There’s been many a Sliding Doors moment in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United.

What if Cristiano Ronaldo had never returned in 2021? What if David Moyes had managed to land his top targets of Cesc Fabregas and Gareth Bale in 2013? What if the United hierarchy had waited before handing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a permanent contract in March 2019?

Perhaps one of the most pertinent questions is what would have happened if the Red Devils had listened to Solskjaer’s advice regarding a then-teenage Molde striker by the name of Erling Haaland.

According to the treble winner, he recommended that the Old Trafford side sign his young compatriot for a fee of just £4m in 2018, albeit with the Norwegian goal machine ultimately heading to Red Bull Salzburg, prior to joining Borussia Dortmund.

Now, of course, on the books at rivals Manchester City, the 25-year-old has plundered 136 goals in just 155 games under Pep Guardiola’s watch, including 12 goals in just nine games at club level alone this season.

The man who sets the bar for all other strikers to try and reach, Haaland is the cream of the crop. Can £74m sensation Benjamin Sesko get close to achieving such feats?

How Sesko compared to Haaland before the Premier League

It’s hard to deny it was a muted start to life in Manchester for Sesko, with the Slovenian giant failing to score in any of his first six outings in all competitions, largely reduced to cameos off the bench, while having been struck down by cramp amid that grim night away at Grimsby.

Having seen his persistence pay off – quite literally – after netting at the third attempt on the rebound away at Brentford, the 22-year-old followed that up with a first Old Trafford goal last time out, after prodding home from Diogo Dalot’s long throw.

Encouragingly, the ex-RB Leipzig man has suggested that there is still “loads to come” with regard to his displays, with it an exciting prospect to consider just how far he can go in a United shirt.

As already stated, that man Haaland will be the benchmark, with the pair notably enjoying a similar route to the Premier League, after traversing Austrian and German football in their formative years.

In the case of Sesko, his own time at Salzburg – following a loan spell at second-tier side FC Liefering – yielded 29 goals and 11 assists in 79 games in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, with Haaland also reaching 29 goals for the club, albeit from just 27 outings.

Haaland vs Sesko – 25/26 PL

Stat (*per game)

Haaland

Sesko

Games (starts)

7 (7)

7 (4)

Goals

9

2

Mins per goal

66

193

Big chances missed

6

2

Assists

1

0

Big chances created

3

0

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Successful dribbles*

0.4

0.1

Total duels won*

58%

38%

Stats via Sofascore

As for their respective time in Germany, the new United star scored 39 goals in 87 games for Leipzig, including 27 goals in 64 Bundesliga games.

His Man City counterpart, meanwhile, scored 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga games, having registered 86 goals in just 89 outings for Dortmund across all fronts.

Haaland, as is evident, is a class above, although could United have the tools to try and help Sesko close the gap?

How Man Utd can help Sesko reach Haaland levels

The key to any star striker is quality service, with Haaland notably combining with the great Kevin De Bruyne for 25 goals during their prior stint together at the Etihad, as per Transfermarkt.

The Belgian’s genius is now on show for new club Napoli, having even managed to get Rasmus Hojlund firing for the Serie A side, after assisting both of the Dane’s goals against Sporting CP in the Champions League last week.

While Ruben Amorim may not have De Bruyne to call upon, he certainly has the next best thing, with Bruno Fernandes even hailed as a “creative machine” by the ex-City talisman in the past.

The man who topped the charts for most chances created in the Premier League again last term, as per Fotmob, Fernandes will be the key to unlocking Sesko, having previously failed to strike up a fruitful connection with Hojlund – the pair only combined for seven goals in 87 games together.

There have already been flickers of life, with the Portuguese skipper and Sesko combining for a neat one-two on the edge of the box against Chelsea, while his record of 9.72 progressive passes per 90 as per FBref – ranking in the top 2% of European midfielders – showcases the playmaker’s relentless creative approach.

That said, the 32-year-old can’t do it alone, with Amad Diallo likely to also be a key source of creativity, having finished joint-second at Old Trafford in 2024/25, alongside Alejandro Garnacho, for assists made in all competitions (10).

While Amorim does now boast the talents of Bryan Mbeumo – who assisted Mason Mount at the weekend – last season’s 20-goal Brentford hero is primarily a goalscoring threat, with Amad perhaps more adept creatively.

Described as “unstoppable” in the past by Fernandes, the diminutive Ivorian is a real outlet in that right wing-back berth, with last term seeing him create seven big chances in the league, while averaging 1.9 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Deploying the 23-year-old in that wing-back berth on a consistent basis could be a game-changer with regard to getting the best out of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, with that more attack-minded approach likely to help the likes of Sesko flourish ahead of him.

With Fernandes taking on the De Bruyne role, Amad could then assume the Phil Foden mantle, with the Englishman ranking second behind the Belgium hero for joint-goal contributions with Haaland (14) at Man City.

Such a duo were crucial in allowing Haaland to hit the ground running under Guardiola, with now the time for United’s own £420k-per-week pairing to help Sesko reach similar heights at the Theatre of Dreams.

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خسر الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول بثلاثية نظيفة أمام كريستال بالاس في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات كأس كاراباو.

واستضاف ملعب “آنفيلد” المباراة بين ليفربول وكريستال بالاس مساء اليوم، الأربعاء، في إطار منافسات كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية المحترفة.

وتعتبر هذه أول بطولة يخسرها ليفربول هذا الموسم ليستمر مسلسل الهزائم المتتالية التي يعيشها الفريق على مدار الفترة الماضية.

وتعد تلك المباراة الثالثة التي يخسرها ليفربول هذا الموسم أمام كريستال بالاس، إذ خسر بطولة الدرع الخيرية بركلات الترجيح، كما انهزم بثنائية مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وضرب آرني سلوت رقمًا سلبيًا مع ليفربول إذ لم يحقق الفريق الفوز سوى مرة واحدة في آخر 7 مباريات خاضها الريدز بجميع المسابقات.

اقرأ أيضًا | هاسلبانك: محمد صلاح متذمر ولم يعد النجم الأول في ليفربول

ويغيب النجم المصري محمد صلاح عن تشكيل ليفربول، كما لا يتواجد على مقاعد البدلاء، رفقة عدة نجوم مثل فيرجيل فان دايك قائد الفريق.

وسجل السنغالي سار هدف كريستال بلاس الأول بعد ارتباك دفاعي في منطقة جزاء ليسدد الكرة في مرمى الحارس وودمان، في الدقيقة 41.

كما سجل اللاعب ذاته الهدف الثاني لصالح كريستال بالاس في الدقيقة 45 بعد انفراد تام بمرمى ليفربول.

وسجل اللاعب ييريمي بينو الهدف الثالث لصالح كريستال بالاس في الدقيقة 88 من عمر وأحداث اللقاء.

وشهد اللقاء حالة طرد في الدقيقة 79، إذ أشهر حكم اللقاء البطاقة الحمراء للاعب ليفربول أمارا ناللو.

ليفربول لم يسدد سوى 7 تسديدات على مرمى كريستال بالاس منهم تسديدة واحدة فقط بين القائمين والعارضة، أما الأخير فسدد 12 تسديدة منهم 8 تسديدات على الحارس وودمان. أهداف مباراة ليفربول وكريستال بالاس اليوم في كأس كاراباو

Winless club opt for change at the top ahead of T20 Blast campaign, which begins on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2025

Dale Benkenstein has left his role as Lancashire head coach after a disastrous start to the season•Getty Images

Dale Benkenstein is the latest casualty of Lancashire’s disastrous start to this season’s County Championship, as it was confirmed by the club that he has left his position as head coach by mutual consent.Steven Croft, Lancashire’s former captain, has taken over the role in an interim capacity, with the club yet to record a victory in seven attempts this season as it sits just one point above rock-bottom Kent in the Championship’s second division.Benkenstein, 50, was appointed as head coach in December 2023 when Glenn Chapple stood down following seven years in the role. However, he oversaw the club’s relegation from the top flight last summer, and has been unable to oversee an upturn in their fortunes in this season’s first block of first-class fixtures.Although the return of James Anderson had given the team a short-term lift, with a dominant display in a drawn contest against Derbyshire, the nadir came at Grace Road last week with an innings-and-three-run loss to Leicestershire, this season’s unlikely pace-setters at the top of Division Two.That was Lancashire’s second crushing loss of the campaign, following a three-day defeat to Northamptonshire earlier in the month that led to the resignation of Keaton Jennings as the club’s red-ball captain.Prior to that, the club hierarchy had issued a public apology for the team’s performances, with Mark Chilton, director of cricket performance, describing their form as “not acceptable”, and adding that Lancashire would “make necessary changes” to improve the situation.Now, with the club’s attention switching from the Championship to their T20 Blast campaign, which begins against Worcestershire at Old Trafford on Thursday, Lancashire have opted for a clean slate.”Following a difficult start to the season, we feel that now is the right time to make a change, as we look to improve our on-field performances,” Chilton said.”After relegation at the end of last season, results have not improved so far this year and after much consideration, both Dale and I feel the team will benefit from a change in direction.”We would like to thank Dale for his hard work and commitment during his time at the Club. He leaves Lancashire Cricket with our best wishes for the future.”Croft was a key member of the last Lancashire team to win the County Championship in 2011, and also captained the side to victory in the T20 Blast in 2015. Having retired from all forms of cricket last season, he is set to take over the club training from Tuesday, and will be supported in the role by William Porterfield, Craig White and Karl Krikken.”Steven is a Lancashire legend, highly respected in the dressing room and has been working incredibly hard on his coaching career for several years,” Chilton said.”More recently, he has coached within our Second XI and Academy and has also joined a couple of England Under-19s tours, working with some of the brightest prospects in the country.”I’d like to thank Steven, along with the other coaches, for stepping into the role at short notice ahead of our Vitality Blast opener tomorrow evening.”

Lancashire Thunder produced a gutsy performance in the field to defend 140 to beat Durham by 18 runs at the Bank Homes Riverside and secure their first victory in the 2025 Vitality Blast.The odds were against Ellie Threlkeld’s side when Durham were 61 without loss after eight overs but Grace Potts took four for 33 to derail their pursuit. Threlkeld produced a brilliant stumping to remove the New Zealand legend, Suzie Bates, off Potts for 49 before England’s Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets in four balls to end the matchIn the first innings of the match, Lancashire Thunder recovered from 76 for five in the 14th over to reach a total that seemed no better than par at best, Threlkeld making 48 and Ailsa Lister clubbing a 23-ball 42 not out.Lancashire’s powerplay was a particular triumph for Durham’s Grace Thompson, who caught Tilly Kesteven at midwicket off Trudy Johnson for 11 and then took two wickets in successive legal deliveries to reduce the visitors to 18 for three in the fourth over.Thompson had Seren Smale caught behind by Bess Heath for a first-ball duck and then had Fi Morris caught at cover by Hollie Armitage, also for nought, the medium pacer’s successes only being bridged by a wide delivery.Lancashire recovered to 35 for three by the end of the powerplay and had reached 60 for three by the midpoint of their 20-over innings. But the chance of any further prosperity was immediately snuffed out when Katie Mack was athletically caught by Katherine Fraser off Johnson for 26 to end her 42-run stand with Threlkeld. And Mady Villiers then produced another fine catch at deep midwicket to get rid of Ecclestone off Katie Levick for seven.That left Lancashire on 76 for five in the 14th over but some superbly enterprising strokeplay by Threlkeld and Lister saw the pair add 57 for the sixth wicket in six overs before Threlkeld was caught at short third by Mia Rogers off Suzie Bates two short of her fifty. Tara Norris was then bowled first ball but Lister whacked the last ball of the innings for six to hoist the total to 140 for seven.Thompson was the best of the Durham bowlers, finishing with two for 22 from four overs and Johnson returned figures of two for 26 after an innings in which the spinners were often roughly treated.In contrast to their opponents, the home side lost no wickets in the powerplay. Instead, Bates and Fraser galloped to 50 for nought without taking discernable risks and Durham had reached 61 without loss in eight overs before both Fraser and Armitage were bowled by slow left-arm deliveries from Sophie Morris, Fraser for 28 and Armitage, three balls later, for one.Villiers was bowled for two by Grace Johnson in the next over and Durham were 68 for three after ten of their 20 overs. A partial recovery was wrecked when Bates was brilliantly stumped by Threlkeld off Grace Potts for 49 and the same bowler had Bess Heath caught at mid-on by Norris three balls later.That left Durham needing 46 off six overs and by now the momentum of the game had shifted decisively. Turner and Mia Rogers made 13 apiece and threatened to wrest the game back but Potts dismissed both batters in her final over to leave the home needing 19 off 12 balls with two wickets in hand. Ecclestone, though, had the last word.

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has guided the German giants back to the summit of domestic football since taking charge in 2024. The Belgian tactician has combined astute tactical adjustments with excellent man management to spark a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes. His methods have brought out the best in several players, most notably England striker Harry Kane, who has thrived under Kompany’s leadership.

• Bayern going strong with 100 per cent record

  Bayern are the only club among Europe’s top five leagues to maintain a 100 per cent record, winning all nine of their matches so far across the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup. Despite missing out on summer transfer targets such as Nico Williams and Nick Woltemade, and parting ways with key players like Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane, Bayern have looked unstoppable under Kompany. German outlet has revealed the methods and ideas behind Kompany’s impressive start at the helm.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Revealed: Bayern coach's tactical principles and expectations

  Building out from the back, Kompany places strong emphasis on angles and support, encouraging full-backs, centre-backs and midfielders to find space in different areas of the pitch. This positioning allows them to offer passing options to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer when playing out from the back while avoiding being caught in the shadow of opposition players. Full-backs are urged to move into open spaces to receive chipped passes over the heads of opponents, while striker Kane is encouraged to position himself intelligently to receive long goal kicks from Neuer.

  Another key aspect of Kompany’s approach is switches of play, where players are instructed to shift the ball from one flank to the other in the opposition half after drawing defenders toward one side. This tactic aims to catch opponents off guard and create open spaces for Bayern’s forwards to exploit. Kompany also grants his attackers, particularly Kane, the freedom to make runs into open areas and take advantage of deep-defending teams to maximise scoring opportunities.

  Off the ball, Kompany demands constant perseverance and intensity. He encourages his team to defend as a single, compact unit high up the pitch and to press their opponents collectively. He often uses Kane’s goal against Dinamo Zagreb last season, where the striker pressed high, won the ball back, and scored, as a perfect example of his philosophy on persistence and work rate.

  Above all, Kompany insists on complete synergy among his players, believing that only through collective understanding and cohesion can his system function to its fullest potential.

• Kompany's man management skills

  Kompany’s man management has played a crucial role in lifting the team’s morale. The Belgian coach is known for giving his players a longer rope, which has helped him earn their trust and confidence. Despite Serge Gnabry’s poor showing at the Club World Cup, Kompany continued to back him until the winger regained his form. The coach also shows a fine balance between discipline and leniency, choosing the right moments to apply each. For instance, he opted for leniency when players were seen enjoying themselves during Oktoberfest, a decision that further strengthened the bond between him and his squad.

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• Biggest beneficiaries of Kompany's method: Kane and Laimer

  With Bayern consistently producing strong results, it is clear that the players have fully embraced Kompany’s principles. One of the biggest beneficiaries has been Kane, who has thrived under the Belgian’s guidance. The England striker has scored 103 goals and provided 29 assists in 106 appearances, also securing the first major title of his career as Bayern lifted the 2024–25 Bundesliga trophy.

  The report adds that Kompany's insistence on discipline, punctuality and teamwork has resulted in a sudden improvement in Kane's defensive work and desire to win duels.

  Another standout performer under Kompany has been midfielder Konrad Laimer, who has grown into a key figure in the side. His form has drawn widespread praise, including from Austrian captain David Alaba, who recently described him as a world class player.

Legendary coach Fabio Capello has lauded the breathtaking impact of Cristian Chivu at Inter, calling the in-form Serie A side "a spectacle to watch." Capello praised the new manager for reconnecting the squad and implementing a more direct, vertical style of play that has propelled the Nerazzurri to second in the table with a difference of one point for the top.

Capello hails 'spectacle' of Chivu's growing Inter

Capello has heaped praise on Chivu's Inter, declaring the team "a spectacle to watch" and crediting the new coach with reconnecting the squad and implementing a dynamic, vertical style of play. Speaking in his regular column for , the former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss hailed the transformation at the Nerazzurri, who have won four of their last five Serie A matches.

Following a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Roma, Capello asserted that the team has now fully taken on the identity of their new manager. He lauded the visible progress and cohesive spirit, highlighting the post-match celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico as a clear indicator of the bond Chivu has forged.

"Yes, we can now say it: this is Chivu's Inter. And it's a spectacle to watch," Capello stated. "It's wonderful to see the players rally around their coach like the other night at the Olimpico, because that embrace captures the bond that has been created. But it's also wonderful to see the Nerazzurri play, because everything is working wonderfully now and the team continues to grow. From game to game, from victory to victory."

AdvertisementAFPHow Chivu 'reconnected' with the squad and boosted self-esteem

Capello was keen to emphasise that Chivu's primary impact has been on the players' mentality and unity, rather than overhauling an already talented group. The decorated coach believes Chivu has successfully won over the entire dressing room, from established stars to promising youngsters, by improving their self-belief.

"This is Chivu's Inter because now all the players, from Lautaro [Martinez] to [Nicolo] Barella, from [Alessandro] Bastoni to [Hakan] Calhanoglu and [Federico] Dimarco, right down to the explosive youngsters like [Ange-Yoan] Bonny and Pio Esposito, are perfectly in tune with Cristian," Capello explained. "Chivu has got into the players' heads and reconnected. He hasn't improved the level, because that was already very high and the value of the Nerazzurri squad is beyond question, but he has improved their self-esteem, that's true, and that's a huge credit to him."

Before Inter, Chivu had been in charge of Parma for just over a year and guided them to a 16th place finish in Serie A last season. When Simone Inzaghi left Inter for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, he took the opportunity to return to San Siro, having previously coached the club's youth teams. As a player, he won three Serie A titles and the Champions League crown with the Nerazzurri.

Vertical thinking and forward pressing: The new Nerazzurri style

Beyond the psychological improvements, Capello pinpointed a clear and effective tactical shift under the former Inter defender. He praised the move away from a dogmatic, possession-based build-up in favour of a more direct and aggressive approach that prioritises forward momentum.

"Beyond the team's spirit and resources, there's the play, and in this sense too, Chivu has more than one reason to be proud," he wrote. "Because Inter thinks vertically, always presses forward, and has finally minimized the obsession with building from the back for its own sake." This change has yielded impressive results, with Inter scoring 18 goals in their opening seven league games, the highest tally in Serie A.

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AFPWhat next for Chivu's Inter?

The Nerazzurri's excellent form has them sitting second in the Serie A table, just one point behind city rivals AC Milan. Chivu’s side now faces a demanding run of fixtures that will test their title credentials and European ambitions. They travel to Belgium to face Union Saint-Gilloise in a crucial Champions League group stage match on Wednesday, before a top-of-the-table clash away to third-placed Napoli next Saturday. A home fixture against Fiorentina follows shortly after, completing a challenging period that could define the next phase of their season. Maintaining their new-found momentum will be crucial if they are to challenge on multiple fronts.

After failing to win once more in the Scottish Premiership, one journalist believes that Russell Martin is done at Ibrox and has suggested when Rangers could decide to sack their manager.

Martin admits Ibrox atmosphere is "difficult"

It couldn’t have been a much worse start for Martin. Rangers have been inescapably woeful. The Gers sit 10th and haven’t won a single game in five attempts in the Scottish Premiership to mark their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years. It’s history that the 49ers do not need at the start of a new era and history that Ibrox has turned toxic in the face of.

Boos echoed around the stadium as Rangers fell to defeat once again last weekend. Even as Martin returned from the tunnel after half-time, he was met with the anger of his own home fans. This time it was Hearts who benefitted, picking up their first Ibrox victory since 2014, and compiling Martin’s misery to a new level entirely.

Martin admitted that the atmosphere at Ibrox is currently “difficult”, but also claimed that some fans didn’t want him at the club in the first place – telling reporters: “I don’t think many of them wanted me here in the first place.

“We have a lot of new guys in there. We have a lot of players trying to feel their way in an environment that’s really difficult to feel their way into. Really, really difficult. So we just have to make sure they’re alright as human beings first and improve their performance. But there’s anxiety at the moment.”

Rangers flop who's "not helped his team" is as big a problem as Martin

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ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Whether that is the case or not, however, there’s no denying that time is running out for Martin to save his job and one journalist has now set a date that he could be sacked.

When Rangers could sack Russell Martin

According to the Daily Record’s Andy Newport, Martin could be sacked if he doesn’t get a result against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. If the Gers exit the cup competition, it will mark five games without a win and potentially game over for Martin’s tenure.

Newport told Daily Record: “In the eyes of the supporters, he’s toast, he’s done. When he came in, it was the most lukewarm of receptions he got when he was appointed, and the scepticism and the concerns the fans have had since then have only grown. If Martin doesn’t get a result against Hibs, that’ll be the end for him.”

That verdict is no real shock. The biggest surprise is arguably that he is still in a job after the Hearts game and Ibrox’s reaction to that result. Alas, as things stand, Martin seemingly has one last chance to save his job in Scotland.

A former Manchester United employee who worked closely with Sir Alex Ferguson has heard the Red Devils are eying a “top” Ruben Amorim replacement.

Man Utd manager targets with Amorim under pressure

It feels as if Amorim’s sacking at Old Trafford could be a matter of when and not if following a poor start to the Premier League season.

Reports have even suggested that Man Utd will wait until November to part ways with the Portuguese coach, which will lower the compensation due to Amorim as that figure currently stands at £12m.

In regards to replacements, a number of managers have been heavily linked with taking over from the 40-year-old.

Their own Pep: "Incredible" manager favourite to replace Amorim at Man Utd

Manchester United look set to turn to one other manager in their hunt to replace Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is thought to be open to the idea of taking over from Amorim, Sir Gareth Southgate has been in direct contact with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Xavi Hernandez is another thought to be among the favourites.

However, another name is thought to be under consideration at Old Trafford by INEOS.

Ex-Man Utd employee says Man Utd are eyeing “top” Amorim replacement

Former Red Devils scout Mick Brown, who worked closely under Ferguson during Man Utd’s dominance for more than 10 years, has been talking to Football Insider regarding potential replacements for Amorim.

Brown remains very well-connected at United and has heard that Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler is a “top option” those at Old Trafford would consider.

Hurzeler, who is just 32 years of age, has already been quizzed on the rumours linking him with a move to Manchester, but was quick to respect Amorim.

Games

53

Wins

25

Draws

15

Losses

13

Points per game

1.70

“Of course it is always an honour to be part of the rumours but I really respect the coach, Ruben Amorim, there. I think it is not the right thing to talk about this.

“Overall, I can say it is a privilege to work with Brighton. I am very happy to be the coach here and we have a lot of work in front of us.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Quem é o dono do Maracanã? Uma das muitas perguntas sobre o estádio é simples de ser respondida: Flamengo e Fluminense são os gestores desde 2019. Desde então, eles têm a concessão renovada pelo Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. A última renovação foi em abril de 2023, de maneira provisória. O interesse do Vasco no Maracanã é motivo de polêmica, já que Rubro-Negro e Tricolor vem barrando as tentativas do clube cruz-maltino de jogar no estádio.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFluminenseApós pancada no Fla-Flu, Marcelo será reavaliado nesta quarta-feiraFluminense17/07/2023ListasQuem é melhor: Fluminense ou Flamengo? Veja votação jogador por jogador feita pela equipe do LANCE!Listas15/07/2023ListasFlamengo x Fluminense: relembre Fla-Flus históricos em esquenta do clássicoListas01/06/2023

Com esses bloqueios, o Vasco, junto com a 777 Partners, arrumou parceiro para ajudar a gerir o Maracanã, como a Legends e a WTorre. A data para definir quem vai comandar o estádio ainda não foi definida. Enquanto isso, Flamengo e Fluminense vem recebendo a concessão de forma provisória.

+ Vasco: entenda o intuito da parceria com a WTorre e Legends na administração do Maracanã

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Lancepedia

Despite fighting half-centuries from Dercksen and Tryon, the loss eliminated SA from the tournament

Firdose Moonda07-May-2025

Jemimah Rodrigues scored her second ODI century•SLC

India posted their highest score against South Africa – 337 for 9 – and their fifth-highest total in all ODIs to seal their spot in the Sri Lanka Tri-Series final on Sunday, where they will play the hosts. In response, South Africa batted bravely to score their second-highest total batting second, but were still knocked out of the tournament.That means South Africa’s match on Friday against Sri Lanka will be a dead rubber. But more concerning for South Africa is that they have won only one of their last ten ODIs. Exactly the opposite statistic applies to India, who have lost only one of their last ten games, and controlled proceedings for almost all of their match against South Africa on Wednesday, even if the margin victory suggests otherwise.Jemimah Rodrigues scored her second ODI century, and the third-fastest for India in women’s ODIs, off 89 balls, to anchor their batting effort. After the loss of three wickets in the powerplay, Rodrigues shared an 88-run stand with Smriti Mandhana, and then a 122-run partnership with Deepti Sharma, which allowed India to score the most number of runs after the fall of the third wicket in an ODI innings.Rodrigues’ innings epitomised India’s dominance, with the right balance of timing and aggression. She drove, swept and reverse swept well against a South Africa attack that seemed out of bite and ideas. They were without regular captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was ruled out of the game with illness, and stand-in skipper Chloe Tryon used eight bowlers, including herself. Only Tryon and Sune Luus, who bowled three overs, conceded at less than six runs an over, while premier left-arm spinner Nonkululekho Mlaba gave away 71 runs in only eight overs.South Africa had moments in charge, and started well with the ball when Nadine de Klerk had Pratika Rawal caught at backward point. While Rawal reached out for a full ball, Masabata Klaas bowled Harleen Deol with a delivery that jagged back in and beat her defence. India were 18 for 2 in the third over but did not struggle to rebuild.ESPNcricinfo LtdBoundary balls came once – sometimes more – an over as de Klerk and Klaas were inconsistent with their lengths. Annerie Dercksen, at first change, also started off short and wide but rushed Harmanpreet Kaur into a pull, and had the Indian captain caught at midwicket.Having created the opportunity to put pressure on India, South Africa didn’t take advantage of it. Though they cut off boundaries for the next three overs, Mlaba’s introduction changed that. Rodrigues drove her second ball for four, and then took two boundaries off her next over as Mlaba struggled with a line down leg. By the 15th over, India were scoring at a run a ball.They were pulled back, but Rodrigues and Mandhana were largely untroubled by a slew of spinners until Mandhana tried to hit Tryon over midwicket and handed de Klerk a catch. By then, Rodrigues had fifty, and was well set. Deepti took over the attacking role, and took advantage of short deliveries from debutant Miane Smit, while Rodrigues worked her way through the 60s and 70s.On 81, she shuffled across her stumps to hit Nondumiso Shangase over cover, and that was the signal that she was looking to chang gears. It took just nine more balls for Rodrigues to get her century, with a single off Mlaba, which prompted an air kiss and a bat-guitar celebration. Rodrigues scored 23 more runs off the next 12 balls she faced but was dismissed the ball after Deepti got to fifty, when she miscued Klaas to Luus at point.Deepti Sharma scored 93 with the bat, and bagged a wicket with the ball•SLCIndia still had 7.2 overs left to bat, and a good platform to build on. Deepti took it on herself to press forward, and scored 43 runs off the next 22 balls, and was especially severe on de Klerk’s slower balls. Deepti hit her over her head for two sixes, and was on track to bring up a stunning century but was caught at long-on off the penultimate ball of the innings before India finished with 337.South Africa’s task was always going to be tough, after they were asked to score 63 more runs than their previous-highest successful chase of 275. At least that was against India, and one of the top performers then, Lara Goodall, was here too. Goodall was promoted to open the batting in Wolvaardt’s absence but nicked off in the second over to give Amanjot Kaur a wicket in her first over of the series.Tazmin Brits and Smit put on 63 for the second wicket but struggled to score quickly. Brits was on 26 off 41 balls when she pulled Amanjot to Rodrigues at midwicket. Four overs later, Smit was bowled by Deepti while looking to sweep, and pressure built on South Africa. The required run rate was above eight runs an over from the 20th over, and it only kept climbing further.Dercksen and Shangase tried to get things on track with a 70-run stand in 66 balls. Shangase was on 36 off 35 balls when she tried to hit part-time spinner Rawal over long-on but was caught on the boundary. Sinalo Jafta was promoted to No. 6 and came out swinging, but India did not seem to think that was much of a threat.Nondumiso Shangase and Annerie Dercksen added 70 runs for the fifth wicket•Getty ImagesIn the 32nd over, Mandhana, who has only bowled three times in 101 ODIs for a total of four overs, was given the ball. Her first over went for eight runs, but she bowled one more over before giving way to Sree Charani, who had Jafta lbw with the first ball of her third spell. South Africa were 188 for 5, and needed 150 runs from the last 15 overs.Dercksen gave them hope when she brought up a second successive half-century, and beat her previous career-best of 61 by 20 runs. But she became the third South African, after Brits and Karabo Meso in previous matches, to struggle with the conditions. Dercksen received treatment on her lower back twice, forcing breaks in play. After the second treatment, Dercksen was bowled by Amanjot, and South Africa’s best partnership – 72 off 60 balls between Dercksen and Tryon – was broken. Tryon went to score her 12th ODI fifty, and eventually finished with a strike rate of 155.81 in her knock of 67.South Africa needed 39 runs off the last two overs when the umpires took players off the field for bad light, with the score on 299 for 6. The DLS par for South Africa at that stage was 314. Tryon and de Klerk appeared aggrieved with the decision to come off but were surprised to hear 15 minutes later that the match would restart. They scored 12 runs off the penultimate over, and were left needing 27 to win off the last. Tryon was bowled off the first ball of the final over, and South Africa ended 23 runs short.