#debutants

#debutants

Christantus Uche scored a wonderful individual goal to give a much-changed Crystal Palace side the early advantage in their Conference League clash against Finnish side KuPS at Selhurst Park. Palace boss Oliver Glasner made 11 changes to the team that started against Manchester City last weekend and the additions made their mark almost immediately. Inside the first five minutes, Uche picked up the ball on the edge of the box after a neat passing move out wide.

Ten games, two wins, two draws and six defeats. Twelve goals scored, 23 conceded. Eight debutants, two head coaches and one Nations League A relegation. It has been quite the 12 months since Scotland froze in Finland at the chance to reach Euro 2025 exactly one year ago on 3 December 2024. That devastating defeat and miserable missed opportunity always meant this year was likely to be one of rebuilding and reenergising.

There was deep concern for Michelle Agyemang when she went down with a serious looking knee injury with 10 minutes to play against Australia in Derby on Tuesday. The postmatch comments from Wiegman did little to ease the worry. It doesn't look good, she said. We don't know yet but I'm not very positive about what I've seen. Injury woes have been mounting for Wiegman since the summer with key players already missing. Leah Williamson is yet to return after undergoing a minor knee operation while Lauren Hemp and Lauren James remain out. Grace Clinton was missing with a knock, Jess Park was out with concussion, and Lotte WubbenMoy had to leave camp early through illness. But all the focus now is on Agyemang.

Despite facing a stubborn resistance from Zebre Parma in the opening 40 minutes of the action, an experimental Leinster side returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship this evening with a bonus point triumph over Zebre Parma at the Aviva Stadium. On a night when no fewer than six Leinster players made their debuts, Joshua Kenny marked his first start for the province by touching down in fine style with just 70 seconds gone on the clock.

Lionel Messi broke another record and four World Cup hopefuls made their debuts as Argentina crushed Puerto Rico 6-0 in a one-sided friendly. Inter Miami star Messi set up two of the goals in his home stadium in Fort Lauderdale to move to 60 assists in international football - one ahead of Brazil's Neymar. He is just two assists short of 400 in his stellar career.

The four debutants were not weighed down by the Bernabeu. "They had solid performances, perhaps not spectacular, but their nerves did not weigh them down. "I could already see that Franco could contribute. He has prepared well even though he has not been able to train with us. "We have to prepare for the next one,