Tag Futebol

Glamorgan had to survive Tom Curran’s 51 off 27 balls to secure victory which strengthened their position at the top of the South Group

ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2017Tom Curran almost stole victory for Surrey•Getty Images

Aneurin Donald’s brilliant 76 off 40 balls shone out under the Kia Oval floodlights as Glamorgan strengthened their position at the top of the NatWest T20 Blast’s South Group table by squeezing past Surrey by six runs in front of a crowd of 21,256.But Tom Curran almost stole the match for Surrey at the death, his remarkable 51 not out from 27 balls making a mockery of 48 runs being required from the last three overs to overhaul Glamorgan’s 181 for 6. In the end, having hit the second ball of Michael Hogan’s final over for six to bring the equation down to nine from four balls, Curran was foxed by two slower balls from the veteran Australian seamer which he swung at and missed.A scampered two from the penultimate ball left Curran, who hit three sixes and three fours, needing seven from the last ball. He hit it into the offside, opted not to run but still walked off to an ovation for a courageous attempt to achieve the seemingly impossible with Surrey finishing on 175 for 7.Donald, still only 20, hit two sixes and 11 fours in his T20-best as he and the prolific Colin Ingram, who scored 42 from 31 balls with three sixes, swept Glamorgan towards their eventual total by adding 95 in just 8.3 overs for the second wicket after they had opted to bat first.It was Glamorgan’s fifth win of the group stage and took them to 14 points while Surrey, who have now lost four of their ten games, remain on 10 points.Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph praised Donald’s batting plus Michael Hogan’s nerve in the thrilling final over.”Tom Curran did incredibly well to get them so close, and there is so much noise out there in front of a crowd of that size that it’s difficult to communicate,” he said. “But Michael kept his cool after the second ball six and showed his experience to switch to around the wicket and bowl two vital dot balls. It was a brave decision.”Aneurin batted brilliantly up front and it was a pretty solid batting performance although we might have got 20 runs more after the start we got.”Surrey’s chase did not start well, with Jason Roy nicking the first ball of the innings, from Lukas Carey, to the keeper but Mark Stoneman joined Aaron Finch in a stand of 64 in six overs before carving to deep midwicket in Graham Wagg’s first over to go for a useful 21-ball 34.Finch, who had got off the mark by swinging Michael Hogan for six from his first ball, and who also hit Marchant de Lange for six, reached 33 from 22 balls before mishitting Ingram’s occasional legspin straight to long on in the eighth over, and Surrey’s decline continued as Moises Henriques and Sam Curran were both held in the deep.Aneurin Donald helped keep Glamorgan top of South Group•Getty Images

From 84 for 3 after ten overs, Surrey slid to 101 for 6 as Rikki Clarke could only score 6 on his Surrey return before becoming one of de Lange’s three victims.Ollie Pope, caught at midwicket off de Lange, scored a sparkling 26 and Surrey’s hopes rose further when Tom Curran swung Hogan for six in an 18th over costing 16 runs and also containing fours by both Curran and Stuart Meaker.That left 32 needed from the last two overs, and Curran immediately swatted Graham Wagg’s left arm seam over wide midwicket for six. Riding his luck, with an inside-edged four to fine leg, Curran ensured that 15 came from the over – setting up the superb finish.When Glamorgan batted, Donald was quickly into his stride, pulling for six the fourth ball of the innings from Jade Dernbach – and the second ball he faced – before taking three fours from Sam Curran’s opening over with a lovely straight drive, a paddle-pull to wide long leg and then a crashing drive through extra cover.Another flipped four, off Dernbach, followed before the wicket of Jacques Rudolph slowed Glamorgan for a while. From 30 for no wicket after three overs, they could only score 46 for 1 from the initial six-over Powerplay after Roy leapt to take a brilliant catch at backward point to send back Rudolph for 4.The bowler was Clarke, who has rejoined his first county Surrey, for whom he played from 2002 to 2007. Initially, the move is on loan from Warwickshire ahead of a permanent move from next season, with Dom Sibley already going the other way in a reciprocal deal, and 35-year-old allrounder Clarke struck with his fifth ball in the fourth over. His first two overs cost only eight runs and he finished with 1 for 23.Ingram, however, still managed to hit his first ball, from Clarke, for four and he was soon pulling Tom Curran for four and launching Gareth Batty’s offspin for six in the eighth over. Another six arrived when Ingram pulled the younger Curran out of the ground beyond the Peter May Stand as the Welsh county reached the halfway mark at 87 for 1.Batty was then plundered for 22 in an over by Donald, with three leg-side fours and a smeared six being followed by a delicate lap for four by the youngster from the last ball of the 11th over.A four and straight six by Ingram off Henriques’s medium pace quickly followed but the rollicking second wicket stand ended in the 13th over when Donald skied paceman Meaker to midwicket.Ingram went six balls later, cutting Henriques to point, and three more wickets fell in the final overs as Glamorgan’s middle-order sought to add as many as they could. David Miller’s 24 from 19 balls included a last over six off a Tom Curran full toss the ball before he fell attempting to clear long-on, while Wagg also swung Clarke for six.

Crystal Palace may have waved goodbye to key man Wilfried Zaha this week, but another big name could soon be arriving at Selhurst Park in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.

Who are Crystal Palace's forwards?

Zaha's departure to Galatasaray on a free transfer will leave a huge void to be filled, the winger departing the club he has called home for close to two decades, either side of a doomed spell with Manchester United.

Palace still have talented pair Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, assuming they fend off interest from top-flight rivals, but their squad is otherwise looking a little bare in attack.

Jean-Philippe Mateta struggled in his first season at Selhurst Park and may be moved on this summer, which would leave Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard as Roy Hodgson's only senior forwards.

However, according to TheEaglesBeak, via football.london, Palace are looking to bolster their ranks and have made signing Nketiah their priority between now and the end of the transfer window on September 1.

How many goals has Eddie Nketiah scored?

Nketiah has made 89 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, but he has found the net just 14 times, while his overall record for the Gunners is 32 goals in 131 appearances.

The 24-year-old was called upon by Mikel Arteta in the midst of a tense title race with Manchester City last season after Gabriel Jesus sustained an injury that ruled him out for three months.

Nketiah initially took full advantage of his big chance by scoring six goals in six games in all competitions, including a double in Arsenal's thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester United in January.

That led to praise from captain Martin Odegaard, who hailed Nketiah for the "amazing" manner in which he stepped up to lead the line in Jesus' absence.

However, Nketiah – on wages of £100k-a-week at the Emirates Stadium, according to Capology – did not score in his next 14 appearances and ended the 2022-23 season with four goals in 30 appearances.

Still, Nketiah's return of 0.33 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, as per FBref, was bettered by only Eze – just – among Palace players last season (0.34). Nketiah's 0.41 goals and assists combined per 90, meanwhile, was near enough on a par with Olise (0.43).

In fact, Nketiah's figures were a lot better than he was perhaps given credit for. According to FBref's comparison model, the Englishman was very alike Manchester United's Marcus Rashford in a number of metrics last season.

Nketiah and Rashford fired away shots at an almost identical rate per 90 minutes (3.39 v 3.38 respectively), had a very similar pass-completion rate (80.4% v 76.7%), and likewise when it came to progressive carries per 90 (2.64 v 2.66).

While Rashford did register more goals and more assists than Nketiah, the pair recorded an identical expected assisted goals figure of 0.11 per 90, effectively meaning that they created the same quality of chances for teammates.

That is not to say Nketiah is on a par with Rashford, but should he be given a regular run of starts in a team full of talented young players, it may well be that he finally gets a chance to truly fulfil his potential at a London club.

حقق فريق الكرة بالنادي الأهلي فوزًا هامًا على سيمبا التنزاني بنتيجة 2-0 بالمواجهة التي جمعت بينهما في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وأقيمت مباراة الأهلي وسيمبا على أرضية استاد القاهرة في إياب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع | موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة بعد الفوز على سيمبا في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وسجل عمرو السولية الهدف الأول لصالح الأهلي في الدقيقة 48 من عمر اللقاء من تسديدة صاروخية سكنت شباك سيمبا.

بينما أضاف كهربا الهدف الثاني للقلعة الحمراء في الدقيقة 97 من ضربة جزاء احتسبها الحكم لصالح حسين الشحات. أهداف مباراة الأهلي وسيمبا اليوم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وكان الأهلي قد فاز في مباراة الذهاب أمام سيمبا بهدف نظيف سجله أحمد نبيل كوكا بـ تنزانيا.

وبهذه النتيجة حسم الأهلي بطاقة التأهل إلى نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، منتظرًا الفائز من مواجهة مازيمبي الكونغولي وبترو أتلتيكو الأنجولي.

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

A big update has emerged on Aston Villa and their attempts to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Pau Torres to Aston Villa?

According to Football Insider, the Villans are in contact with Villarreal over a deal to sign central defender Pau Torres in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Unai Emery has made the Spain international his number one target and that the club are now closing in on a swoop for the 26-year-old titan.

It states that they are making progress over a transfer and that it is set to take a fee of at least £40m, which would be a club record, to get it over the line.

Would Pau Torres be a good signing for Aston Villa?

The Premier League side appointed Monchi as their new president of football operations recently and securing a deal for Torres would represent his first blinder as the LaLiga ace would be a terrific addition to the squad.

It would be a masterclass from the former Sevilla supremo as he would be providing Emery with a top-quality left-footed defender who excels at keeping the ball away from his own box and using his ability in possession to progress his team up the pitch.

Over the last 365 days, the Villarreal star, who talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed "wonderful" on the ball, ranks in the top 4% or higher amongst his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Whereas, Tyrone Mings does not rank higher than the top 47% of players in the same category for either statistic over the last 365 days of action.

This suggests that Monchi could improve Villa's ability to play out from the back by landing an upgrade on the left-footed England international on the ball, given that Torres is one of the best players in the major leagues when it comes to breaking lines and driving up the pitch to make things happen for his team.

The Spaniard has also produced consistently impressive and dominant performances for his club in LaLiga in recent seasons.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.04 across 34 league outings in 22/23 and won 61% of his individual duels, which came after the colossal ace won 66% of his battles and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 in 21/22.

Mings, on the other hand, has averaged a rating of 6.91 in the Premier League across the last two campaigns, indicating that Torres would also be an upgrade on the current Villa defender in terms of his average performance level at the back.

Therefore, Monchi could land his first masterclass by getting this deal over the line for the defender as his statistics suggest that he would be a sensational addition to Emery's options in defence.

With signs of South Africa’s transition stage moving smoother, their coach wanted the newer players to stake more of a claim

Firdose Moonda22-Dec-20161:54

‘Last thing we want is a square turner’ – Domingo

South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo wanted his newer Test players to cement their places during the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. With only two additions to the squad that toured Australia – in reserve batsman Theunis de Bruyn and left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell – changes to South Africa’s XI from the Adelaide Test were unlikely.”We’ve only decided to pick 13 for this series. It gives us a few less selection problems and gives the incumbents a sense of security and they can focus really hard on their preparation and not worry too much about selection. It just makes it a lot clearer and a lot more simplistic,” Domingo said. “The young players have really come in and stepped up. They are all new players that, a year and a half ago, were playing debut Test matches and now they’ve become established in the side. That’s very pleasing to see.”The current squad included four men who made their debuts in the last two years and Domingo made special mentions of all of them. “Keshav Maharaj has really stepped up, Stephen [Cook] has got two hundreds in six Tests and Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma have won Test matches for us,” he said.Given the uncertainty surrounding South Africa’s depth earlier this year, to have the younger crop coming through was a sign the team was evolving. In addition, good personal performances, Domingo explained, brought with them a strong sense of belief.”Players will always feel part of the team once they start producing the goods. They will feel as though they are a valued member and worthy of playing for their county once they produce the goods,” he said. “Once they perform, they sense, ‘I can do this and I belong in this team,’ and that takes a lot of pressure off them and allows them to free up and put on those performances.”A slightly older example of this is Quinton de Kock, whose first Test was in Port Elizabeth almost three years ago. Then, de Kock was an emergency replacement for an ill Alviro Petersen but since, he has become a player South Africa cannot imagine taking the field without.This year, de Kock scored his maiden Test hundred and enjoyed a streak of five scores of fifty or more. He was also South Africa’s leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2016 and was named the ICC’s ODI cricketer of the year today to cap off his best year as an international to date.”Everyone is very proud of him. He has had an outstanding 12 months. About a year and a half ago, he was left out of the Test side when we were in Bangladesh and he has showed some real good character to come back. He is in phenomenal form at the moment and everyone is really pleased for him,” Domingo said.A season before de Kock’s maiden appearance, three other current players, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar and Kyle Abbott, were capped for the first time which meant eight out of South Africa’s squad of 13 have only played Test cricket for four summers. As much as that may complete the so-called transition phase, Domingo reminded that there was still room for some old hands, specifically one man who remains sidelined with injury.AB de Villiers was absent for a third successive Test series – remarkable because he played his first 98 matches without missing one – but Domingo was confident he would slot straight back in when he recovered from his elbow injury. “Everybody wants to stay in the team but naturally they know that AB is one of the best batsmen in the world, and when he is fit and after he has played a few matches and proved his fitness, naturally he will come back into the team,” Domingo said. “That’s just the way it is – someone has to make space for him because he’s an outstanding player.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign Man United defender Harry Maguire this summer, according to broadcast giant ESPN.

Who could Spurs sign this summer?

Ange Postecoglou's arrival at Spurs marks the end of chairman Daniel Levy's long and drawn out search for Antonio Conte's replacement, a task that lasted over two months.

The Australian arrives in north London off the back of a domestic treble triumph with former club Celtic, and Levy held plenty of praise for him in a recent interview with Tottenham's official website.

“Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play" said Levy."He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

Attention now turns to the transfer market as Spurs aim to back the 57-year-old with star signings, and according to reports, central defensive reinforcements are certainly on their agenda.

Spurs have been linked with moves for Man City star Aymeric Laporte, Wolves defender Max Kilman and Maguire to name a few, while the Lilywhites are also seeking to strengthen in midfield.

However, defence seems like a priority, with Maguire being repeatedly mentioned in the last few days.

Now, according to broadcast giant ESPN, there has been an update – with their reporter James Olley claiming Spurs have been "offered the chance to explore a deal" for him.

The Red Devils are apparently willing to give the green-light for Maguire to leave this window as Tottenham and West Ham get handed the chance to do business.

However, wages could be a potential stumbling block, as the former Leicester City star is thought to earn in the region of £200,000-per-week.

Who is Harry Maguire?

While there have been question marks surrounding his form under Erik te Hag, Maguire is a capable centre-back on his day and regularly impresses for England at international level.

Harry Redknapp is a big fan, having called the 30-year-old a "proper defender" amid what has been a regrettable season for him overall.

Ten Hag has even held praise for Maguire in some parts, drawing attention to his improved form towards the back end of 2022/2023.

"I'm really happy with the progress that Harry is making in this moment," ten Hag said in March."He's more dominant and dictating, he's taking more initiative on the training pitch and I think also in the Real Betis game, he showed leadership, especially in those aspects of initiative and dictating of the game."

Edu Gaspar is eyeing up an Arsenal move for Brazilian left-back Ayrton Lucas this summer as he plans to give Mikel Arteta the tools required to build upon their positive 2022/2023 season.

What’s the latest on Ayrton Lucas to Arsenal?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Arsenal are keen on signing Flamengo defender Lucas this summer in order to strengthen their first team squad, although they could face stiff competition from Juventus.

With full-back Kieran Tierney heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United, Arteta will require someone to replace him as an alternative to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Lucas fits the bill.

The Brazilian isn’t likely to break the bank either as the report states he has a release cause of only €30m (£26m) and this is an attractive option for the Spaniard ahead of next term.

Could Ayrton Lucas replace Kieran Tierney at Arsenal?

Almost all left backs to emerge from Brazil get compared to the legendary figure that is Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid defender with thighs like tree trunks, although Lucas, according to journalist Andrew Sousa, has “embodied” Carlos and might Arteta have a reincarnation of the 127-cap hero?

This season in the Brazilian top flight for Flamengo, he averages 1.7 dribbles per game and 1.1 shots per game, suggesting he enjoys getting forward as much as possible, similar to Carlos – who bagged 97 club career goals and 125 assists – during his prime years, while he has even netted three goals.

The 25-year-old may not just replace Tierney in the squad, but he could well be an upgrade on the Scot ahead of a season which will see Arsenal take part in the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2016/2017.

Indeed, Lucas has registered more shots per 90 (1.23 to 0.79), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.09 to 1.36), successful take ons (15 to three), carries into the final third (19 to 12) and touches in the attacking penalty area (18 to 15) across roughly the same number of starts throughout 2022/2023 (8.8 to 8.1 90s).

This certainly suggests that the Brazilian could be a better-attacking option than Tierney, judging by his ability to push into the final third and create plenty of shooting opportunities, increasing his chances of scoring.

For the aforementioned fee of only £26m, Arteta would be signing a proven defender who has won the biggest tournament in South America (Copa Libertadores) while even claiming silverware from his spell at Spartak Moscow, winning the Russian Cup just last year, and he could well be another piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal heading into next term.

Arsenal attacker Reiss Nelson could be set to sign a new deal at the club following positive talks, Sky Sports presenter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed.

What's the latest on Reiss Nelson?

The winger has so far turned down a number of proposals from the Gunners to extend his contract, with his current deal set to expire in the summer, and Mikel Arteta would like to keep the 23-year-old.

Nelson has not featured regularly, failing to start in any of his 10 league appearances this season, but his encouraging cameos off the bench have seen him earn a more prominent role in the squad.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Sheth revealed that after weeks of uncertainty, there appears to have been a positive breakthrough in talks, and the Englishman may sign a new deal to remain at the Emirates.

"Now there were also doubts about the future of Reiss Nelson, his contract is up this summer and talks over a one-year contract came to no agreement," he stated.

"There was a lot of talk, is this the end for Reiss Nelson at Arsenal? But since then, we've learned that positive talks have now taken place between Reiss Nelson and his representatives, and the football club over a long-term contract, we believe to be around four years, and there's cautious optimism now, that Arsenal can get that one over the line, and Reiss Nelson will commit his long term future to the club."

Should Arsenal keep Reiss Nelson?

Although the £15k-per-week star has been unlucky with injuries over the years, he is showing signs that he is finally living up to his potential, having once been considered one of Arsenal's best young prospects.

His substitute appearances have been impressive, scoring twice off the bench against Nottingham Forest, and notably scoring a stunning volley in the final minute as Arsenal came from behind to beat Bournemouth.

Arteta has described Nelson as "important," and it appears that the Spaniard is desperate to keep the winger as he continues his development.

Bukayo Saka has appeared in every league game for Arsenal this season, and if Nelson can be utilised as cover for the England star, then he can gain more chances on the field, whilst Saka can be allowed more rest.

Loan spells with mixed success at Hoffenheim and Feyenoord have meant that Nelson did not develop at the club alongside the likes of Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah as academy graduates, but if he commits his future to the club and lives up to his potential, then Arsenal could save themselves a lot of money in the transfer market.

Glasgow Rangers are in the market for a new striker this summer, and Michael Beale has reportedly made a bid for Haji Wright ahead of the transfer window.

What’s the latest on Haji Wright to Rangers?

According to Turkish journalist Salim Manav, Rangers “made a transfer offer” of £7m for the Antalyaspor striker, however, it was rejected as the team are currently holding out for a fee in the region of £8.5m.

It remains to be seen whether the Ibrox side will go back in with a new and improved offer, but with Alfredo Morelos leaving and Antonio Colak potentially set to leave the Light Blues after one season, then Beale will be desperate to secure another striker ahead of next season.

Who will replace Alfredo Morelos at Rangers?

The departing Colombian striker has left behind an endearing legacy at Rangers which has seen him score 124 goals for the club, win a Premiership title and Scottish Cup while becoming the club’s all-time top scorer in European competition, and he will be tough to replace.

It wasn’t only his goals which made Morelos frightening, but his ability to hold up the ball and bully defenders meant he gave Rangers much more than just a simple goal threat, and it will take someone special to become his successor.

Wright could be the ideal player for this role, especially given his stunning form in Turkey this season. He has scored 16 goals and registered three assists in just 26 appearances this term, and considering Morelos has only netted 12 goals in 44 matches, the Gers may be onto a winner with the 25-year-old.

What's more, Wright also has more shots on target per game (1.1 to 1), more successful dribbles (1.1 to 0.3) and scores more goals per game (0.6 to 0.4) than the Rangers striker, suggesting that he could even be an upgrade for 2023/24.

It’s no wonder he has been described as a “dangerous striker” former Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt, and there is no reason to doubt that he couldn’t shine in Scotland with such a goalscoring record.

The American also has experience at the highest level, representing his nation at the World Cup in Qatar last year, playing in all four matches for the USA, where he scored a bizarre goal against the Netherlands in the last 16.

Strengthening Rangers' attacking options will be paramount for Beale this summer, and Wright could well be a worthwhile addition to the first-team squad.