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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Ireland v New Zealand, Shohei Ohtani hits the roof and mongoose stops play

Shohei Ohtani
Japan’s designated hitter and pitcher, Shohei Ohtani, connects against the Netherlands. Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images

1) Two things to say about this outrageous length of the field try in the last minute of the match no less. One … Woof! Two … you can’t help but feel that he may be on the receiving end when theses sides meet next.

2) A great controversy raged over whether they could play together … and perhaps they still might with their respective MLS careers at an end. Highlights for Steven Gerrard’s time at LA Galaxy is a strong word, but here are the best bits. Frank Lampard, meanwhile, was at least more prolific for NYC FC. Enjoy.

3) Mongoose(s)? Mongeese? Anyway, they stop play … loads of ‘em.

4) That ball is gone …

5) To Dublin on Saturday for the rematch between Ireland and New Zealand and the third instalment of what promises to be a thrilling trilogy after Part One: starring Ryan Crotty and Part Two: starring XV inspired Irishmen.

6) Katie Ledecky spends an awfully long time waiting for her competitors to finish on the way to victory and a NCAA record in the 1000-yard freestyle.

Highlights from last week’s blog

1) Lionel Messi + nutmegs = 10 minutes well spent.

2) Juanfran Guevara shows how to handle a high side at the Valencia MotoGP.

3) Scenes when Brian Deane scores for Sheffield United!

4) Yet more Barry Davies delights. This one, from Great Britain’s 1988 Olympic hockey gold medal match against Germany, and this [almost] greatest ever goal by Chris Waddle.

5) Davies’s perspective of events need not be the definitive one, however. Here’s Dennis Bergkamp’s 1998 strike against Argentina with gloriously euphoric commentary from Netherlands native Jack van Gelder.

Spotters’ badges: whobroughtoranges, BlackCaeser, SoapBoxWizard, Cardinal99, WiReDeViL, jezzan.

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