#match-report

#match-report

We had to show a reaction after the bad game at St. Pauli,

Half of Samoa's squad had to fundraise to be able to attend this Rugby World Cup, with no contracts in place, and some have taken unpaid leave from their jobs to represent their country. England, on the other hand, have been a professional outfit for more than five years and have now swept aside their opponents in 59 of their last 60 matches, that one loss coming in the last World Cup final.

Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal in as many games to hand Real Madrid a half-time lead at Real Oviedo this evening. The Frenchman received Arda Guler's pass, and turned sharply before firing a low drive beyond the dive of home goalkeeper Aaron Escandell. The goal was not without controversy though with Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni crashing into home midfielder Leander Dendoncker with a crunching tackle to win the ball. The Oviedo fans demanded a free-kick but it was not forthcoming.

The shadow of the defending champions, New Zealand, looms over Pool C and on that basis Ireland could not afford to lose. They kicked off their World Cup campaign with a fluent victory, in which every element of their game functioned well on the immaculate Franklin's Gardens pitch. Japan won the previous match between these two, a 29-10 victory in 2022, and had they upset the odds it would hardly have represented their own Miracle of Brighton from the men's World Cup in 2015.

Liverpool secured a 4-2 victory against Bournemouth in their Premier League title defence opener, with late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah sealing the win.

Idan Toklomati tapped in a first-touch shot - off a cross played by Pep Biel - from point-blank range to give Charlotte a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Toklomati has three goals in the last four games.

Brighton demonstrated resilience, coming from behind twice to secure a victory against Premier League champions Liverpool, showcasing their attacking prowess and determination.

Kilkenny controlled the match early, but struggled to secure a decisive lead until late, showcasing a mixed performance against a resilient Wexford team.

West Ham turned the tables at Old Trafford, clinching a surprising 2-0 victory to lift their spirits, while Manchester United struggles continue, now sitting 16th.

Max Arfsten's goal in the 61st minute cements a strong performance from the Columbus Crew, who triumphed over the struggling San Jose Earthquakes in a 2-1 victory.

"Brighton showed incredible resilience to secure a late 3-2 victory against West Ham, highlighting their determination to keep European hopes alive."