Driussi scores for River Plate but leaves with injury in 3-1 Club World Cup win over Urawa
Driussi's goal three minutes into the second half made it 2-0, but he collided with goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and fell to the ground in pain, grabbing his ankle. He limped off the field with assistance and was replaced by Miguel Borja.
Facundo Colidio and Maximiliano Meza also scored for River Plate.
Yusuke Matsuo converted a penalty for the Japanese club in the 58th minute. Takuro Kaneko drew the foul and yellow card on Acuña. The kick was delayed by pushing and shoving at the penalty box's edge, resulting in a yellow for German Pezzella.
Colidio scored in the 12th minute on a header off a cross from Acuña, and Meza restored River Plate's two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute off Acuña's corner kick service.
Franco Armani saved a strong shot from the center of the box by Thiago Santana in the 90th minute to preserve River Plate's two-goal advantage.
Attendance for the noon kickoff was announced at 11,974. Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740. But both teams had a significant fan presence for their Club World Cup opener.
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New York Times
2 minutes ago
- New York Times
NWSL match finishes scoreless after 3.5-hour heat delay: ‘It was too hot to play'
The NWSL match between the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, was delayed for three and a half hours due to extreme heat, reigniting a debate over the feasibility of midafternoon kickoffs in professional soccer in the United States. The weather delay became the focus of what was supposed to be a highly anticipated clash, with the top-seeded Current facing the defending NWSL Champions in what has become a classic rivalry between two of the best teams in the NWSL. The match ended with a scoreless draw, which was a first for the Current, who had never gone scoreless at CPKC Stadium. Advertisement The match was set to kick off at 3 p.m. local time, but instead began at 6:28 p.m., after temperatures were deemed too dangerous to play, per NWSL policy. The fixture was initially delayed because of a five-minute runoff from the WNBA game between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty, which was scheduled earlier on CBS. Then, word quickly began spreading from reporters in Kansas City that the match would be pushed even further due to the heat. We are all at the mercy of this device… 93.5 degrees of the last reading.. next reading is at 3:47 p.m. [image or embed] — PJ Green (@ August 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM Per NWSL policy, the wet globe temperature (WGBT) must not exceed 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit. WGBT measures heat stress in direct sunlight, accounting for factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud coverage. At kickoff, that metric was closer to 94 degrees at the stadium. The match was delayed several times before temperatures fell below the appropriate threshold for the match to begin. Many questioned why the match had not been postponed sooner, considering a moderate heat advisory had already been issued for most of Missouri on Saturday. 'The league aims to play matches as scheduled whenever safely possible. While forecasts guide planning, we primarily rely on real-time, on-site weather data to make informed decisions in accordance with our inclement weather policies and protocols. Based on those inputs, the league made the decision to delay today's match,' a league spokesperson told The Athletic in a statement. Players were warming up and preparing for kickoff when the first heat-related weather delay hit. Orlando head coach Seb Hines said in post-match availability he was 'disappointed' with how those three hours unfolded, describing confusion as the match was pushed back repeatedly. 'It was too hot to play, and we would have liked that decision to have been made earlier on, before warm-up, so they can probably prep a little bit better,' Hines said. 'It was a lot of waiting around: 'we're going to test the wet bulb', 'another 15 minutes,' and there's a lot of confusion and lack of communication as well, as to what the next steps were.' He added, though, that he was 'pleased' the team eventually got on the pitch once conditions were deemed safe. By kickoff, he described the temperature as feeling 'cooler' than the scorching heat earlier in the afternoon. 'Overall, I was disappointed with the decision making prior to the six o'clock kickoff, but once we got there, I think that was (in) the best interest for the players and everyone here, and even the fans as well,' Hines said. 'It's brutal, three o'clock. Suns beaming. We have to have the best interest for everyone who's involved here at the stadium.' Kansas City players Ellie Wheeler and Izzy Rodriguez described to reporters how their team managed to stay focused during the hours-long delay. They tried to relax, ate some food and watched 'pump up' videos, or replays of some of their best tackles, goals or moments as a team. 'Breaks like that can always break the rhythm of a team, but I think we do a really good job of staying united,' Wheeler said. 'We stay together. Try to stay off our phones as much (as we could). We're listening to music, staying pumped up, but ultimately, it is about our safety, and we know that, so we just made sure that (after) every 15-minute break we were ready to go.' Advertisement Rodriguez added, 'For us, it's just going to be (about), control what we can control. … They might make decisions differently in the future, but what we can control is being prepared for whatever time the game is going to be played.' Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski said his team was ready for the impact of the extreme heat. 'It was a long day, and, to some degree, we knew that this is a possibility, and as a team, we did everything possible to stay focused already throughout the whole day,' he said. 'There's nothing we could do to change the weather, so we just focused on the things that we can control.' Andonovski said protecting the health and safety of the players was everyone's priority. 'No matter what decision was made today, the first thing that everyone thought about was the health and the safety of the players,' he said. 'No matter what the game is, how important the game is, who the opponent is, the safety of the players comes first.' The delay reignited the debate over midafternoon kickoffs in professional soccer in the heat of the U.S. summer. In the NWSL, this is an ongoing issue. The most alarming incident came in 2017, when then-Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly collapsed at the end of a match against Seattle Reign. The England international, who now plays for Aston Villa in the Women's Super League, was later treated for heat exhaustion, prompting the league to announce it would immediately review the start times of matches. That specific fixture kicked off in Houston around 4 p.m. in late May, with temperatures reported around 92 degrees. While the spotlight is on the NWSL this weekend, similar conversations were raised by players during the FIFA men's Club World Cup. Players, like Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, described feeling dizzy from playing in the heat. Several games were scheduled for midafternoon starts to accommodate broadcast audiences in Europe and Asia. In the NWSL, there are similar concerns over viewers. While the logical solution would be to push for evening or nighttime kickoffs in the summer, the league must compromise with broadcasters who prefer scheduling matches at times that accommodate their audiences. However, poor planning can make it a lose-lose for everyone. The weather delay in Kansas City this weekend resulted in the match not airing on CBS at all. Instead, it switched over to an online stream on the network's website and app. Instead, their broadcast featured an already-scheduled preseason friendly between the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets by the time the Current-Pride match finally began. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
2 minutes ago
- New York Times
Broncos stock report: Jarrett Stidham, young WRs pop in preseason win vs. Cardinals
DENVER — The Denver Broncos defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-7, in Saturday's preseason game, a matchup of two teams resting the bulk of their starters. The Broncos moved to 2-0 in their exhibition schedule, which closes next week with a trip to New Orleans. Denver coach Sean Payton said his starters will play 'eight to 10 plays' in that tune-up finale. Advertisement With roster cuts looming and the Sept. 7 season opener against the Tennessee Titans rapidly approaching, let's take a look at some risers and fallers for the Broncos after Saturday's game: When the Broncos' starting quarterback competition ended last year with rookie Bo Nix winning the job, the outcome didn't change the opinion the runner-up, veteran Jarrett Stidham, held of himself. 'I believe I can be a starting quarterback in this league,' Stidham said at the time. It's hard to fault Stidham for that view after gauging his performance through two games this preseason. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of work Saturday. That came on the heels of a near-perfect performance in the preseason opener against the 49ers, when he completed all but one of his 15 pass attempts for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Put simply, Stidham has been dealing. 'It's normal to me. Stiddy always be going crazy in practice,' rookie RJ Harvey said. 'He puts in the work and it's a joy to be back there with him.' T as in Touchdown‼️@troyylul | 📺: 9NEWS — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 17, 2025 Stidham did not have a starting job waiting for him on the free-agent market in March, but there were destinations that would have offered a better chance to see the field at some point in 2025. The veteran opted for continuity in Denver, where the starter, Bo Nix, has become one of his best friends and where the quarterbacks coach, Davis Webb, has known Stidham since the two were high school quarterbacks in Texas. His decision to stick around on a new two-year, $12 million contract was a coup for the Broncos. In a perfect world, Stidham won't take a meaningful snap this season as Nix continues his growth as a young franchise quarterback. But feeling good about who you'll turn to in a pinch at the sport's most important position is important peace of mind for a coach to have — and Payton clearly has it with his backup quarterback. Advertisement That Stidham executed a brilliant two-minute drill to end the first half Saturday while Webb was handed play-calling duties from Payton only made the performance that much sweeter. 'Tonight was a big deal for him, too,' Stidham said. 'If you're a coach and you want to be a play caller in this league, when you get your first opportunity, it's a big deal. I was super proud of him and super happy for him. He's an incredible coach and he's going to be an incredible coach for a very long time in this league. I've been fortunate to be around some of the greats, and Davis is amazing.' Webb joined the Broncos as the team's quarterbacks coach in 2023, only months after finishing his playing career as a backup quarterback. This offseason, the Broncos added passing game coordinator to Webb's title. He had a dress rehearsal calling plays in Friday's practice, but Saturday marked his first time doing it during a game. His work included the two-minute drive that ended in a touchdown pass to Troy Franklin. Payton handed Webb a game ball in the locker room afterward. 'He did a really good job,' Payton said. 'That experience is invaluable. Until you do it, it's much faster than you think.' It almost feels disingenuous to put Franklin in a 'risers' category when he's been playing at such a high level throughout training camp. But he hit another gear Saturday by catching both of Stidham's touchdown passes in the first half. The second-year speedster beat Arizona's zone coverage with a nifty double move in the first quarter to get wide open for a 27-yard touchdown. In the final minute of the second quarter, he adjusted perfectly to nab a back-shoulder throw from Stidham through tight coverage, landing two feet in bounds and holding onto the ball through contact as he hit the ground. This angle. 😮💨 📺: 9NEWS — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 17, 2025 There is simply no understating the difference between Franklin's second NFL offseason and his first. Play calls would swim in his head last season as he navigated the line of scrimmage, trying to remember all his responsibilities. It was like he was trying to zoom down an open highway with snow chains on his tires. Advertisement Franklin has been unburdened this offseason, owed to experience that has allowed him to slow down the pre-snap process and ramp up his play speed as a result. He could be a bonafide No. 2 target for Nix this season behind Courtland Sutton. 'It's hard to even put into words because he's grown so much from last year,' Stidham said. 'You can tell he's playing with so much confidence right now. Obviously, I think he's going to help our offense in a really big way. I know the guys in our (quarterback) room are really excited about that.' The rookie wide receiver caught four passes for 70 yards during his work in the first half, showcasing toughness over the middle and soft hands as he scooped up one Stidham pass just an inch or two above the ground. His best effort, though, may have come without the ball in his hands. On the second play of the game, Stidham hit tight end Evan Engram, who had found open space in the middle of the field. The play was destined for a big gain, but roughly 20 of the 58 yards Engram gained on the play came after Bryant sprinted down the field to land a block on an Arizona player that helped spring the tight end up the sideline. Those are the kinds of plays the Broncos saw routinely when they evaluated Bryant's film at Illinois ahead of the draft. He welcomed contact — sought it even — as a receiver and a blocker. He showed up in big moments. It's early in the process for the rookie third-round pick, but many of those traits have popped during his first NFL season. He took up residence in the middle of the field Saturday, like when he caught a 29-yard pass from Stidham one play after he helped spring Engram with the downfield block. 'What quarterbacks like that I do is I become friendly,' Bryant said in explaining his penchant for exploiting the middle of the field. 'I don't drift away from the ball. I always come back and attack the ball. They can throw it anywhere over the middle of the field. Based on how I run my route, I'm going to be able to catch the ball.' The rookie running back turned his first carry of the game into an 8-yard touchdown. Harvey took the handoff from Stidham, made one quick stutter-step cut and zoomed through a pinhole of daylight inside and pushed into the end zone. Advertisement It was the sort of quick, decisive burst Harvey has displayed throughout training camp. It was also a validation of his own self-talk following his debut preseason performance against the 49ers last week. Harvey had some nice moments in his debut, including a 12-yard run after dashing outside. But the second-round pick also felt like he left a big run or two on the table because he let his mind move quicker than his feet when he turned down an inside hole to bounce outside. 'It was just being more confident in myself, really,' he said. 'Last week, first NFL game, I felt like I was out there thinking too much. It was just (about) being decisive and making plays.' With the Broncos resting most of their frontline starters Saturday, outside linebackers Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman turned into appointment viewing. Elliss set the tone with a 5-yard tackle for loss that helped stall Arizona's first drive. Tillman dropped a Cardinals ball carrier for a loss on the next defensive series. From there, both players relentlessly chased Cardinals third-string quarterback Clayton Tune, forcing him into hurried throws. Both players had five sacks last season as part of a deep Broncos edge group and could be even bigger contributors this season as Denver aims to distribute snaps in an effort to keep its starting front seven fresh. 'It's a big step for me to just go out there and feel comfortable,' Elliss said. 'I feel like it just came from experience. Going through last year, getting a good amount of reps, I felt like that just helped me going into this year feel comfortable with my play.' Elliss and Tillman are roster locks. Inside linebacker Jordan Turner, meanwhile, is trying to fight his way from the bubble to the 53. The undrafted rookie out of Michigan State certainly did himself a favor with the way he played Saturday night. Turner was credited with 1 1/2 sacks, three quarterback hits and five tackles in about a half of work. The numbers were one thing, but it was the way he shot like a torpedo into the backfield that stood out Saturday. The Broncos will need to get pretty nitpicky in order to find a lot of fault with Saturday's game, but one easy-to-find sore spot is the rash of pre-snap penalties that popped up for the second consecutive week. Advertisement On one first-half drive, the Broncos were flagged for two false starts and then committed an illegal formation penalty that was offset by a defensive penalty. Later, rookie tight end Caleb Lohner was flagged for an illegal shift only three plays after he had been penalized for offensive holding. In total, the Broncos committed 11 penalties for 75 yards and a hefty chunk of those were pre-snap infractions on offense. 'There's going to be a lot of good things on tape we like and then one area that has to get cleaned up with the penalties,' Payton said. 'More importantly, the pre-snap penalties.' Payton stressed after Saturday's game that he thought all of the running backs who played in Saturday's game — only veteran JK Dobbins was held out — performed well. He cautioned not to make much of the fact that Estimé was the last of those five active backs to touch the ball Saturday. 'The plan early on was RJ,' Payton said. 'Obviously, (Tyler) Badie was going to get work, then Jaleel (McLaughlin), Audric and then Blake (Watson). We knew we wanted two-thirds of the game to get to Blake and Audric. I think we were able to accomplish that. Now, again, it's not an exact science, but those guys got a lot of work, and I thought they did a good job with their opportunities.' McLaughlin flashed with his brief work in the second quarter, gaining 48 yards on three carries. Badie, who has climbed his way up the depth chart the past couple of weeks, carried four times for 14 yards. Watson got the first carries of the second half and ultimately rushed 10 times for 34 yards and also gained 20 yards on four receptions. Estimé, meanwhile, ran nine times for 20 yards (2.2 yards per carry), with a long of 7 yards. He didn't have much open space to work with running behind a reserve offensive line that was thinned out by what appeared to be a serious knee injury for guard Nick Gargiulo, who had to be carted off the field with his right leg immobilized in an air cast. Still, it was a performance lacking the kind of big play Estimé could have used in such a tight competition. Advertisement Payton said after the game that the Broncos still have not figured out the running back room with roster cuts approaching. It's possible, if not likely, that Denver will keep four running backs. There is still a week of practice and then next week's preseason finale in New Orleans to make an impression. But if Saturday's order of participation was any indication, Estimé, the fifth-round pick in 2024, has ground to make up if he's going to stay on Denver's active roster. The Cardinals' only touchdown came when Jacoby Brissett hit receiver Simi Fehoko for a 16-yard touchdown. Fehoko had a free run to the end zone after Mathis, the fourth-year corner, bit down hard on a double move by the receiver and didn't have enough real estate to catch up. Mathis later recovered to help force an incompletion on a deep ball. His training camp is certainly more than one misstep during a play in a preseason game. He has played 43 games for the Broncos across the last three seasons with 18 starts, and that experience will be part of his evaluation. Mathis is nonetheless on the bubble and could have used a splash play or two Saturday instead of being in chase position on the game's only touchdown. If the Broncos keep five corner/nickelbacks, that lineup will likely be: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Ja'Quan McMillian and Kris Abrams-Draine. Perhaps the Broncos go heavy at the spot and hold onto Mathis, who played a career-high 44 percent of Denver's special teams snaps last season. But Mathis, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has no guaranteed money on the final year of his rookie contract and the Broncos would save $3.4 million by releasing him, cap space that could be applied to in-season moves. That, too, could be part of the equation as the Broncos make their final choices in the secondary. (Top photo of Stidham: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
4 Bears position battles to watch in preseason game vs. Bills
The Chicago Bears are set to face the Buffalo Bills for their second game of the preseason following a 24-24 tie with the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 — during which head coach Ben Johnson kept his starters on the sideline. Johnson said earlier in the week that those who didn't see action against the Dolphins will take the field vs. the Bills. Not only does this give the Bears' starters a chance to get their legs warm before the regular season, but it also helps sort out a handful of position battles that are still up in the air. Here are four position battles for Chicago to keep an eye on during Week 2 of the preseason: Left tackle The Bears spent the offseason attacking one of their biggest weaknesses from last season: the offensive line. While they were able to bolster the interior through free agency and trades, GM Ryan Poles and Chicago had to wait until draft night to look for outside help at tackle. The Bears took tackle Ozzy Trapilo early in the draft, with the 24th pick of the second round. Trapilo has all of the measurables, standing at 6-foot-8 with an arm length of 33-inches, but has had an up-and-down preseason camp. Following the Bears' joint practice with the Bills on Friday, Johnson said 'there's no doubt' that Trapilo looks more comfortable at right tackle. Chicago's incumbent starting left tackle, Braxton Jones, 26, is still in the mix to reclaim his job. The 6-foot-5 veteran finished last season with the 21st best overall blocking grade at his position (out of 140 tackles). On 719 snaps, he allowed five sacks and was called for seven penalties. Reliability has been Jones' Achilles heel, missing 11 games over the last two seasons. Jones also had a few mistakes during the Bears' Week 1 matchup against Miami. Also in the mix are two second-year tackles in Kiran Amegadije and Theo Benedet. Amegadije has struggled some on the field in his young career, has allowed one sack and been called for five penalties on just 126 snaps. Benedet may have jumped Amegadije in the battle due to an impressive camp and an Amegadije injury. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar has praised Benedet's camp performance, saying he's 'put himself in a position to go compete for a job somewhere in this group." Johnson has made it clear to the media that he's in no rush to decide on a starting left tackle, adding the battle may even stretch into the regular season. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent has had the backup quarterback spot on lock since first joining Chicago as an undrafted rookie in 2023. Bagent only appeared in four games last season, and completed both of his passes, but saw action five times in 2023, including four starts. In 2023, Bagent completed 65.7% of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions. Bagent went 2-2 in his four starts. Last week against the Dolphins, Bagent completed 13-of-19 passes for 103 yards, one touchdown and a pick. Bagent wasn't the only quarterback to see action and make a mark for the Bears, as their newest QB addition in veteran Case Keenum completed 8-of-10 passes for 80 yards and two scores. Keenum's preseason statline was impressive, and he provides something as a backup QB that Bagent doesn't have: experience. This will be Keenum's 12th season in the NFL, and he has 66 starts in his career. Keenum also provides playoff experience, as he led the Minnesota Vikings to a divisional-round win over the New Orleans Saints in 2017. But Keenum is also day-to-day with a leg injury, which could give Bagent a chance to pull away. Starting quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to see action vs. the Bills, so Bagent and Keenum's performances with less snaps than the previous week could make a significant impact in the Bears' QB2 battle. Outside cornerback It's obvious to every Bears fan that Jaylon Johnson will always be the CB1 and will be tasked to guard the opposition's No. 1 offensive threat. But who will be playing on the other side of the field at CB2? Last season, the second outside cornerback spot was occupied by Tyrique Stevenson. Despite a strong start to the 2024 season, his infamous jawing towards Washington Commanders fans, leading to his assignment catching a Hail Mary, put his job security in jeopardy. Stevenson started 14 games last year, logging two interceptions and 12 pass breakups. It seems like Stevenson's character issues have continued under the new coaching staff, as he's been sidelined multiple times for fighting in practice. In Stevenson's absence last season, Terell Smith stepped in and made some solid plays. Smith started just two games but totaled four pass breakups and an interception. But Stevenson's biggest opposition is free-agent addition Nahshon Wright, who's had an impressive camp, all while spending a lot of time going against the starters. '[Nahshon's] done a great job of putting everything together, technique, mindset and movements,' defensive backs coach Al Harris said. 'He has a high ceiling, you can see the talent there. He has the size so he's just got to make the plays.' Third linebacker The Bears have their two starting inside linebackers locked up and are lucky enough to have T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds returning to start next to each other. But who will be the strong side linebacker? Noah Sewell has been in the Bears' linebacker room since 2023, while Amen Ogbongbemiga will enter his second year with Chicago. Sewell made one of the biggest plays in the Bears' matchup vs. the Dolphins last week — a fourth down stop in the red zone when he stood up Jaylan Wright in the backfield, pumping Johnson up on the sideline. Ogbongbemiga left last week's game early with a shoulder injury after making just one tackle. The newest member of the room is rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, who was one of three Bears to tally a team-leading four solo tackles against Miami and recorded an interception during joint practice vs. the Bills on Friday. This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Bills: Chicago position battles to watch in preseason game
