Curacao celebrates a goal.
Concacaf
Curacao, Aruba and Belize, all came up trumps in their respective League C Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifying fixtures on Monday.
Curacao vs. Anguilla
Curacao assumed pole position in Group D after they downed Anguilla 5-2 at the Stadion Rignaal Jean Francisca in Willemstad.
With the win, Curacao moved up to maximum six points from two games, while Anguilla are on four points from three matches.
Curacao enjoyed a great start with three goals inside the first 20 minutes. Kadisha Martina got the show going in the fifth minute with an easy finish.
The lead was doubled in the 12th as Taisha Hansen converted a penalty. Four minutes later, Hansen found the slashing Sadeyah Rosa, who hammered into net from a yard out.
Anguilla pulled a goal back in the 30th as Adriana Connor punched in a shot from inside the area.
But back came Curacao in the second half. Lauryn Richardson made it 4-1 on the hour-mark with a calm penalty conversion.
Two minutes later in the 62nd, Hansen scored her second of the night when her shot trickled in past Anguilla goalkeeper Esther Ward.
Anguilla would get one last goal in the 89th through Camile Gumbs, whose corner kick ended up rolling off the fingertips of Curacao's Julainy Fanijten and into goal.
Aruba vs. Bonaire
Aruba avenged their 3-1 defeat to Bonaire in Group A from last Thursday, with a 5-0 victory at home at the Complejo Deportivo Guillermo Prospero Trinidad in Oranjestad.
Aisse Gumbs opened the scoring in the 30th when she finished off a pass from Bonny Lammers.
Tarianna Doornkamp then doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time with a strong right-footed finish.
Vanessa Susanna stretched the advantage in the 63rd, thanks in part to a nice pass from Lammers, who then scored a goal of her own in the 86th to make it 4-0 when she ran onto a long ball from Aruba goalkeeper Hadassah Kock.
Susanna then capped the 5-0 festivities in the 90+4 when she turned in a rebound off a Lammers shot.
Belize vs. Turks and Caicos Islands
Belize consolidated their lead atop Group A with their fourth win in as many games, as they after blanked Turks and Caicos Islands 3-0 at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan.
The host broke the deadlock in the 44th and did so in style. A free kick from Mikhaila Bowden was played on the ground to Kaite Jones, who then flipped the ball to herself and hit an overhead kick into net for a 1-0 Belize lead.
Momentum was on Belize’s side, and they doubled the cushion in the 48th on a Right-footed finish from Khalydia Velasquez.
Jones then completed her brace of the night in the 52nd with a header off a corner kick.
As if things weren't already bad enough for Turks and Caicos Islands, Pekiera Brooks was given marching orders in the 56th when she picked up a second yellow card of the night.
However, Belize was unable to make the numerical advantage count to add to their tally.
Nagelsmann urges Germany to beat pressure of being Euro 2024 hosts
Julian Nagelsmann is confident his side can beat the pressure of being the host nation as they prepare to kick off the tournament against Scotland on Friday.
The 36-year-old is taking charge of his first major tournament with Germany after taking over from Hansi Flick in September and has lost just one of his eight games since taking over.
Germany have struggled in recent major tournaments, getting knocked out of Euro 2020 in the round of 16 before crashing out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stages.
However, Die Mannschaft are aiming to end that run, chasing a fourth European title and their first since 1996, with Nagelsmann confident his team can channel their nervous energy into positive performances.
"I think we're a bit nervous, but it's an important point, we have to have a certain nervousness," he said. "There was such a buzz [in the camp], a bit like in school. It was really loud: 'Can everyone please calm down a bit!'.
"I look in our players' eyes and see the belief and will to win. I want us to believe in ourselves: we have great players, good togetherness, home advantage, we've had great training sessions and a good mentality.
"We have everything: we just have to show it tomorrow, and that's why belief is very important.
"We can beat pressure, and we can beat Scotland as well."
Scotland arrive as heavy outsiders and are making just their fourth appearance at the Euros compared to Germany's record 14.
The Tartan Army qualified second in their group after a strong opening to their campaign, and Nagelsmann praised their performances under Steve Clark.
"They don't have world stars, but that makes them very dangerous," he added. "They work very hard and have a classic mentality, but it's not a kick and rush team. They can do that, but they can play football.
"We will have more pressure on us than Scotland, and they will want to capitalise on that."
Orlando City v Los Angeles FC: Pareja seeking injection of confidence
Oscar Pareja believes it is important for Orlando City to rediscover their self-confidence ahead of Saturday's clash with in-form Los Angeles FC at Inter&Co Stadium.
The international break means Orlando have been out of action since a 1-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls on June 2, their third straight game without a victory.
While they sit a lowly 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with 17 points, LAFC are second in the West with 30 points after winning five in a row in MLS play.
Asked about the value of having time off to reflect on their poor run, Pareja said: "It's important, because with the work we do, the intensity of how we do things is important.
"We are optimistic after having a refresh when we needed it."
On the challenge of facing LAFC, the Orlando coach added: "Many teams have challenges with players being away. We are professionals, we expect a team that is playing well.
"But at the same time, it's a great opportunity for us to play well and raise our confidence, to get the points we need right now."
In all competitions, LAFC have won their last six matches without conceding, becoming the first team from MLS to ever accomplish that feat.
Head coach Steve Cherundolo believes that achievement is the result of a team effort, saying: "I think the team is playing a mature, professional, complete 90 minutes.
"Some teams have better defensive solutions against us so we don't have quite as many chances, but in every game we are creating chances and we are not giving up many chances.
"Our collective defending is very good. You're seeing it all come together."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando City – Nicolas Lodeiro
Lodeiro has been involved in nine goals in MLS play against Los Angeles (five goals, four assists, including playoffs).
Only Cristian Espinoza (15) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11) have been involved in more versus them.
Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga
Bouanga scored LAFC's goal in their 1-0 win over FC Dallas last time out on June 1.
The goal was Bouanga's 48th in all competitions since the start of last season, 16 more than any other MLS player in that time.
MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WIN
LAFC are unbeaten in four all-time meetings with Orlando (two wins, two draws), though the Lions did eliminate them on penalties from the quarter-finals of MLS is Back in 2020.
Orlando are winless in their last five home matches, drawing two and losing three while failing to net in each of their last three – they had only previously gone three home matches without netting in their second, third and fourth home MLS games back in 2015.
LAFC, meanwhile, have won seven successive matches in all competitions, the last six of them to nil. They will fancy their chances of victory, even without home advantage.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Orlando City – 37.7%
Los Angeles FC – 35.9%
Draw – 26.4%
Ito becomes first signing for Kompany at Bayern
Bayern Munich have announced the signing of Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart.
The defender becomes the first signing under new head coach Vincent Kompany, signing a four-year contract to keep him at the club until 2028.
Ito joined Stuttgart in 2021, on an initial loan from Japanese side Jubilo Iwata, before making the move permanent the following year.
He made 97 appearances for Stuttgart in all competitions, including 29 in 2023-24, as he helped the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga and Champions League qualification.
"It's a great honour for me to be able to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world," Ito told the club website.
"Bayern is also a big name in Japan. I always gave my all for Stuttgart and am grateful to the club. Now I'm looking forward to the challenge in Munich and I want to play my part in FC Bayern winning lots of trophies.
"It was time to take a new step, and for me, Bayern is the perfect club to do so."
Bayern finished below Stuttgart in the Bundesliga last season in third, ending their run of 11 consecutive league titles, while falling at the semi-final hurdle in the Champions League.
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