Bay FC in playoff picture with second straight win

DIGEST

Earthquakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough walks onto the field for warmups before a game against the L.A. Galaxy at Stanford Stadium on Saturday night. The game was still in progress when this edition went to press. For details and more on the Earthquakes, go to mercurynews.com/sports. SHAE HAMMOND — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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For the first time this year, Bay FC — the Bay Area’s first-year NWSL club — secured back-to-back victories on Saturday.

With a 1-0 win at Racing Louisville, the team is showing signs of second-half improvement.

Star forward Asisat Oshoala netted the match’s only goal in the 76th minute on a penalty shot to propel Bay FC to its sixth win. The team sits eighth in the standings in a league with an eight-team playoff format.

Saturday’s victory was the club’s first game after general manager Lucy Rushton abruptly resigned from her post. Both of their past two results were 1-0 wins; after giving up 19 goals in its first eight matches, the club has surrendered just six goals in its past seven matches.

NHL

New Utah team makes draft splash >> Whether it’s owner Ryan Smith’s contagious drive, the excitement of adding two centers in the first round of the NHL draft, or the new blue suit, tie and Utah Hockey Club pin on his lapel he wore, general manager Bill Armstrong woke up energized on Saturday.

“I woke up this morning after I slept for a good two minutes and I said, ‘Let’s shock the world,’ ” Armstrong said.

Shock might be a stretch, but the NHL’s newest market in Salt Lake City — where the Arizona Coyotes relocated in April — made its presence felt during the second and final day of the seven-round draft at the Sphere.

Barely 10 picks into the second round, Utah completed two trades minutes apart in addressing its defensive needs with established veterans. The team first acquired two-time Stanley Cup champion Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay in a blockbuster, followed up by acquiring John Marino from New Jersey.

The club entered the draft with 13 picks, and Armstrong delivered on his intention to use some of them as assets. After using the team’s first pick by selecting forward Tij Iginla — son of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla — at No. 6, Armstrong traded three picks to Colorado in moving up 14 spots to select center Cole Beaudoin at No. 24.

Motorsports

Verstappen wins again on f1 circuit >> Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen held off an early attack by Lando Norris before pulling away from the two McLarens to comfortably secure his third sprint race victory of the year at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen finished 4.616 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to make it three wins out of three in sprint races this season, with Norris another 0.732 seconds back in third.

The dominant Verstappen has also won seven of the 10 grand prix races this season as he aims for a seemingly inevitable fourth straight F1 title, but he was put under serious pressure early on in this one.

Soccer

brazil impresses in copa america group stage match >> Vinícius Júnior scored two first-half goals to lead Brazil to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night and put itself in position to advance out of Group D in the Copa America.

“Today, he played almost a perfect match,” Brazil coach Dorival Júnior said through an interpreter.

Sávio also scored a first-half goal for Brazil and Lucas Paquetá scored on a penalty kick in the second half. Omar Alderete scored Paraguay’s goal.

There were plenty of tense moments with five yellow cards and a red handed out. Andres Cubas was sent off for a red card in the 81st minute, forcing Paraguay to play the last part of the match down a man. Yellow cards were handed to Brazil’s Wendell, Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Paquetá and Paraguay’s Fabián Balbuena and Hernesto Caballero.

The victory was quite a response for the Seleção, who opened the tournament Tuesday with a scoreless draw against Costa Rica.

Storm suspends play at euros >> A thunderstorm stopped play as Germany and Denmark met in the round of 16 at the European Championship, eventually suspending the game.

When play eventually resumed, Germany pulled away with back-to-back unanswered goals to win 2-0.

The score was 0-0 in the 35th minute when the referee took the players off with rain pouring, high winds and repeated lightning strikes near the Westfalenstadion. A loud bang resounded around the stadium shortly before the players were taken off.

Hail was even falling on the field during the interruption in a stark contrast to the previously warm summer evening.

Denmark gave away a penalty for handball, and Germany’s Kai Havertz converted the spot kick. Jamal Musiala added a second goal.