England

Tomas Soucek played the hero for West Ham twice on Saturday as he scored the game’s opening goal vs. Crystal Palace and then stepped in to save a ball boy.

While celebrating his goal with the away end at Selhurst Park, the excited West Ham fans tumbled over onto the field as an advertisement board collapsed. One of the Crystal Palace ball boys was then trapped under the board and weight of the fans.

Soucek was quick to respond to get the young man to safety.

Tomas Soucek ball boy moment

BRIGHTON — Brighton & Hove Albion's new manager Fabian Hürzeler said he was proud of his team's never-say-die display after they beat Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday with a winning goal in stoppage time.

Brighton came into their first Premier League home game of the season as the table toppers and almost found themselves 2-1 down before United had their second goal chalked off for offside.

MADRID — Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham sustained a muscle injury during training, the Spanish club said on Friday, and will miss key games for club and country.

The 21-year-old England international, who was a key player last season when Real won the Champions League and LaLiga titles, will be sidelined for several weeks, according to club sources.

Jude Bellingham injury

Chelsea defeated Swiss club Servette FC 2-0 in the Europa Conference League playoffs on Thursday, however a Marc Guiu miss is the big talking point.

The Chelsea youngster was given his first start for the Blues and ended up having a lowlight that will give him nightmares years from now.

In the 51st minute the 18-year-old had the entire goal gaping in front of him after robbing possession from Servette’s goalkeeper. All that was needed was a pass into the goal.

Instead Guiu made a mess of things.

Marc Guiu miss vs. Servette

Mauricio Pochettino is details away from becoming the new U.S. men’s national team coach, with almost every reputable transfer source in the world confirming that Pochettino has agreed to take over the USMNT ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

United States men’s national team and Leeds United forward Brenden Aaronson had himself a day in the EFL Championship opening weekend on Saturday. The American scored a 95th minute equalizer to draw Leeds level at 3-3 with Portsmouth.

Unfortunately for Aaronson he’ll likely remember the game more for the wasted opportunity to win the game that came moments later.

Aaronson was brought on as a substitute in the 72nd minute with the score tied at 2-2. It looked like the opening game would end in disaster for Leeds when Portsmouth scored in the 92nd minute to take the lead.

LONDON — Champions Manchester City beat FA Cup winners Manchester United 7-6 on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday after the traditional season curtain-raiser finished level at 1-1.

United created a host of chances to take the lead and were rewarded when 20-year-old substitute Alejandro Garnacho ran through the City defence to slide the ball into the bottom corner of the net in the 82nd minute.

Hostility hangs in the air for the European preseason as several skirmishes between teams have taken place. A West Brom Mallorca fight happened on Saturday that saw punches thrown.

During the preseason game between the EFL Championship side and LaLiga club a brawl broke out involving Jayson Molumby and Samu Costa.

Mallorca’s Costa brought down Molumby with a hard tackle and the Irish midfielder was furious. The two players confronted each other with Costa giving Molumby a shove.

The West Brom player responded with a right hook to the face.