Sports
CF Montreal charging toward playoff spot vs. Charlotte FC
Sep 28, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; CF Montreal forward Josef Martinez (17) kkicks the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images A spot in the playoffs is in view for CF Montreal when they travel to face Charlotte FC on Saturday night.
CF Montreal (10-12-10, 40 points) is on a three-match winning streak and a five-match unbeaten stretch, with four victories in that time, and can clinch a spot in the postseason with a win, coupled with either the Philadelphia Union or D.C. United finishing with no better than a draw.
Montreal could also qualify for the playoffs with a draw plus a loss by either Philadelphia or D.C. The Union will face the Columbus Crew while D.C. United take on the New England Revolution.
CF Montreal has a three-point lead on both Philadelphia and D.C. and is eighth in the Eastern Conference, one spot above the playoff line. They understand that a letdown at Charlotte, with two matches remaining, could hurt their playoff chances.
“We know, especially in this league, how everything can change after one game,” Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois said. “We’re all conscious that (D.C. and Philadelphia) are right behind us and they’re waiting for us to slip, (so) we can’t get comfortable.”
Key to Montreal’s run has been Josef Martinez, who has scored twice in each of the past two matches and five time over his last three. Martinez now has a team-best 10 goals.
Charlotte FC (12-11-9, 45 points) has already qualified for the playoffs but has an outside chance at a top-four spot in the East and home-field advantage through at least the first round.
In seventh place, Charlotte is four points behind fourth-place Orlando City but must also jump past New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls over the final two matches to reach fourth place.
Charlotte is unbeaten in its last three (2-0-1) following a 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, a match that saw Karol Swiderski score twice. The club has scored nine goals in the past three matches.
“I just think at the moment, the players can see the finish line,” Charlotte head coach Dean Smith said. “There’s not too many games left … so they’re excited for that. But when you see the end line, there’s an excitement that comes with it as well of what you can go and achieve, and I think that’s what’s giving the lads a lift at the moment.”
Liel Abada and Junior Urso also scored against the Fire, with Urso’s goal the midfielder’s first since signing with Charlotte in February. Charlotte improved to 8-3-5 at home with the win.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA roundup: Anna Bondar goes overtime, reaches Hamburg final
May 25, 2026; Paris, France; Anna Bondar of Hungary reacts during her first round match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine on day two at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images No. 4 seed Anna Bondar of Hungary outlasted Elina Avanesyan of Armenia 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (2) in a three-hour, 29-minute match on Saturday to advance to the final of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open in Germany.
Bondar will face fifth-seeded Tamara Korpatsch of Germany, who advanced in her semifinal match when Mayar Sherif of Egypt retired in the second set with an injury. Bondar reached the final at Hamburg for the second consecutive year.
Bondar was down 5-3 in the opening set against Avanesyan before rallying then taking the final four points of the tiebreaker for the set. Bondar also lost serve to fall behind 2-0 in the deciding set then won the first five points of the tiebreaker to advance.
Korpatsch dominated the opening set 6-1 then went up 2-0 in the second set before Sherif was forced to bow out. Sherif was coming off her first title in four years at the Iasi Open in Romania.
Prague Open
Lilli Tagger of Austria pulled off an upset of No. 2 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and earned her way into the final with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4) semifinal victory.
Both semifinalists from the Czech Republic fell in their home country with No. 5 seed Tereza Valentova losing 7-6 (4), 6-3 to No. 8 seed Daria Snigur of Ukraine.
After losing the opening set, Tagger rallied by breaking Krejcikova’s serve to go up 4-2 in the second set. She broke serve again in the fourth game of the final set then won the final three points in the tiebreaker to win the match.
Snigur and Valentova each broke serve twice in the opening set before Snigur won the final four points of the tiebreaker. Snigur then broke Valentova’s serve twice in the second set, including once to take a 5-3 lead before serving for the match.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth, Salvador Perez set the franchise home run record, and the visiting Kansas City Royals squeaked by the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, on Saturday.
Perez’s seventh-inning blast was his 318th career homer, surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett on the franchise’s all-time list. It was also Perez’s 31st homer against the Tigers.
Vinnie Pasquantino had three hits and scored a run for Kansas City.
Hao-Yu Lee drove in both Tigers runs with a double and solo homer. The Tigers had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Detroit starter Casey Mize gave up one run and three hits in six innings. Royals starter Michael Wacha lasted seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Loftin gave the Royals the lead with one out in the ninth, pulling an 0-2 pitch from Jacob Waguespack (0-1) over the left field wall.
Riley Greene led off the bottom of the inning with a single off Daniel Lynch IV (4-2). Alex Lange then replaced him and struck out Lee. Zach McKinstry moved Greene to third with a single. Lange then struck out Matt Vierling and induced pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson to end the game, allowing Lange to notch his 10th save.
The Royals took the lead in the second as Pasquantino led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and reached third on a Mize wild pitch. He scored on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit tied it in the bottom of the second. Greene banged a double off the left field wall and scored on Lee’s opposite-field double.
With one out in the fourth, Lee took advantage of a hanging changeup and clobbered it over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Perez smashed his historic homer off Kyle Finnegan, pulling a hanging slider over the left field wall for an estimated 401 feet.
Perez couldn’t deliver again in the eighth with runners on the corners and two out as he grounded into a fielder’s choice.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
WTA roundup: Anna Bondar goes overtime, reaches Hamburg final
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
