SAO PAULO (AP) An apparent mistake by the fourth official forced Neymar off the field during Santos' 3-0 home loss to Coritiba in a Brazilian league match on Sunday, the last chance for the star striker to impress before Brazil's World Cup squad is announced. The 34-year-old Neymar, who has struggled to be fit since he tore his ACL in October 2023, has tried for more than a year to show Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti he deserves a place in the squad.The incident took place in the 65th minute, when Coritiba was already leading 3-0 and Neymar, whose form has improved in recent weeks, was having a quiet match for relegation-threatened Santos. Neymar was on the field having his right calf sprayed by a doctor when the referee told him to go to the sidelines, where the treatment continued. In a matter of seconds, the fourth official raised the substitution board which indicated that No. 10 Neymar would be leaving for Robinho Jr., who immediately stepped onto the pitch.I knew Robinho was coming in, but I wasnt even watching it, Neymar said. I didnt know I had been substituted, I had not seen the board. It was a very serious mistake by the officials, by the fellow who puts the numbers on the board.Santos coach Cuca and Neymar himself informed the fourth official and referee Paulo Cesar Zanovelli that a mistake had been made with defender Gonzalo Escobar No. 31 jersey the intended player to be substituted.Zanovelli gave Neymar a yellow card for refusing to accept the substitution. The striker then took the official substitution request sheet and showed it to broadcasters at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, with Escobar's number on it instead of his own.It is a mistake (of the fourth official) indeed. But it wasnt the reason why we lost, it would be unfair to place blame on this, Santos coach Cuca said in a press conference.Brazil's soccer confederation, which organizes the country's league, is yet to comment publicly about the incident. Ancelotti will announce Brazil's squad on Monday in Rio de Janeiro.Brazilian media reports said that Neymar's chances of being in the 26-player squad have increased recently because his inclusion is favored by other players who Ancelotti is certain to take to the World Cup. ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Mets pitcher Clay Holmes said he most likely won't need surgery on his fractured right fibula, but he is not completely ruling it out.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has challenged the lesser lights in his team to step up in the contested aspect of the game following their upset loss to Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

West Ham forward Taty Castellanos may not have done enough to preserve his side's Premier League status, but his stunning strike against Newcastle deserves recognition in its own right.

West Ham's 14-year stay in the Premier League is almost over.The London club lost 3-1 at Newcastle on Sunday to stay in the relegation zone and two points from safety with one match left, against Leeds at its Olympic Stadium home in the final round next Sunday.The Hammers will be relegated before then if Tottenham the only other team that can mathematically go down beats Chelsea away on Tuesday in the first of its two remaining games. A draw at Stamford Bridge would also likely be enough for Spurs, given their goal difference is far superior to West Ham's.Tottenham's second chance is at home to Everton in the final round.West Ham has been in the top flight since 2012, coming through a number of relegation battles in that time. This one looks beyond the team three years after it won the Conference League title for its first major trophy since 1980 in a sign of brighter things to come.Newcastle scored twice in the first 19 minutes, through Nick Woltemade and William Osula. Osula added a third in the 65th before a brilliant long-range consolation by Taty Castellanos, who also hit the crossbar for West Ham.Fernandes ties assist record after VAR controversyBruno Fernandes grabbed his record-tying 20th assist of the Premier League season to help Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in an end-to-end match featuring the latest VAR controversy.Bryan Mbeumo's 76th-minute goal proved to be decisive and was set up by Fernandes, who moved level with Arsenal great Thierry Henry (2002-03) and former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20) for most assists in a single Premier League campaign.The Portugal midfielder has one game left to set the outright record at Brighton next weekend.United had earlier gone in front for the second time in the game when Matheus Cunha stroked home a finish in the 55th minute after Mbeumo controlled the ball using his outstretched arm before having a shot blocked. The goal was awarded by the on-field referee and he stuck to his decision judging the contact accidental after the VAR recommended he look at the incident again on the pitchside monitor.The win guaranteed third place and one of the Premier League's five Champions League qualification spots for United and it was another step in the right direction under Michael Carrick, who is widely expected to be hired as permanent manager in the coming days after a successful four-month spell in charge.This was Carrick's 11th win in 16 games at the helm, with only two losses in that period.Luke Shaw gave United the lead in the fifth minute and Morato equalized in the 53rd.Cunha's contentious goal regained the lead for the hosts and Mbeumo made it 3-1, before Morgan Gibbs-White pulled another goal back for Forest, whose safety was assured last week.It was Brazil midfielder Casemiro's final home match for United after four years with the team, and he received a standing ovation when he was walked off the field after being substituted in the 81st minute.Brighton loses in tight race for European positionsIn the race to qualify for European competitions, seventh-place Brighton missed the chance to jump to sixth after losing 1-0 at Leeds, whose winner came from England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin a World Cup hopeful in stoppage time.Eighth-place Brentford equalized late through Dango Ouattara for his second of the match in a 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace and moved one point behind Brighton.Sunderland is a further point back in ninth after winning 3-1 at Everton courtesy of three second-half goals.The teams finishing in sixth and seventh place are set to qualify for the Europa League, with eighth place seemingly going into the Conference League. Fulham drew 1-1 at already-relegated Wolverhampton thanks to a penalty converted by U.S. left back Antonee Robinson for his first Premier League goal.___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

West Ham's Premier League survival hopes are hanging by a thread after a dismal 3-1 defeat at St James' Park this afternoon.Nuno Espirito Santo's gamble to deploy a back five formation backfired spectacularly, with Newcastle racing into a two-goal lead inside the opening twenty minutes.It was a nightmare start for the Hammers, who looked completely lost from the first whistle.The visitors appeared resigned to their fate rather than fighting for their top-flight lives.Nuno had reportedly been struggling to sleep before the trip north, and his tactical approach quickly turned into the stuff of nightmares as Newcastle tore through his side with ease.Nick Woltemade broke the deadlock after goalkeeper Mads Hermansen's overhit pass to Jean-Clair Todibo was intercepted by Harvey Barnes, who raced forward and delivered a cross for the unmarked German to finish.It was Woltemade's first Premier League goal in seventeen matches, ending a five-month drought for the 69million striker who has spent much of the season deployed in midfield.Will Osula doubled the advantage shortly after, slotting through Hermansen's legs following some slick one-touch passing that cut through West Ham's static defence.The Danish forward celebrated with a Michael Jackson-style white glove routine, marking his fifth goal in eight league games.Nuno admitted defeat on his tactics after just 26 minutes, withdrawing the embarrassed Todibo and switching to a more attacking setup with Taty Castellanos joining Callum Wilson up front.Nick Pope produced a brilliant double save to deny Castellanos and then Diouf as West Ham finally showed some fight after the tactical switch.But the travelling supporters, who had made a 566-mile round trip to watch their side, were having none of it and furiously booed the players off at half-time.Joe Willock then set up Osula for his second of the afternoon, seemingly killing off any hopes of a comeback.Yet Castellanos provided a moment of magic with a stunning first-time volley from 25 yards that flew into the net.Jarrod Bowen went close and Castellanos nearly set up a grandstand finish when Pope tipped another volley onto the crossbar.However, the late rally proved to be too little, too late for the Hammers.Will Osula grabs his second after a neat one-two with Joe Willock pic.twitter.com/8yNl9ZQSHB Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 17, 2026 West Ham's fate now rests entirely in Chelsea's hands when they host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.Roberto De Zerbi's side must beat Spurs to keep the Hammers' survival hopes alive heading into their final match against Leeds next Sunday.Even a draw for Tottenham, who sit two points ahead with a significantly superior goal difference, would effectively confirm West Ham's relegation.The east London club faces the very real prospect of dropping into the EFL for the first time in fourteen years, with their supporters now pinning all their hopes on their west London rivals.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The Red Roses produce a superb battling display to beat France in Bordeaux in their Six Nations Grand Slam-decider.

Both top teams win, Jerusalem still trails by 2 points in the championship race with just 2 games left.

Borussia Dortmund und die HSG Blomberg-Lippe liefern sich ein packendes erstes Finale. Zwei Torhterinnen machen den Unterschied.[mehr]