Wild card turns assassin against Creed
By ZHENG GUAN KNG – Squash Mad Correspondent 

KUALA LUMPUR – The opening day of the Malaysian Open squash championships saw quite a few upsets as the hosts Malaysia grabbed the lion’s share of the wins.

In the men’s competition, wildcard entrant Ong Sai Hung claimed the biggest win of his career as he put up an excellent showing to beat Wales’ Peter Creed.

Ranked only No. 227 in the world, the 20-year-old Sai Hung played the game of his life as he earned a shocking 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5 win over world No. 65 Creed.

The Kedahan was on the mark from the word go and had Creed scrambling early as he coolly dispatched shots to take a two-game lead.

The nine-time Welsh national champion hung in there by taking the third game but Sai Hung, who has suffered seven early exits this year, was not to be denied as he took the win in 48 minutes.

“I was confident of my chances even though I’ve never played Peter before and he’s the higher ranked player,” said Sai Hung.

“This is my biggest win in my career so far and it means a lot to me to come through a hard game.
“I’ve really trained hard to get a breakthrough like this and I’ll definitely give it my best in the next round,” added Sai Hung who meets compatriot and fifth seed Ivan Yuen next.

Also scoring a big win on the day is world No. 88 Syafiq Kamal who came from behind to beat world No. 67 Dimitri Steinmann of Switzerland 12-10, 3-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8.

“I never played Dimitri before so I started off by probing for weaknesses. It worked well at the start but I couldn’t keep up with his pace and lost the second and third,” said Syafiq.

“After that (Ng) Eain Yow in my corner told me to just stay in the rallies longer and I knew I had a 50-50 chance when he grew tired.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“It’s a good win for me because I’ve been struggling for results recently so hopefully this is just the confidence booster I need for the rest of the year.” Syafiq goes on to meet No. 6 seed Tayyab Aslam of Pakistan in the second round.

Another upset saw in-form world No. 87 Lau Tsz Kwan of Hong Kong score an 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 win over Australian world No. 79 Rex Hedrick.

Portugal’s Rui Soares also did well to upstage Pakistan’s Asim Khan and there were also wins for Hong Kong’s Henry Leung, France’s Baptiste Masotti and Spanish duo Carlos Ribadas and Edmon Lopez.

In the women’s competition, wildcards Aifa Azman and Chan Yiwen rose to the occasion as they dispatched higher ranked players to move into the second round.

World No. 122 Aifa, who has hit a purple patch by winning two PSA titles in Australia last month, needed just 19 minutes to beat Switzerland’s world No. 84 Nadia Pfister 11-5, 11-2, 11-3.

The fine win earned the 17-year-old a meeting with second seed and defending champion Low Wee Wern in the second round.

“I played well today and I am so ready to take on Wee Wern. The last time I played her was during the National Championships last year in which I lost 3-2,” said Aifa.

“But I’ve been playing well recently and I’m feeling confident in putting up a good game to beat our national champion.”

World No. 119 Yiwen put the disappointment of losing in the semi-finals of the Suqian Classic last week to battle past world No. 74 Sunayna Kuruvilla of India.

“I had a terrible week in China and I only had two days to reset so this win is really a big relief,” said Yiwen who turned 19 today.

“Additionally, I really wanted to prove myself that I deserved this wildcard slot. It was a close game but I’m happy to move on to focus on the next match.”

Yiwen will next meet seventh seed Menna Hamed of Egypt for a place in the quarter-finals.
Also surprising the field was 14-year-old Aira Azman who was outstanding in beating world No. 71 Tessa ter Sluis of Holland.

The younger sister of Aifa, Aira was a late entry into the competition following a few withdrawals.

But the youngster made the most of her opportunities as she claimed an 11-9, 11-7, 13-15, 11-6 win.

“It feels great to win because I didn’t even know I was going to play in this competition,” beamed Aira.

“I’m happy to win in the first round in a senior tournament although I did get lucky in the end.

“I play Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yi next. I watched videos of her against (Yee) Xin Ying in China last week and I know I have a chance but it won’t be easy.”

Also winning in the first round is India’s Tanvi Khanna, Malaysian Ooi Kah Yan and a pair of Egyptians in Hana Ramadan and Farah Momen.

Malaysian Open 2019, Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

$30k Men’s First Round:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) bye
[9/16] Carlos Cornes (ESP) bt Jan van den Herrewegen (BEL) 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5 (52m)
Rui Soares (POR) bt [9/16] Asim Khan (PAK) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (20m)
[7] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bye
[6] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bye
Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS) bt [9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 12-10, 3-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8 (59m)
[9/16] Henry Leung (HKG) bt Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (49m)
[4] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bye
[3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
[9/16] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (44m)
[9/16] Edmon Lopez (ESP) bt [WC] Darren Pragasam (MAS) 11-5, 14-12, 4-11, 11-4 (43m)
[8] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bye
[5] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bye
[WC] Ong Sai Hung (MAS) bt [9/16] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5 (48m)
Lau Tsz Kwan (HKG) bt [9/16] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 (69m)
[2] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bye 

2nd round:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) v [9/16] Carlos Cornes (ESP)
[7] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) v Rui Soares (POR)
[6] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) v Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS)
[4] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [9/16] Henry Leung (HKG)
[3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [9/16] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
[8] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) v [9/16] Edmon Lopez (ESP)
[5] Ivan Yuen (MAS) v [WC] Ong Sai Hung (MAS)
[2] Nicolas Müller (SUI) v Lau Tsz Kwan (HKG)

$20k Women’s First Round:
[1] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
[9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY) bt Angie Ooi (MAS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (18m)
[9/16] Farah Momen (EGY) bt Charlotte Jagger (ENG) 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (29m)
[8] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bye
[6] Anna Serme (CZE) bye
[9/16] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) bt Emilia Korhonen (FIN) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 (30m)
Tanvi Khanna (IND) bt [9/16] Eva Feřteková (CZE) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (21m)
[3] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bye
[4] Vanessa Chu (HKG) bye
[9/16] Lai Wen Li (MAS) bt Aika Azman (MAS) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (26m)
Aira Azman (MAS) bt [9/16] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) 11-9, 11-7, 13-15, 11-6 (33m)
[5] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) bye
[7] Menna Hamed (EGY) bye
[WC] Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt [9/16] Sunayna Kuruvilla (IND) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (36m)
[WC] Aifa Azman (MAS) bt [9/16] Nadia Pfister (SUI) 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 (25m)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bye

Second Round:
[1] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v [9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY)
[8] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) v [9/16] Farah Momen (EGY)
[6] Anna Serme (CZE) v [9/16] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS)
[3] Rachel Arnold (MAS) v Tanvi Khanna (IND)
[4] Vanessa Chu (HKG) v [9/16] Lai Wen Li (MAS)
[5] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) v Aira Azman (MAS)
[7] Menna Hamed (EGY) v [WC] Chan Yiwen (MAS)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [WC] Aifa Azman (MAS)

Report by ZHENG GUAN KNG. Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of Zheng Guan Kng

Twins fight back to meet Momen and Rodriguez
By MATT COLES – Squash Mad Correspondent in San Francisco

Mexican twin brothers Arturo and Cesar Salazar are through to the second round of the Oracle NetSuite Open after defeating Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi and Faraz Khan at the Bay Club in San Francisco.

Arturo Salazar, the older of the pair by just two minutes, faced off against Qatar’s Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi for only the third time on the PSA World Tour, and the Mexican went a game down to the World No.43.

The Qatari No.1 took the first game 11-6 but a quick start for the Mexican in the second put him back in contention. The World No.42 went on to take it 11-3, and he took the momentum into the deciding salvo.

He won the third 11-7 to finish the match off in under half an hour, securing his first victory over Tamimi on the PSA World Tour. Salazar will now face Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez today (Thursday).

“Abdulla is a top player, so I tried to just play the match point-by-point. I knew I had to fight, so I just tried to run and tried to finish it, and I got it done,” Salazar said.

“I changed my start because in the first game it was very bad, and Abdulla played very well. I changed my play and I tried to stay patient, and I think that was vital in getting the victory.”

Younger brother Cesar also needed to come back from a game down as he got the better of American wildcard Faraz Khan to reach the second round of the PSA Gold event.

The American allowed Salazar just four points in the first game, as he played well above his World Ranking of No.122. However, from then on, the Mexican was able to wrestle back the momentum.

He follows his brother into the last 16 of the tournament, thanks to winning the second and third games against a tiring Khan, and will play No.2 seed Tarek Momen on Thursday.

“I came from behind and I felt I had to win, but tomorrow I need to be a lot better. Faraz is a good player. He has improved a lot, but I still need to play better squash tomorrow,” Salazar said.

“I tried to start to feel the ball a bit more, but my movement and my shots needed to improve for the second and third game. However, it is hard with best-of-three, as you feel more pressure to start with.”

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Scotland’s Alan Clyne got the better of England’s George Parker, while Mostafa Asal beat Mohamed ElSherbini in an all-Egyptian clash.

In the women’s draw, Hollie Naughton, Milou van der Heijden, Salma Hany and Nele Gilis all won their first round clashes at the Bay Club to move into the last 16. 

Oracle NetSuite Open 2019, Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco, USA (PSA World Tour Gold event with $121,000 prize money in each).

Men’s First Round (Bottom Half):
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 2-1: 6-11, 11-3, 11-7 (29m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt George Parker (ENG) 2-0: 11-9, 11-6 (35m)
Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 2-0: 11-3, 11-7 (33m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [WC] Faraz Khan (USA) 2-1: 4-11, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Women’s First Round (Bottom Half):
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 2-0: 11-3, 11-9 (14m)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 2-0: 11-9, 11-9 (20m)
Salma Hany (EGY) bt Coline Aumard (FRA) 2-0: 11-7, 11-7 (21m)
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Haley Mendez (USA) 2-0: 11-3, 11-3 (21m)

Men’s Second Round (Thursday September 26):
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Raphael Kandra (GER) v [3] Simon Rösner (GER)
[4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v [7] Declan James (ENG)
[6] Joel Makin (WAL) v Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [2] Tarek Momen (EGY)

Women’s Second Round (Thursday September 26):
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[8] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Melissa Aves (FRA)
Olivia Fiechter (USA) v [4] Joelle King (NZL)
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Hollie Naughton (CAN)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) v [6] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[7] Tesni Evans (WAL) v Salma Hany (EGY)
Nele Gilis (BEL) v [2] Camille Serme (USA) 

Report by MATT COLES (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA and REYNOLD CHAN (Daily Squash Report Photos)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 28th goal of the season and also set up Cristian Pavon for another, helping the LA Galaxy clinch a postseason berth with a 2-1 victory over host Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night.

Pavon also set up Ibrahimovic's goal, which for the moment keeps Ibrahimovic two behind LAFC's Carlos Vela for the MLS lead with two matches to play, with LAFC also playing Wednesday night against the Houston Dynamo.

The Galaxy (16-13-3, 51 points) moved up to third in the Western Conference with the victory, which sealed their first playoff berth since 2016. They have now won three straight for the first time since winning five in a row over parts of March and April.

Nedum Onuoha scored late for RSL (14-13-5, 47 points), which is winless in its last three matches (0-2-1).

Salt Lake will remain in the playoff chase despite the defeat, but could slide as low as seventh in the West depending on other results later on Wednesday.

Pavon gave the Galaxy the lead five minutes after halftime with his second goal since the Argentine international arrived during the summer transfer window.

Ibrahimovic headed a long, bouncing ball into the path of Pavon sprinting down the left flank. Pavon cut in toward the goal, defended by Onuoha, then sliced a perfect low finish that rolled between Onuoha and goalkeeper Nick Rimando before nestling inside the far post.

Ibrahimovic doubled the Galaxy's lead a half-hour later. As Justen Glad tried to guide an errant pass over the line for a goal kick, Pavon hounded and stripped the RSL defender deep in the left corner and cut inside the 18. Ibrahimovic got in position in front of the goal, and Pavon's low cross found him for a first-time finish inside the right post.

Onuoha pulled a goal back in the 89th minute after the Galaxy were sluggish clearing out of their defensive end. Sebastian Saucedo reached a loose ball beyond the penalty area and sent in a speculative shot from distance. Onuoha redirected it past David Bingham with his head, and although the Galaxy pleaded for offside, replays showed it wasn't the case.

Welcome to the Christian Pulisic Watch, as the U.S. international starts the next phase of his career after his $73 million move to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund. ESPN FC will be tracking the American's progress here all season.

Jump to: Man United | Liverpool | Leicester | Norwich | Sheffield United | Wolves | Valencia | Liverpool | Grimsby Town

- Borden: Pulisic isn't your wonderboy anymore
- ESPN Premier League fantasy: Sign up now!

Opponent: Grimsby Town (7-1; Sept. 25, Carabao Cup)

How he performed out of 10: 6. Pulisic was mobile and active, but oftentimes his runs weren't rewarded with a pass from a teammate. Aside from Michy Batshuayi's goal, he was largely quiet for the first half hour, but he began finding himself isolated against Liam Gibson more thereafter, and was a threat from the right flank for the remainder of the first half.

Initially in the second half, Pulisic continued to excel with his movement, but was either unable to make things happen on the ball or his teammates couldn't find him. That eventually changed as he had the aforementioned two looks at goal. The late assist was his most tangible contribution on the night.

All told, Pulisic was solid. Was it enough to alter the thinking of manager Frank Lampard heading into the league fixture this weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion? That seems unlikely. Not only was he playing against fourth-tier opposition, but the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi did more to impress on the night. The competition for playing time isn't getting any easier.

Highlights: Pulisic was involved in the run-up to Batshuayi's seventh-minute tally, playing Reece James in behind the Grimsby defense. He nearly latched on to James' return feed only for Batshuayi to collect and score off the turn. A darting run in 28th minute in which he evaded Gibson resulted in him being hauled down by Matthew Green. Pulisic then began having more success, delivering some telling crosses. While Pulisic's defense hasn't always been sharp since moving to Chelsea, he tracked back deep in his own half to win the ball with a clean tackle in the 32nd minute.

While Pulisic was unable to put two second-half opportunities on goal, he was consistently putting himself in good positions, including one exchange with James in the 65th minute and another from Barkley seven minutes later. Pulisic ended the night by assisting on Batshuayi's 86th-minute goal.

Lowlights: There weren't too many to speak of really, although he and James were beaten pretty easily in the 22nd minute that allowed Grimsby to get a cross in, although the shot from James Hanson was wide. In the second half he twice got looks at goal but failed to hit the target on both occasions.

Opponent: Liverpool (1-2; Sept. 22, Premier League

How he performed out of 10: No rating. Pulisic remained on the bench again this Sunday and watched on as his team lost 2-1 at home to Liverpool. To be fair to the 21-year-old, two injuries in the first half to defenders Emerson and Andreas Christensen required changes as Marcos Alonso and Kurt Zouma were drafted in. The final switch, following N'Golo Kante's 71st minute goal, was a like-for-like swap as natural center-forward Michy Batshuayi replaced Tammy Abraham as the main focal point of the attack.

It represents more disappointment early in the U.S. star's Chelsea career but this time, events conspired against him.

Highlights: None.

Lowlights: None.

Opponent: Valencia (0-1; Sept. 17, Champions League)

How he performed out of 10: No rating. Is it time to worry about Pulisic's place in the Chelsea squad? It's worth noting that the season -- including the UEFA Super Cup match against Liverpool -- is now a mere eight matches old. There is still plenty of time for his move to Chelsea to work out. Yet the fact that Pulisic failed to get on the field for the second consecutive match after returning from international duty early doesn't bode well, and hints that he hasn't won the trust of manager Frank Lampard. To be fair, Pulisic has only shown flashes of form this season, so Lampard is well within his rights to scan his roster and look for other options. Calum Hudson-Odoi is due back soon as well, so Pulisic's situation isn't going to get any easier.

Overall, things don't look good in the short term for Pulisic, although how much squad rotation Lampard opts for this weekend at home to Liverpool remains to be seen.

Highlights: None.

Lowlights: It was bad enough that Pulisic began the game on the bench after having played no part in the Blues' 5-2 win over Wolves at the weekend, but the optics got worse when Mason Mount was forced out of the match in the 15th minute due to a right ankle injury. One might have expected Pulisic to step in, yet Lampard opted for former Spain international Pedro instead, hinting that Pulisic has fallen quite a way down the Blues' pecking order. With the game winding down, and Chelsea in need of a goal, Lampard opted for Ross Barkley in midfield rather than Pulisic.

Opponent: Wolves (5-2; Sept. 14, Premier League)

With Frank Lampard opting for a 3-4-2-1 alignment, Pulisic began the match among the substitutes. Given that the American returned from international duty early, that counts as a disappointment, although how much of that was due to the fact that Chelsea face Valencia in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday remains to be seen.

How he performed out of 10: No rating. The Blues certainly didn't miss Pulisic in this match, as Chelsea raced out to a 3-0 half-time lead and rode Tammy Abraham's hat trick to a 5-2 victory. Willian, Pulisic's replacement, didn't create much on the day, but with Lampard forced to make two injury-induced substitutions for Abraham and Antonio Rudiger, there was no room on the field for Pulisic.

Next up for Chelsea is a Tuesday's aforementioned Champions League encounter against Valencia at Stamford Bridge.

Opponent: Sheffield United (2-2; Aug. 31, Premier League)

Stats: Pulisic made 82.9% of his passes but didn't create a chance, nor register an assist. He played the full 90 minutes for the first time but had only one shot on goal.

How he performed out of 10: 5. Given that Chelsea had 61.9% possession, one might have expected Pulisic to be more impactful in the attack, but one could say that about the entire Chelsea team, as Mason Mount fared no better. There are also some days when there's only so much that the opposition gives you, and Sheffield United were determined to take away space behind the defense.

To Pulisic's credit, he did what he could to get into the game. Touches were difficult for him to come by over the first 20 minutes, but he found more success when he started taking up more central positions, allowing him to run at the defense more and combine with the likes of Ross Barkley and Tammy Abraham.

All of that said, this was a game much like the one against Leicester City two weeks ago where there was little in the way of end product for Pulisic, and he struggled to get the ball in positions where he could do damage. Given the fitness issues facing some of Chelsea's other attacking options, Pulisic is likely to keep his place, but with the Blues struggling for results, it will be interesting to see how patient manager Frank Lampard is with the American.

Highlights: Pulisic was a significant factor in the run-up to Abraham's 19th-minute opener. Not only did he get the ball out wide to Cesar Azpilicueta, but his touch on Abraham's subsequent header prevented Sheffield United keeper Dean Henderson from collecting the ball, allowing Abraham to slam home the rebound.

One of his trademark runs at the defense saw him win a free kick in a dangerous position in the 31st minute. On the defensive side, he showed plenty of tenacity to win the ball back from Enda Stevens and win a foul in the 54th minute.

Lowlights: Pulisic cut a peripheral figure in attack for much of the match and created little off the dribble. He lost one defensive duel with Stevens in the 70th minute that led to an opportunity for the visitors, but Oliver Norwood's subsequent shot was easily saved by Kepa. Pulisic also didn't do enough to cut out the entry pass from Norwood to Callum Robinson that led to Kurt Zouma's own goal.

With the international window kicking in, the Blues' next match won't take place until Sept. 14 when they face Wolves away.

Opponent: Norwich City (3-2; Aug. 24, Premier League)

Stats: Started and played 84 minutes before being substituted for Willian. He didn't score but he picked up an assist and created three chances. He made 84.2% of his passes and 86.4% in the final third.

How he performed out of 10: 7. Playing on the right wing after Pedro's injury in the warm-up, Pulisic set up a goal and won for the first time as a Chelsea player. He picked up a 17th-minute assist as he drifted inside to slot the ball to Mason Mount, who cut back across his man and finished well. In the second half he wasted a chance to put his name on the score sheet by blasting into the side netting when through on the goalkeeper. Overall, he was a good attacking threat and though he disappeared a bit in the second half, he still carved out chances.

Highlights: Provided the overlap ball to Cesar Azpilicueta to cross for Tammy Abraham's opener and was full of running to close down the defenders in the early stages. A good one-two with Mateo Kovacic almost opened up some space for a second goal before the Croatian's cross came to nothing, but then he bagged an assist of his own as he found space to feed Mount for the second goal.

Just before half-time, Pulisic did well to take down a long ball and turn brilliantly in the box, but his shot was blocked. Minutes later, good control saw him set up Ross Barkley for a shot that flew over. A run down the right late in the second half set up the England midfielder again only for his shot to be charged down, before Pulisic's excellent low cross was kept out on 80 minutes.

Lowlights: He let Emiliano Buendia glide past him too easily for Todd Cantwell to score, and Chelsea lacked width on the right as Pulisic kept drifting inside, though he showed how dangerous he is there by assisting Mount from a central position. On 22 minutes, he found space in the box only to lose his footing and fall over comically, much to the joy of the Norwich fans.

One minute into the second half, Pulisic was set free down the right but seemed to panic when faced with the goalkeeper and shot into the side netting. He took a while to get his confidence back after that and it was understandable that he was subbed off. He has yet to finish a game he has started.

Next Saturday, the Blues will take on Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge.

Opponent: Leicester City (1-1; Aug. 18, Premier League)

Stats: Started and played 71 minutes before making way for Willian. Zero goals or assists. 18 of 21 passes completed.

How he performed out of 10: 5. Overall, this was a pretty anonymous performance for the American. Pulisic was plenty involved in the game's first 15 minutes, when Chelsea were rampant and Mason Mount scored in the seventh minute. But his contribution consisted mostly of keeping the attack ticking over. When Leicester finally settled into the match, Pulisic had little to no impact, especially in the final third. That trend continued into the second half, and he was substituted in the 70th minute. That isn't all down to him mind you. The play of the entire team fell off, but it wasn't the kind of performance that will send the hearts of Chelsea fans (and U.S. supporters too) fluttering. With Willian returning to full fitness, it will be interesting to see if Pulisic's minutes are impacted.

Highlights: Pulisic had some bright moments early. He nearly latched on to a rebound from Mason Mount's shot in the second minute, only for his attempt to be spoiled by Ricardo Pereira. His flick-on from the ensuing corner was enticing, but there was no one at the far post. The American was involved in the buildup to a 26th minute opportunity when he played Emerson down the left wing. The Italy international's cross was back-heeled by Olivier Giroud to N'Golo Kante, but the shot was wide. The fact that those count as highlights is illustrative of the kind of day Pulisic had.

- Chelsea player ratings: Azpilicueta a 5/10 as Blues drop points

Lowlights: There were no glaring errors by Pulisic, but little in the way of standout moments either. Some of this was down to the fact that Chelsea's attack was tilted a bit more to Pedro's side during the early exchanges. Pulisic and Pedro switched sides at one point in the first half, but there was no uptick in form for Pulisic. He was soon back on the left wing. While Pulisic's passing was sharp (18/21), he was dispossessed a team-high six times.

Opponent: Liverpool (2-2; Aug. 14, UEFA Super Cup)

Stats: Started and played 74 minutes: zero goals, one assist, 74.1% pass completion percentage (20-27), two chances created, two shots, no shots on goal, 50 touches and three successful take-ons.

Christian Pulisic got his first start for Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup, making him the second American -- after Jovan Kirovski with Borussia Dormtund in 1997 -- to play in the match.

- Ratings: Pulisic earns 7/10 on first Chelsea start
- Chelsea flout transfer ban by unveiling 'Jorginho'

How he performed (out of 10): 6 -- This was a performance to build on for the American, and his assist will begin to ease at least some of concerns about how long it will take him to settle into the side, or his ability to compete at the Premier League level. There will be disappointment that his goal was disallowed, but without question he showed his quality.

Clearly, Pulisic's best spell came in the last 20 minutes of the first half. In the second half he remained active, having had a few shots blocked by the Liverpool defense, but he wasn't quite as impactful as he was in the opening 45 minutes. Liverpool were in the ascendency to begin the second half and his passing began to erode a bit. That said, this match was a step forward for Pulisic, despite the end result.

"There's more to come from Pulisic. We must remember his age, he's only 20," Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said after the match. "It took him a bit to get into the game but when he got into it we saw what a player her is and that's a good sign for the club."

Highlights: Pulisic hadn't been that impactful over the game's first 25 minutes, but he was instrumental in Chelsea's 36th-minute tally. N'Golo Kante found the American in a central position, allowing Pulisic to run at the Liverpool defense. With defenders closing in, he slid a deft pass while falling to the ground to put Olivier Giroud in on goal, and the Frenchman converted with a cool finish.

Just minutes later Pulisic thought he had his first competitive goal for the Blues, twisting his way past Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to find the net, only for it be ruled out by a narrow offside decision.

Lowlights: Pulisic did start the match slow, but that is nitpicking to a degree. Liverpool is among the most formidable of opponents, and Chelsea didn't have much of the ball early. He was among those culpable for allowing Sadio Mane a free header from a corner in the 30th minute, but ultimately wasn't punished.

Opponent: Man United (0-4; Aug. 11, Premier League)

Stats: Played 36 minutes as a substitute, zero goals: zero assists, 100% pass completion percentage (12-12), one chance created, no shots, no shots on goal, one chance created. 23 touches, three successful take-ons.

How he performed (out of 10): 5 -- All told, Pulisic was by no means overwhelmed as he entered from the substitutes' bench, but the fact remains that he wasn't that impactful, and the chance he created came long after the game had been decided. That said, Pulisic walked into a team that fell apart defensively after he entered the match, so Lampard will have far bigger concerns about his side than Pulisic's performance.

Highlight: Normally, making your debut with your new club would rank as a highlight, but a 4-0 away defeat tempers this considerably. Pulisic did have one sequence where he shook loose from Aaron Wan-Bissaka only to be fouled by Paul Pogba after he released the ball. Pulisic's best moment came in second-half stoppage time when he set up Emerson Palmieri for an attempt at goal that forced a sharp save from United goalkeeper David De Gea.

Lowlight: The team performance was one to forget given the scoreline, with Chelsea's defense looking highly suspect. For Pulisic, he started the game on the bench, which counts as a disappointment given the anticipation attached to his debut. Frank Lampard, who was making a league debut of his own as the club's manager after starring for the Blues as a player, preferred Ross Barkley and Pedro in the wide positions that Pulisic would have been expected to occupy.

Lampard told NBC Sports afterwards that, "I just felt coming to Old Trafford, the type of game it was, I knew we needed bodies in midfield because it's a busy area for them ... So Ross coming in off the line, bringing a bit of stability in midfield and around midfield would be good for us."

After entering the match in the 58th minute, Pulisic did have a few chances to run at the defense but wasn't able to threaten the United goal off the dribble. He also had a chance to pick out fellow substitute Olivier Giroud with a cross in second-half stoppage time, but couldn't connect.

Jasprit Bumrah, who has become the frontman of India's pace-bowling attack across formats in the past few years, has suffered his first stress fracture in his short international career.

Stress fractures, have affected fast bowlers forever, a prime example being Dennis Lillee. The Australian great played through chronic back pain in the early part of his career before Rudi Webster, the former West Indies' first-class cricketer, working as a radiologist at the time, discovered three tiny cracks in two vertebrae in Lillee's lower back during Australia's 1973 Caribbean tour. In The Art of Fast Bowling, Lillee spells out the extreme pain the fracture had caused and how the medical staff had to constantly monitor his back in order to keep him on the field.

ESPNcricinfo spoke to Andrew Leipus, former physiotherapist with the India team as well as Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, to try and understand what one of the most common but career-threatening injuries in cricket is all about.

What is a stress fracture?

A bone is a living tissue, which can be damaged when put under high physical stress. A build-up of inflammatory cells and swelling in the bone is called a bone stress injury or stress reaction and can be spotted in an MRI scan. But this can progress to a fracture when there is a break in the cortex - the thicker outer layer of the bone.

The fracture usually occurs in the 'pars' of the vertebrae in the lower back for fast bowlers. It is little bony bridge between the facet joints which take a lot of stress when you extend, laterally flex and vertically compress the spine. And it is normally on the side opposite the bowling arm: so if you are right-arm bowler it is generally the left side of the lower back where the stress fracture will happen.

"He has bowled for many years now without suffering a stress fracture, so it is less likely to be technique related and more a function of his training and bowling workload" Andrew Leipus on Jasprit Bumrah

Is it a sudden injury or does it develop over a period of time?

A stress fracture can be an acute episode, but it is always in chronically loaded tissue. It is not like you twist your ankle and break your leg where the bone was previously fine. It happens when there is a sudden overload on a weakened area of bone that has not remodelled fast enough to absorb and transmit the physical forces involved.

Is workload the main factor in this type of injury?

Physical stress and the body's adaptation to it is a balance between fitness and fatigue. The fitter you are, the more stress resistant you are. Another simple way of looking at it is that bowlers absorb a lot of force on their front foot impact during bowling. Fitter bodies can cope with these forces more efficiently. But when your body is tired, your legs are tired, and your muscles or 'shock absorbers' are not doing their job, the bones and joints of the skeleton - essentially the chassis - takes more stress over time. So, if your suspension is broken, you are going to feel every bump in the road.

So, generally, yes, high workload is one of many reasons for bone stress injury. This includes both on- and off-field physical load, such as cricket activity and strength and conditioning training sessions. But research also tells us that there are certain patterns of workload associated with a higher generalised risk of injury. If there is a sudden exponential spike in workload above that usually experienced, the overload can be a factor in the development of injury even a few weeks afterward the event.

Chronically high workloads without rest presents an over-reaching scenario where the body's immune system can become compromised. Even lower workloads can indirectly contribute to a higher risk of injury due to the lack of a training effect (i.e. low specific bowling fitness) and poor preparation prior to bowling too much too soon. The scheduling of fixtures between T20 to ODI and Test formats has also been pointed to as a possible reason in raising injury risk.

Any other factors?

It could also be a metabolic issue, such as low absorption/production of Vitamin D and Calcium, contributing to poor bone density. It could be any or more of a range of biomechanical factors. The bowler could have stiffness and reduced mobility, strength or control around his hips, ankles, upper back or shoulders, and he compensates through that part of the spine. He might be bowling a particular variation of delivery which increases the load in that area. It could also be related to nutritional factors, poor recovery, or even other aspects of his off-field training regime that need to be considered. Age is also a significant factor for bone stress injury in players under 25.

Does the bowling action of someone like Bumrah contribute to this kind of injury?

His action is certainly unique. As far as I know, this is the first occurrence of this type of injury with Bumrah. But he has bowled for many years now without suffering a stress fracture, so it is less likely to be technique related and more a function of his training and bowling workload.

Normally, what is the period for recovery?

If it is just a stress reaction, he could be fine in about four to six weeks with an active rehabilitation programme. But if it is further along the bone stress injury spectrum than this, then it could need three to six months. If the stress fracture is bilateral (a crack on both sides of the same vertebrae), then it might be more than year or longer.

What is the danger of it recurring?

The primary risk of any injury is a previous injury. The fact that he now has this, statistically raises the risk of recurrence than for someone else who has never had a stress fracture. But he will be put through a thorough rehabilitation programme at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and be monitored carefully, and being a mature player will greatly minimise the risk of it coming back. The key is not to rush the player back and to address all of the factors mentioned above, including ensuring his bowling workloads at the end of his rehab being suitable for the format of the games he will be going into.

All roads lead to the MCG for the Australia Women's team this season - or at least that's the plan. The T20 World Cup final on March 8 is being billed as the chance to set a new world record for a women's sporting event with the hope the ground can be sold out.

A big part of achieving that will probably involve Australia reaching the final as they aim to defend the title they won in West Indies last year. Given their recent dominance - winning 19 of their last 21 T20Is - it would be a brave person to bet against them achieving that, but it does bring a weight of expectation.

However, that is something the team is already embracing as they map out their season which begins against Sri Lanka at the weekend.

"There will be a lot of pressure and expectation on us being there in that final, there's a lot of talk about breaking world records and the crowds we could get but I think we are a big part of that and actually being in that final will make that happen," Alyssa Healy told ESPNcricinfo. "For us it's about not being scared to talk about it, not being scared to talk about the pressure and expectation we will be put under to be there.

"I think everyone in the squad is very realistic that it's there and we aren't afraid of that either, making sure we are doing the right things on and off the field, playing some good cricket will enable us to go into that World Cup and put in a dominant performance. Talking about it with one and other will be crucial and we've already started that, playing the cricket is just part of that."

Allrounder Ashleigh Gardner said: "There's been a lot of talk about wanting to sell out the MCG, having 90,000 people there would be a record, but we have to focus on things before that. We have to get to the final, we have another tough pool, India first who beat us last year, but we back ourselves that we can get to that final."

This confidence is well-placed given the way they have beaten England and West Indies convincingly since their title success a year ago, but Australia are aware that the tournament play can bring a different dynamic to bilateral contests, especially in the knockout rounds with Healy picking out India as the "real threat".

"I think it will be a very exciting World Cup. We saw in the West Indies that it was right open a lot of the way," Healy said. "England and India were right up there, West Indies in the [semi] finals as well. It will be a tough one, but I think India are probably the favourites going into it. Obviously us being at home is pretty big for us but I think India are a really talented side. They came out here a couple of years ago and beat us in our own back yard so they'll be a real threat and England, depending on their selectors, they'll be a real chance as well."

Australia's season gets underway on Sunday with the first of three T20Is against Sri Lanka in Sydney, followed by a three-match ODI series in Brisbane. The focus then shifts to the first standalone WBBL, which begins in mid-October, before a return to international cricket in late January, with a T20I tri-series involving India and England as the side's final preparation for the World Cup.

Adelaide Strikers have signed West Indies allrounder Stafanie Taylor and England batter Lauren Winfield to share the third overseas spot in their WBBL squad this season.

With New Zealanders Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine already signed, the Strikers have added Taylor and Winfield to strengthen their squad.

Taylor is only available for the first two and last two matches of the home and away season plus the finals if the Strikers progress that far. Winfield will fill in for Taylor in the middle 10 games of the season.

Taylor, 28, signs after parting ways with Sydney Thunder having played 58 matches there over the first four WBBL seasons, including winning a title in her first year.

Winfield, 29, has played for both Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes in the WBBL but did not play in last season's tournament. She played all three T20Is during the women's Ashes and finished as England's leading scorer from limited opportunities.

DETROIT -- The decade of the 2010s will end the way it started -- with the Minnesota Twins atop the American League Central.

Luis Arraez and Eddie Rosario homered, and Randy Dobnak allowed one hit in six sparkling innings to lead Minnesota to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. The Twins later clinched the division title when Cleveland lost to the White Sox in Chicago.

It's the first division title for Minnesota since 2010 and will be only its second postseason appearance since then. The Twins (98-60) have their highest victory total since the 1970 team also won 98 games.

Minnesota wrapped up its win over the Tigers well before the Chicago-Cleveland game ended. That game was on television in the Minnesota clubhouse, where the Twins ate, played cards and waited for a possible celebration.

The previous decade was much more successful for Minnesota, which won the division in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2009. That run abruptly came to an end after the 2010 title. Now the Twins are back on top, with an offense that is tied for the major league lead in home runs with a record 299.

Dobnak (2-1) allowed no scoring after an unearned run in the first. Arraez hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Drew VerHagen (4-3), who had combined with Daniel Norris to shut out the Twins until then. Nelson Cruz added an RBI single in the eighth, and Rosario's two-run shot that inning made it 5-1.

Miguel Cabrera lumbered around from first to score the game's first run on Jeimer Candelario's double. The 36-year-old Cabrera, playing for the first time since Friday, was able to slide home just ahead of the relay. Cabrera had reached on an error by shortstop Jorge Polanco.

Norris went three innings for the Tigers, allowing two hits and striking out five. VerHagen relieved him and pitched 4⅓ innings.

The Tigers (46-111) are assured of baseball's worst record and the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.

In addition to his home run, Rosario added a terrific catch in right field on Willi Castro's sinking line drive in the eighth. The ball popped in and out of Rosario's glove, but he was able to reach up and secure the ball with his bare hand while sliding across the grass. Then he casually threw the ball back in like it was no big deal.

BIG WEEK

Dobnak is getting married Saturday in Maryland. His week is already off to a good start.

"This is definitely going to be easily one of the wildest weeks of my life," he said. "Just to go out there and give our team a chance to win tonight was something that I was really looking forward to do, and luckily things turned out well for us."

BIRTHDAY BOY

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli did his postgame interview with what looked like icing on his face. It was his 38th birthday.

"I got my face thrown in the cake, which is perfectly fine by me," he said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: RP Sam Dyson is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery Tuesday. ... C Mitch Garver (right hip) played for the first time since Sunday and struck out four times. ... 3B Marwin Gonzalez (oblique tightness) missed a second consecutive game.

UP NEXT

Twins: Minnesota had not yet announced a starter for Thursday's series finale at Detroit.

Tigers: Jordan Zimmermann (1-12) takes the mound in Detroit's home finale.

WASHINGTON -- Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper called out some Washington Nationals fans, saying they crossed the line heckling him in Wednesday's eighth inning.

The former Nationals star didn't get specific or repeat what the hecklers were saying, but he wasn't happy following a 5-2 loss, the team's fifth consecutive setback.

"They were fine all game, talking about myself and things like that," Harper said. "I get it everywhere I go. That's nothing new. But the last two innings, it's just not right. It's not right."

He said he was eager to get back to Philadelphia and the great fans there.

"I've got 60,000 fans up in Philly that appreciate me as a player, appreciate me as an individual and my family," Harper said. "I owe a lot to those people up there in Philly because they show up for me every single night and they're there to cheer us on and boo us and keep us going as a team and as individuals as well."

Harper left Washington after playing 927 games over seven years, participating in six All-Star Games and winning the 2015 National League MVP Award. He's been a target of boos since signing a $330 million, 13-year contract with the rival Phillies.

Washington has already clinched an NL playoff spot.

In the teams' first matchup in April, the boos by Nationals fans started when Harper's name was announced in the lineup, and derisive shouting followed during a video montage of his biggest moments with the Nationals. Harper was then booed at every at-bat, and when he took his position in right field, several fans were wearing white shirts that spelled out T-R-A-I-T-O-R.

He got a bit of retribution with a 458-foot homer that he punctuated with a bat flip.

Harper acknowledged he heard the boos in April, saying: "For me, that's part of sports, part of the game."