Tag Archives: Soccer

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Horan apologized Thursday for recent comments in which she said American soccer fans “aren’t smart” and they “don’t know the game.” Speaking on a conference call with reporters ahead of the first CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, Horan said her remarks were “poorly expressed.” The United States opens the Gold Cup …

Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored two goals as AC Milan eased to 3-0 victory over Rennes in the first leg of the playoff for the Europa League’s round of 16 on Thursday. The former Chelsea midfielder headed in the opener in the 32nd minute in front of over 69,000 spectators at the San Siro, with the ball bouncing in off the post. …

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Xavi Hernández will have one more chance to get his Barcelona playing well before its first Champions League knockout-round game in three years. Barcelona crosses northern Spain to Celta Vigo on Saturday, four days before it travels to Napoli in the Champions League round of 16. Xavi stunned Barcelona less than three weeks ago, when he …

MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Mainz hired Bo Henriksen as coach Tuesday as it tries to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. Henriksen replaces Jan Siewert, who was dismissed Monday after less than three months in charge. Mainz is second-to-last in the 18-team league after a 3-1 loss to Stuttgart on Sunday. Henriksen joins from Swiss club Zurich and is the second …

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Many are calling it the best-ever Africa Cup of Nations. The 34th edition of the biennial soccer tournament served up more goals, plenty of late drama, and surprising twists and turns as underdogs had their day. It finished with a happy ending for host nation Ivory Coast after its remarkable path to the final, including …

HONG KONG (AP) — The fallout from Lionel Messi’s failure to play in a club exhibition match in Hong Kong has spread with both of Argentina’s friendly matches as part of a tour of mainland China next month canceled by local football authorities. The Beijing Football Association said on Saturday it would not organize Argentina’s scheduled friendly against Ivory Coast …

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Rasmus Hojlund scored for the fifth straight Premier League game and Scott McTominay headed home a late winner as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-1 to ignite its Champions League qualification hopes on Sunday. Only five points separates United in sixth and Villa in fifth after McTominay met Diogo Dalot’s cross with a powerful header in …

A record win for Arsenal. An absolutely critical one for Manchester United. After Arsenal hammered West Ham 6-0 Sunday for its biggest ever Premier League away victory, United beat Aston Villa 2-1 in a huge result in the race for Champions League qualification. Arsenal might be in its best form so far this season. Last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s team was …

IPSWICH, England (AP) — American striker Daryl Dike is injured again at English club West Bromwich Albion. Playing the fifth match of his return from a nine-month injury layoff, Dike came on the 55th minute of the 2-2 draw against Ipswich in the second-tier Championship and played just 10 minutes before being taken off. It was not immediately clear what …

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen and coach Xabi Alonso took a big step closer to ending Bayern Munich’s domination of the Bundesliga as they beat Bayern 3-0 on Saturday. It’s carnival season in the Rhineland, and Leverkusen fans, many of them in costume, had plenty to celebrate as Xabi Alonso’s team barely allowed Bayern a chance to score. It …