Global Pulse

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  • The 49ers are refreshed in Australia and preparing for the opener vs. the Rams

    The 49ers are refreshed in Australia and preparing for the opener vs. the Rams

    MELBOURNE, Australia – In a groundbreaking moment for American football, the San Francisco 49ers have completed their trans-Pacific journey to Melbourne, shaken off most of the effects of international travel, and begun final preparations for their 2024 NFL regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams this Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    The 49ers departed their Bay Area base in California last Wednesday, touching down in southeastern Australia two days later. After granting players a full 24-hour break to explore Melbourne’s landmarks and local offerings, the franchise held their first game-week practice session on Monday at AAMI Park, with most players reporting they felt surprisingly refreshed following the long-haul flight.

    In a contrasting scheduling approach, their opponent the Los Angeles Rams have remained in the U.S. and will not arrive in Melbourne until Thursday, a plan Rams head coach Sean McVay has already framed as the optimal strategy for his squad.

    Speaking after Monday’s practice, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared that while the majority of the team had adjusted to the new time zone within a couple of days, his own experience of the city has been limited to a short stroll and views from his hotel window, a reality of being deep in the competitive season. “It took a couple days to adjust but feeling real good today,” Shanahan said. “Most of the city I’ve seen out of my window, I’ve gotten to go on one walk. It’s a little different for coaches. We’re in the season so we’re not out much. But players had yesterday off so I know they got out a little bit and they’ve spoken very highly of everything.”

    Multiple 49ers players took advantage of their day off to attend an Australian Football League match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the iconic venue that will host the first ever NFL regular season game held on Australian soil. Star running back Christian McCaffrey did not attend the AFL contest, but said he had heard glowing feedback from his teammates, and has thoroughly enjoyed his first days in the country.

    McCaffrey explained that structured pre-travel guidance from the team’s performance and training staff helped minimize disruptive jet lag symptoms, leaving only the fatigue from 14-plus hours confined to an airplane as the main lingering effect of the journey. Now fully recovered, the All-Pro back said the entire squad is eager to take the field Friday. “This has been such a cool experience. Obviously, there’s a lot of question marks when you hear you’re playing in Australia, but since we’ve been here, man, it’s been so cool. The people are unbelievable. The food’s incredible. The coffee’s great. The atmosphere, you can already feel it. It’s just been a lot fun, so we’re super fired up we’re here.”

    Shanahan acknowledged that he was initially less enthusiastic about the overseas matchup when it was first announced. The original schedule would have seen the 49ers face the Rams in Los Angeles, where 49ers fans traditionally turn out in large numbers to give the team a de facto home field advantage. But after arriving in Melbourne and learning of the strong ticket demand from 49ers supporters traveling for the game, Shanahan’s outlook has shifted.

    “That was nothing against Australia or anything, that’s just about competition and how important our 17 games are,” he explained. “It’s cool for us just we always have an advantage of having one, I see it as one home game a year in L.A., just the way our fans are and take over that stadium. So it was disappointing to let them off the hook and get them out of that. Knowing how our fans roll, I have a feeling they won’t be much different here. I expect to have a good showing. … After being here for a couple days like this is the right time to be here it’s the right place to be and it’s right team to go against.”

    The 49ers did not release any injury updates following Monday’s practice, a departure from Shanahan’s typical routine. Due to the 17-hour time difference between Melbourne and California, the Rams will hold their first game-week practice on Monday U.S. time, which falls on Tuesday in Australia. To maintain a level playing field for injury reporting timelines, Shanahan opted to delay any announcements about the status of star players including tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa.

    “Because we’re technically in the future, from where we’re from, and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow,” Shanahan joked. “So I’m not talking about them.”

    One confirmed injury update was released: defensive end Sam Okuayinonu fractured his foot during the 49ers’ final practice in California before departure. He has been placed on the injured reserve list and is expected to miss the vast majority of the 2024 season.

    In other team news, the 49ers announced they will retain the same eight team captains from the 2023 season. Quarterback Brock Purdy will once again serve as a captain, alongside McCaffrey, Kittle, Bosa, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, offensive tackle Trent Williams, linebacker Fred Warner and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir.

  • Tiafoe and Michelsen win at the US Open as American men make a run at ending a Grand Slam drought

    Tiafoe and Michelsen win at the US Open as American men make a run at ending a Grand Slam drought

    NEW YORK — The 2024 U.S. Open is witnessing a historic breakthrough for American men’s tennis, as a new generation of homegrown talent is mounting the most serious push in decades to end the nation’s 21-year Grand Slam title drought.

    So far, Frances Tiafoe and 19-year-old Alex Michelsen have secured their spots in the tournament’s quarterfinals, with a third American potentially joining them through the final fourth-round matchup between Ben Shelton and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The run marks the first time since 1995 that five American men have advanced to the final 16 of a Grand Slam, a milestone that has injected new energy into the final major of the tennis season and sparked hope that the long dry spell for U.S. men’s tennis could finally be coming to an end.

    The U.S. has not claimed a men’s Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows back in 2003. In the 21 years since that victory, American men have rarely even advanced deep enough to contend for the crown. The closest the nation came to breaking the drought was two years ago, when Taylor Fritz defeated Tiafoe in the first all-American Grand Slam semifinal since 2005, becoming the first U.S. man to reach a major final since Roddick in 2009. But Fritz ultimately fell to Jannik Sinner in straight sets, leaving the drought unbroken.

    This year, however, the dynamic is different. Backed by a roaring home crowd that has turned every American match into a festive home-field advantage, the young contingent of players has shown consistent form and mental toughness that sets this year’s run apart. Tiafoe, the No. 11 seed, pulled off a stunning upset over 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, winning 7-6 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (6) to advance to his third career U.S. Open quarterfinal. The 26-year-old called competing in front of a home crowd an unmatchable experience.

    “We play so much outside of the States obviously, a lot of time in Europe,” Tiafoe said after his win. “This sport’s so international, so to be able to play in front of friends, family, loved ones, is amazing. They don’t get to see you much, so you want to put on a show.”

    Up next, Tiafoe will face Michelsen, the 22-year-old Californian who has been one of the biggest breakout stars of this year’s tournament. Michelsen defeated No. 27 seed Tomas Etcheverry 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, and he remains the only men’s singles player in the tournament who has yet to drop a set through four rounds. For Michelsen, the deep run is the payoff for years of targeted training, not an unexpected surprise.

    “We’ve been working really hard to get to this point and I’m really happy but not super surprised because of all the work I put in my whole life,” Michelsen said.

    The winner of the Tiafoe-Michelsen quarterfinal matchup will advance to the semifinals, where they will face either defending champion and No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz or the winner of the Shelton-Tsitsipas fourth-round clash. On Sunday, four of the day’s men’s matches featured an American competitor, with the home team taking two of the first three contests. The only American to fall on Sunday was Tommy Paul, the No. 20 seed, who lost to Alcaraz in straight sets. American fans will get another chance to add a quarterfinalist on Monday, when No. 14 seed Learner Tien faces Karen Khachanov for a spot in the final eight.

    The current run echoes the golden era of American men’s tennis in 1995, when eight U.S. players advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Open, with three moving on to the semifinals. That year, Pete Sampras defeated Jim Courier in the semifinals before beating top-seeded Andre Agassi to claim the title, a result that was widely expected during a period when American men dominated the global tennis rankings. For years after the 2003 Roddick win, American tennis fans have grown accustomed to annual discussions about the ongoing title drought, a conversation many of the current generation of players have grown tired of.

    While the men’s side has been waiting for a breakthrough, American women’s tennis has already seen a surge of success in recent years: Coco Gauff has claimed two Grand Slam titles, while Jessica Pegula climbed to No. 3 in the WTA world rankings. Former player and current competitor Taylor Townsend noted that the depth of talent now exists across both the men’s and women’s sides of American tennis, setting the stage for a potential generational shift.

    “There have been a really consistent chunk of players, Jess, Coco, you know, have been at the top and inside the top five for the last I don’t know how many years,” Townsend said after her loss to top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday. “Ben, Frances, Tommy, Taylor, it’s just such a great group of men as well.”

  • Italy’s upset bid falls short as the US escapes 55-52 in a tense World Cup game

    Italy’s upset bid falls short as the US escapes 55-52 in a tense World Cup game

    BERLIN – In a clash that will go down as one of the most heart-stopping contests in recent FIBA Women’s World Cup history, a resilient Italian side nearly pulled off a historic upset over powerhouse Team USA on Sunday, falling just three points short at 55-52 after a final-second game-tying attempt missed the mark.

    Making their first appearance at the global tournament in three decades, having last competed in 1994, Italy pushed the four-time defending champions to the absolute limit, handing the Americans their lowest scoring total in a World Cup victory since a 42-38 win over Australia back in 1967.

    Heading into the final quarter, Italy held a surprising 50-48 lead, and a raucous crowd of 9,232 — majority of whom were cheering for the European underdog — erupted into frenzy as the upset seemed within reach. But the United States responded with a critical 7-0 run to flip the scoreline to a 55-50 advantage. Italy clawed back to cut the deficit to three, and star forward Cecilia Zandalasini had a clear open look from three-point range to tie the game as the buzzer sounded. Her shot drifted off target, ending Italy’s bid for a historic win.

    Had the upset landed, it would have marked the Americans’ first loss at the FIBA Women’s World Cup since 2006, and their first defeat in the tournament’s preliminary round since 1983. Italy currently holds a 1-1 record in group play after the narrow defeat.

    Following the final play, Zandalasini reacted emotionally to a referee’s failure to call a foul on the USA’s defense during her game-deciding possession, a reaction she later apologized for post-game. “It was a lot of emotions today, but I should have kept them inside of me a little better,” she said.

    For Italian point guard Mariella Santucci, the bitter taste of a near-win is mixed with newfound confidence in her team’s ability to compete with the best in the world. “I feel a little bitter of course but they were the better team and they made better plays at the end so they deserve to win,” Santucci explained. “I feel like the way we play we learn so much about ourselves that we can compete against everybody. To play like that with the USA is special, but it makes us think that we are a special team and we can do something special.”

    With no time to dwell on the near-miss, Italy faces a critical group stage match against China on Monday, and Zandalasini said the squad is already shifting focus to the next contest. “We have another very important game tomorrow. So now we’ve shown what we’re capable of,” she said. “But we want to keep going and not just stop here and just lose our head on this game. It’s still a very, very long tournament.”

    Zandalasini led all Italian scorers with 14 points in the match, and entered Sunday’s contest with a notable historical footnote: Italy was one of the few teams in the world to hold a .500 or better winning record against the United States, with a 1-1 all-time head-to-head record before tipoff.

    Looking back on the team’s performance against the undisputed global powerhouse, Zandalasini said the result proved Italy earned their spot on the sport’s biggest stage. “I think we showed that tonight we deserved a spot in this tournament on this big stage,” she said. “I’m so proud of my team, and I think we have a great coach that believes in us and we really play our hearts out.”

  • A gritty late surge lifts the US past Italy 55-52 in its toughest World Cup test in years

    A gritty late surge lifts the US past Italy 55-52 in its toughest World Cup test in years

    BERLIN – The undefeated streak of the United States women’s national basketball team at the FIBA World Cup faced its closest test in 18 years on Sunday, when a gritty defensive performance from Italy pushed the defending champions to the brink before a late-game rally and a game-saving key stop secured a tense 55-53 win for the Americans.

    Jackie Young led the U.S. scoring with 10 points in a match that saw the American offense struggle to find its rhythm from start to finish. This low-scoring victory marks the fewest points the U.S. has put up in a World Cup win since a 42-38 defeat of Australia back in 1967, highlighting just how tight the matchup against Italy truly was.

    Entering the match, the U.S. held an unprecedented 31-game consecutive World Cup win streak, a run that stretches all the way back to a 2006 semifinal loss to Russia. Before Sunday’s game, only one opponent had pulled within single digits of the Americans during this historic run: Australia, who fell by eight points back in 2010. Italy’s performance made clear just how much the global gap with the U.S. has narrowed in recent years, a trend the American side acknowledged following the final buzzer.

    “You have to be able to win different ways in this tournament because every team stylistically plays a little bit different,” said U.S. head coach Kara Lawson after the win. “You do have to be able to win when you don’t have your fastball. We didn’t have a fastball tonight, but we figured it out late and we’ll grow from it.”

    Breanna Stewart, who missed her opening eight shots from the field before notching her first and most critical bucket of the game late in the fourth quarter, echoed that sentiment. “Obviously, Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit. It made it difficult for us to score. They are a tough team. Tons of respect to what they’ve done. And, just proud of the resiliency of this group.”

    This narrow escape comes on the heels of another close call for the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Americans claimed their eighth consecutive gold medal with just a one-point win over France in the championship game. For Lawson, the increasing competitiveness of global women’s basketball is a win for the entire sport.

    “We’ve seen that through the tournament that every game feels like a dogfight,” Lawson noted. “It’s really hard. On any given night, if you’re not prepared to play, you’ll lose. That’s awesome for our sport.”

    The game unfolded far differently than most U.S. matchups in recent memory. The Americans jumped out to an early 23-8 lead in the first quarter, a start that suggested the match would end in another dominant blowout. That changed immediately when Italy switched to a stifling 2-3 zone defense, which completely disrupted the U.S. offense. Italy closed out the first half on a 16-7 run to trail by just six points at 30-24, then carried that momentum into the third quarter with an 11-2 run that put them in front 35-32. The U.S. held a narrow 42-39 lead going into the final quarter, but Italy refused to collapse, pushing ahead 50-48 with just 4:29 left to play.

    That deficit sparked a late 7-0 game-winning rally from the U.S. Stewart hit her first basket of the entire match to put the Americans up 51-50, before a critical offensive foul drawn by Chelsea Gray on Italy created an opening for Young to hit a go-ahead layup. Gray followed the defensive stop with a jumper with 1:07 remaining that pushed the U.S. lead to five points. After a late bucket from Italy’s Matilde Villa cut the lead back to three with under a minute left, the U.S. missed two chances to extend the lead to two possessions, setting up a final game-winning attempt for Italy.

    Italy’s star forward Cecilia Zandalasini, who led all scorers with 14 points in the match, got an open three-point look at the buzzer to tie the game, but her shot bounced off the rim, securing the U.S. win. After the game, Zandalasini publicly apologized for an emotional outburst toward an official after the final buzzer, sparked by a missed foul call she believed should have gone Italy’s way.

    “It was a lot of emotions today, but I should have kept them inside of me a little better,” Zandalasini said. This year marks Italy’s first appearance at the FIBA Women’s World Cup since 1994, and the team entered Sunday’s matchup having fallen by 34 points to the U.S. in a qualifying match back in March.

    The U.S. offense was visibly hampered by Italy’s zone defense all game, shooting just 29% from the field overall and a dismal 1-for-12 from three-point range. The Americans also missed a high volume of close-range layups, leaving easy points on the board that nearly cost them the match.

    “I think we missed some shots. We missed some layups, some shots that we have made in the past,” Gray said of the offensive struggles, adding that her late game-changing stop was just part of what the team needed to pull out the win. Lawson praised Gray’s impact on the final result, calling the defensive play a game-altering turning point.

    “I thought that late charge Chelsea took was a big momentum changing play,” Lawson said. “It was an incredible winning play by Gray there.”

    With the win, the U.S. improves to 2-0 in group play, while Italy drops to 1-1. In other Sunday matchups at the tournament, China claimed an overtime victory over the Czech Republic, Australia defeated Turkey, and Belgium beat Puerto Rico.

  • When Man City call you don’t say no – Ndiaye

    When Man City call you don’t say no – Ndiaye

    On the final day of the recent summer transfer window, top-flight English football delivered one of its most surprising deadline day twists: Iliman Ndiaye, the 26-year-old winger, ended up at Premier League champions Manchester City for a £60 million fee from Everton, turning down a near-certain move to Tottenham Hotspur that had already been all but agreed.

    A deal between Everton and Tottenham had already been finalized, but the north London club was forced to pull out of the transfer after they failed to offload Brazilian forward Richarlison to clear the wage budget and roster space needed to complete Ndiaye’s signing. What looked like a stalled transfer quickly became a career-defining opportunity for the winger, when Manchester City stepped in to secure his signature.

    In his first public comments since completing the move, Ndiaye made clear that when one of the world’s biggest football clubs comes calling, there is no decision to be made. “You don’t say no when Manchester City comes calling,” he told reporters, adding that competing in the UEFA Champions League — the sport’s premier club competition — at one of the global game’s elite institutions has always been his target. “It was always going to be City. When the move came through, I was buzzing. This is where I think I belong. I have worked hard to get to this point.”

    Ndiaye was thrown straight into the deep end by City manager Pep Guardiola, named in the starting eleven for his debut just days after the transfer completed in the club’s 1-0 Premier League win over Coventry. The winger made an immediate impact on his first outing, attempting eight dribbles over the course of the match — more than any other player on the pitch, offering an early sign of the dynamic attacking energy he will bring to Guardiola’s side.

    The winger’s path to the Premier League title contenders has been far from straightforward. He began his professional career in non-league football, turning out for Boreham Wood before a spell at Hyde United just seven miles from City’s Etihad Stadium seven years ago. He earned his move to the second-tier Championship with Sheffield United, spent a single season at French Ligue 1 side Marseille, then joined Everton for £15 million in 2024.

    Over his two seasons at Goodison Park, Ndiaye became a fan favourite even as the club struggled to a bottom-half Premier League finish in both campaigns, scoring 17 goals and winning over supporters with his creative, pacey play on the flanks. The 26-year-old admitted that leaving Everton was not an easy choice, saying he formed deep bonds with the fanbase and his teammates during his time at the club. “It was difficult to leave Everton. I created a great connection with the fans and the players there, but we have to move on sometimes and it’s how football is,” he explained.

    Ndiaye added that he never felt stressed or panicked when his transfer looked set to fall through in the final days of the window. “There was no stress or panicking. I always say whatever comes, comes. God decides your future – it is already written. I was just being patient,” he said. Looking ahead to his new chapter at the Etihad, Ndiaye said he has no interest in dwelling on his past career steps, and is focused on proving himself at the highest level of the sport. “I don’t really look back. I just look to the future and work hard. I never stop. I just look at the next step and this is a big step to join Manchester City. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world. There are world-class players, a world-class stadium and the fans are brilliant. It’s just the beginning for me here.”

  • Jackie Young leads a gritty US escape in a tight 55-52 women’s World Cup win over Italy

    Jackie Young leads a gritty US escape in a tight 55-52 women’s World Cup win over Italy

    BERLIN – The undefeated United States women’s national basketball team navigated its closest contest at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 20 years on Sunday, grinding out a tense 55-52 victory over a gritty Italian squad that threatened to end the Americans’ historic decades-long winning run.

    Sunday’s win stretched the U.S.’s consecutive World Cup victory streak to 32 games, a run that dates back to a 2006 semifinal loss to Russia. In the 18 years spanning this undefeated stretch, only one other opponent has pulled within single digits of the star-studded American side: Australia, which fell by eight points back in the 2010 iteration of the tournament.

    Entering the matchup with a 2-0 preliminary round record, the U.S. faced far stiffer resistance than expected from Italy, which was making its first World Cup appearance since 1994. The Americans posted their lowest point total in a World Cup preliminary round game since 1971, when the squad notched just 51 points against France. Italy’s disruptive 2-3 zone defense completely threw off the U.S. offensive rhythm, holding the favorites to just 29% field goal shooting overall and a dismal 1-for-12 performance from three-point range.

    After holding a 30-24 lead at halftime, the U.S. saw Italy storm out of the locker room with an 11-2 third-quarter run to grab a 35-32 advantage. The Americans regrouped slightly to take a 42-39 lead into the final frame, but Italy refused to collapse, even after falling to the U.S. by a lopsided 34 points in a March qualifying matchup. With just 4 minutes and 29 seconds remaining in regulation, Italy pulled ahead 50-48, setting the stage for a dramatic closing stretch.

    The U.S. responded with a critical 7-0 game-changing run to retake control. Breanna Stewart, who had missed her first eight shot attempts of the contest, netted her first basket to put the Americans up 51-50. On Italy’s next possession, the U.S. drew an offensive foul call, and Jackie Young capitalized with a fast layup to extend the lead. After a successful defensive stop, Chelsea Gray knocked down a jumper to push the U.S. advantage to five points.

    Italy did not back down: young standout Matilde Villa scored to cut the U.S. lead back to three points with under 60 seconds left on the clock. The U.S. failed to convert on two opportunities to build an insurmountable two-possession lead, leaving the door open for Italy to force overtime. Italian wing Cecilia Zandalasini, who finished the game with a team-high 14 points, received an open look at a game-tying three-pointer as the buzzer sounded, but her shot bounced off the rim, securing the narrow U.S. win.

    Jackie Young led the American squad with 10 points in the low-scoring affair. A loud pro-Italy crowd filled the arena for the matchup, though a number of U.S. fans were in attendance, sporting gear for collegiate and WNBA stars including Caitlin Clark, who led the U.S. to a lopsided win over China in the tournament opener, and UConn standout Paige Bueckers.

    Italy entered the matchup with a 1-1 preliminary round record, having opened its World Cup return with a win over the Czech Republic. In other Sunday matchups, China secured an overtime win against the Czech Republic, Australia defeated Turkey, and Belgium pulled out a victory over Puerto Rico.

    Looking ahead to Monday’s final pool play games, Italy will square off against China, while the U.S. will face the Czech Republic as it aims to extend its historic 32-game winning streak further into the tournament.

  • Australia beats Turkey for 2nd win at Women’s Basketball World Cup, US plays Italy later

    Australia beats Turkey for 2nd win at Women’s Basketball World Cup, US plays Italy later

    BERLIN – The Australian women’s national basketball team, nicknamed the Opals, secured its spot in the final phase of the Women’s Basketball World Cup on Sunday, powered by Ezi Magbegor’s standout 21-point performance in an 87-71 physical victory over Turkey.

    Turkey got off to a rocky start, falling into an immediate 8-0 deficit just minutes into the opening quarter. But a well-timed timeout allowed the side to regroup, and the team fought back to grab a 15-14 lead shortly after. Turkey’s advantage would not hold, however; the Opals quickly rallied to close the first quarter with a 21-15 advantage, and never surrendered the lead for the remainder of the matchup.

    Sevgi Uzun carried Turkey’s offensive effort, finishing the game with a team-high 24 points. In the third quarter, Turkey’s Goksen Fitik suffered an apparent right ankle injury and was forced to leave the game, but she made a successful return to the court in the fourth quarter to help her team mount a late comeback push.

    This year’s Australian roster features seven players making their first appearance at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The squad has also had to overcome pre-tournament adversity: team captain Sami Whitcomb, who currently plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, was forced to withdraw from the competition entirely due to a persistent knee injury that had not fully healed.

    With two wins already under their belt, the Opals have guaranteed themselves at minimum a spot in the knockout playoffs of the tournament’s final phase. Up next for Australia is a pivotal group stage showdown on Monday against European champion Belgium, a game that is widely expected to determine which team claims the group’s top spot and advances directly to the tournament quarterfinals.

    Sunday’s matchday schedule featured additional key group stage action across the tournament. Belgium was set to take on Puerto Rico in its second group game later in the day, while defending powerhouse the United States faced off against Italy. Three of the U.S. team’s rising young stars – Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers – were looking to extend the program’s historic 31-game winning streak at the World Cup to 32. The U.S. has not dropped a game at the tournament since a semifinal defeat back in 2006, a 18-year undefeated run that cements the country’s status as the team to beat.

    In another Sunday matchup, China took on the Czech Republic, with both sides entering the game still searching for their first win of the 2024 Women’s Basketball World Cup. China’s roster features the 7-foot-3 towering center Zhang Ziyu, who has been one of the most talked-about young players of this year’s tournament ahead of the matchup.

  • Late penalty try for Australia clinches 28-28 draw against Argentina and a 1-0 series win

    Late penalty try for Australia clinches 28-28 draw against Argentina and a 1-0 series win

    MENDOZA, Argentina – In a tense, physically demanding second rugby test that went down to the final seconds, a penalty try awarded to Australia with 10 minutes left on the clock locked in a 28-28 draw against Argentina Saturday. The result was enough for the Wallabies to secure a 1-0 series win, capping a match defined by dramatic momentum swings, disciplined defensive resilience from 13-man Argentina, and missed opportunities for Australia that left the side frustrated with its performance.

    Australia dominated the opening half-hour of the match, jumping out to a commanding 14-0 lead that looked set to deliver a series sweep and a fifth consecutive test victory. Though Australia got off to a rocky start when winger Filipo Dauguna dropped the opening kickoff, gifting Argentina an immediate attacking chance, the Wallabies weathered the early pressure. Argentina dominated aerial play in the opening minutes, finding success with quick set-piece possession from lineouts and scrum second-channel plays, but Australia turned its first sustained opportunities into points.

    Returning Australian captain Harry Wilson crossed the try line in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a scrum penalty and powerful forward carries from Rob Valetini, Len Ikitau and Angus Bell to open the scoring. Eight minutes later, the Wallabies added a second try after another penalty: working through forward phases near the goal line, Jorgensen received a sharp pass from Ryan Lonergan on the right wing and darted across the line to stretch the lead to 14 points.

    That advantage evaporated in the final four minutes of the first half, sparked by the bold decision-making of Argentina captain Pablo Matera. With both teams down one lock due to sin bin rulings, Matera called for a scrum from a penalty instead of kicking for points, and the gamble paid off with his first try of the match. On the stroke of halftime, Argentina winger Ignacio Mendy leveled the scores after a well-executed lineout play: Argentina spread the ball wide first, before flyhalf Ignacio Moro shifted play back to an open gap for Mendy to score, making it 14-14 at the break.

    Australia reclaimed the lead seven minutes into the second half, when industrious flanker Fraser McReight crossed the line after a tapped penalty. But from that point, Argentina began to take control of possession, forcing the Wallabies into increasingly deep defensive positions. Pumas hooker Ignacio Ruiz leveled the scores again at 21-21, attacking from another tapped penalty to cross the line. With 16 minutes remaining, Matera powered over for his second try, the result of a grueling 23-phase attacking sequence that saw Argentina take its first lead of the match at 28-21.

    The match’s final turning point came in the 69th minute, when Argentina was reduced to 13 men: first center Lucio Cinti was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, followed a minute later by fullback Santiago Carreras for the same offense. The repeated infringement led to a penalty try being awarded to Australia, leveling the scores at 28-28.

    For the remaining 10 minutes of play, 13-man Argentina mounted a heroic defensive stand, holding off repeated Australian attacks that sought to break the deadlock. Despite having a numerical advantage, the Wallabies could not break through the Pumas’ forward pack in the closing moments, unable to force a match-winning score.

    For Australia, the result means the side claims its first ever series win on Argentine soil, following a 27-21 victory in the first test. But the result left Australian head coach Les Kiss, who remains unbeaten through his first four matches in charge, disappointed that his side let a winnable match slip. “It’s difficult to come here and do what we did, but just talking to a couple of the lads, we let them off the hook a couple of times,” Kiss said post-match. “We were up two tries to nil in that first half and just gave them field position, gave them opportunity and that brought the crowd back in and brought energy back into their game. It was always going to be a dogfight from then on in.”

    Argentina can take pride in the hard-fought draw, which denied the Wallabies both a fifth straight test win and a first series sweep in Argentina, in front of a raucous home crowd that lifted the Pumas through their late defensive stand.

  • Taylor crowns career in stylish Croke Park triumph

    Taylor crowns career in stylish Croke Park triumph

    On an emotional, star-studded night in Dublin, Irish boxing icon Katie Taylor closed out one of the most transformative careers in sports history, securing a final unanimous decision victory over France’s Flora Pili at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park. The 40-year-old three-time undisputed world champion delivered a vintage performance in front of 80,000 roaring fans — a crowd that marks the sixth-largest post-war boxing attendance globally — capping a 25-year journey that redefined women’s boxing for generations.

    Taylor entered her final walk to the ring to the hymn *All Hail King Jesus*, a nod to her well-documented public faith, stretching her arms wide to soak in the sea of green and white Irish tricolors that packed the venue’s towering stands. The night’s pre-fight entertainment was headlined by Irish pop supergroup Westlife, who led tens of thousands of singing fans through hits including *World of Our Own* and *You Raise Me Up*, before a hushed a cappella performance of the beloved Irish ballad *Grace* and a rousing rendition of the Irish national anthem. Chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole” from the crowd drowned out Pili’s entrance music, setting the tone for the heavily anticipated matchup.

    From the opening bell, Taylor’s signature speed, pinpoint footwork and sharp, relentless pressure dominated the fight. After a measured first round, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist turned up the pace in round two, landing quick combinations before slipping out of Pili’s range. Though the 29-year-old French challenger — who entered the fight unbeaten in 12 bouts and a former European title holder — landed a brief flurry in the seventh round that snapped Taylor’s head back, the gulf in class was evident from the early stages. When the final bell rang, judges scored the fight 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91, all in favor of Taylor, granting her the vacant WBC light-welterweight belt to add to her existing WBA, WBO and IBF titles in the division.

    Following the final decision, Taylor took a moment to scan the packed stands, holding back tears as she addressed the crowd that turned out to honor her. For context, the last professional boxing event held at Croke Park dated back to 1972, making Taylor’s farewell bout a historic homecoming for the sport in Ireland. “There’s nothing like an Irish mammy,” she said, opening her remarks with a lighthearted tribute to her family, before adding: “We did it. We brought boxing back to Croke Park. You were with me in London 2012, you were with me with the heartbreak of Rio. You stayed with me when I turned pro. I don’t know any other country that would sell 80,000 tickets for a female athlete. I’m convinced Ireland is the only country.”

    Taylor retires with a professional record of 26 wins against just one loss — a 2023 defeat to Chantelle Cameron in Dublin that she avenged six months later to claim undisputed two-weight world champion status. Promoter Eddie Hearn called her “Ireland’s greatest sportsperson” in his pre-fight tribute, before Taylor completed the night’s ceremonial final lap of the ring, placing her gloves and championship belts in the center of the canvas as a symbolic closing to her career.

    Beyond her staggering list of accolades, which include a trilogy of wins against rival Amanda Serrano, Taylor’s greatest legacy lies in her trailblazing work to expand opportunities for women in boxing. As a young athlete, she once disguised herself as a boy to compete at a time when women’s boxing was banned in Ireland. She went on to lobby successfully for the sport to be sanctioned nationally and added to the Olympic program, conquering both the amateur and professional ranks over the course of her career. Roughly 80% of the fans in attendance at Croke Park had never attended a boxing event before, turning out simply to honor a athlete who dragged women’s sport from the margins and carried an entire nation along on her journey. When the night drew to a close, it was clear: while her championship belts will one day fade, the path Taylor blazed for future generations of female athletes will remain unmatched.

  • Springboks, All Blacks go to US without Kolbe and Savea after brutal injuries in rugby test series

    Springboks, All Blacks go to US without Kolbe and Savea after brutal injuries in rugby test series

    BALTIMORE — A blockbuster four-test rugby series between South Africa and New Zealand is set for its deciding clash next Saturday, but the decider will play out without two of the teams’ most impactful stars after a dramatic third test that saw the world champion Springboks claim a narrow 29-24 victory to move ahead 2-1 in the overall series.

    Both teams flew to Baltimore together on Sunday, already reeling from key injuries sustained during Saturday’s physical encounter. Cheslin Kolbe, South Africa’s standout goalkicker who delivered near-flawless performances across the first three matches, suffered a broken jaw after a collision with New Zealand’s Luke Jacobson. All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is at high risk of a dislocated right shoulder sustained during a ruck clearout from Springbok Jasper Wiese, while All Blacks center Quinn Tupaea sustained MCL damage that will also rule him out of the final test. None of the three will be available for selection, and neither side has announced plans to call up replacement players for the closing match, which will be hosted at the Baltimore Ravens’ NFL stadium.

    For Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, the come-from-behind series lead — secured after a loss in the opening test — came as a significant relief. He described the contest as a grueling, high-stakes epic encounter, saying he was simply grateful to walk away with the win.

    Erasmus pointed to his long-standing familiarity with the Springbok squad as the key edge that separated the two sides. The South African coach has overseen the national program since 2018, giving him nearly a decade of insider knowledge of his players’ strengths, communication styles, and resilience under pressure. In contrast, New Zealand coach Dave Rennie only took over the All Blacks setup this past June, still in the early stages of building team cohesion.

    “Dave doesn’t have that luxury yet,” Erasmus explained. “He’s building a team and I know what that feels like; in 2018 I got the team 18 months before a World Cup. I know these players inside out. They know me. They know when to take me serious and when not. We’ve got the luxury of knowing each other for nine years, through tough times, and that’s not to say we’re always going to win because of that, but we’re just a little more used to navigating tough moments. Dave and his team will find that cohesion eventually, but for us, pushing through tight stretches is just that much easier.”

    Erasmus noted the 29-24 scoreline was a fair reflection of the tightly matched contest, adding that the Springboks only grabbed their first lead of the test in the 60th minute after a grueling battle for dominance in set pieces. He also pushed back on any suggestions the result proved South Africa was far superior, acknowledging that good fortune played a role in the final outcome.

    “We’re not sitting here thinking we are awesome,” he said. “We’re thinking there was also a lot of luck that went our way.”

    For Rennie, the result was a disappointing one, as the All Blacks coach argued the gap between the two sides was razor-thin, and just two costly first-half errors ultimately shifted momentum against his team.

    “It’s frustrating because there was a lot of effort out there but we just weren’t clinical in that first half and couldn’t wrestle momentum back when it mattered in that second half,” he said.

    The first pivotal error came shortly after New Zealand scored to take a 17-12 lead in the second half. Young defender Leroy Carter failed to bring down South Africa’s Jesse Kriel, who broke free to score a critical try that leveled the score. Rennie defended Carter, noting the experienced defender was already beating himself up over the mistake.

    “I feel for Leroy. He’s a good man, he’s a very good defender, I’m sure he’s hurting about that,” Rennie said. “Our job once they’ve scored was to bounce back, try and take control of possession but they were able to dominate the next 10 minutes and that was pivotal.”

    The second turning point came when All Blacks star Will Jordan accidentally kicked the ball dead, gifting South Africa a scrum that quickly turned into a penalty, and eventually a rolling maul that led to a match-winning try for Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx.

    “Just unlucky,” Rennie said. “It was a good option but you come back to a scrum, which is a penalty, which is a maul where they drive however many meters to score. We scrambled to try and get in front of it and they kept rolling through us. It was the only maul that troubled us today. It’s disappointing.”

    The stage is now set for a highly anticipated decider next weekend, as the Springboks look to close out the series win while the undermanned All Blacks aim to pull off an upset draw against the world champions.