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• Australian downs Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-4 in Stuttgart
• Unranked Kyrgios winds back clock in straight-sets win

Nick Kyrgios has kickstarted his latest comeback with a straight-sets win over world No 36 Corentin Moutet in the first round of the ATP event in Stuttgart.

The Australian, once ranked No 13 in the world, had not played a singles match since appearing at the Brisbane International in January, when he lost in 66 minutes to world No 58 Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Having missed the entire 2024 season, he has won just one singles match since October 2022.

At the Wimbledon warm-up event in Germany on Tuesday, 31-year-old Kyrgios wound back the clock with powerful serves and a smattering of showmanship, with drop shots and tweeners helping to take down Frenchman Moutet 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted less than an hour.

Kygrios said post-match that he was delighted to be back on court after having doubted his continued participation in top-level tennis.

“I had a wrist reconstruction, I’ve had four knee surgeries, so I’m really battling, but at the same time I’ve put in a lot of work, I’m really feeling good about myself,” he said.

“Honestly, there were so many times I was thinking: ‘Why am I playing? What more do I need to do?’ And I look at you guys and this is why I’m playing, so I’ll hang around a little longer.

“I’m pleased with the way I played today, I’m pleased with the way I’m feeling in my body, I’ve been putting in a lot of work so I’m just really happy to be back.”

A previous attempted comeback ended with mixed doubles defeat and the quick exit of the “Special Ks” from the Australian Open, where he and partner Thanasi Kokkinakis went out in the first round to fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.

After that defeat, Kyrgios said he would re-evaluate what his schedule looks like. “I’ve done everything I thought I could do. I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m going to do [going forward].”

His comments led to questions as to whether his time in the sport had come to an end.

Those questions were answered, for now at least, after Kyrgios made a winning return to the world circuit in the build-up to Wimbledon, where he reached the final in 2022. A good showing on the grass in Stuttgart could put him in the frame for a wildcard in London.

“I’m so thrilled to be back, and playing some high-level tennis as well,” he said. “Confident? I don’t know if that is a word I’m feeling quite yet. Obviously, I will see how I feel tomorrow.”

He will next play Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro, ranked 101, on Thursday, after a doubles match with partner Alexander Bublik on Wednesday.

June 10 : England captain Ben Stokes is considering his leadership future following his involvement in a nightclub incident that has prompted an investigation by the country’s cricket board (ECB), according to media reports on Tuesday.

• On Monday, the ECB said Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were under investigation.

• The incident – the details of which have not been disclosed – occurred in the early hours of Monday after England’s victory over New Zealand in the first test at Lord’s.

• On Tuesday, ESPNcricinfo reported Stokes would meet with his advisors on Wednesday to decide on his future.

Stokes was previously involved in a 2017 incident outside a Bristol nightclub that led to an affray charge. He missed the 2017-18 Ashes tour before being cleared the following summer.

• After England’s squad faced scrutiny earlier this year for their behaviour during a 4-1 Ashes series defeat, ECB chief executive Richard Gould said in January that players would be subject to stricter measures, including a midnight curfew.

• The second test of the three-match series against New Zealand begins on June 17 at The Oval.

The United States Women’s National Team secured a gritty 1-0 victory over Brazil on Tuesday night, but the football was almost entirely overshadowed by total anarchy on the pitch. In a highly contentious game, the officiating took center stage as a staggering eight red cards were issued to the home side’s players and coaching staff.

Chaos erupts in Fortaleza as Brazil sees red

What was meant to be a high-level preparation match ahead of Brazil hosting next year’s World Cup descended into pure mayhem at the Arena Castelao. In a stunning display of disciplinary action, Spanish referee Paola Cebollada Lopez sent off four members of the Brazilian coaching staff and four players. The scenes were so volatile that police in riot gear were forced to surround the officials at the final whistle to ensure their safety as tensions boiled over in front of over 55,000 fans.

The disciplinary meltdown began with Brazil head coach Arthur Elias, who was booked for a kit clash before being sent off in the 77th minute for kicking the ball away. The frustration quickly spread to the pitch, drawing in players like Bia Zaneratto, and culminated in stoppage time when defender Tarciane was shown red for elbowing Sophia Wilson. The madness didn’t stop at the final whistle either. Following an explosion of mass confrontation as the teams headed for the tunnels, two more Brazilian players were shown red cards.

Wilson forces breakthrough in ‘ugly’ victory

Despite the physical nature of the match and the numerous cards issued, the USWNT demonstrated a level of resilience that Emma Hayes has sought to instill. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 63rd minute when Wilson’s directness forced the issue. The Portland Thorns striker’s powerful effort took a wicked deflection off Isabela Chagas and was officially ruled an own goal, providing the only scoring of the evening.

Brazil star Angelina slams ‘complete disgrace’

The fallout from the match was immediate, with Brazilian players directing their fury at the officiating team and their American counterparts. Midfielder Angelina did not hold back in her post-match assessment, making serious allegations about the conduct of the USWNT players on the field. The home side felt aggrieved by several decisions they believed went unpunished by the VAR system during the heat of the battle.

Speaking to reporters after the game, via Sportv, Angelina said: “Honestly, what happened here today is a complete disgrace.”

“The fourth official had no idea what’s going on the field, VAR doesn’t work. It apparently doesn’t check anything. One of our players gets stepped on and nobody reviews it. Then there’s a shove here, and the referee suddenly wants to start sending our players off. So it’s really difficult.

“One of USWNT players gave an interview saying it was a really nice atmosphere. But on the field, she was saying we were trash, that we didn’t know how to play football. So it’s a huge lack of respect – both from the refereeing and from their players too.”

Hayes’ tactical gamble pays dividends

For Hayes, the result was a validation of her call for a “tougher” approach following a 2-1 defeat to the same opposition just days prior. Hayes made six changes to her XI, introducing physical presences like Michelle Cooper and Avery Patterson to match Brazil’s style. The manager had warned her squad that they needed to adapt to the unique conditions of South America if they were to be successful at the next World Cup, and her players responded by refusing to back down from the brawl.

The US did not escape the referee’s notebook entirely, with the likes of Rose Lavelle and Claire Hutton picking up tactical cautions as they strayed into gamesmanship to see out the result. However, the former Chelsea boss will be delighted with the mental fortitude shown by her younger stars. The USWNT now enters a significant hiatus from international duty, with their next scheduled fixture not until late November. They leave Brazil knowing they have the grit to win ugly in the most hostile environments imaginable.

After 53 years, AFC Sunderland are back on the international stage. Luke O’Nien will be part of the squad; he is on course to become the club’s record appearance-maker, despite doubts over his ability at this level.

“When you join a club, you can never predict how things will go or how long you’ll stay in one place,” Luke O’Nien told BBC Radio Newcastle. “I think it’s quite rare these days for players to stay at a club as long as I have.”

The 31-year-old is right. Next term will be O’Nien’s ninth at AFC Sunderland, and the Black Cats’ first Europa League campaign since 1967 feels like a modern fairy tale.Sunderland’s return to international football had been absent for 53 years. Having begun the campaign as a well-funded promoted side, the Black Cats leapfrogged several established teams to grab seventh spot on the final day, courtesy of a 2-1 home win over Chelsea FC. O’Nien was central to that success.The defender provided the assist for the second goal, his first in the top flight, having only recently stepped up to this level despite arriving at the club in 2018. Back then, Sunderland were still in the third tier, and O’Nien was far from a star performer.

At the club since 2018: Luke O’Nien is “Mr Sunderland”.

He has now played 329 competitive matches for the club; only two players who passed away before the turn of the millennium are ahead of him in the club’s all-time rankings. O’Nien needs another 23 matches to take the top spot.

Yet the question remains: will he get them? Manager Regis Le Bris handed him only twelve league starts last term, and it was not until early March that he finally captained the side for a full 90-minute Premier League debut. That opportunity arose largely because of injuries to his squad rivals, and he went on to make five additional starts before the season closed.

His first start came in the March clash with Leeds, and he was subsequently named Man of the Match—partly because he performed well, but mainly because he is “Mr Sunderland”, as fans and the club itself have christened him.

Luke O’Nien: “A good role model in all aspects of football”

O’Nien is not a Premier League player; he is a third-tier performer operating at a higher standard. He lacks pace, anticipation and quick decision-making—deficiencies that have been exposed when he plays as a half-back in a back three. Those shortcomings have made him a social-media punchline among English football fans.

Yet his worth to the club is far greater. As the sole survivor of the squad profiled in the acclaimed 2018 documentary “Sunderland ’til I Die,” he now acts as the glue binding players and supporters together. He is the emotional leader every squad needs, a player whose total commitment makes supporters’ hearts race.

For him, that commitment counts for more than any tactical positioning. Finlay Holcroft, a youngster from Sunderland’s U18s, recently said of O’Nien: “I firmly believe that Luke is a good role model in all aspects of football. Whether as a leader or simply when you watch him on the pitch and see how he reads the game, how he talks to the others and helps everyone. Some people don’t see that, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye, especially with Luke.”

Luke O’Nien: Twelve years ago, he was plying his trade in the seventh tier of English football.

When O’Nien was Holcroft’s age, there was no hint he would one day become the player he is today. “The Europa League was never the dream. Not because I didn’t want it, but – to be honest – because I never thought it was possible,” he said recently.

He began at Watford FC, but the club called his father to say there would be no contract and his time there was up. His dad then sent dozens of emails to numerous clubs—and received just one reply. O’Nien subsequently slipped into non-league football with Wealdstone FC in the seventh tier of English football.

That was twelve years ago. Even in 2015, three years before his move to Sunderland, O’Nien was still plying his trade in the sixth tier. He then stepped up two divisions to Wycombe Wanderers. “I will always be indebted to you,” O’Nien wrote about these two clubs after a successful season with Sunderland.

Luke O’Nien is on course to become Sunderland’s all-time appearance record holder.

After three years and 119 competitive matches for Wycombe, he moved to League Two side Sunderland, who had just been relegated from the second tier. There, O’Nien experienced the full range of footballing emotions, beginning with a play-off final defeat to Charlton Athletic at the end of his first season. A year later the club finished eighth—its lowest-ever league position.

The tide turned in 2022, with O’Nien anchoring the side as a regular starter. The club earned promotion to the Championship via a play-off final win over Wycombe, his former employer. They then consolidated in that division before securing a long-awaited return to the Premier League just twelve months ago. He managed just eight minutes of action in the dramatic 2-1 play-off final win over Sheffield United in the fifth minute of stoppage time, yet had already racked up 48 appearances for the club.

While AFC splashed out over €210m to prepare for the Premier League, O’Nien was rewarded with a contract extension until 2027, with an option for a further year.

A senior international debut now seems inevitable, though he acknowledges he must keep improving to make that happen. The same determination drives his bid to become Sunderland’s all-time appearance record holder. “I’ve had some good games, some bad ones and everything in between. I’ve improved since my first game,” he said. “And if I want to reach 350 or more appearances, I need to keep getting better so I don’t stay the same player I am right now.”  

England will have to navigate the play-offs in order to reach the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Ukraine not enough to secure top spot in their qualifying group. The Lionesses went into the game knowing they needed a favour from Iceland against Spain, after La Roja thumped Sarina Wiegman’s side on Friday, and they didn’t get it, rendering their own victory meaningless in the chase for the sole automatic berth available.

It was always a long shot that Spain would slip up but England still needed to go out and get the job done in case the unlikely occurred and they made a fast start in the pursuit of three points, with Jess Carter sending a smart header beyond Ukraine shot-stopper Kateryna Boklach with just 14 minutes on the clock. By that point, though, La Roja had already taken the lead in Iceland through Vicky Lopez, giving the game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium something of a exhibition vibe from the outside.

Still, England put on a good performance as they responded to the disappointment of Friday night, dominating proceedings and not letting their opponents have a sniff of goal. Ukraine were pinned back in their own half for the majority of the game, with Lauren Hemp seeing an effort from the edge of the box well-saved, Maya Le Tissier sending a great chance over the bar and Laura Blindkilde Brown only denied a first senior international goal by a great tackle from Yana Kotyk, before Georgia Stanway made it 2-0.

A superb reverse pass from Keira Walsh carved open the Ukraine defence, finding Alessia Russo’s clever run before the striker in turn picked out Stanway in the box, with her sliding in to finish and move herself further up the Lionesses’ all-time goal-scoring charts. Within seconds, though, Spain had doubled their own lead and they would add another before the break, to send England in at half-time needing a miracle to change the situation.

There would be one great moment for the fans to enjoy before the game was out, as Beth Mead came off the bench to score a brilliant free-kick to make it 3-0 just past the hour. It was a brilliant strike which ended the scoring, as England closed out this stage of World Cup qualifying on a high. Spain’s eventual 6-1 victory in Iceland, however, means the play-offs now beckon for the Lionesses, with Wiegman’s side to find out their opponents in those games later this month.

GOAL rates England’s players from the Hill Dickinson Stadium…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (6/10):

Had one straight-forward save to make in the first half, but that was it. Good on the ball but wasn’t asked to do much.

Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

Got forward well, offered a good outlet in attack and created chances. Really should’ve scored a great opportunity of her own in the first half.

Jess Carter (7/10):

Broke the deadlock with a really smart header. Like the rest of the back line, she wasn’t troubled much in her own half.

Esme Morgan (6/10):

Had very little to do defensively before going off at half time. Solid in possession.

Niamh Charles (7/10):

Was able to do much more attacking than defending and did it well, with some nice work out wide to get good deliveries into the box.

Midfield

Keira Walsh (7/10):

Played a sublime reverse pass in the build-up to the second goal. Helped England dictate the game and play at a good tempo, with them moving the Ukraine defence about plenty to create opportunities.

Georgia Stanway (7/10):

Made a great run to get another goal in an England shirt in an all-round solid display, in and out of possession.

Laura Blindkilde Brown (7/10):

Probably her best game in an England shirt, albeit with her only winning her seventh cap here. Did a lot of good work off the ball to win possession high and moved the ball well when she had it.

Attack

Lauren Hemp (6/10):

Was lively throughout, though not quite as deadly with her final ball as usual.

Alessia Russo (6/10):

Made a great run off the ball before delivering the perfect cross for England’s second, with a couple of other chances created too. Knocked down a mark for failing to really trouble the goalkeeper despite having a fair few efforts at goal herself, though.

Lauren James (7/10):

Everything went through her in the first half. Unlucky to hit the bar and the post with one effort, before delivering a lovely cross for the opening goal. Off at the break.

Attack

Lauren Hemp (6/10):

Was lively throughout, though not quite as deadly with her final ball as usual.

Alessia Russo (6/10):

Made a great run off the ball before delivering the perfect cross for England’s second, with a couple of other chances created too. Knocked down a mark for failing to really trouble the goalkeeper despite having a fair few efforts at goal herself, though.

Lauren James (7/10):

Everything went through her in the first half. Unlucky to hit the bar and the post with one effort, before delivering a lovely cross for the opening goal. Off at the break.

Youssoufa Moukoko is currently a long way from the form he displayed in the youth teams and the DFB squad, yet he still had reason to celebrate in Denmark.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off this week, officially succeeding the 2022 tournament. Just three and a half years ago—though it feels like an eternity—the DFB side exited Qatar at the group stage. Hansi Flick was in charge, pre-tournament debate raged over the rainbow armband, and Japan inflicted a shock defeat. The fallout included an embarrassing documentary for the DFB coach, complete with a ‘grey geese’ motivational video. 

On the positive side, Qatar also saw Germany field its youngest-ever World Cup player, Youssoufa Moukoko. Having just turned 18 and still under contract with Borussia Dortmund, the prodigy came off the bench for a few minutes. For Moukoko, that World Cup appearance, his wonderkid status and the surrounding hype now feel like ancient history. At his current club in Denmark, he at least capped a challenging season with a personal highlight. 

Youssoufa Moukoko secured European qualification for FC Copenhagen on the final day of the season, netting the decisive 2-1 goal against Brøndby in stoppage time with a composed five-metre backheel. Moukoko, normally reticent on social media, proudly shared the moment afterwards. In stoppage time he struck again to seal a 3-1 win and secure Copenhagen’s spot in the Conference League second qualifying round—a quirk of Denmark’s Superliga format that may puzzle German fans. For much of the campaign, though, FCK had floundered, and Moukoko had looked off the pace. The reigning double winners had hoped to build on that success with the €5 million signing—the club’s third-most-expensive ever—but form and results proved elusive. Yet the campaign unravelled: after the main round, the twelve Superliga sides are split into championship and relegation groups, and FCK’s seventh-place finish meant they were relegated to the bottom half for the first time, having won only eight of 22 matches. Moukoko featured in 18 of those matches, though his tally of three goals was very modest for a supposed top signing. 

Youssoufa Moukoko: “I played badly”

“I know that’s not my level,” Moukoko told *kicker* last autumn, even as Danish tabloids had already labelled him a “blatant mis-signing”. Exactly what his level is, however, remains an open question for the striker. 

In his youth, Moukoko tore through BVB’s youth ranks, convincing the Black and Yellows they had a future star. The step up to senior football has been problematic: the speed advantage he once enjoyed has vanished, and his once-reliable finishing instinct now produces far fewer goals than it did against age-group opponents. “My body wasn’t ready for the professional game yet,” Moukoko explained, acknowledging the injuries that repeatedly sidelined him. 

When fit, he was granted only brief cameos, and he could not displace established stars such as Donyell Malen, Sebastien Haller, Karim Adeyemi, Niclas Füllkrug, Maximilian Beier or Serhou Guirassy. A loan move to OGC Nice in 2024/25 was supposed to provide more game time and rebuild his confidence, yet the sporting outcome backfired. 

From early February until the end of the campaign he was completely sidelined, having failed to make any meaningful impact. “I was poor; you have to say that,” he admitted. Surprisingly, though, he drew a very positive conclusion from his year on the Cote d’Azur: “Nice was the best thing that could have happened to me.” He added that he had learned patience and could now judge his performances more honestly. 

Copenhagen miss out on the Champions League: “It’s hell”

It soon became clear that Nice had no intention of signing the BVB loanee on a permanent basis. With no prospects in Dortmund either, Moukoko pushed for a move away. FC Copenhagen may not have been his dream club, but the more modest Superliga level offered Moukoko a chance to rediscover his form, according to FCK’s management. 

When early progress stalled, however, it was not solely Moukoko’s fault; the entire squad underperformed. “This is embarrassing and a black day for us,” admitted Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup as the team slipped into the relegation play-offs. 

“I am deeply ashamed. This is hell,” said Thomas Delaney, another former Dortmund man, putting it even more bluntly. Moukoko, already under fire because of the expectations fuelled by his transfer fee, suddenly delivered.

FCK are in their worst form in 26 years – and yet they’re still in the European Cup.

In the relegation play-offs, the 21-year-old scored six goals in six matches, helping Copenhagen finish top of the table and comfortably avoid relegation. Although finishing seventh in the final table marked FCK’s worst campaign in 26 years, winning the relegation play-offs meant the team still had a chance of European football – thanks to the Superliga format. In the subsequent play-off derby against Brøndby, Moukoko struck twice to secure the victory for his club. 

“I know I’m going to help this team,” Moukoko had vowed back in autumn 2025, and in May he delivered on that promise. He remains under contract with FC Copenhagen until 2030; last winter’s departure rumours are now history, just like his record as the youngest German World Cup player. 

It’s so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just a day away, with the best players on the planet descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We’re set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

Here at GOAL, we like to think we know a thing or two about the beautiful game, and so we’ve asked our team of writers and editors to make their predictions for the tournament. From the Golden Boot and Golden Ball winners to the dark horses and biggest disappointments, we’ve got you covered on what to expect from the the biggest World Cup ever staged.

Today, we asked our UK team to predict how far England will go in the tournament – here’s what they had to say…

‘Conditions will take a heavy toll’

Mark Doyle: The quarter-finals. The draw has once again been incredibly kind to England, who should coast through their group before cruising past whomever they face in the round of 32. Mexico at the Azteca could await in the last 16, but the Three Lions would back themselves to have the quality to see off the co-hosts. By that stage, Thomas Tuchel’s men may well have generated enough momentum and self-belief to go all the way, but I suspect that conditions – perhaps if they are to play their quarter-final in Miami – will eventually take a heavy toll on a group mainly made up of players who ply their trade in the physically punishing Premier League.

‘Pay the price for worrying lack of depth’

Krishan Davis: The World Cup is being billed as another golden opportunity for England to end 60 years of hurt, but I’m anticipating more heartache in North America. They’ll get through the group and the new round of 32, but a potential last-16 tie against Mexico on their home soil at the Azteca is a daunting prospect. Even if they get through that test, then Brazil, Argentina and Spain are likely to lie ahead, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Tuchel’s men fell in any of those ties. There is always a lot of debate around squad selections pre-tournament, but I genuinely think the Three Lions may pay the price for a worrying lack of depth and tournament know-how.

‘Come up short again’

Stephen Darwin: My heart says England will get it done, my head says no chance. The knives are out for Thomas Tuchel after some controversial squad selection calls, and if the Three Lions don’t hit the ground running, he’s quickly going to feel the heat. England rode their luck at the last Euros and I can’t imagine the stars will align again to carry them all the way in the testing conditions of a sweltering North American summer. They should make the last eight, but with many of their key men having had exhausting seasons at club level, it feels like they’re going to come up short again.

‘Quarter-final with Brazil looks extremely difficult’

Amee Ruszkai: England have made a habit of navigating these major tournaments brilliantly in recent years, but the path through to the latter stages is a very tricky one this year. While there has been a lot of talk about the squad, the notable omissions and surprise absentees don’t alter the starting XI much, if at all, and the fact Thomas Tuchel is trying a different approach by specifically looking for impact subs to complement the starters does make sense, especially with it clearly worth trying something different to get this team over the line. Still, a potential quarter-final clash with Brazil looks extremely difficult and is where England’s World Cup dream likely ends.

‘Come unstuck against half-decent opposition’

Chris Burton: Quarter-finals. England will do what England always do – navigate their group with relative ease, put in a couple of uninspiring performances across the early knockout rounds (probably with a penalty shootout thrown in for good measure), before eventually coming unstuck against half-decent opposition. Thomas Tuchel’s squad lacks game-changers that can be introduced off the bench and rescue a match that is getting away from the Three Lions. They will likely find out the hard way what happens when Plan A doesn’t work.

‘Decent run to the final four’

Peter McVitie: A group stage against Croatia, Ghana and Panama may prove a challenge for Thomas Tuchel’s side, but failure to progress would be a true catastrophe for the Three Lions. A first-place finish might set them up for a decent run to the final four at least, where the true strength of a team consisting of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice will be tested.

‘Vibes just seem off’

Tom Maston: Maybe I got too used to the rhythms of a Gareth Southgate-led England tournament, but the vibes just seem off with Thomas Tuchel and the players right now. Despite their flawless qualifying campaign, friendly results against more competitive opponents haven’t been good, and the bulk of the starting line up haven’t played together since November. For all Southgate got pilloried for having his ‘favourites’, Tuchel already seems to have followed a similar path, and it’s to the team’s detriment. This really feels like an underwhelming tournament that ends either with defeat to Mexico in the last 16 – or to Spain in the same round because Croatia pipped England to top spot in the group.

Gilas Pilipinas Youth wasted no time flexing its firepower, dismantling Vietnam, 121-28, to launch its FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers campaign on a rousing start on Wednesday at the Chankapoh Gym in Krabi, Thailand.

The young Filipinos turned the opening game into a one-sided affair from the get go, overwhelming Vietnam with relentless defense and balanced scoring en route to a staggering 93-point victory.

Gilas raced to a commanding 39-11 lead after the first quarter and showed no signs of slowing down, stretching the gap to 68-15 at halftime.

The third period was even more punishing as Gilas held Vietnam scoreless throughout the quarter while pouring in 25 unanswered points to build an insurmountable 93-15 advantage entering the final frame.

With the outcome long decided, Gilas continued to attack and eventually posted its biggest lead of 96 points.

Depth proved to be one of the Philippines’ biggest weapons as all 12 players who saw action found their way into the scoring column, with seven finishing in double figures.

Ethan Aguas led the offensive charge with 19 points and six rebounds, while Joaquin Tovera added 16 markers.

Hans Patagoc contributed 14 points, Andrew Cho chipped in 12, while Louis Razon, Louis Cariño and Patrick Pasinos scored 11 points apiece.

Pampanga’s popular playmaker Kenji “Chog” Morales orchestrated the attack and filled up the stat sheet with five points, five rebounds, 10 assists and seven steals, spearheading a defensive effort that repeatedly turned stops into transition baskets.

The dominant performance immediately boosted the Philippines’ standing in Group A, where it is competing against host Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam in the regional qualifying tournament.

Gilas Youth returns to action against Singapore on Thursday before facing host Thailand on June 12 as it continues its bid for the SEABA title and a berth in the next stage of continental competition.

The Philippine men’s football swept its matches in the Manila Tri-Nation Friendlies, capped by a 5-1 win over Myanmar at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila on Tuesday night.

The result extended the national team’s unbeaten streak to 15 months, dating back to the start of the 2027 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Asian Cup Qualifiers in March 2025.

It also boosted the team’s morale ahead of the ASEAN Championship, also known as the Hyundai Cup, where they will meet Myanmar again on July 28.

The Philippines will also face Laos (Aug. 1), Thailand (Aug. 4) and Malaysia (Aug. 8).

Myanmar’s Than Paing tested Philippine goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard with a composed 1v1 in the 25th minute, while a goal by the same forward was correctly ruled out in the 38th minute due to an offside infringement by passer Mg Mg Lwin.

Midfielder Jeff Tabinas broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time, tapping in at close range after a methodical buildup in the final third, with Andre Leipold providing the assist. It was Tabinas’ sixth for the national team.

Come the second half, the Philippines asserted full control. 

Paul Tabinas doubled the lead in the 54th minute and substitute forward Sebastian Rasmussen struck in the 80th minute off a Scott Woods through-ball.

Myanmar sliced the deficit when Win Naing Tun scored from the center mark reset in the 82nd minute.

The Philippines immediately responded when Andrei Leipold scored in the 89th minute off the break — his third goal in the series; and Rasmussen completed a brace in stoppage time with a similar left-wing transition play to seal the win.

The Philippines opened the friendlies on Wednesday night by powering past Guam, 5-1, marking its return to the Rizal Memorial pitch 18 months after beating Thailand in the 2024 ASEAN Championship.

On Saturday, Myanmar whipped Guam, 6-1.

Team manager Patrick Reichelt underscored the importance of home matches and winning momentum.

“Every game at home is very important — to keep the fans going, to keep our confidence going. And the reality is we haven’t lost in 15 months. That matters,” he said.

The crowd, composed of some 4,500 paying fans, was entertained at halftime by Grimace, one of the mascots of event sponsor McDonald’s.

Through its partnership with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the fast food giant continues to celebrate and support the football community, aligning with its role as an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

PFF president John Anthony Gutierrez hailed the result as an important milestone for the national program.

“Tonight was a historic night for Philippine football. Myanmar has never been easy to beat, and to win by this margin against one of ASEAN’s most competitive sides is something the entire Filipino football community should be proud of,” he said, as quoted by the PFF website.

“The last time we met them, right here at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, we could only manage a draw. Tonight, the team came out with a completely different level of intensity and the result reflects how much this program has grown.”

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the drowning of Ateneo basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.

“The NBI Central Office has been instructed to create a task force to conduct a thorough, comprehensive, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the DOJ said in a statement on Wednesday.

The DOJ said the NBI will determine whether there is sufficient basis to recommend filing charges with the DOJ.

“The DOJ remains committed to ensuring that the facts are fully established and that justice is served,” the statement read.

Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, drowned during a Blue Eagles’ team-building activity.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has formed a multi-stakeholder committee to assist efforts aimed at establishing a comprehensive account of the drowning incident.

The panel will include the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas, University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Commission on Higher Education, and the National Youth Commission.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PSC said the death of the two Ateneo players is a “profound tragedy for Philippine sports and for all who knew and supported them.”