As the first half of the season draws to a close, the Zephyr looked to snap a three-game skid without its star forward Ally Cook - who leads the team in goals scored (four) - in a road match against Brooklyn FC at Maimonides Park Saturday - a team that lost 11 straight games, but has clinched all three of its wins at home.
Wales produced a scintillating performance on home soil as they ran out 7-1 winners over North Macedonia in Cardiff on Tuesday. Harry Wilson scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, while David Brooks, Brennan Johnson, Dan James and Nathan Broadhead also found the net as Craig Bellamy's side clinched second spot in Group J. Bellamy's men had already secured their place in the World Cup qualifying play-offs prior to kick-off, but the Dragons were well and truly roaring on a memorable evening in the Welsh capital.
"We really needed that moment of brilliance from Lucho", a relieved Kompany said (as captured by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia). "Of course he could've scored another goal afterwards, but the quality we have in this team is what we need to achieve our goals during the season. 3 goals he's scored this week, that was good for him."
Having failed to win any of their opening four Champions League matches, the pressure was on for the hosts, who fell behind 12 minutes in as Maxi Araujo drilled a pinpoint strike past Michele Di Gregorio. Luciano Spalletti's side grew into the contest, forcing Rui Silva into a pair of superb saves as Dusan Vlahovic first tested him with a close-range header, before bending a shot toward the far corner.
I thought for 20, 30 minutes I would be disappointed if I go home with a point, annd at the end I was pleased we got a point. We missed a good chance to make it 2-0, then we sat back and that gave Sunderland a bit of confidence. We didn't manage the last 15 minutes of the first half very well and we didn't manage the second half well. We did all the things we hoped we would, it was a case of would we score.
Brentford ended Grimsby Town's impressive Carabao Cup run with a 5-0 victory in the fourth round at Blundell Park. The League Two side, who had beaten Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday on their way to reaching this stage, were comprehensively beaten by the Premier League outfit despite a strong start to the game where another upset looked a real possibility. But goals from Mathias Jensen, Keane Lewis-Potter and Reiss Nelson extinguished those hopes, before Fabio Carvalho and Nathan Collins added to their advantage after the break.
"It feels great, to be honest. There's a lot of goals in this shirt. It feels amazing. To be honest, there weren't many shirt numbers available but when 14 was available, it was a big honour. We want to win trophies, that's our desire and that's the most important thing and of course I want to contribute and score goals."
Italy kept alive their faint hopes of qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup as they beat Israel 3-0 despite an underwhelming display in Udine. In front of a paltry crowd of around 9,000 in Udinese's 25,000-capacity Stadio Friuli, Gennaro Gattuso's team found the victory they needed but not a performance to inspire confidence ahead their meeting with group leaders Norway in November. Mateo Retegui scored a brace, the first a penalty in added time at the end of the first half before finally settling his team's nerves with a lovely curling finish in the 74th minute.
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had admitted in advance that he would accept a "s****y" performance and a 1-0 win on a night when victory was the only option, and Ireland eventually delivered - if only just - as they made the most of Tigran Barseghyan's senseless second-half dismissal for a headbutt on Finn Azaz.
