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Botafogo: 2024 Copa Libertadores Champions
Botafogo beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1 to win their first Copa Libertadores title despite being reduced to 10 men after former Inter Miami midfielder Gregore was sent off just 30 seconds into the contest at the Monumental Stadium on Saturday.
Fans barely had a chance to settle into their seats when Gregore was handed his marching orders for a foul on Fausto Vera, who was left with a bleeding head after being on the receiving end of a flying kick.
Mineiro tried to make the most of their numerical advantage and went on the attack with Hulk and Deyverson up front.
However, Botafogo opened the scoring in the 35th minute, when Thiago Almada put the ball right into Luiz Henrique's path to fire home into the net.
Botafogo were awarded a penalty seven minutes later when Éverson crashed into Luiz Henrique as he attempted to grab the ball and, after a VAR review, former Manchester United full-back Alex Telles converted the spot kick to make it 2-0.
Mineiro's hopes were restored immediately after the break when Eduardo Vargas headed home a corner from Hulk. They then went in search of an equaliser, with Deyverson and Vargas coming closest.
But Botafogo defended well and goalkeeper John kept Mineiro's efforts at bay as Junior Santos put the icing in the cake in added time in an enthralling encounter that gave coach Artur Jorge's side their first title in the South American competition.
The result also secured the Brazilian club a place in the expanded 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.
Botafogo's success came after Novak Djokovic's involvement in the ceremony before kick-off in Buenos Aires.
The tennis star was in Argentina to play an exhibition match on Sunday with former U.S. Open champion Juan Martín del Potro, who is retiring from the sport.
Djokovic, owner of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, helped to carry the Copa trophy onto the pitch.
With two of its teams in the final, Brazilian football was assured of a sixth consecutive Copa Libertadores title and its 24th in history, just one less than clubs from Argentina have managed.
It was also the third straight title for teams from Rio de Janeiro, after Fluminense in 2023 and Flamengo in 2022.
Genshin Impact: Genshin Misadventures - Natlan Nationals, Day 12
#GenshinImpact #Natlan #Citlali #Ororon
Genshin Impact: Genshin Misadventures - Natlan Nationals, Day 11
#GenshinImpact #Natlan #Ororon #Citlali
Orlando Pride: 2024 NWSL Champions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Barbra Banda's goal stood up as the winner to lift the Orlando Pride to their first NWSL Championship in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit on Saturday at CPKC Stadium.
With the win, the Pride became the first team since 2019 to follow up winning the NWSL Shield (best regular-season team) with an NWSL Championship, and the third time it has ever happened.
It also meant a first NWSL Championship for six-time world player of the year Marta, 38, who has been with the Pride since 2017.
"I f---ing waited eight years for this moment," the player from Brazil said during the trophy presentation. "[It's] most special because it's the first time my mom is in America."
She added after the match: "Incredible moment. Playing the championship final, take this trophy home and share this moment with my mom, it's something in my best dream, I [can't] believe. ... This moment, it's so special for me.
"This moment gave me so many answers. I've been in Orlando for so long and I see players come and leave. We had ups and downs. Some seasons we were OK but not good enough.
"I always ask myself what I'm looking for because I stay in Orlando. I was not satisfied with all of the other seasons. I feel like I don't want to leave this place without doing something really big. ... Tonight I had all the answers."
Banda broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when she latched onto a ball played in behind by midfielder Angelina. Banda cut back inside onto her left foot and distanced herself from Spirit defender Esme Morgan to hit a left-footed shot that beat Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
The goal was Banda's fourth of the playoffs, setting a new single postseason NWSL record, and earned her the Championship MVP award. She also scored in all three playoff games this postseason, which is a new league record.
"That was a great moment for me," Banda said. "As that ball came for me, I don't hesitate. I always want to take on the defenders, so I saw that opportunity and I had to put the ball into the back of the net. I saw the positioning of the goalkeeper, so it was great for me."
"For us," Marta quickly interjected, drawing a laugh from the room.
Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez argued with the fourth official following the goal, which came after a strong challenge from Angelina on Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos.
"For me, it's an excuse to speak about the physical conditions," Giráldez said after the match.
Kingsbury took blame for conceding the goal, saying it should have been a "routine save" before moments later Morgan said the goal was her fault.
"I think that's what I'm finding so frustrating, replaying in my head, is that we dealt with [Banda] so well for most of the 90 minutes barring just the goal and I'm kicking myself for it," Morgan said.
"I think I was just thinking in my head back to the away game, there's times where she goes down softly in the box so I was kind of reluctant to get too tight in case there was a dive involved."
The physical first half featured 14 combined fouls and three yellow cards.
Spirit forward Rosemonde Kouassi was cautioned in the 28th minute for dragging down Banda on a counterattack.
Three minutes later, Pride defender Kerry Abello received a yellow card for an open-field trip of Spirit forward Trinity Rodman.
Washington midfielder Hal Hershfelt entered the books for a hard challenge only moments before halftime.
Orlando's victory completed a turnaround for what was one of the league's worst clubs historically in years past. The Pride made the playoffs only once prior to this season, in 2017, and endured low points like a last-place finish in 2019 with a league-record 53 goals conceded.
This year, the Pride set multiple NWSL records, including points in a season (60), wins (18), consecutive wins (eight) and games unbeaten to start the season (23).
"I wish I could say when I got here [in 2021], I believed this club was going to turn it around, but there were times where we were at rock bottom, and I couldn't see any light," Pride defender Kylie Strom said.
"So, to go from that place to where we are now, I have no words to describe it. It is incredible and we're going to keep going. We're never going back."
Washington nearly equalized two minutes into the second half, when Kouassi got her head on Rodman's cross at the 6-yard box, but Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made a quick reaction save.
Orlando came close to doubling its lead near the hour mark when Banda broke free again in the open field. Marta, playing in her first NWSL Championship, sprinted to join her on the counterattack, but Banda did not play the ball centrally to her open teammate.
The Pride held on as Washington pushed for a late equalizer. Orlando had not lost when leading at halftime in 15 previous occasions this season.
Orlando is the fourth team in league history to win in its first NWSL Championship appearance.
Washington appeared in two previous finals, winning the title in 2021.
The Pride's championship is the first for an Orlando professional sports team. The team will be honored with a parade in downtown Orlando on Monday.
Toronto Argonauts: 2024 Grey Cup Champions
VANCOUVER — The Toronto Argonauts were the hottest team in the league going into the playoffs. That momentum took them all the way to a win in the 111th Grey Cup.
The Argos used a dominant defensive effort to top the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24. Nick Arbuckle, filling in for injured Argos’ starting quarterback Chad Kelly, threw for over 250 yards with a pair of touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
The win gives the Argos their 19th-ever Grey Cup and marks the second time in three years that they have taken one at the expense of the Bombers, who made their fifth consecutive appearance in the game.
Arbuckle connected with eight different receivers to lead a balanced offensive attack.
Zach Collaros dealt with an injured finger in the second half, but returned to play. He threw three of his four interceptions after the injury occurred. Collaros finished the night 15-30 for 202 yards.
Rookie Ontaria Wilson led the Bombers’ receivers with 99 yards on five catches.
The Duke of Sussex Prince Harry helped get things going with an appearance at the game at BC Place, while The Jonas Brothers rocked an enthralled crowd of 52,439 at BC Place in the Twisted Tea Grey Cup Halftime Show.
The Argos’ defence made quick work out of the Bombers’ first offensive drive, taming a crowd that was famished for a big Winnipeg play.
After a 23-yard return from Janarion Grant, Arbuckle showed a lot of poise in his first drive of the day. The peak of his 11-play, 51-yard drive came when he converted a second-and-17 to Deonta McMahon to get in scoring range. Lirim Hajrullahu converted a 16-yard field goal to open the scoring at 7:03 of the first quarter.
Collaros made just two of his first five passes for just three yards before he connected with Ontaria Wilson for a 49-yard pickup to move to Toronto’s 10-yard line. That drive also saw Oliveira get hist first touches of the day, before backup quarterback Terry Wilson came into the game and forced his way into the end zone from three yards out at 14:38. Sergio Castillo‘s convert put the Bombers up 7-3 with just a second left to play in the game’s opening quarter.
The Bombers appeared to be headed for a similar scoring play when Collaros found Kenny Lawler for a 22-yard gain to get to Toronto’s 35-yard line. With Collaros hungry for more, the Argos’ defence came up big at its eight-yard line. Jake Ceresna forced Collaros to throw the ball out of bounds and then d-lineman Robbie Smith sacked Collaros on second down, bringing Castillo out to hit a 19-yard field goal that gave the Bombers a 10-3 lead at 8:46 of the second quarter.
After Arbuckle found Damonte Coxie for a 39-yard gain to get to the Bombers’ 13-yard line, it was Winnipeg’s defence that made a key stop. Willie Jefferson sacked Arbuckle, turning what could have been a touchdown into a 34-yard Hajrullahu field goal to make it a 10-6 game at 12:47. The veteran kicker had a body make contact with him after the make, that left him limping on the sidelines as he watched his teammates.
The Argos got one more shot at a score, thanks to defensive back Benjie Franklin, who intercepted Collaros as he looked for Keric Wheatfall. Hajrullahu, visibly impacted by the earlier hit, coolly sent a 45-yard field goal through the uprights with 21 seconds left in the half. The Bombers went into the locker room at the break holding a 10-9 advantage.
The Argos’ first offensive drive of the third quarter fizzled midfield, but punter John Haggerty managed to tie the game at 10 aside with a 67-yard punt at 2:28.
The third quarter featured a pair of big defensive plays. With the Argos’ plodding their way up the field, Jefferson got to Arbuckle and forced a fumble and while the Argos recovered, they were forced to punt. Bombers’ returner Lucky Whitehead had the ball popped loose from him at his team’s 17-yard line and recovered by the Argos’ Jack Cassar, setting up the Argos’ offence in a prime scoring situation.
Arbuckle only needed one play to find rookie receiver Kevin Mital, who ran the ball in for the team’s first touchdown of the day. Hajrullahu’s extra point went through at 9:11, putting his team in front 17-10.
The Bombers tried to take any momentum earned on that touchdown away immediately. Arbuckle looked for Damonte Coxie on the sideline, but was picked off by Terrell Bonds, getting the Bombers’ fans in the building up on their feet and lively again. The energy stayed high as Oliveira broke through for a 35-yard gain to the Argos’ 35-yard line. Castillo finished off the quick drive with a 40-yard field goal to make it a 17-13 game at 12:42.
The third quarter closed with a frenetic sequence of events. Haggerty had his punt blocked by Michael Ayers at end of third quarter. Officials called Winnipeg’s Kyrie Wilson for a push in the melee which led to a loose ball interference call, giving Toronto a first down. Two plays later, Arbuckle was intercepted by Jefferson, which got the Bombers to the red zone. With Collaros out of the game momentarily to have a bleeding finger on his throwing hand attended to, Wilson came into the game but was unable to finish the drive. Castillo hit from 23-yards out at 2:23 of the fourth quarter, making it a one-point game, with the Argos up 17-16.
After those unsettling plays, Arbuckle settled in for a poised, eight-play, 68-yard that featured a gutsy seven-yard run, before he capped it with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett. Hajrullahu’s convert gave the Argos a 24-16 lead over the Bombers at 7:52.
Collaros returned to the game with his hand bandaged, but immediately looked deep on a pass, but was intercepted by DaShaun Amos, who ran the ball back deep into Winnipeg territory. A penalty moved the Argos to the eight-yard line. The Bombers’ defence held and forced Hajrullahu back onto the field, where he sent 14-yard field goal through to put his team up 27-16.
The Argos’ defence looked for the dagger in the game when Robert Priester intercepted Collaros and ran it 61 yards for the score. Hajrullahu’s convert pushed the score to 34-16 at 12:07, as the Argo fans in the building began to celebrate. Linebacker Wynton McManis added to the party as the clock ticked down, pulling in a tipped Collaros pass for the Argos’ fourth pick of the night.
Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie got an early Gatorade shower from the Argos’ sideline, with the party getting underway early.
For the Bombers, Brady Oliveira broke the plane with 47 seconds to play, but by that point many of their fans had filed out of the stadium. The Argos’ supporters cheered their team on as the final seconds ticked away, with the players rushing the field to begin a party that will last all week.
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