Feb 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC forward David Martínez (30) scores a goal against Inter Miami CF goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (97) during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

David Martinez scored in the first half, Denis Bouanga scored and added an assist in the second and Los Angeles FC completed a 3-0 victory over Lionel Messi and visiting Inter Miami in both teams’ season opener on Saturday night.

Substitute Nathan Ordaz added the final goal for the hosts, who moved the match to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and drew a crowd of 75,673, the second-largest in MLS history for a regular-season game that was not part of a doubleheader.

Son Heung-Min provided the final assist on Martinez’s opener for LAFC, who have lost only twice in 16 games since signing the South Korean star last summer.

Hugo Lloris made three saves for the hosts, who held Messi’s Herons scoreless in a match he played for the first time in 15 matches in all competitions, a stretch that dates back to a 3-0 regular-season loss at Charlotte on Sept. 13.

Mexican-Argentine striker German Berterame made his debut for Miami, which held 63% of the possession.

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But LAFC threatened constantly in transition, especially during the first half, and finished the night leading 16-13 in shots and 6-3 in efforts on target.

Martinez put LAFC in front in the 38th minute on one such moment.

Timothy Tillman began the attack when his dogged defensive work turned over Messi’s national team teammate Rodrigo de Paul in midfield.

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The ball fell to Stephen Eustaquio, who played a first-touch pass to Son above the box. Son played it on into the run of Martinez down the left, and Martinez finished crisply past Dayne St. Clair for his eighth career MLS goal.

St. Clair created trouble for himself on Bouanga’s tally in the 73rd minute, racing outside the box in an attempt to reach Tillman’s diagonal ball.

But Bouanga was first by a healthy margin and headed the ball beyond the goalkeeper before finishing into a stranded goal.

Bouanga then set up Ordaz to seal it in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, beating his defender down the left flank before driving in a low cross.

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Jan 11, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Mark Kellogg watches his team play the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Gia Cooke scored a game-high 21 points and Kierra Wheeler posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double as No. 19 West Virginia cruised to a 72-40 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va.

The Mountaineers (22-6, 12-4 Big 12), who have won five of their last six games, jumped out to a 23-12 lead after the first quarter and built a 49-23 advantage by halftime. Cooke scored 16 in the opening half, connecting on 6 of 10 shots from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

Jordan Harrison added 12 points, seven assists and five steals for West Virginia, which shot 50.9% from the field compared to 23.1% for Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls (21-8, 10-6) hit just 5 of 26 attempts (19.2%) from beyond the arc and scored only five points in the third quarter.

Stailee Heard was Oklahoma State’s lone scorer in double figures, finishing with 13 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Micah Gray, who came in averaging a team-high 15.0 points per game, scored just three points on 1-of-14 shooting, including 1 of 9 on 3-point attempts.

No. 15 Baylor 74, Arizona 60

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The Bears used a 23-8 second quarter to overcome an early 10-point deficit in Waco, Texas, and hand the visiting Wildcats their fifth consecutive loss.

Taliah Scott scored a game-high 22 points for Baylor (23-6, 12-4 Big 12), which trailed 22-12 after Molly Ladwig’s layup with 1:44 left in the first quarter. The Bears’ Bella Fontleroy pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and teammate Darianna Littlepage-Buggs nearly had a double-double with 10 points and eight boards. Jana Van Gytenbeek added eight assists in the win.

Arizona (11-16, 2-14), which led 22-15 after the first quarter, also was outscored 20-13 in the third. Starter Daniah Trammell and reserve Noelani Cornfield scored 11 game points apiece for the Wildcats. Ladwig added 10 and Tanyuel Welch had a team-high nine rebounds.

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Colorado 75, No. 20 Texas Tech 68

The Buffaloes outscored the Lady Raiders 22-9 in the fourth quarter in Boulder, Colo., to rally for their fifth consecutive win and eighth in their last nine games.

Zyanna Walker scored 18 points and Desiree Wooten added 16 off the bench for Colorado (20-8, 11-5 Big 12). Logyn Greer contributed 13 and Anaelle Dutat had 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds for the Buffaloes, who scored 27 points off 18 Texas Tech turnovers and had a 34-18 advantage on the boards.

Jalynn Bristow recorded 18 points, five blocks and three steals for the Lady Raiders (24-5, 11-5), who fell for the second time in three games. Bristow was 5 of 6 from the floor, including 4 of 5 on 3-point attempts, to go with a 4-of-4 showing at the foul line. Snudda Collins added 13 points and Bailey Maupin 12.

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Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana said “nothing changes” and “people are never punished” after he and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri were sent racist abuse following Saturday’s 1-1 draw.

Both players were targets of online attacks in the hours after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge and shared images of messages they had been sent privately over Instagram.

It came days after Uefa began an investigation into claims by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior that he was racially abused on the pitch by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League game in Lisbon.

On Saturday night, Fofana – who had been sent off late in the game in west London for two yellow cards – posted screenshots of messages he had been sent and wrote on Instagram: “2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished.

“You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything.”

Mejbri had earlier also shared abusive messages he had received and wrote on his Instagram story: “It’s 2026 and there are still people like that. Educate yourself and your kids, please.”

Chelsea said the abuse “is completely unacceptable and runs counter to the values of the game and everything we stand for as a club,” and that “there is no room for racism”.

A club statement added: “We stand unequivocally with Wes. He has our full support, as do all our players who are too often forced to endure this hatred simply for doing their job.

“We will work with the relevant authorities and platforms in identifying the perpetrators and take the strongest possible action.”

Burnley said: “There is no place for this in our society and we condemn it unreservedly.”

Football’s response to allegations of racism has been heavily scrutinised in recent days following the incident in Lisbon.

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho in his post-match comments accused Vinicius of provoking what happened while the Portuguese club claimed there was a defamation campaign against their player.

The match on Tuesday was halted for 10 minutes early in the second half after Vinicius refused to return to the pitch after becoming suddenly and visibly upset with something apparently said to him by Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt during the incident.

Saturday’s Premier League game ended level after Burnley’s Zian Flemming headed a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Chelsea, who dominated up until Fofana’s red card.

The defender was dismissed in the 72nd minute for a second booking after making a late challenge on James Ward-Prowse.

Earlier, Joao Pedro had scored in the fourth minute to seemingly put Liam Rosenior’s side on course of victory but as so often this season under successive managers they lacked killer instinct and failed to finish off Scott Parker’s struggling team.

Fellow American Stevenson, 28, smiled, nodded his head and clapped as Garcia added: “I want to be a great champion, I’m not scared.

“I fought Devin Haney. I’ll fight you, Shakur Stevenson. I’ll fight anybody.”

Garcia was then told Stevenson had said he was “levels above” him right now, to which he replied: “You’ve got to have some type of punching power to get me off you, because it’ll just be a different style – and I’m not going to hit him light.”

Garcia was given a one-year ban for failing a drugs test in 2024 after beating Haney, with the victory overturned and the fight recorded as a ‘no contest’.

The win for Garcia was his first since a shock points loss to Rolando Romero last year and improves his record to 25 victories and two defeats.

Barrios was upgraded from interim to full WBC champion in June 2024 and had made two previous successful defences via draws, retaining his title with a majority draw against a then 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao last summer.

NEW DELHI: As defending champions India prepare for a high-stakes Super 8 showdown against South Africa in Ahmedabad, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has pinpointed the technical and tactical adjustments Abhishek Sharma must make to overcome his alarming slump at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Abhishek, the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, has endured a nightmare run, registering a hat-trick of ducks and struggling particularly against off-spin. Pathan believes the root cause lies in the opener’s shot selection and approach rather than his natural technique.

“Abhishek Sharma is getting out to off-spinners. Against Pakistan and the Netherlands, off-spinners got him. The problem lies in his shot selection,” Pathan said on JioHotstar.Explaining the flaw, Pathan noted that Abhishek is trying to dominate too early instead of settling in.“His bat comes down from a high angle, and he is not looking to hit straight. He is trying to play across the wicket. That is getting him into trouble,” he said. “He moves his front foot away to create room, but bowlers are not giving him room. These are not drivable balls.”

However, Pathan warned against drastic changes, urging the youngster to trust his natural game while making smarter decisions.“His bat angle is coming across, which is natural to him. He does not need to change that. If he tries to change it now, it will be a mess,” he explained. “First things first, get a single, get off the mark. Expect the spinner to come in, get to the other end, and target the fast bowlers. He does not need to bludgeon from the first ball.”While Abhishek has struggled, Pathan reserved glowing praise for fellow opener Ishan Kishan, who has been one of the tournament’s standout performers.“Ishan Kishan is in the form of his life. He is playing the leg side really well. He targets square-leg and fine-leg,” Pathan said. “If you give him leg-side deliveries at the start, it’s trouble.”But he also issued a word of caution ahead of the South Africa test.“Against South Africa, I want to see what Kishan does when they bowl wide and make him play on the off-side early. He has improved a lot, but only after getting set,” he added.

Dark clouds have loomed over Kandy this week, with rains sweeping across the Hanthana mountain range, forcing covers to stay in place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. More showers are expected on Sunday, threatening to intrude on the Super 8 contest of this T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and England.

If the weather relents, a fascinating duel of spin could define the clash.

England return to their familiar territory, after having brushed aside Sri Lanka 3-0 in a T20I series on these shores earlier this month.

That success provides them reassurance, especially after a stuttering group stage campaign, where they huffed and puffed their way to a 4-run win, suffered a 30-run loss to West Indies and quelled Scotland and Italy.

England captain Harry Brook conceded that his team were “too careful with the bat” in the group stage.

“We’ve been too careful with the bat. We can probably be a bit more brave in certain situations and have more faith in the guys behind us to be able to put up a decent score,” he said at the pre-match press conference.

Brook admitted England underestimated some of the teams in their group. “We probably underestimated a few of the teams and they put up a really good fight. Thankfully, we are in the Super 8s,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s journey has followed a similar arc of promise and pause. Comfortable victories over Ireland and Oman set the tone, and a commanding chase of 182 against Australia at this venue showcased their championship credentials.

Yet, a stumble against Zimbabwe in Colombo has stalled their momentum.

For co-hosts, much rests on their in-form opener Pathum Nissanka, who scored an unbeaten 52-ball century against Australia here. With 199 runs, he sits among the tournament’s leading scorers. Brook reckoned Nissanka’s form will be a threat and they have plans to remove him early.

Kusal Mendis, with three half-centuries in four innings, adds gravitas at the top of the order.

However, the absence of pacer Matheesha Pathirana, ruled out of the remainder of the competition, dented their bowling resources. Maheesh Theekshana’s six wickets underlines his importance.

With the ball, legspinner Adil Rashid remains vital to England’s plans, supported by Jofra Archer’s pace. Rashid nabbed six wickets, including 2/16 against West Indies, highlighting his threat on surfaces that grip.

Asked if Jacob Bethell is fit to bowl, Brook said: “Not sure yet, he’s got a decent cut in his finger. So, he’d have strapping, but if there’s some way we can get around that, then we’d bowl him. But at the minute, I don’t think it’s possible.”

In a contest shaped by spin, familiarity and sombre skies, composure may matter as much as skill.

The latest injury news from the Etihad Stadium following the Premier League clash against Newcastle United

Manchester City have closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 2-1 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

City took the lead through Nico O’Reilly in the 14th minute, but Newcastle equalised eight minutes later through Lewis Hall. But the scores weren’t level for long with O’Reilly scoring his second goal of the game to restore City’s advantage.

It’s a scoreline that would stay the same until the end of the match, despite second-half pressure from Eddie Howe’s team. The win moves City to just two points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s North London Derby.

As the race for the title tightens up, injuries between now and the end of the season could be key in deciding where the trophy ends up.

City defender Ruben Dias was taken off at half-time of the match against Newcastle, but that is likely to be because he was on a yellow card. He, therefore, should be available for the next Premier League game against Leeds United.

With seemingly no injury worries from the match, here’s the latest from the treatment room at the Etihad Stadium.

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Max Alleyne

Injury: Knock

The centre-back was not included in the squad for the clash against Newcastle after suffering from a knock during the FA Cup games vs Salford City.

Potential return date: February 28 vs Leeds

Jeremy Doku

Injury: Calf

The winger has been out since the Champions League clash against Galatasaray last month.

What Guardiola has said: “Doku is not ready.”

Potential return date: February 28 vs Leeds

Josko Gvardiol

Injury: Leg

He will be out for some time after suffering a fractured leg during the clash against Chelsea back in January.

Potential return date: Unknown

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Mateo Kovacic

Injury: Ankle

The midfielder has been out for most of the season, but should return before the end of the campaign.

What Guardiola has said: “We think Mateo will be ready for the World Cup, probably even earlier. It’s a complex injury and treatment; things are monitored daily. Recovery is going well.”

Potential return date: March

The Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill has run rampant since the club fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah three weeks ago, with buzz ranging from quarterbacks, free agency, and cap casualties. This week’s rumor focuses on Malik Willis, Nakobe Dean, and Jalen Nailor’s value.

Three Vikings rumors to track: Willis as a QB competition play, Dean as a blitz-fit target, and Nailor’s market climbing fast.

Free agency is about two weeks away, and answers on all things rumors should arrive fast and furious.

The Purple Rumor Mill with Free Agency 15 Days Away

Vikings rumors for Sunday, February 22nd, 2026.

Rumor: SI.com has endorsed Malik Willis as the Vikings’ next quarterback.

Gilberto Manzano of SI.com theorized the main offseason move for each NFC North team, and on Minnesota, he circled a Malik Willis signing as the big swing.

He explained, “Sign QB Malik Willis. It might be tough for them to splurge for Love’s backup, perhaps making Willis available at the start of free agency. Coach Kevin O’Connell can’t hand McCarthy the starting job again unless he proves it by beating out real competition in training camp.”

“Willis, a 2022 third-round pick, showed vast improvement in the games he appeared last season for Green Bay and his determination to make the most of his latest opportunity after how poorly it went for him in Tennessee could bring out the best in McCarthy in a fierce summer battle. It was a small sample size, but Willis completed 85.7% of his passes in four games last year.”

A Willis addition would formalize a true summer showdown between J.J. McCarthy and Willis.

Manzano continued, “For comparison, McCarthy struggled by completing only 57.6% of his passes in 10 starts. Willis could have other options and maybe an easier path to a starting job, but not many teams can offer a wide receiver as good as Justin Jefferson.”

“The Vikings have no reason to commit to McCarthy’s first-round status after the team fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. There’s no more time to waste in Minnesota after the disastrous quarterback results in 2025.”

Willis is the Vikings’ most straightforward quarterback solution this offseason because they don’t have to trade anything to get him. They can just … sign him. Therefore, he is in play.

Rumor: Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is a free-agent fit for Minnesota.

In ESPN’s Matt Bowen’s rundown of the league’s Top 50 free agents, Minnesota surfaced only once — as the premier landing spot for Nakobe Dean. That’s a pretty specific endorsement.

Bowen opined, “Best team fit: Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have cap issues heading into free agency, but I really like the fit for Dean in coordinator Brian Flores’ defense. Dean, who had four sacks with the Eagles in 2025, is the league’s best blitzing linebacker, and he would join a system that led the NFL in blitz rate at 46.8%.”

For roster construction, the appeal is obvious. Dean’s downhill burst and timing mesh naturally with Flores’s modus operandi. The financials appear mostly manageable as well. Dean’s projected market hovers around $8 million annually, which could translate to a three-year deal in the $24 million range — a number that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski could structure creatively.

It all boils down to whether the Vikings are comfortable with re-signing Eric Wilson to partner with Blake Cashman in 2026 — or if they want more youth. Dean is the youth.

Rumor: Jalen Nailor’s next contract will pay him $12 per season.

This week, Nailor’s free-agent valuation has raised eyebrows. Daniel Popper of The Athletic ranked Nailor No. 29 overall in his free agency rankings, ahead of established players like Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, Aaron Rodgers, and Keenan Allen.

He wrote about Nailor at No. 29, “Contract projection: 3 years, $36 million. Nailor’s production does not jump off the screen. The 2022 sixth-round pick had a career-high 444 receiving yards in 2025. But Nailor was playing behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and he dealt with poor quarterback play last season.”

“More importantly, the tape shows a player who is ready to take a big jump in the right environment. Nailor has the spatial awareness to weave through zones and find soft spots. He was predominantly a slot player in Minnesota but has inside-outside flexibility. He flashes late hands to prevent defensive backs from turning and locating the ball.”

Nailor’s on-field performance reflects his statistical profile. He consistently created separation, even when facing tight coverage. Comfortable in the slot, Nailor also demonstrated excellent timing with J.J. McCarthy, often appearing to be McCarthy’s go-to receiver when plays broke down. It’s just that he’s never tallied over 500 receiving yards in a season.

Popper added, “Nailor is not a burner, but he can push vertically out of the slot on fades, wheels and corners. He is a compact ball carrier who is capable after the catch, and he is also a quality run blocker for his size.”

“Nailor can get bogged down at the line of scrimmage against bigger, more physical corners. He is not a household name right now, but he could be in the future.”

If Popper has Nailor’s price tag correct at $12 million, the Vikings likely cannot afford him.

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“Iconic” gets tossed around like fairway grass on a windy day, but the Olympic Club qualifies. A dozen USGA championships hosted, the 2033 Ryder Cup on the way. That glorious clubhouse framing the tricky par-4 finishing hole …

Well, that’s not Olympic’s main clubhouse. Its primary digs are its City Clubhouse, located 10 miles away, in San Francisco’s famed Union Square district. The Olympic Club isn’t just a golf club. It’s an athletic club — America’s oldest, founded on May 6, 1860, five months prior to the first Open Championship being held in Scotland.

James J. Corbett, prizefighting’s “Gentleman Jim,” joined Olympic in 1884, 40 years before the club opened its Lake and Ocean courses. Corbett later became heavyweight champion and taught boxing at the club, which is like having Greg LeMond as your SoulCycle instructor. Speaking of cycling, it’s traditionally one of Olympic’s fortes, with the 1924 U.S. Olympic cycling team coach (Ernest Ohrt) and later several professional road racers among its number.

Then there was the member who set the shot put world record in 1909 (Ralph Rose); the innovative college basketball superstar who developed an early version of the jump shot (Hank Luisetti); the 1950 U.S. Open tennis champion (Arthur Larsen). There isn’t time here to list the club’s team accomplishments in basketball, cycling, track and field, football and rugby, but rest assured they, too, are of historic proportions.

The current City Clubhouse isn’t the original, which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It houses a fitness center, a cardio solarium, squash and handball courts, circuit training facilities, two basketball courts and a pair of swimming pools.

Less strenuous amenities include a pub, dining room, meeting and banquet rooms, guest rooms and a rooftop deck. Or you could jump in a car and be at the first tee in a half hour, depending on traffic.

Man Utd’s youngsters are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup after beating Oxford United earlier this week.

Manchester United are looking to extend their rich history in the FA Youth Cup this season. United have won the competition more than any other club, and Darren Fletcher is hopeful of clinching the trophy again.

Fletcher returned to manage the Under-18s after serving as first-team caretaker for two matches. The Scot was offered the chance to be part of Michael Carrick’s backroom staff, but he decided to return to his coaching role in the academy, in which he has plenty of young talent at his disposal.

The U18s were knocked out of the Youth Cup semi-finals by eventual winners Aston Villa last season. They have the talent to take it one step further, so here are five players spearheading their campaign.

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Chido Obi

Chido Obi dropped down to U18 level for the first time in 11 months when he started against Derby County in the FA Youth Cup last month. The Youth Cup is for players who are under the age of 18 on August 31 of the current campaign. Obi celebrated his 18th birthday in November, making him eligible.

Obi started for the U18s again in their Youth Cup win against Oxford on Wednesday, but he did not play for the U18s in their ‘run of the mill’ league fixture against Wolves this weekend.

The Youth Cup is the pinnacle of youth football, and playing Obi in the competition is a statement of intent from United. The youngster has scored two goals in two games so far.

Jim Thwaites

Jim Twaites has a name befitting of an English player in the 1950s, but he would be regarded as an extra-terrestrial if he played in that decade due to his incredible ball-striking technique.

Thwaites has already built a reputation as a dead-ball specialist. He has scored several excellent free-kicks during his time in the academy and added another to his highlight reel in the U18 Manchester derby last week.

The 18-year-old was absent in December and January due to injury and was a big miss in the early rounds of the Youth Cup. However, Thwaites is firing again and will be key in the competition.

JJ Gabriel

JJ Gabriel is just 15 years old, but he doesn’t need any introduction. The supremely talented teenager is playing well above his age group and making light work of tearing apart United’s opponents.

Gabriel has scored 16 goals in 20 academy games this season and has already trained with the first-team on a handful of occasions. The youngster was close to leaving United in the summer, but Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada were involved in an eleventh-hour meeting to keep him at the club.

Each of the United Youth Cup-winning teams has had a poster boy. Gabriel is this generation’s star man. MUTV subscriptions are probably selling like hot cakes just so fans can watch him.

Godwill Kukonki

Godwill Kukonki has plenty of experience playing with the U21s and he is another who has dropped into the Youth Cup in a clear signal of intent. The defender has played at left-back and centre-back so far in the academy, but his long-term future is expected to lie in central defence.

Kukonki’s presence is huge at the back and he will help to provide a solid defensive foundation in the competition. The 18-year-old is also excellent at playing out with the ball at his feet.

There have been early comparisons made between the exciting Kukonki and Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol and he is a rare option because he is a left-footed defender.

Kai Rooney

If Kai Rooney isn’t involved much in the Youth Cup for the remainder of this season, the silver lining is that he will still be eligible for the competition for another two campaigns.

The 16-year-old made his debut in the competition against Derby at Old Trafford but was not included in the squad to face Oxford. Fletcher can call upon players who have plenty of U21 experience in the competition, so Rooney did well to make his debut in the Youth Cup just a month after turning 16.

Rooney is left-footed and drifts in from the right wing after his position switch, and he’s been able to craft his finishing technique under the guidance of one of the best strikers the game has ever seen.

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