Soccer
Newcastle beats Sheffield United 2-0 in Premier League
SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Newcastle ended Sheffield United’s seven-match unbeaten run in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory on Thursday, helped by another disputed VAR decision. Newcastle took the lead through Allan Saint-Maximin’s header in the 15th minute, before Jonjo Shelvey netted a bizarre second midway through the second half. United’s defenders switched off …
Larentowicz re-signs with Atlanta United for 16th MLS season
ATLANTA (AP) — Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz will be returning to Atlanta United for his 16th season in Major League Soccer. The team announced Thursday it has re-signed the 36-year-old free agent, who has been with United since the team’s debut in 2017. Larentowicz has the second-most appearances in MLS history (418) and ranks third in …
Silva fired by Everton after heavy derby loss to Liverpool
Marco Silva was already on the brink of becoming the fourth Premier League manager to be fired inside the past three weeks. Everton’s dismal defeat in its biggest game of this and any season simply made it inevitable. Silva was fired by Everton on Thursday after 18 months in charge, a day after his team …
Everton fires manager Marco Silva following Liverpool loss
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Everton has fired manager Marco Silva, a day after losing 5-2 at Merseyside rival Liverpool to slip into the relegation zone in the Premier League. Silva, who was in charge at Goodison Park for 18 months, becomes the fourth manager in a little over two weeks to lose his job in …
MLS teams no longer will play every opponent each season
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Soccer is breaking away from soccer’s tradition of having each team play every opponent in its league. MLS is expanding to 26 teams in 2020 with the additions of Miami and Nashville but will keep a 34-game regular-season schedule. A team will play each of its 12 conference opponents …
Italian sports daily under fire for Black Friday headline
MILAN (AP) — A leading Italian sports daily is facing criticism for a headline reading “Black Friday” and featuring two black soccer players on the cover. Corriere dello Sport on Thursday ran photos of Roma defender Chris Smalling and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku ahead Friday’s match between the teams in Milan on Friday. The …
Madrid midfielder Hazard has muscle tear, could miss clásico
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid midfielder Eden Hazard has a more serious right-leg injury than the bruise that was first diagnosed, and it could rule him out of the “clasico” against Barcelona on Dec. 18. Madrid said Thursday that new tests found a micro-tear of a muscle that had gone undetected since the injury occurred …
Futures of Rakitic and Vidal up in air at Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Despite their many trophies with the club, the futures of Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal are in doubt as Barcelona approaches the transfer window. Both midfielders are proven winners with multiple titles. Rakitic has won a Champions League and four Spanish leagues for Barcelona, while also helping Croatia reach last year’s …
PSG beats Nantes 2-0 in French league to keep 5-point lead
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain beat Nantes 2-0 on Wednesday to restore its five-point lead over Marseille at the top of the French league standings. Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock shortly after halftime and Neymar sealed the win with a penalty late on. The home side struggled to break through the Nantes defense but eventually …
Mourinho loses in Old Trafford return; Liverpool wins derby
Jose Mourinho was standing on the edge of his technical area near the halfway line when Manchester United midfielder Daniel James came sliding off the field and clattered head-first into the right knee of the Portuguese coach. Mourinho just about stayed on his feet but grimaced as he clutched his knee before hobbling away. It …