The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers to start the 2026 season with a win, but 29 of their points came in the final 17 minutes of the game. Plenty of questions surround the Vikings, and they don't solely revolve around the quarterback position.
Brian Flores' defense overwhelmed the Packers in the fourth quarter, but there were far too many wide-open Green Bay receivers throughout the day. Minnesota's offense did enough to win, but it will need more consistency moving forward so it isn't clawing its way back late in games.
The next opponent further amplifies these concerns. Next week, the Vikings travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears, who beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37 on Sunday. Minnesota will need to tighten things up so that they aren't involved in a shootout they can't keep up in.
Kyler Murray's long-awaited Vikings debut was cut short when he left the game with a concussion suffered in the first quarter. Carson Wentz replaced him, completing 12/19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns, doing enough to keep the offense on schedule.
But Murray's availability is already in question for next week. On Monday, Adam Schefter reported that "it looks like" Wentz will start next Sunday against the Bears, as Murray remains in concussion protocol.

#next #minnesota #wentz #start

Tricolor is ready for the showdown with Boca Juniors (ARG) in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana! This Monday (14), at SuperCT, the squad held its final training session ahead of the decisive clash with the Argentines, which will be played on Tuesday night (15), at 9:30 p.m., at MorumBIS, in the second leg of the quarterfinals.
This afternoon's activities included physical exercises with the fitness coaches indoors, as well as tactical adjustments led by Dorival Júnior and his **** istants on the pitch, in addition to technical drills.
There was also extra practice on set pieces.
After suffering a 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Buenos Aires, São Paulo need to win by a two-goal margin to advance to the next round. A one-goal victory would send the decision to a penalty shootout.
The winner will face Vasco da Gama or Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia in the semifinals of the continental competition. The teams meet this Tuesday (15), at 7 p.m., at São Januário.

#tuesday #goal #juniors #conmebol

Carter Bear gave the Detroit Red Wings exactly the kind of opening performance they wanted from one of their most important young forwards.
Bear registered 10 shots on goal and an ***** ist Saturday as Detroit rallied from a two-goal third-period deficit to defeat the Dallas Stars 4-3 in a shootout in its Prospect Tournament opener at the BELFOR Training Center.
According to Detroit Hockey Now's game report, Bear was Detroit's most visible offensive player. His ***** ist came on Jesse Kiiskinen's second-period power-play goal, which tied the game 1-1. Bear started alongside Nate Danielson and Kiiskinen on Detroit's top line.
Detroit eventually needed late goals from Noah Dower Nilsson and Théo Rochette before Trey Augustine made eight shootout saves and Kienan Draper scored the winner on the Red Wings' eighth attempt.
Bear's performance stood out even in a game loaded with notable prospects.

#detroit #carter

UCLA football looks to build on a strong showing from their Week 1 rout of Cal in their home opener when they host San Diego State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Bob Chesney era in Westwood couldn't have started on a better note as the Bruins rode dominant performances from their run game and defense -- their two biggest weaknesses last season -- to pull away late from what had been a shootout with the Golden Bears through the first three quarters.
Senior running back Anthony Woods led the way on the ground with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while JMU transfer Wayne Knight added three more scores on 71 yards. That opened up some opportunities for Nico Iamaleava to take shots downfield, which the quarterback converted for some big plays late in the first half.
The Aztecs -- now a member of the new-look Pac-12 -- are coming off a strong season debut of their own, a 53-20 blowout over Portland State.
Follow along for live coverage from USA TODAY Sports on UCLA vs. San Diego State:

#state #diego

Gulf Coast won a wild shootout over Estero with senior running back Gio Marenco having a record-breaking performance, Golden Gate outlasted Barron Collier in overtime and Fort Myers outlasted Mariner.
Those were just some of the storylines from Week 4 of the 2026 high school football season in Southwest Florida.
To honor the players who stood out, The News-Press and Naples Daily News hand out their Game ***** for the top efforts each week. Here are the honorees for this week's games.
The freshman wide receiver had 5 catches for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns in a win over North Fort Myers.
The senior wideout had 147 receiving yards and scored fouy touchdowns in the Vikings' win over Williston.

#myers #gulf

Arsenal have brought in outside consultants to evaluate the club's internal operations and identify areas for improvement.
Mikel Arteta's squad claimed the Premier League ****** le last season, setting off a wave of celebrations throughout North London, as per football.london.
The Gunners then came within a penalty shootout of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time in their storied history, falling narrowly to Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
5 reasons to back Phil Parkinson when the going gets tough - a cut out and keep guide for fans
Bradley Barcola breaks silence after completing $166.6 million Liverpool transfer

#mikel

CANNONSBURG Riley Maynard cornered the market on game-winners.
The ball hadn't seen the back of the net for nearly an hour of match time when the Boyd County freshman took care of any shootout concerns in the second overtime period against Ashland.
Maynard lined up her shot near the corner flag, connected with her left foot, and curved it inside the far post to lift the Lions to a 2-1 win in the 63rd District seeding contest Thursday.
Boyd County coach Olivia Pennington said it's not the first time Maynard found her target on the long-distance shot that offers no angle to the goal.
"It's something that she's done multiple times this season," Pennington said. "Any time we have that shot on the left side, Riley is attempting that shot."

#riley #county #left #cannonsburg

CANNONSBURG After ninety minutes of intense, goalless soccer, Boyd County coach Levi Pennington still needed five guys for an energized ending.
Ashland and the Lions battled to nil-nil after two halves and two overtime periods. Each player on the pitch had done their part to empower their team, but work remained to determine a victor.
Bracken Peters sent the closing delivery inside the left post and supplied the final point in kicks from the mark for a 1-0 victory over the Tomcats in a 63rd District seeding match Thursday.
"(Thursday night), the (shootout) lineup changed based on how the game was going," Boyd County coach Levi Pennington said, "with body language and players. I felt like some of our guys were more gassed than normal. I pushed them a little further down the list and let their legs get back under them. I told them it's nothing against you, but it's next man up right now."
Ashland's freshman keeper, Karson Freeman, denied Boyd County's first attempt to help the Tomcats grab a quick advantage in the shootout. The visitors' second try clanged off the crossbar, and Zeke Withrow calmly blasted the next shot through to the twine to tie the session.

#boyd #coach

The Gophers originally opened as high as 2.5-point betting favorites for this week's game against Mississippi State. According to The Action Network, the consensus odds have continued to flip back and forth throughout the week, with the Bulldogs being favored by as much as 1.5. As of Friday morning, Minnesota is currently a one-point favorite. Could we be looking at a potential classic on Saturday afternoon?
Realistically, the consistent change in betting odds is pretty standard for a nonconference matchup in Week 2. Mississippi State and Minnesota were both viewed as potential wildcard teams with young quarterbacks heading into the season, and blowout wins in Week 1 didn't tell us much. **** ody really knows who should be favored in Saturday's game. But approaching college football with common sense and reason is boring.
Sep 3, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Anthony Smith (0) and defensive lineman TJ Bush Jr. (3) celebrate during the second half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
With the current total set at over/under 54.5 points, there's a scenario where Minnesota and Mississippi State easily clear that number, and we see a back-and-forth shootout. Both teams made improvements to their defenses in the offseason after rather disappointing 2025 campaigns.
The Gophers made transfer portal splashes with Cal pass rusher TJ Bush Jr. and Michigan State cornerback Aydan West, while the Bulldogs brought in Zach Arnett as their new defensive coordinator. After Mississippi State opened with a 62-13 win over UL Monroe and the Gophers comfortably beat Eastern Illinois 59-7, their new-look defenses will be tested in Week 2.

#state

The U-20 team secured qualification for the 2nd round of the Copa do Brasil on Thursday afternoon (10) by defeating Cuiabá 4-3 in a penalty shootout in a single-leg match held at CT Rei Pelé! In regular time, the game ended 1-1, with a goal by Contreras!
Rodrigo Cézar, Diego Matos, Guilherme Cruz, and Pepê Fermino converted Santos' penalties, while goalkeeper João Pedro came up with a huge save!
Santos opened the scoring just 4 minutes in after a corner kick taken by Vinícius Fabri. Contreras' first header was saved by the goalkeeper, but he got on the rebound and headed it home to put his team in front.
Still in the first half, the Santos side had more chances to extend the lead, but failed to turn them into goals. In the second half, despite Santos still controlling the match, Cuiabá managed to equalize right at the end, taking the fight for qualification to penalties.
In the next round, Santos FC will face Palmeiras in October, with the date still to be confirmed.

#santos #cuiab #contreras #goalkeeper

Worthing have signed Southend United forward Charley Kendall for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old has been at the Shrimpers since late 2024 where he played 55 National League games, scoring 13 goals.
He played a key role in Southend's FA Trophy triumph last season, scoring twice in the semi-final before playing in the final where they beat Wealdstone in a penalty shootout.
"Charley is a real threat with his pace in behind and has that all-important National League experience which we want to keep adding to the group," manager Adam Hinshelwood told the club website.
"His goal record speaks for itself and everyone is excited to have him through the door and see him represent our club."

#league

NASHVILLE – The only thing more chaotic than Broadway in Nashville on Sunday night was Nissan Stadium about five miles away.
What started out as a deeply flawed first-half offensive performance from Louisville ended in a second-half shootout between the Cardinals and No. 10 Ole Miss.
The Cardinals tied the game, 24-24, just before the end of the third quarter, but the Rebels had more firepower. Ole Miss outlasted Louisville, 41-38, Music City Kickoff victory. It's the first season-opening loss in the Jeff Brohm era of Louisville football.
Lincoln Kienholz got off to a rocky start but became the star that the Cardinals needed late in the game. The Ohio State transfer quarterback answered 14 straight Rebels points with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Lawayne McCoy and a 7-yard TD run in a little more than three minutes for a 38-all tie late in the fourth quarter.
But Ole Miss got the ball back with 1:28 remaining in regulation and barely escaped with a 48-yard field goal.

#rebels #first #game

The battle between No. 13 Maryland field hockey and No. 6 Duke was everything fans could've asked for, as the former ACC foes went toe-to-toe on a neutral site for 70 minutes and into a shootout.
Thanks to a late goal from freshman Ella Beach and three consecutive shootout saves from goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko, the Terps stunned the Blue Devils, 3-2, to move to 4-0 on the season.
Duke had the first major chance just three minutes into the match, as Shae Wozniak received a centering pass just on the doorsteps of the goal. The attempt was denied by Klebasko, who dropped into a split and made a kick save with her left blocker.
Once again, penalty corners were a major theme throughout the game. Maryland had a pair of them right off the bat, but Duke set the tone by blocking a pair of hits from Feliz Kuhne.
On the other side, Duke earned a pair of penalty corners two minutes later and broke through on the second attempt. While the Blue Devils botched the initial insert, they quickly recovered and sent another centering pass towards the middle where Ashley Stockdale tipped the ball past Klebasko to put the Blue Devils ahead.

#goal

Sept 3 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that an investigation would determine what caused a dispute between ‌two of Ukraine's security agencies to escalate into a ‌shootout in Kyiv this week that left three members of the Defence Ministry's HUR Military Intelligence Directorate injured.
The dispute centres on the disappearance for nine days of a Russian nationalist activist fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in the 4-1/2-year-old war pitting Moscow against Kyiv.
The nationalist said he ‌was detained by the ⁠SBU Security Service and obliged to sign a confession that he collaborated with Russian intelligence. He later ⁠retracted the statement.
The street clash occurred in central Kyiv on Tuesday after the activist's Kyiv home was searched. SBU officers fired on members of the HUR unit. The SBU has said it was ‌acting to prevent a Moscow-inspired plot to ****** assinate Russian anti-Kremlin activists in Kyiv.
"It is important that the truth come out. And that situations like this do not recur," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

#russian #zelenskiy #dispute #members

How can Palm Beach County high school football possibly follow last week's drama?
Pahokee, Cardinal Newman and Palm Beach Lakes delivered some of the state's best games with victories in Week 2. The Blue Devils defeated Royal Palm Beach on a 75-yard trick-play touchdown, the Crusaders blocked a last-minute extra point to win and the Rams dropped 58 points in a west-coast shootout.
Somehow, we have to turn the page and begin again in Week 3 with a slate that is yet again extremely promising.
Here's a look at Week 3 matchups and scores from around Palm Beach County:
Get discount to stream games on NFHS Network

#lakes

The monster tackle, the unstoppable dash, the curler into the corner: at FC Bayern there are and have been many players with unique abilities, who give us unforgettable moments. Such as Samuel Kuffour, who particularly shone against international stars. The Ghanaian defender made 277 competitive appearances for the German record champions from 1993 to 2005 and won 17 trophies with the club. Today, 3 September, he celebrates his 50th birthday – we wish him all the best.
Effenberg's strength of nerve to make it 1-1, Kahn's epic saves in the penalty shootout – those scenes from our Champions League triumph against Valencia will be remembered forever by many fans. Samuel Kuffour's contribution to the fourth Champions League ***** le might be less prominent. The Ghanaian centre-back didn't provide an iconic moment at the San Siro on 23 May 2001, but his whole performance over the 120 minutes in the Bayern back three is legendary. Like in all the previous knockout matches, he's on the pitch the whole time and intercepts one attack after the other. He closes the opponents down, throws himself into tackles and aerial duels and cuts out countless ***** . Having nullified Manchester United's Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in the quarter-finals, and Raúl and Guti of Real Madrid in the semis, now it's John Carew's turn. The burly, 1.96-metre number nine iss barely in the game in the final. For someone of his relatively modest height of 1.78 metres, "Sammy" looks shoulders above. How does he manage to hold his own so well against the stars of his day? What characterises his defending?
Kuffour never shirks a tackle. He seeks them out, defends proactively on the front foot and puts his body on the line in a way that's rarely been seen in FCB history. Even in training, he was no different. "I hated training against him," reveals Giovane Élber, who played with him at Bayern from 1997 to 2003. Of course, this style of play brings with it a certain risk – he holds the record for the most sending-offs in an FCB shirt (eight). But fans and bosses are happy to forgive him for that. "When someone clatters into players like Sammy, then he can also make mistakes," says Uli Hoeneß. Especially since he always manages to focus in the big games.
A key component of Kuffour's game is his impressive athleticism. He has tremendous acceleration and agility, which allow him to hold his own even against technically superior players. Added to this is his exceptional jumping ability, thanks to which he easily holds his own in the air against opponents like Carew. Unsurprisingly, this also allows him to pose a constant goalscoring threat in attack, especially at set pieces. Six of his ten goals for Bayern were scored with his head. However, this does not apply to his most important goal – the winning goal in the Intercontinental Cup final against Boca Juniors in the 109th minute of extra time in November 2001. He scores that one with his right foot amid a scramble in the penalty area.

Glentoran were the comfortable 3-1 victors over Linfield at the Oval in the first round of the County Antrim Shield, while holders Carrick Rangers exited after being defeated by Crusaders after a penalty shootout.
Jordan Jenkins struck twice inside the opening six minutes to hand the home side a dream start in east Belfast before Charlie Chapman's early second-half strike threatened a Linfield fightback.
The Blues could not find a way back level after Cal Weatherup restored the home side's two-goal advantage.
At Seaview, Jacob Blaney and Owen Wardell gave the Crues a comfortable lead before an impressive final five minutes from the holders forced the tie to be decided on penalties.
However, Declan Caddell's side were the 5-4 victors in the penalty shootout to book their spot in the next round.

#victors #home #side

Lionel Messi said on Monday he was retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.
The 39-year-old forward who won the World Cup in 2022 and dragged his nation to the final in the United States only to lose to Spain, said the decision had been painful.
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time," Messi wrote on Instagram.
"I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt," he added.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory four years ago by winning the final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to a superior Spain side in the 2026 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

#final #gave

Lionel Messi said on Monday he was retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.
The 39-year-old forward who won the World Cup in 2022 and dragged his nation to the final in the United States only to lose to Spain, said the decision had been painful.
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time," Messi wrote on Instagram.
"I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt," he added.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory four years ago by winning the final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to a superior Spain side in the 2026 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

#messi #always #gave #everything

Aston Villa officially confirmed the departure of Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez. The historic Argentine goalkeeper was sold outright to Chelsea, bringing an unforgettable spell in Birmingham to a close as he takes a massive step forward within English football.
The Mar del Plata native arrived at the 'Villans' in 2020 from **** nal and quickly made the goal his own. Through impossible saves and fierce leadership, he became the standout figure of a team that reached the pinnacle by winning the UEFA Europa League last May.
His time at Villa Park was the perfect springboard for his rise with the Argentina National Team. Wearing the albiceleste, Dibu reached the very top: he won two Copa América **** les and the unforgettable World Cup in Qatar 2022, playing a decisive role in penalty shootouts.
Individual recognition soon followed for the No. 1. The Argentine won the Yashin Trophy twice (2023 and 2024) and claimed two FIFA The Best awards, cementing his status as the best goalkeeper on the planet.
From the English club, he was bid farewell with eternal gratitude for his competitive spirit and his indelible mark. Now, Dibu takes on a hugely prestigious challenge at Stamford Bridge, where he will look to make the 'Blues' goal his own.

#goalkeeper

The Green Bay Packers got a pair of late touchdown passes from Kyle McCord to complete a comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals in what turned out to be an epic preseason shootout at Lambeau Field. The two teams combined for 80 points, and the Packers held on for a 42-38 win despite trailing 38-27 with under five minutes to go.
Roster cuts are coming, and the Packers must trim the roster down to 53 players by Sunday afternoon.
Here's who helped their 53-man roster chances on Friday night:
QB Kyle McCord: Will the Packers keep three quarterbacks? McCord has made the decision a difficult one. With the long-term backup situation unsettled, the Packers may not want risk McCord to waivers after three mostly excellent preseason performances, including Friday night's comeback win. His passer rating this preseason was 102.4. McCord tossed four touchdown passes against the Cardinals, including excellent down-the-field throws to J. Michael Sturdivant and Kisean Johnson for scores.
WR J. Michael Sturidvant: He caught six of seven passes, created a two-play solo touchdown drive, had multiple contested catches and finished with 112 receiving yards, the team's first 100-yard receiver during a preseason game since 2011. His immense potential as a receiver was finally giving a chance to shine, and it shone brightly. Kyle McCord had a 158.3 passer rating when targeting Sturdivant on Friday night. On one drive, Sturdivant caught a 36-yard pass to open the drive and then a 29-yard touchdown a play later. He looks close to claiming the seventh receiver spot, if one exists. It's also possible he'll make it if Savion Williams (ankle injury) starts the season on IR.

#kyle #passes

Kai Havertz has laid down the gauntlet to **** nal's rivals by insisting the Premier League champions want "to win everything".
The Gunners ended their 22-year wait for the league **** le last season and started their defence with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Coventry, a week after they saw off Manchester City to take the Community Shield.
Mikel Arteta's side were a penalty shootout away from claiming their first Champions League trophy – succumbing to Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest – but Havertz believes the Gunners have all the ingredients in place to launch an **** ault on the biggest prizes.
"When you have that taste of winning one **** le then you want to do it again, and we have a team that can compete for every **** le possible," said the Germany international in an interview with Sky Sports.
"Last year there was only one, but this year there is a lot more to come and we want to win everything.

#gunners #premier

We're all done with match action from the first month of the new season, a tad earlier than originally planned. Reading's trip to Oxford United, initially set for August 29, was postponed due to a clash with Reading Festival (at time of writing there's no confirmation on when this game will move to).
We have however had five games across all competitions: two in League One, two in the League Cup and one in the Pizza Vase. Reading have recorded one normal-time win (3-0 at Stevenage) as well as two 1-1 draws that preceded shootout triumphs (Bromley, Wycombe Wanderers), a goalless stalemate at AFC Wimbledon and a 3-4 league defeat to Luton Town.
Performances have been somewhat mixed, with the display at Stevenage (6.64/10, going by our Player Ratings) the clear standout. Otherwise, three displays were remarkably similar (Bromley 5.6, Wycombe 5.64, Wimbledon 5.62), while the one against Luton (5.27) was a lot lower.
That all works out to an average of 5.75. For a bit of context, that's higher than the 2025/26 season-wide average of 5.59 and above every month that campaign but one (August 2025, 5.85).
So now it's time to pick a standout. We've narrowed the choice down to a shortlist of three players, and you can vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article.

#stevenage

Nacional-AM beat CSA-AL 3-1 at the Arena da Amazônia in the first leg of the Série D promotion play-offsCredits: Disclosure/Instagram/nacionalfc1913
Nacional-AM moved closer to promotion to Série C by beating CSA-AL 3-1 on Thursday night (27) in the first leg of the Série D promotion play-offs. At the Arena da Amazônia in Manaus, the Leão da Vila Municipal built an advantage that allows them to lose by up to one goal in the second leg of the tie.
All four goals in the match were scored in the first half. Sassá, Renanzinho and Rafa Marcos found the net for the home side, while Matheus pulled one back for the team from Alagoas.
The teams will meet again next Thursday (3) at Rei Pelé in Maceió, at 8 p.m. Brasília time. Playing at home, CSA will have the chance to overturn the defeat. If they win by two goals, the team promoted to the 2027 Série C will be decided in a penalty shootout. If they win by three goals or more, the Alagoas side will secure the spot.
The promotion play-offs offer two spots in Série C. The other tie is between Goiatuba-GO and São José-RS, who drew 0-0 in the first match. The teams from Goiás and Rio Grande do Sul will face each other again next Wednesday (2) at the Divino Garcia Rosa stadium in the city of Goiatuba, Goiás. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. Brasília time.

#first #thursday

Manager Derek McInnes says he take "full responsibility" for Rangers' "embarrassing" Conference League exit at the hands of Jablonec.
Rangers, who held a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of the play-off in Czech Republic, lost 4-3 on penalties on Thursday to crash out of Europe completely.
Derek McInnes' side actually led early in the shootout, only for Findlay Curtis and James Penrice to miss their final two penalties.
It leaves them without European football beyond August for the first time since the 2-1 aggregate defeat by Luxembourg's Progres Niederkorn in the Europa League first qualifying round in 2017.
Rangers out of Europe after wretched penalty defeat in Jablonec

#manager

Arsenal are set to play the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Champions League's first phase this season, as the Gunners aim to bounce back from their final heartbreak.
In May, ***** nal lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain after coming up short in a penalty shootout, meaning their wait for a first trophy in the competition goes on.
As they bid to reach a second consecutive final – and third overall – the reigning Premier League winners will this season take on Real Madrid and their Spanish colleagues Real Betis, as well as German duo Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.
Martin Odegaard (left) and Mikel Merino react to their defeat in the 25/26 Champions League final (Getty)
Furthermore, the north London club will face Italy's Napoli, French side Lille, Czech Republic's Slavia Prague, and Azerbaijani debutants Sabah.

#real #madrid

Chelsea's Carabao Cup campaign begins at Stamford Bridge on Thursday against a Luton Town side still chasing a repeat of their sole major trophy, the 1988 League Cup.
History is firmly against the visitors: Luton have been eliminated in eight of their last nine EFL Cup ties against Premier League opposition, while Chelsea have advanced from 27 of their last 28 EFL Cup ties against sides from outside the top flight, a run stretching back to a penalty-shootout exit to Burnley in November 2008.
Luton head into the match unbeaten across three fixtures this season, coming from behind to beat Reading 4-3 on the opening weekend before a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Notts County and a 3-0 win over Gillingham in the first round. Chelsea, by contrast, are still finding their feet under Xabi Alonso, whose competitive debut brought a 3-2 win at Fulham three days earlier. Thursday offers the new head coach an early look at squad depth before a testing run of fixtures ahead.
Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026Kick-off: 19:30 BSTVenue: Stamford BridgeReferee: Elliot BellLast meeting: Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea, Premier League, 30 December 2023
Jordan Henderson (wrist) and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) remain sidelined, and Wesley Fofana is suspended, serving the second of a two-match ban carried over from a red card against Sunderland last season. Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra both missed the win at Fulham after picking up injuries in training and remain doubts, with Caicedo more likely to return for the weekend. Alonso is expected to make wholesale changes and could hand full debuts to several summer signings.

#premier #fulham

Craven Cottage stages a first-ever competitive meeting between Fulham and AFC Wimbledon on Thursday, with a place in the Carabao Cup third round at stake.
Fulham enter off the back of a narrow 2-3 defeat to Chelsea on the Premier League's opening weekend, Alvaro Arbeloa's first game in charge, while Wimbledon have gone six matches without a win across all competitions and are yet to score in League One this season.
Wimbledon reached this stage only after Callum Maycock's dramatic 97th-minute equaliser forced a penalty shootout against Newport County, which the Dons went on to win. Fulham, whose 146-year history has never produced a major trophy, reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals last season and will see this competition as a realistic route to silverware. Steven Sessegnon, who began his career at Fulham before moving on, could line up for Wimbledon against his former club.
Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026Kick-off: 20:00 BSTVenue: Craven Cottage
Captain Tom Cairney remains sidelined with a knee injury and is not expected back until later in the autumn. Joachim Andersen is available again having served the final match of a three-game suspension against Chelsea, though Arbeloa may still use the tie to rest him. Several substitutes from the Chelsea game, including Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Muniz, Harrison Reed and Shea Charles, are pushing for starts.

#carabao

Everton have been drawn against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the Carabao Cup for the second consecutive year. This came after beating Preston North End in a 4-0 jaunt earlier tonight. Wolves beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 to progress to the clash against the Blues.
Last season the Blues featured a weakened side against bottom dwellers Wolves who were yet to win a game at the time, but then slipped to a 2-0 defeat away from home to exit the tournament they are yet to win.
Carabao Cup Round Three fixtures will take place across two weeks (beginning 7th and 14th September), with fixtures in the Champions League (week beginning 7th September) and Europa League (week beginning 14th September) also scheduled during this period. The additional dates required in the calendar for European competitions are as a result of an increased number of games for the season, the same as last year.
The eight teams competing in European competitions this season will be drawn separately in a pre-draw to keep them apart from the rest of the third round teams tonight. Since UEFA competitions fixtures cannot be rescheduled, additional rules for the third round of the Carabao Cup had been introduced for the draw tonight. Clubs taking part in the Champions League or Europa League cannot be drawn against each other in the Carabao Cup third round.
The Blues have never won this competition in their 141-year history, but have been beaten finalists twice, against Aston Villa in 1977 and to Liverpool in 1984. Their run in the tournament last season lasted until the Third Round when they lost at home to Southampton in a penalty shootout, with newest signing Tyler Dibling a second half substitute in that game.

#league #blues

West Brom is mourning the death of one of its former players after he collapsed on the pitch over the weekend.
Quévin Castro collapsed while playing in a friendly for Real Sport Clube, a club in a lower division of Portuguese football, against Estrela da Amadora on Saturday, Aug. 22. The Lisbon Football ******* ociation and Real Sport Clube announced on social media later that day that the 25-year-old had died.
"We are devastated to learn of the untimely passing of our former player Quevin Castro," West Brom said in a statement on social media with a photo of the midfielder holding the Premier League Cup trophy.
Castro, who is from Portugal, made his debut for West Brom's first team in 2021 during the Carabao Cup match against ******* nal and played in 2022 for the Sky Bet Championship against Swansea City. He scored a goal in West Brom's U23 Premier League Cup victory over Wolverhampton, which was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.
West Brom, which was relegated from the EPL in 2021, paid tribute to Castro during their home match at The Hawthorns on Sunday, Aug. 23 against Burnley. The players wore black armbands and there was a celebration of life where the crowd applauded at the 25th minute to honor his age.

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