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In-form Messi Hits Brace as Miami Win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi gives a thumbs-up during the friendly football match between Peru's Alianza Lima and the US' Inter Miami at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Connie FRANCE / AFP)
(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi gives a thumbs-up during the friendly football match between Peru's Alianza Lima and the US' Inter Miami at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Connie FRANCE / AFP)
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In-form Messi Hits Brace as Miami Win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi gives a thumbs-up during the friendly football match between Peru's Alianza Lima and the US' Inter Miami at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Connie FRANCE / AFP)
(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi gives a thumbs-up during the friendly football match between Peru's Alianza Lima and the US' Inter Miami at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Connie FRANCE / AFP)

Lionel Messi scored twice and had a hand in two others as Inter Miami fought back to beat FC Cincinnati 5-3 away in the MLS on Wednesday.

With the World Cup in North America less than a month away, Argentina captain Messi is in excellent form, AFP said.

He has 11 goals in 12 MLS matches this season, Miami's latest victory boosting them into second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a fortuitous rebound off a poor clearance by Matt Miazga.

It was 1-1 at half-time after Kevin Denkey's 41st-minute penalty, then Pavel Bucha scored from close range to put the hosts 2-1 up soon after the break.

Messi struck again in the 55th minute, finishing off a flowing Miami attack with a left-footed shot from a cross by Rodrigo De Paul.

Cincinnati's Brazilian playmaker Evander put the hosts back in front again with a blast from outside the box in the 64th minute, his seventh goal in six matches.

But Messi set up a goal for young fellow Argentine Mateo Silvetti in the 79th minute, with Mexico international German Berterame scoring again for 4-3.

Messi forced the final goal in the 89th minute.

The 38-year-old launched himself at a cross from Silvetti and struck it with his right foot, the ball crashing off the post and deflecting in off goalkeeper Roman Celentano for an own goal.

Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos was full of praise for his side.

"What they did today was brilliant, against a tough team and on a difficult pitch," he said.

"It’s very hard to play here. It’s clear they’re not here to stroll around MLS.

"They're here to play, to give everything, and to show the world that football is played here too."

He added: "We’re leaving very happy.

"We were able to play football at a very high level."

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A Quarter of World Cup Games Risk Searing Heat, Say Scientists

The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the July 19 final of the 2026 World Cup, the largest and most complex edition of the tournament ever staged. AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the July 19 final of the 2026 World Cup, the largest and most complex edition of the tournament ever staged. AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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A Quarter of World Cup Games Risk Searing Heat, Say Scientists

The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the July 19 final of the 2026 World Cup, the largest and most complex edition of the tournament ever staged. AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the July 19 final of the 2026 World Cup, the largest and most complex edition of the tournament ever staged. AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

One in four 2026 World Cup games could take place in very hot conditions as climate change has increased the risk of extreme heat in North America since the US hosted the 1994 tournament, researchers warned Thursday.

Concerns about heat already prompted FIFA to mandate a cooling break during each half of the World Cup matches that will take place between June 11 and July 19 in 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"Players and fans face a much higher risk of grueling heat and humidity at the 2026 World Cup compared to the 1994 tournament on the same continent," World Weather Attribution, a network of climate scientists, said in a statement.

WWA's scientific analysis estimates that 26 of the 104 matches could occur in conditions reaching at least 26C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) -- an index that measures how effectively the human body can cool itself under heat, humidity, sun exposure and wind.

At 26C WBGT, the international footballers' union FIFPRO recommends cooling breaks as heat strain becomes a real risk for players, AFP said.

Of those 26 matches, 17 will be played in stadiums with cooling systems, reducing risks for players and fans.

During the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States, 21 games would have been expected to reach a similar heat threshold, according to WWA.

Five games are expected to be played in conditions of 28C WBGT or higher, a level that FIFPRO says should lead to the delay or postponement of matches until conditions are safer for players and fans.

That risk has nearly doubled compared to the 1994 World Cup.

"It's dangerous for players, but of course there are also the fans who might gather outdoors and they are at even more risk because they will not be taken care of by a lot of medical doctors," said Friederike Otto, WWA co-founder and climate science professor at Imperial College London.

Three of the 16 stadiums -- in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta -- have air conditioning.

But more than a third of the games with a one in 10 chance of exceeding 26C will take place in venues without air conditioning.

The final, which will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has a one in eight chance of seeing 26C WBGT conditions and a 2.7 percent risk of 28C, according to WWA.

"That the World Cup Final itself -- one of the biggest sporting occasions on the planet -- faces a non-insignificant risk of being played in 'cancellation-level' heat should be a wake-up call for FIFA and fans," Otto said.

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Darderi Outlasts Jodar in Late-night Epic to Reach Italian Open Semi-finals

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 13, 2026 Italy's Luciano Darderi reacts during his quarter final match against Spain's Rafael Jodar REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 13, 2026 Italy's Luciano Darderi reacts during his quarter final match against Spain's Rafael Jodar REUTERS/Claudia Greco
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Darderi Outlasts Jodar in Late-night Epic to Reach Italian Open Semi-finals

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 13, 2026 Italy's Luciano Darderi reacts during his quarter final match against Spain's Rafael Jodar REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 13, 2026 Italy's Luciano Darderi reacts during his quarter final match against Spain's Rafael Jodar REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Home favorite Luciano Darderi battled past Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar 7-6(5) 5-7 6-0 in a three-hour epic that stretched into the early hours of Thursday to reach the Italian Open semi-finals and extend the best Masters 1000 run of his career.

Fresh from a statement victory over second seed Alexander Zverev in the previous round, the Italian carried his momentum into a late-night quarter-final on Campo Centrale, where a lively crowd stayed despite rain delays pushing the schedule deep into the evening.

The match was also briefly suspended in the opening set after smoke from fireworks at the neighboring Stadio Olimpico, hosting the Coppa Italia final between Inter Milan and Lazio, drifted across the ⁠Foro Italico.

The haze ⁠reduced visibility and temporarily disrupted the tournament's electronic line-calling system. When play resumed, Darderi recovered from 2-5 down in the tiebreak to snatch the opening set in front of the home fans.

The 18th seed appeared on course for a straightforward finish after racing into a 3-0 lead in the second set, but Jodar responded impressively to level the contest. ⁠The Spaniard saved two match points, held for 5-5, then broke again before serving out the set to force a decider.

The effort appeared to take its toll on 19-year-old Jodar in the third, as he dropped serve twice and Darderi reasserted control to close out the win.

"I think it's the best win of my career because of the crowd and everything here in Rome," Reuters quoted Darderi as saying in his on-court interview.

"First time in the semi-finals, it's a dream to play here. It was difficult because we started around 11, the court was very slow ... ⁠I just kept ⁠fighting and I'm very happy about that."

Darderi will face Casper Ruud in the semi-finals after the Norwegian beat Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-1 1-6 6-2 earlier on Wednesday.

Ruud appeared firmly in control after racing through the opening set before rain suspended the match early in the second for nearly two-and-a-half hours.

The lengthy interruption allowed Khachanov to regroup and swing the momentum, with the Russian levelling the match after striking 11 winners and committing just one unforced error in the second set.

Ruud steadied himself in the third and delighted the crowd by striking a stunning tweener on his way to sealing victory and reaching the semi-finals in Rome for the first time since 2023.

Sports

World Cup Transit Fares to New Jersey Stadium Cut Again After Backlash

General view of the MetLife stadium during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, NJ, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP)
General view of the MetLife stadium during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, NJ, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP)
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World Cup Transit Fares to New Jersey Stadium Cut Again After Backlash

General view of the MetLife stadium during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, NJ, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP)
General view of the MetLife stadium during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, NJ, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP)

Officials have once again lowered the ticket price for trains and buses from New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for World Cup matches, after an outcry over sky-high fare hikes for the tournament.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said late Tuesday that a roundtrip train ticket will now cost $98 -- down from an initially announced $150, but still well above the typical $12.90 fare.

The stadium, home to the NFL's New York Giants and Jets, is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Manhattan.

Sherrill wrote on X that corporate sponsors had helped subsidize the cost, and that no New Jersey taxpayer cash would be used.

Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a 75 percent cut in roundtrip bus prices to MetLife -- from $80 to $20. She added that 20 percent of tickets will be reserved for New Yorkers.

"Hosting the World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Yorkers, and we are making this world class event as affordable and accessible as possible," Hochul said in a statement.

Officials will enlist classic American yellow school buses to help transport fans -- boosting the number of bus seats for fans from 10,000 to 18,000 on five gamedays, including the World Cup final.

For three other matches at MetLife Stadium, there will be 12,000 bus seats available as they occur on school days.

Public transit will be crucial during the World Cup, as parking spaces at the MetLife have been almost entirely cut due to security and space requirements.

The United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico. The tournament kicks off on June 11.