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USMNT goalkeeper Drake Callender and Lionel Messi were both named in the MLS Team of the Matchday Monday for Inter Miami.

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Messi and Callender named to MLS Team of MatchdayInter Miami drew 1-1 with LA Galaxy Argentine scored late goal, while goalkeeper saved penaltyWHAT HAPPENED?

A 92nd-minute equalizer from Messi secured Inter Miami a draw Sunday evening, while early on, goalkeeper Drake Callender made a brilliant penalty kick save to keep the match scoreless 10-minutes into the match. Both heroic efforts were rewarded Monday, with recognition by the league.

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Messi's heroics saved the Herons a point late, but that doesn't happen if Callender doesn't make his important save early on. The USMNT shotstopper was brilliant all evening, making two more crucial saves throughout the night. Meanwhile, the Galaxy's Riqui Puig also found himself a spot on the team – even though his penalty attempt was saved.

The entire MLS Team of the Matchday saw nine different teams sport a player, with Inter Miami being the only club that had two.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sunday saw Callender make his first penalty kick save since last Summer's Leagues Cup, where he denied Atlanta United's Thiago Almada from the spot.

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The Herons take on Orlando City at the weekend in their third match of the season. It will be a battle for South Florida as Inter Miami host the Lions in a rivalry match.

Chelsea have reportedly parted company with coach Bruno Saltor despite claiming that he would form part of Mauricio Pochettino’s backroom team.

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Spaniard joined the Blues alongside PotterTook in one game as caretaker managerIs now walking away from Stamford BridgeWHAT HAPPENED?

The 42-year-old Spaniard has, according to , seen his contract paid up, allowing him to walk away from Stamford Bridge. That agreement has been reached during private talks behind the scenes, with no public announcement being made.

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Bruno had moved to Stamford Bridge alongside Graham Potter in September 2022, with Chelsea paying a world-record £21 million ($26m) compensation package to Brighton when bringing in the new manager and his coaching staff. Only two members of that group – head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts and data analyst Kyle Macaulay – remain in west London.

DID YOU KNOW?

Potter lasted 31 games across seven months in charge of the Blues, with Bruno – who took caretaker charge for a 0-0 draw with Liverpool – among those to be put on leave when managerial reins were passed to club legend Frank Lampard on an interim basis. Chelsea claimed that he had returned to the fold following Pochettino’s appointment over the summer.

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That agreement has lasted less than four months, with Bruno allowed to move on. Pochettino is hoping that those still by his side can deliver a reversal in fortunes over the coming weeks – as questions begin to be asked of his future – with big-spending Chelsea picking up just five points from six Premier League games in 2023-24, while already being without European football on the back of a 12th-placed finish last season.

GOAL tells you everything you need to know about the new season, including which superstars have joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East…

Pep Guardiola knows a thing or two about spending sprees, so when the manager of Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City says that Europe's elite clubs "need to be aware of what's happening" in the Saudi Pro League, you can be sure that something seriously significant is going down.

As the Catalan has correctly pointed out, the SPL has "changed the transfer market" this summer, paying one inflated transfer fee after another for players convinced to move to the Middle East by stunning salaries. As Odion Ighalo put it when asked why he and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo are in Saudi Arabia, "It's for money, bro."

The reasoning has been obvious from the start, though. The real interest lies in whether it's sustainable. It obviously is from a financial perspective. Saudi Arabian clubs have deep pockets, particularly Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal – who have just been taken over by the country's Public Investment Fund in a clear attempt to create a 'Big Four'.

The historic spending spree that has followed has undeniably captured the attention of the footballing world – the question now is whether the SPL can keep a hold of it. An entertaining and competitive 2023-24 campaign would certainly help in that regard, with the emphasis on the new arrivals to not only elevate the standard of play but also make new fans out of the many interested overseas observers.

So, what can we expect from the new season? And who's likely to come out on top? GOAL tells you everything you need to know below…

GettyAl-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad are the reigning champions and obvious favourites to win this season's title after a very productive summer. After all, Nuno Espirito Santo had already turned them into the most well-balanced team in the Pro League. They scored 60 goals last season – only Ronaldo's Al-Nassr managed more – but conceded just 13.

It's not difficult, then, to see the champions being even better in 2023-24, with N'Golo Kante and Fabinho having arrived to give even greater protection to the backline, and current Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema set to spearhead an attack that has also been bolstered by the signing of former Celtic winger Jota, who could prove one of the surprise stars of the season, and still features last season's top scorer, Abderrazak Hamdallah.

Benzema, though, is obviously the key. He had his injury issues last season but he remains a world-class talent, which is precisely why Real Madrid were so desperate to keep him for another season. Indeed, the French forward is already banging in the goals in the Arab Club Champions Cup, so do not be at all surprised if Benzema beats former club-mate Ronaldo to the Pro League's top scorer award this season.

AdvertisementAl Nassr TwitterAl-Nassr

It's still hard to believe that Al-Nassr were top of the table when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo to great fanfare in January and yet failed to win the league. The Portuguese scored freely, of course, netting 14 times in just 16 games, but his frustration with Rudi Garcia's tactics quickly became obvious, and the French coach was sacked before the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

So the pressure now falls on Luis Castro to lead Al-Nassr to a first title since 2019. Ronaldo's compatriot doesn't exactly boast a stellar CV, but he did win the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2020 and besides, he's taking over a squad that has been significantly strengthened over the summer.

How much Alex Telles will add to the defence is, of course, debatable after his trying time at Manchester United, but Seko Fofana should make a big impact in a midfield that will now be run by the excellent Marcelo Brozovic, who was Inter's best player in the Champions League final.

However, the signing that's generated most headlines is, of course, that of Sadio Mane. The Senegalese has endured a dramatic decline over the past 12 months that saw him go from a hero at Liverpool to a zero at Bayern Munich. However, the 31-year-old should still have more than enough left in the tank to run riot up front alongside Ronaldo, meaning Al-Nassr should once again be challenging for the title.

Hilal TwitterAl-Hilal

Al-Hilal's bid for a fourth consecutive Pro League title unravelled over the second half of last season, but that had a lot to do with the fact that they reached the final of both the Club World Cup, where they stunned Flamengo in the semi-finals, and the AFC Champions League.

However, the most successful side in Saudi Arabian football look far better equipped to win a record-extending 19th title this term – not least because they now have Jorge Jesus back in charge. The Portuguese fell out with his employers during his first spell at Al-Hilal, but he returns after four years away having only further enhanced his reputation as one of the game's great coaches by winning a Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, in 2019.

Jesus will also have a stellar squad at his disposal. Kalidou Koulibaly may have underwhelmed at Chelsea but the Napoli legend is an incredible acquisition for the centre of the defence, while Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have the makings of the best midfield pairing in the league.

Unlike many of the other players to have moved to Saudi Arabia this summer, both Neves and Milinkovic-Savic are still in their prime and the Serb, in particular, should quickly prove himself one of the most dominant players in the Pro League.

There have been no superstar signings up front as of yet – unless you count former Barcelona winger Malcom, who has joined from Zenit – but in Ighalo they already possess a proven goalscorer at this level. All things considered, a title challenge appears inevitable.

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Al Ahli TwitterAl-Ahli

Back in the top flight after winning last season's First Division, Al-Ahli were without a manager until the end of July before managing to lure Matthias Jaissle away from Red Bull Salzburg, which caused quite a bit of controversy. The German had won back-to-back Austrian titles with Salzburg, so they were furious when it emerged that he was in talks over a move to the Jeddah just two days before the start of the new Bundesliga season.

Al-Ahli won't care, though, after finally filling their coaching vacancy with the highly-rated Jaissle, who could work wonders with arguably the most exciting attacking line-up in the league. Star summer signings Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin really should form a fantastically fluid forward line with enough flicks and tricks to bamboozle even the best defences in Saudi Arabia.

However, Al-Ahli have also strengthened elsewhere, with the signing of Franck Kessie from Barcelona representing a real coup, given he was tipped to join Juventus. The Ivorian will add quality and physicality to the midfield, while ex-Roma centre-back Roger Ibanez is a great addition to the backline.

As for Eduouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper may have suffered a serious slump at Stamford Bridge, resulting in him losing his starting spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga, but if he can get back to anything resembling his Champions League-winning best, he could prove a real difference-maker.

A title triumph is perhaps too much to expect from the newly-promoted side, but the PIF-backed team will be expected to at least challenge for top spot.

GOAL breaks down how players fared in the final pre-World Cup friendly

For the second time this international window, the U.S. men's national team limped through a lifeless 90-minute performance.

And, with the World Cup less than two months away, there's reason to be worried about that fact.

Following a 2-0 loss to Japan to open the window, the U.S. improved ever so slightly in a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. The performance was a little bit better against a team that was a little bit worse, but it was nothing that will inspire confidence as Qatar looms.

There were a few players that looked solid enough, although there weren't many that truly stood out. And, as the clock ticks, there are still so many questions that don't have answers after what essentially felt like a waste of an international break

With that said, here's a look at how USMNT players fared against Saudi Arabia:

GettyMatt Turner

Relatively solid, making a few key saves including one just seconds into the game. Distribution wasn't perfect, but, overall, another good outing for a player that probably should start in Qatar.

Rating: 6/10

AdvertisementGettySergino Dest

Playing on the left, it wasn't anything special from Dest. He did what he usually does in terms of getting into the attack, and he did what he usually does in terms of having a few shaky defensive moments.

Rating: 5/10

GettyAaron Long

Another rough outing for Long, who probably shouldn't start in Qatar. Nothing catastrophic leading to a goal, and the U.S. did maintain a clean sheet so you can't hit him too hard, but distribution was poor once again.

Rating: 5/10

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GettyWalker Zimmerman

Much better this time around. Passing was significantly improved as he hit several good long balls, although he would be better served playing next to a batter passer than Long.

Rating: 6/10

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has urged his players to bring the best out of Harry Kane as they prepare to face Lazio in the Champions League.

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Kane has been in remarkable formBayern to face Serie A giants in Champions LeagueTuchel makes demand of his playersWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern are licking their wounds after their top-of-the-table clash with Bayer Leverkusen ended in a stunning 3-0 defeat, and are preparing to take on Lazio in the Champions League. Kane touched the ball just 18 times against Leverkusen, and Tuchel is keen for his side to bring the England captain into the game more.

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Tuchel told reporters: "It was rare for Harry to have so few touches (against Leverkusen). The formation was actually thought of with him in mind, but we didn’t find him at all. We want to get Harry in the game more, and we need to fix it.

"I’m convinced we can show a reaction (against Lazio). It wasn’t good enough in Leverkusen. But it’s a new opponent, a new competition. I hope we can make up for it."

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Kane's performance against Leverkusen came after a run of 28 goals in 28 games in all competitions, making his inability to affect the game all the more stark. He has scored four goals in six Champions League games this term, while also providing three assists.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

After their clash with Lazio, Bayern will face VFL Bochum on Sunday. They currently sit five points behind Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.

Adelaide Oval will host the first-ever day-night Test against New Zealand in November and a T20 against India on Australia Day next year, with Cricket Australia announcing its international and domestic schedule for the 2015-16 season

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jul-2015Adelaide Oval will host the first-ever day-night Test against New Zealand in November and a T20 against India on Australia Day next year, with Cricket Australia announcing its international and domestic schedule for the 2015-16 season.Australia 2015-16 at home

v NEW ZEALAND
Nov 5-9 1st Test, Brisbane
Nov 13-17 2nd Test, Perth
Nov 27-Dec 1 3rd Test, Adelaide

v WEST INDIES
Dec 10-14 1st Test, Hobart
Dec 26-30 2nd Test, Melbourne
Jan 3-7 3rd Test, Sydney

v INDIA
Jan 12 1st ODI, Perth
Jan 15 2nd ODI, Brisbane
Jan 17 3rd ODI, Melbourne
Jan 20 4th ODI, Canberra
Jan 23 5th ODI, Sydney
Jan 26 1st T20, Adelaide
Jan 29 2nd T20, Melbourne
Jan 31 3rd T20, Sydney

New Zealand will kick off the international summer with the first Test in Brisbane and the second in Perth before the day-night encounter in Adelaide. That will be followed by another three-Test series, with Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney hosting West Indies in December and January.India will then travel to Australia for a series of five ODIs in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. India will also play three T20s in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, where the SCG will host its first T20 international since February 2010, as part of a new seven-year agreement between CA, Cricket New South Wales and the SCG Trust that will see the SCG play host to all international cricket in the state from this summer.Australia Women will also take on India Women in three ODIs and three T20s during the same period as the men. The T20s will be played as double-headers prior to the men’s matches and will be broadcast live.The Sheffield Shield will be taken outside Australia for the first time with a match between New South Wales and Western Australia to be played in Lincoln, New Zealand. The match will be used as preparation by the Test side for the return series in New Zealand in February.The first round of the Shield will involve day-night matches in Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart in the last week of October ahead of the day-night Test.Also in February, New South Wales and South Australia will play a Shield match in Coffs Harbour as a tribute to the late Phillip Hughes.The Matador BBQs One-Day Cup will kickstart the domestic season in October and will be played at five grounds in Sydney.The schedules for the Big Bash League, starting on December 17, and the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League, beginning on December 5, will be announced later this week.”The ICC Cricket World Cup was the biggest sporting event in our country since the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000,” said Mike McKenna, the CA executive general manager of operations.”Many Australians come from non-cricketing cultures and the World Cup was a great chance for the game to showcase itself and earn new fans from all parts of our increasingly diverse community.”We want to build on this great momentum. Following the World Cup, we are determined that local Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Sri Lankan and other overseas-born fans who packed Australia’s grounds with good-humoured noise and colour are able to maintain their passion for cricket as part of their adopted Australian lifestyles.”This summer promises to be another history-making season for cricket in Australia. Test cricket will be played in every state including an inaugural day-night Test match between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide, a step designed to make following the cricket much easier for fans to attend the game or watch on television.”

Pakistan tried to sink their teeth into the target and suddenly found it was more than they could chew. The top three fell early, but Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal buckled down and took Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory against UAE in Mirpur

The Report by Alagappan Muthu in Mirpur29-Feb-2016 by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:08

100 T20Is for Pakistan

UAE’s decision to bat seemed a bit like someone doing away with the veggies so they could get to the meat quicker. All their captain Amjad Javed hoped for was “120 to 130” runs; they got 129. Pakistan tried to sink their teeth into the target and suddenly found it was more than they could chew. The top three fell by the time the fourth over of the chase began, but Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal buckled down and took Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory in Mirpur.While that margin indicates it was all hunky dory, Javed’s new-ball burst and the way he could rally his team together had given UAE a strong chance to record their first victory against a Full Member. He took three wickets off his first seven balls to make his team believe, and then made sure they did not waver by slinging his arm around every one of his bowlers while he was at the top of his run-up and clapping his hands until they stung.Pakistan were 17 for 3 when Akmal and Malik got together. They recognised the momentum was with UAE, but knew they could turn it around. They just had to bide their time, to keep their wickets intact and take the chase deep so that the ball wouldn’t be swinging and their experience could trump UAE’s adrenaline. The first boundary of their fourth-wicket partnership came off the 15th ball and the next one came off the 31st but overhauling a target of 130 doesn’t take pyrotechnics. Just patience.There was a moment when UAE could have stormed back. With 40 runs to win from 26 balls, Malik dragged a Mohammad Shahzad bouncer from outside off and the resulting top-edge seemed destined for deep square leg’s hands but Usman Mushtaq, who was brought into the XI in place of Saqlain Haider, dropped it. Malik reached his fifty with a four and a six off the next two balls he faced and along with Akmal sealed Pakistan’s victory with their unbeaten 114-run partnership.Javed was in uproar when the catch went down. He could have had a match-winning three-wicket haul after all. He dismissed Sharjeel Khan lbw, but replays showed the ball would have climbed over the stumps. Two balls later, Khurram Manzoor was caught behind playing an unwise cut against a rising ball that didn’t give him the requisite room to free his arms.Javed’s final wicket of the night though came about because of the room he offered to the batsman. Mohammad Hafeez thought he had an easy put away through the covers but failed to keep his drive down much to the glee of one of UAE’s best fielder Fahad Tariq. The one over he saved for the death turned out to be dreadful as Malik and Akmal caned 23 off it to pull ahead.That Pakistan would need to huff and puff a bit had not seemed likely when they had UAE at 12 for 3 in four overs. Mohammad Amir was in the thick of things again, bowling a first over that went for only one run and following up with a second that had five dot balls and an indipper that squeezed through Muhammad Kaleem’s limp defences. At the other end, Mohammad Sami made Rohan Mustafa pay for driving on the up by summoning some extra bounce. The batsman spooned a simple catch to mid-off and extra bounce from the seven-foot tall Mohammad Irfan accounted for Mohammad Shahzad.Pakistan were barely at full throttle. They even rested their fastest bowler Wahab Riaz to give left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz an international debut. But the rest stacked enough balls around middle and off stump to capitalise on the batsmen’s mistakes.Shaiman Anwar stuck it out for 46 off 42 balls, but he may have been helped by Pakistan resorting to spin soon after the Powerplay. Shahid Afridi brought himself on, at the other end came Nawaz and UAE found some relief. They were 20 for 3 and going nowhere, but seven overs of slow bowling got them to 70 for 4. Anwar even took Afridi for a hat-trick of fours – a cut right through the point fielder, a beautiful loft over extra cover and a superbly-timed sweep. Lucky over 13 yielded 17 runs, the most UAE have scored in one over against a Full Member in T20Is.There had been plenty of plays and misses because the UAE batsmen had not faced quick bowlers of this quality. At the 2015 World Cup, then captain Mohammad Tauqir had been shocked at the South Africa quicks roughing up their batsmen with bouncers. Here too, the company of Amir, Irfan and Sami were outclassing them. Amir had 21 dot balls out of 24, Irfan and Sami had 15 apiece.Still, UAE went down swinging in their death overs as edges and mis-hits flew to the boundary to get a total that gave them a chance. But once again, they couldn’t seal the deal and are now out of the Asia Cup.

Bowling coach Chaminda Vaas believes that Sri Lanka’s pace quintet can thrive in New Zealand conditions

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Dec-2014Somehow, Sri Lanka snuck them through customs. No part of their convoy was delayed or detained. Not even New Zealand’s biosecurity officers – a more fastidious breed than most – were wise to their transit. As of Tuesday afternoon, all five specimens had arrived intact in Christchurch ahead of the first Test.Though their official names are long and unpronounceable to most in the country, their wrangler, Chaminda Vaas, believes they can thrive in these conditions. They hope to do as well as the other invasive breeds to make New Zealand’s shores. Like the possum or the European rabbit, Sri Lanka’s pace quintet of Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera are well-placed to raise hell when set loose, Vaas said.”All five seamers on tour have a lot of ability,” he said. “It’s very rare that we get five guys together who can all bowl 140kph. The conditions in New Zealand are great for quicks, and as a seamer you are overjoyed when you see tracks like what you have here, because you don’t get that in Sri Lanka. The pitches give you swing, and then if you bowl well, you can trap batsmen.”Vaas knows plenty about prospering in New Zealand. Of the nations he played in, he was most efficient in New Zealand, taking 36 wickets at an average of 22.55. Sixteen of those scalps came in 1995, when Vaas led Sri Lanka to their first-ever away series win, and as on that tour, he was largely the sole seam threat through his career. With a core cordon of quicks of roughly equivalent age and ability now having developed, the new group has an opportunity to become the best pace attack Sri Lanka have fielded, he said.”Being a fast bowler is all about learning and adding to your game. We share a lot among the group, and that’s when we develop together. What I try to tell the guys is to think about how you can be better than the other bowlers. That’s not to encourage jealousy or disunity – but to try and help us as a group to raise our standards. You have to be thinking that when someone else gets five wickets, you also want to get five. When you have that mentality and that competition, it’s easier to get wickets on any pitch.”They all have a responsibility to look after themselves, in terms of diet and discipline, because the demands of the international game are high. Their fitness has to be at an optimum level all the time, and their mental approach has to be the same. That’s what they need to do to get the best out of themselves, and the rest is up to their ability and the conditions.”Sri Lanka have been reliant on Rangana Herath’s left-arm spin since Muttiah Muralitharan’s retirement, but have this year begun to bank on their quicks as well. Their three overseas Test wins in 2014 – in Dubai, Dhaka and Leeds, have all been largely forged by the quicks. With the exception of uncapped Chameera, each of the other fast bowlers have played key roles in Sri Lanka’s recent Test successes.”In England we didn’t have Suranga, and now that he is back, it is a big strength,” Vaas said. “After Lasith Malinga, he is the guy who is in a similar place. His rhythm is excellent, and the other bowlers have something to learn from him.”Control and modest movement have been the Sri Lanka quicks’ hallmarks this year, but Prasad’s inclusion for the Headingley Test injected some hit-the-deck intensity that paid dividends on the fourth afternoon when he claimed four top-order wickets in one spell to set up that victory. No fast bowler in the attack has yet played more than 21 Tests, but Sri Lanka pose a varied threat nonetheless, Vaas said.”Suranga gets swing at pace and is a wicket-taking threat all the time. Eranga is very similar. None of these bowlers are very experienced, which is why it’s imperative that they improve every time they play. Dhammika Prasad has been in the team for a while, but he has only recently been able to play at a stretch because of his injuries. Thankfully he has been able to get his body 100%, and is at a very good fitness level.”They all have minor differences, but in key criteria, they are the same: they all bowl 140, they can all do something with the ball, and they have good control. Dhammika is a little different, because he hits the deck and then gets movement, while Suranga and Eranga move it more in the air.”Chameera, 22, took 3 for 13 in the warm-up match on a Queenstown greentop, but is unlikely to be in the XI on Boxing Day. Described by some coaches as the quickest young bowler in Sri Lanka’s domestic circuit, Vaas believed him to be an outstanding prospect.”He’s very talented and quite raw. Even though he doesn’t have much experience, he bowled very well in the last match. In a year, I trust he will be able to hit that 150kph mark. He just needs to take good care of his body, his rest, his diet and his mental approach.”

It was a weekend of rivalries as Arsenal hosted Spurs while Chelsea got one over Manchester City in a fixture that's often decided titles.

What better way to kick off a weekend of Women's Super League action than with a record-breaking attendance at the north London derby.

Arsenal defeated Tottenham in front of more than 47,000 people at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon, with the hosts' 4-0 victory setting the tone for a thrilling set of fixtures that saw a number of other rivals go head to head.

Indeed, there were goals and talking points aplenty as Anfield was stunned in the Merseyside derby and Chelsea bounced back from a loss to newly-promoted Liverpool with a win over old foes Manchester City.

So, who were this week's winners and losers? GOAL takes a look below…

GettyWinner: Maya Le Tissier

Could this week be the week that Maya Le Tissier gets her first senior England call-up?

On Tuesday, Sarina Wiegman will announce her Lionesses squad – to take on the U.S. women's national team and Czech Republic in October – but even if the Manchester United defender isn't in it, it won't be long until she is.

After signing from Brighton this past summer, the 20-year-old, who ranked at No.7 in GOAL's 2021 NXGN list, has started life in the north west in sublime form.

On Sunday, she was part of a United team that kept another clean sheet, but it's not just her defending that has stood out. After two rounds, nobody in the league has completed more passes than Le Tissier, who racked up a fine assist for Lucia Garcia in the weekend's 2-0 win at West Ham.

She's composed, excellent on the ball and wise beyond her years already – and time is well on her side.

AdvertisementGettyLoser: Steph Houghton

Steph Houghton had a tough summer.

The long-time England captain wasn't included in Wiegman's squad for the Euros that would end in the Lionesses' first ever major tournament triumph, with her "just not ready to compete" in the coach's eyes after being sidelined with an Achilles injury from January until the end of the season.

Now, she faces a real battle to get back into the national team picture. With Wiegman in the stands as City visited Chelsea, it was a great opportunity for Houghton to show what she could do. However, while City played a lot better this time out compared to last week's defeat to Aston Villa, they still suffered a 2-0 defeat.

Houghton didn't play badly overall, but there were two moments in particular from the defender that were hard to ignore: an under-hit back-pass that led to a great chance for Sam Kerr, and poor defending for the Blues' first goal.

There is a lot of football for the 34-year-old to play before next summer's World Cup and a lot of chances for her to show her quality – quality that made her one of the league's best centre-backs the season before that injury lay-off.

However, with players like Le Tissier also knocking on the door for England, getting back into that squad is going to become an increasingly tricky task.

GettyWinner: Caitlin Foord

Caitlin Foord is a player who does not get her dues.

On Saturday, Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall picked the Australian to lead the line of his attack in the north London derby and she was absolutely superb – arguably the best player on the pitch.

Her movement both in and out of possession is intelligent, her technical ability is wonderful and her creativity comes in such great variety, too.

Foord has two assists in two games so far in this WSL season and had a huge impact off the bench in the draw with Ajax in last week's Champions League game, as Arsenal turned things around after a poor start.

Any team will always be better with a player like her in it – and that was certainly showcased on Saturday.

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GettyLoser: Kelly Chambers

It's two defeats in two weeks for Kelly Chambers' Reading, the only team in the WSL not connected to a Premier League club, and the coach had plenty of reasons to feel aggrieved about their latest loss.

Deanna Cooper headed the Royals in front against Brighton, but the assistant raised her flag for offside despite the goal-scorer being several yards on.

Given Chambers had also been frustrated with the officiating in the opening-weekend loss to United, so it was hardly surprising that she didn't hold back in her post-match interview.

“We’re disappointed to not come away with anything today as I think the referees have cost us the game," Chambers said after the 2-0 defeat to Brighton. "If this is not addressed, it’s going to start costing managers jobs."

Sadly, just two weeks into the season, officiating is under the microscope again in a league where referees are not full-time and there is no VAR.

Ravindra Jadeja has said batting with aggression was his best chance to score runs in the Lord’s Test

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jul-2014Ravindra Jadeja has said batting with aggression was his best chance to score runs in the Lord’s Test. Jadeja came to the crease with India in a tricky position but smashed his way to a 57-ball 68 – his first Test half-century – that tilted the scales firmly in India’s favour.Jadeja had scored 25 and 31 runs in the first Test in Nottingham using two different methods: while he dashed away in the first innings, hitting two sixes in his 24-ball stay, he appeared uncomfortable during the 98-ball 31 in the second innings. He scored only 3 in the first innings at Lord’s.”I started thinking how I was going to play today and decided that the best way for me is to play my game,” Jadeja told . “If I play any differently I won’t get runs. So I decided that irrespective of the situation I will back myself and go for my shots. That’s the only way I can score runs. When I went in to bat, the team also needed runs.”India had been reduced to 235 for 7, with a lead of 211 soon after the new ball was taken, but Jadeja’s counterattack surprised the England bowlers. Sixty-five runs were scored in the first eight overs after lunch with the new ball. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had two fifties in the first Test, continued his good form and stuck around with Jadeja as the two added 99 runs for the eight wicket.”The good thing about our partnership was that both of us were scoring runs fluently and so we didn’t let them build pressure from one end,” he said. “Bhuvi is in very good form and all his four innings so far have been very important for the team and personally for him. We hope that he continues to score runs throughout the series.”The elaborate celebration – the twirl of the bat – after Jadeja reached his fifty signified the importance of the innings. Jadeja explained later: “It has got to do with a tradition that we have among the Rajpoots. During festivals and special occasions, we have professional sword-fighters perform with a sword in each hand, moving them in that fashion. It’s called . I only had one bat with me so I did it with one hand. I wanted to have a different celebration and so I had decided whenever I get a fifty, I will do that. MS must have seen it and realized what I was doing. So, he was mimicking me.”The pitch, having roughened up, also afforded sharp turn and variable bounce, forcing MS Dhoni to use Jadeja for 16 out of the 46 overs India bowled on the fourth day. With a few scooting along the floor, Dhoni chose to stand further away from the stumps while keeping to Jadeja. “It was because of the foot marks, it was very difficult for the left-hander, as the odd ball was taking off, a few kept low and some turned square,” he said.”We thought it would be a good idea for the keeper to stand back because in case there was a nick, it would be an easy catch for him standing back. And that’s exactly what happened in the second last over but then MS was standing up to the stumps.”