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If Second continues his good form in India, he could challenge Heinrich Klaasen for the reserve wicketkeeper’s spot in the national side

Deivarayan Muthu in Bengaluru04-Aug-2018

India A’s quicks Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj were zipping the new ball off the seam and kept threatening both the edges to leave South Africa A in a fix at 93 for 4 in the 36th over. Enter Knights’ MVP Rudi Second. His team-mates kept exiting at the other end, but Second held the innings together with a counterpunching 94 off 139 balls. He didn’t budge until the 85th over, and eventually walked off to a rousing reception from the South Africa camp.Moments later, he beamed like a Cheshire cat and warmly welcomed a small group of reporters. He then picked up a mobile phone and feigned to make a call back home to his mother. He has begun this tour on a positive note with an unbeaten 44 in the warm-up fixture and a near hundred on Saturday against an attack comprising three India internationals and one (Saini) who had recently received a call-up to the Test squad for the Test against Afghanistan. When will Second’s call-up arrive?Second has racked up the runs in the past two Sunfoil series: 684 runs in 14 innings at 52.61 in 2016-17, followed by 803 in 14 innings at 80.30 in 2017-18. Notably, Second was one of the three players to have scored a double-hundred in the 2017-18 Sunfoil competition; Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl being the other two. Yet, there’s a pessimism that franchise players can’t cope with the international game these days.”The gulf between domestic cricket and international cricket is still quite a wide one,” Ottis Gibson, South Africa’s national coach, had said after the T20I series against India earlier this year. But during his innings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Second made his case for higher honours although the pitch was more South African than Indian. The day-one track did not offer much purchase for Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel, but Second showed nifty footwork – pressing right forward to smother the ball or going right back to deal with the short ones. And against the fast bowlers, he particularly favoured the cover drive and executed it well as opposed to his team-mates who left their feet pinned to the crease and instead threw their hands at the ball.”When I walked out to bat, I wanted to bat with a lot of intent,” Second said. “I wanted to get into strong positions and I was just lucky to get a couple of balls in the gaps and get a couple of boundaries early on. I just looked to bat with as much intent as possible.”There was also something in it [the pitch] for the seam bowlers. When there was energy on the ball, there was enough sideways movement, which made it difficult especially from a fuller length. So, the bowlers were always in the game.”In the senior team, Heinrich Klaasen is currently the second-choice wicketkeeper after Quinton de Kock, having sparkled against India in the limited-overs series as well as in the Sunfoil series. He had received his maiden call-up to the Test squad for South Africa’s series in New Zealand in March 2017 as the reserve wicketkeeper, and was more recently part of the Test squad in Sri Lanka too. He has also had a stint with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2018 and is already considered as one of the better players of spin in the senior group.Second, for his part, is set to face his spin test against Chahal and Axar, when the Chinnaswamy pitch is likely to break up on the third and fourth day.”This is probably the closest you can get to a South African wicket here [in India],” Second said. “You have to play the ball late and the angle of your bat needs change. You can get away playing away from the body and hitting through the covers a bit in South Africa. When there’s seam movement it’s obviously difficult and you can’t take things for granted against spin. We maybe got away today with these conditions but on the third and fourth day, it will be a lot difficult.”Second also credited his stint with Milnrow Cricket Club in the Lancashire League in 2014 for preparing him for bigger challenges. As a professional, he did the heavy lifting for the club, reeling off no less than seven hundreds and as many fifties in 19 innings.”You learn a lot of responsibility playing club cricket in the UK,” Second said. “The club relies heavily on you to score runs and so you learn how to build an innings and bat for long periods of time and it helps you learn to bat with the lower-order batters in situations like this today. You learn how to do it in England and I built some great friendships there as well. Nothing but good times for me in the UK.”If Second scores heavily for South Africa A in India, he could seriously challenge Klaasen for the reserve wicketkeeper’s spot. But Second insisted he wasn’t looking too far ahead and simply wanted to “send it upstairs to sort itself”.

After flirting with relegation in the Premier League last season, West Ham United could ill-afford a disappointing start this time around. The summer sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal didn't exactly boost the confidence surrounding David Moyes' side, either. Now nine games in, the Hammers have more than exceeded expectations and put an end to any doubts, losing just three times during that period.

Much of the credit for their solid start deserves to go to the recruitment team, who did well to welcome the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez to cover for Rice's exit. They could repeat their transfer tricks when the January window swings open, too, with scouts sent to watch one particular left-back target.

West Ham transfer news

Ending the last campaign as European champions after winning the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, West Ham entered the summer transfer window with a new swagger about them that quickly became apparent in deals for the likes of Mohammed Kudus. And whilst they still have that European crown, those at the London Stadium may just look to add to Moyes' squad even more in January, potentially resulting in more competition for current left-backs Aaron Cresswell and Emerson Palmieri.

According to Dean Jones, West Ham are scouting Valencia left-back Jose Gaya. Jones told GiveMeSport: "Yeah, he's obviously being scouted right now so he's one of the players that they're just checking out. We know what West Ham are like when it comes to finding players. They cast the net far and wide and that's what they'll be doing now as they look for a new left back. I do think there's a pretty good chance that they do continue to recruit and this is one of the positions that they'll be looking at."

It remains to be seen whether or not West Ham make their move for Gaya, but if they've been impressed by what they've seen when watching the Valencia man, then Moyes could have himself another defensive reinforcement.

Jose Gaya is a "phenomenon"

Gaya's stats show why West Ham have been keeping an eye on him. The 28-year-old would come with plenty of experience and it could be argued that he would even be an upgrade on Emerson. As things stand, the Hammers have just got the former Chelsea man to call on with Cresswell suffering from ongoing injury issues.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes Received

Take-ons completed

Jose Gaya

30

38

8

Emerson Palmieri

15

27

7

Gaya has earned plenty of praise throughout his career, including from former Spain manager Luis Enrique, who said, via Football Espana, after the left-back was forced to return home during the World Cup through injury: "Left back is the only position I can’t wait for anyone. There is no one who can adapt to what we ask for. If it were in another position, the player would be here. But they are two specific guys that have the characteristics to play there. Jose Gaya is a phenomenon, a guy who I get on with brilliantly. I feel it in my soul, I have to put the team before my feelings.”

Lancashire are three wickets away from a Roses defeat that would leave the spectre of relegation looming before them

Paul Edwards12-Sep-2018
ScorecardNow then. If a cricket-lover had arrived at Headingley on the third day of this match having not watched a game for 50 years but being nevertheless well-versed in the matchless reports of the former correspondent, J M Kilburn, he may well have been comforted that next to nowt had changed. And since Kilburn reported on some of the greatest eras in the county’s cricket, when victories came as standard, he may have assumed that nothing had altered there either.For just when it seemed that Lancashire had a chance to secure the win that would have helped them in their desperate quest to avoid relegation, the Yorkshire seam attack delivered the sort of evening session that will warm White Rose supporters from Wombwell to Whitby and all points in the Broad Acres beyond.Lancashire had needed 230 to win on a pitch which seemed to be easing; after all Yorkshire’s batsmen had made 272 on it. Yet with the day done and as hitherto sane men try to recover their wits, home supporters can savour the memory of a scoreboard which read 109 for 7 at the close. Yorkshire have had their problems this season but even the dourest of their followers will be content with that.And no one was underestimating the importance of this contest. Many previous Roses matches have decided championships; the result of this rascal will go a long way towards determining which of these teams goes down. Now both Leicester and Northampton are fine and greatly under-appreciated venues, but they are not where Lancashire’s players want to be strutting their four-day stuff next year. Least of all, maybe, Richard Gleeson, who has just arrived from Wantage Road and has no particular wish to return so soon.But before Lancashire begin their last four-day game of the season at the Ageas Bowl a week on Monday their fate may have been decided. And they can really castigate no one but themselves. Throughout this campaign, Liam Livingstone’s team has always had a batting collapse in it. And this last one may have settled their chips.Lancashire’s pursuit of a victory beyond price began poorly when Alex Davies slashed wildly at a lifter from Ben Coad and nicked a catch to Jonny Tattersall. Seven overs later Karl Brown was pinned on the back foot by a rejuvenated Tim Bresnan. That left Lancashire on 31 for 2 in the twelfth over and the fragile recovery mounted by Steven Croft and Liam Livingstone was cut short when Croft pulled Jack Brooks to Jeet Raval at midwicket. In his next over Brooks struck again, taking the crucial wicket of Livingstone with a ball that kept low and uprooted the off stump. The Lancashire captain’s departure for 28 was celebrated in gorgeous fashion by Brooks who seemed to be attempting a lap of honour pursued by his colleagues.Ben Coad in action against Lancashire•Getty Images

But Yorkshire’s joy was nowhere near ended with Lancashire stumbling on 81 for 4. Some might argue the carnival only got going when Ben Coad took three wickets in eight balls. The first of Coad’s victims was Dane Vilas, who recently rescued his side with an unbeaten hundred at Southport. Vilas was bowled by a ball which nipped away and may have kept low and his departure was followed by that of both Danny Lamb and Tom Bailey. Only the last knockings are left now.And all this drama was merely the climax of a day which had been entirely in keeping with the great tradition of Roses cricket. Seeking to build a match-winning advantage, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Gary Ballance battled for every run against bowlers who generally stuck to tight lines.Singles were begrudged, appeals were frequent and Lancastrians were barracked. It was wonderful stuff. This, though, was attrition with a purpose and Kilburn would have surely have loved it. Runs dropped slowly in the blue morning. The trees towards Canterbury Road and Langdale Gardens looked like giant florets of broccoli. The contest was as intense as the incomparable game can offer.In the sixth over of the day Graham Onions appealed confidently for a caught behind against Kohler-Cadmore but Rob Bailey, impassive as an Easter Island statue, turned the claim down. The same umpire later warned Gleeson for running on the pitch. In the midst of these kerfuffles, the officials were asked by Lancashire to change the ball because it had gone out of shape. The request was rejected and there was no indication Livingstone offered the compromise of keeping the ball but selecting a fresh umpire from a box of six.For much of the session Keshav Maharaj operated from the Football Stand End and he eventually gained leg before decisions against both Kohler-Cadmore, who made 63, and Ballance, whose 85 included 14 fine boundaries. But almost every ball seemed to bring Maharaj pleasure or agony: pleasure when he took the wicket; agony when the batsman had the effrontery to place some part of his person in its path to the stumps. It was tense cricket and properly so. This was the type of session that determines seasons, contracts, career-paths. And we still had the evening to come.After lunch Yorkshire’s tail scrambled their way to a total of 272. Leg byes were applauded wildly before Bailey and Onions helped to end the innings. Then Yorkshire’s bowlers went out to deliver the spells that will be remembered deep into the autumn and well beyond. It was a sight to see and Kilburn would have appreciated it, albeit quietly, eloquently, and with a proper reserve.

MatériaMais Notícias

A goleada do Grêmio em cima do Vasco encheu o peito de Renato Portaluppi de alegria. Com um futebol intenso e sem dar chances ao adversário, o Tricolor carimbou uma vaga entre os quatro melhores do Brasileirão.

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Sem esconder a empolgação com o resultado, o treinador cravou que o seu time joga o melhor futebol do país.

‘Eu respeito todas as opiniões, mas o Grêmio joga o melhor futebol do Brasil. No momento, o melhor é o do Grêmio. É o que tenho visto. Vínhamos conseguindo alguns pontos importantes (no Brasileiro) e nos mantivemos no meio da tabela, pois tinha muitos jogadores no departamento médico. Quando eles voltaram, sabia que o time ia jogar bem. É o que tem acontecido e não é surpresa, pois conheço esse grupo melhor do que ninguém’, declarou.

Agora, o Grêmio de Portaluppi deixa o Brasileirão de lado e volta a pensar na Libertadores. Na quarta-feira, o Tricolor abre a série das quartas de final contra o Santos.

Calendário

O Grêmio só volta a jogar pelo Campeonato Brasileiro no dia 14 de dezembro, quando visita o Goiás, na Serrinha.

Liverpool progressed through to the next round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday as they came out 2-1 winners against fellow Premier League side Bournemouth.

Goals from Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, either side of an equaliser from Justin Kluivert, sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Jurgen Klopp's side have now won four games on the bounce and central defender Joel Matip played a crucial role with his performance at the back.

Matip's performance against Bournemouth in numbers

The experienced battler was drafted into the XI to partner with young Jarell Quansah and produced a fine display in defence to keep Bournemouth at bay for the majority of the match.

In possession, the former Schalke titan showcased his composure and ability with a pass completion rate of 92%, which included three of his four long pass attempts, and created one chance for the team.

However, it was off the ball that Matip displayed his best qualities as the 32-year-old colossus won 100% of his physical contests (4/4) and made four interceptions and one block.

These statistics show that the central defender was virtually faultless defensively as he did not allow Bournemouth to get the better of him, by dribbling past or winning a duel, throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch.

Despite his impressive showing, Nunez was Klopp's saviour on the night as the substitute came on and provided the spark that was needed to secure the victory.

Nunez's performance against Bournemouth in numbers

The Uruguay international came on with 30 minutes to play but that was all he needed to make a significant impact on the match as he put the tie to bed.

In that half an hour, the former Benfica superstar completed two dribbles, won five of his nine duels, and created a chance for one of his teammates.

That alone was an impressive contribution for 30 minutes of action, as the energetic forward showcased his directness and physicality at the top end of the pitch.

However, the 6 foot 2 maverick capped it off with a stunning goal in the 70th minute to make it 2-1 to Liverpool, which ultimately proved to be the winning strike.

The goal summed Nunez up as his initially poor piece of play, in failing to control the ball, was redeemed by the subsequent finish that was bent over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net from range after the Cherries defender afforded him far too much time to pick his spot.

Journalist Josh Williams described the goal as the forward going "full Suarez", in reference to the former Liverpool star's terrific goal at Carrow Road against Norwich – one of many.

Suarez was mocked by the home crowd for missing a huge opportunity in front of goal before robbing the centre-back from the subsequent goal kick and beautifully stroking the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his foot.

Nunez produced a similar moment of genius after being jeered by the Bournemouth fans for his poor control from Trent Alexander-Arnold's sublime pass.

His stunning strike was the match-winning moment for Liverpool and his all-round energy and positivity off the bench was the catalyst for Klopp's side coming away with the win, which is why he was the saviour over Matip.

قدّم كيليان مبابي وعدًا لفلورنتينو بيريز رئيس ريال مدريد بعد انضمامه للنادي الإسباني وتقديمه للجماهير في ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

وانتقل مبابي إلى ريال مدريد في صفقة انتقال حر بعد انتهاء عقده مع باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي.

وقد أجرى كيليان مبابي أول مقابلة له كلاعب جديد في ريال مدريد، مع القناة الرسمية للنادي الملكي، حيث تحدث عن وصوله إلى النادي الذي كان من مشجعيه منذ أن كان صغيرًا.

وقال مبابي: “هذا يعني الكثير بالنسبة لي، لسنوات عديدة، منذ أن كنت طفلاً، كان لدي حلم باللعب لريال مدريد، ثم كان ذلك هدفًا، لأنه عندما كنت محترفًا كان لدي دائمًا هدف الوصول إلى هنا”.

وأضاف: “والآن لدي حلم آخر، أن أكون ذروة تاريخ هذا النادي، الأفضل في العالم، أريد أن أقدم كل شيء من أجل هذا القميص وهذه الشارة”.

وعن رؤية كؤوس ريال مدريد الذي حصد 15 لقبًا في دوري أبطال أوروبا، أردف: “إنه أمر لا يصدق، الدخول هنا، في غرفة أفضل ناد في العالم، هو متعة وشرف لي، أتطلع إلى رؤية الجميع، اللاعبين، واللعب هنا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | والدة مبابي تهدد باريس سان جيرمان باللجوء للقضاء: لم يكذب بشأن ريال مدريد

وبشأن رئيس ريال مدريد فلورنتينو بيريز، أفاد: “إنه شخص مهم للغاية بالنسبة لي؛ منذ اليوم الأول وثق بي وساعدني وعائلتي، هذا يمس قلبي مباشرة، سأفعل كل شيء، داخل وخارج الملعب، لإسعاده، هو أفضل رئيس في العالم”.

وأكمل مبابي: “أتذكر أنني كنت طفلاً وكان لدي حلم الوصول إلى مدريد، لم أفكر في اللعب، كنت أفكر فقط في رؤية اللاعبين، إنه أمر لا يصدق أنه بعد أكثر من 10 سنوات بقليل، أنا هنا”.

واستطرد: “لقد كان حلمًا والآن أصبح حقيقة، أنا سعيد جدًا، تمكنت من مقابلة زيدان وكريستيانو رونالدو، اللذين أتحدث إليهما دائمًا، لقد كان من دواعي سروري”.

وواصل: “لدي شغف، شاهدت جميع المباريات مع إخوتي وأصدقائي، قلت لنفسي إنه في يوم من الأيام سأكون أنا، والآن هو يومي، أنا لاعب في ريال مدريد وأنا سعيد للغاية، وبالرحلة بأكملها التي قمت بها للوصول إلى هنا وأنا متحمس للغاية”.

وفيما يتعلق باتقان اللغة الإسبانية، أوضح: “ليس مثاليًا، كنت أعلم أنني سألعب هنا يومًا ما، لذا أردت أن أتعلم وأن أكون مستعدًا للتكيف بشكل أسرع مع النادي والثقافة الإسبانية، أعتقد أن ذلك سيساعدني على التكيف”.

وأتم حديثه برسالة لمشجعي ريال مدريد: “مرحبًا يا مشجعي مدريد، أنا سعيد جدًا لكوني لاعبًا في ريال مدريد، شكرًا لكم على كل المودة والحب الذي منحني إياه النادي منذ اليوم الأول، قبل وقت طويل من التوقيع، هذا يذهب مباشرة إلى قلبي، قادم لإعطاء الحياة لهذا الدرع وهذا النادي”.

تبادل فريقا مانشستر يونايتد وآرسنال الفوز والخسارة في مباراة ودية جمعت بينهما صباح اليوم، الأحد، من أجل الاستعداد للموسم الجديد 2024/2025.

والتقى مانشستر يونايتد وآرسنال في جولتهما في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وذلك على ملعب “صوفي” في “لوس أنجلوس” بحضور جماهيري كبير.

ونجح آرسنال في الفوز على مانشستر يونايتد بنتيجة 2-1، رغم تقدم الشياطين الحمر عن طريق راسموس هويلوند بالدقيقة العاشرة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تين هاج يوضح موقف ماونت من الرحيل عن مانشستر يونايتد شاهد أهداف وركلات جزاء مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وآرسنال

لكن رفض جابريل جيسوس انتهاء الشوط الأول دون أن يحرز التعادل في الدقيقة 26.

وقبل نهاية المباراة وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 81، أحرز جابريل مارتينيلي الهدف الثاني في شباك مانشستر يونايتد ولكن نظام المباراة هي لعب ركلات الترجيح حتى لو كان هناك فريقًا فائزًا.

ولكن في ركلات الجزاء الترجيحية، ابتسم الحظ لصالح مانشستر يونايتد الذي فاز بنتيجة 4-3 بعد إهدار آرسنال ركلتي جزاء مقابل واحدة للشياطين الحمر.

Ritu Moni, Sharmin Akhter, Suraya Azmin and Murshida Khatun also included; no place for Lily Rani Biswas from the team that played the Women’s World T20 Qualifier

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2018

Bangladesh women have included allrounder Lata Mondal in one of five changes in their squad for the four T20Is and one ODI against Pakistan women, starting from October 2. Fast bowler Lily Rani Biswas has been dropped from the team that played in the Women’s World T20 Qualifiers in Ireland in July. The other inclusions are Ritu Moni, batsman Sharmin Akhter, 19-year-old pacer Suraya Azmin, and 18-year-old batsman Murshida Khatun. Lata, Suraya and Murshida were standbys for the qualifiers.The changes were made keeping in mind the bigger picture – the Women’s World T20 in November – for which Bangladesh are playing this four-match T20I series against Pakistan. These players will get a chance to stake their claim in that squad.Lata, who has 52 international appearances, last played for Bangladesh in January 2017, when she made only four runs in three ODIs against South Africa. But she impressed with her fitness and training in the last few months, as did fast-bowling allrounder Ritu Moni. Sharmin is being considered as a batting option, while Suraya and Murshida are promising young cricketers.The four T20Is are scheduled to be held on October 2, 4, 5 and 6, and the lone ODI is to take place on October 8. All matches will be held in Cox’s Bazar.Squad: Rumana Ahmed (ODI capt), Salma Khatun (T20I capt), Nigar Sultana, Fargana Haque, Khadija Tul Kubra, Fahima Khatun, Ayesha Rahman, Shamima Sultana, Jahanara Alam, Nahida Akter, Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Sanjida Islam, Sharmin Sultana, Suraya Ajmin, Sharmin Akhter, Lata Mondol, Murshida Khatun

Chelsea are starting to see their staggering investments in the transfer window pay dividends on the pitch.

In the 4-1 victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Nicolas Jackson plundered in a second-half hat-trick to lead his side to victory against nine men, preceding a penalty from Cole Palmer – two players who were brought to the club in the summer from Villarreal and Manchester City, respectively.

On Sunday, that duo played a pivotal role once more, getting their name on the scoresheet in an enthralling encounter with City that ended 4-4, with Palmer smashing a penalty past Ederson in the 95th minute, equalising proceedings against his former employers.

Throughout that captivating fixture, it wasn't just the new boys who starred. Chelsea's current longest-serving player, Reece James, put in a monstrous performance down the right flank for the Blues.

Reece James' statistics against Manchester City

A fully fit and firing James is arguably the best right back on the planet, as hailed on several occasions by many, including Ian Wright.

“He’s easily one of the best right-backs in the world at the minute,” Wright said on Match of the Day after James scored twice against Newcastle United in November 2021.

Since that outstanding 2021/22 campaign, in which he recorded five goals and nine assists in the Premier League – the joint most goal contributions from a full-back in the division – the Englishman has seen injuries hamper his progression further.

A series of knee and hamstring issues saw him only make 16 appearances in the top flight last term but since returning from his latest injury, which saw him miss nine games at the start of this campaign, the 23-year-old has been nothing short of phenomenal.

He's captained the side in the Carabao Cup win over Blackburn Rovers, victory against Spurs and draw with Man City, but it was the latter of those performances that impressed the most.

Not only did he assist Raheem Sterling for his goal, but he also made the most tackles in the match (5) and pocketed the dangerous Jeremy Doku, won six of his nine ground duels and accurately placed three of his four long balls, as per Sofascore.

Lauded as "sensational" for his performance against the champions by journalist Felix Johnston as Doku struggled to get past a seemingly immovable object, James provided a searing indication of his qualities.

Yet, it seems remarkable that a fellow right back, currently plying his trade in Chelsea's youth setup, has also sparkled of late and could well be a future heir to the Englishman's crown.

Josh Acheampong's statistics this season

Aspiring to break into the first team as James did, Aceampong is a 17-year-old right back who joined the development centre programme as an U8 and has the capabilities to play in multiple positions across the back line.

While he's operated as a centre-back on numerous occasions – as James can also do – the teenager boasts the explosive pace and power that has seen him flourish as an attacking wing-back.

At the age of 16, he stepped up to Chelsea's under-18's last term, making ten appearances in Premier League 2 – scoring three goals from right back – including a thunderous match-winner against rivals Tottenham in November 2022.

It's this outstanding form, especially in attack, that has seen him feature a further five times for the under-18s, grabbing one assist, while his rapid rate of development rewarded him with a call-up to the England U17 World Cup, where he played a starring role in the tournament opener.

The Young Lions demolished New Caledonia 10-0 and the Chelsea starlet, who was dubbed by journalist Antonio Mango as "sensational" for his performance, scored and assisted in a near-faultless display.

Josh Acheampong's statistics against New Caledonia

Value

Goals

1

Assists

1

Accurate passes

98%

Key passes

2

Long balls (acc.)

3 (3)

Aerial duels (won)

2 (1)

Interceptions

2

All stats via Sofascore

With a fixture against Brazil to close out the group phase, it will be interesting to see how the youngster performs against opposition with much more quality, but on current evidence, the future is certainly bright for Chelsea's latest homegrown full-back phenomenon.

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar de boas oportunidades para os dois times, principalmente o mandante, Fortaleza e Corinthians não saíram do empate e ficaram no 0 a 0 no placar, nesta quarta-feira, no Castelão, pela 24ª rodada do Brasileirão-2020. Com arbitragem polêmica, os paulistas perderam Jô, expulso, aos 34 do segundo tempo e os cearenses perderam Bruno Melo, já nos acréscimos da partida.

TABELA
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O primeiro tempo começou bastante agitado com chances para os dois lados em menos de cinco minutos de jogo. Os donos da casa arriscaram logo dois chutes de fora da área, um com Felipe e outro com Juninho, mas passaram longe do gol de Cássio. Como resposta, Otero teve uma oportunidade de cabeça, mas pegou mal na bola e desperdiçou o que seria a abertura do placar.

Embora houvesse um equilíbrio inicial, o Tricolor cearense despontava como melhor na partida, principalmente com Osvaldo, que bagunçou a defesa corintiana nos primeiros 45 minutos. Na melhor chance da primeira etapa, o atacante ex-São Paulo avançou pela esquerda, entrou na área, se livrou de Gil com um drible e chutou para o gol, mas Cássio defendeu e evitou o tento.

Cantillo, que já havia feito um belo lançamento para o Otero, era a melhor alternativa do Timão para armar o jogo, diante da falta de velocidade da equipe e da forte marcação do Fortaleza, que tentou neutralizar o volante colombiano. Mas o time de Mancini teve boas chances. Uma em que Bergson quase marcou contra, outra em cruzamento de Fábio Santos e a melhor chance em chute de Luan de fora da área. Nas três, Felipe Alves defendeu e salvou os mandantes.

Já na reta final do primeiro tempo, o Fortaleza reforçou sua superioridade em campo. Com mais velocidade e mais verticalidade, a equipe de Marcelo Chamusca deu muito trabalho ao Corinthians e quase abriu o placar quando Fábio Santos vacilou, David roubou a bola e entrou na área, mas Cássio, de forma precisa, cortou o drible do atacante do Tricolor cearense.

Na volta do intervalo, nenhuma das equipes efetuou alterações e seguiram na mesma, inclusive em termos de postura. Timão sem velocidade, com dificuldades para quebrar as linhas, enquanto o Fortaleza tinha espaço para avançar, mas pecava na conclusão das jogadas. David teve um belo contra-ataque para sair cara a cara com Cássio, mas se enrolou com a bola e perdeu.

Aos 12 minutos, Gabriel adiantou a bola dentro da área e Felipe acabou impedindo a passagem do adversário, os corintianos reclamaram muito de pênalti, mas a arbitragem e o VAR mandaram o jogo seguir. Cinco minutos depois, Mancini resolveu sacar Luan e Otero para as entradas de Cazares e Mateus Vital. Em seguida, Chamusca tirou Osvaldo e colocou Yuri César.

Logo após as mexidas, David recebeu passe em contra-ataque, entrou na área, demorou para tomar a decisão e, mais uma vez, desperdiçou oportunidade para o Fortaleza. Chamusca, então, sacou o atacante e colocou João Paulo. Yuri César, que também veio do banco fez boa jogada e cruzou para Tinga, que de cabeça exigiu grande defesa de Cássio, outra vez salvando o Corinthians.

Para completar a renovação no meio-campo alvinegro, Mancini tirou os dois volantes, Gabriel e Cantillo, e lançou Ramiro e Xavier a campo. Cinco minutos depois dessas mexidas, porém, o Timão acabou ficando com um homem a menos, quando o árbitro, após checagem no VAR, entendeu que Jô agrediu Felipe e deu o cartão vermelho direto para o centroavante corintiano.

Vale destacar que Jô já não vinha bem na partida, sem mobilidade, sentindo a falta de ritmo de jogo e sem ser acionado pelos companheiros. Em desvantagem numérica dentro de campo, o Alvinegro acabou recuando e o Fortaleza, que vinha mal na partida, tomou o campo adversário tentando encontrar um buraco na marcação para poder abrir o placar dentro de casa.

Apesar de substituições ousadas de Marcelo Chamusca nos últimos minutos, os mandantes não conseguiram aproveitar o homem a mais, e ainda tiveram Bruno Melo expulso, ao agredir Xavier já nos acréscimos, enquanto o Corinthians segurou o empate e a invencibilidade com Mancini fora de casa. O Timão vai a 30 pontos e sobe para a 10ª posição na tabela, enquanto o Tricolor cearense também vai a 30, mas permanece na 9ª colocação no Brasileirão.

FICHA TÉCNICA
FORTALEZA 0 X 0 CORINTHIANS
Local: Castelão, Fortaleza (CE)
Data-Hora: 2/12/2020 – 21h30
Árbitro: Bráulio da Silva Machado (Fifa/SC)
Assistentes: Celso Luiz da Silva (MG) e Marcus Vinicius Gomes (MG)
VAR: Igor Junio Benevenuto de Oliveira (MG)
Público/renda: Portões Fechados
Cartões amarelos: David (FOR) Gabriel Pereira e Cantillo (COR)
Cartões vermelhos: Jô, aos 34’/2ºT (COR) e Bruno Melo, aos 51’/2ºT (FOR)
Gols: –

FORTALEZA: Felipe Alves; Tinga, Jackson, Wanderson (Éderson, aos 44’/2ºT) e Bruno Melo; Juninho e Felipe; Romarinho (Mariano Vázquez, aos 44’/2ºT), David (João Paulo, aos 24’/2ºT) e Osvaldo (Yuri César, aos 20’/2ºT); Bergson. Técnico: Marcelo Chamusca.

CORINTHIANS: Cássio; Fagner, Marllon, Gil e Fábio Santos; Gabriel (Ramiro, aos 29’/2ºT) e Cantillo (Xavier, aos 29’/2ºT); Otero (Mateus Vital, aos 17’/2ºT, Luan (Cazares, aos 17’/2ºT) e Lucas Piton (Gabriel Pereira, aos 23’/2ºT); Jô. Técnico: Vagner Mancini.