Mbappe on scoresheet as PSG toy with Metz
India’s newly-appointed women’s hockey coach Harendra Singh says he expects his players to deliver and earn their “rightful places” in the national team. “The last few days have been incredible to say the least. The dust has settled and it’s time to move on,” Harendra said.
Harendra said, “Taking full responsibility for the Indian women’s team is an honour. I thank all those who have placed me in this position.
“With my staff, I now look forward to working with this talented group of players. We will concentrate on providing the team with the best possible environment and opportunities, in return we expect our players to deliver and take their rightful spot at the top.”
Harendra represented India from 1985 to 1991, playing 43 games, before calling it quits at just 26. “My sole objective is to share with the women’s team what I already experienced with the junior men’s team. I know we can walk that road again. This is not a repeat but a new journey!”
Kylian Mbappe scored on his debut with Paris Saint-Germain as the French league leaders extended their perfect start to the season to five matches with a 5-1 thrashing of last-place Metz on Friday.
The star-studded and richly assembled team warmed up perfectly for its midweek Champions League clash with Celtic with an avalanche of goals against a valiant home team that cracked after left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto was sent off in the 56th minute.
The sides were tied at 1-1 when the former Tottenham defender received a red card for a tackle from behind on Mbappe.
Mbappe, who joined form Monaco in a loan deal that will cost PSG $180 million ($216 million) when it becomes permanent next year, made it 2-1 three minutes later with a low shot from the edge of the box.
The 18-year-old striker started the game in a PSG attack also featuring Edinson Cavani and Brazil star Neymar, who joined this summer from Barcelona for a world record 222 million euros ($262 million). Mbappe was in the thick of the action, combined well with his new attacking partners and touched a lot of balls. He also inadvertently delivered an assist for the Uruguay striker in the 75th minute after Metz defenders failed to clear a cross.
“I always wanted to play with great players, and today I have the opportunity to play with the best in France, and maybe in Europe,” Mbappe said. “I’m trying to learn from their moves, from their professionalism.”
Cavani, the league’s top scorer last season, had put PSG ahead in the 31st minute after taking advantage of a fine through ball delivered by Neymar, and now has seven goals in five games. Neymar, with a fine shot in the bottom right corner, and Lucas Moura scored PSG’s other goals.
Before the goals outburst, Emmanuel Riviere had kept the suspense alive with a beautiful equalizer for Metz in the 37th minute. Mathieu Dossevi ignited the move on the right side, passed through three PSG players and found Riviere, who slotted home with a close-range header.
PSG moved three points ahead of defending champion Monaco, which plays at Riviera rival Nice on Saturday.
Real Madrid stumbled to a second straight draw at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after being held 1-1 by Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday. Madrid lost striker Karim Benzema to a right-leg injury four days before its Champions League title defense starts against Cypriot team Apoel. Coach Zinedine Zidane will be without Marcelo for the next league match at Real Sociedad after the defender got a direct red card for kicking Jefferson Lerma in the head after they tumbled to the turf in the 89th.
With Cristiano Ronaldo serving the third of a four-match suspension — for pushing a referee — Zidane gave starts to newcomer Theo Hernandez and midfielder Marcos Llorente.
Newly promoted Levante caught Madrid with its guard down in the 12th minute on a routine throw-in executed by Ivan Lopez, which concluded in a goal by another teammate also named Ivan Lopez. One Lopez directed the throw-in to the other Lopez, who slipped behind Dani Carvajal near the goal, controlled the ball and poked it past goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.
Gareth Bale replaced Benzema in the 26th when Madrid’s striker grabbed his right leg and asked to be substituted. Lucas Vazquez got the equalizer 10 minutes later, when he tapped in the rebound after Levante goalkeeper Raul Fernandez saved Sergio Ramos’ header. Bale was criticized by the home crowd after its 2-2 draw with Valencia last round and the Wales winger squandered four opportunities to put the hosts ahead in this game. Bale sent three headers wide and failed to beat Fernandez one-on-one.