Cup drama and carryover pools
TAB soccer pools delivered several mega payouts last weekend and more could be on the way this weekend with three carryover pools and several Nedbank Cup and FA Cup clashes that could easily yield a couple of shock results.
Cup clashes add spice to TAB soccer pools this week with secondround action domestically in the Nedbank Cup, while in England the FA Cup is at the sixth-round stage.
There are only two all-PSL clashes in the last-16 of the Nedbank Cup - Sekhukhune United host AmaZulu tomorrow in Polokwane and then on Saturday SuperSport United travel to Richards Bay.
Sekhukhune were Nedbank Cup runners-up last season and will be fancied to continue their fine run of form. SuperSport will start firm favourites to win away in Durban on Saturday, but have been markedly inconsistent this year.
This is the fourth time Richards Bay have made the last 16 with just a single victory at this stage under their belt so far. For a side that has three Nedbank Cup wins and a reputation as an excellent knockout team, it is amazing that SuperSport have only appeared in the last 16 on eight previous occasions. But once they get to the second round they have been strong with their only blemish a 1-0 loss to Free State Stars in 2011.
All the other ties are lopsided and next month’s last-eight field should include the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy.
In the FA Cup, Liverpool are away at last season’s runnersup Manchester United in another blockbuster fixture for Jurgen Klopp’s side after the excitement of their league clash with Manchester City.
That was a match played at a high intensity and proved an enjoyable spectacle for fans. If Liverpool play as well again, we could see another of the drubbings the have inflicted on Erik ten Hag’s team in recent seasons.
Two Championship sides are looking for upset results, but both Coventry and Leicester City have been drawn away against English Premier League opponents in Wolves and Chelsea respectively. Both should be too strong for their Championship rivals.
Sunday sees an intriguing league tie as Aston Villa go to West Ham. Villa are still on course for a top-four finish and a Champions League berth next season, but it will be fascinating to see their reaction after Sunday’s 4-0 home drubbing by Spurs.
HIRED/FIRED: Lecce coach Roberto D’Aversa was fired on Monday after appearing to head-butt a player at the end of last Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to fellow strugglers Verona. Verona striker Thomas Henry was arguing with Lecce defender Marin Pongracic after the final whistle when D’Aversa went over to intervene, but instead ended up knocking Henry over with an apparent head-butt directly in front of one of the match officials.
BACK IN ACTION: Monnapule Saleng had not been in the best of form this past season, but his return to the Orlando Pirates ranks yielded two Soweto derby goals last weekend.
WHO’S HOT: Harry Kane has become the first player to score four hat-tricks in his first year in the German Bundesliga, netting three more goals in the drubbing of Mainz last weekend.
WHO’S COLD: Previously known as “The Prince”, Burnley manager Vincent Kompany is now coming under increasing scrutiny for poor substitutions and game management as his side continue to struggle in the EPL.