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With a starting XI featuring Donovan, Wolff, Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter, the USMNT cleared the floor of the Reggae Boyz

The U.S. men's national team is taking on Jamaica in the quarterfinals of the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League in a two-legged affair, with Mauricio Pochettino facing his biggest test since taking over as USMNT coach.

The two nations have a storied history, including a tough record on Jamaican soil for the USMNT, with six of their previous 10 meetings at "The Office" in Kingston ending in draws.

GOAL looked back at some of the most famous moments between the two nations, including one standout performance in 2002 in which the USMNT claimed a 5-0 victory in an international friendly, with both Josh Wolff and Landon Donovan running the show in the attack.

On May 16, 2002, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, the USMNT claimed their largest-ever victory in one of their final tune-up matches ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Here's a look back at that match, and what it meant in this edition of… Throwback Thursday.

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  It was their penultimate warmup match for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, just three weeks out from the prestigious tournament, and the U.S. needed all the confidence they could get ahead of the competition. Just one month prior in April, they suffered an embarrassing road defeat to Ireland in Dublin in an international friendly, and in March, a 4-2 loss to Germany.

  The U.S. needed a big victory to get lift their spirits. And they did just that. The USMNT defeated Jamaica 5-0, with four goals arriving in the second half.

  Just seven minutes into the match, the had a golden chance to take a 1-0 lead, but a stupendous 1v1 save from Kasey Keller kept the match scoreless. Then, after a scoreless opening 30 minutes, the breakthrough arrived when Wolff opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, pounding home a back-post header for a 1-0 lead.

  It was a close affair heading into the halftime break, but come the final 45 minutes, the floodgates opened.

  Just two minutes into the second half, Donovan combined with Clint Mathis, who scored from the edge of the box to double the lead. In the 60th minute, Wolff secured a brace, giving the USMNT a dominant 3-0 lead. Then, in the 84th minute, Donovan finally got his goal, handing the U.S. a 4-0 lead before the fifth arrived of the boot of DaMarcus Beasley in stoppage-time.

  Donovan recorded three assists and a goal, while Wolff scored a brace as the U.S. got the momentum boost they needed ahead of traveling to South Korea for the World Cup.

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  WHY IT MATTERS

  The U.S. went on to produce one of their best-ever performances at the 2002 World Cup, with Bruce Arena's team stunning the world. At the time, it was monumental for the growth of the game domestically, and for the U.S., it was an announcement that they had arrived on the biggest stage.

  Arena led the team to the Round of 16 in the tournament for the first time in 72 years, including an iconic victory over rivals Mexico in the group stage. In their knockout match that sent them home, they fell 1-0 to Germany – but it happened in controversial fashion. After an in-swinging corner from Claudio Reyna in the 50th minute, Gregg Berhalter hit a low-driven volley that beat German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, but was cleared off the line by the arm of defender Torsten Frings. However, the referee did not call a handball offense – despite the blatant infraction.

  Regardless, though, the U.S. roster in 2002 made waves across the global game with their performances, and it was the start of a budding career for many U.S. internationals such as Donovan – who went on to have a brilliant career with the USMNT.

  However, many attribute their success in the tournament to their thrilling victory over the just over a month prior to their journey to Korea.

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  WHERE ARE THEY NOW

  The stars of that victory against Jamaica – Wolff and Donovan – are both active members of domestic soccer in the U.S. Wolff was head coach of Austin FC for five seasons from 2019 through 2024, until he was fired earlier this year. In his first senior head coaching role, he got the 2019 expansions side through their first years as an organization.

  Donovan, meanwhile, was appointed interim head coach of NWSL side San Diego FC earlier this year. The California-based club missed out on the postseason, meaning his contact is now up. However, it is yet to be determined what his next steps are as a manager – and if San Diego will look to re-appoint him in 2025.

Whilst Chelsea have become synonymous with opening their chequebooks and spending big in the transfer market, it now appears that one player could be leaving the club this summer.

Chelsea agree deals for multiple young stars

Despite the Todd Boehly era having yet to yield any real success for Chelsea, one area they have excelled in is finding and recruiting a slew of very talented young players.

Report: Chelsea battling Premier League rivals to sign 27 y/o this summer

He’s been hailed as the “best defender” in his league.

By
Henry Jackson

Jul 7, 2024

This summer has seen the theme continue with a number of highly-rated teenagers making the move to the Premier League club. One signing that looks close to completion is a deal for Boca Juniors sensation Aaron Anselmino. The 19-year-old is set to have a medical in London soon after completing a roughyl £20 million move from Boca.

19-year-old Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel is another young player in the Blues' sights with the club eager to prise the young talent away from Germany this summer.

Whilst the strategy of Boehly and Co clearly centres around signing young players, it seems that one high potential player could be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chukwuemeka wanted by European giants

As first reported by Caught Offside, AC Milan are ready to start transfer negotiations over the signing of Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka. The outlet claims that the midfielder, who has a £40m release clause, is primarily a loan target, however the Serie A runners-up would be willing to insert a clause to buy the 20-year-old into any agreement.

This development follows news from last month that Milan were interested in agreeing a loan-to-buy deal for the midfielder, however they had yet to ready serious talks until now.

Caught Offside now reports that Milan are ready to open negotations and are willing to pay around £20 million for the 20-year-old, a far cry from the exit clause inserted into his current deal at Stamford Bridge. It is understood that Chukwuemeka currently favours staying at Chelsea despite his playing time being limited in recent seasons.

Chukwuemeka arrived in West London in a £20 million move from Aston Villa back in 2022. The 20-year-old has managed just 27 appearances for the Blues across his two seasons with the club as he has struggled for gametime in Chelsea's midfield.

Despite his recent issues, Chukwuemeka arrived at Stamford Bridge with high expectations. Upon leaving Villa Park, former Villans' boss Steven Gerrard spoke highly of the then teenager, telling the press: "I really enjoyed working with Carney, he’s obviously a big talent, someone who’s got big potential,

"I think the Academy boys and when we came in, we worked ever so hard to work on his development and shape him, try and polish him up, so Chelsea are getting a big talent."

Whilst it is uncertain what the future holds for Chukwuemeka, it is clear that if his ambition is for more game time he will likely have to leave Chelsea this summer.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Ministério da Saúde se manifestou sobre os procedimentos da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) que levaram à suspensão do jogo entre Brasil e Argentina, neste domingo (5), em jogo válido pela sexta rodada das Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo-2022. A Anvisa afirmou em nota que teve o intuito de cumprir a legislação sanitária do país e interromper a partida não esteve em sua alçada.

+Confira a repercussão da suspensão da partida na imprensa internacional

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Emiliano Martínez, Buendía, Cristian Romero e Giovani Lo Celso não poderiam jogar porque não fizeram uma quarentena de 14 dias, conforme prevê a Portaria Interministerial nº 655, de 2021, “a qual estabelece que viajantes estrangeiros que tenham passagem, nos últimos 14 dias, pelo Reino Unido, África do Sul, Irlanda do Norte e Índia, estão impedidos de ingressar no Brasil”.

O Ministério da Saúde se manifestou em nota oficial. A pasta deu razão para a medidas tomadas pela Anvisa em relação ao episódio.

– O Ministério da Saúde informa que apoia e reconhece as recomendações da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), autoridade em saúde responsável pelas ações de vigilância sanitária do país – declarou o ministério.

A Anvisa, por sua vez, detalhou em nota quesoube das informações falsas dos quatro atletas argentinos no dia 3 de setembro e, no mesmo dia, notificou o Ministério da Saúde e as autoridades. Além disto, em reunião com as delegações e a Conmebol, exigiu que os atletas ficassem em quarentena.

– Cabe esclarecer que os jogadores entraram no Brasil às 8h do dia 3/9, prestando informações falsas. Neste mesmo dia, a Anvisa identificou que as informações eram falsas e ainda na noite do dia 3/9, a Anvisa notificou o CIEVS, atualizou as autoridades de Saúde (Ministério da Saúde e a Secretaria de Saúde de São Paulo) – escreveu a Anvisa.

O órgão regulador falou sobre o alerta da irregularidade e destacou.

– No dia 4/9, às 17h, foi realizada a reunião com as instituições envolvidas, na qual a Anvisa e autoridade de saúde de São Paulo informaram a contingência de quarentena. No entanto, mesmo depois da reunião e da comunicação das autoridades, os jogadores participaram de treinamento na noite do sábado.

Em seguida, a Anvisa detalhou como foi a busca por garantir o cumprimento da quarentena dos atletas.

– Na manhã deste domingo, a Anvisa notificou a Polícia Federal, e até a hora do início do jogo envidou esforços, com apoio policial, para fazer cumprir a medida de quarentena imposta aos jogadores, sua segregação imediata e condução ao recinto aeroportuário. As tentativas foram frustradas, desde a saída da delegação do hotel, e mesmo em tempo considerável antes do início do jogo, quando a Anvisa teve sua atuação protelada já nas instalações da arena de Itaquera.

A agência afirmou que “se limitou a buscar o cumprimento das leis brasileiras, o que se limitaria à segregação dos jogadores e as suas respectivas autuações”. Além disto, falou sobre a forma como tudo transcorreu no gramado da Neo Química Arena.

– A decisão de interromper o jogo nunca esteve, nesse caso, na alçada de atuação da Agência. Contudo, a escalação de jogadores que descumpriram as leis brasileiras e as normas sanitárias do país, e ainda que prestaram informações falsas às autoridades, essa assim, sim, exigiu a atuação da Agência de estado, a tempo e a modo.

LEIA A NOTA OFICIAL DA ANVISA NA ÍNTEGRA

Desde a tarde deste sábado (4/9), a Anvisa, em reunião ocorrida com a participação de representantes da CONMEBOL, CBF e da delegação argentina recomendou a quarentena dos quatro jogadores argentinos, ante a confirmação de que os jogadores prestaram informações falsas e descumpriram, inequivocamente, a Portaria Interministerial nº 655, de 2021, a qual estabelece que viajantes estrangeiros que tenham passagem, nos últimos 14 dias, pelo Reino Unido, África do Sul, Irlanda do Norte e Índia, estão impedidos de ingressar no Brasil.

A decisão de interromper o jogo nunca esteve, nesse caso, na alçada de atuação da Agência. Contudo, a escalação de jogadores que descumpriram as leis brasileiras e as normas sanitárias do país, e ainda que prestaram informações falsas às autoridades, essa assim, sim, exigiu a atuação da Agência de estado, a tempo e a modo.

Looking to return to the Premier League with a bang, Russell Martin is now reportedly determined to add one particular summer target to his ranks before the start of Southampton's pre-season next month.

Southampton transfer news

Saints earned promotion to the Premier League after defeating Leeds United in the Championship play-off final and are now looking to ensure that they secure their top-flight status at the first time of asking. They've already kicked off their summer business in pursuit of that, of course, after welcoming Adam Lallana back ten years after he left St Mary's for Liverpool.

Speaking for the first time since returning to his boyhood club, Lallana told the club's official website: “I’ve been no stranger – my son’s at the Academy, so I’m in and around it quite a bit, but I’ve not been this close to being home, so it’s amazing. It does feel surreal, but it’s an opportunity I’m extremely grateful for and I’m looking forward to."

Southampton plotting move for "outstanding" £9k-a-week international

He’s even better in the air than Taylor Harwood-Bellis so the two could form quite the partnership.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 14, 2024

He's not the only former player that the Saints are reportedly looking to welcome back either. According to GiveMeSport, Martin is determined to sign Flynn Downes in a permanent deal for Southampton before the start of pre-season next month following the midfielder's successful loan spell last season.

West Ham are seriously considering cashing in on Downes, but it remains to be seen whether they'll accept an offer worth less than the £15m that Southampton reportedly value the Englishman at this summer. Given that Downes has five years left on his current contract in London, the Hammers are in no position to accept a cut-price deal this summer.

If he is not in the plans of Julen Lopetegui however, then a move to Southampton certainly makes perfect sense, given just how much he impressed Martin last season.

"Important" Downes already has Martin approval

Having already worked together at Swansea City, Downes' loan spell at Southampton was a natural move for all involved and now a permanent deal should be the next step this summer. In Martin, the midfielder has quite the fan, with the Saints boss saying via the Daily Echo last season: "Flynn, yeah, I told you before I think he's the best in the league.

"This team has missed him so much when he hasn't played. We haven't been quite able to replace him when he has not played. I thought we all stepped up and Joe Rothwell came on at Leeds and was brilliant when Flynn did go off the pitch. But Flynn is really important and last weekend there were really important minutes for him. He got through it and now he'll be good."

After admitting just how much Southampton missed the West Ham man when he didn't play last season, Martin and those at St Mary's must recognise the importance of getting a permanent deal over the line this summer as they look to avoid Premier League relegation.

There are four parallels that can be drawn between Pat Cummins and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.The first one is that they achieved fame as teenagers, the Australian as an 18-year-old Test debutant in 2011 and the Indian as an 18-year old at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. The second one is that both are right-arm fast bowlers. Thirdly, they are part of the Kolkata Knight Riders, and finally both have had to deal with injuries after breakthrough outings.After suffering a stress fracture to the back, Cummins had to wait for nearly six years before he would play Test cricket again for Australia while Nagarkoti hasn’t played top-flight cricket at all since February 2018, having suffered ankle and back injuries. When Nagarkoti was undergoing rehabilitation in Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy, Rahul Dravid, who had coached him in the Under-19 World Cup, would often cite the example of Cummins – currently the world’s No. 1 Test bowler – to motivate him. Now that both men are sharing the same dressing room at Knight Riders, Cummins has some advice for Nagarkoti, who prepares to feature in his first IPL, having been sidelined since he was bought before the 2018 season.ALSO READ: Russell ideal for ‘last ten overs of a T20 game’ – McCullum“The big one that all the coaches and ex-players would advise you is a simple thing – you need to be patient,” Cummins told , when asked what advice he would like to give Nagarkoti. “It is really an easy thing to say and think of but an 18-year-old missing games is actually a very hard thing to live with.”You just need to have the trust that you might miss a season or two at the start of your career but you might end up playing till the age of 36 or 37, as opposed to 31 or 32. Everything that you do during this time, sets up the foundation block for a long and healthy career. Even when I was not playing, I used to hang out with my team-mates. 90% of the time I love cricket is because I can hang out with my mates.”Getty Images

For a kid growing up near the Blue Mountains and getting his New South Wales debut at 17, the initial stages of Cummins’ career had seemed rosy. He said “everything happened so quickly” at first, progressing from giving his school exams to playing first-class cricket a couple of weeks later. But the injury, too, came out of the blue, and it left him spending valuable summer days on the sidelines, while his friends and team-mates played cricket.”It was certainly a few tough years,” Cummins recalled. “Since I was six years old, summers for me would mean cricket. I will spend weekends and every day after school playing cricket. And then suddenly, I was a professional cricketer but I wasn’t playing any cricket during summer. It was all weird.”There were these great games at SCG I would feel like playing but I was injured. It was so close but because I was injured, I couldn’t even go and play backyard cricket. In terms of the schedule, just at the start of the Aussie summer, I would get injured and by the end of the summer, I would just be starting to get right. That’s how I would go and play overseas and again at the start of next summer I would get injured.”So, it was tough because I felt I was wasting so many years. But yeah, I again got back to my 100%. So, it was not like I felt I would never be able to bowl at the top level again. It was more of frustration for all the cricket that I was missing out on.”IPL 2020 will be Cummins’ second stint with the Knight Riders; he had been part of the set-up between 2014 and 2015 as well. He played only seven games across those two seasons, but would have a greater role to play this season as the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. He was sold for 15.5 crore (then approx. USD 2.1 million) in December 2019; Ben Stokes was the highest-paid overseas player before Cummins, having been picked up by Rising Pune Supergiant for INR 14.5 crore.Cummins is excited about bowling in different phases in T20 cricket. “The thing I love about T20 cricket is it’s ultra-attacking, or at the death, it’s ultra-defensive,” he said. “There is no middle ground. So, in T20 cricket, if you are an all-out bowler, you get to bowl any time of the match. That’s why I love the format.”

27 league wins. That's quite the tally, isn't it? Well, it's the most Arsenal have ever recorded in a single Premier League campaign.

Even better than the Invincibles you say? Yes. Even better than the double winners of 2001/02? Indeed.

Yet, it may not even be good enough to win a title. Should Mikel Arteta's merry Reds secure victory over Everton next Sunday then they will end the term on 89 points. It beggars belief that they could still finish second.

Alas, that is the eventuality that will befall them if Pep Guardiola's Manchester City juggernaut win their remaining games.

Arsenal will have to rely on a favour from their chums down the road. City face Tottenham away from home on Tuesday with that encounter likely the last plausible opportunity for them to drop points. They won't slip up against West Ham on the final day, surely? David Moyes and Co may as well be the Ibizan sun already.

Not winning the league will likely leave a sour taste in the mouths of supporters, but as Arteta put it in his post-match press conference on Sunday, we have witnessed history. Be proud of it, embrace it, lap it up, we are truly watching one of the greatest Arsenal sides in history; they now just need their crowning moment, their moment in the sun, to confirm it.

There have been many outstanding players in this Arsenal side. Bukayo Saka is chief among them on 20 goals but the defence deserve a shoutout; no team has kept more league clean sheets than the Gunners. Then there's summer signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, even Leandro Trossard, the scorer of the all-important goal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

You can't fault many players, although the display against United over the weekend was somewhat questionable. Who was to blame? Well, there was a disjointedness to central areas we haven't really seen very often. Rice was still productive, Martin Odegaard was perhaps a little off the pace but Thomas Partey did well to last as long as he did.

Thomas Partey's performance in numbers

This has been a funny old season for the former Atletico Madrid star. In the opening stages of the campaign he was fielded as a right-back. Yeah, remember that? Bizarre.

Anyway, the Ghanain picked up an injury in the first few months and it took until the Premier League run-in to re-establish himself in the side.

He has been absent for 26 matches in 2023/24 but has slowly started to remind fans of why he was such a well-valued player.

In the north London derby with Spurs, he was superb, notably succeeding with 93% of his passes, completing both of his dribble attempts and making two tackles.

Against United, however, he was wildly off the pace, very nearly costing Arsenal dearly in their bid to be crowned champions.

The central midfielder set the tone in the first half, gifting the ball away on a couple of occasions in dangerous areas. United could have punished the visitors, should have punished the visitors, but for some wasteful attacking plays.

Another nervy first-half moment came when Amad Diallo looked to have gone down under a clumsy challenge from Partey on the edge of the box. Fortunately, the Ivorian winger looked as though he merely stepped on the Arsenal man's foot. Still, he was a lucky boy. He didn't need to go to ground at all.

There was a further cause for concern in the second half. Partey tried to clear the ball but slipped inside his own penalty area. Thankfully, Arsenal were able to avoid danger.

On that evidence, you'd think the 30-year-old had come out of the game with poor statistics. He did not, however. The £45m signing still completed 93% of his passes, won both of his ground duels and only ceded possession on four occasions. However, the eye test told us all we needed to know.

Football.London's Kaya Kaynak handed him a 5/10 match rating, while the best summary came from CBS reporter James Benge who suggested that the midfielder was "playing like a relic from last season's Arsenal."

What he means by that is that there was an element of jeopardy to the side when he was in control of the ball. It's the same feeling supporters have felt with Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, and as such, why he has been benched in recent weeks.

Arteta has tried so hard this season to eradicate that, to get rid of all elements of risk. Yet, Partey demonstrated that very characteristic on Sunday. For the final game of the season, he should be given the boot, and with that, it could well be the last we see of him in Arsenal colours.

With just a year left on his deal, there are murmurs he will be shipped off permanently.

95% passing: Arsenal star was just as sensational as Saliba vs Man Utd

William Saliba was in top form as Arsenal beat Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

May 12, 2024

Marc Skinner claimed that it "feels like one club again" at Manchester United as the women's team boss hailed the impact of Sir Jim Ratcliffe & INEOS.

Article continues below

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Ratcliffe in charge of sporting affairs at Man UtdWomen's team moved into temporary buildings at CarringtonSkinner believes it is an upgrade for his sideWHAT HAPPENED?

The British billionaire shelled out £1.3bn for a 25 per cent stake in United, which gives him full control of the footballing operations of the club. Since Ratcliffe and INEOS completed the minority takeover, there has been talk of a major infrastructure upgrade which will see Old Trafford undergoing a major renovation and the training facilities at Carrington also boosted.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The £50 million overhaul of Carrington’s facilities has led to some logistical challenges for the women’s side, who, instead of being shifted to another permanent location, had to spend time at the prestigious St. George’s Park before being relocated into temporary establishments within Carrington. However, Skinner emphasised that the current arrangement is not a downgrade and brushed aside rumours that the women's team was suffering due to their temporary housing.

WHAT SKINNER SAID

"What is reported on the outside honestly could not be further from the truth. Everyone in our club has moved. They have all moved to incorporate the growth of Carrington," he said.

"We went to St. George's Park which was a brilliant experience as we got to gel together. But our training pitches that we will have every day are better than St. George's Park. Ours are newer. You would eat your breakfast off our pitches — they are incredible.

"[People say] 'We're training in barracks,' we're not training in barracks. We are training in a facility that has been built on site for our players. It has all been branded up today and the girls will move into it tomorrow.

"I didn't know what it would be like at first but knowing we're not downgrading any facilities — we've actually had an upgrade — and we would be seeing all of the teams, it feels like one club again. That's a really strong movement I think we needed and we've got it now."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, United appointed Omar Berrada from Manchester City as their new CEO and Dan Ashworth as sporting director after prising him way from Newcastle United. Skinner has lavished praise on both Berrada and Ashworth for their dedication to the women’s team in their first few months at the club.

"When Dan [Ashworth] first came in, I met him in the dinner hall with all the other members of the staff from men's first team and we spoke for an hour," Skinner said. "Nobody interrupted him in our conversation. When you've had a year of that relationship, it's hard to stop that. They all say hello and relationships are built by seeing each other more often. I hope that continues. Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada have been fantastic and have both come in with real energy to speak to the group. I cannot tell you how personable and authentic those conversations were. They genuinely love women's football and have a real burning ambition for it to be at the forefront of their direction. That will only improve."

سجل فريق الكرة بالنادي المصري الهدف الثاني أمام منافسه إنيمبا النيجيري في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما الآن ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

ويستضيف المصري نظيره إنيمبا النيجيري، على استاد قناة السويس، في الجولة الأولى من مجموعات الكونفدرالية.

وأضاف محمود حمادة الهدف الثاني له ولفريقه المصري في الدقيقة 74 من عمر اللقاء بتسديدة من على حدود منطقة الجزاء، ارتطمت بأقدام المدافعين ثم سكنت الشباك.

وجاء هدف المصري الأول في الدقيقة 5 عن طريق محمود حمادة أيضًا، بعد متابعة جيدة لتسديدة صوبها دغموم لترتطم بالدفاع وتعود لحمادة الذي يصوبها نحو المرمى.

وتشهد المجموعة الرابعة من الكونفدرالية صدامًا قويًا ومواجهات نارية، حيث جاء الزمالك والمصري في مجموعة واحدة، بجانب إنيمبا النيجريي وبلاك بولز بطل موزمبيق.

طالع | تشكيل المصري أمام إنيمبا في الكونفدرالية.. صلاح محسن يقود الهجوم

ويدخل المصري مباراته أمام إنيمبا مستغلاً عاملي الأرض والجمهور، للفوز وحصد النقاط الثلاثة من أجل تصدر المجموعة وفرض هيمنته مبكرًا والسعي للتأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي. هدف المصري الثاني أمام إنيمبا في الكونفدرالية

MatériaMais Notícias

Sem chance de se classificar para as quartas de final do Brasileirão sub-17, o Botafogo se despediu da competição com uma goleada sobre o Ceará por 4 a 0, no CEFAT, em jogo válido pela nona rodada. Kayan (2x), Kauê Leonardo e Bruno marcaram os gols da vitória da equipe carioca.

>ATUAÇÕES: Marco Antônio faz golaço e leva a maior nota do Botafogo

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Com o resultado, o Botafogo terminou o Campeonato Brasileiro sub-17 na nona colocação do Grupo A, com sete pontos conquistados. Em nove partidas disputadas, o Alvinegro somou duas vitórias, um empate e seis derrotas. A derrota mais expressiva, inclusive, veio na última terça-feira, quando a equipe de General Severiano foi goleada pelo Bahia por 7 a 2.

O Ceará, por sua vez, terminou a competição na décima (última) colocação do Grupo A, com três pontos conquistados. No total, o Vozão conseguiu apenas uma vitória, oito derrotas e nenhum empate. Junto com o Alvinegro Carioca, a equipe cearense teve o pior saldo do grupo (-14).

> Veja a tabela da Série B

Pelo regulamento do campeonato, 20 times são divididos em dois grupos de dez e se enfrentam entre si em turno único. Os quatro primeiros de cada grupo se classificam para as quartas de final, que serão disputadas – bem como a semifinal e a final – em jogos de ida e volta. Nessa fase, em caso de empate nos placares ou no saldo de gol ao fim das duas partidas, o vencedor será conhecido nos pênaltis.

Big picture

Well, here we are again, and that’s not meant in a ho-hum, repetitive sense, but rather in the enticing, stay-tuned-for-the-next-episode tone of a trilogy that promises to be a cracker if the cliffhanger first installment is any guide. The tension of South Africa’s one-run victory, achieved on the last ball of the contest in East London, hung largely on England’s collapse in the face of some brilliant death bowling by Lungi Ngidi.But the threads of a gripping tale were woven earlier in the hosts’ failure to capitalise on a flying start which saw them reach 105 for the loss of just one wicket off the first 10 overs before managing just 30 runs in the next five and 42 after that. England welcomed the return of Jason Roy, whose 70 off 38 balls made the pursuit of 178 for victory look infinitely achievable, while captain Eoin Morgan contributed 52 off 34 before he was left “fuming” with himself for holing out and leaving his side needing seven off the last over. Cue Ngidi’s nerveless display in which he conceded just five runs and claimed two wickets before Adil Rashid was run out on the last ball.So here we are, with South Africa claiming a 1-0 series lead, just as they did in the ODI series, which ended up 1-1 after rain forced the abandonment of the second match in Durban, the site of their next encounter, and England hit back in the final match. There is no doubt the tourists will come out fighting again on Friday. The fact that they only lost by one run – and Morgan acknowledged that Ngidi was the difference – will allow England to back themselves to put things right.But while England are the stronger side on paper, there is something to be said for the confidence boost such a win will give to a relatively inexperienced South Africa side. Should England level the series at Kingsmead, there is a sense that the hosts will enter the finale in Johannesburg on a less-than-level pegging in the self-belief stakes. Don’t forget, they had a 1-0 lead in the Tests, too…

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)South Africa WWLWW
England LTWLL

In the spotlight

Lungi Ngidi thrust himself into the spotlight with his 3 for 10 off two overs in the closing stages instrumental in England’s capitulation in the first match but can he back it up? England will be particularly wary of his slower ball, which brought them undone, and, if he looks like nailing it to the same effect in the next match, they will know to go after someone else. Ngidi must have found his resurgence particularly satisfying after sitting out the Test series against England with a hamstring tear. In his comeback match, the first ODI against England, he went wicketless in seven overs, conceding 42 runs. In the second, he bounced back with a final spell of 3 for 11 in four overs after his first five overs had cost 52. Following his star turn at East London, he was understandably keen to maintain a hold on his place in the side after so long on the sidelines, suggesting he could remain dangerous.England have handed Joe Denly a prized opportunity to stake his claim on a place at the T20 World Cup. Having gradually worked his way to some sense of security in the Test set-up and proved himself handy in the ODI format in South Africa, the jury is out on the shortest format. His T20I record is unspectacular, with 95 runs in 11 matches at an average of 10.55 and strike rate of 97.93 with a highest score of 30. But he was the leading run-scorer in the Vitality Blast in 2017 and was top again for Kent the following year, indicating his potential. There is no better time to fulfill that promise than now. Denly didn’t look comfortable in scoring just 3 while batting at No. 5 in the first T20I and he had a day to forget in the field. With Dawid Malan in the squad but so far unused, it is clear there are alternatives. That particular alternative may require shuffling the top order, but England have the versatility to do that.

Team news

It is hard to see South Africa changing a winning team, although they may look to lengthen their batting by bringing in Reeza Hendicks and dropping Dwaine Pretorius. Beuran Hendricks, used late, did enough with the ball to justify his retention, although Sisanda Magala will undergo yet another fitness test ahead of the match in hopes of throwing himself into the mix.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), 2 Temba Bavuma, 3 Reeza Hendricks, 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Jon-Jon Smuts, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Beuran Hendricks/Dwaine Pretorius, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi Ngidi.Given Eoin Morgan’s positive outlook on the defeat – being tested under pressure, learning from mistakes, and the narrow margin – it seems likely that England will stick with the same line-up to see if they can improve on their previous performance. This was backed up further by Morgan’s stated desire for “guys to get absolute clarity in their positions”, which makes sense with a T20 World Cup on the horizon, and confirmation that England would continue to play their strongest available XI for this series. Given the lack of potency England’s seamers showed in the Powerplay at East London, they could tinker with their attack, perhaps bringing in Sam Curran for brother Tom.England (possible): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jonny Bairstow, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Joe Denly, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran/Tom Curran, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood

Pitch and conditions

The good news is there is no rain forecast for Durban on Friday so there should be no repeat of last week’s ODI washout. The bad news is temperatures are expected to reach around 30 degrees – not bad, you say – but with humidity around an energy sapping 80% – not so pleasant.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have won their past three T20Is at Kingsmead and five of the seven completed T20 matches they have played there in total.
• Dale Steyn moved ahead of Imran Tahir as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is after both were tied on 61. He needs two more wickets to do it again in the overall standings, with Tahir’s tally of 63 including two wickets playing for a World XI.
• England have never won a T20 in Durban, although they haven’t visited since the 2007 ICC World T20, when they lost group matches to New Zealand and India, the latter featuring Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes off a Stuart Broad over en route to a record 50 off just 12 balls.

Quotes

“We don’t want a situation where we go to Centruion 1-1. We’ve probably got the upper hand on the English side at this point in time so it will be important that we use the advantage that we have and not to allow them to get back into the series.”
“It’s another challenge for us, we’ll have to try and come back with another counter plan to him or try and target somebody else.”