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UCL quarters: Man City crush Bayern as Inter beat Benfica

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PAUL ELLIS/ AFP

Manchester City beat Bayern Munich 3-0 on Tuesday to continue their quest for a first-ever Champions League title in their quarter-final first leg.

Erling Haaland, who scored City’s third goal of the night in the 76th minute, now has 45 goals in all competitions, a single-season record for a Premier League player, moving ahead of Mohamed Salah and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Rodri put Pep Guardiola’s team ahead in the 27th minute, cutting the ball back to beat midfielder Jamal Musiala and curling a blistering long-range shot into the top left corner beyond the outstretched hand of Yann Sommer.

“I know that this Bayern team is special,” said Guardiola, who managed Bayern from 2013-16. “We got a good result, but we need two strong games. Anything can happen at Allianz Arena. I know that because I was at Bayern for three years.”

Rodri celebrated with a long knee slide on the rain-soaked turf at the Etihad, while Bayern’s new manager Thomas Tuchel threw up his hands in disgust en route to his team’s biggest defeat in the Champions League since a 3-0 loss to Paris St Germain in 2017.

What had been an evenly matched game turned thoroughly in City’s favour midway through the second half, and Bernardo Silva scored their second in the 70th minute, heading in a cross from Haaland. The Norwegian got a goal of his own six minutes later, striking from close range.

City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan had a brilliant chance in the 34th minute, but Sommer, who was on the ground, stuck a leg out to save what looked like a certain goal.

Ruben Dias’s flick in the second half looked bound for the net, but Sommer tipped it over the crossbar. However, he was helpless to stop Silva and then Haaland from completing the win.

Guardiola faced a familiar foe in Tuchel, who was Chelsea manager when they triumphed over City in the final in 2021.

The Spaniard has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and four League Cups at City but European success has eluded the manager who won the trophy twice when in charge of Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan struck in the second half through Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku for a 2-0 win at Benfica, which put them on course for a first last-four appearance since they won the trophy in 2010.

Barella headed home firmly at the back post in the 51st minute, rising unchallenged to get on the end of a superb cross from centre back Alessandro Bastoni, who was storming up the left side and delivered a pin-point ball.

Substitute Lukaku then converted an 82nd minute penalty after VAR referred a handball by Benfica skipper Joao Mario for review by English referee Michael Oliver, who gave the spot kick after looking at the video monitor.

The two goals hand Inter a major advantage for the return leg at San Siro next Wednesday, where they will be heavily fancied to progress to an all-Italian semi-final against either neighbours AC Milan or Napoli who meet this Wednesday.

Barella’s goal exposed Benfica’s nervy defence but the penalty was unfortunate as a Denzel Dumfries cross hit Joao Mario on his head and then his upright arm inside the box.

But Inter deserved their victory, conjuring up the better chances with Benfica’s Odysseas Vlachodimos making important second-half saves to deny Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Dumfries and avert an even heavier defeat.

 

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Muhammad Waseem to captain UAE in Sharjah T20I Tri-Series 2025

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UAE opener Muhammad Waseem has been named captain of the national men’s cricket team for the Inverex Solar Energy presents Bank Alfalah T20I Tri-Series 2025, set to take place at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium from August 29 to September 7.

The tri-series will feature UAE, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, serving as a crucial warm-up ahead of the ACC Asia Cup 2025, which begins in the UAE on September 9.

The UAE will open their campaign against Pakistan on Saturday, August 30, at 7pm.

UAE Squad

  • Muhammad Waseem (captain)
  • Alishan Sharafu
  • Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
  • Asif Khan
  • Dhruv Parashar
  • Ethan D’ Souza
  • Haider Ali
  • Harshit Kaushik
  • Junaid Siddique
  • Muhammad Farooq
  • Muhammad Jawadullah
  • Muhammad Zohaib
  • Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper)
  • Rohid Khan
  • Saghir Khan

Support Staff: Amjad Ezzi (team manager), Lalchand Rajput (head coach), Azharuddin Qureshi (strength and conditioning coach), Manipreet Sidhu (video analyst), Manish Pradeshi (physiotherapist).

Tournament Schedule – Sharjah Cricket Stadium

  • Friday, 29 Aug – Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:00pm
  • Saturday, 30 Aug – UAE vs Pakistan – 7:00pm
  • Monday, 1 Sept – Afghanistan vs UAE – 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, 2 Sept – Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:00pm
  • Thursday, 4 Sept – Pakistan vs UAE – 7:00pm
  • Friday, 5 Sept – Afghanistan vs UAE – 7:00pm
  • Sunday, 7 Sept – Final – 7:00pm

The series is expected to draw strong crowds, with Sharjah once again hosting top-flight international cricket under lights.

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Taimoor Ali’s last-ball heroics seal Desert Vipers’ thrilling win over Dubai Capitals in ILT20 Development Tournament

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The Desert Vipers opened their DP World ILT20 Development Tournament campaign stunningly, pulling off a nail-biting one-wicket victory against the Dubai Capitals at the ICC Academy. The contest went right down to the last ball, with impact player Taimoor Ali holding his nerve to deliver a dramatic finish.

Dubai Capitals post 210/6

Batting first, the Capitals piled on a challenging 210 for six, setting up what looked like a match-winning total. But the Vipers’ bowlers struck at crucial stages, with UAE all-rounder Ali Naseer starring with the ball. He claimed 4 for 28 in four overs, applying the brakes to the scoring in the middle overs.

Vipers’ chase led by Suri, Keswani and Ali

In reply, Vipers captain and wicketkeeper-batter Tanish Suri gave his side a solid start, compiling a fluent 35 off 25 balls. The chase stayed alive thanks to a quick cameo from Nilansh Keswani, who smashed 22 off just nine deliveries, including two huge sixes.

But the decisive moment came with the arrival of Taimoor Ali as an impact player. Walking in with the game in the balance, Ali unleashed a stunning counterattack, blasting an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls, featuring two fours and six sixes. His clean hitting turned the tide, as the Vipers steadily closed in on the target.

Final-ball drama

The game came down to the wire, with the Vipers needing runs off the final delivery. Ali, calm under pressure, finished the job to secure victory by just one wicket, sparking wild celebrations in the Vipers’ dugout.

What’s next

The ILT20 Development Tournament runs until 3 September, with the final also set to be staged at the ICC Academy. Beyond the immediate silverware, the tournament serves as a crucial platform for UAE talent, giving players the chance to break into DP World ILT20 franchises, the UAE national team, and other global T20 leagues.

The Desert Vipers will be buoyed by their thrilling opening win, while the Dubai Capitals will be left ruing missed chances in a game that went down as one of the most exciting finishes of the competition so far.

Match Scorecard

Dubai Capitals – 210/6 (20 overs)

  • Other contributions: The Team posted a strong total with partnerships across the order
  • Best bowler (Vipers): Ali Naseer – 4/28 (4 overs)

Desert Vipers – 211/9 (20 overs)

  • Taimoor Ali – 59 (28 balls, 2 fours, 6 sixes)*
  • Tanish Suri – 35 (25 balls)
  • Nilansh Keswani – 22 (9 balls, 2 sixes)
  • Won by 1 wicket (off the final ball)

Result: Desert Vipers won by 1 wicket

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Adani Sportsline’s Gulf Giants unveil power-packed coaching staff ahead of UAE ILT20 Season 4 Auction

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With the highly anticipated fourth season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) approaching, Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants have unveiled a star-studded coaching team ahead of the league’s first-ever auction. The revamped setup signals the franchise’s renewed push for silverware.

Jonathan Trott to lead as Head Coach

Former England batting star Jonathan Trott has been appointed Head Coach, bringing with him a reputation as one of England’s most technically accomplished cricketers and an impressive coaching track record.

Since transitioning from international cricket, Trott has guided Afghanistan to a historic ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final and an inspired run at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. As a player, he scored 3,835 runs in 52 Tests and 2,819 runs in 68 ODIs at an average of 51, with four centuries and 22 fifties.

“The Gulf Giants have quickly become one of the ILT20’s most successful teams. My goal is to empower players to excel and shape a championship-winning squad through the first-ever ILT20 Auction,” Trott said.

Shane Bond joins as Bowling Coach

Joining Trott is New Zealand’s pace legend Shane Bond, who takes charge as Bowling Coach. A veteran of 120 internationals with 259 wickets, Bond has carved out a successful decade-long coaching career, working with the New Zealand national side and several global T20 franchises, including the IPL and UAE ILT20.

“The team’s ambition is clear. I’m excited to sharpen our bowling attack and make a decisive impact this season,” Bond said.

Specialist coaches to complete the lineup

The Giants have also secured some of the finest specialist coaches:

  • Andrew Puttick (Batting Coach) – South African batting stalwart with nearly 17,000 first-class runs, and prior coaching stints with Afghanistan, South Africa and Pakistan.
  • Jamie Troughton (Fielding Coach) – Former England international, bringing expertise in raising standards in the field.
  • Nick Lee (Strength & Conditioning Coach) – A seasoned fitness professional with experience at Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, returning to reunite with Trott.

Building on success stories

The Gulf Giants’ refreshed coaching team reflects Adani Sportsline’s focus on nurturing talent and creating a growth-driven environment. The franchise has already produced notable success stories, including young UAE all-rounder Aayan Khan and Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani.

Andrew Puttick said: “It’s an honour to work in a setup that values player development. I’m eager to contribute to our collective success.”

Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, added: “We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of cricketing minds. Their experience and shared values will be pivotal in taking the Gulf Giants to new heights.”

Gulf Giants Squad for ILT20 Season 4

Retained – Aayan Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair
New Signings – Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz


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