Barcelona have been given the green light to select Dani Olmo and Pau Victor after the National Sports Council (CSD) granted a precautionary measure.

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• Barca failed to register stars with La Liga
• Olmo & Victor initially ruled out for rest of season
• CSD has given them permission to play for now

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The pair were initially ruled out for the rest of the season as Barcelona failed to register them by the deadline. Now, though, the CSD has intervened to rule that they can play until the case is properly settled. While both players were left out of the Supercopa de Espana semi-final match against Athletic Club on Wednesday, the pair may be allowed to play if they make the final.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The CSD said that "professional athletes have the right to a sports career in accordance with their potential and with all the guarantees and certainty" in a statement published on Wednesday evening, adding that failure to grant the precautionary measure would cause "sporting and economic damage" for the players and the club, and could have further implications for the national team and La Liga.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  CSD's ruling means that Olmo and Victor will likely be allowed to play in La Liga again as soon as next week and until a final ruling is given following Barcelona's appeal against their failed registration.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The news comes too soon to see the two Spain internationals feature against Athletic Club in Saudi Arabia, but it seems their return to Hansi Flick's side is just days away.

GOAL takes a look at the ultimate FA Cup giant-killings…

The FA Cup holds the distinction of being the oldest national football tournament globally, with its inaugural edition dating back to 1871. This historic annual knockout competition is renowned for its unpredictable nature, offering lower-tier teams the rare chance to clash with English football's elite.

Famed for producing thrilling "giant-killings" and memorable upsets, the FA Cup captures the essence of the underdog spirit. It's a competition that unites clubs from every tier of the football pyramid, creating moments where minnows take on titans—and occasionally topple them. The allure of these "cupsets" forms an integral part of the tournament's mystique and the cultural fabric of English football.

For many fans, the beauty of the FA Cup lies in its raw unpredictability. Unlike seeded or bracketed tournaments, this competition has been played every year since 1871 with an open draw, leading to David-vs-Goliath matchups that become the stuff of legend. While European competitions can surprise with their results, those tournaments rarely feature underdogs in the knockout stages.

By contrast, the FA Cup regularly showcases clashes between clubs separated not only by leagues but also by financial and professional divides, such as the 2020 Third Round fixture where Tottenham Hotspur faced off against the semi-professional Marine FC.

This collection of the most iconic FA Cup upsets highlights the drama of football's great leveller. With one notable exception, these stories focus on smaller clubs achieving victory on home soil, where intimate grounds erupt with unparalleled joy.

GOAL takes a look at some of the most unforgettable FA Cup shocks in history.

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United | FA Cup fourth-round replay | Feb. 5, 1972

The FA Cup's typical giant-killing story unfolded in classic fashion: a challenging pitch, grim weather, a non-league underdog hosting a top-tier powerhouse, and an electrified crowd witnessing an unforgettable strike etched into football folklore. This clash had it all.

Hereford United, representing the Southern League, had already defied the odds by earning a 2-2 draw at St. James' Park, forcing a replay against Newcastle United. Despite their heroic effort in the first leg, few believed they could go further. The Magpies struck first, yet Hereford leveled the score through a thunderous long-range effort by Ronnie Radford, a moment that remains one of the most celebrated goals in FA Cup history, sending the match into extra time.

The drama continued when substitute Ricky George stepped up to score the decisive goal, sealing a famous 2-1 victory for the Bulls and cementing their place in FA Cup folklore. The scenes at Edgar Street were unforgettable, with jubilant fans storming the pitch in celebration.

While Radford's iconic goal wasn't the match-winner, it sparked wild celebrations and captured the essence of FA Cup magic. Tragically, Radford passed away in November 2023, but his legacy as one of the competition's original heroes endures.

Interestingly, this replay faced several postponements due to a waterlogged pitch at Hereford's home ground, eventually taking place on the day scheduled for the fourth round, adding yet another layer of intrigue to an already extraordinary tale.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBurnley 1-0 Liverpool | FA Cup third-round | Jan. 18, 2005

This list of unforgettable FA Cup moments wouldn't be complete without a nod to the heroic, breathtaking, and occasionally bizarre goals etched into its rich history. Among them is the decisive strike from Burnley’s clash with Liverpool at a frosty Turf Moor—an own goal by Djimi Traore that sealed the Championship side's upset victory.

The match marked former Reds manager Rafa Benitez's first experience in the competition during his debut season at Anfield. Opting to rest several key players, Benitez inadvertently handed Steve Cotterill's Burnley, a team languishing in the lower half of the Championship table, a golden opportunity.

The decisive moment came in the second half. A low cross from Richard Chaplow forced Traore into a moment of calamity. Attempting an audacious 360-degree drag-back near the far post, the French defender misjudged it entirely, inadvertently bundling the ball into his own net before ending up tangled in the goal's netting.

Ironically, this humbling FA Cup exit came just months before Liverpool capped the 2004-05 season with one of the most remarkable comebacks in football history, defeating AC Milan in Istanbul to claim the Champions League crown. What a dramatic shift in fortunes.

Hulton ArchiveWrexham 2-1 Arsenal | FA Cup third-round | Jan. 4, 1992

The gulf between Wrexham and Arsenal was enormous—an astonishing 81 league places separated the two sides as they met at the Racecourse Ground. The Red Dragons, struggling in 18th place in the Fourth Division, squared off against the reigning First Division champions, Arsenal, who were sitting seventh in the top tier. On paper, it seemed like a straightforward assignment for George Graham's Gunners.

Initially, everything appeared to be going as expected. Alan Smith put Arsenal ahead before halftime, and with just 10 minutes left, it seemed the Welsh underdogs were set to bow out respectably. However, Wrexham had other plans, and their determination soon turned the game into a classic chapter in FA Cup folklore.

In the 82nd minute, Mickey Thomas, a 37-year-old veteran, unleashed a sensational 25-yard free-kick to level the scores. The strike not only brought the game to life but also secured Thomas' place in FA Cup history. With momentum firmly in their favor, Wrexham piled on the pressure, and just two minutes later, Steve Watkin delivered the decisive blow, bundling home the winner.

As the final whistle blew, jubilant fans stormed the pitch, celebrating one of the most memorable "giant killings" the competition has ever seen. This unforgettable upset is yet another reminder of the enduring magic of the FA Cup.

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Hulton ArchiveSunderland 1-0 Leeds United | FA Cup final | May 5, 1973

In one of the most stunning upsets in FA Cup history, the Black Cats pulled off a 1–0 triumph, becoming the first Second Division team to hoist the trophy since West Bromwich Albion achieved the feat in 1931. This victory marked Sunderland's last major Cup success for nearly half a century until their EFL Trophy win in 2021. As of 2024, it remains their most recent domestic silverware.

At the time, Sunderland were competing in the old Division Two and faced a formidable Leeds United side, who were dominating English football’s top tier, in the final of the 1972-73 FA Cup. Refusing to be intimidated by their high-flying opponents, the Black Cats produced one of the tournament's most iconic upsets.

Ian Porterfield etched his name into Sunderland folklore with a first-half strike that proved decisive, while goalkeeper Jim Montgomery delivered a breathtaking performance. His incredible reflex save remains one of the most celebrated moments in FA Cup history, ensuring Bob Stokoe's team held on for a historic victory at Wembley.

Sometimes, a cup game against a lower division opponent can be a potential a banana skin for Premier League sides, especially when things aren’t necessarily going their way elsewhere.

However, for Manchester United, last night’s match against League One Barnsley in the League Cup couldn’t have gone any better.

Erik ten Hag’s side ran out 7-0 winners against the Colliers, had 65% of the possession and took a mammoth 26 shots to their three.

It was about as one-sided an encounter as you are going to see this season, and in the process, two starters may have started to revive their careers at the club.

Marcus Rashford's performance vs Barnsley

Yes, despite starting the season in a similar disappointing fashion to how he ended last year, Marcus Rashford continued his goalscoring form from the weekend by putting two past Barnsley’s Gabriel Słonina last night.

However, the Englishman could have easily scored a hat trick had he not given Antony the penalty in the first half in a bid to restore the Brazilian’s confidence.

The Manchester-born star’s performance impressed 90min’s Tom Gott, who awarded him a 10/10 on the night, writing that it was a ‘dominant’ display and that in his opening goal, he ‘showed some real class.’

Unsurprisingly, the 26-year-old’s match statistics thoroughly support such a high rating.

In his 63 minutes on the pitch, he provided one assist to go with his two goals, took three shots on target, completed three dribbles, played one key pass, created one big chance, and even made a clearance.

Minutes

63′

Goals

2

Assists

1

Shots on Target

3

Dribbles (Complete)

5 (3)

Key Passes

1

Big Chances Created

1

Clearances

1

Overall, Rashford played brilliantly last night, and while we can’t get carried away given the level of opposition, it was just another sign that the talented attacker could be on the way to reviving his United career this season, just like one of his teammates who also impressed at Old Trafford.

Casemiro's performance vs Barnsley

The other starter who certainly helped his case last night was Brazilian legend Casemiro, who, alongside summer signing Manuel Ugarte, put in a solid shift in the middle of the park and made life incredibly difficult for Barnsley.

The five-time Champions League winner has had a rough 18 months or so, but during his time on the pitch last night, he was constantly involved and ended the night with a whopping 109 touches of the ball and showed that when he has a more agile teammate alongside him, he can still be a useful cog in United’s defence and attack.

The 32-year-old impressed 90mins Gott, who awarded him an 8/10 on the night and wrote that the former Real Madrid star ‘made a noticeable impact in the final third,’ which is reflected in his statistics from the game.

Minutes

93′

Touches

109

Passes

79/90

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

8 (7)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Duels (Won)

9 (6)

Shots Blocked

1

Clearances

1

Tackles

4

Interceptions

1

For example, in his 93 minutes of action, the midfield “monster”, as he was once dubbed by journalist Muhammad Butt, made 79 accurate passes, played one key pass, was accurate in seven of his eight crosses, took one shot on target, succeeded in 100% of his dribbles, won six of nine duels, blocked a shot, and made one clearance, one interception and four tackles.

Ultimately, it was the perfect night for United, Rashford and Casemiro, and while we cannot jump to conclusions due to the opposition, both players have given Ten Hag something to think about as the games come thick and fast over the next few weeks.

Man Utd send officials to watch target have Michael Jordan-esque flu game

United’s hierarchy are keeping a watchful eye on a young star.

ByBrett Worthington Sep 17, 2024

Glasgow Rangers placed a clear emphasis on recruiting young and exciting players who have room to develop and grow over the years to come.

To create space for new players to come in, the likes of Connor Goldson, Scott Wright, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, and John Lundstram, among others, were allowed to move on.

This allowed head of recruitment Nils Koppen to swoop to sign Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, Vaclav Cerny, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Nedim Bajrami, Jefte, Liam Kelly, Robin Propper, and Connor Barron for Philippe Clement.

Eight of those players are aged 25 or younger and five of them are aged 21 or younger, which speaks to the style of recruitment the club have gone for.

Having a steady stream of impressive academy talents would be helpful for a model that is based around developing and selling talent, but that is something Rangers have struggled with.

Ross McCausland emerged in the first-team last season but has yet to nail down a regular starting spot and there are only two active former Rangers academy players – Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour – who are valued at more than £10m by Transfermarkt.

One of the most valuable players to have played in the Gers youth set-up, though, is a star they fumbled by allowing him to leave for nothing – Greg Taylor.

Rangers fumbled Greg Taylor

The now-Scotland international began his career with St Andrews, playing there for 18 months, before moving to join Rangers at the age of nine in 2006.

He then spent the next six years playing in the academy for the Light Blues, developing and honing his skills, before being told that he was no longer wanted in the summer of 2014.

Taylor later explained that the Scottish giants allowed him to move on for nothing because he was deemed to be "too small and too slight" to make it at first-team level.

The talented left-back admitted that the rejection by Rangers provided him with the motivation he needed to kick on and make sure that he proved those coaches wrong, which is exactly what the Scottish star has gone on to do.

Kilmarnock took advantage of his release from Ibrox and snapped him up for their youth team, before Taylor went on to emerge as a first-team option for them.

The left-footed ace racked up 131 appearances in all competitions for Kilmarnock, in which time he scored one goal and provided ten assists, before being sold to Celtic in the summer of 2019.

Greg Taylor's current market value

At the time of writing (08/09/2024), Transfermarkt currently values Taylor at a price of €7.5m (£6.3m) and that makes him the third-most expensive former Rangers academy player currently playing.

Yet, despite all of his success since being in the youth set-up at Ibrox, the Light Blues did not get a single penny for him as they allowed him to walk away for nothing to join Kilmarnock back in 2014, just over a decade ago.

Since his move to Parkhead in 2019, Taylor has amassed 178 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops and contributed with eight goals and 27 assists.

The Scotland international has won the Scottish Premiership title four times, the SFA Cup three times, and the League Cup twice during his spell in Glasgow to date.

However, he did not manage at least 30 league appearances in a single season until the 2022/23 campaign, with his best form in a Celtic shirt coming in the last two seasons.

Appearances

31

35

Goals

3

3

Assists

4

4

Big chances created

2

11

Clean sheets

12

11

As you can see in the table above, Taylor has chipped in with six goals and 13 'big chances' created in the last Premiership seasons under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou.

The Scottish dynamo, who claimed in 2022 that he had improved "insane amounts" at Celtic, has proven himself to be an attack-minded left-back who can push forward to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

His fantastic form in the Premiership for the Hoops is why his market value is so high, and why it is currently higher than Clement's current first-choice left-back – when fit – Ridvan Yilmaz.

How much Ridvan Yilmaz is worth

At the time of writing (08/09/2024), Transfermarkt places the Turkey international's current market value at €5m (£4.2m), which is less than Taylor's €7.5m.

Rangers paid an initial fee of £3.4m, in a deal that could rise to £5m, to sign the talented full-back from Besiktas in the summer of 2022 in an attempt to replace Calvin Bassey, who had been sold to Ajax.

This shows that he is worth less than Taylor, who Rangers once allowed to walk out of the door for nothing, but is that reflected in their performances on the pitch?

Appearances

26

35

Goals

1

3

Assists

1

4

Big chances created

6

11

Clean sheets

6

11

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish star outperformed Yilmaz as an attacking threat for his side, with more goals, assists, and 'big chances' created.

He was also part of a defence that kept more clean sheets, which speaks to his defensive ability, and this suggests that their respective valuations are fair, in the sense that the Celtic ace is more valuable.

Yilmaz, at the age of 23, does have more time to develop and improve over the years to come, but Taylor is the better player at Premiership level in the here and now.

It is now down to the Turkey international, who has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury, to hit his stride in a Gers shirt and overtake the Hoops man.

Clement must ditch Rangers star who earns more than Dessers

The Light Blues ace is willing to move on from Ibrox this month, amid interest in his services.

ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2024

If he can do that, whilst increasing his value by putting in fantastic displays on the pitch, then Rangers can forget about their blunder with the Scotland international.

يرى مدافع نادي ليفربول الأسبق، ماركوس بابيل، أن محمد صلاح مهاجم الفريق الأول الحالي لا يُقارن إلا بأسطورة برشلونة، ليونيل ميسي.

ويعيش محمد صلاح موسمًا رائعًا للغاية مع ليفربول حيث وصل إلى المساهمة رقم 47، سجل 28 هدفًا وصنع 19 آخرين في جميع البطولات المحلية والقارية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لويس دياز: محمد صلاح يقدم كل ما لديه لـ ليفربول مثل ڤان دايك وأرنولد

وقال بابيل في تصريحات صحفية: “لم أر سوى لاعب واحد في هذا المستوى وبهذه الأرقام، هو ليونيل ميسي”.

وتابع: “أرقامه تجعله كما لو أنه مهاجم في مركز 9، لكنه جناح، ليس إيان راش أو آلان شيرر، فهو يلعب على الطرف وما حققه أمر استثنائي لا يُصدق”.

وأضاف: “أرقامه التهديفية ليست طبيعية، لا أستطيع مقارنته إلا مع ليونيل ميسي، من حيث قوة تسجيل الأهداف، الامر لا يتعلق فقط بالموسم الماضي، بل بالعشر سنوات الماضية”.

واستمر: “مستواه عالمي حقًا، مندهش للغاية لأنه لم يكن أبدًا ضمن المرشحين لجائزة الكرة الذهبية، لا أصدق أنه لم يكن أبدًا ضمن الثلاثي النهائي، فهو أفضل لاعب في مركزه”.

وواصل تصريحاته: “لدى محمد صلاح فرصة حقيقية للفوز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية هذا الموسم، لكنني أعتقد أنها ستذهب إلى لاعب من ريال مدريد بعدما قرروا تجاهل الحفل السابق، لكن محمد صلاح يستحقها رغم ذلك”.

Two nights after failing to close out a chase, the teenager delivers under pressure

Mohammad Isam25-Jul-2021

Shamim Hossain pictured here during his cap presentation ceremony•BCB

Shamim Hossain, in his second T20I, is under pressure. Three fruitless slogs in the 18th over later, Bangladesh need 25 off 15 balls. The game has wildly swung both ways until this point. Dion Myers had conceded just three off his first three balls; Sikandar Raza’s move to bowl him seemed a gamble that could pay off.Shamim is possibly thinking of his dismissal in the second T20I after he gave Bangladesh hope through his 13-ball 29. Here he was again, in a situation that was even more tricky. There was a series to be won. He simply had to strike.And strike he did. He thumped Myers for three fours: a forehand smash through covers, a reverse bunt past a diving short third man and a fierce pull over midwicket. Then, he kept his head through Blessing Muzarabani’s penultimate over to all but seal the contest. He then finished the game off by hitting the winning runs. He remained unbeaten on 31 off just 15 balls, hitting six fours, five of which came in the last three overs.”I was hungry to finish the game after being unable to do so in the previous game,” Shamim said. “I was looking for that opportunity. I am feeling really well having done that. I am happy that we won the T20I series, which happened to be my first international series. When Soumya (Sarkar) bhai and (Mahmudullah) Riyad were batting together, things were in our favour. While sitting in the dressing room, I told myself that we must win this game.”The match had already started to turn in Bangladesh’s favour during the third-wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar, but it needed a final push from the Mahmudullah-Hossain partnership, after Afif Hossain’s dismissal.”Riyad told me that we can get ten an over if we can hit a six or a four every over,” he said. “It will get us close to their target. I maintained my process during this situation.”Soumya Sarkar, whose 68 set up Bangladesh’s push towards the big chase, was impressed with Shamim’s desire. “He played an important innings,” the senior batter said. “He was very positive. I really liked how hungry he was to win the game. This was only his second international match, but finished the game very well.”Shamim made a mark during Bangladesh’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign last year. The senior team’s selectors and team management had a better look during this season’s Dhaka Premier League T20s. But despite doing well at these levels, Shamim said that his short crash course of international cricket during these T20Is told him what is needed at this level.”I have figured out how tough international cricket is, playing here,” he said. “I have so far played Under-19 cricket and the Dhaka Premier League, but this is different. One gets fewer bad balls. One has to hit the good balls for boundaries, but at the same time, keep sticking to your process. One has to play with more responsibility at this level.”An altogether different challenge awaits Shamim when Bangladesh take on Australia in the five T20Is from August 3 in Dhaka. The hunger can easily be replaced by a sense of accomplishment, and that’s one very critical area that Shamim needs to guard himself against.

Christian Pulisic was dangerous as ever Saturday, but the American was just inches away from getting a goal or two in Milan's 1-1 draw with Cagliari.

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• Pulisic creates several chances
• Key to Milan's goal
• Unable to find winner in 1-1 draw

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Christian Pulisic was at his creative best, but couldn't find a goal contribution in AC Milan's frustrating 1-1 draw with Cagliari in Serie A.

  Pulisic certainly played his part for Milan, particularly in the club's opening goal. Played in by Theo Hernandez in the 51st minute, Pulisic smashed a shot off the post and back into play. Fortunately for Milan, Alvaro Morata was there to pounce, tapping home the ensuing rebound to give Milan the 1-0 lead at home.

  Milan conceded just moments later, though, as Nadir Zortea snuck a long-range effort past Mike Maignan, who should have done better on the shot. Pulisic had a chance to restore the lead shortly after, but his one-on-one chance was pushed away by goalkeeper Elia Caprile.

  In the end, Pulisic finished with five shots and three chances created, but Milan could muster just one goal as they took just one point from Saturday's match.

  Pulisic wasn't the only American in the XI, though. Yunus Musah was also handed a start, going 63 minutes and completing all but one of his 31 passes before being replaced by Tammy Abraham.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Saturday's draw somewhat halts Milan's momentum following this week's Supercoppa Italiana triumph. Pulisic helped spearhead a Milan comeback against Juventus in the semifinal before then guiding the club to another come-from-behind win over Inter in the finale to claim the trophy. Those two wins came under new manager Sergio Conceicao, who provided an immediate lift in those two matches.

  Instead, Conceicao's first Serie A match produced more of the same. With the draw, Milan sit back in eighth place, facing a fight to book their spot in next season's Champions League.

• AFP
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  By lifting the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this week, Pulisic now has five senior trophies at the club level. He won the DFB-Pokal at Borussia Dortmund and lifted the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup trophies during his time at Chelsea.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILAN?

  It's a big week for Milan, who will have little time to recover before facing Como on Tuesday. After that, it'll be another edition of Serie A's USMNT derby as Pulisic, Musah, and Milan visit Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Juventus on Saturday.

شارك المصري محمد صلاح في مباراة فريقه ليفربول أمام نيوكاسل يونايتد ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

والتقى ليفربول ونيوكاسل ضمن مباريات الجولة السابعة والعشرين للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، مساء الأربعاء، على ملعب “آنفيلد”.

وساهم محمد صلاح في فوز ليفربول بهدفين دون رد أمام نيوكاسل، وقد صنع الهدف الثاني لزميله ماك أليستر.

وبحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور” حصل محمد صلاح على تقييم 6.8 من 10 درجات بعد أدائه في المباراة.

لعب محمد صلاح أساسيًا وحتى الدقيقة 90، وصنع هدفًا، ولمس الكرة 59 مرة، وبلغت دقة تمريراته 84% حيث مرر 27 تمريرة دقيقة من أصل 32، ومرر تمريرتين مفتاحيتين، وصنع فرصة كبيرة.

وسدد محمد صلاح تسديدة على المرمى، وتسديدة بعيدة عن المرمى، وتسديدة شتتها الخصم، وله محاولة مراوغة ناجحة من 11.

وفي التحامات الكرات الأرضية فاز محمد صلاح بـ4 من أصل 15، والكرات الهوائية فاز بـ 2، وفقد الاستحواذ 19 مرة، وتم ارتكاب خطأ ضده، وارتكب خطأ، واستخلص الكرة مرتين من الخصم. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول ونيوكاسل

Hosts complete first ever series win against Australia; Nathan Ellis’ hat-trick goes in vain

Himanshu Agrawal06-Aug-2021

Shoriful Islam celebrates Moises Henriques’ wicket with his team-mates•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh marched to an unassailable 3-0 lead to register their first series win against Australia across formats by defending 128 in a close finish during the third T20I in Dhaka. While Mahmudullah led from the front by scoring 52 and batting deep to ensure the hosts had some firepower left late in the innings, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and Nasum Ahmed combined to apply the brakes on Australia’s run chase. Debutant Nathan Ellis’ hat-trick went in vain for the visitors, for whom Mitchell Marsh continued his fine form and contributed 51, while Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa chipped in with the ball.The Fizz delivers again
Rahman followed figures of 2 for 16 and 3 for 23 in the series with an exceptional return of 0 for 9 from his four overs. In what was the joint second-most economical effort for a Bangladesh bowler in a completed spell, Rahman turned the game around when he conceded just a single in the 19th over of the Australia innings when they needed an entirely possible 23 from 12 balls with Alex Carey and Dan Christian at the crease.Shoriful reprimanded for breaching code of conduct

Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam was reprimanded by the ICC for breaching Level 1 of their Code of Conduct. Shoriful was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match”.
The incident occurred in the 18th over of Australia’s innings when Shoriful, after dismissing Mitchell Marsh, was found celebrating excessively in close proximity to the Australian, potentially triggering an aggressive reaction from Marsh. Thus, one demerit point was also added to the disciplinary record of Shoriful, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

Two of his overs had been reserved for the death, and Mahmudullah brought him on for the 17th with the game still in Australia’s hands and Marsh on 49. Rahman utilised the slower ball to good effect and kept it tight to both Marsh and Carey, denying them a free swing of the arms. Before that, he had given away just three singles in the final over of the powerplay, mostly bowling at the stumps and with the pace off, with Marsh first dabbing uncomfortably before being beaten off the last ball of the over.The captain stands tall
Mahmudullah promoted himself up to No. 4, but was forced to start off cautiously after Bangladesh lost two early wickets on a slow pitch. He was on 11 off 17 balls – seven of those had come off singles – when he decided to go big. When Marsh pitched one in the slot on off, he swung to find the gap between long-on and deep midwicket for his first boundary, which was in the eighth over of the innings. Mahmudullah chose to play anchor and bat deep, with all of Shakib, Afif Hossain and Nurul Hossain departing after playing cameos.He was still not striking at a run-a-ball when he lofted Ellis over cover for four, after which only two overs of the Bangladesh innings remained. But with time running out, Mahmudullah chose to go after Hazlewood, whose short-of-a-length ball he scooped in the 19th over to try and push the scoring. He then brought up his fifty off 52 deliveries in the final over when he swung one down to deep square leg, before falling to Ellis next ball.Hat-trick on international debut
Ellis started by conceding eight in his first over, although a boundary came off a top edge from Shakib’s bat. Wade then replaced him, but Ellis returned with Bangladesh at 60 for 3 after the first half of the innings. He was taken off yet again after conceding 11, with Afif pulling him for a boundary this time. Three overs were left – both Zampa and Agar were bowled out and Hazlewood had only one to go – as Ellis’ captain trusted him to deliver at the death. But an over-and-a-half later, Mahmudullah had lofted and pulled him for two fours.That is when it all turned around for the debutant. First, he hit back with a very full ball on off, as the Bangladesh captain missed his leg-side heave and the ball crashed into the stumps. Next ball, the tailender Mustafizur founds Marsh at deep midwicket. Ellis had the hat-trick ball against another lower-order batter in Mahedi Hasan, who pulled straight to deep square leg, as he suddenly finished with 3 for 34 after going wicketless until the last three balls of the Bangladesh innings.Shakib, Nasum tie Australia down
Ahmed bowled the second over of Australia’s chase, and he answered his captain’s call by getting Wade and conceding only a single. Shakib then came on from the other end against Ben McDermott and an in-form Marsh. After just two singles off the first four balls, Marsh went for the big heave to one that was bowled slow and turned away from him, with the batter surviving a caught behind after he reviewed the original out decision.What followed was a maiden over by Ahmed. Although McDermott missed out on two opportunities to cut away short balls, Ahmed did not entirely have the batter in control, having squared him up first ball before inducing a leading edge four deliveries later. Marsh did smash a four and a six off Ahmed in the seventh over, but both Ahmed and Shakib never allowed the set batters Marsh and McDermott to get away, tying them down with repeated dot balls as Shakib got rid of McDermott in his final over. They were both bowled out by the 14th over, and when they ended with combined figures of 8-1-41-2, Australia needed 54 from 36 balls, which they ultimately fell short of achieving.Zampa, Hazlewood keep Bangladesh in check
Hazlewood struck in his first over when he had Mohammad Naim caught behind off the last ball of the second over, with Naim almost getting cramped for room as he got a thin edge to a fullish ball. Immediately after, Zampa struck first ball when he trapped Soumya Sarkar leg before when the batter went for the sweep. But the ball turned just enough into him to beat his bat off a full length, and Sarkar couldn’t get the decision overturned.They were both taken off after their first overs, with Zampa being brought back for the ninth after Marsh was taken for 15 in the previous one. Shakib tried to loft the legspinner down the ground first ball on his comeback, but could only get it as far as long-off, where Ashton Agar took a few steps forward to complete the catch. Hazlewood, on the other hand, returned to bowl the 14th over, where he got Shamim Hossain and conceded just two singles to keep Bangladesh on the back foot. Eventually, Hazlewood and Zampa combined with figures of 4 for 40 across eight overs to ensure the hosts didn’t walk away with a big total.

Manchester United sent officials to watch a potential future transfer target during this international break, according to a new report.

This break has allowed Erik ten Hag and his backroom team to focus on what needs to improve as the Premier League returns this weekend, but it has also allowed them to scout potential transfer targets.

Man Utd plotting expensive move to replace Andre Onana with £69k-p/w star

United and Erik ten Hag have identified a new position they would like to strengthen.

6

By
Brett Worthington

Sep 12, 2024

Man United transfer news

The transfer window has only been shut for a couple of weeks, and already United are being linked with several players they could move for in January or next summer.

The Red Devils are said to be “very interested” in signing Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon, as they potentially eye a replacement for Andre Onana. The goalkeeper is said to have impressed United with his performances for Bilbao and Spain, and they are now ready to pay a “considerable sum” to sign the Spaniard.

But as well as looking at Simon, Man United are also said to be admirers of AS Monaco defender Vanderson. The Brazilian is being looked at by Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and United, with the Blues leading the way as things stand.

The Ligue 1 side are looking for around €35-40 million, which is roughly £29-35 million, and for United, Vanderson may be seen as an upgrade on Diogo Dalot.

Man United send officials to watch £25m star

According to Croatian outlet Germanijak, relayed by Give Me Sport, Manchester United have Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Martin Baturina “very high” on their wishlist. The report states that the Premier League side sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old during the international break, as Croatia played against Portugal and Poland, with Baturina playing 61 minutes against Portugal but unfortunately missing the Poland clash.

After watching him play for his country, United are now said to be following the player for Zagreb as they prepare to play Hajduk Split in a local derby. Baturina was close to leaving for Fiorentina during the summer, according to this report, but Dinamo decided not to sell him in the end, as he was happy to remain and play Champions League football.

Leeds United were reported to have agreed a £25 million fee with Zagreb to sign Baturina during the summer, but the midfielder refused to join the Championship club. Now, this report states that Zagreb are prepared to offer Baturina a new and improved contract in a bid to keep him at the club and make him one of their top earners. But they may face a battle on their hands as United hold an interest that is said to have been there “a long time”.

Martin Baturina's Dinamo Zagreb stats
Apps	126
Goals	16
Assists	32

The 21-year-old joined Dinamo’s youth ranks in 2017, broke through into the first team in 2021, and has been a key player for the Croatian giants ever since. His performances in Croatia are now catching the eye, with Man United a significant step up to the interest of Leeds in the summer.