The 2026 World Cup will finish with a final in a New Jersey NFL stadium, but the tournament will begin in a footballing temple where arguably the sport's two greatest ever players enjoyed their crowning glories.

Pele and Diego Maradona both lifted the World Cup at the Estadio Atzeca in Mexico City, which has now been refurbished in preparation for hosting this year's opening game on June 11 when Mexico face South Africa.

Only 13 of the 104 matches at this year's tournament are being played in Mexico, but while the country –- like Canada -- is only really playing a supporting role to the United States, it still becomes the first to stage games at three different World Cups.

The two previous World Cups held on Mexican soil are among the greatest of all, especially the 1970 tournament won by Pele's Brazil.

"It was a World Cup of modernity, as football took its first tentative steps into a new era," writes Andrew Downie in The Greatest Show on Earth, his book about 1970.

"It was the first World Cup to be held outside of Europe or South America. The first to feature substitutes. The first to threaten players with yellow and red cards. The first to have its own ball, the Adidas Telstar, with its ultra-stylish black and white panels.

"Most thrillingly of all for football fans across the globe, it was the first to be broadcast live and in colour," he adds. "Was there ever a more memorable tournament?"

There were so many highlights, but it was really all about the wonderful Brazil team of Pele, who lifted the trophy after demolishing Italy 4-1 in the final at the Azteca.

"In the end it was almost as though the World Cup in Mexico had been staged for his benefit," recalled then-England captain Bobby Moore, of the great Pele.

When Colombia withdrew from hosting in 1986, Mexico stood in to stage a tournament that had by now been expanded from 16 teams to 24.

This was Maradona's tournament, the World Cup of the 'Hand of God' and of his breathtaking solo goal against England in the quarter-finals.

He dragged Argentina to the final, in which his pass released Jorge Burruchaga for the late winner after West Germany had come from two goals down to draw level at 2-2.

“Really, he is extraordinary. Having Maradona is like having a miracle that repeats itself in every game," said Argentina's Jorge Valdano ahead of that final.

- Azteca facelift -

The Azteca has now been given a major facelift, its capacity reduced from over 100,000 to 83,000. It only reopened at the end of March after being closed for almost two years.

"It is beautiful. The pitch is exquisite," remarked the Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, whose team drew 0-0 with Portugal in a friendly to mark the ground's reopening.

Mexico will play two group games at the Azteca, with the Czech Republic their other opponents there after the opener against South Africa. In between they will play South Korea in the city of Guadalajara.

Mexico City is hosting five matches overall, with four each in Guadalajara and Monterrey.

There are concerns about gang violence, leading to the country’s government saying it will deploy 100,000 security personnel during the tournament.

But this is a genuinely football-crazy country, unlike the other co-hosts. 'El Tri', as the national team is known, will therefore be hoping to take advantage of the footballing fervour in the country to go deep into the tournament.

Their best performances to date at the World Cup have come on their two previous occasions hosting, with quarter-final appearances in 1970 and 1986.

Eliminated in the group stage in Qatar in 2022, this time a team set to be spearheaded by Fulham striker Raul Jimenez has the incentive of knowing they will stay in Mexico City for a last-32 tie at the Azteca if they top their group.

And another victory would mean a last-16 game there too, possibly against England.

"I played in a World Cup in Mexico so I know what it is like," said Aguirre, part of the 1986 team, when he was appointed in 2024 for a third spell as coach.

"People know I am going to give everything, and we will have a team which is a reflection of its coach – a team that will fight and leave its soul on the pitch."

as/bsp 

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points as the San Antonio Spurs moved to within one win of the NBA Western Conference finals with an emphatic 126-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

French star Wembanyama was back in the Spurs line-up after escaping a suspension for his ejection in game four on Sunday, when he smashed an elbow into the throat of Minnesota's Naz Reid in a heavy defeat.

The towering 7ft 4in center took full advantage of that disciplinary reprieve on Tuesday, scoring 16 points in a blistering opening to the first quarter as San Antonio surged into a 24-9 lead.

Wembanyama finished the night with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a typically dominant performance at both ends of the court.

The victory leaves San Antonio 3-2 ahead in the best-of-seven series, with game six in Minneapolis on Friday.

While Wembanyama's individual brilliance grabbed the headlines, once again the Spurs' strength in numbers proved decisive, with six players finishing in double figures.

"We played with the appropriate fear, discipline, execution, physicality and poise, and we had it from an array of people tonight, and it was really good to see," Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said.

Keldon Johnson scored 21 points while De'Aaron Fox finished with 18 and point guard Stephon Castle 17.

"We did what we were supposed to do at home," Wembanyama told NBC. "We had to set the tone, we knew it was going to be a physical game.

"We won, so that's the point. But the job's not finished. We've got one more game to get to the conference finals." 

Spurs coach Johnson praised Wembanyama's maturity in not letting the turbulent aftermath of game four affect his performance.

"There's a lot that happened in the last 48 hours after the last game," Johnson said. "I think how that young man came out tonight and played in a variety of situations, not just in his production, was extremely mature."

- Wonderful Wemby -

Minnesota were left ruing their inability to maintain momentum after a stirring third-quarter fightback.

Trailing 59-47 at halftime, Minnesota launched a 14-2 run to start the third that allowed them to tie it up at 61-61.

But the Wolves' rally was the catalyst for another dominant passage of play from San Antonio, who regrouped and pulled away to take a 91-73 lead by the end of the quarter.

"We went away from what was working," Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. "Then the defense just cratered -- we gave up 30 points in the last six minutes of the third quarter.

"That's my job, I've gotta get us back on track."

San Antonio kept the points flowing in the fourth, outscoring Minnesota 35-24 to wrap up a deserved victory.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota's scorers with 20 points while Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle finished with 17 points apiece.

Edwards admitted that Minnesota had been powerless to stop Wembanyama's early onslaught.

"Some of the stuff that Wemby was doing, you just don't really have too much of an answer for it," Edwards said. "Just kind of hope he misses."

rcw/pst

Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer with an annual base salary of $25 million -- more than twice as much as the next-highest paid player Son Heung-min, the MLS Players Association said Tuesday.

The union's latest list of player salaries reflected the contract extension Messi signed with Inter Miami in October which will keep him with the Florida outfit through the 2028 campaign.

According to the figures Messi's base salary has doubled while overall the deal will see him make $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation.

South Korea star Son, the former Tottenham captain who signed with Los Angeles FC last August for a reported MLS record $26 million transfer fee, has a base salary of $10.36 million with total guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million.

The salaries do not include income from endorsement deals, nor does Messi's compensation reflect his option to acquire a stake in the Florida franchise -- co-owned by David Beckham -- which he joined in 2023.

The 38-year-old Messi, who is expected to lead Argentina's World Cup title defense starting next month, has 59 goals in 64 MLS regular-season games with Miami. He led the league with 29 goals last season and was named Most Valuable Player for the second straight season.

Messi's Inter Miami and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul is third on the least with $9.7 million in guaranteed compensation.

Mexico's Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is fourth on the list with $9.3 million despite the fact that he hasn't featured for San Diego since November.

Atlanta's Miguel Almiron rounds out the top five with guaranteed compensation of $7.9 million.

Total league compensation was listed at $631 million, with the average guaranteed compensation $688,816 -- an 8.9% rise from figures released last October.

bb/rcw

Jannik Sinner's charge towards a first Italian Open title continued on Tuesday after the world number one calmly dispatched countryman Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3, while Alexander Zverev suffered a shock exit at the hands of another local hero in Luciano Darderi.

Second seed Zverev fell 1-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-0, the German collapsing to defeat in front of a passionate crowd that roared on 18th-seeded Italian Darderi.

But as expected, top seed Sinner outclassed qualifier Pellegrino on centre court in a match which was in truth never much of a contest.

The 24-year-old Sinner has now won 31 straight matches in Masters 1000 events to equal Novak Djokovic's record run.

"I'm very happy about the outcome, but at the same time I'm very happy for him, I know he's working very hard," said Sinner of Pellegrino.

"Tomorrow, a day off is important for me, trying to rest, and then hopefully I'm ready for quarters." 

Pellegrino's arrival in the last 16 of his home tournament is by far his best result in a Masters 1000 event.

The 29-year-old is set to move up to a career-best world ranking of 123rd after not just making the main draw of a top-ranked ATP tournament for the first time but also getting to face his country's biggest sporting star in front of over 10,000 fans.

Pellegrino received warm cheers as he put in a creditable performance against the dominant force in tennis, and he also showed some deft technique when given room to breathe by Sinner.

But Sinner was never in top gear and still comfortably dealt with Pellegrino to set up a clash with 12th seed Andrey Rublev.

Should Sinner win a record-extending sixth straight Masters 1000 title, he will be the first Italian to win at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

With great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured and Zverev now gone, Sinner is red-hot favourite for victory as he builds towards completing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

Zverev, the 2024 champion in Rome, slumped in three sets as Darderi rallied to his first ever win over an opponent ranked among the world's top 10 players.

"It's my most important win, to beat Zverev at Roma is the most exciting win of my career," said Darderi.

- Ruud downs injured Musetti -

While Sinner and Darderi -- set to rise to a career-high 17th in the world -- reached the last eight, their compatriot Lorenzo Musetti was not so fortunate as physical problems led to him being beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Casper Ruud.

Musetti was in tears at the end of his third-round win over Francisco Cerundolo and had to take a medical time-out for a problem with his left thigh during the second set against Ruud.

The Italian will drop out of the top 10 of the men's rankings ahead of the French Open next week, and he later told reporters that he is unsure of whether he will participate in Paris.

Norwegian Ruud is on the other side of the draw from Sinner and will face Karen Khachanov in the last eight after exploiting Musetti's struggles with fitness.

"I realised that... we try to make him run as much as possible. It's cruel and it's brutal, but that's sport," Ruud told reporters.

Khachanov, seeded 13th, ended Dino Prizmic's bid to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, seeing off the spirited Croatian qualifier 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).

Prizmic had announced himself on the big stage this week by knocking out Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Daniil Medvedev, a winner here in 2023, will face Spanish lucky loser Martin Landaluce in the final quarter-final after beating Thiago Agustin Landaluce in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Veteran Sorana Cirstea, who knocked out world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, reached the semi-finals of the women's tournament after beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 7-6 (7/0).

Romanian Cirstea is set to retire at the end of the season and will face either Coco Gauff, who beat Russia's Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, for a place in Saturday's final.

td/lp

Rory McIlroy was forced to halt his practice round at Aronimink on Tuesday ahead of the PGA Championship due to a blister on his right pinky toe.

The world number two and reigning Masters champion from Northern Ireland took a cart back to the clubhouse from the fourth tee after completing only three holes.

McIlroy had removed his right shoe and examined his toe earlier in the round, then removed his sock at the fourth tee before deciding to stop the round.

At last week's PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, McIlroy limped in the final round and blamed a blister under his toenail.

"I've got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot," he said Sunday. "But it's underneath my nail. So I can't really get to it. So it's a little sore, but I'll be all right."

Asked again if the blister he said began developing on Friday would be a concern for this week, McIlroy said, "No, it's fine. I'll be OK."

McIlroy, who played a practice round at Aronimink two weeks ago, has one more day to rest or practice before teeing off in the first round at 8:40 a.m. (1240 GMT) Thursday alongside Spain's Jon Rahm and American Jordan Spieth.

js/bb

Pep Guardiola says teams must "do better" if they want to avoid VAR controversies.

Guardiola believes his Manchester City side have been on the wrong end of replay calls in the past and is still annoyed by decisions that went against his team in their FA Cup final defeats of 2024 and 2025.

VAR made headlines again after relegation-threatened West Ham were denied a stoppage-time equaliser against title-chasing Arsenal following a lengthy review last Sunday, with the Gunners' 1-0 win leaving the Premier League leaders five points clear of second-placed City.

But City manager Guardiola said players had it within their power to take VAR out of the equation.

"We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn't do their jobs they should do, even the VAR," said Guardiola.

"When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR."

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added: "I never trust anything since I arrived a long time ago. Always I learned you have to do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because you blame yourself with what you have to do, because (VAR) is a flip of a coin."

City were beaten 2-1 by rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final two years ago, with Guardiola believing his side could have had two penalties in the game following separate challenges on Erling Haaland by Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo.

And there was further controversy at Wembley during City's shock defeat by Crystal Palace in last season's final.

Dean Henderson was one of Palace's heroes, the goalkeeper saving a penalty, but the outcome might have been different had he been sent off for handling outside his area.

But Guardiola insisted he is not dwelling on that match ahead of facing Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday, where a win for City would cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the table to two points.

"You have to do better and better for yourself, and that is focusing on Crystal Palace for us," said Guardiola.

"Of course it is not in our hands in the Premier League. Always I say to the players, 'Do it, do it, do it better'.

"I always learned that when you lose the focus, you are in a dangerous situation.

"The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control."

jdg/lp

Rory McIlroy brings a sharper mental focus into the 108th PGA Championship that tees off Thursday at Aronimink than he had a year ago after a historic Masters triumph.

The 37-year-old from Northern Ireland, who won last year's Masters to complete a career Grand Slam and end a 10-year major win drought, said Tuesday he has managed to rest and reset after defending the green jacket last month at Augusta National.

"Coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year," McIlroy said. "I've got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors."

The six-time major winner could capture his third PGA crown this week, but more importantly has a much better vision of his game than this time last year when after achieving a major milestone struggled to 47th at the PGA at Quail Hollow, his worst major finish since 2021.

"Especially after the last couple of years, I need to take the time after the Masters to reset and decompress and get myself in the right mental space again to get myself up for this tournament and keep going for the US Open and The Open Championship," McIlroy said.

"I came into this tournament last year a little bit sort of uncertain of what my future was -- I conquered this thing that I wanted to conquer for so long, and I still hadn't really reset goals or found whatever that motivation was to keep going or go forward and set myself goals for the rest of my career.

"It probably took me a good few months to get to that point."

McIlroy took three weeks off after his latest Masters victory before returning last week at Quail Hollow, where he has won four times.

World number two McIlroy, who has a cameo in the new movie "The Devil Wears Prada 2", skipped Doral two weeks ago to attend a White House State Dinner.

"I know how fortunate I am and so lucky to be in this position in life, and sometimes you have to enjoy the perks because I know this isn't going to last forever," McIlroy said.

"There's going to be a day where I'm not competing for major championships, so I guess while I'm doing it, I have to enjoy it, as well.

"It has been amazing but there's still a lot of things I want to achieve. If I can enjoy it along the way that's a nice thing to do."

- Early trip pays off -

McIlroy snuck in a practice round at Aronimink during his week off.

"I wanted to do the State dinner, and if I was going to do that, it was probably better I take that week to practice and prepare, come up here and see the golf course," McIlroy said.

It allowed him to relax and arrive at Aronimink on Monday night without being stressed about missing a day of practice.

"I wanted to just get an early look because I knew that was going to be my only opportunity," he said.

"I definitely think courses we don't see very often... it certainly has benefited me over the years."

McIlroy first made an early practice trip for a major in 2011 at Congressional on the advice of Jack Nicklaus and won his first major title at that US Open.

"For the most part, when I have made an advanced trip, it has worked out well for me," McIlroy said.

js/ea

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Tuesday he was counting on wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to be fit and available for the World Cup next month. 

Yamal, 18, suffered a hamstring injury in late April, which has caused him to miss the rest of the season for Barcelona, though his club have said he should be fit in time for the start of this summer's showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Athletic Bilbao's Williams picked up a muscle injury on Sunday, while Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino is also on the sidelines after breaking his right foot three months ago.

"I think that all the players who have been mentioned will be fit and available for the start of the World Cup and I believe for the first match," De la Fuente told journalists.

"But if it's not for the first match, it would be for the second or third, and it doesn't cause any major setbacks," the Spanish coach continued, adding it had been "a very tough year in terms of injuries".

"The world of injuries, which is the tragedy of sport, is what truly keeps us under a lot of pressure, especially in this critical phase because injuries that occur from now on, any minor muscular injury, are really difficult to recover from," he added.

Meanwhile, De la Fuente confirmed that his World Cup squad list will include 26 players but that there would be additional players who would be included for a friendly against Iraq on June 4. 

Spain's World Cup opener will be against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. Their group also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

gr/mcd/ea/nf

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City do not feel extra pressure even though they realistically need to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

City, with three games left, are five points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

Failure to win at the Etihad would mean Mikel Arteta's side could clinch their first Premier League title for 22 years against Burnley on Monday.

Guardiola was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday how much pressure City were under after recent results, including last week's damaging 3-3 draw at Everton.

"Same one, two days, three days, four days ago, one week, two weeks, same one," he said.

The City boss, chasing a seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, said he had not seen his players to gauge their mood since the dramatic end to Arsenal's match at West Ham on Sunday.

The Gunners won 1-0 after relegation-threatened West Ham's last-gasp equaliser was ruled out following a lengthy VAR check.

"I learned from my career as a manager, what you cannot control, forget about it," said Guardiola.

"(Focus) and do better what we have not done better this season to fight for the Premier League. We are still fighting and (next it is) Crystal Palace."

Palace host Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season, just days before they face Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final, but Guardiola said he was not concerned at the prospect they could field a weakened team.

"They are so professional, the teams," he said. "Crystal Palace will play top. We saw Leeds yesterday against Spurs (a 1-1 draw), how even being out of the relegation battle... how they compete."

Guardiola said Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov were both "better" and that he would decide after training on Tuesday whether either were ready to return to action.

City face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, still in the running for a domestic treble after winning the League Cup earlier this season.

jw/ea

West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen believes pushing and shoving at corners in Premier League has become a major problem after VAR denied his side a late equaliser against Arsenal for a foul on Gunners counterpart David Raya.

Relegation-threatened West Ham thought they had rescued a precious point against the league leaders when Callum Wilson equalised in stoppage-time at the London Stadium on Sunday after Raya had dropped the ball.

But the goal was disallowed by referee Chris Kavanagh, following a lengthy review that saw him advised to consult the pitch-side monitor, for a foul by Pablo on Reya. 

The decision meant Leandro Trossard's 82nd-minute strike eventually proved enough for Arsenal to secure a 1-0 win that took them five points clear at the top of the table and left London rivals West Ham in the bottom three with just two games left to play.

West Ham were furious with the decision and now reportedly plan to raise their concerns with referees' body Professional Game Match Officials.

"If you ask any goalkeeper in the league, if he's been illegally blocked, pulled, pushed on corners this season I think you will not find anyone who has not experienced this," Hermansen said. 

"So to give this (decision against West Ham), I'm not sure I understand why.

"Of course, we watched it afterwards and we can see there's shirt pulls on (Konstantinos) Mavropanos, shirt pulls on (Tomas) Soucek, even shirt pulls on Pablo before the goal. So to pick this situation..."

The 25-year-old Denmark international made it clear he accepted Raya had been impeded but questioned why other similar incidents had not been penalised in the same way.

"You know, I agree it's a foul," he said. 

"You can give the foul on the goalkeeper, definitely.

"But (with) what has been given during this season of goals with illegal blocks and illegal pulls and pushing and stuff on goalkeepers, I don't understand why that's been given. That's all.

"I spoke with David after the game and I think we have the same experience on this matter during this season.

"Because, of course, he has every right to ask for a free-kick or a foul on him. But I think you can find a lot of situations during this season where it's been different."

jdg/iwd

As the dust settles on Barcelona's title celebrations, the cava bottles are sent for recycling and the open-top bus heads back to the garage, work for next season will already be underway.

Hansi Flick's back-to-back La Liga triumphs have helped bring welcome calm to the club after just one league trophy in the previous, tumultuous five years, but the ultimate objective remains unfulfilled.

Domestic dominance is not enough.

Winning the Champions League for the first time since 2015 is Barcelona's chief ambition, and the proof that they are at the head of Europe's top table for the first time since all-time great Lionel Messi departed.

Although impressive, this season's La Liga conquest is a slight downgrade on what Flick's team achieved last season, claiming a domestic treble and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

With Lamine Yamal and Pedri Gonzalez shining, Barca believed this would be the year they won their sixth European Cup.

However, the Catalans came up short against domestic rivals Atletico Madrid, eliminated 3-2 in aggregate in the quarter-finals. Flick confirmed last week that winning the Champions League is his main objective.

"There are two things I want in life. Firstly, that we win the Champions League," said the German coach.

"We have a good team for the next years, but we must make the right decisions in the transfer periods -- they have to be perfect."

"The second thing is I want to be coach (at Camp Nou) when it's fully finished."

Improving Barcelona's squad is the first, but not the only, step to matching the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

The problem for the Catalans, as Flick hinted, is that their financial position does not allow them to make mistakes. Every euro counts, there is little margin for error.

This season, Barca's lack of depth hurt them, missing high-calibre players in key areas, as well as stretching the squad to its limit, resulting in frequent injury problems.

Barca did not replace Inigo Martinez, who went to Saudi Arabia. Left back Gerard Martin filled in as a converted central defender.

Although both he and Eric Garcia performed beyond anyone's expectations, it is an area where they trail the continent's elite.

Up front, where 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski and the erratic Ferran Torres managed to bag enough goals between them to help the team win La Liga, but fall short of Bayern's Harry Kane or former winger Ousmane Dembele, reinvented as a Ballon d'Or-winning striker with PSG.

- Maturing talent -

With a left winger and at least one full-back also on the wish list, the Catalans must lean on their superb La Masia youth academy and trust the talent coming through.

Flick's predecessor Xavi Hernandez brought through Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi among others, but the German has been more cautious.

That was reflected in 18-year-old midfielder Dro Fernandez's departure to PSG, while Xavi Espart and Tommy Marques, among others, remain on the fringes.

Flick was also slow to trust Marc Bernal again after the holding midfielder recovered from injury.

Perhaps Flick is wary of too much inexperience, given that Barcelona's European exits have implied a certain naivety.

They finished both legs against Atletico with 10 men after red cards for Cubarsi and Eric Garcia, part of a wider pattern of vulnerability, indiscipline -- and Barca would argue, bad luck.

The coach also said after last season's thrilling 7-6 aggregate semi-final defeat by Inter Milan that he would focus on improving Barca's defence.

Despite those words, they failed to keep a single clean sheet in the Champions League this season.

That said, the recent PSG clash with Bayern will give Flick encouragement.

While many said his team could not succeed with their risk-taking, high defensive line, the battle between France and Germany's best indicated that it is possible.

"The game has such fine margins, you either go fully into the battles, or retreat fully. The in-between doesn't work against that level of player," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.

It seems highly unlikely Flick will abandon his approach, so Barca hope that with the right additions and another year of growth for their young squad, they can finally end their wait for European glory.

rbs/bsp/pb 

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama was ejected for elbowing Minnesota's Naz Reid in the jaw in the second quarter of the Spurs' 114-109 NBA playoff loss on Sunday.

The 22-year-old French star was tossed from a game for the first time in his NBA career -- and when officials announced the flagrant foul level two penalty, he had to ask teammate Harrison Barnes what it meant.

The Timberwolves were up 36-34 with 8:39 left in the second quarter when Wembanyama grabbed an offensive rebound and found himself battling Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels and Reid.

McDaniels collided with Wembanyama, who spun to his right with his elbow raised, jabbing it backward and striking Reid hard on the jaw.

He was immediately whistled for a foul and officials determined after review that it rose to the level of a flagrant two, with unnecessary and excessive contact, which is automatic ejection.

When he realized he'd been tossed, Wembanyama made a point of high-fiving all of his teammates as he made his way off the court.

Even without him, the second-seeded Spurs had an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter before the Timberwolves rallied for a win that leveled the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Wembanyama, who had dazzled with 39 points in the Spurs' game three victory on Friday, had four points and four rebounds before his sudden exit.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he didn't believe Wembanyama threw his elbow on purpose but was reacting to the physical challenge from the Timberwolves players.

He said his 7-foot, 4-inch (2.24m) star absorbs aggressive physical contact game after game, with no calls from officials.

"The amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level you have to protect yourself," Johnson said. "Every single play on every single part of the floor people are trying to impose their physicality on him.

"I get it, we get it, that's part of the game," Johnson said. "He doesn't complain one time. We don't complain ... but at some stage he should be protected and if not, he's going to have to protect himself.

"And unfortunate stuff like that happens."

League officials can review the play and impose further punishment, including a fine or even a further suspension.

"Anything more would be ridiculous," said Johnson, whose Spurs host game five on Tuesday.

bb/pst

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who together have won four of the past five major titles, have impressed each other with their mental focus and golfing skills.

As world number one Scheffler and second-ranked McIlroy prepared to face a world-class field at Aronimink in the 108th PGA Championship starting Thursday, they examined each other's most formidable strengths.

Scheffler captured last year's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and British Open at Royal Portrush while McIlroy took the green jacket at the Masters last month and last year.

McIlroy finds Scheffler's focus and consistency among his greatest weapons.

"He has played consistently excellent golf for I would say ever since he got his first win back at the start of 2022, and he hasn't really dropped off since then," McIlroy said. 

"It has been four years of really excellent, consistent golf. You look at his game, and you would have said a few years ago that the putting was a weakness, but you wouldn't say that now.

"And you look at all the other aspects of his game and you don't see a weakness, from a physical standpoint, from a mental standpoint."

Scheffler has runner-up finishes in his past three starts but has shaken off weak efforts quickly, McIlroy noted.

"He seems like he has a good mindset of last week's done, I'll move on to this week," McIlroy said. "Forget about whatever happened. He operates in the present so well, and that's one of his super strengths."

McIlroy impresses Scheffler in multiple ways as well.

"When you look at just his game, his ability to drive the ball is the best I've seen, not only with his speed but how accurate he is as well," Scheffler said of McIlroy.

"He's able to take out certain things on some golf courses that not many players can do. He does it in a way where he hits a lot of fairways as well."

Scheffler also admires how long McIlroy, who won his first major at the 2011 US Open, has played at a top level.

"Another thing is his longevity. Hard to have an understanding of what it takes to remain at the top for as long as he has," Scheffler said. "Rory is one of those guys that checks the box each week. He's a guy I always see in the gym, the practice facility.

"Players will have a greater appreciation when you see somebody like Rory who has had success over so many years. When you look at when he won his first major championship to now it has been 15 years.

"That's pretty difficult to do, so for him to still be at the top of the game for this long is quite impressive."

- 'High level' -

Australian Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters winner making his 100th career major start, finds both stars impressive in different ways while saying, "These guys are both playing at a high level."

"I played 18 holes at Augusta with Scottie before the Masters and even in the practice round, his mental approach to not just the game, but a round of golf -- it's like he picks the course apart," Scott said. "He's so good, so controlled with his shots.

"I was watching him even practicing and chipping, where he chipped from, it's very strategic. It seemed like he had all his bases covered. It's his approach, it's so smart, really."

McIlroy's willingness to open himself to the world earned Scott's appreciation.

"There are so many great things about Rory," Scott said. "Rory tells us a lot more about himself and his golf, and I think the fact that he has put himself out there, to be vulnerable with his game over the last couple years, is what impresses me about him.

"The way he's able to take his lumps but he also gets some big highs as well. He's so talented, so the ceiling of his golf is really high, but I think that's gutsy to do that."

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The Washington Wizards, who had the worst record in the NBA this past season, won the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday to claim the top pick in next month's draft.

Washington went 17-65 in the 2025-26 campaign, their second-worst record in team history after a 15-win season in 2023-24 -- the Wizards losing 26 of their last 27 games, including the final 10 in a row.

That gave the Wizards a 14% chance at the top pick, and they bagged the selection that that could add a star player to their struggling lineup.

The Wizards obtained star guard Trae Young from Atlanta in a January trade and power forward Anthony Davis in a February trade with Dallas.

The top pick would be another key player in trying to bolster a squad that has not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since reaching the 1979 NBA Finals.

The Wizards have not reached the playoffs since 2021 and have not won a playoff series since 2017.

A.J. Dybantsa, a 19-year-old forward of Congolese and Jamaican origin, and Darryn Peterson, a 19-year-old guard, are considered the most likely US college stars to be taken first overall.

The NBA Draft, the annual allocation of top available talent, will be staged on June 23-24.

Utah received the second pick with Memphis third and Chicago fourth, all three clubs moving up despite longer odds of doing so in the selection process.

The fifth pick went to the Los Angeles Clippers from Indiana in a trade for Croatian center Ivica Zubac.

Brooklyn received the sixth pick followed in order by Sacramento, Atlanta (from New Orleans), Dallas, Milwaukee, Golden State, Oklahoma City (from the Clippers in a trade for Paul George), Miami and Charlotte.

All 14 teams that missed the NBA playoffs were entered into the lottery, with teams that finished worst in the regular season given the best chance at landing the first selection.

Washington, Indiana (19-63) and Brooklyn (20-62) each had a 14% chance at the first choice with Utah and Sacramento, both 22-60, each having an 11.5% opportunity.

The current system ensured the worst overall team selected no lower than fifth, but concerns over late-season tanking to boost lottery hopes have led NBA commissioner Adam Silver to say there will be changes to the lottery system before next season.

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Arsenal are on the brink of a first Premier League title in 22 years after surviving a hugely contentious finale to beat West Ham 1-0, while Aston Villa were held 2-2 at Burnley on Sunday.

Leandro Trossard's 83rd minute goal reestablished the Gunners' five-point lead over Manchester City.

But West Ham had an equaliser deep into stoppage time ruled out after a VAR review for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya before Callum Wilson fired home.

"They showed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

"When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul. They were very brave. The action deserved that."

Arsenal also did north London rivals Tottenham a favour in the battle to beat the drop as they can move four points clear of West Ham with victory over Leeds on Monday.

West Ham's defeat means Crystal Palace, Leeds and Nottingham Forest are all now mathematically safe. 

Victories over already-relegated Burnley and Palace, just days before the latter play in the Conference League final, will end Arsenal's long wait to be champions of England.

Fresh from sealing their place in the Champions League final with victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek, Arteta's men burst out of the blocks.

Mads Hermansen made a brilliant save to deny Trossard from a corner before the Belgian's follow-up header came back off the crossbar.

But the nerves that have accompanied Arsenal's quest to finally get over the line, after finishing second for the past three years, took hold after half-time.

Raya had to make a huge save to deny Mateus Fernandes giving West Ham the lead with little over 10 minutes to play.

Moments later the deadlock was broken at the other end.

Trossard had not scored since December, but ended a 25-game drought with a powerful low drive after patient play by Martin Odegaard teed him up.

Arteta wheeled away in delight, while Odegaard sank to his knees in celebration.

But there was another huge moment to come as Raya flapped at a corner under pressure from Pablo and Wilson drilled in the rebound.

After a lengthy VAR review, the referee deemed the Portuguese forward had impeded the Arsenal goalkeeper.

If City fail to beat Palace at home on Wednesday, Arsenal could seal the title on home soil against Burnley on May 18.

- Palace, Forest safe -

Villa left the battle for a place in the top five open after failing to beat Burnley.

Unai Emery's men booked their place in the Europa League final on Thursday with a 4-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest, but suffered a European hangover at Turf Moor.

Villa extend their lead over sixth-placed Bournemouth to four points and move six ahead of Brighton in the battle for Champions League qualification.

However, they face a tough end to the campaign with matches against Liverpool and Manchester City either side of the final against Freiburg in Istanbul.

Jaidon Anthony punished a slow Villa start to put Burnley in front after Emi Martinez spilled Lesley Ugochukwu's shot.

Ross Barkley headed the visitors level from a corner before half-time.

Ollie Watkins then pounced on a long punt forward by Martinez to put Villa in front and headed up to fourth in the table.

Burnley, though, hit back to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat.

Zian Flemming fired home from Hannibal Mejbri's inventive flick to keep the fight for the top five alive.

Everton's bid for a place in Europe next season suffered from again failing to hold onto a lead in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

The Toffees twice led at Selhurst Park through James Tarkowski and Beto's brilliant individual goal.

Ismaila Sarr's 20th goal of the season in all competitions and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled for the Eagles, who are now mathematically safe..

Elliott Anderson struck late against his former club Newcastle to secure a 1-1 draw and also guarantee survival for Forest.

Harvey Barnes had put the visitors in front, but England international Anderson salvaged a point.

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Dino Prizmic followed up knocking out Novak Djokovic from the Italian Open by beating France's Ugo Humbert 6-1, 7-5 on Sunday to reach the last 16 in Rome.

Prizmic had to qualify for the main draw but the Croatian player looks like he could be a contender after another brilliant display of power and precision on clay.

The 20-year-old raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set, which he closed out in just 28 minutes against a shellshocked Humbert, who was seeded 31st.

Such was Prizmic's dominance in the first set that he could even afford to try a trick shot between his legs and give up a point in game six.

Humbert battled back in the second set but after he gave up his serve for the third time in game 11 Prizmic closed out on his second match point.

After his superb performance on the Pietrangeli court Prizmic will face 13th seed Karen Khachanov in the next round.

"I just want to play my game and to be myself on the court and we will see," Prizmic later told reporters.

"Maybe for me the goal is to be top 30 at the end of the year but I just want to stay healthy and to play as much as I can."

As it stands Prizmic will already be up 11 places to 68th come Monday week, just before the start of the French Open, after his best ever performance in a Master 1000 tournament.

- Zverev eases through -

Alexander Zverev kept up his bid for a third title at the Foro Italico with a straight-sets win over Alexander Blockx, 6-1, 6-4 on centre court where the threat of rain looms large.

Second seed Zverev, who was heavily beaten by Jannik Sinner in the Madrid final last weekend, will face one of Tommy Paul or Italy's Luciano Darderi in the fourth round.

He barely had to get out of second gear against Blockx, who was beaten in the Madrid semis by Zverev.

The German, who won the men's singles title in the Italian capital in 2017 and 2024, is on the same side of the draw as Prizmic.

"There's a lot of young guys who are playing great tennis. He's definitely one of them," he said.

"But I'm going to go match by match, I think that's the most important thing, not to look too far ahead and focus on the things that you can control." 

Home hope Lorenzo Musetti will face clay court specialist Casper Ruud in the last 16 after winning a tough match with Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.

Musetti was in tears at the end of a clash which featured 81 unforced errors, and told Sky Sport that wasn't right physically without specifying what was wrong. 

- Osaka eyes Swiatek clash -

Naomi Osaka could face three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek in the last 16 of the women's tournament after easily seeing off Diana Schnaider 6-1, 6-2.

The four-time Grand Slam winner beat her Russian opponent in just 54 minutes to equal her best result of a difficult season in which she was knocked out of Indian Wells and Madrid at the same stage by Aryna Sabalenka.

But with Sabalenka suffering a shock early elimination on Saturday, 15th seed Osaka could yet be a contender.

She awaits the result of Swiatek's third-round match against Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in front of what will be a partisan crowd on centre court.

"For me those matches are the most fun. I'm excited at the thought," said Osaka of a clash with Swiatek.

Pole Swiatek suffered her earliest exit in five appearances in Madrid last month when she retired in the third round due to a viral illness. 

She was knocked out at the same stage in Rome last year as defending champion and took nearly three hours to win her opening match against Caty McNally.

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, has not won a clay tournament since capturing the last of her four French Open titles in 2024.

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A dominant Victor Wembanyama powered the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-108 win over Minnesota and a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoff series Friday, as the red-hot New York Knicks beat Philadelphia again for a 3-0 advantage.

A defensive menace all night, French superstar Wembanyama took a tight, tense and physical game out of the Timberwolves' grasp with a stunning offensive fourth quarter including 16 points.

The 7-foot-4 prodigy, playing his first NBA post-season, finished the night in Minneapolis with 39 points overall, plus 15 rebounds and five blocks. 

"I'm built for this. I love this more than anything else," said Wembanyama.

He added: "We got the talent. We got the depth. We don't got the experience, but we don't care... We can go to the very top if we play like tonight consistently." 

Minnesota had been boosted by the return of their own talisman, Anthony Edwards, to the starting lineup.

Edwards shone in the Timberwolves' game-one upset win but, still recovering from a knee injury, had managed just 12 points from the bench in game two's thrashing.

He immediately returned to inspired form, playing aggressive yet patient basketball to finish with 32 points, 14 rebounds and six assists -- but it was ultimately not quite enough.

The Timberwolves started dismally, missing their first 12 field goal attempts.

Wembanyama shone defensively, with two big early blocks setting the tone, and forcing Minnesota to score from outside the paint.

The Timberwolves fought back, and the game was tied 51-51 at halftime.

Superstars Edwards and Wembanyama dominated the first half's scoring, managing 19 and 16 apiece, with everyone else combined shooting barely 30 percent from the field. 

After the break, the game grew angry. As Jaden McDaniels and Dylan Harper tussled for a ball, a falling Harper's head collided with McDaniels' knee. 

Moments later, McDaniels and Stephon Castle shoved each other, drawing multiple players on both sides into a fracas.

But Wembanyama kept his cool and finished strong, scoring two long-range three-pointers to seal the win.

"Greatness," said teammate De'Aaron Fox, of Wembanyama's showing. 

"Teams are going to come out here and try to be physical with him. He fights through that, he doesn't complain, he knows what he's going to endure," he added.

"He comes out here and he produces."

- Knicks up -

Jalen Brunson starred again as the in-form Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-94 to move within one win of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

It was a sixth straight victory for the Knicks, who have not dropped a game since rallying from 2-1 down in their first-round playoff series with Atlanta.

Having nudged New York across the line in a tense game two, Brunson looked composed as he poured in 33 points and added nine assists.

He was backed up by muscular defensive performances including a combined 23 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, to put the Knicks up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

No team has ever come back from 3-0 down in a seven-game NBA series.

Playing in front of a raucous home crowd for the first time this series, the Sixers came out with huge energy from tipoff.

Philadelphia's Paul George had 15 points in the first quarter alone, as his side led by 12 against a Knicks side missing the injured OG Anunoby.

But the Knicks immediately fought back, tightening up defensively and making 33 points while shooting at 57 percent in a stellar second quarter, to lead at half-time.

Towns and a returning Joel Embiid were locked in a feisty physical duel, with each player committing three fouls before the break, in what resembled a wrestling bout at times.

The Sixers briefly closed the gap back to two points late in the third quarter, before missing six straight shots including a couple of bad airballs.

Powered by another late show by talisman Brunson, the Knicks pulled clear in the final quarter, and the Sixers lost hope. 

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Adam Scott will make his 100th major start, and 99th in a row, at next week's PGA Championship, hungry to show he has more than longevity to offer.

The 45-year-old Australian, who missed the cut in his major debut at the 2000 British Open, placed 47th at the 2001 British Open and has not missed a major since.

"My head's still really in, like I should be able to compete and win these things, so maybe I don't see it as much of an accomplishment," Scott said of his streak and 100th overall major.

"I'll give myself a pat on the back, but I would love to still win."

World number 43 Scott, whose only major triumph came at the 2013 Masters, needs to be inside the top 60 in world rankings after the major showdown at Aronimink to qualify for the US Open and reach 100 consecutive majors -- a streak beaten only by the record run of 146 by Jack Nicklaus from the 1962 Masters through the 1998 US Open.

"I don't know what to make of it. I mean, part of me doesn't want to be the guy yet who just has all these other things that aren't based around winning events," Scott said. "I would rather win some stuff and let's celebrate winning the US Open than just playing in it.

"I think there's some luck in it, but I think I've had generally great advice around me from a physical and training standpoint that has kept me healthy and pretty much injury free. I don't really have niggles and things that are concerning, certainly not to the point of can I play this week or not."

Scott had his first bogey-free weekend since 2007 last week in a fourth-place finish at Doral, matching his season-best result from Riviera in February.

"To win a major I'm going to need to put four days together, not just a weekend coming from behind," Scott said. "I feel like my game is there. I'm doing all the things I think I need to do to be in that kind of condition.

"(I want to) keep this confidence going and hopefully arrive at the US PGA full of confidence. And four good days and you just never know."

Scott's most recent of 14 PGA Tour victories came at Riviera in 2020 while his first professional victory came at the European Tour's 2001 Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

- 'Thanks, Tiger' -

A quarter-century later, Scott credits 15-time major winner Tiger Woods for pushing him to dream big.

"I think the main thing is really that I probably dreamed loftier goals than was maybe possible when I was a kid. Thanks, Tiger," Scott said.

"I feel like I'm really not that content and I would hate to finish my career not content. I feel like I've put in a lot of good stuff, but I feel like there's something big left within me still. So it's worth pushing."

Scott's mother also gets some of the credit.

"My mum taught me everything in moderation. I don't know if that's good for the highest level sport but it is for longevity. Maybe some of that philosophy has kept me going," he said.

"I work hard. I love it though. I love being in the gym. I love being on the golf course. It doesn't feel like hard work even though I'm putting some hours in."

Scott hopes that means his best is yet to come.

"I think it is, truly," he said. "I know that sounds crazy. But overall, I mean, on a good putting day I think my golf game tee to green and short game is better than ever.

"It feels like my game sits at a high level. I just need to open up the ceiling a little bit somehow and go there."

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Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Masters repeat winner Rory McIlroy are oddsmakers favorites for the 108th PGA Championship, which tees off Thursday at Aronimink.

Scheffler, who won the 2022 and 2024 Masters and last year's British Open and PGA Championship, took a week off before trying for a first major title defense after a hot start to the season.

The 29-year-old American won his first start of the year at the American Express tournament in the California desert and added a third place at Phoenix and fourth at Pebble Beach.

He has been runner-up in each of his past three starts -- at the Masters and Heritage tournaments in April and last week at Doral.

"Sometimes you're able to build some positive momentum, and at times in my career I've been able to really feed off of that," Scheffler said. "When you feel like you're in a good spot with your game and you're seeing the right shots, sometimes it doesn't feel that difficult."

Scheffler took confidence, and some ideas about what he needs to improve to win a fifth major.

"A lot of positives," Scheffler said. "Some stuff I can clean up, but overall definitely some positives from the last few weeks."

Scheffler could complete a career Grand Slam at next month's US Open at Shinnecock, which concludes on his 30th birthday.

"I would love to be able to win the US Open," Scheffler said. "I've had some success at that tournament before and I think it suits my style of game. I'm excited to go to Shinnecock this year and hopefully get it done."

McIlroy completed a career Grand Slam and snapped a 10-year major win drought by winning last year's Masters and last month become only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National, boosting his motivation for this year's majors.

"This year I think winning was validation for all the work that I've put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I'm winning majors," McIlroy said.

Not since Jordan Spieth took the Masters and US Open in 2015, when the majors were on a different rotation, has a player won back-to-back majors, a feat McIlroy managed in 2014 and could achieve again this week.

"I'm excited for the road ahead. I'm excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock, Birkdale," six-time major winner McIlroy said.

"If anything I'm more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I've ever been."

Third-ranked Cameron Young, who won his first PGA title last August, has been in the top three in four of his past five starts -- including wins at The Players Championship in March and at Doral.

"It sets me up well," Young said. "I've been playing great and the goal is just to put myself in a position to win as much as I can.

"The biggest thing right now is just to continue to put myself in position where those things can happen."

Fourth-ranked Matt Fitzpatrick of England was second at The Players Championship then won the Valspar and Heritage titles and the PGA pairs event in New Orleans with brother Alex.

"I feel like I'm playing very well right now," Fitzpatrick said. "Definitely high confidence. The ball is going where I intend it to go. But I know there's things I can still improve in certain areas. So that's exciting, given the results I've achieved so far."

- 'Severe' greens -

England's fifth-ranked Justin Rose, with top-10 finishes in four of the past six PGAs, hopes to recover after leading late but settling for third at the Masters.

"That's just like a little hollow empty feeling for a few days. But then kicked back into gear, got my motivation back," Rose said.

Aronimink promises a tough test with putting at a premium for the world's top golfers.

"It's a severe set of greens. I think there's more undulation at Aronimink and that's really the defense of the golf course," Australia's Adam Scott said.

"Get your driver and your wedge game ready and if you have a good putting week, you're going to do well."

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Teenage substitute Mezian Soares gave Lens a 1-0 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 on Friday to give his side direct qualification for next season's Champions League while relegating Nantes to the second tier.

The result also keeps the Ligue 1 title race alive with Lens the only team who can still pip Paris Saint-Germain to the title.

After a frantic and eventful first 79 minutes, the 16-year-old Soares picked up a loose ball in the box and fired home to break the deadlock.

Lens are now guranteed a top-two finish in Ligue 1: they are seven points clear of third-placed Lyon with both teams having two games left.

Third place also earns a place in the Champions League but in the play-off third round.

Lens, whose budget is not even a 10th of Champions League finalists PSG, are still to play the Parisians who lead them by three points and have a game in hand.

Nantes held a marauding Lens at bay largely thanks to 'keeper Anthony Lopes, who produced a string of saves as Lens had three goals ruled out for off-side or handball.

French champions in 2001 Nantes are now guaranteed to finish in the bottom two and will be relegated from Ligue 1 for the third time since their title win.

PSG play Brest at home on Sunday.

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Borussia Dortmund came from a goal down to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 at home on Friday, putting further pressure on visiting coach Albert Riera. 

Frankfurt starlet Can Uzun scored after just two minutes but Dortmund hit back with two goals in five minutes through Serhou Guirassy and Nico Schlotterbeck to take the lead at half-time. 

Dortmund's 18-year-old forward Samuele Inacio added a third, his first Bundesliga goal, midway through the second-half to wrap up victory for the hosts, before Jonathan Burkardt grabbed a late consolation for the visitors. 

Former Liverpool and Spain winger Riera, who took over as coach in February, has won one of his past seven games and arrived in Dortmund reportedly fighting to keep his job. 

Frankfurt qualified for the Champions League last season but now sit eighth, a point behind Europa League finalists Freiburg who are in the Europa Conference League spot and have a game in hand. 

The win also guaranteed Dortmund would finish second behind Bayern Munich this season. Dortmund have now finished second eight times in 14 seasons since they last won the Bundesliga in 2011-12, all behind Bayern. 

Former Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud set up Uzun's superb curling opener just two minutes in. 

The hosts struck back with two goals before the break however. With 42 minutes gone, Guirassy converted a Julian Ryerson pass, the Norwegian's 14th assist of the season. 

Jobe Bellingham held up the ball in the first minute of stoppage time, finding Maximilian Beier who crossed for Schlotterbeck to score. 

Bellingham helped create Dortmund's third, once again finding Beier in traffic who chipped back for Inacio to hammer home. 

Germany forward Burkardt pulled one back for Frankfurt with three minutes remaining but Dortmund held on for victory. 

In the dying moments, Dortmund brought on former Germany centre-back Niklas Suele, who will retire at the end of the season.

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