The Sport Matrix: Friday 31 October 2014

Liverpool manager Brendan

Rodgers has admitted that Daniel Sturridge will miss the toughest week of the team’s campaign, which brings them up against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu and the forward’s former club Chelsea in the space of only four days. “No, I don’t think he will be fit,” Rodgers said to the question of whether he would play any part in next week, following tomorrow’s game away at Newcastle.

Heath enjoying his American dream

Seven years ago Adrian Heath, the former Everton forward, agreed to manage an American club with no name and no ground. But now Orlando City are set to join MLS and have signed revered midfielder Kaka. “I am such a traditionalist about football and I was going to a place where we didn’t have a name, we didn’t have a strip or a ground,” Heath recalls of the inception of his American dream.

Younis hits third century in a row

Younis Khan struck his third consecutive Test century against Australia as Pakistan reached 304-2 on the first day of the final Test. Younis, having underpinned his side’s victory in the first match of the two-Test series with twin centuries in Dubai, was again in supreme form, as the 36-year-old hit an unbeaten 111 off just 155 balls with 10 fours and a six. His team-mate Azhar Ali also shone, with 101 not out.

World Cup dream ends for Scotland

Scotland’s dream of qualifying for the 2015 World Cup ended in heartache as they were defeated 2-0 by the Netherlands in Rotterdam in their play-off semi-final second leg last night, falling to a 4-1 aggregate defeat.

Anna Signeul’s team lost 2-1 at home in the first leg so had to score at least twice. But Lieke Martens fired in the opening goal for the Dutch before team-mate Manos Melis struck the second after a defensive error.

The result was heartache for defender Ifeoma Dieke, who was making her landmark 100th appearance, and her Scotland side, as the country also lost out in play-off finals for Euro 2009 and 2013.

Burgess eager to find his feet

Sam Burgess, who converted from league to union, is eager to find his feet after his move to Bath amid the prospect of a World Cup with England. Bath head coach Mike Ford intimated he might play in the back row, while Burgess said: “I don’t know where I’ll be best suited.”