Newcastle beat Tottenham to move into Premier League top four

Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson celebrates, with Miguel Almiron, after scoring against Tottenham, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain, October 23, 2022. (Reuters)
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Updated 23 October 2022
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Newcastle beat Tottenham to move into Premier League top four

  • Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron were on target for the Magpies, who have only lost once this season
  • Harry Kane pulled a goal back for Tottenham, but a second damaging defeat in five days leaves them five points behind leaders Arsenal

LONDON: Newcastle United sent shockwaves around the Premier League, presenting themselves to the top flight top four party with a shock 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
And with that, United climbed to fourth spot - a Champions League slot - having beaten the side who sat fourth in the table thanks to goals from Callum Wilson and on-fire Miguel Almiron. Harry Kane got a second-half consolation for the home side.
Many expected changes to the United side after a tough week with four points well earned against Manchester United and Everton, but Eddie Howe made just one, bringing in Joe Willock to the Newcastle midfield, with Joelinton shifting out to the left and Jacob Murphy dropping on to the bench.
As is to be expected at places like Spurs, United had to weather a real storm early doors.
The Magpies were pinned back by the class of Son Heung-min and Kane, but held their ranks - and their proud goals conceded record.
Although, they did have to call on the very best Nick Pope could offer twice in the opening 25 minutes.
The first save, from Son, found by partner-in-crime Kane, split the Newcastle backline like it rarely has been this season. A fingertip stop from the United keeper ricocheted towards goal but, as ever, Trippier was on hand to clear off the line.
Ryan Sessegnon went close with a low drive - which Fabian Schar was equal to - and Eric Dier almost pinged a back pass into his own goal before England stopper Pope was again the star of the show.
Kane dropped the shoulder and beat a man before cracking low with his left but the long, levering legs of Pope were equal to it, as the keeper smashed away the clearance under pressure.
Having got through the worst of it, the attack-minded, progressive, high-pressing United began to impose itself on the encounter.
And they were rewarded when Wilson, albeit fortuitously in some views, grabbed the lead.
A Schar ball over the top saw Wilson close down Hugo Lloris, a miscontrol from the France captain saw Wilson pounce and clip the ball in from 25 yards. It was his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign.
The 3,000 travelling Geordies were in dreamland before the break when in-form Newcastle made it two - and it was their man of the moment, Almiron.
A Lloris error saw Sean Longstaff win a header on the touchline, and find Almiron, who outstretched Emerson Royal on the right and went at the Spurs back three, jinking left he only had Lloris to beat and cool and calm, as has become his trademark, the Paraguayan slotted underneath the sprawling goalie.
It felt like Spurs would come out with a bang after the break but it was United who started on the front foot and had seven shots at goal before Spurs recorded their own. However, it was that effort that welcomed in a goal for Antonio Conte's men.
A corner from the United right was flicked on at the front post by Rodrigo Betancur and turned in by Kane, who got himself ahead of Trippier at the back post. The VAR check, as has so often fallen in Newcastle's favour, did not this time and many braced themselves for a late siege.
In fairness, it didn't ensue as United's defensive resolve - they've kept the most clean sheets in the division in the opening 12 games - held firm.
Some clever gamesmanship saw out time as United, inspired by the brilliance of Bruno Guimaraes in the middle, Joelinton on the let and Fabian Schar at the back, claimed all three points in the capital.
That win saw the Magpies climb to fourth spot and maintain their remarkable record of losing just once in the opening 13 games of the campaign, in all competitions.
It's onwards and upwards for Howe's Mags - and on this evidence, it is impossible to gauge just how far he will take them.


Pakistan to announce T20 squad for England, Ireland series today as World Cup looms

Updated 34 sec ago
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Pakistan to announce T20 squad for England, Ireland series today as World Cup looms

  • Pakistan will face Ireland in three T20Is from May 10-14, England in four T20Is from May 22-30
  • Pakistan will use both series to prepare for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 slated for June 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would announce the national T20 squad for Pakistan’s upcoming away series against Ireland and England today, Thursday, with exactly a month to go before the T20 World Cup kicks off in June.
Pakistan will play three T20Is against Ireland in Dublin from May 12-14 before they take on 2022 World Champions England from May 22-30 in a four-match series.
The series will be an important one for Pakistan and England as both prepare for the T20 World Cup scheduled to kick off from June 2 in the US and West Indies. Pakistan’s matches against England will be played at Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and The Oval.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board will hold a media conference at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday to announce Pakistan men’s cricket team for the tours of Ireland and England,” the PCB said in a press release.
The announcement will be made by the Men’s National Selection Committee at 11:15 a.m., the board said. 
Skipper Babar Azam’s side last week won their fifth T20 match against New Zealand in Lahore by nine runs to draw the series 2-2. 
Pakistan will begin their campaign for the T20 World Cup against the United States on June 6 before facing India in New York for a high-voltage clash. 
Schedule for Ireland, England series:
10 May – v Ireland, 1st T20I, Dublin
12 May – v Ireland, 2nd T20, Dublin
14 May – v Ireland, 3rd T20I, Dublin
22 May – v England, 1st T20I, Leeds
25 May – v England, 2nd T20I, Birmingham
28 May – v England 3rd T20I, Cardiff
30 May – v England, 4th T20I, The Oval


Fuellkrug outshines Mbappe to hand Dortmund Champions League advantage over PSG

Updated 02 May 2024
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Fuellkrug outshines Mbappe to hand Dortmund Champions League advantage over PSG

  • Dortmund, who had already lost and drawn against PSG this season in the group stage, can continue to dream of a return to Wembley 11 years after their last Champions League final
  • Dortmund manager Edin Terzic said pre-match PSG were “built to win the Champions League” since the Qatari takeover a decade ago

DORTMUND, Germany: Niclas Fuellkrug gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League semifinal first leg on Wednesday as the journeyman striker outshone superstar Kylian Mbappe on the night.

Seeking a return to the final for the first time since 2013, the 1997 winners were dogged and determined, outmuscling their heavily favored opponents in front of more than 80,000 fans.

Fuellkrug, playing in his first Champions League season at the age of 31, collected a lofted pass from center-back Nico Schlotterbeck in the 36th minute and blasted a low shot into the left corner of the net.

PSG, led by Kylian Mbappe, hit the post twice in quick succession early in the second-half but could not break through.

“I think we today showed a classic team performance. Each helped the other to win the game. We needed a bit of luck a couple of times, but we can be very satisfied with our performance,” said long-serving center-back Mats Hummels.

“It was a very satisfying, very grown-up performance from us.”

Dortmund, who had already lost and drawn against PSG this season in the group stage, can continue to dream of a return to Wembley 11 years after their last Champions League final.

Despite the setback, however, PSG will remain confident of overturning the deficit at home next week against a side they thoroughly outclassed at their home venue in September.

“The Parc (PSG’s stadium) and our supporters are giving us hope for the second leg, and we know we can do much better,” PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal.

Dortmund manager Edin Terzic said pre-match PSG were “built to win the Champions League” since the Qatari takeover a decade ago.

Nowhere was the contrast between the two clubs greater than PSG’s global superstar Mbappe, playing in his last season for his hometown club, and journeyman Dortmund striker Fuellkrug, who was playing second-division football this time two years ago.

Spurred on by a passionate home crowd who booed and whistled every Mbappe touch, Dortmund had the best of the opening stages, Jadon Sancho shining down the right flank.

Marcel Sabitzer had Dortmund’s best chance of an opener after 14 minutes, blasting straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle.

The opener came after 36 minutes thanks to some superb old-school forward play from Fuellkrug.

Center-back Schlotterbeck had the ball well in his own half and thought about a safe pass back to the ‘keeper but instead punted it forward, with only Fuellkrug aware of the idea.

The striker controlled the ball with one touch and drilled a low shot past a helpless Donnarumma.

Fresh from wrapping up the Ligue 1 title at the weekend, PSG had few chances despite their attacking riches in the opening half, registering zero shots on target.

The visitors however sprung to life after half-time, Mbappe rattling the inside of one post seconds before former Dortmund wing-back Achraf Hakimi rattled the inside of the other.

PSG should have equalized after 56 minutes, Marquinhos curled a beautiful pass through a crowded Dortmund box but Fabian Ruiz’s diving header went wide.

Another former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembele blasted over right in front of goal with 10 minutes remaining.

The impressive Sancho laid on an excellent pass for Julian Brandt with moments left but Dortmund’s hopes of a second were snuffed out by some desperate PSG defending.

The victory, along with Tuesday’s 2-2 draw between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the other semifinal, guarantees Germany rather than England or France an extra Champions League place for next season.

That has already secured Dortmund’s place in the competition next season.


$2m Saudi Smash opens in Jeddah

Updated 01 May 2024
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$2m Saudi Smash opens in Jeddah

  • World’s best table tennis players set to battle it out over 11 days
  • Singapore’s Quek Izaac, Sweden’s Filippa Bergand secure first round wins

JEDDAH: Top players from around the world are taking part in the Saudi Smash table tennis event that got underway on Wednesday at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
This is the first World Table Tennis Championship event to be held in the Kingdom and there are big prizes up for grabs over the next 11 days.
The singles events open with a qualifying stage, which run until Friday and will see 64 men and 64 women — several of them Saudis — competing for eight spots in the main draw. They will then join 56 of the world’s top male and female players in the main event, which starts on Saturday.
There is a total prize pot of $2 million on offer, with the winners of the men’s and women’s singles events also picking up $65,000 and 2,000 world ranking points.
Singapore’s Quek Izaac got off to a flying start in the men’s singles on Wednesday, beating the No. 6 qualifying seed Sathiyan Gnanasekaran from India 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11).
Quek reached the last 16 in last year’s Smash in his home country.
In the women’s singles, Sweden’s Filippa Bergand fought back from two games down to defeat India’s Archana Girish Kamath 3-1 (3-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9).


Two-time defending champion Alcaraz crashes out in Madrid

Updated 01 May 2024
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Two-time defending champion Alcaraz crashes out in Madrid

  • Rublev, the world number eight from Russia, came through 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, handing the third-ranked Alcaraz his first defeat on Spanish clay in 25 matches
  • Rublev will face either Taylor Fritz of the United States or Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the final

MADRID: Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz was sent crashing out of the Madrid Open on Wednesday as Andrey Rublev triumphed in their quarter-final clash.
Rublev, the world number eight from Russia, came through 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, handing the third-ranked Alcaraz his first defeat on Spanish clay in 25 matches.
Rublev will face either Taylor Fritz of the United States or Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the final.
Alcaraz, who was forced to sit out clay court events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to a right arm injury, had been in control in the first set.
However, 26-year-old Rublev battled back with Alcaraz looking increasingly weary as the tie progressed in chilly conditions in the Spanish capital and with the roof closed on the Manolo Santana Stadium.
Rublev carved out breaks in the first and fifth games of the decider and celebrated victory when the 20-year-old two-time major winner dumped a tired return into the net.
The Russian clubbed 30 winners as Alcaraz appeared physically spent following his three-set win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Tuesday in a last 16-tie which stretched to almost three hours.


Chelsea working to understand injury woes, says Pochettino

Updated 01 May 2024
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Chelsea working to understand injury woes, says Pochettino

  • Defenders Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi are the latest additions to the list since Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa
  • “Too many circumstances have happened,” Pochettino said on the eve of Chelsea’s match against his former club, who are in fifth spot in the table

LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea’s medical and coaching staff are trying to work out why the club have been so badly plagued by injuries, with as many as 14 players likely to be missing for Thursday’s visit of Tottenham.
Defenders Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi are the latest additions to the list since Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, in which the Chelsea boss was forced to name five academy graduates aged 20 and under on the bench.
The Blues’ campaign has been badly disrupted by the unavailability of players, including several acquired at huge expense as part of a £1 billion ($1.25 billion) transfer spree over the past two years.
Notable absentees include Wesley Fofana, who has not played all season after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury, and forward Christopher Nkunku, who has been limited to seven Premier League appearances.
Romeo Lavia has played only once for the club while Reece James and Ben Chilwell have also had lengthy spells out of the side, who are in mid-table.
Last week it was confirmed that Enzo Fernandez, signed for a then-British record £105 million in January 2023, will not play again this season following a hernia operation.
“Too many circumstances have happened,” Pochettino said on the eve of Chelsea’s match against his former club, who are in fifth spot in the table.
“It’s difficult to explain with one word or in one sentence. Of course we are working on trying to improve. We have an amazing staff — medical staff, coaching staff. They have experience in managing clubs and being in this business.
“When some circumstances arrive, sometimes it can happen. We need to now, until the end of the season, put all the information on the table and try to be better next season.
“We need to improve in communication, dynamics, strategy. Everything to do with our knowledge to improve and coordinate better.”
Pochettino paid tribute to veteran Brazilian defender Silva, 39, who is leaving the club at the end of the season after a four-year stay.
“He’s an amazing guy and amazing professional,” said Pochettino. “Playing until nearly 40 years old is an amazing career.
“Of course, the players, the fans and club are going to miss him. But he’s happy, he’s so proud of his career here at Chelsea. We wish him the best because he deserves the best.”