خاض فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا لكرة القدم، مساء يوم الثلاثاء ضد خصمه فريق إنتر ميلان.
واستضاف ملعب “سان سيرو” مباراة فريق ليفربول وإنتر ميلان، في خضم منافسات الجولة السادسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، موسم 2025/26.
ودخل ليفربول تلك المباراة وهو يمتلك 9 نقاط فقط حيث تواجد في المركز الثالث عشر، في حين أن إنتر ميلان كان في المركز الرابع برصيد 12 نقطة.
وجاءت نتيجة مباراة فريقي ليفربول وإنتر ميلان بفوز صعب لصالح كتيبة آرني سلوت بهدف دون رد، عن طريق دومينيك سوبوسلاي من ضربة جزاء في الدقيقة 86 (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة من هنا). فرص ليفربول في التأهل إلى دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الفوز على إنتر ميلان
وقياسًا على وضع نسخة الموسم الماضي من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، احتاجت الفرق إلى 16 نقطة على الأقل من أجل ضمان التأهل مباشرة إلى دور الـ16 من البطولة، ويمكن قياس ذلك على الموسم الحالي.
وستحتاج الفرق، ذلك الموسم، إلى العدد نفسه من النقاط أو لن يتغير الوضع كثيرًا، وذلك من أجل الحصول على بطاقة التأهل المباشر إلى المرحلة المقبلة من دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويمتلك ليفربول حاليًا 12 نقطة، وتتبقى أمامه مباراتين في مرحلة الدوري، وذلك أمام أولمبيك مارسيليا وقره باج، في الجولتين السابعة والثامنة، في شهر يناير المقبل.
ومن ثم، يمتلك ليفربول حق تقرير مصيره بنفسه حيث يحتاج إلى 4 نقاط فقط للوصول إلى الحد الأدنى من النقاط المطلوب للتأهل المباشر إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا.
كما يجب الأخذ في الاعتبار مسألة فارق الأهداف، حيث يحتاج ليفربول إلى أن يكون لديه سجل مميز في هذا الصدد حال الاحتكام إلى ذلك الخيار عند تساويه مع أكثر من فريق في النقاط، لتحديد المتأهلين المباشرين.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been given a boost in their pursuit of a new goalkeeper, amid claims of an offer being made by Fosun.
Wolves’ search for new goalkeeper after Sa and Johnstone struggles
No club has conceded more Premier League goals than the Old Gold this season, with both Sam Johnstone and Jose Sa being used by former manager Vitor Pereira.
In the 11 top flight fixtures to date, Johnstone has made seven appearances, conceding 14 goals, whereas Sa has turned out four times, letting in 11 goals.
New manager Rob Edwards will have a decision to make ahead of his first game in charge against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but looking further down the line, it looks as if he is after a new first choice shot-stopper.
Two names have been mentioned since Edwards arrived from Middlesbrough, one of which is Manchester City’s James Trafford.
Down the pecking order just months after returning to the Etihad from Burnley, Wolves are one of numerous clubs keen on signing the £30m Englishman.
City are open to a loan with an obligation to buy or a permanent exit in the New Year, with one Wolves insider telling TEAMtalk: “We need a keeper who can grow with the team. Trafford fits the profile perfectly.”
An enquiry has even been made by the Old Gold, although Trafford has his eyes on a move to Newcastle in 2026.
Meanwhile, Lazio’s Christos Mandas is another option for Wolves and Fosun as they look for a new ‘keeper, with Wolves ‘offering an initial loan deal with an option to buy’ for the Greece international which could be worth up to £8m.
Now, a new update has emerged regarding Mandas’ future, which looks likely to be away from Lazio if he gets his wish.
Wolves given boost in pursuit of Christos Mandas
According to a report from La Lazio Siamo Noi, Mandas is becoming a man in demand and has actually asked to leave Lazio in 2026.
La Liga side Getafe are in the race for the shot-stopper, alongside Wolves and their Premier League rivals West Ham and Bournemouth.
Mandas is expected to leave in search of more game time as he is yet to make an appearance in 2025/26 after featuring 18 times last season, nine of which came in the Europa League.
His agent Diego Tavano heaped praise on Mandas last year, calling him a “strong” and “great player”.
“Mandas is a strong player who had several suitors in Italy. Lazio were the fastest to act and he believed it was the right choice. Initially, the club considered sending him back to OFI Crete on loan, but then Sarri decided to keep him. He is a great player who has now established himself and I’m happy because it was not easy to fit in – he has been great this season.”
Wolves could be the club to offer him regular first-team football given Johnstone and Sa’s struggles and the fact Trafford doesn’t fancy a move to the Midlands.
Wolves now in advanced talks to sign maestro who could be Edwards' first signing
Also picked is batter Karima Gore, who has represented USA in eight T20Is
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025
Akeal Hosein will be leading West Indies for the first time•Getty Images and Cricket Australia
West Indies have named five uncapped players in a 15-member squad to face Nepal in three T20Is in Sharjah later this month. With several first-choice names, including regular captain Shai Hope, rested, West Indies will be led by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.The five uncapped players are top-order batter Ackeem Auguste, batting allrounder Navin Bidaisee, legpsinner Zishan Motara, left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds, and wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo. Also picked is batter Karima Gore, who has represented USA in eight T20Is, but is yet to play for West Indies.Gore impressed for his franchise Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the ongoing CPL 2025, where he scored 219 runs in 11 matches.Apart from Hosein, the experienced members of the squad include Fabian Allen, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers. Hosein, who has played the most T20Is among the squad members, will be leading West Indies for the first time across formats.In April 2024, West Indies A had toured Nepal for five T20s. Although the hosts lost the series, they still beat the visitors in two matches.The first T20I between West Indies and Nepal begins on September 27, with the next two matches on September 29 and 30.West Indies squad for Nepal T20IsAkeal Hosein (capt), Fabian Allen, Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Navin Bidaisse, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Jason Holder, Amir Jangoo, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Zishan Motara, Ramon Simmonds and Shamar Springer
The New York Mets might feel like they snuck away with something after taking Game 1 of their NLDS matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, 6–2. They had to score all six of those runs in two innings with Phillies ace Zach Wheeler keeping their offense muted in a seven-inning, one-hit, scoreless start.
The Mets, at one point projected as a shot to even make the playoffs, are in it, and have stolen home field advantage from the Phillies. While they might have every reason to be excited, manager Carlos Mendoza is keeping the focus on the business ahead of them.
"It's one game," was Mendoza's blunt message to the team after a huge meaningful win. "We've got to come back [Sunday], and we've got to do it again, but it's a good start."
Though Mendoza is right that, grand scheme, it's just one game, it was a particularly big one. Still, it's best for the manager to keep his team focused on what's ahead, with the Mets still hopeful to secure 10 more wins for the ultimate goal of a World Series trophy.
Mahika Gaur claims 3 for 15 to limit visitors but Lancashire comes unstuck before thrilling finale
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Jul-2025
Mahika Gaur claimed a three-wicket haul•Getty Images
Alana King hit the last ball of the match for six as Lancashire Thunder and Somerset signed off their Vitality Blast campaign with a thrilling tie at Blackpool CC.Mahika Gaur produced a T20 career-best of 3 for 15 to spearhead a destructive start by the Thunder that reduced Somerset to 43 for 5 in a 17-overs-per-side game that started an hour late after some Thunder players became caught up in severe traffic congestion on the north-west motorways. Sophie Luff and Alex Griffiths mounted a rescue act with a 56-run partnership that took the visitors to a more prosperous 114 for 7 with Somerset skipper Luff making 36 and Griffiths finishing 29 not out.Lancashire looked to be in good shape at 57 for 1 in the tenth over of their reply but Griffiths snared Seren Smale for 25 before two wickets in two balls by Amanda-Jade Wellington in the 13th over pegged back the Thunder to 78 for 4. Wellington struck a third time to remove Ailsa Lister for 17 at the start of the 16th over and with 13 needed off the last and seven from the final ball Somerset looked set to win a second Blast game of the season. King swung the final ball from Mollie Robbins over the backward square leg ropes to produce a most unlikely tie.Eve Jones and Smale had made a positive start to the Lancashire Thunder run chase taking 34 from 28 balls, Jones twice driving Robbins for four but then skying a catch off Ellie Anderson to wicketkeeper Bex Odgers for 18.Smale reverse pulled and then swept Wellington for four in the ninth over to break the shackles exerted by some tight bowling, but hit the third ball from Griffiths to Wellington at mid-off for 25 in the next to have Lancashire 57 for 2 needing 58 more from 43 balls.Wellington built on that breakthrough with two wickets in two balls having Tilly Kesteven, who earlier had driven the first two balls she faced for four, stumped for 19 and Fi Morris bowled by a ball that spun and kept low. That left Lancashire needing 37 off 28 balls with 20 runs chipped away by Ellie Threlkeld and Lister before the latter edged Wellington to Olivia Barnes at short third for 17.With 13 runs needed off the last over, Robbins bowled Threlkeld for 11 with the first ball and had Tara Norris caught by Luff from the second. Two dropped catches followed with King and Darcey Carter scampering six runs to leave seven required from the last ball before King’s astonishing six squared up the game.After the delayed start to the match, Thunder captain Threlkeld opted to bowl first and the first over proved eventful with Odgers hitting Tara Norris for six over square leg, then dropped at gully off the next ball, but caught by Carter at extra cover two balls later.Gaur then struck twice in three balls immediately after the 5.1 over powerplay ended, bowling Niamh Holland for 8 with an inswinger while Fran Wilson was caught in spectacular fashion by Eve Jones at cover. When Ruby Davis chipped King to a diving Lister at short extra cover for 12, Somerset were in early difficulties and their situation worsened when Wellington, having driven her first ball for four, tamely chipped the next one from Gaur to Grace Potts at mid-on to leave Somerset 43 for 5 after 8 overs.Luff and Griffiths stemmed the clatter of wickets with a vital 56-run partnership, although Griffiths was fortunate to escape when dropped on 4 off Carter.Luff was the chief instigator, easing Carter for four over extra cover and bringing up the fifty partnership from 39 balls with a fierce drive for four off Potts before she was well caught next ball by Norris diving forward at mid-off having made 36 off 30 balls.Griffiths struck some late runs to finish unbeaten on a run-a-ball 29 with 11 runs coming from the final over to give Somerset a total of 114-6 that had looked unlikely earlier in the afternoon. The tied result was an even more unlikely outcome in a thrilling finale.
Celtic centre-forward Kelechi Iheanacho has had a mixed start to life at Parkhead after his move to the club on a free transfer the day after deadline day.
The Nigeria international was signed around 24 hours after Sevilla decided to terminate his contract before the end of the summer transfer window, after the Hoops failed to bring in a striker before the deadline.
Iheanacho has delivered three goals and one assist in six matches in all competitions for the Scottish giants since his move to Glasgow, which is a respectable return on paper.
However, two of his goals have come from the penalty spot and the former Manchester City marksman has missed four ‘big chances’ from open play, per Sofascore.
Brendan Rodgers may be hoping that there is more to come from the left-footed attacker from open play in the weeks and months to come, to avoid having to dip into the market in January to sign another first-choice striker.
The Hoops did sell their first-choice centre-forward in the January transfer window at the start of this year, Kyogo Furuhashi, but opted not to replace him.
Why Celtic did not replace Kyogo Furuhashi
Celtic decided to cash in on the Japan international midway through the 2024/25 campaign after Rennes came to the table with an offer of £10m to sign the attacker.
The Scottish Premiership giants sold him to the French side for £10m, despite him being the first-choice striker at the club, and ended the window without bringing a direct replacement through the door.
Celtic were reportedly in talks with Brondby over a deal to sign Danish centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden before the end of the window, but they were unable to get a move over the line. He then signed for Norwich City for £6.9m this summer.
Losing Kyogo was a blow on paper, because he scored 85 goals in 165 matches for the club (Transfermarkt), but his declining form suggests that they got a good deal for him.
Kyogo’s decline at Celtic
Kyogo (Premiership)
22/23
23/24 + 24/25
Appearances
36
60
xG
20.55
32.73
Shots
88
164
Shots on target
42
69
Goals
27
24
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, the Japanese forward was incredibly wasteful in front of goal in his last 18 months at the club, underperforming his xG by almost nine goals.
This is why his exit was not as big a blow as it would have been after the 2022/23 campaign, which may also be why the club felt that they did not have to directly replace him.
Celtic star is ready to leave the club
Moving forward to the present day, one of the players who was tasked with replacing Kyogo’s goals in-house is now looking to leave the club in the upcoming January transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, versatile Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda wants to move on from the Scottish giants ahead of the second half of the season.
Speaking to 67HailHail, the reporter said: “Maeda is ready to leave and I am told a move to England is very much on his radar, and he does have interest.
“Whether Celtic will let him out in January remains to be seen, but he will only have a year left come the summer and at that point he will go.”
This comes after Maeda revealed that a move away from Parkhead was blocked by the club during the summer window, which led Rodgers to claim that it has been a “difficult” situation for the forward to manage since the window closed.
Why losing Maeda would be a bigger blow than Kyogo's exit
It would be a bigger blow for Celtic to sell the Japan international in the upcoming January transfer window than it was to sell Kyogo to Rennes at the start of this year, for several reasons.
Firstly, the Hoops do not have the attacking options across their frontline that they did to soften the blow of losing Kyogo. They signed Jota from Rennes, Adam Idah scored 20 goals in all competitions last season, and they had Maeda.
Now, Jota is currently out with an ACL injury, Idah was sold to Swansea on deadline day, Sebastian Tounekti, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, James Forrest, and Hyun-jun Yang are all yet to score a league goal, and Iheanacho has scored one goal from open play.
Celtic’s top scorers (25/26 Premiership)
Player
Goals
Benjamin Nygren
4
Daizen Maeda
2
Kelechi Iheanacho
2
Johnny Kenny
1
Luke McCowan
1
Reo Hatate
1
Via WhoScored
This means that Rodgers may not have the confidence that he had when Kyogo left that the players he already has at his disposal can cover the goals that the team would lose if Maeda moved on.
Another reason why the winger’s exit from Parkhead would be a bigger blow than Kyogo’s move to Rennes is that his recent form for Celtic has been more impressive than the striker’s was at the end of his time in Glasgow.
Maeda won the Scottish Premiership Player of the Year award for the 2024/25 campaign just five months ago, after scoring 33 goals in all competitions last season, per Transfermarkt.
Kyogo did not make it into the Team of the Year, let alone the Player of the Year conversation, in the 2024/25 or 2023/24 campaigns, which shows that he left Celtic 18 months after his ‘prime’.
Maeda, who was lauded as “phenomenal” by former Rangers boss Barry Ferguson, is only a few months away from being crowned the best player in Scotland and is the team’s second-top scorer in the Premiership at the moment, having scored the winner against Motherwell last weekend.
This is why losing him in January would be an even bigger blow than losing Kyogo was, because he is more important to the team, because of his performances and because of the supporting cast, than his international teammate was at the start of the year.
As bad as Ralston: Celtic flop is in danger of becoming the next Forrest
One of Celtic’s players is in danger of becoming the next James Forrest at Parkhead.
ByDan Emery Oct 8, 2025
If Maeda does get his wish and moves on from Parkhead in January, Celtic and Rodgers may not be able to afford not to replace him with a new signing.
Chelsea are now ready to open agent talks to sign a “spectacular” forward, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Blues keen on new winger amid slow start for Gittens
Jamie Gittens arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £51.5m deal back in July, but it would be fair to say the winger has made a slow start to life in west London, having failed to record a goal or an assist in his opening four Premier League games.
After struggling against Brentford, touching the ball just 17 times, the 21-year-old has been rested for the last two matches, with Enzo Maresca opting not to call upon the left-winger at Old Trafford, despite the Blues trailing for most of the game.
Gittens still has plenty of time to prove himself ahead of the January transfer window, but the west Londoners have now set their sights on a new winger, who could push for a starting spot on the left-wing.
Chelsea now set to open talks to sign "baller", Maresca thinks he's ideal
The Blues are planning to enter discussions to sign a new midfielder.
By
Dominic Lund
Sep 21, 2025
That is according to a report from Bianconera News (via Sport Witness), which states Chelsea have ‘come knocking’ for Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, who is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal and Manchester United also keen.
Such is the Blues’ level of interest, they are now ready to open talks with his agents over a deal, but it could be difficult to prise Yildaz away from Juventus, given that the Italian club are reluctant to sanction a departure, and have started working on a new contract.
The report doesn’t state how much the Serie A side are looking to receive, but it may take a huge bid to get a deal over the line, with Maresca’s side having a £61m offer knocked back during the summer transfer window.
"Spectacular" Yildiz could be Gittens upgrade
The 20-year-old has made a flying start to the new Serie A campaign, picking up four goal contributions in his opening four games, while also finding the back of the net against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Scout Jacek Kulig has also lauded the youngster for his ability to make “spectacular solo runs”, and he has outperformed Gittens across a number of key attacking metrics over the past year.
Average per 90
Jamie Gittens
Kenan Yildiz
Assists
0.10
0.21
Progressive passes
4.36
3.47
Shot-creating actions
4.36
2.04
As such, Yildiz could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, but it may take a huge offer to get a deal done, given that a £61m bid was knocked back during the summer, and the Turk is yet to prove himself over a long enough time period to justify paying that sort of fee.
Dom Goodman’s maiden first-class five-wicket haul inspired a Gloucestershire fightback on a fluctuating day two of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match with Leicestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Shortly after lunch, Division Two’s early season pace-setters Leicestershire looked well placed to post a sizeable first-innings lead. Having reached 200 for 5 in response to the hosts’ first-innings total of 252, the visitors looked well in command if perhaps not fully in control.The Gloucestershire pace attack would have been legitimately scratching their heads at the lunch interval having only managed to pick up one wicket during a morning session in which they beat the bat with almost comedic regularity.Resuming on 91 for 4, Leicestershire’s experienced pair of Lewis Hill and Ian Holland were given a testing examination of both technique and ticker on a pitch which continued to offer pace and bounce for the seam bowlers.Goodman and Ajeet Singh Dale bowled with skill and aggression but very little luck as they watched the Leicestershire batters continuously play and miss during the opening exchanges. Goodman did find the edge of Hill’s bat at the end of the morning’s third over, only for the ball to sail waist-height through the vacant third slip area.When the Leicestershire batter released the shackles shortly after with consecutive fours through the offside to bring up his half-century from 96 balls, it looked like Gloucestershire Captain Cameron Bancroft may live to regret his rather conservative cordon. But Goodman soon enticed another edge from Hill, and this time Bancroft took a smart catch, tumbling low to his right at second slip, and Gloucestershire’s 24-year-old paceman had picked up his third wicket of the innings and reduced the visitors to 119 for 5.Despite looking like a wicket might fall almost every ball, that early breakthrough proved to be the only one during the opening session. The battling Holland, together with Leicestershire’s wicketkeeper-batter Ben Cox, somehow managed to negotiate the remainder of the morning session without further damage. In the over before lunch, Holland’s patience and perseverance saw him bring up a gritty half-century from 134 balls, as Leicestershire reached the break seemingly well-placed at 189 for 5.But Gloucestershire, led by young seamer Goodman, roared back during the afternoon session. First, he pinned Holland lbw for 52, before producing an absolute beauty, which angled in and nipped away to hit the top of Logan van Beek’s off-stump. It was a perfect delivery and brought him his maiden first-class five-wicket haul in style, reducing Leicestershire to 206 for 7 in the process.The Foxes’ tail was further exposed when Ben Cox was forced to retire hurt on 36 having been struck in the ribs by a nasty Zaman Akhter nip-backer. And when Roman Walker was bowled by Josh Shaw for a six-ball duck and Ben Green fell to Ben Charlesworth in similar fashion for 21, the visitors had slipped to 237 for 9 and suddenly faced the prospect of a first innings deficit.Cox returned, however, to complete a gutsy half-century and guide Leicestershire beyond 250 and to their first batting bonus point. When he was bowled through the gate by Singh Dale for 53, the innings closed on 262, providing Leicestershire with a slender first-innings lead of 10 runs. It was a deserved wicket for Singh Dale who had run in hard all day for little reward, but it was the mightily impressive and metronomic Goodman, making his first appearance of the season, who will quite rightly take the plaudits, finishing with 5 for 54 from his 20 overs.In reply, Gloucestershire found themselves 9 for 1 after Ben Charlesworth feathered an edge to Leicestershire captain and stand-in wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb off the bowling of Holland. But skipper Bancroft and Ollie Price, who fell to the impressive Holland during the penultimate over of the day, fought hard to steer the home side to 88 for 2 at the close, a lead of 78.Leicestershire will hope that late wicket has swung the pendulum back in their direction but with Bancroft still at the crease this hugely absorbing contest remains firmly in the balance.
Oliver Peake demonstrated his credentials as a long-term Test prospect with a fighting half-century in his first-class debut to top-score for Victoria on a tough WACA surface against Western Australia in a pivotal Sheffield Shield match.Victoria made 197 with their first innings dominated by a 94-run fourth-wicket partnership between the highly-touted Peake and Peter Handscomb. WA had a tricky 15-minute period at the crease before stumps on day one and they lost skipper Sam Whiteman caught down the legside off Will Sutherland for a duck.It was a good fightback from Victoria led by Peake. Coming to the crease at 5 for 2 in the seventh over, the left-handed batter was unflustered by the conditions and WA’s strong attack to finish with 52 off 168 balls.The 18-year-old showcased solid defence and good judgement on a wicket doing plenty for the bowlers. The diminutive Peake was finally dismissed early in the final session after edging offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli to first slip. Having made his BBL debut this summer, Peake was a development tourist with Australia’s Test squad in Sri Lanka last month.”It was really tough, but it was good to get in a partnership with Pete and see how a true professional goes about it. Took plenty out of it,” said Peake, whose father Clinton – a former first-class cricketer – was in attendance. “We batted pretty well to make 197 on that wicket, so we would take that.”Both teams remain in the race to play South Australia in the final starting on March 26, but will need an outright victory and also Queensland and New South Wales to not win their respective matches.With a very green pitch unveiled and grey clouds lurking above, Whiteman had no hesitation to bowl first. He had to be satisfied with his decision after the first delivery when left-arm quick Joel Paris beat the outside edge of Campbell Kellaway, who entered in form after scores of 79 and 77 last week against South Australia.With the ball seaming wickedly around and rearing off the surface, the Victoria openers had a torrid time and former Test opener Marcus Harris succumbed for 2 after Cameron Bancroft took a sharp catch at second slip off Cameron Gannon.Blake Macdonald was then bowled by a cracking inswinging delivery from left-arm quick Joel Paris, who was typically accurate with the new ball.Peake had the toughest of initiations, but his nerves eased when he got off the mark after a fumble from Cooper Connolly at point allowed him an easy single that was greeted with cheers from his team-mates in the terraces.But Peake couldn’t add to his tally for some time as he focused on firm defence to repel the threat. Peake did lose concentration when he tried to bludgeon Paris and he was fortunate to not get an edge.With speedster Lance Morris missing the match due to load management, Whiteman in the 12th over turned to Rocchiccioli who enjoys coming in early due to his knack of producing bounce.He proved a handful as he spun the ball sharply past the bat on several occasions. The bowling changes worked a treat with quick Brody Couch – a like-for-like replacement for Morris – striking in his first over after trapping Kellaway lbw with a full delivery that was spearing down the legside.Kellaway was dismayed at the dismissal as Victoria slumped to 20 for 3. But Handscomb mustered his wealth of experience and provided a steadying presence alongside Peake as they fought through to lunch.Much like last week’s drawn match between WA and NSW at the WACA, batting appeared to become easier against an older and softer ball. But runs continued to be hard to find with just three boundaries hit in the first half of the day’s play.With the match in a stalemate, Whiteman brought on Hilton Cartwright whose handy seam bowling these days hovers at speeds of around 125 kph. But he hit a divot with his first ball that climbed steeply and whacked Handscomb on the thumb of his left hand.Handscomb dropped his bat immediately and sought medical attention, but resumed batting and soon after – on his 103rd delivery faced – cracked his first boundary of the innings when he hit Gannon through point.Peake’s third boundary was his best with a lovely cover drive off Cartwright and just before tea he reached his half-century off 153 balls in a landmark that was well appreciated by his team-mates.But the break halted their momentum and the match flipped on resumption with Handscomb on 48 edging the hard-working Rocchiccioli to short leg. It triggered a collapse with Peake finally falling and Harry Dixon, another high-rated youngster, also falling to Rocchiccioli, who has a knack of taking wickets in clumps.Rocchiccioli clinched his second five-wicket haul of his first-class career when Gannon took a blinder of a catch high to his right at slip to dismiss Peter Siddle.Returning after a long stint abroad, where he made his Test debut and opened in the Champions Trophy semi-final against India, Connolly bowled just two overs and was wicketless.Victoria are without spearhead Scott Boland, who did not travel to Perth as he manages knee soreness, with former WA quick David Moody playing his first Shield match in two years.
O lateral-esquerdo Reinaldo viveu um mês especial em junho. Aos 33 anos, ele mostrou que vive grande fase ao contabilizar atuações que renderam importantes pontos somados pelo Grêmio, além de prêmios individuais. Só em junho foram três assistências de Reinaldo – duas delas para o uruguaio Luis Suárez – além de um gol, justamente contra o São Paulo, seu ex-clube.
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– Foi um mês mágico mesmo para mim. Fico muito feliz, a gente vem trabalhando todos os dias para conseguir fazer isso e ajudar o clube. E as assistências só saem porque eu tenho companheiros muito bons, facilita para quem dá os passes. Jogar com o Suárez é muito fácil, é um jogador muito diferente -, afirma Reinaldo, eleito pelo Sofascore para a seleção do mês do Brasileirão e também como melhor jogador do país em junho.
Antes de junho, ainda no fim de maio o Grêmio viveu uma reviravolta positiva a partir da vitória sobre o Internacional, por 3 a 1, no clássico. Depois, venceu o Athletico-PR fora de casa em jogo que também teve assistência de Reinaldo, em cobrança de escanteio, e fechou o mês com a vitória no Mineirão, que eliminou o Cruzeiro da Copa do Brasil.
– Aquele jogo contra o Cruzeiro, para mim, foi muito importante para sentir o que era o Grêmio. Jogar aqui tem sido muito bom para mim. Tem sido um período muito bom da minha vida e eu quero que isso continue -, acrescentou.
Os resultados recentes do Grêmio, com a ajuda de Reinaldo, fizeram com que o clube chegasse à vice-liderança do Brasileirão, atrás apenas do Botafogo e à frente de Flamengo, Palmeiras e Fluminense após 12 rodadas. Agora, o clube também se prepara as fases decisivas da Copa do Brasil, torneio que o Tricolor Gaúcho já venceu cinco vezes.
– Eu vim para o Grêmio porque sabia que poderíamos brigar por títulos. Foi assim no Campeonato Gaúcho e agora sei que podemos mais. A Copa do Brasil é um título que eu quero muito, e que tem a cara do Grêmio. Mas antes temos que por todo nosso foco no duelo com o Bahia pelo Brasileiro. Um jogo por vez, assim vamos seguir brigando pelas duas competições- , falou Reinaldo.
O Grêmio viaja a Salvador nesta sexta para dois confrontos seguidos diante do Bahia. Neste sábado (1), às 18h30, o confronto será pela 13ª rodada do Brasileirão. Já na terça (4), novamente na Fonte Nova, o duelo de tricolores será pelas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil.