Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' players celebrate winning the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens clawed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday after beating bottom side Metz 3-0 to relaunch their unexpected title challenge.
Saudi international Saud Abdulhamid drilled in the opening goal late in the first half and Florian Thauvin doubled the lead for Lens immediately after the break.
Amadou Haidara wrapped up the victory on 52 minutes as Lens won for the first time in three matches to relaunch their pursuit of PSG, who lost 3-1 at home to Monaco on Friday.
"There are still a few hills to climb but being within a point of PSG with nine games to go is a good thing in itself," AFP quoted Lens coach Pierre Sage as saying
Metz, who beat Lens earlier in the season, stayed rooted to the foot of the table. They have not won in the league since November, taking only two points from their last 13 matches.
Recently fired coach Franck Haise had a triumphant return to south coast side Nice on Sunday.
Under new coach Claude Puel, Nice continued their slump towards the relegation zone as they were thumped 4-0 at home by Haise's resurgent Rennes, the Brittany club climbing above Lille to fourth.
Lille drew 1-1 with Lorient, while Brest put two goals past Le Havre without reply.
On Saturday, Marseille avenged their midweek French Cup elimination by Toulouse, as Mason Greenwood scored the only goal in a 1-0 league win.
Lyon can reclaim third place from Marseille later on Sunday with a win over Paris FC.
Brazilian national soccer team coach Carlo Ancelotti speaks at a press conference at Granja Comary in Teresopolis, Brazil, 30 May 2026. EPA/Antonio Lacerda
Brazil Boss Confident Neymar Will Recover for World Cup
Brazilian national soccer team coach Carlo Ancelotti speaks at a press conference at Granja Comary in Teresopolis, Brazil, 30 May 2026. EPA/Antonio Lacerda
Brazil's Neymar is recovering well from a calf injury and could even be available for their opening World Cup match next month, coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
Neymar was recalled to the squad this month despite not featuring in Ancelotti's plans during the Italian's year in charge of Brazil.
The Santos forward, who is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 international appearances, was then ruled out of warm-up games against Panama and Egypt by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) due to the calf injury on Thursday.
"Before the squad announcement, we received a report from Santos saying the player had a minor issue, some swelling. We left Santos to deal with that situation until the 27th," Reuters quoted Ancelotti as telling reporters on Saturday ahead of Brazil's meeting with Panama.
"Neymar was called up because, from the coaching staff's point of view, he had to be called up. After the 27th, the CBF took over Neymar's situation, and that's what we've done. We're managing Neymar's recovery. We believe he'll recover as quickly as possible.
"He's working well, and he's in good spirits ... We believe he can be ready for the first World Cup match. If he's not ready for the first match, he'll be ready for the second. So we have absolutely no intention of replacing anyone."
Brazil, looking to win a record-extending sixth World Cup title, will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C of the June 11 to July 19 tournament in North America.
World Cup Co-hosts Mexico Edge Australia in Friendlyhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5278846-world-cup-co-hosts-mexico-edge-australia-friendly
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: Alexis Vega of Mexico controls the ball during the international friendly match between Mexico and Australia at Rose Bowl Stadium on May 30, 2026 in Pasadena, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
World Cup Co-hosts Mexico Edge Australia in Friendly
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - MAY 30: Alexis Vega of Mexico controls the ball during the international friendly match between Mexico and Australia at Rose Bowl Stadium on May 30, 2026 in Pasadena, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
World Cup co-hosts Mexico warmed up with a scrappy 1-0 friendly win over Australia in front of nearly 80,000 El Tri fans at the Rose Bowl outside Los Angeles on Saturday.
Defender Johan Vasquez had the only goal of the encounter, deftly steering in a header from Alexis Vega's corner midway through the first half, AFP reported.
Mexico dominated possession but Australia, playing largely on the counter and generally solid in defense, spurned several good chances to silence the partisan crowd.
The contest took place at the historic venue that hosted the last World Cup final in the United States, in 1994, though the Rose Bowl will not feature in this summer's tournament.
The overwhelming majority of supporters were clad in green for Mexico, which will co-host the 2026 edition along with the US and Canada, with just a smattering of Australian yellow dotted around the cavernous stands.
While Mexico dominated the ball from kick-off, the first decent chance fell to Australia's Jackson Irvine, who snatched at a loose ball from a free kick cross and steered it just wide.
But El Tri began to make their control count. The dangerous Luis Chavez whipped in a diagonal cross to Vega, whose glancing header was instinctively tipped over the crossbar by Mathew Ryan.
Moments later, Mexico scored. The opener came from Vega's outswinging corner, deftly headed down by Vasquez and bouncing in off the inside post, beyond the reach of an outstretched Ryan.
It was poor defending at the set-piece from Australia, who enjoyed a significant height advantage, including the presence of six-foot-six defender Harry Souttar.
The Socceroos had a golden chance to level the game on the cusp of half-time.
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel raced off his line to claim a long ball, but defender Mateo Chavez Garcia ignored the call, instead heading the ball straight into the path of Australia's Mohamed Toure.
The 22-year-old Norwich City striker -- born at a refugee camp in Guinea to Liberian parents, before emigrating as a child to Australia -- had an open goal but somehow steered his lobbed effort wide left.
Australia began the second half far more proactively. Aiden O'Neill had a powerful long-range effort well saved.
Both sides began to make multiple substitutions. Mexico brought on 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who is preparing for his sixth World Cup -- a record he is likely to share with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Australian substitutes Paul Okon-Engstler and Ajdin Hrustic combined for a chance, but Hrustic's shot from just inside the box was well blocked.
Though Australia had greater control in the second half, Mexico thought they had a second goal with a quarter of an hour to go, Jesus Gallardo's shot accidentally steered in by Hrustic.
But the referee had still been spraying the foam line for Australia's defenders to stand behind, and ruled out the effort, to the fury of Mexico's players and boisterous fans.
Mexico will have one more tune-up game, against Serbia on home turf on Thursday, before they open the World Cup on June 11 against South Africa in Mexico City.
Mexico's Group A also contains South Korea and the Czech Republic, while Australia have been drawn with co-hosts USA as well as Paraguay and Türkiye.
Gauff's French Open Title Defense Ends while Osaka's Fashion Show Continues in Parishttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5278842-gauffs-french-open-title-defense-ends-while-osakas-fashion-show-continues-paris
Coco Gauff of the United States during her Women's 3rd round match against Anastasia Potapova of Austria at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
Gauff's French Open Title Defense Ends while Osaka's Fashion Show Continues in Paris
Coco Gauff of the United States during her Women's 3rd round match against Anastasia Potapova of Austria at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
A minor car crash couldn't sidetrack Coco Gauff before she began her French Open title defense.
It took a player who could match the American's court coverage in long baseline rallies to mark the end of the road for Gauff in Paris.
That player was Anastasia Potapova, who produced a 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Gauff in the third round on Saturday.
“She was able to finish the points and I wasn’t,” The Associated Press quoted Gauff as saying. "Just not capitalizing on certain shots."
The match was played before mostly empty stands inside Court Philippe-Chatrier as French fans stayed away to watch the Champions League soccer final.
Gauff’s second Grand Slam title came with a victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the final at Roland Garros a year ago.
Before her opening victory over Taylor Townsend on Tuesday, Gauff was involved in a car accident on the way to the tournament grounds. She wasn't injured, but the car wasn't drivable anymore.
The 30th-ranked Potapova, who was born in Russia but now represents Austria, improved to 3-2 in her career against Gauff. She's having quite a clay season after reaching a final in Linz, Austria, and the semifinals of the Madrid Open as a qualifier.
The fourth-ranked Gauff was coming off a run to the Italian Open final. She was beaten in Rome by Elina Svitolina — another player who can match her on long rallies.
“I lost the same way in Rome as I did here,” Gauff said. “You never want to lose the same way back-to-back times.”
When Gauff shanked a forehand wide on Potapova's first match point, Potapova fell on her back and covered her eyes as she stuck her feet up in the air in celebration. Gauff waved to the crowd and quickly walked off court when it was finished.
“Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much,” Potapova said. “I’ve been fighting for the last point and here I am.”
It wasn’t a matter of mistakes for Gauff — she hit three double-faults to her opponent’s eight and had 46 unforced errors to Potapova’s 56. It was more that Potapova controlled more in the longer rallies and wore Gauff out.
Gauff ran a total of 2,309 meters (yards) to Potapova’s 2,090.
Earlier, Naomi Osaka beat 18-year-old American opponent Iva Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4 after nearly three hours — in her 100th Grand Slam match — to set up a round-of-16 meeting with top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka beat Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5.
Naomi Osaka of Japan prepares for the third round women's singles tennis match against Iva Jovic of the US at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
For her second-straight match, Osaka wore a metallic gold bomber jacket over a sequined gold playing dress during her walk-on. But this time her outfit was offset by a tannish-gold colored train that stretched all the way down to the red clay on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
“It’s a surprise every time,” Osaka said of her fashion choices.
“For me, it would be weirder to wear a normal tennis kit, almost, at this point. It’s the fun of it.
For a long time, I didn’t have fun for a little bit. And you guys know that period of time in my life,” Osaka added, referring to how in 2021 she withdrew from the French Open because of issues with anxiety and depression. “Now I just want things to be fun, and I want to make it exciting for myself.”
Osaka’s outfits are planned a year and a half in advance and require at least four fittings.
“We have so many fittings throughout the year because your weight can fluctuate or the fabric can change a little bit,” she said. “There is a lot of effort that goes into it.”
For the seventh straight day of the tournament, it was hot and humid, with the temperature rising to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). The heat is expected to break for Sunday and the second week.
In men’s action, Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory. Tabilo next meets Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat American opponent Brandon Nakashima 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1).
At No. 4, Auger-Aliassime is the highest-seeded player remaining in the top half of the draw after Jannik Sinner’s defeat two days ago.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo followed up his stunning victory over top-ranked Sinner with another five-set victory, beating Martin Landaluce 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (8) in 5 hours, 58 minutes — the longest French Open match in six years.
Cerundolo will next meet 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who required 5 hours, 13 minutes to defeat Francisco Comesana 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13).
Flavio Cobolli beat Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 and will next meet unsung American Zachary Svajda, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3.
Another American advancing was Frances Tiafoe, who came back to beat Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-2 in his second consecutive five-setter. He next meets Matteo Arnaldi.
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