Crystal Palace lifted their first European trophy and punched their ticket to the Europa League after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half goal proved the difference during their 1-0 Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

It marked the final chapter of a fairytale run for Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who, after guiding the Eagles to an historic FA Cup triumph and the Community Shield last season, is departing the south London club after spearheading the most successful period in their history.

Mateta nearly left the Eagles in January, only remaining after a knee issue denied him medical clearance for a desired move to AC Milan which left some sections of the Palace support unhappy with the France forward.

He vowed to give 100 per cent to Glasner and his teammates, and emphatically completed his redemption arc when he pounced on the rebound of a parried Adam Wharton effort to put Palace in the ascendancy, treating the euphoric Eagles fans to his signature corner-flag kick.

Adam Wharton’s participation was a concern ahead of the contest, but Glasner promised he would only start players who were “100 per cent fit”, and the midfielder was in the line-up, while Chris Richards began the game on the bench.

Both thunderous fanbases lit flares before kick-off, when those in the Palace end – a sold-out contingent of about 13,000 that complemented many more in general seating – raised a banner reading “this story shall the good man teach his son”, a reference to King Henry V’s rallying cry to his soldiers in Shakespeare’s eponymous play.

Their accompanying tifo featured a fan, wearing a Palace shirt reading “Ultras 05” – the founding year of the Holmesdale Fanatics group – staring out an airport window. Beside him, a departures board showed “Liquidation cancelled, FA Cup landed, Europa League boarding”.

Many had arrived at the RB Arena via a boisterous fan march from the city centre, while back at home, more than 10,000 Eagles supporters who had not made the trip gathered in Selhurst Park.

It took a timely Florian Lejeune tackle to stop the early run of Ismaila Sarr, who had been spotted by Jean-Philippe Mateta shortly after kick-off, then Dean Henderson was called in to collect two Rayo crosses.

The Spanish side threatened just before the half-hour when Brazilian forward Alemao connected with a cross which had evaded Chadi Riad and spun a volley just past the right post.

The contest was paused in the 38th minute due to a medical emergency in the stands, and it remained goalless at the break after Tyrick Mitchell nodded a free header just wide from an excellent Wharton delivery in stoppage time – his regret visible as he remained sprawled in disbelief in front of Augusto Batalla’s goal.

Mateta, famous for his flag-kicking celebrations, finally got to demonstrate one to the 39,176 in attendance in Leipzig in the 51st minute.

Rayo did not do enough to stop Wharton, who stung Batalla’s palms, and the Frenchman reacted quickly to turn the rebound in from close range and put Palace in the driver’s seat.

The Eagles could not have come closer to a second moments later when Yeremy Pino’s free kick hit both posts and Mateta’s follow-up also clipped the woodwork in a spectacular sequence.

Cushion denied, it was a nervy finish as the LaLiga outfit dialled up the pressure for a late equaliser, but Glasner’s men continued to hold firm.

The Austrian said on Tuesday that the best parting gift his players could give him would be the opportunity to watch them in the Europa League next season.

His men fought off five minutes of stoppage time and granted him his wish.

The Indian football team return to England for the first time in 24 years as they prepare to face Jamaica in the Unity Cup 2026 semifinal in London on Wednesday. The Blue Tigers last played on English soil back in 2002, coincidentally against the same opponents, and the upcoming clash presents another major test for Indian football under head coach Khalid Jamil.

India head into the contest after an encouraging victory over Hong Kong, but the challenge against Jamaica will be significantly tougher. Ranked 136th in the world, the Blue Tigers are clear underdogs against the 71st-ranked Reggae Boyz, who narrowly missed out on qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a playoff defeat to DR Congo earlier this year.

Jamaica will be eager to bounce back strongly from that disappointment and are expected to dominate possession with their physical and high-intensity style of play. India, meanwhile, will rely on defensive organisation, discipline and quick transitions to trouble their opponents. A positive result would be a major statement for Jamil’s side, while Jamaica will see the tournament as an opportunity to rebuild confidence and push for silverware.

India Team News

India’s squad has been reduced following the withdrawal of several Mohun Bagan Super Giant players after the club recalled them from national duty. Defender Anwar Ali is also unavailable due to injury, while Ashique Kuruniyan misses out as well. Midfielder Macarton Nickson, defender Nikhil Barla, and forwards Mohammed Sanan and Vikram Partap Singh have been added to the squad.

Jamaica Team News

Jamaica vs India probable starting 11:

Jamaica starting 11: Coniah Boyce-Clarke (GK), Dexter Lembikisa, Damion Lowe, Joel Latibeaudiere, Odin Samuels-Smith, Isaac Hayden, Courtney Clarke, Kaheim Dixon, Dwight Merrick, Bailey Cadamarteri, Dajuane Brown

India starting 11: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Jeakson Singh, Ricky Shabong, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Farukh Choudhary

Jamaica vs India Unity Cup live telecast and live streaming details

When will Jamaica vs India encounter in Unity Cup take place?

The Jamaica vs India clash will be played on May 28th (midnight).

What time will the Jamaica vs India football match begin on may 28th?

The Jamaica vs India football match will be played on May 28th at 12 AM IST.

Where will the live telecast of the Jamaica vs India football match be available in India?

The live telecast of the Jamaica vs India football match will not be available in India.

Where will the live streaming of the Jamaica vs India football match be available in India?

The live streaming of the Jamaica vs India football match will be available on the FanCode app and website in India.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looked unstoppable. The cricket world waited with bated breath. The teenager had already scored 97 off 28 balls. Three more runs in one ball against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator and the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener would have shattered Chris Gayle‘s record for the fastest IPL ton (30 balls vs Pune Warriors, 2013). It was not to be. He was dismissed by Praful Hinge. His final score read 97 runs (29 balls, 12x6s, 5x4s).

Wearing the Orange Cap after a breathtaking 29-ball 97 in a high-pressure Eliminator, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi said he consciously shut out the pressure of the occasion and backed his natural game as Rajasthan Royals piled up 243 for 8 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in New Chandigarh on Wednesday.

“Yes, I had that in my mind,” Sooryavanshi said when asked if the occasion crossed his mind while batting. “My coaches told me to play freely, enjoy the game, and not take any pressure.”

When asked if the century was on his mind, he said: “I wasn’t really thinking about it like that, but I played that shot after looking at the fielder, and that’s why I mistimed it. If I had gone towards third man, it would have cleared easily. But I tried to hit it straight, and that’s why I missed the shot.”

SRH skipper Pat Cummins started with a defensive setup, placing deep square leg and deep midwicket for the teenager while bowling almost all full and straight deliveries. This tactic almost worked for three balls before one overpitched ball disappeared over mid-off for six. RR were 9 without loss after the first over and quickly picked up speed as Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain were also taken apart.

Sooryavanshi raced to 50 in 16 balls, matching Suresh Raina‘s record for the fastest half-century in an IPL playoff. He also surpassed Chris Gayle for the most sixes in a T20 tournament. By the end of the fourth over, he had scored 36 off 10 balls, and RR were a remarkable 63 without loss.

At the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal had a strange supporting role, scoring 19 off 16 while watching the teenager dominate every delivery. Sooryavanshi seemed ready to break Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century, but he top-edged an attempted uppercut off Praful Hinge to deep third on 97. RR were then 125 for 1 after eight overs.

The momentum barely dipped. Dhruv Jurel launched a furious counterattack, reaching 50 in 20 balls after dismantling Cummins and Shivang Kumar with scoops, pulls, and towering straight hits. RR surged to 192 for 3 in 13.5 overs before wickets started falling in clusters, including Riyan Parag and Dasun Shanaka.

Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja added a quick 20 off 12 balls late in the innings, though SRH finished strongly with Nitish Kumar Reddy’s precise wide yorkers and a brilliant boundary catch from Abhishek Sharma to dismiss Jofra Archer.

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Fans are wondering what the future holds for Oleksandr Usyk after his fight with Rico Verhoeven.

Usyk established himself as the best heavyweight in modern history after claiming victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, all on two occasions each.

It saw the Ukrainian become undisputed heavyweight champion twice, and having cleaned out the majority of the division he then took a controversial showcase fight against kickboxing legend Verhoeven.

While it was expected by most boxing fans that it would be a straightforward win for Usyk, it ended up being an extremely competitive affair, with Verhoeven winning a lot of rounds and appearing to be on the brink of one of the biggest upsets in history.

That changed when Usyk knocked down the Dutchman in round 11, and while Verhoeven was able to get back to his feet, a further flurry led to referee Mark Lyson jumping in and waving off the fight, with many viewers believing it was done so far too early.

It has led to questions over what Usyk should do next, whether it be a rematch against Verhoeven, or the long overdue clash with WBC mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

Usyk’s team director Sergey Lapin has now given an insight into what his man may do next, telling Betpack that the only way the Ukrainian will return is if it’s a ‘major event.’

“Who will Usyk fight next? Right now, everything depends on two things: the right offer and the champion’s own desire.

“Oleksandr has nothing left to prove. He is now in a position where he chooses what interests him next. Neither outside pressure nor social media discussions will influence his decisions.

“If the next fight happens, it will be because it is truly a major event.”

Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh has teased a big show in Istanbul in 2027, so a potential fight with Kabayel could indeed tick the box of being the major event that Usyk desires.

Canelo Alvarez has been targeted by David Benavidez for several years, and Mikey Garcia has revealed how he thinks the bout would unfold if it were to finally take place.

Benavidez claimed the WBC Interim super-middleweight title back in May 2022, with fans demanding that Canelo give him his shot at the undisputed title as a result, but to no avail.

After waiting patiently for two years, a frustrated Benavidez made the decision to move up to the light-heavyweight division. He became a world titleholder at the weight the following year when he was elevated to WBC world champion. 

Earlier this month, Benavidez moved up once again and sensationally dethroned Gilberto Ramirez to claim the unified cruiserweight world titles and rise in the pound-for-pound ratings. Despite now carving his own path clearly, the 29-year-old has reaffirmed his interest in a long-awaited showdown with Canelo, calling on him to move up to 175lbs – something he has done twice before in his career – for a shot at the WBC belt.

Speaking to ESNEWS, four-division world champion Mikey Garcia labelled that proposed contest ‘pointless’, believing that the only people who wish to see the fight are those who want to witness Canelo ‘getting beat up’.

“When they were both at 168lbs, [I would have liked to have seen that fight]. It is pointless now. It is almost like you just want to see Canelo get beat up because that is what is going to happen, with Benavidez being so big now, so strong and fast.

“I would have liked that at 168lbs, that would have been a good matchup but not no more. Back then, Canelo was still up there [as one of boxing’s best fighters].”

Canelo will return to the ring on Saturday, September 12, as he attempts to retake the super-middleweight throne by overcoming newly crowned WBC champion, Christian Mbilli. He has said that he will likely remain in the division until retirement, though would move up to light-heavyweight for a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, another man Benavidez is targeting.

Tottenham are close to agreeing a deal with Scotland full-back Andy Robertson following his departure from Liverpool.

The 32-year-old played his final match for Liverpool against Brentford on Sunday, having announced he would leave the club when his contract ends this summer.

Details remain to be finalised on the deal with Spurs but an agreement is in place in principle.

Tottenham, then managed by Thomas Frank, targeted Robertson during the January transfer window.

A deal was agreed between the two clubs, only for Liverpool to pull out when they were unable to recall Kostas Tsimikas from his loan at Roma.

Spurs secured survival on the final day of the season by beating Everton under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.

The vastly experienced Robertson, who also has 92 caps for Scotland and will lead his country at this summer’s World Cup, played 378 times for Liverpool and won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández is reportedly considering leaving Chelsea F.C. after the club failed to secure European football for next season.

Chelsea are said to value the 25-year-old at around £120 million despite signing him from S.L. Benfica in 2023 for £107 million. Fernandez still has a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge until 2032, which has strengthened the club’s valuation.

The World Cup-winning midfielder remains part of Chelsea’s plans for next season, but the club could listen to offers that match their asking price. Fernandez enjoyed an impressive campaign, scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists, finishing second in the club’s Player of the Season voting.

Reports claim his agent, Javier Pastore, is already exploring possible destinations, with Real Madrid CF believed to be the player’s preferred choice.

Manchester City F.C. have also been linked with the midfielder as the club prepares for a new era under expected incoming manager Enzo Maresca. However, City are reportedly focusing more on signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest F.C..

French champions Paris Saint-Germain F.C. are also understood to have cooled their interest in Fernandez despite earlier rumours linking them with the midfielder.

Real Madrid are reportedly reluctant to meet Chelsea’s huge valuation unless they raise funds through player sales, especially as they are also monitoring Rodri of Manchester City.

Chelsea officials are believed to be planning major squad improvements ahead of next season under new manager Xabi Alonso following a disappointing campaign that saw the Blues finish 10th in the league without winning a trophy.

The reigning ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup winners, India, have set themselves a new target-to add another global crown to their kitty by winning their maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title in the event, which will be held in England and Wales from June 12. Having claimed their maiden T20 World Cup title at home last year, India will be making their final preparations for the mega event by locking horns with England in a three-match T20I series to familiarise themselves with the conditions on offer. The Indian players will be taking the field in England on a high following their success over the hosts in the previous white-ball series.

For skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, however, England is an all-too-familiar landscape. It was here that she made her India debut at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009.

With India riding on a wave of confidence, Harman conceded that a fairytale ending to the upcoming tournament would be a dream come true for her.

“It will be a dream come true for any cricketer who made their debut in England and then wins the World Cup in England. I think I can’t ask anything else for myself and from God,” she said in the pre-match press conference in Chelmsford on Wednesday.

“And now it’s only about keeping myself in a positive frame and just doing the right things again and again, because consistency is something that always gives you results. It’s only about going there, expressing ourselves and enjoying each and every moment on the field.”

Kaur is the only member of the Indian squad who has featured in all the Women’s T20 World Cup editions to date.

Ahead of her 10th outing, however, she has added another feather to her cap, becoming the first Indian captain to lift a Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy.

It is from that euphoric win that Kaur and her team are deriving inspiration ahead of what is expected to be one of the most competitive editions of the tournament.

“I think winning the World Cup gave us a lot of confidence, and I think that confidence will carry over to this T20 World Cup. When you win, you know what things you have done really well to win that World Cup. We know how to perform under pressure. So I think those things will give us confidence playing this T20 World Cup,” she said.

Slotted in Group 1 alongside Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands, India’s march to the tournament begins with their bilateral series against England on May 28.

Following this, the team will size up against the West Indies and England in the warm-up fixtures ahead of the tournament on June 8 and 10, respectively.

Their opening match of the T20 World Cup will see India go up against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14 at Edgbaston.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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