I9BET: July 2023

Monday, 31 July 2023

Report: Raptors sign veteran forward Garrett Temple to one-year, $3.2M deal

The Toronto Raptors have signed veteran forward Garrett Temple to a one-year, $3.2 million deal Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The 2023-24 season will be Temple’s 14th year in the league. Toronto will be the 12th team the LSU product has suited up for in his lengthy career.

In 716 career NBA games, Temple has averaged 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. He is a career 34.5 per cent shooter from three-point range.

Temple’s best season came in 2019-20 when he averaged 10.3 points per game for the Brooklyn Nets.

The signing means the Raptors will now have 19 players at training camp. They now have 15 fully guaranteed deals, Jeff Dowtin Jr. signed to a training camp deal and three players signed to two-way deals.

Each NBA team can carry a maximum of 15 players on the active roster.

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What made Genesis Cabrera so expendable, and who’s next in Cardinals’ fire sale?

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Sunday, 30 July 2023

Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe power Rays past Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer and drove in three, Josh Lowe capped a four-run first with a three-run double and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros 8-2 on Sunday.

Brandon Lowe, who finished with three hits, hit his homer to right in the sixth to increase Tampa Bay’s lead to 8-2. He also had an RBI single in the fourth.

The Rays got to Houston starter Brandon Bielak (5-6) for four runs in the first, with Yandy Diaz scoring on a fielding error by Jose Abreu before Josh Lowe hit his three-run double.

Diaz had an RBI single in the fourth as the Rays built a 6-0 lead.

Zack Littell (1-2), making his fourth start of the season, yielded two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in a career-high five innings.

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Houston got their runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Kyle Tucker and an RBI groundout by Alex Bregman. Jose Altuve had three hits.

Bielak allowed six runs — three earned — on eight hits with four strikeouts in five innings. Bielak has allowed six runs in consecutive starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Zach Efflin (right knee discomfort) is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday after being injured Wednesday. “We need him to pitch,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We don’t want to put him in harm’s way, but I think he’s checked a lot of boxes here. We are very encouraged with how he’s responded day-to-day, and he still has another day or two of rest.”

Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy (right shoulder) allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings of a rehabilitation start with double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday. Urquidy threw 76 pitches in his fourth rehab start. … OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) took batting practice on the field prior to Sunday’s game.

ROSTER MOVE

Tampa Bay selected RHP Erasmo Ramirez from triple-A Durham and optioned RHP Calvin Faucher to Durham.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.36 ERA) starts Monday in the first of a three-game series at the Yankees.

Astros: Houston starts a three-game series against the Guardians on Monday, but the Astros have yet to announce their starter.

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Arsenal set to beat Bayern Munich once again to the transfer of top rated superstar who would be a perfect replacement

Brentford boss Thomas Frank responds to David Raya Arsenal transfer talk with honest message
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has spoken out about the future of Arsenal transfer target David Raya

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted that Arsenal target David Raya wants to leave the club during the summer transfer window.

The talented goalkeeper is into the final 12 months of his contract at the Community Stadium, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all previously mooted as potential destinations for the player. However, the Gunners have now emerged as a surprise possible destination.

The Athletic have reported that Mikel Arteta’s side are interested in the Spanish international, with the Arsenal boss keen on bringing in a new shot-stopper to compete with current number-one Aaron Ramsdale. Raya was then left out of the Bees’ squad for Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Aston Villa, further proof that he is likely to leave the west Londoners this summer.

Frank was then asked whether this meant that it is just a matter of time before the 27-year-old completes a move, to which he told NBC Sports, via Metro : “Unfortunately it’s not that easy. I hope [we get an offer], we are waiting to sell. David would like to go.

“That’s fine for us. If a club want to buy [him] they just need to find out the price. So I guess it should be simple, but apparently it’s very difficult.”

Frank has previously admitted that it will take £40million for Brentford to part ways with the former Blackburn star, something the player himself has revealed is a slight worry. Speaking to The Times about his future earlier this year, Raya said: “I will always feel close to [Brentford]. Being part of the promotion to the Premier League is something I will never forget.

“I know there are rumours about me leaving. There are some options for me to go but obviously Brentford are asking for a lot of money. That could make clubs not want to buy me, it could make them look somewhere else.

“But if that’s the value they give me then it’s up to them. I have a year left on my contract and until then I’m a Brentford player, there’s nothing I can do.”

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Report: Surging Cubs tell Cody Bellinger he will not be traded

The Chicago Cubs have informed pending free-agent Cody Bellinger he will not be traded, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Bellinger, 28, is slashing .315/.368/.540 this year in what is described as a resurgent season.

Having won eight straight, Chicago (53-51) feels the playoffs are now a possibility and will instead try and add at the trade deadline, according to the story. The Cubs are just 3.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

The National League’s MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bellinger signed a one-year, $17.5-million deal with the Cubs prior to this season.

Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, was cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 18 after the 27-year-old outfielder hit .210 with 19 homers, 150 strikeouts and a .654 OPS in 144 games.

Bellinger, 28, was limited to 95 games during the 2021 regular season when he was on the injured list three times and batted .165. He hit .353 in 12 games in that postseason and had the go-ahead RBI single in Game 5 of the NL Division Series against the rival San Francisco Giants. Bellinger also had a tying, three-run homer against Atlanta in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series.

In 2020, Bellinger hit .239 with 12 home runs in 56 games during the pandemic-shortened season. He homered three times in the NLCS, and the Dodgers beat the Braves to reach the World Series. They went on to defeat Tampa Bay in six games to win the franchise’s first title since 1988.

Bellinger has battled injuries since his MVP season, including having surgery on his right shoulder in November 2020.

Before his precipitous drop-off, Bellinger was the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and 2018 NLCS MVP. He made two All-Star teams, and won a Gold Glove in 2019.

— With files from AP

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Cancer survivor Caicedo scores as Colombia tops South Korea at Women’s World Cup

SYDNEY (AP) — A cancer survivor, a Real Madrid star and now a scorer on her debut at the Women’s World Cup. Linda Caicedo is an inspirational figure already at the age of 18.

Her broad smile at the end of Colombia’s 2-0 win over South Korea on Tuesday lit up Sydney Football Stadium almost as much as her skills on the field.

Having feared this moment would never come when diagnosed with ovarian cancer aged 15, she made the most of being on the biggest stage in women’s soccer.

“It is my first World Cup with the senior team and therefore I have to enjoy this tournament,” Caicedo said. “No pressure. I know how young I am, everything that I (still) have to learn, the experience that I have to get.”

Caicedo talks and plays with a maturity beyond her teenage years.

As a child prodigy, she made her senior team debut aged just 14. Then came the cancer diagnosis which threw such a promising career into doubt.

Now, here she was, lighting up the World Cup with a performance that justified her status as one of the rising stars of the sport.

“I just try to enjoy this moment,” she said, cautious not to over-think things or lose sight of the bigger picture. “A football player has to be focused.”

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South Korea could not contain Caicedo, whose speed and footwork constantly forced her opponents to retreat.

That was the case as she burst forward from the halfway line in the first half before doubling Colombia’s lead and effectively putting the result beyond doubt.

Cutting in from the left wing, she beat a number of Korean players before curling in a shot from the edge of the box. While her effort appeared too central to trouble South Korea’s Yoon Young-geul, the goalkeeper got her positioning wrong and instead fumbled the ball into the net.

Caicedo certainly didn’t mind getting the helping hand as she raced toward Colombia’s fans in celebration.

South Korea coach Colin Bell was less impressed with his team’s defensive marking.

“Obviously Linda is a really big talent, but we just gave her too much space, ” he said, adding that his defenders should have gone in for firm but fair slide tackles. “We had the options to do that also before the second goal. You cannot just shadow a player. You need that physicality but obviously Linda is capable and very strong in one-v-one.”

Bell’s frustration was evident at the end of the game, but stopping a player of Caicedo’s qualities is easier said than done.

“This was a football exhibition and also a confidence exhibition. she brings joy to everyone,” Colombia’s assistant coach Mario Abadia said. “It’s great to see such players, how they evolve and how they take ownership of such a game like she did.”

In a moment for the history books for talented teens, 16-year-old Casey Phair became the youngest-ever player at a senior soccer World Cup when she went on as a second-half substitute for South Korea.

By then, it was too late.

The Colombians took the lead from a penalty in the 30th minute after Shim Seo-yeon handled a goal-bound effort from Manuela Vanegas in the area. Catalina Usme converted from the spot.

Caicedo’s goal gave the Colombians a bigger buffer.

Lee Geum-min was close to pulling a goal back at the end of the half with a powerful header, but was denied by the flying save of Catalina Perez.

These were the last two teams to begin their campaigns in the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, and it was the 300th game in Women’s World Cup history.

The win could be crucial to Colombia’s chances of advancing to the round of 16 after Germany delivered a statement of intent in Group H with a 6-0 rout of Morocco on Monday.

WHAT’S NEXT

Colombia and Germany meet in Sydney on Sunday, while South Korea and Morocco face each other in Adelaide on the same day.

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Saturday, 29 July 2023

Swede Sarah Sjoestroem breaks own world record in 50-metre freestyle

FUKUOKA, Japan — Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjoestroem broke her own world record in the 50-meter freestyle on Saturday, swimming a time of 23.61 seconds in a semifinal heat at the World Aquatics Championships.

Her previous record was 23.67 set in 2017. The new record came just over 10 minutes after she won gold in the 50-meter butterfly. Her time there was 24.77.

Sjoestroem has now won 20 individual medals at the world championships to tie Michael Phelps. Relays are not included in the count. She has 11 gold in world championships.

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Friday, 28 July 2023

Leclerc starts on pole for Belgian GP after Verstappen gets grid penalty

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Runaway F1 championship leader Max Verstappen had the fastest time in qualifying for the rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix on Friday, but Charles Leclerc will start the race from pole position because of Verstappen’s five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.

Verstappen will begin Sunday’s race in sixth place, but that will hardly bother the two-time reigning Formula One champion considering he won here last year from 14th on the grid.

“This year the car is better. I’m still targeting to win the race for sure,” Verstappen said. “I know that I have to drop back on Sunday with the penalty I have, but it was the best I could do today.”

He also believes it was the right decision to change his gearbox in Belgium.

“I think it’s the best place to do it,” said Verstappen, who has won 44 races in his career. “Sunday looks more and more dry.”

Verstappen finished qualifying a significant .82 seconds ahead of Leclerc and .88 ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who moved up from third to second on the grid.

Leclerc does not believe his car is fast enough to challenge for a victory.

“It’s great to start first, but to say we’re targeting the win would be a bit optimistic,” he said. “It will be hard to keep these guys (Red Bulls) behind.”

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will go from third and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. from fourth ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Verstappen, who leads the championship by a massive 110 points from second-place Perez.

Lando Norris qualifed seventh for McLaren, with George Russell in eighth for Mercedes ahead of Aston Martin teammates Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

The qualifying session was delayed for 10 minutes because of heavy rain and started under clearing skies but with the track still soaked.

“In these conditions it’s so easy for things to go wrong,” Perez said.

With conditions still slippery, Norris went wide into gravel but just managed to bring the car back before it hit the barriers.

AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo, who had his lap time deleted for going off track limits, and Williams driver Alex Albon were among the five drivers eliminated from Q1, the first part of qualifying.

The circuit started drying a bit for Q2, but Alpine’s Esteban Ocon damaged his front wing after going over gravel and failed to make it into Q3.

“It’s a rare error from me, it was my fault,” said Ocon, who crashed out of the Hungarian GP last weekend.

After only just scraping into Q3 in 10th, Verstappen unleashed a rant at his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, letting fly with a couple of expletives.

Lambiase stood up to him firmly and received an apology afterward from Verstappen, who showed his searing pace on his final lap.

Verstappen will have his eyes on an eighth straight victory of a dominant season for a dominant Red Bull which has won all 11 races this season, and a F1 record 12 straight victory including the final race of last year.

The rain-marred first practice session took place amid gloomy conditions. It led governing body FIA to say the grid for Sunday’s race would have been set in order of the championship standings if qualifying had to be canceled.

Because this weekend features a sprint race on Saturday, qualifying for Sunday’s main race itself was on Friday with only one practice session beforehand.

It took place amid a downpour at the 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) Spa-Francorchamps circuit, located in the Ardennes forest.

With visibility poor due to the water spray and a slippery surface, drivers did not look to set competitive times.

Sainz had a leading time of 2 minutes, 3.2 seconds, while Verstappen was among the five drivers not to set a time.

Midway through the first practice session, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Albon both slid off track, as did Albon’s teammate Logan Sargeant. The rookie American driver locked his tires, couldn’t turn and went straight on at Les Combes.

With his car parked by the barriers, a red flag came out.

Only a handful of drivers came out for the final minutes of the first practice, with fans dotted around the track huddling under umbrellas.

There is another qualifying session Saturday to sat the grid for the sprint race. It is the third sprint race of the season, with Perez and Verstappen winning one each.

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Burrow carted out of Bengals’ practice after pulling up with calf injury

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Thursday, 27 July 2023

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey appears to injure leg during Dolphins practice

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Cornerback Jalen Ramsey was carted off with an apparent leg injury at the end of Thursday’s Miami Dolphins practice.

Ramsey was matched up against receiver Tyreek Hill during an 11-on-11 drill when the injury happened. He went down grabbing at his left knee and was attended to by trainers.

Ramsey was helped up but didn’t appear to put any weight on the leg before he was carted off the field as Miami’s second full-team practice of training camp closed.

“Everybody’s worried about him,” said safety Jevon Holland, “but we’re not really sure what’s wrong. … He’ll be alright.”

The Dolphins acquired the All-Pro cornerback Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in March.

Ramsey, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, had 77 tackles and four interceptions during the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning 2021 season. Last season, he had a career-high 88 tackles and four interceptions.

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Tiger-Cats’ Bo Levi Mitchell listed as starter vs. Redblacks

HAMILTON — Bo Levi Mitchell is back as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats starting quarterback.

Mitchell was listed as the No. 1 quarterback for Hamilton (2-4) for its road game Friday night versus the Ottawa Redblacks (3-3).

Hamilton placed Mitchell on the six-game injured list with a hip ailment following its 32-14 road loss to the Toronto Argonauts on June 18.

Mitchell missed four games, but was pulled off the injured list Monday when he resumed practising with the Ticats.

Rookie Taylor Powell will serve as Mitchell’s backup. Powell completed 27-of-41 passes for 282 yards and an interception while rushing four times for 37 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 31-15 home loss to Toronto, his first CFL start.

Hamilton comes in having won two of its last three games, including a 21-13 home victory over Ottawa on July 8. The Redblacks have won their last two contests, both in overtime, marking a CFL first.

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Nassar survivors sue Michigan St., saying it made ‘secret decisions’ about releasing documents

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Women who were sexually assaulted by former Michigan State University sports doctor Larry Nassar filed a lawsuit Thursday saying school officials made “secret decisions” about releasing documents in the case.

The group of survivors and parents says the lawsuit seeks accountability — not money — from the university. They say the school refused to give the state attorney general’s office more than 6,000 documents for an investigation into how Nassar was allowed to get away with his behavior, and later wouldn’t turn over emails about the board of trustees’ decision-making. The school has said the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after he admitted to molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment. He was accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of women and girls.

Michigan State has been criticized for its handling of the Nassar investigation and its dealings with survivors in the aftermath of his arrest and conviction. The school has settled lawsuits filed by Nassar victims for $500 million.

The civil lawsuit names the school and its elected trustee board, saying the decisions and “secret votes” by a public body skirted Michigan’s open meetings laws and the state Constitution, according to a news release.

“We contend that board members made a behind-closed-doors secret decision not to release the records in blatant violation of the Open Meetings Act,” victims’ attorney Azzam Elder said in a release. “They followed that up with violations of the Freedom of Information Act when we requested emails that might show they discussed and made a closed-door decision on the matter in violation of law.”

A spokesperson for Michigan State did not immediately respond to an email Thursday seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The suit wants the school to turn over emails and other communications about decisions trustees may have made out of the public eye, to have a court declare that Michigan State violated the Freedom of Information Act and to compel the university to comply with both FOIA and the Open Meetings Act going forward.

Attorney General Dana Nessel has asked the school to release the more than 6,000 documents to help shine a light on what the school knew about the abuse. She ended her investigation in 2021 of the school’s handling of the Nassar case because the university refused to provide documents related to the scandal.

“This is about who knew what, when at the university,” Nasar victim Melissa Brown Hudecz said prior to Thursday’s lawsuit filing. “We can’t heal as a community until we know that everyone who enabled a predator is accountable. By protecting the 6,000 secret documents and anyone named in them, the board is adding to survivors’ trauma with their lack of institutional accountability.”

Earlier this month, Nassar was stabbed multiple times by another prisoner in his federal penitentiary cell in Florida. The prisoner said Nassar provoked the attack by making a lewd comment about wanting to see girls play in the Wimbledon women’s tennis match while they were watching the tournament on TV, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack or the ongoing investigation and did so on condition anonymity.

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Mikel Arteta hits back at Xavi complaints following heated Arsenal vs Barcelona clash

Mikel Arteta has hit back at Xavi after the Barcelona boss voices his concerns regarding Arsenal’s intensity during their overnight friendly match.

The Gunners secured a 5-3 victory in a hugely-entertaining game in Los Angeles. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring before Bukayo Saka quickly fired back to make the score 1-1, with the Hale End academy graduate then missing a penalty shortly after.

Raphinha then restored the lead for the Blaugrana via a deflected free-kick before Kai Havertz levelled things back up with a close-range finish right before half-time.

Leandro Trossard’s brace after the break gave the north Londoners a 4-2 advantage as Ferran Torres’ late finish proved to be merely a consolation when Fabio Vieira wrapped the scoring up in the 89th minute.

It was a physical game at the SoFi Stadium, something that Barcelona boss Xavi admitted he told Arteta he was less than impressed with. “I said to Mikel at the end of the game that it means a Champions League game because the intensity that they put was not normal in a friendly”, the former Spanish international said in his post-match press conference.

“But I understand everybody wants to win. It was the first game for us and after we passed a virus.”

He added: “Our intensity didn’t surprise me, their’s did. It’s normal for it to be so intense and for their to be so many injuries and yellow cards. They were at a very high level of intensity and rhythm that we weren’t expecting.”

But Arteta was unapologetic for his side’s physical approach, backing his players for the intensity they displayed. “At the end of the day, soccer belongs to the players”, he said regarding Xavi’s comments.

“We’re playing in front of 70,000 people and as soon as the game starts they’ll rebel against the coaches as soon as the game starts and they’ll do what they want. As soon as there’s the first foul of the game they’ll start getting intense and they’ll start playing.”

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Wednesday, 26 July 2023

Olympic president invokes John Lennon’s memory as Paris marks one year to war-clouded Games

PARIS — The president of the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday formally invited the world’s nations but not Russia or its military ally Belarus to gather in one year in Paris for the Olympics — launching the final countdown to the 2024 Games against the backdrop of war in Ukraine.

IOC president Thomas Bach accompanied his invite with a plea for togetherness and invoked the memory of John Lennon as he argued that “our fragile world, with conflicts, divisions and wars rising,” needs the Olympics’ “unifying power more than ever.”

“The Olympic Games must always build bridges. The Olympic Games must never erect walls. Imagine. You may say we are dreamers. We are not the only ones,” Bach said, borrowing from Lennon’s famous peace anthem, “Imagine.”

Bach has heaped praise on Paris’ preparations this week as the French capital marked the year-to-go milestone to the opening ceremony on July 26, 2024.

“Paris is maybe at this stage the best-prepared city ever,” Bach said.

Without the usual worries about whether Olympic venues will be ready, the biggest unknown this time is whether Bach and the IOC will let athletes from Russia and Belarus compete.

In Paris this week, the IOC president has not deviated from his line that there may be a pathway for some of them to compete as “neutral athletes,” without their countries’ flags, names or colors, but that the final decision will come later.

“There’s still one year to go,” Bach said Wednesday. “We have not taken any decision about the participation of individual neutral athletes yet.”

The sending out of formal invites for national Olympic committees and their best athletes to take part in the July 26 to Aug. 11 Olympics is an IOC tradition to mark the year-to-go milestone of both Summer and Winter Games. This time, 203 NOCs are getting them. Some picked up their invites from Bach in person Wednesday at a ceremony at the Paris Games headquarters. An invite also went to the IOC’s team of refugee athletes.

Guatemala joined Russia and Belarus on the list of NOCs that aren’t invited. Guatemala is suspended from the Olympic movement because of alleged government interference with the independence of its NOC.

Other year-to-go events this week have been less formal than the ceremony where Bach spoke about Olympic values and where a violinist played France’s national anthem and Lennon’s “Imagine.”

On a visit to the Olympic village that will house many of the 10,500 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympic athletes, Bach got to test one of the cardboard beds they’ll sleep on. Cardboard beds were also used at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 and became something of a hit when athletes posted videos of themselves testing their durability.

“I can assure them that they will sleep very well in these beds,” Bach said.

He also rubbed shoulders with eight-time gold-medal winner Usain Bolt, who was the star guest on a festive trip for Olympic officials and French athletes on the River Seine. The boat trip Tuesday to the foot of the Eiffel Tower offered a small foretaste of the unprecedented waterborne opening ceremony that Paris is planning for its Games.

Paris organizers this week also unveiled the design of the sleek silver-colored torch that will be used to carry the Olympic flame around France and on its final leg at the July 26 opening.

And they snagged a sponsorship deal with the world’s biggest luxury group, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

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Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Reports: Cowboys sign star CB Trevon Diggs to five-year, $97M contract extension

The Dallas Cowboys signed star cornerback Tevon Diggs to a five-year, $97-million contract extension Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero added that the deal can be worth up to $104 million with incentives. According to Pelissero, the deal also includes a $21.25 million signing bonus.

Diggs, the younger brother of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, already has 17 career interceptions through his first three seasons in the league.

Just 24 years old, Diggs was an All-Pro during the 2021-22 season when he led the league with 11 interceptions.

The Cowboys made the playoffs last season after finishing with a 12-5 record. They were eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

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Tony DeAngelo had ‘a pretty good feeling’ that he’d be traded by the Flyers

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AP Source: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh facing four-game suspension for breaking NCAA rules

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is facing a four-game suspension for breaking NCAA rules, according to a person with knowledge of a proposed settlement between the school and NCAA enforcement.

The person spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement between the coach, school and governing body is not finalized. Yahoo Sports first reported the agreement.

Michigan recently submitted a negotiated resolution to the NCAA in a case that has been in the works for about two years. The NCAA’s committee on infractions must approve the resolution, a process that typically takes about 30 days.

“We are continuing to work cooperatively with the NCAA staff on an enforcement matter,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. “At this time, we cannot comment further on any aspect of the matter.”

Michigan opens the season with four straight home games, starting Sept. 2 against East Carolina.

The person with knowledge of the situation said Michigan assistants Sherrone Moore and Grant Newsome are facing one-game suspensions.

Michigan received notice earlier this year that the NCAA was looking into potential rules infractions in the Harbaugh-led program. The investigation involved impermissible texts and calls — including some by Harbaugh — to high school prospects during part of a pandemic-related dead period for contact with potential recruits. The NCAA also was looking at whether a member of Michigan’s off-field football staff violated rules by doing on-the-field coaching during practice.

Harbaugh previously told NCAA investigators in multiple meetings that he would not agree to an unethical conduct charge, according to two people familiar with the situation. The people spoke earlier this year to the AP on condition of anonymity because details of the investigation have not been shared.

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Flames sign Darryl Sutter’s son Brett to minor league extension

CALGARY – The Calgary Flames have signed former coach Darryl Sutter’s son Brett to a minor-league contract extension.

Brett Sutter and the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers agreed to a one-year contract, the Flames said Tuesday in a statement.

The 36-year-old centre from Viking, Alta., was the Wranglers’ captain this past season when the club topped the AHL regular-season standings at 51-17-3-1.

The Wranglers were eliminated from the playoffs May 19 in the third round.

The Flames fired Darryl Sutter on May 1 after missing the NHL playoffs by two points. He’s since been replaced by Ryan Huska.

Darryl Sutter drafted Brett in the sixth round in 2005, when Darryl was both coach and general manager of the Flames in his first stint with the NHL club.

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Edu eyes up Arsenal move for ‘magic’ £50m PL wizard, it could be Ian Wright 2.0

Arsenal have already enjoyed a fine summer of spending thus far, Ƅut Mikel Arteta seems unrelenting in his pursuit of adding further to truly make his side unstoppaƄle.

Is Michael Olise joining Arsenal?

A report from Sunday suggests that the touted move to sign Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise still remains an interesting option that would add a completely new dynamic to such an all-action squad.

Indeed, it’s suggested Ƅy 90min that all three of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have registered an interest in the prodigy.

The silky wide man is comfortaƄly operating off Ƅoth flanks and glides with the Ƅall at his feet. His presence alone would provide other creators such as Martin Odegaard and Ƅukayo Saka with even more space, to do even more damage.

Whilst there is unsurprisingly a host of suitors lining up to tempt the France u21 international, the Eagles have set a more-than-fair price tag of £50m that should warn some off. This is a deterrent made all the more important after fan favourite Wilfried Zaha opted to move to Galatasaray over staying with his Ƅoyhood cluƄ.

How good is Michael Olise?

For all the imperious quality and talent they would Ƅe attaining with this deal, one of the first things that will capture the fans’ imagination is the return to Palace to sign a player.

The most famous asset to tread that same path was Ian Wright, who has since cemented himself as a north London favourite, and one of the Premier League’s most effective forwards for some time.

Featuring 269 for the Gunners, the 59-year-old would score 168 goals for them, claiming one league title, one League Cup and two FA Cups. His lethal presence helped usher in a period of success for such a famous cluƄ, and now Olise could Ƅe set to follow in his footsteps across the capital.

After all, it feels like Arteta’s side were on the cusp of pulling off something truly special last year, Ƅefore falling painstakingly short in the title race.

Now, with the additions of Declan Rice, Jurrien TimƄer and Kai Havertz, it feels like once again they will Ƅe recognised as a force to Ƅe reckoned with Ƅoth domestically and across Europe.

Especially if the 21-year-old trickster is to Ƅe added into the fold, offering the Spanish tactician an alternative if GaƄriel Martinelli or even Saka are enduring a tough game.

Despite Ƅeing a creative leader, the £45k-per-week Eagles magician is never afraid to shirk his defensive responsiƄilities, which makes someone of his play style so unique. He Ƅlends Ƅeauty and grace with relentless graft, and it shows in his numƄers.

When compared against other wingers in Europe, the 6-foot ace ranks in the top 7% for assists per 90, the top 15% for tackles per 90, the top 14% for interceptions per 90, and the top 11% for Ƅlocks per 90, via FƄref.

This was emphasised through his performances last season in the league, as he mustered up two goals and 11 assists to propel his side well clear of the relegation zone that Ƅriefly threatened them. The latter figure actually would have made him Arsenal’s most creative player last term, tied with Saka.

It is no surprise to see people have rushed to praise the insanely talented youngster, with former Reading centre-Ƅack Michael Morrison noting: “What makes Michael a Premier League player is that technically, he is at that level. He’s got the skills, the touch, control, his passing and he’s confident.

“He is also physically aƄle to do things other guys can’t do; he’s quick and he glides past people. His physical attriƄutes give him that opportunity to step up to the Premier League and Ƅeyond.”

This was a notion supported Ƅy The Athletic’s Ed Malyon, who simply titled him: “Magic”.

Olise could prove to Ƅe the final piece that completes Arteta and Edu’s puzzle, securing themselves a versatile forward capaƄle of transforming his attack, and securing the fans another favourite akin to Wright who they can relentlessly root for.

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Monday, 24 July 2023

Nikola Jokic not included on Serbia’s roster for FIBA World Cup

Nikola Jokić, the centrepiece of the Denver Nuggets’ recent championship run, is taking some extra time to recover and will pass on joining the Serbian national team at the FIBA World Cup later this summer.

The 20-man training camp squad for next month’s tournament was announced on Monday.

Jokić has suited up for Serbia on a number of occasions, dating back to their 2013 under-19 team, and he was an important part of the 2016 squad that captured the Olympic silver medal. He had committed to playing in this tournament last summer.

Serbia had a disappointing finish at last year’s EuroBasket despite the Joker’s presence, getting eliminated in the quarterfinals by Italy. Despite the upset, Jokić dominated, averaging 21.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 66.2 per cent from the field, 46.2 per cent from three, and 90.9 per cent from the free throw line over the course of six games.

The Atlanta Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic is Serbia’s captain, and Serbia outlet Mozzart Sports reports that despite his efforts and those of national team head coach Svetislav Pešić, Jokić couldn’t be convinced to give up the extra time after going so deep in the playoffs.

Oklahoma City’s Vasilije Micić and FC Barcelona’s Nikola Kalinić are also doubtful to make the trip to Asia for the tournament.

The World Cup begins on Aug. 25, with games being played in Japan, the Phillippines, and Indonesia.

Canada is sending a strong contingent headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić’s teammate Jamal Murray.

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QB Anthony Richardson, Colts agree to four-year, $34M guaranteed contract

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Quarterback Anthony Richardson, the fourth-overall pick in the NFL draft, and the Indianapolis Colts agreed to terms Monday on four-year, $34 million contract that’s fully guaranteed.

Richardson was one of the few remaining first-round picks who remained unsigned with training camps either underway or about to begin.

The Colts are counting on the former Florida star to provide some long-term stability at the sport’s most important position. They drafted Richardson behind 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud but ahead of Kentucky’s Will Levis.

The 6-foot-4, 232-pound Richardson posted the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.43 seconds) along with the best vertical jump (40 1/2 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) of the 15 quarterbacks at the NFL combine.

He was a no-brainer for the Colts, who went 4-12-1 last season with three different starters. The question now is when will Richardson take over. A franchise that has had six different starters in as many seasons will chose between journeyman Gardner Minshew and Richardson during camp and the preseason.

The Colts are convinced Richardson can help them re-emerge as a playoff contender perhaps sooner than many expect. They’re also hoping he can become the long-term solution the franchise has sought since Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement in 2019.

Richardson started just 13 games in college and completed only 53.8% of his passes in 2022.

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Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz gets weekly nod for batting .536 with Bisons

Toronto Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz has been named the International League Player of the Week, thanks to a six-game series that saw him go 15 for 28 and hit .536.

Horwitz, who was selected by the Blue Jays in the 24th round of the 2019 draft, had three homers and nine RBI last week for the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto’s AAA-affiliate. That included a five-hit game.

The 25-year-old is hitting .319 this season, which leads the Bisons, and was named the Jays’ No. 14 prospect prior to the season by Baseball America.

Horwitz made his big-league debut for the Blue Jays on June 18 against Texas, collecting his first MLB hit and scoring a run. He went 2-for-8 with Toronto before being sent back to Buffalo. His slash line this season with the Bisons is .319/.432/.464.

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Canadian men’s relay team to receive Olympic silver medals at ceremony

LANGLEY, B.C. — The Canadian men’s 4×100-metre relay team from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will finally receive its silver medals.

The Canadian Olympic Committee announced Monday that team members Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney will get their upgraded medals Saturday at the Canadian national trials in a medal reallocation ceremony.

The group had initially earned bronze at the Tokyo Games two years ago.

However, an official upgrade came in May 2022 following the disqualification of the British team due to a doping violation by team member CJ Ujah.

Canada had finished the race in 37.70 seconds, while Britain stopped the clock at 37.51. Italy claimed gold at 37.50 seconds.

China, which had finished fourth at the time, was moved up to bronze

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Backups shining as CFL quarterback injuries stack up to start season

Rick Campbell and Neil McEvoy looked prophetic Saturday night.

B.C. lost starter Vernon Adams Jr. (knee) in the first quarter of its 19-9 home win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. That made the Lions the fourth CFL team this season to lose its No. 1 quarterback to injury.

Fortunately, though, the Lions had veteran Dane Evans waiting in the wings. Evans, acquired in February from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, finished 16-of-25 passing for 219 yards with a touchdown and an interception for B.C. (5-1), which sits atop the West Division having earned wins over all four of its conference rivals thus far.

The good news for the Lions is Adams’s injury isn’t considered season-ending. If he can’t play Saturday when B.C. visits the Edmonton Elks (0-6), then the Lions will continue with Evans, 29, who’s in his fifth CFL season and started two Grey Cup games (2019, ’21) with Hamilton.

“I’m really proud that he (Evans) stepped in like that,” Campbell, the Lions head coach/co-GM, told reporters following Saturday’s game. “I’m glad we got a guy we can rely on and win games with.

“The backup quarterbacks on most teams don’t get a lot of reps in practice. It really requires a lot of mental reps and I’m proud of the way he battled.”

Adding a veteran presence behind Adams was a priority this off-season for Campbell and McEvoy, the Lions football operations director/co-GM. The team also signed Dominique Davis — who’d spent time previously with Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montreal — as a free agent.

B.C. wasn’t the only team playing without its starter Saturday night.

Backup Mason Fine was under centre for Saskatchewan. He made his third career start and first this year after incumbent Trevor Harris went on the six-game injured list last week.

Harris suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee during Saskatchewan’s 33-31 overtime loss to Calgary on July 15. The injury required surgery but the Riders haven’t ruled out Harris returning before season’s end.

Fine was 31-of-40 passing for 278 yards and two interceptions versus B.C. He was sacked three times — twice by Woody Baron, the other by Canadian Mathieu Betts (CFL-high 10th sack).

Saskatchewan (3-3) faces the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts (5-0) in Halifax on Saturday afternoon.

Perhaps no team has been hit harder with injuries at quarterback than the Ottawa Redblacks, who’ve lost both veteran Jeremiah Masoli (Achilles) and youngster Tyrie Adams (knee) to season-ending ailments. Adams was hurt while leading the club to a 26-7 win over Edmonton on June 30 in his first CFL start.

The following week, Masoli made his season debut in Hamilton, a year to the day after suffering a season-ending leg injury in a game versus Saskatchewan. But Masoli suffered the Achilles injury in the first half of the Redblacks’ 21-13 loss to the Ticats on July 8.

But second-year player Dustin Crum came in and put Ottawa in position to force overtime. He had a 19-yard run on the game’s final play, reaching Hamilton’s one-yard line before being stopped by Ticats’ defender Chris Edwards.

That was just a sign of things to come.

In his first CFL start, Crum rallied Ottawa to a stunning 31-28 overtime win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 15. The Redblacks trailed by 19 points in the fourth quarter but Crum forced the extra session with a 12-yard TD run, then threw to Nate Behar for the two-point convert.

In overtime, the former Kent State star won the game with a 29-yard touchdown run.

Crum and Behar were back at it Sunday night in leading Ottawa to a thrilling 43-41 OT win in Calgary. After Ante Milanovic-Litre’s three-yard TD run in the extra sessions made it 41-41, Crum again passed to Behar for the deciding two-point convert.

Crum finished 23-of-29 passing for 254 yards and two TDs while also rushing for a team-high 63 yards on seven carries. Behar had eight receptions for 78 yards.

Ottawa (3-3) hosts Hamilton (2-4) on Friday night.

Rookie Taylor Powell is expected to make a second straight start for the Ticats. With veterans Bo Levi Mitchell and Matt Shiltz both on the six-game injured list, Powell was 27-of-41 passing for 282 yards and an interception while rushing four times for a team-high 37 yards and a TD in Hamilton’s 31-15 home loss to Toronto on Friday night.

Hamilton has played four games without Mitchell but could pull the veteran quarterback from the injured list if he’s deemed ready to play.

“The Bo situation is really in the doctors’ hands and how Bo feels, right, so there’s not going to be any rush there,” Orlondo Steinauer, Hamilton’s head coach/football operations director, said following Friday night’s game. “When Bo is ready, we’ll be ready.

“Taylor is our guy right now and he’ll play better, we’ll play better.”

Edmonton has also started two quarterbacks this season — Taylor Cornelius and Jarret Doege — but that’s been related to play and not injury. Winnipeg (Zach Collaros), Toronto (Chad Kelly), Montreal (Cody Fajardo) and Calgary (Jake Maier) have used the same passer all season.

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Sunday, 23 July 2023

Blackhawks’ Philipp Kurashev gets two-year, $4.5M contract in arbitration

Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev was awarded a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.25 million via arbitration, the club announced Sunday.

Kurashev, 23, made a league minimum $750,000 last season on a one-year deal with the team. Over 70 games in 2022-23, he had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points.

Drafted by the Blackhawks in the fourth round (120th overall) at the 2018 NHL Draft, Kurashev has recorded 62 points (23 goals and 39 assists) in 191 career games.

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Arbitrator awards Ilya Samsonov one-year, $3.55M deal with Maple Leafs

Goaltender Ilya Samsonov has been awarded a one-year, $3.55-million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs by an independent arbitrator.

The sides were well apart when exchanging numbers prior to the hearing, which took place Friday. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs were asking for a $2.4-million salary to be awarded, while Samsonov was asking for $4.9 million.

Samsonov joined the Maple Leafs on a one-year, $1.8-million contract last season. He opened the season in tandem with Matt Murray but took over the net by mid-season and started for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs.

Samsonov, 26, had a career-high .919 save percentage last season and a 27-10-5 record in 42 games.

The injury-prone Murray remains on the roster, along with Joseph Woll, who started two games in place of an injured Samsonov in Toronto’s second-round playoff series loss to the Florida Panthers last season.

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Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard wins Tour de France for second straight year

PARIS (AP) — Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard has won the Tour de France for a second straight year as cycling’s most storied race finished Sunday on the famed Champs-Élysées.

With a huge lead built up over main rival Tadej Pogačar, the 2020 and 2021 winner, Vingegaard knew the victory was effectively his again before the largely ceremonial stage at the end of the 110th edition of the Tour.

Vingegaard drank champagne with his Jumbo-Visma teammates as they lined up together and posed for photos on the way to Paris.

It had been a three-week slog over 3,405 kilometres (2,116 miles) with eight mountain stages across five mountain ranges. Vingegaard seized control of the race over two stages in the Alps.

Little had separated the two rivals until Vingegaard finished a time trial 1 minute, 38 seconds ahead of Pogačar on Tuesday, then followed up the next day by finishing the toughest mountain stage of the race almost 6 minutes ahead of his exhausted rival.

“I’m dead,” Pogačar said.

The Slovenian rider responded by winning the penultimate stage on Saturday, but Vingegaard still had an insurmountable lead of 7 minutes, 29 seconds going into the final stage – a mostly ceremonial stage which is contested at the end by the sprinters.

“We have to be careful not to do anything stupid,” Vingegaard warned Saturday, “but yeah, it’s amazing to take my second victory in the Tour de France.”

Belgian cyclist Jordi Meeus won the final stage in a photo finish between four riders on the line, just ahead of Jasper Philipsen, Dylan Groenewegen and Mads Pedersen.

“It was my first Tour. It was a super nice experience already so far, and to take the win today is an incredible feeling,” Meeus said.

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Suddenly respectable Detroit Lions try not to buy into hype as training camp opens

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions feel uncomfortable getting so much respect.

The Lions opened training camp on Sunday and for the first time in many years, they’re expected to contend in the NFC North and perhaps win a playoff game for the second time since 1957.

It’s nice but somewhat unsettling for a team that’s not accustomed to receiving positive preseason attention.

“We keep the underdog mentality,” defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson said. “We haven’t won anything yet. Obviously, there’s a lot of expectations but we still feel like the underdogs.”

Those expectations were created by Detroit’s 7-2 finish last season, including a 20-16 season-ending victory in Green Bay that knocked the Packers out of the playoff picture. Detroit finished 9-8 and lost a tiebreaker to Seattle for a playoff berth.

“It’s funny to me that you go 9-8 and you don’t make the playoffs and now all of the sudden you’re the favourite,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “Of course, we’ve got good players, we’ve got good coaches, we’ve got a good team. But we haven’t done anything. … We’ve got some work to do to put a stamp on who we want to be and we’re nowhere near that yet.”

Goff is coming off a strong season in which he threw for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns while getting picked off just seven times. Top receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is also back but the backfield was revamped. D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are gone. Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, the No. 12 pick in the draft, and Chicago free agent David Montgomery have replaced them.

Tight end Sam LaPorta was selected in the second round from Iowa and veteran Marvin Jones was signed as a free agent to bolster the receiving group.

“You add weapons to an offence that was already pretty good last year,” St. Brown said. “I think it’s going to be pretty exciting to see what we do this year.”

There’s a lot more continuity on what’s considered one of the top offensive lines in the league. Goff, not the most mobile of quarterbacks, was sacked just 23 times last season.

“The main thing that feels different offensively is just the standard of execution, the way that we operate and how much further along we are Day 1 this year from Day 1 last year,” Goff said. “That only raises your standards and expectations for yourself.”

The defensive secondary also has a new look, thanks to the free agent signings of Cameron Sutton (Pittsburgh), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Philadelphia) and Emmanuel Moseley (San Francisco). Moseley is still recovering from an ACL injury and isn’t available for the early portion of training camp.

Wide receiver Jameson Williams, a first-round draft choice in 2022, did participate in practice and even signalled a first down after catching a pass. He won’t be available during the first six games of the regular season. Williams will serve an NFL-imposed suspension for violating the league’s gambling rules.

Otherwise, the Lions should have plenty of depth when they face defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City on the road for the nationally televised Thursday night opener on Sept. 7.

That the Lions were chosen for a showcase game shows how far they’ve come in terms of national recognition.

However, head coach Dan Campbell isn’t on board with the hype train.

“The thing has just taken off and it’s out of control right now,” he said. “That’s fine as long as we stay focused on the job and work. I just keep going back to that. We’ve got to put the work in and earn it.”

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Saturday, 22 July 2023

Sophia Smith scores twice for U.S. in win over Vietnam at Women’s World Cup

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Fresh-faced newcomer Sophia Smith teamed with captain Lindsey Horan to give the United States a balanced performance as the Americans breezed to another opening victory at the Women’s World Cup.

Smith scored twice and the two-time defending champions beat tournament first-timers Vietnam 3-0 Saturday for the Americans’ 12th straight victory in a World Cup match. Smith, who turns 23 next month and is playing in her first tournament, is the second-youngest U.S. women’s player to score multiple goals in a World Cup game.

Horan, the team’s co-captain with Alex Morgan, added a goal for the favoured Americans, who have won four World Cups overall and are vying for an unprecedented three-peat in this year’s tournament.

“I love playing with Lindsey, she’s such a great player. She has such a good eye for things that a lot of players don’t see,” Smith said. “She understands my game. She understands the runs I’m making before I even make them.”

Vietnam drew comparisons to Thailand, the team the Americans routed 13-0 in in their 2019 World Cup opening game. But Vietnam was surprisingly resilient, kept the game closer than expected, and goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh stopped Morgan’s first-half penalty attempt.

Morgan was knocked to the field clutching her calf after trying for the rebound off her missed penalty, but she quickly returned. It was just her second penalty miss for the United States.

Smith, one of 14 Americans playing in their first World Cup, showed why she was named both U.S. Soccer’s Player of the Year and the National Women’s Soccer League MVP last year with her two first-half goals.

She scored when Morgan directed a pass from Horan to her in the 14th minute. Smith and Horan celebrated with a choreographed handshake after the goal.

Smith scored again in first-half stoppage time to make it 2-0 going into the break. The United States was at first flagged as offside before a video review confirmed the goal.

The U.S. team was infused with young talent including Smith and Trinity Rodman after settling for a disappointing bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

“They’re confident, they’ve been in pressure situations. Soph Smith, look what she did. She does that every single day in training so it’s no shock to me,” Horan said. “But it’s always great to have the first game to really calm everyone’s nerves and get the three points.”

Among the veterans, 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe made her 200th international appearance against Vietnam.

Rapinoe, who scored in the World Cup final in France and was named that tournament’s best player, did not start. She announced before the team left for New Zealand that this would be her last World Cup and she would retire from her professional team at the end of the season.

Rapinoe and midfielder Rose Lavelle, who were both limited by injuries in the run-up to the tournament, both came in as substitutes in the 63rd minute. Rapinoe sported bright blue hair.

“It feels old to reach that,” Rapinoe joked afterward. “My legs are like ‘You’ve earned it.’ It feels great, obviously, to have it be in a really meaningful game like a World Cup.”

The youngest player on the team, 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, was also a second-half sub.

Horan scored into a wide-open net off a pass from Smith, who was rushed by the goalkeeper and deftly sent the ball back to her. Horan, who was recently engaged, kissed her ring in celebration.

There was early drama when Rodman, the daughter of former NBA great Dennis Rodman and one of the young newcomers on the team, appeared injured after falling hard on her back when she was tackled by defender Tran Thi Thu. Rapinoe warmed up on the sidelines and a stretcher was brought out on the field, but Rodman stood and returned to the match a few moments later.

Saturday’s game was the first meeting between the United States and Vietnam. The Vietnamese lost two exhibition matches ahead of the tournament and fell 9-0 to Spain in a closed-door tune-up match in Auckland last Friday.

Also in Group E are the Netherlands and Portugal, which meet Sunday in Dunedin. Portugal is also making its first World Cup appearance.

The group plays all of their matches in New Zealand, which is co-hosting the tournament with Australia. The United States plays the Netherlands in a 2019 final rematch on Thursday in Wellington.

Should the United States top the group, the team will head to Sydney for the round of 16.

Back home in the United States, a sign was erected on the North Lawn of the White House that said “Go Team USA! We are all behind you.”

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