Category Sports News

Poland won the United Cup title for the first time with victory over Switzerland, though they had to battle from behind after an opening singles defeat for world number two Iga Swiatek.

Former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic gave Switzerland the best possible start in Sydney with a 3-6 6-0 6-3 victory over Swiatek.

But Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz came through a thrilling three-set encounter in the men’s singles, levelling the tie with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

In the deciding mixed doubles, Polish pairing Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski maintained their 100% record in the tournament, beating Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4 6-3 to clinch a 2-1 victory.

“Finally we have made it – third-time lucky… I mean, not lucky because we worked really hard,” said Swiatek about Poland’s win, following defeats by Germany and the United States in the 2024 and 2025 finals.

“I want to thank our team because this year I felt like it was such a team effort. I really felt the support. Even though my singles performance wasn’t perfect, you really got my spirits up and each of you believed to the end.”

It looked as though Poland might lose a third consecutive final when Bencic continued her winning singles record at the United Cup with her ninth victory, beating Swiatek to give Switzerland the lead in their first final.

But Hurkacz wrestled Poland back into the tie, maintaining his own fine form after returning to competition following seven months out injured, beating 40-year-old Warwinka in his final season on the tour.

Sent off for a late challenge on Celtic captain Callum McGregor, a heart problem that scuppered a Serie A move, a Europa League victory over Rangers this season – and now Tochi Chukwuani has joined the Ibrox club.

The 22-year-old has become Rangers first addition of the January transfer window, joining from Sturm Graz for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half year deal.

The Dane began training with Nordsjaelland’s first team at just 14 and was described as “one of the top players for the future”.

He made his senior debut as a 16-year-old and 10 months later became the club’s youngest league scorer.

He joined Lyngby in 2022, months after La Gazzetta dello Sport reported a transfer to Serie A side Hellas Verona had fallen through because a medical examination found a “small heart defect”.

He went on to play 58 matches in a two-year stint, scoring five goals.

In the summer of 2024, Chukwuani moved abroad for the first time, signing a four-year deal with Austrian outfit Sturm Graz.

His debut campaign with Graz was a memorable one as he made 27 appearances and scored three times in a title-winning side. He also sampled Champions League football for the first time.

Tough-tackling tenacity is a key part of 6ft 2in Chukwuani’s skillset, along with pace.

While mainly deployed as a central defensive midfielder, he has also featured on the left, and is a timely addition following Connor Barron’s injury blow.

“He is a player who strengthens our group and offers specific qualities that we believe will enhance our midfield department,” said manager Danny Rohl.

“With experience of European competition and winning titles, as well as his technical and physical attributes, he knows exactly what is required to thrive at a club like Rangers.”

Internationally, Chukwuani has featured for Denmark at all youth age groups. He has been playing at Under-21 level since 2023 and has scored two goals in 20 appearances.

Chukwuani, who played alongside Rangers pair Mohamed Diomande and Oliver Antman at Nordsjaelland, could make his debut at home to Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup on Friday.

“I’m super excited,” he told club media. “Rangers are a huge club and I can’t wait to hear the roar at Ibrox.

“It’s a historic club with a huge fanbase. There are huge expectations, and this is something as a footballer you want to play in front of.

Celtic Challenge – Round Three

Brython Thunder (7) 12

Tries: A Williams, Crabb Cons: Marshall

Clovers (15) 15

Clovers climbed to third in the Celtic Challenge after a hard-fought win over Brython Thunder at Cardiff Arms Park.

The Irish side started quickest, with tries from Emily Foley and Lucia Linn opening up a 15-point lead for the visitors in the opening 20 minutes.

That was as good as it got for Clovers, however, as Thunder continued to chip away at their lead for the rest of the game.

Amy Williams’ try got the ball rolling for Brython after collecting a pinpoint cross-field kick from Hanna Marshall.

After Gwen Crabb, on her return to the team and on her first game as captain, crossed shortly after the break to cut Clovers’ lead down to three points.

But neither side could add to their tally in the final half an hour, as Clovers held on to see them move above Glasgow Warriors in the standings.

A cagey start saw both teams make a number of handling errors, Caitriona Finn’s penalty putting Clovers ahead early on.

As the heavens opened with 13 minutes on the clock at the Arms Park, it also started raining tries.

Clovers were first to strike, as Finn’s lobbed pass found Aoibheann McGrath on the left wing, and the lock did excellently to offload through the tackle to Foley, who finished the move from two metres out.

The Irish side extended their lead two minutes later when Natalia John bobbled a pass in the air, and Linn pounced on the loose pass before sprinting half the length of the field for Clovers’ second try.

Undeterred, Thunder put together their best spell of the first half, twice coming close when turning to the driving maul.

But it was an incisive cross-field kick from Marshall which unpicked the Clovers defence, finding Williams in acres of space on the left wing to touch down Thunders’ first try of the game on 22 minutes..

The visitors dominated possession and territory for the remaining of the first half, but Thunder went into half-time buoyed after a five-minute defensive stand on their own try-line.

And Thunder carried that momentum into the second half, dominating the early proceedings before Gwen Crabb marked her first game as captain with a try – powering over from close range.

Brython Thunder: A Williams; Neumann, Bluck, Keight, Singleton; Marshall, Lockwood; Orrin, Bowden, E Jones, Crabb (capt), John, Rogers, Isaac, B Metcalfe.

Replacements: A Morgan, M Lewis, Watkins, R Davies, F Jones, F Lewis, Bush, Healan.

Clovers: Deely; McGann, Murphy, Linn, Foley; Finn, Lane (capt); Burns, Buttimer, S McGrath, A McGrath, Clohessy, Searle, Oviawe, Verling.

Arsenal have started working with throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark as the Premier League leaders look to increase their threat from set-pieces.

The Gunners have scored 14 goals from set-pieces in the top flight this season, more than any other side, but have yet to score from a chance created through a throw-in.

It is understood that Gronnemark will be working with the Gunners on a part-time basis.

The Dane previously worked under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool between 2018 and 2023, and also did consultancy work at Brentford.

No Premier League team has scored more than the Bees (nine) from a throw-in situation since the start of last season, while Arsenal are one of only five to be without a single goal from throw-ins in that same period.

Declan Rice has become Arsenal’s designated long-throw taker this season, with club’s making ever-greater use of the opportunity to launch lengthy throws into the opposition’s penalty area.

Last season, 20 goals were scored through throw-in routines, while 25 have already been scored during the current campaign.

“Throw-ins are underestimated by coaches, players, commentators and fans as something you should just do and see what happens,” Gronnemark previously told BBC Sport.

During Gronnemark’s time at Liverpool, the Reds’ possession stats from throw-ins improved from 45.4% to 68.4%, moving them from 18th to first in the league on that metric.

He told BBC Sport in 2018: “If you are expecting professional footballers to be world-class throwers without coaching then you are pretty optimistic. Generally the standard is quite poor.

“A focus on throw-ins can save the life of small clubs, as a technique to survive.

Macclesfield chairman Rob Smethurst says he feels like his side “won the FA Cup” with their third-round win over holders Crystal Palace on Saturday – and admitted he was “first on” as fans invaded the pitch at full-time.

The Silkmen beat their Premier League opponents 2-1 despite ranking 117 places below them, creating the biggest shock in the competition’s history in terms of difference in league position.

Paul Dawson’s header in the first half sent the home fans into dreamland, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts shocked Palace further when he delivered a second after the break.

The final whistle prompted scenes of jubilation as fans raced on to the pitch to celebrate.

“I legged it!” Smethurst told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday.

“I thought this is going to happen and I thought you know what I’m going on! I thought I need to hug my players here, I probably was first on and caused havoc.”

He added: “It was just amazing for Macclesfield. I know the lads were partying until three, four o’clock in the morning. I mean the scenes for the town and the community yesterday was just one of those experiences that I’m never going to forget.

The win was earned against a backdrop of tragedy after Silkmen forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident while travelling back from their National League North match at Bedford Town on 16 December.

The 21-year-old’s parents attended Saturday’s game and met the players in the dressing room after, with Smethurst wanting them to be involved in the post-match celebrations.

“I just grabbed them and said ‘this is your moment’,” he said.

“I took them into the dressing room. It was really emotional, we gave them Ethan’s boots which he’d been playing in but he’d left them at the club. It was a real touching moment, very upsetting.

“We’ve been through probably one of the hardest things we’ve ever been through as a football club and a community losing such a lovely lad.

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season after suffering a significant knee injury, involving damage to bone and ligament.

Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in stoppage time.

The injury is not related to his anterior cruciate ligament but he will have surgery in the coming days.

The full-back is also now a major doubt for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli later apologised for trying to push Bradley off the pitch when he was down injured.

Martinelli dropped the ball on his opponent before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both highly critical of Martinelli on Sky Sports, with Neville saying his actions were “absolutely disgraceful” and describing the Arsenal winger as an “idiot”.

“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli posted on Instagram.

“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer, Bradley has been Liverpool’s first choice right-back, starting 12 of their Premier League games this season.

Manager Arne Slot’s potential alternatives are limited with Joe Gomez as an option, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also slotted in as a full-back on occasion.

The more likely option is Jeremie Frimpong, who has been performing further forward down the right flank in recent weeks.

Northern Ireland finished third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Germany and Slovakia, but still booked a play-off spot thanks to their Nations League finish in 2024.