The soccer news starts in England’s League One with Lynden Gooch scoring in Sunderland’s 5-0 home shutout of Tranmere Rovers. Duncan Watmore opened the scoring in the 24th minute with Christopher Maguire doubling the lead in the 26th. Gooch made it 3-0 in the 39th with Will Grigg scoring in the 83rd. Luke O’Nien finished off the goals in the 90th minute. Gooch subbed out in the 54th.
“We have got players with quality, but we have just got to make sure we make it difficult for the opposition,” Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson said. We have got to make sure we get the opposition back four running back to their own goal instead of playing in front of teams. I thought we got that balance right against Tranmere and there were some big performances.”
In the Championship, Geoff Cameron’s QPR drew 2-2 with Matt Miazga’s Reading at Loftus Road. Nahki Wells scored for QPR in the 29th minute with George Puscas equalizing in the 31st. Jordan Hugill returned the QPR lead in the 58th with Sam Baldock equalizing in the 74th. Miazga saw yellow in stoppage time.
Cameron Carter-Vickers subbed out in the 27th minute in Stoke City’s 1-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday. The goal came in the 43rd minute. Carter-Vickers was the second injury substitution of the night, with Stoke eventually running out of subs and having to play a man down.
“In the end it’s just a long ball and an error which has undone us,” Stoke City manager Nathan Jones said. “Apart from that there wasn’t much in the game. Second half we’ve had a really great chance through Lee (Gregory) and the keeper has pulled off a great save because to be fair Lee did very well. We should have also had a penalty. There’s a lot gone against us tonight in terms of injuries, a big error, a refereeing decision but sometimes that’s how things go in football.”
In the Champions League, Ethan Horvath was on the bench for Club Brugge’s 5-0 home loss to PSG in Group A. Mauro Icardi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe had a hat-trick in the PSG win.
“We didn’t keep to what we said before the game when they scored their first goal, and we just handed them that second goal,” Club Brugge coach Philippe Clement said. “But we did combine well at times. Unfortunately what was missing was a good control or the correct kick. Keep in mind that this is still a young outfit, with many playing at this level for the first time. I’m particularly proud that we are here altogether. You can take them on playing with ten in defense, but you can just as well concede three or four. And that doesn’t teach you anything.”
Ventura Alvarado wasn’t in the squad for Necaxa’s 2-1 loss at Rubio Rubin’s Dorados in the group stage of the Copa MX. Necaxa went up in the 11th minute from an Eduardo Herrera penalty. Dorados equalized in the 34th and scored in the 54th.
Also in the soccer news, The San Jose Earthquakes announced that MLS all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski will remain with the club in 2020. “I’m very excited to be back for one more year,” Wondolowski said in a press statement. “Knowing how much fun it is in the locker room, the team unity that we have and where this team is going, I wanted to be a part of it. I love this game. I love going out to practice. We’re a family. Even right now, it’s nice to have a couple days off, but I’m ready to get started again. When I do decide to step away from the game, my goal is to remain a part of the Earthquakes organization and help the team any way I can.”
World Soccer Talk’s Christopher Harris has the TV ratings for the MLS playoffs. The Guardian’s Graham Ruthven looks at NYCFC’s ballpark problem. Inter Miami has new details for its proposed Freedom Park stadium. ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle has MLS commissioner Don Garber talking about the timeline for Miami’s stadium.
The Daily Mail’s Oli Gamp reports that the Eredivisie and Belgian Pro League may be merging as soon as next season. The Independent’s Richard Jolly on how Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is using Raheem Sterling.
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