Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on an exquisite free kick, lifting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champion Porto on Thursday.

The Herons trailed 1-0 at the break, but Telasco Segovia tied it two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt.

Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he’ll go down as one of the game’s greatest stars.

Samu Omorodion scored on a penalty kick in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club’s first goal of the tournament.

Both teams were held to scoreless draws in their opening Group A matches.

Saints baseball

Sabato slams as St. Paul ends 7-game losing skid

The Saints snapped a seven-game losing streak with an 8-2 defeat of Toledo at CHS Field.

Aaron Sabato’s grand slam in the fifth inning put the game out of reach. Miranda also homered while going 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Trent Baker earned the win with four innings of scoreless relief after succeeding starter Andrew Morris.

St. Paul (32-38) and Toledo (37-35) continue their series through the weekend.

NBA

Rockets, Udoka agree to contract extension

Coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a contract extension with the Houston Rockets. No details on the terms of the contract were available.

The move comes after Udoka led the Rockets to the second-best record in the Western Conference this season and their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season. Houston made a remarkable turnaround in his two seasons in charge after being among the worst teams in the NBA the three seasons before his hiring.

The Rockets, who won just 42 games combined in the two seasons before Udoka was hired, went 41-41 in his first season before going 52-30 this season for their first winning record since 2019-20. Houston lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the first round of the playoffs this season.

Udoka led the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022, then was suspended for the following season after the disclosure of an inappropriate relationship with a female Celtics employee.

The 47-year-old was hired in April 2023 to replace Stephen Silas, who was relieve of his duties after three losing seasons.

Nicholas Kerr joins his dad on Warriors’ staff

Steve Kerr’s son is the newest member of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA coaching staff.

Nicholas Kerr is joining the NBA team’s coaching staff after spending the past two seasons as the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League.

Santa Cruz went 20-14 in each of his two seasons in charge, making the postseason during both campaigns. Before that, Nicholas was an assistant coach in Santa Cruz from 2021-23.

Lainn Wilson, Golden State’s head video coordinator for each of the past four seasons, was named Santa Cruz’s next head coach.

Before working in Santa Cruz, Nicholas was an assistant coach on his father’s staff from 2018-21. He was a video coordinator and worked in player development during his time in the NBA.

Nicholas, 32, played college basketball at San Diego and Cal from 2011-16.

NFL

Five-time Pro Bowler Mosley calls it quits

C.J. Mosley, a five-time Pro Bowl selection during an 11-year NFL career with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, announced on his 33rd birthday that he’s retiring from playing football.

Mosley was released by the Jets in March after playing in just four games last season because of a toe injury and later a herniated disk in his neck.

Mosley, the 17th overall pick by Baltimore in the 2014 draft out of Alabama, had nearly 1,100 career tackles with 12 sacks, 12 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and three touchdowns.

He played five standout seasons with the Ravens before signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets in 2019 and was the heartbeat of New York’s defense during his tenure as one of the NFL’s top tacklers.

NHL

Stars re-sign Duchene to 4-year, $18M contract

The Dallas Stars have re-signed forward Matt Duchene to a four-year contract worth $18 million.

General manager Jim Nill announced the deal. Duchene will count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 season.

Duchene, 34 and entering his 17th season, was a point-a-game scorer — exactly 82 in 82 — in his second season with Dallas.

He had just one goal and five assists in 16 playoff games as the Stars reached the Western Conference final before losing to Edmonton.

Dallas deals Marchment to Kraken for draft picks

The Seattle Kraken acquired forward Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars on Thursday for a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2026 third-rounder.

The 30-year-old Marchment — one of the NHL’s tallest players at 6-foot-5 — tied his career high with 22 goals last season and had 25 assists in 62 regular-season games.

Up against the salary cap, the Stars were eager to move Marchment in a salary-shedding move with the final year of his contract carrying a $4.5 million cap hit.

Marchment has 76 goals and 113 assists in 302 regular-season games with the Stars, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 11 goals and eight assists in 59 playoff games.

GOLF

Woods’ son qualifies for U.S. Junior Amateur

The 16-year-old son of Tiger Woods is heading back to the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Charlie Woods bogeyed his final hole to fall into a three-way playoff for the final spot out of Eagle Trace Golf Club. Woods, who shot 71, won the playoff.

— From news services