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Colombia Edges Defending Champion Argentina 2-1 in South American World Cup Qualifiers 

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Colombia v Argentina - Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Colombia - September 10, 2024 Colombia's James Rodríguez celebrates after Yerson Mosquera scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Colombia v Argentina - Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Colombia - September 10, 2024 Colombia's James Rodríguez celebrates after Yerson Mosquera scores their first goal. (Reuters)
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Colombia Edges Defending Champion Argentina 2-1 in South American World Cup Qualifiers 

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Colombia v Argentina - Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Colombia - September 10, 2024 Colombia's James Rodríguez celebrates after Yerson Mosquera scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Colombia v Argentina - Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Colombia - September 10, 2024 Colombia's James Rodríguez celebrates after Yerson Mosquera scores their first goal. (Reuters)

James Rodríguez scored from the penalty spot and had an assist to help Colombia edge defending champion Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday in a South American World Cup qualifier.

The Argentina attack missed Lionel Messi, who was sidelined because of injury for the between the teams since the Copa America final.

Yerson Mosquera opened the scoring in the 25th minute but Argentina equalized in the 48th when Nico Gonzalez capitalized on a defensive blunder from the Colombians. Rodríguez’ 60th-minute penalty, which was awarded after a video review, secured the win at the Metropolitano Stadium.

"It is a great win against an Argentina team that has won it all," Rodríguez said. "The weather was tough, it was so hot, but we had an excellent match. It is a fair win."

World Cup champion Argentina lifted the Copa America trophy after a 1-0 overtime victory over Colombia in July.

Colombia, which hadn't triumphed over Argentina since 2019, is still unbeaten in South American World Cup qualifying.

Also on Tuesday, Bolivia upset Chile 2-1 at Santiago; Ecuador beat Peru 1-0, and Venezuela drew 0-0 with Uruguay.

Paraguay vs. Brazil were still to play.

Argentina leads the round-robin competition with 18 points after eight matches, two points clear of Colombia. Uruguay is in third position with 15 points, followed by Ecuador with 14.

The top six teams in South American qualifying will get automatic spots at the 2026 World Cup.

Colombia once again had the 33-year-old Rodríguez to thank after he gave a perfect cross for Mosquera to nod in and opening the scoring. That equalized Carlos Valderrama's record of 11 assists in South American World Cup qualifying.

A mistake by Rodríguez allowed Argentina to equalize, with Nico González stealing the ball from him and shooting past goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

But Rodríguez made amends when he beat Dibu Martínez, a prolific penalty stopper, and equalized Falcao García's mark of 13 goals in World Cup qualifying.

Argentina's strikers Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez failed to offer as much danger as they do when veteran Messi is there to create opportunities for them.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the heat had an impact on the match.

"The heat is the same for both, but it is evident that there were not good conditions for us to see a spectacle," the coach said.

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Liverpool Boss Slot Encouraged by Mac Allister’s Return to Form 

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
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Liverpool Boss Slot Encouraged by Mac Allister’s Return to Form 

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Alexis Mac Allister is regaining his best form following the attacking midfielder's last-gasp winning goal at Nottingham Forest.

Mac Allister struck deep in added time at the City Ground on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win for the Premier League champions.

The Argentina international sealed victory by pouncing on a loose ball from close range just minutes after he had a goal ruled out by VAR.

"I think what he needed is what he showed in the last six, seven or eight games - a run of games where he's getting back to his usual level that he showed so many times last season," said Slot.

"And he had that level also in the first half of the season but it went a bit with ups and downs, as the team went in terms of performances with ups and downs.

"But I see much more consistency recently -- not only in Macca's performance but in the team performance and many individual performances.

"But I think it's always nice for a player to score, especially if it's in extra time of extra time."

The Dutch boss, whose side are now just outside the Champions League places on goal difference alone following a run of poor results, added: "We needed this goal, we needed that win to be on the right side of things once in a while because we've been so, so unlucky this season.

"And for the first time, at least it felt to me for the first time, we've been a bit lucky this season."

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Wolves, Sunderland Condemn Racist Abuse Directed at Players

22 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Crystal Palace's Chris Richards and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tolu Arokodare battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/dpa
22 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Crystal Palace's Chris Richards and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tolu Arokodare battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/dpa
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Wolves, Sunderland Condemn Racist Abuse Directed at Players

22 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Crystal Palace's Chris Richards and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tolu Arokodare battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/dpa
22 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Crystal Palace's Chris Richards and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tolu Arokodare battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire/dpa

Wolverhampton Wanderers ‌and Sunderland said they were appalled by the racial abuse directed at their players on social media on Sunday following defeats in the Premier League.

Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle both received online abuse, ‌with the ‌incidents coming less than ‌24 ⁠hours after Wesley ⁠Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri were racially abused following Chelsea's draw with Burnley.

Wolves said they were disgusted by the multiple instances of abuse ⁠received by Arokodare following ‌their 1-0 ‌defeat by Crystal Palace.

"We stand ‌firmly alongside him, and alongside ‌all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity," Reuters quoted ‌the club as saying in a statement.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Fulham - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - February 22, 2026 Sunderland's Romaine Mundle reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Sunderland, who lost 3-1 ⁠to ⁠Fulham, said they were working with the authorities to identify those responsible for the messages targeting Mundle.

"The abhorrent behavior displayed by multiple individuals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Club under any circumstances," Sunderland wrote on their website.

Sports

Former Coach Macci Says Serena Williams Certain to Make Comeback

FILE - Serena Williams acknowledges the crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Austrailia, in the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
FILE - Serena Williams acknowledges the crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Austrailia, in the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
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Former Coach Macci Says Serena Williams Certain to Make Comeback

FILE - Serena Williams acknowledges the crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Austrailia, in the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
FILE - Serena Williams acknowledges the crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Austrailia, in the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Serena Williams' former coach Rick Macci ‌believes the 23-times Grand Slam champion is certain to return to competitive tennis and said the 44-year-old is "going all out" in training to get herself ready for a return to the sport.

Williams, who won her last Grand Slam singles title in 2017 and has not competed since the 2022 US Open, can officially enter tournaments after rejoining the tennis anti-doping testing pool last year.

The American has denied that she is preparing to return to the sport she dominated for two decades, ‌but raised eyebrows ‌last month by deflecting questions about a ‌comeback ⁠during an appearance ⁠on NBC's Today Show.

Macci, who previously coached Williams and her sister Venus in the early 1990s, told French publication L'Equipe that he believed she is preparing for a comeback.

"She's training with lots of sparring partners - guys," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"She's also played with Alycia Parks, a good friend of hers in South Florida. ⁠So I have no doubt about it (her comeback). ‌I always thought she would ‌come back from time to time to make appearances with Venus in ‌doubles.

"But we're not just talking about doubles here ... she's ‌going all out. If she didn't think she could compete with the best and win matches, she wouldn't do it. It's 100% certain she'll dive back into competition."

Macci, 71, had no doubts about Williams' ‌ability to handle the rigors of the tour.

"The question is whether that competitive spirit is ⁠still there," ⁠he added. "She's answering that question herself: she's coming back because she is a competitor at heart."

Williams said in August 2022 that she was "evolving away from tennis" and her team has not responded to Reuters requests for comment on her potential comeback.

Macci suggested that Williams could use Indian Wells or the Miami Open to launch her comeback next month.

"It'll be interesting to see how fit she is," he added.

"Making an appearance, playing an exhibition match or a match is one thing. Doing it again the next day and the day after that, and performing well day after day is another."