Frank Lampard is a name that will forever be etched in Chelsea history, after his contributions on and off the pitch during his 13 years as a player and two separate stints as manager.

The 46-year-old made a total of 648 appearances for the Blues, registering a total of 211 goals – making him the most prolific player in the club’s history, despite being a midfielder.

His tally saw him overtake Bobby Tambling, with his record still intact today and certainly going to take some beating in the years to come.

Upon his retirement from professional football, Lampard took the plunge into management, taking over at Chelsea after 12 months of being Derby County boss.

However, he would face the chop in January 2021, before returning on a temporary basis at the end of the 2022/23 season, before Mauricio Pochettino took over permanently that summer.

Since his retirement, the Blues have found it difficult to replace the Englishman, especially with his goalscoring ability – but many thought the search had come to an end with the signing of one player in January 2023.

Enzo Fernández’s stats for Chelsea

Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández cost Chelsea a whopping £106.8m – a deal that was an English record until Moises Caicedo arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer for £115m.

Whilst he is a midfielder, his tally of four goals and six assists during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign evidently caught the eye of the Blues hierarchy, leading to the mammoth transfer fee.

Fernandez has since made 76 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven times – with all of his efforts coming last season – including a superb free-kick against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

However, with the appointment of Enzo Maresca, the 23-year-old has struggled to make a greater impact, starting just six games in the Premier League to date, falling behind Roméo Lavia in the pecking order in recent weeks.

It’s safe to say his head may have been turned by recent events, which have seen Spanish giants Real Madrid touted with a move for his services, in a transfer that could see French international Aurelien Tchouameni move in the opposite direction.

He still has all the qualities to remain a key player for the Italian, as shown in the recent Europa Conference League clash with FC Noah, registering three assists in the first half before being replaced by Cesare Casadei at the break.

However, he may struggle to regain his place in the squad when one player returns from his current loan spell away from the Premier League outfit.

The player who could be Lampard’s heir for Chelsea

Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos is a player who has real potential to be a huge player for Chelsea for many years to come – after joining in a £18m deal back in January 2023.

He was sent on a season-long loan to fellow top-flight side Nottingham Forest last summer, but was subsequently recalled just a handful of months later after making just two appearances under Steve Cooper at the City Ground.

Santos would join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan from January to the end of the campaign, making 11 appearances, scoring just once – but linking back up with the French side for the current season.

The 20-year-old “monster”, as dubbed by Brazilian football journalist Nathan Joyes, has already bagged five goals in his first nine Ligue 1 outings, with only four players in the division outscoring him up to now.

He could fill the boots of fan-favourite Lampard with his goalscoring exploits, but he’s also showcased that he’s able to do the dirty work despite his tender age, winning an average of 2.3 tackles per 90 along with eight duels won per 90.

Games played

9

Goals scored

5

Pass accuracy

87%

Dribbles completed

80%

Tackles won per 90

2.3

Duels won per 90

8

Duel success rate

67%

Santos undoubtedly has a long way to go with his development until he reaches his full potential, but the early signs are nothing but positive, making him a viable box-to-box option for Maresca in the near future.

It could see Fernandez drop further down the pecking order when the Brazilian returns to Stamford Bridge next summer, adding further pain to the Argentine after his recent decline in first-team minutes.

The youngster is evidence that the club’s strategy of investing in youth talent can be successful, with the Blues set to reap the rewards of Santos’ undeniable quality for many years to come.

Chelsea leading race to sign "monstrous" £66m Nkunku upgrade

Chelsea are leading the race for a new goal machine, as they look to upgrade on Nkunku

ByConnor Holden Nov 7, 2024

Fast bowler praises competitive surface after picking up five-wicket haul on second day

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2022Heather Knight’s battling century in the Ashes Test in Canberra ranks among the “top three” performances in women’s cricket, according to her longest-serving team-mate Katherine Brunt, whose own five-wicket haul helped to keep England in contention after two days of a keenly fought contest.By the close of the second day, Knight’s unbeaten 127 had rescued England from the prospect of the follow-on, after they had at one stage slumped to 169 for 8 in reply to Australia’s 337 for 9 declared. But with Sophie Ecclestone providing stout support with an unbeaten 27, England reduced the arrears to 102 with the prospect of further runs when play resumes on Saturday.It was Knight’s second Test century, after a matchsaving 157, also against Australia at Wormsley in 2013, but Brunt – who has been critical of the quality of pitches used for women’s Tests – had no doubts that this was the superior knock, after withstanding a varied Australia attack on a surface offering turn for the spinners and carry for the quicks.”It was massive, beyond a shadow of a doubt,” Brunt said, of an innings that spanned 249 balls, and was 100 runs more than England’s next highest scorer. “She’s resilient as ever, showing fighting spirit, and she’s 100% a leader. You want to lead by example, and that’s how you do it. I don’t know how she does it personally, but if she could teach me how, that’d be lovely.”There was a bit more in this [pitch],” Brunt added, compared to the Wormsley match in which 23 wickets fell across the four days. “Both were equally brilliant, both really tough situations. But that’s what she’s made for. And none of us thought that she would go out there and not do it. We all believe that she can do it – she does, Australia do. She’s at that level [now], but unfortunately no-one could back her up which is the sad thing about it.Heather Knight sweeps during her century in Canberra•Getty Images”I’ve been around a long time now, and seen some brilliant hundreds in World Cup cricket and a hundred here by Danni Wyatt in in a T20 [in the 2017-18 Ashes], but that [was in the] top three. Not one person has scored a significant score so she has taken the whole world on her shoulders and dug extremely deep to put a score on the board.”Earlier, Brunt did her utmost to keep England afloat, claiming her third Test five-for, and her first since 2009. She picked off both of the Australia wickets to fall on the second morning, prior to Meg Lanning’s declaration, including an outstanding delivery to pick off the top of Annabel Sutherland’s off stump.”It’s been a while,” Brunt said. “I think someone said maybe 16 years [sic], which is absolutely ridiculous, but we don’t often get to play on wickets that have a little bit of something in it for the bowlers. So I’m just really happy that the conditions suit.”No-one wants to play on a pitch where you don’t get a result,” Brunt added. “No-results are just sad, you always want it to go one way or the other. A result means an exciting game of Test cricket and, with it being viewed on air, we want to be able to showcase our skills bat and ball, not just the bat. It’s a breath of fresh air to have something to get excited about and be happy to run in on.”Related

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Knight's magnificent century keeps England's Ashes hopes alive

England’s position could have been stronger but for a mixed display in the field. Knight dropped Lanning on 14 before lunch on the first day, while Nat Sciver reprieved Rachael Haynes off Brunt’s bowling, allowing Haynes to recover and post a key innings of 86.”I can’t scream at my fiancée, can I?” Brunt said of Sciver’s spill. “Screaming and shouting gets you nowhere, I’ve found that over the years. It only makes people feel worse, then they are stressing about the next one coming. It’s heart-wrenching, but everyone’s trying their best. I’m really fiery and passionate and want the best, but stuff like that happens, so you can’t let it destroy you.”Addressing the match situation, Brunt insisted that England “can win from anywhere” – and they need to as well, with Australia leading the series 4-2 on points after a win and two washouts in the T20Is.”Had we taken our opportunities, they might be 100 less on the board and we’d be sitting in a really good position. But we’ve been clawing that back since, and the fight that we’re showing should be an example of what it means to us, and what we’re trying to achieve in this Test.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Responsável pelo gol da vitória contra o Red Bull Bragantino, Gustavo Silva elogiou o novo treinador do Corinthians, Vítor Pereira. Em entrevista ao programa Arena SBT, o atacante revelou suas primeiras impressões sobre o treinador português.

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> GALERIA: Veja os técnicos estrangeiros do Corinthians

-O grupo recebeu ele muito bem. Com a vitória, o ambiente fica muito melhor. A gente acolheu e recebeu muito bem. Tenho certeza que fará um ótimo trabalho. Não posso comentar muita coisa, foi só o primeiro dia. Com certeza já sentimos mudança e vai ser um grande trabalho – afirmou.

> TABELA: Confira e simule os jogo do Corinthians no Paulistão

Vítor e sua comissão técnica vão ter a semana livre visando o duelo de sábado (5), às 16h, contra o São Paulo no Morumbi, pela décima rodada do Paulistão.

Na visão de Mosquito, não há favorito para o Majestoso, mas ele destacou que o Timão vai buscar ser ofensivo jogando contra o rival.

-Clássico é 50 a 50. O São Paulo venceu hoje, e nós estamos num momento bom. Ter a bola, querer a bola, ser ofensivo, jogar. Vamos buscar ser ofensivos e fazer os três pontos – concluiu o jogador.

Quase como um “12º jogador” do elenco alvinegro, Gustavo Silva soma 249 minutos pelo time do Parque São Jorge na temporada. Seu único gol até o momento foi contra o Massa Bruta no último domingo (27).

Hurricanes exacted revenge for their defeat three nights ago with a nine-run win as Thunder suffered a middle-order collapse

Tristan Lavalette13-Jan-2022

Matthew Wade made an unbeaten 83 on return, then Riley Meredith lit a fuse with the ball as Hobart Hurricanes ended Sydney Thunder’s six-match winning streak with a nine-run victory at Marvel Stadium.After missing two matches due to personal reasons, Wade’s 54-ball knock held Hurricanes’ innings together after they elected to bat before speedster Meredith tore through Thunder’s vaunted batting order with three wickets in a see-saw contest.Fourth-placed Hurricanes (24 points) exacted revenge after losing by nine wickets just three days ago and tightened their grip on a playoffs berth, while Thunder (31 points) remained second behind Perth Scorchers.Wade returns in styleHaving hit two of his three BBL tons at Marvel Stadium, Ben McDermott eyed another big score but Thunder had his number again as he fell for 18. For the second straight match, he fell to a slower delivery after being deceived by Daniel Sams in the fifth over.It brought Wade to the crease, who returned after missing two matches due to personal reasons and he came in at No. 3 instead of his customary position at the top. Having struggled for most of the season, Wade’s timing was impeccable with a powerful boundary second ball and then smashed legspinner Tanveer Sangha for two boundaries in the seventh over.Wade received a life on 18 when Sangha dropped a sitter at short third man and made Thunder pay along with Caleb Jewell, who justified the faith to keep him as an opener with a 32-ball 51. Hurricanes appeared set to push for 200 until Jewell’s wicket in the 13th over sparked a collapse of 5 for 22.Having watched the carnage around him, an unperturbed Wade lifted Hurricanes with a late flurry. Hurricanes still haven’t quite got the balance right in their batting order but a rejuvenated Wade at No. 3 appears a winner.Thunder hit back after ragged startThunder appeared to be wilting amid the Wade and Jewell carnage marked by ragged bowling and sloppy fielding. But they weren’t rattled and impressively fought back to spectacularly flip the script. In-form seamer Gurinder Sandhu claimed two wickets in a momentum-shifting 13th over as Thunder tore through Hurricanes’ susceptible middle order.They claimed five wickets in a devastating 25-ball burst punctuated by a scintillating yorker by Mohammad Hasnain to clean up an ashen-faced Jordan Thompson in the 17th over. Apart from leaking 16 runs in the 12th over, Hasnain was again irrepressible with full, and fast, bowling.But the disciplined Thunder would have been disappointed with their bowling and fielding in the first 10 overs which ultimately proved costly.Meredith sizzles with paceApart from taking the wicket of Matthew Gilkes in the first over, Meredith was struggling with his rhythm and his wayward bowling promptly suffered a hammering from Alex Hales. Fellow seamer Tom Rogers, their leading wicket-taker this season, didn’t fare any better as an under-siege Hurricanes lost their nerve with Thunder’s 1 for 56 the most runs scored by any team in the powerplay this season.They clawed back through Thompson claiming the key wickets of Hales and stand-in skipper Jason Sangha, who fell to a superb slower ball. Then Meredith swung the match spectacularly in the 11th over by clean bowling Ollie Davies and Ben Cutting with sheer pace as Hurricanes gained a stranglehold.Meredith, who played five T20Is for Australia last year, had an interrupted start to the BBL season and only took three wickets in his last five matches. With his lethal pace and full-length prowess on song, the 25-year-old issued a timely reminder to national selectors.Thunder rocked by middle-order collapseChasing 178, Thunder looked supremely confident under the closed roof as they dominated the powerplay. Hales was patient early during his unbeaten 80 against Hurricanes the last time but he was in a hurry here.Hales smashed David’s spin for five boundaries in the second over and raced to 27 off just 10 deliveries after he flicked a fast delivery from Meredith for six. His whirlwind 17-ball 38 ended in the fifth over but Thunder still looked on course until they lost 4 for 10 mid-innings.Nathan McAndrew tried his best at the end to conjure a miraculous victory but it wasn’t enough as Thunder lost for the first time since December 26.

Only scoring once in November so far, and tasting defeat three times on the spin, Aston Villa will return from the international break desperate to turn around their recent poor form.

Unai Emery’s men do have a winnable game with Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace up next in the Premier League to start correcting their stumbling form, before a reunion with Douglas Luiz then takes place in the Champions League versus Juventus at Villa Park.

Regardless of any notable fall-off in performances, Morgan Rogers would have entered into the break ecstatic having been called up to the England senior side, with there now being even more news coming out of the Villans camp that will further heighten his good mood.

Rogers' new contract at Villa

Of course, that news is the fact Rogers has penned a new bumper deal to stay put in the West Midlands until 2030, with the 22-year-old quickly becoming a fan’s favourite for those at Villa Park with his entertaining displays from attacking midfield.

This campaign in total, the former Manchester City youth product turned consistent first-teamer at Villa has amassed three goals and three assists from 15 clashes, as the slick number 27 continues to very much justify the £15m forked out to win his services from Middlesbrough.

That deal to bring him into the building from Michael Carrick’s side only took place this January, with clear fears in the air that Rogers could be poached by another club if a new substantial contract wasn’t ironed out.

Gifted brief cameos in the Nations League for the Three Lions too, with Rogers impressively notching up two key passes from just 24 minutes of action versus Greece, he could be sold on for far more than that £15m one day if he continues his impressive rise.

He isn’t the only one who could win the Villans some possible big bucks further down the line, with this attack-minded full-back having the potential to be a superstar at Villa Park.

Ian Maatsen's potential at Villa

Ian Maatsen hasn’t blown away anyone yet since making the move to the West Midlands this summer, which could be a concern considering he cost a hefty £37.5m to get in through the door.

However, patience will be key here, as the expansive ace regularly stunned supporters of Burnley and Borussia Dortmund when he was on loan at both clubs with his aggressive, front-foot approach for a defender.

In total for both the Clarets and the Bundesliga giants, the Dutchman would accumulate seven goals and eight assists from 65 total contests, which are stunning numbers for a left-back to have next to their name.

As a result, Maatsen has even been labelled as “special” by football journalist Tom Overend, with Chelsea no doubt sad to see the promising 22-year-old depart this summer, knowing there’s plenty more in his tank as he develops and grows.

He’s even been compared to Man City star Josko Gvardiol in the way he operates as a gung-ho full-back when looking at their respective statistics, as per FBref.

Amazingly, the Croat already has eight strikes and three assists next to his name playing for Pep Guardiola’s titans, with Maatsen perhaps having the potential to explode into life for Villa in a similar manner.

Maatsen vs Gvardiol – FBref numbers from the last year

Stat – per 90 mins

Maatsen

Gvardiol

Shot-creating actions

2.36

2.33

Passes attempted

65.77

80.47

Pass completion %

85.3%

90.4%

Progressive passes

5.17

7.34

Progressive carries

2.59

2.56

Successful take-ons

0.91

0.96

Touches in attacking penalty area

1.86

2.67

Progressive passes received

3.84

4.05

Stats by FBref

He’s not a million miles off his “incredible” counterpart – as he was once described by Guardiola – in certain areas of their respective attacking games, with Maatsen actually bettering Gvardiol in terms of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes on top of progressive carries.

Indeed, much more should come from the Dutchman in a Villa shirt, even though he is yet to pick up a single goal or assist.

Gvardiol didn’t just fall into Man City’s lap by chance either, costing the reigning top-flight champions £77m, with the hope that one day Maatsen can also be worth that same mega amount as he comes into his own for the Villans.

Related Watch out Rogers: Aston Villa target £50m "prodigy" who's like Bellingham

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Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 19, 2024

There is no escaping it: Arsenal have endured a rough start to the season.

Mikel Arteta’s side looked impressive in their first few games, but since then, they have dropped points in five of their ten Premier League games, and while it might not be the end of the world, Edu Gaspar’s surprise decision to leave feels ill-timed.

Now, the North Londoners have certainly had their fair share of bad luck in terms of injuries, suspensions and questionable referee decisions, but when it comes down to it, the players just haven’t been good enough.

It’s not just their defence that has been uncharacteristically poor either; the attack has underwhelmed, and players like Leandro Trossard look a shadow of their former selves, which is bad news for the Belgian, as Arsenal were linked with an exciting attacker in the summer who could be his perfect upgrade.

Trossard's season so far

It would be fair to say that, from a personal perspective, last season was a brilliant one for Trossard, as he ended the campaign with an impressive haul of 17 goals and two assists in 46 games and, towards the backend, had surpassed Gabriel Martinelli as Arteta’s go-to option off the left.

So, there was an expectation that he’d continue his stellar form this year, and while he’s had moments of brilliance, like the goal against Aston Villa, it’s been a largely frustrating three months for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace.

For example, in his 13 appearances across all competitions, he’s scored twice, provided a single assist, been sent off, and has generally looked off the pace, which could not have been said of his performances in 23/24 or the latter half of 22/23.

In fact, his attempts to make up for Martin Odegaard’s absence in the middle of the park have been so lacklustre that fans have been clamouring for Arteta to start 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri over him in recent weeks, as in his short cameos and League Cup appearances the teenager has shown more urgency and attacking threat than his senior teammate.

Ultimately, with Martinelli once again starting the majority of games on the left and his poor showings in the midfield, it might be time for Arsenal to look for a replacement.

The good news is that they were linked with the perfect candidate in the summer, someone who can play in both positions and do so with aplomb.

Why Arsenal should sign the incredible Ballon d'Or nominee

The star player Arsenal should be looking to sign in 2025 is Ademola Lookman, and it was only a few months ago he was linked with a move to N5 for fees reaching up to £59m.

Now, the Nigerian international might not be the name at the top of every fan’s wishlist, but he has been in sensational form for Atalanta over the last year or so, and his final placing of 14th in the Ballon d’Or is proof as much, especially as Bukayo Saka finished in 21st.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, in his 45 appearances for the Bergamo side last season, he scored 17 goals – including a hat-trick in the Europa League final – and provided ten assists.

That equates to a goal involvement every 1.66 games, and this season he’s already scored seven goals and provided five assists in 12 matches, which is an average of a goal involvement every game.

Furthermore, the “blistering” phenom, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has underlying numbers just as impressive as his level of output.

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, he sits in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals, the top 3% for assists, the top 5% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 7% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, the top 11% for touches in the opposition box and the top 12% for total shots, all per 90.

Finally, the former Everton star is also incredibly versatile, and while he’s played mainly in the second-striker and striker positions this season, his most played position is off the left, and he has plenty of experience playing off the right and in midfield to boot.

Ultimately, Lookman has been one of the most exciting and effective attackers in Europe for over a year now, and thanks to his ability to play anywhere across the frontline and in attacking midfield, he’d be the ideal replacement for Trossard either in January or the summer.

Arsenal want to make £101m Havertz replacement their first signing post-Edu

The sensational goalscoring “machine” would be incredible in this Arsenal side.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 4, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O Novorizontino está rebaixado para a Série A2. O Tigre foi derrotado por 2 a 1 pela Inter de Limeira, que marcou duas vezes com Ronaldo Silva na noite deste domingo, no estádio Jorge Ismael de Biasi, em Novo Horizonte, em partida válida pela décima rodada do Campeonato Paulista.

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Chrigor, de pênalti, fez o gol de honra dos mandantes, que somam apenas três pontos e deixarão de disputar a elite do Estadual após sete anos. O Leão, por outro lado, entrou na zona de classificação para as quartas de final da competição.

Já São Bernardo e Mirassol empataram por 1 a 1. Fabrício abriu o marcador, mas o Bernô aproveitou vantagem numérica após expulsão de Zeca, e arrancou o empate com João Carlos. O time pressionou o rival e teve a chance de virar no fim da partida, com pênalti batido por Davó, mas defendido porDarley.

أكد وائل جمعة مدافع النادي الأهلي السابق، أن الفريق عليه تدارك أخطاء مباراة الذهاب، في مواجهة الإياب أمام الهلال السوداني اليوم الثلاثاء.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع الهلال، في إطار مواجهة الإياب لدور ربع النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب شيخا ولد بيديا في موريتانيا.

وقال جمعة خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “بي إن سبورت”: “مواجهات الهلال دائمًا تكون صعبة على النادي الأهلي، خاصة خارج مصر”.

وأضاف: “إذا ظهر الأهلي بنفس أداء مباراة الذهاب لن أكون مطمئنا للنتيجة، خاصة مع أخطاء كولر التي وقع فيها من طريقة لعب وتغييرات”.

وتابع: “أداء اللاعبين هو الذي يفرق داخل الملعب، لكن المدرب عليه أن يجعل اللاعبين يظهورن أفضل ما لديهم، رأينا هبوط في أداء الفريق في المباراة الأولي وشاهدنا جرأة الهلال على مرمى الأهلي”.

طالع | تشكيل الأهلي أمام الهلال السوداني في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. جراديشار ووسام في الهجوم

وواصل: “على الأهلي ألا يتقبل الضغط وإلا سيسقبل أهدافا أمام منافس شرس، على كولر أن يضع اللاعب المناسب في المكان المناسب، بن شرقي مكانه المناسب على اليسار، لكن على اليمين مثلما أصر عليه كولر 85 دقيقة فلن يكون له خطورة”.

وأكمل: “أشرف بن شرقي عندما يدخل للملعب رؤيته تكون جيدة ويمتلك حلولا، يستحوذ على الكرة ويراواغ واحد على واحد”.

وأردف: “إمام عاشور لا يلعب كجناح ايسر، قدراته تظهر في الثلث الأوسط للثلث الأخير”.

وأتم: “في الجانب الهجومي، الترابط والانسجام بين جراديشار ووسام لا يوازي قدراتهما، وهذا نتيجة توظيف المدرب لهما، من الممكن أن يلعب واحد فقط منهم وليس مهما أن تلعب بالثنائي، لأنك بذلك تهلك قدراتهما”.

يذكر، أن النادي الأهلي حسم مباراة الذهاب التي أقيمت على ملعب استاد القاهرة، لصالحه، بالفوز بهدف دون رد، سجله محمد هاني.

West Indies’ postponed ODI series in the Netherlands will start “immediately after the IPL” on May 31, according to a joint press release by CWI and the KNCB.The tour will see West Indies play a full international match on Dutch soil for the first time – following two 55-over friendly matches in 1991 – and will be the sides’ first meeting in international cricket since the 2011 World Cup.The three ODI Super League fixtures will take place at the VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen on May 31, June 2 and June 4, with tickets due to go on sale this weekend.Johnny Grave, CWI’s chief executive, said: “We have been working closely with our colleagues at KNCB to put together this series immediately after the IPL and we are happy to now be able to announce the match schedule.”It’s going to be exciting to tour the Netherlands for the first time. It is a short tour, but we expect great entertainment during what promises to be a wonderful week of quality cricket for the fans in the Netherlands.”The BCCI is yet to announce exact dates for this year’s IPL but ESPNcricinfo understands that the tournament will start in late March and run until the last week of May.Seventeen West Indies players are due to play in this season’s IPL – the most from any country other than India – and CWI confirmed on Sunday that they would be “fully available” for the full season, as per a guarantee to players in their retainer contracts.Roland Lefebvre, the KNCB’s high performance manager, said: “The KNCB is very excited to welcome the West Indies cricket team back to the Netherlands. The last time the team visited our country was in 1991, for two 55-over friendly matches, with the likes of [Viv] Richards, [Desmond] Haynes, [Curtley] Ambrose and [Malcolm] Marshall present.”These matches will be the second Cricket World Cup Super League home series for the Dutch team and we look forward to a great Caribbean-style contest”.The series was initially due to take place in June 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Netherlands’ home schedule for 2022 also includes visits from England for three ODIs in June, and New Zealand for two T20Is at the end of July.Fixtures:
1st ODI – May 31
2nd ODI – June 2
3rd ODI – June 4 (all matches at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen)

Alexis Vega returned from injury in the second leg of the Liga MX final to help Toluca secure their 12th league championship, tying Chivas as the competition’s second-most successful club. Antonio Mohamed’s side won 2-1 on the night to level the series 2-2 on aggregate – after trailing 2-0 earlier in the tie – before lifting the trophy in dramatic fashion.

Getty Images SportToluca at the Top of Liga MX

Toluca confirmed their status as the best team of the year in Liga MX, capturing the Apertura 2025 title and completing a historic back-to-back championship run after surviving a breathtaking penalty shootout against Tigres on Sunday night.

The final was ultimately decided from the spot, with Toluca prevailing 9-8 in a marathon shootout that featured 24 penalties and even saw both goalkeepers miss their attempts. Tigres forward Ángel Correa failed on the decisive kick, opening the door for Alexis Vega – returning after missing the entire Liguilla with injury – to bury the winning penalty and seal the crown for

Goalkeeper Luis García also played a pivotal role, making multiple saves during the shootout to keep Toluca alive as the tension mounted with each round.

In regulation, Tigres struck first through Fernando Gorriarán in the 14th minute, building on the 1-0 advantage they had secured in the first leg. Toluca responded just before halftime when Brazilian winger Helinho produced a moment of brilliance to level the match and swing momentum back to the hosts.

Early in the second half, Helinho again made his mark, this time as a provider, setting up Paulinho for the 52nd-minute goal that put Toluca ahead on the night and tied the series on aggregate.

Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán then took center stage, producing a string of crucial saves in the second half and extra time to keep his team in contention and force penalties, a testament to the resilience of Guido Pizarro’s side.

With the victory, Antonio Mohamed lifted his fifth Liga MX title, further cementing his legacy as one of the most successful managers in league history. The championship also marked Toluca’s ninth title in the short-tournament era, making them the most decorated club since the format was introduced.

A final that had everything – drama, comebacks, missed penalties, and redemption – ended with Toluca once again at the top of Mexican football.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe MVP

Alexis Vega and Luis García were Toluca’s MVPs in the penalty shootout. Vega converted both of his attempts, with the second one sealing the championship for his team. García, meanwhile, came up big by saving Ángel Correa’s shot during sudden death. Special mention also goes to Helinho, who pulled Toluca back into the series with a stunning goal to make it 1-1 while they were trailing 2-0 on aggregate, and later provided the assist for Paulinho’s 2-1 finish that leveled the overall score. The Brazilian was instrumental in pushing the series all the way to penalties.

AFPThe big loser

Guido Pizarro suffered a major setback early in his managerial career, as Tigres fell short of claiming what would have been their ninth Liga MX title despite holding a 2–0 aggregate lead in the series. The team was unable to replicate the level they showed in the first leg, where they secured a 1–0 victory.

In the return match, Toluca completely took control, playing with greater intensity and overwhelming Tigres for long stretches. While the outcome of the penalty shootout cannot be placed solely on Pizarro, Tigres had opportunities to protect their advantage or manage the match more effectively in the difficult environment of the Nemesio Diez. Ultimately, their inability to do so allowed Toluca to turn the series around and lift the trophy.

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Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐