Cristiano Ronaldo still has a couple of career goals to chase down, according to Rene Meulensteen, with one of those involving his son Cristiano Jr.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• All-time great still going strong at 39
• Son catching the eye in Al-Nassr academy
• CR7 still has targets with club & country

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Five-time Ballon d’Or winner CR7 has achieved just about everything at the top of world football, with major trophies won at club level and with Portugal. He has shattered countless records and cemented a standing among the all-time greats.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down at the age of 39, with it his intention to reach 1,000 career goals before considering retirement. There are other targets that the most driven of characters will be setting, with it possible that he will look to take inspiration from NBA legend LeBron James.

• WHAT RENE MEULENSTEEN SAID

  James is now working with his son Bronny at the LA Lakers, and Ronaldo may look to do likewise in football circles as Cristiano Jr impresses in Al-Nassr’s academy system. Quizzed on whether Ronaldo will want to become a team-mate of his first born, ex-Manchester United coach Meulensteen – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “One hundred per cent. He would love that. Maybe that might be extra motivation for him to keep going and waiting for that time to come.

  “I said it years and years ago, Ronaldo will never leave as a candle that slowly burns down. If he feels that he can still make a massive contribution in the way he keeps going and playing, scoring goals. But there is a cut-off point for everybody, where the game runs away from you. That can sometimes happen whether you want it or not. I’m sure he has got plenty of motivation in him. He’s a fit boy, he looks after himself so well, and I bet he would love to play alongside his son.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo is yet to extend his record-breaking contract at Al-Nassr that is due to expire in 2025, leading to plenty of speculation regarding a next move. Meulensteen cannot see the Portuguese GOAT returning to Europe, with there other goals for him to achieve in the Saudi Pro League and internationally. The Dutchman added: “I think it’s a big ask. I’m sure he would want to do it because he’s that sort of guy. But he’s 39 so it’s already amazing how he keeps himself in shape, keeps going, keeps playing, he loves it. You say come back to Europe, well Europe is a big place. I can’t see him coming back to the Premier League. Maybe Spain, but then you have to go to one of the better teams that dominate possession, not a team that has to defend half the time.

  “It would be possible but I find it hard to see that is going to happen. I think he has set his sights on doing what he does in Saudi and the Asian Champions League, and Portugal with the national team. I think he’s very keen on sticking with that and going to the World Cup in 2026. I think that’s what his focus will be on.”

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has turned around his poor form as he has scored five goals across back-to-back matches against Crystal Palace.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace twice this weekJesus with five goals across two gamesBrazil forward reveals secret to successFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal faced Crystal Palace twice this week, once in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and once in the Premier League. Jesus struck five goals in those two clashes, including a hat-trick in the Gunners’ 3-2 win in the cup. The Brazilian striker netted a brace in their league meeting on Saturday, with his side running out 5-1 victors.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Jesus was being tipped to leave Arsenal either in the coming transfer windows, but his form may now encourage Mikel Arteta to keep him at the Emirates Stadium. The striker has opened up on his new-found form as he looks to secure his place in the starting lineup for the long term.

WHAT JESUS SAID

Speaking to the media, Jesus said: "It is great to be back in the team, playing more. Arsenal is a massive club and I know the pressure as a number nine here. When I play with a smile on my face, everything is different."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR JESUS?

As Arsenal look to get back into the Premier League title race against Liverpool and Chelsea, Jesus could play a massive role for the side. The Gunners will be in action next when they take on Ipswich Town on Boxing Day.

Blackburn Rovers are in "advanced talks" to complete the signing of a "fantastic" Premier League player on loan, and a deal is expected to be completed after a breakthrough this week.

Blackburn impress in Championship early on

John Eustace's side have made a flying start to their 2024/25 Championship season, picking up seven points from their opening three matches. Rovers opened their account with a 4-2 win at home to Derby County, generating plenty of early-season excitement among the fans, before drawing 2-2 at Norwich City and winning 2-1 at home to Oxford United last Saturday.

They also thumped Stockport County 6-1 away in the EFL Cup first round, so things appear to be going smoothly with Eustace at the helm.

Losing star striker Sammie Szmodics to Ipswich Town was an undoubted blow for the Championship outfit, however, and further business is required to replace him in the coming days, prior to the summer window closing.

It looks as though Blackburn's attention could be on the addition of a new defender currently, however, following a fresh transfer update that has emerged.

Blackburn set to sign "fantastic" youngster on loan

According to journalist Elliott Jackson on X, Blackburn are in advanced talks to sign Liverpool left-back Owen Beck on loan this summer. James Pearce, a Liverpool reporter for The Athletic, has followed that up with more good news for Rovers fans, with a breakthrough now made as Beck is now "set to complete" a one-year move to Ewood Park.

Beck is an exciting young talent who could represent a brilliant addition to Eustace's squad in the current campaign, boosting their hopes of sealing a long-awaited return to the Premier League in the process.

The 22-year-old is a highly-rated figure at Liverpool, with coach Barry Lewtas lauding his ability back in 2022, saying: "I thought Owen was fantastic. The progress he has made over his time at the Academy, but certainly the last couple of years, is a credit to him with the work he puts in [and] how coachable he is because he listens and takes on board the information we give him."

Such is Beck's ability, it is possible that he could even be viewed as a long-term successor to Andy Robertson at left-back at Liverpool, especially if Arne Slot promotes youth in the same way Jurgen Klopp, with the German allowing the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott to become key first-team players.

A year on loan at Blackburn has the potential to be ideal for all parties in the same way it was for Elliott, giving the Welshman an opportunity to pick up regular minutes in arguably one of the most competitive and challenging leagues in the world, prior to him returning to Anfield as a more mature player, having made three senior appearances for the Merseysiders to date.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 22, 2025

Rovers may even hope that there is a possibility of signing him permanently next summer, however, should the Reds make him surplus to requirements, and if he shines at Ewood Park.

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney shared that "his family is safe" as wildfires devastate suburbs of Los Angeles.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Raging wildfire yet to be brought under controlHas already burnt down 1,000 buildingsMcElhenney family remains safe from the flamesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Los Angeles residents have faced harrowing scenes as raging wildfires consume the city’s suburbs, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake and forcing thousands to evacuate. One of the most severe incidents, the Palisades fire, has already destroyed over 1,000 buildings, displacing 37,000 people under evacuation orders. Another 32,500 residents have been uprooted due to the Eaton fire.

AdvertisementGetty Images NewsTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In another alarming development, the Hurst fire, which erupted near the Sylmar area of Los Angeles, has expanded to engulf 500 acres. The blaze prompted the evacuation of approximately 3,000 residents overnight. With the combined impact of these wildfires, emergency services are stretched to their limits as they battle to contain the flames and prevent further devastation. Local authorities have urged residents across affected areas to conserve water. The overwhelming demand on firefighters has caused a significant drop in both the pressure and quality of the city’s water supply, further complicating efforts to combat the fires.

WHAT MCELHENNEY SAID

Amid the chaos, McElhenney, who is a Los Angeles resident, offered a personal update on Instagram. Sharing his gratitude for the safety of his loved ones, McElhenney wrote: wrote: "Our family is safe. So many homes, whole neighbourhoods are just… gone. Everyone in our lives reaching out, which makes our heart so full. An astonishing amount of bravery displayed by the first responders going into hell to help. THANK YOU."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

As McElhenney deals with the fallout of the wildfires, his football club, Wrexham, are not in action for some time. The team’s scheduled League One match against Reading has been postponed due to the Royals' progression to the third round of the FA Cup. Hence, Wrexham’s next fixture is now set for January 16 against Shrewsbury Town in the league.

Aston Villa’s 3-0 win over BSC Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday evening was certainly no fluke, especially considering how well the club have performed since Unai Emery took over.

It was a just reward for their form and the fact they managed to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League last term to reach the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition.

The Spaniard made some tweaks to his side over the summer, selling a few first-team players, while also bringing in several new signings to bolster his senior squad.

It looks as though these moves have paid off handsomely. Might the manager have landed another one or two players, however? There were a few names linked who ended up elsewhere.

The players Aston Villa wanted to sign this summer

The lure of Champions League football enabled the club to sign the likes of Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen, who could have moved somewhere else.

João Félix was one name that was linked with a move to the Midlands, especially as the window was entering into the final few weeks.

Emery was reportedly plotting a swoop for the Atlético Madrid gem, who had spent last season on loan at Barcelona.

Unfortunately, the club missed out as Felix chose to sign for Chelsea instead, proving that money does talk. Emery was also keen on securing moves for the likes of Raheem Sterling, Raphinha and even Nicolas Jackson during the final few days of the window, yet nothing materialised.

On the pitch, it appears that missing out on Felix and a host of other names hasn’t bothered Emery considering how impressive a start to the season they have made.

He isn’t the only manager to miss out on a big name, however, as Paul Lambert will certainly testify…

Paul Lambert’s Villa signings

When the Scot took over the club in the summer of 2012, he went about making a few changes to his side, bringing in Christian Benteke, Ron Vlaar and Matthew Lowton, among others.

It was a deal to sign Crewe captain Ashley Westwood which turned heads, as Lambert shelled out around £2m to lure the player to the Premier League.

He went on to make over 150 appearances for the club between 2012 and 2017, scoring five goals and grabbing 12 assists, but Westwood was hardly a marquee name which the supporters expected during Lambert’s first transfer window in charge.

Aston Villa’s summer signings in 2012

Player

Club signed from

Christian Benteke

Genk

Ron Vlaar

Feyenoord

Matthew Lowton

Sheffield United

Joe Bennett

Middlesbrough

Karim El Ahmadi

Feyenoord

Ashley Westwood

Crewe

Jordan Bowery

Chesterfield

Brett Holman

AZ Alkmaar

Via Transfermarkt

Villa finished 15th in the top flight that season, reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup, but could it have been better if the manager had managed to secure one of his transfer targets during the summer? A certain Kevin De Bruyne was linked with a move at the same time fellow midfielder Westwood arrived.

When Aston Villa missed out on Kevin De Bruyne

At the time, the Belgian was just at the start of what would turn out to be an extraordinary career, with his talents earning him a move to Chelsea.

Lambert wasn’t exactly blessed with a financial war chest; therefore, he was keen on utilising the loan market ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.

“When I came into Villa it was clear the loan market was going to be a requirement for us if we wanted to bring quality in,” Lambert said (as relayed by the Birmingham Mail).

“Prior to signing [Christian] Benteke, I spoke to [Romelu] Lukaku, and we also looked at signing [Kevin] De Bruyne on loan – when they were both kids at Chelsea.

“Look at De Bruyne now – he’s one of the best in the world. That’s what happens in football, you get so many you pursue but who slip through the grass for whatever reason.”

Whatever happened to the Belgian midfielder next?

Kevin De Bruyne’s statistics at Manchester City

His spell at Chelsea was unsuccessful, going on to join Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga two years later. It was in Germany that he finally began to showcase his true talents and this caught the eye of Manchester City, who paid a then club-record fee of £55m to prise him away from the continent and back into the Premier League.

During his first two seasons, the club won just one League Cup, but it was the arrival of Pep Guardiola in 2016 which was the catalyst the former Chelsea sensation needed to take his game to the next level.

The 33-year-old helped lead the club to the Premier League title in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, with a further four league titles coming in a row from the 2020/21 campaign.

During his time at City, the Belgian has made a total of 387 appearances, registering 274 goal contributions – 103 goals and 171 assists – across all competitions, winning six league titles and the Champions League.

Former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers even hailed De Bruyne as “world-class” back in 2019, and he has been arguably one of the finest attacking midfielders in the world since then.

While his market value may have dipped recently, this is due to age and not performance. According to Transfermarkt, he reached a peak value of £126m in December 2019 and De Bruyne is still valued at £42m, which isn’t bad considering he turned 33 in June.

Even though it would only have been a temporary move, if Lambert had signed the midfielder all those years ago, he could have changed the trajectory of his career, no doubt about that.

Instead, the Villa faithful had to settle for someone like Westwood. He didn’t do too badly during his spell in the Midlands, but missing out on De Bruyne is definitely a major what-if moment in the club’s recent history.

Emery’s transfer strategy appears to be paying off so far and the fans will be hoping this can continue for the duration of his stay at the club.

Related Emery must instantly drop Aston Villa ace after 6/10 UCL display

He had fewer touches than Martinez in Switzerland.

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Sep 18, 2024

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is without another member of his Spurs squad alongside winger Wilson Odobert, who was forced off during their smash-and-grab 2-1 win away to Coventry on Wednesday.

Spurs avoid embarrassment with dramatic late victory at Coventry

The north Londoners were on the verge of an embarrassing result in the EFL Cup third round on Wednesday evening, and were nearly knocked out of the competition very early doors by the Championship side.

Tottenham want "exciting" £84m Solanke alternative more than any other club

They’re displaying the most interest.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 20, 2024

Following a lacklustre attacking display in the first half, which carried on through into the second period, Spurs were made to pay when Brandon Thomas-Asante buried a close range effort past Fraser Forster – giving Lilywhites supporters a real fright.

The prospect of an EFL Cup run and potential silverware was dwindling by the minute, and it took two last-gasp strikes to ensure Postecoglou was not seriously humbled on a nervy night in the West Midlands.

Rodrigo Bentancur

7.8/10

Destiny Udogie

7.6/10

Djed Spence

7.5/10

Ben Davies

7.4/10

Brennan Johnson

7.3/10

Djed Spence buried an equaliser for Spurs in the 88th minute before Wales international Brennan Johnson, who deactivated all of his social media accounts in the build-up to this game following online abuse, bagged an added-time winner to silence his critics.

Spence was also on the verge of joining Genoa in the summer, after spending the second half of 23/24 on a temporary spell at the Serie A side, but the Englishman has since fought his way back into Postecoglou’s plans. It was a relieving end to the 90 for Tottenham’s head coach, who subsequently praised his players for holding their nerve and coming through a very tough test.

“I thought I was a typical cup game. I thought Coventry were really good,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s win at Coventry.

“They put some real energy into the game, and we couldn’t really get a grip on it. So we had to hang in there. We had to work really, really hard just to stay in the game and obviously going a goal behind makes it even more challenging. But like you said at the end there we showed some real spirit and character, which is probably what’s been missing in the first four games. We’ve had the performance, but we haven’t had that relentlessness to to get a result. You sense that in the last 10 minutes, we got real belief out of that, and hopefully that’s a good sign moving forward.”

Postecoglou without Richarlison alongside Odobert after injury update

A downside of the hard-fought win was summer signing Odobert being forced off, with what has been described as a potentially significant injury by Postecoglou. However, the ex-Burnley winger isn’t their only absence ahead of Brentford on Saturday.

Indeed, Richarlison has missed Tottenham’s last few games through injury, and he isn’t any closer to returning. Speaking in a pre-match press conference before Brentford, Postecoglou confirmed that Richarlison will miss Brentford with Odobert, and the £134,000-per-week Brazilian isn’t expected back for a while.

“[Richarlison] is a fair way off,” said Postecoglou. “You’re better off not asking about him until I give an update because he’s not with the first team.”

Being without both Richarlison and Odobert before Brentford is a real blow, as it leaves Spurs short of options in the attacking areas. Postecoglou will be hoping the former can return as soon as possible, as he needs an alternative to summer signing Dominic Solanke going forward.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to secure their second Premier League win of the season this afternoon when they take on local rivals Arsenal in North London.

It will undoubtedly be a huge ask for Ange Postecoglou’s side to claim all three points, with Mikel Arteta’s side still unbeaten during the new campaign – winning two and drawing one of their first three matches in 2024/25.

The Lilywhites have failed to beat the Gunners in any of the last four meetings, dating back to May 2022, when they claimed a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

Boss Postecoglou has yet to beat Arteta’s men after taking the reins last summer, potentially having to drop one player if his side are to claim a derby day victory over their bitter rivals.

Why Wilson Odobert could be replaced for the North London derby

New addition Wilson Odobert arrived at Spurs in a £25m deal towards the end of the summer transfer window – strengthening the attacking options available at Postecoglou’s disposal.

The French U21 international has started both of the games since his move to North London, featuring for over an hour in the meetings with Everton and Newcastle United.

He’s yet to register a goal or assist following his big-money transfer from the Clarets and is yet to show that he has the quality, in the here and now, to make a big impact for Spurs in this clash.

At just 19 he has time to settle into life in the capital before making an impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which means that patience will be required with him.

Odobert has provided a solid option for Spurs in recent games, but given the importance of the fixture this weekend, he may be forced to make way and take his place on the bench.

He would be lucky to maintain his place, especially considering the potential return of one player who has missed the last couple of outings for the Lilywhites.

The man to replace Odobert against Arsenal

Striker Dominic Solanke has missed the last two league outings after suffering an ankle injury during his debut against Leicester City on the opening weekend of the campaign.

The 27-year-old moved to the capital in a club-record £65m move from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth – with Postecoglou looking to add further firepower to his attack.

The attacking “phenomenon”, as described by former Gunner Ian Wright, has yet to find the back of the net, but his tally of 19 league goals for the Cherries last season proves that he has the ability to cause chaos in the final third.

Player

Tally

Erling Haaland

27

Cole Palmer

22

Alexander Isak

21

Dominic Solanke

19

Phil Foden

19

Ollie Watkins

19

Whilst it’s unknown how much match fitness he will possess after his injury setback, Solanke does have the talent that could cause Arsenal’s backline a lot of trouble during the local derby.

Since the departure of Kane to Bayern Munich last summer, the club have lacked that number nine to help catapult the club into a top-four place in the Premier League.

It will undoubtedly be a cagey affair playing Arsenal, but the Englishman’s talent in attacking areas could provide the difference in the final third, ending the 28-month wait for a victory over their bitter rivals.

Spurs must regret losing their Cole Palmer clone on a free transfer

He’s starred after leaving the club a number of years ago.

2 ByEthan Lamb Sep 13, 2024

Enzo Maresca has explained how Chelsea will help Aaron Anselmino to adapt to the Premier League after being recalled from Boca Juniors.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Anselmino set to return to Chelsea
• Joined the Blues in the summer
• Spent last six months on loan at Boca Juniors

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea signed Anselmino from Boca Juniors for £17 million ($22m) in the summer and immediately sent him back to the Argentine club on loan. The Blues have now recalled the defender following the conclusion of the football season in the South American nation.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ahead of the 19-year-old's arrival in London, Blues boss Maresca revealed how the club plan to help the youngster get adjusted to the Premier League and the new environment in England.

• WHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

  Speaking to the club's official website, the Italian coach said: "‘He’s another talent, another good player. Now the most important thing is that he arrives here, adapts himself, finds a house, and settles in the right way. Then we need to give him time because when you come from the other part of the world, you need to adapt. You need to see a new world, a new culture. For sure we are going to try to help him to adapt as soon as possible.

  "At the moment, the plan is to keep him here to allow him to work with us and then to take a decision. If he’s here it’s because we think he is a good player, and he can help us, but for sure he is very young, and he is coming from Argentina, with a completely different culture, different football, different level, so he needs time to adapt."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The west Londoners are back in action on Saturday as they play their first match of the New Year against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Anselmino is not available to be included in the squad yet.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com um treino realizado na manhã deste domingo, no CT da Barra Funda, o São Paulo fechou a sua preparação para enfrentar o Juventude, nesta segunda-feira, às 19h, no Morumbi, pela penúltima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Os atacantes Luciano e Pablo, recuperados de diferentes problemas, foram as principais novidades no trabalho tático que foi comandado por Rogério Ceni.

RelacionadasSão PauloSão Paulo vive dia de treino final para duelo e de ‘secar’ rivais na abertura da penúltima rodada do BrasileirãoSão Paulo04/12/2021São PauloEm adeus à torcida com jogo decisivo no Morumbi, São Paulo pegará time que só venceu duas vezes fora de casaSão Paulo04/12/2021São PauloDepois de perder duas posições no Brasileirão, São Paulo faz penúltimo treino para duelo contra o JuventudeSão Paulo04/12/2021

> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

Luciano precisou ser submetido a uma cirurgia no punho em 20 de novembro, três dias depois de fraturá-lo na vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Palmeiras em clássico no Allianz Parque, e neste domingo treinou sem restrições com o restante do grupo, mas utilizou uma proteção no local que foi operado.

Já Pablo, que superou uma entorse no joelho esquerdo sofrida no empate por 0 a 0 com Athletico-PR, no dia 24 de novembro, no Morumbi, também participou normalmente de toda a atividade, segundo informou o São Paulo por meio de nota publicada nesta tarde de domingo em seu site oficial.

O treinamento final de preparação para o duelo contra o Juventude começou com umaquecimento comandado pelos preparadores Danilo Augusto, Pedro Campos e Adriano Titton. Em seguida, Rogério Ceni dirigiu um trabalho tático e fez os últimos ajustes na equipe para o confronto com o time gaúcho.

O clube também informou que no fim da atividade houve um treinamento técnico em campo reduzido que contou com a participação de parte do elenco e foi comandado pelo auxiliar-técnico Charles Hembert, sendo que alguns jogadores também treinaram cobranças de falta.

O São Paulo também revelou que osvolantes William e Luan continuaram os seus processos de recuperação de lesões, alternando trabalhos individuais e outras realizadas com os demais jogadores. O zagueiro Walce e os atacantes Galeano e Eder seguiram em tratamento no REFFIS, o Núcleo de Reabilitação Esportiva Fisioterápica e Fisiológica do centro de treinamento são-paulino.

Este confronto diante do Juventude nesta segunda-feira vai marcar a despedida do Tricolor da sua torcida em um jogo no Morumbi nesta temporada. Depois disso, a equipe fechará a sua campanha no Brasileirão na próxima quinta, às 21h30, contra o América-MG, no estádio Independência, em Belo Horizonte.

Uma provável escalação do São Paulo pra o duelo com o clube gaúcho é a seguinte: Tiago Volpi; Igor Vinicius, Arboleda, Miranda e Reinaldo; Rodrigo Nestor, Igor Gomes, Gabriel Sara e Vitor Bueno (Marquinhos); Rigoni e Calleri.

Yorkshire close in on quarter-finals after Lancashire chase goes down to wire

David Hopps02-Jul-2021

Lockie Ferguson finished off Lancashire with a hat-trick•Getty Images

Yorkshire 180 for 4 (Brook 91*, Lyth 52) beat Lancashire 171 for 8 (Jones 61*, Ferguson 4-24) by 9 runsAll over the country, exciting young batsmen are springing up in the Blast, playing shots that not so long ago you would never believe. As to some of the bowling, well, that’s a different matter. But at the top of that list is Harry Brook, the leading run-maker in the competition. His innings to win the first Roses T20, and take Yorkshire to the brink of qualification for the quarter-finals was quite something.Brook’s unbeaten 91 from 50 balls left him with 463 runs at an average of 115.75 and swept Yorkshire to an above-par 180 for 4, on a pitch being used for the third time, a total which they defended with nine runs in hand. One more point should grant Yorkshire their first quarter-final appearance for five years whereas Lancashire’s top four chances are in the balance.It would not be a Roses T20, though, if that win was not strewn with incident. Yorkshire were cruising with 60 needed off four only to find Lockie Ferguson defending 20 to win from the final over, whereupon he delivered a slower-ball wide which missed the strip by a yard and then closed the game out with a hat-trick from the last three balls. He finished with 4 for 24 and it is doubtful that any bowler has delivered such unerring yorkers all season. After all, they are not really on trend.But when the commotion had died down, it was Brook whose burgeoning talent remained in the mind. He cuts a slight, somewhat self-effacing figure in the Championship. In T20, this season at least, he transforms from Clark Kent to Superman.I’m just trying to play as low risk cricket as possible,” he said. “Thankfully it’s paying off. If I take the lowest risk possible, I can’t really get out. Then, if I look to bomb it in the last few overs, it gives us a good chance to get a good total.”Yorkshire’s top six, thanks to England calls and injuries, was a hotchpotch of young pros, loan signings and, in the case of Gary Ballance, a batter who no longer seems attuned to the task in hand, but Brook shouldered the responsibility without a care in the world. Quite how he survived Matt Parkinson’s lbw appeal, on 47, however, when he missed a switch hit, is anyone’s guess.Yorkshire, having elected to bat, lost the on-loan Mark Stoneman and Jordan Thompson cheaply before Brook and Adam Lyth shared a stand of 77 from 51 balls. Lyth’s first fifty of the campaign was allied later to some pumped-up and shrewd captaincy as a Roses tie re-energised a flagging season.Lyth’s contribution ended, on 52, when he sliced the unaccustomed offspin of Luke Wells (13 balls bowled in his T20 career at start of play) to the cover boundary. When Wells was at Sussex, if memory serves, he was not the mildly threatening, shaven-headed figure he is now, an image he has presumably developed especially for the north so he dare go out at night. As Lyth walked off, the Sky TV cameras caught a young Yorkshire spectator, 12 at the most, shaking his head in time-honoured, resigned fashion at the error he had just witnessed. They sure train them early in these parts.Ballance’s thoughts all season have appeared to be elsewhere. Parkinson turned one sharply behind his legs to have him stumped by miles. With only 32 balls remaining, Yorkshire were 116 for 4, but Brook cut loose to add another 74 with George Hill.He had got off the mark with a dab to third man that was pure Joe Root, a shot that it would be no surprise to discover that he had learned off him. Such subtleties gave way to a more venomous approach as he passed 50 by dancing down the pitch to loft Parkinson for successive sixes over long-on. Saqib Mahmood had been fast and threatening early on, but he was tamed, too, in the final moments with a flat six over long-off and a deft scoop to third man. This is a batter with a full array of shots.Lancashire needed a special start, but instead lost three for 34 in 5.3 overs. Finn Allen, so impressive in the Super Smash, has had a moderate season and when he was bowled by Lyth, overbalancing to the off side in his enthusiasm for a pull shot, it was not the first time this tournament that he had made such an error. Alex Davies struck Matthew Waite’s half-volley loosener for six then got out seeking a repeat against the next ball. Dane Vilas was Ferguson’s first victim, caught at the wicket.Dom Bess ended Keaton Jennings’ laboured resistance in a solid four-over spell in mid-innings but Rob Jones and Steven Croft spiritedly kept Lancashire in touch and 19 off an over from Matt Fisher left them needing 41 from three.It all boiled down to the last over. When Ferguson’ slower ball missed the cut strip, bounced off the wicketkeeper’s body and Lancashire ran two byes anything seemed possible. The young lad who had shaken his head morbidly at Lyth’s dismissal was presumably by now mentally penning a letter of complaint to the chief executive.The scoreboard clicked here and there as the scorers tried to work out the rules. A Lancashire 12th man, running on with a drink, was summarily banished from the outfield. But with 10 needed from three, Ferguson, who had bowled superbly throughout, brooked no argument. Wells was caught at long-off as Lyth, running backwards, clutched the ball to his chest with his forearms; Luke Wood fell prey to a yorker; and Tom Hartley, with the cause hopeless, pumped one down the ground into the hands of Lyth – a highly committed, stand-in captain enjoying an impressive all-round night.