MatériaMais Notícias

Os jogadores do Botafogo tiveram uma injeção de ânimo antes da vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Bangu no último domingo, pela 2ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca, no Estádio Nilton Santos. Edy Carlos Soares, preparador físico do clube, fez um discurso para levantar a moral do elenco antes da bola rolar.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo abre venda de ingressos para jogo contra o Madureira; veja preços e como comprarBotafogo31/01/2022BotafogoBreno comemora estreia no Botafogo, mas não quer parar por aí: ‘Nada de acomodar’Botafogo31/01/2022BotafogoReforço para a temporada, Breno se destaca em estreia pelo BotafogoBotafogo31/01/2022

+ Botafogo não se resolve internamente, e negociações com Elkeson ficam travadas

–Sabe qual é a diferença dos meninos do Bangu para nós aqui? Eles estão olhando pra cá querendo o nosso lugar. O f* é que quando a gente tá lá a gente come grama e quando vem pra cá acha que não precisa mais comer grama, isso que é f*. Esses caras queriam estar no lugar de vocês – afirmou, como divulgado em vídeo da “BotafogoTV”.

Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

Edy Carlos usou casos de Erison, que estava no Brasil de Pelotas no ano passado, Raí, destaque do Alvinegro na última Copinha e fez a estreia no time principal, e Felipe Ferreira, que recebeu um voto de confiança de Enderson na equipe titular – e, inclusive, fez um gol.

Erison
–Cadê o Erison? Tava no Brasil jogando contra a gente e deu trabalho para c*, não deu? Você estar aqui não queria, Erison? Qualquer um de vocês que subiram agora da base queria estar aqui, vocês lutam pra isso. Não é isso, Juninho? Tem que chegar aqui e não fazer menos do que você já faz, tem que ser f*.

Raí
–Raí você foi destaque da Copa São Paulo, não foi? Você tem que ser destaque aqui, é isso que vai mudar sua vida. Você tem que entrar aqui e f*-se quem está do lado de lá, não interessa. Tem que entrar aqui e fazer o seu melhor.

Felipe Ferreira
–Você está tendo uma oportunidade que você nunca teve com a gente. E você trabalha pra c*, se dedica pra c*.. F*-se o que está falando lá fora, entra aqui e dá seu sangue, os seus companheiros estão dando o sangue e vão jogar por você. Esse grupo é diferente.

O Botafogo volta aos gramados na próxima quinta-feira para enfrentar o Madureira no Estádio Nilton Santos às 18h, pela 3ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca.

Mikel Arteta has utterly transformed Arsenal during his time in the hot seat.

When he took over, the Gunners were an aimless side drifting towards mid-table mediocrity, but five years later, they’re contesting their third Premier League title race on the bounce.

It’s not just through the Spaniard’s tactical nous, leadership and man management that he’s turned the North Londoners around, but also his recruitment.

Alongside Edu Gaspar, he’s overseen the signing of several sensational talents in recent years, such as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, but his best acquisition so far has been Martin Odegaard. However, in another world, it might not have even happened, as before the Norwegian joined on a permanent deal, the club were keen on another talented midfielder.

Odegaard's Arsenal career

Odegaard first joined Arsenal on a six-month loan from Real Madrid in January 2021, and while he didn’t blow the roof off the Emirates in those six months, in which he racked up four goals and assists in 20 appearances, he did enough to impress Arteta and Co, who proceeded to spend £30m on him that summer.

Since then, the 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength in North London, making a total of 156 appearances for the club, in which he has scored 35 goals and provided 25 assists, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.6 games.

On top of producing a regular supply of goal involvements and doing things with the ball at his feet that few other players could even dream of, the Drammen-born maestro has become one of the core leaders of the team and was named club captain in July 2022 at just 23 years old.

Odegaard’s importance to the team has been made even more explicit this season, as following an injury he suffered on international duty in September, the Gunners have looked far less creative in games and have struggled to break down opposition sides in a way they didn’t last year.

Overall, it’s hard to imagine where Arsenal would be today without Odegaard, so it’s good that Arteta and Edu signed him over a talented England international they were interested in during the summer of 2021.

Arsenal's interest in James Maddison

Yes, the English midfielder in question is none other than Tottenham Hotspur co-vice-captain James Maddison.

However, two years before he joined the white side of North London, it was Arsenal who were most interested in his services, with a report from Sky Sports confirming that the Gunners were keen to sign him a few weeks before they eventually bought Odegaard.

With the Norwegian through the door, Arteta and Co understandably turned their attentions to other areas of the team, and the Leicester City star remained in the midlands for another two seasons, where, following the Foxes’ relegation in 22/23, he moved to N17 for a fee of around £40m.

However, while the “incredible” midfielder, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, had just scored ten goals and provided nine assists for a recently relegated team, he failed to have the same impact in North London and ended his debut season for the Lilywhites with a middling tally of four goals and nine assists in 28 league games.

In contrast, Arteta’s dynamic captain had just enjoyed another stellar season down the Seven Sisters Road, in which he scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 35 league games and came within just two points of lifting the title.

Appearances

28

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

In his defence, Maddison has looked bright in moments this season and has a haul of two goals and three assists in nine games, but he was also hooked at halftime against West Ham United and looked bereft of ideas in the defeat to Crystal Palace last week.

Ultimately, both midfielders are undeniably talented and can change games in a moment, but if you were to ask Arsenal fans if they’d rather have Odegaard at the club or Maddison, you’d be hard-pressed to find many who’d pick the latter.

The Norwegian has shown that he can do everything the Englishman can but also adds leadership and consistency to the mix, so it was a great decision from Arteta and Edu in 2021 to sign him over the Leicester star.

Arsenal wanted to sign Spurs "freak" before his move but got Timber instead

The talented international would have made quite the impact at Arsenal

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2024

A report this week has shared what “several” senior West Ham United stars are all feeling about manager Julen Lopetegui right now, with pressure truly on the Spaniard after an uninspired start to 2024/2025.

Lopetegui facing sack calls as West Ham look at other managers

The Hammers sit 14th in the Premier League table and have won just three of their opening 10 top-flight matches, leading to suggestions that Lopetegui may not be the right man to replace David Moyes.

Darren Bent says big-name could replace Julen Lopetegui at West Ham

The Spaniard’s position is increasingly fragile.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 5, 2024

The ex-Real Madrid and Spain boss has been slammed for his tactics, consistent selection of certain out-of-form players like Guido Rodriguez and all-round approach to games, with West Ham even branded a “complete mess” under the tactician.

If results, performances and unrest continue in this fashion, Lopetegui faces becoming the next top-flight manager to be sacked after Erik ten Hag – who was ironically given his P45 after defeat at West Ham nearly two weeks ago.

While reports suggest David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten are eager to give the 58-year-old more time to transform the club’s fortunes, it is also believed that West Ham have sounded out potential Lopetegui replacements, like former FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#12

02/11/2024

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#11

27/10/2024

Man United (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

#10

19/10/2024

Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

#9

05/10/2024

Ipswich (H)

Premier League

4-1 win

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

The Irons are doing internal groundwork on possible alternative options, in the event they decide to part ways with Lopetegui, and Conceicao is one of a few names under consideration.

“Sergio Conceicao is one name on West Ham’s radar,” said journalist Graeme Bailey to Hammers News recently.

“He is being looked at by a lot of clubs. Sullivan is not ready to accept yet that bringing Lopetegui in was a mistake.

“But, still, work is being done within the club to assess potential alternatives should Lopetegui fail to steer West Ham back on course. And one of the names that has come up in discussions is that of Conceicao.”

What several West Ham stars are thinking about Lopetegui right now

This week, broadcast giant talkSPORT have also backed West Ham’s links to the Portuguese, who clinched Manager of the Year three times in his homeland and won trophies galore during his time in the Primeira Liga.

They have also shared what “several” senior West Ham players are feeling about Lopetegui right now.

Indeed, it is believed all of them are disenchanted by the former Sevilla boss, and not fully on board with his methodology, which makes for grim reading, considering unity and a collective belief in the project is key for any side to perform well.

Next up for West Ham is a clash against Everton at the London Stadium, who are also struggling for consistent form under Sean Dyche, so this represents a significant opportunity for Lopetegui to get fans back on side with a convincing display.

Ipswich Town now finds themselves winless in eight in the Premier League, with displays starting to raise concerns amongst the Portman Road masses.

The Tractor Boys were arguably victims of their own downfall versus Everton last time out, as errors in defence allowed the Toffees to eventually breeze to a 2-0 win, but Kieran McKenna’s side did register 13 shots of their own in Suffolk to further frustrate the home faithful.

Liam Delap was arguably quiet against Sean Dyche’s men, with the former Manchester City wonderkid one that has to usually be playing to the top of his game for Ipswich to salvage something.

Delap's form this season

That has been the case this campaign in many games when Ipswich could have folded under the weight of playing a team placed higher up the division, with Delap firing home two strikes against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the start of the month to help his team pick up a hard fought 2-2 draw.

In total, the 21-year-old striker has four goals from eight league games donning Ipswich blue, but wasn’t at the races last time out as his team fell to a disappointing 2-0 loss.

Not one to regularly involve himself in play, with Delap thriving more as a poacher alert to a sniff of a chance, the ex-Man City forward failed to register a single on-target effort on Jordan Pickford’s goal versus Everton, which made his lack of touches feel more obvious consequently.

Delap would only amass 29 touches of the ball and complete eight accurate passes, away from uncharacteristically fluffing his lines with shots on goal, as McKenna then hooked him off late on for returning attacker George Hirst to get a run-out.

Still, goals like this breakaway strike managed against Villa will keep him firmly in his manager’s good books for the time being.

Amazingly, despite Delap’s electric start to life in Suffolk minus his off-day versus Everton, there is an ex-Ipswich attacker actually bettering his numbers currently playing in the EFL.

The player outscoring Delap

That player is one-time Tractor Boys loanee Louie Barry, who many with connections to the Premier League underdogs will have forgotten was even on the Ipswich roster once upon a time.

The Aston Villa youngster would only go to make a forgettable six appearances on loan, with just one league start afforded to him during the 2021-22 season when Ipswich languished all the way down in League One.

Barry’s L1 numbers for Stockport (24/25)
Stat – per 90 mins*	Barry
Games played	10
Goals scored	6
Assists	0
Goals*	0.6
Shots*	3.1
Shots on target*	1.5
Scoring frequency	124 mins
Stats by Sofascore

It’s fair to say his loan stint with Stockport County this season – which is his second spell at the club after guiding the Hatters to promotion up to League One last campaign – is going far better than his unmemorable stay at Portman Road, with a stunning six goals tallied up from ten league clashes.

Constantly wanting to get himself involved in play as a daring attacking option down the wings, who can even lead the line as seen last match versus Charlton Athletic when he found the back of the net as a striker, Barry is now very much living up to his “incredible” label which was handed to him by Arsenal star Declan Rice back in 2021.

That was of course in reference to Barry netting for Villa in the FA Cup versus Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, but that same unerring composure under pressure to finish off chances has been seen in the third tier, with the 21-year-old reaffirming his status as a major fan’s favourite at Edgeley Park this campaign to date.

He is even outscoring Delap based on his heroics in the lower reaches of the EFL, with Ipswich left to now contemplate whether they could have got more out of the tricky attacker when he was temporarily at the club.

McKenna must drop Ipswich man who made 12 passes

Ipswich Town struggled against Everton as their winless streak in the Premier League goes on.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 20, 2024

Despite the constraints of FFP and PSR, Newcastle spent a sizeable £124m in the 2023/24 season, signing four players on permanent deals, and one player on a season-long loan.

The Magpies also let go of Allan Saint-Maximin and Chris Wood to recoup some of their money, bringing in around £23m for Saint-Maximin and around £15m for Wood, who is now smashing it at Nottingham Forest with eight goals in 11 games this season.

Player

Fee (£)

Sandro Tonali

£55m

Harvey Barnes

£36.7m

Tino Livramento

£31m

Yankuba Minteh

£6.6m

Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento, and Yankuba Minteh were three of the permanent signings, but the biggest signing of the summer was Sandro Tonali, who signed from AC Milan for around £55m.

Sandro Tonali's time at Newcastle

Before joining Newcastle, Tonali racked up 130 appearances for AC Milan in Italy, scoring seven goals and providing 13 assists in 9,158 minutes played.

Tonali is a highly-rated midfielder, who specialises in ball carrying in central areas, has a long passing range, and can win his duels going box to box in the middle of the park.

The Italian was out for the majority of last season through a betting suspension but has returned to the Newcastle starting XI as of late, making 11 appearances and, providing two assists in 562 minutes.

Tonali scored this week for Italy in their 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Nations League, keeping them top of Group 2 in League A.

But, Newcastle may have a midfielder even better than Tonali coming through their own ranks, and he also made his Newcastle debut in 2023, like the Italian.

Newcastle's £100m man in the making

Lewis Miley came through Newcastle’s academy system, making his Premier League debut in May 2023. The 18-year-old has gone on to make 28 appearances in his short career thus far, scoring one goal and providing four assists in 1,744 minutes.

The young English midfielder is already valued at around £18m at just 18-years-old, and that has risen from a value of just £2m in the past 12 months, according to Transfermarkt. If Miley continues on this meteoric rise, there is no reason he cannot reach the same value as some of the finest English midfielders around.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Take Declan Rice, for instance. Like Miley, he made his first-team bow at West Ham at a young age before being purchased for over £100m by Arsenal. The reason? Well, he’s a damn fine player but being English certainly helped his cause too.

Miley, whose tall 6 foot 2 frame makes him a strong duel winner, which is shown by his defensive metrics. Last term, he actually made 2.35 tackles per 90, and 1.63 blocks per 90, which was more than both Rice and Tonali managed.

Goals + Assists

0.26

0.13

0.34

Progressive Carries

0.98

2.39

2.23

Progressive Passes

3.79

3.73

7.75

Shots Total

0.72

0.79

1.35

Key Passes

0.98

1.19

1.21

Passes into Pen Area

0.85

0.75

0.96

Shot-Creating Actions

2.16

2.24

2.48

Tackles

2.35

1.19

2.17

Blocks

1.63

0.60

1.07

Interceptions

0.67

0.53

1.22

The youngster has a good engine, allowing him to go box-to-box efficiently in a similar manner to Rice, impacting all phases for his side, a key trait for midfielders in the modern era.

Whilst the 18-year-old’s progression metrics are slightly worse than Rice and Tonali, he still shows an air of calm on the ball, looking to play through the lines, take the ball in tight spaces, and help in the attacking zones, as shown by his 2.16 shot-creating actions per 90.

With Arsenal’s club-record man eventually commanding a £105m fee by the time he was 24, Miley could well reach that same level, as we have already seen exponential growth from the teenager in the past 12 months.

If those progression numbers begin to improve, and the Toon teenager snatches the spot of Tonali, his value could be set to soar once again. Newcastle are already hoping for £100m for Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon has also been touted at a similar price tag. Next could well be Miley.

Shearer 2.0: Newcastle may have their biggest teen star since Miley

Newcastle could unleash a young striker who’s outscoring Isak this season

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 6, 2024

Hoping to start 2025 with a bang, Newcastle United are reportedly set to battle Tottenham Hotspur to get one particular midfield signing over the line for Eddie Howe and his side.

Newcastle transfer news

Though limited by profit and sustainability rules, Newcastle United simply didn’t reinforce Howe’s squad enough in the summer transfer window. Having spent the entirety of the window on an unsuccessful pursuit to sign Marc Guehi, those at St James’ Park then failed to turn towards a single alternative to leave the Magpies short on options and paying the price ever since.

Without a win in four Premier League games, injuries have piled up in the early stages of the season, with Alexander Isak missing a number of games and Callum Wilson yet to even feature in the current campaign. Also still without Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, Newcastle were forced to turn towards Dan Burn once again to become a makeshift centre-back in what is far from ideal just eight games into the season.

With that said, those in Tyneside simply must get 2025 right as soon as the winter window swings open, which may even see one Championship star arrive. According to GiveMeSport, Newcastle are set to battle Tottenham to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window, whilst Manchester United are plotting a summer move for the midfielder.

Almiron upgrade: Newcastle may have already sold their own Semenyo

Newcastle already sold their own Semenyo in “special” talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 26, 2024

Just 22 years old, Hackney has attracted all the right attention in the Championship and could yet get the big move that he’s earned in 2025. He may have to wait until the summer rather than January, however, with Boro reportedly far from keen to part ways with their star man as early as the winter window to deal Newcastle and Spurs a frustrating blow.

Spurs, of course, signed from the Championship last summer when they welcomed Archie Gray from Leeds United and could repeat that act by signing a second future star in the form of Hackney. Newcastle, meanwhile, will be desperate to steal the headlines in the transfer window for positive reasons this time around all whilst adding depth to their midfield.

"Superb" Hackney would add key depth to Newcastle midfield

Although he is unlikely to become an instant starter ahead of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff – even if the long-term plan is to replace the latter – Hackney would add vital depth to Howe’s midfield. And if the Magpies want to be qualifying and then competing in European football, adding depth to their side is more important than ever.

Hackney should certainly feel ready for a Premier League move too after recently earning the praise of former Middlesbrough and current Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, who said via the Northern Echo: “We were playing against two very good central midfielders. I’ve watched Hayden Hackney from afar, seeing his career flourish.

“There’s no better teacher for him than Michael, and he’ll enjoy the way Middlesbrough play. He’s a super player, and Morris is a good player in there too.”

Sheffield Wednesday are preparing for a huge Championship clash with Sheffield United this weekend, and a big double injury update has emerged in the build-up.

Steel City derby on deck as Owls find form

In midweek, the Owls delivered a much-needed response to their shock 6-2 defeat at home to Watford last Saturday, winning 2-0 against Norwich City at Hillsborough. It leaves Danny Rohl’s side sitting 15th in the table after the latest round of action, with a massive occasion now lying on the horizon with a chance to make it three wins in four league games.

Wednesday face their biggest match of the season so far on Sunday lunchtime, as they make the short trip to Bramall Lane to take on bitter rivals United, with the Blades in second place and looking like strong promotion contenders.

It is the first Steel City derby since back in March 2019, due to the Owls spending time in League One and their adversaries enjoying stints in the Premier League, and the whole of Sheffield is holding its breath ahead of a much-anticipated 90 minutes.

Wednesday are understandably the underdogs going into the game, given the respective league positions of both, and the fact that they are the away side, but Rohl will know that he and his players can etch their names into derby folklore with a win. Ahead of the match, an important injury update has emerged.

Key injury update as Wednesday duo return to training

Speaking in his pre-derby press conference on Friday, Rohl confirmed that Sheffield Wednesday pair Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Ihiekwe are both back on the training pitch again, following respective injury absences.

While neither Chalobah or Ihiekwe are expected to feature for Wednesday this weekend, having them slowly edging towards a return to the pitch is a huge boost, during a relentless season where squad depth is essential as the months pass.

Chalobah hasn’t played a single minute of action in the Championship since securing a summer move to the Owls from West Brom during the summer transfer window, with his only appearance to date coming in the 5-1 win away to Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup.

As for Ihiekwe, having him back feels significant, considering what an important member of Rohl’s defence was during the 2023/24 season, appearing 26 times in the league. He hasn’t featured since late September, however, highlighting why Wednesday will need to ease him back in, rather than rush his return and risk injuring him further.

Related Injury update on "brilliant" Sheffield Wednesday ace before Steel City derby

A relief for the Owls.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 6, 2024

Hopefully, the pair will be close to a first-team return after the international break, using the next week or two to further build their fitness, before being available for the remainder of the campaign.

Some net bowlers are back, but with four coaches in isolation, everyone available has been helping with preparations

Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-2022Low on coaches, low on runs, and low on expectations – England’s Test team has entered 2022 in a pretty grim state but captain Joe Root is clinging to the hope that the turnaround can begin at the SCG, although similar sentiments were expressed last week in Melbourne and things did not go well as they conceded the Ashes by the third Test, inside 12 days of action.With four coaches in isolation – including Chris Silverwood – everyone available has been helping with preparations for the fourth Test. That has included the captain giving throwdowns and the analyst helping with catching practice. There were, at least, some net bowlers available on Monday after the scare the previous day when the entire group had to be removed following a positive Covid-19 test.Related

Covid-19 situation 'a distraction', says Thorpe; Cummins agrees 'it's been really tough' for England

Australia continue hunt for whitewash, England playing for pride and careers

Broad will not take 'spur-of-the-moment calls' on his future

Silverwood now found to be Covid positive

Chappell: England's home strength is under threat

“With the amount of coaches we’ve had missing, it’s made things slightly disjointed and challenging,” Root said. “But it’s an opportunity for us as a group to come tightly together, help each other prepare as well as we can do, and stand up in a bit of adversity and use that in a positive way when we get out there.”We are all feeling for those guys sat in isolation desperately wanting to help us turn things around and we’ve got an opportunity in these two games to do that. We have to make sure we stand up and show we are a better team, which I know we are, than we’ve produced so far on this tour. See that as an opportunity, don’t see it as a heavy burden, see it as a real chance to make some big Test runs, win a game with ball in hand and walk away from the trip with something.”But can the team, with so many batters seemingly low on confidence, really find a way to turn things around after the meek 68 all out on the third morning in Melbourne – albeit an innings that was set back by one of the finest hours of fast bowling you could witness?”You can dwell on what’s happened so far or we can look at the opportunities that present themselves in the immediate future,” Root said. “That can be the making of some sides and the start of something, that’s the approach we’ll have to take.”

“I’ll look at my future beyond this tour at the end of it. Don’t think that’s a distraction that should be around the group or I should be wasting energy on right now”Joe Root on his future as England Test captain

Quite what the XI will look like come Wednesday remains to be seen, but a decision will need to be made over whether there is any benefit in tinkering with the batting again. Bringing Rory Burns back one Test after dropping him would be an odd look but Haseeb Hameed has been picked apart by Australia’s quicks. Dan Lawrence is the one specialist batter yet to be used. Ollie Robinson may have run his race after playing the first three Tests although there have been two extra days to recover.The pitch was well-grassed two days out and showers are forecast throughout the game. England have not adjusted to any of the conditions they have faced in the series although things are unlikely to be as tough for batters here as in Melbourne.”Whatever we’re presented with here in two days we have to make sure we are on the right side of that and make sure we try to wrestle that momentum early on the Test match then drive it home,” Root said.He again refused to be drawn into a discussion on his future as captain. There is a short turnaround to England’s next Test series in the Caribbean during March with the current feeling that it could be Silverwood, who is the first to pay the price for this drubbing and the startling decline in the team’s Test cricket.”I’ll look at my future beyond this tour at the end of it,” Root said. “Don’t think that’s a distraction that should be around the group or I should be wasting energy on right now. I need to make sure I’m throwing everything I can into these next two games, I owe that to this team and the players.”

Sean Abbott produced heroics with bat and ball while also taking a blinder of a catch as Sydney Sixers overcame a horror batting collapse to beat Brisbane Heat off the last ball on a bowler-friendly SCG deck.Chasing just 106, Sixers were lurching at 8 for 47 and in serious danger of the lowest ever BBL score before Abbott capped his remarkable performance with a match-winning 37 not out punctuated by hitting the winning blow off the final ball.He combined with Ben Dwarshuis in an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 59 to get two-time defending champions Sixers (6-1) over the line and inflict heartbreak to gallant Heat (2-5) whose season is at the crossroads.Sixers collapse before Abbott’s heroics
Sixers’ hopes of an easy chase dissipated with the early wicket of Josh Philippe, who has been such a driving force for them this season, which triggered a horror show. It was jarring to see the otherwise composed Sixers look so shaky as they could not establish a partnership to steady the ship.Moises Henriques was the only batter who seemed undaunted by the situation, but when he fell for 15 the unthinkable was unfolding. At 7 for 35 they were in serious danger of suffering the ignominy of the lowest ever BBL score of 57 before Abbott continued his remarkable game to fuel Sixers’ momentum-shifting 30 runs in the power surge.Suddenly, Sixers only needed a run a ball in the final four overs but, of course, this see-saw of a game went down to the wire. Sixers appeared home needing just two runs off the final over but were stymied by brilliant yorkers from Xavier Bartlett.Needing one run to win off the final ball, fittingly, Abbott proved the hero with a flick through the in-field to trigger memorable celebrations in one of the best games of the season.Inspired Heat fall short
Defending a low total, Heat, obviously, needed early wickets and they delivered on a pitch that appeared more akin to a Test deck.The pumped-up Heat had their tails up and could sniff a stunning heist as their seamers bowled an immaculate line on a pitch favouring bowlers much more than is the norm in T20 cricket.Offspinner Mujeeb ur Rahman joined in the party with the key wicket of Henriques as Heat gained a stranglehold. Jake Wildermuth proved an inspired x-factor with two wickets to seemingly snuff out any chance of a Sixers revival.That was until Abbott counterattacked and Heat suddenly lost their nerve before Bartlett bowled a brilliant final over but it proved not enough.Abbott can do no wrong
Renegades youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk appeared to have the catch of the tournament wrapped up after his leaping one-handed screamer against Adelaide Strikers earlier in the season. But he has serious competition after Abbott pulled off a jaw-dropping catch to leave Chris Lynn shell-shocked.