Photo Webdesk

Three second-half goals condemned Brazil's CR Vasco da Gama to a 1-3 defeat against Club Olimpia, a result that pushed the Paraguayan giants closer to a direct CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana 2026 round of 16 spot. In a tense match at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium, Asuncion, Carlos Cuesta put the visitors ahead in the 45th minute. But goals from Mateo Gamarra (67'), Hugo Sandoval (85'), and Sebastian Ferreira (90+4') completed a dramatic turnaround for the hosts even as the visitors saw defender Joao Vitor sent off in the 71st minute. With 10 points from five matches, Olimpia lead Group G. Vasco and Chile's Audax Italiano are joint second with seven points each. On the decisive final matchday, Olimpia will host Italiano, while Vasco will welcome bottom-placed Barracas Central of Argentina in a must-win game.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for May 21, 2026

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Argentinian giants River Plate survived a mighty scare against visiting Red Bull Bragantino in their penultimate group match of the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana 2026 at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, on Wednesday (May 20). After conceding a 35th-minute goal, scored by Alix Vinicius, the Millionaires found the equaliser in the third minute of added time, via a Pereyra close-range effort. They had earlier scored 90+3' and 90+6' winners against the same opponents and Carabobo of Venezuela, respectively. With 11 points from five matches, River Plate have qualified for the round of 16, while Bragantino (7) remain in contention for the knockout round play-offs. Carabobo (6) and Bolivian side Blooming (1) are out of contention.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Three-time champions Nacional were held to a frustrating goalless draw by visiting Universitario in a CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026, Group B match at Estadio Gran Parque Central, Montevideo, on Wednesday (May 20). The stalemate left the famed Decano (The Dean) in a precarious position. Regarded as one of the giants of South American football, Nacional won the continental showpiece in 1971, 1980, and 1988, and they are the reigning Uruguayan champions, having claimed their 50th national title last year. After the conclusion of round 5, Coquimbo Unido of Chile lead the group with 10 points, ahead of Colombian outfit Deportes Tolima (seven points). Universitario and Nacional have five points each, but the Peruvian outfit are third on goal difference. The two top teams from the group will qualify for the round of 16. On the final matchday, both Nacional and Universitario will play home games, against Coquimbo Unido and Deportes Tolima, respectively.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Two dramatic late goals, including an own goal, helped former champions Liga de Quito (Ecuador) beat Lanus (Argentina) 2-0 in their penultimate Group G match of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026 on Wednesday (May 20). Played at Quito's La Casa Blanca, literally meaning the White House, the match looked destined for a goalless draw. But Felipe Pena scored an own goal in the 73rd minute before Fernando Cornejo's added-time strike for the 2008 champions. The 'Ecuadorian King of Cups' moved second in the group with nine points from five matches, three more than Lanus. Brazil's Mirassol, who defeated Always Ready of Bolivia on Tuesday, have already qualified for the round of 16. The top two teams will qualify for the knockouts. Both Quito and Lanus will be at home on the final group stage matchday, against Ready and Mirassol, respectively.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Defending champions Flamengo qualified for the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026 round of 16 after beating Estudiantes of Argentina 1-0 in their penultimate Group A match on Wednesday (May 20). In front of a packed Maracana crowd, Pedro scored the decisive goal (65th) following a goalmouth scramble, with visiting goalkeeper Fernando Muslera partly to blame for a poor clearance. The Brazilian giants, whose matchday 4 fixture against Independiente Medellin in Colombia was cancelled due to fan trouble, now have an unassailable 10 points from four matches (3 wins, 1 draw). Fellow four-time champions Estudiantes are third with six points, behind Independiente (7), their final matchday rivals. Cusco of Peru are fourth with a single point. The top two teams will qualify for the knockouts.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-crowned MVP, shrugged off his underwhelming performance in the series opener to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 in Game 2 of the NBA 2026 Playoffs, Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center, OK, on Wednesday night. SGA (30 points) outscored the Spurs trio of Stephon Castle (25), Devin Vassell (22), and Victor Wembanyama (21) in an MVP-worthy performance as Thunder made it 1-1 in the postseason scrap. Thunder, however, lost guard Jalen Williams in the first half due to injury. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at Frost Bank Center, San Antonio. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 thanks to a 122-115 double OT win.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Argentine giants Boca Juniors endured a frustrating 1-1 draw with visiting Cruzeiro in their CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores 2026 match at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, on Tuesday (May 19). Needing a win to reclaim the top spot in Group D and ensure a smooth passage into the next round, the six-time champions took the lead in the 15th minute via Uruguayan forward Miguel Merentiel, but Xeneize failed to close out the tie as Fagner hit the equaliser for the visitors from Brazil early in the second half. As things stood, Cruzeiro lead the group with eight points from five outings, while Boca are joint second with Universidad Catolica of Chile -- seven points each. Universidad, however, had a game in hand. Barcelona SC (Ecuador) are fourth with three. The two top teams after will advance to the round of 16 of South America's top club tournament.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

In front of the future king of England, Unai Emery reaffirmed his status as the king of the Europa League. Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on Wednesday to secure Emery a record-extending fifth title in this competition. Celebrating wildly inside the Tupras Stadium was lifelong Villa fan Prince William, who traveled to watch his beloved team end a 30-year wait for a major trophy. It was Villa’s first major piece of silverware since winning the English League Cup in 1996 and its first continental title since lifting the European Cup and then the Super Cup in 1982. Was the outcome ever in doubt with the ultimate Europa League specialist Emery on the sideline? The Spanish coach has enjoyed remarkable success in Europe’s second-tier competition, winning it three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16 and again with Villarreal in 2021.

BY Photo Webdesk 21 May 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday. Manish Pandey (45) and Rovman Powell (40) did bulk of the scoring as Kolkata reached 148-6 for their sixth win in the last seven games to move to sixth place. Mumbai’s disappointing season continued when it slumped to 41-4 inside the power play before Corbin Bosch’s quickfire, 32 not out off 18 balls, lifted them to 147-8. Mumbai remained ninth and will round off their season with the last league game against Rajasthan. Rajasthan could seal the final playoff spot if they beat Mumbai. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already qualified for the playoffs.

BY Photo Webdesk 20 May 2026