Bismah Maroof, Pakistan’s former captain, has revealed she had doubts she would ever play cricket again after undergoing surgery for a sinus problem earlier in the year. Maroof experienced issues with her vision before and after the operation, but has recovered to play a part in Pakistan’s Women’s World T20 campaign in the Caribbean.It was after suffering from blurred vision during training in July that Maroof was told she needed an urgent operation. Because the sinus attack was related to her brain, doctors said the problem could be life-threatening; and even after the four-hour operation went to plan, she faced complications.”It was quite challenging,” Maroof told the ICC’s website. “After the surgery, I was on a high dosage of medicines. My eyes got affected, so it took time for me to return to playing.””I was quite depressed. Lying there, at one point I couldn’t imagine that I could get up and play again. But they say that whatever plan is made for you is for the good.”Having been initially told she could not play cricket, Maroof’s condition fortunately improved and she was able to return to the Pakistan set-up during the T20 series against Australia in Kuala Lumpur last month.Although she has been replaced as captain by Javeria Khan, Maroof remains a key part of the set-up. She is her country’s leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is, and the second-most capped player in the format – experience that came to the fore in her innings of 53 in Providence on Sunday, helping Pakistan to their highest T20 total against India. She also took the crucial wicket of opener Smriti Mandhana,It was not enough to set up victory, however, and with Pakistan also beaten in their opening match, against Australia, they face a struggle to qualify from Group B. They have an opportunity to notch a first win against Ireland on Tuesday but, it seems, whatever the game throws at her and her team, Maroof will be ready.”It’s important now to prioritise my health. It has been a stressful time,” she said. “I have learnt that you shouldn’t plan too much. All your life plans can be turned upside down. So I will not plan again!”

The champions climbed back to the top of the Premier League table after an utterly dominant win over the struggling Hatters.

The Etihad Stadium really is Kevin De Bruyne's playground. Luton couldn't get near the Belgian as he pulled the strings in an ultimately comfortable 5-1 win that sent Manchester City back to the summit.

Indeed, the 32-year-old was involved right from the first whistle, setting Erling Haaland through as the opening goal arrived within two minutes, courtesy of a hugely unfortunate own goal from Daiki Hashioka.

The hosts, despite finishing the game with an incredible 37 shots at goal, had to wait until after the hour mark for their second – Mateo Kovacic lashing home a thunderous volley that gave Thomas Kaminski no chance.

It was three soon after as Haaland slotted home from the penalty spot and although Ross Barkley pulled one back for Rob Edwards' side, the impressive Jeremy Doku made it 4-1 with a jinking run and expert finish. There was still time for Josko Gvardiol to add a fifth in stoppage time too, with City nudging their goal difference up to +44 as a direct result.

GOAL rates Manchester City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Ederson (6/10):

No clean sheet today. After having literally nothing to do in the first half, his crossbar was rattled by Cauley Woodrow before he was beaten by a smart finish from Barkley for Luton's consolation goal.

Rico Lewis (7/10):

Bright and effective in that inverted full-back position on the right. Linked up well with the likes of De Bruyne and Nunes in front of him and proved once again he's a more than capable deputy for the absent Kyle Walker.

Manuel Akanji (6/10):

Often found himself in central midfield, such was City's domination. Had hardly anything to do from a defensive point of view, with Luton so focused on keeping the hosts out.

Ruben Dias (7/10):

Like Akanji, he had the freedom to start much higher up the pitch and cruised through what was a comfortable afternoon for him. Made over 100 successful passes which was more than anyone else on the pitch, De Bruyne included.

Josko Gvardiol (7/10):

Looked to cut in from the left flank and get shots away, like he did so effectively at the Bernabeu. One slack moment saw Fred Onyedinma wrestle past him, leading to Luton smacking the crossbar, but a largely positive performance that resulted in a stoppage-time goal.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Mateo Kovacic (7/10):

Flashed a deflected shot wide midway through the second half before thumping a half-volley into the net to make it 2-0. Not a bad way to score his first Premier League goal for City.

Kevin De Bruyne (8/10):

Wrap him up in cotton wool ready for Madrid. Dominated again here, especially in the first half, creating chance after chance after chance – seven in total over the course of the game. Will be disappointed he didn't record a goal or assist and didn't look too pleased to be taken off with 10 minutes left.

Matheus Nunes (5/10):

His afternoon was tarnished somewhat by his role in Luton's goal, as a loose touch on the half turn allowed Barkley to rob him and fire past Ederson.

Getty ImagesAttack

Julian Alvarez (5/10):

Provided a threat with his wicked deliveries from corners but his end product from open play was largely disappointing. Did get the assist for Kovacic's goal but nowhere near the levels he was hitting at the start of the season.

Erling Haaland (7/10):

After forcing the first goal, somewhat fortuitously, with his wayward strike going in off the face of Daiki Hashioka, it looked as though he'd drift through the game without troubling the scoresheet. That changed with the award of the penalty, though, with Haaland stepping up for goal number 20 of the season in the league.

Jeremy Doku (8/10):

After a largely ineffective first half, he was far more decisive in the second and his clever bit of play in the box bamboozled Onyedinma to force the penalty. He then expertly slotted home City's fourth goal with a mazy run and finish before getting another assist for Gvardiol's late goal. A top afternoon's work.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Sergio Gomez (N/A):

Came on late in the game with City cruising.

Oscar Bobb (N/A):

Replaced Haaland with only 10 minutes to go.

Pep Guardiola (8/10):

He'll be delighted with that. Managed to rest the likes of Rodri, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden for the Madrid game and still got the emphatic result that not only put City back on top, but also significantly boosted their goal difference.

Blackburn Rovers have struggled for consistency in the Championship so far this season. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side sit 10th and three points adrift of the play-off places in arguably the most highly-contested division in English football, where the January transfer window could make all the difference.

After missing out on the chance to reach Wembley last season due to goal difference against Sunderland and former manager Tony Mowbray, Blackburn may well look towards the winter window as an ideal opportunity to avoid a repeat of the heartbreak they suffered in the last campaign. With that said, reports suggest that Rovers are weighing up a move to sign a promising young forward who has so far enjoyed an impressive campaign in League Two.

Blackburn transfer news

During the summer transfer window, Rovers spent less than £1m on additions, with Leopold Wahlstedt the only player coming in for a fee, whilst others such as Sondre Tronstad and Niall Ennis came in on free deals in what was a shrewd window from those at Ewood Park. Given that they spent so little during the summer, the North West side could have the chance to splash the cash in January to welcome a striker who knows exactly where the back of the net is.

According to TeamTalk, Blackburn are weighing up a move to sign Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon in January. The forward has also reportedly attracted the interest of Derby County, Sunderland and Leeds United, as the race for his signature continues to heat up.

One downside to any deal for Al-Hamadi is his international commitments, with the Asia Cup scheduled to take place from January to February of next year. This means that the Iraq international could miss a number of games, whether that be for Wimbledon or another club.

"Great" Al-Hamadi could step up to the Championship

It's no surprise that Al-Hamadi has attracted such interest, given the start he's made to the season. The 21-year-old has scored five goals and assisted a further five in all competitions for Wimbledon so far this season. At such a young age, a big move is only likely to result in further improvement too, potentially making Blackburn an ideal location.

Al-Hamadi has earned plenty of praise so far this season, including from Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson, who told the club's official website back in September: "I’ve heard the way that he talks, he always says that he’s built differently and I believe that. I don’t think he’s been affected at all by not scoring the goals.

"He’s playing so well for the team, he’s causing headaches for everyone he plays against, it was only a matter of time before he scored. The goal was all his own doing really, he’s been nice and positive, it was a great finish on his left foot. Someone that good will always turn it around, he’s never panicked, he’s kept doing what he does, he’s been a menace for the opposition and today he’s got his goal, we’re really pleased for him."

أعلن الجهاز الفني لـ منتخب مصر الأولمبي، بقيادة البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي، عن تشكيل الفراعنة لمواجهة باراجواي، في دورة الألعاب الأولمبية، باريس 2024.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع باراجواي، في ربع نهائي أولمبياد باريس، اليوم الجمعة، في تمام الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

منتخب مصر استطاع التأهل متصدرًا لمجموعته في أولمبياد باريس برصيد 7 نقاط من الفوز على أوزبكستان وإسبانيا وتعادل مع الدومينيكان.

بينما منتخب باراجواي تأهل في المركز الثاني من المجموعة الرابعة، برصيد 6 نقاط.

طالع أيضًا.. خاص | رسالة ميكالي للاعبي منتخب مصر قبل مواجهة باراجواي في أولمبياد باريس

ويشهد تشكيل منتخب مصر، تواجد أحمد نبيل كوكا في مركز الظهير الأيسر، ويقود الهجوم الثلاثي أحمد سيد زيزو وإبراهيم عادل وأسامة فيصل. تشكيل منتخب مصر اليوم أمام باراجواي في أولمبياد باريس

حراسة المرمي: حمزة علاء.

خط الدفاع: أحمد عيد، عمر فايد، حسام عبد المجيد وأحمد نبيل كوكا.

خط الوسط: محمد النني، محمود صابر ومحمد شحاتة.

خط الهجوم: إبراهيم عادل، أحمد سيد زيزو وأسامة فيصل. بدلاء منتخب مصر أمام باراجواي في أولمبياد باريس

علي الجابري (حارس مرمى)، محمد طارق، زياد كمال، كريم الدبيس، أحمد عاطف قطة، مصطفى سعد ميسي وبلال مظهر.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em partida válida pela 26ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro da Série A, Sport e Grêmio empataram pelo placar de 1 a 1 na Ilha do Retiro. Com o resultado, o Leão chegou aos 29 pontos e está em 14º lugar. Já o Imortal subiu para 4ª colocação, com 42 pontos.

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Na próxima rodada, o Sport visita o Goiás, no estádio da Serrinha, no dia 26 de dezembro. Já o Grêmio enfrenta o Atlético-GO, na sua Arena, no dia 27 de dezembro.

A partida

O Sport aproveitou um veloz contra-ataque no início do jogo e abriu o marcador. Mugni partiu com a bola dominada e passou para Patric. O lateral devolveu para o argentino, que rolou para Dalberto bater e fazer o primeiro do Leão.

Com 70% de posse de bola durante toda a primeira etapa, o Grêmio dominou o jogo. Mas os comandados de Renato Gaúcho não conseguiram transformar toda essa superioridade em chances perigosas. O goleiro Luan Polli foi praticamente um espectador.

Na primeira etapa o Sport fez o gol e mais nada. Já no começo do segundo tempo foi diferente. Em 11 minutos, a equipe criou três chances. Mas faltou pontaria para Mugni, Dalberto e Thiago Neves.

Nesse meio tempo, o Tricolor Gaúcho perdeu o zagueiro Kannemann, que foi expulso após cometer falta em Marcão.

Mesmo com a expulsão o Grêmio foi em busca do empate, enquanto o Sport recuou a espera de um contra-ataque. E a estratégia que deu certo foi a do Imortal Tricolor.

Churín recebeu passe dentro da área, foi dominar e recebeu um chute na perna de Marcão. O árbitro foi conferir o lance no VAR e constatou a penalidade. Pepê bateu e empatou o jogo.

Após o gol, o Leão saiu para o jogo em busca do gol de empate, mas o Tricolor Gaúcho, mesmo com um jogador a menos, conseguiu segurar o placar e manter a série invicta de onze partidas sem perder.

SPORT 1 x 1 GRÊMIO
Local: Ilha do Retiro, Recife (PE)
Data-Hora: 19/12/2020 – 19h00
Árbitro: José Mendonça da Silva Junior (PR)
Auxiliares: Bruno Boschilia (PR) e Ivan Carlos Bohn (PR)
VAR: Adriano Milczvski (PR)
Público/renda: pagantes:; total: / R$
Cartões amarelos: Marquinhos e Thiago Neves (SPO); Kannemann e Pepê (GRE)
Cartões vermelhos: Kannemann (GRE)
Gol: Dalberto (09’/1ºT) e Pepê (27’/2ºT)

SPORT: Luan Polli; Patric, Iago Maidana, Adryelson e Júnior Tavares; Marcão Silva (Mikael, aos 32’/2ºT), Ronaldo Henrique (Betinho, aos 21’/2ºT), Lucas Mugni (Ricardinho, aos 46’/2ºT), Thiago Neves e Marquinhos (Raul Prata, no intervalo); Dalberto. Técnico: Jair Ventura.
GRÊMIO: Vanderlei; Victor Ferraz, Rodrigues, Kannemann e Bruno Cortez; Matheus Henrique, Lucas Silva (Geromel, aos 15’/2ºT) e Jean Pyerre (Thaciano, aos 21’/2ºT); Churín (Darlan, aos 32’/2ºT), Pepê e Ferreira (Luiz Fernando, aos 15’/2ºT). Técnico: Renato Gaúcho.

Ryan Reynolds is feeling the "pressure" before Wrexham's clash with Crawley but Phil Parkinson says they're in a "great position" to reach League One.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Wrexham in second spot in League TwoVying for a second successive promotionSet to host Crawley Town at Racecourse on Tuesday eveningWHAT HAPPENED?

Following a hard-fought victory against Colchester United, Wrexham climbed to second place in League Two, trailing leaders Stockport by four points, who still have a game in hand. The Red Dragons should comfortably finish within one of the automatic qualifications pots if they play to their potential in the final lap of the league stage and yet Deadpool actor Reynolds, who is a co-owner of the club alongside Rob McElhenney, has admitted that his feeling the "pressure" in a post on Instagram showing kick-off times around the world for the Crawley game.

@vancityreynolds InstagramAdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

With only four games left in the league stage, three of these crucial matches are scheduled to be played at The Racecourse, providing an advantage for the Welsh side. While Wrexham boast an impressive home record, Parkinson remains cautious, focusing solely on the upcoming clash against Crawley and not on the larger canvas, albeit while being aware that his team are on course for a second successive promotion.

"That is big for us, we can't hide away from that," said Parkinson. "But we just concentrate on Tuesday and won't get ahead of ourselves. Saturday was big, we enjoyed it but will get ready to go again.

"We have come so far as a club and we have got ourselves in a great position. Of course, it is good to be up there, we have just got to get ready for a great night at The Racecourse on Tuesday."

PARKINSON PLEASED WITH RESPONSE TO DONCASTER DEFEAT

Wrexham have been fairly inconsistent with their recent performances, losing two out of their last five matches. Parkinson admitted that the defeat against Doncaster added to the pressure but the victory over Colchester has once again boosted their morale.

"When you have two away games – Doncaster were the form team in the league and then Colchester – you always want more but after you have lost the first one, there becomes a little bit more pressure on the second," he added.

"To come away with three points is obviously a huge result. We spoke about the home game against Crawley and we didn't want back-to-back defeats going into that. Three points is so crucial at this stage of the season and the lads are pleased because they knew it was a hard game."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

As Wrexham's journey towards promotion unfolds, Parkinson emphasised the significance of maintaining composure amidst mounting pressure. With their sights set on League One, the club remains determined to overcome challenges and seize opportunities on the path to success and another victory over Crawley would further put them in control of a promotion spot.

CoA receptive to team management’s request for rest, but reportedly unhappy with overseas Test results and Shastri’s comments

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Nov-2018The IPL could be advanced by a couple of weeks and is likely to start on March 23 to accommodate the Indian team management’s request to allow their fast bowlers adequate rest before the World Cup starts on May 30.India captain and coach Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri are believed to have laid out the need for at least a two-week rest period for their fast bowlers during meetings last month with the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and the board’s senior management team. They are also believed to have asked whether key players, including senior fast bowlers, could be rested from the IPL and adequately compensated if so.These meetings, held in New Delhi and Hyderabad, were also attended by Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, vice-captains of the ODI and Test sides respectively, and selection committee chairman MSK Prasad.The IPL management, headed by chief operating officer Hemang Amin, is understood to have told the CoA that the Indian team management’s request would need the consent of the franchises, which could be hard to come by. In turn, this may have forced the BCCI into considering an early start.During these meetings, ESPNcricinfo understands that the two-member CoA, comprising Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji, also made it clear to Kohli and Shastri that while India remain the No. 1 Test side, they have been “found wanting” in South Africa and England.The CoA is understood to be displeased about some of the grievances put forth by the team management pertaining to inadequate facilities at the team hotel and players’ partners not travelling with the side. The CoA also apparently didn’t take too kindly Shastri’s comments about India being the best travelling team. The CoA is understood to have told Shastri that even if India is one of the best teams going around, people should be allowed to judge for themselves.The BCCI is also exploring the feasibility of hosting IPL 2019 in India, but can only take a final call on this once the dates of the country’s seven-phase general elections are announced by the Central Election Commission. A team has already carried out a recce in South Africa, should the IPL need a plan B. It is likely that a clearer picture will emerge ahead of the player auction in Jaipur on December 18.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou's immediate attention will be on navigating through the tough winter period, but the Australian manager will be eagerly waiting to enact plans in the January transfer window.

To be honest, everything went a bit wrong last season and the woes were cherry-topped by Harry Kane's departure to Bayern Munich right in the build-up to the new campaign. but the cogs have combined and Spurs blitzed into early title contention in the Premier League.

But while Postecoglou is Tottenham's liberator from instability, he is not a miracle worker and his squad's frailty had been brutally exposed before the November international break, with injuries and suspensions heavily factoring into successive defeats against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

January reinforcements are paramount, with the fortification of the backline sure to be among the principal priorities for Postecoglou as he looks to sculpt a successful season down the N17.

Tottenham transfer news – Giorgio Scalvini

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano – as relayed by football.london – Tottenham had held an interest in Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini in the summer.

Romano said: "The centre-back of Atalanta, a very talented player, we know him very well in Italy, not as known in Europe, but he is very good.

"He's on the radar of many clubs, for example, I heard, last summer, Tottenham were considering a move, he was one of the secret players that they had on the list at Tottenham, but they decided to go for something different because Atalanta were asking crazy money for Scalvini."

Spurs opted to sign Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg for £43m instead, and while the Dutchman has been a revelation, he picked up a hamstring injury during the Blues defeat and is out until the new year, prompting Postecoglou to strengthen.

Giorgio Scalvini's season in numbers

Scalvini is only 19-years-old but he has already established himself as one of the most talented young defenders on the Italian scene, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp interested in signing him for £34m one year ago.

Dubbed a "top talent" by Romano, the centre-half really came into his own last year and completed 34 matches across all competitions, starting 29 times in Serie A.

The turn of the season has been but a continuation of his stellar performance, and indeed a robust blooming that threatens to disrupt the likes of Josko Gvardiol for the spot as football's most prodigious young defender.

As per Sofascore, he has been solid in the league this term, starting ten times, completing 84% of his passes, averaging 2.2 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 1.8 interceptions and six ball recoveries per game and succeeding in 64% of his contested duels.

Such metrics underscore an energy and tenacity that will serve him well on the Premier League scene, and while he could perhaps brush up his distribution, he has completed 92% of the passes made in his own half – effectively highlighting his creativity and willingness to progress the play.

Indeed, as per FBref, the £9k-per-week prodigy is developing skills across the board, ranking among the top 20% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 14% for assists, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive carries, the top 16% for successful take-ons, the top 13% for tackles and the top 2% for interceptions per 90.

It is, frankly, a rather long list. But this is an illustration of a skill set so shiny that the vultures are circling and waiting to nosedive towards his signature.

A veritable giant at 6 foot 4, Scalvini – noted for his “eye-catching” showings by journalist Tom Maston – really does look the complete package and offers creativity and progression to merge into Postecoglou's possession-based, enterprising system.

Unlike Van de Ven, the seven-cap Italy international is not left-footed but this should not dissuade the Lilywhites from pouncing, given that the influential summer acquisition will be expected to dominate from that side of the backline for years to come.

Cristian Romero, imperious and aggressive, also comes into the picture, but then outfits with silver-heavy ambitions have seldom succeeded with sparsity in the defensive wall.

Giorgio Scalvini could surpass Van de Ven

Romero is actually absent alongside his Netherlands-native partner, though he will sit the next two matches out due to his red card against Chelsea.

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The central defender has been touted with a possible move to England in January.

ByDan Emery Nov 22, 2023

With Eric Dier and Ben Davies forming the defensive axis against Wolves, Tottenham were very much reminiscent of the recent dog days preceding their former Celtic manager's appointment, and while neither was objectively bad, it's clear that they are not dependable within the system.

Scalvini would be the perfect player to rally the ranks and blend authority and strength with flair and ingenuity, and while he remains on Atalanta's books, Postecoglou must now ensure that a winter swoop is made.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Interceptions

No significant weaknesses

Aerial duels

Tackling

Concentration

*Sourced via WhoScored

Given his youthful years, the titan could easily improve over the coming years to present himself as one of Europe's leading defenders, potentially even surpassing Van de Ven – which would be quite a thing if the 22-year-old's displays on English shores so far are anything to go by.

While Van de Ven was said to be "flourishing" in Germany by journalist Ronan Murphy, he has transcended the Spurs backline (which conceded 63 Premier League goals last year) and has forged a fearsome partnership with Romero.

Described as a "fighter" and a "killer" by talent scout Ruben Jongkind, Van de Ven is blessed with electric pace and remarkable athleticism, ranking among the top 8% of centre-backs for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90 to evidence this.

The £50k-per-week star has been immense across his 11 outings in the English top-flight, completing 95% of his passes, making 1.6 tackles, 2.9 clearances and 5.4 recoveries per match and succeeding with 61% of his contested duels.

Scalvini has three years to catch up with him, and while Van de Ven is indeed thriving, the Italian ace looks the real deal and could nurture his innate creativity and power as a defensive force to rise to the forefront with Tottenham, who could soon boast a frightening array of talents in the rearguard to make Guglielmo Vicario's goal impregnable.

West Brom capitalised on Sunderland slipping up away at Plymouth Argyle to climb up the league table to fifth, goals early either side of the first half and second half meant Carlos Corberan's men would end Ipswich Town's 12-match unbeaten run in the Championship with a statement 2-0 win.

It was a thoroughly deserved win for a confident Baggies team, limiting Kieran McKenna's usually free-flowing side to half chances here and there throughout the 90 minutes – the Tractor Boys actually failing to hit the target with any of their six shots on the day, a convincing victory on home soil for West Brom.

Standout performers from the statement victory – away from the goalscorers – included Brandon Thomas-Asante who picked up an assist for Grady Diangana's game-clinching goal alongside centre-back Kyle Bartley who won all of his ground duels as per Sofascore to consolidate a clean-sheet.

Diangana and Darnell Furlong were head and shoulders above the rest in this contest however, especially West Brom's number two who got the Baggies up and running in the game with an early header finding the back of Ipswich goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky's net.

Darnell Furlong's game vs Ipswich Town in numbers

Starting 15 games this season for the Baggies, Furlong's stronghold on the starting right-back spot is set even more in stone after his sterling individual performance in this 2-0 win.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 14, 2023

Praised by Birmingham Live journalist Joseph Chapman for his 'workmanlike' efforts versus the Tractor Boys – resulting in Furlong winning a 7/10 score in his player ratings – the 28-year-old was crucial throughout the game as an industrious presence allowing his side to comfortably stroll to the three points come full-time.

Furlong would win six of his ten duels under the lights at the Hawthorns, thwarting the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin with ease who had 12 goals combined in league action before this one.

The reliable Baggies defender did lose possession 17 times, as a marker of his creativity, but also completed five combined interceptions and tackles to shut out the frustrated Ipswich attackers, going about his defensive duties valiantly after opening the scoring in the fourth minute with a rare goal from the back.

Furlong's expertly timed header was only his seventh-ever goal for the Baggies from 169 appearances, the former QPR man instinctively connecting with Matt Phillips' corner kick to make it 1-0.

West Brom's number two has been a competent performer for Corberan's playoff dark horses all season long away from this performance in isolation however, finally now gaining plaudits for his continued hard work at right-back.

Darnell Furlong's season in numbers

Furlong has helped West Brom pick up six clean sheets when he's been on the field this season, the Baggies only shipping 17 goals this season to have the division's joint second-meanest defence alongside Leeds United.

The 28-year-old's tenacity and eagerness to close down defenders that were present versus Ipswich has been typical in his game all campaign, Furlong averaging 3.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes this season in a bid to then launch a counter-attack to expose startled opposing defenders quickly after recovering possession.

It's no surprise that Furlong is one of the first names on Corberan's team sheet currently, West Brom's number two hopeful that he can keep up his current impressive performances with promotion the main aim for the Baggies as a collective come the end of the second tier season.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo anunciou a renovação de contrato do meia Pepê, nesta quarta-feira, uma semanaapós Rogério Ceni ter ido à diretoria pedir a negociação. O vínculo atual passa a valer até junho de 2021 – a anterior expiraria no dia 31 de dezembro, ou seja, estava na iminência do fim.

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Formado no Ninho do Urubu, Pepê disputou sete jogos em 2020.Das sete vezes que entrou em campo pelo time principal do Flamengo, quatro foram em janeiro, nas primeiras rodadas do Estadual, quando Maurício Souza – técnico do Sub-20 – substituiu Jorge Jesus e utilizou uma equipe alternativa.

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Depois, o meia de 22 anos voltou a atuar em outubro, sob o comando de Domènec Torrent, por quatro minutos diante do Sport, pelo Brasileirão. Já em 18 de novembro e 13 de dezembro, Rogério Ceni colocou o atleta em campo contra São Paulo e Santos, respectivamente, e Pepê atuou por 33 minutos ao todo – o que já fez o treinador dar o aval para a sua continuidade.

Cabe lembrar ainda que Pepê foi emprestado ao Portimonense, de Portugal, em 2019. Este ano, esteve perto de se transferir para o Botafogo, mas a diretoria rubro-negra travou o acordo quando o atleta informou que a rescisão pedida seria para facilitar a ida ao rival alvinegro (saiba mais aqui).

> Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

O próximo jogo em que Pepê terá a oportunidade de mostrar serviço será neste sábado, quando o Flamengo visitará o Fortaleza, no Castelão, pela 27ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.