nit Page 16 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Franchise hero Miguel Almiron returns to Atlanta United
Atlanta United announced the return of franchise hero Miguel Almiron on Thursday.,The 31-year-old Paraguay international helped Atlanta claim the 2018 MLS Cup before joining the Premier League's Newcastle United for a then-record outgoing transfer fee of $27 million.,Almiron returns from Newcastle f...

USMNT blanks Costa Rica, caps perfect January camp
Brian White and Caden Clark each scored his first international goal as the U.S. men's national team defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in a friendly at Orlando on Wednesday.,White scored in the 21st minute and Clark in 77th before Patrick Agyemang added a goal in the 90th after also scoring in his debut Satur...

MNUFC sign M Bongokuhle Hlongwane through 2027
Minnesota United FC signed midfielder Bongokuhle Hlongwane to a contract extension through 2027 on Saturday.,The deal includes an option for 2028 for the 24-year-old South African, who will no longer occupy a U22 Initiative roster slot.,Hlongwane has tallied 30 goals and 14 assists in 108 appearance...

D.C. United acquire Australian D Kye Rowles
D.C. United acquired Australian defender Kye Rowles from Scotland's Heart of Midlothian on Wednesday.,The 26-year-old center back is under contract through 2026 with an option for 2027.,Rowles registered one goal and three assists in 103 matches with the Hearts from 2022-25.,Before moving to the Sco...

Minnesota United re-sign veteran M Wil Trapp for 2025
Minnesota United FC re-signed veteran midfielder Wil Trapp for the 2025 season on Thursday.,The deal includes a 2026 club option for Trapp, who is heading into his fifth season with the club. He has eclipsed 2,000 minutes in each of the past four campaigns with the Loons.,"Wil is a leader at Minneso...

ATP roundup: Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff claim United Cup for U.S.
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz led the top-seeded United States to a sweep of second-seeded Poland, winning the United Cup championship in Sydney on Sunday.,This is the second win in three years for the Americans; Germany claimed the United Cup in 2024. The mixed-team tournament began with players from...

Streaking Liverpool brace for stern test from Manchester United
Premier League leader Liverpool insist Sunday's home fixture against Manchester United still carries massive importance despite their opponent's uncharacteristically poor league showing so far this season.,While Liverpool (14-1-3, 45 points) enter the weekend six points clear of second-place Arsenal...

ATP roundup: U.S., Poland to clash in United Cup final
Top-seeded United States and No. 2 seed Poland will meet Sunday in the United Cup final in Sydney.,Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz topped the Czech team of Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac on Saturday to advance. Gauff was a 6-1, 6-4 winner; Fritz took the victory when Machac, up a set at 7-6 (4), 5-6 ...

ATP roundup: Novak Djokovic falls in Brisbane quarters
Reilly Opelka hammered 16 aces and defeated top-seeded Novak Djokovic 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International in Australia on Friday.,Ranked No. 293 in the world, Opelka scored points on 80 percent of his serves against the Serbian legend. In February 2022, he was ranked No. ...

ATP roundup: Poland advances to semis of United Cup
Poland secured its place in the semifinals of the United Cup with a victory over Great Britain on Thursday in Australia.,Hubert Hurkacz got Poland, the second seed, off to a lead in the mixed-team event with a 7-6 (3), 7-5 defeat of Billy Harris. Iga Swiatek nailed the victory with a 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6...

ATP roundup: Americans advance to semis at United Cup
The United States swept China in Perth on Wednesday to punch their ticket to the semifinals of the United Cup in Australia.,No. 4-ranked Taylor Fritz recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win over China's Zhizhen Zhang and Coco Gauff scored a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Shuai Zhang in singles. The Americans completed t...

D.C. United sign D Derek Dodson to one-year deal
D.C. United signed defender Derek Dodson to a one-year contract on Tuesday that includes an option for 2026.,The club selected the former Georgetown standout in Stage 2 of the 2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft earlier this month.,Dodson, 26, was originally drafted by Orlando City in 2021 and signed with Minne...

ATP roundup: Novak Djokovic dominates in Brisbane
The United States swept Croatia in Perth and Italy did the same to France in Sydney on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the United Cup in Australia.,Taylor Fritz defeated Croatia's Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 and Coco Gauff scored a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Donna Vekic in singles. Fritz and Gauff complet...

ATP roundup: Poland ousts Norway in United Cup
Iga Swiatek led Poland to a 2-1 victory in its United Cup opening match on Monday in Sydney, Australia, eliminating Norway from the mixed-team event.,Casper Ruud got the 15th-seeded Norwegians off to a good start against Poland, the second seed, with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Hubert Hurkacz. Swiatek, in a...

U.S. pushed, beats Canada in United Cup opener
Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff pulled off a mixed-doubles win to defeat Canada in the United States' opening match at the United Cup on Sunday in Perth, Australia.,Gauff got the top-seeded United States off to a strong start against Canada, the seventh seed, with her 6-3, 6-2 win over Leylah Fernandez ...

Germany opens United Cup title defense with win
Defending champion Germany took a dominant first step in its United Cup defense, sweeping Brazil on Sunday in Perth, Australia.,The Brazilians, seeded 13th and winless in Group E play, were eliminated from the mixed-team event.,World No. 2 Alexander Zverev needed just 77 minutes to defeat Thiago Mon...

Spain, without Carlos Alcaraz, eliminated from United Cup
Spain fell to 0-2 in group play at the United Cup in Perth, Australia, and was eliminated from the mixed-team competition on Saturday.,Jessica Bouzas Maneiro defeated Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-1 to give Spain a 1-0 lead, but Stefanos Tsitsipas evened the score with his 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Pab...

Liverpool out to extend league lead in matchup vs. West Ham
League leader Liverpool will have a chance to build their advantage to nine points on Sunday when they visit a short-handed West Ham side that has seen improved results recently.,Arne Slot's Reds (13-1-3, 42 points) came from a goal down early to beat Leicester City 3-1 at home on Boxing Day.,Mohame...

China, Kazakhstan start strong as United Cup kicks off
China defeated Brazil and Kazakhstan edged Spain as United Cup action got underway Friday in Australia.,Eighteen nations are competing in the $11 million mixed-gender event in Sydney and Perth through Jan. 5.,China scored a 2-0 win over Brazil in Group E in Perth. Xinyu Gao outlasted Beatriz Haddad ...

Atlanta United name Ronny Delia as new head coach
Atlanta United tabbed former New York City FC head coach Ronny Deila as their new bench boss on Friday.,Deila, 49, won the MLS Cup with NYCFC in 2021 before leaving the league in favor of Belgian outfit Standard Liege. He most recently managed UAE side Al Wahda. ,Deila will replace Gonzalo Pineda, w...