Chokers to champions
Remember the South African men's cricket team in the 1999 World Cup semifinals against Australia? Remember golfer and 5-time Major champion Rory McIlroy's painful 2011 Masters campaign? Or the current women's World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka's tryst with double faults at big moments? Or 2-time Olympic medal-winning shuttler PV Sindhu's struggles with crossing the final hurdle for years?
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United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Mathews bids farewell to Tests, eyes T20 World Cup glory
Galle, June 22 (UNI) Former Sri Lankan skipper, Angelo Mathews made his final appearance in royal whites against Bangladesh here, the same venue he made his debut in 2009. Mathews is the second-highest run scorer at the venue with 2253 runs in 34 Test matches. While speaking in the post-match press conference on Saturday, he spoke on the draw against Bangladesh, his final appearance in the red-ball format for Sri Lanka. 'Once you get a 400 in the first innings, it's really difficult to lose a game. So we had to bat really well in our first innings as well," he said. 'I thought we scrapped our way through and to minimize the lead. And also in the second innings, Shanto batted brilliantly,' Mathews said. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 148 and 125 not out in both the innings as he led from the front and secured himself the Player of the Match award, an ICC report said. 'It was a tough wicket for the bowlers, to be honest. There were times where it turned a little bit but didn't really have anything for the bowlers,' Mathews said, speaking on the wicket and opportunities for the bowlers. 'We could have pushed for a win, but unfortunately, we couldn't,' he said. While Mathews stepped away from the longest format, he spoke on his World Cup aspirations in the shorter formats of the game. 'I've still got six more months to go. I'll give it my best shot for the (2026) T20 World Cup,' he said. 'I would love to sign off with a World Cup win. I'll just see how my body goes,' Mathews said. Mathews was a part of the side which won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2014, beating India in the final. The 38-year-old addressed the love he's received since he announced his retirement last month. 'I'm overwhelmed," he said. 'Ever since I announced my retirement, I just can't imagine the love that I have received up to now,' Mathews said. 'It is so special because you feel as a player, once you give your 110% to the country, the amount of appreciation that you receive is unbelievable," he said. 'It feels so special, very heartwarming and I'm so thankful to all of them,' Mathews said. While Mathews has retired from Tests, he will continue to remain available in the white-ball format," he added. UNI BM
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Club WC: Carboni bags stoppage time winner as Inter seal Urawa Reds' exit
Seattle: Urawa Red Diamonds were dumped out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Italian giants FC Internazionale Milano after a pair of late goals helped Nerazzurri stage a late comeback to beat Urawa Red 2-1 on Sunday (IST). Ryoma Watanabe's early strike looked like it was going to be enough to send shockwaves through the tournament but was captain Lautaro Martinez who rode to Inter's rescue with a stunning bicycle kick before substitute Valentin Carboni won it in stoppage time. Despite a bright start, Inter fell behind in the twelfth minute to a goal from Watanabe. Chivu's men dominated possession throughout a difficult first half but failed to create clear-cut chances. The second half saw a noticeable shift in intensity. Inter poured forward, piling pressure on Urawa Red Diamonds. At a wet and windy Lumen Field in Seattle, the Japanese side's resistance finally broke. A stunning overhead kick from Lautaro Martínez brought Inter level, after which Chivu's side pushed relentlessly for a winner. Urawa failed to adequately clear a Bastoni cross, Sucic's effort was blocked, and Valentin Carboni pounced on the loose ball before firing into the bottom corner with his right foot. Earlier, Borussia Dortmund survived a late scare to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in their Group F encounter at TQL Stadium. The South African side, entering the match as group leader after a narrow 1-0 win against Ulsan HD, started brightly. Former Dortmund player Tashreeq Matthews tested goalkeeper Gregor Kobel early on. Sundowns' pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Matthews' incisive through ball sent Lucas Ribeiro one-on-one and slotted past Kobel into the bottom right corner, reports Xinhua. Dortmund levelled the score just five minutes later as Felix Nmecha capitalised on a disastrous error by Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, intercepting his wayward pass and netting home the equaliser. Dortmund then seized control as Serhou Guirassy powered in a close-range header from Julian Brandt's pinpoint cross in the 34th minute to put his side ahead. Jobe Bellingham, the summer signing from EFL Championship side Sunderland, marked his first goal for the club just before halftime, controlling a rebound with his chest before volleying home. Khuliso Mudau's own goal extended the Dortmund lead to 4-1 in the 59th minute, before Mamelodi Sundowns pulled one back just four minutes later with a goal from Iqraam Rayners, sparking hope for the South Africans. Substitute Lebo Mothiba then set up a tense finale, making it 4-3 with a well-taken goal. Despite sustained late pressure from Sundowns, Dortmund held firm to claim the vital three points.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
FIFA Club World Cup: Dortmund holds off Sundowns to close in on knockouts
Borussia Dortmund held off a spirited comeback from South African champion Mamelodi Sundowns to secure a 4-3 victory on Saturday and move closer to the Club World Cup knockout stages. Dortmund was behind after 11 minutes at the TQL Stadium but rallied to win its second game in Group F and move top of the standings with four points, one more than Sundowns. Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, and Jobe Bellingham scored for the Bundesliga club, which also profited from an own goal. Lucas Ribeiro had given Sundowns the lead, while Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba scored in the second half as the side looked to rally from 4-1 down in a competitive game played in blazing hot conditions with a mid-day kickoff. Ribeiro burst through a static Dortmund defence, picking up the ball on the halfway line and gliding past two opponents to score a shock opener. But the lead lasted only five minutes before a calamitous error from Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who played a short pass to Nmecha, who had an easy tap-in for the equaliser. Dortmund went ahead after a slick set of one-two passes between Julian Brandt and Guirassy, who powered home with his head. Bellingham, in his second appearance for Dortmund, made it 3-1 on the stroke of halftime as Williams parried Brandt's cross straight at him, and he delayed shooting for a split second before wrong-footing the goalkeeper. Rayners struck the woodwork for Sundowns 10 minutes into the second half, but on the hour mark, Daniel Svensson's cross from the left took a wicked deflection off Sundowns' fullback Khuliso Mudau as Dortmund extended its lead. Two minutes later, the South African side pulled one back as Teboho Mokoena's free kick was floated to Rayners, who struck the foot of the post but did not waste the second opportunity off the rebound. Mothiba struck in the 90th minute as Sundowns stole away possession, and the substitute scored from close range, but the side could not find an equaliser.
