Porto’s Gonzalez Hands MVP Award to Ball Boy Who Started Winning Goal Move

 FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Porto’s Gonzalez Hands MVP Award to Ball Boy Who Started Winning Goal Move

 FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)

Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who assisted in the winning goal during Sunday's 2-1 home win over Braga in the Portuguese league, gave his MVP award to the ball boy whose quick supply started the move that led to the goal.

The ball boy's quick throw to Martim Fernandes helped the defender find Gonzalez with a prompt throw-in. Gonzalez played a one-two with forward Pepe before sending it through to the box, with Pepe's right-footed shot going past the keeper near the far post.

The 59th-minute goal restored the hosts' lead, ensuring second-placed Porto's seventh win in eight league matches as they trail defending champions Sporting by three points.

Gonzalez handed the ball boy his MVP award after the match.

"We got another three points today thanks to him too. He'll get the tribute he deserves," Porto head coach Vitor Bruno told reporters.

"These boys are very important. It's also necessary for those who are on the sidelines and don't directly interact with the game to realize how they can help, even from the sidelines."

Porto, who held Manchester United 3-3 in the Europa League last week, will visit Sintrense in a Portuguese Cup match on Oct. 20.



Penrith Panthers Beat Melbourne Storm to Win Fourth Consecutive Premiership

Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
TT

Penrith Panthers Beat Melbourne Storm to Win Fourth Consecutive Premiership

Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
Nathan Cleary, left, and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers pose for a photograph following the National Rugby League grand final between the Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Brisbane, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Ivan won a NRL grand final for the first time after two previous defeats as a coach and his son Nathan was named the player-of-the match as the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs 14-12 in the championship match at Brisbane. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

The Penrith Panthers claimed their fourth straight premiership with a 14-6 win over the Melbourne Storm in Australia's National Rugby League grand final on Sunday.

Penrith dominated possession and territory throughout the match but needed a late try to center Paul Alamoti to see off a resilient Melbourne outfit, which had finished the regulation season as the top-ranked team, The AP reported.

The latest triumph makes them just the third team to win four consecutive premierships in the competition's 116-year history, and the first since the St. George Dragons won 11 in a row from 1956 and 1966.

Melbourne scored the first try of the match through hooker Harry Grant, but Penrith responded with two tries — to Sunia Turuva and man-of-the-match Liam Martin — to take a 10-6 lead at half time.

Alamoti's try late in the second period, which came from a kick from star halfback Nathan Cleary, sealed the victory in front of 80,000 fans at Sydney's Olympic stadium.