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Nobody was happier that Game 5 of the American League Division Series between the Mariners and Tigers went much longer than anyone could have expected than the Blue Jays.

Toronto awaited the winner of Seattle and Detroit in the AL Championship Series with Game 1 slated for Sunday. As Game 5 at T-Mobile Park went deep into extra innings, both sides had to dig into the depth of their bullpens and even return to their starters from earlier in the series.

Seattle finally finished off the Tigers thanks to a hit from Jorge Polanco that drove in J.P. Crawford in the bottom of the 15th for a 3–2 win in one of the wildest playoff games you'll ever see.

The Tigers used eight pitchers compared to seven for the Mariners in 15 innings of their wacky decisive game that turned into one of the 10 longest games in MLB postseason history. Both teams used three of four starters from the series in Game 5. With bullpens and rotations becoming depleted, the Blue Jays’ social account posted the perfect GIF on the team’s X account as their team watched comfortably at home:

Polanco eventually played hero with a walk-off single with the bases loaded, sending the home crowd in Seattle into a frenzy. With the win, the Mariners advanced to the ALCS for the first time in 24 years.

The Blue Jays eliminated the Yankees in four games to finish their ALDS matchup Wednesday. As a result, Toronto got some extra rest and then some considering the 15-inning marathon that the Mariners had to play to close out their own series.

Seattle will now travel to Toronto for Game 1 of the ALCS Sunday evening. Hopefully Cal Raleigh and Co. can get some rest in between celebrations.

Florida State ended Stanford’s 17-match unbeaten run on Monday, winning its fifth national championship with an 87th-minute winner at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. The No. 3 seed defeated the top-seeded Cardinal in the College Cup final for the second time in three years, adding a third national title in five seasons.

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  What happened

  Stanford entered the final with a nation-best 96 goals, but a lights-out performance from Florida State freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene – who finished with a career-high nine saves – kept the Cardinal at bay. The Seminoles defended nearly flawlessly, surviving 18 shots, nine on target, before Wrianna Hudson seized on a late defensive lapse in the 87th minute.

  Hudson, the team’s leading scorer with 15 goals, delivered the winner with a finish from the top of the six-yard box. With four minutes remaining, Stanford pushed hard for an equalizer, but Florida State managed the closing moments with composure, keeping the game under control until the final whistle.

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  A rematch of 2023

  Florida State beat Stanford 5-1 to win the 2023 NCAA National Championship, though Stanford still leads the all-time series 4-3-0. That meeting marked FSU’s fourth title and second in three years, with four different Seminoles finding the net.

  Entering Monday, Florida State owned four national titles while Stanford had won three. Both returned to the final with different storylines. The Seminoles, ranked No. 3, reached the championship match for the seventh time in the last 11 years. Senior forward Jordynn Dudley, a MAC Hermann Award finalist, arrived with 11 goals and was a constant threat, firing four shots even if she didn’t score the winner.

  Stanford entered as the favorite, averaging a nation-best 4.0 goals per game. The attack was led by Jasmine Aikey, who finished the season with 21 goals.

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  The MVP

  Freshman goalkeeper Kate Ockene had the performance of her life as she was tested throughout the entire match and stepped up on each occasion to keep a high-octane Stanford attack at bay. 

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  The big loser

  Stanford’s back line finally broke in the 87th minute. A corner kick set the sequence in motion, and the Cardinal failed to fully clear the initial delivery, which dropped at the penalty spot. The loose ball eventually fell to Janet Okeke, who played Taylor Suarez down the right. Suarez drove a low cross back into the six-yard area, where Wrianna Hudson arrived unmarked to finish.

  The group had conceded just one goal in its last three matches prior to Monday's loss.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Copa do Mundo de 2014, que ocorreu no Brasil, completa 10 anos nesta quarta-feira (12). Foram investidos mais de R$ 25 bilhões para a realização do evento, sendo R$ 8,3 bilhões destinados às construções e reformas dos estádios, segundo divulgação do Ministério do Esporte na época. Este valor significa R$ 14,2 bilhões, de acordo com correção pela inflação de 2024.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Hoje, a maior parte das 12 arenas são frequentemente utilizadas por clubes, enquanto outras não recebem tantos eventos esportivos. Até 2022, governos estaduais, concessionárias e clubes deviam em torno de R$ 1,5 bilhão pelas obras, segundo publicação originalmente do “Ge”. Confira como está e quanto custou cada estádio da Copa do Mundo de 2014 no Brasil!

*Valores de acordo com a inflação da época

Beira-Rio (Porto Alegre – RS): R$ 330 milhões

Com 27.325 pessoas em média durante o Brasileirão de 2023, o estádio pertence ao Internacional e passou por reforma na época. Hoje, o clube manda seus jogos fora do Rio Grande do Sul, devido à tragédia climática na região, que alagou a arena do Colorado.

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Arena da Baixada (Curitiba – PR): R$ 391,5 milhões

Casa do Athletico-PR, que teve média de público de 22.283 pessoas por jogo no Brasileirão 2023, a Arena da Baixada é o “caldeirão” do Furacão, que está como um dos protagonistas da elite do futebol nacional há anos. O local tem gramado sintético, capacidade para 42.372 e hoje se chama Ligga Arena.

Arena das Dunas (Natal – RN): R$ 400 milhões

O estádio é mais utilizado pelo América-RN, que está na quarta divisão. Apesar da campanha de queda na Série C de 2023, o clube teve uma das melhores médias de público do torneio. A Arena também é utilizada para outros eventos, teve os naming rights vendidos, por R$ 6 milhões, e agora se chama Casa de Apostas Arena das Dunas.

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Arena Castelão (Fortaleza – CE): R$ 518,6 milhões

Reformado, o estádio recebe frequentemente partidas de Fortaleza e Ceará, que carregam altas médias de público e figuram entre os principais torneios nacionais e internacionais. O Laion, por exemplo, teve a sexta melhor média de público no Brasileirão 2023. Um problema do estádio é o gramado, e o Castelão chegou a ser vetado pela Conmebol pela má qualidade do campo

Arena Pernambuco (Recife – PE): R$ 532,6 milhões

Até 2023, a Arena Pernambuco tinha uma das piores médias de público entre as arenas do Mundial de 2014. Sport, Náutico e Santa Cruz, clubes mais populares do estado, têm costume de mandar jogos em seus próprios estádios. O Leão tem usado mais a Arena Pernambuco em 2024, porque a Ilha do Retiro passa por reformas.

Arena Pantanal (Cuiabá – MT): R$ 583 milhões

O Cuiabá, representante do estado na Série A do Brasileirão, utiliza o estádio como sua casa e teve a quinta pior média de público do torneio, com 14.701 pessoas por jogo para uma capacidade de 43.150 lugares. Apesar disso, o patamar de “elefante branco” da Arena Pantanal foi alterado pela ascensão do Dourado.

Arena Amazônia (Manaus – AM): R$ 660,5 milhões

Maior “elefante branco” da Copa do Mundo, a Arena Amazônia se beneficiou da ascensão do Amazonas, que chegou à Série B em 2024 e tem levado número expressivo de torcedores ao estádio.

Arena Fonte Nova (Salvador – BA): R$ 684,4 milhões

Hoje chamado “Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova”, o estádio recebe muitas partidas do Bahia, que está na Série A e tem ótima média de público. O clube foi o quarto que mais levou torcedores para assistirem aos jogos entre todas as equipes do Brasileirão 2023, com 36.461 pessoas de média.

Mineirão (Belo Horizonte – MG): R$ 695 milhões

Antes casa de Cruzeiro e Atlético-MG, hoje o tradicional Mineirão abriga apenas os jogos com mando da Raposa. Isso porque o Galo construiu seu próprio estádio, a Arena MRV. Em 2023, o estádio mineiro teve sua melhor média de público dos últimos 10 anos.

Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro – RJ): R$ 1,05 bilhão

Considerado o estádio mais famoso do país, o Maracanã é administrado pelo consórcio capitaneado por Flamengo e Fluminense, além de receber esporádicos jogos do Vasco. Sediou duas finais de Libertadores e, em 2023, foi o “campeão” de média de público no Brasileirão, pois o Rubro-Negro teve 54.499 torcedores em média frequentando o local. Uma contestação é a preservação do gramado, frequentemente desgastado pelo excesso de partidas.

Arena Corinthians (São Paulo – SP): R$ 1,08 bilhão

Em relação ao futebol, o estádio é um sucesso. Isso porque o Corinthians é dono de uma das três melhores médias de público do Brasil, atrás de São Paulo e Flamengo, que atuam em locais maiores. Porém, a dívida pelo financiamento da arena ultrapassa R$ 700 milhões e é um dos principais problemas para o caixa do clube. Além disso, a Neo Química Arena (nome atual) não recebe tantos eventos de grande porte, como o Allianz Parque — do rival Palmeiras, para se autossustentar.

Toda arrecadação do Corinthians com bilheteria é destinada para o pagamento da dívida. O estádio teve a capacidade reduzida após a Copa do Mundo.

Mané Garrincha (Brasília – DF): R$ 1,403 bilhões

Um dos grandes “elefantes brancos”, o estádio foi o mais caro da Copa do Mundo. Atualmente, costuma receber partidas pontuais de campo neutro, esporádicas vendas de mandos de campo, shows e eventos.

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copa do mundoOriginal

There comes a time when a club must face the thought of one of their superstars leaving. Not in hostile, bitter circumstances, but because age has caught up with them, and it is the right time to close the door on their glittering stay.

Steven Gerrard’s departure from Liverpool a decade ago was very much representative of this, but now, the Anfield side are beginning to understand that Mohamed Salah is likely into his final stretch at the club, having signed a new £400k-per-week contract in April that will take him to the end of next season.

Last year was Salah’s. The Egyptian forward decided one Premier League trophy wasn’t enough and embarked on a record-breaking journey toward his second title with Liverpool, scoring 29 goals and supplying 18 assists across the top-flight term.

The decline since the summer has been steep, and though there are a number of circumstances likely impacting his performance, Salah is 33 years old and claims that he is suffering the inevitability of a late-career wind down are justified.

Liverpool need a new right winger by the end of 2026/27, but they also need more energy and athleticism, with Salah not the only player culpable of lacking those elements this season.

Liverpool ready to search for Salah successor

There’s been a statistic floating about regarding Liverpool’s running metrics, and it’s concerning, to say the least. Only once across Liverpool’s past seven Premier League matches have they outrun their opponent.

Salah has been at the epicentre of this struggle. The veteran winger’s defensive work rate has decreased over the past several years, but his insane levels of prolificness have eased any frustration over this foible.

But now that his sharpened edge has been dulled, it’s becoming clear that Salah is a weak link, ranking among the bottom 4% of Premier League positional peers this season for tackles won and the bottom 15% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

The sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich hasn’t helped things, with the Colombian among the most electric and tenacious forwards out there. Liverpool did not directly replace Diaz, who chalked up 25 goal contributions in all competitions for Arne Slot last year.

But Liverpool could find their new version of the 28-year-old in his Bayern teammate Michael Olise. According to Spanish sources, the France international is in Richard Hughes’ sights as Liverpool plan for the future, and the Reds are even believed to be preparing a British-record package worth €200m (about £177m).

Olise, 23, has been a revelation in Germany since joining from Crystal Palace over a year ago, and FSG know they need to replace Salah with an elite winger when the time does come.

What Olise would offer Liverpool

Since signing for Bayern in a £50m deal, Olise has scored 27 goals and supplied 30 assists across 72 matches. Widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in England, called a “magical footballer” by content creator HLTCO, he has established himself as a superstar.

An elegant and intelligent wide forward, Olise is not a clinical goalscorer, but he boasts so many athletic and technical qualities that could see him thrive as Salah’s successor, especially as he wouldn’t be trying to mimic the club legend’s playing style, rather, bring his own flavour.

In the Bundesliga this season, for example, the Les Bleus talent has averaged 1.9 key passes, 1.7 successful dribbles and 4.2 duels per match, as per Sofascore, with seven goal involvements from just eight starts.

Looking at the potential addition through a wider lens, we can see that Olise is actually outstripping Salah over many important metrics across the past year, and with Liverpool’s talisman seemingly declining in front of goal, that gulf will only stretch over the next 18 months.

Goals scored

0.62

0.38

Assists

0.33

0.50

Shots taken

3.08

3.55

Shot-creating actions

3.96

6.60

Touches (att pen)

8.64

6.48

Pass completion (%)

70.1

80.7

Progressive passes

3.78

7.15

Progressive carries

4.13

4.90

Successful take-ons

1.28

2.53

Ball recoveries

2.77

3.95

Olise is not so much of an out-and-out goalscorer as Salah, but in this, Liverpool could strike the jackpot.

With Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike both signed this summer, Liverpool have revamped their central attacking options. Olise would be the perfect add-on, bringing Diaz-esque dribbling and peerless playmaking back to the Premier League, helping Slot’s side’s overall fluency.

Though the Reds ostensibly have the parts to fashion stunning attacking play and sustain it, there’s no question that something is missing. When Salah leaves, that will only become clearer, with the struggles for form up top now that he is not on his A-game already being felt. For so long, Liverpool have been reliant on the iconic winger’s brilliance, and now they need new solutions.

It was a mistake on FSG and Slot’s part not to have added a direct Diaz replacement to their ranks this season, and the ramifications are certainly being felt, stretched and accentuated by Salah’s own woes on the right.

Were a younger iteration of Salah in this struggling Liverpool side, the sale of Diaz would not be so keenly felt. Now, it’s vital that Liverpool and Hughes get it right in sourcing a replacement.

You won’t find many better than Olise, and he has the perfect style of play to stand in the space that Salah will eventually vacate, not an imitation but his own, world-class player.

Not Wirtz: Slot's own Firmino proved he can end Gakpo's Liverpool stay

One of Liverpool’s star men proved he has what it takes to play in a number of positions under Slot’s wing.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 14, 2025

Leeds United will surely already have one eye on the January transfer window as they desperately try to climb out of their relegation mess in the Premier League.

Indeed, Daniel Farke’s men are only one point shy of dropping into the bottom three positions at this moment in time, with some transfers through the door potentially transformative when it comes to their current dismal fortunes.

After all, the West Yorkshire outfit have splashed the cash with some vigour previously in the Premier League in the frantic January window, having once forked out a jaw-dropping £35.5m on Georginio Rutter mid-way through the 2022/23 season.

Back then, it didn’t save the Whites from the relegation trap door. But, Leeds could well fancy another statement move in this fashion to try and make survival a reality, with Ivan Toney audaciously on their shopping list…

Leeds' interest in Toney

If Leeds are in the hunt for a proven Premier League goalscorer that can put away goals by the bucket-load, Toney will surely be very high up their list.

Before moving to the Middle East with Al-Ahli, the clinical 29-year-old had managed to bag 36 Premier League goals for Brentford from 85 total clashes, leading to Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailing him as “one of the best attacking players” in the entire daunting division.

It’s not the greatest shock to read, therefore, that a raft of top-flight clubs are now interested in pursuing Toney’s signature, owing to the 6-foot-1 marksman wanting to return to English soil to maximise his international opportunities under Thomas Tuchel, ahead of the approaching World Cup next year.

Leeds had been noted as an interested party, alongside the likes of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, but it looks as if the financials involved with the statement deal could stop the Whites dead in their tracks – according to an update from TEAMtalk – with Toney earning a staggering £400k-per-week pay-packet in the Saudi Pro League.

This will be a gutting development, considering Leeds have just three away goals all season long.

But, they could forget all about their Toney heartbreak by finally bumping up a free-flowing goalscorer from the U21 ranks to the first team picture.

Leeds can forget Toney by unleashing "one of England's best prospects"

Instead of forking out millions on both a combined transfer fee and wage costs for Toney, Leeds could finally give one of their own a go in the Premier League.

After all, Leeds have a glittering track record when previously gambling on homegrown prodigies coming good, with both Kalvin Phillips and Archie Gray springing to mind, instantly.

Could Harry Gray be the next notable name who lives up to his Thorp Arch hype?

Already, the U21s goal machine has been labelled as “one of England’s best young prospects” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, alongside being dubbed the “real deal” in front of goal at just 17 years of age by Mattinson.

His goalscoring numbers certainly back up all this wild hype, with a hope that Gray – who has a lethal seven goals from just nine games this season – can soon enter into the Whites’ senior mix and be as equally unerring, with Toney’s failed move pushed to one side comfortably, in the process.

25/26

9

7 + 2

24/25

8

3 + 0

23/24

11

8 + 0

It’s not even the boldest claim in the world to suggest that Gray could make waves in the senior game very shortly, with one senior appearance already under his belt.

Journalist Alan Nixon has suggested, though, that the 17-year-old hotshot will be subject to interest from the likes of Derby County and Hull City in January over a loan move, which would be very beneficial to his future development, much like Toney started to make strides in the senior game himself with a string of EFL loan stints.

Still, at some point in the near future, do not rule out Gray becoming Farke’s leading man in attack, with Leeds’ continued goal-shy performances perhaps seeing the German unleash the teenager into the men’s ranks in the New Year, over chucking him out to the Rams or the Tigers temporarily.

Farke must drop Ampadu to unleash Leeds star who's like Declan Rice

Daniel Farke could boldly drop Ethan Ampadu by unleashing this Leeds United star in a new role.

ByDan Emery Nov 16, 2025

West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo has been dealt another injury blow ahead of their crunch clash with newly-promoted Leeds United on Friday, and one which will force the tactician to play around with his starting eleven yet again.

Nuno slammed after controversial West Ham line-up against Brentford

Nuno faced the wrath of critics after he named what was a bizarre starting eleven to play Brentford on Monday.

The Hammers, who fell to their fourth home league defeat of the season — an all-time club record at this stage of the campaign — deployed Olly Scarles and Kyle Walker-Peters on their opposite sides, with Tomas Soucek and Andy Irving chosen in midfield ahead of the more dynamic Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts.

After Niclas Fullkrug’s thigh injury was confirmed by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, plenty of debate surrounded who would play the striker role against Brentford.

Despite an expectation that Nuno could hand Callum Marshall his first ever Premier League start against Brentford, or play Jarrod Bowen in that role as the England international has done before, West Ham’s boss instead opted for Lucas Paqueta as a makeshift number nine.

The Brazil international was sloppy in possession and often left isolated, with the experiment ultimately failing to pay off.

West Ham legend Tony Cottee was among the critics to blast Nuno’s “awful” team selection after their uninspired 2-0 defeat, but the former Nottingham Forest boss moved to defend his choices.

Now, as per Nuno himself, he’ll have to tinker with the team once more, with defender Konstantinos Mavropanos now joining Fullkrug and George Earthy on the treatment table.

West Ham dealt Mavropanos injury blow with Igor Julio in line for recall

Speaking to reporters before West Ham’s trip to Leeds, Nuno confirmed that Mavropanos will miss their imminent clash.

The Greek international was forced off against Brentford and unable to finish the 90 after coming on as a substitute, and Mavropanos will be absent from West Ham’s matchday squad for the trip to Elland Road as a result.

The 27-year-old’s unavailability means that summer signing Igor Julio, who was left out of the squad entirely to play Brentford, is surely in line for a recall.

According to reports, Julio has been impressing in West Ham training as he fights for a place in Nuno’s starting eleven, and the Hammers hardly have anything to lose by giving him a shot.

Both Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo really struggled to contain Brentford on a night to forget for the pair, with West Ham also conceding more league goals than any other side in the top flight so far.

Described as a strong one-v-one defender with “excellent” technique by members of the press, the Brazilian has also been called an “animal” by former Seagulls coach Inigo Calderón.

Julio hasn’t been given a chance to stake his claim in the squad this term, playing just one league minute so far, but the time could be now as Nuno looks for inspiration from somewhere.

He has been ruled out of keeping wicket in the ongoing Test match, and will bat only if required

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Jul-2025

Rishabh Pant winces in pain after hurting his foot•Getty Images

Rishabh Pant is set to miss the remainder of the Test series against England with the right-foot injury he suffered on the opening day of the fourth Test now confirmed to be a fracture. The BCCI said that Pant will not keep wicket in the rest of the Test and will bat “as per team requirements”.* Dhruv Jurel will keep wicket for India for the rest of the Test.The fracture is understood to be of the metatarsal bone in the right foot. The initial diagnosis is that Pant would need six-to-eight weeks’ rest. Clips captured by fans outside the India team hotel in Manchester showed Pant’s right foot in a moonboot.The injury took place during the second session of play when Pant tried to reverse-sweep a delivery from Chris Woakes, which he ended up inside-edging onto his foot. He was in visible pain, and the affected spot swelled up immediately. Pant had to retire hurt – he was on 37 at the time – and went off the ground on a golf buggy. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Pant underwent scans soon after, which revealed the fracture.Related

The bravery and the outrageousness of Rishabh Pant

The England players, having missed the edge, went up in appeal for lbw, even as Pant reacted to the pain. He survived the lbw shout and the subsequent review, but the swelling and his inability to put any weight on the foot were visible.Pant, India’s wicketkeeper and vice-captain, was taken to the medical facility at the ground first, and captain Shubman Gill went to enquire about his well-being there. Pant was taken to a hospital after that.Liam Dawson, the England spinner, said at the end of the day’s play that he “can’t see him [Pant] playing much more part in this game”. B Sai Sudharsan, who was the non-striker at the time, said later, “Oh, he was in a lot of pain definitely.”This is the second injury he has sustained in as many Test matches, following a blow on his left index finger while keeping in England’s first innings at Lord’s. Jurel had substituted as India’s wicketkeeper for the rest of that Test as well.Pant’s innings of 37 off 48 balls was largely restrained but featured several characteristically outrageous shots, including a slog sweep for four off Jofra Archer, followed by an unsuccessful reverse sweep off the next ball.BCCI are yet to officially confirm Pant’s fracture and name a replacement for Pant for the fifth Test. During the two unofficial Tests between England Lions and India A, which preceded the England series, Ishan Kishan was the second wicketkeeper behind Jurel.*GMT 1100 Updated after the BCCI statement