LSU became only the second seven-seed to ever win the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament after defeating Arkansas on penalties Sunday, punching their ticket to the NCAA tournament in the process.
After defeating Missouri in double overtime in the first round, LSU shocked 12th-ranked Tennessee on penalties to advance to the semifinals, where they then upset 17th-ranked South Carolina.
The much-anticipated Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders Western Conference Semifinal first leg lived up to the hype at Providence Park on Sunday evening. Seattle started brightly and opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Raul Ruidiaz, but a 23-minute period of hell between the 17th and 40th minutes saw an equalizer from Jeremy Ebobisse, the go-ahead goal from Sebastian Blanco and forced injury substitutions to Cristian Roldan (groin) and Chad Marshall (knee).
A quadruple-header of Sunday MLS Conference Semifinal playoff action began with a shock Columbus Crew first leg victory over No. 1 seed New York Red Bulls at MAPFRE Stadium, and it was thanks to a beautiful connection between Federico Higuain and the totally rejuvenated Gyasi Zardes in the 61st minute.
Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic 6-1 win over Southampton on Sunday, including a three-goal barrage in the match’s opening 18 minutes. Raheem Sterling scored a brace, Sergio Aguero reached the landmark of 150 EPL goals, David Silva laced a fine volley and Leroy Sane forced a Wesley Hoedt own goal before getting on the scoresheet himself to complete the rout.
Given the tightness at the top, it’s also worth noting that City took its goal differential to +28 with the scoreline — by far the best in the division.
Frank Lampard spent 13 spectacularly productive seasons as a midfielder for Chelsea. He returned to Stamford Bridge as coach of Derby County and watched as his team suffered a heartening 3-2 defeat in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. The Chelsea vs Derby County highlights absolutely lived up to the hype with one of the wildest League Cup matches we’ve seen since the 7-5 thriller between Arsenal and Reading in 2012.
Borussia Dortmund is through to the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 after defeating second-division side Union Berlin 3-2 Wednesday. 20-year-old American Christian Pulisic scored the opener, assisted on Max Philipp’s second and then earned the penalty that Marco Reus converted for Dortmund’s third.
We can only speak for ourselves here at The18, but we’d grown a little terrified of late, and we’re not talking about the culmination of binging The Haunting of Hill House ’til Halloween night.