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Duminy (and Shaggy) rock the party at the Champions League opener

Ratnakar Polisetti09-Oct-2009Choice of game
Bangalore launched the IPL in 2008 and I missed it. Second time lucky and what a spectacle it was.Team supported
I supported Royal Challengers, ended up being a fan of JP Duminy, but would love to see Adam Gilchrist lift the trophy. I thought Jacques Kallis and Anil Kumble would combine to beat a Smith-less Cobras, but Duminy had all the venom that was needed.Key performer
Robin Uthappa opened and Ross Taylor kept it going, but Duminy finished and how.
When Herschelle Gibbs got out early, the crowd was on their feet and Bangalore fancied their chances. But Duminy played some delightful shots, and one of them, the reverse sweep off Anil Kumble to get to his fifty, evoked cheers even from the home crowd.One thing I’d have changed about the match
This match started with a spectacular opening ceremony but it may as well have been Akon instead of Shaggy, because the crowd response was really poor. As for the match itself, I would have loved to see Duminy get to three figures. With 2 required for a win he was on strike on 98 and took a single, leaving the winning run to Rory Kleinveldt.Face-off I relished
Duminy v Kumble. Cobras needed 29 off the last three. The crowd wanted Kumble and got him. But he was taken for 11, including a huge six, and that’s when some people started leaving the stadium.Wow moment
The PA begging the crowd to do a Mexican wave not once but thrice, but the crowd didn’t oblige. They did do the Mexican wave, but on their own. The crowd’s the boss!Shot of the day
Dravid and Taylor hit superb sixes, but none was bigger than the one by Duminy’ off Roelof van der Merwe, which disappeared high into the stands next to me.Crowd meter
Loud-O-Meter, should I say. Huge cheers for Dravid and Kumble and even Ross Taylor, when the names were flashed on the giant screen before the match commenced. Most stands were packed to capacity. Kids, youngsters, families – no different from the audience for a typical Bollywood movie. Now I know why Twenty20 is such a commercial hit.The crowd supported Bangalore. Period. There were a few foreigners cheering the Cobras, but they were somehow muted by the silence of the RCB fans.Fancy-dress index
Plenty of RCB jerseys, and those who weren’t wearing them seemed to have come in red t-shirts.Entertainment
This being the opening game, there was everything from Shaolin monks to Shaggy. Pity Shaggy did not get the response he deserved.Everybody was expecting fireworks at the end, so it may have been the surprise element that threw the crowd into a frenzy when they went off and lit the sky just before the toss.IPL v Champions League?
When the captains of the competing teams came on to the dais, only Gilchrist, Kumble, Gauram Gambhir, Justin Langer and Daren Ganga (someone whispered, “He is from India”!) got much of a response. That’s the Champions League, at least for now, before the Putticks and the Mubaraks make a name for themselves. There are no neutral teams in the IPL but it will be interesting to see how the crowds turn up to watch, say, Eagles v Blues.Overall
Duminy’s innings may not eclipse Brendon McCullum’s on the first day of the IPL in 2008, but unlike in that match, the game was on till the last over here.An amazing opening ceremony followed by a befitting game of cricket. Couldn’t have asked for more.Marks out of 10
Any high-scoring game should rank up there, and this one, with the sixes competing with flying monks, was a perfect 10.

Babar Azam impressed with 72, but Peshawar Zalmi failed to put up enough runs in the first innings

ESPNcricinfo staff and Associated Press21-Feb-2024Power hitter Kieron Pollard upstaged Babar Azam’s landmark outing in Lahore, as Karachi Kings cruised to an emphatic seven-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi on Wednesday.Chasing 155, Pollard bludgeoned an unbeaten 49 off 21 balls with four towering sixes and four boundaries to take Kings home in 16.5 overs for their first win in the tournament.Babar’s landmark 271st T20 in which he became the fastest batter to reach 10,000 runs saw Zalmi getting bowled out for 154 in 19.5 overs after the Kings won the toss and elected to field.Babar followed his half-century in the first game against Quetta Gladiators with a knock of 72 off 51 balls, but his effort went in vain for the second successive game.Zalmi’s innings revolved around Babar’s brilliance after it lost three wickets inside the batting powerplay with Shoaib Malik dismissing Saim Ayub off the first ball with a full-pitched delivery that didn’t turn much. Hasan Ali, playing against his former franchise, also had a dream start when he knocked back Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s off stump off his first ball.Babar revived the innings with Rovman Powell (39) in a 68-run stand and Asif Ali scored 23 before Peshawar lost its last six wickets for only 18 runs in the last four overs. Powell top-edged a reverse sweep against left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz a while Asif holed out at long-on.Left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza (3-28), who bowled to hard lengths with the new ball, chipped in with the wickets of Aamer Jamal and then took a fine return catch to dismiss Babar in his last over as the Zalmi innings folded quickly.Pollard brought an early finish when he smashed three straight sixes and two fours in a 27-run over against Afghanistan’s left-arm wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil, one of the two changes Zalmi made after losing the first match by 16 runs. Salamkheil conceded 54 off his four overs and got Malik stumped for run-a-ball 29.James Vince remained unbeaten on 38 and ended up denying Pollard a chance at a much-deserved half-century when he drove Luke Wood (2-20) for the winning boundary in the 17th over.Kings, who lost their first game against Multan Sultans by 55 runs, have two points from two games while Zalmi is still looking for their first win.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been urged to return to the Premier League to prepare for 2026 World Cup.

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• Pogba urged to return to the Premier League
• Told to prepare for the 2026 World Cup
• Linked with a move to Ligue 1 and Saudi Pro League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pogba has not played competitive football since September 2023 after serving an 18-month doping ban. However, the suspension is now over and the Frenchman is raring to get back on a football pitch. The player is currently a free agent after mutually terminating his contract at Juventus last year.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pogba has been linked with teams around the world, from Ligue 1 to the Saudi Pro League. Amid speculation over his next destination, ex-Chelsea star Florent Malouda has urged his compatriot to return to the Premier League as he believes England is the best place for Pogba to regain his best form and potentially get back into the France squad in time for the 2026 World Cup.

• WHAT FLORENT MALOUDA SAID

  Speaking to , Malouda said: "I think he is a great player. He belongs to the Premier League. It’s a pity that it didn't work as it should have done at Manchester United. Everything was there for him to succeed. Right now, he needs to make the right choice to prepare for the next World Cup.

  "He needs to build back his confidence, to be patient and at the same time be really focused and prove to himself first that he wants to play at the high level, and the Premier League is the best stage for that. I'm surprised that clubs didn't approach him as soon as possible and give him a chance to get his fitness up to speed, and get him really ready to get back to compete."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

  The 32-year-old midfielder has stated that he is prepared to wait as long as it takes in order to find the right next challenge, even if that process takes two years.

Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot sparked chaos in Marseille’s dressing room as Medhi Benatia reveals why the club chose to sell both players.

Dressing room clash unsettled Marseille squadBenatia cites leadership breakdown behind saleClub acts swiftly to restore orderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Marseille’s season has exploded into chaos just one match in, as tempers flared inside the dressing room  following their 1-0 defeat to Rennes in the Ligue 1 opener. What started as angry words over the team’s performance spiralled into a violent altercation between Rabiot an Rowe. According to witnesses, punches were thrown, security had to step in, and one young player even collapsed amid the tension.

The fallout was immediate. Within days, Rabiot was informed he has no future at the club and England U21 winger Rowe is being sold to Serie A. It was a drastic but decisive move from Marseille’s hierarchy to re-establish control after what sporting director Benatia described as a “scene of chaos” rarely seen in football.

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Instead of focusing on late-window reinforcements, Marseille now find themselves forced into damage control, negotiating exits for two players they expected to rely on this season. With Rowe already close to Bologna and Rabiot attracting Serie A interest, OM’s market plans may be reshaped entirely. And with Champions League qualification a priority, losing squad depth to internal conflict could prove disastrous.

WHAT BENATIA SAID

Speaking to , Marseille’s football director Benatia didn’t hold back when recounting the extraordinary events: "There are key players who came back frustrated, who started to make comments to the whole team, about the defeat, about the behavior, that we have to do more, we're at Olympique de Marseille, you can't afford to go and lose like that against a team that's been 10 against 11 for an hour, etc. So until then, well, it was just words and then it started to get a bit heated, it got up… You know how it goes in a locker room, people get up, they shout, there are always normally two, three guys who come, who separate.

"I was there, normally you calm down. There are still matches left and the season has just started. Not here, we got into physical confrontations, punches. We had a kid (Bakola) who at that moment had a kind of vagal malaise, who fell to the ground, and all that in a locker room… A scene of chaos, I've never seen that. I spent, I don't know, 17-18 years in a locker room, I argued as captain. In clubs, we can sometimes have heated exchanges. Reflections that maybe you can take a little badly after a defeat, it happens… It's the truth, but that said, it can get a little heated. But you can't get to a physical assault, a punch in the mouth and stuff, and security coming to separate you, but where are we? We're here to play football."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

The priority now for Marseille is restoring order, Roberto De Zerbi must steady the ship quickly to prevent the locker room’s combustible atmosphere from wrecking the season. At the same time, the club faces a tight transfer deadline. 

West Ham have reportedly lodged an €8 million offer for Botafogo star John Victor following links with Manchester United.

Man Utd in market for new keeperLinked with Botafogo's VictorWest Ham submit offer for himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham have bid €8m for Botafogo goalkeeper Victor. Galatasaray and Everton are also said to be keen, with United 'monitoring' the 29-year-old in recent months. 

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Huge question marks have been raised over whether Andre Onana should be United's first-choice keeper, with Ruben Amorim's side reportedly scouring the market for replacements. Ahead of the new season, it seems the Cameroon international will be in between the sticks; potentially ruling out a Victor pursuit.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 6ft 5in keeper Victor, whose deal with the Brazilian side runs until the end of 2028, has made 84 appearances for Botafogo and has kept 36 clean sheets along the way. The former Brazil Under-17 international has also played for Brazilian giants Santos during his career.

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen if United or another rival suitor will try and outbid West Ham's offer for Victor. The Hammers are looking for a new keeper after letting veteran Lukasz Fabianski leave the club earlier this summer. 

Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy have been called up as replacements, and Mitchell Santner will stand in as captain

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2023

Kane Williamson, the designated captain, and Kyle Jamieson have been withdrawn from New Zealand’s T20I squad to take on Bangladesh at home later this month. Mitchell Santner, who has led both the New Zealand white-ball sides in the past, will be captain in Williamson’s absence.Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy have been called up as replacements, with NZC saying the decision on Williamson and Jamieson was made following “medical advice and consideration of the team’s upcoming schedule, with a focus on this summer’s Test series against South Africa and Australia”.Williamson, who missed seven months of competitive cricket earlier this year after sustaining a right knee injury during the IPL, “will undergo a period of knee rehabilitation and strengthening following his recent return to play in India and Bangladesh,” NZC said.As for Jamieson, “his hamstring injury was best served by a period of targeted rehabilitation leading into February’s Test Series against South Africa”. He will sit out the series of three T20Is against Bangladesh as well as the January T20I series against Pakistan. He was earlier withdrawn from the ODI squad for the ongoing series against Bangladesh, which New Zealand are leading 2-0.”We want both Kane and Kyle to be in the best possible place leading into the next block of Test cricket against South Africa and Australia,” Gary Stead, the New Zealand coach, said in a statement. “Based on discussions with the medical staff and the players, it was decided a period of rehabilitation and conditioning was the best option for both of them.”Jacob is an experienced T20 cricketer, and always brings a lot when he is part of the BlackCaps environment. He’s worked very hard on his white-ball skills in recent seasons. Rachin adds to any environment he’s a part of, and has a great desire to learn and develop his game – across all three formats.”The series of three T20Is – Napier (December 27), and Mount Maunganui (December 29 and 31) – would have marked a return to the format for Williamson, who last played a T20I on November 20 last year, against India in Mount Maunganui.New Zealand squad for T20Is against Bangladesh: Mitchell Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

MatériaMais Notícias

Duílio Monteiro Alves, presidente do Corinthians, ficou na bronca com a arbitragem após o empate sem gols com o Flamengo, pela primeira final da Copa do Brasil. O mandatário do Timão citou a não marcação do possível toque no braço de Léo Pereira dentro da área como ‘absurdo’.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansFinal da Copa do Brasil teve apagão, bomba e confusão entre torcedores de Corinthians e FlamengoCorinthians13/10/2022VídeoVÍDEO: Bola no travessão e os melhores momentos de Corinthians e FlamengoVídeo13/10/2022CorinthiansCássio vê final em aberto e diz estar satisfeito com a entrega do CorinthiansCorinthians13/10/2022

+Cássio brilha no empate do Corinthians; veja notas dos atletas do Timão contra o Fla

-O que aconteceu hoje aqui foi um absurdo. O VAR interfere em muitos jogos e em muitas ocasiões, até mais do que devia, toda hora a gente tem o jogo parado, e é para isso que o VAR existe. Mas acontece um lance desse, numa final de campeonato, todo mundo viu que a bola bateu na mão – iniciou Duílio na zona mista.

-Eu quero escutar o áudio, mas pelo o que a arbitragem nos passou, o que foi entendido pelo VAR foi que a bola desviou na barriga. É um absurdo! O braço está aberto, aumenta o espaço
corporal. O VAR serve para isso! O juiz não para um minuto para ir olhar… Não volta, né? Hoje, infelizmente, o Corinthians foi muito prejudicado, e a gente espera que isso não ocorra mais, não só no jogo do Corinthians, porque a arbitragem no Brasil não está indo bem – analisou.

Duílio também disse que o clube está estudando medidas para evitar novos erros na partida de volta.

-A gente vai ver as medidas possíveis. Vamos fazer tudo o que é possível fazer, mas isso é um erro e, para mim, um erro que não precisava existir já que tem o VAR, que só existe para isso. Agora, o que a gente pode fazer é isso, todas as representações, mas não volta, né?” – questionou.

+ Corinthians ou Flamengo? Veja tabela e simule a final da Copa do Brasil

FESTA DA TORCIDA

Mesmo com o resultado amargo em casa, a Fiel bateu o recorde de público em jogos do Timão na Arena, e fez uma linda festa, desde a recepção do ônibus da delegação corintiana até o mosaico 3D.

Opresidente do Timão elogiou a organização da Arena e o apoio incondicional da torcida corintiana.

-Foi tudo muito bem feito, o trabalho desde a vinda do torcedor, dos clubes, da policia militar, a festa que foi feita na Neo Química Arena, a organização da CBF, a presença do presidente da FIFA. O maior clássico, para mim, do mundo em termos de torcida local, sem contar torcedores de fora do país. Uma pena terminar assim… Você tem o VAR, que é uma ferramenta que foi criada para isso, uma festa linda, um bom jogo de futebol, e você terminar com uma polêmica dessas sem ao menos conferir. Infelizmente aconteceu, mas vamos ao Maracanã fazer um grande jogo – ponderou.

Agora, o Corinthians decide o título da Copa do Brasil contra o Flamengo na próxima quarta-feira (19), às 21h45, no Maracanã.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na 3ª colocação da Série B, o Grêmio faz contas nas últimas rodadas do torneio nacional para garantir o seu acesso à elite.

– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

Sem querer dar bobeira, o Tricolor terá um calendário agitado nas próximas oito rodadas, onde vai enfrentar rivais que, assim como ele, sonha com um lugar no G-4.

O primeiro desafio será contra o Sport, rival desta terça-feira. Além do Leão, o time de Renato Gaúcho encara o Londrina, primeiro time fora da zona de acesso e o Bahia, ambos dentro de casa.

Confira abaixo os compromissos do Grêmio

31ª rodada – Sport (C)

32ª rodada – Sampaio Corrêa (F)

33ª rodada – CSA (C)

34ª rodada – Londrina (F)

35ª rodada – Bahia (C)

36ª rodada – Náutico (F)

37ª rodada – Tombense (C)

38ª rodada – Brusque (F)

RelacionadasCruzeiroCruzeiro fará novo acordo contratual com RômuloCruzeiro19/09/2022eSportsFalcão lança o F12.Partners Clube, programa de renda extra para parceiros do seu site de apostaseSports19/09/2022Fora de CampoNarrador da ESPN se antecipa e crava título brasileiro do Palmeiras: ‘Parabéns!’Fora de Campo19/09/2022

Jude Bellingham insists Real Madrid are determined to win the Club World Cup and says the tournament is a "big deal".

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• Bellingham calls Club World Cup a "big deal"
• Real Madrid determined to win it
• Admits "downtime" is important

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid have won the Champions League more than any other club and are now aiming to win the world title in the first expanded tournament of its type. Questions have been asked about whether the competition should be taking place, but Bellingham intends to take it seriously.

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  WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

  Bellingham said: "I think all our games will be brilliant. We had pre-season in the USA and every year we seem to get flooded with even more fans and it will be a beautiful thing for us. It's really exciting. By the time we go there we are there with a purpose to win. I’m sure we will try and factor in that we have had a long season and there will be time to enjoy our downtime and take in the experience of the culture. The most important thing obviously is the football and we will try and win."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham heads to the Club World Cup after a disappointing week with England, where he lost his temper when a late equaliser against Senegal was ruled out by VAR. His form has not been fantastic in general, either, with just one goal in his last 13 for club and country.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  Bellingham will still be key to Real Madrid's chances in the USA, beginning with their clash against Al-Hilal. They then take on Pachuca and RB Salzburg in the group stage.

Manchester United have wasted a shedload of cash over the last couple of years, spending £600m on new additions during the Erik ten Hag era alone.

In the summer of 2023, the hierarchy decided to fork out £60m for the signature of Mason Mount from fellow Premier League side Chelsea as the club looked to bolster the midfield department.

Such a transfer fee undoubtedly generated huge excitement around the move, but ultimately, his first year in the North West was a disaster, constantly being plagued by injuries.

He was restricted to just 14 league appearances, registering a single goal, but the arrival of Ruben Amorim in November handed the former England international a new lease of life.

However, he’s been missing since the Manchester Derby in December, with another player receiving minutes in the first team as a result of his injury layoff.

Casemiro’s stats for Manchester United

United paid a huge £70m for the signature of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro in the summer of 2022, but despite impressing in his debut campaign in the Premier League, he’s massively struggled in recent months.

The 33-year-old has featured 14 times since the manager’s arrival, many of which have been due to injuries suffered by the likes of Mount in recent months.

During his time in Manchester, he’s registered 15 goals, often popping up at crucial times despite his decline – including in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United a couple of years ago.

He has one more year on his current deal at Old Trafford, making him 34 by the time it expires, with the experienced man likely to depart on a free transfer if they’re unable to shift him off the books this summer.

Whilst he provided the fanbase with a reason to be excited given his pedigree, his lack of positive showings has seen his market value tumble – now being valued lower than one player who left the Red Devils for nothing.

The former United player who’s now worth more than Casemiro

Given the high volume of spending over the last few years, the Red Devils were always going to have to offload numerous players to balance the books and prevent any financial implications.

Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are just two players who have been forced out the door in recent times, allowing the likes of Amorim to splash the cash and strengthen the squad.

Another player who left the club a couple of years ago was academy graduate Angel Gomes, who departed on a free transfer at the end of his contract in 2020 – ending his 14-year affiliation with his boyhood side.

It was a real shame that he decided to move on for pastures new, unable to receive the game time he wanted, despite making his first team debut at the tender age of just 16.

Gomes, who’s previously been dubbed “superb” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would switch England for France, joining Lille, before being sent out on loan to Portuguese outfit Boavista for the 2020/21 season.

Since his temporary spell away from the club, the 24-year-old has been a crucial player for the Ligue 1 outfit, making over 100 appearances – subsequently leading to a maiden England call-up under Lee Carsley earlier this season.

He’s produced countless impressive figures, helping Lille sit in the top five of the French league, whilst also helping them reach the Champions League knockout stages – before eventually being knocked out by Borussia Dortmund.

Games played

14

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Chances created

1.7

Dribble success

56%

Duels won

54%

Cross accuracy

60%

As a result of his stellar displays over the last couple of years, his market value has soared, now being valued at £21m by Transfermarkt – a figure much higher than that of Casemiro, who’s only valued at £10m just over three years after his big-money move.

Given the rise in Gomes’s price tag since his Old Trafford departure, it’s safe to say the club must wish they did more to keep hold of him and prevent him from leaving for nothing.

The midfield has been a real issue for Amorim since his arrival, as he has struggled to find a consistent partner for Bruno Fernandes – with the Englishman providing just that, had the club offered him a new deal.

Man Utd have hit gold on "phenomenal" ace who cost even less than Heaven

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one player who signed for less than Ayden Heaven.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 14, 2025