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Deadspin | Offensive eruption helps Orlando City take down Charlotte FC  Apr 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC defender Zakaria Taifi (19) celebrates a goal by midfielder Luis Otavio (5) against Charlotte FC in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images   Martin Ojeda scored his third and fourth goals of the season early in the second half to help Orlando City to a 4-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.  Luis Otavio added his first career MLS goal early and Ignacio Gomez added his first late for Orlando (2-6-1, 7 points), which had scored only six times before Wednesday’s victory.  The 20-year-old Gomez was making only his second MLS appearance, playing on a short-term loan from Orlando’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team.  The Lions also continued their recent defensive improvement, allowing only one goal in each of their last three matches after conceding 23 in their first six.  Morrison Agyemang’s header pulled Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points) level late in the first half in their second of three consecutive away matches.  Charlotte conceded three or more goals for only a second time this season, the first coming in a 3-0 loss at the LA Galaxy in their second match of the campaign.  Ojeda’s multi-goal performance was his first since a brace in last season’s 3-2 win over Nashville on Sept. 20, the final two tallies of a 16-goal campaign.  Wednesday’s tallies came 12 minutes apart, with the first arriving in the 49th minute.   As Orlando worked the ball down the left flank, Ojeda drifted into space in front of Charlotte’s back line, which appeared to lose sight of him.  Eventually, the ball came to Justin Ellis, who drew multiple defenders on the left side of the penalty area, then dropped a pass to Ojeda near the penalty arc.  Ojeda hit it with his left foot, guiding his finish beyond Kristijan Kahlina’s dive and inside the right post.  His second came from a free kick earned when Zakaria Taifi absorbed Harry Tofolo’s foul above the right side of the penalty area.  Charlotte set up a three-man defensive wall. But Ojeda was able to curl a low, left-footed shot around it and into the bottom right corner.  This time, the lunging Kahlina reached it, but without enough power to push it clear of danger.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Offensive #eruption #helps #Orlando #City #Charlotte

Deadspin | Offensive eruption helps Orlando City take down Charlotte FC
Deadspin | Offensive eruption helps Orlando City take down Charlotte FC  Apr 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC defender Zakaria Taifi (19) celebrates a goal by midfielder Luis Otavio (5) against Charlotte FC in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images   Martin Ojeda scored his third and fourth goals of the season early in the second half to help Orlando City to a 4-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.  Luis Otavio added his first career MLS goal early and Ignacio Gomez added his first late for Orlando (2-6-1, 7 points), which had scored only six times before Wednesday’s victory.  The 20-year-old Gomez was making only his second MLS appearance, playing on a short-term loan from Orlando’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team.  The Lions also continued their recent defensive improvement, allowing only one goal in each of their last three matches after conceding 23 in their first six.  Morrison Agyemang’s header pulled Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points) level late in the first half in their second of three consecutive away matches.  Charlotte conceded three or more goals for only a second time this season, the first coming in a 3-0 loss at the LA Galaxy in their second match of the campaign.  Ojeda’s multi-goal performance was his first since a brace in last season’s 3-2 win over Nashville on Sept. 20, the final two tallies of a 16-goal campaign.  Wednesday’s tallies came 12 minutes apart, with the first arriving in the 49th minute.   As Orlando worked the ball down the left flank, Ojeda drifted into space in front of Charlotte’s back line, which appeared to lose sight of him.  Eventually, the ball came to Justin Ellis, who drew multiple defenders on the left side of the penalty area, then dropped a pass to Ojeda near the penalty arc.  Ojeda hit it with his left foot, guiding his finish beyond Kristijan Kahlina’s dive and inside the right post.  His second came from a free kick earned when Zakaria Taifi absorbed Harry Tofolo’s foul above the right side of the penalty area.  Charlotte set up a three-man defensive wall. But Ojeda was able to curl a low, left-footed shot around it and into the bottom right corner.  This time, the lunging Kahlina reached it, but without enough power to push it clear of danger.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Offensive #eruption #helps #Orlando #City #CharlotteApr 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC defender Zakaria Taifi (19) celebrates a goal by midfielder Luis Otavio (5) against Charlotte FC in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Martin Ojeda scored his third and fourth goals of the season early in the second half to help Orlando City to a 4-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.

Luis Otavio added his first career MLS goal early and Ignacio Gomez added his first late for Orlando (2-6-1, 7 points), which had scored only six times before Wednesday’s victory.

The 20-year-old Gomez was making only his second MLS appearance, playing on a short-term loan from Orlando’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team.

The Lions also continued their recent defensive improvement, allowing only one goal in each of their last three matches after conceding 23 in their first six.

Morrison Agyemang’s header pulled Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points) level late in the first half in their second of three consecutive away matches.

Charlotte conceded three or more goals for only a second time this season, the first coming in a 3-0 loss at the LA Galaxy in their second match of the campaign.

Ojeda’s multi-goal performance was his first since a brace in last season’s 3-2 win over Nashville on Sept. 20, the final two tallies of a 16-goal campaign.


Wednesday’s tallies came 12 minutes apart, with the first arriving in the 49th minute.

As Orlando worked the ball down the left flank, Ojeda drifted into space in front of Charlotte’s back line, which appeared to lose sight of him.

Eventually, the ball came to Justin Ellis, who drew multiple defenders on the left side of the penalty area, then dropped a pass to Ojeda near the penalty arc.

Ojeda hit it with his left foot, guiding his finish beyond Kristijan Kahlina’s dive and inside the right post.

His second came from a free kick earned when Zakaria Taifi absorbed Harry Tofolo’s foul above the right side of the penalty area.

Charlotte set up a three-man defensive wall. But Ojeda was able to curl a low, left-footed shot around it and into the bottom right corner.

This time, the lunging Kahlina reached it, but without enough power to push it clear of danger.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Offensive #eruption #helps #Orlando #City #Charlotte

Apr 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC defender Zakaria Taifi (19) celebrates a goal by midfielder Luis Otavio (5) against Charlotte FC in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Martin Ojeda scored his third and fourth goals of the season early in the second half to help Orlando City to a 4-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.

Luis Otavio added his first career MLS goal early and Ignacio Gomez added his first late for Orlando (2-6-1, 7 points), which had scored only six times before Wednesday’s victory.

The 20-year-old Gomez was making only his second MLS appearance, playing on a short-term loan from Orlando’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team.

The Lions also continued their recent defensive improvement, allowing only one goal in each of their last three matches after conceding 23 in their first six.

Morrison Agyemang’s header pulled Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points) level late in the first half in their second of three consecutive away matches.

Charlotte conceded three or more goals for only a second time this season, the first coming in a 3-0 loss at the LA Galaxy in their second match of the campaign.

Ojeda’s multi-goal performance was his first since a brace in last season’s 3-2 win over Nashville on Sept. 20, the final two tallies of a 16-goal campaign.

Wednesday’s tallies came 12 minutes apart, with the first arriving in the 49th minute.

As Orlando worked the ball down the left flank, Ojeda drifted into space in front of Charlotte’s back line, which appeared to lose sight of him.

Eventually, the ball came to Justin Ellis, who drew multiple defenders on the left side of the penalty area, then dropped a pass to Ojeda near the penalty arc.

Ojeda hit it with his left foot, guiding his finish beyond Kristijan Kahlina’s dive and inside the right post.

His second came from a free kick earned when Zakaria Taifi absorbed Harry Tofolo’s foul above the right side of the penalty area.

Charlotte set up a three-man defensive wall. But Ojeda was able to curl a low, left-footed shot around it and into the bottom right corner.

This time, the lunging Kahlina reached it, but without enough power to push it clear of danger.

–Field Level Media

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Sunil Gavaskar: Domestic cricketers deserve more than applause and sparse crowds <div id="content-body-70895808" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) announcement that they will now contract their players, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does, is excellent news. This is yet another example of an administration that is alert and alive to the needs of its players, giving them the security to play the game without worrying about where the next pay cheque is coming from.</p><p>A couple of years ago, after Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy, the Association not only matched the prize money that the winners receive from the BCCI but also announced that it would pay players what the BCCI pays. This latter part is very important, as players now receive payment from the MCA immediately after a match finishes. BCCI payments do take a little time, as there are payments to be made not just to one team but to several, and determining what each player should receive involves some delay, given the slabs based on the number of matches played. By paying players immediately after the game is over, the wait for BCCI payments becomes a little easier. Who does not like to be paid immediately after the work is complete?</p><p>Today, corporate jobs for players to participate in inter-company tournaments are drying up, so this immediate payment is a boon. It is understood that two other progressive-minded associations, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and the Karnataka State Cricket Association, also pay players for every game, apart from BCCI payments. Other associations, which receive a handsome subsidy each year from the BCCI, would do well to match these payments. What is the point of showing crores in the bank when players could perform with far greater freedom if they were better looked after?</p><p>That said, even players from teams that reach the Ranji Trophy final do not end up earning the base price of Rs. 30 lakh that an IPL player receives. This, mind you, is for playing around 40 days of cricket, while an IPL player earns the same for 16 matches, out of which he may not even play one.</p><p>Yes, one can argue that it is market forces that fetch an uncapped IPL player the crores he commands, but it is still disappointing to see that those who give everything to compete in the National Championships, across different weather conditions and often in front of sparse crowds, do not even earn the base price of an IPL player.</p><p>The BCCI must be complimented on its decision to continue providing pensions to the widows of retired international players if, unfortunately, the player passes away. This is truly magnanimous, as without the support and backing of players’ better halves, they would not have been able to perform at their best. Hopefully, the MCA will take the lead here as well and ensure that the widows of its retired Ranji, Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy players continue to receive pension payments. This would be another generous gesture by the Association, expressing its gratitude for the service these players have given.</p><p>Times have changed for the better, and that is exactly how it should be.</p><p>Was it not the great Sir Don Bradman who said, “Each player should endeavour to leave the game better than he found it”?</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #Sunil #Gavaskar #Domestic #cricketers #deserve #applause #sparse #crowds

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PSG bounces back to open 4-point lead in Ligue 1; Strasbourg reaches French Cup final <div id="content-body-70895877" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain recovered from its Ligue 1 loss to Lyon with a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Nantes on Wednesday.</p><p>PSG’s home win – in a game postponed from mid-March to allow the team to better prepare for its Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea – keeps it four points above Lens with four rounds of the French league remaining.</p><p>Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 13th minute. It was awarded after a VAR check penalized Nantes defender Frédéric Guilbert for handball because Marquinhos’ header brushed against his arm.</p><p>Louis Leroux thought he’d equalized when he fired in a loose ball after PSG failed to deal with a free kick, but the next VAR decision also went against the visitors. After a lengthy delay, the goal was ruled out for offside.</p><p>There was nothing wrong with Desiré Doué’s brilliant goal in the 37th, when Achraf Hakimi played him through before he left fly with a fierce strike from a difficult angle inside the far corner.</p><p><b>ALSO READ </b>| <b><a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/epl/chelsea-fc-sacks-liam-rosenior-cfc-news-premier-league-table/article70894261.ece" target="_blank">Chelsea sacks Liam Rosenior after poor run of results</a></b></p><p>Kvaratskhelia grabbed his second after the break, shimmying past two defenders and poking the ball past Anthony Lopes in the Nantes goal.</p><p>Guilbert caught Doué with a bad challenge late on but the winger was able to continue.</p><p>PSG, the title holder, faces Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals with the first leg in Paris on Tuesday.</p><p>There were clashes during the match between Nantes supporters and stewards, who intervened to remove huge banners the fans unfurled that were critical of PSG-backer Qatar and the French league.</p><p>“Qatar demands, the LFP obeys, French football suffers, we’re sick of you,” the banners read in big yellow capital letters before they were taken down. Some fans lit flares while others fought with the stewards.</p><p>Elye Wahi scored twice – the second a penalty – to steer Strasbourg into the French Cup final with a 2-0 win over visiting Nice.</p><p>Strasbourg will play Lens in the May 22 decider in the Stade de France, after Lens defeated Toulouse 4-1 in the first semifinal on Tuesday.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #PSG #bounces #open #4point #lead #Ligue #Strasbourg #reaches #French #Cup #final

Deadspin | After weather delay, Crew defeat Galaxy for first home win of season  Columbus Crew forward Daniel Gazdag (8) celebrates a goal with teammates during the weather-delayed MLS match against the LA Galaxy at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus on April 22, 2026.   Daniel Gazdag and Diego Rossi scored as the Columbus Crew downed the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on Wednesday for their first home win of the season.  Gazdag in the 41st and Rossi in the 47th staked the Crew (2-4-3, 9 points) to the lead before Gabriel Pec countered for the Galaxy in the 86th minute on their only shot on goal.  The match started 2 hours, 5 minutes late after thunderstorms began two hours before kickoff. Rain continued as the match started.  The Crew is 1-1-2 at home.  LA (3-3-3, 9 points) avoided being shut out for the first time in 18 matches when Pec took a set-up by Joseph Paintsil and beat Patrick Schute at the near right post for his first goal.  Pec then hit the crossbar two minutes later.  Gazdag first goal of the season came a year and 11 days after the Philadelphia Union’s career goals leader was acquired in a trade.   A Galaxy turnover led to Dylan Chambost feeding Hugo Picard on the left flank. He whipped a low ball in front of the goal where Gazdag flicked the ball without the outside of his right foot.  Rossi’s fourth goal was a clinical off the build-up. Taha Habroune zinged a through ball to Max Arfsten on the right. He dribbled to the top of the box, did a crossover then passed across to Rossi, who let the ball go to his left foot before unleashing a shot.  The Galaxy played without leading scorer Joao Klauss (five goals), who has a foot injury.  His absence was apparent in the first half when the Galaxy couldn’t put together anything resembling an attack. Their lone shot attempt came in the 45th minute when Pec’s try from the right side of the box skipped outside the left post.  The Crew had nine shots in the opening half beginning with Arfsten’s shot that James Marcinkowski saved in the 7th minute. Columbus kept pressing and Arfsten and Rossi had good looks that veered off target over the next 10 minutes.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #weather #delay #Crew #defeat #Galaxy #home #win #seasonColumbus Crew forward Daniel Gazdag (8) celebrates a goal with teammates during the weather-delayed MLS match against the LA Galaxy at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus on April 22, 2026.

Daniel Gazdag and Diego Rossi scored as the Columbus Crew downed the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on Wednesday for their first home win of the season.

Gazdag in the 41st and Rossi in the 47th staked the Crew (2-4-3, 9 points) to the lead before Gabriel Pec countered for the Galaxy in the 86th minute on their only shot on goal.

The match started 2 hours, 5 minutes late after thunderstorms began two hours before kickoff. Rain continued as the match started.

The Crew is 1-1-2 at home.

LA (3-3-3, 9 points) avoided being shut out for the first time in 18 matches when Pec took a set-up by Joseph Paintsil and beat Patrick Schute at the near right post for his first goal.

Pec then hit the crossbar two minutes later.


Gazdag first goal of the season came a year and 11 days after the Philadelphia Union’s career goals leader was acquired in a trade.

A Galaxy turnover led to Dylan Chambost feeding Hugo Picard on the left flank. He whipped a low ball in front of the goal where Gazdag flicked the ball without the outside of his right foot.

Rossi’s fourth goal was a clinical off the build-up. Taha Habroune zinged a through ball to Max Arfsten on the right. He dribbled to the top of the box, did a crossover then passed across to Rossi, who let the ball go to his left foot before unleashing a shot.

The Galaxy played without leading scorer Joao Klauss (five goals), who has a foot injury.

His absence was apparent in the first half when the Galaxy couldn’t put together anything resembling an attack. Their lone shot attempt came in the 45th minute when Pec’s try from the right side of the box skipped outside the left post.

The Crew had nine shots in the opening half beginning with Arfsten’s shot that James Marcinkowski saved in the 7th minute. Columbus kept pressing and Arfsten and Rossi had good looks that veered off target over the next 10 minutes.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #weather #delay #Crew #defeat #Galaxy #home #win #season">Deadspin | After weather delay, Crew defeat Galaxy for first home win of season  Columbus Crew forward Daniel Gazdag (8) celebrates a goal with teammates during the weather-delayed MLS match against the LA Galaxy at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus on April 22, 2026.   Daniel Gazdag and Diego Rossi scored as the Columbus Crew downed the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 on Wednesday for their first home win of the season.  Gazdag in the 41st and Rossi in the 47th staked the Crew (2-4-3, 9 points) to the lead before Gabriel Pec countered for the Galaxy in the 86th minute on their only shot on goal.  The match started 2 hours, 5 minutes late after thunderstorms began two hours before kickoff. Rain continued as the match started.  The Crew is 1-1-2 at home.  LA (3-3-3, 9 points) avoided being shut out for the first time in 18 matches when Pec took a set-up by Joseph Paintsil and beat Patrick Schute at the near right post for his first goal.  Pec then hit the crossbar two minutes later.  Gazdag first goal of the season came a year and 11 days after the Philadelphia Union’s career goals leader was acquired in a trade.   A Galaxy turnover led to Dylan Chambost feeding Hugo Picard on the left flank. He whipped a low ball in front of the goal where Gazdag flicked the ball without the outside of his right foot.  Rossi’s fourth goal was a clinical off the build-up. Taha Habroune zinged a through ball to Max Arfsten on the right. He dribbled to the top of the box, did a crossover then passed across to Rossi, who let the ball go to his left foot before unleashing a shot.  The Galaxy played without leading scorer Joao Klauss (five goals), who has a foot injury.  His absence was apparent in the first half when the Galaxy couldn’t put together anything resembling an attack. Their lone shot attempt came in the 45th minute when Pec’s try from the right side of the box skipped outside the left post.  The Crew had nine shots in the opening half beginning with Arfsten’s shot that James Marcinkowski saved in the 7th minute. Columbus kept pressing and Arfsten and Rossi had good looks that veered off target over the next 10 minutes.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #weather #delay #Crew #defeat #Galaxy #home #win #season

Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez scored a minute apart late in the second half, breaking a deadlock and ​handing Inter Miami a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake (RSL) ‌on Wednesday in Sandy, Utah.

Dayne St. Clair made four ​saves in his first clean sheet of the ⁠season as Miami (5-1-3, 18 points) went 2-0-0 on a trip to Colorado and Utah, which were also the first two matches under interim ‌manager Guillermo Hoyos.

Rafael Cabral recorded five saves for Real Salt Lake (5-2-1, 16 points) in its first loss ‌since the season opener, ending a six-match unbeaten ‌run.

The ⁠possession was nearly even throughout the night until ⁠Miami took over in the final 10 minutes. The visitors broke the seal in the 82nd minute off a corner kick.

Rather than send in a ​cross, Telasco Segovia passed ‌to the outside for De Paul, who was left unmarked and fired in a perfect shot to the far corner.

Miami regained possession quickly after an offside call on ‌RSL. Suarez, who was subbed on during the 75th minute ​after not playing Saturday against the Rapids, was the beneficiary of a juggled pass by teammate German ⁠Berterame. Suarez buried a left-footed shot on the run.

It was the second goal of the season for both De Paul ‌and Suarez.

Salt Lake thought it had scored within the first five minutes of the match for the third straight contest.

Morgan Guilavogui’s fifth-minute goal, a rebound of his own initial attempt, was taken off the board as Sergi Solans was ruled offside by mere inches.

Miami star Lionel Messi had ‌one shot off a cross parried away by Cabral.

RSL had its chances in the second ⁠half before Miami heated up. Zavier Gozo badly missed the net ⁠after Diego Luna’s creative backheel pass to him in the box in the 64th minute.

RSL’s DeAndre Yedlin expertly ‌blocked out Facundo Mura’s push in the 76th minute. The team went on the counterattack and won a free ​kick near the penalty arc, but Luna’s free-kick shot went inches over the crossbar.

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Suarez #mark #Messi #fires #blanks #Inter #Miami #beats #Real #Salt #Lake">Suarez off mark but Messi fires blanks as Inter Miami beats Real Salt Lake  Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez scored a minute apart late in the second half, breaking a deadlock and ​handing Inter Miami a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake (RSL) ‌on Wednesday in Sandy, Utah.Dayne St. Clair made four ​saves in his first clean sheet of the ⁠season as Miami (5-1-3, 18 points) went 2-0-0 on a trip to Colorado and Utah, which were also the first two matches under interim ‌manager Guillermo Hoyos.Rafael Cabral recorded five saves for Real Salt Lake (5-2-1, 16 points) in its first loss ‌since the season opener, ending a six-match unbeaten ‌run.The ⁠possession was nearly even throughout the night until ⁠Miami took over in the final 10 minutes. The visitors broke the seal in the 82nd minute off a corner kick.Rather than send in a ​cross, Telasco Segovia passed ‌to the outside for De Paul, who was left unmarked and fired in a perfect shot to the far corner.Miami regained possession quickly after an offside call on ‌RSL. Suarez, who was subbed on during the 75th minute ​after not playing Saturday against the Rapids, was the beneficiary of a juggled pass by teammate German ⁠Berterame. Suarez buried a left-footed shot on the run.It was the second goal of the season for both De Paul ‌and Suarez.Salt Lake thought it had scored within the first five minutes of the match for the third straight contest.Morgan Guilavogui’s fifth-minute goal, a rebound of his own initial attempt, was taken off the board as Sergi Solans was ruled offside by mere inches.Miami star Lionel Messi had ‌one shot off a cross parried away by Cabral.RSL had its chances in the second ⁠half before Miami heated up. Zavier Gozo badly missed the net ⁠after Diego Luna’s creative backheel pass to him in the box in the 64th minute.RSL’s DeAndre Yedlin expertly ‌blocked out Facundo Mura’s push in the 76th minute. The team went on the counterattack and won a free ​kick near the penalty arc, but Luna’s free-kick shot went inches over the crossbar.Published on Apr 23, 2026  #Suarez #mark #Messi #fires #blanks #Inter #Miami #beats #Real #Salt #Lake

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