Alonso Martínez Has Hat Trick, Leading New York City Past Dallas 4-3
New York City on Friday announced the acquisition of Nicolás Fernández Mercau as a Designated Player from Elche CF of Spain on a contract through 2029. Mercau made his debut with the team on Friday, entering in the 61st minute and assisting on Martínez's third goal. Martínez scored midway through the first half and rallied New York City with the tying goal in the 46th minute and the go-ahead goal in the 84th.
In a high-scoring first half, New York's Jonathan Shore scored on a header off a corner kick by Maxi Moralez for a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Petar Musa answered for Dallas four minutes later with a difficult right-footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. It was Musa's 12th goal of the season. Dallas went ahead 2-1 in the 17th minute when Logan Farrington scored, assisted by Ramiro Benetti after a free kick by Shaq Moore. New York (11-8-5) drew level in the 21st minute on Martínez's first goal. Farrington made it a first-half brace when he scored from the center of the box in the eighth minute of stoppage time, and Dallas took a 3-2 lead into the break.
In the first minute of the second half, Martínez caught up to a lead pass by Hannes Wolf and beat goalkeeper Maarten Paes from the left side to the upper left corner. The winning goal came on another long run, this one set up by Mercau, the Argentine newcomer to the team. Dallas (6-11-7) has just two MLS wins in the past four months. Up next, MLS play takes a break from Sunday through July 8 for the Leagues Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
40 minutes ago
- Arab News
Thad Jean wins 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament championship in Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY: The 2025 PFL World Tournament finals began on Friday night at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, with tournament champions being crowned in the welterweight and featherweight divisions. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The undefeated Thad Jean (11-0) claimed the 2025 PFL Welterweight World Tournament championship with a dominant unanimous decision victory over former Interim Bellator champion Logan Storley (18-4). The fight went the full five rounds, with Storley once again proving his toughness and resilience under fire from Jean. Despite Storley's relentless wrestling pressure and takedown attempts, it was Jean's striking that stole the show, displaying pinpoint accuracy, fluid combinations and devastating power that kept his opponent on the defensive throughout. Jean's performance not only earned him the belt but also solidified his status as one of the most dangerous welterweights in the world. The co-main event saw Russia's Movlid Khaybulaev (24-0-1) take on Peru's Jesus Pinedo (25-7-1) in a clash between two former PFL champions, each seeking to claim the 2025 PFL featherweight title. Khaybulaev's world-class grappling proved to be the deciding factor, neutralizing Pinedo's explosive power and keeping the Peruvian on his back for much of the bout. Still, the first-ever Peruvian MMA champion made the most of the striking exchanges, even scoring a knockdown. But in the end, it was Khaybulaev who sealed the victory, securing a late choke to force the tap and capture the 2025 PFL Featherweight World Tournament championship. Algeria's Asael Adjoudj (10-1) effectively used his significant reach advantage to shut down nearly every offensive attempt from France's Yves Landu (21-9) over the first two rounds in the SmartCage. However, in the third, Landu surged back, securing a dominant mount position and unleashing a barrage of strikes, threatening to finish the fight on multiple occasions. Adjoudj rallied in the final moments with a dangerous submission attempt as the clock wound down, ultimately doing enough to earn a unanimous decision from the judges. Kicking off the main card, Jordan Newman (8-0) was dropped within seconds of the opening round by a perfectly placed punch from Eslam Abdelbaset (16-4). The Egyptian fighter swarmed in to finish, but the undefeated Roufusport standout weathered the early storm and responded with punishing knees that visibly damaged Abdelbaset's eye. After a grueling first round, Abdelbaset returned to his corner but failed to answer the bell for round two. Referee Keith Peterson waved off the bout, awarding Newman the victory and preserving his unblemished record. The 2025 PFL World Tournament continues on Friday, Aug. 15 from Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the continuation of the finals. 2025 PFL World Tournament: Finals — Atlantic City main card results: Thad Jean (11-0) def. Logan Storley (18-4) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) Movlid Khaybulaev (24-0-1) def. Jesus Pinedo (25-7-1) via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:17 of round five Asael Adjoudj (10-1) def. Yves Landu (21-10) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Jordan Newman (8-0) def. Eslam Abdelbaset (16-4) via TKO (fighter retirement) at 5:00 of round one Early card results: Jakub Kaszuba (15-0) def. Sergio Cossio (27-11-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Kyle Driscoll (14-4) def. Husein Kadimagomaev (11-2) via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28) Fred Dupras (9-2) def. Nathan Kelly (11-5) via technical submission (guillotine) at 4:38 of round two Sarek Shields (8-2) def. Nick Meck (9-3) via TKO (doctor's stoppage) at 5:00 of round one Tom Pagliarulo (10-2) def. Matt Turnbull (9-7) via KO (knee to body) at 4:36 of round one Upcoming 2025 PFL World Tournament schedule: 2025 PFL World Tournament: Finals — Aug. 15 — Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 2025 PFL World Tournament: Finals — Aug. 21 — Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Piastri Has ‘Confidence' in His F1 Title Shot as He Returns to Hungary, Where He Got His 1st Win
Some Formula 1 races live in the memory because of thrilling action, some for controversy, some even for being so dull they forced a rule change. And then there's Oscar Piastri's first F1 win, the benchmark for sheer awkwardness. Piastri is happy to be back in Hungary this week, but his breakthrough victory there last year remains a lesson for McLaren as it tries to manage his title fight with teammate Lando Norris. It's all the more important now. Piastri has developed into a genuine title contender over the last year and leads Norris by 16 points following his victory in Belgium last week. 'I have a lot of confidence in myself that I can do it,' the Australian said of his title chances Thursday. 'The pace in the last few weekends, especially (Belgium), I've been very confident in and very proud of. I'm more than capable of continuing that for the rest of the year.' McLaren can reach some milestones this weekend, with a potential 200th win in F1 for the team. It could also be Piastri and Norris' fourth one-two finish in a row, a feat McLaren last managed in 1988. Managing the title rivalry Piastri took the win last year in Hungary, but only after McLaren had to plead over the radio with Norris to 'do the right thing' and let Piastri past, something the British driver was reluctant to do. Piastri had been leading but McLaren's pit strategy, which would normally favor the leader, had put Norris ahead. Piastri thinks the team can still take positives from that situation. 'I think it underlined the good nature in the team. It was obviously a slightly awkward situation, but it highlighted that we will do the right thing in all circumstances -- well, ideally all circumstances -- when we're on track,' Piastri said. 'It showed the trust that we have with the team and with each other as well, that things will be put the right way.' F1 has a history of title fights turning team relationships sour — not least at McLaren with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost over 30 years ago — but Piastri and Norris have kept their rivalry friendly. Even so, there's been a collision in Canada, a near-miss in Austria and Piastri's rejected request for Norris to give up the lead in Britain. Piastri said one factor preventing his relationship with Norris from deteriorating is that both are committed to keeping McLaren on top in F1 for 'many years to come.' 'We've all seen how it can go wrong, but we have a lot of reasons to push for it to not go wrong,' he added. F1 could be set for its third wet race in a row Sunday after a rain-delayed start last week in Belgium divided opinion among drivers and fans. Max Verstappen argued that 'we could have started way sooner' and said the lack of racing in wet conditions was 'a shame', but Piastri and others pointed to the poor visibility and particular safety concerns at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit. '(Visibility) is always much worse in the car than it looks on TV, and I think the FIA has done a very good job of listening to us and taking that feedback on board,' Piastri said. 'The feeling in this room would be pretty different if we had a big crash last week.'
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Top EU court rules that soccer governing body FIFA's decisions can be challenged outside Switzerland
BRUSSELS: The European Union's top court ruled on Friday that the decisions of world soccer's governing body FIFA can be challenged outside Switzerland, opening up a system that currently binds athletes, officials and clubs to accept verdicts there. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
