Austrian national team soccer player suffers skull fracture during ‘assault’

Austrian international soccer player Guido Burgstaller has been hospitalized with a fractured skull after being assaulted in Vienna, his club Rapid Vienna said in a statement.

Rapid said Burgstaller, who has played 26 times for the Austria national team, was “attacked by an unknown assailant” in the city center of the country’s capital over the weekend, adding the 35-year-old is expected to be out of action for “several months.”

Burgstaller suffered “a basal skull fracture after a fall caused by a brutal blow,” Rapid’s statement said.

It added: “Guido was immediately examined and taken to hospital in the Austrian capital. Unfortunately he will have to remain under medical supervision for a while.

“Everyone at SK Rapid wishes their colleague and friend a smooth and speedy recovery, and we trust the relevant authorities to bring the as yet unknown perpetrator to justice swiftly. We would ask you to respect the privacy of Guido and his family at this time.

“SK Rapid will naturally offer our full support to Guido on his road to what will hopefully be a speedy recovery.”

CNN has reached out to Vienna police for comment.

Burgstaller previously played for Schalke in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top division, and had a brief spell with Cardiff City in the English Championship.

Burgstaller has scored two goals for Austria and last played for the national team in October 2023.

Cole Palmer makes English Premier League history with 12th consecutive penalty

 

Chelsea star Cole Palmer broke an English Premier League record on Sunday as he scored two penalties in his side’s 4-3 comeback win against Tottenham.

The forward remained ice cold while converting two second-half spot kicks, bringing his tally up to 12 penalties in the league without missing. In doing so, he broke the previous record set by Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, who scored 11 consecutive penalties, per Opta.

Palmer broke the record with an audacious ‘Panenka’ penalty in the 84th minute, chipping his second effort down the middle of the goal – a technique named after Czech football great Antonin Panenka.

“When I put the ball down and stepped back, I knew what I was going to do,” he said after the game. “I thought it was late in the game and it was a bit crazy, so I just went for it.”

Palmer, 22, has become one of the best players in the world since leaving Manchester City to join Chelsea in 2023.

He already has 50 goal involvements (33 goals, 17 assists) in 48 league games for his new club, form which has helped Chelsea rise to second in the table.

The match hadn’t started well for Chelsea, though, as host Tottenham capitalized on individual errors to take a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes.

But Chelsea remained calm and cut the deficit in half after 17 minutes, courtesy of a fine strike by Jadon Sancho.

Palmer then leveled the scores just after the hour-mark, converting a penalty after Yves Bissouma’s lunge brought down Moises Caicedo in the box.

The game then opened up and Chelsea found the go-ahead goal in the 73rd minute through Enzo Fernández’s strike. While the Argentine midfielder provided the finish, the chance was created by Palmer who took on several defenders before the ball broke to Fernández.

Palmer made it 4-2 with his cheeky spot-kick, moments before Son Heung-min scored a consolation goal in the final seconds for Tottenham.

The win now puts Chelsea just four points behind league leader Liverpool, but the London side has played one more match.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has played down the possibility of his side being in this season’s title race, given the team is still in the infancy of its rebuild.

“After the game, my message to the players was to be focused day by day, in the next game, because if you start to think about where we are in three or four games, it’s completely wrong,” he said.

“Enjoy the day off with the family and friends, and when we come back, go again with 100%, train well, get ready for the next game and improve day by day.”

Patrick Mahomes injured: Ranking backup QBs for projected NFL playoff teams, including Chiefs' Carson Wentz

 

Star quarterbacks often drive the conversation regarding the NFL's annual race for the Lombardi Trophy. But injuries are an even steadier part of the football conversation, and the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs are no stranger to that reality. Battling bumps and bruises to key weapons like Isiah Pacheco and Marquise Brown all season, on Sunday they absorbed their biggest blow yet, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes exiting early due to a high ankle sprain that left him limping to the sidelines.

Mahomes has weathered physical ailments before, playing through a noticeable ankle injury during the Chiefs' 2022 Super Bowl run, but it's possible he could miss time ahead of this year's postseason. Which brings us to an oft-overlooked but all-important question: How might Kansas City fare without its top playmaker? And which contenders are best-suited to survive an injury under center?

Here, we're ranking all the backup quarterbacks for the current projected playoff teams:

2024 NFL QB Power Rankings

1	Carson WentzKANSAS CITY CHIEFS QB
One reason Mahomes might sit and rest for a week or two is the fact Wentz has an abundance of starting experience, giving Kansas City a capable hand with a No. 1 playoff seed in reach. Yes, he flamed out in multiple stops due to a penchant for reckless gunslinging, but he's still got a big frame and big arm, with almost 100 NFL games under his belt. His brief late-year action with the Los Angeles Rams to close 2023 confirmed he's a high-upside fill-in for a contending lineup.
2	Jimmy GaroppoloLOS ANGELES RAMS QB
The 33-year-old has yet to take a snap with the Rams, but he's been there, done that, at nearly the highest level. Durability is an issue, especially behind an inconsistent front, but Garoppolo has proven capable of shepherding a run-first and play-action attack, reaching two NFC title games with the rival San Francisco 49ers. That big-game experience can't be found everywhere.
3	Justin FieldsPITTSBURGH STEELERS QB
The former Chicago Bears first-rounder suffered an abdominal injury in Week 15, but provided he returns soon, he makes for an especially intriguing No. 2. Electric but erratic as a full-timer in Windy City, he calmed down as more of a ball-control operator to open his Steelers debut, going 4-2 before Russell Wilson's entry as QB1. His athleticism alone gives him a relatively high floor.
4	Malik WillisGREEN BAY PACKERS QB
Saddled with poor setups as a Tennessee Titans prospect, Willis found new life as Jordan Love's fill-in this year, excelling as the efficient figurehead of a run-heavy Matt LaFleur scheme during two different injury-related absences by Love. He's yet to face a consistent barrage of tests as a big-time thrower while in Green Bay, but his physical tools and comfort in the system are big pluses.
5	Kenny PickettPHILADELPHIA EAGLES QB
He was more scrappy than reliable in two seasons starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he's yet to see any meaningful action as Jalen Hurts' No. 2 in Philadelphia, but Pickett has the benefit of playing for an offense outfitted with top-tier playmakers at basically every position. With decent mobility and that kind of support, it stands to reason he'd provide competence if called upon.
6	Davis MillsHOUSTON TEXANS QB
The former third-rounder hasn't started a game in two years, and he was something of a streaky pocket passer when called upon, with 35 touchdowns to 25 picks, but Mills consistently displayed a resilient attitude while working with a much poorer supporting cast than he has now.
7	Marcus MariotaWASHINGTON COMMANDERS QB
The last time Mariota was thrust into a starting gig, he flamed out as the Atlanta Falcons' placeholder, struggling to find a rhythm as a passer. In truth, he's always been scattershot through the air. His legs are still a weapon, though, and that's perfect for Washington's run-heavy script.
8	Josh JohnsonBALTIMORE RAVENS QB
At 38, well-traveled as a journeyman backup, Johnson can start a game in a pinch like no other. The man has knowledge of just about every system there is. He hasn't won a start in six years, however, and has thrown all of three passes over the last three seasons.
9	Jarrett StidhamDENVER BRONCOS QB
Once hailed as a future starter by Sean Payton, the former New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders prospect was serviceable, if unspectacular, after replacing the benched Russell Wilson late in 2023. He's gone just 1-3 as a starter between three teams.
10	Taylor HeinickeLOS ANGELES CHARGERS QB
A folk hero in Washington for a gritty playoff effort against the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2020, Heinicke has a definite underdog flair, but he's struggled to control the ball in every extended opportunity. He's thrown just three passes with the Chargers.
11	Mitch TrubiskyBUFFALO BILLS QB
Now in his second stint as Josh Allen's backup in Buffalo, Trubisky didn't fare too well in a brief run as the Steelers' starter, going just 2-5 as Pittsburgh's QB1. He's been a sketchy decision-maker since his days with the Bears, but he's also spent more time learning from Allen in recent years.
12	Nick MullensMINNESOTA VIKINGS QB
While the Vikings made a practice-squad splash by adding former New York Giants first-rounder Daniel Jones this winter, Mullens has more experience in Kevin O'Connell's system, making him the likelier backup to Sam Darnold. He's a gutsy, if unnecessarily risky, thrower.
13	Hendon HookerDETROIT LIONS QB
Hyped as a potential first-rounder coming out of Tennessee, Hooker took his first NFL snaps this October in relief of Jared Goff. He's a total projection, having thrown just nine career passes.
14	Kyle TraskTAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS QB
The former Florida product has prototypical size, but in almost four full seasons with the team, he's gone just 4 of 11 in hardly any relief work, though he's sat behind some accomplished veterans.

Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham: Enes Unal's stunning free-kick earns Cherries deserved point after controversial penalty opener

Report and match highlights as Enes Unal's free-kick denies West Ham all three points after Lucas Paqueta's VAR-awarded penalty for contentious handball against Tyler Adams; Jarrod Bowen and Antoine Semenyo both hit goal frame in end-to-end game at Vitality Stadium

Enes Unal's stunning free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta's controversial VAR-awarded penalty to give Bournemouth a deserved 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Unal stepped up from almost 30 yards out to rifle the dead ball past a helpless Lukasz Fabianski, and lessen the sour taste in the hosts' mouths after falling behind to a contentious handball decision only minutes earlier.

"It's quite sensational, it's magnificent from Unal," was the assessment of Sky Sports' Alan Smith.

The Cherries had knocked on the West Ham door since half-time - registering 17 shots in all - but had looked to be frustrated by their hard-working visitors, who were then handed a slice of good fortune to find the opener themselves.

After substitute Nicklas Fullkrug nodded a header straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga, VAR Michael Salisbury noticed a potential handball against Tyler Adams from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's initial cross, and following a lengthy review and Chris Kavanagh's visit to the on-field monitor, the referee pointed to the spot.

"I saw it on the big screen like most people and thought it was harsh, I know his hand's high but he's so close to the ball," Ryan Christie told Sky Sports afterwards.

"Their striker misses a sitter anyway afterwards, so there could be an advantage being played. We didn't get one in a similar situation against Ipswich."

Paqueta stepped up to slot home to a chorus of boos around the Vitality Stadium, before Unal's free-kick moved the Cherries two points off Man City in fifth.

Both sides had earlier hit the woodwork in an even first period before Fabianski was alert to deny first Evanilson and then Christie with two acrobatic stops as the Cherries ramped up the pressure in the second, but the Hammers were well worth their point after one of their most committed defensive showings of the season.

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola to Sky Sports:

"I don't think it is a good result for us even if we scored the goal at the end. We were better in the second half. I didn't like the first half. We were pushing to win and then the penalty happened and we had to take the point. I don't think it is a good point for us.

"The game went very slow in the first half for us. We were not being brave enough to put them under real pressure. We improved in the second half but it wasn't enough to win it."

On West Ham's penalty: "I am very disappointed. We have had this meeting before the season and I argued personally because they don't want defenders to defend with their hands behind their back.

"I told them, 'we are going to continue this because you are calling penalties'. They said, 'don't worry, it's a natural position, we are not going to call it'. The first one, bam. I am very disappointed. I complained about this rule. They didn't want defenders to defend unnaturally."

Carra: 'Decent return' eases pressure on Hammers

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football:

"Where West Ham were going into last Monday's game against Wolves, that's a decent return considering where they've been for a lot of the season. I know we watched them beat Newcastle, but they were quite fortunate in that game.

"They then had the Arsenal game, and Leicester - and those were really bad ones for them. We know how much they enjoy Monday nights!

"I said before the game, if they won tonight it would've felt like a big result but I think to come away from Bournemouth, it's not a bad result.

"They'll be disappointed, they'll go 1-0 up and probably think they see the game out there, but they would've taken it before the game."

Lopetegui: We competed really well at tough stadium

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui to Sky Sports:

"I think it was a pity. We were thinking we would win in a difficult stadium. It was very close. In the first half we were better, in the second half they were one step ahead. They demand a lot at home.

"We suffered a little bit but overcame this to score. It was an incredible goal from Unal. In the end it is one point. We were thinking about three points but we competed really well."