SOCCER
Christian Pulisic, the United States forward, scored directly from a corner kick – which he admitted was accidental – in AC Milan’s 3-1 victory over Brugge, marking their first Champions League win of the season. Pulisic caught everyone off guard when he curled in the corner from the left flag in the 34th minute, giving Milan a 1-0 lead. “Today it was a bit of luck, but it’s still worth a goal. I’m very happy,” Pulisic said with a laugh in Italian. “I didn’t try to do that, but it was a good cross, I’ll say that, and after a nice goal, I wasn’t attempting that.”
In other matches, Vinicius Junior netted a hat trick as Real Madrid bounced back to secure a 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund after being down 2-0 at halftime. Paris Saint-Germain and Dutch club PSV Eindhoven played to a 1-1 draw. Aston Villa made history as the first team with three wins in the new Champions League format, defeating Bologna 2-0. Arsenal managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to an own goal, but lost left back Riccardo Calafiori to an apparent knee injury.
BASKETBALL
NBA action sees Paul George’s debut with the Philadelphia 76ers postponed, and Joel Embiid set to miss further time due to injury. Both players will be sidelined for the season opener against Milwaukee and could miss additional games as well. George, who switched from the Los Angeles Clippers to the 76ers on a four-year, $212 million contract, suffered a bone bruise after hyperextending his left knee in a preseason game. Embiid did not participate in preseason games due to a sore left knee. Key player Khris Middleton of the Bucks will also be absent as he recovers from offseason ankle surgeries.
HOCKEY
In NHL news, Paul Maurice has signed a contract extension with the Florida Panthers, as confirmed by the team. Maurice was in the final year of a three-year deal, and with his successful tenure leading the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final twice, including a championship win in June, the extension was anticipated.
COLLEGES
In women’s basketball, USC star JuJu Watkins and UConn’s Paige Bueckers highlight The Associated Press’s preseason All-America team, which for the first time features three sophomores, showcasing the emerging talent in the sport following a record year of fan engagement. Watkins and Bueckers received unanimous selections from the 30-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week, joined by Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, Texas’s Madison Booker, and USC’s Kiki Iriafen. Notably, Watkins, Hidalgo, and Booker are all second-year players.
TENNIS
At the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals alive with victories. Tsitsipas, ranked No. 11, defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), while 14th-ranked Rune bested Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-6 (3). The top eight ranked players qualify for the finals set to take place next month in Turin. On Tuesday, sixth-seeded Ben Shelton also secured a win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, winning 6-3, 6-4.
AUTO RACING
In NASCAR news, former child star and “Malcolm in the Middle” actor Frankie Muniz has announced that he will compete in the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 33 F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing.