Saturday 13 October 2018

*Liverpool Sweating as Salah Limps Out of Egypt Clash*

Mohamed Salah limped off with an injury late in Egypt's 4-1 win over Swaziland on Friday, after he earlier scored a record-breaking goal for the Pharaohs.

The Liverpool star scored directly from a corner kick just before half-time to make it 4-0, but later had to be removed in second-half stoppage time with an injury.

Salah was injured in the 88th minute of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, and had to be treated on the sideline before he returned to the match.

But the 26-year-old was unable to shake off the injury and was forced to withdraw from the game in stoppage time, with Egypt playing the rest of the match with 10 men having already used all three substitutions.

After the game, Egypt assistant Hany Ramzy indicated his optimism that the problem wouldn't turn out to be serious.

"[The] initial diagnosis of the medical staff of [the] Egypt national team is that Salah suffered a muscular injury," Ramzy told BeIN Sports. "He will be examined to determine the details, but in my opinion it is not serious."

*Rashford Wasteful as England Draw With Croatia

England and Croatia face a struggle to unseat Spain at the top of their Nations League group after playing out a goalless draw in an empty stadium in Rijeka.

Croatia had been ordered to play the match behind closed doors after a swastika was marked on the pitch in Split ahead of a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.

And the World Cup finalists appeared to miss the backing of their home fans as they struggled to take control of the match, with England dominating after a poor first half from both sides.

But Gareth Southgate's men could not atone for their semi-final defeat to the same opponents in Russia, despite hitting the woodwork twice and seeing Marcus Rashford waste a pair of fantastic opportunities.

The absence of spectators – with the exception of a hardy group of England supporters watching from the top of a nearby hill – contributed to a low-key opening in Rijeka, with shots at goal about as common as fans through the turnstiles in the early stages.

*Neymar & Jesus Score as Brazil Down Saudi

Neymar and Gabriel Jesus caught the eye as Brazil claimed a 2-0 friendly win over 10-man Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Friday.

Jesus, who endured a difficult World Cup, was making his first post-Russia 2018 appearance and he looked particularly sharp as he opened the scoring, before Alex Sandro rounded things off in stoppage time.

An entertaining first half, which was full of flamboyancy from both teams, culminated in Neymar setting the Manchester City star up for his 11th senior international goal in the 43rd minute.

The hosts failed to build on first-half promise after the break and Brazil were completely dominant, eventually adding to the score with an Alex Sandro header after goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais' red card for handling outside the area.

*Lukaku⭐ at the Double for Belgium Switzerland *

Romelu Lukaku ended a six-game competitive dry spell with both Belgium goals in a late 2-1 home win over a stubborn Switzerland in the Nations League on Friday.

On target twice in a 3-0 defeat of Iceland last month, Manchester United striker Lukaku repeated the heroics as he scored either side of Mario Gavranovic's surprise 76th-minute equaliser.

The 25-year-old looked to have played the part of villain when he blazed over a golden opportunity to restore the hosts' lead late in proceedings, but he regained composure to tuck away a chance instigated by Eden Hazard six minutes from time and send the Red Devils top of Group A2.

The result may provide Thierry Henry with a winning farewell in what could be his final match as Roberto Martinez's assistant - the France great closing in on the vacant Monaco post.

*Floods in Indonesia Kill 11 Children*

Flash floods killed at least 11 children at an Islamic school in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra on Friday, with rescuers searching for one missing student, authorities said.

The floods hit the area of Mandailing Natal in North Sumatra on Friday after torrential rain, destroying over 20 houses.

Mandailing Natal Police Chief Irsan Sinuhaji told Reuters authorities were currently checking for other possible missing victims.

“The head of the district is checking with local families for missing people...because 12 houses were swept away by the floods and nine houses were heavily damaged,” he said.

Mr. Sinuhaji told Reuters a class of 29 students had been studying at the school in the village of Muara Saladi when the floods brutally hit the school at 4.15 pm local time on Friday. The Mandailing Natal police chief confirmed all were accounted for apart from the 11 confirmed dead and one missing.

*Snowstorm Kills At least 8 Climbers in Nepal Peak๐Ÿ”*


At least eight climbers from a South Korean expedition have died on Nepal's Mount Gurja after their camp was devastated by a violent snowstorm, officials said Saturday.

The bodies of eight climbers -- four South Koreans and four Nepali guides -- were spotted among the wreckage of their camp by a rescue team early Saturday morning, but unstable and icy conditions were hampering the search effort.

"We assume the incident happened because of a snowstorm because trees are broken and the tents. Even the dead bodies are scattered," police spokesman Sailesh Thapa told AFP.

Thapa said a ninth climber may also be missing.

A helicopter reached the site and managed to land just above the expedition team's camp, but were unable to retrieve any of the bodies.

"Everything is gone, all the tents are blown apart. The conditions were too icy to continue the search," pilot Siddartha Gurung told AFP.

Gurung said a rescue team would hopefully return to the camp on Sunday, if conditions improved.