Lorient: Sylvain Ripoll has been named Lorient coach to replace the departing Christian Gourcuff, the Ligue 1 club said in a statement yesterday. Ripoll, a former Stade Rennes and Lorient defender and midfielder, had been Gourcuff’s assistant for the 11 years he spent as head coach of the Brittany side.
Rotherham: Rotherham beat Leyton Orient 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in the League One playoff final at Wembley Stadium yesterday to win promotion to the Championship. Richard Smallwood scored the winning penalty as fourth-placed Rotherham came from two goals down to register their second successive promotion. Chris Dagnall missed the decisive final penalty for third-placed Orient.
Bus accident: Afghan team captain Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri and coach Yousuf Kargar were among five players and two officials injured in a bus accident in the Maldives on Saturday. After drawing their Asian Challenge Cup match against Laos, the footballers were returning to the hotel when the bus carrying them hit a motorcycle that had cut in front of the motorcade.
New England revolution: Diego Fagundez scored the winner 13 minutes from time as the New England Revolution opened up a five-point lead at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference following a 2-1 win over third-placed DC United. Patrick Mullins opened the scoring in the 55th minute and although Fabian Espindola drew DC United level in after 74 minutes, the Revolution immediately re-establish their advantage almost immediately afterwards through Fagundez.
Ujpest: Ujpest won their ninth Hungarian Cup by beating Diosgyor on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final at Ferenc Puskas Stadium yesterday. The Lilacs led through Andras Gosztonyi’s own goal after six minutes but Diosgyor equalised with a Patrik Bacsa goal in the 90th minute to force extra time. Diosgyor had defender Tamas Kadar sent off but hung on for a shootout in which defender Senad Husic and Willam Alves missed the target.
Youth FA U-17 KO: Quarter-finals – Floriana vs Sliema 0-3; Valletta vs San Ġwann 3-2; Ħamrun Spartans vs Cottonera 1-0; Hibs vs Mosta 4-0.