USA: 2020-21 CONCACAF Nations League Champions



DENVER, Colorado – The United States are champions of the first ever Concacaf Nations League after a thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory over rivals Mexico in the Final of the 2021 CNL Finals at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.


Christian Pulisic scored a goal in the extra period and substitute GK Ethan Horvath saved a penalty to seal the triumph for the U.S.


It was a dream start for Mexico, as a giveaway deep in the U.S. half allowed Jesus Corona to swoop in and score for a 1-0 lead just 70 seconds gone in the game.


The U.S. would respond in the 27’ though, as a Weston McKennie header off a corner kick hit the post and it fell right to the feet of Gio Reyna, who fired in from a few yards out to make it 1-1.


Mexico sought to regain control and Hirving Lozano looked set to tally his team’s second of the night in the 43’, but he was denied on a spectacular save from U.S. GK Zack Steffen.


The teams would trade chances as play continued into the second half, with Mexico coming close on a Carlos Rodriguez shot that flashed wide in the 57’ and Josh Sargent of the U.S. narrowly missing in the 62’, followed by Mexico GK Guillermo Ochoa denying McKennie’s header on the goal-line in the 69’.


Things stood on a knife’s edge going into the final quarter-hour and they would tilt Mexico’s way in the 79’ as substitute Diego Lainez, just minutes on the field, fired in a left-footed shot to hand Mexico a 2-1 lead.


But once again there was a response from the U.S. and a soaring header from McKennie brought the U.S. back on level terms 2-2 in the 82’.


Back and forth the teams went and Horvath, who had replaced the injured Steffen, came up with a massive stop on a Lozano effort.


The full-time whistle sounded, meaning 30 minutes of extra time, and for the first time of the night the U.S. took the lead, 3-2, when Pulisic converted a penalty in the 114’ after being fouled in the Mexico area.


It was up to Mexico to respond and they would get a chance in the 120+4’ when a penalty was called for a U.S. handball in the area, but Horvath would come up with the big stop on Andres Guardado’s penalty kick to keep the U.S. ahead until the final whistle.




Paris Saint-Germain: 2020-21 D1 Feminine Champions



Paris Saint-Germain have won France’s Division 1 Féminine for the first time, ending Lyon’s run of 14 consecutive titles with a 3-0 home win over Dijon in their final game of the season.


Olivier Echouafni’s side were firm favourites to complete their title win with victory over mid-table opponents, having held on for a crucial 0-0 draw away at Lyon in the penultimate game. That left PSG, who have finished second in the league on eight occasions, a point clear of their rivals before the visit of Dijon.


Sara Däbritz helped to settle early nerves, converting a penalty with eight minutes on the clock at Stade Jean-Bouin. The lead remained 1-0 going into the second half, with Lyon attempting to pile pressure on PSG by racking up the goals at home to Fleury. Nikita Parris got on the scoresheet as they led 3-0 at half-time in their game.


PSG could begin to celebrate just after the hour when the defender Irene Paredes doubled their lead, the captain heading home from a corner. The substitute Jordyn Huitema added a third with a stoppage-time header as PSG completed an unbeaten league season.


Lyon went on to thrash Fleury 8-0 but it was not enough. They will end the season trophyless, having failed to win the French title for the first time since 2006 and falling in the Women’s Champions League to PSG in the quarter-finals.


The rebuilding project has already begun at Lyon, with Sonia Bompastor replacing Jean-Luc Vasseur as manager in April, after their Champions League exit.