Free Kicks

Lyon kept pace with rival PSG at the top of the Division 1 Féminine table by beating Soyaux 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.

After opening the season last weekend with a commanding 5-1 victory over Stade Reims behind a Daniëlle van de Donk brace, Lyon found things more difficult on the grounds of the Groupama OL Training Center. 

The match required a moment of magic from American midfielder Lindsey Horan in the 32nd-minute to open the scoring. After failing to get off the bench in Lyon's first game, Horan started alongside Van de Donk and Sara Däbritz in a three-woman midfield.

A flying start to the Premier League season is quickly unraveling for Leeds United following a 5-2 loss to Brentford. After Ivan Toney completed his hat trick for the Bees on Saturday, Leeds’ day went from bad to worse as manager Jesse Marsch was sent off following his protest of a non-penalty call just after the hour mark.

Jesse Marsch going crazy on the touch line because he thinks Leeds should have a penalty for a foul on Summerville by Hickey.

Gonzalo Higuaín is making a habit of scoring worldies for Inter Miami. Almost a month ago, the Argentine scored a ridiculous free kick from just outside of the box against Cincinnati. Tonight, he hit copy and paste against the New York Red Bulls. 

GONZALO HIGUAIN!

This set piece stunner gives @InterMiamiCF the lead! pic.twitter.com/t87fJB0OOD

Brace yourself for the sequel, Bend It Like Beckham 2: Going Bottom Bins On Orlando City B, because 19-year-old Romeo Beckham, son of Old Golden Balls himself, has curled home his first set-piece goal for Inter Miami CF II in MLS Next Pro.

Romeo's first foray into football was back in 2014 with Arsenal's Academy, but he was released and briefly pursued a fledgling tennis career while training alongside Andy Murray. However, he returned to the sport last year by joining Miami's reserve team and it looks like the correct decision. 

Last month, MLS club LAFC completed the signing of Giorgio Chiellini on a free transfer from Juventus. He's the league's second major Italian signing this summer after Lorenzo Insigne joined Toronto FC on a free transfer.

Heading toward the World Cup, the USMNT needed to do something drastic to alter its approach to set pieces. 

In the 14-game qualifying cycle, the U.S. managed only three goals from set pieces. They all came in a single match — the 3-0 victory over Honduras in Minnesota. It's also worth noting that Kellyn Acosta, the best dead ball specialist in the squad, provided the service on all three and is expected to start on the bench in Qatar as Tyler Adams' backup.

You get the feeling that if Ukraine had been playing any other nation on the planet in Sunday's playoff, they'd be going to the World Cup. The team picked up where it left off against Scotland — playing with a passion, verve and energy that saw the visitors threaten to play Wales off the park at Cardiff City Stadium.