LOS ANGELES -- Kevin Fiala was back in the Los Angeles Kings' lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The forward was a healthy scratch Tuesday at San Jose after missing a team meeting.

"Kev and I talked about it. He made a mistake, felt bad about it. We move on," Kings coach Jim Hiller said before Wednesday's game. "It might look like, 'Oh, he got benched, and now he misses [a meeting].' I'm not worried about Kevin. Kevin'll get it back. He cares a lot."

Fiala has four goals and six points in nine games, but Hiller expressed concern about the amount of penalties Fiala is taking. He has 12 penalty minutes, including four in last Saturday's game against Utah.

Fiala, who had his third career 70-point campaign with 29 goals and 73 points last season, was benched during the third period of the Utah game due to picking up two penalties.

"The disappointing thing, I think, right now, he's taking too many minors," Hiller said. "He had a great run the second half, he reeled that in. And I know he had such high expectations for himself this year, even higher than he's probably ever had, and just hasn't started that way yet."

Naomi Girma scored her first two international goals and the United States beat Argentina 3-0 on Wednesday night in the team's final match of the year on American soil.

It was the third match in six days for the United States, which also won the first two against Iceland. The matches were the first for the United States since the team won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics this past summer.

Girma, a defender, scored on a header in the 37th minute, then raised her arms and smiled as U.S. coach Emma Hayes applauded her. Girma played every minute of the Olympic tournament in France.

"The ball just fell right in front of me, it was so great," Girma said. "I was like, I don't think I can miss this. It fell right on my head."

Girma played a role in an own goal that put the U.S. up 2-0 before halftime. She got a head on Rose Lavelle's corner kick and the ball was deflected into the goal by Argentina's Aldana Cometti.

Girma made it 3-0 with another header in the 49th minute. Afterward she ran to the sidelines and embraced former Stanford teammate Sophia Smith on the bench.

"I feel like anytime anyone gets their first goal, it's always such a joy and the whole team gets excited," Girma said. "So it was fun to get mine tonight."

Hayes shook up the lineup against Argentina at Louisville's Lynn Family Stadium, resting players because of the final regular-season matches in the National Women's Soccer League this weekend with playoff spots and seeding still on the line.

Three newcomers started: goalkeeper Mandy Haught, Eva Gaetino and Alyssa Malonson. It was the first time in 23 years that three or more players have started in their debuts for the national team.

Lavelle, named captain for the match, was honored beforehand for playing in 100 games for the national team. She reached the milestone in June.

"It was kind of our victory tour, so (we got) three solid wins and a lot of celebration and proud moments for individuals," defender Emily Fox said.

The U.S. will close out the year with a pair of matches in Europe. They play England at Wembley on Nov. 30 before facing the Netherlands in The Hague on Dec. 3.

"We're obviously excited to head to Europe and play two great opponents," Girma said. "I think now it's about turning the page on this celebration and really looking forward to 2027, and trying to make sure we start developing things now."

Four-star Michigan quarterback commit Carter Smith, ESPN's No. 3 dual-threat passer in the class of 2025, pulled his pledge from the Wolverines on Wednesday night, marking what could be the first step in a potentially massive quarterback shake-up in the late stages of the 2025 cycle.

Smith's decommitment comes as Michigan has upped its efforts in recent weeks to lure LSU quarterback pledge and top prospect Bryce Underwood into a late-cycle flip to the Wolverines.

Underwood, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound passer from Belleville, Michigan, is ESPN's No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle and has been committed to LSU since Jan. 6, 2024. Following Smith's decommitment, all eyes now fall on Underwood -- who plays his high school football 18 miles from Michigan Stadium -- a little more than a month out from the early signing period.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound passer from Fort Myers, Florida, announced his decision on social media, writing in a statement, "I would like to start by thanking the coaching staff at Michigan for everything they have done for me.

"I would especially like to thank Coach Campbell for everything and for giving me such an incredible opportunity. With that being said, I would like to announce that I have decommitted from the University of Michigan."

@CoachRodeBV pic.twitter.com/3pgphuv9P0

Carter Smith (@_CarterSmith9) October 31, 2024

Smith is ESPN's No. 155 prospect in 2025 and was the sixth-ranked member of the Wolverines' incoming class prior to decommitting. With his recruitment reopened, Michigan now holds pledges from just seven ESPN 300 prospects in 2025.

Smith threw for 2,223 yards and 29 touchdowns with four interceptions during his junior season at Florida's Bishop Verot High School en route to being named the state's player of the year. He committed to the Wolverines under coach Jim Harbaugh last November, picking Michigan over Florida, Penn State, Miami and Cincinnati.

Carter's decommitment now leaves a hole at quarterback in Sherrone Moore's inaugural recruiting class and opens the door for the Wolverines to land Underwood.

Underwood led Belleville High School to a third straight state title game as a junior last fall and began the 2024 season as ESPN's No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class. He committed to LSU in January, picking the Tigers over Michigan and Alabama following a junior season in which he threw for 3,165 yards with 40 touchdowns and two interceptions.

"They offered me as a sophomore, have been recruiting me since then and the program history," Underwood said at the time. "They have great program history, great quarterback history, as well."

Underwood has remained the crown jewel of LSU's 2025 class in the 10 months since his pledge. However, Michigan maintained contact with the state's 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year before upping its pursuit of Underwood in recent weeks. And with Smith's exit from the Wolverines' 2025 class, buzz around Underwood's potential flip will only intensify in the final weeks before the early signing period opens on Dec. 4.

Michigan sat at No. 14 in ESPN's latest team rankings for the 2025 cycle prior to Smith's decommitment, and could rise significantly in the final weeks. On top of the Wolverines' pursuit of Underwood, Michigan remains in the mix for four-star safety Jordan Young (No. 106 in the ESPN 300) and hosted Georgia cornerback commit Shamari Earls (No. 71) last weekend.

The Wolverines host No. 1 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

After being waived by the Boston Celtics out of training camp, six-year NBA veteran Lonnie Walker IV will sign a contract with Zalgiris Kaunas of the Euroleague, his agent, George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group, told ESPN on Wednesday.

Walker's deal with the Lithuanian club includes an NBA buyout clause until Feb. 18, Langberg said.

The 25-year-old Walker has averaged 9.8 points in 20.3 minutes over his six seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.

Walker, the No. 18 pick in the 2018 NBA draft to the Spurs, had a strong season in 2023-24, when he averaged 9.7 points, 38.4% 3-point shooting and 17.4 minutes for the Nets.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Golden State Warriors have picked up the third-year option for second-year guard Brandin Podziemski, the team announced Wednesday.

Podziemski was drafted by the Warriors with the 19th pick in the 2023 draft and has since become a key rotational player to the team, starting in 28 games during his rookie season. That year, he averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 26.6 minutes, led the league with 38 drawn charges and was named to the 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie first team.

Through four games this season, he is averaging 9.5 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 27 minutes.

The Warriors are expecting a leap in production from Podziemski during his second season and an increase in responsibility, as well.

Manchester City winger Savinho was carried off on a stretcher during the 2-1 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, adding to the injury crisis enveloping the Premier League champions.

"Tomorrow we have two 'keepers and Erling Haaland for a training session, the rest we don't have," City manager Pep Guardiola said.

Savinho was in tears and consoled by teammates as he was being carried off the field in the 63rd minute after hurting his right ankle following a driving run into the penalty area.

Guardiola said the Brazil winger will find out on Thursday the extent of the injury. City also lost Manuel Akanji in the warmup, with the centre-back having been a doubt coming into the game because of a knee issue.

Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Jérémy Doku and Oscar Bobb were already on the injury list, while Guardiola said Rúben Dias has been playing through a problem.

Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or award Monday, has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, while Guardiola said De Bruyne, Grealish and Walker wouldn't be back until after the next international break.

Guardiola said the injury situation was the worst he has experienced in his time at the club since arriving in 2016.

"We are 13 players," he said. "We are in real difficulty but we have to make the effort. The guys who played, most finished with problems and we will see how they recover.

"I think when we are in trouble like we are -- because in nine years, I've never in this situation had this many injuries for this many reasons -- in these situations, the players make a step forward. They are more together than ever."

City lead the Premier League by a point from Liverpool after nine games.

Tottenham also picked up two injuries -- to Micky van de Ven and Timo Werner. Van de Ven was a hamstring issue, coach Ange Postecoglou said, while Werner's might just have been fatigue.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ruud van Nistelrooy said he is ready to stay at Manchester United "in any capacity" whenever a new manager is appointed after overseeing a 5-2 Carabao Cup win against Leicester City at Old Trafford in his first game as interim head coach following Monday's dismissal of manager Erik ten Hag.

United are continuing to negotiate with Sporting CP for the release of head coach Ruben Amorim after agreeing to pay the 39-year-old's 10 million ($10.8 million) clause to replace Ten Hag.

However, sources have told ESPN that although United are "getting there" in their efforts to seal a deal for Amorim, the terms of his contract with the Portuguese champions could see his arrival at Old Trafford delayed until the start of the next international break on Nov 11.

Such a delay to Amorim's arrival at United would likely see Van Nistelrooy remain in interim charge for the Premier League games against Chelsea (Nov. 3) and Leicester City (Nov. 10) as well as the Europa League tie against PAOK Thessaloniki at Old Trafford on Nov. 7.

Having been hired by United as assistant manager to Ten Hag in the summer, Van Nistelrooy's time at the club where he spent five years as a player could yet be short, but he said after the Leicester game that he will stay as long as he is wanted.

"Of course," Van Nistelrooy told Sky Sports. "I came here as an assistant to help the club. Now in this role, I'm helping as long as needed.

"In the future in any capacity, I'm here to help the club further to build towards the future that's what I'm here for.

"To go back to yesterday [Tuesday], of course receiving the players and getting together for the first day after Erik [ten Hag] had to leave was a sad day to share. Mixed emotions.

"He was the one that asked me to work back here again, and in the first conversation we had I felt such a passion and care for this football club. That is why I was so sad to see him go.

"Having said that, football and life continues, and we knew that 75,000 people would be waiting for us here today, with millions more watching at home behind their screens and radios and you have to switch then as players.

"We tried to switch that button for the players, try to get the mindset going and go out tonight and give everything for the fans."

United sealed a Carabao Cup quarterfinal tie away to Tottenham Hotspur with the win against Leicester, but they remain in 14th position in the Premier League table. Results and performances must improve quickly for United to salvage their season, and Van Nistelrooy said that his only job now is to ensure that the team continues on an upwards curve.

"It is clear that this is going to be short term, so for me today was the most important day after what happened," he said. "In such short notice we had to have things getting going and get into the quarterfinals.

"Credit to the players, they were fantastic today.

"For now, the focus is on Chelsea on Sunday, and I do not really look any further."

LONDON -- You could feel the relief in the stands at the final whistle when Tottenham fans lept from their seats, as head coach Ange Postecoglou strolled calmly onto the pitch and the song "Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur" rang out of the stadium speakers.

That song may not seem fitting these days. Nobody here needs reminding that it has been almost 17 years since Spurs last won a trophy. However, in Postecoglou's second season at the helm, the clear goal is to end that streak.

Wednesday night's narrow 2-1 victory over Manchester City takes them into the Carabao Cup quarterfinals and one step closer to being able to do that. Their performance, though, potentially leaves questions about whether this side can achieve it.

"I thought we defended well because we really didn't give away too many clear-cut opportunities," Postecoglou said.

"We had some really good chances to finish the game off, which we didn't take but great resilience by the boys to open out play."

There are clear positives to be taken from the game. Beating City -- a team Postecoglou described as the "gold standard" -- is never to be scoffed at. They're the first team to do that this season, the first since Manchester United in last season's FA Cup final.

"They [City] can ask every question there is and for the most part I thought we had it," Postecoglou said. He will grin, too, his side showing a refreshing look of pragmatism, with their two holding midfielders mostly keeping City at bay.

Maybe, then, it's harsh to pour water on a Tottenham win -- "ultimately," Postecoglou said, "the main thing you've got to do is to win" -- but questions over whether they are ready to end the trophy drought remain.

This game was theirs for the taking. City named a weakened starting XI, and it took just five minutes for Timo Werner to net his first goal of the season after Dejan Kulusevski picked him out at the back post with a low cross toward the opposite side of the box. Pape Matar Sarr followed that up 20 minutes later, with a superb curled effort from outside the box that found the bottom right-hand corner.

Yet, even with that two-goal lead in the first half, Spurs failed to capitalise and never looked suitably assured. The missed chances stacked up. In the first half, Werner was gifted the ball by a stray and sloppy İlkay Gündoğan pass on City's 18-yard box. The German forward should have scored, but he only found goalkeeper Stefan Ortega's gloves. When City reduced the deficit to just one goal when Matheus Nunes tapped home at the back post on the stroke of half-time, Spurs' task turned to a consolidation job.

The second half brought more missed attempts. Werner squandered a one-on-one just minutes after the restart before Kulusevski did the same on the other side. Later on, substitute Richarlison had the best of the bunch, being gifted a one-on-one of his own through an errant City throw-in, but again Spurs failed to convert.

Meanwhile, after seeing Savinho substituted through injury, City almost levelled through teenager Nico O'Reilly, only for Yves Bissouma to make a heroic block on the line.

Spurs have been criticised this season for failing to see games out, most recently throwing away a two-goal first-half lead at Brighton & Hove Albion. Domestically, this is their first victory this season by a single goal -- this time they took a punch and stayed standing. Maybe in that light, lacking ruthlessness but showing resoluteness will come as little concern for Postecoglou.

The Australian has been adamant over his ability to turn the tide at Spurs, from removing the "Spursy" tag to hoping he can continue his streak of lifting a trophy in his second season in charge at a club.

"It's about trying to continually push this group to become the team we want to be," he added.

"We're not there yet, that's fair to say. As I said yesterday, I'm really bullish on this group of players. They've got a really high ceiling and we've just got to keep focusing on that."

Spurs fans will be praying Postecoglou is right. They sang with relief after the final whistle. "Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur" continued over the speakers, followed by Gala's "Freed from Desire." Spurs fans were bouncing.

An hour later, though, came more sobering news. Tottenham were drawn to face Manchester United at home in the quarterfinals. It means another difficult draw as they bid to lift their first trophy since 2008 and cutting short that feeling of relief.

MANCHESTER -- It was one of the weirdest scenes of a strange season at Manchester United. Moments after sealing a 5-2 Carabao Cup win against Leicester City at Old Trafford in the first game following the firing of manager Erik ten Hag, the players performed a lap of honour before leaving the pitch.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, the interim head coach, was already back in the dressing-room, having made a brief diversion to applaud the fans and celebrate the win with clenched fists before heading up the players' tunnel.

But despite being 14th in the Premier League and with yet another manager paying the price for their failure to perform, the players made sure they milked every second of applause as they saluted the four sides of the stadium.

Perhaps they were just desperate for some adulation and to enjoy a rare moment of success this season. Never mind that it was a comfortable win against a half-strength Leicester side -- any win will do for United these days.

"All of a sudden we had some luck on our side," Van Nistelrooy said. "That made it a great day today."

But as United wait for Ruben Amorim, the Sporting CP coach, to confirm his departure from the Portuguese champions in order to replace Ten Hag -- United are in talks with Sporting over a deal to secure his release having triggered his 10 million release clause -- Van Nistelrooy and the players did their bit to paint a picture normality following Ten Hag's exit.

It's usually the same story when a manager is fired. The team gets an immediate bounce and boost of morale that is enough to seal a much-needed win, but more often than not, it proves to be an illusion. The failings that led to the previous manager being sacked soon return and the new manager quickly discovers that the job they have walked into was made vacant for the simple reason that the players didn't perform often enough.

That is the harsh reality of Manchester United right now. In truth, it has been pretty much the same since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013 after delivering 13 Premier League titles in 20 years.

That Van Nistelrooy became the ninth manager to take charge of team selection at United since Ferguson stepped down is a damning statistic. Ten Hag was the fifth permanent manager to lose his job at United since Ferguson's exit, with Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick all taking charge temporarily prior to Van Nistelrooy's stint in the hot-seat.

It may be one game only for Van Nistelrooy if United are able to get Amorim signed and sealed before the home game against Chelsea on Sunday, but the likelihood is that the former PSV Eindhoven coach will still be at the helm this weekend due to sources telling ESPN that "patience" will be needed before negotiations with Sporting reach a conclusion.

But at least Van Nistelrooy oversaw a victory -- only United's fifth this season. Ten Hag's dismal record this campaign was the reason for his dismissal, but even though his tactics and selections became increasingly unpredictable, there is no question that many of his players drastically underperformed and contributed to him losing his job.

Don't be fooled into believing that this win was evidence that United are ready to turn a corner, however.

Yes, Casemiro gave his best performance of the season, scoring twice and helping to create another, and captain Bruno Fernandes was also impressive.

But Leicester's two goals, from Bilal El Khannouss and Conor Coady, exposed United's defensive issues once again and there plenty of other moments when Steve Cooper's team created chances and could have scored more goals. The two occasions that Jordan Ayew easily dispossessed Victor Lindelöf and Manuel Ugarte will have alarmed Van Nistelrooy, and will worry Amorim when he gets to watch the playback of this game.

This is an imbalanced United squad, but its players are certainly capable of doing much better.

They may even continue their revival with a win against Chelsea at the weekend, but if, or when, Amorim takes charge, he would be wise to be wary of trusting this group of players to deliver on a consistent basis. They did not do that for Ten Hag and the evidence of 90 minutes against Leicester is not enough to suggest that Van Nistelrooy has found a missing ingredient.

There were no major team changes and no tinkering with tactics. It was the same players and formation that had delivered so many bad results and performances for Ten Hag, so it will need much more than this to convince anyone that United are suddenly set for a surge up the table now that Ten Hag has gone.

Amorim will know that. He will watch United's games, study the data and work out which players can survive the new regime, and which are past their use-by date.

But at least United won. Casemiro will be happy with his two goals, as will Fernandes who also scored twice, with Alejandro Garnacho netting United's other.

This game did not offer a clear picture of the state of United, though, and that had nothing to do with the mist that hovered over Old Trafford on Wednesday.