Highlights

AS Monaco and United States men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun got himself on the scoresheet twice during his side’s 5-2 Ligue 1 victory vs. Metz on Saturday.

Balogun’s first goal was scored in bizarre fashion as Metz goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja lived every keeper’s worst nightmare and got caught on the ball. Balogun, who came on a substitute in the 65th minute, did well to force the mistake and was rewarded with a goal.

They don’t come much easier than this.

LEVERKUSEN — Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen scored twice late in the game with Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick to earn a 2-1 comeback win over Hoffenheim on Saturday and edge closer to the league title.

Leverkusen, unbeaten in 39 matches across all competitions this season, are on 73 points with seven games. Bayern Munich, who face Borussia Dortmund later on Saturday, are second on 60.

The American midfielder had nothing short of a bittersweet start to her weekend.

Korbin Albert topped off her more-than-busy Thursday scoring an insane long-range goal in Paris Saint-Germain’s quarterfinal UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout tie.

The USWNT midfielder received the ball on the outskirts of the 18-yard box and hit an absolute bullet with her weak foot against BK Häcken to seal PSG’s qualification to the semi finals of the European tournament.

Korbin Albert goal for PSG in Women's Champions League vs. Häcken

WROCLAW — Ukraine's qualification for the Euro 2024 soccer finals has cheered a country suffering hardship in its conflict with Russia and for a few weeks in June and July the tournament will provide a welcome distraction from the harsh reality of war.

The team came from behind to defeat Iceland 2-1 in their playoff final in neutral Poland on Tuesday and book a fourth successive appearance in the continental finals.

The Tyler Adams goal vs Mexico during Sunday’s Concacaf Nations League final will go down as one of the best in the rivalry between the two North American rivals.

The United States men's national team defeated Mexico 2-0 yet again to lift the continental trophy.

The context behind Adams' goal only adds to its lore. He was making his first start for the USMNT in 475 days after a major hamstring injury that required multiple surgeries. He was a surprise start against Mexico as many expected Johnny Cardoso to be in the starting XI.

A casual soccer fan checking the score of the United States men’s national team’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal vs. Jamaica will see the 3-1 final score and assume it was a business-as-usual victory.

It was anything but. 

The USMNT only secured the victory thanks to a Jamaica own goal in the final seconds of regulation to send the game to extra time. Gregg Berhalter’s job was dangling by a rope the size of a mosquito’s leg.

A Miles Robinson header and subsequent deflection off Cory Burke’s cranium was Berhalter’s savior.

Christian Pulisic scored for a fourth game in-a-row with AC Milan as he found the back of the net against Verona in the Rossoneri’s 3-1 Serie A victory on Sunday.

This is becoming a weekly occurrence for us at The18 to cover a Pulisic goal. We absolutely love it. He now has 12 goals this season which breaks his record in one season of 11 set in 2019-20 with Chelsea.

Milan visited Verona, 15th in Serie A, and took care of business climbing to second in the league table with the win.

Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in AC Milan’s 3-1 victory against Slavia Praha in the Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday. Milan advanced to the quarterfinals 7-3 on aggregate with Pulisic scoring two of the goals in the tie.

The Pulisic goal vs Slavia Praha on Thursday came in the first half when Rafael Leão found the American open near top of the box. Pulisic was composed, evaded a defender and tucked away the finish into the bottom corner.

DORTMUND — Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus were on target as Borussia Dortmund secured a nervous 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday and a Champions League last-eight place for the first time in three years with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Luuk de Jong could have sent the game into extra time when he was left free in front of goal but instead of tapping in, he sent the ball wildly over the bar in stoppage time.

Luuk de Jong miss vs Dortmund

Pachuca 6, Union 0

Salomon Rondon's hat trick powered the hosts to a rout of Philadelphia in Pachuca, Mexico, sending Pachuca to a 6-0 aggregate victory.

Following a scoreless draw last week in Chester, Pa., Rondon opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty kick. He doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time when he exchanged quick passes with Erick Sanchez and fired home a left-footed shot from 12 yards out.