Ukraine Upset France as England Edge Portugal in Euro U21

Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP
Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP
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Ukraine Upset France as England Edge Portugal in Euro U21

Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP
Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP

Georgiy Sudakov scored twice as Ukraine came from behind on Sunday to upset France 3-1 in Romania in the last quarterfinal at the European under-21 tournament.

Earlier, Anthony Gordon scored the winner as England, who have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, beat Portugal 1-0 in Kutaisi in Georgia to reach the last four, AFP said.

In Cluj Napoca, in Romania, France strolled into the lead after 30 minutes as Bradley Barcola found space in the Ukrainian box and cut the ball back to Rayan Cherki who side-stepped a defender and popped his shot into the net.

Ukraine were ahead by half time, lifted by two moments of inspiration from Chelsea starlet Mykhailo Mudryk.

After 30 minutes, Mudryk sliced through the French defense and into the box where Pierre Kalulu lunged. Mudryk plunged. Sudakov converted the penalty.

Ten minutes later, Mudryk's pinpoint pass from his own half found Sudakov who gave Ukraine the lead.

In the second half, Ukraine, more experienced than the French, intelligently managed their lead.

Mudryk almost provided another spark with a brilliant long pass to Oleksandr Nazarenko who was unable to convert.

Artem Bondarenko did score in 85th minute. By then, Mudryk was off and France were all but out.

Mudryk has struggled since his 100 million euros (£88 million) move to Chelsea but said he was more comfortable with Ukraine, a team full of former Shakhtar Donetsk clubmates.

"When you play with team-mates who are also your friends, you can play in a different way. When the coach puts 100-per-cent faith in you, you can do a lot more," he said.

In the evening's early match, Newcastle striker Gordon finished first time from a cut-back by Morgan Gibbs White of Nottingham Forest after 34 minutes.

"It's what happens when you have top players around you," said Gordon at the press conference.

"You're going to get chances and it's up to me to finish them. I probably should have had one or two more, which I'm a bit gutted about."

England created the best chances in the first half but rode their luck after the break. Portugal besieged the England penalty area for long periods but could come no closer than a header against the bar by center-forward Henrique Araujo of Benfica.

Goalkeeper James Trafford of Manchester City and his defense held out to preserve their perfect tournament record. England have yet to concede a goal in their four matches in the tournament.

Gordon said Portugal's pressure could prove useful for England.

"We haven't had that opportunity to show we've got that side to our game and tonight we got to -– and we definitely proved ourselves in that."

In the semi-final on Wednesday, England will face Israel in Batumi in a rematch of a group game that England won 2-0.

In the other semi-final, Ukraine will face Spain in Bucharest.

By reaching the final four, Ukraine, Spain and Israel have qualified for the football tournament at the 2024 Paris Games. England do not field a separate Olympic football team.



Archie Owen Claims Maiden F4 Victory in Aramco Saudi Arabian Championship Opener

Archie Owen claims Maiden F4 Victory in Aramco Saudi Arabian Championship Opener. (SPA)
Archie Owen claims Maiden F4 Victory in Aramco Saudi Arabian Championship Opener. (SPA)
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Archie Owen Claims Maiden F4 Victory in Aramco Saudi Arabian Championship Opener

Archie Owen claims Maiden F4 Victory in Aramco Saudi Arabian Championship Opener. (SPA)
Archie Owen claims Maiden F4 Victory in Aramco Saudi Arabian Championship Opener. (SPA)

Welsh driver Archie Owen secured his maiden Formula 4 career victory in only his second appearance in the category, winning the first race of the opening round of the 2026 Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the Saudi Press Agency said on Saturday.

Organized by ALTAWKILAT Motorsport under the sporting supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), the FIA-certified championship launched its opening round on Friday.

Following the race, SAMF Acting CEO and Saudi Motorsport Company CEO Mansour Almokbel presented trophies to the podium finishers.

Owen (7.23 Racing) clinched the top spot, followed by British driver Harrison Mackie (iCONNA) in second (+4.232s) and Austrian Marlon Bayer (Wrap & Fly) in third (+4.521s).

The opening day's action commenced with free practice and qualifying sessions ahead of the evening race, alongside the Motor Mania JDM Cup.


He's Here with Me': Japan Cycle Queen Dedicates Gold to Late Brother

Japan's Yumi Kajihara has dedicated her latest Asian Games gold to her brother who died this year. Peter PARKS / AFP
Japan's Yumi Kajihara has dedicated her latest Asian Games gold to her brother who died this year. Peter PARKS / AFP
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He's Here with Me': Japan Cycle Queen Dedicates Gold to Late Brother

Japan's Yumi Kajihara has dedicated her latest Asian Games gold to her brother who died this year. Peter PARKS / AFP
Japan's Yumi Kajihara has dedicated her latest Asian Games gold to her brother who died this year. Peter PARKS / AFP

Japan cycling queen Yumi Kajihara broke down after her latest Asian Games gold as she dedicated victory to her brother who died of cancer this year, saying: "He's here with me".

Kajihara claimed her third consecutive omnium gold at the Izu Velodrome on Friday and dissolved into tears as she talked about how her younger brother Hyogo had helped her cope with some dark moments.

"After I missed a medal at the Paris Olympics (2024) I was really depressed," said the 29-year-old Kajihara, the first woman cyclist from Japan to win an Olympic medal -- omnium silver at the Tokyo Games in the same Izu velodrome, said AFP.

"I hit rock-bottom. And my brother said: 'Why do you look so down? Even though I have cancer, I'm this happy'," she said.

"He was going through an incredibly difficult battle with cancer, alone in a Tokyo hospital.

"It must have been so hard for him but he never once complained. He told me: 'Just being alive means you've already come out ahead'.

"I thought: Yes, he's right.

"It made me realize I needed to be grateful simply to be alive, grateful to those supporting me, and that I needed to enjoy life."

It was Kajihara's fourth Asian Games gold having also won the team pursuit at Hangzhou three years ago.

"Every single day my brother told me to 'enjoy'. I think I've finally begun to understand what it really means," said Kajihara, who also claimed team pursuit silver on Tuesday.

"Whenever I competed here (before) in Izu, he came to watch and stayed with me," she said.

"So today I kept thinking: Maybe he's here at the venue? I'm sure he's here, and I thought about him over and over as I raced.

"I felt as though he was saying to me: 'Enjoy yourself, Yumi, you'll be OK'."


Sabalenka Makes Dominant Start in China Open Title Bid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026.  EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
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Sabalenka Makes Dominant Start in China Open Title Bid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026.  EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES

Aryna Sabalenka sent down 11 aces as she dismissed Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-3 to launch her China Open title charge on Friday in Beijing.

The world number two from Belarus next faces Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32.

Sabalenka groaned over a smattering of unforced errors during the 62-minute match but had the clear edge over Mexico's Zarazua, ranked 94th, breaking to win on the second time of asking.

"I was just trying to stay focused on myself. Tried to stay aggressive on my serve, on the return as well," the 28-year-old said, according to AFP.

"So happy with the game I played today."

Next on center court Novak Djokovic was scheduled to play Chinese world no. 104 Bu Yunchaokete in the second round of the men's 500-level event also taking place.

The 39-year-old Serbian great owns six titles from the China Open and is looking to extend an extraordinary unbeaten streak in Beijing.

Earlier on Friday, Japan's Naomi Osaka wrestled back control to survive her second-round clash with Uzbekistan's Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The four-time Grand Slam champion next plays Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic.

French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame a first-set wobble to beat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0.

Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, a 2025 Beijing finalist, beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1.

Andreeva next faces Uzbekistan's Polina Kudermetova and Noskova will meet Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic in the third round.

In the men's draw, a series of searing forehands from Daniil Medvedev sent qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta home 6-4, 6-2, earning the Russian world number six a second-round meeting with Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.