Real Salt Lake 0, Sporting Kansas City 2 | MLS is Back Tournament Match Recap

Sporting Kansas City, are heading to the Round of 16 at the MLS is Back Tournament. 

With a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake, Sporting finish their group stage fixture list with six points and will finish either first or second in Group D, pending the group's final game on Wednesday night. With this result, the Colorado Rapids have been eliminated, while RSL advanced on Tuesday night.

Sporting got off to a flying start, opening the scoring after just 51 seconds through Johnny Russell. The Scot pounced on a loose ball that RSL failed to clear after a corner kick, finding the back of the net from just next to the penalty spot.

Minutes after coming off the bench, Gerso Fernandes made his presence felt immediately. He took his defender one-on-one from the right wing, cut in on his left foot and fired a curling shot into the corner. Alan Pulido was credited with an assist on both goals, he now has three goals and four assists in his first five games with SKC.

Goalkeeper Tim Melia returned after serving his one-game suspension for an opening game red card and needed only to make one save.

RSL young Designated Player Jeizon Ramirez made his tournament debut off the bench. The 19-year-old Venezuelan joined the club in February. 

Goals

• 1' — SKC — Johnny Russell | WATCH
• 86' — SKC — Gerso Fernandes | WATCH

Man of the Match presented by Heineken 

It wasn't one of his greatest goals ever, but Johnny Russell's smart finish in the first minute helped guide Sporting to all three points.

Russell has now opened his scoring for the season, after two strong campaigns with Sporting in which he had at least nine goals and nine assists each year. He now has one goal and one assist in five appearances this season.

Three Things

• THE BIG PICTURE: Sporting KC entered the tournament as one of the favorites after two strong performances to start the season four months ago and their group stage efforts confirmed that prognostication. SKC's attack has looked potent, their defense solid enough. Can they go all the way? 
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Russell's goal opened the scoring and was the eventual game-winner, but Gerso's goal was one for the highlight reel.
• YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Gianluca Busio's first start of the season was a mixed bag, with some encouraging moments and room for improvement. The 18-year-old rising star continues to be the subject of widespread interest from European clubs. 

Montreal Impact 1, DC United 0 | MLS is Back Tournament Match Recap

Needing a win to remain alive in the MLS is Back Tournament, the Montreal Impact responded, defeating D.C. United in both teams’ final Group C match Tuesday night.

Thierry Henry’s side are in contention for one of the wildcard spots in the Round of 16, while Ben Olsen’s squad, which had rallied to earn a share of the points in their first two matches, were eliminated from the tournament.

The Impact took the game to United in the first half, carrying a bulk of possession with occasional pokes and prods in the attacking third. As such, they took a deserved lead in the 31st minute following a corner kick. Saphir Taider unleashed a shot from distance that took a deflection off defender Frederic Brillant past a helpless Bill Hamid.

It was Taider’s third goal of the tournament, which gave Montreal its first lead in Orlando.

United came out with more urgency after halftime and pressed for the equalizer just before the hour mark. But Clement Diop denied both Ulises Segura and Kevin Paredes in quick succession with a pair of kick saves.

Maxi Urruti had a golden chance to put the game away for the Impact in the 68th minute, but his shot caromed agonizingly off the inside of the post and back across the goal.

Federico Higuain, who sparked both of United's previous comebacks, entered the match in the 70th minute, but the veteran midfielder couldn't draw up another magical moment in Orlando.

Goals

• 31’ — MTL — Saphir Taider | WATCH

Man of the Match presented by Heineken

For much of the game, Clement Diop was a spectator, with his team dominating possession. But with D.C. United pressing for the equalizer, the French goalkeeper came up huge with two kick saves in quick succession to secure a needed win to keep the Impact alive in the MLS is Back Tournament.

Three Things

• THE BIG PICTURE: The Impact’s best performance of the tournament came late — very late — but it counts all the same. It secured the top spot in Group C for rivals Toronto FC, with the New England Revolution finishing second. Montreal will have to wait to see if they’re one of the four third-place finishers to advance to the Round of 16.
• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: If not for this Taider goal (and a little help from the deflection), the Impact would have been eliminated.
• YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Julian Gressel was brought in to be a major impact player. He was subbed off after a quiet 52 minutes. Still, it was change that made some scratch their heads.

Souness in awe of Liverpool's consistency as they are crowned champions

Vince Mignott

Liverpool great Graeme Souness has hailed the "incredible" consistency of Jurgen Klopp's champions as they prepare to receive the Premier League trophy at Anfield on Wednesday.

Liverpool, who won the title with a record seven games to spare, have lost just four matches over the past two seasons in the English top flight.

Captain Jordan Henderson will lift the trophy after their match against Chelsea.

"It's not just this season, it's the last two years, the consistency levels have been incredible," Souness, who skippered Liverpool to three league titles, told the BBC.

"They just missed out (on the title) last year, but they are the current Premier League champions, World Club champions and European champions.

"Their consistency is just off the charts and I know how hard it is to achieve that."

Souness, who won five league titles and three European Cups in his time as a player at Liverpool and later managed the club, singled out Senegalese forward Sadio Mane for praise.

"I enjoy watching (Sadio) Mane -- the hardest thing to do is be a striker in the game," he said.

"He's a warrior, he's got great skills and his attitude is always spot on. He's never a 95 percent, he's 100 percent all the time."

The 67-year-old Scot, a tough-tackling midfielder, said he was also impressed by his modern-day successors in the engine room.

"They have a really hard-working midfield that never give their opponents peace if they are on the ball, they are after you all the time," he said.

"But forget the individuals -- they work as a team and that's what makes them so special. They are all at it every time they go across the white line."

Another former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, came agonisingly close to lifting the trophy himself under Klopp's predecessor Brendan Rodgers.

The 40-year-old, who won the Champions League with his hometown club but never tasted Premier League glory, said the title win had exorcised some ghosts.

One moment of ill-fortune in 2014 famously cost Gerrard his last chance of winning a league title as his slip allowed Demba Ba to open the scoring for Chelsea in a costly defeat at Anfield.

"It was fantastic for everyone connected to the club but it was mixed in many ways because of my own experiences being a fan and being an ex-player," said Gerrard, now manager of Rangers.

"A lot of demons were put to bed, not all of them, but certainly I felt a lot better when Liverpool got over the line recently.

"I look back every day (at not winning a Premier League title) and I think I will forever and ever. It is the one that eludes me in terms of being a player and it would have completed the set."

West Brom promoted to Premier League afer last day drama

Nick Potts via www.imago-images.de

West Bromwich Albion clinched promotion to the Premier League with a 2-2 draw against QPR as rivals Brentford faltered on a dramatic final day of the Championship season.

Slaven Bilic's side will join Championship title winners Leeds in the top-flight next season after a nail-biting Wednesday night at the Hawthorns.

With third-placed Brentford beaten 2-1 by Barnsley and fourth-placed Fulham held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan, Albion finished in second place to secure their return to the Premier League after two seasons away.

On a riveting finale in the second tier, 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan were relegated to League One along with Hull and Charlton.

But the focus was on West Brom, who had blown a chance to consolidate their place in the top two when they were beaten by Huddersfield on Friday.

Once again they made heavy weather of it against a QPR side with nothing to play for, but all that was forgotten as they celebrated a thrilling promotion.

Ryan Manning's superb low drive gave QPR a shock lead after 34 minutes.

Grady Diangana equalised just before half-time when he fired in after Callum Robinson set him free.

Diangana and Robinson combined again five minutes after the break to put the Baggies ahead.

West Ham loanee Diangana eased away from two QPR defenders and his cross found the unmarked Robinson to tap in.

QPR weren't making it easy for West Brom and the tension mounted after Eberechi Eze lashed a 61st minute equaliser into the top corner.

West Brom's attention turned to Griffin Park, where Brentford were unable to take advantage as they chased a first season in the top-flight in 73 years.

Brentford, who missed a chance to go second when they lost at Stoke on Saturday, found themselves trailing when Barnsley's Callum Styles struck in the 40th minute.

With West Brom drawing, a victory would have taken Brentford up and Josh Dasilva's curler from the edge of the area drew them level in the 72nd minute.

But in stoppage-time, Clarke Oduor tapped in Barnsley's winner and news quickly spread to the Hawthorns, where Bilic implored his players to defend the point that would take them up.

Barnsley's surprise victory lifted them out of the relegation zone in the most dramatic fashion.

Brentford will have to pick themselves up for the play-offs, where they will face a two-legged semi-final against Swansea, who made a stunning climb into sixth place with a 4-1 win at Reading.

Swansea took the place of Nottingham Forest, whose 4-1 home defeat against Stoke knocked them below the Welsh club on goal difference.

The other play-off semi-final will see Fulham face fifth placed Cardiff, who eased to a 3-0 win over bottom of the table Hull.

Troubled Wigan are relegated following the end-of-season deduction of 12 points for going into administration earlier this month.

The Latics, who were last in the Premier League in 2013, had reached 59 points, but the deduction reduced their total to 47, which left them in the relegation zone.

Wigan have appealed against the points penalty, which was triggered when the controversial sale of the club left them in the hands of new owners, who immediately opted to go into administration.

Charlton went down after a 4-0 thrashing at Leeds, who were presented with the Championship trophy -- their first silverware since 1992.

Luton climbed out of the bottom three at Charlton's expense after a 3-2 win over Blackburn.

Solskjaer urges Man Utd to seize 'fantastic opportunity' in Champions League push

Glyn Kirk/NMC Pool via www.imago-images.de

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged his Manchester United stars to seize a "fantastic opportunity" to qualify for the Champions League after Mason Greenwood rescued a 1-1 draw against West Ham on Wednesday.

Solskjaer's side fell behind to Michail Antonio's penalty in the first half at Old Trafford.

But teenage forward Greenwood struck after the interval to lift United into third place in the Premier League.

They are ahead of fourth placed Chelsea on goal difference after the Blues lost 5-3 at champions Liverpool.

United will finish in the top four if they draw or win in their decisive showdown with fifth placed Leicester on Sunday.

United are one point ahead of Leicester going into their last game of the season at the King Power Stadium.

"When we started after the lockdown, we had to go for it. We had to go for goal difference, we had to go for points," Solskjaer said.

"The effort has been fantastic and the results have been fantastic.

"Going into half-time we knew that wasn't the result we wanted. But you can't expect to turn teams over like we needed to have a different scenario for Sunday.

"We've given ourselves a fantastic opportunity and a great starting point for Sunday."

Solskjaer's team were well below their best against West Ham, but they are now unbeaten in 13 league matches and will complete an impressive surge into the Champions League if they emerge unscathed at Leicester.

They can also qualify for Europe's elite club competition if they win the Europa League in August.

Solskjaer will have been relieved there were no costly mistakes from David De Gea after the United keeper retained his place.

The Spaniard made two embarrassing errors that led to goals in United's 3-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Chelsea on Sunday.

West Ham's point ensured they are mathematically certain to avoid relegation.

After their sluggish loss at Wembley ended a 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions, Solskjaer's men made a more enterprising start this time and West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski was tested twice inside the first four minutes.

Anthony Martial's stinging strike from just inside the penalty area forced an excellent save from Fabianski, who then plunged to his right to keep out Greenwood's effort.

Rashford tried his luck from 30 yards, but the forward's powerful drive was too close to Fabianski, while Greenwood's close-range shot was blocked by Ogbonna.

De Gea had been a spectator for the first 40 minutes and when he was finally called into action, Antonio's header lacked the power to trouble him.

But De Gea still had to pick the ball out of the net moments before half-time after Paul Pogba handed West Ham a penalty.

Declan Rice's free-kick was smashed straight at Pogba, who instinctively stuck up his arms to protect his face.

Despite Pogba dropping to the turf as though he had been hit in the head, VAR confirmed the France midfielder's handball.

Antonio took the spot-kick, sending De Gea the wrong way for his sixth goal in his last three games.

United had let the first half drift out of their control, but Greenwood dragged them level with another demonstration of his remarkable maturity in the 51st minute.

Dropping deep to exchange passes with Martial, the 18-year-old kept his composure to drill a clinical finish past Fabianski from 12 yards.

No teenager has ever scored more goals in a single season in all competitions for United than Greenwood, whose 17th of the season moved him level with George Best, Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney.

"He's bailed us out a few times and he's done it again," Solskjaer said.

"He's been absolutely top class ever since we gave him an opportunity.

"He trusts himself that his talent, his qualities, attributes, they actually work at the highest level."

Liverpool hit Chelsea for five to set up trophy party

Phil Noble via www.imago-images.de

Liverpool set up their trophy presentation as Premier League champions with a thrilling 5-3 win over Chelsea to deny the Blues sealing their place in next season's Champions League.

Sweet first half strikes from Naby Keita, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum ensured a night to remember for Jurgen Klopp's men was accompanied by a positive result after just two wins in five previous games since they clinched a first title in 30 years.

Olivier Giroud pulled a goal back just before half-time, but Liverpool looked to be cruising when Roberto Firmino's first league goal at Anfield this season made it 4-1 early in the second half.

The introduction of Christian Pulisic transformed Chelsea on the hour mark as he set up Tammy Abraham then smashed home himself into the top corner to cut the deficit to a single goal before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Liverpool breathing space six minutes from time.

Defeat sees Chelsea slip to fourth and leaves Frank Lampard's men still needing a point at home to Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to secure a place in the Champions League.

Chelsea have already bolstered their attacking options for next season with the signings of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, while they are reportedly closing in on a deal for the 90-million euro ($103 million, £81 million) rated Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen.

But it is at the other end Lampard clearly has to find solutions as they completed an entire league season with just one clean sheet away from home and have now conceded 54 times in the Premier League this season.

A 1-1 draw with Burnley in their last home outing denied Liverpool the first ever perfect Premier League home record, but they matched the best ever return of 18 wins and one draw to complete three full league seasons without defeat at Anfield.

Despite pleas for fans to stay away on the night Liverpool finally get their hands on the trophy, supporters greeted the team bus on arrival and the Reds looked more like they did for much of the season prior to the coronavirus shutdown.

Keita is one of very few big money signings in Klopp's time in charge not to reach his full potential in two seasons since a move from RB Leipzig, but the Guinean showed what he is capable of by crashing a shot in off the underside of the bar from outside the area.

Chelsea were incensed with the award of a free-kick that led to Liverpool's second when Mateo Kovacic was penalised for bringing down Sadio Mane. But there no doubt about the quality of Alexander-Arnold's strike as he curled home his third free-kick of the season, two of which have come against the Blues.

Wijnaldum then smashed into the roof of the net after Chelsea failed to clear a corner before Giroud pulled a goal back at the other end by sliding in after Alisson Becker saved Willian's initial effort.

The second half was interrupted by the constant crackling of fireworks lit by fans outside the stadium, but there were plenty on the pitch too.

Alexander-Arnold crossed for Firmino to finally end his Anfield drought before Mohamed Salah missed two huge chances to score against his old club.

Pulisic was surprisingly left on the bench by Lampard from the start and he changed the came after he was introduced alongside Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The American skipped past four challenges before squaring for Abraham and then fired powerfully into the roof of the net with the Liverpool defence all over the place.

But Chelsea were undone again at the other end as a blistering break from inside their own box saw Liverpool surge forward and Oxlade-Chamberlain smashed home Andy Robertson's cross at the back post.

SPAL | ROMA

vs

SPAL

|

ROMA

Ultimo aggiornamento 22 luglio 2020 15:10

Nell'attacco spallino non ci sarà Floccari a causa di una ferita lacero contusa, potrebbe allora comporsi il tandem Cerri-Petagna; in alternativa al primo, rimane valida la candidatura del ristabilito Di Francesco sulla trequarti. Metronomo di centrocampo tornerà ad esserlo Valdifiori, scontata la squalifica. Mister Di Biagio rilancerà Bonifazi in difesa, poi potrebbe dare una chance dall'inizio sulle fasce a Sala e Strefezza a svantaggio di D'Alessandro e Reca. Fuori dai convocati inoltre Valoti e Castro. 

Nei giallorossi da segnalare l'assenza in difesa dell'infortunato Ibanez, torna titolare al centro Smalling. Tra i pali Pau Lopez, sulla trequarti reclamano posto Perotti e Perez che potrebbero dare respiro a Mkhitaryan e Pellegrini. Rischio turnover anche per Dzeko e Veretout, riecco dal 1' Cristante in mediana. Lo staff medico monitora poi le condizioni degli acciaccati Fazio e Mirante che vanno però verso il forfait per Ferrara, fuori dai convocati Zaniolo.

352TITOLARI3421

P

LETICA

90%

D

CIONEK

55%

D

VICARI

75%

D

BONIFAZI

85%

D

SALA

60%

C

MISSIROLI

75%

C

VALDIFIORI

90%

C

DABO

60%

C

STREFEZZA

55%

A

CERRI

55%

A

PETAGNA

80%

P

PAU LOPEZ

85%

D

MANCINI G.

85%

D

SMALLING

80%

D

KOLAROV

75%

D

ZAPPACOSTA

55%

C

CRISTANTE

85%

C

DIAWARA

55%

D

SPINAZZOLA

80%

C

PELLEGRINI LO.

55%

A

CARLES PEREZ

60%

A

DZEKO

55%

PANCHINA

P

 I.S. 5%

THIAM D.

D

 I.S. 35%

SALAMON

D

 I.S. 25%

TOMOVIC

D

 I.S. 25%

FELIPE

D

 I.S. 55%

RECA

C

 I.S. 50%

TUNJOV

C

 I.S. 20%

FARES

C

 I.S. 55%

D'ALESSANDRO

C

 I.S. 55%

MURGIA

C

 I.S. 50%

DI FRANCESCO F.

P

I.S. 5% 

FUZATO

D

I.S. 55% 

BRUNO PERES

D

I.S. 25% 

CETIN

C

I.S. 35% 

KLUIVERT

C

I.S. 55% 

VERETOUT

C

I.S. 35% 

VILLAR

C

I.S. 55% 

PEROTTI

C

I.S. 35% 

PASTORE

C

I.S. 40% 

ZANIOLO

C

I.S. 55% 

MKHITARYAN

A

I.S. 55% 

KALINIC

ALTRI GIOCATORI

SQUALIFICATI

SQUALIFICATI

INDISPONIBILI

Floccari: ferita lacero contusa, OUT contro la Roma

Castro: lieve affaticamento muscolare, forfait con la Roma

Berisha E.: frattura metacarpo mano destra, campionato finito

INDISPONIBILI

Ibanez: fastidio muscolare adduttore, tentativo rientro per la 37a

Mirante: fastidio muscolare polpaccio, da valutare per la 36a

Fazio: problema fisico, da valutare per la 36a

Santon: affaticamento muscolare al polpaccio, recuperabile per fine luglio

Under: problema fisico, OUT contro Spal

IN DUBBIO

Fares: trauma distrattivo flessori coscia sinistra, da valutare per la Roma

IN DUBBIO

BALLOTTAGGI

Dabo 60% - Murgia 40%

Cionek 55% - Salamon 45%

Sala 55% - D'Alessandro 45%

Strefezza 55% - Reca 45%

Cerri 55% - Di Francesco F. 45% senza la punta, passaggio al 3-5-1-1

BALLOTTAGGI

Dzeko 55% - Kalinic 45%

Pellegrini Lo. 35% - Perotti 35% - Pastore 30%

Diawara 55% - Veretout 45%

Carles Perez 40% - Mkhitaryan 30% - Perotti 30%

Zappacosta 55% - Bruno Peres 45%

DIFFIDATI

Vicari, Di Francesco F.

DIFFIDATI

Santon, Diawara, Kluivert, Dzeko

Barra con percentuale = indica la probabilità che ha un calciatore di partire titolare
I.S.(indice di subentro) = indica la probabilità che ha un calciatore di entrare a partita in corso