Game Recaps

United States men’s national team midfielder Luca de la Torre scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season in style on Wednesday with a disgusting backheel goal.

De la Torre opened the scoring of Celta Vigo’s 3-1 Copa del Rey victory vs. Valencia in the 13th minute off a corner kick.

Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Doménech failed to punch the ball out of his box and some quick pinball action inside the 18-yard-box resulted in the ball heading straight for the 25-year-old American.

De la Torre only had a second to react and he turned the chance into an amazing goal.

NEWCASTLE — Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne inspired a late comeback 3-2 victory for his side at Newcastle United on Saturday in his first Premier League action since the opening day of the season.

The Belgian midfielder has been missing since August because of a hamstring injury but came off the bench in the 69th minute with City trailing 2-1 to spark a remarkable turnaround.

Bernardo Silva had given City a 26th-minute lead with a sublime back-heeled finish from Kyle Walker's low cross but Pep Guardiola's side were soon rocked back on their heels.

BURNLEY — Carlton Morris scored a controversial last-gasp goal as Luton Town escaped Turf Moor with a precious point against Burnley in a 1-1 Premier League draw on Friday between two sides fighting relegation.

The hosts looked set for victory after Zeki Amdouni's first-half goal before Morris headed in the equalizer in the 92nd minute. Burnley protested that Luton's Elijah Adebayo impeded goalkeeper James Trafford, but following a VAR check, the goal stood.

JJ Watt Luton Town goal tweet

Real Madrid and Átletico Madrid faced off in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final this Wednesday in what would turn out to be one of the most entertaining matches of the season held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Embed from Getty Images

Matt Turner came up big (and short) this Saturday when Nottingham Forest defeated Manchester United 2-1 in Matchday 20 of the Premier League.

The American was having an acceptable performance at City Ground while his team maintained a 1-0 lead, but a horrific pass out the back, intercepted by the United attack, ended in a goal conceded and the momentary draw.

Alejandro Garnacho takes advantage of Matt Turner's error and Marcus Rashford brings Manchester United level!

WOLVERHAMPTON — Wolverhampton Wanderers outclassed Everton 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run at home to eight games with goals from Maximilian Kilman, Matheus Cunha and Craig Dawson.

Wolves took the lead in the 25th minute when Cunha's cross into the box found Dawson, whose attempt was blocked by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.

A goalmouth scramble ensued before Kilman slotted home and he celebrated his first goal of the season by holding up the jersey of teammate Mario Lemina, who missed the game following the death of his father.

SHEFFIELD — Jack Robinson and Anis Ben Slimane scored own goals in the final 13 minutes as Sheffield United let a late lead slip and lost 3-2 to fellow Premier League strugglers Luton Town at Bramall Lane on Tuesday.

United deservedly drew level just past the hour-mark as Oli McBurnie scored his third goal of the season, and they led when Luton failed to clear a cross and after a scramble in the box, Anel Ahmedhodzic scored.

One unwritten rule of soccer that doesn’t really exist in other sports is the art of players not celebrating if they score a goal against a team they formerly played on.

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood took that unwritten rule to heart on Boxing Day when netted a hat trick against his former club, Newcastle. 

The New Zealand forward was the hero in Forest’s massive 3-1 victory but hardly celebrated as he followed the unwritten rule of not celebrating after scoring against a former team.

Chris Wood not celebrating vs. Newcastle

WOLVERHAMPTON — Wolverhampton Wanderers continued their stellar home form to heap misery on Chelsea on Christmas eve with a 2-1 win in the Premier League on Sunday, thanks to second-half strikes from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty.

Chelsea's best chance of the first half fell to Raheem Sterling who stole the ball from last man João Gomes and sprinted into the Wolves box with only the keeper Jose Sa to beat.

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé scored twice to help the Ligue 1 leaders beat Metz 3-1 at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday and close out the year on a high as they maintained their five-point advantage at the top of the table.

Vitinha put the hosts in front early into the second half, scoring with his first touch, before Mbappé doubled the lead on the hour mark with a stunning shot from the edge of the box as the France forward celebrated his 25th birthday.

Kylian Mbappé goal vs Metz