Game Recaps

Netherlands keep pace with USWNT by stifling Portugal at World Cup

DUNEDIN - The Netherlands kicked off their Group E campaign with a 1-0 win over Women's World Cup debutants Portugal at Dunedin Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a first-half goal from Stefanie van der Gragt that was awarded on a VAR review.

The Dutch edged Portugal 3-2 a year ago in the European Championship group stage, but this time the Iberian side were no match for the team in their trademark orange and did not have a shot on target until the 82nd minute.

Last gasp Vangsgaard header delivers Denmark 1-0 win vs. China

PERTH — Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard headed home a goal in the 90th minute to give Denmark a winning start to their first Women's World Cup campaign since 2007 with a 1-0 victory against China at Perth Oval on Saturday.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who was brought on five minutes earlier, found the back of the net with a long-range header from a Pernille Harder corner to break the deadlock.

Denmark goal vs China Women's World Cup

Alex Morgan just bagged best assist of the World Cup in USWNT’s 3-0 opener vs. Vietnam

Sophia Smith scored two and assisted one for the United States women’s national team during the 3-0 victory against Vietnam in their Women’s World Cup opener. An Alex Morgan assist vs Vietnam was one of the big highlights as she cleverly set up Smith for the opening goal.

Despite the victory, USWNT fans won’t be too pleased with the performance. The Americans were far too sloppy in the final third of the field and didn’t look to be on the same page for most of the 90 minutes.

Lionel Messi scores outrageous winner with last kick of the match on Inter Miami debut

How big is Lionel Messi?

Inter Miami, dead last in MLS, hosted Cruz Azul, bottom of Liga MX, in the uncelebrated Leagues Cup on Friday night, and a sellout crowd (one fan paid $3.5K for a spot near midfield) with LeBron James, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, Marc Anthony and Becky G in attendance showed up to watch.

You would've thought that Kim K had cursed Miami to a group stage exit, but Messi had other plans. 

Nigeria's Nnadozie provides clutch penalty save vs. Sinclair to earn massive draw

MELBOURNE — Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty to help Nigeria secure a valuable 0-0 draw against Olympic champions Canada in their Women's World Cup opener on Friday in a result that threw the group wide open.

Nnadozie denied Christine Sinclair from the spot in the 50th minute with a low dive to her left as the Canada skipper missed out on becoming the first player to score in six World Cups in front of 21,000 fans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Christian Pulisic takes only 17 minutes to get his first 2 assists for AC Milan

It was only a preseason match against a third division team but Christian Pulisic won't care — he'll just be happy to be starting and contributing again after wasting away at Chelsea.

The 24-year-old American, having just completed his $24.5 million transfer, got the start for AC Milan on Thursday during the club's first fixture of the summer, a matchup against Serie C's Lumezzane at the Milanello Sports Center.

Australia overcomes devastating Sam Kerr injury with winning start at World Cup

SYDNEY - Co-hosts Australia labored initially in the absence of injured captain Sam Kerr but a second-half penalty from Steph Catley got them off to a solid start at the Women's World Cup with a 1-0 win over Ireland in Group B on Thursday.

The news that striker Kerr had been ruled out by a calf injury stunned the record crowd of 75,784 as it filtered into Stadium Australia but Catley stepped up to take the captain's armband and score the decisive goal in the 52nd minute.

Arsenal put 5 past MLS All-Stars in record rout

Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard scored excellent goals before halftime to spark Premier League power Arsenal to a 5-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

New Zealand stun group favorites Norway with 1-0 victory in WWC opening match

The 2023 Women’s World Cup kicked off with an unexpected upset as as co-hosts New Zealand stunned Group A favorites Norway with a 1-0 victory in front of a record 42,137 crowd at Eden Park in Auckland.

This was the first time that the New Zealand women’s national team (or men’s team) have won a World Cup game.

On a day that should have been highlighted with celebrations began with tragedy. A gunman shot and killed two people in the same city that hosted the Women’s World Cup opener, Auckland.

Christopher Nkunku scores his first goal for Chelsea as Blues humble Wrexham in North Carolina

Chelsea defeated newly promoted League 2 side and U.S. favorites Wrexham on Wednesday 5-0 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

This was a first look at a Chelsea side which has offloaded so many players this summer. The Blues’ starting XI was a testament to how few familiar faces are on the roster.

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