Goals

SYDNEY — Alessia Russo's second-half goal lifted England to a thrilling 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Colombia on Saturday and into the Women's World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive time.

Lauren Hemp also scored for the European champions, who now face hosts Australia on Wednesday in Sydney for a place in their first World Cup final.

"It's exciting, what more do you want in front of a home crowd?" Russo, who was named player of the match, told ITV. "We got a bit of that tonight against Colombia. You want to play against the best teams.

Erling Haaland may never let go of the Premier League’s golden boot award. He only needed 185 seconds to score in the 2023-24 EPL opening game before he added a second goal later in the first half.

Burnley hosted the defending European and Premier League champions Manchester City on Friday and got a harsh welcome back to England’s top flight with a 3-0 battering.

The home crowd at Turf Moor were immediately silenced when Haaland scored in the fourth minute.

AUCKLAND — Pictures of Sweden fullback Jonna Andersson taking time out from celebrating her side's 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over Japan to comfort Maika Hamano have spread quickly online as the pair's club connections became a talking point.

Hamano plays for Andersson's former club Chelsea, but the 19-year-old Japanese forward has spent the current season at the Swede's current club Hammarby in Stockholm.

Christian Pulisic scored his first goal for AC Milan on Tuesday during a friendly vs. Italian side AC Monza which finished 1-1.

Pulisic was given the start and led the line with Rafael Leão and Olivier Giroud. The USMNT star scored the only goal for Milan on the night after he did well to earn a penalty. Converting didn’t come easy as his initial attempt was saved but he pounced on the rebound.

MELBOURNE — A second-half goal by Catalina Usme fired Colombia to a 1-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday and carried the South Americans to their first Women's World Cup quarterfinal.

The captain's 51st-minute strike sent Colombian fans into delirium at a packed Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and ensured the last American team in the tournament will battle England for a place in the last four.

"We are representing the whole continent of South America," Colombia coach Nelson Abadia told reporters.

Lionel Messi added another dramatic free kick goal to his Inter Miami highlight reel as his side defeated FC Dallas in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 with a scoreline of 5-3 on penalties after drawing 4-4 after 90 minutes.

This was Messi’s first away game since joining Inter Miami and he didn’t disappoint. The Argentine scored yet another brace to bring his goal tally with Miami up to seven goals in four games.

He has scored three braces in a row.

As the sun crested the horizon for many Americans on Sunday morning the figurative sun set for the United States women’s national team who lost 5-4 on penalty kicks to Sweden in the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup.

I’m sorry to disappoint folks but I’m at a loss for words. How on Earth did the USWNT lose that game? The Swedish kryptonite continues to haunt the women.

Let’s get to where it went wrong in penalties. Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith blew it. Plain and simple. I know Kelly O’Hara would miss her kick later but let me set the scene.

AUCKLAND — Five days after Spain's shock loss to Japan, a bold squad reshuffle by coach Jorge Vilda paid off for the Spanish team on Saturday as they thrashed Switzerland 5-1 in their last-16 Women's World Cup clash.

The victory launched La Roja into the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

"(The 4-0 loss to Japan) really hurt and the healing of that pain will continue," Vilda told a press conference.

WELLINGTON — Hinata Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the tournament as Japan beat Norway 3-1 in a clash of former champions on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup for the fourth time.

Japan have been on a mission to bury the memory of their disappointing exit at the last-16 stage in 2019 and move on to play the winner of Sunday's clash between holders the United States and Sweden.