Israeli striker Stav Nahmani made an instant impact in Scottish football with two goals off the bench as St Mirren beat Arbroath 4-0 in the Viaplay Cup.
Former Motherwell striker Mikael Mandron also headed his first goal for the Buddies as Stephen Robinson’s side took just 10 minutes to get off the mark following their opening loss against Montrose.
New club captain Mark O’Hara doubled the lead just before the break and Nahmani was introduced in the 63rd minute following his arrival on loan from Hapoel Beer Sheva earlier this week. The 21-year-old struck twice in his first 16 minutes of action to round off a convincing victory.
Montrose followed up their opening win with a penalties success against Cowdenbeath following a 1-1 draw at Central Park.
St Johnstone also bounced back from an opening defeat to win 4-0 as they triumphed at Alloa.
Cammy Ballantyne took less than 60 seconds to net his first goal since last year’s group stage following good link-up play between Stevie May and debutant Luke Jephcott.
Ryan McGowan doubled the lead in the 20th minute with a 25-yard drive and May struck in the 63rd minute. Young striker Ben McCrystal came off the bench for his debut and marked it with an 89th-minute goal.
Stirling stay top of Group A after first-half goals from Dale Carrick and Aaron Dunsmore earned a 2-1 win over Stenhousemuir.
Livingston face a battle to qualify after a 1-1 home draw with Hamilton which saw Accies claim the bonus point.
Andrew Winter gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour mark before Bruce Anderson levelled in the final minute. Hamilton won 4-1 on penalties to stay top of Group C ahead of Cove Rangers, who came from behind to win 3-2 at Brechin thanks to Kyle Connell’s double.
Ross County also came from behind in the final 20 minutes to beat Morton 2-1 in Group D.
Former Inverness striker George Oakley headed home in the 37th minute for the visitors but Jay Henderson volleyed his first goal for the Staggies and Simon Murray latched on to Jordan White’s flick-on to hit the winner in the 77th minute.
Stranraer beat Edinburgh City 2-1 in the other game in Group D.
Kilmarnock took control of Group F with a 2-0 win at Dunfermline. Fraser Murray was on target from close range inside four minutes and Kyle Vassell supplied an emphatic finish in the 81st minute.
Lowland League newcomers Albion Rovers gave their travelling fans something to cheer when they beat Annan 2-1 thanks to a late comeback.
Airdrie moved into pole position in Group E courtesy of player-manager Rhys McCabe’s 89th-minute penalty against Dundee, who earlier missed from the spot through Lyall Cameron. That was the only goal in the group with Dumbarton and Bonnyrigg Rose playing out a stalemate.
Falkirk emerged with the bonus point following a dramatic 2-2 draw against Group B leaders Partick Thistle at Firhill.
Ross MacIver gave the Bairns an early lead but the game looked to have turned midway through the second half when Brad Spencer was sent off and Brian Graham added further punishment by converting the resulting free-kick.
Alfredo Agyeman scored a brilliant solo goal three minutes later to put the Bairns back in front before James Lyon levelled in the final moments. Falkirk won 7-6 on penalties.
Louis Moult got his first goal for Dundee United as they ended a seven-game losing streak with a 3-0 win against Peterhead. Kevin Holt netted two second-half penalties for Jim Goodwin’s men.
Queen of the South maintained their hopes in Group G with a 2-0 win at Elgin despite having Kyle McLelland sent off. Kieran McKechnie and Paul McKay were on target for Marvin Bartley’s men.
Motherwell retained top spot in the group with a 1-0 home win over Queen’s Park in the evening kick-off.
Well started slowly but Jon Obika missed a glorious headed chance before netting via the aid of a deflection in the 29th minute.
Callum Slattery and Jack Thomson hit the bar at either end and Queen’s Park had two penalty claims denied as the game remained in the balance.
Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women
Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.
Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.
Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.
"The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.
"We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.
Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.
"If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.
"We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.
"We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."
'Not a good sign' – Keane unimpressed by Man Utd's injured absentees
Roy Keane was left questioning the attitudes of Manchester United's players as the Red Devils were once again without numerous key players for Sunday's loss to Arsenal.
Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez were among the notable names to miss out for the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag bemoaned continued injury issues.
Martinez and Harry Maguire's absence ensured Ten Hag had to field Jonny Evans and makeshift centre-back partner Casemiro in defence, with the latter at fault for Leandro Trossard's winning goal.
Wayne Rooney vocalised his concerns over the application of United's players and Keane, speaking on Sky Sports, echoed his thoughts as he questioned the prolonged absence of some.
"Obviously, that's not a good sign," Keane said of players not returning from injury. "You'd hope players who are carrying injuries are desperate to get back playing again.
"There is always a worry, there are always players at every club that can drag their heels with an injury.
"Generally, players I played with when they were given a period they'd be injured for, they were always trying to knock a week off it and get back playing for Manchester United or whatever club they're at."
Without a host of key players, United have conceded in 10 successive games in all competitions for the first time since October 2021.
The Red Devils' 82 goals they have conceded this season is their most since 1970-71 (also 82), too, as United continue to disappoint in the 2023-23 campaign.
United have also lost 19 games in all competitions this season, their most since 1977-78 (also 19), while their nine defeats at Old Trafford this term are their joint-most at home in a single campaign.
Keane says the concerns over players not racing back to fitness is not unusual, though it does little to aid Ten Hag's plight.
"It's always a worry but I have to say, it goes on at lots of football clubs," the United great said.
"There are lots of players out there when they have an injury, they're not in the hurry to get back in the team. I think that's obvious and happens at lots of football clubs."
Leverkusen ready to become first team to play unbeaten Bundesliga season, says Alonso
Bayer Leverkusen are ready to become the first team in Bundesliga history to go an entire season unbeaten, coach Xabi Alonso said after Sunday's 5-0 demolition of Bochum.
Treble-chasing Leverkusen cruised past Bochum, who had Felix Passlack sent off in the 15th minute, to stretch their remarkable unbeaten run across all competitions this season to 50 consecutive matches.
On Thursday, Alonso's team surpassed Benfica's long-standing European unbeaten record set from 1963 to 1965 with a 2-2 draw against Roma that sent them through to the Europa League final.
Sunday's win over Bochum also meant they became only the third team in Bundesliga history to remain unbeaten in every away match of a season.
"After that red card it was a completely different game for us," Alonso told a press conference.
"I am very satisfied with the result. It was important for us. Now we have a super goal on Saturday to win the title without any defeat. That has never happened before."
Leverkusen, who face Atalanta in the Europa League showpiece match and take on Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final later in May, entertain Augsburg at home in Saturday's Bundesliga finale where they will also receive their first-ever league trophy.
"To receive the title in Leverkusen will be very special," said Alonso. "The players have been focused the entire season so for them it will be very special. I am proud of them."
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