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• Jamaica's young Reggae Girlz out of contention at U-20 Champs, after 0-4 loss to US

  Jamaica’s wait to qualify for a FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup has been prolonged, as the young Reggae Girlz suffered a second-consecutive 0-4 defeat, this time at the hands of United States, at the Concacaf Under-20 Championships in Dominican Republic on Sunday.

  A hat-trick from Madeline Dahlien (10th, 47th and 79th) and one from Tessa Dellarose (49th) saw the reigning seven-time champions to victory which secured them a semi-final berth along with Canada, who earlier registered a 5-0 win over Panama.

  Both United States and Canada, are on six points each and will decide Group A winners in a top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday, while the Jamaicans and Panamanians are to meet in a contest of academic interest on the same day.

  While it was a much-improved showing from the young Reggae Girlz in part, when compared to their 0-4 opening loss to Canada, they simply lacked the pedigree of their United States counterparts.

  The Hugh Bradford-coached Girlz showed more heart defensively and did manage to show some semblance of individual flair when in possession, but again offered very little on the attacking front.

  It took only 10 minutes for US to break the deadlock when Dahlien breached the backline and fired past Liya Brooks.

  They continued to apply consistent pressure and found a few more openings but faulty shooting proved their undoing as they failed to hit the target.

  That coupled with the fact that the young Reggae Girlz were more organized at the back, resulted in the score remaining 1-0 at the break.

  However, the Girlz first half accomplishments quickly went out like a candle in the wind, as the US attackers went straight to work on the resumption. A weighted cross from Onyeka Gamero was expertly met by Dahlien beating Brooks to her left, two minutes in.

  And before the Girlz could regroup, they found themselves further behind when Dellarose’s delightful left-footed strike from about 20-yards out, gave Brooks no chance at a save.

  Brooks was better positioned to deny substitute Jill Flammia’s effort from just outside the 18-yard box in the 54^th minute, as she got down well to her right to parry onto the upright.

  But Dahlien eventually secured her third and a fourth for the US with another easy finish beyond Brooks.

  US, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico are set to contest the semi-finals.

  The two finalists and third-place team will qualify for next year’s Under-20 World Cup.

• Gary Lineker congratulates Everton but ‘gutted’ as Leicester suffer relegation

  Gary Lineker has congratulated Everton after his former club survived in the Premier League at the expense of his boyhood team Leicester.

  The two clubs had been in jeopardy heading into the final round of fixtures on Sunday but ultimately Everton’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth ensured they avoided the drop.

  At one stage it looked as though it could be the Foxes who stayed up as they took an early lead against West Ham but their eventual 2-1 win was rendered academic by Everton’s result.

  The Toffees ended the season in 17th place, two points ahead of Leicester, while Leeds were also relegated after a 4-1 loss to Tottenham.

  Former England striker Lineker, who began his career at Leicester before spending a season at Everton in the mid-1980s, tweeted: “Absolutely gutted, but glad it’s Everton. Have a lot of love for that great football club. Congratulations.”

  Leicester’s relegation comes seven years after they were crowned Premier League champions and just two years after they won the FA Cup.

  Lineker added: “A word on Leicester. If eight years ago, you’d have given me the option of winning the Premier League and the FA Cup and then get relegated, I’d have snapped your hand off. Also I’d have told you not to be so utterly ridiculous.”

  It has been a dismal season for Leicester and TV pundit Roy Keane was not sure how quickly they could recover.

  The former Manchester United midfielder said on Sky Sports: “They didn’t seem to get any momentum into the season from a bad start. It’s no surprise to see them where they are.

  “Clubs can bounce back but it isn’t easy. I think it is a rebuilding job at Leicester.”

  Leeds’ three-year stint in the Premier League ended in a whimper as they were thrashed by Spurs at Elland Road.

  The club had brought in Sam Allardyce in a last-ditch attempt to escape relegation with four games remaining but the former England boss was unable to engineer a recovery.

  The team collected just one point from Allardyce’s games and finished in 19th position, five points behind Everton.

  Keane was scathing of their performances.

  He said: “They’ve looked weak over the last month or two, even with Sam coming in.

  “They were fighting for their lives today and conceded four goals at home. That’s nowhere near good enough.

  “Sam obviously came in too late. Defensively they look so weak. Some of the goals – it’s almost pub team defending.

  “Not strong enough mentally, that desire – nowhere near good enough.”

  Chelsea, meanwhile, aimed a parting shot at Leeds on social media.

  Rivalry between those two clubs dates back to some hard-fought clashes in the 1960s and 70s.

  In August, Leeds trolled Chelsea on Twitter during their 3-0 victory over the London club.

  In that game, Chelsea tweeted the Blues were “starting to assert ourselves” just moments before Leeds opened the scoring and quickly followed with a second goal.

  “Life comes at you fast!” Leeds tweeted in reply.

  Now, nine months later, Chelsea have got their own back.

  “It certainly does,” they tweeted.

• Willian would like to extend Fulham stay but no decision made on Brazilian's future

  Willian wants to stay put at Fulham, though a decision has yet to be made on the Brazilian's future at Craven Cottage.

  The 34-year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal playmaker joined Fulham in September last year and has been a key player for Marco Silva's men this season.

  Fulham signed off on an impressive first campaign back in the Premier League with a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, with Willian setting up Kenny Tete's opening goal.

  That represented Willian's fifth league assist of the season, and his 10th direct goal contribution in the competition for Fulham.

  Willian – who is soon to be out of contract – is unsure if he will be staying in west London, but he would be happy to do so.

  "I don't know yet," he told Stats Perform. "Honestly, I have no idea what is going to happen. The future belongs to God.

  "If I stay at Fulham, for sure I'll be fine, I'll be happy. I feel very good there, it's a club that welcomed me very well. But if it's somewhere else, I'll try to do my best in the same way.

  "I haven't decided yet. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks, what I'll decide. But if I could stay in the Premier League and at Fulham, it would be a good thing for me."

  Explaining why he elected to return to England with Fulham, who had been tipped to struggle yet managed to remain well clear of danger, Willian said: "I've always loved the Premier League. That's not news to anyone, everyone knows how much I'm a fan of the league here. 

  "The Premier League, for me, is the best league in the world.

  "Deciding to go to Fulham was a matter of a week or so. I was already in London. I came here to be closer to here and to have some conversations with my manager. It was a matter of a week or so before I decided to go to Fulham.

  "I had some talks with Marco Silva as well and I really liked what I talked to him about and what he told me."

  Another new signing that has starred for the Cottagers this season is Joao Palhinha, who has impressed as a holding midfielder.

  "He's our watchdog," Willian said of the in-demand Portugal international. "He's the watchdog of our team. Without a doubt, he's an important player.

  "He's a player who does a fundamental job. As they say in football, he does the dirty work, which is the player who steals a lot of the balls and makes it possible for us to attack the opposition."