Chelsea have suffered another injury blow at the start of the 2025–26 season, with midfielder Dário Essugo sustaining a knock while away on international duty during the September break.
Enzo Maresca has already lost Levi Colwill to an ACL tear and have been forced to mitigate their previous two Premier League outings without talisman Cole Palmer due to a groin issue.
Fortunately, the player traders at BlueCo were at it again in the summer, with Chelsea adding 10 to their ranks in a bid to cope with a more demanding schedule off the back of last season’s qualification for the Champions League.
Among those signed was 20-year-old Essugo, who joined from Sporting CP for £18.5 million ($23.9 million) in June. Essugo complements a fairly busy midfield depth chart, and the young midfielder isn’t expected to play a major role for the Blues during his first in west London. The Portuguese earned 38 minutes of action across three appearances at Chelsea’s successful Club World Cup campaign, but is yet to take to the field at the start of his Premier League career.
In September, Essugo was called up to the Portugal U21s squad, but he’s since been forced to withdraw after picking up an injury.
“The Chelsea midfielder was excused from training due to a muscle problem in his right thigh, which he suffered after training on Monday,” the Portuguese Football Federationconfirmed. “The athlete was evaluated by the Portuguese Football Federation’s Health and Performance Department on Tuesday morning and was declared unavailable.”
Fans are also awaiting an update on Moisés Caicedo. / Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Essugo’s primary role this season is to provide cover for Moisés Caicedo, whose own international break has been plagued by fitness concerns.
The Ecuador midfielder sat out his side’s first game and was spotted training with a brace around his knee, although the belief is that this absence was more precautionary than as a result of a genuine injury.
Indeed, local reports suggest the decision has already been made to restore Caicedo to Ecuador’s starting lineup against Argentina, viewed as the more important fixture compared to the recent 0–0 draw with Paraguay.
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Dallas Trinity‘s academy player Rhea Moore made history on Saturday night, becoming theyoungest goal scorer in any women’s professional soccer match in the United States.
At just 15 years and 332 days old, Moore scored in her professional debut (vs Sporting JAX on Saturday, September 6, 2025), securing her place in the record books when she grabbed the game-winner off a poor outlet pass versus Sporting JAX in the USL Super League.
“It caught me by surprise. This is just a dream come true. I’m super happy. My team was just supporting and cheering for me… It feels amazing. I’m super happy and grateful that all my teammates were there and I got this opportunity.”
Rhea Moore
A Sacramento, California native and Dallas Trinity FC academy player, Moore joined the club this fall.
Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs started their DStv Diski Challenge campaign with a 2-1 victory over Orbit College on Sunday afternoon.
Orbit were dealt an early blow when captain Ikaneng Ramosala was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge.
Chiefs took full advantage on when Pheko Phago opened the scoring on 13 minutes with his first goal of the campaign.
Despite being a player down, Orbit managed to level matters in the 33rd minute, with Lucky Malatsi finishing off a well-worked team move.
However, Chiefs restored their lead before the halftime break when Neo Bohloko converted a penalty.
The Soweto giants also finished the game with 10 players after Imaan Hendricks was sent off for dangerous tackle on goalkeeper Kopano Segoe.
AmaZulu 1-4 Stellenbosch FC
Stellenbosch FC enjoyed a fine start to the season by thrashing AmaZulu 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Last season’s runners-up took the lead after just four minutes courtesy of a lovely goal from Kyle Bailey.
The lead was doubled in the 13th minute through Kenan Johanessen, who fired home from close range.
Kwanele Mbayi did pull a goal back for Usuthu ten minutes before the halftime break.
However, the Cape Winelands outfit carried that dominance into the second half, as Johanessen and Turic Gameldin completed the rout.
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Siwelele
Mamelodi Sundowns were unable to start the season with a win after drawing 1-1 with Siwelele FC on Sunday morning.
Manelis Mazibuko gave Siwelele the lead after 20 minutes into the contest, before Oarabile Booysen levelled matters for the Brazilians just before the halftime break.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
LALIGA champions FC Barcelona reportedly contemplating cancelling Marcus Rashford’s season-long loan deal.
Rashford joined the Spanish champions in July on loan after falling out of favour under coach Ruben Amorim last season.
The England international has made just one start in three games for the Catalan giants, who have started the campaign with two wins and a draw.
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According to El Nacional, the Barcelona hierarchy are now considering cancelling the 27-year-old’s loan spell due to his performances so far.
The report claims the board are concerned about Rashford’s displays, especially after he was taken off at halftime against in his first start against Levante when the team was trailing 2-0 before going on to win 3-2 in the second period.
Despite taking Rashford off at halftime, coach Hansi Flick remains positive about Rashford’s impact on the team.
“I think Marcus had some situations in the first half where he showed how good he is and how he can help us,” Flick said, as per MSN.
“This is, for me, where we have to continue.”
The Catalan giants resume LALIGA action with a clash against Valencia after the international break.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
CHARLESTON, S.C. – North Florida women’s soccer (2-4-2) fell to The College of Charleston (2-3-1), 3-1, on the road at Ralph Lundy Field at Patriots Point on Sunday in a match that was called in the 72nd minute due to inclement weather.
Sophomore forward Allison Souers scored her third goal of the season off an assist from redshirt junior forward/midfielder Isabella Pontieri in the 10th minute. For Pontieri, it was her fourth assist of the season and second-straight match with an assist.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Avery Johnson collected a career-high five saves all during the second half of play. The five saves were also the most by an Osprey goalkeeper in a single contest this season.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Audrey Johnson made her third-consecutive start and registered her fourth-consecutive match with four saves.
Pontieri, redshirt forward/midfielder Paige McSwigan and freshman defender Skya Horth each tacked on a shot.
Redshirt junior forward Allie Fekany, redshirt junior defender Brenna Robinson and redshirt junior forward Reese Radecki each made their second start of the season. Overall, 24 Ospreys saw action.
North Florida returns to Hodges Stadium for four-straight home matches. The Ospreys will begin their home slate with UCF. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 11.
