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Lincoln City are first EFL side to achieve promotion

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Reading 1 - 2 Lincoln City Lincoln City will play in the second tier next season for the first time since 1961 Author | Lewis W Stadium | Select Car Leasing Stadium Jack Moylan struck in the 96th minute to secure victory at Reading and seal promotion to the Championship. Moylan’s late intervention followed Lewis Wing’s equaliser, which had cancelled out Ryan One’s early opener for the visitors. The result leaves Michael Skubala’s side with an unassailable 19-point cushion over third-placed Bradford City in League One. Lincoln’s unbeaten league run now stands at 24 matches, stretching back to 22 November 2025, and attention will turn to the title race. They hold a 12-point advantage over Cardiff City, who drew at Peterborough but have a game in hand. Destiny for Lincoln By securing promotion to the Championship, Lincoln appear to have reached a long-awaited destination after a 65-year climb. Since their relegation from the old Second Division in 1961, the Imps have fallen as far as the ...

Leeds beat West Ham in FA Cup classic

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West Ham United 2 - 2 Leeds United (Leeds won 4-2 on penalties) Leeds United reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 with a dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham Author | Jamie Pugh  Stadium | London Stadium The Hammers went into the shootout with 20-year-old Finlay Herrick in goal after Alphonse Areola was injured late on in extra time. Herrick, who had a four-month loan spell with fifth-tier Boreham Wood earlier this season, was making his first senior appearance for the Hammers, and he saved from Joel Piroe. But England forward Jarrod Bowen then immediately failed to convert his spot-kick for West Ham, with Pablo also having an effort saved by Lucas Perri before Pascal Struijk scored the decisive penalty, with Leeds winning the shootout 4-2. Watch | Key moments of the match from the FA Cup's official YouTube account Leeds had been 2-0 ahead with 90 minutes on the clock, but 11 minutes of stoppage time followed and West Ham scored twice through Mateus Fernandes and...

Hearts edge back to the top of the table

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Livingston 2 - 2 Hearts Hearts edged back to the summit of the Scottish Premiership but dropped points at Livingston Author | Mark Lee Stadium | Home of the Set Fare Arena Their advantage, which stood at three points at the start of the weekend, is now down to one following Rangers’ win over Dundee United on Saturday. Celtic’s win over Dundee means they're also now closer to the league leaders. It's going to be a dramatic title race for all three sides. Watch | Highlights from the SPFL YouTube account It might have been worse for Hearts They ended the match with 10 men. Livingston struck early, taking a surprise lead in the fifth minute when Stevie May drove a finish in from the edge of the area to silence the travelling support. Hearts responded with purpose and drew level through their returning captain Lawrence Shankland, who powered home a header from an excellent delivery by Marc Leonard. Both sides passed up chances before the interval, with Shankland going close again fo...

Worrying signs for Liverpool as Man City ease to victory

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Manchester City 4 - 0 Liverpool Erling Haaland produced a devastating hat-trick as Manchester City eased into a record eighth successive semi-final with a commanding victory over a subdued Liverpool. Authors | William G Stadium | Etihad Stadium Guardiola, serving the second match of a touchline suspension, watched from the stands as his side dismantled Liverpool with a clinical edge that is likely to intensify scrutiny on their head coach Arne Slot. A closer analysis of what happened in Manchester Fresh from their Wembley success against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, City maintained momentum in pursuit of a domestic cup double with another authoritative display on home soil. For all their early control, City struggled to test Giorgi Mamardashvili until the 38th minute, when Haaland converted from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk brought down Nico O'Reilly. It was a familiar outcome, echoing his spot-kick at Anfield earlier in the league campaign. FA Cup news and stories...

Southampton stun Arsenal and progress to semi-final

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Southampton 2 - 1 Arsenal  Arsenal’s hopes of a domestic double were ended by a late goal from Shea Charles Author | DJ Stadium | St. Mary's Stadium The defeat marked Arsenal’s first match since their EFL Cup final loss to Manchester City and followed an international break in which 11 of their players withdrew from national duty through injury. Despite that disruption, Mikel Arteta was able to name a strong side featuring Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes, with the visitors intent on regaining momentum. Yet for all Arsenal’s control of possession, it was Southampton who fashioned the clearer chances. Their direct approach, looking to play quickly in behind the defence, unsettled Arsenal throughout and extended a 14-match unbeaten run for the Championship promotion hopefuls. The breakthrough arrived in the 35th minute. White misjudged the flight of a delivery from James Bree, allowing Ross Stewart to bring the ball under control and dispatch a composed f...

Bayern Munich eventually see off Manchester United

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Bayern Munich 2 - 1 Manchester United (Bayern Munich won 5-3 on aggregate) Man United’s Women’s Champions League campaign came to an end as Bayern Munich struck twice late on to extinguish any hope of a comeback. Author | Olivia T Stadium | Allianz Arena Having trailed 3-2 from the first leg, Melvine Malard’s early goal offered encouragement that United might yet reach the semi-finals in their debut season. They were the sharper side before the interval, but Bayern assumed control after the break, with Glodis Viggosdottir and Linda Dallmann scoring in the final 10 minutes to turn the tie decisively in the German side’s favour. The result sends Bayern through to the last four for a third time, while Marc Skinner’s side must regroup ahead of a crucial run-in, with more than three weeks to recover before attention returns to securing qualification via the Women’s Super League. Watch | Highlights of this match from ESPN United had set out to become the first English side to win away at Bay...

Italy fail to qualify for another World Cup

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Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 -1 Italy (Bosnia-Herzegovina won 4-1 on penalties) Four-time world champions Italy have failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup after a crushing penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina. Author | Josh T Stadium | Stadion Bilino Polje No previous winner of the competition has missed three straight tournaments, with Italy also absent from Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Pio Esposito, who blazed over, and Bryan Cristante, whose effort struck the underside of the crossbar, missed from the spot after Gennaro Gattuso’s 10-man side had clung on under sustained Bosnian pressure to force penalties. Bosnia-Herzegovina, led by 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, have now reached just the second World Cup in their history and will face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B this summer. It had started so well for Italy Before the match, a lot of Italian fans and pundits had spoken about their nerves. This was clearly a huge game and a huge moment for the present and...