分类： sports

The Spanish women’s national football team successfully defended their UEFA Women’s Nations League championship with a commanding 3-0 victory against Germany in Tuesday’s final second leg at Madrid’s packed stadium. This decisive performance followed a goalless first-leg stalemate in Kaiserslautern last Friday, ultimately securing Spain’s back-to-back tournament triumphs.

While Germany had controlled proceedings during the initial match, squandering multiple scoring opportunities that would later haunt them, Spain reversed the dynamic on home turf. The hosts launched aggressive attacks from the opening whistle but initially struggled to penetrate Germany’s defensive organization and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s resilience.

The match’s turning point arrived in the 61st minute when Barcelona forward Claudia Pina broke the prolonged deadlock that had persisted across both fixtures. Demonstrating exceptional awareness, Pina exploited a momentary defensive lapse by Germany’s Giulia Gwinn. After combining with teammate Esther Gonzalez on the left flank, Pina created just enough space to unleash a powerful strike that deflected off Berger’s touch into the net.

Seven minutes later, rising star Vicky López doubled Spain’s advantage with a spectacular individual effort. Cutting inward from the right wing, the young midfielder expertly curved a precision finish beyond Berger’s reach, sending the home crowd into euphoria.

Pina cemented her Player of the Match performance in the 74th minute with a breathtaking solo goal. Collecting possession at midfield, she surged through Germany’s defensive lines before firing an unstoppable long-range missile that sealed Spain’s championship retention.

Head coach Sonia Bermudez praised her squad’s resilience in post-match comments to RTVE: “This represents a truly special day to celebrate. Our performance in Germany didn’t reflect our identity, but we understood the significance of our supporters’ energy here today. This ambitious group has mobilized 70,000 spectators—a testament to their dedication against formidable opposition.”

Tennis legend Serena Williams has generated widespread speculation after officially re-entering the sport’s drug testing registry while simultaneously declaring she has no intention of returning to professional competition. The 44-year-old American, who holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles, formally retired following the 2022 US Open after an illustrious career spanning decades.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed to BBC Sport that Williams’ name appears on their most recent registered players list published October 6th, placing her back in the mandatory drug testing pool. This administrative move typically signals preparation for competitive return, as athletes must be available for out-of-competition testing for six months before eligibility to compete.

However, just hours after this development became public, Williams took to social media to unequivocally state: ‘I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.’ This contradictory situation presents a mystery within tennis circles, as voluntarily submitting to drug testing without competitive intentions is highly unusual.

Williams has historically rejected the term ‘retirement,’ preferring instead to characterize her 2022 departure as ‘evolving away’ from tennis. Her final US Open appearance three years ago became a celebrity-studded event featuring former President Bill Clinton, Billie Jean King, Tiger Woods, and Mike Tyson in attendance. Though her singles run ended against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round, Williams delivered an electrifying performance that included saving five match points during a memorable night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The timeline of Williams’ re-registration remains unclear, but if processed from October 6th, she would technically become eligible for competition by April 2025. This development coincides with her sister Venus Williams’ recent comeback after 16 months off the tour, where the 45-year-old reached the women’s doubles quarterfinals at this year’s US Open alongside Leylah Fernandez.

With the Williams sisters having previously captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together, this administrative move fuels speculation about a potential doubles reunion, particularly with the 2026 season looming. Serena’s record of seven Australian Opens, three French Opens, seven Wimbledons, and six US Opens remains the most major singles titles by any woman in the Open era, surpassed only by Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic in overall Grand Slam achievements.

In a spectacular display of offensive dominance, Weymouth Wales Football Club secured the prestigious Prime Minister’s Cup on Monday night with an emphatic 8-3 triumph over Kickstart Rush at Kensington Oval. The commanding victory, which earned Wales a substantial $100,000 prize, culminated their exceptional 2025 season with an unforgettable performance that underscored their supremacy in local football.

The match quickly evolved into a personal showcase for tournament Most Valuable Player Andre Applewhaite, who delivered a breathtaking hat-trick with goals in the 10th, 45+2, and 79th minutes. Applewhaite, who also claimed the best defender award, formed part of Wales’ formidable attacking trio that included Jaheim Neblett with two crucial goals and additional strikes from Romario Harewood and Armando Lashley.

Wales established their dominance from the opening whistle, with Neblett initiating the scoring parade just two minutes into the match—replicating his decisive performance from their previous BFA Champions Cup encounter. The team entered halftime with a commanding 4-1 advantage under the strategic guidance of Captain Hadan Holligan and Coach Asquith Hamlet-Howell.

Despite facing overwhelming pressure, Kickstart Rush demonstrated resilience with goals from Diquan Adamson (36th minute), Tekyle Alleyne via penalty (65th minute), and Demar Linton (70th minute). However, their defensive unit featuring Captain Sekani Mayers struggled to contain Wales’ relentless offensive pace and precision passing.

In the third-place playoff, Paradise FC delivered their own impressive performance with a 6-1 victory over Wotton, powered by Sheran Hoyte’s remarkable hat-trick. Hoyte, who received the tournament’s best forward award, found the net in the 13th, 76th, and 90+6th minutes, supported by goals from Captain Jomo Harris, Christian Gill, and Khimani Cox.

The evening’s individual honors were distributed among both teams, with Kickstart’s Ben Everett recognized as best goalkeeper and Jamarco Johnson as best young player. Ackeel Applewhaite of Wales received the most outstanding midfielder award, with all exceptional players receiving $2,000 bonuses for their achievements.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland etched his name in Premier League history books on Tuesday night, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals while spearheading his team’s dramatic 5-4 victory over a resilient Fulham side. The Norwegian striker achieved the milestone in just 111 appearances, surpassing Alan Shearer’s previous record by 13 games with a blistering 17th-minute strike from Jeremy Doku’s cross.

The match at Craven Cottage transformed from a potential rout into a breathtaking spectacle as City established a commanding 5-1 lead before Fulham mounted an extraordinary second-half comeback. Phil Foden contributed a brace for the visitors, while Tijjani Reijnders also found the net alongside an unfortunate own goal from Fulham’s Sander Berge.

Fulham’s remarkable resurgence featured a brace from Samuel Chukwueze and a goal from Alex Iwobi, creating a frenetic finale that left both managers acknowledging the game’s entertainment value despite defensive concerns. The victory keeps Manchester City firmly in title contention with 28 points, trailing leaders Arsenal by two points.

Post-match reactions revealed mixed emotions from both camps. Haaland acknowledged the spectacle for neutral viewers while admitting defensive vulnerabilities, stating: ‘It was a crazy game, nine goals is a lot. In the end, we win and we’re happy but it’s not the best win.’ Manager Pep Guardiola confessed to watching his watch more than the game during the tense closing stages, though he praised both teams’ attacking mentality.

The result extends City’s dominant record against Fulham to 19 consecutive victories across all competitions since 2012—the longest such winning streak in English football history. Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed immense pride in his team’s character, highlighting their refusal to capitulate against elite opposition despite the heavy deficit.