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Samiullah Khan bowls SNGPL to QEA title

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Fast bowler takes eight-for as Salman Butt’s side fold inside 11 overs on fifth day as SNGPL clinch third title in four years

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Dec-2017
ScorecardPCB

SNGPL beat WAPDA by 103 runs to clinch their third Quaid-e-Azam trophy title in four years.The hard work had been done on Sunday, where the core of WAPDA’s batting line-up was dismantled. This left Mohammad Hafeez’s side needing only three wickets to regain the trophy. They faced a hint of resistance on Monday, but weren’t to be denied in the end.Samiullah Khan, the left-arm fast bowler, took all three remaining wickets to post career-best figures of 8 for 62, as Salman Butt’s side’s title defence came to an end.Any thoughts of a competitive final day had been killed off late on the fourth evening in a spectacular 19-ball collapse that saw WAPDA reduced from 86 for three to 86 for 7, with all their recognised batsmen dismissed.Khushdil Shah fell off the third ball on the final day before dogged partnership between Wahab Riaz and Khalid Usman took the hosts past 150. However, Samiullah returned to dismiss Wahab before taking the final wicket in the 11th over of the day to complete a 11-for.For a man who played two internationals for Pakistan nearly ten years ago, it was a sweet career-high in his twilight years.

Kent step up legal challenge after missing out on promotion

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Kent’s chairman, George Kennedy, has confirmed that the club is seeking arbitration with the England & Wales Cricket Board after being overlooked for a place in Division One

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2016Kent’s chairman, George Kennedy, has confirmed that the club is seeking arbitration with the England & Wales Cricket Board after being overlooked for a place in Division One of the County Championship in the wake of Durham’s post-season relegation.Kent finished as runners-up in Division Two this season, which would ordinarily have been sufficient to earn them promotion. However, with the Championship moving to an eight-team top flight from 2017 onwards, the only spot available went to the champions Essex.However, Durham’s 48-point penalty for financial issues, and subsequent relegation, led to suggestions that Kent ought to have been invited to take their place in Division One. Instead, the ECB confirmed that Hampshire, who finished second-from-bottom in the table, would be allowed to stay up.In a letter to the ECB seen by The Times, Kent described the decision as “prejudiced, perverse and contrary to natural justice,” and even went so far as to claim that Durham officials had been told in May that they would be relegated.””We have [sent the letter] – they would have received it yesterday,” Kennedy told PA. “We have asked for arbitration in the situation, and we’ll see what comes of that.”Kennedy added that he had met with Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, last week to discuss the issue.”It was an amicable meeting – we were able to exchange opinions. One or two things have come to light since then, so we thought we would bring it to a head – and that is exactly what we’ve done.””We can confirm receipt of a letter from Kent county cricket club regarding the issue of promotion and relegation,” said an ECB spokesperson.”Last week’s decision to relegate Durham – with Hampshire remaining in the first division of the Specsavers County Championship – was in line with the two-down, one-up relegation and promotion rules for this season’s county championship which were notified to all counties and published prior to start of the 2016 season.”We are currently considering our response to Kent’s letter and will reply to them in due course.”Durham issued a statement denying the details in the Times report: “Contrary to today’s press report, Durham county cricket club can confirm that they were not told in May that the club would be relegated at the end of the season.”

Overseas county games back on agenda

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Plans for the county season to start overseas are back on the table as the ECB looks to find a solution to fixture congestion in the domestic season

George Dobell17-Sep-20155:01

Dobell: Spectators haven’t been consulted

Plans for the county season to start overseas are back on the table as the ECB looks to find a solution to fixture congestion in the domestic season.With the ECB’s plans to reduce the County Championship schedule to 14 games per side abandoned for at least another year and clearly unacceptable to several counties, further options will now be considered. And one of those plans, favoured by Sussex among others, is to move part of the domestic programme into March and play the games overseas. Possible destinations include Spain, the UAE, South Africa and various Caribbean nations.While Sussex have suggested only playing “part of a domestic 50-over tournament overseas before the start of the normal season” it is possible that up to two Championship matches and two 50-over matches per county could be played outside England and Wales.When the plans were first mooted, in June 2013, they received a lukewarm reception. But now, as county members reflect on some of the possible scenarios, this may be considered the least bad option.There are decent cricketing reasons for the initiative. It would ensure a symmetrical fixture list in both divisions and it would enable players to gain more exposure in conditions that would favour spin bowling far more than would be the case in early-season England. It would also ease fixture congestion during the rest of the season and allow the time the England team management insist is required for rest, recovery and practice.It is understood that, at the time the idea was first aired, several tourist boards and travel companies contacted the ECB to offer sponsorship or incentives, so the costs may not be as much of an issue as they might appear at first glance. About half of the counties currently prepare for the domestic season with overseas tours. The UAE and Barbados are the most common venues.While county members would be encouraged to travel to watch the games, many would find the cost prohibitive and would naturally resist the reduction in cricket available close to home. But with compromise likely over the coming months, it is one option that will warrant further discussion.

Brendon McCullum blitz draws New Zealand level

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England foundered from the start under the lights at Seddon Park, enabling New Zealand to inflict a 55-run trouncing

The Report by David Hopps12-Feb-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHamish Rutherford hauled one into the sponsors’ area and almost felled a couple of stilt walkers•Getty Images

England have never successfully chased a target of such magnitude to win a Twenty20 international and they certainly did not chase this one. They foundered from the start under the lights at Seddon Park, enabling New Zealand to inflict a 55-run trouncing. After all the talk of small boundaries, for England they seemed to be expanding by the moment.The ICC rankings system certainly knows how to lose faith with a side after a bad night’s cricket. England, third at the start of the night, were sixth by the end of it. T20 is a volatile business. The series will be settled in Wellington on Friday.Brendon McCullum had carried the fight for New Zealand, striking 74 from 38 balls and manfully thrusting a daunting total into English faces after they had gained control in mid-innings. England conceded 38 off the last two overs, Stuart Broad and Jade Dernbach the bowlers to suffer, and even though Dernbach silenced McCullum’s belligerence at deep cover on the penultimate ball of the innings, England had nothing to show for some tigerish fielding.Just as striking was the degree to which New Zealand’s fast bowlers outdid their England counterparts. They found movement under the lights never imagined by England earlier in the innings as they preferred the back-of-a-length approach that had served them so well in the opening T20I in Auckland.England, victors in the opening T20I in Auckland when they batted first and made their highest total in this format, opted to chase when Stuart Broad won the toss on a dry, lightly cloudy evening in Hamilton. “Probably should have batted first,” Broad accepted.Ian Butler stood out with an impeccable spell of 2 for 9 in four overs as England’s innings never found any impetus. Butler has had some discouraging times in a career and almost abandoned New Zealand cricket to play county cricket in England but he has had a good season with Otago Volts and this was a night that told of a bowler with appetite restored. James Franklin bowled well, but his four-for largely fell upon him.England never recovered from losing three wickets for 24 by the fifth over. Alex Hales was bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan as he tried to work to leg, Luke Wright edged his sighter to gully, and Jonny Bairstow, cramped as he pulled Butler, got it no further than short-fine leg. When Michael Lumb was bowled off his pads, charging Nathan McCullum’s off spin, England limped to the mid-point at 47 for 4.It all left Morgan facing circumstances that he did not naturally relish, a batsman with too much time on his hands. Morgan likes games to be set up for him, but this one felt more like a set up favoured in American gangster movies.It is not often that Morgan seems overpowered by a situation, but it was the case here. He reached 13 from 22 before he fell to Butler. He needed good fortune to get that far, surviving a stumping chance – a McCullum brotherly combination that went amiss – and was badly dropped off Butler at deep midwicket when Hamish Rutherford battered one to the floor off his chest.By the time Samit Patel was run out by yards, failing to negotiate a single to Trent Boult who hit direct from mid off, England’s innings had entered the realms of black comedy. The only consolation came from Jos Buttler’s maiden T20I fifty. Buttler has been favoured with the gloves ahead of Bairstow as a statement that England wish to keep him in the side. His reputation is built on short, explosive innings, and his 54 from 30 balls in a hopeless task did him no harm.After the somewhat unnatural six-hitting extravaganza in Eden Park, Seddon Park had a more satisfying cricketing feel. It is another compact ground, with straight boundaries around 65m, but a few extra metres and a more logical shape provided a more gratifying setting for another packed house. Even so, after England gave the first over to the offspinner, James Tredwell, it took all of four balls before Martin Guptill smashed him for six into the sightscreen. There were ten sixes in all for New Zealand, five of them to McCullum, their jaw-jutting captain. England, so supreme in Auckland, managed two in reply.Finn had placed a marker a few paces from the stumps in an effort to control his occasional habit of colliding with them. Stay left of that, and you will be okay, seemed to be the message. His thoughts soon strayed elsewhere as Rutherford hauled him into the sponsors’ area and almost felled a couple of stilt walkers.New Zealand rattled along at around ten an over from the outset. Jade Dernbach was wearing a strapping on his heavily-tattooed left arm after being accidentally spiked in practice, presumably denying onlookers the chance to read several ancient Tibetan dictums.Wright, who looks too perky to sit down in a tattoo parlour, came up trumps for the second successive match, his medium pace bringing 2 for 24 to follow his 2 for 29 in Auckland. He arrested an opening stand of 75 in 8.2 overs when Rutherford tried to fiddle one to third man and was caught at the wicket. There was the wicket of Ross Taylor, too, who hauled him to Bairstow at deep midwicket. Acclaimed as the returning hero since ending his self-imposed exile, Taylor has so far amassed more ovations than runs.When Dernbach’s slower balls began to make an impact – Colin Munro hauling to Bairstow at deep midwicket and Grant Elliott having his bails trimmed by a back-of-the-hand delivery, the judder in New Zealand’s innings had become pronounced. But it was nothing like the judder England were about to experience.

England squeeze into lead as wickets tumble

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England’s batting has been so ineffably weak in this Test series that even the sight of a Pakistan side bundled out for 99 was not about to fill them with resolve

The Report by David Hopps03-Feb-2012

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKevin Pietersen looked confident before falling again to left-arm spin, Abdur Rehman trapping him lbw for 32•Getty Images

England’s batting has been so ineffably weak in this Test series that even the sight of a Pakistan side bundled out for 99 was not about to fill them with resolve. Where once they were steadfast now they are overwrought. All logic suggested they should have ended the opening day of the third Test in a position of authority but logic left this series long ago.It is the first time that Test cricket has been played in winter in the UAE and the pitches have been enlivened from their usual moribund state as a result but not remotely to the extent that the scores suggest. Every day brings something more bizarre. This should not by any stretch of the imagination have been a 16-wicket day.Pakistan avoided their lowest Test score against England thanks only to 45 from Asad Shafiq, the one batsman to pass muster as England’s new-ball pair, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, made full use of encouraging conditions. Pakistan began the final Test imagining they could whitewash England in a Test series for the first time. It is quite something to be dismissed for fewer than 100 on a decent-enough surface and still be in the match.An England innings has become something fantastical. The DRS has sapped their resolve. It was introduced to reduce umpiring mistakes, and it has achieved its purpose, but in this series at least, it has shifted the balance of the game fundamentally. Umpires in this series are giving most marginal calls to the bowler, too many marginal calls. Batsmen are confused about their technique and spinners are bowling straight and imagining themselves as superheroes. It will right itself in time; the authorities are not fond of three-day Tests.This series has already produced more lbws than in any three-Test series in history – 35 and counting. There were eight umpiring reviews and the Australian Simon Taufel, who has mused about retirement more than once, had an uncomfortable day as he had several decisions overturned.Almost unnoticed, Andrew Strauss reached the close of a bewildering day unbeaten on 41, an England captain labouring to add a major batting contribution to his undoubted leadership qualities. Overlook a flirt with a sweep or two and he stood alongside Shafiq and Kevin Pietersen as the most secure batsmen on an insecure day.Memories of England’s batting debacles in the first two Tests must have preyed on Alastair Cook’s mind as he fell to the sort of hesitant jab against Umar Gul that Australia, in England’s victorious Ashes series barely a year ago, must have dreamed of. Gul also had Trott lbw: a dodgy decision by the umpire, Steve Davis, which England failed to review.Then came the curiosities. Kevin Pietersen looked in good trim but fell to left-arm spin once more, a marginal decision that might have been designed to taunt his pre-match assertion that his record against this type of bowler was “not a train crash”. Ian Bell was out to Saeed Ajmal for the fourth series, straying out of his crease and stumped fortuitously by Adnan Akmal off a blur of pads and gloves – that is how his brother Kamran used to do it. Eoin Morgan, his reputation as a good player of spin now in tatters, was trapped on the back foot by a quicker, flatter one. And finally Matt Prior, desperate not to be struck on the pads, was bowled by one that turned.Pakistan were no better. By drinks on the first morning, England had five Pakistan wickets; shortly after drinks came round again in the afternoon they had them all. This was far from a fast bowlers’ feast but Broad, England’s outstanding player of the series, and Anderson made full use of a little swing and some unexpected bounce.Broad’s new-ball return of 3 for 12 in six overs included two overturned decisions for Taufel as England successfully resorted to DRS. The dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez was the most controversial of the day.England were searching for a lbw decision but there seemed to be little conclusive evidence to overturn Taufel’s decision. Indeed those blessed with the eyes of a hawk and high-definition TVs insisted there was a slight mark on hot spot that should have reprieved Hafeez. Shavir Tarapore, the third umpire from India in his fourth Test, gave him out, causing Hafeez to slap his bat in unconcealed disgust.In the seconds a fielding side has to decide on a review, the captain, Andrew Strauss, mentally dons a business suit, calls a meeting, studies a report, draws conclusions and lays out a systematic process. The sense is of clipboards, posh pens and PowerPoint presentations. Misbah tries to do the same for Pakistan but he is a bit short of reliable middle management.In England in 2010, Pakistan collapsed for 72, 76 and 80, three batting disasters at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Trent Bridge that count among their eight lowest Test scores in history. They no longer had to contend with a surly English summer but they did face the debilitating effect of a series already secured.Their collapse began in the first over, Taufeeq Umar defeated by Anderson’s inswinger. There were few demons in the ball from Broad that dismissed Azhar and Younis Khan’s jab at a wide, rising ball, even allowing for the unexpected steepness of the bounce: another poor shot in a career nearing its end.Misbah and Adnan, who should also have been run out by Morgan, both turned to DRS without success to try to stem the flow of wickets. Rehman’s slog at Graeme Swann, in his solitary over, was the worst batting moment on a day replete with them. Shafiq was ninth out, trying to cut Panesar and getting struck on the pad in front of middle.For Pakistan the morning had brought back bad memories of their first Test in the UAE. Against Australia in Sharjah ten years ago they were dismissed for 53 and 59 – their two lowest Test scores. Misbah, Taufeeq and Younis were all in the top six then. In some ways little has changed in Pakistan cricket. In other, more significant ways, everything has changed.

Porterfield to captain Intercontinental Cup XI

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Ireland captain William Porterfield has been named captain of the ICC’s team of the tournament for the group stage of the Intercontinental Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2010Ireland captain William Porterfield was picked as captain of the ICC’s team of the tournament for the group stage of the Intercontinental Cup. The team includes five players from Afghanistan and Scotland, the tournament finalists, and was selected by a panel of experts named by the coaches and captains of the seven participants.”This was by no means an easy task this year with so many teams providing worthy candidates for the team of the tournament,” said the ICC’s high-performance manager Richard Done, who chaired the panel. “Afghanistan feature heavily in the side, unsurprisingly, since they have had a good tournament so far.”The team – which will be presented with specially struck medals – comprises players from six countries with four of the XI from Afghanistan. Three are from Ireland and there are two players from Kenya and one each from Netherlands, Zimbabwe and Scotland.To be nominated, players must have appeared in at least three out of his team’s six Intercontinental Cup round-robin matches. The coaches and captains were also asked to nominate a captain from the players they picked.The ICC also announced the team of the tournament for the group stage of the ICC Intercontinental Shield. Eight players from UAE and Namibia – the finalists – feature in the team, and UAE captain Khurram Khan will be captaining the XI.”The majority of the team is made up of the two finalists, Namibia and UAE, which is a reflection of the hard work the players have put in throughout the Intercontinental Shield,” Done said. “This is the tournament’s first year and we’ve seen good progress from all the four teams involved in the event. The sides’ skills have improved continuously with the regular games and playing the four-day format.”The XI – picked along the same lines as the Cup side – also includes three players from Uganda and one from Bermuda. To be nominated, players must have appeared in at least two out of his team’s three ICC Intercontinental Shield 2009-10 round-robin matches.ICC Intercontinental Cup XI: William Porterfield (Ireland, capt), Noor Ali (Afghanistan), Steve Tikolo (Kenya), Vusi Sibanda (Zimbabwe XI), Andrew White (Ireland), Muhammad Shahzad (Afghanistan, wicketkeeper), Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan), Trent Johnston (Ireland), Nehemiah Odhiambo (Kenya), Mohammed Nabi (Afghanistan), Mohammed Haq (Scotland), 12th Man: Peter Borren (Netherlands)ICC Intercontinental Shield XI: Arshad Ali (UAE), Raymond van Schoor (Namibia), Khurram Khan (UAE, captain), Craig Williams (Namibia), Ewald Steenkamp (Nambia),Lawrence Sematimba (wicketkeeper, Uganda), Louis Klazinga (Namibia), Amjad Javed (UAE), Dennis Tabby (Uganda), Fayyaz Ahmed (UAE), Frank Nsubuga (Uganda),12th Man: David Hemp (Bermuda)

Perren walks away from Queensland

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Clint Perren, who has not played a game for Queensland since last summer, has announced his retirement from representative cricket

Cricinfo staff22-Dec-2009Clint Perren, who has not played a game for Queensland since last summer, has announced his retirement from representative cricket. Perren, a 34-year-old right-hander with 82 first-class appearances, will move with his family to live in England in March.Perren first appeared with the Bulls in 1998-99 and was only the second Queenslander to play 100 one-day matches, bringing up his century last season. In his first-class career he scored 4737 runs at 35.35 with 10 centuries, including a career highest score of 224.He headed the run-scoring aggregate for the Bulls across the Pura Cup, FR Cup and Twenty20 competitions in 2006-07 and was a member of successful Shield campaigns in 2000-01 and 2005-06. “I gave myself the chance to break back into the team at the start of the season but quickly realised that there were other things in my life that were of greater priority,” he said. “I made the decision a little while ago and I’ve got no regrets about calling it a day.”

England's new game-changer? Sarina Wiegman should give Man City star Jess Park a chance to thrive in Lionesses' February camp

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The 22-year-old helped the Cityzens defeat Arsenal and Chelsea in a huge week, and deserves to continue that momentum with her country

How big a week could this end up being in Jess Park’s career? After making back-to-back starts for Manchester City for the first time in two years and producing a match-winning display in their monumental win over Chelsea, the 22-year-old now heads off to Spain for England’s first two fixtures of 2024 – and Sarina Wiegman is surely looking at granting her an opportunity to continue that momentum.

Park has had to be patient this season. Having thrived on loan at Everton last year, she’s stuck around in Manchester this time and it’s not been easy to break into a team that is now joint-top of the Women’s Super League. However, the reason they now hold that status is in no small part thanks to the England starlet.

Her performance on Friday, at league leaders Chelsea, was outstanding. No one created more chances than Park, who’s delicate through ball set up Khadija Shaw to score the winning goal inside 15 minutes. She did her work on the other side of the ball, too, winning possession back four times and making three clearances, a number only bettered by Laia Alexiandri and Alex Greenwood, Man City’s centre-back duo.

It's always felt like Wiegman has seen something in Park. While still quite young and forging her way in the WSL, she has continued to receive England call-ups on a consistent basis and has been granted a decent number of chances by a manager who doesn’t shake things up all too often.

So as the young forward comes into the Lionesses’ first camp of the year on a real personal high, the likelihood of her being granted just a second-ever start for her country feels big. In fact, Park’s sprightly manner could be exactly what England need as they look to bounce back from the Nations League heartbreak that devastated them at the end of 2023.

GettyOn the brink of something special

It was some seven years ago that Park signed for Man City, from York City, with her only 16 years old when she debuted for the club in a Continental Cup win over Doncaster Belles back in the 2017-18 season. She’s had some incredible moments in the time since, scoring a hat-trick against Ipswich Town in the FA Cup in early 2020 and, at the end of the same year, providing the assist that allowed Georgia Stanway to give City the lead in extra-time in that competition’s final.

But she’s always been on the fringes of a first team that has long boasted an abundance of attacking assets, only once hitting double figures for appearances in the league in her six seasons so far.

AdvertisementGettyLearning on loan

Last season’s temporary switch to Everton was crucial in Park’s development, then. She made 19 starts in all competitions, having racked up just 21 for City in the five seasons prior, contributing five goals and five assists in her first campaign as a regular starter for a WSL team. It was a strong showing from a player who was just 20 years old when the season began.

“Jess has been great for us and it shows in the minutes we’re giving her,” Everton boss Brian Sorensen said last term. “There are still things in her game she needs to improve but, as a whole, she looks much more confident than when she first came in.

"She is really trying to develop her physical side, she’s really taking steps in the right direction there. Then it’s just being smart under pressure – and being consistent, always tracking back and doing the right stuff. When she gets that right, you will almost have the complete, finished product, but she still has years to grow and we’re happy to help her with her development.”

That growth didn’t go unnoticed back at her parent club, either. Speaking about her time on Merseyside, Man City boss Gareth Taylor said on Friday: “There were times last year when I was monitoring her progress and I was like, ‘As much as she's growing and developing elsewhere, we could really do with her here'.”

But after being on the fringes for so long, the time Park spent playing regularly was important, and it set her in good stead to come back to City and make an impact.

GettyOpportunity knocks

In the first half of this season, though, it felt justified to question why the Cityzens didn’t send Park back out on loan. The 22-year-old had played just 101 minutes in the WSL by the time the winter break rolled around, from six substitute appearances.

She was doing all she could in the Conti Cup to try and earn a place in the league, scoring twice and providing one assist in five appearances, but that place on the bench on a weekend remained unchanged. She was trying to break into a team that was competing for the title, after all, one with top players performing consistently well.

But then City were dealt a real blow. Jill Roord, who had thrived since arriving from Wolfsburg for a bumper fee in the summer, ruptured her ACL at the end of January. It was devastating news for the player, of course, and the whole team. Roord’s attacking threat from midfield had helped City thrive and it wasn’t going to be easy to replace.

Park, some 15 centimetres shorter than the Dutchwoman, is a very different player but she is a threat in the final third in her own way. And since a space has opened up in City’s midfield, she has grabbed the opportunity to fill it with both hands.

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Stepping up

Taylor admitted on Friday that if Roord was fit, then “she plays”. But it says a lot that, in her absence, he looked to Park, over Filippa Angeldahl or Mary Fowler, two established senior internationals, to start the huge FA Cup fifth-round clash with Arsenal and then, five days later, the trip to Chelsea in the league. They were her first starts of the season that didn’t come in the Conti Cup, and her first back-to-back in two years.

“She's always been there,” Taylor said on Friday. “I think she's always been a player that has really interested me. I mean, she helped us win our first trophy together as a team, coming off the bench and showing real maturity from a young age. She's had to be patient, but her training levels and her attitude has been first-class, and I think is a real example for any young player. She's now broken into the England set-up as well.

"We've adjusted her position a little bit but I've always felt she's capable of playing in between the lines. She picked up some good positions this evening and worked tremendously hard as well.”

When GOAL noted that it said a lot of Park for her to come in and thrive in what was probably City’s biggest week of the season so far, Taylor showed no sign that he had been surprised. “Yeah but she's capable,” he responded. “You look at Jess and you see, physically, okay, she's not the biggest, but her agility is very good, her ball control and her technique is very, very good.

"With Jess, the thing that's going to make her world-class will be her final action, but she is improving a lot on that, working hard with Shaun [Goater, the former Man City striker who is part of Taylor’s coaching staff] in training and she's really contributing to the team at the moment.”

Christian Pulisic is cooking! USMNT star makes big pre-Champions League statement with crucial goal in AC Milan victory over Lazio

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Christian Pulisic scored his third goal of the Serie A season to lead AC Milan to a win over Lazio.

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Pulisic scores third goal of seasonMilan top Lazio 2-0Musah impresses as early substitute

The U.S. men's national team star had scored in his first two Milan appearances before making little impact in the next four games as he went in and out of the XI. There was no keeping him quiet on Saturday, though, as the American scored a key goal in the second half to help seal all three points for the Rossoneri.

Pulisic wasn't the only American to impress in the win, with Yunus Musah coming off the bench early to replace the injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek, nearly earning an assist as he set up an Olivier Giroud chance late in the first half.

Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

It was a highly physical match between the two Serie A sides, and one that was extremely tight until Pulisic's breakthrough goal.

The American's strike came in the 60th minute, with Pulisic finally breaking the deadlock with a fantastic half-volley. Rafael Leao will be credited with the assist, having raced through on the left wing before playing a bouncing cross to the penalty spot. Pulisic was there to finish, striking the ball into the net to score a key early-season goal for Milan.

Pulisic was joined on the scoresheet by Noah Okafor, who came off the bench to score Milan's second goal from another Leao assist. It was the striker's second in as many games as he begins to get going for Milan.

Musah, meanwhile, had some decent game time as he came on in the 29th minute. The American midfielder's fantastic cross to Giroud nearly resulted in a goal just before halftime, but, after an initial save on the Frenchman's first shot, Tijjani Reijnders couldn't quite turn the ball into the back of the net.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The focus will be on Pulisic, who is continuing to shine after arriving in Italy. Milan's attack is crowded, albeit not as crowded as Chelsea's and, with a crucial Champions League game looming, Pulisic made the perfect statement to Stefano Pioli.

To be fair, Pioli already seems to be a believer, with the trio of Pulisic, Leao and Giroud seemingly his preferred attack. That trio currently has Milan atop Serie A with that group combining for 10 of Milan's 14 goals in these first seven games.

Pulisic, though, was not named to Milan's starting XI against Newcastle in Europe, with Pioli instead turning to Samuel Chukwueze. Can Pioli leave Pulisic on the bench next week against Dortmund? It'll be tough after this performance.

Musah, meanwhile, also put in a positive performance as he continues to try and play his way into Pioli's starting XI. In addition to his near assist, he had a solid shot on goal in the second half as the ex-Valencia man was highly involved throughout for Milan.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

Pulisic's role with the USMNT is unquestioned, so, from that perspective, the U.S. are simply glad to see the winger fit, confident and scoring ahead of October's friendlies.

Musah, meanwhile, is a player that could be battling for a starting midfield spot if the U.S. does, in fact, move Gio Reyna into a No.10 role.

The bad news for the USMNT is that Tyler Adams is out injured again, robbing the team of their top No.6 heading towards those games against Germany and Ghana. With Musah continuing to take steps forward at Milan, though, he should be ready to step in.

The fact that Pioli turned to Musah instead of ahead of Tommaso Pobega shows that the American midfielder is doing something right. He hasn't yet earned a starting XI spot, but, after his manager hailed him as a "complete player" ahead of this match, he did plenty to prove him right in this one.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Christian Pulisic (8/10):

Got the crucial goal and was dangerous throughout. Routinely targeted by physical play with few calls from the referee, Pulisic never drifted out of the game and, ultimately, helped decide it with his goal.

Yunus Musah (7/10):

Thrown into a tough situation as an early sub, but he responded well. Passed the ball well, created a few chances and looked comfortable throughout. A positive step.

Chelsea player ratings vs Barcelona: Magdalena Eriksson & Maren Mjelde star as battling Blues contain Blaugrana's superstars in UWCL

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Blues were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Barca at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final.

Chelsea have a mountain to climb to reach the Women's Champions League final after losing 1-0 to Barcelona in the home leg of their semi-final on Saturday.

The Blues were set back early on by Caroline Graham Hansen's wonderstrike, a goal that was worthy of being the difference on the day.

Guro Reiten had the ball in the back of the net for what appeared to be an equaliser but she was denied by the offside flag and, after that, the hosts didn't create too much.

Barca could've had a second late on when Marta Torrejon hit the post with a header but they will still be pleased with the result ahead of their home leg at Camp Nou on Thursday.

GOAL rates the performances of a defeated Chelsea team…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Ann-Katrin Berger (7/10):

Had a couple of stand-out moments in the game, including some great goalkeeping to deny Graham Hansen in the first half and a strong stop from a Fridolina Rolfo shot in the second. Could do nothing about the goal.

Eve Perisset (6/10):

Was quite solid at the back, kept Salma Paralluelo quiet and dealt well with the change in formation.

Maren Mjelde (7/10):

Was Chelsea's stand-out performer on the day. Did well against both Graham Hansen and Paralluelo in two dangerous situations in the box and also made a great block to deny the latter early in the second half.

Magdalena Eriksson (7/10):

Was a strong performer in the centre of defence, too, with her and Mjelde doing well as a partnership to limit Barca.

Jess Carter (5/10):

Struggled to contain Graham Hansen, as any player would. Changes in formation meant gaps often appeared on the left-hand side between her and Niamh Charles.

Niamh Charles (5/10):

Seemed to be caught between switches in formation when Graham Hansen scored and got nowhere near her.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Erin Cuthbert (6/10):

A threat with her passing range and vision when she was able to get on the ball but it was difficult to break Barca down.

Melanie Leupolz (5/10):

Struggled to have a real influence on the game before being subbed off towards the end of the game.

Jelena Cankovic (5/10):

Didn't have a particularly bad game but struggled to really get into things and was subbed off at half-time.

Getty ImagesAttack

Sam Kerr (6/10):

Linked up well with Reiten and gave Barca's centre-backs something to think about but Chelsea didn't create much that Kerr could benefit from.

Guro Reiten (6/10):

Linked up well with Kerr in the first half and should've scored when Lucy Bronze blocked her shot on the line. She did have the ball in the back of the net in the first half but was offside.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Lauren James (5/10):

Brought on at half-time and had an early sight of goal from range, but didn't really catch it as she'd like. Struggled to get on the ball and run at the Barca defence.

Sophie Ingle (5/10):

Came on for Cuthbert with just over 20 minutes to go but wasn't able to influence play much as Barca started to gain more control.

Jessie Fleming (N/A):

Came on with only a few minutes to play.

Pernille Harder (N/A):

Made a welcome return from injury with her first appearance since November, but came on too late to make an impact on the game.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (N/A):

Came on with only a few minutes left to play.

Emma Hayes (6/10):

Facing Barcelona is one of the toughest tasks for any manager in world football but Chelsea will go to an intimidating Camp Nou next week still in with a shot of making the final. Emma Hayes set her team up in a way that meant they were not overwhelmed by the Catalans and they did create a few chances early on. But the second half saw the visitors gain more control with Hayes' subs unable to stop that.