Wednesday, 20 May 2026
FIVE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT THE F1 CANADA GP
Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Here are some of the key storylines to keep track of
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| Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images |
Three weeks on from the events in Miami, the Canadian Grand Prix marks Formula 1's second North American visit at one of its most unique and quietly beloved venues. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve may not offer a high-octane combination of fast corners, but with its unpredictable weather, long straights and the punishing proximity of its many walls, the race on the picturesque Ile Notre-Dame has delivered more than its fair share of classics.
For the first time in its history, Montreal will also host a sprint weekend, and rain appears to be on the horizon, too. With all that in mind, here are five things to look out for in Montreal.
Will Russell strike back as Montreal's defending winner?
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| Getty Images |
The current Formula 1 championship picture is arguably misrepresenting the battle between the dominant Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. They occupy the top two positions with Antonelli on 100 points, 20 clear of his more experienced team-mate after three consecutive victories in Shanghai, Suzuka and Miami.
Antonelli is the only driver with a podium at every grand prix this season, having finished second at the Melbourne opener to Russell, who has since taken second, fourth and fourth again. So looking on paper, Antonelli has been the better driver and is rightfully the bookies’ favourite for the title heading into Canada this weekend - but this writer wholeheartedly disagrees.
That’s because Miami is a bogey track for Russell, who struggles with its low-grip nature and it was even witnessed last year. In 2025, when the Briton was significantly better than his rookie team-mate, he was still outqualified for both the Miami sprint and grand prix so Russell getting beat last time out was no surprise.
Fans should therefore expect the 28-year-old to come back fighting in Canada and for two reasons: a, he won from pole in 2025 and, b, Miami was the first time this year Antonelli held the upper hand throughout after Russell was hit by ill fortune in Shanghai and Suzuka.
So, in this writer’s mind, nothing has really changed since pre-season and surely last year taught us that title fights constantly ebb and flow…
- Ed Hardy
Will Mercedes restore its dominance as upgrades hit Canada?
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| Getty Images |
That´s, of course, if Mercedes gets its own way in Canada as it has done at the majority of 2025's races so far. In Miami, McLaren took a big bite out of the Brackley squad's lead thanks to the first of a two-pronged upgrade package - with reigning world champion Lando Norris winning the sprint event from pole.
Meanwhile, Mercedes kept the vast majority of its novelties back for Montreal, which has made Antonelli's convincing pole-to-flag win during the Miami grand prix somewhat ominous.
Both teams are now bringing a suite of upgrades to Canada, with McLaren teasing "new components across the floor, chassis, front and rear wings, bodywork, halo and roll hoop." According to our information, it's still a significant package though not quite as massive as its Miami update. Mercedes hasn't shown its hand yet, but expect the Silver Arrows to be strong at a circuit Russell drove its predecessor to victory last year from pole.
Can Alpine continue to lead the midfield?
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| TWJB Photography |
Alpine had already shown in China and Japan that it has the pace to lead the midfield fight this season, but in Miami it appeared to hold an almost surprising advantage over its direct rivals.
The team comfortably placed both cars inside the top 10 in both qualifying sessions, while Franco Colapinto finished seventh in the grand prix, 20 seconds clear of the next midfield runner. Pierre Gasly’s true potential, meanwhile, remained unclear after his race ended upside down on the opening laps after being tagged by Liam Lawson.
What is certain is that Alpine’s standout weekend in Miami coincided with the introduction of a significant upgrade package – with more developments expected in Montreal – while rivals such as Haas are set to roll out major updates of their own over the Canadian weekend.
That poses an intriguing question heading into round five. During a season where teams are unlocking performance at a rapid rate under this year’s major regulation overhaul, there is no guarantee Alpine can sustain this performance level. If it does in Canada, the Enstone-based outfit could begin to establish itself as the enduring midfield benchmark.
- Federico Faturos
Will Canada be more of the same for Aston Martin?
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| Getty Images |
It was probably a surprise when, in Miami - after a month without racing - Aston Martin was the only team that didn’t submit updates in the document the FIA releases before each grand prix. The team and its engine supplier, Honda, focused on eliminating vibrations caused by the power unit and improving driveability. And while they seem to have put the vibrations behind them, another problem with the gearbox became more evident, and ultimately the result was similar, with Aston seemingly only able to spar with newcomer Cadillac.
Fernando Alonso dashed any optimism in front of the media when he all but confirmed his team's fortunes would remain unchanged for at least another couple of months, and that he does not expect major progress until after the summer.
Now, Aston and Honda have continued working on improving the car’s stability and gaining experience on the test bench in Japan, Canada can be a first opportunity to at least focus on squeezing more performance out of its flawed package, which would already be a step forward. Can the stop-start, traction-heavy Gilles Villeneuve circuit work in the team's favour?
It remains to be seen whether the team will introduce changes on the aerodynamic side or if its upgrade sheet will once again be completely blank. If that's the case, we’ll have to see if the progress in terms of deployment and driveability is enough to start seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, or if Canada is more of the same for Aston Martin, Alonso and local driver Lance Stroll.
Will the weather spring a surprise?
2026 will mark the earliest Canadian Grand Prix in Formula 1 history, taking place on 24 May – as opposed to the previous ‘record’ of 2 June in 1991. Spring can be quite chilly in that part of the world, but the forecast is looking decent for this weekend, with 15C to 19C (59F to 66F) expected for the grand prix’s competitive sessions.
It should be mostly dry, too – with an important caveat: rain is forecast on Sunday, which might spice things up and provide a first picture of wet-weather racing with 2026-spec machinery. For the record, only one of the last 10 Montreal races took place on a wet track – the 2024 round, won by Max Verstappen.
Regardless, the freezing (figuratively speaking) cold of the very first grand prix at Ile Notre-Dame, with 5C (41F) on 8 October 1978, won’t be an issue this weekend. It will get pretty close to this temperature in some mornings, but the track action is scheduled late enough in the day.
- Ben Vinel
SOUTHAMPTON EXPELLED FROM EFL PLAYOFF FINAL AFTER SPYING
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| Southampton were on Tuesday expelled from the Championship play-off final after admitting to spying on a training session of semi-final opponents Middlesbrough. |
Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoffs after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton in the two-legged semi-final, have been re-instated and will now face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world's richest football match.
Promotion to the Premier League is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons. Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season. They have also been deducted four points for the start of next season in England's second tier.
"An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training," the EFL said.
"Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The effect of today's order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kickoff time to be confirmed."
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that "parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on May 20. "Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday's fixture," the statement said.
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton's expulsion after having a training session filmed ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The club said it welcomed the decision. "We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct," Middlesbrough said in a statement. "As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday."
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
- REUTERS/LONDON
NIGERIA/MADAGASCAR: AFCON 2027 QUALIFIERS - SUPER EAGLES TO FACE MADAGASCAR, TANZANIA, G-BISSAU
Nigeria's quest to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations received a major boost yesterday after the Super Eagles were drawn against familiar foes Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in the qualifying series for the continental tournament.
The draw ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo, Egypt, where the continent's national teams discovered their opponents for the qualification campaign.
The Nigeria national football team, now under the guidance of head coach Éric Chelle, were placed among the seeded teams for the draw following their strong standing in African football rankings. Their seeded status ensured they avoided several of the continent's traditional heavyweights in the preliminary phase.
On paper, the group appears favourable for the three-time African champions, with many Nigerian football observers expecting the Super Eagles to secure qualification without major difficulty. However, the draw also presents potentially tricky encounters against opponents capable of causing surprises.
Guinea-Bissau, in particular, has become a familiar foe for Nigeria in recent years. The West Africans have faced the Super Eagles in previous AFCON qualifying campaigns and earned a reputation as a disciplined and difficult side to break down.
Tanzania, one of the co-hosts of the 2027 tournament, will also be eager to impress despite already being assured of participation in the finals as hosts. Their growing football profile and home support could make them dangerous opponents during the qualifiers.
Madagascar, meanwhile, remain one of African football's unpredictable sides. The island nation stunned the continent during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt when they reached the quarter-finals in their maiden appearance at the tournament, defeating more fancied teams along the way.
Only the top two teams from the group will qualify automatically for the 2027 AFCON finals, increasing the importance of every fixture in the round-robin campaign.
The qualification series will be played across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays one and two are scheduled to hold between September 21 and October 6, 2026, while matchdays three and four will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026.
The final round of fixtures, comprising matchdays five and six, will be played between March 22 and 30, 2027, bringing the qualification race to a close.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations itself will make history as the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by three countries -- Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
For Nigeria, the objective remains clear: qualify convincingly and mount a serious challenge for a fourth AFCON title after falling short in recent editions. With a squad packed with established internationals and emerging talents, expectations will be high for the Super Eagles to dominate the group and head to East Africa as one of the favourites for the continental crown.
- Affa Acho
2026 ANTRIM GAA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW MADE
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| Dunloy's Seaan Elliot and Gerard McCann of Erin's Own Cargin ©INPHO/Bryan Keane |
The draws for this year’s Antrim adult football and hurling championships have taken place.
Dunloy, who ended an 89-year wait for SFC success last year, have been drawn in the same group as O’Donovan Rossa, Glenravel and Tír nan Óg, while senior hurling kingpins St John’s can look forward to games against Loughgiel Shamrocks, O'Donovan Rossa and Ballycastle in their group.
The draw is as follows:
SFC
Group 1 - Dunloy, Rossa, Glenravel, Tír na nÓg
Group 2 - Creggan Kickhams, St John's, All Saints, St Paul's
Group 3 - Cargin, St Brigid's, St Galls, Moneyglass
Group 4 - Portglenone, Lamh Dhearg, Aghagallon, Sarsfields
IFC
Group 1 - Gort na Mona, St Agnes', Aldergrove, St Teresa's, Davitts
Group 2 - St Comgall's, Ahoghill, Glenavy, St Enda's
JFC
Group 1 - St Malachy's, Rasharkin, Laochra Loch Lao, Pearses
Group 2 - Éire Og, St Brigid's Cloughmills, O'Donnells, Ardoyne Kickhams
SHC
Group 1 - Loughgiel Shamrocks, St John's, Rossa, Ballycastle
Group 2 - Cushendall, Dunloy, Glenariff Oisin, St Enda's
IHC
Group 1 - Rasharkin, St Galls, Creggan Kickhams, St Brigid's, Carey Faughs
Group 2 - St Paul's, Tír na nÓg, Glenarm, Cushendun, Clooney Gaels, Glenrave
LADY CHEVRONS RETURN HOME
THE Zimbabwe senior women’s cricket team returned to Harare yesterday morning following their tour of Pakistan and will take a week-long break before regrouping for a high-performance camp in Bulawayo.
The camp, held at the high-performance centre run by Zimbabwe Cricket in Bulawayo, will bring together senior national team players and selected prospects from the high-performance programme.
Technical director Steve Mangongo confirmed the programme will begin in a week.
“Training starts in a week,” Mangongo told NewsDay Sport.
The break allows the squad time to recover from the demanding tour of Pakistan before resuming intensive training.
The Bulawayo camp is expected to focus on fitness, skills development and tactical work in a centralised environment aimed at raising standards across the national women’s cricket pathway.
It will also allow emerging players to train alongside established internationals as Zimbabwe continues efforts to strengthen its talent pipeline.
The move is part of Zimbabwe Cricket’s broader strategy to consolidate high-performance programmes outside Harare and expand opportunities for players across the country.
- AUSTIN KARONGA
BANGLADESH BEAT PAKISTAN BY 78 RUNS TO CLINCH HISTORIC TEST SERIES WIN
Taijul Islam’s six-for helps Bangladesh bowl out the visitors for 328 in their first home series win over Pakistan.
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| Bangladesh's Taijul Islam was their leading wicket-taker in the second Test against Pakistan [Munir uz Zaman/AFP] |
Bangladesh have sealed a historic home Test series win over Pakistan after handing the visitors a 78-run defeat in their second Test in Sylhet.
Spinner Taijul Islam took six wickets to lead the spirited home side’s series win on the fifth day of the match on Wednesday.
Pakistan, who started the day on 316-7 while chasing a record 437, were bowled out for 328 in the first session after Mohammad Rizwan hit a valiant 94.
It was Bangladesh’s first Test series win at home against Pakistan and their second successive sweep after their 2-0 triumph on Pakistani soil in 2024.
Wicketkeeper Rizwan kept Pakistan in the hunt for an unlikely win with a 166-ball stay after the visitors had slumped to 162-5 on day four.
Rizwan put on an eighth-wicket partnership of 54 with overnight partner Sajid Khan, who made 28.
Taijul broke through to dismiss Sajid for his 18th Test five-wicket haul, and Shoriful Islam had Rizwan caught in the next over to end Pakistan’s resistance.
Taijul took the final wicket of Khurram Shahzad to return figures of 6-120 and trigger Bangladesh celebrations.
The left-arm spinner also took 3-67 during Pakistan’s first-innings 232.
Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das scored 126 in their first-innings 278.
Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 137 in the second to guide Bangladesh to 390, with contributions from Mahmudul Hasan Joy (52) and Litton (69).
Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, won the opening Test by 104 runs.
- AFP
LIV GOLF FOCUSED ON LONG TERM DUNDING SOLITION AMID OF POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCY PLAN
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| Anthony Kim, Dustin Johnson, Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry of 4Aces GC during day four of LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club on May 10, 2026. Getty Images via AFP |
TORONTO – LIV Golf said on May 19 that it remains focused on securing a transaction that positions the organisation for the long-term, in response to a report that said the rebel circuit has begun laying the groundwork for a potential US bankruptcy filing as a last resort if it fails to raise new funds.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has spent more than US$5 billion on LIV Golf since it launched in 2022, said in April that investing in the league no longer fit with its investment strategy.
The PIF’s decision to cut LIV Golf’s funding at the close of the 2026 season has now left the breakaway circuit scrambling for new backers and raises questions about the future of its big-name players on lucrative contracts.
A Bloomberg News report earlier on May 19 said that LIV Golf is weighing options, including seeking new investors, but it is also bracing for the league’s possible collapse after the season ends in August.
When asked about the report, a LIV Golf spokesperson declined to confirm it, saying only that the league remains focused on building a sustainable future and is exploring multiple paths.
“Leadership is focused on identifying the right long-term strategic partners who believe in our mission to grow the game of golf worldwide,” the spokesperson told Reuters.
“These conversations are just getting under way, and as they progress, the company expects to gain further clarity around the structure and timing of a potential transaction.”
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil, speaking to reporters two weeks ago in his first press conference since the PIF announced that it was pulling its funding, said he had heard from plenty of potential investors.
“It was a split between private equity, family office and then your traditional like high net worth – you probably know who they are, the guys who invest in sports and sports teams. So that’s been really positive,” he said.
“It’s still early. We haven’t gotten to market yet. We haven’t finalized our business plan. We’re still picking and prodding. We have a good sense at this point... we know where we’re going, and we’re just going to tighten the screws.”
He also said earlier this week he is seeking as much as US$250 million in investment capital beyond this year, according to an Axios report.
According to the report, LIV Golf is letting it be known to prospective investors that an infusion of US$250 million will make the league profitable within two years.
LIV has previously said it posted a 100 per cent increase in revenue year-on-year this season and was convinced that the team golf model would be highly attractive to investors.
Through big-money contracts and lucrative purses, LIV managed to lure a number of golf’s biggest names from the PGA Tour, including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed.
LIV Golf launched in 2022 with the backing of the PIF and critics have decried it as a vehicle for the country to attempt to improve its reputation in the face of criticism of its human rights record, which the Saudi government denies.
- REUTERS
STEPHEN A. SMITH SAYS JALEN BRUNSON 'SHOULD.BE ARRESTED' AFTER GAME 1
Stephen A. Smith reacted strongly to Jalen Brunson's dominant finish in the New York Knicks comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After Brunson scored 38 points and led New York back from a 22-point deficit, Smith said the Knicks star "should be arrested" for the way he attacked James Harden late in the game
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| Credit Getty Images/Scanpix |
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith had a strong reaction to Jalen Brunson performance after the New York Knicks pulled off a stunning comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks erased a 22-point deficit and defeated Cleveland 115-104 in overtime at Madison Square Garden after finishing regulation on a huge 18-1 run.
Following the game, Stephen A. Smith praised Brunson for taking over in crunch time and attacking Cleveland star James Harden possession after possession.
"Jalen Brunson goes ballistic and literally should be arrested for the assault that he put on James Harden," he said on ESPN's SportsCenter. "Just abused him at every single turn, annihilated him, kept going by him, scored like five or six straight baskets."
Brunson once again delivered in a big playoff moment for New York. The All-Star guard finished with 38 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals while playing 46 minutes.
The Knicks struggled for most of the night and trailed by 22 points with under eight minutes left in regulation. However, Brunson sparked the comeback with aggressive drives, tough mid-range shots and clutch baskets late in the fourth quarter.
After forcing overtime, New York stayed in control and outscored Cleveland 14-3 in the extra period to take a 1-0 series lead.
Brunson shot 15-of-29 from the field and looked unstoppable down the stretch as the Knicks completed one of the biggest comebacks in recent NBA playoff history.
Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
- BasketballNews
FASTEST TO 50 SIXES, 500 RUNS: SOORYAVANSHI SHATTERS MORE IPL RECORDS IN RR-LSG MATCH
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's record-breaking knock helped RR earn a seven-wicket win, propelling them to 14 points, a win away from sealing qualification.
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| IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi broke a heap of runs and sixes records during the RR vs LSG match. (CREIMAS) |
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking spree continued its charge towards otherworldly territory as the 15-year-old produced a match-winning innings that kept Rajasthan Royals’ playoffs hunt alive on Tuesday. Featuring in a daunting 221-run chase against the Lucknow Super Giants, Sooryavanshi spearheaded the charge with a spell-binding assault of 93 runs in 38 balls, laced with 10 sixes and seven fours.
The knock helped RR earn a seven-wicket win, propelling them to 14 points, a win away from sealing qualification. Sooryavanshi’s six-hitting fest also elevated him to rare territory as a slew of records tumbled down.
Here’s a look at all the records broken by Sooryavanshi in the RR vs LSG match
Fastest to 500 runs in a season
Sooryavanshi, who leads the Orange Cap charts, became the fastest to clock 500 runs in an IPL season, in only 220 balls.
Youngest to reach 500
The southpaw also became the youngest batter ever to hit 500 runs in a T20 tournament, eclipsing Devdutt Padikkal who scored 580 runs in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at 19. Sooryavanshi is the first teenager to score 500 runs in an IPL season.
Fastest to 50 sixes
Sooryavanshi also became the fastest batter to slam 50 sixes in an IPL season, getting there in only 236 deliveries.
Fastest to 50 IPL sixes in an edition
- 236 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 2026
- 237 balls – Andre Russell, 2019
- 430 balls – Chris Gayle, 2012
- 456 balls Chris Gayle, 2013
First Indian to hit 50 sixes
The Bihar prodigy also became the first Indian batter and only the third overall after Gayle and Russell to record 50 sixes in an IPL season. With 53 sixes to his tally, only Gayle has smashed more maximums (59 in 2012) in a season in the league’s history.
Most sixes in an IPL season
- 59 – Chris Gayle (2012)
- 53 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)
- 52 – Andre Russell (2019)
- 51 – Gayle (2013)
Powerplay slayer
426 of Sooryavanshi’s 579 runs this season has come in the Powerplay, making it one of the most successful seasons for a batter in the first six overs. With a game left in the league stage, only David Warner has amassed more Powerplay runs (467) than Sooryavanshi in an IPL season.
Most powerplay (1-6 overs) runs in an IPL season
- 467 – David Warner (2016)
- 426 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)
- 402 – Travis Head (2024)
- 402 – Sai Sudharsan (2025)
- The Indian Express
MATCH REPORT: ORLANDO CITY SC ADVANCE TO .U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINALS
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 19, 2026) – Orlando City SC advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after defeating Atlanta United FC 4-1 on Tuesday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions will face the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between the Columbus Crew and New York City FC in the semifinals, which will be held in September.
Defender David Brekalo opened the scoring in the fifth minute in the aftermath of a corner kick. Braian Ojeda collected the rebound before sending a second cross into the box that Brekalo headed home. Eleven minutes later, the Lions doubled their lead when Adrián Marín played a ball over the backline to Iván Angulo. The Colombian drove into the box before squaring off a pass across goal to a streaking Griffin Dorsey, who scored his third goal in as many matches.
Orlando City added two more goals before halftime, both from Brazilian U-22 Initiative forward Tiago. He struck in the 24th minute after intercepting a pass from Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert and lifting the ball over him. Tiago then completed his brace in first-half stoppage time, finishing a pass from Braian Ojeda, who recorded his second assist of the match.
Atlanta pulled one back late as Emmanuel Latte Lath volleyed a right-footed effort off a cross in the box from Saba Lobjanidze.
Orlando returns to MLS regular-season play with its final match before the league pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, traveling to TQL Stadium to face FC Cincinnati on Saturday, May 23. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on Apple TV.
Scoring Summary:
5’ David Brekalo (Braian Ojeda) – ORL 1, ATL 0
16’ Griffin Dorsey (Iván Angulo) – ORL 2, ATL 0
24’ Tiago – ORL 3, ATL 0
45+5’ Tiago (Braian Ojeda) – ORL 4, ATL 0
84’ Emmanuel Latte Lath (Saba Lobjanidze) – ORL 4, ATL 1
Interim Head Coach Martín Perelman:
“I’m happy, of course, with the result but also with the performance. More than anything, I’m happy for our group of players because they put in a huge effort every day. Not just now, from the very beginning, they have been fighting and I’m glad they were able to deliver a performance like this. I’m happy to move forward in this competition and to put the team in the semifinals, which is important for us and for the club. I’m happy for our fans because they deserve it. They support us always, in good moments and in difficult ones. And of course, I’m happy for the entire club, the managers, the owners, Ricardo [Moreira], everyone here. We work hard, and today was a good day for us.”
Match Notes
- Orlando City scored four goals in a match for the fifth time in its past eight games across all competitions.
- With his goal in the fifth minute, defender David Brekalo recorded his first goal of the 2026 season and the third of his Orlando City career across all competitions. He last scored on Oct. 18, 2025, at Toronto FC.
- With assists on the Dorsey and Tiago goals, midfielder Braian Ojeda recorded his third and fourth assists across all competitions in 2026, marking his first career multi-assist match.
- Defender Griffin Dorsey continued his strong form, recording his fourth goal across all competitions this season and scoring in a third consecutive match.
- Forward Iván Angulo assisted on Griffin Dorsey’s goal for his eighth assist across all competitions this season, bringing his Orlando City career total to 39 assists across all competitions.
- With two goals Tuesday night, forward Tiago recorded his second and third goals across all competitions for Orlando City, marking his first career brace.
- Interim head coach Martín Perelman made two changes to the starting lineup from the team’s previous match against Atlanta United FC, with Javier Otero and Tiago entering the starting XI.
- Midfielder Joran Gerbet (knee) and forward Tyrese Spicer (ankle) missed the match due to injury.
- Orlando City Communications
ARSENAL PLAYERS AND STAFF GO WILD AS THEY FINALLY WIN PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE
Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday night
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| Arsenal's players and staff celebrate after being crowned Premier League champions |
Arsenal’s players have been celebrating at their Sobha Realty Training Centre after being crowned Premier League champions. The Gunners were officially confirmed as champions after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
City needed to win at Vitality Stadium to take the title race to the final day, but they were unable to force a winner after Erling Haaland equalised in added time. Arsenal’s players and staff gathered together at the club’s training ground to watch the action on the South Coast unfold.
And no sooner had the full-time whistle sounded at the Vitality Stadium, Arsenal’s players and staff celebrated wildly after their status as champions was confirmed. In footage shared by the club, a number of Mikel Arteta’s side could be seen jumping up and down.
While some members broke into small groups and could be seen embracing. However, they were all soon jumping up and down, singing, "Campeones, Campeones, Ole Ole Ole".
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| Arsenal's players celebrate with a cardboard Premier League title(Image: (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)) |
Members of the Arsenal squad also posed for a photograph with a cardboard cutout of the Premier League trophy. The Gunners will be presented with the real thing following their game against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Declan Rice posted a picture on Instagram with his team-mates with the caption “I told you all.. it’s done.” While former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who led the team to their last title, in 2004, featured in a celebratory post on social media.
He said: “You did it. Champions go on when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment.”
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| Riccard Calafiori, Piero Hincapie and Noni Madueke celebrate Arsenal winning the Premer League title(Image: (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)) |
Former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman, said on X: “Premier League champions!!! What a moment!!! What a season!!!!!!!! EPIC!!!!!!!!!! Longest (22 years and ) three minutes of MY LIFE…”
Man City boss Pep Guardiola also sent his congratulations to his former assistant Arteta, saying: “Congratulations to Mikel, congratulations to Arsenal, they have been phenomenal.
“We were close. On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, we congratulate Mikel and all the staff, players and fans on winning the Premier League. They deserve it.”
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| Image: (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)) |
Reacting to Arsenal’s triumph, former Gunners forward Alan Smith said: "Brilliant! Fully deserved. They have had the best defence, they haven't had the best attack, but as an overall unit Mikel Arteta has done incredibly well.
"I was very worried about the last-day game at Palace...so pleased!"
Before he added: "You have to have nervy moments when you haven't won it for that long and Arsenal did have them. But hopefully now they can play with freedom. It almost feels that the Champions League final is a free hit now."
They could still make it an historic double for the club as they chase their first Champions League title in the final against Paris St Germain later this month. But the title win ends a six-year period without a trophy and is Arteta’s second major honour in charge after the 2020 FA Cup victory.
- Connor O'Neill
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