Tim Cahill scored his first international hat-trick in over a decade as Australia crushed Bangladesh 4-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Dhaka yesterday.
Already Australia’s all-time leading scorer with 42 goals before this Asian Group B clash, the evergreen Cahill took his career tally 45 with three first-half strikes.
Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak also found the net as the reigning Asian champions cruised to 4-0 lead by half-time then took their foot off the gas against a Bangladesh team ranked 120 places below them.
Cahill’s only previous hat-trick for his country was against Fiji in 2004, the same year he made his international debut.
Chelsea close in on ground deal
Chelsea have moved a step closer to completing the purchase of AFC Wimbledon’s ground at Kingsmeadow.
The deal will raise funds for the League Two club’s proposed move to a new stadium at their original home of Merton. The Blues want to use the Cherry Red Records Stadium to host their youth and ladies’ matches.
At a special general meeting on Monday night the Dons Trust, the largest shareholder of AFC Wimbledon, voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling the stadium lease.
Negredo undergoes emergency surgery
Valencia forward Alvaro Negredo has had emergency surgery for acute appendicitis.
The former Spain striker, who has been out of favour at his club and has not played since early October, went under the knife at a hospital in the Spanish port city on Monday afternoon.
They did not say whether the surgery was successful or how long the 30-year-old might be sidelined but local media said he would be out for a month.
Reports suggested coach Nuno dropped Negredo because he was unhappy with comments the player made about tactics in a newspaper interview but the Portuguese has said the decision was “purely sporting”.
Lidl to sponsor England team
The English national team has set aside decades of sporting rivalry with the Germans by signing up a new sponsor – German discount supermarket Lidl.
Lidl, which along with fellow German company Aldi has been grabbing market share in Britain, said it would become “official supermarket of the England team”.
“Multi-million-pound” deals with the English FA, the FA of Wales and the Scottish FA will also see Lidl become a grassroots partner of all three associations until 2018, financing professional coaching for children.
Roma interested in Brazilian keeper
Roma are in talks with the agent of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker , Internacional director Jorge Macendo told reporters yesterday.
The 23-year-old is being touted as a replacement to Wojciech Szczesny who is expected to return to parent club Arsenal at the end of the season.
Becker, who made his debut for the national team in October, has a contract with Internacional that expires in November 2016.
Macendo said: “Alisson Becker has been talking directly with our president, but I can confirm that Roma are speaking with his agent at the moment.”
Belgium postpones friendly vs Spain
A soccer friendly between Belgium and Spain scheduled for Brussels last night was postponed for security reasons on government advice after the Paris attacks, the Belgian soccer federation said in a statement.
“The URBSFA (federation) was contacted by the government this evening and advised not to organise the Belgium-Spain match tomorrow (today),” it said in a statement late Monday.
The statement explained the advice was due to the current state of high alert and a suspect from Friday’s attacks being on the run.
Cisse keen to win back starting place
Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has vowed to force his way back into the Magpies starting line-up after falling down the pecking order.
Cisse, one goal in eight appearances, has not started a game since September.
“As I say, I know what I can bring. If I play I will get chances and win games for Newcastle. I haven’t had that chance of late so I need to keep going,” Cisse said.
“When I go into work, I work hard. I know I must keep being busy and working. It feels like you’ve worked for nothing after a week of training when you don’t play.
“In my head I feel like I’ve done nothing. But I must keep going. That’s the life of a footballer sometimes. It’s hard for me but I always say I will keep going.”