Latest news with #penaltyShootout
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
CF Montreal wins Leagues Cup opener by beating Club Leon in penalty kicks
CF Montreal's Fernando Alvarez, right, battles with Club Leon's Adonis Frias during first half Leagues Cup action in Montreal on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe) It took seven rounds of a tense penalty shootout to decide the outcome, but CF Montreal secured a dramatic 7-6 victory over LIGA MX side Club Leon in Tuesday's first match of the 2025 Leagues Cup at Stade Saputo. Rogelio Funes Mori opened the scoring for Club Leon in the 11th minute, but Montreal's Prince Owusu scored in the 62nd minute to tie the match. 'I think today is probably one of our best games this season. We're taking a lot of risks with our play and that means that players are comfortable to try this kind of stuff,' said interim head coach Marco Donadel. 'There's no frustration (with missed chances), especially when the guys give everything on the field. We wanted to keep the pace very high.' In the shootout, Joel Waterman, Brendan Craig, Bryce Duke, Olger Escobar, Luca Petrasso, Tom Pearce and Owusu scored for Montreal. This year's Leagues Cup features 36 teams — 18 from Major League Soccer, and 18 from LIGA MX, where the top four from each table advance, rather than a conventional group stage qualification format. The tournament runs until the end of August. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, both teams earn a single point, and the winner of the shootout will be awarded an extra point. 'Some stuff didn't go our way, and it was tricky, but we got the result and we got the job done,' said Montreal's Samuel Piette. 'It's a win that's worth two points. It's a new tournament and a new format, so we'll take what we can get.' James Rodriguez, Adonis Frias, Emiliano Rigoni, Ettson Ayon, Rodrigo Echeverria, Valentin Gauthier all scored for Club Leon, with Sebastian Santos hitting the bar and ending the game. Montreal looked to set the tone physically from the opening kickoff, pressing a Leon side that has only played three competitive matches this season. This helped keep the danger in front of the Leon goal, but the Mexican side would be the first to score, against the run of play. Rodriguez was able to carve out enough room on the right flank to send in a perfect ball that was met by Funes Mori's header. The shot was then mishandled by Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, giving the visitors an early lead. Montreal replied with an immediate increase in pressure, spending the rest of the first half firmly planted in the attacking third, but Leon's low defensive block held up. That same pressure continued in the second half as Montreal created two more golden scoring opportunities, but missed the target on both, leading to a change in formation at the hour-mark that immediately paid off. 'We talked about it with the guys and just how much fun it was, different kind of game and different kind of atmosphere,' said Waterman. 'You always want to have fun while playing football. It's bittersweet too, because I think we should've had all three points.' After breaking away from his defender, Dante Sealy was able to pick out a ball into space for Owusu, who was in flight behind the defensive line and finished into the bottom right corner. With momentum now on their side, Montreal nearly took the lead on several occasions in the 10 minutes following the goal but were frustrated repeatedly by Leon goalkeeper Oscar Jiminez. With nothing to separate both teams after 90 minutes, penalties were needed to settle the match. UP NEXT Montreal: Travel to New Jersey to face the 2024-2025 Liga MX Champions Deportivo Toluca F.C. on Friday. Leon: Visits New York City FC on Friday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Colombia edge Argentina in shootout to reach Women's Copa America final
QUITO, July 28 (Reuters) - Colombia booked their spot in the Women's Copa America final on Monday after edging Argentina 5-4 in a nail-biting penalty shootout following a goalless semi-final. Goalkeeper Katherine Tapia saved Paulina Gramaglia's spot-kick to give Colombia the advantage but Mayra Ramirez then hit the crossbar to rekindle Argentina's hopes. Wendy Bonilla put away Colombia's sixth kick to pile the pressure on Eliana Stabile, who struck the bar to send Argentina crashing out. "We are finalists and we qualified for the Olympics in Los Angeles, that was our objective. We are prepared for the final," Tapia said after the match. Argentina started brightly with Florencia Bonsegundo and Yamila Rodriguez testing the Colombian defence, but keeper Tapia proved equal to the task with a string of crucial saves. Colombia gradually found their rhythm despite first-half injuries to players on both sides that disrupted the flow of play. Ramirez, Leicy Santos and Linda Caicedo created opportunities but failed to find the breakthrough. Colombia increased the pressure after halftime and came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Valerin Loboa's close-range effort looked destined for the net, only for Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra to produce a brilliant save. The match marked the first use of VAR in the tournament, the technology available only from the knockout stages, when the referee reviewed an incident in the penalty area involving Sophia Braun and Manuela Pavi in stoppage time before ruling it was not a penalty. Colombia will face either Brazil or Uruguay, who meet in Tuesday's second semi-final
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Lionesses reign again: Euro 2025 final review: Women's Football Weekly
On the podcast today: It's come home … again! England have retained their European crown with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Spain in Basel. Sarina Wiegman's side, held together by tape, grit and fractured bones, battled through three games of extra time and two shoot-outs to defend their title and become back-to-back champions of Europe. The panel relives the final in all its nerve-shredding glory, from Alessia Russo's equaliser and Chloe Kelly's penalty to Hannah Hampton's spot-kick heroics. They also break down Wiegman's bold decisions, Bronze's fractured tibia, and what this win means in the context of England's footballing history. Also today: a look at standout players, moments and memories from Euro 2025; reflections on the tournament's legacy for Switzerland and beyond; and a word on Nigeria's thrilling Wafcon triumph over Morocco. Sign up for our weekly women's football newsletter – all you need to do is search 'Moving the Goalposts sign up' or follow this link. Support the Guardian here.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Chloe Kelly's Heroics And Spain's Bitter Loss: England's Euro Victory Had It All
England are back-to-back European champions and once again it was Chloe Kelly who provided the perfect conclusion. The Arsenal star walked up to the penalty spot with confidence and poise, rolled the ball backward a couple of times, and then did her signature hop before firing a shot into the upper left corner past Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll. It was a fitting moment to an epic final between the two best teams in the world, one that saw England manage yet another comeback at this tournament. Two goals scored from headers – Mariona Caldentay's opener in the 25th minute and Alessia Russo's equalizer in the 57th minute – set up a dramatic finish in Sunday's final. Neither team was able to find the back of the net again in extra time, meaning the game would have to be decided by a penalty shootout. England's 24-year-old goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made three saves, including one against two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí. It was then Kelly's time, who scored the game-winner as the Lionesses prevailed. Here's what stood out from the match: Kelly's legend keeps growing Kelly etched her name into women's football lore three years ago when she scored the game-winning goal for England against Germany to win the 2022 Euros. She tore off her shirt in celebration like Brandi Chastain, and the moment forever changed the sport in England. Earlier this year, she made a permanent transfer to Arsenal and proceeded to help the club win the Champions League title. And then this summer, she played a major role for England as a game-changer off the bench, tallying two assists and two game-winning goals in the knockout round. Kelly could have been sour about not being a starter, but she clearly trusted manager Sarina Wiegman's strategy and was an important solution off the bench. It always worked in England's favor, especially when it was Kelly who also scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal vs. Italy that sent the Lionesses to the final, and then stepped up as the fifth PK shooter in the final. England is now the first nation to win consecutive European championships since Germany in 2013. And Wiegman has now won three straight Euro titles: 2017 with the Netherlands and 2022 and '25 with England. England's resilience prevails There's no doubt this victory was especially sweet for England, which lost to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final. Widely considered to be the No. 1 team in the world – despite technically being ranked No. 2 behind the United States in FIFA's rankings – Spain was a more formidable opponent than the German squad England faced in the Euro final three years ago. And the way England had to come together and defeat the Spanish was probably the most impressive part. Throughout this tournament, the Lionesses didn't always look like the best team. They lost their first match against France before needing to create their own luck to come from behind and beat Sweden and Italy in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively. That was the recipe Wiegman's team used against La Roja on Sunday. When Spain took the lead or controlled the tempo or just looked like the more talented team, England didn't get flustered. Down 1-0 at halftime, the group came out of the break smiling and loose. They faced adversity head on and found a way to win. "For those that don't think mentality and resiliency matter, they matter," U.S. women's national team legend and FOX Sports analyst Carli Lloyd said on the broadcast after the match. "You can have all the tactics in the world, you can have some of the best players in the world on the field playing the most beautiful football. "But at the end of the day, the adversity, the resiliency, the togetherness is what you need." Disappointment for Spain Even with the loss, Spain has arguably the most talented squad in the world. They will be back and now have even more ammunition as they prepare to defend their World Cup title in less than two years' time. The reigning World Cup champions were an overwhelming favorite to win the Euros. While England was tested throughout each round with adversity, Spain mostly dominated opponents. Sure, La Roja was challenged by hosts Switzerland (buoyed by their home crowds) and perennial powerhouse Germany, but they were always the stronger side. After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime in Sunday's game, the overall feeling was that Spain needed to score again early in the second half to take England out of the match. Instead, the Lionesses equalized early in the second half. Bonmatí, whose beautiful goal vs. Germany in extra time Spain to the final, wasn't as involved as she could have been. Alexia Putellas also had a quiet night as she was subbed off in the second half. Penalties were off to a solid start for Spain when Coll stopped shots from Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, but misses by Caldentay, Bonmatí and Salma Paralluelo ultimately set up the dramatic game-winner from Kelly. And despite the loss, Bonmatí was awarded the player of the tournament – the first time a player from a losing side had been awarded the trophy. The women's game keeps growing This tournament has been yet another shining example of how women's soccer is growing around the world. If the colorful and passionate scenes of the pre-match fan walks throughout Switzerland during the tournament weren't enough, these Euros registered record-breaking attendance numbers. UEFA reported a record 657,291 spectators attended the tournament, surpassing the previous record of 574,875 fans who attended the 2022 Euros in England. "UEFA Women's EURO 2025 has marked a major milestone in the evolution of women's football," UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement. "With record-breaking attendance, exceptional media coverage and unprecedented global interest, the tournament has captured the world's attention. "The success of the tournament also showcases our continued, significant investment in the women's game, reflecting our long-term commitment to its growth. We are proud of the remarkable progress made in the women's game – yet this is just the beginning." Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
England's epic Euro 2025 final penalty shootout: Notes under sleeves, a retaken kick and ice-cold Kelly
You could argue that there was no other way England could have concluded their historic, victorious European championship run than in the most dramatic of styles. They have become accustomed to coming back from behind in a game; today's final against reigning world champions Spain was their third comeback win in this campaign, all of which were during the knockout stage. The team spent less than five minutes in a leading position across all three knockout stage games, including stoppage time. Once again, they came back after conceding the opening goal to equalize and managed 120 minutes of play to make it to the penalty shootout. And England's successful penalty shootout seemed an accurate depiction of the Lionesses' run to the top, a combination of bad luck, intense preparation and disciplined nerves of steel in big moments. The Athletic breaks down the events exactly as they unfolded. As both teams retreated to their huddles to prepare, England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was seen rolling up one of her long green sleeves to reveal what appeared to be a strip of tape scribbled with notes circling her forearm. Written reminders of which way a player might shoot are nothing new in these moments, but goalkeepers tend to fix them to their water bottles, as Swedish keeper Jennifer Falk did against the Lionesses in their quarterfinal penalties. It felt like a promising start for the Lionesses. However, Beth Mead slipped during her penalty attempt, and although it went in on the first try, she had to retake it. It was a heart-sinking moment for the forward, followed by a wave of relief. That relief was short-lived, though, after the ref motioned for Mead to return to the penalty line. Video Assistant Referee ruled out Mead's first attempt because the slip forced an irregular touch. Her second attempt was saved by Spain's Cata Coll, who dove to the right both times. What proved to be the losing side of a mind game for England could have been a boost of confidence for Spain. Or, just maybe, the early disappointment was what the Lionesses needed in this penalty shootout. After all, we can't forget their Euros campaign started with a 2-1 loss to France in Group D. England teammate Grace Clinton was there to walk Mead back to the line with words of encouragement while Spain stepped up to the spot next. In terms of her standing among the titans of Spain's midfield, this was a big moment for Patri Guijarro, who some believe should be next in line for a Ballon d'Or. Knowing England were down a goal adds a surprising degree of pressure to the first penalty taker on the other side. However, Guijarro handled the moment with ease, timing her strike just after Hannah Hampton showed the faintest motion to her left. Guijarro's driven ball went down the middle, but by then Hampton was already out of reach. Before entering the penalty box and situating the ball on the spot, Greenwood bounced it with her hands three times. England head coach Sarina Wiegman has oscillated the defender between center and left back throughout the tournament. Greenwood held her own against the onslaught of offense from the Spanish front line from the latter position throughout regulation and extra time on Sunday. Greenwood is known as a set-piece specialist on the team, though her last penalty in England's quarterfinal match against Sweden was saved by Jennifer Falk. This time, against Coll, Greenwood was more decisive, her left-footed shot low and well-placed beyond the Spanish goalkeeper's outstretched hands despite her correct guess as to where Greenwood was going. It would have been poetic if Mariona Caldentey had converted her spot kick. She scored the opening goal of the night, heading in a cross from Ona Batlle in the 25th minute. A goal in this moment would have been redemption for her missed penalty against Switzerland in Spain's quarterfinal. Maybe a goal in this moment could have carried Spain to another major international title as well. But Caldentey's slow walk to the penalty line proved deadly – either this limited the power behind her attempt or it gave Hampton all she needed to predict where the ball would go. In the end, Hampton's quick hop to the right was all she needed to hammer another nail in the World Cup winner's coffin. England defender Niamh Charles entered the match in the 105th minute to replace Lucy Bronze, who, after an agonizing handful of minutes desperately pushing through injury, had to be subbed off. The Chelsea fullback settled into the game quickly, picking up where Bronze left off with sturdy defending, and was a portrait of calm before her penalty: hands on her hips, eyes fixed on the ball to deny Coll any chance of visual intimidation or other mind games. What a shock it must have been to Coll, then, when center official Stéphanie Frappart blew the whistle and Charles sped toward the ball, running through it to give it plenty of pace. She struck it with her instep, but with such force that it whipped away from Coll and curled to Charles' left. Hers was easily the best shot in the series up to that point and wound up being the best of the whole affair. As she jogged back to her teammates, Charles could not help but try to hide a grin. There wasn't a bigger moment in this penalty shootout than the next Hampton save. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati carried Spain into this final with her late-game heroics against Germany, finding the dangerous space between goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and her post at what seemed a near-impossible angle. Bonmati's brilliance was still there, though. Her penalty attempt was strong, and precise. But Hampton's brilliance in this moment shone brighter. The Chelsea keeper dove to her right at the exact moment she needed to, blocking Bonmati's crisp attempt. This will be a moment in the 24-year-old goalkeeper's career that will distinguish her as one of the best keepers of her time, despite her having almost no depth perception. Captains are expected to come up big in moments like this, but Leah Williamson's tentative steps toward the spot exposed her. She cast her gaze just left of goal as she waited for the whistle, and while she deserves credit for what appeared to be an attempt to switch up the pattern of shots up to that point — none had exceeded waist-level height, and Williamson opted for something higher — it didn't quite reach top bins and was ultimately saveable. Coll dove correctly to her left and pawed the ball away with relative ease with her right hand. Salma Paralluelo had big shoes to fill when she subbed on for eventual Euro 2025 Golden Boot winner Esther González in the 89th minute. The Barcelona striker's profile is vastly different from that of González. From the moment Paralluelo entered the pitch, she shone, combining with fellow substitute Vicky Lopez to create fresh, inventive chances for Spain. However, her penalty shot did not have the same effect. She looked focused in the lead-up, eyebrows furrowed on the ball, but her decision to approach it with her shoulders nearly parallel to the end line may have tricked her into overcompensating with her hips. Hampton guessed correctly, but a more precise shot into the side netting could have still beaten her to it. Paralluelo's miscalculation, however, dragged hers wide. It had to be ice-cold Chloe Kelly. She delivered England's second goal in their semifinal win against Italy, following through after her missed penalty, scoring in the 119th minute. She was England's hero then, and she was England's hero again against Spain. Kelly was summoned onto the pitch by Wiegman earlier than anticipated, coming on for an injured Lauren James in the 40th minute. It took only 17 minutes for Kelly to deliver for England, this time in the form of a cross to Alessia Russo, who scored England's equalizer. It was fitting, then, that the 27-year-old Arsenal forward walked up to the penalty line, with the trophy also on the line. She tokk a deep breath, lifting her left knee towards her chest. Then, proceeded with her signature hop, before drilling a 100 km/h ball past Coll. This was the fastest goal of the entire tournament, according to the connected ball technology in Adidas' Konektis match ball. It was also the second consecutive Euros where Kelly scored England's tournament-winning goal. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. England, Spain, International Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
