June was a month that saw historic sporting achievements, dramatic moments, and an array of unbelievable sports highlights. From Manchester City finally getting their hands on the Champions League Trophy, to title-clinching last-gasp winners, let’s take a look back at some of the best June had to offer.
1. City’s Treble Triumph
Manchester City’s 2022-23 season will go down in history as one of the greatest ever. After already sealing victory in the FA Cup, and winning the Premier League after a long-fought season, City’s silverware ambitions did not stop there. The UEFA Champions League has been the trophy that City fans, players, and manager Pep Guardiola have desired for years, with it being the only major trophy the club had not yet gotten their hands on. After beating Real Madrid in the semi-final, City had given themselves the chance to finally clinch the Champions League trophy, setting up a final against Inter Milan. The final itself was a cagey affair, with Milan managing to hold City off for the game’s first half and the early stages of the second. However, in the 68th minute, a Rodri goal from the edge of the box gave City the lead, sending their fans into jubilation. This proved to be the game’s decisive goal, with the final score 1-0 to City. Finally, the Blue half of Manchester got their hands on the trophy they wanted more than any other, and to make their victory even sweeter, the win meant they matched arch-rivals Manchester United’s historic feat of winning the treble, becoming only the second-ever English team to do so. Watch the winning goal and the scenes of victory below!
2. Denver’s Delight
The NBA’s 2023 champion has been crowned. After a 4-1 series win against the Miami Heat, the Denver Nuggets ended a 47-year wait for the NBA trophy, with this being their first-ever championship victory since entering the NBA in 1976. The star of the series was, of course, Nikola Jokic, who was crowned MVP of the finals. The two-time regular season MVP helped carry his team over the line when it mattered most, scoring 28 points in the series’ deciding game, and helping his team rally back from being 89-88 down with just two minutes left, to winning 94-89. Take a look back at the final games’ frantic finish.
3. Vegas Victorious
The NHL season wound to a close this June, with the Las Vegas Golden Knights facing off against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. The matchup meant that the winning team would hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time, with the Panthers yet to win the trophy since their founding in 1993, nor the Knights since their founding in 2017. As the series got underway, Vegas took the upper hand, winning the first two games, before the Panthers fought back to win the third. However, a further Vegas victory in game four gave the Knights a series lead of 3-1, meaning that with one further Knights win, the series would be sealed, and the Stanley Cup heading to Vegas. After a Mark Stone opening goal in the first quarter of Game 5, Vegas went on to take control of the game and ease to victory, finishing the game 9-3, winning the series 4-1, and bringing home the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history! Let’s look back at some of the goals from the night, as well as the moment their win was confirmed.
4. Alcaraz Clinches Queen’s
Carlos Alcaraz reclaimed his Tennis world number one ranking this June after his resounding victory in the Queen’s Championships, his first-ever grass court tournament victory. It has been a back-and-forth battle between 20-year-old Alcaraz and all-time-great Novak Djokovic for the top spot in the world rankings this year, with Alcaraz’s latest victory putting him ahead once more. The tournament itself saw some brilliant highlights, including some from Alcaraz’s finale matchup against Alex de Minaur. The Spaniard won the contest in two sets, scoring 6-4, 6-4. Take a look at a dramatic shot from Alcaraz to win the first set, as well as a point that de Minaur won in style that produced a great moment of sportsmanship!
5. Royal Antwerp’s Last Gasp Title Winner
The final day of the Belgium Pro League produced soccer drama and sports highlights unlike any seen before. Going into the day, three teams were still vying for the title, with Royal Antwerp and Union St.-Gilloise (USG) atop the league, both on 46 points, and Genk just behind on 45 points. All of these teams entered the final day knowing they had a shot at the grand prize, with Genk and Antwerp facing each other, while USG battled Brugge, who trailed behind in 4th place. Both games were drama-filled, seeing different teams sit atop the table at varying stages, but it was the final stages of the entire season that produced the ultimate ending, with the league leaders changing three times in the final five minutes! USG were seemingly heading for victory, sitting top of the table as of the 88th minute as they were winning their matchup, while Genk led Antwerp 2-1. An equalizer in the 89th led to a change of league leaders, putting Genk on top. Another goal conceded by USG in the 93rd minute meant they were to lose and be out of the title race entirely. All eyes were now on the dying moments of the Genk vs Antwerp game, with Genk leading the game 2-1, and it looking like they were to be league champions deep into added time. However, a 94th-minute equaliser from Toby Alderweireld, a tremendous long-range strike, equalised the game for Antwerp and sealed them their first league title since 1957! Incredible scenes!
6. Clark Takes the Open
Now, let’s take a look at a moment from the golfing world. Wyndham Clark defied the odds to become US Open champion this June, beating Rory McIlroy by just a single shot. Clark, whose first ever PGA Tour win came just a month prior, put himself on the world stage with his victory. In beating world number three McIlroy, as well as world number one Scottie Scheffler, Clark earned himself the winner’s cheque totaling around $3.6M! What a way to claim your first tournament win! Watch Clark’s joy as he seals victory with his final shot.
7. Baseball Perfection from Domingo German
Domingo German achieved perfection this June, becoming only the 24th individual to pitch a perfect game in MLB history. In the New York Yankees’ matchup against the Oakland Athletics, German’s pitching ensured that not a single one of his opponents got on base for the entirety of the 9 innings, securing the first perfect game seen in the MLB for over a decade. Watch the moment the Dominican etched his name into Yankees and baseball history!
8. Angels Demolish Rockies
Another moment from the MLB now, as we look at the Los Angeles Angels’ demolition of the Colorado Rockies. Producing a final score of 23-0 to the Angels, many noted how the result was one that would not be out of place in the NFL! The resounding win helped the Angels keep their chase to make the postseason alive, while the Rockies continue to sit at the rock bottom of the NL West. Watch as a 3-run home run takes the score to 23-0!
9. Motorsport Madness
A dangerous and dramatic moment occurred in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Race last month, as the Aston Martin Vantage found itself mounted by Turner Motorsport’s BMW M4. The incident was quite a spectacle, with the BMW going up and over its competitor, crashing into the tires. Thankfully, no driver was hurt, however, Robert Megennis, the driver of the BMW, was placed on a four-race probation due to the dangerous driving seen. Take a look back at the spectacle for yourself here.
10. Welsh Win the Darts World Cup
The yearly World Cup of Darts returned for its 2023 edition in June, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany. The final of the tournament saw the reigning champions, Scotland, face off against the 2020 winners, Wales. After beating Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium on their way to the final, the Welsh had set up a deciding test against a familiar foe in fellow Brits Scotland. The game proved to be smooth sailing for the Welsh team of Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, with a final score of 10-2 to clinch the trophy and seal Wales’ second Darts World Cup Win. Take a look at the game’s final leg.
11. USA Wins the Nations League
The United States have retained the CONCACAF Nations League trophy, winning the tournament’s second-ever edition. A tension-filled semi-final against Mexico was the first hurdle for the USA to conquer. Emotions ran high on the night with the two historic rivals facing each other once more, with the game seeing a total of four red cards produced! Team USA managed to keep their heads just enough, sealing a 3-0 victory and setting up a final against northern neighbors Canada. Scoring got underway early in the final, as Chris Richards put the USA 1-0 up in the 12th minute, before a goal from newly recruited Folarin Balogun in the 34th minute proved to be the game-winner. Balogun, who notched 21 goals in France’s Ligue 1 last season, had played for the England youth setup his whole career. However, with the England manager not picking him for the first team, Balogun looked elsewhere as he was also eligible to play for the USA or Nigeria. Ultimately, he picked the United States, with his tournament-clinching first goal in his second game for his new nation a great welcome. Let’s take a look at his moment of glory below!
Bonus – Hit the Sweet Spot!
For this month’s bonus moment, take a look at this fan winning the San Jose Earthquakes’ halftime challenge with a shot that was RIGHT on the money! Unbelievable!
If you enjoyed June’s Sports Highlights roundup, be sure to check out May’s edition!
