West Ham hit back from a goal down to claim their first FA Youth Cup crown in 24 years after a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Arsenal in the final.

Omari Benjamin gave the Gunners’ under-18s a seventh-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium, but George Earthy levelled just after the quarter-mark with a fizzing strike from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later and the Hammers were ahead through Callum Marshall, who coolly netted from Gideon Kodua’s ball into the area before the provider turned goal-scorer moments before half-time.

OH. MY. ?@WestHam's Gideon Kodua has just done this in the #FAYouthCup Final ?#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/5iwCr3YaFq

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 25, 2023

Josh Robinson mis-controlled a pass on halfway which allowed Kodua to steal in, with the West Ham forward expertly chipping over stranded Arsenal goalkeeper Noah Cooper from 40 yards out.

Kaelan Casey extended West Ham’s lead after 79 minutes by heading home from Ollie Scarles’ corner, while substitute Josh Briggs scored with his first touch at the death to rubber-stamp an emphatic victory.

The last time West Ham went all the way in this competition was in 1999, when a team containing Joe Cole and Michael Carrick thrashed Coventry 9-0 over two legs.

Taty Castellanos became the first player this century to score four past Real Madrid in LaLiga as Girona beat Los Blancos 4-2 at Montilivi on Tuesday to put Barcelona a step closer to the title.

Madrid went into the midweek round of fixtures 11 points adrift of their bitter rivals with eight games left, and this deserved defeat could see the gulf widen even further.

Castellanos netted twice inside 24 minutes to put Girona in charge, and although Vinicius Junior pulled one back just after the half-hour mark, Madrid largely looked blunt without the injured Karim Benzema.

Girona picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, Castellanos quickly completing his treble before adding a fourth that rendered Lucas Vazquez's late goal irrelevant.

Michel's side raced into an early lead.

Rodrigo Riquelme instigated a wonderful move with an incisive disguised ball into the box for Ivan Martin, who backheeled to Miguel Gutierrez, and his first-time cross was nodded home by Castellanos.

He got his second in the 24th minute, blasting home after nudging Eder Militao out of the way and racing on to a hopeful Arnau Martinez punt.

Vinicius nodded in Marco Asensio's right-wing cross in at the back post to earn Madrid a lifeline.

But the two-goal deficit was restored 36 seconds after half-time as Castellanos guided Yan Couto's delivery home.

Any remaining doubt about the outcome was then put to bed just past the hour, Castellanos heading a deflected cross past the unconvincing Andriy Lunin, with Vazquez's Vinicius-assisted tap-in too little, too late.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour thinks his old club will not have a better opportunity to win the Premier League than this season.

The Gunners face Manchester City on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium in a game that could ultimately decide who wins the title.

Mikel Arteta’s side have stumbled slightly in their pursuit of a first league championship since 2004, squandering two-goal leads against Liverpool and West Ham before being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Southampton despite fighting back late on.

Parlour, part of the ‘Invincibles’ side who famously won the title almost 20 years ago without losing a game, feels Arsenal may not get a better chance and fears teams like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will come back stronger next season.

He told the PA news agency: “Whatever happens this season I’m happy with the way they played, but they will not get a better chance to win the league.

“We know Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, they will all be stronger next year, so you’re in a position now to make history and the achievement will be right up there with anything that I won.

“They were outsiders to win the league at the start of the season, so there’s an opportunity and it doesn’t come round too often that you get the chance to be in this position with seven or eight games to go. But whatever happens I still think so much progress has been made this year.”

Pep Guardiola’s City have won the league in four out of the last five years and are aiming to make it three titles in a row, sitting five points behind Arsenal with two games in hand.

Arsenal’s last win came at the start of April, 4-1 against Leeds, and City are breathing down their necks thanks to a six-game winning run, having not dropped points since February.

Parlour continued: “I thought the pressure would pick up, with seven or eight games it always does and I’ve been in those situations myself.

“This is what you love football for, you never know what the season is going to hold for anyone and it’s been a rollercoaster ride for everyone at Arsenal this season, now they’ve just got to keep believing they can do it.

“(Wednesday’s game) won’t decide it, but it will be a big gauge where the title will go this season.”

While Arsenal have seen progress, they are relying on the league title to earn them some sort of silverware this season.

The North London side were knocked out of the Europa League by Sporting Lisbon, after exiting the FA Cup and Carabao Cup to City and Brighton respectively earlier in the campaign.

Manchester United were crowned Carabao Cup winners with victory over Newcastle in February and, should Arsenal miss out on the title, Parlour believes United will have had the better season.

Parlour said: “I think Manchester United will have certainly had the better season (if Arsenal don’t win the league). Trophies are the most important.

“You can argue Champions League (qualification) is so important for the clubs because of finances and the players you can attract into the club.

“But when I finished my career, I don’t look at it like, ‘Ooh, I came fourth eight years running’, I say the amount of trophies you won and that’s what you are proud of. On your honours list, fourth place doesn’t count.”

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Sofia Kenin crashed out of the Madrid Open in the first round on Tuesday, losing in just 58 minutes to Maryna Zavenska.

The 2020 Australian Open champion and former world number four has showed some flashes of her old form in 2023, having seen her career derailed by injuries since her triumph in Melbourne.

She reached the third round at the Miami Open in March, but was outclassed on the clay by her Belgian opponent, who raced to a 6-0 6-3 win.

Kenin's American compatriot Katie Volynets suffered defeat to Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova while Lauren Davis was beaten in three sets by Sorana Cirstea and Claire Liu lost in straight sets to Yulia Putintseva.

Karolina Muchova overcame former world number two Anett Kontaveit 6-2 6-2 but her Czech compatriot Babora Strycova lost to Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Elsewhere in the draw, world number 79 Rebecca Marino claimed a surprise straight-sets win over world number 39 Zhu Lin.

Yorkshire are set to discover next week what punitive measures will be taken against them after accepting four amended charges of bringing the game into disrepute in the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.

The club did not contest the charges, including a failure to address the use of racist and/or discriminatory language over a prolonged period, at last month’s Cricket Discipline Commission hearing.

Punishments range from a points deduction in the County Championship, One-Day Cup and T20 Blast to a fine, with a sanctions hearing to be held next Wednesday, the PA news agency understands.

Gary Ballance also admitted using racist and/or discriminatory language prior to the hearing but he announced his retirement from cricket last week after relocating back to his native Zimbabwe.

The England and Wales Cricket Board brought cases against six more former Yorkshire players – Michael Vaughan, Tim Bresnan, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Gale, Richard Pyrah and John Blain.

Vaughan was cleared “on the balance of probabilities” of using racist language towards Rafiq but the five others were found liable of using racist and/or discriminatory language by the CDC panel.

Only Vaughan appeared at the public hearing to give evidence to the CDC panel, chaired by Tim O’Gorman, with Bresnan, Hoggard, Gale, Pyrah and Blain withdrawing from the process.

Some of the individuals may appeal against the guilty verdicts but their penalties – alongside that of Yorkshire and Ballance – are expected to be handed down next week.

Brighton and Hove Albion have tied highly rated striker Evan Ferguson down to a new five-year contract.

Ferguson has enjoyed a promising breakthrough season in the Premier League this term, attracting admiring glances from other clubs.

But Brighton, so respected for their development of youth prospects in recent years, look set to continue shaping the 18-year-old.

Ferguson made his Premier League debut in February last year but has established himself as a regular first-team option in the 2022-23 campaign.

A powerful and athletic forward, Ferguson has made 13 top-flight appearances and scored four goals – across all competitions, he has netted eight times in 19 games.

Ferguson also made the breakthrough at international level this season, becoming the second-youngest player (18 years, 154 days) to score on his first start for the Republic of Ireland last month.

Before that, Ferguson also became the second-youngest (18y 76d) player in Premier League history to both score and assist in a match after Michael Owen in 1997 (17y 364d) back in January against Everton.

Netting against the Toffees also made Ferguson the youngest player to score in successive Premier League games since Federico Macheda in 2009.

On Ferguson's new deal, Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: "Evan's contract extension is great news.

"He trains and plays like a senior player with many years of experience and has become an important member of the squad.

"The aim is to help him become one of the strongest strikers in Europe."

Steve Cooper is not surprised Nottingham Forest are fighting for Premier League survival but he insisted there is a belief they can avoid relegation despite a dismal run of form.

Cooper led Forest to the top flight for the first time in 23 years last season, where the Midlands side spent 46 of the first 52 days in the Championship drop zone but gained promotion via the play-offs.

Despite a squad overhaul last summer, Forest have struggled in this campaign and go into Wednesday’s clash against Brighton aiming to end an 11-match winless streak that has left them 19th in the table.

While Cooper admitted his side were always likely to be up against it, he feels a battling display in a 3-2 loss at Liverpool at the weekend proved there is still confidence they can save themselves.

“We were always likely to be playing for something like this at the end of the season,” he said. “We are playing catch-up a little bit, there is no doubt about that.

“You don’t want to speak too positively after a defeat and you never should, particularly on the run we’re on. But to go to Anfield and cause problems for Liverpool shows there is a belief in the team and a commitment to doing well. We never gave up in the game and kept going until the end.

“We could easily have got something from the weekend and games where for sure we should have done better. It reassures you that if you get things right for a game then we can win any game.

“We’ve got to keep believing in that. We’ve got to keep going, of course we need to do better – there’s loads of things we need to do better – but unless we believe that we can improve, we have no chance.”

Forest’s recent woes have been compounded by injuries, with Scott McKenna joining an expanding list because of a fractured collarbone that will sideline the defender for the last six games of the season.

They welcome a Seagulls side who are chasing a spot in Europe next term but who are smarting after their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United ended in an agonising penalty shootout defeat.

“We’re all aware of our situation and the challenge continues, there’s no doubt about that,” Cooper added.

“We’re speaking very openly about the present situation and we know the run is far from what we want it to be. We have to take responsibility for that and always look to try and change things around.

“We’ve got to keep looking forward, we’ve got to keep doing whatever it takes on a day-by-day basis to be at our best in the next games.

“There are still six games to play and we’re right in and amongst a group who are in a similar situation. Things can change quickly but we’ve got to make sure we make that happen.”

Formula One bosses have rubber-stamped an overhaul of the sport’s weekend format, starting at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The six sprint rounds of the 2023 season – the first of which takes place in Baku this weekend – will see the introduction of a second qualifying session after the revamp gained support from the grid’s 10 teams on Tuesday.

Under the changes, a new standalone qualifying session on Saturday morning will now determine the starting order for the sprint race that afternoon, with qualifying on Friday setting the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Introducing… Sprint Saturday ✨

?️ All-new weekend format? Saturday's Sprint sessions do not affect the Grand Prix⏱️ Friday's qualifying sets Sunday's grid? New Sprint Shootout qualifying session

The first Sprint Saturday is only four days away! ?#F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/vPq9kYuyH4

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 25, 2023

The additional qualifying session on Saturday will be called the ‘Sprint Shootout’ and is shorter than the usual format. The three sessions will last for 12, 10 and eight minutes, with the intention of the concluding shortest running to add greater jeopardy.

Qualifying for the Grand Prix itself remains the same, with Sunday’s main event untouched.

The changes will apply to the five other sprint rounds in Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Brazil this year, while a regular grand prix weekend will remain as it is.

A statement from F1 read: “The F1 commission voted unanimously in favour of changes to the sprint format. These will now come into effect at the first sprint event of the season.

“Following this successful vote and subsequent approval by the World Motor Sport Council, all stakeholders believe that this will boost the spectacle of sprint weekends and enhance track action for fans around the world.”

The sprint format, which is one-third distance of a normal grand prix, was first introduced at three rounds in 2021, and has been doubled to six this year.

World champion Max Verstappen has been critical of F1’s plans to expand the sprint calendar – saying at the last round in Australia that he “won’t be around for too long” if there are “too many changes”.

But F1 bosses are keen to appeal to the sport’s new generation of fans, and say the changes will provide three days of competition, rather than two, while reducing three hours of largely meaningless practice to just a single hour.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has hinted that a Champions League final could be played in the United States in the future.

The Slovenian said it was “possible” competitive games in Europe’s premier club competition could be staged in the US.

The PA news agency reported last September that substantive talks had taken place over a four-team Super Cup being played as a season-opening event in the US from 2024, potentially featuring the champions of Major League Soccer alongside the winners of UEFA’s three men’s club competitions.

However, Ceferin hinted that the biggest game of all in European club football may be played across the Atlantic in future.

In an interview with Men In Blazers, Ceferin said it was “possible” European teams could play meaningful matches in the States, and added: “We have started to discuss about that but one year it was the World Cup, (20)24 is Euro, this year (the final) is in Istanbul, ’24 is London and ’25 is Munich and after that, let’s see. It’s possible.”

Other sports have successfully taken matches into new markets, such as the NFL playing regular-season games in London.

Alex Arthur hailed Ken Buchanan as a trailblazer for Scottish boxers as hundreds of mourners turned out in Edinburgh to bid farewell to the late former world champion.

The funeral procession began in Leith and meandered its way past the former site of Sparta Boxing Club and the Ken Buchanan Statue on its way to St Giles’ Cathedral, where a memorial service was held for the 1971 undisputed world lightweight champion who died earlier this month aged 77.

As well as Edinburgh-born world super featherweight champion Arthur, Tommy Gilmour, Jim Watt, John H Stracey, Barry McGuigan and commentator Steve Bunce were among the boxing personalities who turned out on a bright but cold day in Scotland’s capital to pay their respects to Buchanan.

World super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor – another Edinburgh fighter inspired by Buchanan – was unable to be in attendance as he is preparing for his title fight against Teofimo Lopez in New York in June.

“He’s not just a legend in boxing, but also in public, the fact he has a statue says everything,” 44-year-old Arthur told the PA news agency after leaving the service.

“You could see the turnout he got, the number of people that came to witness this and see him off as the legend he was. He did things that might not be done again in boxing and in sport.

“There’s a perception that once boxers are finished, nobody wants to know them any more but everybody still wanted to be part of Ken’s life, and I think that shows what kind of character he was.

“He was a massive inspiration to us all (Scottish boxers). The young ones have got a word nowadays – the OG, the original gangster – and Ken is the OG, he was the first one that did it. It was him, then it was me, now it’s Josh Taylor and hopefully there’s going to be more to come.”

Former featherweight champion of the world McGuigan told how some sparring sessions with Buchanan, who had just retired, early on in his own career helped set him on his way in the sport.

“I’ll never forget it, I got hit that often I thought I was surrounded,” said the 62-year-old. “He was fabulous. It was the best education I ever had. Those rounds were invaluable and set me on course to go on and win a world title.

“We became lifelong friends. He was such an inimitable character. He had a uniqueness about him. He’s one of the greatest fighters the UK has ever had and certainly one of the best Scotland has ever had.

“He was an exceptional talent. He was so brave in everything he did. One of the most unique guys I ever met. He’ll never be forgotten.

“I think the speeches (in the service) alluded to the fact he maybe didn’t get the respect he deserved in Scotland initially but they did embrace him in the end and that’s all that matters. When they talk about Scottish boxing, they talk about Kenny Buchanan.”

Speeches of around five minutes each were read by Bunce, journalist and friend Jim Black, and former world lightweight champion Watt. The audio of the service was played outside the cathedral via speakers for the benefit of additional mourners and dozens of curious tourists.

Bunce concluded his address by revealing details of a meeting with 32-year-old Taylor the previous day.

“Yesterday I went to see Josh Taylor and he sends his apologies to every single person in this room,” said the broadcaster. “He adored Ken. If you ever saw the two of them together, it was like a child looking at their favourite puppy.

“Josh would look at Ken and melt, whatever he was doing, whether it was eating soup or talking about boxing. Josh would just sit silently by his side.

“Josh can’t be here because he’s training for a fight in New York, at the Garden, a place Ken came to dominate and be loved in.

“Josh can’t be here and Ken can’t be there (at the fight) but Josh told me he’s going to wear a patch of Ken’s tartan on his shorts when he he fights at the Garden on June 10. That will do for me, Josh Taylor.”

A fine day in Edinburgh for Ken Buchanan’s funeral. pic.twitter.com/73DbkYENGz

— Steve Bunce (@bigdaddybunce) April 25, 2023

Journalist Black paid tribute to his friend for remaining true to his working-class roots.

“Life may not have always been easy or kind to Ken but we remember him today as a fine human being, a loyal friend, a good man who was never too proud to return to his trade as a carpenter when his fighting days were over,” he said.

“Ken would be the first to tell you he was far from perfect – none of us are – but he was a true man of the people who was happiest in the company of his own kind.

“Generations to come will study the career and achievements of Kenneth Buchanan MBE and realise what a truly great champion he was.”

Watt, three years younger than Buchanan, told those in attendance how they went from being “bitter rivals” to “best of pals” as they got to know each other following their gruelling 15-round showdown which the elder of the two boxers won by a decision in 1973.

“He was full of fun,” said Watt, who also went on to become a world champion. “He didn’t enjoy anything more than taking the mickey out of people. I’m proud to be able to stand here and say I shared the ring with Kenny Buchanan and that I was Kenny Buchanan’s friend.”

Roberto De Zerbi believes Brighton’s trip to Nottingham Forest is their most important match of the season.

Albion travel to the City Ground bidding to resume their push for Europe following an agonising FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United.

Wednesday evening’s clash with relegation-threatened Forest marks the start of nine Premier League games in just under five weeks for the eighth-placed Seagulls.

De Zerbi is determined to make history by bringing continental football to Sussex and help ease the pain of Sunday’s penalty shoot-out loss at Wembley.

“We are still disappointed for the result,” the Brighton boss said of the 7-6 spot-kick defeat.

“We played a fantastic game. We gave our best and we lost the game.

“We have to be stronger, we have to play tomorrow with the same passion, with the same attitude, with the same quality because we have another nine games, very important for us.

“We can change the history of the club, we can change the history of ourselves and we have a big, big, big motivation to achieve it.

“To accept better the last result, we have a big opportunity to achieve the target in the Premier League.

“I think tomorrow is the most important game in our season. We have to restart in our way, in our style. And winning tomorrow for us is a great result.”

De Zerbi is hopeful Danny Welbeck will be involved after he went off injured against United, while he revealed 18-year-old Argentinian midfielder Facundo Buonanotte will make his full debut.

Evan Ferguson will once again be assessed after missing the trip to Wembley with an ankle issue sustained in the 2-1 win at Chelsea the previous weekend.

De Zerbi is unwilling to take risks with the striker, who is poised to sign a new, long-term contract at the Amex Stadium.

The Republic of Ireland international is already tied to Albion until 2026, having signed his first professional deal on his 18th birthday in October.

The terms of the extension are understood to reward Ferguson’s recent progress and De Zerbi believes Brighton is the best place for the teenager to develop amid reported interest from rival Premier League clubs.

“It’s very important news,” the coach said of the contract. “He can improve a lot with us.

“In Brighton, there are the right conditions for the young players and he’s still 18. We have to not forget that.

“He’s playing very well. With the Man United (game), it was bad for us without him because he has different qualities, he can give us different solutions in the last 20, 30 metres.

“I don’t want to take any risks with him. We have another nine games and maybe he can be important for the last eight, if there is some risk (against Forest).”

Winger Solly March is expected to retain his starting place after missing the decisive penalty at the national stadium.

“Today we restarted training and the feeling is good for the players,” said De Zerbi.

“For Solly, it can happen. In the penalty, you can score and you can make some mistake and there isn’t a problem.

“He has to be proud. We love him, we support him, especially when we lose and when we make some mistakes. Strong people are when you lose and you restart stronger.”