Central & South America

This is why you can’t take your eyes off the Copa Libertadores. 

Palmeiras scored in the ninth minute of 14 minutes of second-half stoppage time to beat Sao Paulo rival Santos 1-0 in the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. 

After 89 minutes of tense but ineffective football made extra time look all but certain, the final sparked into life as it moved into stoppage time. There was an attempted chilena, a red card for an oddly dressed coach who refused to leave and a dramatic winner from an unlikely source. 

Brazilian side Chapecoense sealed the second division Serie B title on goal difference on Friday after a last gasp Panenka-style penalty from Anselmo Ramon gave them a 3-1 win over Confianca.

Chapecoense, who lost most of their squad in an air crash in 2016, secured promotion earlier this month after spending a year in the second tier when they were guaranteed a top-four finish with four games remaining.

The club were second going into the final matchday behind America-MG who beat Avai 2-1 to finish with 73 points and a positive goal difference of 20.

Japan is out. Argentina is in. It’s all absurd.

Less than a month before the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, the tournament has been forced into major changes. The 2011 World Cup champions pulled out of the tournament citing Covid-19 issues and were replaced by the 31st-ranked team in the world, one that struggles mightily for respect from its own federation.

We’ve reached a new level in the relationship between Nike and the young phenoms churned out at Santos FC. It began with PSG’s Neymar, who signed with the multinational corporation at the age of 13. That trend continued with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who, at the tender age of 11, became Nike’s youngest-ever affiliated athlete after dazzling at a youth tournament in New York.

Atlanta United FC signed forward Lisandro López on a free transfer from Racing Club of the Argentine Primera División, the team said Monday. 

He will be put on the roster once his international transfer certificate and P-1 visa are received.

#ATLUTD signs decorated leader, Lisandro López ⚽️

The Mewis sisters, led by Samantha's three goals, did all the scoring as the U.S. women's national team opened its 2021 campaign with a 4-0 victory against Colombia on Monday in Orlando, Fla.