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Rapids vs Austin FC Takeaways: Colorado plays spoiler as Sebastian Anderson shines in start, Andreas Maxsø scores

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

COMMERCE CITY — The Colorado Rapids might not think of themselves as spoilers. However, the rest of Major League Soccer certainly sees the role they can play down the stretch.That’s exactly what the Rapids did Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park as Designated Player and captain Andreas Maxsø’s 41st-minute goal off a set piece proved decisive in a 1-0 win over Austin FC.“I hadn’t actually thought about (playing spoiler),” interim Rapids head coach Chris Little said. “We had a bit of a point to prove. We didn’t get three points from a lead the last game at home, so the focus has always been on us. … We have to win some more games and finish the season as positively as we can for our fans.”With the win, it’s the first time Colorado (5-15-11, 26 points) has achieved four points in the span of a week since May 6. Little has picked up seven points in his five games in charge. Here are three takeaways from the...

Langeliers’ homer sends A’s past Angels after Boyle’s no-hit bid broken up

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

ANAHEIM — Even with a two-run deficit in the eighth inning of the 161st game of a 111-loss season, the Oakland Athletics were still fighting.Their manager loved to see that unceasing fire stay lit in an awfully dark year.Shea Langeliers hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the A’s five-run eighth inning, leading Oakland to a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.Zack Gelof homered and added two late RBI singles for the A’s, who earned their fourth victory in 16 games on the penultimate day of their franchise’s worst season since 1916.ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Boyle #35 of the Oakland Athletics reacts after the third out against the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 30, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Oakland could have been crushed after Joe Boyle’s no-hit bid ended with LA’s three-run rally in the seventh, but nobody gave up.“These guys have competed, and ...

San Diego clinches 1st NWSL playoff berth with 2-0 victory over Portland

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

Kyra Carusa and Alex Morgan both scored and the San Diego Wave moved into the top spot in the National Women’s Soccer League standings and became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with a 2-0 victory over the Portland Thorns on Saturday night. It was San Diego’s league-best sixth road win this season. Carusa scored in the 20th minute off a cross from 18-year-old Jaedyn Shaw. Morgan added a goal in the 38th minute on a header that bounced into to the goal out of the reach of Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby. The goal ended an eight-match streak without a goal for Morgan. “I think all around it was a huge performance from every single one of us on the field today,” Wave midfielder Danielle Colaprico said. “Coming into it, we knew it was going to be a 90-minute game. We had to play through every minute of it. It wasn’t going to be easy, it never is coming to Portland.”The Thorns (9-6-5) were without Sophia Smith, the league’s leading scorer with 11 goals, who is ...

Populist, pro-Russia ex-premier leads leftist party to win in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — A populist former prime minister and his leftist party won parliamentary elections in Slovakia, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message, according to almost complete results.With results from 99.2% of some 6,000 polling stations counted by the Slovak Statistics Office early Sunday, former Prime Minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer, or Direction, party led with 23.3% of the votes.The election Saturday was a test for the small eastern European country’s support for neighboring Ukraine in its war with Russia, and the win by Fico could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO.Fico, 59, vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine in Russia’s war if his attempt to return to power succeeded.The country of 5.5 million people created in 1993 following the breakup of Czechoslovakia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded last February, donating arms and opening th...

Andreas Maxsø scores and Marko Ilic makes 5 saves in Rapids’ 1-0 win over Austin

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Andreas Maxsø scored in the 41st minute, Marko Ilic made five saves and the Colorado Rapids beat Austin 1-0 on Saturday night for just their fifth victory of the season. Colorado (5-15-11) has avoided defeat in eight of its last 10 home matches, with three victories, in all competitions. The only MLS team to win at Colorado since the beginning of June is Seattle, which recorded a 2-1 victory on Sept. 20.Austin (9-14-8) is winless in 10 straight matches in all competitions, with seven losses, the longest run without a victory in club history.Ilic recorded his second shutout of the season. Brad Stuver saved two of the three shots he faced for Austin.The teams play again Wednesday, with the Rapids visiting Dallas while Austin hosts D.C. United.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Kershaw loses for first time since May 21 as Giants beat Dodgers 2-1

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Clayton Kershaw lost for the first time since May, allowing the go-ahead run when Max Muncy misplayed a potential inning-ending double-play grounder in a 2-1 defeat to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night that left the Los Angeles Dodgers one win shy of 100 going into their season finale.Kershaw (13-5), a 35-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner, had been 7-0 with a 1.96 ERA in 13 starts since a May 21 loss at St. Louis. Facing the Giants for the 59th time, he allowed a third-inning homer to Tyler Fitzgerald and gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted that Kershaw is in line to start the NL Division Series opener on Oct. 7.“Whenever it is, I’m just excited to get to do it,” Kershaw said. “It’ll be fun. With the way this year kind of went, I didn’t really expect to be in this spot for a lot of reasons. But it’s here and if that happens, I’ll be ready.”Kershaw, who has been pitching on extended rest...

Marie scores late to help Earthquakes earn 1-1 draw with Minnesota United

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Defender Paul Marie scored in the 82nd minute to rally the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United on Saturday night.Marie took passes from Cristian Espinoza and Carlos Akapo and netted his first goal of the season and the fourth of his career for San Jose (10-10-12). Espinoza’s assist was the 55th of his career in regular-season play. The Earthquakes have won just three of their last 37 road matches in all competitions.Minnesota United (9-11-11) took a 1-0 lead on Teemu Pukki’s sixth goal in 11 appearances this season, unassisted in the 56th minute.Daniel de Sousa Britto saved one shot for San Jose. Dayne St. Clair finished with one save for Minnesota United. Minnesota United is 5-1-3 in its last nine meetings with the Earthquakes. The club was coming off a 2-1 loss to St. Louis City in which it held the lead at home and avoided losing three straight at home for the first time.Minnesota United travels to play Los Angeles FC on W...

Hughes kicks 54-yard field goal as time expires, Appalachian State tops Louisiana-Monroe 41-40

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

MONROE, La. (AP) — Michael Hughes kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired to lift Appalachian State to a walk-off 41-40 win over Louisiana-Monroe in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both schools Saturday night. Joey Aguilar threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns and set up the game winner by hitting Kaedin Robinson with three straight completions, two for 14 and a third for 16 yards to reach the ULM 37 yard line for a game-winning kick that flew right down the middle. Louisiana-Monroe took a 14-0 first-quarter lead but Appalachian State answered with a 52-yard Aguilar-to-Christian Horn touchdown, and on the Warhawks first play from scrimmage following the ensuing kickoff, Tyrek Funderburk added a 23-yard pick six to make it 14-14 at intermission.Hughes hit a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to get the Mountaineers within two, 40-38.Aguilar had two passes picked off and fumbled. Nate Noel carried 18 times for 109 yards and Aguilar added 49 yards on seven carries...

McKinney accounts for 3 TDs to help Eastern Kentucky beat North Alabama 33-22

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — Parker McKinney passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, Joshua Carter had 138 yards rushing and a TD and Eastern Kentucky never trailed Saturday night in its 32-22 win over North Alabama. McKinney completed 14 of 21 passes for 256 yards with two interceptions. The redshirt senior hit Hunter Brown down the left sideline for a 60-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage and a few plays later his 8-yard touchdown run opened the scoring with 13:08 left in the first quarter. After a North Alabama punt, the Colonels went 86 yards in just six plays, capped when McKinney stepped up in the pocket and rolled right before throwing a strike to a wide-open Jaden Smith at the 10 and he raced the rest of the way for a 46-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 about 5 minutes later. McKinney lobbed a perfectly placed ball up the right sideline to Bradon Sloan on a wheel route for a 44-yard touchdown that gave Eastern Kentucky (2-3, 1-0 United Athletic Conference) a 28-7 lead ...

No. 12 Alabama beats Mississippi State for 16th straight time, 40-17 in Starkville

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:04:18 GMT

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Jalen Milroe was efficient at quarterback for No. 12 Alabama and the Crimson Tide scored touchdowns off two first-half interceptions in a 40-17 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday night.Milroe completed his first eight passes and ended up 10 of 12 for 164 yards. He ran 11 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns — opening the scoring on a 53-yard scamper — to help Alabama (4-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) to its 16th straight victory over the Bulldogs (2-3, 0-3).Mississippi State’s Will Rogers was 15 of 26 for 107 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions.Chris Braswell returned one of Rogers’ interceptions 28 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. With Mississippi State trailing 24-10 in the final seconds of the first half, Rogers threw his second and gave Alabama a short field that MIlroe took advantage of to score of the second of his touchdown runs.Mississippi State cut it to 17-10 in the first half, then was outscored 23-7.Rogers...