It took just one game for the New York Giants to look like a strong team under new coach John Harbaugh.
It was like the ugliness of going 7-27 over the past two seasons had evaporated with one 60-minute football game.
There were solid performances from the players and a stellar game plan from Harbaugh and staff. And there was toughness – something not always found in recent editions of the Giants.
The 28-20 victory over the NFC East Division foe Dallas Cowboys on the Sunday Night stage was a stellar opening to the Harbaugh era.
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But as good as the Giants looked, never forget this: Winning your season opener isn’t a sign that a team has arrived. The season can go the other way.
Just ask the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars. Doug Marrone coached Jacksonville to a 27-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. The Jaguars then lost all 15 remaining games.
You can trust a Harbaugh-coached team won’t bottom out that badly but New York has missed the playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons for a reason.
The simple explanation is the Giants haven’t been very good. Of course, the merry-go-round of coaches (four full-timers, two interims in 10 seasons) is not the type of things equated to winning teams.
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So Harbaugh was hired and the mission is to make the Giants a perennial playoff team. Few people expect him to fall short.
Maybe it’s the fact he won 180 regular-season games, produced 11 seasons of 10 or more wins, made 12 playoff appearances and won a Super Bowl ring during his 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
That sounds like a Hall of Fame resume in progress. In fact, only five NFL coaches have 250 career victories. He’s 69 away from joining that club after the victory over Dallas.
Harbaugh teams are typically well-prepared and highly organized. He has a structure and has quickly changed New York’s culture before coaching his second game.
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Tight end Isaiah Likely was one of four Ravens who followed Harbaugh to The Meadowlands. He made a stellar first impression by catching two touchdowns against the Cowboys.
Likely spent four seasons listening to Harbaugh’s speeches and watching his methods. He now sees that his new teammates are hearing the messages and buying in.
“I’d say it’s really his identity, his culture,” Likely told The New York Post. “Obviously with the Ravens, he had been there for so long, it feels like it was the Ravens identity. But coach Harbaugh was always the head coach.
“I feel like he instilled the Ravens mantra and everything. So when he got over here, I guess you can quote-unquote say it was the Ravens mantra, but it’s coach Harbaugh’s culture.”
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Harbaugh and the Giants are preparing for their Week 2 game on Monday night at the Los Angeles Rams. It will be the team’s second straight prime-time contest, surely another element of the Harbaugh factor.
Why else would a team that went 4-13 last season be on national TV in their first two games of the following season?
Only the Harbaugh factor prompted that double-double.
For New York to be a threat in the NFC playoff competition, second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart needs to take a step forward, while second-year running back Cam Skattebo and third-year receiver Malik Nabers need to stay healthy.
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Dart threw 15 touchdown passes against five interceptions last season so that ratio is promising. But there isn’t enough evidence that Dart will become a Top 10 quarterback this season, either.
Defensively, pass rusher Brian Burns was a force last season with 16.5 sacks so imagine the damage New York could do if second-year pro Abdul Carter emerges as a double-digit sack artist too.
New York defensive backs had just six interceptions last season and the Giants had only nine as a team. Surely, becoming more opportunistic – like many Harbaugh teams – is a priority.
The Giants lost nine straight games at one point last season. Anybody think that will ever happen with Harbaugh coaching the team?
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Let’s watch and see how things unfold.
But this much is already clear: The New York Giants will no longer be laughingstocks.
Mar 7, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Brunno Ferreira (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Gregory Rodrigues (red gloves) during UFC 326 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Many feel the way that you have to bet on UFC is parlaying heavy favorites together, but underdogs win approximately 35% of the time in the world’s largest MMA promotion. Don’t be afraid to hunt for plus money.
Years ago, I developed a predictive model that uses in-fight stats and fighter attributes to simulate UFC fight outcomes — so long as the combatants had at least 30 completed octagon minutes or 5 total fights. I found that, in the UFC, moneyline favorites are usually overvalued.
How is that possible? Well, in a fight environment with as many variables per second as MMA, it’s hard to see the difference between -150 and -350 in real time. Great bets can lose. Terrible bets can win by lucky measures.
Every week, I’m going to give you my favorite underdog bet of the week. They’ll usually be showing value in my model, and I’ll explain their path to victory.
Note: All fight odds come viaPolymarket, the official prediction market of UFC.
Swaim’s Underdog of the Week: Brunno Ferreira (+160)
Model Odds: +110
Model’s Favorite Exact Outcome and Implied Odds: Decision (+440)
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Channel debug: betting
In one of the most strange lines of a loaded card in Los Angeles, bettors (or traders) are pushing Edmen Shahbazyan toward a two-to-one favorite in a battle of extremely similar fighters. I don’t get it.
Shahbazyan is the more polished fighter from Xtreme Couture, one of the best MMA gyms in the world under head coach Eric Nicksick. In this same division, his teammate, Sean Strickland, has the belt. But, that’s also been the case for years as “The Golden Boy” has struggled to make his mark at middleweight.
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Shahbazyan’s 9-6 record is far from perfect, and his +0.19 striking success rate (SSR) is fairly flat. When fresh, the striker is long, fast, and dangerous. But he’s proven to have an expiration date in fights, most recently verified in a second-round loss to Gerald Meerschaert. “GM3” has gone on a five-fight losing skid since beating Shahbazyan.
Anytime the middleweight exerts himself early, it ends poorly. He’s gone to a cautious decision in two of his last three fights knowing this. All Brunno Ferreira might have to do here is force action and survive long enough to watch Shahbazyan fade.
“The Hulk” has certainly been good at that. He’s got a 1.63% knockdown rate, and 7 of his 11 UFC-affiliated appearances, including the Contender Series, ended in Round 1. Twice a victim in those scenarios, that’s probably the most dangerous round for him.
But, in deeper waters, Ferreira has proven his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is legitimate with submissions in two of his last five fights. A longer fight? Well, he outlasted former title challenger Marvin Vettori in one of those, too. If this isn’t a quick, clean kickboxing match, Ferreira seems to have a great chance.
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Anecdotally, the Brazilian has struggled at times with discipline and coming to fight week in the best possible conditioning. On a two-fight losing skid, he looked in outstanding shape at weigh-ins. I typically don’t factor in that hard-to-quantify noise, but I think it matters greatly for Ferreira, given his history and his entering a fight like this, where endurance could be a key factor.
The model’s verdict agrees with my assessment. It feels like Shahbazyan’s technique is really expensive when, at the end of the day, these are both powerful strikers with inconsistent defense, submission danger, and questionable gas tanks. I’ve got Edmen a slight favorite (52.5%), but it’s otherwise saying to flip a coin.
If this fight extends to Round 2, Ferreira should be in an excellent position to pull the upset.
Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen expressed his surprise about attacker Marcus Rashford’s forlorn lock in the 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham on Sunday (September 20).
Following a goalless first half at Craven Cottage, Lisandro Martinez’s own goal in the 63rd minute put the hosts in front before Matheus Cunha forced a share of the spoils for the Red Devils a minute from time.
Thanks for the submission!
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Rashford, 28, started the game but couldn’t make much of an impact as he cut a largely isolated and frustrated figure up front. Owen explained the look on Rashford’s face (as per UF):
“I don’t understand the glum face. He just doesn’t seem to be enjoying his football. He is the weak link in the attack as things stand. He’s 28 now. He should be in his prime. He should be absolutely tearing defences down.”
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Rashford, back at Old Trafford after a productive loan spell at Barcelona last season, remains without a goal or an assist in six games across competitions this campaign.
He has played all five league games, starting four, and featured for 80 minutes in the 3-2 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup opener last week. The defeat marked United’s first at home in any competition in 50 years after taking a two-goal lead.
What’s next for Manchester United?
Fulham vs Manchester United – Premier League 2026/27 – Source: Getty
Following an underwhelming start to the new season, the pressure is beginning to mount on Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick, who has seen his side go winless in three games across competitions.
After a 1-0 Premier League home loss to 10-man Manchester City a week ago, the Red Devils slumped to a 3-2 EFL Cup home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek before ending the week with a 1-1 stalemate at Fulham.
The Red Devils return to action after the extended international break with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on October 10. Three days later, they travel to Atletico Madrid for their second UEFA Champions League league phase game of the season before travelling to Leeds United in the league on October 18.
France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has ended his nearly two-decade association with Nike and signed a new partnership with Swiss sportswear company On, in a deal that gives the French football star both cash and an equity stake in the company.
The move marks a significant change in the commercial relationship for the Real Madrid forward, who is not only becoming a global ambassador for On but will also work directly with its product teams as the brand prepares to enter football.
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On announced the partnership on September 18, confirming that Mbappe will help develop and test its future football footwear and apparel. The company plans to launch its first football boots in 2027. The financial terms, including the amount of cash involved and the size of Mbappe’s equity stake, have not been disclosed.
According to a media report from French sports daily L’Équipe, the partnership is for 10 years and Mbappe becomes a shareholder in On. The company itself has confirmed the cash-and-equity structure but has not disclosed the value of the agreement.
What was Mbappe’s Nike deal worth?
Mbappe had been associated with Nike since he was nine years old. His contract with the US sportswear giant expired on July 31, ending a relationship that lasted almost 20 years.
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The precise value of his Nike contract was not publicly disclosed. Media reports have put the value of his most recent agreement at around £13 million ($17.5 million) a year, although figures have varied between reports. City AM, for instance, reported the previous Nike contract at £13 million annually. That figure should therefore be treated as a reported estimate rather than an officially confirmed Nike payment.
Unlike his Nike arrangement, the On partnership gives Mbappe an ownership component. This means his potential financial return is not limited to the fixed cash compensation: the value of the equity he receives could rise or fall with On’s business and share price.
How is the On partnership different?
The distinction goes beyond the change of logo on Mbappe’s boots. With Nike, Mbappe was an elite athlete ambassador for an established football business, with the company already selling football boots, apparel and other products globally.
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With On, Mbappe is joining a brand as it builds its football business from the ground up. He will work with the company’s product teams on the design, development and testing of football products, giving the partnership a product-development element in addition to conventional endorsement.
On describes the arrangement as a partnership built around athlete insight, product innovation and design. The company says Mbappe will bring his experience from elite football into the development of its future footwear and apparel.
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The first On football products are scheduled to reach consumers in 2027. The company says its football boots will use technologies including its LightSpray manufacturing process, while both laced and laceless versions are being tested.
Why is On entering football?
Football represents a major expansion opportunity for a company that built its reputation primarily in running and subsequently expanded into sports such as tennis.
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On has been looking to broaden its business beyond running, while maintaining its premium positioning. Its move into football therefore puts it into direct competition with established giants such as Nike, Adidas and Puma. Reuters reported that analysts see football as a potential new revenue engine for On as growth in its traditional running business faces a more challenging environment.
The company has also recruited former France international Thierry Henry as its Director of Football. Henry has been working with On since late 2025 on its football entry and product approach.
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Mbappe is not the only player involved in developing On’s football offering. The company says it has also been working with Switzerland international Sydney Schertenleib, alongside Mbappe and Henry, on its first football products.
Why does the equity matter?
The equity component makes the deal structurally different from a straightforward endorsement contract.
Instead of simply receiving an agreed fee for promoting On, Mbappe has a financial interest in the company. If On’s football expansion succeeds and the company’s value increases, his stake could potentially become more valuable. The reverse is also true.
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The arrangement has similarities with On’s relationship with Roger Federer. The Swiss tennis great left Nike in 2018 and subsequently became an investor in On, while also developing products with the company. Federer has since become closely associated with the brand’s product and marketing strategy.
However, the size of Mbappe’s stake has not been disclosed, so it would be misleading to attach a monetary valuation to the equity portion at this stage.
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What does the move mean for Nike?
Mbappe’s departure represents the loss of one of Nike’s most prominent football athletes after nearly 20 years.
The move also comes as competition for elite football talent intensifies. Nike has recently lost other high-profile athletes to rivals, including Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who moved to Adidas. Nike nevertheless retains major football partnerships, including with the French national team, while players such as Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior remain associated with the brand.
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For On, however, the significance is different. The company is not merely adding another star athlete to its existing football roster. Mbappe is being positioned at the centre of the company’s entry into one of the world’s biggest sports.
Manchester United avert a crisis, but can’t really avoid criticism. Michael Carrick got lucky against Fulham, and consequently got away with one. For now.
A game that had looked like it was edging towards a first Alvaro Arbeloa win, courtesy of Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal, instead saw another wicked deflection divert it to a 1-1 draw.
Neither club is completely unhappy, but this could have been a lot worse for both.
An exuberant Fulham at least climb off the bottom of the table, ensuring it is Tottenham Hotspur who sit there going into this three-week international window. They look the closest to the “crisis club” enduring all manner of external criticism and introspection going into an unusually long break. That was so close to being United.
Bruno Fernandes struck the post in the first half in what was United’s best opportunity to score (Reuters)
A fortuitous own goal scored by Lisandro Martinez gave Fulham the lead in a dire contest with Manchester United (Reuters)
Matheus Cunha’s deflected late strike, however, shouldn’t put off bigger discussions.
This was another underwhelming display, completely lacking in any kind of convincing attacking football. There is just so much off with the team right now.
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An irony is that the calamitous own goal actually came in the one period of the game where what United were doing actually made some sense. Fulham are one of the most aggressive teams in the Premier League in how they push forward, almost absurdly overcommitting.
After that contributed to an entertainingly open first half, Carrick evidently realised his team should just try and hit the home side on the counter. It was logical… until your team just does something illogical.
An Alex Iwobi shot was eventually deflected into the path of Martinez, who instinctively reacted and helped the ball back towards goal. With Senne Lammens wrong-footed by his initial save, however, he didn’t reach across and somewhat meekly allowed the ball to go past him.
He might have been conscious of a back-pass or maybe was just too far away, but it all just added up to another hapless moment.
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Carrick might well feel that’s just what happens in football when it feels everything is going against you.
It is almost the total opposite of last season, where it was like everything – right up to the calendar – was going United’s way. They had a positive momentum. Now, certainly until that late strike, it was a negative momentum.
And that’s also why he might feel the equalising goal was so important. It was a stroke of fortune when United badly needed it.
Rather than intense discussion of Carrick losing his job, the talk could be about how this might be a turning point, that this is something to build on, that it will psychologically settle a team that had looked tense.
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That would also be a bit much, though.
Man Utd were too passive and lacked the desire to win the game (Getty)
Matheus Cunha’s goal earned United a point at Craven Cottage (PA)
United do look to have visible structural problems in the team. They don’t properly construct attacks that aren’t almost set-piece moves. So many passages of play end with hopeful long shots or hopeless crosses, to a striker that isn’t even there.
That is where the main discussion should lie.
Put bluntly, they don’t even attack in the way that Fulham do. The 19th-place position of Arbeloa’s side does seem like it doesn’t fully reflect performances given they have had an enjoyable intensity about all of their games, but the issue is a clear inability to close anything out.
There’s a vulnerability there, that doesn’t look like it’s going to go away any time soon.
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Is it a naivety about the Premier League from a young manager, who does have something about him?
Can they grow from fully committing to the idea?
It is at least an idea. United don’t really seem to have one going forward, and that should be the real concern out of this match, regardless of result.
On Day 1 of the Asian Games 2026, India finished with two silver medals in shooting, booked a place in the women’s cricket gold-medal match, registered commanding victories in hockey and badminton, and had Suchika Tariyal assure another medal in mixed martial arts (MMA).
India opened their medal account through the women’s 10m air rifle team, where Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa K Vinod combined for 1898.0 points to take silver. China won gold with 1904.2, while hosts Japan finished third on 1897.1.
Elavenil then doubled her medal haul by winning silver in the women’s 10m air rifle individual final. She finished with 252.4 points, just 0.6 behind Japan’s Hinata Taichi, who took gold with an Asian Games record of 253.0.
Tariyal added to India’s medal prospects in MMA, defeating Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa in the women’s traditional 60kg quarter-final to reach the semi-finals and assure herself of a medal.
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India’s women’s cricket team also marched into the final with a 114-run victory over Bangladesh in the second semi-final. India will face Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match, while Pakistan and Bangladesh will meet in the bronze-medal contest.
Smriti Mandhana created history during India’s innings by moving past Suzie Bates to become the leading run-scorer in women’s T20 internationals, while Shafali Verma struck a rapid half-century.
Hockey teams begin with emphatic wins
India’s women produced one of the biggest wins of the opening day, crushing Uzbekistan 19-0 in Pool B.
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The men followed with a 13-1 victory over Indonesia in Pool A. Dilpreet Singh scored four goals, while Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh struck twice each. Abhishek, Rajinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh were also on target.
India sweep Kazakhstan in badminton
India’s women’s badminton team made a flawless start, defeating Kazakhstan 3-0 without dropping a game.
PV Sindhu beat Kamila Smagulova 21-7, 21-9, Unnati Hooda defeated Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10, and Tanvi Sharma completed the sweep with a 21-5, 21-10 victory over Diana Namenova.
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Mixed results for India in table tennis
Both Indian teams started their campaigns with 3-0 victories over Indonesia.
The women then edged Singapore 3-2 in a dramatic Group F tie. Yashaswini Ghorpade won both her matches, including the deciding fifth contest against Loy Ming, while Sreeja Akula produced a crucial victory over Jian Zeng.
The men, however, suffered a 0-3 defeat against Iran. Noshad Alamiyan beat Manush Shah in straight games, Benyamin Faraji defeated Manav Thakkar 3-0, while Nima Alamian overcame Harmeet Desai in five games.
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Rishabh Das finishes sixth in backstroke final
Rishabh Das emerged as India’s leading performer in the pool. He finished fifth in the men’s 100m backstroke heats to reach the final before eventually taking sixth place.
Utkarsh Patil finished 12th in the heats and missed out on the final.
In the men’s 100m freestyle heats, Benedicton Beniston finished 12th, while Akash Mani placed 23rd. Neither progressed.
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Teqball bronze hopes end in disappointment
India came close to the podium twice in teqball but finished without a medal.
Quimcy Dsouza lost the women’s singles bronze-medal match to Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto. She then partnered Mohamed Anas Beg in the mixed doubles bronze-medal contest, where the Indian pair lost to Vietnam’s Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Ngih Trinh.
Wushu campaign suffers setbacks
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Mayanglambam Suraj Singh finished 11th in the men’s changquan final.
Later, Aparna lost to Iran’s Sogand Sinkaeichetan in the women’s 52kg sanda round of 16, while Vikrant Baliyan was beaten by Iran’s Soheil Mousavi in the men’s 75kg sanda round of 16.
Asian Games 2026 September 20: India’s results
Sport
Event
Round/Stage
India/Indian athlete(s)
Opponent/Details
Result
Wushu
Men’s changquan
Final
Mayanglambam Suraj Singh
—
Finished 11th
Shooting
Women’s 10m air rifle team
Team final
Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, Vidarsa K Vinod
China, Japan and others
Silver medal — 1898.0
Teqball
Women’s singles
Bronze-medal match
Quimcy Dsouza
Yuina Sakamoto, Japan
Lost 0-2; finished fourth
Table tennis
Women’s team
Group F
India
Indonesia
India won 3-0
Teqball
Mixed doubles
Bronze-medal match
Quimcy Dsouza/Mohamed Anas Beg
Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen/Gia Ngih Trinh, Vietnam
India lost
MMA
Women’s traditional 60kg
Quarter-final
Suchika Tariyal
Altanchimeg Baigalmaa, Mongolia
Won; reached semi-finals and assured a medal
Swimming
Men’s 100m freestyle
Heats
Benedicton Beniston, Akash Mani
Multiple
Beniston 12th; Mani 23rd; both eliminated
Hockey
Women’s team
Pool B
India
Uzbekistan
India won 19-0
Swimming
Men’s 100m backstroke
Heats
Rishabh Das, Utkarsh Patil
Multiple
Das fifth and qualified; Patil 12th
Table tennis
Men’s team
Group F
India
Indonesia
India won 3-0
Cricket
Women’s team
Semi-final
India
Bangladesh
India won by 114 runs; face Sri Lanka for gold
Shooting
Women’s 10m air rifle individual
Final
Elavenil Valarivan
Multiple
Silver medal — 252.4
Hockey
Men’s team
Pool A
India
Indonesia
India won 13-1
Badminton
Women’s team
First round
India
Kazakhstan
India won 3-0
Swimming
Men’s 100m backstroke
Final
Rishabh Das
Multiple
Finished sixth
Table tennis
Women’s team
Group F
India
Singapore
India won 3-2
Wushu
Women’s 52kg sanda
Round of 16
Aparna
Sogand Sinkaeichetan, Iran
Lost
Wushu
Men’s 75kg sanda
Round of 16
Vikrant Baliyan
Soheil Mousavi, Iran
Lost
Table tennis
Men’s team
Group F
India
Iran
India lost 0-3
India, Sri Lanka set for women’s cricket gold-medal clash
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India moved into the women’s cricket final after overpowering Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semi-final.
They will now meet Sri Lanka for the gold medal, while Pakistan face Bangladesh for bronze.
The semi-final also saw Mandhana become the highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is, adding an individual landmark to India’s dominant victory.
Elavenil finishes Day 1 with two silvers
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Elavenil Valarivan was one of India’s standout performers, finishing the day with two silver medals.
She first joined Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa K Vinod on the podium in the team event before returning to take individual silver with 252.4 points.
Suchika assures India of MMA medal
Suchika Tariyal’s quarter-final victory over Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa ensured India will also win a medal in the women’s traditional 60kg MMA event.
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The colour of the medal will depend on her performance in the semi-finals.
CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman left Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds after being struck in the face by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle.
In the fourth inning, left-handed batter Michael Busch fouled off a pitch from Reds right-hander Luis Mey that struck Bregman, who immediately jogged toward the Cubs’ dugout with his hand over his left eye.
Bregman was escorted by a trainer down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse, with blood visible on his face. Matt Shaw pinch-hit for Bregman.
Bregman is batting .260 with 26 home runs and 88 RBIs in 152 games. He signed a $175 million, five-year free-agent deal in January.
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The Cubs could clinch a postseason berth with a win Sunday and a Diamondbacks loss.
Sunday afternoon at Wentworth Club in late September, where the sun is low and the leaves are beginning to rust. Everything is still and pristine, and into the light step two of the most aesthetically pleasing swings in golf. Rory McIlroy bounds to the first tee with a spring in his step, where Adam Scott is waiting with sleeves rolled up, sporting a deep tan over perfectly pressed cream trousers, with the air of a man who just berthed his yacht.
These golfers on this golf course on this beautiful late summer day? No wonder fans stacked three or four deep on all sides to catch a glimpse as the pairing moved through the grounds. McIlroy alone carries a magnetic attraction, of course, and here the entourage included a string of sweaty photographers and reporters, some burly security personnel, two police officers, the Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and half the population of Surrey.
In the pleasant hubbub it was easy to forget the stakes here. McIlroy has not won at Wentworth since 2014 and desperately wanted to repeat the feat at this BMW PGA Championship, the DP World Tour’s flagship event. There was considerable prize money of more than £1m for the winner. And perhaps most significantly for McIlroy was the opportunity to close the gap to Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai. It is a title McIlroy virtually owns having won it seven times, and there cannot be many people he would less like to watch take his crown than the American.
McIlroy was the star attraction at Wentworth Club (Reuters)
Reed, one of the gurning faces of LIV Golf before his exit in January, arrived here at Wentworth more than 800 points ahead of McIlroy, before pulling out with a hand injury. It opened the door: McIlroy needed to finish in the top two to move ahead of the American in the standings with only a handful of events remaining.
McIlroy began the day on 11 under par, two shots back from the overnight leaders in the thick of a packed leaderboard with 25 players inside five shots. After a disappointing Irish Open in which McIlroy finished tied-45th, he has refound some of his touch, particularly with his irons. But he ended this compelling Sunday tied second after wasting a series of makeable putts.
It had been a morning for extraordinary shots before McIlroy’s round began. Tyrrell Hatton hit a blind approach from the rough to within a couple of inches of the cup after piercing a gap between low-hanging branches and a bush. Frederic Lacroix aced the 14th from 163 yards to win himself a BMW iX5 xDrive 60 M Sport, to remind everyone who the sponsors are and that car names are getting out of hand.
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McIlroy himself hit one for the highlight reel, manufacturing a banana hook from the trees on 12 reminiscent of his famous approach on the 15th at Augusta, arms wrapped around his body to generate that extreme right-to-left turn through the air, and it landed travelling sideways just shy of the green.
But the world No 2’s challenge frittered away with putter in hand. McIlroy had earlier missed good opportunities at two, three and five, and finished the front nine with two birdies when it might have been four or five. Then came a disastrous moment on 11 when he fatted a chip into a bunker as the club head snagged in soft, sandy soil where he expected firm ground.
McIlroy hits his approach to the 18th green (Reuters)
McIlroy rallied, hitting that enormous hook to birdie the 12th. But he was always chasing and stretching to catch the leaders a shot or two out of reach. A birdie putt on 16 slid by the hole and McIlroy pulled off his hat in frustration as his challenge effectively ended. McIlroy finished ranked 76th in the field for strokes gained putting and was left to rue so many mistakes with the flat stick.
It was a familiar story, reminiscent of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst and the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews, when McIlroy spurned prime positions on Sunday with too many missed putts inside 10 feet. Here he recovered masterfully from wayward tee shots and the occasional missed green, but there is no recovery when the ball burns the edge and rolls by.
“I had my chances out there,” McIlroy said. “I wish I had some of those putts back, but I have to be encouraged with where my game is at.”
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At that point it looked like Aaron Rai would triumph, until a late-round stumble. Then it seemed Spain’s unheralded 30-year-old Manuel Elvira might break clear of the rest. Elvira has played much of his golf in the shadow of older brother Nacho, a winner of three events on the DP World Tour, and this was the biggest day of the younger brother’s career.
Unfortunately nerves told as he missed putts on 14 and 15, and despite a brilliant eagle on 17, Elvira made a disastrous strategic decision to adopt a conservative approach on the par-five 18th and lay up on one of the easiest holes on the course. He made the cardinal sin of finding the fairway bunker, then duffed a chip and ended with a double bogey.
“It was devastating that I hit the wrong shot at the right time on the lay up and left myself the toughest shot in the fairway bunker, and wasn’t able to pull it off,” Elvira said.
JJ Spaun celebrates with the trophy (PA)
Watching on was clubhouse leader JJ Spaun, who hugged his wife in celebration as the par Elvira needed to force a play-off slipped away. It has been an inconsistent season for Spaun since victory at the Texas Open in April, and a so-so day until a run of three successive birdies on 14, 15 and 16 propelled him to the top of the leaderboard on 16 under par. A birdie at the last earned Spaun a win by two strokes from McIlroy, Scott, Elvira and Rai.
“I played with a huge chip on my shoulder,” Spaun said of being overlooked as a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup next week outside Chicago. “I definitely had something to prove this week, but everything happens for a reason.”
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Tied second was enough for McIlroy to halve the points gap to Reed heading into the last events of the year. There may not be a Middle Eastern swing to this season’s European Tour at all, in the shadow of the war in Iran, so the Race to Dubai may in fact be a race to the final tournament of the season in – checks notes – Cheonan, South Korea, next month. Just as they did once upon a time in their epic Ryder Cup rivalry, McIlroy and Reed will fight to the bitter end.
For 80 minutes, if plenty were perplexed by an outbreak of extraordinary entertainment, maybe no one was more confused than Erling Haaland. There had been seven goals, but he got none of them. A giant figure in the No 9 shirt scored a hat-trick, but it wasn’t him. By the end, there were two outcomes Haaland recognised only too well. Manchester City won and he had scored.
But they were the only normal elements of an astonishing afternoon. Enzo Maresca’s side extended their 100 per cent start, but in unusual fashion. “I prefer to win 1-0 than 5-3,” said the Italian. He did not get his wish. He had predicted Sunderland would be City’s toughest match of the season so far; he was right in that part, at least.
“Sunderland [against] Arsenal last week was another crazy game,” noted Maresca. The Black Cats have put in colossal efforts against the two title favourites, in contrasting fashion, but with nothing to show for either whereas City are the big winners of this weekend at the summit. They and Arsenal both conceded three. The difference is that City scored five.
Man City looked potent in attack but fragile at the back (PA)
It took Haaland to put enough distance between themselves and Sunderland, a side who mounted not one comeback but a series. The first time Sunderland trailed, they levelled after three minutes, the second after four. Seven minutes after they went behind for a third time, Brian Brobbey’s deflected shot looped on to the bar. He instead completed the rarity of a hat-trick against City two minutes after they scored their fourth.
Ruben Dias was required to hook the ball off the line to prevent Sunderland from levelling it up at 4-4. Even at 5-3, Dan Ballard hit the post. Sunderland had 17 shots, eight on target and an xG of 4.25. “We probably deserved to score two or three more,” said manager Regis Le Bris.
All of which felt more incongruous given the reality that Sunderland had not scored more than once in a game so far this season, or that City had arrived on a run of four consecutive clean sheets.
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Man City will feel they got away with one against Sunderland (Getty)
But then, at kick-off, Antoine Semenyo had yet to score this season and he got two goals. Brobbey was still awaiting his first goal of the campaign and, within an hour, he had become the first player to get a Premier League hat-trick against City since Jamie Vardy six years ago; before that, no one had since Vardy again in 2016.
The Dutchman made history, and it counted for nothing. Not since Roque Santa Cruz in 2007 had anyone got a Premier League hat-trick in a losing cause. Perhaps it will be scant consolation to Sunderland, too, that they fashioned the game of the season so far. “A defeat but we are proud,” added Le Bris.
“We found a way to win,” said Maresca. Haaland was overshadowed, but added another distinction to a long list. He has now scored against all 25 clubs he has faced in the Premier League, though only after initial frustration. On the stroke of half-time, he had rolled a shot wide of an unguarded goal. When he converted Josko Gvardiol’s low centre, the flag was raised. Haaland, famously, is never offside, but VAR proved Gvardiol was not, either. For the second successive Sunday, a Haaland goal from a Gvardiol cross was given after the intervention of technology. This one is less likely to prompt an apology from Howard Webb.
Erling Haaland finally got his goal late on (AP)
Sunderland wanted a penalty for a possible handball by Elliot Anderson. City had other concerns. “Two of the three goals we conceded were too easy,” said Maresca. They did not defend like possible champions, though maybe that reflected the unique threat of the bruising Brobbey. They – Dias in particular – were battered and bullied by the target man, who was aided by the sleek creativity of Enzo Le Fee and the raw pace of Nilson Angulo.
Yet while Maresca has packed his side with centre-backs, City look fragile. Brobbey’s first goal of the afternoon and the campaign stemmed from Le Fee’s pass, enabling him to power between Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes. His second came when he was given an open goal after Thomas Meunier sprang the offside trap to centre.
Brian Brobbey ran Man City ragged but still lost despite a hat-trick (AP)
City’s back four were caught out by runners again for the third: Granit Xhaka chipping the ball over the defence, Angulo touching the ball to Brobbey for a tap-in. “I am really pleased for him,” said Le Bris. “We were not concerned he didn’t score in the first four games.”
Brobbey showed his potency and City displayed theirs. The scoring was begun by an audacious free kick from an acute angle, executed superbly by Enzo Fernandez. Their advantage was restored when Rayan Cherki drove in a shot after Iliman Ndiaye had won the ball in midfield.
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Antoine Semenyo’s double was crucial for Man City (Getty)
Semenyo’s double could come with regrets for Sunderland: the first a shot drilled through the legs of Kevin Danso, the second when Cherki’s pass bounced off two Sunderland defenders, falling obligingly for the winger to finish.
He never scored in a loan spell for Sunderland. He got a double against them. It was that kind of day.
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is impressed his side “kept their belief” to come from a goal down to earn a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Sep 19, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after striking out during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Okay, but what are the MLB Best Bets of the day? Let’s talk about some of the options.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets
Under 8 at -113 (DraftKings)
The Mets have long been eliminated from the postseason, but they can make it harder for a division rival to make it in with a third consecutive win today. However, getting that win will be easier said than done.
Yes, the Mets have won the last two (6-3 and 10-3), but over the last week, the Phillies have hit slightly better (.245 to .236 for the Mets). But the real advantage for Philly is on the mound, where Cristopher Sanchez (17-6, 2.93 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) faces off against Jonah Tong (2-1, 3.43 ERA, 1.19 WHIP).
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The last two games have finished over the listed total (8), but with these two pitchers on the mound against these lineups, I don’t expect to see a ton of scoring.
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Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates ML at +103 (DraftKings)
With a 6-5 win over the Royals yesterday, the Pirates have won three in a row and will go for the series sweep of Kansas City today and should do just that. They come into the game with one of the hottest lineups in baseball at the moment, hitting .301 over the last week with 30 runs scored across five games.
It is not going to be easy to run up the score against Michael Wacha (3-6 on the road with a 3.70 ERA and a .239 OBA). But that’s okay because the Royals are struggling to make contact, hitting just .207 over the last week.
So Pittsburgh likely won’t need to score much to secure the win.
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Miami Marlins vs. San Diego Padres
Padres -1.5 at +158
Sandy Alcantara has been a bright spot for the Marlins in an otherwise lackluster season, but he seems to be tired this month. After posting a 2.57 ERA in July and a 2.08 in August, he’s posted an 8.27 ERA so far in September—but recorded his first career save his last time out.
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Against a San Diego lineup that is currently the hottest-hitting team in baseball (.323 BA over the last week), he could be in for a long day. Walker Buehler hasn’t been great this season, but he’s been solid the last two months (3.16 ERA in July and 3.75 so far in September).
Miami will make it interesting (like they did yesterday), but given how Alcantara has struggled and how well San Diego is hitting, the Padres will cover the run line today.
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