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ISL: Injury-Hit FC Goa Face FC Pune City

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8 years ago

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FC Goa are refusing to press the panic button despite his team being hit hard by injuries ahead of their league match against a high-flying FC Pune City in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) here on Friday.
FC Goa chief coach Zico confirmed injuries to Joffre Gonzalez, Keenan Almeida, Reinaldo Oliveira, Darryl Duffy and Victorino Fernandes and said marquee player Lucio’s fitness was yet to be ascertained.
“We still have to assess Lucio. Yesterday he practiced well with the team but we have to see him in training today,” Zico said during the pre-match media briefing.
The Brazilian legend did not dwell too much on the injured players and instead kept his faith in the players who are available.
“I trust all my players. It does not matter to me who is out. Those who are available will come, play and give everything. I will give them the confidence. If they are at FC Goa, it means they are capable. I trust them,” said Zico.
FC Goa lost the last match against Mumbai City FC 0-2 and lost some of the momentum they had picked up after winning two matches on the trot against NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters.
“Pune is a tough team but if you look at all the teams in the ISL, there is not much difference. There is no difference whether you play at home or away. We have to do our best to win this game,” said Zico, whose team is placed third on the table with 10 points, the same as Mumbai City FC.
Pune are leading the table with 12 points and have looked dangerous as they arrive in Goa on the back of a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Kerala Blasters where they fought back after being a goal down inside the first minute.
“I don’t think Pune City are the favourites. I think all eight (teams) are the favourites. As we come towards the halfway stage, you look at the teams and the position fluctuates. Every couple of games, it changes. It’s difficult. An injury to a player, back-to-back victories, or defeat, can change things,” said Pune coach David Platt, giving Mumbai as an example after they won three matches on the trot and are now positioned second on the table.
Platt said the team’s first priority was to finish among the top four and qualify for the semi-finals.
“Our aim is to qualify for the semi-finals and we cannot afford to take our eyes off the ball. We must qualify in the quickest time possible,” said Platt. IANS

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Catch of the century: Steve Smith takes a superb diving catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya in 2nd ODI – watch

Steve Smith took a one-handed stunner to send back Hardik Pandya in the 2nd ODI in Vizag. The Australia captain dived towards his right and held on to the ball to complete the catch. The commentators were in all awe of the captain as he completed the catch.

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1 year ago

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March 19, 2023

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Steve Smith once again showed his fielding skills and took a one-handed screamer to dismiss Hardik Pandya in the 2nd ODI in Vizag. The Australian captain was standing at the first slip while the ball flew towards the second slip. Smith put in everything he had and dived to his right to grab the one-handed stunner.

The commentators were in all awe of Smith’s effort and Sanjay Manjrekar called it the catch of the century. Smith’s diving effort saw Pandya walking back for a mere score of 1.

India are struggling for every run in the fixture and have lost half of their side inside the first 10 overs. Shubman Gill, who is enjoying a dream run in 2023, failed to open his account and departed for a two-ball duck.

Back in the playing XI after taking a rest from the first ODI, Rohit Sharma also disappointed and managed to score 13 off 15. The India captain replaced Ishan Kishan in the playing XI. Suryakumar Yadav disappointed once again and departed for a one-ball duck.

The number 4 batsman was once again dismissed by Mitchell Starc. After Suryakumar’s dismissal, much was expected from vice-captain Pandya but his innings came to an end early.
Ravindra Jadeja has joined Virat Kohli in the middle and the duo has added more than 20 runs for the sixth wicket. The onus is on Kohli to play a big knock and propel India to a defendable total. Much will also depend on in-form Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 45 in the first ODI and scalped 2 wickets to win the Player of the Match award.

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Watch: Messi’s extraordinary goal that sent Argentina into FIFA World Cup quarters, leaves behind Maradona and Ronaldo

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1 year ago

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December 4, 2022

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Lionel Messi marked his 1000th career appearance with a typically extraordinary goal that helped Argentina beat Australia 2-1 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 tie at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar and took the two-time champions to the quarterfinals. With the goal, Messi left behind Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo to achieve a sensational feat.

Argentina’s first goal came in the 34th minute of the game when Messi worked his magic with his famous left foot to curl in a low one through the defenders and past the goalkeeper. It was Messi’s ninth goal in his World Cup career and a very first in the knockout stage.

With the goal, Messi went past Maradona and Guillermo Stábile to become the second-highest goal scorer for Argentina in FIFA World Cup. His tally of nine goals now only stands behind former Argentina captain Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 10 goals in his World Cup career.

Overall, he stands second among active footballers in the list of most World Cup goals scored, after Germany’s Thomas Mueller (10) and one ahead of Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (9).

Messi also levelled Ronaldo in terms of most goals scored in major tournaments. 13 of Messi’s 22 such goals came in Copa America. However, he is the only one between the two to have a goal in the FIFA World Cup knockouts.

Argentina eventually won 2-1 in the match against Australia. Julian Alvarez scored the second goal while Australia pulled one back off an own goal. La Albiceleste will now take on Netherlands, who beat USA 3-1 in the first round of 16 tie on Saturday, in the quarterfinal next week.

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DOJO De Succoro wins accolades at NBSII Goa Championship

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2 years ago

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June 13, 2022

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Porvorim: DOJO De Succoro Porvorim participated in NBSII Goa Kata championship held at Mapusa on May 29.

The participants were guided by Head Chief Renshi Nityanand Juvekar and Instructor Sensei Shashi Sahani.

Winners of the competition are: Sanika Satardekar, Sampurn Satardekar, Satvik Toraskar, Sneha Bhandari, Mishka Vipin, Surabhi Polai, Suraj Polai, Vaishnavi Singh, Anshuman Singh, Kunal Yadav, Shaurya Shet Dessai, Kusum Nanavare and Riyansh Gosavi. (GoaNewsHub)

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