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Pakistan’s bottom six contributed only seven runs as they lost their last four wickets without adding a run

Sampath Bandarupalli23-Mar-20224 Runs added by Pakistan for the loss of their last five wickets in Lahore, the fewest for Pakistan in a Test innings while losing their last five wickets. Their previous fewest was five runs against South Africa in their first innings in Cape Town in 2003.7 Runs contributed by Pakistan’s Nos. 6 to 11 in the first innings in Lahore, the fewest by Pakistan’s bottom six in an all-out Test innings. Their previous lowest contribution was eight runs against Australia during their second innings in the 2004 Perth Test.ESPNcricinfo Ltd0 Runs added by Pakistan while losing their last four wickets. It was only the tenth instance of a team losing their last four wickets at the same score in a Test innings. Pakistan’s only previous instance was against England in 1967, when they went from 140 for 6 to 140 all out in their first innings at Trent Bridge.5 for 56 Pat Cummins’ figures in Pakistan’s first innings. He is only the fourth fast bowler from Australia to bag a five-wicket haul in Test cricket in Pakistan. Cummins’ bowling figures are also the best for an Australian quick in Pakistan since Graham McKenzie’s six-wicket haul in 1964.ESPNcricinfo Ltd9 Wickets shared by Australia’s opening pair of Cummins and Mitchell Starc. It is only the second instance of Australia’s new-ball pair sharing nine wickets in a Test innings in Asia. Geoff Dymock (5) and Rodney Hogg (4) also shared nine wickets in India’s first innings of the Kanpur Test in 1979.1 The nine wickets between Starc and Cummins are the most by Australia’s fast bowlers in a Test innings in Pakistan and the joint-most in a Test innings in Asia. Their fast bowlers have picked up nine wickets on five previous instances in Asia. Their previous best combined haul in Pakistan was eight wickets in both innings of the Rawalpindi Test in 1994.

Might it be that the batsmen were just better than him at that place and time?

Iain O'Brien05-Feb-2020Indulge me, for a second.Take the hammer
Smash the glass
Take the glass
Cut the Mother Earth
Opens up
And sucks you down
It sucks your sorry ass into the groundAre you pressure man or prey?
Do you suffer through the gravity?
Are you predator or prey?
Will you suffer my reality?
Are you pressure man or prey?
Do you suffer through the gravity?
Are you pressure man or prey
This 1998 New Zealand rock anthem from the Feelers, “Pressure Man” was the theme music for the precursor to T20, Cricket Max. You could say the first verse and chorus above are about short-form cricket. (Well, the song sums up a lot of life. Please replace with any non-gender-specific noun and sing along.)There is a photo of me from 2009, standing outside of a drink-break huddle. I had just dropped Gautam Gambhir at mid-off; it was day five, and it may have been the game changer.The song didn’t come to mind at the time, but for the rest of that Daniel Vettori over, I vividly remember carving out a long wound in the pristine McLean Park outfield with the smashed-glass spike of my boot and wanting it to open up and swallow me. In hindsight, the lyrics are as if I wrote them from that one experience.There are many of these moments in life and in sport. Except, in sport they are replayed and replayed and replayed. You suffer over and over.And it’s those who suffer over and over who either are or become legends and greats of the game.***A recent brief, innocent, and what seemed insignificant, back and forth on Twitter with the editor of allowed me to think about the “pressure man or prey” situation New Zealand were in recently while trying to overcome the India T20 team.”Why do they keep using Southee?” was the question I was posed after NZ Super Over loss.The demand of the question, the rhetorical, is that Southee shouldn’t be bowling that Super Over, ever. I don’t think it’s as black and white as that.Answer me these:Did Southee get the plan wrong and the execution right?Did Southee get the plan right and the execution wrong?Did Southee get the plan and the execution right and the batsman was just better?We, outside of the inner sanctum of the team, will probably never know.***In what turned out to be my fourth and last T20I, Scotland were our first opponents in the 2009 World T20. Rain cut the game short before it had even started. Seven overs each; a T7, if you like.ALSO READ: The glamorous life of a Test match bowler (2015)I bowled the first over. With The Oval Members End behind me, I ran in and delivered maybe my most perfect over. The plan locked in and every ball was perfect.The over went for 18, with two leg-byes. It was the best over I had ever bowled. It was the best I had ever kept to a plan. Ever! And I was ignominiously clubbed for four brutal fours.I do have to let you in on one thing, though. In the Scotland team, there was a Watts and a Watson. According to our scouting, Watts would open and Watson would bat about eight.I checked the plan for the opener and nailed it.Except, Watts wasn’t the opener. It was Watson, who normally batted eight. I missed the slight difference in name, which led to the massive difference in individual plans.I didn’t play another T20I. I admitted my mistake in the team debrief the next morning. I got the plan wrong but executed it right. Does that make me a bad bowler, or a good bowler who misread a name?I could have sat on that shame, that failure. I could have dwelled on the fact that no one on the park had thought to make sure I had the right plan after I was spanked for a couple of fours.

Players talk of ‘having a short memory’ when they’re asked how they deal with the massive lows of sport. But in reality, a lot have learnt to have the capacity to sit back and say, ‘I did my best, they were better’

I didn’t, though.Watts. Watson. Damn it!Some 11 years on from that game, I reflect with a greater knowledge of what I allowed myself then. It was probably the first time, and one of the very few times in my career, that I allowed myself some compassion.I failed many, many times. And almost every time I lived that failure. I endured the pain and allowed it to become more of me, more of my personality, than it should have been. All that self-loathing left me not knowing who I was and what I was. Putting on a mask to keep going, to keep being. Tired. Drained. Sleepless. Tears. Disgust.***Southee stepped up and took the ball. And failed in the third T20I against India, in the Super Over.And again in the fourth T20I, in the Super Over.But did he fail?ALSO READ: Martin Crowe: The masks we wear (2013)If we go back to the question of whether he nailed the plan and execution (and to the correct batsman – not like my stupid folly!), might it be that the batsmen were just better than him at that place and time?Fine lines. Very small margins.I think we need to give the opposition more credit than we strip credit from Southee. Or at least we need to consider doing so. And also consider that those piling onto the bowler here are adding to it their feelings and frustrations that New Zealand didn’t get over the line in regular time.You can succeed by failing. One such instance stands out in my mind – in a T20I at the SCG, against Australia, in the penultimate over.Cam White hit a straight, length delivery of mine to somewhere near the moon. Somehow, on its way down, it didn’t quite clear the rope and Vettori completed a special catch.Iain O’Brien: “I failed many, many times. And almost every time I lived that failure. I endured the pain and allowed it to become more of me”•John Walton/PA Photos/Getty ImagesWe celebrated the wicket – me, not quite so much. Vettori to me in the huddle: “Not quite your best ball, OB?” It certainly wasn’t, at all! Got lucky with the launch angle from White’s bat. Fine lines. Very small margins.But it was a success, right?***The more I study our stupid/bonkers/mad/brilliant human mind, the more I realise that in 2009 I had done something to myself that was just becoming a recognised form of mental healthcare.Compassion-focused therapy was just becoming a wholesome part of psychology. Being able to have compassion for oneself or another, as a way to deal with the emotions and outcomes of decisions and actions, whether good or bad, is an essential aspect of well-being.Imagine not being able to have compassion for yourself even if you have, to the best of your abilities, done what was required.Players hide behind the saying “having a short memory” when they’re asked how they deal with the massive lows of sport. But in reality, a lot have learnt to have the capacity to sit back, say, “I did my best, they were better,” shrug their shoulders, look for a lesson, let it all just wash over (like a kid would), and go again with the full backing of their team-mates.ALSO READ: Martin Crowe: How McCullum helped me let go (2014) That’s why I’d back Southee again. And again. That may be the definition of insanity (as in the quote attributed to Albert Einstein), but I’m backing that the plan and execution were right (or so damn close to right that no one in that line-up could have done better), and the opponent was just too good on that day. And the next.Michael Jordan once said: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”If the execution was poor, then, yes it may be right for someone else to bowl those overs that nobody really wants to bowl. But I’d still back Southee in this instance – why waste the investment?Some people carry scars of battle; some people carry a smile. Some people sleep at night; some don’t. I wish I could have shown myself more compassion when I was playing.Are you pressure man or prey?

Raphinha's brace sent Barcelona seven points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Osasuna. Hansi Flick's team were toothless in front of goal for long periods but the former Leeds United star came up trumps just when his team needed him in the second half. The result widened the gap to rivals Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso under increasing pressure to keep his job.

Barcelona made a bright start to the game, with Ferran Torres twice going close, while Marcus Rashford had a penalty appeal turned down. At the other end, Ante Budimir worked Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia and the pacey Victor Munoz caused the home defence a number of problems. It looked like the hosts had taken the lead in the 24th minute when Ferran Torres headed in Rashford's pinpoint cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up from the corner. 

Torres was a whisker away from breaking the deadlock with an overhead kick, while Munoz shot just wide on the counter-attack. Rashford brought out a good save from keeper Sergio Herrera from a free-kick, and then some desperate defence denied the 28-year-old soon after. Just when it looked like the away side would frustrate the league leaders, captain Raphinha produced something out of nothing when his 20-yard shot whipped into the corner in the 70th minute. 

Jorge Herrando tucked the ball in the net five minutes from time but the goal was ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Joan Garcia, and shortly after, Raphinha volleyed in from three yards to well and truly end Osasuna's stubborn resistance. The Blaugrana are now seven points clear but Madrid could cut that to four if they beat Alaves on Sunday night.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Camp Nou…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Joan Garcia (7/10):

Had to be alert to the dangers of Budimir and particularly Munoz and did a decent job in goal.

Jules Kounde (6/10):

Wasn't able to get forward in an attacking sense as much as usual as Osasuna's swift offence were a handful.

Pau Cubarsi (5/10):

The young centre-back didn't have a great night. He was sloppy at the back and found it difficult to keep a lid on Osasuna's attack.

Gerard Martin (6/10):

Struggled to handle the rapid Munoz but also showed good pace when getting back to clear the danger. 

Alejandro Balde (6/10):

Had some good races with Munoz, and sometimes came off second-best, but largely had a competent evening. 

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Eric Garcia (5/10):

Didn't add a great deal to Barcelona's midfield at a time when they needed more creativity to break down a stubborn away team. 

Pedri (7/10):

The Spaniard worked his socks off and kept chugging away when trying to unlock the away defence. He got an assist and is such a force for Barca.

Raphinha (8/10):

The Brazilian wasn't at his best on the whole but he took his first goal in brilliant fashion. Then was in the right place at the right time for his second.

Getty Images SportAttack

Lamine Yamal (7/10):

While the teenager was a threat, Osasuna's Abel Bretones did a decent job against the Spanish winger. Still showed off some lovely bits of skill, mind. 

Ferran Torres (6/10):

Was unlucky to have an excellent header ruled out but other than that, should have scored a couple. 

Marcus Rashford (7/10):

Continues to earn his place in Barcelona's starting XI, with his trickery and crossing ability a real bonus. After a lively first half he wasn't quite as good in the second, though.

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Fermin Lopez (7/10):

The attacking midfielder looked sharp off the bench.

Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

Was about to come on to turn the tide in Barca's favour but Raphinha did that so his impact wasn't really needed or felt.

Marc Casado (N/A):

Too little time to make an impact.

Andreas Christensen (N/A):

Came on with minutes to spare.

Roony Bardghji (N/A):

Barely touched the ball when brought on.

Hansi Flick (7/10):

His team created a hatful of chances and had the lion's share of possession but they weren't clinical in front of goal for the majority of the contest. Will be thankful he has Raphinha back fit again as he resisted going to his bench for a long time.

Inter’s perfect Champions League run came to a sudden halt as Atletico Madrid secured a dramatic 93rd-minute winner through Jose Maria Gimenez. Still bruised from their derby loss to AC Milan, Inter faded late and paid the price, with Cristian Chivu admitting fatigue, failed substitutions and a game plan that “didn’t work” in a night that exposed deeper problems for the Nerazzurri.

Atletico strike late to end Inter’s flawless run

Inter entered the Metropolitano still carrying the emotional and physical weight of their 1-0 derby defeat to Milan and it showed. Despite arriving with four wins from four in Europe and a near-flawless defensive record, the Serie A side lacked sharpness in key moments, allowing Atletico to grow into a game that became increasingly frantic.

The visitors did begin brightly. Federico Dimarco’s early free-kick forced Juan Musso into a save, while another driven shot skidded narrowly wide. The Nerazzurri controlled the rhythm during the first 20 minutes, yet Atleti stayed patient. The breakthrough came when Alex Baena’s accidental contact redirected the ball into the path of Julian Alvarez, who fired home his 10th Champions League goal in just 14 appearances. Inter responded well after half-time. Nicolo Barella hit the crossbar from close range, Dimarco was again denied by Musso, and the pressure eventually told when Ange-Yoan Bonny released Piotr Zielinski, who finished calmly to level the match. At that point, Inter looked the more likely winners.

But Los Rojiblancos's substitutes, especially Antoine Griezmann and Marc Pubill, swung the momentum back. Inter’s back line began to retreat deeper, counters became harder to contain, and set-piece defending grew increasingly unstable. That vulnerability proved decisive in the 93rd minute, when Gimenez rose above the pack to nod in the winning goal, handing Chivu's side their second consecutive defeat in all competitions.

AdvertisementAFPChivu admits failures in plan and substitutions

Chivu didn’t hide behind excuses and acknowledged that Inter were far from the level required in key phases. Before discussing tactical flaws, he highlighted the team’s improved intensity after the break but stressed that it wasn’t enough to manage the final moments.

“In the second half, we responded and were effective in attacking the depth,” Chivu said after the match. “We had a game plan, and it didn't work. We reacted with anger and quality, in my opinion, but we weren't able to defend the result until the end. This defeat can hurt; it's the second in a row. We haven't gained anything, but we're aware of everything. We need to be more aggressive and understand the moments of the game.”

He then pointed to the impact, or lack thereof from his bench, making it clear that the substitutions did not replicate Atletico’s energy. “We tried to plug the gap between the quality Atletico had. In the second half, new players came on, but despite that, we tried to get more. The new arrivals could have done a little more with the ball, added something more. We'll analyse everything. The derby sapped our energy. I can't fault them for anything.”

Issues grow for Inter as big-game struggles continue

The defeat fits a worrying pattern. the Nerazzurri's losses this season have almost all come against top-level opponents: Milan, Napoli and Juventus earlier in the campaign, and now Atletico. Each time, the team have created chances but failed to manage decisive moments. Chivu’s side have also shown repeated vulnerability to counter-attacks, with transitions from defence to midfield breaking down too easily.

This match only reinforced those concerns. Simeone's punished Inter’s hesitation in wide areas, exploited space during late transitions and dominated the final 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Inter’s substitutes, normally a key strength, failed to provide the push needed. The contrast with Atletico’s bench, who immediately raised tempo and aggression, was stark.

Despite the loss, Inter remain in a tightly packed group, level on 12 points with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Atletico’s win takes them to nine points, keeping their hopes alive but still requiring a flawless finish. For Inter, the standings remain favourable but performance trends are becoming harder to ignore.

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Getty ImagesChivu must reset quickly as fixtures pile up

The Serie A giants now face a crucial stretch that will test their resilience. Their next league assignment sees them travel to Pisa on Sunday, where the priority will be stopping the losing streak before it spreads beyond Europe. Chivu needs fresh legs, sharper structure and immediate improvement in transition defence if Inter are to avoid slipping further.

Atletico, meanwhile, take significant momentum into their La Liga clash against Real Oviedo on November 29. Gimenez’s late winner has reignited belief that a knockout-stage push is still possible, even if the pathway remains narrow.

After day one of Pakistan’s home template went according to plan, the second day made sure it faithfully followed the same script. South Africa bravely resisted Pakistan’s spinners for exactly 50 overs, but that was all they could take. South Africa then lost 4 for 26 in 62 balls as Noman Ali scythed through South Africa’s middle order, upending a game that appeared to be heading towards a one-innings shootout.After a productive morning for Senuran Muthusamy, who took a six-wicket haul, saw Pakistan dismissed for 378, South Africa had done their best not to allow Pakistan’s spinners to blow them away early doors. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton saw off the new ball, building a stable opening partnership that inched towards fifty by the 12th over. But Noman, and spin in general, was always a threat. Markram ensured an umpiring decision was overturned when Rod Tucker deemed him to have nicked off to Rizwan, but two balls later, Noman served up another flighted delivery that spun away, and on that occasion it took Markram’s outside edge with it.On Sunday, Simon Harmer spoke of the importance of not losing wickets in clusters, and with Rickelton, Mulder hung around to add 35 for the second wicket. But an expansive smear towards midwicket was uncalled for and with Noman finding turn away from the right-hander, the ball kissed the outside edge into Rizwan’s grateful hands.The incoming Tony de Zorzi’s innings could be split into two phases, one of extreme good fortunue following by superb temperament. Hasan Ali toyed with his outside edge the first over, though two of those deflections found their way through a gap in the slips to the boundary and set him on his way. From the other end, he nearly chipped one straight to Noman, and as tea neared, he looked especially vulnerable.Rickelton, though, showed a mix of patience and clinical efficiency. He found a way to be solid, if not comfortable, against the spin when they landed their lengths, while still squeezing out runs with regularity. Rickelton, whose last innings against Pakistan yielded 259 in Cape Town, has now seen 47% of his career Test runs come in his last two innings vs Pakistan. The tea break came and went as South Africa began to establish a position resembling parity, a gorgeous straight six and four off Noman after a quiet passage indicating Rickelton’s growing comfort.But with an hour of play left, South Africa remained vulnerable. A year ago in Multan, England had raced away to 211 for 2, only to be picked apart by Sajid Khan to finish the day at 226 for 6. In the 51st over, Salman Agha drew Rickelton’s outside edge, with Babar at first slip getting low to complete a stunning one-handed reflex catch to break the stand six short of 100.Pakistan then went on the prowl. Noman took Tristan Stubbs’ outside edge in near-identical circumstances to Markram’s dismissal earlier before a rattled Dewald Brevis chipped his first ball straight to short midwicket to give Sajid Khan his first wicket. South Africa were in damage control mode, but Noman found a way to inflict another hammer blow when Kyle Verreyenne tried to sweep a straight delivery, only to be caught dead in front.Senuran Muthusamy bagged career-best figures of 6 for 117•Associated Press

South Africa’s saving grace was de Zorzi had now moved from his tentative phase to one of extreme command. He had seen the disintegration from the other end without allowing himself to be discomfited by it, keeping the runs ticking along while reassuring Muthusamy, who looked deft enough to see off the dying overs. Off the penultimate ball of the day, de Zorzi saw one that was dragged short and whipped it through midwicket, still focused on putting the poor balls away.In the morning, Muthusamy had sliced through Pakistan’s lower order in the second half of the first session to wrap up the hosts’ innings for 378. The left-arm spinner took three wickets in an over, on his way to a career-best figures of 6 for 117, as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 16 runs. But much of the job Pakistan were tasked with completing overnight was taken care of by Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, whose partnership stretched to 163 before the wickets began to fall. South Africa were left to face an awkward four overs before lunch, but they did so without harm.After being cautious, Agha got things running with a sweep for four behind square, before lifting Harmer over the sightscreen. With limited apparent danger from the spin, Pakistan looked set to march to and beyond 400, a mark both sides had appeared to consider as borderline impregnable on a surface that would deteriorate fast. By now, Harmer had been lifted by Agha for another six and Muthuswamy for four more as he motored towards three figures.But the wickets came all of a sudden. Extra turn and bounce kissed the shoulder of Rizwan’s bat as the wicketkeeper took a catch to finally break the sixth-wicket stand. The incoming Noman was cleaned up after Muthusamy bowled a delivery Noman himself would have been proud of, giving it air before it whistled past the outside edge and into off stump. For the second time in the innings, he would go two in two after Sajid was coaxed into a defensive prod that took the edge and towards Markram at slip.Agha and Shaheen Afridi dug in for the next half hour before the latter’s bellicose nature got the better of him. He danced down the track and hacked at the ball, only to see Muthusawmy make a mess of his stumps behind him. It left Agha in danger of being stranded a few runs from his century, and he tried to rush to the milestone, taking on Prenelan Subrayen. He smeared across the line to allow Muthusamy take a comfortable catch on the boundary, leaving him seven runs short, just as Imam-ul-Haq had been yesterday.The final 15 overs of the day, though, will reassure Pakistan they do not want for runs on this continually deteriorating surface.

Neither side able to force a result on final day of season at Emirates Old Trafford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025Middlesex 211 (De Caires 52, Geddes 52, Aspinwall 4-62, Bailey 4-68) and 99 for 4 (Bailey 3-47) drew with Lancashire 375 for 5 dec (Bohannon 87, Hurst 67, Wells 62, Jennings 61)Josh Bohannon made a superb 87 and both Seb Morgan and Arav Shetty took their maiden first-class wickets on an eventful last day of the first-class season at Emirates Old Trafford but the Rothesay County Championship match between Lancashire and Middlesex ended in a draw.Replying to Middlesex’s 211, Lancashire’s batters went on the attack in the first half of the day, scoring 270 runs in 44 overs before declaring on 375 for 5 an hour after lunch. However, their imaginative attempt to conjure a victory was thwarted, not without the odd alarm, by Middlesex’s top-order and the game ended with the visitors on 99 for 4.The result ensures that Glamorgan will finish second in Division Two, although whether that means they will be promoted to Division One or one of the proposed conferences has yet to be decided.The morning had begun on a positive note for Middlesex when Luke Wells was lbw to Toby Roland-Jones for 62 in the third over of the day. But the session was dominated by the batting of Bohannon whose 69-ball 87 included 14 fours and two sixes, the latter off Henry Brookes and Zafar Gohar. Lancashire’s No. 3 scored 74 of the first hundred runs in his 113-run stand with Jennings and looked set for a very quick hundred before he was bowled by Roland-Jones when hitting across the line.Jennings had been completely overshadowed by his batting partner but he was dismissed for 61 two balls after Bohannon when he played all around a ball from Morgan and lost his leg stump. That gave 18-year-old Morgan his maiden first-class wicket on the ground where his 61 runs had been instrumental in Middlesex’s memorable one-wicket Metro Bank Cup victory back in August.Lancashire came into lunch on 239 for 3, giving them a lead of 28, but they lost George Bell in the third over of the afternoon session when he was leg before wicket to Higgins for 17. By then, though, Matty Hurst had hit the first of his four sixes, two of the maximums coming off Gohar, and Lancashire’s rapid progress was not slowed by the dismissal of Michael Jones, caught at deep point off Morgan, for 33. When the declaration was made, Hurst was 67 not out off 68 balls and Lancashire had scored 270 runs off 44 overs in the day’s play.Lancashire’s hopes of achieving an unlikely victory were given an immediate fillip when Josh De Caires was leg before wicket to Tom Bailey in the ninth over of the innings. That gave Bailey his 500th wicket in all formats for Lancashire and Middlesex came into tea on 26 for 1.On the resumption, Sam Robson and Luke Hollman coped reasonably easily with Lancashire’s seam attack but after the light had worsened and stand-in captain Bohannon was compelled to bowl his slow bowlers if the game was to continue, Robson fell to Bailey’s first offspinner when he was caught at short leg by Bell for 21. Shetty then took his maiden first-class wicket on debut when he bowled Leus du Plooy for 5 and Middlesex’s anxieties were increased three overs into the last hour when Bailey bowled Luke Hollman for 33.To their evident relief, though, the visitors lost no more wickets and were 99 for 4 with Higgins on 14 not out and Ben Geddes unbeaten on 1 when the players shook hands. Bailey finished with 3 for 47 from 17.5 overs.

A Kylian Mbappe-less France secured a comeback, 3-1 win over a plucky Azerbaijan to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high. Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that thumped Ukraine 4-0 in midweek, and early on they appeared to miss their biggest stars.

On a night that was supposed to be a procession for the Group D winners, Azerbaijan had other ideas and took the lead in the fourth minute when Renat Dadashov swept in Rahman Dasdamirov's pass across the six-yard box following some slack marking. For 16 minutes, it was bedlam in Baku, but Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta powered in a close-range header from Malo Gusto's cross to level proceedings.

It looked like the Chelsea full-back had then put France ahead when his deflected shot nestled in the corner, only for the goal to be chalked off as the ball struck Christopher Nkunku's arm on the way in. It was 2-1 on the half-hour mark, though, when Maghnes Akliouche scored his first goal for his country as he tucked in Gusto's neat cutback following a lovely floated pass from Khephren Thuram.

Juventus midfielder Thuram thought he had opened his own goal-scoring account for France, only for his effort to be ruled out after Hugo Ekitike handled in the box. But the visitors got the breathing room they were seeking just before half-time when goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev, who was later taken off after being dazed from a collision, pushed the ball into his own net from Thuram's strike on goal.

If the first half was a rollercoaster ride, the second was anything but. Azerbaijan, ranked 123rd in the world, began to tire around the hour mark, and had it not been for substitute keeper Aydin Bayramov, it could have been more one-sided.

GOAL rates France's players from Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Lucas Chevalier (6/10):

On his long-awaited debut, after 16 call-ups, his first action was to pick the ball out of the net following a well-worked goal from the hosts. Didn't have much to do otherwise, in truth.

Malo Gusto (8/10):

The Chelsea man was caught out by a lovely through ball and moments later France were 1-0 down. However, he made up for it with two assists and was a huge attacking threat. Was unlucky to have a goal of his own wiped out.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Despite not having a particularly good season for Liverpool, the big defender looked calm and assured at the back.

Lucas Hernandez (7/10):

Very little seemed to fluster the defender, who linked up well with his younger brother. 

Theo Hernandez (7/10):

While he wasn't as adventurous or as effective in attack as fellow full-back Gusto, he still fired in some good crosses and was more defensively sound.

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Khéphren Thuram (8/10):

Was unlucky not to score any goals but got into some good positions to give himself a chance to do so. His pace and power were self-evident, and some of his passing was delightful, too.

Warren Zaire-Emery (7/10):

His quick feet and athleticism got his team out of a hole on a couple of occasions, but he didn't have the licence to roam.

Christopher Nkunku (6/10):

The former Chelsea man had a stop-start performance, sometimes showing off some real quality but he also made some bad decisions and got tackled frequently.

AFPAttack

Maghnes Akliouche (7/10):

The youngster had an encouraging outing, he beat defenders with regularity, and he got his goal as well. A good night for him.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (8/10):

Took his goal with aplomb, held the ball up well, brought others into play and had a very good all-round display. He could be heading to the World Cup at this rate.

Hugo Ekitike (5/10):

The Liverpool forward has been excellent so far for his new team but he seemed all at sea at times. Seems to be better when leading the line.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Rayan Cherki (5/10):

The Manchester City summer signing struggled to make an impact.

Florian Thauvin (6/10):

Tracked back well but didn't do a huge amount.

Bradley Barcola (6/10):

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker was repelled well by the Azerbaijan defence.

Didier Deschamps (7/10):

Fielded an experimental side without some of his heavy hitters, and while he would have been concerned with how they started the game, they slowly turned the screw before asserting their dominance. Some players shined, others did not. 

When you think of Newcastle United, you don’t first think of a full-flowing youth system.

While Alan Shearer began his youth in his home city, he did not play for Newcastle and signed an academy deal with Southampton before the Magpies could swoop. On the south coast, he was schooled and developed into the superstar the Toon would one day welcome home.

Newcastle have since sharpened their academy ranks, with the PIF investing in young talent to underlay Eddie Howe’s first-team squad. It is by supporting the seniors with promising up-and-comers that the chances of sustained success are raised, forging a closer bond with the city besides.

But Newcastle are still putting their emphasis on bringing over impactful additions to help Howe achieve his goals. However, one of these recent arrivals, Anthony Elanga, has struggled to get going so far, and a continuation of his woes could see a young prospect rise up and take his place.

Elanga's start to life at Newcastle

Let’s scale it back a bit. It’s transfer deadline day, August 2024. Newcastle need a right winger, need one badly.

And Elanga has been profiled as the man for the job, with Newcastle persistent after an initial £35m offer was rejected by Evangelos Marinakis. A second £50m bid arrives, proving the scale of Newcastle’s ambition, but Marinakis doesn’t want to play ball, and Tyneside do not welcome their man.

One year on, Elanga has signed for Newcastle in a £55m deal, and this tells us of a clear strategy for a player who has been scouted and analysed. He fits Howe’s vision and racked up 31 goal contributions across two Premier League terms with the Tricky Trees.

But he’s struggled thus far in the north east, having gone 12 matches in all competitions this term without a single direct goal involvement. Limited in attacking quality, Howe, and Elanga himself, will expect much more over the coming months.

The jury remains out, of course, but there’s a lot to be excited about, with Elanga’s fleet-footed pace and creative flair singled out by pundit Jamie Carragher as being perfect for Woltemade, who has suffered no such slowness in his start to life at SJP.

However, if Newcastle’s speedy signing fails to improve, he may fall quickly down the pecking order, with Jacob Murphy racking up an assist in midweek.

But it’s not just the 30-year-old stalwart who could threaten Elanga’s berth, with a Lamine Yamal-esque youngster looking to make headway on Tyneside after arriving from overseas this summer.

The Newcastle teen who's 'like Yamal"

Newcastle have a wave of youth talent incoming on Tyneside as has not been seen in many years. The likes of Elliot Anderson (sadly sold to Nottingham Forest) and Lewis Miley are among the brightest rising stars.

But that’s not all. An impetus has been placed on signing formative players and developing them. Seung-soo Park is a fine representation of this, having been dubbed ‘the Korean Lamine Yamal’ by one Asian football writer, who understands the teenager has been given his own locker at St. James’ Park, which tells much of Howe’s belief in the youngster’s potential.

Aged 18, Park joined the Magpies from K League 2 side Suwon Bluewings this summer, fee undisclosed. He had featured 18 times for the Suwon first team, scoring once and providing three assists.

Instantly among the senior fold, journalist Liam Kennedy marvelled at the “surprise package”, with the high regard he was held in clear from the off.

Like Elanga, Park is endowed with speed and power, and he’s versatile enough to play across the frontline. Across two matches in the EFL Trophy this term, he has shown much promise, combative in the challenge while being creative and enterprising on the ball.

Minutes played

62′

90′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

1

Touches

26

49

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

2 (1)

Accurate passes

16/18 (89%)

23/28 (82%)

Chances created

1

3

Dribbles

2/3

3/3

Recoveries

2

3

Tackles won

0/0

0/1

Ground duels

3/4

5/7

Those ball-carrying statistics tell a tale. Park has the trappings of an elite dribbler, and in this, he could rival Elanga in the years to come at St. James’ Park.

The comparisons to Yamal are not without substance, and if the talent can develop his prolific edge in front of goal, he could topple Elanga and maybe even rival the likes of Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade for the talismanic crown among Howe’s star men.

After all, the evidence thus far shows a player whose creativity and flair on the ball is cut from a similar cloth to those at the highest step of the Newcastle pyramid. To put that another way, it’s only a matter of time.

Hailed as a “real find” by Toon correspondent Charlier Bennett, Park is billed for big things, all right, with the reporter going on to whether the versatile forward “should remain with the first team this season?”

He has now made eight appearances for the U21s, and while Park continues to search for his first goal in black and white, like Elanga, he is adapting to a wholly new environment and could find himself fast-tracked with a bit more match action.

The five-cap South Korean U20 international, with one goal to his name, is one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from Asia in recent years, and though he faces stiff competition for a place on the Newcastle flanks, he has a big fan in Howe, and boasts the ability to leapfrog Elanga down the line, should the Swedish winger fail to kick on at the senior level.

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O Sampaio Corrêa encerrou um jejum de 11 jogos sem vencer na Série B do Brasileiro. A Bolívia Querida venceu a Chapecoense no último sábado por 2 a 0, no estádio Castelão, em São Luís, em jogo da 28ª rodada da competição. O meia Neto Paraíba, autor de um dos gols, comemorou o resultado e revelou que a fase já incomodava o grupo.

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– Sensação única essa vitória. A gente estava precisando demais. Acabamos com esse jejum que já nos incomodava. Nunca deixamos de trabalhar, de se entregar por essa camisa, mas os três pontos não estavam vindo. Ganhar diante da nossa torcida é ainda mais especial. Vamos buscar o quanto antes sair da situação que nos encontramos – comentou Neto Paraíba.

Além de superar a Chapecoense, o camisa 21 também teve um motivo extra para vibrar ao balançar as redes. Neto Paraíba vai ser pai outra vez e aproveitou para homenagear a esposa na comemoração. Ele já tem um filho chamado Miguel José, de sete anos.

+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

– Estava já buscando o gol há algum tempo. Graças a Deus saiu com uma vitória. É uma sensação única homenagear mais um filho ou filha que está chegando também. Vou ser pai outra vez e esse momento está sendo bem especial para a minha família – finalizou o meia, que chegou ao segundo gol na Série B do Brasileiro.

Tim Southee will link up with his former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in time for England’s first Test of the summer, against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge next week, after being confirmed on a short-term deal as James Anderson’s replacement in their coaching staff across formats.Southee, 36, retired from Test cricket at the conclusion of England’s 2-1 series win in New Zealand in December, after a 16-year career that included a national-record 776 wickets across international formats.In that period, he played alongside McCullum on 170 occasions, including 78 under his leadership – while also sharing the field at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL and Middlesex in the T20 Blast. McCullum presented Southee with a bottle of red wine signed by the England team at the conclusion of Southee’s 107th and final Test in Hamilton.His official title in the England set-up will be “Specialist Skills Consultant”, but his appointment is in effect a like-for-like replacement for Anderson, who took his own vast international experience straight into the back-room staff after his own 21-year Test career came to an end at Lord’s last July.This summer, however, Anderson is proritising a season-long deal to play for Lancashire, for whom he could make a first appearance of the season later this month after recuperating from a calf injury.Southee’s England deal includes the one-off Zimbabwe Test, beginning May 22, as well as the white-ball series against West Indies and the five Tests against India that get underway in June and July. His stint will conclude after the Oval Test on August 4, at which point he is due to resume his playing career with Birmingham Phoenix in the Men’s Hundred.In a press release, the ECB welcomed his involvement, saying: “With his vast experience of playing in a wide range of conditions around the world and across all formats, [Southee] brings valuable insight and knowledge to the players.”