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While the official reason given to the continental governing body by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) was that the stadium would not be available on the initial date, Goal has reliably learnt that the actual reason is entirely different altogether. The Indian men’s cricket team are set to welcome their Australian counterparts for a five-match ODI series this month, which will be followed by a three-game T20I series. The second T20I game is set to be held on 10th of October, the initial date on which India vs Macau game was scheduled....

It was not a particularly vintage performance from The Gunners, however they got the victory, which is most important especially against a Bournemouth side who are one of the highest scorers in the league this season, so it was never going to be an easy game. Tactically The Gunners are improving under Unai Emery, but there are still some things which needs to be perfected. Here is a look at some tactical observations drawn from the game, both the negative and the positive....

AL HILAL (KSA) V PERSEPOLIS (IRN) The first of the semifinals sees Al Hilal take on this year’s surprise packages, Persepolis, at home on Tuesday. It promises to be an exciting clash with both sides looking to win their first ever title. Interestingly, both teams had played each other in the group stages earlier but both games ended as draws. Al Hilal, who beat Al Ain in the quarterfinals, are yet to taste defeat in the tournament and they will not want to do so at this stage....

Now, Kobayashi has been brilliant in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarterfinal against fellow Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds. He starred with two goals as Kawasaki Frontale won 3-1, putting themselves at a huge advantage ahead of the second leg. The 29-year-old opened the scoring from 10 yards just after the half hour before heading home from close in with five minutes remaining to give his side a two-goal cushion ahead of the return fixture next month....

Baghdad Bounedjah scored twice to secure their spot in the next round with one game to spare in Group C, despite Xavi seeing a goal disallowed. Persepolis will join Al Sadd in the first knockout phase after battling to a goalless draw away to Nasaf, and a victory on matchday six would see them top the group. Al Wasl, meanwhile, will hope to avoid six defeats from as many games when they meet Nasaf in a dead rubber....

The visitors forged ahead in the eighth minute as Kanazaki slotted home from Yasushi Endo’s sensational first-time pass, but Suwon wasted a golden chance to level as Leo Silva fouled Waguininho in the box only for Dejan Damjanovic to see his weak spot-kick saved by Kwoun Sun-tae. Kanazaki had his second shortly before the hour, heading in on the line after Yuma Suzuki had nodded across the face of goal, and Cristovam’s 89th-minute strike through the legs of Kwoun was scant consolation....

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This is the final hurdle for either club before they are allotted a place in the group stages of Asia’s second-tier continental competition. The Mariners head into this tie after securing a resounding comeback win over DSK Shivajians in the I-League. The Sanjoy Sen-coached team has so far been unbeatable, notching up eight wins and three draws in eleven games played since the start of the domestic season. Iniesta: Barcelona haven’t lost faith in Luis Enrique...

Justin Herbert and the Chargers defeated Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins 23-17 to move back into the wild-card picture and put pressure on Miami. The score might have indicated a close contest, but the Chargers comfortably took down Miami in the first head-to-head battle between these 2020 NFL Draft QBs. Herbert completed 39 of 51 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown. Tagovailoa was just 10 for 28 for 145 yards and a touchdown....

Extend the mission of ISAF, the 4,650-strong international peacekeeping force in Kabul, at least through Afghan elections planned for 2004. Send a high-level civilian official to coordinate foreign aid. President Hamid Karzai’s infant government can’t, and big donor nations, especially in Europe, are concerned about corruption. Send a senior officer to coordinate the U.S. role in helping internal security and improve liaison on the ground; this would free the current commander, Lt....

Hazratullah Zazai (162 not out off 62) and Usman Ghani (73 off 48) set a new record for the opening-wicket partnership with a 236-run stand as Afghanistan surpassed Australia’s 263 for 3 posted against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2016. Hazratullah’s unbeaten 162 was the highest score by an Asian batsman in T20 Internationals. It was also the second highest T20I score and the third fastest men’s century. After Afghanistan elected to bat, Hazratullah blasted as many as 16 sixes and 11 fours in his unconquered innings, while other opener Ghani scored seven fours and three sixes....

Afghanistan took over top spot after previous leaders the Netherlands lost by 15 runs to Scotland, reports CMC. The scheduled Group B match between Denmark and Papua New Guinea was called off because of rain without a ball being bowled. Ireland and Hong Kong fill the top two places in Group A after respective victories over Uganda and United States. Heavy rain reduced the Afghanistan-Nepal match Friday to a seven-over shootout, Afghanistan emerging victorious with four balls to spare, thanks to Mohammad Shazad’s unbeaten 43 from 22 balls in reply to Nepal’s 73 for three....

The list, which rates countries on their levels of persecution of and discrimination against people of faith, said Christianity is the world’s most persecuted faith, with more than 360 million believers at risk from radical Hindus or Muslims. Of that group, 312 million Christians suffer “extreme” levels of persecution, which is 1 in 7 Christians worldwide. For the past two decades, North Korea has been the No. 1 violator of religious freedom, but this year, because of the Taliban’s takeover, Afghanistan took the top spot, “making an [already] deadly situation for Christians worse,” Open Doors’ report said....

That bonanza should be good news for the people of Chad, if the government honors a breakthrough agreement with the World Bank. To get the oil project off the ground, the bank has lent $300 million to Chad (some of which went to Cameroon), and is acting, effectively, as the project’s political guarantor. In return, Chad has agreed, in essence, to cede its sovereignty over how its oil income will be spent....

In the process, mobile phones have transformed everything from Africans’ sense of empowerment to the way their countries work. Fierce competition among multinationals and prepaid phone cards have placed the devices within reach of people without bank accounts or credit records. Modern digital networks have given citizens unprecedented power to scrutinize–and criticize–their leaders. Governments intolerant of dissent have grown to fear the mighty mobile. And its proliferation has forced greater transparency in government and business alike–sometimes voluntarily, as elites seek to liberate their countrymen; sometimes enthusiastically, as they contemplate the hefty incomes that licensing fees and tax revenues will generate, and sometimes reluctantly, as popular will and a nascent middle class push them into the cyber age....

However, the news follows Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) report, authenticating the deal it signed with the Cupertino Calif.-based firm to make A-series chips next year. This three-year deal is reported to cover Apple’s future A8, A9 and A9X chips. Certain reports hint at Samsung being Apple’s primary supplier during the next year as TSMC has increased its production process. Nevertheless, fact whether Apple’s A9 chips will be produced by TSMC or Samsung stays unclear....

Kolkata, Oct 16 (PTI) His temamate Takefusa Kubo is fondly called ‘Japanese Messi’ for his dazzling skills but team’s leading goalscorer Kieto Nakamura would like to compare himself with Cristiano Ronaldo. Asked about whether his style is more like Ronaldo or Messi Nakamura said:“Maybe my style is more similar to Cristiano Ronaldo. I like how he dribbles with the ball and how he fires off those right footed shots,” Nakamura said ahead of his team’s pre quarter-final game against England....

“It’s finally over,” Machado said with a grin. Finally, indeed. Machado joined his new team on Friday, a day after finalizing a $300 million, 10-deal contract that signals the Padres think their loaded farm system is just about ready to help the club return to playoff contention. The blockbuster deal with spring training already in full swing is the highest ever for a free agent and second only to Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million, 13-year agreement....

The Swiss soccer federation says Schaer is unavailable for Tuesday’s home game against Denmark for medical reasons. After international criticism for allowing the Newcastle defender to continue playing in Tbilisi on Saturday, the Swiss federation issued a statement Sunday defending the team doctor’s decision because Schaer showed no worrying symptoms. He was assessed for at least three minutes on the field, and before a four-hour flight home that evening....