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Vancouver Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld experienced an emotional boost on Wednesday, scoring a goal to celebrate his return from a near-seven-month absence due to a knee injury. Gauld aims to make another move forward Sunday when Vancouver (16-6-9, 57 points) hosts the San Jose Earthquakes (10-14-8, 38 points). Fresh off the bench, Gauld made an immediate impact by converting from the top of the penalty area to help the Whitecaps secure their fourth straight Canadian Championship with a 4-2 victory over Vancouver FC. "He's been the team's captain for a while now, and he has been one of the best players for this club since he arrived," Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said. "He is an important player for us, and he means a lot. He brings a lot on the pitch, but also off the pitch as well." Ali Ahmed tallied twice on Wednesday for Vancouver, which is vying for the top spot in the Western Conference with three matches remaining. San Jose, in turn, is clinging to the ninth and final playoff spot in the West entering play this weekend. The Earthquakes snapped a three-match skid with a 1-0 victory over San Diego FC. "I'm sure it gives us some confidence," San Jose head coach Bruce Arena said of beating a top-tier team in the West. "We're going against another good team Sunday in Vancouver, a difficult venue to play in, but I think we'll go there with a lot of confidence that we can win the game." Josef Martinez scored in the 14th minute of that match and converted a penalty kick during San Jose's 2-1 win over a short-handed Whitecaps club on Aug. 9. The Venezuelan has five goals in four career matches versus Vancouver. Martinez's 13 goals have him tied for the team lead with Cristian "Chicho" Arango. Brian White, who scored in the previous encounter with San Jose, has boosted his team-leading goal total to 16 by tallying in four straight MLS matches for the Whitecaps. –Field Level Media

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Oct 4 (Stats Perform) – Results from the NCAAF games on Friday (home team in CAPS) Western Kentucky 27 DELAWARE 24 BROWN 28 Rhode Island 21

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* Trump says he believes Hamas ready for peace, Israel must stop bombing * Hamas responds to Gaza plan already accepted by Israel * Israel says it is preparing for implementation of stage one of Trump plan * Trump had warned of consequences if Hamas rejected proposal (Adds Israeli statements in paragraphs 2-3) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Gram Slattery CAIRO/WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a U.S. plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel was preparing for an "immediate implementation" of the first stage of Trump's Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas' response. Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the country's political echelon had instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza. BOMBING REPORTED AFTER TRUMP ANNOUNCEMENT The Israeli military chief of staff instructed forces in a statement to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s plan, without mentioning whether there would be reduction of military activity in Gaza. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, responded to Trump's 20-point plan after the U.S. president gave the group until Sunday to accept or face grave consequences. Trump, who has cast himself as the only person capable of achieving peace in Gaza, has invested significant political capital in efforts to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and left U.S. ally Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage. Trump said he believed Hamas had showed it was "ready for a lasting PEACE" and he put the onus on Netanyahu's government. "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East." Netanyahu's office said Israel "will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump's vision." Residents said Israeli tanks bombarded Talateeni Street, a major artery in the heart of Gaza City, after Trump's message to Israel to stop. Witnesses said Israeli military planes also intensified bombing in Gaza City in the hour after Hamas issued its statement, hitting several houses in the Remal neighborhood. There were strikes on Khan Younis but no reports of casualties, residents said. PRESSURE ON NETANYAHU Before Israel's latest announcements, families of those being held by Hamas in Gaza called on Netanyahu "to immediately order negotiations for the return of all hostages." Domestically, the prime minister is caught between growing pressure to end the war — from hostage families and a war-weary public — and demands from hardline members of his far-right coalition who insist there must be no let-up in Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Israel began its offensive in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 66,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. Its assault has destroyed much of the strip while aid restrictions have triggered a famine in parts of Gaza, with conditions dire across the enclave. A U.N. Commission of Inquiry and multiple human rights experts have concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu's government says it has acted in self-defense. Hamas, in a copy of its response seen by Reuters, did not say whether it would agree to disarm and demilitarize Gaza — something Israel and the U.S. want but Hamas has rejected before. It also did not agree to an Israeli withdrawal in stages, as opposed to the immediate, full withdrawal Hamas demands. A senior Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the group would not disarm before Israel's occupation of the enclave ends, comments that underscored the gap between the parties. Qatar has begun coordination with mediator Egypt and the United States to continue talks on Trump's Gaza plan, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said on X. Trump's plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body. THORNY ISSUES REMAIN In its response to Trump's plan, Hamas said it "appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, (and) the immediate entry of aid," among other terms. It said it was announcing its "approval of releasing all occupation prisoners — both living and remains — according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal, with the necessary field conditions for implementing the exchange." But Hamas added: "In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details." The group said it was ready "to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats) based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing." Hamas did not make clear whether it would agree to Trump's proposal that it be barred from exercising political power in Gaza. But the group said it should be "included and will contribute" to any Palestinian national discussion on Gaza's future. Hamas has previously offered to release all hostages and hand over administration of the Gaza Strip to a different body. Earlier on Friday, Trump had warned that "all HELL" would break out in Gaza if Hamas failed to agree to his proposal for the enclave by 6 p.m. ET (2200 GMT) on Sunday. Hamas was not involved in the negotiations that led to Trump's proposal. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Yomna Ehab, Menna Alaa El Din and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo; Gram Slattery, Kanishka Singh, Bhargav Acharya and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Andrew Mills in Doha and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Costas Pitas and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman and Diane Craft)

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Oct 4 (OPTA) – Results and fixtures for the Primera División on Friday (start times are ART) 2nd Phase —————————————————————– Tigre (1) 1 Defensa y Justicia (1) 1 Argentinos Juniors (0) 0 Central Córdoba SdE (0) 0 Unión v Aldosivi in play Sunday, October 5 fixtures (ART/GMT) Lanús v San Lorenzo (0015) Godoy Cruz v Independiente (1730) Estudiantes v Barracas Central (1930) Talleres de Córdoba v Belgrano (1945) Boca Juniors v Newell's Old Boys (2200) Monday, October 6 fixtures (ART/GMT) Rosario Central v River Plate (0015) Deportivo Riestra v Vélez Sarsfield (2200) Tuesday, October 7 fixtures (ART/GMT) Racing Club v Independiente Rivadavia (0000)

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With a chance to bolster its position in the top four of the Western Conference table, Los Angeles FC hosts Atlanta United on Saturday in its penultimate regular-season home game. Los Angeles FC (15-7-8, 53 points) is riding a season-high four-game winning streak and trails third-seeded Minnesota United by two points with two games in hand entering the weekend. Los Angeles has outscored its opponents 15-4 across the four-game stretch, the club's most goals in four games since July 2019. In the team's last six MLS matches, Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min have combined to score all 17 goals for Los Angeles. Bouanga's 23 goals rank second in Major League Soccer, while Son has scored eight goals in eight games since signing with Los Angeles on August 6. "Those are two really good players," LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. "The other eight players on the field are doing a great job of putting them in positions to succeed. We really see this as a team effort. Those are the guys finishing plays at the moment, but the amount of work that goes into those plays by everybody is wonderful to watch. … I'm a very happy coach right now to see everything functioning." On paper, Los Angeles is playing the right opponent if it wants to extend its winning streak. Atlanta (5-14-12, 27 points) has just one league victory since May 28, a 1-0 win at Nashville on August 30. With three games left, the club is in danger of finishing with fewer than six wins in a season for the first time in franchise history. Atlanta was held scoreless for the 11th time in a 2-0 defeat against the New England Revolution last Saturday. In arguably Atlanta's most disappointing season to date, head coach Ronny Deila summed up the team's issues. "We are too — I've used this expression many times this year — soft," Deila said. "You cannot go away and not dig in and fight and win challenges. That's what it starts with, and I think (New England) wanted it more than us today, and that's very sad to say." Atlanta, which has a minus-20 goal differential, is led by Emmanuel Latte Lath's seven goals, followed by Alexey Miranchuk's six. –Field Level Media

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Oct 4 (Stats Perform) – Results from the NHL games on Friday (home team in CAPS) PITTSBURGH 5 Buffalo 4

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South Africa's Garrick Higgo followed up his 7-under-par 65 on Thursday with a 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead (-13) into the weekend of the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss. Taylor Montgomery carded the low round of the tournament, a 9-under-par 63, and was knotted with Eric Cole at 12 under, one stroke behind Higgo. Danny Walker, who started the day tied with Higgo and Cole for the lead, is two shots behind after carding a 4-under 68. Higgo, 26, birdied four of the final seven holes at the Country Club of Jackson layout. The former UNLV standout earned his second PGA Tour victory earlier this year in mid-April at the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic. For Higgo, the key was keeping the ball out of the thick Bermuda rough. "I don't know what worked the best, but my tee shots were similar to yesterday, like I kept it in play," he said. "For me, whenever I think — obviously for everybody else as well, like the more fairways, the more greens I can hit, like I feel like I can take advantage of my putter, give myself a lot of looks, and I'll make my fair share." Three players are tied for fifth place at 10 under — South Korea's Tom Kim, Frankie Capan III and Vince Whaley. Higgo finished T7 at the Procore Championship three weeks ago, but was able to play the final round with winner Scottie Scheffler. The experience was invaluable. "Yeah, I learned a lot. I couldn't tell you how much I learned, but I learned so much just by watching. He's an inspiration for all of us. He's set the bar so high. It's just phenomenal how high his skill level is." Montgomery, 30, started on the back nine and parred the first five holes. Then, he ignited, birdieing seven in a row en route to his 63. Montgomery also competed at UNLV, but exited the program the year before Higgo arrived in Las Vegas. He struggled out of the gate this year, but has a pair of top-12 finishes in his last four PGA Tournament starts. "This year has been a lot of like kind of tinkering and messing around," said Montgomery. "My swing has gotten a lot better, but I was working on that. Now if I can take how I play at home out here to tournament golf, I think — it's more like what I've done today." Higgo will be paired with Cole and Montgomery will play alongside Walker on Saturday. –Field Level Media

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Oct 4 (OPTA) – Summaries for the Premier League on Friday (start times are BST) AFC Bournemouth (0) 3 Scorers: A. Semenyo 78, J. Kluivert 84, A. Semenyo 90+6 Subs used: Álex Jiménez 61 (Hill), Kluivert 61 (Tavernier), Gannon-Doak 78 (Senesi), Christie 78 (Adams), Milosavljević 85 (Brooks) Fulham (0) 1 Scorers: R. Sessegnon 70 Yellow card: Diop 76 Subs used: Cairney 14 (Lukić), Chukwueze 67 (Wilson), Kevin 67 (King), Smith Rowe 86 (Diop), Adama Traoré 86 (Iwobi) Attendance: 11165 Referee: Simon Hooper ……………………………………………………….. Saturday, October 4 fixtures (BST/GMT) Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur (1130) Arsenal v West Ham United (1400) Manchester United v Sunderland (1400) Chelsea v Liverpool (1630) Sunday, October 5 fixtures (BST/GMT) Aston Villa v Burnley (1300) Everton v Crystal Palace (1300) Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest (1300) Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion (1300) Brentford v Manchester City (1530)

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Oct 4 (OPTA) – Standings for the Premier League on Saturday P W D L F A Pts 1 Liverpool 6 5 0 1 12 7 15 2 Bournemouth 7 4 2 1 11 8 14 3 Arsenal 6 4 1 1 12 3 13 4 Crystal Palace 6 3 3 0 8 3 12 ……………………………………. 5 Tottenham 6 3 2 1 11 4 11 ……………………………………. 6 Sunderland 6 3 2 1 7 4 11 7 Man City 6 3 1 2 14 6 10 ……………………………………. 8 Chelsea 6 2 2 2 11 8 8 9 Everton 6 2 2 2 7 6 8 10 Brighton 6 2 2 2 9 9 8 11 Fulham 7 2 2 3 8 11 8 12 Leeds 6 2 2 2 6 9 8 13 Brentford 6 2 1 3 9 11 7 14 Man Utd 6 2 1 3 7 11 7 15 Newcastle 6 1 3 2 4 5 6 16 Aston Villa 6 1 3 2 4 6 6 17 Nottm Forest 6 1 2 3 5 10 5 ……………………………………. 18 Burnley 6 1 1 4 6 13 4 19 West Ham 6 1 1 4 6 14 4 20 Wolves 6 0 1 5 4 13 1 1-4: Champions League 5: Europa League 6-7: Europa League depending on domestic cup 18-20: Relegation

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A little more than six months ago, catcher Cal Raleigh sat in an interview room at T-Mobile Park to discuss the six-year, $105 million contract extension he signed with the Seattle Mariners. He was back in the same spot Friday, talking about his record-setting season and the best-of-five American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, which is set to begin Saturday. Raleigh hit an MLB-leading 60 home runs, shattering the marks for most by a primary catcher (Salvador Perez, 48 in 2021) and by a switch-hitter (Mickey Mantle, 54 in 1961). In addition, Raleigh won the Home Run Derby at the All- Star Game in Atlanta with his father pitching and his little brother catching. "I mean, it's been a crazy year," Raleigh said. "First off, I mean, obviously getting to win the (AL) West last week was something super special, and it's something we haven't done in 20-plus years. It was just nice to enjoy it with the guys, let the guard down, really just celebrate with them. And like I said, something that hasn't been done in a long time. So it meant a little more doing that, and doing that was amazing. "And yeah, with the rest of this stuff, you know, contracts and then everything that kind of came after that with the hot start, and then, you know, the Home Run Derby, and what felt like every single day, you know, some stat being thrown around there, it being talked about, you know, on TV or whatever. So it was just crazy, something I never thought would happen and something — I don't really have much words. It's been a crazy kind of ride this year." The division champion Mariners, making just their second playoff appearance since 2001, hope that ride continues. Manager Dan Wilson announced Friday that with All-Star Bryan Woo still recovering from a strained pectoral muscle, right-hander George Kirby (10-8, 4.21 ERA) will pitch the opener. Kirby also started the Mariners' lone home playoff game in 2022, pitching seven scoreless innings in a game Houston won 1-0 in 18 innings to wrap up a series sweep. "Super honored," Kirby said. "It's a big game and something you always dream of, to start Game 1 or any game in the playoffs." The Tigers, who went the distance to defeat host Cleveland in the best-of- three AL wild-card series, will counter with rookie Troy Melton (3-2, 2.76), who made four regular-season starts. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who pitched 7 2/3 innings Tuesday in a 2-1 victory against Cleveland, will remain on regular rest and start Sunday in Game 2. "I let Troy know on the plane (Thursday) night that he was going to start, and we're excited to hand him the ball," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "Plus stuff, great demeanor, the ability to handle what's probably going to be the most excitable outing for him in a couple months' worth of major league outings." Melton pitched one-third of an inning of relief Wednesday in a 6-1 loss, giving up four runs on three hits. "I had good stuff. Nothing I'm really too concerned with as far as that," Melton said. "They put three good swings on three mistakes that I made, and that's the name of the game." While the Mariners went on a 17-1 run late in the regular season to clinch the division title, the Tigers blew a record 15 1/2-game lead to finish second in the AL Central. Dillon Dingler's homer in the sixth inning broke a 1-all tie Thursday and they went on to score four more runs in the seventh to beat the Guardians 6-3 in the decisive Game 3. "We were on quite a journey to start the season. We race out. We have this big lead. We get a lot of love and a lot of attention and a lot of power rankings and all the stuff that doesn't mean anything at the point of the season until you get to the finish line," Hinch said. "So we've had to deal with a lot. Maybe that hardened us. Maybe that toughened us up. … We've always had a ton of confidence, and we're coming off a big series win that we hope to carry that momentum into playing the Mariners." –Field Level Media

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