Rob Smyth's Blog, page 81

Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened

Jorginho gifted Jadon Sancho United’s opener but he recovered to score from the spot to ensure the match ended level

“Both Tuchel and Klopp can’t be Kraftwerk,” says Bob Coyne. “Klopp is definitely more Faust.”

I did think about Faust, and I was also tempted to slap Amon Düül II on the table, but I decided they weren’t famous enough to be Klopp. I’ll level with you: it was, at best, a half-arsed analogy, I didn’t give it that much thought.

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The 80s and 90s Cricket Show: reliving triumph and tragicomedy

If you’re feeling nostalgic about English cricket at the end of the last century, this is the podcast for you

The past is a foreign country, and we could all use a holiday right now. The Guardian can’t offer an all-expenses-paid trip abroad, that would be costly and a bit weird, but we can guide you towards a happy(ish) place, where things are done very differently: English cricket at the end of the last century.

The 80s and 90s Cricket Show was created by Mark Sellek to celebrate an era that, for reasons our therapists are still trying to unpick, we all remember so fondly. Everyone had so much fun doing the first series that they decided to come back for another.

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Tottenham 2-1 Leeds United: Premier League – as it happened

Antonio Conte stole the show as Spurs – who were booed off at half-time – overwhelmed Leeds with an exhilarating second-half performance

1 min Klich wins the ball in the Spurs half and finds Gelhardt, who is fouled 25 yards from goal by Tanganga. The free-kick is a fair way to the left of centre, though it’s still a decent position for Kalvin Phillips.

1 min Peep peep! Spurs, all in white, kick off from right to left. Leeds are wearing their blue change strip.

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Manchester United 0-2 Arsenal: Women’s Super League – as it happened

Vivianne Miedema and Katie McCabe scored as the leaders Arsenal continued their great form with a dominant victory at Leigh Sports Village

2 min United are also playing 4-2-3-1, with Lucy Staniforth playing deeper alongside Katie Zelem.

2 min Arsenal’s formation is closer to 4-2-3-1, with Kim Little behind Vivianne Miedema.

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Watford 4-1 Manchester United, Newcastle 3-3 Brentford and more – as it happened

Harry Maguire was sent off in another humiliating defeat for Manchester United, while there were six-goal thrillers at Turf Moor at St James’ Park

Eddie Howe prefers a back three/five for his first game as Newcastle manager. Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock are the central-midfield pair.

No real surprises in Steven Gerrard’s team selection. It looks like a 4-3-3 with Ollie Watkins playing wide.

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Serbia stun Portugal and Spain ease past Sweden to qualify for World Cup finals – as it happened

The substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic’s last-minute header sent Serbia to the World Cup at Portugal’s expense on a dramatic night in Lisbon

(With thanks, sizeable thanks, to my colleague Philip Cornwall for simplifying the unsimplifiable.)

1. There are three qualifying spots at Qatar 2022, to be played for by 12 teams: 10 group runners-up plus the two highest ranked winners of Nations League groups that have not qualified otherwise. Scotland, Russia and North Macedonia have qualified as runners-up. Several teams are guaranteed at least a play-off spot (including Poland, who stand only a theoretical chance of catching England). Either Wales or the Czech Republic will be runners-up in Group E, but whoever is not will get a spot via the Nations League route. Austria are guaranteed a spot via the Nations League route.

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Manchester City 0-4 Chelsea: Women’s Super League – as it happened

City’s desperate season continued with another heavy defeat at home to Chelsea, who moved to within a point of the leaders Arsenal

5 min Hemp brings the crowd to life with a spectacular, winding run into the area. Carter comes across and does well to usher her away from danger.

4 min That was a hideous goal to concede. You have to feel for Taieb, the stand-in keeper who is having such a difficult season.

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Australia beat Pakistan by five wickets: T20 World Cup semi-final – as it happened

Matthew Wade produced a spectacular cameo, including three successive sixes to finish the game, as Australia beat Pakistan in a classic semi-final

Mitchell Starc is going to bowl the first over. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are statistically the best opening partnership in IT20 history (min: 10 innings), so this Powerplay is even more important than usual.

“The points table in the second group stage seems like a rare ‘perfect’ league result,” writes Smylers. “The teams respectively won five, four, three, two, one and zero matches, each one having beaten all the teams below it and lost to those above — an unambiguous ranking of the teams (and obviously no need to
bother with net run rate). How often does a league table end up so perfectly ordered, in any sport?

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West Ham 3-2 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Kurt Zouma headed the decisive goal as David Moyes’ side moved above Liverpool with a memorable victory at the London Stadium

This is West Ham’s last game before Remembrance Sunday, and the players of both teams have gathered round the centre circle to pay tribute. Before the Last Post is played, Sir Trevor Brooking reads out In Flanders Fields.

There’s a cracking atmosphere at the London Stadium. It’s a pleasant enough evening, dry but chilly.

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Tottenham 1-1 Manchester United: Women’s Super League – as it happened

Alessia Russo put United ahead with a spectacular goal, but Spurs grabbed a point in injury time thanks to Ria Percival’s free-kick

8 min The tempo of the game is really good, both with and without the ball. Spurs, in particular, are giving United no time on the ball.

5 min The resulting corner, swung beyond the far post, is missed by Earps and cushioned back across the six-yard box on the volley by Williams. The ball hits a United defender and ricochets to safety.

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