While You Were Asleep: Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans in PSL 2023 final, another hat-trick from Haaland and Ibrahimovic becomes oldest Serie A scorer

While You Were Asleep: Lahore Qalander lifted their second consecutive PSL trophy, City eased into the FA Cup semifinals now and Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest scorer in Serie A history at age 41 on Saturday.

(L-R) Lahore Qalander's skipper Shahid Shah Afridi, Manchester City's Erling Haaland and AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AP Photos)

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In an exciting and thrilling victory, Pakistan Super League (PSL)’s defending champion Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans by just one run on the last ball of the final to win the PSL 2023 and become the first team to retain the title on Saturday night.

With just 4 runs needed off the last ball, Khusdil Shah was run out while going for the third run to level Qalandar’s total of 200-6 as Multan finished at 199-8.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brilliant all-round performance propelled Lahore to a strong total with a belligerent 44 not out off just 15 balls, and the left-arm pacer then picked up four wickets in the death overs to finish with 4-51.

🏆 W I N N E R S 🏆@lahoreqalandars – owners of the Supernova Trophy 🤩#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/XIDb9hDRlw

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2023

Khushdil and Abbas Afridi (17 not out) smacked fast bowler Haris Rauf for 22 runs in the penultimate over before Zaman kept his nerve in front of 25,000 fans to give the home team victory.

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“It was difficult early on as the momentum swung in the final,” Afridi said. “We kept our nerves and succeeded to win crucial moments in the game.”

City into the FA Cup semifinals with a 6-0 win over Burnley

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has continued his extraordinary form as the goals keep flowing from the star player. In a 6-0 home win over Burnley on Saturday, Haaland bagged another hat trick to make it eight goals in his last two games. With the win City eased into the FA Cup semifinals now.

That came on the heels of a 7-0 win over Leipzig on Tuesday in the Champions League — when Haaland netted five — showing that City may be hitting another gear as it enters the decisive part of the season. It was City’s sixth straight win in all competitions, having scored 23 goals in that stretch.

Eight goals in a week! 🤯

Your @EASPORTSFIFA Man of the Match… @ErlingHaaland ✨

🔵 6-0 🟣 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/eLdRbwr3Pa

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 18, 2023

“We are in that part of the season where we should be at our best,” said Haaland, whose extraordinary tally is now at 42 goals in all competitions. “Now is when things get decided.”

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City face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarters next month, and could go into the international break eight points behind Arsenal in the Premier League if the Gunners beat Crystal Palace at home on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic becomes the oldest Serie A scorer

Though his team AC Milan were beaten 3-1 at Udinese on Saturday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic recorded his name in record book with for different reasons. He became the oldest scorer in Serie A history at age 41 on Saturday. This is their third loss in the Italian League

Defending champion Milan was beaten by Fiorentina and held to a draw by Salernitana in its previous two Serie A matches, while advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-0 aggregate win over Tottenham.