MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Marcus Rashford's performance after the 1-1 draw with Liverpool branding it "his best game for 10 months".

Rashford put United in front in the first half -- his first goal from open play since August -- before Adam Lallana's late equaliser and Solskjaer was so impressed with the 21-year-old's display the Norwegian said it was his best goal since he took over from Jose Mourinho nearly a year ago.

- ESPN Premier League fantasy: Sign up now!
- VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
- When does the transfer window reopen?
- Premier League winter break: All you need to know

"It was his best game, maybe, in 10 months for me," said Solskjaer. "He runs off the shoulder, chases, defends well and got hold of the ball. You could see he is growing and getting stronger.

"I'm disappointed we can't sit here and talk about a win but of course the performance is very positive.

"They're so disappointed in the dressing room but we played against a very good team and we'll kick on."

Solskjaer takes his team to Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday before a trip to Norwich on Sunday.

Paul Pogba is due to have a scan on his foot on Monday and there is hope Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw will be able to return soon.

Axel Tuanzebe was due to start against Liverpool but was replaced with Marcos Rojo after picking up a thigh strain in the warm up.

"I don't know how [Tuanzebe] is but hopefully both him and Jesse will be back soon," said Solskjaer.

"Anthony [Martial] will be able to play more. There is a test on Paul to see where he's at and when he'll be back. Luke, not too long. [Nemanja] Matic has played on with a little problem."

Meg Lanning will team up with Australia women's coach Matthew Mott as a marquee player for Welsh Fire in The Hundred.

Lanning, the Australia captain, was one of eight women's signings - one per team - announced for next year's inaugural tournament during the men's player draft on Sunday night in London. She joins England centrally contracted players Katie George and Byrony Smith at the Welsh side where Mott will be head coach.

Welsh Fire men's team head coach Gary Kirsten used his first two draft picks to snap up Australians Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith, who will play alongside centrally contracted England star Jonny Bairstow.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be joining up with Matthew Mott at Welsh Fire," Lanning said. "We obviously know each other really well from working together for Australia and hopefully that can give us an edge. It's really exciting to see the women's squads begin to take shape, and hopefully alongside the men's players who joined up in tonight's draft we can give Welsh Fire a strong chance in the first season of The Hundred."

In-form team-mate Alyssa Healy, who struck a world record T20 score of 148 not out for Australia against Sri Lanka earlier this month, won't be joining husband Starc at the Welsh side after being named as a marquee signing for Northern Superchargers, where she will play alongside England's Lauren Winfield and Linsey Smith.

Australia's 21-year-old spin-bowling allrounder Sophie Molineux joins England couple Katherine Brunt and Natalie Sciver, who recently announced their engagement, at Trent Rockets as their marquee signing, which Brunt described as "a bit left-field" and "a great pick". Molineux, who has played 17 T20 internationals since making her debut in early 2018 and played all three of her ODIs the same year, is in her fifth WBBL season with Melbourne Renegades.

"Allrounders, especially ones like her will do really well in this competition," Brunt told Sky Sports during the draft broadcast.

Tammy Beaumont will join her England captain, Heather Knight, at London Spirit and South Africa's Lizelle Lee will head to Manchester Originals while her international captain, Dane van Niekerk, will play for Oval Invincibles.

Beaumont said: "The competition is obviously getting closer and now we know the names, the kit and the players it's all starting to feel real. There's so much world-class talent across both competitions and we are keen to get started."

Hard-hitting New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine joins Birmingham Phoenix and compatriot Suzie Bates heads Southern Brave.

Women's team head coaches have until May 31 to finalise their 15-strong squads for the five-week competition starting in July 2020.

Conference USA fined Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin $5,000 and publicly reprimanded him on Sunday for violating the league's sportsmanship policy, one day after he tweeted a photograph that depicted on-field officials as being blind.

Kiffin was upset about the officiating in the Owls' 36-31 loss to Marshall on Saturday, which dropped FAU's record to 4-3, 2-1 in Conference USA. The lead changed four times in the final 10:09, with the Thundering Herd taking the lead for good on Brenden Knox's 17-yard run with 36 seconds to go.

@ConferenceUSA pic.twitter.com/C1B3GT9ODz

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) October 20, 2019

"I just lost $5000 for a tweet," Kiffin told ESPN on Sunday. "We have freedom of speech, but I guess around here there's no such thing as freedom to tweet. Maybe LeBron James will come out and comment about it tomorrow."

Kiffin also told ESPN he spoke with the Conference USA office, and they agreed there were "inconsistencies" in the game's officiating, and they planned to look further into the matter.

"Conference USA has specific rules and standards regarding sportsmanship which have been adopted by our membership," commissioner Judy MacLeod said in a statement. "We have an obligation to enforce our rules, including the prohibition of public criticism of officiating."

The Owls were penalized nine times for 90 yards in the loss. After the game, Kiffin was hesitant to criticize officials when asked about officiating by reporters.

"I already made the decision I'm not going to get into officiating," Kiffin said. "I don't know if we lose money in this conference -- we probably do -- and I don't have a lot anymore. I'm not going to lose any. I'm about to say what I want to say, but I'm not going to. The assistant AD is back there shaking his head like, 'Hey, don't say what you want to say.' I'm not gonna say anything."

In the end, however, Kiffin couldn't resist sharing his opinion with reporters.

"The game might've taken five hours because every call took 10 minutes to figure out how to explain it," Kiffin said. "I can't get fined for that."

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has been ruled out of the season opener against the LA Clippers, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Sunday.

It is unknown just how much of the start to the regular season Kuzma, who was cleared for noncontact practice last week after suffering a stress reaction in his left foot during USA Basketball training camp in August, will miss.

"Right now, we're just talking about ramping up his activity, and we're not going to look past two days from now," Vogel said after his team's second-to-last tune-up before the season opens. "We're going to try to increase his workload and activities this week, and we'll see where we're at."

After practice was finished Sunday, Kuzma stayed late for extra work with assistant coach Phil Handy. One drill involved Kuzma catching a pass on the wing, driving into the lane for a dunk and then darting out to the 3-point line to spot up and receive another pass for the shot.

Kuzma told ESPN he was "a little more optimistic" about his injury after being able to get back on the court this past week.

"I haven't really been doing too much, really, for the last two months, so just being able to shoot jump shots and being around the team a little bit more, it's optimistic, for sure," Kuzma said before L.A.'s preseason finale against the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

Kuzma said he has graduated from pool workouts to running on an altered-gravity treadmill to running on the court.

"There's a progression," Vogel said. "He's on no-contact, half court now. I'm sure we'll build up to no-contact, full court with sprinting or potentially half court with contact. I'm not sure which direction they're going to take it next, but there will be a progression this week building him up."

Without Kuzma available, Vogel could go with a starting lineup of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee, Avery Bradley and Danny Green against the Clippers -- the only starting unit he tried out twice in L.A.'s six-game preseason slate -- however the coach said he would not finalize that decision until Tuesday.

Kuzma averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season, his second in the NBA. Vogel called him "probably our third-best player" and said Kuzma's addition whenever he is cleared to play will tempt Vogel to supersize the Lakers' lineup.

"We can go a lot of different directions," Vogel said. "It probably gets more enticing to play Anthony at the 5 with Kuz out there and LeBron and a couple guards. But our 5s have been great. So, we'll have what we like to call 'good problems' when he's back to full activity."

Vogel said Kuzma has been "impatient" with the injury but has been "on board with the plan" the Lakers training staff has implemented to get him back to full capacity.

"The main thing is just making sure I'm healthy and (ready to) go," Kuzma said. "It's a long season, so (missing opening night) won't affect me mentally or anything."

Logic pointed to nothing other than a Wales win - but logic does not often apply to Wales at the World Cup.

Their hearts had been broken too many times to be overly confident, even if form, world ranking and all other measurable factors suggested they would beat France comfortably.

History's pain kept Welsh complacency at bay, the most agonising episode of all being the 2011 semi-final loss to France.

Despite having to play almost an entire match with 14 men because of Sam Warburton's red card, Wales still could have won, and to lose by a single point only deepened their grief in New Zealand.

Eight years on in Japan, they exorcised those demons with a near mirror image of events in Auckland.

This time it was France who saw red - Sebastien Vahaamahina inexplicably elbowing Aaron Wainwright - and now it was Les Bleus who had to suffer the anguish of a one-point defeat.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones and George North were the only Wales players to play in both matches, while Maxime Medard was France's sole survivor.

But despite the changes in personnel, Wales head coach Warren Gatland said in the build-up to this rematch that his players were using the hurt of 2011 as a source of inspiration.

"I think for the players and coaches that were involved in 2011, that is an advantage in terms of preparation and remembering about that," he said afterwards.

"It is ironic the last time we were in a World Cup there was a red card and it was a one-point game as well.

"We did not play our best but we showed some character, and that is testament to this group of men - we can be excited about looking forward to a semi-final."

Gatland avoids an early end to his reign

That excitement is justified. For all the pre-tournament talk of this being Wales' best chance yet to win a first World Cup, this will only be their third semi-final.

Wales lost the other two - in 1987 and 2011 - so they will savour next Sunday's meeting with South Africa, and nobody more so than Gatland.

The New Zealander will step down as head coach at the end of this World Cup and, for 75 minutes in Oita, it looked like his glittering 12-year reign would come to an early and ignominious end.

"You start going through a lot of different emotions," Gatland said, admitting that he thought this might be it.

"What I am going to be saying in here [to the media at his post-match conference], what I am going to be saying on the television - you are thinking on those potential scenarios.

"France played exceptionally well and they have made a lot of progress over the last five months.

"I definitely went through a lot of emotions today but coming in at half-time and getting some clear messages to the players about what we were going to do in the second half [was important].

"I am proud of the players and how we hung in there."

Those players were not going to allow Gatland - arguably Wales' greatest coach - to leave on such a flat note.

Having trailed 12-0 early on, Wales were 19-10 down at half-time but, despite continuing to play poorly by their own recent high standards, they found a way to win.

This is what Wales do under Gatland.

They were 16-0 down away against France at half-time in their opening Six Nations fixture in February, and yet they fought back to win 24-19 and set the ball rolling for a third Grand Slam of the Gatland era.

In Paris that evening, Gatland said his team had "forgotten how to lose".

That fortitude was evident in another comeback victory during that campaign at home to England, and it has been there for the world to see in Japan as Wales withstood a fierce Australian revival in Tokyo and then overcame an explosive start from Fiji to prevail in Oita.

They had to delve into that deep well of resolve once more upon their return to Oita to face France.

Wales were not once in the lead until Dan Biggar's match-winning conversion from Ross Moriarty's try in the 75th minute, itself a play within a play, a tale of redemption for Moriarty, whose first-half sin-binning had cost his side seven points.

Even if their form had deserted them, Wales never lacked belief.

They stuck to their task unerringly. Although France had not played for two weeks, they were tiring after Vahaamahina's red card.

By contrast, Wales, who pride themselves on being one of the fittest teams in the world, seemed to get stronger as time wore on.

"We've prepared for this. We've been to some dark places in the preparation for these moments and games," captain Alun Wyn Jones said.

"The weeks and days do feel a little bit longer obviously because of the magnitude of the occasion coming up.

"Physically, this is what we've prepared for and we're ready to go for the next one."

A World Cup a decade in the making

Wales have been planning for this World Cup for years, and those preparations have been particularly focused over the past 18 months.

Last year's summer tour of the United States and Argentina helped build strength in depth, with debuts for players such as Wainwright, man of the match against France and now a first-team regular.

Then there was the clean sweep of last autumn's Tests - including victories over Australia and South Africa - and this year's Six Nations Grand Slam, all of which contributed to a record winning run of 14 matches.

Wales' players then started convening for World Cup training as far back as May, before embarking on gruelling training camps at altitude in the Swiss Alps and then in the searing heat of Turkey.

The planning has been meticulous, a World Cup years in the making.

When Jones was asked about the extent of Welsh preparations, he said Gatland had probably been mapping out this campaign for the past 10 years.

Now that decade boils down to two matches: a semi-final followed by what everyone involved hopes will be a final, rather than a third-place play-off.

"We're excited about being where we are. We're in a semi-final of a World Cup," Gatland said.

"Alun Wyn has been saying that we have 240 minutes to do something you'll remember for the rest of your life.

"We're down to 160 now, if you can't get excited about that, nothing will excite you."

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France - Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium ended more than seven years without a victory when he closed with a 1-over 72 and survived a wild back nine at Le Golf National to win the French Open on Sunday.

It was Colsaerts first victory since the Volvo World Match Play in 2012, when he was No. 32 in the world and played a role in Europe's record comeback to win the Ryder Cup at Medinah.

Colsaerts played 214 tournaments worldwide since that last victory.

This one wasn't easy, even after he stretched his lead to five shots early in the final round.

He had to chip in for eagle on the par-5 14th to regain the lead. Colsaerts gave it right back with a double bogey on the next hole. Joachim Hansen then made double bogey on the 17th hole that allowed Colsaerts to take the lead again.

Colsaerts closed with three pars for a one-shot victory over Hansen, who closed with a 68. George Coetzee, who led by two shots with six holes to play, made triple bogey on the 15th hole and shot 71 to finish two shots behind.

"It's very, very special – the French Open for me is very special, because I'm French-speaking," said Colsaerts. "I've been coming here for I don't know how many years, it's been a long road. So many people have supported me over the years, that's why I get so emotional. I went through up and downs for so many years now.

"We knew the last four holes are always pretty dramatic, I proved it with hitting it in the water on 15. I don't know what happened on 17 ... but it was a bit of a surprise when I got on to the green. I thought I was still going to be one behind."

Colsaerts began the week trying to keep his full European Tour card. He was No. 424 in the world ranking, and his third European Tour victory moves him back into the top 200 at No. 195.

AS Roma have vowed to ban the fans responsible for aiming racist abuse at Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira during a 0-0 Serie A draw on Sunday and took to social media to apologise for the incident.

Italian news network ANSA reported that the 21-year-old was targeted with monkey chants by travelling supporters at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Roma's official Twitter account said: "AS Roma would like to apologise to Ronaldo Vieira for the racist boos he was subjected to.

"Roma does not tolerate racism of any kind and the club will support the authorities in identifying and subsequently banning any individuals found guilty of racially abusing the midfielder."

AS Roma would like to apologise to Ronaldo Vieira for the racist boos he was subjected to. Roma does not tolerate racism of any kind and the club will support the authorities in identifying and subsequently banning any individuals found guilty of racially abusing the midfielder.

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) October 20, 2019

The chants were heard coming from the away end, occupied by around 2,000 Roma fans, during the first half. The abuse continued and was noted by fourth official Antonio Giua.

"I heard it but I don't want to talk about it. This happens too often, it shouldn't be this way," Vieira told Rai Sport.

Corriere dello Sport reported that an announcement was made on the stadium loudspeaker warning fans that the match would be suspended if the chants continued.

Vieira was born in Guinea-Bissau but has represented England at youth level, having moved to the country at a young age.

He joined Sampdoria from Leeds United in 2018.

Last month, Roma banned a fan for life for sending racist insults to defender Juan Jesus on social media.

There have already been several incidents of racism in Serie A this season.

Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku received abuse from Cagliari fans in September and a game was briefly suspended when Fiorentina defender Dalbert said he had been racially abused by Atalanta supporters.

MANCHESTER, England -- Jose Mourinho goaded Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Manchester United by saying the German manager "did not like the menu" at Old Trafford.

Liverpool needed a late equaliser to salvage a point against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and afterward Mourinho was quick to remind Klopp that he has failed to win at United in five attempts as his team dropped points for the first time this season.

"He didn't like the menu," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "He likes meat and he got fish. United, with the limitations they have at the moment, they played with five at the back, were solid and didn't give the chance of transition. Jurgen Klopp didn't like the menu.

- ESPN Premier League fantasy: Sign up now!
- VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
- When does the transfer window reopen?
- Premier League winter break: All you need to know

"They [Liverpool] missed quality to play against a team with a low block. They have a fantastic record of so many victories. But they have limitations against teams with low blocks. They can smash opponents that play the way they want to play against.

"Jurgen clearly has frustrations. It's a fantastic situation for his team. But at Old Trafford -- which is a special place to win -- he [Klopp] never did it."

Klopp admitted after the match that he was indeed left frustrated at what he believed was a foul on Divock Origi in the build-up to Marcus Rashford's first-half opener.

Liverpool would have gone in at half-time level had VAR not chalked off a Sadio Mane goal before Adam Lallana came off the bench to score an equaliser five minutes from time.

"We were good enough for a point," said Klopp. "The first goal I think everyone can agree it was a foul, but with VAR it is not a clear foul. That is the situation. We didn't lose but it was an obvious foul.

"Then we got a disallowed goal. I didn't see it back but it was probably handball but everything just seemed to go against us."

Klopp also seemed to disagree with Mourinho's assessment that his team don't play well against defences that sit back and accused Man United of always playing that way in his experience in the Premier League.

"We always play against the wall. We need to do better but it is how it is," Klopp added. "We play very often against a team like this. Maybe we can do better. One point is completely fine. We carry on."

Klopp's annoyance focused on Victor Lindelof's challenge on Origi before Dan James raced away to cross for Rashford to score on 36 minutes.

The goal was checked by VAR after referee Martin Atkinson had allowed the game to continue and Solskjaer insisted the right outcome had been reached.

"No chance [that it was a foul], we're not playing basketball," said the United boss. "He touched him, but it's not a clear and obvious error."