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A 93rd-minute winner from substitute Scott McTominay saved Manchester United from an embarrassing home draw to Omonia Nicosia.

For the second week in a row, the Red Devils only just squeezed past their Cypriot opposition in the Europa League.

In both games, substitutes brought the winning goals and it was Scott McTominay's turn to steal the headlines as he provided the difference after replacing Casemiro with 10 minutes left.

The goal came from Manchester United's 34th shot which just highlights the performance of Omonia's stand-in goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who had the game of his career between the sticks for the visitors.

Below, GOAL takes you through the winners, losers and Manchester United player ratings from another narrow, but important, win in Europe's secondary club competition.

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  The Winners

  Francis Uzoho:

  A monster performance from a man who isn't even his side's number-one goalkeeper. He dealt brilliantly with everything that was thrown at him and was unbelievably unlucky to finish the game on the losing side.

  His 12 saves showcased a number of different ways to keep a football from going into the back of the net. He saved long-range strikes, point-blank efforts and a couple of one-on-ones. Had it not been for his heroics, United could have scored five or six goals in the first half alone.

  He won't be short of potential suitors if he's unhappy playing second fiddle in the Cypriot top flight!

  Scott McTominay:

  Maybe a surprise that he didn't start the game given the fact he is suspended for the visit of Newcastle on Sunday. However, he came into the action with 10 minutes left and made the vital difference right at the death.

  For the majority of his cameo, McTominay frustrated the home fans with speculative, hopeless long shots but he stayed cool when it mattered most. A good finish from the Scotsman to ultimately earn his side an extremely important win in the context of their Europa League group.

  The Omonia supporters:

  In the absence of any real stand-out performers from the winning team, the travelling supporters were phenomenal throughout the match. They travelled in their considerable thousands and didn't stop singing for the whole match.

  They get an extra shout out for a special Manchester City chant during the half-time break!

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  The Losers

  Marcus Rashford:

  It wasn't necessarily one of his worst performances but the sheer amount of shots he took without scoring cements his place at the top of the losers section. He had 10 shots throughout the 90 minutes which equalled 1.5 xG!

  It's worth mentioning that Uzoho made a couple of excellent saves from his efforts but that doesn't excuse Rashford. The biggest chance of his lot came relatively early in the first half and, had he taken that one-on-one opportunity, it would have more than likely led to a comfortable evening for the hosts.

  Jerome Brisard:

  The referee looked a long way out of his depth at Old Trafford. He made several questionable goal kick and corner decisions which he then had to level out with even more confusing calls.

  He really should've sent Moreto Cassame off in the second half for a shocking two-footed, full-bodied lunge on Casemiro. Although, VAR did him no favours as they agreed with his decision.

  Erik ten Hag:

  It seems odd to include the manager of the winning team in this section, especially as one of his substitutions won the match. However, it is another Europa League game in which he has selected an almost full-strength starting XI and only just scraped past significantly inferior opposition.

  This was a game he should have been able to win with a rotated squad but he nearly failed to get all three points with his best players on the pitch. With Newcastle the visitors to Old Trafford on Sunday, any fitness issues for the Red Devils will certainly be punished.

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  Ratings: Defence

  David de Gea (6/10): A very quiet night for United's goalkeeper. Had one save to make and completed all 18 passes he attempted.

  Diogo Dalot (6/10): Not his best performance but far from his worst. Made a mistake that could have led to a big chance or a goal for Omonia but made up for it with a couple of great deliveries into the box.

  Victor Lindelof (5/10): Never looks particularly confident in the heart of the defence and seems to inspire a lack of confidence in whichever centre-back he partners. Was terrorised by the opposition on a couple of occasions.

  Lisandro Martinez (5/10): Perhaps his worst performance since joining United. His passing wasn't anywhere near as accurate as it usually is and he was fortunate not to concede a foul – which could have led to a red card – when he barged one of the opposing forwards away from the ball.

  Tyrell Malacia (6/10): An indifferent performance. Didn't particularly stand out but didn't put a foot wrong either. His brightest moment of the match saw him beat his opponent and get to the byline but his low cross was hit far too hard for Ronaldo to divert it goalwards.

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  Midfield

  Casemiro (7/10): He just exudes class does the Brazilian. He's not spectacular in the way that other £60m midfielders are but he's so solid in the middle of the park. The highlight of his performance was a fantastic lofted ball for Rashford to run onto but he fluffed his lines in front of goal.

  Fred (5/10): Another performance that showed why he shouldn't be a regular fixture in the midfield for the Red Devils. Missed a huge chance in the first half and was often caught on (or under) the ball by the visitors. Deservingly substituted midway through the second half.

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10): Ran the show for the hosts once again. He created seven chances for his teammates and deserved at least a couple of assists. He almost opened the scoring in the first half as well but his curling effort just dropped wide of the bottom corner.

MatériaMais Notícias

Deve acabar essa semana a novela da contratação de Yaya Touré pelo Botafogo. O que, depois da chegada de Keisuke Honda parecia apenas um golpe de marketing, para atrair os holofotes da mídia, acabou se tornando uma negociação para valer. O contrato já está nas mãos dos representantes do marfinense para ser assinado, o clube aceitou o que seriam as últimas exigências do jogador como o pagamento de salários sem a incidência de impostos, um apartamento para a família morar no Rio e um carro blindado com motorista para atendê-los.

O Botafogo não é o único a investir em veteranos com passagem pelo futebol europeu. O Olímpia, tetracampeão paraguaio, anunciou no mês passado a contratação do atacante togolês Emmanuel Adebayor, de 36 anos, ex-Real Madrid e astro da Premier League onde atuou por mais de 10 anos em clubes como o Arsenal, o Manchester City, o Tottenham e o Crystal Palace, de onde saiu para o futebol turco. O objetivo do Olímpia é fazer bonito na Libertadores deste ano onde os paraguaios estão no Grupo G , o mesmo do Santos, ao lado de Defensa y Justicia da Argentina e Delfín do Equador. Vale lembrar que o clube foi vice em 2013 perdendo a final para o Atlético-MG.

Mas qual o efeito real dessas contratações? Até onde trazer jogadores estrangeiros em fim de carreira, que necessitam de um período de adaptação à cultura e ao estilo do futebol sul-americano pode dar resultados em campo, além de render fora dele atraindo patrocinadores, aumentando a venda de camisas e o público nas arquibancadas – o Olímpia, por exemplo, duplicou o número de sócios torcedores desde a chegada de Adebayor.

Essa semana, Honda postou um vídeo em suas redes sociais, mesmo com toda a dificuldade que tem em se expressar em português, afirmando que o Alvinegro não vai se arrepender de trazê-lo. “Estou com 33 anos e acho que minha imagem no Japão é de um jogador que está para se aposentar. Entendo que eles pensem, assim, que não serei convocado para a Olimpíada. Gostaria, contudo, de mostrar para eles que não desisti. Por isso que acho que posso me desafiar a jogar bem e com frequência no Brasil. Acho que é minha obrigação. O preço de correr o risco e jogar bem vai valer a pena, afirmou o japonês, por anos titular da seleção de seu país.

“Adebayor não vem a passeio”, garantiu o presidente do Olímpia, Marcos Trovato, ao anunciar a contratação do congolês. É o que esperam os torcedores do time que fizeram, no aeroporto de Assunção, a maior festa de recepção que um atleta já teve no país. O fiador da contratação do atacante foi outro veterano do Olimpia, o paraguaio Roque Santa Cruz com quem Adebayor formou dupla no Manchester City. Roque, hoje com 38 anos, depois de voltar para casa, em 2016, ganhou todos os títulos que disputou no Paraguai e, no ano passado, foi artilheiro absoluto do campeonato nacional.

Caso Honda e Adebayor vinguem de fato, repetindo assim o êxito da marcante passagem do holandês Clarence Seedorf pelo Botafogo, entre 2012 e 2013, a América do Sul tem tudo para se transformar, digamos, no último refúgio de astros em fim de carreira. Um movimento que seria bem diferente – até aqui, o que se via era apenas o repatriamento de jogadores que faziam fama na Europa e voltavam para o país de origem, muitos deles para os clubes de onde saíram. Foi o que aconteceu com geração de ouro dos anos 80, com Zico, Sócrates, Junior, Falcão, Toninho Cerezo e outros cracaços que voltaram para cá e continuaram a jogar algum tempo em alto nível.

O time atual do Flamengo tem outros dois bons exemplos disso: Rafinha e Filipe Luís, ambos com 34 anos, deram o equilíbrio que o time precisava na defesa e são peças fundamentais no esquema do português Jorge Jesus, apoiando o ataque e participando intensamente dos 90 minutos como se fossem jovens moleques. Vale lembrar que ambos têm 15 anos de futebol europeu, em ligas altamente competitivas como a espanhola e a alemã.

Estrangeiros ou brazucas, esses veteranos são bem-vindos. Têm muito a acrescentar, desde que, como Seedorf e a dupla rubro-negra, estejam dispostos a jogar para valer. Simples assim.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo vai avaliar participação de Honda no clássico contra o FlamengoBotafogo02/03/2020Futebol InternacionalCom gol de ex-santista, Olimpia empata com Cerro Porteño em dia de estreia de AdebayorFutebol Internacional23/02/2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined INR 24 lakh for his team’s slow over rate in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2016

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined INR 24 lakh (USD 36,000 approx) for his team’s slow over rate in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday night. Kohli had already been found guilty of an over-rate offence earlier in the competition, when he was fined INR 12 lakh. Another such instance will fetch him a one-match suspension.The rest of the Royal Challengers team were fined INR 6 lakh each.The IPL has usually been severe on teams maintaining slow over rates. In 2010, Kings XI Punjab captain Kumar Sangakkara received a one-match ban for a third such offence, following fines of USD 20,000 and USD 40,000.Opposition captain Gautam Gambhir also picked up a fine after Monday’s game, for breaching the code of conduct article related to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match”.Royal Challengers lost the game in dramatic fashion, going down by five wickets after Knight Riders had required 81 off 36. Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell teed off at the end resulting in the asking rate coming crashing down, before Suryakumar Yadav joined Yusuf to take the team home. When Suryakumar swept chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi for four in the penultimate over to bring the equation to two runs required off eight balls, Gambhir showed his emotions by kicking a chair in the dugout. That reaction, presumably, lost him 15% of his match fee.

Iain Wardlaw, the Scotland fast bowler, has retired from international cricket with immediate effect to focus on a career in design. He made his debut in 2013 and played in 22 ODIs and 4 T20 internationals, picking up a combined tally of 45 wickets. He also played five matches in the 2015 World Cup, where he took six wickets.”I would like to thank all the players, staff and fans of Scotland cricket for their passion and support throughout my time with the national team,” Wardlaw said. “I couldn’t have wished to have played with a better group of lads who I wish all the success in the future.”Wardlaw, 29, said he wanted to resume his designing career. “For me I’m looking forward to a career path in the design industry, where I started before cricket so there’s plenty of exciting challenges ahead.”Cricket Scotland praised Wardlaw for his commitment and dedication throughout his career. “His total commitment to his country was never in doubt by those who saw him train and play in the Scotland jersey. Throughout his Scotland career he was an attacking pace bowler who never took a step backwards and never shirked a tough challenge.”Grant Bradburn, Scotland head coach, also hailed Wardlaw for his contributions to Scotland cricket. “Iain can be proud that he has made a big contribution to Scotland Cricket and the team,” Bradburn said. “Iain is highly respected within the side and his contributions both on and off the park will be missed.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Foi com muita emoção! Jogando em Belo Horizonte, o Vasco mostrou porque é o time da virada e, com o golaço de Marcos Junior, aos 48 do segundo tempo, venceu o Atlético-MG nesta quarta-feira, em duelo atrasado da 21ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Otero abriu o placar para o Galo e Rossi, acabando com um jejum de sete meses, fez o primeiro gol dos cariocas no Independência.

Xô, Z4! Com o resultado, o Cruz-maltino chega aos 27 pontos, ganha uma posição e é o 13º colocado. Na próxima rodada, a equipe de Vanderlei Luxemburgo recebe o Santos, no sábado, às 17h. Em crise, o alvinegro de Minas Gerais é o 10º, com 30 pontos e, no próximo domingo, enfrenta o Palmeiras em São Paulo.

> Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

NO ATAQUE!
Recuar diante do Galo, fora de casa? Que nada. O Vasco se adiantou e mediu forças desde o início. Organizado de forma diferente, com Raul aberto pela direita e Marrony solto, como ponta-de-lança, o Cruz-maltino ganhou presença de área. Talles, duas vezes, Andrey, além do camisa 38, finalizaram com perigo ao gol mineiro. Em chutes a gol, o primeiro tempo acabou em 10 a 5 para os cariocas.

NA BOLA PARADA
Apesar das muitas chances com a bola rolando, foi com a “redonda” parada que as equipes chegaram mais perto. Aos 10, Otero, sempre ele, de muito longe, chutou com efeito e carimbou o travessão de Fernando Miguel. Já no fim, Pikachu lançou bola na área e Talles, de cabeça, acertou a trave atleticana.

CARIOCAS EM CASA
O Vasco voltou para a segunda etapa da mesma forma: abusado. Logo no primeiro minuto, Marrony tabelou com Raul, que devolveu de calcanhar, e o atacante bateu de chapa, no cantinho, para grande defesa de Cleiton.

BALDE DE ÁGUA FRIA
A caravela cruz-maltina navegava com confiança, até que, em escanteio para o Galo, veio o apagão da zaga. Rabello, sozinho no meio da área, desviou, e Otero, sem marcação na segunda trave, botou os mineiros na frente, em Belo Horizonte.

NA LUTA
Sem se abater, o Gigante da Colina voltou à luta. Marrony disputou a bola na área, pela esquerda, e foi acertado no rosto pelo pé do Patric. Após revisão do VAR, a arbitragem marcou pênalti, e Rossi, que não balançava as redes desde março, bateu e deixou tudo igual. Com Talles substituído, o Vasco recuou, suportou certa pressão e deixou o melhor para o fim. Aos 48, Rossi deu lindo lançamento de trivela para Marcos Junior, que dominou e, sem deixar cair, mostrou porque o Gigante é o time da virada.

FICHA TÉCNICA
ATLÉTICO-MG 1 X 2 VASCO

Estádio: Arena Independência, em Belo Horizonte (MG)
​Data-hora:02/10/2019, às 19h15
Árbitro: Heber Roberto Lopes (SC)
Assistentes: Éder Alexandre (SC) e Johnny Barros de Oliveira (SC)
VAR: Rodrigo D’alonso Ferreira (SC)
Assistentes de VAR: William Machado Steffen (SC) e Daniel Luis Marques (SP)
Gramado: Bom
Público/renda: não divulgado.
Cartões amarelos: Cazares, Nathan ePatric (CAM); Andrey e Raul(Vasco)
Cartão vermelho: não houve.

GOLS: Otero 14’/2ºT (1-0), Rossi 21’/2ºT (1-1), Marcos Junior 48’/2ºT (2-1)

ATLÉTICO-MG: Cleiton; Patric, Igor Rabello, Iago Maidana e Fábio Santos; Nathan, Elias (Geuvânio, 32’/2ºT), Cazares (Vinícius, 13’/2ºT) Luan (Ricardo Oliveira, 42’/2ºT)e Otero; Di Santo. Técnico: Rodrigo Santana

VASCO: Fenrando Miguel; Yago Pikachu, Oswaldo Henriquez, Leandro Castan e Henrique; Richard e Andrey; Raul (Marcos Junior, intervalo), Marrony e Talles Magno (Gabriel Pec, 27’/2ºT); Ribamar (Rossi, 12’/2ºT). Técnico: Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

فاز فريق طلائع الجيش على نظيره بلدية المحلة، بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم الثلاثاء ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طلائع الجيش واجه بلدية المحلة، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثامنة من عمر بطولة الدوري، وذلك على ملعب غزل المحلة.

وسجل هدف طلائع الجيش الأول، كريم طارق في الدقيقة 22 برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء وأضاف الهدف الثاني، محمد فتح الله في الدقيقة 27 بتسديدة قوية ومتقنة من داخل منطقة الجزاء أيضاً.

طالع | بطولات يكشف.. ماذا قال ميكالي لحسام أشرف بعد تألقه مع بلدية المحلة؟

وشهدت المباراة حالة طرد للاعب بلدية المحلة يوسف حسن في الدقيقة 45+1 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة، بعد تلقي البطاقة الصفراء الثانية في اللقاء.

وبذلك الفوز، أرتقي فريق طلائع الجيش إلي المركز الثالث في ترتيب جدول الدوري المصري الممتاز، برصيد 14 نقطة.

على الجانب الآخر، يتواجد فريق بلدية المحلة في المركز الثالث عشر برصيد 9 نقاط. أهداف مباراة طلائع الجيش وبلدية المحلة في الدوري

MatériaMais Notícias

A partida do último domingo, diante do CSA, era essencial para o São Paulo do ponto de vista da tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro. Além de ganhar posições, manteria a distância para o líder Flamengo. No entanto, a expectativa não foi atendida e o empate em 1 a 1 com os alagoanos teve efeito contrário. Resultado: queda na classificação e distância ampliada para o primeiro lugar.

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão clicando aqui

Por enfrentar um adversário que disputa outra zona da tabela, por ser um jogo em casa e com a volta de muitos jogadores importantes, o cenário parecia armado para a conquista dos três pontos, porém a história não foi dessa forma e a perda de pontos como mandante voltou a atormentar os são-paulinos, que poderiam alcança a quarta posição na tabela e agora ocupam a sexta.

-Essa é a diferença. Com cinco empates no Morumbi, se tivesse tido pelo menos três vitórias, tinha seis pontos a mais. Esses empates em casa estão nos distanciando, sem dúvida – disse Cuca em coletiva após o duelo.

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O Tricolor ainda não perdeu como mandante neste Brasileirão. São quatro vitórias e seis empates, o que na visão do treinador e da torcida acabam tirando o clube da briga pelo título. No entanto, os resultados ruins em casa não são exclusividade desta fase do ano. Comparando os números de toda a temporada, o São Paulo é o pior mandante entre os time de Série A.

Até aqui, são 21 jogos oficiais em casa, com sete vitórias, 11 empates e três derrotas, aproveitamento de apenas 50,79%. Para se ter uma ideia de como esse desempenho é ruim, Avaí, Chapecoense, Fluminense e CSA possuem índices melhores do que os do Tricolor neste ano. Além disso, ninguém empatou tantocomo mandante quanto o clube do Morumbi em 2019. Não é toa que essa tendência tem sido seguida no Campeonato Brasileiro.

– Ficamos frustrados como todo torcedor, porque esses empates em casa nos tiram uma chance enorme de brigar lá na frente. Os últimos quatro jogos não vieram os resultados. Se a gente pensa em disputar o título, que cada vez está ficando mais difícil, que é a realidade, precisa voltar a vencer. Vamos pensar em vencer, jogo a jogo, treinar mais para poder jogar melhor e vencer – declarou Cuca em relação ao desempenho são-paulino como mandante.

O São Paulo volta a campo fora de casa, para enfrentar o Botafogo, no Nilton Santos, às 11h do próximo sábado, pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão-2019, a primeira do segundo turno. O Tricolor, que estava em quinto, agora está na sexta posição no campeonato, com 32 pontos, dez atrás do líder Flamengo.

Confira os piores aproveitamentos como mandante na temporada, em jogos oficiais, entre os clubes de Série A:

1) São Paulo – 50,79%
2) Avaí – 51,52%
3) Chapecoense – 52,17%
4) Fluminense – 54,67%
5) CSA – 56,67%

Shakib Al Hasan has said that Bangladesh would be looking to get at least 350, after the spinner led the attack with 6 for 59 to restrict Zimbabwe to 240. Expressing some surprise on the bounce afforded by a first-day Dhaka pitch, Shakib expected Bangladesh’s batsmen to give the team a substantial lead.”If we can score 400 it will be really good, but it’s not as though the pitch is really good for batsmen,” Shakib said. “But I believe that we have the ability to score 350 to 400. If we can do this or maybe even 600, I think 350 to 400 will be a good total for the second innings.”The bounce was a feature of the pitch all day. Shahadat Hossain peppered Sikandar Raza with bouncers, but his lack of pace meant either the batsman ducked under his deliveries or was able to play the pull. However, the spinners were a threat throughout, with Shakib’s first three wickets all falling to ones kicking up from the surface.”I have never got this much bounce,” he said. “But it didn’t bounce on a consistent basis. There were a few deliveries, which bounced. But I never saw it bounce like this.”Sikandar Raza, who was the only half-centurion in Zimbabwe’s innings, also mentioned the bounce but ruled it out as a major factor behind Zimbabwe’s failure to construct partnerships. Instead, he said it was the timing of his dismissal that was disappointing.”Normally, you come to Asia and expect low-bounce wickets,” Raza said. “This didn’t really surprise us especially since we come from a place where we are used to bouncy wickets, but I thought the wicket played well.”We were stringing a few more partnerships together. But our best batters got out. Elti [Chigumbura] and I had a forty-odd run partnership. But I think the most disappointing was for me to get out at that time.”Apart from the two half-century partnerships – 52 for the third wicket and 50 for the sixth – Zimbabwe continued to lose wickets before being bowled out in 75.5 overs. The start had been shaky too; Vusi Sibanda got a good delivery early on and Hamilton Masakadza played a loose shot to throw his wicket away. Two wickets in the first hour was all Bangladesh needed after being asked to bowl.”Game-plan was basically to get early wickets,” Shakib said. “Because they got bowled out so we are on track. We wanted to get early wickets, which is very important.”Making a comeback, it was Shakib who led the bowling from the front. He bowled almost one-third of the overs in the innings and returned with his 12th five-wicket haul. Shakib has now taken a five-wicket haul against every team he has played in Tests. However, he is yet to play a Test against Australia.”I take this achievement well obviously,” he said. “I don’t know actually there is no such separate feeling but if I can perhaps play against Australia next time and get a five-wicket haul then it will be a good experience and it will be a good feeling at the end of my career perhaps.”Before I was about to deliver the first ball the way the crowd cheered for me, I forgot everything else all my concerns and all the other feelings disappeared. I am very lucky to get this support and hopefully I will continue getting this.”

Match facts

Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Start time 2000 local (1600 GMT)Pakistan will go top on the T20 rankings, if they win 2-0•AFP

Big Picture

In the space of 10 days, Pakistan and South Africa will play four Twenty20s, in what can be seen as the one of the longest mini-series the format has seen to date. In reality, these are two separate contests.The first one was planned months ago, as the dessert to South Africa’s ongoing UAE tour. The second was hastily arranged as a snack for South African cricket supporters who will see less of India than was originally scheduled. Together, they will script an intriguing narrative across continents that will rigorously examine the skill of both sides four months ahead of the World Twenty20.For both teams this is the first of seven matches before the global event. Pakistan will play Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, while South Africa have three matches against Australia to fine tune.There is still time to find combinations but they will both want to settle on them quickly and allow players time to adjust to their roles. For South Africa, the main decisions will be with the top order and the seam-bowling trio, while Pakistan will look to settle on a middle order and find an allrounder. They will be considered favourites, especially on current form, and have the added incentive of becoming the top-ranked team in Twenty20 cricket should they sweep the series. South Africa, though, have all the confidence having won the ODIs.

Form guide

Pakistan WWWWW (completed games, most recent first)
South Africa LWWLW

In the spotlight

Sohaib Maqsood had a moderate start to his international career with 26 runs from two T20s matches against Zimbabwe but erased that from memory with the way he began his ODI run. Back-to-back half-centuries against South Africa showed him to be a clean hitter of the ball who is able to find good placement. He is aggressive and unafraid to show it. If Pakistan hope to turn around the indifferent batting performances from their one-day showings, they will need him to come good in the shortest format.After a lean run, not dissimilar to the one he has had in the UAE, Faf du Plessis scored 85 in a T20 in Sri Lanka to boost his confidence. At the time he said he really needed those runs and he needs them again. In the format in which he captains, du Plessis will want to lead by example. He will need to find a way to keep the scoreboard moving against a slew of spinners who have thus far kept him quiet.

Team news

Although Mohammad Hafeez has batted lower down the order in this format, he may choose to open to keep the same top order as Pakistan had in the ODIs. Sohaib Maqsood has been successful at No. 3 in the fifty-over format and may stay there. Shoaib Malik could make his return in the middle order with Abdul Razzaq also in line for a comeback. Pakistan may overlook him if they opt for an extra spinner in Abdur Rehman. It may also be time to rest Mohammad Irfan, who has played every match on the tour so far.Pakistan: (likely) 1 Mohammad Hafeez (capt), 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Sohaib Maqsood 4 Umar Amin, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Umar Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Abdul Razzaq/Abdur Rehman 9 Sohail Tanvir, 10 Junaid Khan/Mohammad Irfan, 11 Saeed AjmalSouth Africa are spoilt for choice at the top with Quinton de Kock having found form, Hashim Amla back in the T20 squad and Henry Davids, the incumbent, in good nick in domestic cricket. Amla may find himself missing out. Dale Steyn has also made himself available for the shortest format and will likely slot back in. That will mean South Africa may have to choose two out of Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Wayne Parnell. With Imran Tahir enjoying these conditions, he will likely be selected ahead of Aaron Phangiso.South Africa: (likely)1 Henry Davids, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk) 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 JP Duminy 5 AB de Villiers, 6 David Miller, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Dale Steyn 9 and 10 Morne Morkel/Lonwabo Tsotsobe/Wayne Parnell, 11 Imran Tahir

Stats and trivia

• This is the only format in which Pakistan have dominance over South Africa. Of the eight matches the two teams have contested, Pakistan have won four and lost three with one abandoned. But, two of South Africa’s three victories over Pakistan have come in the UAE, both in Abu Dhabi, on the 2010 tour
• Ahmed Shehzad is one run behind Aaron Finch in this year’s Twenty20 batting charts, with 261 runs

Quotes

“They have the potential to beat us 2-0 but we also have the potential to do that. It’s going to be a fight out there. We are not going to give an inch and I am sure they will do the same.”

أكد محمد رضا بوبو لاعب فريق فيوتشر، أن والده صاحب فضل عليه وحارب معه من أجل الوصول لهذه المكانة، مشيراً إلى أن لوكا مودريتش، نجم ريال مدريد، هو مثله الأعلى عالميًا، وحسام غالي محليًا.

وقال بوبو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “والدي رحمه الله هو الذي كان يحارب معي لكي أصل لما وصلت له حاليًا، بدايتي في كرة القدم كانت في أكاديمية نادي الزمالك بالشرقية في عمر 10 سنوات، وميدو صاحب قرار تصعيدي للفريق الأول بوادي دجلة وعمري 16 عامًا”.

ويسؤاله، لو فشلت صفقة انضمامه إلى الأهلي، هل من الممكن أن ينضم للزمالك، أجاب: “نحن في عصر الاحتراف”.

طالع | مدرب الشباب السابق: أحب لاعب الزمالك جدًا.. وأوسوريو مدرب عظيم

وأكد: “مودريتش مثلي الأعلي عالميًا وحسام غالي محليًا، أتمنى أن ألعب في نادي برشلونة”.

وأضاف: “سعد سمير يدعمني باستمرار منذ انتقالي لنادي فيوتشر، وعلي ماهر جعلني أكثر شراسة في الملعب لتسجيل أهداف، وهو مدير فني كبير”.

وأكمل: “محمد صلاح قدوة لنا كلنا، ووصل لمرحلة مختلفة عن الكل، وأتمنى أن أسير على نهجه والاحتراف في أوروبا”.

واستكمل: “كنت قريبًا من الانضمام للأهلي، لدي عقد مع فيوتشر، ولكن الإدارة هي من تقرر، الأمر ليس بيدي، (مين معندوش رغبة يلعب في النادي الأهلي)، من أكثر الأندية في إفريقيا تحقيقًا للبطولات، أحلم بالطبع باللعب في أندية كبيرة مثل الأهلي أو الزمالك”.

وأردف: “إدارة فيوتشر لم تبلغني بانضمامي لبيراميدز حتى الآن، ولو هذه الصفقة ستجعل النادي يستفيد، فأنا معهم، لأنهم منحوني كل شيء في الفترة الماضية، شهرة وأرقام وانضممت للمنتخب، أترك كل شيء لوكيل أعمالي، أنا حاليًا في فترة إجازة”.

وقارن بوبو بين وليد الكرتي لاعب بيراميدز وإمام عاشور الذي انضم مؤخرًا للأهلي، بقوله: “أحب كلا اللاعبين، إمام لاعب كبير جدًا جدًا ولا أحد يختلف عليه وسيصنع الفارق مع الأهلي، رغم حزني بسبب قرار عودته سريعًا من الاحتراف”.

وأضاف رضا بوبو: “كريم نيدفيد لاعب كبير جدًا ويمتلك أشياء مختلفة ورائعة وقادر على صناعة الفارق مع النادي الأهلي”.

وعن إمكانية انتقاله لصفوف الزمالك، قال اللاعب: “لماذا أرفض ذلك؟”.

وختم بوبو حديثه عن أبرز أهدافه القادمة: “أريد حجز مكان لي في صفوف منتخب مصر، عندما انضممت لمنتخب مصر للمرة الأولى تحدثت مع المدرب روي فيتوريا وطالبني بعدم الشعور بالقلق ووعدني بالحصول على الفرصة ولم أشعر حينها بأنني لاعب جديد على صفوف المنتخب”.