Sports
Haaland misses 2 pens, still gets Norway hat trick
OSLO, Norway — Manchester City star Erling Haaland twice missed a penalty for Norway against Israel but still wound up with a hat trick in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win on Saturday.
Haaland’s first penalty was hit low and saved by Daniel Peretz. But Polish referee Szymon Marciniak ordered the kick to be retaken because the goalkeeper had moved off his line too soon.
He tried the other way the second time, aiming for the corner, but Peretz guessed correctly again and palmed his effort away as Haaland looked on disbelievingly.
Haaland made up for it later in the first half when he scored with a low strike after latching onto Alexander Sørloth‘s pass, his 10th goal in the qualifying campaign.
The Norway star went on to score two more goals to take his tally to 12, the most in UEFA qualifying matches by far. He also has 12 goals in nine matches for City this season, taking his club tally to 136 in 155 games for the club.
The hat trick for Haaland took his total for Norway to 51 in his career to extend his lead as the country’s all-time leader in goals. He reached the 50-goal mark in just 46 games, whereas it took Harry Kane 71 matches with England, Brazil‘s Neymar 74 and Kylian Mbappé 90 games with France to hit the half-century milestone.
Record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi took 107 games to hit 50 for Argentina, and Cristiano Ronaldo needed 114 games with Portugal.
The win keeps Norway perfect in qualifying with six wins from six games. They lead Italy by nine points in Group I, but the Italians can still theoretically catch them for top spot and an automatic bid to the World Cup next summer.
Norway have not played in a World Cup since 1998.
There were peaceful pro-Palestinian protests before the match in Oslo. A police line formed close to the stadium but at a measured distance from the protesters, some of whom chanted “Shut down the embassy,” while others carried red cards and one woman held up a small sign saying “Game Over Israel.”
A few dozen fans stayed to continue protesting outside the stadium once the match started.
The venue was almost full, with 22,000 to 23,000 spectators inside. Capacity was reduced by 3,000, as seats were made unavailable near Israeli fans and in the front row due to security measures.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
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Tiger Woods has undergone surgery after suffering another major injury.
Woods, 49, announced Saturday that he recently underwent lumbar disk replacement surgery for a collapsed disc and a compromised spinal canal.
“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken. The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal,” Woods said in a statement.
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Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club waves to fans as he is introduced at the start of a match of the TMRW Golf League (TGL) against Boston Common Golf, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
“I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”
For Woods, it is just the latest health setback in what has been a series of devastating injuries and subsequent procedures in recent years.
Woods underwent an operation to fix a nerve impingement in his lower back in September, and he’s already been sidelined from the PGA Tour this year while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in March.
Woods infamously suffered multiple leg injuries when he was involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash in the Los Angeles area on Feb. 23, 2021.
Tiger Woods of the United States plays his shot from the 13th tee during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 11, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Since finishing tied for ninth at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish in his subsequent 18 official events has been tying for 37th at the 2020 PGA Championship.
Last year, he competed in just five events, one of them being the Genesis Invitational, the other four majors. He withdrew from the Genesis, finished dead last in the Masters and missed the cut in the final three majors.
That came after he competed in only the Genesis and Masters in 2023, where he finished tied in 45th and withdrew, respectively. In 2022, he played in the Masters (47th), the PGA Championship (withdrew) and the Open Championship (missed cut).
Just when it appeared Woods was turning the clock back, it seemed like all false hope. In 2018, he finished second in the FedEx Cup standings. In 2019, he won the Masters.
Since then, it’s been a tough stretch for Woods, who, in 14 majors since winning the green jacket in 2019, has failed to muster a top 20 finish. It’s his longest such streak since failing to finish in the top 20 in the first six majors of his career in 1995 and 1996. In his last 26 majors, he has only four top 20 finishes.
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Tiger Woods, right, and his son Charlie Woods, left, prepare to tee off on the 3rd hole during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
After the U.S. Open, Woods, who turns 50 in December, admitted it “may or may not” have been his last one. His latest injury raises more questions about his future.
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The Aces are champions again, but settle in, basketball fans. This might be the longest offseason yet.
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WNBA’s A’ja Wilson shares heartfelt message for NBA star Bam Adebayo at Aces title celebration
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Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson had a message for her beau after capping her latest standout season with another championship.
Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Friday to secure the franchise’s third championship in the past four years. Wilson was named the Finals MVP for the second time in her career. She also earned WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honors for a third time. Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo, who is in a relationship with Wilson, was on hand for Friday’s clincher.
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A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces poses with the Most Value Player award and Bam Adebayo after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Videos shared across social media showed Wilson and Adebayo embracing and celebrating the special moment. One video showed a tearful Wilson telling Adebayo, “Thank you for believing in me, baby.”
In another video, the Miami center shared some of his thoughts on Wilson. “Super proud of her,” Adebayo said.
“Y’all don’t see the behind-the-scenes, the ups and the downs. So being able to obviously have this moment with her and share this moment… truly special, truly proud of her. Like I tell everybody, be thankful for it while it’s here.”
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson celebrates with teammates after Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
Wilson also became the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a single season.
Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and boyfriend Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo watch the three-point contest during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
The conclusion of the WNBA Finals brings the beginning of an offseason that will be defined by potentially tense negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.
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The league will also expand to 15 teams in 2026, adding franchises in Toronto and Portland, Oregon.
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