Tag Futebol

Essex collapse after 103-run powerplay before Masood, Wharton guide Yorkshire home

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2023Dom Bess and Matthew Revis produced career-best List A bowling figures to spark an Essex batting collapse and set up Yorkshire Vikings’ first Metro Bank One-Day Cup win of the season.Bess claimed 5 for 37 as Essex subsided from 103 for 0 – underpinned by Michael Pepper’s swashbuckling personal-best 63 from 34 balls – to 221 all out in 36 overs. Revis had earlier sliced through the Essex upper order with 4 for 54.The Vikings reached their target with 25 balls remaining, barely breaking sweat and only five wickets down. Shan Masood, their Pakistani white-ball captain, led the way with a patient 54 from 66 balls, with James Wharton seeing them over the line with an unbeaten 54 from 49 balls.Yorkshire had seen two of their previous three games in the competition abandoned without a ball bowled, and the other lost to Kent by just two runs under DLS. But they bounced back on the same wicket that Essex had won a thriller under the Chelmsford floodlights against Middlesex on Friday.Pepper’s whirlwind innings encompassed the entire powerplay before he fell to the last ball of the 10th over, skying Bess to cover. The wicket had come at a cost to Yorkshire, though, as Pepper had just gone through his repertoire off the previous three balls, sweeping, lofting over midwicket and reverse-sweeping for boundaries.In all, Pepper scored 58 of his 63 runs in boundaries, three of them clearing the ropes without bouncing, two of them in an over from Ben Coad that went for 22 as Essex rattled up three figures inside 10 overs. Das contributed 32 in the opening stand of 103 and tucked into Bess with three fours in a row during a run-a-ball 36.Michael Pepper was released by London Spirit for Essex duty•Getty Images

Tom Westley maintained the tempo in a brisk 17 before he chased a wide delivery from Revis and was caught behind. Three balls later Das drove straight back to the bowler. Luc Benkenstein put on 50 in six overs with Beau Webster, both of them hammering two sixes each as Essex continued to score at around eight an over.But that charge was stifled, starting when Revis claimed his third and fourth wickets in just six balls with Benkenstein clubbing to mid-on and Simon Harmer chipping to short midwicket.Jack Shutt had Charlie Allison lbw sweeping before Bess took centre stage with the final four wickets, three of them falling in six balls as Essex left 14 overs unused, He had Webster caught behind attempting to cut, Jamal Richards patting back a return catch, Will Buttleman beaten by one that kept low and Aron Nijjar playing on.In comparison, Yorkshire’s openers were more circumspect and had just 46 on the board at the end of the powerplay, less than half of Essex’s 10-over total. The pair were together for exactly an hour, having knocked off 80 from the target, before Bean was caught in two minds against Webster’s offspin and the ball was past him before he jerked his bat down.Fellow opener Duke reverse-swept Harmer for the first of four fours in his patient 42 before he was bowled attempting to scoop Nijjar. The spinner then had George Hill snaffled at short midwicket before Harmer dived full-length to his left to take a return catch and dismiss Will Fraine.The Vikings had become becalmed in mid-innings without a boundary for almost 10 overs before Masood added to his earlier six over long leg with successive fours off Nijjar. He put on 68 in 11 overs with Wharton to take Yorkshire within 42 of victory, but was strangled down the leg-side by Westley with Buttleman taking the catch.Wharton took Yorkshire within sight of the target with two sixes in an over from Webster, the second over midwicket to reach his first white-ball fifty from 47 balls.

Imam’s unbeaten 50 steers visitors in a slightly tense and cloudy morning in Galle

Madushka Balasuriya20-Jul-2023It took a little over an hour for Pakistan to wrap things up, as they hunted down the remaining 83 runs in very un-Pakistan fashion – without fuss and little drama. Sure they lost three wickets, but from the very first ball – which was pulled for four – that they’d get there in the end was in little to no doubt. The result means Pakistan take a 1-0 lead against Sri Lanka in this two-match series, and get them off to the ideal start in this new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. It also gives them a first Test win in exactly a year – the last also coming in Galle.Imam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 50 with Agha Salman for company when the winning runs – a sumptuous loft over long-off for six – were scored. Prabath Jayasuriya ended with figures of 4 for 56 to increase his ever-growing collection of scalps at Galle, but that will be scant consolation for the hosts.And while those of a Pakistani persuasion might have had doubts gnawing away in the back of their minds over a potential collapse, or a snatching-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory performance by the visitors this morning, this was a result that might force a rethink.Related

• Is Test cricket having its Pakball moment?

• Has shoddy fielding let Sri Lanka down? Yes, says assistant coach

• Unshackled Shakeel switches seamlessly between slow-burn and turbo

• Dhananjaya de Silva lining in Sri Lanka's far-from-elite batting line-up

• The fast bowling poetry of Naseem and Afridi

On the surface, a four-wicket win when hunting down 131 might point towards some jitters, but this was oddly enough a chase that seemed in control despite those losses.The first delivery of the day in fact provided a microcosm of how both these sides managed their respective briefs throughout this Test, as the sometimes-erratic Ramesh Mendis dragged one short for Babar Azam to put away easily to the boundary behind square leg; Pakistan needed quick runs, Sri Lanka needed to keep things tight, only one side followed the script.This boundary was followed by another later in the over, with the first five overs of the day eventually being plundered for 30 runs. Both Babar and Imam showed uncharacteristic intent during this period, using their feet to the spinners, while the Pakistan captain even gave the sweep a rare outing.When he fell, trapped leg before by Jayasuriya, some of those watching on, familiar with Pakistan’s history, might have been forgiven for bracing for a potential scare. After all, back in 2009, Pakistan had folded alarmingly fast when chasing a similarly paltry total at the very same ground. But this is a new Pakistan – or at least they’re trying to be.They had assured prior to the day’s play that they would play attacking cricket, and so they did, Imam pumping one handsomely over long-off the very next over after Babar’s fall, and Saud Shakeel – the first innings hero – also slashing one behind point.And as the deficit reduced, their intensity only increased. With a little over 20 runs left, Shakeel took Sri Lanka’s best bowler for a pair of boundaries on either side of the wicket. At this point, Shakeel’s average had risen above 100, but he settled for a little less in the end, nicking one through off Mendis before the innings was done.Sarfaraz was the last to fall, top-edging a sweep to deep square leg with just four left to get, but Agha rammed home the point, smoking one long and straight first ball to wrap up the game.As for how long this positive-Pete version of Pakistan carries on remains to be seen, but for the time being, it’s certainly something to be celebrated. Sri Lanka, for their part, have four days to recalibrate on how to combat this new beast and gather themselves for round two in Colombo.

da stake casino： Manchester City’s winless run after the international break extended to two games, following a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

da blaze casino： It was a night where Pep Guardiola made ten changes, with Nico Gonzalez the only player to keep his place in the side. However, it was not a decision that paid off.

It was a fairly equal first half, with City failing to exert any sort of dominance on the German side, which you might expect from them at the Etihad Stadium. They only managed five shots in that first 45 minutes.

Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 23rd minute, striding into the box unmarked and sweetly striking a left-footed volley into the bottom right corner.

It was a superb finish, but poor defending from Guardiola’s side to allow him that much space.

In the second half, the City manager turned to the bench, calling upon the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki to get his side back into the game. Yet, a header from Patrick Schick in the 54th minute doubled Leverkusen’s lead and was enough to seal the win.

It was a poor performance from City, with some players failing to take their chances.

City's worst performers vs. Leverkusen

On a night where Guardiola rotated his side, it could have been the moment for some players to stake a claim for a more regular starting spot. Well, one of the players who struggled was defender Nathan Ake.

The Dutchman has become a squad player under the former Barcelona manager in recent times, and did not exactly cover himself in glory on Tuesday night.

There is a case to be made that he was at fault for Schick’s goal, allowing the Czech Republic striker to get in front of him in the penalty box and head home. It was poor defending from the experienced Ake.

Another player who underwhelmed was Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian attacker is Haaland’s understudy at the Etihad Stadium, so it will always be hard for him to get regular minutes as a number nine.

Against Leverkusen, he was completely isolated and struggled to get involved in the game, being replaced by the Norwegian in the 65th minute.

Marmoush managed just 18 touches of the ball, didn’t manage a shot and could only win two out of five duels.

As poor as Ake and Marmoush were, two City players were arguably worse.

Man City's 4/10 duo must never start together again

Marmoush and Ake were disappointing, but two players who really played poorly were Savinho and Oscar Bobb. They were City’s two wingers against Leverkusen, but City Chief, a page over on X, said they “offer nothing” when playing out on the flanks.

Indeed, it was a night to forget for both of the wide men.

They didn’t cause Leverkusen many major problems, having a combined 12 touches in their box, creating two chances between them and losing the ball 34 times altogether.

Savinho and Bobb stats vs. Leverkusen

Stat

Savinho

Bobb

Touches in opposition box

10

2

Chances created

0

2

Passes into final third

1

0

Ground duels won

5/12

3/4

Number of times ball lost

25

9

Stats from Fotmob

One person who noticed how lacklustre the wingers performed was Manchester Evening News reporter Simon Bajkowski. He gave them both a 4/10 rating, explaining that Bobb ‘went missing’ after the opening minutes and Savinho had no ‘meaningful contributions’.

With Jeremy Doku and Cherki tending to be Guardiola’s first-choice wingers this term, it is hard to see how the pairing that started against the German side will get into the team together again.

Individually, the quality is there, but as a duo, they lack the potency and perhaps confidence to pose a real threat to a full-back. It was certainly a passive showing against Leverkusen, especially with City losing for most of the game.

It is hard to see how Guardiola doesn’t switch back to his first-choice wide pairing, after such a disappointing performance from Bobb and Savinho.

They would fit well with more direct wingers on the other flank, but as a duo, are perhaps too similar and not urgent enough in one-vs-ones to cause frequent problems.

Related Worse than Savinho: Man City star is in danger of becoming another Grealish

This Manchester City star is in danger of becoming the next Jack Grealish after another off-performance versus Bayer Leverkusen.

Posts 2 ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

Tarik Skubal won his second American League Cy Young Award in a row in 2025, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be back with the Tigers in 2026.

The 28-year-old lefty has made it clear he won’t sign an extension and plans to hit free agency after the 2026 season. That means Detroit can either keep him and get involved in a bidding war next winter or trade him now to recoup maximum value. With that in mind, there’s a reason he leads our list of the top 10 trade candidates this offseason.

Skubal was unbelievable in 2024 and was even better in 2025. He went 13–6, with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP, and 241 strikeouts against 33 walks in 195 1/3 innings. That improved on his performance from the season before, when he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 228 strikeouts against 35 walks in 192 innings.

He and Paul Skenes are locked in a back-and-forth battle to be considered the best pitcher in baseball. Skubal is incredible, and any number of teams would give up a ton to get him. Given that he’d be a rental, any franchise making a move to land him wouldn’t have to surrender as much as you’d think to land the ace.

Here’s a look at the top clubs that could make a move to acquire him this winter.

1. New York Mets

Steve Cohen hasn’t spent as much money as he has to miss the postseason. The Mets are going to be all-in in perpetuity until he gets the championship he’s trying to buy. As we enter the offseason, New York’s rotation looks like a tremendous weakness. Nolan McLean looks like a bright spot, Jonah Tong could be as well, while Clay Holmes and David Peterson will factor in as well. But Kodai Senga completely fell apart, and the Mets may not be able to count on him again.

If New York is going to be all-in, the team needs an ace at the front of its rotation. Skubal would be a perfect fit. A package built around Tong and Jett Williams should be enough to get something done.

Skubal is far better than any targets on the free agent market, and the Mets have the money to sign him long-term once he hits free agency.

2. Houston Astros

The Astros missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and now they’re losing ace Framber Valdez. After shipping Kyle Tucker to the Cubs for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, now I think they’ll go the other way and add a guy destined for free agency. They need an elite starter at the front of the rotation to pair with Hunter Brown if they’re going to make a run in 2026. Skubal is the best guy available.

Jose Altuve is 35. If Houston wants to make a run at getting him a third World Series title, the franchise needs to move now and make a big deal to secure an ace.

A package built around Brice Matthews or Jacob Melton, hard-throwing righty Miguel Ulloa, and some lower-level prospects seems equitable for one year of Skubal.

3. Boston Red Sox

Garrett Crochet has become a legit No. 1 starter, and Bryan Bello was solid in 2025. After that, the Red Sox don’t have much in their starting rotation. Connelly Early made four starts in 2025 and looked good, but he’s not a solution to the lack of pitching depth the team is dealing with. Boston will be pursuing starters in earnest this offseason.

Boston is lousy with good young position players, but the rotation needs help if the team wants to make a run in 2026. Skubal and Crochet sitting atop the rotation would arguably be the best lefty pitching combination in MLB history. While the Red Sox haven’t spent as much in recent years, they do have the money to re-sign Skubal as a free agent.

A deal starting with Franklin Arias, Payton Tolle or Jhonstynxon Garcia and adding a few lower-tier prospects would work.

4. San Diego Padres

The Padres are all-in every season with A.J. Preller running things. There’s no reason 2026 should be any different. San Diego is set to lose Dylan Cease and Michael King to free agency, and Yu Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery. Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts aren’t getting any younger, and Nick Pivetta can’t hold up the team’s pitching staff by himself. The Friars will need to make some big moves this offseason.

Skubal is a huge name, and we all know Preller loves a big name, even as a rental. While San Diego’s farm system has been cleared out multiple times over the past five years, Preller always seems to restock it. He has several gems still around who could entice the Tigers. Kash Mayfield, Kruz Schoolcraft, and Ethan Salas are the team’s top prospects, while 2025 pop-up Miguel Mendez and reliever Bradgley Rodriguez are all but big league ready. There is enough talent to make. a deal work.

San Diego needs to add power and pitching this offseason. Going after Skubal might be a bit crazy, but when has that ever stopped Preller before?

Manchester United need a huge transfer window if they are to be a success in the Premier League once again in the near future, with the responsibility falling into the hands of Ruben Amorim.

The 40-year-old took the reins back in November last year, but has so far struggled to transform the side as he would’ve wished, only achieving a win percentage of 40%.

However, he is yet to have a full pre-season with the first team squad, with the current period pivotal in his stint as manager, needing to try and get his ideas across to the squad.

He also has the opportunity to add to his squad this window, with the hierarchy set to hand him the funds he requires to allow him to be a success during his tenure at Old Trafford.

Numerous players remain on their shortlist during the current window, potentially helping the manager in his quest to rise up the Premier League in 2025/26.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

A new striker has been the priority for United over the last couple of days, especially after it was reported that Rasmus Hojlund had agreed personal terms with Inter Milan over a move to the San Siro.

The likes of Ollie Watkins, Victor Osimhen and Dušan Vlahović have all been touted with moves to join the Red Devils, but no deals have yet been completed for any of the trio.

However, the same can’t be said about Bryan Mbeumo, with the latest update around his future from journalist Graeme Bailey providing a positive outlook on the move.

He confirmed that talks are ongoing between the two clubs and, despite a fee not yet being agreed, a move could be finalised for his signature by the end of Monday.

Bailey also states that the 25-year-old has made it clear that he wants to depart Brentford this window, wanting to make the next step in his career after scoring 20 league goals in 2024/25.

Why United’s latest move would be bad news for Amad & Bruno

Amad Diallo has been a player who has enjoyed a huge rise under Amorim since his appointment, cementing his place as a regular starter before his ankle injury that ruled him out for three months.

The Ivorian managed to register 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions this campaign, most notably with his last-minute winner against Manchester City at the Etihad.

He’s mainly operated in a number ten role for the Red Devils, with captain Bruno Fernandes the player usually featuring next to him in the position behind the striker.

As for the Portuguese international, he enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, notching 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – the highest of any player in the squad.

He single-handedly helped the club get to the Europa League final, with it unthinkable to imagine where the side would’ve been had he not been as impressive throughout 2024/25.

The 30-year-old and Amad may be about to take a hit, though, despite their impressive numbers under Amorim, subsequently having to drop into deeper roles after the arrival of Matheus Cunha and pending deal for Mbeumo.

Bailey’s latest report claims that the Brentford star would likely play in a number ten role should he complete his deal, alongside Cunha, which would lock those positions out for the current Red Devil stars.

Games played

36

Goals & assists

18

Shots on target per 90

0.7

Progressive carries

2.3

Pass accuracy

76%

% of tackles won

40%

Take-on success

41%

Fouls won

1.1

As a result, Bruno would likely operate in a central midfield position, with Amad having to revert to a wing-back role – undoubtedly restricting the pair as a result, given they aren’t operating in their natural roles.

The additions will certainly bolster Amorim’s side at Old Trafford, but it may have a knock-on effect for the aforementioned talents, subsequently having to change their game to accommodate their arrivals.

Both players certainly still have the talent to thrive out of position, as seen by their respective outputs in the final third, potentially able to star in such positions by aiding the players ahead of them.

However, if the new additions can hit the ground running and point the club in the right direction, the supporters and manager wouldn’t have any complaints, with fresh blood and new ideas needed if the side are to be a force in the Premier League during 2025/26.

Amorim's own Van Persie: Man Utd preparing £60m bid for "phenomenal" CF

Manchester United look set to pursue a move to land one star who could follow in Robin van Persie’s footsteps.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 4, 2025

A year after his freak injury, Shaheen is back playing Test cricket as Pakistan search for a win after four losses and two draws

Danyal Rasool14-Jul-2023He shuffled uncomfortably as he showed up at the check-in desk at Premier Inn. His knee still gave him trouble, and he needed it to be looked at by a specialist. His father-in-law had helped set up a consultation with a doctor in London. None of it would be cheap, but for now, the 22-year-old man was paying for everything himself. He was far away from home, and it all felt very lonely. He wasn’t a man used to solitude of this kind; he had grown up as the youngest of seven brothers in Pakistan. He had always had people around him. But, as one of the best fast bowlers in the world unpacked in his modest hotel room, he only had his thoughts, fears, and doubts for company.Shaheen Shah Afridi is one of the most recognisable men in Pakistan, but after a freak ligament injury in Galle in July 2022, the way his employers, the PCB, handled his rehabilitation bordered on the farcical. After being ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the PCB announced that he would travel to Rotterdam with the national side while he recuperated, receiving rehab while he travelled, presumably because getting in and out of aeroplanes and buses was the best way to treat the injury. They hoped he would shake off the injury in time for the Asia Cup, that was around the corner.But this was a potentially career-threatening injury, not a Taylor Swift song, so, unfortunately, the Asia Cup didn’t happen. We only found out the seriousness of the injury thanks to a PCB social-media clip where Shaheen, warmly greeting Virat Kohli, told him what the issue was. By now, criticism of how the injury was being handled was mounting, and this novel medical practice of travel recuperation was quickly shelved.Related

Shaheen is dreaming about his 100th Test wicket

After Shahid Afridi went public about the lack of assistance Shaheen was receiving in the UK, the PCB responded: “It goes without saying that the PCB has always been and will continue to be responsible for arranging medical care and rehabilitation of all its players requiring any treatment,” even though most things which go without saying don’t need to be said via press releases.But Shaheen – young, fit and driven – was receiving professional medical care, and Pakistan’s goal of getting him fit for the T20 World Cup was realised. It was a mark of his resilience that he was back to his best almost immediately upon his return, though he did warn after the game against Netherlands that full recovery would take time. But Pakistan were in the semi-finals, where Shaheen delivered another match-winning performance to become Pakistan’s top wicket-taker in the tournament. With this tournament the priority, the PCB appeared to have completely got away with mishandling the whole thing.The right knee buckled as Shaheen Afridi completed the catch to dismiss Harry Brook in the 2022 T20 World Cup final•PA Photos/Getty Images

****

Pakistan have posted a below-par total and, not for the first time, left the bowlers to carry them home. Shaheen is chief among them, of course, and when he cleans up Alex Hales in the first over, this is him at his white-hot best. As England stumble in the chase and the last five overs approach, Pakistan know they have Shaheen to bowl two of them. Perhaps he’ll finally put Ben Stokes, limping along at 28 off 35, out of his misery.But Shaheen’s suddenly limping, in a very literal way. He landed awkwardly taking a diving catch to remove Harry Brook a few overs earlier. It’s eerily similar to the injury that began it all in Galle, and after bowling one more delivery, he hobbles off in tears. Perhaps this injury would have occurred regardless of how his rehab was managed, but Pakistan’s luck with their cavalier approach to treating their biggest star has finally run out when it matters most.Only Pakistan know how they conjured up a combination of medical management so poor that Iftikhar Ahmed is bowling a death over to a well-set Stokes, and yet the talent such that’s it’s actually happening in a World Cup final. It’s often said that Pakistan’s chaos in World Cup tournaments offers the most exhilarating outlet for their raw ability to shine through. This time, talent has returned the favour, offering up the biggest platform in cricket for the chaos to take centre stage.It goes as well as you’d expect. Shaheen’s loss is the turning point. Pakistan lose the final, and then lose Shaheen for the entire winter red-ball season. In his absence, Pakistan fail to take 20 wickets in any of the five Test matches they play as Stokes’ England inflict a first-ever 3-0 home whitewash upon them, before they cling on to two draws against New Zealand.His time with the Pakistan side has been miserable, so Shaheen turns his attention to other things. His relationship with the PSL franchise he leads, Lahore Qalandars, is less complicated, one of near god-like adulation. He led his side to the title the previous year, and for all the things he has lost of late, this is one he doesn’t want to give up. It shows throughout the tournament and hits a crescendo in the final, where he is the top wicket-taker.Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed four wickets in his opening over in the T20 Blast ahead of the Sri Lanka tour•Getty ImagesBatting isn’t as hard on the knee so he’s had time to hone a fast-improving craft. He plays a match-winning innings, too, an unbeaten 44 off 15 balls, leading Lahore to 200. They will need every one of those runs as they scrape home by one. Shaheen may be the prince of Pakistani fast bowling, but as he lifts that title once more, it is here in Lahore that he truly feels like royalty. And in a year of tremendous highs and lows, there’s much to look forward to beyond cricket, too. In a year where several high-profile members of the Pakistan side tie the knot, he gets married to Shahid Afridi’s daughter in the cricketing wedding of the year.

****

There’s so much Shaheen has done this year – feats that others might count as career highlights end up as annual footnotes. Ahead of Pakistan’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, he is casually breaking records in the T20 Blast in England, becoming the first bowler to take four wickets in the first over.But Galle looms once more, like that suppressed trauma that must finally be confronted. It’s almost as if this unusual series, mirroring Pakistan’s two Tests at this venue last year, have been set up to provide closure to a dark chapter in Shaheen’s career. He hasn’t played a Test since that stumble in Galle, and in a year that’s taught him patience above all else, it’s perhaps appropriate he’s been left stranded on 99 Test wickets.In the year he’s waited for that one more wicket, Pakistan have waited for a Test win. It’s fitting, perhaps, that in the time when a little bit more administrative care might have saved Shaheen from a world of hurt, the cricket board has seen three different chairmen come and go.It’s a repaired knee and a changed man, but it’s the same old bowler at the same venue that sunk him to his deepest low. But if anyone can truly shake it off, it’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, this week, in Galle.

أشاد موقع الاتحاد الدولي لكرة اليد بفوز منتخب مصر الدراماتيكي في الدور نصف النهائي على حساب منتخب إسبانيا بنتيجة 31-28 ليصعد إلى نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 17 عاماً لعام 2025.

وكان منتخب مصر ونظيره الإسباني قد تزعما مجموعتيهما، وتنافسا على مكان في نهائي البطولة، ليضرب الفائز موعداً مع منتخب ألمانيا بالفعل.

وكتب موقع الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم عبر موقعه الرسمي: “أظهر منتخب إسبانيا أفضليته على حساب منتخب مصر في الدور التمهيدي، حيث تفوق عليه بـ42 هدفاً لكن المنتخب الوطني أظهر قدرته على صناعة المفاجأة وتفوق في أول 30 دقيقة” .

وأضاف أيضاً: “بدأ منتخب مصر المباراة بشكل أفضل، حيث منع إسبانيا من التسجيل في أول أربع دقائق وثلاث ثواني، وامتلك المنتخب الأوروبي حارس مرمى رائع وهو ألفارو كيسادا الذي قدم شوطا أول رائعا بنسبة تصديات بلغت 43%”.

أقرأ أيضاً..منتخب مصر يهزم إسبانيا وتأهل إلى نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا

وحول حارس منتخب إسبانيا ذكر موقع الاتحاد: “أنقذ كيسادا أربع فرص متتالية وغطى على افتقار منتخب اللاروخا للكفاءة الهجومية التي توقفت عند 39% في الشوط الأول، وارتكبت مصر بعض الأخطاء حيث بلغت كفاءتها الهجومية 36% وقد استحوذ المنتخب الوطني على الكرة لفترة أطول”.

وواصل أيضاً: “أهدر الظهير الأيمن لمنتخب مصر يوسف أحمد ست تسديدات من أصل سبعة في الشوط الأول، وسجل عبد الرحمن الجمل ومؤمن بكير سبعة أهداف معاً، بينما كان لمنتخب إسبانيا سبعة هدافين مختلفين، وسجل بابلو سانشيز خمسة أهداف وقد تعادل الفريقان بعد 30 دقيقة بنتيجة 12:12”.

وتابع موقع الاتحاد الدولي: “في الشوط الثاني تغير مجرى المباراة ولم ينجح حارس مرمى منتخب إسبانيا في التصدي لأي فرصة وازدادت ثقة مصر، في الوقت الذي بدأ فيه الظهير الأيمن أحمد بالتسجيل فقد أضاف بكير هدفين آخرين لتفتتح تقدمها بنتيجة 20:18”.

وسلط موقع الاتحاد الدولى على نقطة تحول أخرى في المباراة: “جاءت نقطة تحول أخرى لإسبانيا استمرت لأكثر من سبع دقائق، وقد استغلتها مصر على أكمل وجه وتعرض مدافع إسبانيا إيريك أنسلمو للطرد مباشرة بسبب ارتكابه خطأ قوي وهو ما أعاق زملاءه في الدفاع أيضاً.

وأشاد موقع الاتحاد بأداء منتخب مصر: المنتخب المصري لعب هذه المباراة بإتقان، وقاموا بتغطية المساحات بشكل ممتاز وشهدت المباراة تألق حارس المرمى عبد الملك مبروك حيث تصدى 10 تصديات بنسبة نجاح تصل إلى 27%، وقام ببعض التصديات في الوقت المناسب مما عزز فرص مصر في التأهل للنهائي” .

وأكد موقع الاتحاد الدولي: “حقق منتخب مصر الفوز بنتيجة رائعة بعد أن فات الآوان لمنتخب إسبانيا، وجاء أداء المنتخب الوطني بشكل متكامل ومثالي وناضج وجاء الفوز بنتيجة 31:28 ليكون الرابع على التوالي” .

وسيلتقي منتخب مصر مع منتخب ألمانيا في النهائي وهو الثالث لها في بطولة العالم بعد نهائي بطولة العالم للشباب عام 1993 ونهائي بطولة العالم للشباب عام 2019.

شكل 2023 عامًا مهمًا لفريق ليفربول على مستوى تدعيم مركز خط الوسط، حيث أجرى النادي موسم انتقالات مذهلًا، وضم العديد من اللاعبين الرائعين.

تعاقد ليفربول في هذا الموسم مع أليكسيس ماك أليستر ودومينيك سوبوسلاي وريان جرافنبيرخ وواتارو إندو، وشكل هذا الرباعي إلى جانب جونز، العمود الفقري لخط وسط الريدز في موسم 2024-2025.

ومع ذلك يبدو أن وقت التجديد قد حان، حيث أهمل آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول والمدير الرياضي ريتشارد هيوز، التعاقد مع أي لاعب خط وسط في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية، على الرغم من التعاقد مع صفقات جديدة بقيمة 450 مليون جنيه إسترليني.

اقرأ أيضاً.. نجم ريال مدريد مشيدًا بألونسو: قدوة لي ويعشق المشاركة في التدريبات

أحد هؤلاء اللاعبين هو ألكسيس ماك أليستر لاعب خط وسط ليفربول الذي تعرض للإصابات، ولم يرض مستواه الجميع ويثير الشكوك حول مستقبله مع الريدز.

ووفقًا لـ”ANFIELD WATCH” فإن ماك أليستر والذي يمتلك عقدًا حتى 2028 سيسعى للتمديد وزيادة راتبه خلال الموسمين القادمين.

وفي حال قرر ليفربول عدم تجديد عقد لاعب خط الوسط الأرجنتيني، فإن ماك أليستر قد يتلقى عروضًا، حيث يستهدف ريال مدريد التعاقد مع اللاعب ومن المقرر أن يقدم عرضًا في يناير لضمه.

ويرغب ريال مدريد في إنهاء الصفقة في أقرب وقت ممكن، حيث إن المنافسة ستكون شرسة على خدمات اللاعب ويعتمد الأمر على رغبة ليفربول والشروط المالية أيضًا.

Chetry is yet to make her ODI debut but has played four T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2024Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of India’s upcoming ODI series in Australia due to a wrist injury she picked up during the ongoing WBBL. In her place, India have called up Uma Chetry, who is uncapped in the format.Chetry has played four T20Is, all this year. Her debut was against South Africa in July. Earlier this month, she was the second-highest run-getter in the domestic T20 Challenger Trophy with 231 runs at a strike rate of 154.00. She also scored the only hundred in the competition, a 122 off 71 balls.Chetry also has the experience of touring Australia, with India A side in August, even though her returns were underwhelming. In four matches across formats, she scored 7 and 11 in T20s, 16 in the one-dayer, and 2 and 47 in the four-day game.Related

• Shafali dropped for Australia ODIs; Ghosh, Punia return

• 'Just go all out': Rodrigues looks to Australian mindset

Bhatia was the second-highest run-getter for Melbourne Stars – despite missing the last three games – scoring 154 runs in six outings at a strike rate of 104.76. Stars, however, finished at the bottom of the points table with two wins from ten matches.Before her WBBL stint, Bhatia played the three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home and scored 84 runs in three innings. She was part of the T20 World Cup squad but didn’t get a game.The first two ODIs against Australia will be played at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, on December 5 and 8. The third and final match will be played at the WACA ground in Perth on December 11.

India Women squad for Australia ODIs

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Saima Thakor, Uma Chetry (wk)

Rafael Leao made the difference for AC Milan as the Serie A giants overcame Liverpool 4-2 in a closely-fought pre-season encounter in Hong Kong.

Leao with goal and assistLiverpool show promise but defeated by MilanWirtz starts for RedsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE

Liverpool tasted defeat in the first game of their pre-season tour courtesy of a strong counter-attacking display from Milan at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong. Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo scored for the Reds, who showed glimpses but ultimately came out second-best on the day as Leao shone with a well-taken goal and assist.

The Reds continued their tributes to the late Diogo Jota, which were prevalent in their emotional opening fixture at Preston North End. On Saturday, they wore special shirts containing a patch saying 'Diogo J 20'.

It was Milan who started the brighter of the two sides, as Leao opened the scoring in the 11th minute after an earlier warning shot. The Portuguese winger was freed by Christian Pulisic on the break down the left, and despite being forced out wide by Virgil van Dijk, the 26-year-old rifled the ball into the top corner. He paid tribute to former Portugal team-mate Jota with a muted celebration.

Mohamed Salah had a great opportunity to equalise after he was played through by new man Florian Wirtz, but the Egyptian was unselfish and played a ball back towards the German which was cleared away before it could reach him. However, Liverpool would be level before the half-hour mark courtesy of the right boot of Szoboszlai. Assisted by ever-impressive 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, Szoboszlai nonchalantly clipped the ball over the lead of Mike Maignan and into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Liverpool dominated first-half possession but Milan could have gone in ahead at half-time had Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Leao not combined to waste a golden opportunity on the counter-attack.

The pair would combine again to have their say early in the second period though, Leao this time breaking on the break and finding Loftus-Cheek, who showed poise to calmly finish into the bottom corner. Soon the Italian side would score a third, Noah Okafor this time powering into the net after another rapid counter-attack.

Liverpool pushed to get back into the game and substitute Jeremie Frimpong would prove a threat playing higher up on the right wing, forcing a good save before Gakpo headed home expertly to halve the deficit in stoppage time. However, any chance of a last-gasp equaliser was quashed when a defensive lapse allowed Okafor to score his second with the last kick of the game. This would ultimately prove Milan's day.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE MVP

The game's outstanding player was Milan's Leao. The Portuguese international has been touted as one of the world's most exciting forwards for several years now and he showed exactly why. An outstanding individual goal opened the scoring early on, before he broke forward on the counter to assist Loftus-Cheek for his side's second. He even had a role to play in the third goal with a backheel in the centre circle to set off a counter attack. Milan's threat waned after their danger man was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

NEW FACES

Wirtz made his second appearance following last week's behind-closed-doors friendly with Stoke City and showed several glimpses of his undoubted quality in 45 minutes on the pitch in his new colours. A moment where he broke through the centre of midfield and played through Harvey Elliott stood out, as did a clever through-ball to Salah which could have led to a goal. Liverpool clearly have a very accomplished new signing on their hands, though he was playing in the slightly unfamiliar position of false nine on this occasion.

Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were introduced at half-time as they continue to build connections with their new team-mates. Frimpong stood out and almost got on the scoresheet after a brilliant take out of the sky got him in behind the defence, only for the Dutchman's fierce strike to be thwarted.

GettyONES TO WATCH

Ngumoha is just 16 years old but has already stood out throughout pre-season, and he did so once again against Milan. Following up a goal against Stoke, he registered an assist for Szoboszlai's goal and looked comfortable among his esteemed team-mates out on the left wing in the first half. He also forced Maignan into a smart save after a rapid stepover earned him some space on his weaker left foot.

We also saw appearances by rising Liverpool stars such as Luca Stephenson, Trey Nyoni, Tyler Morton and Ben Doak, who all aimed to show glimpses of their quality in hope of finding a more regular role to play in Slot's squad next season.