MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Coventry's nightmare start to the season continued with a 5-0 home loss to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.
After running away at the top of the Championship last season it has been a rude awakening for Frank Lampard's team since its return to England's top flight.
Four straight defeats leaves Coventry rooted to the foot of the standings without a goal and a goal difference of minus 10.
Brighton led 1-0 at halftime through Charalampos Kostoulas before going on a scoring spree after the break with goals from Malick Yalcouye, Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari.
Manchester United hosted Manchester City at Old Trafford later Sunday.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Coventry City's Jay Dasilva, centre right, and teammates applaud to fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, centre right, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Brighton and Hove Albion's Malick Yalcouye, left, celebrates with Pascal Gross after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Lottie Woad assured it. Carlota Ciganda sealed it.
Vamos! The Solheim Cup is back in the hands of Team Europe.
The blue wave came early in the Sunday singles at Bernardus Golf and never went away, all the way through to Woad holing a putt from 2 feet on No. 17 to win her match and guarantee the Europeans would reach the 14 1/2 points needed to reclaim the crystal trophy from the United States.
Woad punched the air and jumped into the arms of her teammates who flooded onto the green in celebration.
The point that officially took Europe to its victory target in the Netherlands was secured by — who else? — Ciganda about 10 minutes later.
The Spaniard, who got the decisive point when Europe retained the Solheim Cup in 2023, completed a 4-and-2 victory over Jennifer Kupcho, a feisty American who had roared “Vamos!” ("Let's go!") when holing an outrageous 93-foot putt on the way to beating Ciganda in a spiky four-balls match on Saturday.
“Today I was really motivated to beat her,” Ciganda said, “because I knew it was going to be important.”
Strains of “Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé” drifted across the course as the last matches finished and the European team and staff celebrated with Champagne.
Captain Anna Nordqvist, her assistants as well as the players and their caddies formed a line, put their arms over one another’s shoulders, and walked as one up the 18th fairway toward the green where Celine Boutier — the remaining European player on the course — was wrapping up her match.
When Boutier finished, she piled into the mass celebrations.
The final score: Europe 15, the United States 13.
The Europeans have now won three of the last five editions, the only loss in that stretch coming in Virginia two years ago. The U.S. team didn't have possession of the trophy for long and is still without a win on the road since 2015.
“The Europeans played great today, and that’s the way it goes,” U.S. captain Angela Stanford said. “So their backs were against the wall, they had nothing to lose, and that’s exactly what they did — they came out and played well.”
The teams were tied at 8-8 after two days and set out Sunday in heavy rain for the 12 singles matches, with Europe going out fast, putting blue all over the scoreboard and ultimately winning six of the first eight matches. Ciganda, in Match 11, added the crucial other victory.
Early wins for Charley Hull and Linn Grant laid the platform for victory, the only wobble for Europe coming when U.S. player Alison Lee came from 4 down after 11 holes to beat Esther Henseleit, 1 up, for the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history.
Rookies contributed massively for Europe all week and especially Sunday, with Woad, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez all winning matches in the singles.
“I think it’s been one of the best teams that we’ve had in the last few years,” Ciganda said. “Everyone just a unit, a team. That’s what Europe is about.”
The U.S. leads the all-time series 11-8, with one draw.
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Nastasia Nadaud of Europe, second right, celebrates with teamates after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Members of Team Europe celebrate after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Lottie Woad of Europe of Europe celebrates with teammates after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Carlota Ciganda of Europe embraces her caddie on the 16th green after beating Jennifer Kupcho of the United States in a singles match during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Carlota Ciganda of Europe reacts as she walks onto the 16th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Nelly Korda of the United States misses a putt on the 15th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Linn Grant of Europe embraces Angel Yin of the United States after winning their singles match during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Nelly Korda of the United States plays from the 8th tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Linn Grant of Europe celebrates as she leaves the 6th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Esther Henseleit of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Alison Lee of the United States plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe fans gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Spectators gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Maja Stark, right, and Linn Grant of Europe celebrate after putting on the 15th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Andrea Lee, right, bumps fists with Yealimi Noh of the United States after holing a putt on the 9th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from a bunker near the 8th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe supporters stand along the course on day two of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Jennifer Kupcho of the United States celebrates after holing a putt on the 18th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
