New Zealand opens up a 3-0 lead over Britain in America’s Cup final after almost crashing

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Emirates Team New Zealand avoided a crash and nailed INEOS Britannia with a penalty as it opened up a 3-0 lead in the first-to-seven wins finals of the America’s Cup on Sunday.

Britain was hit with a 75-meter penalty for not keeping clear when the two boats came feet from colliding in the pre-start jockeying for position in Race 3. The Kiwis’ Taihoro foiling yacht cruised through the six laps and won by 52 seconds.

Now the challenger that is backed by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and the design expertise of the Mercedes Formula 1 team must rebound big if it wants to win Britain’s first ever America’s Cup in its 173-year history.

For the Kiwis, they are four wins away.

“We’re only three races into it but we are obviously happy to be on this side of the scorecard. I think tomorrow (Race 4) will be a pretty important day,” New Zealand helmsman Nathan Outteridge said. “Once you nudge that one forward and get over the halfway stage to seven, maybe the momentum goes a bit that way.”

New Zealand skipper Peter Burling said that they had planned to steer aggressively in the pre-start, and it paid off. They had the right of way as the starboard boat when they bore down on the Brits before turning late, and the Britannia was a tad slow to react as their foils almost touched.

“We tried it yesterday but they just got past us. It was a little bit uncomfortable to be honest with how close the boats got,” Burling said about the maneuver. "But the umpire obviously thought we were pretty clear there, so it was great to get the penalty and control the race from there.”

Britannia was more than 600 meters behind when the lead boat crossed the finish line off the Barcelona beachfront.

“It was about as close as you ever want to get. I think our foils overlapped and thankfully they didn’t collide,” Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie said about the near collision and penalty. “It was a tough call for us and obviously the umpires decided we were at fault and it put us on the back foot off the line. It is what it is, no point in moaning about it.”

“For us it is time to regroup and take on the second half of the competition,” the record Olympic medalist said.

Britannia largely avoided any costly mistakes and technical mishaps, until now.

On Saturday, Britannia was hampered by a battery meltdown just minutes before Race 1. New Zealand dominated both the opening regattas to make a perfect 2-0 start.

New Zealand is trying to win the Auld Mug, the oldest trophy in international sport, for a third straight time and fifth overall.

As defender, New Zealand was guaranteed a spot in the final. Britain had to fend off four other challengers to make its first final in six decades.

Despite not having raced competitively for a month, the Kiwis have shown they are still very much in championship form.

Race 4 had been scheduled for later Sunday, but it was pushed back to Monday after winds died down below the 6.5-knot minimum. Other than early in Race 2 when there were several lead changes, the Brits have been in the wake of the Kiwis — or even further behind.

Spain's King Felipe VI watched the racing from aboard a Spanish navy vessel.

A couple thousand local residents held a protest against the hosting of the America’s Cup near the old port where the team bases and fan zones are located on Sunday.

Some locals link the hosting of international events like the regatta with the already huge presence of tourists in the Mediterranean city. They argue that tourists fuel skyrocketing rents via short-term rentals of apartments and that many areas of the city now cater far too much to tourist appetites and interests.

Barcelona calculates the two-month event will attract some 2.5 million tourists and contribute more than a billion euros ($1.09 billion) to the city. Local authorities say that this type of event is exactly the kind of so-called “quality tourism” that the city needs.

Several thousand people turned out to celebrate the opening ceremony of the America's Cup finals last week.

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Ineos Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie, center, talks to the crew during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew prepares for the race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew prepares for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie, center santds before the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling stands before the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

Demonstrators march shouting slogans against the holding of the America's Cup sailing competition, during a protest demanding the right to housing, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Supporters of America's Cup wave from a restaurant as demonstrators march shouting slogans against the holding of the America's Cup sailing competition, during a protest demanding the right to housing, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Ineos Britannia races during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 2 race in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray felt tingles in making sure to take in the moment during pregame warmups and the national anthem before making his first NHL start in nearly 21 months.

The 30-year-old, two-time Stanley Cup-winner felt an even bigger wave of emotion come over him once the final horn sounded and Murray was mobbed by his teammates following his 25-save performance in a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

“A big release,” Murray said, in coming to the realization of the exhaustive work he’s put in spending much of the past year rehabbing following bilateral hip surgery.

“I think I took it as a challenge. It was a long road. A big mountain to climb,” Murray said. “But I kept this moment in the front of my mind on those days where it felt tough.”

Murray is best known for opening his career with Pittsburgh, where he won two Cups, including his rookie season in 2015-16 when he posted a 15-6 record in the playoffs.

The win on Friday was the 147th of Murray’s career, and first since a 33-save outing in Toronto’s 6-2 win over Florida on March 23, 2023. His last start came two days later in a loss at Carolina, while he also had a mop-up outing in a backup role a week later in a loss to Detroit.

Otherwise, Murray spent much of the past calendar year wondering if he’ll ever play another NHL game again, while regaining his form with the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate. He closed last season going 1-2 in three starts, and had a 4-1-2 record, including a shutout, when Toronto called him up Friday, with Anthony Stolarz sidelined four to six weeks after having knee surgery.

Coach Craig Berube expressed confidence in Murray before the game by saying “he still has a fire inside.”

Afterward, Berube congratulated Murray for being cool and composed.

“I didn’t notice too much emotion or anything like that. He was pretty dialed in,” Berube said. “It’s a big commitment he made to want to get back and play in the NHL. Went through a lot and very happy for him.”

Murray made several key stops in the opening two periods, and got a boost from Toronto’s offense in building a 5-1 lead over the slumping Sabres, who dropped to 0-9-3 in their past 12.

Murray also got a few assists from the officials, who disallowed two goals.

Alex Tuch’s goal, which would have tied the game at 1 early in the first period, was disallowed when a linesman ruled Buffalo’s Jason Zucker high-sticked Toronto Chris Tanev entering the zone. Zucker was issued a double-minor penalty for drawing blood.

Owen Power then had a goal disallowed that would have cut the lead to 5-4 with 3:26 left. Toronto, however, successfully challenged Buffalo’s Sam Lafferty for goalie interference. Replays showed Lafferty’s skate hitting Murray’s stick just before Power scored on a shot from the right point.

“I had no chance,” Murray said on the second disallowed goal. “I was definitely hoping that they were going to make the right call. I think they did.”

Maple Leafs players praised Murray for his performance and resilience, knowing what the goalie has endured.

“Mentally to clock in every single day for that long, it’s unbelievable,” forward Max Domi said. “That’s stuff that you guys as media members and the fans don’t see, but we as players do. And I mean, it’s inspirational for us. We all look up to him and we’re super happy for him.”

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Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray, left, makes a save against Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) controls the puck in front of Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray (30) plays during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray, right, celebrates with center Bobby McMann (74) and left wing Nicholas Robertson (89) after their win in an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. Toronto won 6-3. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)