The Argentine midfielder arrives at The Herons at 31 after spending four seasons with Atlético de Madrid.
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They’ve met four times since 2018 – and Sri Lanka have won all four Test matches
Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Dec-2020Galle, 2018. Sri Lanka won by 278 runs
On their previous trip to Sri Lanka in 2014, Dale Steyn had twice scorched his way through the Sri Lanka middle order with the old ball, and delivered his team a series-defining win. This time, he was coming back from injury, and some distance from his best. But it wasn’t really South Africa’s bowlers that failed. Batting first, Sri Lanka made a respectable – but hardly imposing – 287. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne had made 158 of those runs off 222 balls, remaining not out as all of his teammates perished for 26 or fewer runs.South Africa’s response was to collapse, as they took their first step in what became a series-long commitment to zealously and spectacularly sucking against spin. Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers shared seven wickets while South Africa nosedived their way to 126 – Faf du Plessis a figure of lone but insufficient competence with 49. After Sri Lanka got back out and made 190, the visitors plummeted with even more dedication, getting out for 73 inside 29 overs.Karunaratne by himself made 217 through the course of the match; South Africa, 199.Colombo (SSC), 2018, Sri Lanka won by 199 runs
Where Galle has a reputation for taking turn fairly early in the game, there was not a lot wrong with the pitch at the SSC. Sri Lanka made 338 batting first, as South Africa’s quicks had a modest first innings, and Keshav Maharaj was left to pick up 9 for 129. But then, the batting. Dear god, the first-innings batting. Several members of the visiting top order seemed like they would struggle to make contact with a hangar door, let alone a bat. They were all out for 124, and seemed to be heading for a similar score in the second innings, when Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma came together at 113 for 5 and put on a 123-run partnership – de Bruyn going on to triple figures.Rangana Herath took his customary fourth-inning five-wicket haul, claiming 6 for 98. Some would later comment that despite there only having been two Tests, Sri Lanka basically won 3-0.Sri Lanka’s miracle man: Kusal Perera took Sri Lanka to a one-wicket win•Getty ImagesDurban, 2019, Sri Lanka won by one wicket
The most dramatic and compelling of the matches in this list. Almost two years later, it is still difficult to quite believe what transpired on the fourth day. Although South Africa were in control for much of the game, Sri Lanka vitally scrambled their way back into the match repeatedly. Some half-decent contributions from the lower order enabled the visitors to get within 50 runs of South Africa’s first-innings 235. Then, whenever a South Africa batting pair threatened to bed down for a big partnership, either the left-arm spin of Lasith Embuldeniya, or the left-arm swing of Vishwa Fernando, provided a breakthrough.But even with all that, this was still a crazy chase – Sri Lanka requiring 304 to win. In the 38th over, they were 110 for 5, with Steyn seemingly in scorching touch. But then Kusal Perera produced the greatest Sri Lankan innings, and arguably the best of all time. He quelled Kagiso Rabada, muted Duanne Olivier and, at times, laid into Steyn. When the ninth wicket fell, Sri Lanka still needed 78 and their chances of victory were vanishingly slim. Perera, though, lurched Sri Lanka closer by bludgeoning boundaries at the start of each over, before almost routinely taking the single off the fifth or sixth ball to protect his No. 11 Fernando. The second new ball became due with more than 30 still to get, but Perera squeaked Sri Lanka home sensationally, finishing on 153 not out.Port Elizabeth, 2019, Sri Lanka won by eight wickets
Where the pitches in Sri Lanka suited them, and the Durban match was won on the back of a once-in-a-lifetime innings, this victory perhaps represents Sri Lanka’s best team effort of the lot. Though shaken by the loss at Durban, South Africa were again in control early in this game, taking a 68-run first-innings lead.As had been the case in the first Test, though, Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept picking away at the South Africa batting order insistently, never letting the hosts establish a partnership greater than 60. And in the second innings (which started on the second day), the bowlers imposed themselves on South Africa to devastating effect, dismissing the opposition for 128, to set up a fourth-innings chase of 197.As 19 wickets had fallen on the second day alone (nine of those Sri Lanka’s across the first and second innings, with South Africa’s second dig sandwiched in between), the match seemed like it was headed for a thrilling finish. Sri Lanka needed 137 further runs on the third morning, with eight wickets remaining. Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando, however, batted with bracing freedom, and turned a tough chase into a cakewalk. They hit frequent boundaries off each of the home side’s vaunted quicks, and scored those 137 runs off 178 balls without losing a wicket. Mendis finished on 84 not out off 110; Oshada on 75 off 106.
Marcus Rashford's journey to Barcelona was "disrupted" by the Gallagher brothers, as Oasis booked out private travel from Manchester airport.
Forward en route to complete medicalOasis' homecoming shows finished on SundayRashford forced to depart from East Midlands airportFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
reports that the departing Rashford had hoped to travel from Manchester airport by private jet, ahead of his medical in Barcelona. He was unable to book a slot, as Liam Gallagher had a jet on standby, to whisk him back to his home in the south of France. The Gallaghers played the last of their Oasis homecoming gigs in Heaton Park on Sunday night.
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Rashford and his advisors had to drive 80 miles to East Midlands airport. The 27-year-old was eventually able to depart, and arrived in Barcelona shortly after 8 pm on Sunday evening. He is due to undergo a medical on Monday ahead of a season-long loan move from Manchester United, with an option-to-buy clause worth €30m (£26m/$35m).
WHAT SOURCE SAID
A source told : "Marcus’ travel plans were disrupted so it was all a bit stressful but he would have walked to Barcelona to sign for them.
“Noel and Liam can have a laugh that they accidentally put a spanner in the works.”
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Despite the disruption, Rashford remains on course to sign for La Blaugrana. He will likely be unveiled on Tuesday, pending the result of his medical, and could join Hansi Flick's squad for the club's pre-season tour of Asia.
The allrounder called Suryakumar’s leadership skills “amazing” for thinking out of the box
Andrew Fidel Fernando31-Jul-20241:44
Washington lauds Suryakumar’s ‘amazing leadership skills’
Sri Lanka needed nine to win off the last two overs in the third T20I. India still had the bowling of Mohammed Siraj to call on (Siraj had conceded just 11 off his first three overs). They also had one over from Khaleel Ahmed, who could have bowled the 20th.But with Kusal Perera still at the crease, captain Suryakumar Yadav went to the offspin of Rinku Singh, which had never before been seen in a T20 international. It worked out brilliantly – Perera first top-edging a cross-batted shot so badly, Rinku himself could get under it. Later in the over, Ramesh Mendis also holed out, to deep midwicket.Having watched Rinku concede only three runs and claim two wickets in a pressure over, Suryakumar made the decision to bowl his own offspin in the final over, taking two further wickets himself, and conceding only five to win the match.Related
Washington, Suryakumar, Rinku bowl India to Super Over win
Suryakumar after Super Over heist: I told the team I had seen such games
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After the match, Washington Sundar, the frontline offspin bowler in the team described this spell of captaincy as “amazing”. The pitch was taking big turn, and Sri Lanka were struggling hugely against the slow bowlers. Suryakumar gambled on two rank part-timers.”It was amazing from Surya and his leadership skills,” Washington said. “I think he felt given the situation if he bowled more spinners we’d have a good chance to win the game. Given the wicket and the situation, he took one or two options, and it did wonders for us.”There were only 12 balls to go and Kusal Perera was batting. Rinku got him out and Surya himself came on in the last over and almost won the game for us. We all know he has a big heart when he goes out there to bat, but he also has a big heart in leadership as well.”Washington himself then played a key role, bowling a Super Over in which he conceded just two runs, but took two wickets. In regular play he had taken 2 for 23.”Honestly, I had no idea I was going to bowl. It was after the batsmen walked out that Surya turned behind and said: ‘Washy, you’re on.’ I was very happy, to be honest. When the captain wants you to bowl especially in tough situations, in a Super Over. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to step up and win games for my country. Thank God it went well.”Although India didn’t seem capable of defending 137 for the vast majority of the chase, Suryakumar never lost hope, Washington said. Sri Lanka, at one stage, needed 28 runs off 28 balls, with nine wickets in hand. India would then set in motion a huge collapse.”Surya kept teling us that one or two wickets, and the game would definitely change,” Washington said. “In these kinds of wickets, in low-scoring games, even run-a-ball could be a lot of pressure on the batsmen because there’s something for the bowlers in the wicket.”He said one or two wickets in the middle overs would get us in the game, and that’s exactly what happened. I hope the audience enjoyed it because you will only see such games every now and then. To be a part of this game feels great.”
Javier Tebas, the outspoken president of La Liga, has launched a scathing attack on the newly-expanded Club World Cup, expressing his intent to see the month-long tournament scrapped altogether. With the 32-team event currently underway in the United States, Tebas has voiced strong opposition, particularly regarding its disruptive impact on domestic schedules and player welfare.
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Tebas vows to shut down CWCWill not allow Real Madrid to have extra restLa Liga will commence on August 16Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Spain’s two representatives in the Club World Cup, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, have had very different trajectories in the competition. Diego Simeone’s Atletico exited in the group stage, limiting the disruption to their preparations for the upcoming campaign. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have progressed to the quarter-finals and could be in action until the tournament’s conclusion on July 13.
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Should Los Blancos reach the final, it would consume nearly all of their usual rest period. With just over a month before the new season begins, Madrid's players face the risk of limited training time and no warm-up friendlies ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowWHAT TEBAS SAID
Tebas has made it clear that neither Real Madrid nor Atletico Madrid will receive any special scheduling allowances due to their Club World Cup participation.
"I will do everything possible to ensure it [the Club World Cup] doesn't happen again," he said, as reported by "The Club World Cup has created a competitiveness problem with the money that goes to those clubs involved. The competition is damaging the calendar for all teams. They ask for more days to rest, but they can earn €140 million (£121m/$165m) from the Club World Cup – double Alaves' budget – and then ask for time to prepare."
AFPDID YOU KNOW?
The upcoming domestic season has already been mapped out by La Liga. The campaign kicks off on the weekend of August 16–17, with Real Madrid beginning at home to Osasuna. The season is scheduled to end on May 24, 2026, allowing for a short break before the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Central Sparks ended their 50-over hoodoo against the Blaze with an emphatic 78-run victory on the opening day of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy season at Edgbaston. Eve Jones’ side had never beaten Blaze in the 50-over format but took advantage of the visitors’ long absentee list due to injury and international commitments to start the season in style.After choosing to bat, Sparks made a total that was decent rather than imposing after numerous batters made a start but didn’t build on it. Only Abi Freeborn, with 53 from 87 balls, stayed long enough against a disciplined attack led by Grace Ballinger and Sophie Munro.Blaze’s reply was then hit by a superb opening spell of 7-4-5-2 from Emily Arlott as they lurched to 14 for 3 in ten overs. Nadine de Klerk, just hours after landing in the UK from South Africa, resisted with 43 off 65 but was one of three victims for spinner Hannah Baker as Blaze’s depleted team subsided.Sparks’ innings started slowly in the face of a fine new-ball burst from de Klerk who conceded just four runs in her first four overs. When Jones tried to shed the shackles, she was bowled trying to flick Ballinger to leg.Chloe Brewer greeted the left-arm spin of Kirstie Gordon with a crisp reverse sweep for four but paid a high price for trying to repeat the shot to a ball which was too far up, falling lbw. Munro maintained the pressure for Blaze with an opening spell of 7-1-18-1 which included the removal of Davina Perrin, bowled off stump.Former Warwickshire allrounder Marie Kelly drifted a beauty past Ami Campbell to have her stumped but Freeborn advanced to a composed 82-ball half-century before missing a swipe at Munro and perishing, stumped by Ella Claridge. Katie George provided some late impetus with a 30-ball 32 with five fours before she was yorked by de Klerk.Sparks started superbly with the ball as Arlott and Issy Wong both conceded just two from their first two overs. Arlott opened with 5-3-4-2 after removing Teresa Graves, caught at mid-on, and Kelly, bowled behind her legs. Wong beat Munro for pace to win an lbw decision and when Claridge missed a slog at Bethan Ellis and was bowled, Blaze were 39 for 4 in the 18th over.De Klerk and Daisy Mullan, making her debut on a five-match loan from Thunder, halted the slide and added 51 in 77 balls before the introduction of Baker ended the revival. The spinner removed both in five balls, each time defeating an attempted cut as Mullan nicked to the wicketkeeper and de Klerk was bowled middle stump.Baker added a third wicket when Michaela Kirk ladled to deep midwicket where George, having shelled two earlier chances, this time held on.
Robert Lewandowski appears to have won his battle of wills with Michal Probierz after quitting international duty, with Poland’s manager resigning.
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da bet esporte： Crystal Palace have now made contact over a move for an “aggressive” defender, who could be available for just £5m, according to a report.
Palace eyeing defender amid Marc Guehi uncertainty
da betway： Marc Guehi’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, which means the upcoming transfer window will be Palace’s last chance to cash-in on the defender, and a number of Premier League clubs are in the race for his signature.
Chelsea are determined to win the race for Guehi, although the Blues may face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, who had a £70m bid knocked back in January, while Liverpool have also held talks over a potential deal.
As such, Oliver Glasner is likely to be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of targets have been identified, with IF Elfsborg’s Terry Yegbe recently becoming the latest player to be shortlisted.
Crystal Palace’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Manchester City (a)
April 12th
Newcastle United (a)
April 16th
AFC Bournemouth (h)
April 19th
Arsenal (a)
April 23rd
Nottingham Forest (h)
May 5th
The Eagles are leading the race for Yegbe, while they also hold an interest in Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof, who is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.
As we approach the summer transfer window, Palace are not short on centre-back targets, and a report from Argentina (via The Hard Tackle) has revealed they have now made contact over a deal for Independiente De Avellaneda’s Kevin Lomonaco.
Crystal Palace want to shock billionaire club in race for "complete" star
They could land an impressive coup…
1 ByTom Cunningham Apr 8, 2025
Lomonaco could be a low-cost addition to Glasner’s squad, given that he is valued at just €6m (£5m), and the south Londoners are keen on securing his signature, although they may face competition.
London rivals West Ham United have also made an approach for the 23-year-old, with the race for his signature starting to heat up ahead of the summer transfer window.
"Aggressive" Lomonaco impressing in Argentina
There are some signs the centre-back could be an exciting acquisition for Palace, given that he has received high praise from an Argentine football expert.
The “aggressive” defender is an imposing figure at a colossal 6 foot 4, which he clearly uses to his advantage in aerial situations, but it is also important that he seems to be good with his feet, which is important for any modern-day centre-back.
It would, of course, be a gamble to sign Lomonaco, given that he is unproven outside Argentina, but at just £5m, it could be a risk worth taking for Palace, who are in need of a replacement for Guehi.
Over the years, Chelsea Football Club has been the home to countless centre-forwards who have captured the hearts of the fanbase with their impressive displays on the pitch.
Eidur Gudjohnsen featured for the Blues over a six-year period, amassing over 250 appearances, but catching the eye with his finishing ability in the final third.
The former Iceland international netted 78 times during his time at Stamford Bridge, helping the club win multiple Premier League titles along the way.
He wasn’t the only talisman to impress during his time as a player, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring 87 times in 177 games in West London, cementing his own place in the club’s history books.
However, fast-forward to 2025, the club have lacked that focal point under Enzo Maresca, with the Italian yet to make his own stamp on the forward line since his summer appointment.
With Nicolas Jackson currently on the treatment table, Maresca has relied upon Frenchman Christopher Nkunku to lead the line for Chelsea over the past couple of weeks.
The 27-year-old has struggled for regular minutes after his £52m move from RB Leipzig in 2023, with an ACL injury halting his progress for the majority of last season.
However, he’s been handed multiple starts over the last couple of weeks, looking to fill the void left by the Senegalese international after his recent injury setback.
Nkunku has started each of the last four outings across all competitions, registering one goal and one assist, with both of his contributions coming in the recent 4-0 thrashing of Southampton.
He’s offered a temporary solution to the forward position, which the manager has desperately tried to bolster during his two transfer windows since his appointment.
However, the club may have been better off keeping hold of one player who certainly would’ve offered the focal point the Italian has craved in recent months.
Off the back of winning the Champions League back in 2020/21, Chelsea made some big-money investments, which saw numerous players depart from the Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku arrived in a £97.5m deal from Inter Milan, which resulted in Tammy Abraham leaving in a £34m deal to join Serie A side Roma, ending his long-standing affiliation with his boyhood club.
Whilst it was a superb fee to receive for an academy graduate, they parted ways with an impressive talent who has continued his goal-scoring form away from West London.
Abraham, who’s currently spending the season on loan at AC Milan, has registered 45 goals since his big-money departure, with eight of which coming during the ongoing campaign.
When comparing his underlying stats to those of Nkunku, the Englishman has outperformed the current first-team star, highlighting the mistake the Blues made in allowing him to leave the club.
|
How Abraham compares to Nkunku in 2024/25 so far |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Abraham |
Nkunku |
|
Games played |
21 |
23 |
|
Goals & assists |
4 |
5 |
|
Shot-on-target accuracy |
47% |
45% |
|
Aerials won |
2.4 |
1.4 |
|
Aerial success rate |
48% |
41% |
|
Tackles won |
1 |
0.5 |
|
Expected goals |
0.6 |
0.5 |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Abraham, who’s previously been labelled “sensational” by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has achieved a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate this season whilst also winning more of the aerials he’s entered.
He’s also registered a higher xG to date, finding himself in better opportunities to score than the Frenchman, offering that out and out presence they’ve desired over the past couple of months.
Given his form in Italy, the club certainly may have offloaded the 27-year-old too prematurely, having the tools to offer the needed focal point Maresca craves in West London.
However, unfortunately for the Blues, he will remain a case of what could’ve been had they kept hold of him, with Abraham thriving away from his boyhood with the added minutes he’s received after departing in 2021.
Not just Nkunku: Another "top talent" saved their Chelsea career this week
Another “top talent” has saved their Chelsea career this week after performance against Southampton
By
Connor Holden
Feb 27, 2025
MatériaMais Notícias
da mrbet： Em Sorocaba, o Red Bull Bragantino derrotou o São Bento por 3 a 0 e fechou com a melhor campanha da sua chave. O Bento vive uma realidade diferente e está rebaixado para a Série A-2.
Como fica?
Com 20 pontos conquistados, o Red Bull Bragantino fica na liderança da chave A e agora mede forças contra o Botafogo-SP, em Bragança Paulista.
Enquanto isso, o São Bento ficou com 10 pontos e na 15ª posição e está rebaixado para a Série A-2.
O Jogo
Com uma postura defensiva, o São Bento deu a bola ao Red Bull Bragantino e o Massa Bruta não decepcionou. Com apenas 11 minutos, Bruno Gonçalves fuzilou e colocou o time visitante em vantagem.
O Braga teve a chance de ampliar com Artur, mas o pênalti cobrado pelo atacante parou na defesa do goleiro Zé Carlos.
Nos acréscimos da etapa inicial, após um bate-rebate na área do São Bento, Gustavinho mandou para o fundo da rede, 2 a 0.
Nos 45 minutos finais o drama entrou em ação. Por conta da vitória da Portuguesa, o São Bento entrou na zona de rebaixamento e precisava reagir.
No auge do ‘desespero’, o time da casa teve a chance de diminuir com Branquinho, porém o jogador caiu sentado na hora de finalizar e não colocou a bola na rede.
Com a cabeça no lugar, o Bragantino manteve o controle do jogo e sacramentou a sua campanha na fase de grupos com Praxedes, que deu números finais ao duelo: 3 a 0.
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