Connect with us

Sports

Norman, Formal Bounce Back with Dominant Win in COTA Race 2

Published

on

Race 2 Provisional Results

 

AUSTIN, Texas – After seeing a win slip away on the final lap the day before, Ryan Norman and Danny Formal weren’t about to let it happen again in Sunday’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America race at Circuit of The Americas.

Norman put in a stellar opening stint in the No. 1 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, Lamborghini Palm Beach Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 and Formal put the hammer down in the second stint to close the triumph by a margin of 10.056 seconds in the 50-minute race. The win elevates Norman, Formal and the No. 1 Huracán to second place in the Pro class standings, just six points from the lead with four races remaining.

On Saturday, Norman was passed for the lead in Turn 1 on the last lap, then contact with another car dropped the No. 1 to fourth at the finish. Norman credited the support of his team for keeping him in the right frame of mind to attack on Sunday.

“You’ve just got to put that stuff behind you and focus on the task at hand today,” Norman said. “The way things finished today, the points worked out really well. I was just trying to give Danny a really good car today and he just pulled away, a beautiful drive.”

Formal, attempting to win the Pro class championship for a third straight year but for the first time with Norman, credited his co-driver’s resolve.

“Ryan had a tough one yesterday,” Formal said. “He’s such a mature driver, he came back today and put on a clinic in his stint. He gave me the car with the best rear tires possible and (I) just went out and give it all for the first five or six laps, we got a nice lead and then we took care of the car.”

Bryson Morris and Loris Cabirou finished second in the No. 30 Ansa Motorsports, Lamborghini Broward Huracán. Ernie Francis Jr. and Giano Taurino, who won Saturday in the No. 88 TR3 Racing, Lamborghini Miami Huracán, finished fourth on Sunday and lead the Pro standings by six points over Norman and Formal.

It proved to be a spectacular day for WTRAndretti, which took wins in three of the four classes. Nate Stacy and Nick Persing (No. 8 WTRAndretti, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán) completed a weekend sweep of wins in the ProAm class, as did Glenn McGee and Anthony McIntosh (No. 69 WTRAndretti, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán) in Am. In doing so, both driver pairs moved to the top of their class standings.

Persing, in the No. 8 Huracán, was among the last drivers to make the mandatory pit stop. The overcut allowed Stacy to take the class lead when the pit cycle completed and he rolled on win by more than 18 seconds over Patrick Liddy and Blake McDonald in the No. 72 Forte Racing, Lamborghini San Diego Huracán.

“The car was fantastic!” Stacy commented. “It was set up for the end of the race and it was just on rails. We were (running) in the middle of the Pro pack – I think we were P4 overall – and we were just clicking off laps. The car was so dialed. I can’t thank the guys enough.”

Persing and Stacy unofficially moved three points ahead of AJ Muss and Joel Miller (No. 66 Forty7 Motorsports, Lamborghini Philadelphia Huracán) atop the ProAm standings, with Muss and Miller placing third on Sunday.

“It’s been a great weekend,” Persing said. “A sweep is something we’ve been looking for since we started this season. … It feels good to be back in the lead of the championship.”

McGee started from the Am pole in the No. 69 WTRAndretti Huracán but fell back after contact with Francis in the No. 88 TR3 Racing Huracán on Lap 2. He then went off track to avoid a spinning car in Turn 4 but recovered quickly to regain the class lead before handing the car over to McIntosh, who eased away to win by 14.594 seconds over Cole Kleck and Al Morey in the No. 17 Topp Racing, Lamborghini Austin Huracán.

“I settled in (after losing the class lead), ran down first place for Am and then I chucked it into the pits as quick as I can and Tony took over,” McGee said. “He must have had a massive out lap and then he just drove away from everybody. He did an awesome job.”

Added McIntosh, “Once I got in the car, it was pretty simple. The car was well balanced. We had a lot of grip in the corners. I expected it to go away from us but it kept coming toward us. The car was set up to really go the distance and it went the distance.”

The double-win weekend was enough to put McIntosh and McGee – the reigning Am class champions – into first place in the standings, three points ahead of Dominic Starkweather, who finished fifth Sunday in the No. 47 Precision Performance Motorsports, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán.

LB Cup witnessed a weekend winner’s sweep as well. Rodrigo Vales crossed the finish line second in class in the No. 34 TR3 Racing, Lamborghini Miami Huracán, but Rocky Bolduc was penalized 2.631 seconds for his pit stop not meeting the minimum required time in the No. 99 Topp Racing, Lamborghini Boston Huracán. The result gave Vales his second win in as many days, with Bolduc scored second.

“Great weekend, yes,” Vales said. “We tried to do our best. We did a good pit, we stopped correctly and everything went fine, so we won.”

“I didn’t know (that I could win twice). It was a great surprise.”

Nick Groat (No. 57 One Motorsports, Lamborghini Newport Beach Huracán) finished third in LB Cup to extend his class lead to 27 points.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America’s next event takes place Sept. 20-22 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Sports

Marta Makes History as Orlando Pride Defeat Kansas City Current 3-0

Published

on

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Pride extended their home dominance Friday night, defeating the Kansas City Current 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium behind a historic performance from Marta, another goal from Barbra Banda, and a standout effort from goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

The victory improves Orlando to 6-6-2 (20 points), while Kansas City falls to 8-6-0 (24 points). The win marks the Pride’s fourth consecutive home victory and hands the Current its first loss in its last five visits to Orlando.

Scoreless First Half Sets Stage for Offensive Explosion

Both clubs created scoring opportunities during an evenly contested first half, but neither side was able to break through before halftime.

Orlando’s defense withstood constant pressure from Kansas City, setting the stage for a dominant second-half performance.

Marta Becomes First Pride Player to Reach 50 Goals

The Pride wasted little time after the break.

Just four minutes into the second half, Marta collected a pass from Jacquie Ovalle before curling a spectacular left-footed shot from outside the penalty area into the back of the net.

The goal gave Orlando a 1-0 lead and marked a historic milestone for the club.

Marta became the first player in Orlando Pride history to score 50 goals across all competitions.

Ovalle recorded her team-leading third assist of the season on the play.

Anderson Doubles Orlando’s Lead

The Pride struck again in the 57th minute.

Midfielder Ally Lemos delivered a perfectly placed corner kick that defender Hannah Anderson headed into the net for a 2-0 advantage.

The goal was Anderson’s second of the season, while Lemos earned her second assist of the 2026 campaign.

Barbra Banda Adds League-Leading 12th Goal

Substitute Barbra Banda put the match out of reach in the 85th minute.

After Kansas City’s goalkeeper misplayed a clearance outside the penalty area, Banda capitalized by calmly finishing into an open net.

The goal was Banda’s NWSL-leading 12th goal of the season and the first she has scored as a substitute in her professional career.

Moorhouse Records Milestone Appearance

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse anchored Orlando’s defense with a season-high nine saves, preserving the club’s fifth clean sheet of the season.

Friday’s match also marked Moorhouse’s 100th appearance across all competitions for the Pride, making her just the fifth player in club history to reach the milestone.

Orlando’s five shutouts rank third in the National Women’s Soccer League this season.

Seb Hines Praises Complete Team Performance

Head coach Seb Hines credited his team’s disciplined approach and collective effort.

“Really pleased with the result. I think it was quite even in the first half. We had some half-chances, and we tried to stop their key players from having a big influence on the game. I thought the players implemented the game plan very well.”

Hines continued:

“We had some really outstanding performances. It was a really big collective effort from everyone. It was nice to get some goals and a clean sheet at the end of it.”

Match Highlights

  • 49′ — Orlando 1, Kansas City 0: Marta (assist: Jacquie Ovalle)
  • 57′ — Orlando 2, Kansas City 0: Hannah Anderson (assist: Ally Lemos)
  • 85′ — Orlando 3, Kansas City 0: Barbra Banda (unassisted)

Match Notes

  • Marta scored her second goal of the 2026 season and 50th career goal for the Pride.
  • Banda extended her league lead with 12 goals this season.
  • Orlando earned its fifth clean sheet, tied for the third-most in the NWSL.
  • Hannah Anderson scored her second career NWSL goal, both coming this season.
  • Ally Lemos recorded her second assist of the year.
  • Jacquie Ovalle collected her team-leading third assist.
  • Zara Chavoshi made her first start of the 2026 season.
  • Anna Moorhouse made her 100th appearance for Orlando.
  • Orlando has now scored in seven consecutive home league matches.
  • The Pride have scored five goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half this season, the second-most in the NWSL.

By the Numbers

Final Score

  • Orlando Pride 3
  • Kansas City Current 0

Attendance: 8,058

Team Statistics

CategoryOrlandoKansas City
Possession45%55%
Shots1120
Shots on Goal59
Saves92
Corners14
Fouls53

Heineken Star of the Match: Marta

Up Next

The Pride remain at Inter&Co Stadium on Wednesday, July 15, when they host Boston Legacy FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the match streaming on NWSL+.

Continue Reading

Sports

Miami Heat Acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis Jr. in Blockbuster Trade with Bucks

Published

on

MIAMI (FNN SPORTS) — The Miami Heat have acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade that reshapes the franchise’s championship aspirations.

In exchange, Miami sent Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakučionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware to Milwaukee, along with first-round draft picks in 2026, 2031 and 2033, a 2030 first-round pick swap, and a 2033 second-round pick.

Pat Riley: ‘One of the Great Trades in HEAT History’

HEAT President Pat Riley called the acquisition one of the most significant moves in franchise history.

“The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in HEAT history,” Riley said. “In my opinion, Giannis is one of the top five players in the league, and Bobby is one of the best power forwards. The difficult part is trading Tyler, Kasparas, Jaime and Kel’el, who have given so much to this organization. We wish them nothing but the best. We also thank the Arison family for their continued commitment to pursuing another championship.”

Antetokounmpo Brings MVP Pedigree to Miami

Antetokounmpo arrives in Miami as one of the NBA’s most accomplished players.

His résumé includes:

  • 2021 NBA Champion
  • Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (2019, 2020)
  • 2021 NBA Finals MVP
  • 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • 10-time NBA All-Star
  • Seven All-NBA First Team selections
  • Member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Last season, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting a career-best 62.4% from the field. He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points while shooting better than 60% from the field in three consecutive seasons.

He also enters Miami as the Milwaukee Bucks’ all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, field goals, free throws, triple-doubles, minutes played and games played.

Antetokounmpo will wear No. 34 with the Heat.

Portis Adds Championship Experience

Portis, an NBA champion with Milwaukee, averaged 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 67 games last season while shooting 48.8% from the field and 45.6% from three-point range.

The 11-year veteran has established himself as one of the league’s top reserve forwards, recording a Bucks franchise-record 61 double-doubles off the bench. He also received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in mentorship and community outreach.

Portis will wear No. 95 in Miami.

Heat Part Ways with Core Players

The trade ends the Miami careers of several key contributors.

Herro, selected 13th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, spent seven seasons with the Heat, earning 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors and a 2024 NBA All-Star selection. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 394 regular-season games.

Jaquez Jr., a 2023 first-round pick, averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists over three seasons with Miami.

Jakučionis, selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, averaged 6.2 points during his rookie season.

Ware, the 15th overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over two seasons.

Championship Expectations Rise

The acquisition of Antetokounmpo gives the Heat one of the NBA’s premier superstars and significantly strengthens Miami’s pursuit of another NBA championship. The addition of Portis further bolsters the team’s frontcourt with championship experience, scoring and rebounding.

Continue Reading

Sports

Argentina Survives Cape Verde Scare, Wins 3-2 in Extra Time to Advance at FIFA World Cup 2026

Published

on

Leo Messi. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

MIAMI (FNN SPORTS) — Argentina avoided what could have been one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, surviving a major scare from Cabo Verde with a 3-2 extra-time victory Friday in the Round of 32.

Leo Messi. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

Argentina Survives Despite Lackluster Performance

The defending World Cup champions delivered an uneven and uninspiring performance, appearing too comfortable after taking a 1-0 first-half lead on a goal by Lionel Messi.

But Argentina’s complacency proved costly as Cabo Verde, one of the tournament’s Cinderella stories, continued to press and eventually found an equalizer through Deroy Duarte.

Messi Goal Not Enough to Settle Match

Messi gave Argentina the early advantage, but the team failed to build on the lead or control the match with authority. Argentina’s attack lacked urgency for long stretches, allowing Cabo Verde to grow in confidence and push the match into extra time.

 

Extra-Time Drama

Argentina regained the lead in the 93rd minute when center back Lisandro Martínez scored to make it 2-1. Cabo Verde answered 11 minutes later with a stunning equalizer from Sidny Cabral, who curled a spectacular shot past Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez from the corner of the box.

The dramatic strike may stand as one of the best goals of the tournament.

Argentina Advances to Face Egypt

Argentina finally escaped when Cristian Romero headed a corner kick that glanced off a Cabo Verde player and into the net, giving Argentina the narrow win.

With the victory, Argentina advances to face Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement Ticket Time Machine ad
Advertisement Orlando Regional REALTOR Association logo
Advertisement Parts Pass App
Advertisement Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Advertisement
Advertisement African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
Advertisement FNN News en Español
Advertisement Indian American Chamber of Commerce logo
Advertisement Florida Sports Channel

FNN Newsletter

Trending