Cahill scores extra-time winner to keep Australia alive

SYDNEY: Tim Cahill scored twice, including the extra-time winner, as Australia kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Syria in the second leg of the Asian playoff on Tuesday.

The 3-2 aggregate victory sent the Socceroos into an intercontinental playoff in November against the fourth-placed team in North and Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) qualifying with a World Cup spot on the line.Cahill scored Australia’s opener with a trademark header in the 13th minute but it was not until 96 minutes later that he kept his country on course for a fourth successive appearance at the World Cup finals with his 50th international goal.

Syria made the perfect start when Omar Al Somah scored in the sixth minute to cancel out Australia’s away-goal advantage from the 1-1 first-leg draw but the war-torn nation’s dreams of securing a maiden World Cup appearance were dashed.

Comments

India recall pacemen Umesh and Shami for Australia ODIs

MUMBAI: India have recalled fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav for the first three one-day internationals against Australia while they continue to rest their frontline spinners. Yadav and Shami were part of the test squad which blanked Sri Lanka 3-0 but were rested from the subsequent five-match ODI series, which the tourists also swept.Fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who played two matches in the series and took a single wicket, was dropped from the 16-man squad for the series against Australia. The hosts will, however, continue to be without off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja for the first three of five matches against Steve Smith’s side. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will be India’s spinners as the Virat Kohli-led side continues to build toward the 50-over World Cup in 2019 in England and Wales. “The team for the three ODIs against Australia has been selected in line with the rotation policy of the Board and ac...

United frustrate Liverpool in disappointing derby

LIVERPOOL: A cautious Manchester United frustrated hosts Liverpool as a lacklustre North-West Premier League derby ended 0-0 on Saturday with neither side able to find the creative touch. The draw leaves United alone at the top of the table on 20 points although Manchester City, who are now a point behind, can regain first place when they host Stoke City later on Saturday.Those hoping for a classic blood-and-thunder clash of the two most successful clubs in English football were probably being overly optimistic but few would have predicted such an uninspiring 90 minutes at Anfield. United manager Jose Mourinho’s team selection suggested that, as last season, he would adopt a cautious approach to taking on Juergen Klopp’s side. Instead of Spanish craftsman Juan Mata on the right, the more defensively diligent Ashley Young started in the role and Marcus Rashford, carrying a slight knock from England duty, was left on the bench. With United’s Romelu Lukaku left alone – an...

De Bruyne full of pep from Guardiola tactics at City

LONDON: Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is enjoying playing under manager Pep Guardiola and credits the Spaniard’s tactics for helping him thrive at the Premier League leaders. The Belgian international notched seven league goals and nine assists in 2015 but since Guardiola’s arrival last July, De Bruyne’s impact has risen drastically, with the 26-year-old assisting 21 goals in 36 league games last season. De Bruyne has provided nine assists and scored twice in 16 appearances across all competitions this campaign and the attacking midfielder praised his manager and the club’s successful transfers for improving the unbeaten side. “Since Pep came to the club, he plays a style of football I like to play, so it makes it easy as a player,” De Bruyne told Sky Sports. “I like it here, it is the perfect environment and since I came here there has been a lot of trust in me. I like the project they are doing from the moment I came here. “There was an older team (...

Nepalinews

Search This Blog