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FIFA World Cup: France beat England to set up Morocco semi-final

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(Last Updated On: December 11, 2022)

Olivier Giroud sent France into a World Cup semi-final with Morocco as his late header after Aurelien Tchouameni’s opener clinched a gutsy 2-1 win over England on Saturday with Harry Kane blazing a penalty over the bar six minutes from time, Reuters reported.

Four years ago Giroud did not manage a shot on target in the entire tournament as France won the title but in Qatar he now has four goals and has become his country’s record goalscorer along the way.

France are now one win away from becoming the first back-to- back finalists since Brazil in 2002 and two from being the third team to retain the trophy after Brazil in 1962 and Italy in 1938.

According to Reuters, France’s manager Didier Deschamps, who captained them to their first World Cup triumph in 1998 and coached them to their second title four years ago, described the victory as fabulous.

“It was a big game, we played a superb England team who are strong technically and physically,” he said

“It’s brilliant for the players to be in the last four again. We got a bit lucky although we gave away two penalties but we kept our lead with our hearts and our guts.”

France really did have to work hard for their win as the first major tournament knockout match between the old sporting rivals maintained the excitement and edge-of the seat drama that has made it such an extraordinary quarter-final weekend.

They went ahead after 17 minutes when, after a length-of-the-field break, Antoine Griezmann rolled the ball invitingly into the path of Tchouameni, whose 25-yard low shot flew just inside the post, read the report.

England eventually got going, pushing and probing, and France keeper Hugo Lloris was quick off his line to save at the feet of Kane and then parried another drive from England’s captain.

Lloris was in action again at the start of the second half, tipping a fierce Jude Bellingham shot over the bar as England came out full of purpose and energy.

The dangerous Bukayo Saka was then tripped by Tchouameni and Kane smashed the penalty high beyond his Tottenham Hotspur team mate Lloris to draw level with Wayne Rooney as England’s record scorer on 53 goals.

England, beaten semi-finalists four years ago, were buoyed by the goal and were playing with huge confidence but although center-back Harry Maguire brushed a post with a header they could not make their dominance count.

Instead France hit back as Griezmann swung in a perfect center that Giroud did brilliantly to reach in front of Maguire, planting his header into the slimmest of gaps after 78 minutes.

The cross took the ever-elusive Griezmann beyond Thierry Henry as his country’s top assist provider with 28 and was another reminder of why he has played an extraordinary 72 internationals in a row.

England were then given another lifeline via VAR when Theo Hernandez flattened Mason Mount but this time Kane sent his spot kick wildly over the bar in a painful reminder of Chris Waddle’s effort when they lost the 1990 semi-final shootout to West Germany.

England pushed for an equalizer but when substitute Marcus Rashford’s added-time free kick fizzed just over the bar it meant a seventh defeat in 10 World Cup quarter-finals and another ‘four years of hurt’ to tack on since their solitary triumph in 1966.

“We were here to try to win the tournament and we believed we could and I think that we showed with that performance tonight against the reigning champions that we’ve got a team that could have done that,” said coach Gareth Southgate.

“It’s fine margins and things at both ends that have ended up deciding the game but I think the way they’ve progressed as a group throughout this tournament has been fantastic.”

France now face the unlikeliest of semi-final opponents in Morocco, after they beat Portugal 1-0 earlier on Saturday and Deschamps was quick to recognise their worth, Reuters reported.

“Morocco deserve praise,” he said. “Maybe they were not expected to be here (in the semis), but they conceded only one goal and seeing them here is not a surprise at all.”

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Abu Muslim Farah FC thrashes Khurasan Faryab 6-0 in ACL match

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(Last Updated On: April 24, 2024)

Abu Muslim Farah FC thrashed Khurasan Faryab FC 6-0 in the 7th match of Afghanistan Champions League (ACL) in Kabul on Tuesday.

In the second game of the day – the 8th ACL match – Aino Mina FC beat Sarsabz Yashlar FC 4-0.

Suhrab Afghan from Abu Muslim Farah was top scorer with three goals, Amanullah Sardari scored two goals and Ahmad Khaled Majidi one goal.

Suhrab Afghan, who became the first ACL player to score three goals in one match, was named Man of the Match.

“The game was good and I was able to score three goals with the coordination of the team members,” he said after the match.

Abu Muslim Farah FC team is now sitting at the top of the table with a total of 8 goals so far.

In second position is Aino Mina FC with a total of seven goals.

Following their match against Sarsabz Yashlar FC, Ahnullah Darman was selected as Man of the Match.

“I am happy to represent the people of Kandahar in the Aino Mina team and bring happiness to my people, and I dedicate this victory and award to all the people of Kandahar, especially to my family,” said Darman after accepting the trophy.

Aino Mina FC’s goals were scored by Ahnullah Darman (2), Ahmad Nabi Moqadas (1), and Ramin Hamidi (1).

Head coach of Sarsabz Yashlar FC team shared his disappointment at the team’s loss and said he believes the reason for his team’s defeat is the lack of experienced players.

He said however, he hopes that they will shine in the upcoming matches.

Wednesday’s matches will see Sorkh Poshan Khafi take on Attack Energy FC at 1:00 PM, while Istiqlal Kabul FC face Mawj Sahil FC at 3:30 PM.

The matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television.

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‘Serious talent’ Fraser-McGurk bonds with Warner to light up IPL

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(Last Updated On: April 24, 2024)

Jake Fraser-McGurk went unsold at auction but the young Australian was snapped up by Delhi Capitals as an injury replacement and has become one of the stories of the current IPL.

The fearless 22-year-old batsman still has plenty to learn though and told AFP he is soaking up every bit of information he can from David Warner, his idol and now a team-mate in the Indian capital.

“Having him here and knowing him quite well, we have got a nice connection, got a beautiful friendship,” Fraser-McGurk said of the 37-year-old opener, one of Australia’s finest-ever batsmen.

Delhi head coach and Australia great Ricky Ponting this week described Fraser-McGurk as “a serious talent”, and there are flashes of the young Warner with his attacking approach and ease at which he hits sixes.

Last year Fraser-McGurk shattered AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest century in List A (50-over) matches, taking just 29 balls for South Australia.

None of the 10 IPL teams came in for him at December’s player auction so he joined Delhi as an injury replacement for South African paceman Lungi Ngidi — and has not looked back, AFP reported.

Fraser-McGurk’s 35-ball 55 on his debut brought instant fame in India, even if Australian cricket has long known about his potential.

“I met Davey a while back in the BBL,” said Fraser-McGurk, referring to the Big Bash League, Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Fraser-McGurk cannot talk highly enough of Warner.

“When the talk is about the game, then you understand how much experience he has and what he’s done,” he said.

“He has time for everyone, he is very unselfish and does what his team needs.”

‘Serious talent’
Fraser-McGurk has played two one-day internationals for Australia this year, hitting an 18-ball 41 in his second ODI against the West Indies.

Despite that and his IPL form, which included a 15-ball half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Fraser-McGurk is not anticipating a call-up for the T20 World Cup in June in the United States and West Indies.

He admits he forgot that the World Cup was taking place almost straight after the IPL.

“Mitch Marsh was obviously with Delhi and he said we are going to Barbados and America and all that stuff,” said Fraser-McGurk.

“I was like, ‘Are you playing there?’ and he was like, ‘No, the World Cup’.

“Obviously it’s not on the forefront of my mind.”

Ponting expects Fraser-McGurk to have a bright international future, but cautioned: “So far he is not anywhere near the finished product yet.

“I would love to be able to spend more time with him one-on-one and work on his batting,” he added.

“I think he can be a three-format player for Australia.”

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Jaiswal ton powers Rajasthan to big IPL win

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(Last Updated On: April 23, 2024)

Yashasvi Jaiswal struck form with an unbeaten 104 as Rajasthan Royals consolidated their position at the top of the IPL table with a nine-wicket thrashing of Mumbai Indians on Monday.

Medium-pace bowler Sandeep Sharma took 5-18 to help restrict Mumbai to 179-9 after Yuzvendra Chahal claimed an IPL first of 200 wickets at Rajasthan’s home ground in Jaipur.

Jaiswal, a left-handed opener whose previous best this season was 39, steered the team home in 18.4 overs in an innings interrupted by rain, AFP reported.

“I really enjoyed from the start and I made sure I was watching the ball properly and playing proper cricketing shots,” said Jaiswal.

“I’m trying to do what I am doing well, some days it comes good and some days it doesn’t, I’m not thinking much.”

Rajasthan, who won the inaugural IPL in 2008 under late Australian hero Shane Warne, registered their seventh win in eight matches

Jaiswal struck his second IPL hundred – both versus Mumbai — as he smashed nine fours and seven sixes in his 60-ball knock and put on 109 runs with skipper Sanju Samson, who made 38.

Sharma set up victory, his first ever five-wicket haul in T20 cricket as he took the spotlight away from Chahal’s remarkable feat and was named man of the match, AFP reported.

Chahal sent back Mohammad Nabi caught and bowled for 23 with his leg-spin as he celebrated the achievement with hugs from teammates.

But Chahal was taken for 48 runs in four overs and Sharma stood out after he took three wickets in the 20th over including Tilak Varma, who top-scored with 65, and Tim David, who made three.

Chahal was substituted with Jos Buttler coming in as impact player and he began with two boundaries in the opening over by skipper Hardik Pandya, who played his landmark 100th IPL match.

Pandya has endured a tough time this season after he replaced veteran Rohit Sharma as skipper only to be booed by the fans across venues.

“After the game, it’s not the right time to go to the players, everyone is professional, they know their roles,” said Pandya.

“What we can do is learn from this game and the mistakes which we have made, rectify it and make sure that we don’t repeat it.”

The left-handed Jaiswal joined in the charge as he hit South African speedster Gerald Coetzee for a six and two fours to get the chase underway.

Rajasthan raced to 61-0 in six overs when rain stopped play and action resumed after 45 minutes.

Piyush Chawla bowled Buttler for 35 after the break but Jaiswal stood firm and in the company of Samson made the chase a cakewalk.

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