Football

Toronto: Substitute Deniz Undav struck twice as Germany booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 with a dramatic comeback victory over Côte d'Ivoire in Toronto yesterday. The Ivorians looked set to progress after Franck Kessie gave them the lead midway through the first half, but Undav turned the contest on its head at Toronto Stadium. The forward headed home the equaliser before netting deep into stoppage time to send the four-time champions through. Germany threatened from the opening moments. Kai Havertz met a header straight from kick-off but lifted the loose ball narrowly over the bar. The striker then came close again when Joshua Kimmich picked him out with a precise cross, only for Côte d'Ivoire goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to keep out his low effort. Fofana was beaten shortly after when Aleksandar Pavlovic headed home a corner from the right, only for the referee to blow after the Bayern Munich midfielder was adjudged to have led with an elbow. Les Elephants hung in though, and sucker-punched the four-time champions down the other end. The ever-dangerous Yan Diomande burst down the left and put in a low cross which fell to the feet of Amad Diallo. While Nathaniel Brown made a block, he couldn't prevent Kessie from tucking home the rebound. The Africans held their own at the start of the second half, forcing Julian Nagelsmann to shuffle his pack. He called upon Nadiem Amiri and Undav on the hour and just eight minutes later the former sent an inch-perfect cross for the latter to head in the leveller. Fae turned to his bench and was almost handsomely rewarded himself. Nicholas Pepe broke down the right, and as Evann Guessand dragged away the German defence, Simon Adingra was left all alone on the left side of the box. However, a loose touch saw him crowded out. That chance proved to be crucial as, four minutes into stoppage time, Lukas Nmecha slid a clever ball through to Undav, who turned and finished with aplomb to break Ivorian hearts. Germany will now wait for Curaçao-Ecuador to see whether they will be confirmed as section winners, but are already assured - at worst - of progressing as one of the eight best third-place teams. (FIFA)

Football

Los Angeles, United States: The Netherlands put one foot in the World Cup knockout rounds with a stylish 5-1 demolition of Sweden on Saturday as Germany prepared to take on the Ivory Coast with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32. Sweden, themselves 5-1 winners against Tunisia in their opening Group F match, went into Saturday's showdown with the Dutch in Houston knowing that a victory would guarantee their passage out of the group stage. But Graham Potter's side were torn apart by a rampant Netherlands team, who roared into a 2-0 lead after after just 17 minutes thanks to a brace from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey. Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half to put the Dutch 4-0 up, ensuring that Sweden's lone strike from Anthony Elanga was only ever going to be a consolation goal. Crysencio Summerville completed the Dutch rout with a fifth goal on 89 minutes. The win leaves the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening game, on four points with a healthy plus four goal difference, which is almost certainly likely to be enough to secure a place in the last 32 of the expanded 48-team tournament. The last time Sweden conceded five goals in a World Cup match was the 1958 final against Brazil when they lost 5-2.

Tennis

Berlin: American Jessica Pegula rallied past world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 to reach the final of the Berlin WTA grass-court tournament for the second time. The world number four will bid for her 12th WTA title, her second on the Berlin grass after her 2024 victory, against Czech Linda Noskova, the eighth seed, who breezed past Filipina wildcard Alexandre Eala 6-2, 6-4. Sabalenka had won nine of her 12 previous meetings against the American third seed but it was their first clash on grass. Pegula got off to a strong start, capitalising on Sabalenka's poor forehand, which produced 10 unforced errors in the first three games. She broke serve to lead 2-1, then gave Sabalenka no chance on her serve, securing the set 6-4 in three-quarters of an hour. The Belarusian took an early lead in the second set, breaking serve immediately, but looked shaky when it came to closing out the set and was pushed to a tiebreak, which was interrupted by rain at 3-1 for the American on her opponent's serve. Two and a half hours later, the two players returned to the Steffi Graf court, and Sabalenka snatched the set, setting up a decider. Pegula quickly pulled away in the deciding set, closing it out 6-0 after two hours and 13 minutes on court. World number 35 Eala, 21, who upset world number two Elena Rybakina in the last 16 and Queen's Club champion Donna Vekic in the first round, could not continue her impressive streak. World number 13 Noskova, 21, won in 1hr 09min and will play her first grass court final on Sunday.