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The 2025 MLB season has come to a close, and it was capped off by a wild weekend.

While most of the playoff spots had been earned before the weekend, a lot happened over the season's final three days to get us to the final playoff picture. What follows is a chronological look at all the biggest moments from the weekend, starting on Friday.

Tatis Sinks the Snakes

The Diamondbacks somehow stayed in the NL wild-card race over the season's final two months after selling at the deadline. It was a valiant effort from Arizona that ended with a bang on Friday evening.

The Dbacks led the Padres 2–1 in the fourth inning with rotation stalwart Zac Gallen on the hill. The veteran righty loaded the bases, then tried to slip a 95 mph fastball past Fernando Tatis Jr. on a 3–2 count. He immediately regretted it. The ball left Tatis’s bat at 111.7 mph and landed in the second deck at Petco Park for a grand slam.

The Padres took a 5–2 lead en route to an eventual 7–4 win. The loss eliminated Arizona from playoff contention.

Red Sox Walk Off Into the Playoffs

Boston entered the bottom of the ninth of Friday's game against the Tigers locked in a 3–3 tie with their magic number down to one. A two-out single by Romy Gonzalez gave Ceddanne Rafaela the chance to be a hero. He delivered.

Rafaela blasted a 1–0 pitch from Tommy Kahnle off the center field wall. It kicked around in the outfield, and Gonzalez raced home with plenty of time to spare to send Boston to the postseason.

The Red Sox will travel to Yankee Stadium to face their bitter rivals in what should be a blockbuster wild-card series.

Busch Goes Deep Twice as Cubs Clinch

Michael Busch homered twice in the first five innings on Saturday against the Cardinals; the second gave the Cubs a 3–1 lead they never relinquished.

Busch hit a home run, double, and another home run to rack up 10 total bases in his first three at-bats. He ended the game 4-for-4, with two home runs, a double, and a triple, leaving him a single short of the cycle. More importantly, he launched the Cubs to a 7–3 win, which clinched the top wild-card spot and a home series against the Padres in the opening round of the playoffs.

Jahmai Jones Clutch Single Lifts Tigers to Playoffs

After a horrible September that saw them lose their massive lead in the AL Central, the Tigers were able to salvage a playoff spot thanks to a 2–1 win over the Red Sox on Saturday night.

Jahmi Jones had the big hit with a two-out, fifth-inning single that scored two runs and put Detroit in the lead for good.

They closed out the game to finally earn some good news by clinching a playoff spot.

Guardians Unconventional Walk-Off Clinches Spot

The Guardians joined the Tigers in the playoffs in one of the weirdest ways possible Saturday night. Cleveland's remarkable march back into the AL Central race overcame the longest of odds, and what happened in the ninth inning against the Rangers Saturday night only added to the surreal nature of their September surge.

After Rangers reliever Robert Garcia got the first two outs in a 2–2 game, Johnathan Rodriguez walked and Kyle Manzardo singled, sending pinch runner Petey Halpin to third. Texas intentionally walked Gabriel Arias, putting CJ Kayfus at the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.

After getting strike one, Garcia hit Kayfus, forcing in a run and sending the Guardians to the playoffs.

Incredible.

Red Sox Win Central for Cleveland

On Sunday, the Tigers entered Fenway Park on Sunday with a chance to win the AL Central. All they needed to do was beat the Red Sox and hope Cleveland lost. Neither of those things happened.

The Tigers took an early 3–1 lead, but in the bottom of the fourth, Chris Paddack gave up a two-run home run to light-hitting infielder David Hamilton, then back-to-back doubles to Nick Sogard and Jarren Duran.

That gave Boston a 4–3 lead, leaving Detroit with five innings to get another run. The Tigers couldn't do it. They put two on base in the top of the ninth but couldn't bring anyone across and surrendered the division to the Guardians with the loss.

Cleveland's players found out it had won the AL Central during their game with Texas and celebrated.

To top it off, Brayan Rocchio launched a walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th against the Rangers to enter the playoffs in style.

Alejandro Kirk Leads Blue Jays Blowout For AL East Crown

Toronto's task was simple on Sunday: beat the Rays and clinch the American League East and the top seed in the AL. The Blue Jays did that. Emphatically.

Alejandro Kirk stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first inning with the game tied 1–1. It didn't stay that way for long. On a 2–2 pitch from Ian Seymour, Kirk sat on a changeup and annihilated it. He sent the ball 387 feet into the left-center field stands at the Rogers Centre, and sent Blue Jays fans into a frenzy.

The rout was on after that, and Toronto wound up taking a 13–4 win. That relegated the Yankees to the AL’s top wild-card slot, setting up a series against the Red Sox.

Mets Complete Collapse, Exit Postseason Picture

The Mets needed to win and get help on Sunday. One of those things happened, the other didn't. The Reds owned the head-to-head tiebreaker with New York, and the two teams entered the day deadlocked with identical 83–78 records. Cincinnati lost to the Brewers 4–2, which meant all New York had to do was beat the Miami Marlins. You can guess what happened.

Miami and its $67 million payroll team bested the franchise with a $323 million payroll by the score of 4–0, as the Mets went out with a whimper. They only mustered five hits off of Edward Cabrera and four relievers. The game and the team's season ended when Francisco Lindor grounded into a double play in the top of the ninth. New York's broadcasters lamented the team's epic collapse.

The Mets had MLB's best record on June 12 at 45–24. They went 38–55 after that. A deserved, depressing ending to the season.

Mitchell Starc ripped through England with a seven-wicket haul but England hit right back thanks to Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes

Tristan Lavalette21-Nov-2025

Ben Stokes holds the ball aloft after claiming a five-for•Getty Images

Living up to the hype after such a prolonged build-up, the first Ashes Test started in frenetic fashion with wild momentum swings as pace bowlers from both attacks dominated on a bouncy Perth Stadium surface.By the end of a thoroughly entertaining opening day, England have amazingly finished with the edge after 19 wickets fell in front of 51,531 fans.Stepping up in the absences of fellow quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc had initially given Australia a sensational start to the series with career-best bowling figures of 7 for 58 as England were dismissed for just 172 in their first innings.Related

• Bareknuckle Baz-brawl produces Ashes all-nighter for the ages

• Shots fired in battle for Ashes as England roll out heavy artillery

• Fast-forward Brook sets tempo in thrilling Ashes curtain-raiser

• Stats – Stokes and Starc lead the charge as wickets tumble in Perth

In the lead-up to the Test, Starc had stated his preference for series-openers to be played in Australia’s traditional fortress of the Gabba, while he was also dubious about a Perth surface dubbed as a “green monster”. Bowling consistently around 145kph/90mph, Starc relished a green-tinged surface he was able to find some extra zing off to tear through England’s batting.Learning from Starc’s efforts, England’s all-out pace attack hit back against a reshuffled Australia batting order after Usman Khawaja was unable to open having spent time off the field during England’s innings with back stiffness.After months of speculation over who would open, Marnus Labuschagne did end up partnering debutant Jake Weatherald, who at the start of the day had received his cap from David Warner.Much like Nathan McSweeney a year ago against India on the same ground, Weatherald faced a baptism of fire and was trapped lbw by quick Jofra Archer to fall for a second-ball duck.Jake Weatherald was blown off his feet by Jofra Archer to fall for a duck•Getty Images

Khawaja was still not able to bat by this point, meaning Steven Smith walked out at No. 3 for the first time in a Test since 2017. He had a torrid time, smacked on the elbow by a vicious short ball from Gus Atkinson that required medical attention.Bowling at speeds around 150kph, Archer was a handful and he conjured awkward bounce that accounted for Labuschagne, who was also struck on the elbow and bowled.Having copped another painful blow, Smith battled hard with 17 off 49 balls before edging a sharp delivery from Brydon Carse to second slip. Batting at No. 4 for just the second time in his Test career, Khawaja could do little against a rapid short delivery from Carse that grazed the bat handle and he was caught behind.Feeling in much better spirits than he had earlier in the day, Ben Stokes finished with five wickets in his six-over spell, including Travis Head and Cameron Green – who had threatened with a 45-run partnership – in the shadows to cap England’s remarkable rally.There are eerie parallels to the corresponding India Test from 12 months ago when 17 wickets fell on the opening day. This surface did not appear to be quite as challenging, but sharp bounce and pace was evident with a slew of top-order batters falling caught behind the wicket.Harry Brook was the only one to score a half-century•Getty Images

England’s first attempts of unfurling their aggressive batting style on Australian soil did not go to plan after winning the toss. They did score at 5.3 runs per over but were bowled out in just 32.5 overs, capitulating to lose 5 for 12 in 18 deliveries by the drinks break of the second session.It was the shortest innings of an Ashes Test since Trent Bridge 2015 when Australia were routed for 60 on the opening day. Three of England’s top-six batters were caught behind the wicket – by the keeper or in the well-stocked cordon – in a mode of dismissal that has been common in Perth over the years, while the other three were beaten by pace.England’s fightback later in the day has vindicated their decision to go in with an all-out pace attack, with offspinner Shoaib Bashir missing out in a rarity when fit.There had been an expectation that Australia would bat regardless of which side the coin landed, given Stokes’ preference of bowling first. But he opted to follow the brief history of the ground, where batting first had proven advantageous before the surface cracked up later in the match.Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett walked to the crease amid some jeers from Australian fans, who only just outnumbered their English counterparts in the terraces. Given the high drama over first deliveries of several previous Ashes series, there was a swirl of anticipation as Starc charged in with thundering clapping reverberating around the massive ground.Steven Smith grimaces after being struck on the elbow by Gus Atkinson•Getty Images

Crawley, of course, had famously swatted Cummins for a boundary on the first delivery of the last Ashes series, but he blocked Starc into the off side in an anti-climax.It didn’t take long for drama to ensue with Crawley, who effectively collared Starc in the 2023 series, playing and missing on the third delivery before being unable to see out the opening over after edging to Khawaja at first slip.There had been concerns over Crawley’s ability to drive on a length in Perth and the shorter length from Starc undid him. While Starc was a handful from the jump, a nervous looking Scott Boland struggled with his lengths in his first red-ball match at Perth Stadium as Duckett pounced with several lovely drives down the ground.After a strong hit-out in the Lilac Hill warm-up cemented his No. 3 spot, Ollie Pope underlined his confidence with several crisp punches down the ground, striking the right mix of balance and aggression.The runs flowed despite the outfield being particularly sluggish after a Metallica concert was held on the ground just three weeks ago. Even though he cruised at run-a-ball pace, Duckett was never at ease against Starc and on 21 was beaten by pace to fall lbw after an unsuccessful review.Joe Root arrived at the crease in the ninth over, with a tough task ahead to produce an elusive century in Australia. But Starc was on a roll and had Root turned inside out to nick to third slip with a cracking delivery that pitched on leg and nipped across. It was Starc’s 100th Ashes wicket and his celebration was fitting.To that stage, Starc had the figures of 3 for 10 from five overs, but Harry Brook was undaunted in his first Test innings in Australia as he unfurled trademark cavalier shots, some of which failed to connect.Brook and Pope combined for a brisk 55-run partnership to steady the ship briefly for England. Starc was playing a lone-hand amid Boland’s struggles, while debutant Brendan Doggett, who came on first change just before the drinks break, bowled sharper than his pace in the 130s suggested.Mitchell Starc acknowledges his five-wicket haul•Getty Images

Pope appeared to be cruising to his first half-century in Australia before being trapped by a full delivery on leg stump from Green, who proved his fitness in his return to Test bowling since March 2024.There was the expectation that batting would be easier after the lunch break and Brook wasted no time by flaying a hapless Boland for six over extra cover that had spectators ducking.But Starc’s momentum was not halted by the interval and he rattled the stumps of Stokes with a cracking delivery that nipped back through the gate as Stokes dropped to one knee in disbelief. It was the tenth time Starc has dismissed Stokes in Tests, heightening the burden on Brook who punched his way to a half-century off 58 balls with the Australian bowlers resisting bowling short.But Brook soon walked off after gloving a short delivery from Doggett, who had only appealed half-heartedly before being swamped by his team-mates in a memorable first-Test-wicket celebration.Doggett, who had earlier received his cap from Boland and his former South Australia coach Jason Gillespie, also dismissed Carse with a short ball as England collapsed.Starc claimed the final two wickets in consecutive deliveries, walking off the ground to a loud ovation from the home fans. But just three hours later he trudged off the field after his dismissal as the match took a dramatic turn.

علق مؤيد الحداد، نجم منتخب الكويت السابق، على التعادل مع منتخب مصر، بهدف لكل فريق، في اللقاء الذي أقيم ضمن منافسات كأس العرب.

وتواجه منتخبا مصر والكويت، في الجولة الأولى من منافسات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب، على ملعب استاد لوسيل.

ويتواجد منتخبا مصر والكويت في المجموعة الثالثة من بطولة كأس العرب، مع منتخبي الأردن والإمارات.

طالع|إسلام عيسى: مواجهة الإمارات بوابة تأهل مصر للدور التالي في كأس العرب

وقال مؤيد الحداد، نجم منتخب الكويت السابق، في تصريحات  لبرنامج البريمو على قناة تن: “منتخب الكويت كأول مباراة له في البطولة أدى اللقاء بشكل جيد، خصوصًا أنه يواجه المنتخب المصري والذي يقدم كرة قوية”.

وتابع: “أداء منتخب مصر لم يعجبني حتى بعد المباراة، تصريح حلمي طولان بأنه كان ممكن يسجل 4 أو 5 أهداف في الشوط الأول والثاني كان غير موفقا، أنت لم تقدر على تسجيل هدف لأن اللعب كان فوضويا للمنتخب المصري ولم أرى أي تنظيم”.

ويحتل منتخب مصر، المركز الأول بشكل مؤقت برصيد نقطة واحدة، ويأتي منتخب الكويت في المركز الثاني بنفس عدد النقاط.

The Premier League has confirmed that the 2026/27 campaign will begin a week later than usual, marking the latest season start in the competition’s history. The decision, announced after a shareholders’ meeting on Friday morning, is designed to counter the growing strain on players created by an "increasingly congested global football calendar".

• A historic schedule shift to ease calendar chaos

  Next season will kick off on Saturday, August 22, 2026, rather than the traditional mid-August weekend. The final round of fixtures will take place on Sunday, May 30, 2027, six days later than this season’s planned finale. The move, officials say, ensures adequate rest following the expanded 48-team World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The global tournament, set to conclude in mid-July 2026, pushes many players to the brink of burnout. The Premier League’s solution is an 89-day gap from the end of this season and a 33-day buffer after the World Cup final.  

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What did the Premier League say

  In a detailed announcement, the league outlined the reasoning behind its decision: "The Premier League Season 2026-27 dates have been confirmed, with the opening match round starting on Saturday 22 August 2026. The final match round will be played on Sunday, 30 May 2027, when all fixtures will kick off simultaneously as usual. With an increasingly congested global football calendar, player welfare remains a priority for the Premier League. As a result, the Premier League will start one week later next season. This will allow for 89 clear days from the end of the current season and 33 days from the FIFA World Cup 26 Final. The season will conclude one week prior to the UEFA Champions League Final, which will be played on Saturday, 5 June 2027.   

  "The 2026-27 Season will consist of 33 weekends and five midweek match rounds. The Premier League schedule will be designed to avoid domestic competition clashes with UEFA club competition dates, wherever possible. Over the Christmas and New Year period, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours. This is in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested Christmas and New Year schedule within the expanded international calendar."

  From next season, the September international break will stretch to three weeks, with four matches squeezed into that window. Meanwhile, the October international break will be scrapped entirely. European leagues have been vocal in recent years about FIFA and UEFA expanding competitions without providing adequate breathing room. The newly enlarged Club World Cup, expanded European Championship, extended Nations League matches, and a record-breaking World Cup all contribute to an unprecedented workload for top players. Privately, several clubs are understood to be pushing for further reforms in future seasons, including fewer midweek rounds and stronger coordination with FIFA.

• Guardiola sounds the alarm over PL title race

  Pep Guardiola admitted that Arsenal’s form could make them untouchable in this season’s title race, but the fight is far from over. City sit second in the table, four points behind Mikel Arteta’s side after 11 games. While the gap is manageable, Arsenal boast the division’s best defensive record, conceding just five goals so far. 

  Although Guardiola is well aware of the challenge, he warned that the season has just begun. He said: "We are in November, and in November in this league nothing is final. What happens in February or March, be careful. But the season starts now. The first start is when the transfer window is over in the summer. And now again, when the international breaks are over. Now until March, we see each other every three days. Now the real season starts. It is important to be there and to arrive at the end of the season with a chance to fight. Winning (in Newcastle) would be an important step for us."

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  Arsenal’s new reality: Playing with the target on their back

  Arsenal’s rise from title challengers to early-season pacesetters has transformed expectations. They have won four of their last five Premier League matches, but their challenge now is sustaining a title pace with several of their key players injured. Their defensive stalwart, Gabriel, is set to miss almost two months of action with a thigh injury, while skipper Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus are long-term absentees. Their next challenge is against fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday, and they will be desperate to win the bragging rights of north London.     

Chelsea are now looking to sign an “outstanding” experienced centre-back who’s won 11 trophies, having struggled defensively at times this season.

Blues fall to ninth after Sunderland setback

Enzo Maresca has been forced to contend with a number of injury problems already this season, with the manager particularly light on options in defence, given the absence of Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile, who are both set to be out for quite some time.

Colwill is a long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury in the summer, while Maresca has confirmed Badiashile won’t be back for another couple of months, saying: “Benoit will be out until December. He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and we will wait for him.”

That said, the manager is still likely to be concerned by just how susceptible his team have been to conceding chances, with Nottingham Forest missing four big opportunities and hitting the woodwork last weekend.

The Blues got away with it against Forest, but Sunderland made them pay on Saturday, with the Black Cats emerging as 2-1 winners at Stamford Bridge, which means the hosts have fallen to ninth in the Premier League table.

As such, Maresca may need to bolster his backline if Chelsea are to transform into title contenders, and they are now looking to sign Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, who is facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Arena.

That is according to a report from CF Bayern, which states the west Londoners want to sign Upamecano in 2026, at which point his contract with the German club will have expired, having been unable to agree a new deal.

Related Chelsea now join race to sign "hugely impressive" £70m Champions League forward

A new forward has emerged as a target for the Blues.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 26, 2025

With the Blues potentially looking to offload ‘bomb squad’ member Axel Disasi, a new centre-back could be brought in to replace him, and the Bayern defender has been identified as a target, although there could be competition from Real Madrid.

"Outstanding" Upamecano could be exactly what Maresca needs

Jamie Carragher has made it clear just how much he disagrees with BlueCo’s recruitment policy of signing young players, saying: “Chelsea should be title contenders and considered Champions League challengers this season. Instead, their hierarchy seems content to be praised for being the smartest recruiters in the business – the world’s richest development club.”

In fairness, while Chelsea did win the Club World Cup in the summer, the model is yet to translate to success in the Premier League, and more experienced players are arguably needed if they are to become title contenders.

As such, the “outstanding” France international, as lauded by Joshua Kimmich, could be exactly what they need, given that he is experienced at the top level, winning 11 major trophies throughout his career, and the 27-year-old’s passing ability indicates he could be an ideal fit in a Maresca system.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

89.32 (99th percentile)

Pass completion %

93.4% (96th percentile)

Progressive passes

6.39 (95th percentile)

The £168k-a-week star’s potential availability on a free transfer is an added bonus for Chelsea, who clearly need greater strength in depth at the back, given that 19-year-old Josh Acheampong has emerged as a regular starter.

This is getting serious now. Liverpool’s abject run of form under Arne Slot’s management this season has been a massive concern, but one which all of a Reds persuasion have been steadfast in their belief that the blip will be overcome.

Mohamed Salah’s flaming comments at the weekend have threatened to split the Slot machine wide open, with terms such as civil war and crisis being bandied about like never before.

What sparked this latest drama in a season weighed further and further down by setbacks? Well, Liverpool blew a two-goal lead at Elland Road in the Premier League, and Salah did not get even a flash of the action.

Liverpool's implosion at Elland Road

Liverpool just can’t pull all the strings together at the moment, having blown their two-goal advantage over Leeds United to draw 3-3. Dominik Szoboszlai thought he’d salvaged a draw late, but the hosts struck deep into stoppage time to condemn the Reds to their latest in a long litany of disappointments.

The frustrating part is Liverpool were comfortable and well worth their lead until spineless, error-riddled habits crept in after the break.

It was Konate’s lunging challenge, clumsy, needless, which started the Leeds fightback, and this underlines the point that Liverpool keep putting themselves through the wringer, incapable of playing to their strengths and retaining balance and composure throughout 90 minutes.

Konate is only months away from the end of his Liverpool contract, and while FSG continue to keep a door open regarding the France star’s renewal, Spanish sources suggest they could be open to cashing in for £15m this summer.

It would possibly be unwise to sell Konate right now, given the dearth of depth across Slot’s backline. Salah, too, is a player FSG wish to keep, but there is another struggler who flattered to deceive at Leeds and should be sold first.

FSG must get rid of Liverpool's "major issue"

Two things can be true: Salah has been well out of sorts this season, and he cannot convincingly tout the undroppable status he has carried through his glittering Liverpool career on his current form; Salah has every right to feel aggrieved, with players like Cody Gakpo reprising their starting berths in spite of dire performances.

It is Gakpo who is becoming a “major issue” for the Anfield side, and in more ways than one, as has been observed by analyst Raj Chohan.

Though the Dutchman has been a moderately efficient force on the left flank this season, scoring four goals and providing three assists in the Premier League, it’s clear that he is limited in his approach, and that the Reds could do with a more dynamic left winger to replace Luis Diaz, sold to Bayern Munich in August.

Gakpo, 26, has been at Liverpool for three years, scoring 46 goals and providing 21 assists across 149 appearances. He is versatile and has played his role throughout his time on Merseyside, but the Netherlands man has been exposed as lacking dimensions as Liverpool’s main man on the left wing.

There’s no doubt that Gakpo is a naturally prolific player, but if anything, this underscores the significance of the concerns surrounding his name: thee is a lack of expansiveness about his skillset, and he is averaging just 0.4 shots on target per Premier League match this season, ranking among the bottom 4% of league forwards for percentage of shots on target per 90, as per FBref.

Mohamed Salah

39 + 26

65

Cody Gakpo

23 + 11

34

Dominik Szoboszlai

12 + 14

26

Luis Diaz

17 + 8

25

Alexis Mac Allister

8 + 8

16

Someone like Antoine Semenyo, perhaps, who is ostensibly gearing up for an exit from Bournemouth in January, with Liverpool right at the top of the shopping list.

Liverpool may need a central defender, but there is a reason Slot suggested during a presser last month that he and sporting director Richard Hughes are looking further up the pitch as a priority position to smooth out the many wrinkles in the tactical fabric.

Though it would be foolish to start thinking about selling Gakpo in January, and an upgrade on the left is desperately needed, and bringing someone like Semenyo in would solve a ‘major issue’ and help launch Slot’s squad back into the ascendancy.

Salah and Konate’s respective futures are in doubt, but it might be that getting rid of Gakpo is the move Hughes needs to make first.

Salah upgrade: Liverpool prepare British record bid to sign £131m magician

Mohamed Salah may leave Liverpool in January after an extraordinary outburst at Elland Road.

ByAngus Sinclair 4 days ago

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco ficou no lucro com o empate sofrido contra o Fortaleza no jogo de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil, no Castelão. Apesar da pressão dos donos da casa do iníco ao fim, o Cruz-Maltino soube sofrer para segurar no empate.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

A verdade é que ninguém esperava uma grande atuação do time carioca. O elenco contava com desfalques importantes como Payet e João Victor, além do pouco tempo de preparo com o novo técnico interino Rafael Paiva. Mas a esperança era sair com um bom resultado para levantar o astral e levar o jogo para a decisão em São Januário – objetivo concluído.

O Fortaleza tomou conta da partida e obrigou Léo Jardim a fazer defesas milagrosas que salvaram o resultado para o Vasco. Não à toa, o goleiro ficou com a maior nota do time no Footstats (8,9). Boa atuação também do trio de defesa montada por Paiva: Rojas, Maicon e Léo deram conta do serviço de fechar a zaga vascaína.

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Por outro lado, o Gigante da Colina tem sofrido muito com o ataque. A falta de eficiência no chute final fez o Vasco sofrer muito em busca dos resultados em 2024. Apesar do time finalizar muitas vezes, pouquíssimas bolas vão na direção do gol. Vegetti acabou ficando com a pior nota do elenco na partida (4,5), sendo seguido por Lucas Piton (4,7).

Tanto Rafael Paiva, quanto Ramón Diáz, não conseguiram chegar em um denominador comum em relação ao trio ofensivo. Vegetti parece ser a única unamidade, mas as pontas giram em todos jogos com Rossi, David, Rayan e Clayton. Além de Adson ainda entrar nessa briga.

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O meio-campo também preocupa. Desde a perda de Paulinho e Jair, parece que nada dá certo no centro do campo. Matheus Carvalho entra bem, mas oscila. Mesma coisa com Sforza e Galdames. O Payet, que antes parecia ser peça essencial no elenco, já não é unanimidade.

A perda de Gabriel Pec, Marlon Gomes e os dois principais volantes da última temporada deixam a impressão de que o time de 2024 piorou. E de fato, os resultados nas primeiras partidas do Brasileirão são piores. Ao fim da quarta rodada do Brasileirão 2023, o Vasco ocupava a 11ª posição com 5 pontos. Hoje, o Cruz-Maltino ocupa a 17ª posição com apenas 3 pontos.

O principal culpado pelo empate com o Fortaleza? A falta de eficiência e objetividade. O principal culpado pela crise que se instaurou no Vasco? A falta de planejamento da diretoria. A busca por um novo técnico e a chegada de reforços vão definir a história do clube da Colina este ano. Por enquanto, a torcida não vê muitos motivos para sorrir.

Tudo sobre

Copa do BrasilFortalezaVasco

Stats highlights from the Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand in Dubai

ESPNcricinfo stats team09-Mar-2025

India’s spinners bowled all the middle overs (11 to 40)•AFP/Getty Images

105 – Partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the final, the first century opening stand in this Champions Trophy.1 in 32,768 – The probability of losing 15 tosses in succession, which has happened to India in men’s ODIs now. India have, however, won ten of these 15 ODIs and lost only four times.The 15 consecutive tosses lost by India is the longest streak for any team in men’s ODIs. Netherlands’ 11 tosses lost between 2011 and 2013 was the previous longest.12 – Consecutive tosses lost by Rohit Sharma as captain in ODIs since he last won one against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. He has equalled the longest streak of lost tosses for a captain in men’s ODIs – Brian Lara also lost 12 between 1998 and 1999.5 – Reprieves for Rachin Ravindra through dropped catches in this Champions Trophy, including two against India in the final, the most for any batter in this tournament.Mohammed Shami dropped Ravindra off his own bowling on 28, while Shreyas Iyer dropped him on 29 off Varun Chakravarthy. Ravindra scored only 37 so the drops didn’t cost India a lot.4 – Catches dropped by India on Sunday, the most for them in a men’s ODI knockout game since the four chances they put down against Sri Lanka in the final of the 2005 Indian Oil Cup.Shreyas Iyer couldn’t latch on to this chance from Rachin Ravindra•ICC/Getty Images30 – Overs that India’s spinners bowled during the middle overs (11-40) on Sunday. The previous instance of India going all spin in this phase in men’s ODIs was against Sri Lanka in the 2002 Champions Trophy final, played on the reserve day.91 – Balls that Daryl Mitchell took to bring up his fifty on Sunday – his slowest fifty in ODIs and the slowest by any New Zealand batter in men’s ODIs since Martin Guptill’s 95-ball fifty in 2014 against West Indies.103 for 4 – New Zealand’s total during the middle overs (11-40) in the final after scoring 69 for 1 in their first ten. Only once have New Zealand scored fewer runs in that phase in a men’s ODI since 2013 – 102 for 3 against Pakistan in 2018 in Abu Dhabi.81 – Balls without a boundary for New Zealand between the 14th (Mitchell hit a four off Axar Patel) and the 27th overs (Glenn Phillips hit a six off Kuldeep Yadav).43 – Runs India scored between the 16th and 30th overs of the chase, during which they lost their top three. These are the fewest they have scored in this phase in a men’s ODI since the 42 against Pakistan in 2013 at Eden Gardens.212 – Shreyas Iyer’s batting average against New Zealand spinners in ODIs. His dismissal against Mitchell Santner in the final was his first against them after facing 233 balls. Iyer got out to fast bowlers in his previous eight ODI innings against New Zealand.

Taylor’s reintegration into the side began ahead of the first Test, where he was invited to train with the squad

Firdose Moonda30-Jul-2025

Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor is set to return to international cricket after serving a three-and-a-half year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Taylor, whose sanction ended on July 25, has been named in Zimbabwe’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand, which starts in Bulawayo on August 7.”I certainly did think it was all done, but here I am – and it’s an overwhelming feeling of gratitude,” Taylor said. “I have to pinch myself a little to realise that I’m actually here. I’ve been soaking it all up and embracing every moment. It’s just been a really nice integration.”The last year and a half has certainly been dedicated to my return. I’ve put in an immense amount of work – from fitness to the technical side to diet – and I’m feeling a lot leaner, fitter and mentally stronger. That’s only been possible through sobriety.”Related

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Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine also welcomed Taylor into the side. “I know how hard he’s worked in his individual capacity – especially over the last eight, ten [or] 12 months – in order for this to happen,” Ervine said ahead of the opening Test against New Zealand. “I’m very excited to have him come back into the space in the next few days, and looking forward to what he has to contribute towards the team and the group.”Taylor, now 39, has not played any representative cricket since retiring abruptly in September 2021, and the conditions of his ban meant he has not been able to train with any national or domestic squads. However, Taylor has used facilities at an elite independent school in Harare, and had told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year that he is fitter than ever before after undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abuse.His reintegration into the side began ahead of the ongoing first Test against New Zealand, where he was invited to train with the squad. Zimbabwe had already named a 16-member squad for the two Tests against New Zealand, which includes a relatively strong batting line-up, and a first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Tafadzwa Tsiga, who has started the first Test.Taylor spent most of his Test career at No. 4, and if he is reinstated in that position, it may simply push everyone from Sean Williams one down to lengthen the batting line-up. Zimbabwe will have to do some juggling to ensure they have enough bowling options.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in March, Taylor had said he did not expect to walk back into the XI, and wanted to play again as an act of service after feeling as though he had let Zimbabwe cricket down by his actions. He was sanctioned after failing to report an offer to fix, after an attempt was made by a fixer to expose Taylor’s use of cocaine. “I’ve been humbled properly,” Taylor said. “I look forward to really just adding value, which I probably didn’t do to the best of my ability when I was there before.”So far, Taylor has played 34 Tests for Zimbabwe between 2004 and 2021, and averages 36.25. He has scored six centuries, including a second-innings 105* in Zimbabwe’s comeback Test from a six-year self-imposed hiatus from the format, against Bangladesh in Harare in 2011.Taylor makes his return amid a busy period for Zimbabwe. They have played seven Tests this year – and won just one – and have four more scheduled: two each against New Zealand and Afghanistan, either side of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in September. Taylor is not expected to form part of Zimbabwe’s T20 plans yet but could come into contention in ODIs, with the 2027 World Cup in mind.

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Luís Zubeldía desembarcou em São Paulo no dia 21 de abril para iniciar seu trabalho no comando do São Paulo, mas talvez não imaginasse que em pouco tempo cairia nas graças da torcida por atingir ótimos resultados dentro de campo. Mas será “só isso”?

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo

Intenso dentro de campo e cumprindo o bom trabalho que prometeu, o argentino está invicto no comando do Tricolor. Em dez jogos, foram oito vitórias e dois empates, e uma esperança de dias melhores no São Paulo.

O treinador de personalidade forte já demonstrou à beira do gramado que é “emocionado”. Até aqui, foram três cartões amarelos e, apesar de nenhuma expulsão, alguns momentos do treinador chamaram atenção, como o chute que deu em uma garrafa d’água em duelo contra o Barcelona de Guayaquil, pela Libertadores.

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+ Três motivos que fizeram Zubeldia ter o melhor início de um técnico do São Paulo no século

O técnico do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, bastante criticado no futebol brasileiro por situações parecidas, chegou a ironizar a situação ao dizer que perguntou ao Núcleo de Inteligência do Verdão se o chute dele teria sido mais rápido: “disseram que eu estava em segundo, o outro foi muito mais rápido”.

Zubeldía, em pouco mais de um mês, também já quebrou tabus, como vencer o Talleres pela primeira vez na história e derrubar uma invencibilidade de 17 jogos do time argentino.

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O bom relacionamento com o torcedor é cada vez mais claro, e o treinador chegou a usar transporte público no último final de semana, onde encontrou são-paulinos e posou para fotos durante o passeio.

A carreira do jovem treinador de 43 anos começou dentro dos gramados, mas em razão de uma grave lesão no joelho, encerrou sua rápida carreira de jogador profissional aos 23 anos. Do lado de fora das quatro linhas, Zubeldía se tornou, aos 27 anos, o técnico mais jovem da história do futebol argentino ao dirigir o Lanús, clube que ficou por dois anos antes de ir para o Barcelona de Guayaquil.

E não para por aí. O argentino ainda passou por Racing-ARG, Santos Laguna-MEX, Independiente Medellín-COL, Alavés-ESP e Cerro Porteño-PAR, e agora quer fazer história no Tricolor.

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BrasileirãoFutebol NacionalLuis ZubeldíaSão Paulo