Europe

San Marino won their first ever competitive match by beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in the Nations League on Thursday, 20 years since their only other victory, also against Liechtenstein.

The Nations League D game was hardly a clash of the titans, with San Marino bottom of FIFA's rankings at 210th and Liechtenstein 199th, but Nicko Sensoli's goal in the 53rd minute will make him a national hero.

San Marino's only other success came in their 69th game, a 1-0 win over Liechtenstein in a 2004 friendly.

LONDON — Erling Haaland's second successive hat-trick propelled Manchester City to a 3-1 win at West Ham United on Saturday, maintaining the champions' perfect start to the Premier League season.

The Norwegian striker missed an early chance but made no mistake with the second, calmly slotting past Alphonse Areola to put City ahead in the 10th minute after Bernardo Silva dispossessed Lucas Paqueta in midfield.

One mistake is all it takes for Erling Haaland to make his mark.

The Declan Rice red card from Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday was one of the more bizarre moments you’ll see in a Premier League game.

Rice received his first yellow card in the 42nd minute for a tough challenge on Joël Veltman. Nothing crazy there.

It was the 25-year-old’s second yellow card that baffled fans everywhere.

In the 49th minute Rice fouled Veltman again deep in Brighton’s territory. The Arsenal man lingered around a little too long and when Veltman tried to take the free kick quickly he ended up cleaning out Rice.

Napoli have signed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, the Serie A club said on Thursday.

Financial details of the transfer were not revealed by either club but British media reported Napoli paid $39.47 million for the 31-year-old.

Lukaku Napoli transfer details

Official, confirmed. Romelu Lukaku signs in as new Napoli player on permanent move from Chelsea.

€30m plus add-ons, 3 year contract.

Chelsea's main aim in the transfer window is to offload players from their squad so the club can balance its books, manager Enzo Maresca said on Tuesday.

Chelsea have been busy in the market since American owner Todd Boehly took over two years ago.

The West London club have spent over $211.50 million on 11 new signings for this season, including winger Pedro Neto, forward Joao Felix, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

Christian Pulisic had his best club season of his career with AC Milan in the previous campaign. A Pulisic goal vs Parma on Saturday during Milan’s 2-1 defeat showed that he looks poised for another fruitful year of goals.

Let’s start with the good news and Pulisic’s goal.

The USMNT forward equalized in the second half for Milan with one of the easier goals of his life. Rafael Leão did the hard work to get the ball deep into Parma’s box. Pulisic then made the right run at the right time to be wide open for a tap in.

Pulisic goal vs Parma

Tomas Soucek played the hero for West Ham twice on Saturday as he scored the game’s opening goal vs. Crystal Palace and then stepped in to save a ball boy.

While celebrating his goal with the away end at Selhurst Park, the excited West Ham fans tumbled over onto the field as an advertisement board collapsed. One of the Crystal Palace ball boys was then trapped under the board and weight of the fans.

Soucek was quick to respond to get the young man to safety.

Tomas Soucek ball boy moment

BRIGHTON — Brighton & Hove Albion's new manager Fabian Hürzeler said he was proud of his team's never-say-die display after they beat Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday with a winning goal in stoppage time.

Brighton came into their first Premier League home game of the season as the table toppers and almost found themselves 2-1 down before United had their second goal chalked off for offside.

MADRID — Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham sustained a muscle injury during training, the Spanish club said on Friday, and will miss key games for club and country.

The 21-year-old England international, who was a key player last season when Real won the Champions League and LaLiga titles, will be sidelined for several weeks, according to club sources.

Jude Bellingham injury