Rob Smyth's Blog, page 36
February 11, 2024
Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast: Africa Cup of Nations final – as it happened
Sebastian Haller scored a superb late winner as the hosts came from behind yet again to complete an extraordinary triumph
1 min Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Nigeria kick off from right to left as we watch.
The atmosphere is spectacular; of course it jolly well is. The hosts are one game away from a tournament win like no other. One or two host nations have won their tournament after blundering through the group stages, but I can’t think of any who sacked their manager en route.
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West Ham 0-6 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Declan Rice made two and scored a screamer against his old club as Arsenal demolished a miserable West Ham
2 min Kudus, who has started on the rigtt, nicks the ball off Kiwior and runs to the edge of the area. His route to goal is blocked so he plays the ball outsife to Coufal, whose cross is headed away.
1 min Peep peep! Arsenal kick off from right to left as we watch.
Continue reading...February 10, 2024
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Bayern Munich: Bundesliga – as it happened
A ruthless counter-attacking performance put Leverkusen five points clear, with Josip Stanisic opening the scoring against his parent club
The pitch is still being cleared, and the referee has gone across to talk to the two benches.
0 min In fact the kick off has been delayed: fans have thrown a load of sweets and toy balls onto the field, the latest protest against potential outside investment in the Bundesliga. Good on them.
Continue reading...100 up: five of Ben Stokes’s most memorable Test matches
The most superhuman displays of the England captain’s career which will reach a century of Tests against India next week
18 & 120, 1-63 & 2-82 (Australia won by 150 runs)
Continue reading...February 5, 2024
India beat England by 106 runs in second Test – as it happened
Englands made a match of it, but despite every batter getting a start, none of them went big so India levelled the five-match series at 1-1 with Jasprit Bumrah again to the fore
17th over: England 73-1 (Crawley 34, Rehan 10) Crawley is beaten twice by Bumrah. The first was a slightly loose stroke, the second a snorter that kicked from a length. It’s been an immaculate start from Bumrah, who is getting closer and closer to off stump – and to Crawley’s outside edge. After 11 dot balls, Crawley lands his first blow with a thumping drive to the left of mid-off for four. Lovely stroke.
“Greetings from the airport (the only reason I’m up at this unholy hour),” says Eva Maaten. “I am completely amazed how England have managed to make this series, which was flying slight below my radar, so exciting! I’m probably not alone in having had very low expectations, but so far it has been riveting and I’m looking forward to another exciting run chase and close finish.”
Continue reading...India beat England by 106 runs in second Test – live reaction
17th over: England 73-1 (Crawley 34, Rehan 10) Crawley is beaten twice by Bumrah. The first was a slightly loose stroke, the second a snorter that kicked from a length. It’s been an immaculate start from Bumrah, who is getting closer and closer to off stump – and to Crawley’s outside edge. After 11 dot balls, Crawley lands his first blow with a thumping drive to the left of mid-off for four. Lovely stroke.
“Greetings from the airport (the only reason I’m up at this unholy hour),” says Eva Maaten. “I am completely amazed how England have managed to make this series, which was flying slight below my radar, so exciting! I’m probably not alone in having had very low expectations, but so far it has been riveting and I’m looking forward to another exciting run chase and close finish.”
Continue reading...February 4, 2024
Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened
Arsenal punished a subdued, error-strewn Liverpool performance to close the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points
1 min Almost a chance for Jota inside 40 seconds! A routine long ball from Van Dijk towards Gakpo caused problems for Arsenal. It bounced past Gakpo and Gabriel before reaching Jota, who got the wrong side of Zinchenko on the edge of the area but took a heavy touch that allowed Raya to come out and claim.
1 min Peep peep! Liverpool, in their purple change strip, kick off from right to left as we watch.
Continue reading...February 2, 2024
Australia 1-2 South Korea (aet): Asian Cup quarter-final – as it happened
The Socceroos were left to rue missed chances and naive challenges after Son Heung-min inspired another dramatic Korean comeback
3 min “Atkinson is a real concern defensively against the pace of South Korea,” says Matthew Stephens. “Expecting a lot of their attack to go down that side.”
2 min As expected, South Korea have reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Continue reading...India v England: second Test, day one – as it happened
A sparkling unbeaten 179 from Yashasvi Jaiswal underpinned India’s first-day score of 336 for 6 but England made useful late inroads to stay in the match
Ben Stokes said England would have batted as well. “New game, new week: we know India will come back hard.
India have made three changes: Rajat Patadar and Kuldeep Yadav come in for the injured KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, while Mukesh Kumar replaces Mohammed Siraj. It sounds like Siraj has been rested rather than dropped.
Continue reading...India v England: second Test, day one – live
Ben Stokes said England would have batted as well. “New game, new week: we know India will come back hard.
India have made three changes: Rajat Patadar and Kuldeep Yadav come in for the injured KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, while Mukesh Kumar replaces Mohammed Siraj. It sounds like Siraj has been rested rather than dropped.
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