Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane returned to north London to score his customary goal against Arsenal as the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie ended 2-2 on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham Hotspur player, so often Arsenal’s nemesis in north London derbies, stroked home a penalty in the 32nd minute as the Bundesliga side hit back to lead 2-1.
Premier League leaders Arsenal, playing in their first Champions League quarter-final for 14 years, had gone in front early on with a clinical Bukayo Saka strike.
But Bayern, whose reign as German champions is as good as over as they trail Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points, showed they remain a European force to be reckoned with.
Arsenal were stunned as their former striker Serge Gnabry levelled six minutes later and Kane rolled home his 39th goal of an incredible first season for Bayern after Leroy Sane was brought down by William Saliba in the box.
Mikel Arteta’s side ensured they will head to Bavaria next Wednesday full of hope as substitute Leandro Trossard equalised in the 76th minute to leave the tie hanging in the balance.
The return of Kane, who scored a record 14 goals for Tottenham in the north London derby, to one of his favourite haunts was the big pre-match talking point.
And he duly silenced the Arsenal jeers.
“It wasn’t an easy game,” Kane said. “Arsenal are a really good team. They’re top of the Premier League right now so we had to dig deep at times but it’s a good result and hopefully we can make the difference at home.”
Predictably, Kane was booed every time he touched the ball although the England captain was hardly involved in the early exchanges as Arsenal seized the initiative.
Six-time champions Bayern, seeking salvation in Europe after a poor domestic season, were handicapped by having no fans inside the Emirates Stadium as punishment for their supporters throwing fireworks in the previous round.
They went behind in the 12th minute when Ben White played the ball inside to Saka who picked his spot and curled a low left-footed shot beyond Manuel Neuer.
White should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards but shot straight at Neuer and then Arsenal’s defence, so impregnable in the Premier League of late, suddenly went missing.
They carelessly lost possession in the 18th minute and Bayern punished them as Leon Goretzka fed a perfect pass to Gnabry who clipped a finish past the on-rushing David Raya.
Sane was than allowed to run and run from deep before being toppled by Saliba and referee Glenn Nyberg had the simplest decision to point to the penalty spot.
The final of 2024 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament between Deccan Gladiators and Morrisville Samp Army that was played at Zayed Cricket Stadium turned out to be a complete entertainer for the spectators. Chasing 105, Gladiators unleashed some fireworks and gunned down the target by 8 wickets and with more than three overs to spare.
They were off to a flying start as opener and England batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore took on skipper Rohan Mustafa in the very first over. Cadmore smashed four fours on the trot to begin the chase in first over while his opening partner and skipper Nicholas Pooran joined the party soon.
Pooran who hails from West Indies dominated Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim as Gladiators collected 20 runs in third over and went past the 50-run mark. The left-handed batter was eventually dismissed for 28 off 10 by pacer Isuru Udana after Mustafa took a blinder in the deep but that didn’t really help Samp Army as Cadmore continued with his aggressive batting display and notched up a fifty.
Earlier, Morrisville Samp Army never really got the start they wanted and lost wickets in regular succession to get reduced to 81/5. It was a late surge from Afghanistan’s Karim Janat who chipped in with 16 off 8 in final overs of the innings that took the total to 104/7 in 10 overs. Faf du Plessis top-scored with 34 off 23 while wicket-keeper batter Andries Gous struck 21 off 9. England pacer Richard Gleeson returned with figures of 2/16 in two overs for Deccan Gladiators.
Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan’s speech during mid innings became the highlight of the day. Spectators at Zayed Cricket Stadium also got to witness an electrifying performance from Elnaaz Norouzi during the title clash.
Deccan Gladiators have been crowned the champions of Abu Dhabi T10 League for the third time.
2nd December 2024: Morrisville Samp Army secured their place in the final of the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10, setting up a much-anticipated rematch with the Deccan Gladiators. The dramatic clash at Zayed Cricket Stadium saw USA international Andries Gous anchor the chase of a modest 90-run target, despite a fiery Delhi Bulls bowling display. Gous’s determined 38-run knock stood out as wickets tumbled around him, and he even shrugged off a helmet strike from Pakistan pacer Salman Irshad to keep his team in contention.
However, Irshad briefly swung the momentum Delhi’s way, taking two crucial wickets in consecutive deliveries to dismiss Gous and Karim Janat. With 30 runs needed off the final three overs and only five wickets in hand, Samp Army were under pressure.
Enter England’s Jack Taylor and Pakistan’s Imad Wasim, who steadied the innings before unleashing a barrage of boundaries to seal the win with three balls to spare. Taylor’s unbeaten 23 off 11 balls proved decisive as the Samp Army clinched victory by five wickets.
Earlier in the match, the Samp Army bowling attack dismantled the Delhi Bulls’ batting line-up. Sri Lankan veteran Isuru Udana delivered a stellar performance, taking 3/17 in his two overs, while Afghanistan spinner Amir Hamza contributed with 2/22. The disciplined effort restricted the Bulls to a paltry 89/7 in their 10 overs, earning Udana the Player of the Match accolade.
With this win, Morrisville Samp Army are now poised for a thrilling final showdown against the Deccan Gladiators, as they look to cap off their campaign with glory.
1st December 2024: England’s Tom Banton lit up the Zayed Cricket Stadium with a scintillating performance, propelling the Delhi Bulls into the second Qualifier of the Abu Dhabi T10’s eighth edition. Banton smashed an explosive 73 off just 26 balls in the second Eliminator against Team Abu Dhabi, a knock studded with 9 towering sixes that left the crowd in awe.
Skipper Rovman Powell added a late flourish with an unbeaten 20 off just 6 balls, helping the Bulls register the season’s highest score—158/3 in 10 overs—setting an imposing target for the hosts.
Chasing 159, Team Abu Dhabi struggled under the mounting asking rate. Pakistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi and Salman Irshad delivered a disciplined bowling display, stifling England’s Jonny Bairstow and limiting his impact. Despite Leus du Plooy’s fiery cameo of 32 off 12 balls, Team Abu Dhabi fell short, managing only 116/7, losing by a hefty 42 runs.
Earlier in the day, the Bulls extended their tournament run by eliminating UP Nawabs in the first Eliminator. Banton starred again, smashing an unbeaten 50 off 22 balls to chase down a modest 100-run target in just 7.1 overs. Bowlers Muhammad Rohid and Fazalhaq Farooqi were instrumental in restricting the Nawabs to 99/7, paving the way for an emphatic 8-wicket victory.
With back-to-back dominant performances, Delhi Bulls remain in the hunt for their maiden Abu Dhabi T10 title.
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