A bit of absolute tomfoolery was accomplished in the Romanian Cup on Wednesday when 14-year-old Ianis Stoica was handed his professional debut in Steaua Bucharest’s match against Sanatatea Cluj as a substitute and duly scored in the 92nd minute of his side’s 6-1 victory.
At the age of 14 years, ten months and 13 days, Stoica is now the youngest ever goalscorer in the history of the 26-time Romanian champions.
Former AC Milan midfielder Keisuke Honda is currently living his best life with Pachuca in Liga MX, as evidenced by the banger he scored against Zacatepec in the Copa MX.
With Pachuca up 1-0 in the 36th minute, Honda cut inside on his left foot and uncorked an Arjen Robben special.
Gremio goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe pulled off one of the finest saves you’ll ever see on Wednesday during his side’s Copa Libertadores semifinal against Ecuador’s Barcelona. Gremio, the traveling side in the first leg, took a 2-0 advantage through Luan and Edilson, but Barcelona had an excellent chance to pull a goal back shortly after halftime and electrify the cauldron of yellow in El Monumental.
This is dumb, but in some ways Sergi Roberto is simply too good. He’s too intelligent, too tactically aware and too adaptable. The likes of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde never complained, but it’s also made the 25-year-old something of an unknown quality outside of those who watch FC Barcelona play week in, week out.
Make it back-to-back hat-tricks for 17-year-old Liverpool talent Rhian Brewster at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. After hitting the United States for three in England’s 4-1 victory in the quarterfinals, the London-born striker again found the back of the net thrice, this time in the Three Lions’ 3-1 victory over Brazil in the semifinals.
Brewster, who scored on his Liverpool U-23 debut back in January, now leads the tournament’s Golden Boot race with seven goals. He also bravely struck the first penalty in England’s Round of 16 shootout triumph over Japan.
“Your whole life, like a sandglass, will always be reversed and will ever run out again, — a long minute of time will elapse until all those conditions out of which you were evolved return in the wheel of the cosmic process. And then you will find every pain and every pleasure, every friend and every enemy, every hope and every error, every blade of grass and every ray of sunshine once more, and the whole fabric of things which make up your life.”
FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao’s search for the right formation and personnel in both the Primeira Liga and Champions League has led to Mexican international Jesus “Tecatito” Corona being handed less minutes than he’d probably like, but the 24-year-old winger was handed a start against Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday and certainly gave his manager something to think about with a flawless 75-minute display that included a goal and an assist.
Julie Ertz did it again Sunday. The USWNT defender scored in a 6-0 rout of South Korea, her fifth goal of 2017. She’s now tied with Alex Morgan for most goals scored for Team USA this year. Julie Ertz’s goal-scoring ability makes her the Sergio Ramos of women’s football.
Ertz headed in the United States’ fourth goal of the first half for her 13th goal in international play, most among active American defenders. It was her second goal in four days and fourth in her last four national-team appearances.