Multan Sultans thrash Peshawar Zalmi to storm into fourth consecutive PSL final

Multan Sultans’ Usama Mir, center, celebrates after taking a wicket during the PSL qualifier match against Peshawar Zalmi. (AP)
Multan Sultans’ Usama Mir, center, celebrates after taking a wicket during the PSL qualifier match against Peshawar Zalmi. (AP)
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Updated 15 March 2024
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Multan Sultans thrash Peshawar Zalmi to storm into fourth consecutive PSL final

Multan Sultans thrash Peshawar Zalmi to storm into fourth consecutive PSL final
  • Multan Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi by seven wickets in Karachi to qualify for final 
  • Peshawar Zalmi will face the winner of Friday's Eliminator 1 for a place in the final 

ISLAMABAD: Multan Sultans brushed aside Peshawar Zalmi, beating the “Yellow Storm” by seven wickets at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Thursday to reach the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament for a fourth consecutive time. 

Batting second, the Sultans were handed a modest 147-run target by Zalmi, who finished at 146/7 from their 20 overs. Skipper Muhammad Rizwan could only score 15 runs from 21 balls before he was dismissed by Aamer Jamal. 

Opener Yasir Khan scored 54 runs from 37 balls while Usman Khan remained unbeaten on 36. A 22-run blitz from Iftikhar Ahmed sealed the win for the Sultans. 

“Clinical. Commanding. Teamwork puts us in the driving seat once again,” the Sultans wrote on social media platform X after clinching the convincing victory. 

Batting first, Zalmi were unable to stop the flurry of wickets that kept falling throughout their innings. Skipper Babar Azam top-scored with 46 runs from 42 balls before a blistering yorker from Chris Jordan sent him back to the pavilion. 

Opener Saim Ayub failed to impress, scoring only one run from four balls before he was dismissed by David Willey. Mohammad Haris scored 22 runs from 14 balls while Tom Kohler-Cadmore gave some support to the Yellow Storm in the middle by scoring a run-a-ball 24. 

Jordan returned figures of 2/28 while Usama Mir finished with 2/16 to keep the Zalmi batters restricted to 146/7. Abbas Afridi, Willey and Mohammad Ali all took a single wicket each for the Sultans. 

Zalmi will face the winner of Friday’s match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators on Saturday, in Eliminator 2. The winner of Eliminator 2 will go on to meet the Sultans in the final on Mar. 18.  


Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second

Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second
Updated 17 sec ago
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Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second

Al-Hilal held at Damac to stay second
  • It was an exciting game but in the end, the champions had to settle for a point
  • The Riyadh giants had their chances and hit the woodwork early in the game

RIYADH: Al-Hilal drew 2-2 at Damac on Saturday to stay in second place in the Saudi Pro League, two points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
It was an exciting game but in the end, the champions had to settle for a point after their Jeddah rivals won 2-1 at Al-Taawoun on Thursday thanks to a last-minute winner from Karim Benzema.
The Riyadh giants had their chances and hit the woodwork early in the game. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic thought he had opened the scoring on the half hour, nodding home at the far post after a fine sweeping cross from Malcom. The Serbian was, however, caught offside.
No matter, as just two minutes later, the visitors were ahead. Ruben Neves swung over a cross from the right and there was Marcos Leonardo, on red-hot scoring form, to send a diving header into the net.


It was a beautiful goal. Al-Hilal had more chances to extend their lead but were left to regret their wastefulness as five minutes after the restart, Damac were back on level terms.
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou intercepted Kalidou Koulibaly’s clearance and the ball bounced into the path of Habib Diallo and the Senegalese striker made no mistake in stroking the ball home.
It was a shock for Al-Hilal but then they were given a penalty just before the hour as Kaio Cesar was brought down in the area. Up stepped Neves but his shot was well saved by Florin Nita.
Neves was kicking himself with 17 minutes remaining as Damac took the lead thanks to a second goal from Diallo who swept home a first-time shot after good work from Francois Kamano.
Four minutes later and Hilal drew level. The ball dropped nicely for the Milinkovic-Savic at the edge of the area and then the midfielder fired a low shot into the net.
Al-Hilal continued to push forward but could not get the all-important winning goal and had to settle for a point. Al-Ittihad will be happy but there is, however, still a long way to go.
Earlier, Ettifaq won 2-0 at Al-Okhdood to go ninth in the table.


Man City survive Orient scare, Newcastle beat Birmingham

Man City survive Orient scare, Newcastle beat Birmingham
Updated 31 min 28 sec ago
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Man City survive Orient scare, Newcastle beat Birmingham

Man City survive Orient scare, Newcastle beat Birmingham
  • The introduction of De Bruyne made the difference as the Belgian midfielder scored 11 minutes from time
  • Newcastle were also troubled by third-tier opposition as Birmingham

LONDON: Kevin De Bruyne spared Manchester City’s blushes with a late strike to beat third tier Leyton Orient 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, while Newcastle also came from behind to win 3-2 at Birmingham.
Pep Guardiola’s troubled side were rocked when Jamie Donley’s long-range effort came back off the bar and rebounded in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to give Orient an early lead at Brisbane Road.
The English champions finally drew level after 56 minutes when Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov deflected in Rico Lewis’s shot for his first goal since signing for City from Lens in the January transfer window.
Guardiola had to turn to his bench more than he would have liked just four days before a mammoth Champions League play-off round first leg against Real Madrid.
But the introduction of De Bruyne made the difference as the Belgian midfielder scored 11 minutes from time.
“It was a typical FA Cup game, that is why this competition is unbelievable. For the fans, how the crowd support and we knew they are strong,” Guardiola said.
“It is my ninth season in England. I played many times against lower division teams. It was a tight game and we knew it for the situation that we have, but we reacted really well with great character.”
Victory came at a cost for City, though, as new midfielder Nico Gonzalez hobbled off just 22 minutes into his debut after a £50 million ($62 million) move from Porto.


Newcastle were also troubled by third-tier opposition as Birmingham, who are co-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, led after one minute through Ethan Laird at St. Andrew’s.
A quickfire double from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson turned the tie in Newcastle’s favor, but Tomoki Iwata’s blistering strike levelled before half-time for the League One leaders.
The Magpies, though, rounded off a fine week after reaching the League Cup final on Wednesday as Willock restored their lead on 82 minutes.
Bottom of the Premier League and seemingly destined for relegation, Southampton got no respite in the FA Cup as Burnley won 1-0 at St. Mary’s.
Scott Parker’s team went in front after 77 minutes when Marcus Edwards scored from close-range on his debut after signing on loan from Sporting Lisbon.
It is almost 600 minutes since Championship promotion chasers Burnley last conceded a goal, with 10 clean-sheets in their last 11 games.
What turned out to be the last FA Cup tie at Goodison Park ended in disappointment for Everton, who are moving to a new stadium next season, as Bournemouth cruised to a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Dan Jebbison.
Rodrigo Muniz scored twice as Fulham won 2-1 at League One Wigan.
Ipswich, second bottom of the Premier League, swept to a 4-1 win against Frank Lampard’s Coventry.
George Hirst’s second minute penalty was quickly canceled by out Joel Latibeaudiere’s eighth minute equalizer for the second tier hosts.
But Jack Clarke restored Ipswich’s lead in the 28th minute and struck again after 37 minutes before Jaden Philogene’s 63rd minute effort sealed the rout.
Millwall reached the fifth round for the first time since 2018-19 thanks to Femi Azeez’s double in a 2-0 win at Championship leaders Leeds.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke made 10 changes and paid the price as Azeez opened the scoring with a deflected effort from the edge of the area in the 30th minute.
Azeez netted again for the 2004 FA Cup finalists with a fierce drive in the 55th minute before Millwall keeper Liam Roberts saved Pascal Struijk’s penalty.
Chelsea travel to Brighton later on Saturday.
Aston Villa host Tottenham in the pick of Sunday’s action, while Premier League leaders Liverpool visit Plymouth.


Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate

Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate
Updated 42 min 59 sec ago
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Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate

Leverkusen lose ground on Bayern with Wolfsburg stalemate
  • Without their star trio, Leverkusen lacked fluency
  • Wirtz and Frimpong came on after 60 minutes but the visitors had few chances despite dominating possession

WOLFSBURG, Germany: Bayer Leverkusen dropped eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munich after a scoreless draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday, setting up a potentially season-defining duel between the top two next weekend.
Bayern’s 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Friday, their seventh straight league win, increased the pressure on Xabi Alonso’s defending champions, who host the leaders next Saturday.
Alonso named a weakened starting lineup with Florian Wirtz, Patrik Schick and Jeremie Frimpong all left on the bench after playing 120 minutes in Tuesday’s extra-time German Cup win over Cologne.
Without their star trio, Leverkusen lacked fluency. Nordi Mukiele had a golden chance to put Leverkusen in front after 22 minutes, but headed over the bar while unmarked from point-blank range.
Wirtz and Frimpong came on after 60 minutes but the visitors had few chances despite dominating possession.
Wirtz went down in the box with 13 minutes remaining after some light contact prompting a VAR check, but the referee waved it away.
The 21-year-old had a chance to snatch his side the win in stoppage time, but blasted just wide.
Leverkusen have dropped four points in their past three league games, leaving their bid to defend their debut title on a knife-edge.
Conceding the eight-point gap to the league leaders was “much bigger than it should be,” Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky said “this weekend hasn’t made it easier for us to achieve our dream.
“With the way Bayern are at the moment, we can’t have anything but a home win,” Hradecky said of Bayern’s visit next week.
His manager struck a different tone, saying he was “not overly worried” about the widening gap.
“We’ll have a bit of a break and start preparing on Tuesday. We’re playing Bayern at home — top game, top atmosphere — we’re still focused on us, and what we can achieve.”
In Saturday’s late game, Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 away at Borussia Moenchengladbach, continuing their struggles since the loss of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January.
Hugo Ekitike’s 31st-minute goal — his fifth in his past five games — canceled out a 26th-minute Tim Kleindienst header.
Frankfurt have won just two of six since Marmoush’s last game, but they still sit third, four points clear of fourth-placed Stuttgart.
Stuttgart won 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund to go fourth, spoiling Niko Kovac’s debut in the home dugout.
Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav and Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi had chances in the opening half before center-back Waldemar Anton, who left Stuttgart for the Westfalenstadion in the summer, put the visitors in front in the 50th minute.
Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot put the visitors two goals up on the 61st-minute mark, knocking in a superb volley for his first Bundesliga goal.
Julian Brandt scored late but it was not enough, as Stuttgart beat Dortmund for a fifth straight time.
Kovac, named coach this week after Nuri Sahin was fired in January, has his work cut out for him, with Dortmund mired in 11th spot.
“The boys gave it their all — we shouldn’t have left the field as losers,” said Kovac.
Freiburg climbed to sixth with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Heidenheim, with a first-half header from Vincenzo Grifo the difference.
Italy winger Grifo, known for his set-piece prowess, headed in a Ritsu Doan cross to keep his side on track for a third European qualification in four seasons.
Union Berlin chalked up a statement victory in their battle to avoid the drop, winning 4-0 at struggling Hoffenheim.
Union, who were in the Champions League last season but started Saturday’s game in 14th, won thanks to a brace from Benedict Hollerbach and goals from Marin Ljubicic and Andrej Ilic.
The win took Union 10 points clear of Heidenheim, who sit in the relegation playoff spot.
Also on Saturday, Mainz and Augsburg played out a scoreless draw.


Belgian cycling team withdraws from Tour of Rwanda because of conflict in neighboring Congo

Belgian cycling team withdraws from Tour of Rwanda because of conflict in neighboring Congo
Updated 08 February 2025
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Belgian cycling team withdraws from Tour of Rwanda because of conflict in neighboring Congo

Belgian cycling team withdraws from Tour of Rwanda because of conflict in neighboring Congo
  • Soudal-QuickStep CEO Jurgen Foré said staff members of the team were concerned
  • Organizers of the Tour of Rwanda said: “All measures have been taken to ensure that this doesn’t happen again”

BRUSSELS: Belgian cycling team Soudal-Quick Step has withdrawn its development team from the upcoming Tour of Rwanda because of safely fears over the violent conflict in neighboring Congo.
Some 3,000 people have been killed and nearly as many injured since late January in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels recently captured the key city of Goma.
Soudal-QuickStep CEO Jurgen Foré told Belgian broadcaster Sporza on Friday that staff members of the team were concerned about the fighting near the start and finish area of one stage of the race, which is due to take place from Feb. 23 to March 2.
“We started looking at the advice from the (Belgian) ministry of foreign affairs on Monday and that shows a number of points of attention. Especially for the region with the border with Goma,” Foré said.
Organizers of the Tour of Rwanda said Thursday that that were was only “one occasion recently when this fighting has briefly directly affected those living on the Rwandan side of the border. All measures have been taken to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
They said life in Rwanda “continues as normal” and that “riders, teams and supporters can be assured of a safe and enjoyable event.”
Rwanda is due to host cycling’s Road World Championships from Sept. 21-28.


Saudi sports minister welcomes IOC president in Riyadh

Saudi sports minister welcomes IOC president in Riyadh
Updated 08 February 2025
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Saudi sports minister welcomes IOC president in Riyadh

Saudi sports minister welcomes IOC president in Riyadh
  • Dr. Thomas Bach makes fourth official visit to Kingdom since becoming IOC president in 2013

RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the minister of sports and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s president, met Dr. Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, in Riyadh on Saturday.
It is Bach’s fourth official visit to Saudi Arabia since his election to IOC president in 2013.
His visit reaffirms the strong relationship between the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
This vision has made the Kingdom a global hub for major sports events, a fact underlined by last year’s announcement of a historic partnership to host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia.