Soccer

Fireworks exploded from the roof. Red smoke filled the air. Family members applauded as players, one by one, lifted the trophy. Yet Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning celebrations in 2020 could hardly be described as a party.

ROME (AP) — Italian league officials might be second-guessing their decision to install a one-match playoff to determine the Serie A champion.

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle manager Eddie Howe returned to work on Thursday after recovering from pneumonia.

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Harry Kane can win the first major trophy of his career on Saturday as Bayern Munich closes in on regaining the Bundesliga title after Bayer Leverkusen's shock win last season.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Juan Jose Purata scored a late equalizer as UANL Tigres salvaged a 1-1 draw against Cruz Azul on Wednesday in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals series.

PARIS (AP) — Ousmane Dembélé’s goals are drying up for Paris Saint-Germain at just the wrong moment.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Pope Francis' beloved soccer club in his native Buenos Aires, San Lorenzo , celebrated a Mass late Wednesday dedicated to its most famous fan two days after his death , with Argentina still awash in emotional tributes t

VANCOUVER — The home team might not be the main attraction for what is expected to be a capacity crowd when the Vancouver Whitecaps face Inter Miami FC Thursday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal.

Canada women's soccer coach Casey Stoney has added Natalie Henderson, Neil Wood and Ian Willcock as full-time members of her coaching staff. The three join performance analyst Yianni Michelis on Stoney's staff.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian soccer player Jackson Rodríguez's wife and 5-year-old child were kidnapped early Wednesday, police reported, when men broke into their home in search of the Emelec defender, who told investigators he hid under a bed.