分类： sports

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) received a significant boost as Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele was named in the squad for their upcoming Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. The 28-year-old forward has been sidelined for six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty with France in early September. After undergoing rehabilitation at a specialized clinic in Qatar, Dembele resumed training last week and is poised to make his return in Tuesday’s crucial encounter. His comeback is timely for coach Luis Enrique, as PSG has been grappling with a string of injuries this season. Dembele missed PSG’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Strasbourg last Friday but could feature in Germany as the French champions aim to secure their third consecutive victory in the Champions League. Leverkusen’s Loic Bade, Dembele’s compatriot, praised the PSG star as a “complete player” with no apparent weaknesses, emphasizing the need for collective defense to counter his threat. Meanwhile, PSG also welcomed back forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, though midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves remain unavailable. Leverkusen’s new coach, Kasper Hjulmand, acknowledged PSG’s high-energy press as both a “weapon” and a “risk,” expressing confidence in his team’s ability to compete. Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions, have drawn their first two Champions League matches this season and are eager to showcase their quality against the European giants.

The final two spots for the ISSA daCosta Cup Round of 16 are set to be determined on Monday in a rescheduled Group 1 clash between Frome Technical and Kemps Hill High at the Wembley Centre of Excellence. Originally slated to take place at Foga Road High alongside other round of 32 matches, the game was postponed due to a waterlogged field. The match, kicking off at 1:00 pm, holds significant stakes for both teams. Frome Technical, currently joint leaders with Cornwall College on six points, need only a draw to secure their place in the next round. Cornwall College, boasting a formidable 13-1 victory over Cedric Titus High, already has one foot in the third round. Kemps Hill High, with three points, must win to advance, as even a one-goal victory would tie them with Frome Technical on points and goal difference, but they would hold the advantage in tie-breakers due to more goals scored and head-to-head results. Both teams enter the match on the back of strong performances. Frome Technical recently handed Cornwall College their first loss of the season with a 2-1 victory, while Kemps Hill rallied to defeat Cedric Titus 6-4, led by Ricardo Dean’s hat-trick and Shemar Daley’s double. The outcome of this match will finalize the Round of 16 lineup, which already includes 14 teams such as defending champions Garvey Maceo High and other top performers from various groups.

Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, the 20-year-old Chelsea FC winger, has made a remarkable return to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, catching the attention of Head Coach Steve McClaren. After a two-year absence from the national senior men’s team, Richards was called up for the final-round Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, following an injury to winger Demarai Gray. Despite missing the team’s final training session before the October 10 game against Curacao, Richards made a lively 82nd-minute substitute appearance in the 0-2 defeat. He further impressed during the October 14 match against Bermuda, where his nifty footwork, incisive passing, and a brilliant solo goal in the 76th minute contributed to a 4-0 victory. McClaren revealed that Richards had been on the coaching staff’s radar for a year, with Chelsea closely monitoring his recovery from ACL surgery. “We’ve seen his quality in training and his cameo performances,” McClaren said. “He’s a significant addition to the squad.” Ludlow Bernard, a former coach of Richards’ youth teams, praised the young player’s talent and impact, emphasizing his potential to play a crucial role in Jamaica’s World Cup Qualifying campaign. Richards, who has yet to play first-team football at Chelsea, has scored twice in six appearances for the club’s Under-21 team this season. Despite this, Bernard believes his talent warrants a permanent spot in the national team. McClaren hinted that Richards could feature in Jamaica’s decisive qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao in November. Jamaica currently leads Group B with nine points, positioning them strongly for automatic qualification to the Fifa World Cup.

The Jamaica Premier League (JPL) is set for a thrilling top-of-the-table clash as leaders Montego Bay United (MBU) take on the unbeaten Racing United at the Montego Bay Sports Complex tonight at 7:00 pm. With just four points separating the two teams, the stakes are high. MBU currently leads with 19 points from eight games, while Racing United, tied with Portmore United at 15 points, has played one fewer game. The encounter promises to be a test of skill and strategy as both teams aim to solidify their positions in the league standings. Racing United, in their second JPL season, has yet to score against MBU in their three previous meetings, losing twice and drawing once. However, with 14 goals scored this season, they are second only to MBU in offensive prowess. MBU, returning home after consecutive away victories, will look to break through Racing’s defense, which has not conceded a goal in four games. Key players like Jourdain Fletcher, Dwight Merrick, and Jahmari Clarke will be crucial for MBU, while Racing’s Giovanni Cunningham and Tajay Grant aim to extend their unbeaten streak. Earlier in the day, the league’s double-header at Drewsland will see defending champions Cavalier SC face Spanish Town Police at 3:00 pm, followed by Waterhouse FC hosting Dunbeholden United at 5:30 pm. At Turner’s Oval, Chapelton Maroons and Molynes United will battle at 3:00 pm, with both teams desperate for a win. The weekend’s fixtures will conclude with Monday’s games featuring Portmore United vs Harbour View FC and Arnett Gardens FC vs Tivoli Gardens FC. As the JPL season progresses, these matches could significantly shape the league’s standings and set the tone for the remainder of the competition.

In a thrilling display of spin bowling, Rishad Hossain led Bangladesh to a commanding 74-run victory over the West Indies in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday. Hossain’s career-best figures of 6-35 dismantled the West Indies’ batting lineup, restricting them to 133 in 39 overs while chasing Bangladesh’s total of 207. The West Indies, despite a promising start from openers Brandon King (44) and Alick Athanaze (27), crumbled under Hossain’s relentless spin. Earlier, Bangladesh’s batting effort was anchored by Towhid Hridoy’s 51 and crucial contributions from Najmul Hossain Shanto (32) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (46). Jayden Seales (3-48) was the standout bowler for the West Indies, but their decision to field first after winning the toss backfired. Bangladesh now leads the three-match series 1-0, with the second ODI set for Tuesday.

The ISSA Wata Manning Cup has reached a pivotal stage as the round of 16 teams have been determined following a series of intense matches on Saturday. Defending champions Kingston College (KC) experienced their first setback of the season, settling for a 0-0 draw against Tivoli Gardens High School. Despite this, KC secured the top spot in Zone B with 28 points, while Tivoli Gardens claimed second place with 21 points. Meanwhile, Charlie Smith clinched third place in Zone B with an 18-point tally after a narrow 2-1 victory over Haile Selassie High, who finished fourth with 14 points and missed the cut for the next round. In Zone A, St George’s College edged out Hydel High in a thrilling 4-3 encounter, securing second place with 21 points. Hydel, despite their fourth defeat, advanced as the best fourth-placed team with 16 points. Excelsior High emerged as Zone A leaders with 24 points after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with St Jago High, who slipped to third but still progressed. In Zone D, St Catherine High maintained a flawless record with 10 wins from 10 games, finishing top with 30 points after a 1-0 victory over Eltham High, who secured second place with 24 points. Campion College, third in Zone D, also advanced. The round of 16 has been divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Group 1 features Excelsior High, Tivoli Gardens, St Andrew Technical High, and Wolmer’s Boys. Group 2 includes KC, Calabar, Campion, and Hydel. Group 3 comprises St Catherine High, St George’s College, Charlie Smith, and Vauxhall High. Group 4, arguably the toughest, pits Mona High, Jamaica College, Eltham High, and St Jago against each other. The round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday, October 21, promising exciting matchups.