LONDON: Liverpool held their nerve to win the FA Cup for the first time since 2006 after a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Chelsea as the quadruple chasers kept their history bid alive on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side won 6-5 on penalties at Wembley as Greek defender Kostas Tsimikas was the unlikely hero with the decisive kick after Alisson Becker kept out Mason Mount’s effort.
A hard-fought final had finished a 0-0 draw after extra-time, setting the stage for a nerve-jangling shoot-out that featured misses by Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Sadio Mane, whose shot was saved by Edouard Mendy when he had a chance to clinch the trophy.
For the second time this season, Liverpool emerged victorious against Chelsea on penalties, having already beaten them 11-10 following another 0-0 draw in the League Cup final in February.
Liverpool’s triumph keeps them in the hunt to become the first English team to win all four major trophies in a single season.
With two prizes already secured, the Reds will hope for a slip from Premier League leaders Manchester City, who are three points clear of them in the title race with two games left for both teams.
Even if Liverpool are unable to win a second English title in three seasons, they could still cap an astonishing campaign by winning the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris on May 28.
With that ambition in mind, Klopp’s only concern as he danced jubilantly in front of the Liverpool supporters amid a swirling mist of red flare smoke was whether his team will be at full strength against Real.
Liverpool lost Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to injuries that could rule them out of their last two Premier League games next week and will spark fears about their ability to recover in time for the Champions League final.
Liverpool have won both domestic cups in the same season for the first time since 2000-01, with Klopp getting his hands on the famous old trophy for the first time.
For Chelsea, it was a painful third successive FA Cup final defeat after previous losses to Leicester and Arsenal.
Liverpool made a blistering start as they swarmed forward in a blur of swift passes and relentless pressing.
Diaz should have put Liverpool ahead after accelerating onto a sublime pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who caressed the ball through Chelsea’s defense with the outside of his boot.
Diaz’s tame shot was saved by Mendy, but the ball was still rolling toward goal until Trevoh Chalobah scrambled back to hack clear at the last moment.
With Tuchel gesticulating furiously on the touchline, Chelsea dug in and finally turned back the red tide.
Mount led their first serious raid, crossing for Christian Pulisic to clip his shot just wide.
Pulisic carried the fight to Liverpool again moments later, slipping his pass to Alonso, who should have scored but took a poor first touch and scuffed his shot straight at Alisson Becker.
Diogo Jota wasted a golden chance to give Liverpool the lead soon after his introduction as Salah’s replacement, the Portugal forward volleying over from Andrew Robertson’s cross.
Chelsea were on the offensive after the interval and Pulisic’s strike was well saved by Alisson before Alonso’s free-kick cannoned off the bar.
But Klopp’s self-proclaimed “mentality monsters” haven’t come this close to a quadruple without remarkable fortitude.
They wrestled back the momentum and Diaz clipped the outside of the post before Robertson volleyed against the woodwork.
In the spring heat, and with both teams having played at least 60 games in a marathon season, it was no surprise fatigue became a factor in a tame extra period that never looked like producing a winner.
Tuchel had sent on his penalty-saving specialist keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of the League Cup final shoot-out in a move that backfired.
Tuchel stuck with Mendy this time, but the result was still the same.
Klopp admitted Liverpool’s remarkable season would be a disappointment if they only finished with the League Cup, but he no longer has to worry about that.
Liverpool win FA Cup final in shoot-out against Chelsea
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Liverpool win FA Cup final in shoot-out against Chelsea
- Jurgen Klopp's side won 6-5 on penalties at Wembley
- With two prizes already secured, the Reds will hope for a slip from Premier League leaders Manchester City
Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup injury confirmed as ‘hamstring discomfort’
- The 38-year-old Messi’s exit brings a halt to an exceptional run of clean health
- Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has not scored in the Leagues Cup
The 38-year-old Messi’s exit brings a halt to an exceptional run of clean health, the longest since he joined Miami in July 2023.
He had played in every minute of 16 consecutive matches for Miami between MLS regular season and FIFA Club World Cup play before his failure to appear in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game resulted in a one-match suspension against FC Cincinnati a week ago.
He returned Wednesday night for Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atlas and provided two assists – one leading to the game-winner late – in a 2-1 victory.
Neither team scored prior to Messi’s exit Saturday, though Miami’s Telasco Segovia scored shortly thereafter to put Miami in front. Necaxa took a 2-1 lead with the Herons reduced to 10 men when Marcelo Weigandt was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, but Inter Miami rallied for the equalizer in extra time. The Herons then won 5-4 on penalty kicks.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has not scored in the Leagues Cup. But in MLS play, he is tied for the league lead with 18 goals.
Messi’s run of consecutive appearances was in stark contrast to his first two MLS seasons, during which he missed significant portions of regular-season play.
After playing all seven matches of Miami’s run to the 2023 Leagues Cup title, minor ailments limited Messi to just six appearances among Miami’s last 12 regular-season games that year.
He also dealt with multiple issues in 2024, the most pronounced being an extended recovery from a torn leg muscle sustained while playing for Argentina during the 2024 Copa America final that July.
He played in only 19 games in his first full MLS season, but he still scored 20 goals and had 16 assists to earn the league’s 2024 MVP award.
McIntosh eases into 400 medley final, Marchand almost misses out
Summer McIntosh is on track to finish the world championships with a fourth gold medal after being fastest in the 400 meters individual medley heats while Leon Marchand nearly missed the men’s final on the eighth and final day in Singapore on Sunday.
McIntosh cruised to victory in her heat in four minutes and 35.56 seconds for the final later on Sunday, nearly 12 seconds shy of her world record (4:23.65) from Canadian trials in June.
The biggest cheers might have been for 12-year-old Yu Zidi, though, as the Chinese schoolgirl won her heat to qualify third for the final in 4:36.49, less than a second off the personal best (4:35.53) that clinched the national title in May.
Marchand, who took the 200m IM gold after setting a world record in the semifinals, led halfway through his 400 heat but slowed up almost too much in the breaststroke and freestyle legs as he qualified seventh for the final in the evening session.
While nearly three seconds behind Japanese top seed Tomoyuki Matsushita, Olympic champion and world record holder Marchand will be strongly backed to win his third 400 world title.
With American Carson Foster, the Olympic bronze medallist, pulling out of the heats with an ankle injury, the United States did not qualify a swimmer in the final for the first time in over 50 years of world championships.
New Zealand’s defending champion Lewis Clareburt also bombed out of the heats.
The US qualified fastest for the men’s 4x100 medley relay final with Jack Alexy swimming the anchor leg for the Paris Olympic silver medallists.
But Olympic champions China crashed out as the ninth quickest nation along with 11th-ranked Australia.
The US women also qualified fastest in the medley relay in 3:54.49, a second clear of second-ranked Australia, with Germany third fastest.
Eight gold medals will be contested in a packed program in the evening session, with German iron man Florian Wellbrock gunning for the men’s 1,500 freestyle title to boost his bumper haul after sweeping the open water events.
Lithuanian world record holder Ruta Meilutyte will bid for a fourth successive women’s 50 breaststroke world title since returning to the pool from a two-year ban for anti-doping rule violations in 2021.
Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women’s Open
- Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday’s final round
- A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies
PORTHCAWL, Wales: Miyu Yamashita of Japan maintained her lead through three rounds of the AIG Women’s Open despite stumbling to a 2-over par 74 on Saturday at Porthcawl, Wales.
After holding a three-shot lead through the midway point of the tournament, Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday’s final round.
“I think one of the main things is not missing in the wrong spots,” said Yamashita, whose best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2024 Women’s PGA Championship. “Because I’m able to do that, that means I don’t put myself in awkward positions and helps me not make those bogeys which can cost you so much at these championships.”
A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies. Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and was alone in third place at 7 under.
“So honestly I’m not focused on the leader,” Kim said. “I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That’s all.”
A group of four tied for fourth place at 6 under included Japan’s Minami Katsu and Rio Takeda, England’s Charley Hull and American Megan Khang.
Yamashita breezed to a 7-under par 65 in the second round to move into the lead but struggled to find that form Saturday. She was 1 over on the front nine with a bogey and eight pars. She was 1 over again on an eventful back nine that included three bogeys and two birdies.
Yamashita was even par for the round through 13 holes until she recorded a pair of bogey 5s at No. 14 and 16.
“I’ll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round (Sunday),” Yamashita said.
Yamashita and Takeda, who was alone in second place through two rounds, were the only members of the top 10 on the leaderboard to shoot over par Saturday. Takeda, who was Yamashita’s playing partner, also was 2 over.
Katsu had the low round of the day at 7-under 65 to put herself into contention by moving up 31 spots on the leaderboard. She got off to a slow start with a pair of bogeys on the first two holes before going on a red-hot run.
Starting with a birdie 3 at No. 4, Katsu was 9 under over her final 15 holes in a stretch that included an eagle 3 at No. 6.
“Made two bogeys on the first three holes, but after that I was really focused on my swing,” Katsu said. “I just had a really good image of my swing, and I kept that going, and here I am.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda stumbled to a 2-under 74 on Saturday to leave her at even par for the tournament in a tie for 36th place.
England’s Lottie Woad, who turned pro last week then won the Women’s Scottish Open, shot a 1-under 71 and is at 3 under for the weekend to sit in a seven- way tie for 11th place.
Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot a 2-under 70 and was tied for 36th at even par.
Luka Doncic agrees to a contract extension through 2028 with the Lakers, committing to his new team
- Doncic took the next step toward turning his dreams into reality Saturday when he agreed to a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension through 2028 with the Lakers, bypassing a chance at free agency next summer
- Doncic: Being a Laker is an honor, and I wanted to be here
EL SEGUNDO, California:Luka Doncic’s first six months with the Los Angeles Lakers were more than enough to give him a vision of a glittering long-term future with his new team.
He sees championship banners, trophies and team success while living in a cosmopolitan city and playing for a world-famous team.
He envisions his name and number in the rafters alongside every other transcendent great to wear the Lakers’ gold jersey.
So Doncic took the next step toward turning his dreams into reality Saturday when he agreed to a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension through 2028 with the Lakers, bypassing a chance at free agency next summer.
“Being a Laker is an honor, and I wanted to be here,” Doncic said during a news conference under the title banners and retired numbers festooning the gym at the Lakers’ training complex. “When you look up here, so many great names and what they’ve achieved. I want to be up there too one day.”
The deal should keep the 26-year-old Doncic with Los Angeles through 2028 under a player option for the final season, after which he’ll be eligible for a massive five-year extension that could allow him to recoup the max money he lost by getting traded by Dallas. The Slovenian superstar had a player option for the 2026-27 season under his previous contract.
A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed the terms to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Lakers don’t publicly announce the details of contracts.
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Mavericks last February in a seismic trade for Anthony Davis. The five-time All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game last season while teaming up with LeBron James for 50 victories and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Although his debut season in Los Angeles ended with a first-round playoff loss to Minnesota, the high-scoring guard says he greatly enjoyed his first months in Hollywood — enough to commit to the Lakers for the rest of his 20s, and almost certainly beyond.
“It’s an honor playing for this organization,” Doncic said. “Many, many great players played here, so obviously I want to add one more up there. That’s what we’re working for.”
In another sign of his reinvigorated passion, Doncic confirmed that he has been doing extensive summer conditioning and strength work after the Mavericks’ questions about his physical commitment to the sport reportedly played a role in his shocking departure from Dallas.
Doncic looked trim and athletic at his news conference, and he chuckled while saying he’ll “obviously be a little bit faster” next season.
“Just trying to help the team condition-wise,” Doncic said. “Playing a lot of minutes, a lot of games, so I think it’s going to be the best for me.”
Reaching the deal with no drama or delay is also a significant coup for the Lakers, whose future looks even brighter with Doncic under contract less than two months after the Buss family agreed to sell a controlling stake in the franchise to a deep-pocketed group led by Dodgers owner Mark Walter.
Doncic will return this fall alongside James, who will begin his unprecedented 23rd NBA season. While Doncic’s preeminent importance to the Lakers has been obvious from the moment they acquired him, general manager Rob Pelinka on Saturday called Doncic “the centerpiece and the foundation piece” of the Lakers going forward.
James didn’t attend Doncic’s news conference, but Pelinka said the relationship between the Lakers and the top scorer in NBA history is still strong even after James’ agent, Rich Paul, made pointed comments about James’ desire for the Lakers to be a championship contender when James agreed to return this summer.
“All the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp have been positive and supportive,” Pelinka said when asked if he thought the Lakers would be James’ final team. “The dialogue with him has been open and constant. … The No. 1 thing we have to do (with James’ future) is respect him and his family’s decision. We want to respect his opportunity to come up with his timetable on that. If he had a chance to retire as a Laker, that would be great.”
Doncic’s comfort with the Lakers was already obvious in his offseason activity: He played a significant role in Los Angeles’ successful bids to sign Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, helping to persuade the two veterans to team up with him for the upcoming season.
Doncic said he campaigned with both players because he respected them as opponents. Ayton, Smart and several other Lakers showed up in El Segundo to congratulate Doncic on his new deal.
“Honestly, I think we have a great team,” Doncic said. “We have what we need to compete for the championship. I will bring whatever I can bring and try to win every game no matter what. We’ve got some new great guys on the team, so you know we’re going to go for it.”
Canadian teen Mboko stuns top-seeded Gauff in Montreal
- The 18-year-old wild card saved all four break points she faced, and broke reigning French Open champion Gauff three times on the way to a comprehensive victory in just 62 minutes
- Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina outlasted Dayana Yastremska 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to book a quarterfinal clash with Marta Kostyuk
MONTREAL: Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko took down top-seeded American Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday, thrilling the home crowd as she reached the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal.
The 18-year-old wild card saved all four break points she faced, and broke reigning French Open champion Gauff three times on the way to a comprehensive victory in just 62 minutes.
Gauff, who had a combined 37 double faults as she struggled through her first two matches, was caught flat-footed as the Canadian teen raced through the first set in 25 minutes.
Gauff buckled down in the second, but she was unable to convert three break chances in the seventh game — coming up short on a drop shot and smacking a forehand into the net on the first two.
She gained anther chance only to hit a service return long, then flew a volley wide to give Mboko a game point, duly converted when Gauff fired a forehand long.
Down 15-30 in the ninth game, Mboko leveled at 30-30 with a blistering backhand, then closed out the hold for a 5-4 lead.
Serving to stay in the match, Gauff fell in a quick 0-30 hole and double-faulted to give Mboko a match point, on which the American hit a backhand into the net.
Mboko will next play either China’s Zhu Lin or Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Zhu, once ranked as high as No. 31 in the world, has dropped to 493rd after missing the last five months of 2024 and another three months earlier this year with an elbow injury.
In early matches, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina outlasted Dayana Yastremska 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to book a quarterfinal clash with Marta Kostyuk.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion who won her first title in more than a year at Strasbourg in May, was slowed by nine double faults.
But she ultimately had enough to get past Ukraine’s Yastremska — who was coming off a straight-sets victory over eighth-seeded American Emma Navarro.
Yastremska fell behind an early break in the first set, but took advantage of Rybakina’s early serving woes to break back, and broke again to take the opening set in a game that Rybakina had led 40-0.
Rybakina, seeded ninth, bore down after that, breaking Yastremska twice to take the second set.
Another untimely double fault cost her a break in the third, but she broke Yastremska for the second time in the set to take a 6-5 lead and held on to seal it on her fourth match point.
She’ll face another Ukrainian in Kostyuk, who came from behind to beat American McCartney Kessler 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
