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Messi Creates Both Miami Goals in 2-2 Draw with Atlanta

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, center, is hugged by teammate Casemiro, right, scored a goal off a Messi corner kick in a 2-2 MLS draw with Atlanta. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, center, is hugged by teammate Casemiro, right, scored a goal off a Messi corner kick in a 2-2 MLS draw with Atlanta. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
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Messi Creates Both Miami Goals in 2-2 Draw with Atlanta

Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, center, is hugged by teammate Casemiro, right, scored a goal off a Messi corner kick in a 2-2 MLS draw with Atlanta. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, center, is hugged by teammate Casemiro, right, scored a goal off a Messi corner kick in a 2-2 MLS draw with Atlanta. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

Lionel Messi set up both goals for Inter Miami as the Major League Soccer champions drew 2-2 with Atlanta United on Saturday in the Argentina star's first match since announcing his retirement from international football.

Thunderstorms and lightning delayed the start for 90 minutes, but there were sparks aplenty on the field after with Messi, Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, at the heart of the action.

Miami grabbed the lead in the 32nd minute when Brazil's Casemiro rose to head home Messi's corner, said AFP.

Atlanta equalized three minutes later when former Newcastle forward Miguel Almiron blasted home a low shot.

Former Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Suarez put Miami into the lead with a measured finish on the cusp of half-time after a move down the left started by Messi.

But Swiss striker Breel Embolo struck home an 87th-minute penalty to secure a share of the spoils.

In Toronto, Derrick Etienne scored two minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a dramatic 4-4 draw in a wild eight-goal thriller against Chicago.

Josh Sargent scored a hat-trick for Toronto, but Chicago's Maren Haile-Selassie scored twice before an own goal and Robert Lewandowski's 63rd minute strike put the visitors 4-3 up.

Philadelphia beat Montreal 2-0 as 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan scored in the 75th minute.

It gave the teenager four goals and seven assists this season, the most scoring contributions by a 16-year-old in a season, eclipsing the mark of 10 by Freddy Adu in 2005.

In Orlando, Antoine Griezmann's goal in the 28th minute gave the hosts a 1-0 home victory over San Diego

Guilherme Biro scored in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw for Austin with San Jose.

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Jovic 'Loses Sanity Five Times Over' to Oust Eala and Book Gauff Clash

Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Jovic 'Loses Sanity Five Times Over' to Oust Eala and Book Gauff Clash

Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Iva Jovic of the US in action against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines during the Women's Singles third round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

American teen Iva Jovic outlasted Philippines star Alexandra Eala in an epic three-hour showdown on Saturday to reach the fourth round of the US Open, where fourth seed Coco Gauff awaits.

Jovic, the 14th seed, won five of the last six games for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over 17th-seed Eala after three hours and three minutes.

"That felt like a marathon and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match," Jovic said. "But it's really worth it for this feeling."

Two of the top rising stars of women's tennis made their Arthur Ashe Stadium debut a memorable battle that featured 17 service breaks in 33 games.

Jovic, 18 and Eala, 21, are friends and sometime doubles partners, knowing well each other's skills and style. That helped produce seven service breaks in the first 11 games.

"I'm usually not one that shows that many emotions but this one really meant a lot to me. It's everything to have another match here at the US Open," said Jovic.

That match will be against compatriot Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion.

"I'm going to be more than happy to just bring this fight and this energy and whatever happens I can leave with my head high," Jovic said.

Jovic broke four times to win the first set but was broken three times by left-hander Eala to drop the second.

Eala broke Jovic in the first game of the third set when the American netted a backhand.
"I just tried to take my time in those moments and feel the energy and feel the crowd -- even though they weren't always rooting for me," Jovic said.

Jovic smacked a forehand winner to break Eala in the fourth game and level the set, but the American double-faulted away a break in the fifth.

Jovic broke back to 4-4 with a backhand service return winner and broke again in the last game, smacking a forehand winner to reach match point and taking the victory when Eala netted a forehand.

Jovic, a quarter-finalist at this year's Australian Open, won her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17.

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Rybakina Books US Open Fourth-round Berth, Inches Closer to No. 1

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Rybakina Books US Open Fourth-round Berth, Inches Closer to No. 1

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Second-seeded Elena Rybakina is through to the fourth round of the US Open after a victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Caleb Bowlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

World number two Elena Rybakina avenged her French Open defeat to Yuliia Starodubtseva on Saturday, beating the unseeded Ukrainian 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 to reach the US Open last 16.

The hard-hitting Kazakh, who claimed her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, fell to Starodubtseva in the second round at Roland Garros, a defeat that may have been on her mind as she struggled to find her rhythm in the opening set.

Starodubtseva took full advantage of Rybakina's struggles with her forehand and broke for a 5-4 lead, said AFP.

But Rybakina steadied, breaking back with an angled drop shot to level the set.

She saved a set point in the tiebreaker with one of her 12 aces, and with the first set in hand attacked in the second with confidence.

A double fault from Starodubtseva handed Rybakina a break to open the second and Rybakina maintained the edge to finish the job in just under two hours.

"It was a tough match," Rybakina said. "I feel like it wasn't my best performance, but Yuliia she's a great player. Last time we had a battle, too, and I'm glad I could win in straight sets."

Rybakina now just needs two wins -- to reach the semi-finals -- to be assured of supplanting Aryna Sabalenka atop the world rankings -- even if Sabalenka wins a third straight US Open title.

"Not there yet," she said. "It's still very far. I need to focus on my next match and not think about it."

That next match will be against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who beat Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Sports

Modric Available to Play for Croatia in Nations League

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Portugal v Croatia - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - July 2, 2026 Croatia's Luka Modric acknowledges fans after the match as Croatia are eliminated from the World Cup. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Portugal v Croatia - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - July 2, 2026 Croatia's Luka Modric acknowledges fans after the match as Croatia are eliminated from the World Cup. (Reuters)
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Modric Available to Play for Croatia in Nations League

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Portugal v Croatia - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - July 2, 2026 Croatia's Luka Modric acknowledges fans after the match as Croatia are eliminated from the World Cup. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Portugal v Croatia - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - July 2, 2026 Croatia's Luka Modric acknowledges fans after the match as Croatia are eliminated from the World Cup. (Reuters)

Luka ‌Modric is still available to play for Croatia, the country's soccer association (HNS) said on Saturday, ending speculation that the veteran midfielder would end his international career after this year's World Cup.

Croatia captain Modric, who turns ‌41 on ‌Wednesday, has been ‌playing ⁠for the national ⁠team since 2006, earning over 200 caps and helping them reach the 2018 World Cup final.

"Luka's decision makes me extremely happy, ⁠we are all aware ‌what ‌he brings to Croatia, both on ‌and off the pitch," ‌said Slaven Bilic, who returned for a second spell as Croatia manager after the team ‌exited this year's World Cup in the round ⁠of ⁠32.

Modric, who spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid, joined AC Milan last year.

Croatia will visit the Czech Republic, host England and play Spain twice in the Nations League between September 26 and October 6.