I-League 2019-20: Henry Kisekka, Marcus Joseph score as Gokulam Kerala begin campaign with victory over NEROCA FC

Kozhikode: Gokulam Kerala began their I-League campaign on a positive note by pulling off a 2-1 victory over Manipur's NEROCA FC on Saturday.

Henry Kisekka (43rd minute) and Marcus Joseph (49th) scored for Gokulam while Taryk Sampson (88th) pulled one back for the visitors late in the game.

Henry Kisekka celebrates scoring for Gokulam Kerala against NEROCA. @ILeagueOfficial

Both returning coaches fielded a line-up which indicated an attacking intent. The spearheading duo of Marcus Joseph and Henry Kisekka featured in the Gokulam starting XI. Trinidadian Andre Etienne started in defence with Nathaniel Garcia in the heart of midfield.

NEROCA FC opted for a less cautious approach, with coach Gift Raikhan fielding a 3-5-2 formation. New signing and skipper, Trinidadian veteran Marvin Devon Phillip started in goal with his young compatriot Taryk Sampson starting in defence while Malian forward Boubacar Diarra was the focal point of Neroca offence.

It was the home side that dictated the tempo of the game right from the kick-off whistle in front of a packed audience of 31,184 home fans.

Gokulam had a golden chance to take the lead in the 16th minute when a cross from the left flank found Kisekka, who had a free header, but his effort was off the mark. The Ugandan, along with Marcus Joseph, remained a constant threat throughout the game.

In the 35th minute, Marcus Joseph had a free-kick which he attempted to shoot under the wall, but it ricocheted off the defence and fell at his feet again. He attempted to volley it but his effort missed the mark by a whisker, sailing over the crossbar.

The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute, when Kisekka's left-footed effort from close range found the back of the net to send Gokulam in front, going into half-time.

The second half began the way the first half had ended. In the 49th minute, a cross from the right flank found Joseph inside the box and he made no mistake in scoring from the open header to double the home side's advantage.

Against the run of play, NEROCA pulled one back in the 88th minute. An acrobatic bicycle kick from Taryk Sampson off a set-piece gave the visitors a lifeline but it turned out to be nothing more than a consolation.

The Malabarians earned all three points to start their season on a positive note, following up from their Durand Cup-winning pre-season form.

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/2OANyam

LaLiga: Real Madrid battle past Alaves to top league standings with hard-fought victory; Real Sociedad clinch thumping win

Madrid: Withstanding the rain and cold, Real Madrid pulled off a hard-fought victory against Alaves to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league on Saturday.

Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal scored second-half goals as Real Madrid beat its tough Basque Country opponent 2-1 to take the league lead from Barcelona, who visit fifth-placed Atlético Madrid on Sunday.

Real Madrid pulled off a hard-fought victory against Alaves to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga standings. Image: Twitter @realmadrid

“We overcame the rain, the cold, the hard fouls,” veteran Real Madrid left back Marcelo said. “It’s in these types of matches that you win the league.”

The result gave Madrid a three-point advantage over Barcelona. They both have a game in hand because their Clásico from October was postponed until 18 December because of a separatist rally in the Catalan capital.

It was the third straight league win for Madrid, who are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.

“It’s a very important victory, but we are not concerned with what will happen tomorrow between Barcelona and Atlético,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said.

Ramos scored with a header off a set-piece taken by Toni Kroos in the 52nd minute, then committed the foul leading to a penalty kick for Alavés, which was converted by Lucas Pérez in the 65th. Ramos was shown a yellow card for his foul, an elbow to the face of Alavés forward Joselu.

Pérez has eight goals in his last nine matches.

Carvajal netted the winner from close range five minutes later off the rebound of a header by Francisco “Isco” Alarcón. Alavés goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco made an initial save against Isco’s header before the ball went off the woodwork and ricocheted back toward Carvajal in front of the goal.

“They came pressuring after getting the equalizer, but we reacted well,” Marcelo said.

Zidane opted to start against Alavés without Thibaut Courtois, who made a mistake in the first PSG goal on Tuesday. He was replaced by Alphonse Areola, whose key second-half saves secured three points for Madrid under heavy rain at the Mendizorroza Stadium.

“(Areola) saved us, like Courtois has saved us before. He played extremely well,” Zidane said.

Madrid were also without Eden Hazard, who picked up a bruise in the match against PSG. Isco started in his place, alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema up front.

Bale, who was on the bench for most of the match against PSG, put in a low-key performance.

Odegaard in charge

Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard had another impressive performance to steer Real Sociedad to beaing Eibar 4-1 in San Sebastian.

Sociedad climbed past Atlético and into fourth place.

The 20-year-old Odegaard, who is on loan from Real Madrid, led Sociedad’s vibrant attack with his creative passing and capped the win with a fine left-footed curling strike in the 80th.

Robin Le Normand headed Sociedad in front before Mikel Oyarzabal and Willian José added goals. Pape Diop made it 1-1 for Eibar.

Other results

Valencia beat Villarreal 2-1 in a regional derby with goals from Spain striker Rodrigo Moreno and 19-year-old Ferran Torres.

Joaquín Sánchez scored a penalty and Nabil Fekir added another goal as Real Betis won 2-1 at Mallorca.

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/37SvlwP

Australia vs Pakistan, LIVE Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 3 at Adelaide

Day 2 report: Pakistan were trailing by 493 runs in the day-night Test against Australia on day two at Adelaide Oval here on Saturday.

Pakistan lost two wickets cheaply as Imam-ul-Haq (2) and skipper Azhar Ali (9) were scalped by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins respectively.

Opener Shan Masood played a knock of 19 runs before being caught by Tim Paine behind the stumps off Josh Hazlewood, reducing the team to 38/3.

Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq built a stand of 31-run for the fourth wicket. Shafiq was picked by Starc after playing a knock of nine runs.

Iftikhar Ahmed (10) failed to score big runs and was sent back to the pavilion by Starc.

Mohammad Rizwan failed to leave his mark on the scoreboard and was too dismissed by Starc on a duck.

Azam and Yasir Shah are unbeaten on 43 and 4 runs respectively. Pakistan were at 96/6 at stumps on day two of the pink-ball Test.

For Australia, Starch bagged four wickets while Cummins and Hazlewood scalped one wicket each.

Earlier in the day, Australia declared their first innings on 589/6. David Warner (335) and Marnus Labuschagne (162) guided the team to a massive score.

Warner went past Mark Taylor and Don Bradman to register the second-highest individual score for Australia in the longest format of the game.

He has now become the only Australian to score two 250 plus scores in the longest format of the game. In the innings, the left-hander became the seventh Australian to score a triple-century.

Steve Smith, who played a knock of 36 runs, became the fastest batsman to score 7000 runs in the longest format of the game.

With inputs from ANI 

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/2r0E7Ir

Formula 1 2019: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton grabs pole position in season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi: World champion Lewis Hamilton stormed to the final pole position of the Formula One season with a dazzling display under the floodlights in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Briton, who wrapped up his sixth Formula One title two races ago at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, lapped the Yas Marina circuit in one minute 34.779 seconds, beating Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas by 0.194.

“Yes, guys, that’s what I’ve been looking for,” Hamilton said on the team radio on the cool down lap.

Lewis Hamilton gestures after securing the pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AP

Bottas will line up at the back due to a raft of engine-related penalties, meaning that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s race on the front row.

“I’m going to start last with my 40-place grid penalty or whatever,” said Bottas. “We’ll find the fighting spirit for tomorrow.”

Verstappen said his lap was the best he could do against a Mercedes team who looked dominant in the desert.

“I think there are still a lot of chances for tomorrow,” added the 22-year-old.

The pole was a record-extending 88th of Hamilton’s career and fifth of the season. It was also his fifth in Abu Dhabi but first since the German Grand Prix in July — a run of nine races out of the top slot.

“It’s been such a long slog trying to get this pole position,” explained the 34-year-old, who was fastest after the first flying lap and then improved on his time in the second.

“Yesterday was quite wobbly so I really had to re-compose myself last night and come back today focused. I managed to really dial in the car with great work from the engineers, mechanics,” he added.

“It’s been a special car and this is the last time I get to qualify with it so I’m glad I did it proud today.”

Hamilton has won four times previously at the Yas Marina circuit and is chasing his 11th victory of the season on Sunday to end the campaign just seven off Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91.

With five of the 10 races to date in Abu Dhabi having been won from pole, and Mercedes winners of the last five, the omens look good.

“We have had a clean record here in Abu Dhabi, it’s a track that suits us and suits him,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

MOST POLES

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who ends the season with the most poles (seven), will start in third place with team mate Sebastian Vettel fourth.

The pair collided in Brazil two weeks ago, ending their races and leading to a meeting at the Maranello factory to clear the air.

There was more frustration on Saturday, however, when Leclerc missed out on a final flying lap with Vettel slowing in front of him.

“We’re not going to make it, Seb is slowing down,” Leclerc said over the radio.

“It is life sometimes it happens, I don’t know if the situation was unlucky or we could’ve done something better,” the Monegasque, who is fighting Verstappen for third in the championship, said.

British-born Thai rookie Alexander Albon was sixth for Red Bull ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Carlos Sainz was ninth for McLaren while Nico Hulkenberg, without a drive next season after losing his seat to Frenchman Esteban Ocon, rounded out the top 10 for Renault.

British rookies Norris and George Russell, with Williams, both end the season having out-qualified their teammates over the course of the campaign.

Norris has qualified ahead of Sainz in 11 of the 21 races while Russell has a 21-0 record against Poland’s Robert Kubica.

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/37PNknw

New Zealand vs England, LIVE Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 3 at Hamilton

Toggle between the tabs above to switch between quick scorecard, full scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

Day 2 Report: Daryl Mitchell made 73 in his first Test innings on Saturday to put New Zealand in a strong position after the second day of the second Test against England.

He shared a 124-run sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper BJ Watling which helped New Zealand reach 375 as they batted first after winning the toss.

At stumps, England was 39-2 after 18 overs. Dom Sibley (four) and Joe Denly (four) were dismissed inside the first 10 overs, leaving Rory Burns and out-of-form captain Joe Root to battle to stumps against an exacting New Zealand attack.

Burns was dropped twice, by Ross Taylor at slip off Matt Henry when he was 11 and by Jeet Raval at mid-wicket off Tim Southee when he was 20, but he survived at 24 not out to bat again on Sunday. Root is under pressure both for his own lack of form and England's and he toughed it out to stumps when he was on four.

The early part of the second day belonged to England who, after New Zealand resumed at 173-3, removed both overnight batsmen, Tom Latham for 105 and Henry Nicholls for nine, within nine overs.

That brought Mitchell out for his test debut beside his North Districts provincial teammate BJ Watling, who scored 205 in New Zealand's only innings of the first Test to lay the foundation for its win by an innings and 65 runs.

The pair assembled a partnership which occupied all but nine overs of the first session and all but one ball of the second. Watling was out for 55 to the last ball before tea after he and Mitchell had defied the England attack for 53 overs and lifted New Zealand from 191-5 to 315-6, a strong position after having been sent in.

New Zealand resumed at 173-3 after the shortened first day in which almost all of the final session was lost to rain.

Latham, 101 not out overnight, added four runs before being bowled by Stuart Broad. He likes to leave close to his off-stump but misjudged a ball angled in from around the wicket and was bowled without playing a shot.

Nicholls hooked a short ball from Sam Curran to Broad on the fine leg boundary.

The next wicket didn't fall for almost half a day as Watling and Mitchell built an impressive partnership.

Mitchell reached a half-century on debut from 122 balls in 194 minutes and with five fours and one six. He became one of six members of the New Zealand 11 for this match — Watling, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls and Tim Southee are the others — to have scored a half-century or better on debut.

Watling followed him to a half-century from 180 balls in 239 minutes. He continued an extraordinary run which has seen him score 77, 105, 205 and 55 in his last four Test innings, batting for more than 21 hours.

England struggled to break the partnership, even with the second new ball, until it found the effectiveness of the short ball. Bouncers from Stuart Broad accounted for both Watling, caught at gully by Bruns, and Mitchell caught at fine leg by Jofra Archer. The New Zealand tail quickly followed.

Sibley was struck on the helmet by Tim Southee, disconcerted and was out shortly afterwards, lbw to the same bowler. Denly flashed at a ball from Matt Henry and was caught by Watling, leaving Burns and Root to guide England to stumps.

With inputs from AP 

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/2DudONz

Australia vs Pakistan: 'What a journey', 'remarkable feat', Twitter applauds David Warner after he smashes maiden triple hundred

David Warner stroked his way to his maiden triple hundred on Day 2 of the second Test at Adelaide against Pakistan. The opening batsman became the seventh Australian batsman to score a triple hundred. With the milestone, Warner also recorded the best individual score for any batsman at Adelaide, surpassing 299 not out by Sir Don Bradman.

Australia are placed beautifully in this Test match as Pakistan continue to look for answers, a plenty of them. The hosts had surpassed the 550-run mark before Tea and will be looking to declare as soon as they reach the 600-run mark.

Pakistan have had a difficult outing with the ball as Warner toyed with the bowlers. Pakistan's two experienced bowlers - Mohammad Abbas and Yashir Shah - have also not been able to produce any inspiration.

As soon as Warner reached the landmark, reactions started pouring in from all quarters on Twitter. Here's a look at some of the best reactions.

What a player!

David Warner made his debut as T20 specialist now registered his maiden triple century in Test cricket.... What a journey!

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 30, 2019

What a list!

David Warner becomes the fourth batsman to hit a triple-hundred against Pakistan after Sir Gary Sobers, Mark Taylor and Virender Sehwag #AUSvPAK #Cricket — Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 30, 2019

Remarkable achievement!

For the cracking rate at which he has scored runs, this is a remarkable triple century by @davidwarner31, even allowing for poor Pak bowling attack. Unless he makes a mistake out of fatigue or Aus declare to pick up some wickets, Brian Lara’s record score unsafe today

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 30, 2019

Special 300

A 300 is special. @davidwarner31 is making up very quickly for a lean Ashes. And spare a thought for Yasir Shah who is about to go past 200 again — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 30, 2019

Just for laughs!

warner has now made more than the entire bangladesh batting line up did in both innings combined in the previous pink ball test #AUSvPAK

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) November 30, 2019

Dry run in Ashes must have inspired this knock

Not just the Ashes slump but everything that went before. The emotion poured out when he reached 300. Meant a lot to @davidwarner31 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/4FUsBlv22h — Gautam Bhimani (@gbhimani) November 30, 2019

A 300 is a 300 is a 300

You know what’s really, really easy? Sitting on the couch and belittling an innings because it’s at home, or against a team that’s struggling, or not in an Ashes series.

You know what’s really, really bloody hard? Making a Test triple-century, ever, against anyone.#AUSvPAK

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) November 30, 2019

Warner has proven himself wrong

We'd say you have plenty of patience @davidwarner31 😅 pic.twitter.com/hRKoFTtRvy — ICC (@ICC) November 30, 2019

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/2OyClqP

Victoria call up Travis Dean as concussion substitute during a Sheffield Shield game after Aaron Finch suffers blow to head

Melbourne: Aaron Finch suffered a blow to his head during a Sheffield Shield encounter on Saturday and was substituted by Travis Dean after Australia's limited-overs captain experienced concussion symptoms.

Finch, who plays for Victoria, has been ruled out of the remainder of the match.

The 33-year-old Finch was fielding at short leg when he was hit on his helmet as New South Wales' Steve O'Keefe flicked a James Pattinson delivery during the second day's opening session.

Although Finch continued to field after being assessed, Cricket Victoria released a statement saying the right-hand batsman experienced delayed concussion symptoms during the lunch break.

"He was assessed on the ground immediately after the incident and was cleared to continue fielding, but experienced delayed concussion symptoms during the lunch break," Cricket Victoria said in a statement.

The incident comes on the heels of five-year death anniversary of Australian batsman Phil Hughes, who died from brain haemorrhage on November 27, 2014, after being hit on the neck by a rising ball while batting in a Sheffield Shield game in Sydney.

The Sheffield Shield has the concussion substitute rule in place since 2017-18 season. The rule was introduced in international cricket earlier this year.

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne was Test cricket's first replacement player when Steve Smith was concussed during the Ashes.

from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/34C7WOe