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That was nervy, wasn’t it?

Liverpool evaded disaster by securing a narrow win over relegation contenders Fulham, temporarily climbing back into Premier League’s pinnacle.

However, what is obvious, they shouldn’t have been in a difficult predicament, to begin with.

Despite dominating the game, a disastrous mistake almost cost them three points. Indeed, Virgil van Dijk showed a rare moment of nervousness when he made a risky back-pass to Allison with Ryan Babel right on his toes. However, the Brazilian ended up being nutmegged by the Dutch winger, conceding an embarrassing goal.

This, however, isn’t the first silly goal he’s conceded this season. Who can forget the first he conceded in the Premer League, when a cheeky moment went wrong and he ended up red-faced? No one is doubting that the Brazilian has definitely been a solid signing for Liverpool, keeping 17 clean-sheets and only conceding 18 goals so far.

However, most of the ones he has conceded have been poor.

Similarly, he shouldn’t have been outwitted by Babel in the Fulham game. Allison should’ve just cleared the ball to save the Dutchman, who’s been protecting his goal all throughout the season. At times, the former Roma custodian has been a bit too confident and ambitious for his own benefit, which has resulted in embarrassing moments throughout the season.

If Allison truly wants to establish himself as one of the best in the world, he needs to stop making unforced errors. Despite being a solid figure throughout, he needs to realize one-off silly mistakes are what tarnished Liverpool’s title campaign the last time they went close to winning the Premier League.

Liverpool fans, do you think Allison has room for improvement? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith confirmed on Monday that centre-back Tommy Elphick will definitely miss the second city derby with Birmingham City on Sunday as he will be out for “four to five weeks”, which is great news for Blues striker Lukas Jutkiewicz ahead of the weekend meeting.

On the chalkboard

The 29-year-old has formed a strong partnership with Che Adams up top for Garry Monk’s men in recent months, but while the in-form ex-Sheffield United attacker has been scoring left, right and centre, it hasn’t been as easy for his teammate.

In fact, the Southampton-born centre-forward hasn’t found the net in the Championship since the 4-2 defeat against – ironically – Villa at the end of November, and will be desperate to get back on the goal trail sooner rather than later as Brum chase an unlikely top-six finish.

Jutkiewicz has still made a big impact despite the drought though, providing seven assists for the promotion hopefuls during that spell.

Elphick absence great news

The Birmingham brute loves to throw his weight around and cause problems for oppositions defenders with his height and strength, and he will be delighted that he won’t be coming up against a fellow tough character in Elphick.

With James Chester currently out with a knee issue Smith has quite the dilemma ahead of the huge clash at St Andrew’s this weekend – Kortney Hause, Mile Jedinak and Neil Taylor are the likely candidates to start alongside Tyrone Mings.

Out of the three only the former is a natural centre-back though, and given his lack of football this term Jutkiewicz would surely fancy his chances of getting the better of him.

The 29-year-old has proven to be a thorn in Villa’s side before, and he will hope to do the same again following the latest eye-catching update.

Arsenal are facing a midfield crisis following reports that Paris Saint Germain are interested (as per the Express) in poaching their French wonderkid Matteo Guendouzi after only one year in the Premier League.

Having already lost Ramsey, who recently signed a five-year deal with Juventus, and Mesut Ozil desperately out-of-favour, ill, missing or injured, Unai Emery simply cannot afford to lose the talents of young Frenchman Guendouzi.

The midfield ace was only signed from Ligue 2 outfit Lorient at the beginning of this campaign but following a string of quality performances have become the subject of “big team” attention. And quite rightly so.

This isn’t the first time PSG have expressed interest in signing the player either. Apparently, before his move to move to north London, Guendouzi had the option to make his move to the French capital.

“It is true that PSG were very interested, like other teams, there were a lot of discussions, but for me the best decision I could make was to join Arsenal,” he admitted to Canal Football Club ( via GFFN ).

Would he do it again now he’s a far more developed player?

If he did make the move, Arsenal should look at signing this man…

This wouldn’t be the first time Emery has tried to bring in the Argentine, having already failed in the summer and January transfer windows due to a lack of funds according to the Mirror.

But it seems with Arsenal’s midfield options shrinking and their future European status in doubt the boardroom will be willing to part with the reported £17m it will cost to secure his services.

Despite his age (31 when they have the option to buy) we think Banega would be a quality acquisition.

Firstly, it would likely spark the end of the Ozil saga and introduce a far more positive environment conducive to success. You’d also have to say that there’s every chance Arsenal would have more of a player in the Sevilla man. Whilst Ozil has really let him form dip recently, in more ways than one, Banega is starting at the top level of Spanish football.

It’s a no brainer.

Secondly, Emery would have a player he’s very familiar with, having already combined at Valencia and Sevilla. The in-depth knowledge of the midfielder’s skillset, traits and abilities will surely help him finetune his tactics.

Finally, should Guendouzi move back to France, Banega is versatile enough to operate in the centre of midfield and perform a very similar role. He’s a dogged in his defensive efforts, much like the Frenchman, and has supremely better passing and technical ability as an experienced player.

Would you be willing to exchange prodigy Guendouzi for an ageing but experienced Banega?

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Marcelo Bielsa is clearly loving life at Leeds, but the boss has reportedly already lined up his successor.

According to The Yorkshire Evening Post, Bielsa is planning to spend some time touring around Yorkshire before the Whites take on Bolton next weekend, and he sure looks unlikely to leave the club any time soon.

The enigmatic Argentine’s side currently sit at the summit of the Championship, one point clear of Norwich City, and it’s easy see why he has been an instant hit with the Leeds fans.

Still, while those fans may not want to think about what life will be like after Bielsa, the boss has reportedly already identified the right man to take over once he leaves.

According to Diario Expreso, via Sport Witness, Bielsa has recommended that Juan Carlos Osorio takes over when his contract ends.

Osario is good friends with the Leeds boss, and is perhaps best known for his three-year stint in charge of the Mexico national team, though the 57 year-old has also managed multiple club sides like New York Red Bulls and Sao Paulo.

Osario is about as experienced as they come, but could he fill Bielsa’s shoes? Only time will tell…

Harry Kane says there will be “no hiding” at Bayern Munich, with a run of three successive defeats leaving his trophy aspirations hanging by a thread.

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England striker desperate to land silverwareMove to Germany was supposed to end barren runIn danger of ending season empty-handedGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The England captain severed career-long ties with Premier League side Tottenham in 2023 after coming to the conclusion that he needed to leave north London in order to land major silverware. A switch to Bundesliga champions Bayern was expected to deliver the tangible success that the prolific frontman craves.

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Kane did, however, suffer Super Cup heartache on debut for Bayern. He has since seen them slip out of the German Cup and eight points off the pace in the Bundesliga title race. Thomas Tuchel’s side are also trailing 1-0 in their Champions League last-16 encounter with Lazio, as a rare sequence of setbacks threatens to undermine collective efforts.

WHAT KANE SAID

Kane is in danger of ending his debut campaign at the Allianz Arena empty-handed, but he will not be running away from the challenge and is backing himself and a star-studded collection of club colleagues to play their way back into form. Kane has posted on Instagram: “No hiding from a tough week with performances and results not at the level we expect from ourselves. Got to pull together as a group and push forward – big run of important games coming up to turn it round.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

After suffering a costly defeat to table-topping Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern then came unstuck against Lazio in European competition. Another shock reversal was then endured during a trip to Bochum, with Kane left frustrated despite taking his goal tally for the season to 29 in just 30 appearances.

The Three Lions' captain is one of the game's great goalscorers, but he might struggle to secure a summer move to a club worthy of his talent

England's Manchester City contingent turned up for international duty last week looking a little worse for wear but with three more titles to their names. Harry Kane arrived with commemorative, custom-made vinyl records for all of his team-mates to thank them for the role they had played in him becoming the Three Lions' all-time leading goalscorer.

It rather nicely summed up Kane's situation right now. In the two years since Daniel Levy refused to sell the striker to City, Pep Guardiola's side have continued to add to their impressive tally of trophies. Kane hasn't let up either, though. He remains trophy-less, but his reputation as one of the world's best centre-forwards has only been enhanced by the fact that he has continued to score freely for club and country – with his heroics at Tottenham particularly impressive.

After all, Erling Haaland won the Premier League Golden Boot, Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season after scoring a record-breaking 36 goals in his debut season in England – an undeniably outstanding achievement. However, was it really a more praiseworthy goalscoring feat than Kane netting 30 times for a terribly inconsistent Spurs team that finished eighth in the table having lost 14 of their 38 games?

It's hard not to wonder if Haaland would have enjoyed such a prolific campaign in north London – and whether Kane would have proven an even better fit for City's frontline than the Norwegian No.9. We'll never know, of course, and the worry now for Kane – and anyone that appreciates quality strikers – is that he may never get the chance to line-up for a club side truly worthy of his many talents.

Kane clearly remains one of the best attackers in world football, but recent developments in the transfer market appear to have significantly reduced the options available to him this summer…

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  Manchester United

  While Kane was scoring two goals and creating another in England's rout of North Macedonia on Monday night, many United fans couldn't help but admit online that they would be overjoyed to see him strutting his stuff at Old Trafford on a weekly basis next season. There no longer appears any chance of that happening, though – and for pretty much the same reason that Kane failed to force through a move to Manchester in 2021.

  Levy is still calling the shots at Spurs, which, let's be honest, is also a major source of frustration for the club's fans, who have seen their team go backwards since reaching the Champions League final four years ago through a combination of the chairman's parsimony and poor decision-making. The net result is that while the goals have continued to flow for Kane, his trophy drought shows no sign of ending anytime soon.

  United, of course, have their own boardroom issues, but have, at least, shown real signs of promise and progress under new manager Erik ten Hag, who reportedly viewed Kane as the perfect striker to lead his attack in 2023-22. However, United have reportedly already given up on signing the England star because they do not believe themselves capable of meeting Levy's asking price.

  Things could potentially change if a new owner arrives at Old Trafford this summer, but it's now understood that the Glazer family's sale of the club might not be concluded until next season – if at all. So, while it is believed that Kane favours a move to United above all other clubs, the deal looks dead in the water, with the club now looking at younger, more affordable alternatives.

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  Real Madrid

  The 'Kane-to-Madrid' story has been a real rollercoaster ride over the past few weeks. First, Karim Benzema suddenly put Florentino Perez on the look-out for a new No.9 after sensationally deciding to move to Saudi Arabia this summer – a decision so shocking that it reportedly raised both of Carlo Ancelotti's eyebrows. Talk of Kane transferring to the Bernabeu began in earnest.

  But then Kylian Mbappe dropped a bombshell of his own by publicly confirming that he has no intention of extending his stay at the PSG beyond 2024. Basically, they need to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for nothing next year.

  If Madrid are looking for the closest thing possible to a like-for-like replacement for Benzema, they should quite clearly pick Kane. They are both complete No.9s and share similar attributes. Kane would rather remain in his native England, but the presence of international colleague Jude Bellingham in the Spanish capital certainly would have made it easier for him to settle.

  However, the whole world knows that if it comes down to a choice between Kane and Mbappe, there is only one winner. Madrid want Mbappe, and Mbappe wants Madrid – it's been that way for years. A transfer was always going to happen and it really is only a matter of when at this point. If it's this summer, there is zero chance of Kane joining too.

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  Paris Saint-Germain

  But what about Kane moving to Paris to replace Mbappe – or even play alongside the 24-year-old? After all, we know that Mbappe's preference has always been to play off a quality striker. Certainly, with Lionel Messi having been dumped in rather unceremonious circumstances, and speculation still swirling around Neymar, there will be room for at least one more superstar in PSG's attack for next season.

  It's worth noting that this rumour is gaining serious momentum of late, with reporting on Monday that Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made Kane his primary transfer target. Their interest certainly makes sense, too. The Qatari-backed club are capable of paying a fee that is likely to be in excess of £100 million ($128m), and Levy would be open to selling Kane to an overseas club.

  However, Kane would have his doubts about joining PSG – and they wouldn't just be related to living in another country or trying to learn a new language. There is just so much uncertainty surrounding PSG right now, even beyond Mbappe and his incessant contractual drama. Christophe Galtier is still technically the head coach yet he is believed to be a dead man walking. What's worrying, though, is that no replacement has yet been lined up, with Luis Enrique the latest name being tipped to take over at Parc des Princes after the club failed to reach an agreement with Julian Nagelsmann.

  Given Kane knows all about the pain of playing for a crisis club, it's unlikely that he'd want to join another.

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  Chelsea

  With that in mind, what chance do Chelsea have of persuading Kane to join a free-spending club that makes PSG look relatively prudent by comparison?!

  One can certainly understand the Blues' interest. The idea of reuniting new manager Mauricio Pochettino with Kane is certainly appealing. The pair enjoyed an excellent working relationship and still speak very fondly of one another. Todd Boehly & Co. have also shown a willingness to spend mad money on players, meaning they could try to make Levy an offer even he couldn't refuse.

  But it just seems too far-fetched. As Ian Wright recently told , "It's the only thing Spurs fans wouldn't be able to deal with – Kane going to Chelsea." Levy would essentially be writing a resignation letter if he agreed to let Tottenham's beloved son join their second-most hated rivals.

  It wouldn't even make sense from Kane's perspective, either. Granted, he would get to remain in London and continue his pursuit of the Premier League's all-time goals record. However, Chelsea aren't even in the Champions League next season, and for all the talent they've stockpiled last summer, it's still impossible to say whether they'll become serious title challengers in 2023-24 just because they'll now have Pochettino at the helm.

How to watch Everton against Tottenham in the Premier League in the USA, as well as the kick-off time and team news.

Evertonwill host Newcastle Unitedin aPremier League fixture at Goodison Park on Thursday.

▶ Watch Everton vs Newcastle live on Sling TV today!▶ Watch Everton vs Newcastle live on BT Sport today!

The hosts have won just one of their last six Premier League games against Newcastle. The Toffees find themselves in trouble as they are winless in five matches and are currently in the 18th spot with 28 points from 32 matches.

They are desperate for points but to crack Eddie Howe's Newcastle will be a tough challenge for them. However, they can look for inspiration from the exact fixture in the previous season where they staged an upset by beating the Magpies with 10 men, courtesy of Alex Iwobi's 99th-minute winner.

Meanwhile, Newcastle head into this fixture brimming with confidence after beating Tottenham 6-1 at the weekend. They will take a major step towards Champions League qualification if they pick up three points on Thursday as they are third on the table with 59 points from 31 matches.

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson has scored six goals in his last five Premier League games against Everton and will definitely look to better that record. Whereas, in Miguel Almiron (11), Wilson (11) and Alexander Isak (10), this is the first time that Newcastle have had as many as three different players reach double figures for goals in a Premier League season.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the U.S., as well as how to stream it live online.

GettyKick-off timeGame:Everton vs NewcastleDate:April 27, 2023Kick-off:3:45pm EDTVenue:Goodison Park

The game is scheduled for April 27, 2023, at Goodison Park. It will kick off at 3:45 pm EDT in the USA.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesHow to watch Everton vs Newcastle online – TV channels & live streamsTV channels & streaming options

Country TV channel Live stream

U.S.USA Network, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, UNIVERSOFubo, Sling TV, NBC Sports App/website

In the United States (USA), the game can be watched live on USA Network (English-language), Telemundo Deportes en Vivo (Spanish-language), Fubo, Sling TV and NBC Sports App/website.

(C)Getty ImagesTeam news & squadsEverton team news

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Amadou Onana should start after recovering from their respective injuries.

Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure should also return after serving his three-match ban.

However, Mason Holgate remains suspended after he was sent off against Crystal Palace.

Seamus Coleman (thigh), Bamidele Alli (groin), Andy Lonergan (knee), Ruben Vinagre (calf) and Andros Townsend (knee) remain unavailable for Everton.

Position

Players

Goalkeepers

Pickford, Begovic.

Defenders

Tarkowski, Mina, Godfrey, Coady, Keane, Mykolenko, Patterson

Midfielders

Onana, Doucoure, Davies, Gueye, Iwobi, Garner.

Forwards

Calvert-Lewin, Maupay, Simms, Gray, McNeil.

Newcastle United team news

Newcastle have a couple of injury woes in Allan Saint-Maximin and Fabian Schar.

However, the centre-back might be included in the matchday squad if he passes a late fitness test before the match after injuring his hamstring against Spurs.

Position

Players

Goalkeepers

Pope, Dubravka, Karius, Gillespie.

Defenders

Botman, Burn, Lascelles, Targett, Lewis, Dummett, Trippier, Krafth, Manquillo, Ashby.

Midfielders

Guimaraes, Willock, S. Longstaff, Ritchie, Joelinton.

Forwards

Gordon, Fraser, Almiron, Murphy, Isak, Wilson.

Head-to-head record

Date Result Competition

20/10/2022Newcastle 1-0 EvertonPremier League18/03/2022Everton 1-0 NewcastlePremier League9/02/2022Newcastle 3-1 EvertonPremier League30/1/2021Everton 0-2 NewcastlePremier League1/11/2020Newcastle 2-1 EvertonPremier League

In their last five meetings, Newcastle United have won four times whereas Everton emerged triumphant on one occasion.

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Getty ImagesUseful links

Everton team page

Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

Tottenham team page

MatériaMais Notícias

Criticado pelo desempenho negativo em 2019, o ataque do Fluminense ganhou reforços para a atual temporada. Os atacantes Wellington Silva e Fernando Pacheco foram anunciados oficialmente pelo clube na última sexta-feira. Com as documentações regularizadas, os dois já podem estrear pelo Tricolor no clássico contra o Botafogo, no próximo domingo, no Maracanã. A chegada da dupla aumenta o repertório do técnico Odair Hellmann para o setor.

Cria de Xerém, Wellington SIlva rescindiu com o Internacional para iniciar a terceira passagem pelo clube das Laranjeiras. O jogador de 27 anos chega com o aval do técnico, com quem trabalhou no Colorado por quase dois anos. Apesar de não ter se firmado na equipe titular no clube gaúcho, o camisa 17 tinha a confiança do comandante e atuava como uma espécie de 12º jogador. Antes mesmo de ter o retorno confirmado, Wellington já havia ganhado elogios de Odair.

– Foi um pedido nosso. Aqui, quando traz um jogador, não existe um cara que decide sozinho, as coisas são decididas em conjunto. Temos um presidente, uma comissão de futebol, a gente senta, conversa, tem planejamento. Se ele está vindo, é porque é de bom grado.Eu quero também o Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, mas temos que ter calma nesses aspectos. Quem chegar vai ser para ajudar na caminhada difícil e longa que temos pela frente — disse o treinador após a derrota para o Boavista, por 1 a 0, pelo Campeonato Carioca.

Na coletiva de apresentação, na última sexta-feira, o atacante de 27 anos revelou que a conversa com o treinador foi um fator determinante para o retorno dele ao clube. Ele acredita que o fato de já terem trabalhado juntos vai facilitar uma sintonia no ataque.

–Trabalhei dois anos com o Odair. É um grande treinador. Quando conversamos, não tive dúvidas. Estou feliz de trabalhar de novo com ele, já estou adaptado ao que ele gosta – afirmou Silva.

RelacionadasFluminenseGoleiro João Lopes recebe camisa 12 antes aposentada por Cavalieri no FluFluminense07/02/2020FluminenseMário Bittencourt desmente acerto de Fred com o FluminenseFluminense07/02/2020FluminenseRegularizado no Flu, Pacheco diz estar pronto para estrear no clássicoFluminense07/02/2020

Planos para a promessa peruana

Odair Hellmann também terá à disposição um jogador que chega com status de promessa e de candidato a substituto do artilheiro de 2019, Yony González. O atacante Fernando Pacheco se juntou ao elenco tricolor depois de disputar o Torneio Pré-Olímpico na Colômbia, com a seleção peruana. As atuações do jovem de 20 anos não passaram despercebidas pela comissão técnica do Fluminense. Questionado sobre como pretende utilizar o atleta, Odair deu algumas dicas.

– Ele é um jogador que joga pelo lado do campo, pelos dois lados. Não visualizei ele por dentro ainda, talvez no dia a dia seja um jogador que possa dar essa característica. Mas nesse primeiro momento vejo um jogador de lado, de velocidade, de um para um, de partir para cima do adversário. É um jovem, tem 20 anos, vamos tentar trabalhar ele porque não deu para visualizar. Tudo depende muito do que treinar – analisou o treinador.

Pacheco vai viver a primeira experiência longe do país natal. Revelado pelo Sporting Cristal (PER), ele é tido como promessa no país andino. O atleta ganhou elogios do comandante tricolor e chegou ao Brasil motivado pelo carinho recebido da torcida tricolor durante a competição na Colômbia. Odair vê peruano com potencial para mostrar um futebol mais variado no clube carioca.

– Acho que o treinador peruano o deixa esperando e, quando rouba a bola, faz essa ligação direta para ele receber e partir para cima. Eu acho que ele tem mais repertório para participar do jogo, fazer uma tabela, dar um volume, não só esperar essa bola aberta lá porque nem sempre vai acontecer. Então, quando ele chegar, vamos ter oportunidade de conhecê-lo melhor, mas em um primeiro momento visualizo nele um jogador de força, de velocidade – completou Hellmann.

Além da dupla de reforços, que promete resolver os problemas develocidade na transição e de criação pelas pontas, oFluminense teve, ainda, o bom retorno de outros dois jogadores oriundos da base para o setor ofensivo. Marcos Paulo e Evanílson entraram no segundo tempo do empate em 1 a 1 com o Unión La Calera (CHL), na última terça-feira, e foram responsáveis pelo gol e as melhores chances da equipe na partida, pela Sul-Americana. Os dois haviam sido desfalques , até então, em razão de lesões musculares na coxa.

Além de ver mais minutos das crias de Xerém em 2020, a torcida tricolor vive a a expectativa de ver o rendimento dos possíveis estreantes Pacheco e Silva, já no próximo domingo, no Maracanã. O Fluminense encara o Botafogo, às 16h, pela 6ª rodada da Taça Guanabara.

With tweakers having had a giant party in Nagpur, spin was, understandably, the buzz word in the Australia and South Africa camps ahead of their Women’s World T20 clash at the VCA Stadium

Shashank Kishore in Nagpur17-Mar-2016

Meg Lanning felt the key to tackling spin would be to play the ball with the turn, and as late as possible•Getty Images

Nagpur is baking. Nagpur is dry, literally. Water crisis has been prevalent here for a number of years. While it is highly unlikely that water shortage has affected pitch preparation, the surfaces here have been anything but batsmen-friendly in recent times. All of this has amounted to the spinners having a giant party. And so, spin was, understandably, the buzz word in the Australia and South Africa camps ahead of their Women’s World T20 clash at the VCA Stadium, even though the teams trained on match-eve at the old stadium at Civil Lines.Four surfaces with varying levels of dryness, match balls of all kinds – old, new, semi-new and scruffed up – were used by South Africa as the batsmen went through a two-hour drill, mostly against the spinners. The plan was a simple one for all the frontline batsmen – find ways to negotiate spin without getting out.While some concentrated on dead defense in an attempt to play late, others like Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp and Dane Van Niekerk – South Africa’s batting engine room – kept alternating between attack and defense. But it was not lost that they were a lot happier playing late, and from the crease.Match simulation at training is not unusual. Except, this was done on side wickets that may or may not be as close as it gets to the surfaces they will encounter in the tournament. Once the batsmen were happy with the way the shots were coming off, they were set up with another challenge – facing up to spinners who kept bowling from around the stumps on the rough as the batsmen swept, reverse-swept and paddled.”It’s always challenging when you see the ball turn a lot,” du Preez, the South Africa captain, said. “But you need to stick to your own plans and look for options to score. Obviously, if the ball turns a lot, running down the track may not be a good idea. You have to use the depth of the crease, play late and bring out options like the sweep and reverse sweep, they become very valuable. You just need to play smart cricket to adapt as quickly as possible.”Du Peeez was firmly of the opinion that spin would dictate how the match pans out, much like it did in the men’s game between India and New Zealand. She also talked up her spin attack, saying if variety was the key, they had them all in Sune Luus, Dane van Niekerk and Yolandi Fourie.While South Africa stressed on getting their arsenal right for spinner-friendly conditions, Australia seemed to have a completely different set of methods. A session of Aussie rules football helped the team warm-up. But specifics were not the only thing on their minds – understandable considering Australia are coming off an exhaustive summer that included two full series against India and New Zealand. Four days in Chennai and one warm-up, Meg Lanning said, was all Australia needed to gear up for their title defense.Unlike South Africa, whose attention to detail stood out, Lanning insisted that the trick to succeed on these surfaces was to not be bogged down in anticipation of demons that may not always be there. And so, what followed after their warm-up was some clean, fierce ball-striking that could take any pitch out of the equation. Balls flew to all corners of the small ground regularly, which perhaps was also a sign of their approach, come match day.”We have done a lot of work on playing spin as a batting group, and also how effective we can be with the ball. Those center-wicket sessions have been about a number of things,” Lanning said. “There’s no doubt spin is going to play a big part in this World Cup. But we have thought about it a lot, I’m sure we will be ready to play it well with the bat and also use the weapons we’ve got with the ball.”How did they plan to tackle spin, then? “I think every player plays spin differently,” Lanning offered. “It’s about trying to stick to your strengths, I guess. Trying to play as late as you can with the spin, but you have to just put the bad ball away. Each team will have a plan, we’ve got ours and I’ve got mine. (In) some places, it will spin more than others, just got to adapt quickly.”There was an unmistakable glint when Lanning stressed on “her methods.” Surely, the second-fastest centurion in women’s T20Is bats just one way?That Australia have lost four of their last six T20Is was not lost on Lanning, though. “We’re starting even with every other team this World Cup. We don’t get any bonuses for winning the last one. We know we’ve to play a lot of good cricket to get just past the group stage,” she said, before underlining the importance of spin, again, although it seemed the reference was more out of confidence than concern.Only time will tell which of the two methods would yield the best result come match day.

MatériaMais Notícias

Os 45 minutos iniciais foram determinantes para o São Bento, recebendo a equipe do Vila Nova em Sorocaba pela 27ª Rodada da Série B, constituir importante vitória por 3 a 1. Com os gols feitos por Guilherme Romão, Minho e Zé Roberto (Bruno Mezenga descontou para o Vila), agora o Bentão vai ao 17° posto com 27 pontos e deixa o Tigrão justamente uma posição acima com somente duas unidades a mais.

MÍSSIL CERTEIRO

Aos oito minutos, uma jogada pelo lado direito do ataque do Bentão (setor que desde já se mostrava “convidativo” a equipe paulista) rendeu cruzamento que, após desvio dentro da área, sobrou com espaço para Guilherme Romão aparecer batendo forte, cruzado, sem chance de defesa ao goleiro Rafael Santos.

E OS ESPAÇOS CONTINUAM…

Superior na movimentação ofensiva e pouco ameaçado na retaguarda, o Bentão se sentiu confortável para seguir buscando aumentar a dianteira, algo que conseguiu com 21 minutos. Após saída rápida para contra-ataque, Zé Roberto tocou para a infiltração de Minho que teve liberdade para sair frente a frente com Rafael Santos e bater forte, 2 a 0.

NA DIREITA DÁ JOGO!

De novo explorando o setor ofensivo de seu lado direito, o São Bento deixou o que estava bom ainda melhor com Marcos Martins fazendo o cruzamento em forma de assistência (o segundo dele no jogo) para Zé Roberto tocar com o peito, antecipando a marcação da zaga goiana, e fazer o terceiro do time de Sorocaba.

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TENTANDO MUDAR A HISTÓRIA…

Precisando evidentemente ser mais proativo e contundente do que conseguiu na etapa complementar, o Vila assumiu as rédeas do confronto e chegou perto de diminuir a desvantagem quando Alan Mineiro arriscou de média distância para a defesa complicada de Renan Rocha além de cobrança de escanteio desviada na primeira trave que passou rente a trave esquerda após leve desvio de Diego Rosa.

…MAS TENDO DE DEIXAR ESPAÇOS

Em meio a exposição quase que automática do seu sistema defensivo mediante a postura mais avançada das linhas, mesmo com o time do interior paulista não tendo o mesmo volume de jogo as oportunidades de marcar mais gols, ainda assim, apareciam.

E, em pelo menos duas delas com Rodolfo e Vinicius Kiss, faltou pontaria e colocar mais força na cabeçada para superar novamente Rafael Santos.

O DE HONRA E COM ESTILO

Já aos 38 minutos, em cobrança de falta, o atacante Bruno Mezenga esbanjou categoria ao bater de perna esquerda com uma perfeita mistura de força e precisão onde mandou a bola no extremo canto esquerdo do goleiro Renan Rocha. Bonito gol do time visitante para fechar a conta.

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