In 2019, FC Cincinnati stunk up MLS with a negative-44 goal differential and tied for the fourth-most amount of losses in a single season in MLS history. This season didn’t show much promise either as the club had to hire a new head coach after former coach Ron Jans resigned in February following allegations of using a racial slur in front of players.
The Houston Dash claimed the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup by defeating the Chicago Red Stars 2-0 in Sunday’s final at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Kristie Mewis earned a penalty for Houston in the fourth-minute and veteran Canadian midfielder Sophie Schmidt sent Alyssa Naeher the wrong way for the game’s opening goal before Shea Groom added the second in second half stoppage time.
AFC Bournemouth’s five-year stay in England’s top flight (the club’s first stint in its 121-year history) is almost certainly at an end following Sunday’s 2-0 loss to South Coast rivals Southampton. The match-winner was scored by Danny Ings, taking his total to 21 on the season and just two behind Jamie Vardy in the Premier League Golden Boot race.
In a must-win — or at least draw — match for Eddie Howe’s side, it was 12th-place Southampton that dominated proceedings and earned its ultimate reward in the 41st minute thanks to Ings' precise finish from 18 yards out.
An important game in the LaLiga relegation picture beckons as 18th-place Mallorca takes on 17th-place Celta Vigo on Tuesday.
Mallorca is still winless since the restart, having faced a tough stretch on the schedule which pitted the side against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. The Balearic Islands-based team, co-owned by retired basketball player Steve Nash, has taken just one point since play resumed in a draw against fellow basement dwellers Leganes.
Southampton striker Danny Ings hit his second brace of the season on Sunday to help the Saints to a 3-1 victory away to Watford.
Ings has been in sparkling form all season for Southampton and is enjoying his most productive Premier League campaign to date. Having missed substantial game time in recent years due to injury, Ings is fit and firing for the Saints.
His first goal of the day came in the 16th minute, when he dribbled past Watford defenders to rifle a low shot into the corner of the net from just outside the box.
Former Germany international Mario Gómez called time on a distinguished career on Sunday after helping VfB Stuttgart secure promotion back to the Bundesliga.
Gómez, a product of the Stuttgart academy, bids farewell as the fourth-highest goalscorer in club history with 110. In his second full season with the first team back in 2006-07, he scored 14 goals in 25 league appearances to lead the club to its first Bundesliga title in 15 years.
In the summer of 2016, Bruno Soriano was representing Spain at the Euros while appearing in two group stage matches. He followed that up with another inspirational season as Villarreal’s captain, appearing in 45 games across all competitions while scoring five goals and adding three assists from his defensive midfield position.
Then, for effectively three seasons, nothing — not a single appearance for his beloved Yellow Submarine.
Last night in Rome, Napoli captured the Coppa Italia by defeating Juventus on penalties to send Naples into raptures. There are few cities on the planet that are so culturally and socially intertwined with their football club, and a first major honor since 2014 — coupled with the fact that it was achieved against Cristiano Ronaldo and 94-year rival Juve — drew fans out onto the streets to celebrate into the early hours.
Napoli stunned Juventus when they won 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to claim the Coppa Italia on Wednesday and bring their fiery coach Gennaro Gattuso the first major trophy of his coaching career.
Paulo Dybala and Danilo missed Juve's first two efforts in the shootout while Napoli converted all of their attempts to win the trophy for the sixth time while also ending Juve's hopes of winning the treble this season.
It was the first title to be settled in the Italian season which has just restarted after a three-month hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Growing up in the shadow of big brother Dominik, who starred in ice hockey from an early age, footballer Martin Hasek travelled a bumpier road to sporting success but one that nevertheless took him to the Champions League and Czech Republic side.
His journey is the subject of a documentary "Hasan: The Coach" premiering on Thursday, which spans his youth competing at home with the future Olympic and Stanley Cup champion goaltender to coaching his two sons in the Czech top-flight.