FIFA council.

"Capturing that value requires additional expertise, additional insight, distinct from governing and developing the sport," he said.

"It would simply commercialise and organise all FIFA-owned competitions along with sponsorship, broadcast, licensing and new ventures for the benefit of FIFA's 211 member associations."

Infantino said the game would not change and the fans would be happier.

"Fans from everywhere in the world would gain immeasurably from this game-changing potential because it will transform football in their countries," he said.

Neer bagged 1.5 points from the first two rounds.

In the first round, IM Neer defeated FIDE Master Lucius Melillo of the United States while  in the second round, he split point with FIDE Master Aarav Sinha of India.

The tournament features 10 players from Bangladesh, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Serbia, Slovakia, and the United States, including three Grandmasters, one Woman Grandmaster, three International Masters, and equal number of FIDE Masters.

Shelton struggled when the match resumed after a delay of more than two hours, but came through 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 against his American compatriot in his first hardcourt match ahead of the US Open.

"Happy that I was mentally stable and tough enough to get through that match," said the 23-year-old left-hander, who is seeking his fourth ATP tour title of the year after triumphing in Dallas, Munich and Stuttgart.

Shelton, the world number eight, next faces French left-hander Ugo Humbert for a quarter-final berth.

Shelton led 6-4, 4-3 when play was halted, then saw Damm hold, break on a long forehand and hold again to force a third set.

After trading breaks in the third and fourth games, Shelton broke on a backhand crosscourt volley winner at 5-4 to settle matters after 2hr 9min.

"A tricky match to be in command, in the driver's seat of the match and feel like playing really well, then have a rain delay and the guy come out on fire," Shelton said.

"That was tough to swallow losing that second set the way I did, but happy with the way I fought."

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams, 46, suffered her 12th consecutive defeat, 6-3, 6-3 to Austria's Anastasia Potapova in a first-round match.

Williams has not won a WTA match since a first-round triumph over American Peyton Stearns in Washington last year.

Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, captured his first ATP Tour victory.

The Aussie teen, ranked 612th in the world, ousted fellow qualifier Marcos Giron of the United States 6-3, 6-4 in 74 minutes in his ATP main draw debut.

Among his father's 30 career ATP titles was the 2004 Washington crown.

"It's a pretty special moment," Hewitt said.

"Seeing my dad play this tournament and to get my first tour win, it feels really cool."

Hewitt will next play the winner of a match postponed to Wednesday between Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and Australian newlywed Alex de Minaur, the top seed and defending champion.

Alexandra Eala, who made global headlines when beating Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and becoming the first Philippines player to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam, rallied to defeat China's Zheng Qinwen 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 after 2hr 26min.

Eala, 21, will face defending champion and seventh seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada on Wednesday for a place in the last eight.

Pavel Graudyn, 19, defeated South Korean Do Gyeong-dong 15-7 in the men's individual sabre final on Tuesday, having earlier stunned France's top-seed Sebastien Patrice in the last 16.

It was the first major championship since the International Fencing Federation (FIE) lifted all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes on June 2.

The sanctions had been imposed in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine and consequent war, with Russian and Belarusian fencers allowed to participate only as neutrals.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this month lifted some restrictions allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in team events and qualifying for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Ukraine slammed the IOC decision as "premature" and "unfounded" after more than four years of conflict since Russia's invasion.

Governing bodies for swimming, gymnastics, judo, taekwondo and wrestling have also recently lifted restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Dressel won the 100m final in 47.70sec, his fastest time since the 2024 US Olympic trials, touching 0.11 ahead of Brooks Curry.

The 29-year-old Floridian won the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics and is a two-time world champion in the event.

Moesch won in 51.88sec to lower the national mark of 51.94 she set on May 25 in London.

Junior world champion Rylee Erisman was second in 52.92 with Liberty Clark third in 52.97.

The 24-year-old was snapped up from Brighton a year ago and scored 20 goals across all competitions in his first season at Stamford Bridge to be named player of the season by club supporters.

But his penalty-box prowess was not enough to book a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad.

Alonso said that Joao Pedro, who bagged a nine-minute hat-trick as a second-half substitute in Chelsea's 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, had been fired up in training.

"He's very hungry -- Joao is really, really determined to have a great season," said Alonso.

"After a great last year where he scored many goals, I think that he wants to keep scoring more and more. But we need to help him, as on his own it's not possible.

"He will have the players around him and they need to have this hunger to score as well. It's not just about the striker, but every time that we win and our striker scores, I am happy."

Chelsea are reportedly looking to offload some forwards after the arrival of attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but Joao Pedro will almost certainly not be one of them.

He said he felt liberated playing under former Liverpool star Alonso, who is tasked with getting Chelsea back to the top after their disappointing 10th place last season.

"He's a very open coach. We talk a lot. I feel free," said the Brazilian, who began his career at Fluminense.

"When I play in front I move a lot, so he gives that option for me. Sometimes I can play on the left, sometimes in the middle. So that's what I've learned from him.

"I want to achieve the highest level possible with the team," he added.

"I always want to try to score to help my team and hopefully next season can be better than last season."

While Joao Pedro excelled, fellow striker Liam Delap looked stiff up front and struggled to create chances in a youthful team before being replaced after 60 minutes.

Delap has been linked with a move to Everton, but Alonso insisted he was "doing well".

"I see him in a good mood, in a good desire to get proper fitness, proper football, feeling good, and he's doing well," he said of the England youth international.

Despite some defensive frailties and early season rust, Alonso said his first match in the Chelsea dugout was encouraging with no injuries of note.

"The more situations we have where we are struggling and we find the solutions, the better team we will be. So, for that, this friendly will be useful," he said.

Chelsea's pre-season tour continues with a friendly against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before matches in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Fox triumphed at the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale in England just over a week ago, holding his nerve over a knee-knocking 12-foot putt on the final green to finish 10-under par and win by one stroke.

The only other New Zealander to lift the Claret Jug was Bob Charles in 1963, at Lytham and St Annes just along the English north-west coast from Birkdale. Only two other New Zealanders have ever won golf majors.

Michael Campbell triumphed at the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst and Lydia Ko won three women's majors, including the 2024 British Women's Open at St Andrews.

"It's been a whirlwind few days since winning the Open," Fox told the crowds who turned out to see him and the famous Claret Jug winner's trophy, which dates back to 1872.

"To be fair, my head is still spinning as I take in what I've achieved and what's to come.

"One of the first things I wanted to do was come home and share this incredibly special time with my family, friends and all the Kiwis who have supported me throughout my career."

People spilled onto a nearby street as they tried to catch a glimpse of the 39-year-old, who received boisterous cheers when he hoisted the trophy for his fans.

Fox, renowned for taking little time over his shots, raised another ovation when he spoke of becoming the "face of the pace of play movement" in golf.

- Australian major? -

Fox started his professional career on courses such as Royal Auckland, before playing on circuits in Australia, Europe and the PGA Tour in the United States.

Fox was asked by reporters if the Australian Open should become a fifth major, hosted by the famous links-like sandbelt courses in Melbourne.

Fox said it would be "hard to break the tradition" but added it would match the women's circuit which already has five majors.

"International golf is huge. I think golf in Australia is huge. The Australian Open at Royal Melbourne last year was incredible," Fox told a media conference.

"They have the quality of golf course to be able to do it.

"But that's for people a whole lot smarter than me to figure out."

Fox received a call after winning the Open from fellow New Zealander Ko, who had been in tears watching the closing holes.

Ko won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics but has said she intends to retire and not play at Los Angeles in 2028.

But Fox, with an eye on the new mixed tournament at the 2028 Games, said he might have a gentle conversation with Ko about rethinking her decision.

"It's amazing to see her achieve what we all thought she could," Fox said of Ko, who also has silver and bronze Olympic medals from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

"I know she's been pretty vocal about wanting to retire early, and motherhood is calling.

"She's been in the public eye since she was 15 years old, she's got the right to do whatever she wants.

"Selfishly for me, it would be really cool to be able to do that in '28 with her, but if she's retired by then, that's cool. She deserves everything."

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also returns in a 15-player squad, but will need to be cleared to play after a fitness assessment, as will batsman Sai Sudharsan.

The first Test is in Galle from August 15-19 with the second in Colombo on August 23-27.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja suffered an elbow injury during the Indian Premier League and missed India's one-off Test win against Afghanistan last month.

All-rounder Saransh Jain, who bowls offspin, has been handed a maiden call-up.

Shubman Gill will be captain in India's first series in the current World Test Championship (WTC) since the 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November.

India are fifth in the WTC standings, which are led by Australia, with Sri Lanka sixth.

India squad: Shubman Gill (capt), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain

*Subject to fitness clearance

Italy's De Zerbi took over from sacked interim boss Igor Tudor in March when Tottenham were winless in the Premier League in 2026.

He steered them to 17th place and survival with a tense 1-0 win over Everton on the last day of the season and has begun building a new squad with an aggressive summer of spending.

England international Maddison, who missed the majority of last season with a serious knee injury, said in Sydney he was pumped up for the next chapter.

"The manager is very clear, the goal is to be better, to play better football, to be passionate, to be proud to play for this club," said Maddison, who is reportedly set to be named Spurs' new captain.

"I'm still learning the way he plays. But as a player, he's a coach you want to play for because he loves everything with the ball. He's very attacking, and I'm really excited."

The club opened their pre-season tour with an entertaining 2-0 win over A-League champions Auckland FC in New Zealand on Sunday with goals from Dane Scarlett and Richarlison.

They face Sydney FC on Wednesday then meet London rivals Chelsea in Sydney three days later.

"First game of the season, Brentford. It's a big season for us under a new manager. We want to have a successful season," added Maddison of their opening Premier League game on August 22.

"We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. So it's kind of all just preparation leading to that first game.

"We're just stepping up what we've been working on and creating the team, how we want to play and the style we want to play."

De Zerbi's big-money signings so far include midfielders Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle. He also raided his old club Brighton for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke.

Full-back Andy Robertson, centre-back Marcos Senesi and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka have all arrived on free transfers as the squad takes on a new look.