Glamour Boys in CAF Champions League final countdown
AFTER holding Wydad Casablanca to a 0-0 draw in their semi-final second leg last weekend, Kaizer Chiefs have advanced to the final of Africa’s premier club competition where they will square off against Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly at the Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco next month.
Mosimane’s side will go into the encounter as the favourites and will be expected to win their second successive continental title. However, if Chiefs win, it will rank as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament, especially considering how poor their domestic form has been this season.
Upsets in Euro 2020 knockout games
In the first major shock of Euro 2020, the Czech Republic eliminated Netherlands 2-0 in a round of 16 clash on Sunday.
Patrik Schick was again on target for the Czechs and looks to have established himself as one of the biggest stars to emerge from the tournament.
Denmark also appear to be persevering without captain Christian Eriksen as they advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Wales.
Meanwhile, defending champions Portugal were ousted 1-0 by Belgium. After Thorgan Hazard gave Belgium the lead in the first half, the defending champions dominated the second half but could not find a way past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
World champions France were eliminated on Monday night on penalties by Switzerland. Kylian Mbappe was the only player to miss in the shoot-out as Switzerland beat the pre-tournament favourites 5-4 on penalties.
Mad Max does it again
Max Verstappen extended his lead over Sir Lewis Hamilton atop the F1 World Drivers Championship standings to 18 points after winning the Styrian Grand Prix last weekend.
The result was the second consecutive one/two finish between the leading duo and their sixth of the season from the eight races so far. Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas came to the party last weekend with a third-place finish. If Mercedes are to retain the Constructors Championship this season, Bottas needs to play a strong supporting role to Hamilton as Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez is constantly finishing within the points.
Perez was fourth last weekend.
New Zealand are inaugural Test champions
New Zealand were crowned as winners of the first ever ICC World Test Championship final after defeating India by eight wickets in Southampton, England last week.
New Zealand’s success is refreshing as it ensured that one of the big three cricket nations namely England, Australia and India, who many have suggested have a monopoly over the game, did not win for a change.
The Black Caps’ win also means that South Africa are the only so-called elite cricket nation which has not won a piece of major silverware nor reached a major tournament final since 2000.