---

Gnus Football: World Cup top scorers
FIFA announced the finalists for the Puskas Award 2019 for Best goals and Barcelonas Lionel Messi stunning chip ag stanley polska ainst Real Betis made it into the top three. The Argentinian scored a stunning chip against Betis earlier this year in March, in an away La Liga game. Despite not being in the home territory, the gorgeous piece of work was applauded by the away fans along with Barca crowd. Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona waves to the crowd. Getty Images This is, overall, Messis 8th nomination for Puskas Award. Despite being nominated seven times before, the forward has not won a single award so far. Apart from Messi, the other two goals which made it into top three were Colombias Juan Quinteros sensational free-kick from 35 yards out for River Plate against Racing Club. Daniel Zsoris bicycle kick for Hungarian club Debrecen against Ferenecvaros rounded-up the list of contenders for the prestigious award. The Best awards, including the Puskas, will be announced by FIFA on September 23, 2019, at a ceremony in Milan in Italy. Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk is on the shortlist to add FIFAs best player award to his UEFA Mens Player of the Year honour. The Dutch international denied Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the European title last week and the same trio stanley water bottle are in the running for the FIFA accolade to be announced in Milan on September 23. Stay updated with the... See more Stay updated with the latest sports news, inclu stanley cup ding latest headlines and u Qtqv Neymar scores on final game before ban, Monaco in trouble
The United States pairing of Serena Williams and John Isner snuck into the Hopman Cup final with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic at the Perth Arena on Thursday. The pre-tournament favourites stanley tumblers had to complete a clean sweep of the Czech combination of Lucie Safarova and Adam Pavlasek in the Group A tie to reach Saturday s final of the mixed teams tournament. Having won both singles matches, Williams and Isner powered on through, taking the mixed doubles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. But the Czechs came agonisingly close to making it to the final during the women s singles encounter that opened the tie. Safarova, ranked 15th in the world, recovered from a set down against Williams in the game of the tournament, serving for the match at 6-5 in the third set. However, the world number one was able to break back and eventually prevailed in a tense third-set tiebreaker 6-3, 6-7 1/7 , 7-6 8-6 to keep the Americans in the hunt. Isner then beat the 239th-ranked Pavlasek in straight sets, 7-6 7/4 , 6-4, to set up the mixed doubles decider. The United States have claim stanley cup nz ed a record six Hopman Cup titles and both Williams and Isner have won in Perth. Williams teamed with James Blake in 2003 and Mardy Fish in 2008 and can become the first three-time winner of the event, while Isner won with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in 2011. Their opponents will not be known until after Friday s final round robin ties stanley ca in Group B. Backs against the wall Williams was thrilled they were able to ri