Gary Lemke looks back at what was a thrilling weekend as Liverpool dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup, Charles Dickens romped home in the King’s Plate and more!
CHARLES DICKENS REWRITES HISTORY
The race they had all come to see turned into an individual performance for the ages as Charles Dickens romped to victory in the R2 million L’Ormarins King’s Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. For much of the build-up, he had been second favourite behind See It Again, but by race time they were both at 14/10 in the market.
However, Charles Dickens produced the performance of his career to come from off the pace, hit the front, and then stride away to win by 2.75 lengths. See It Again won the race for second but in truth, it was race over already 300m out.
It was Charles Dickens’ 10th win from his 13th starts and re-ignited the discussion as to whether he’s in the same league as past greats like Horse Chestnut and Sea Cottage. Charles Dickens gave Gaynor Rupert, who has sponsored the race for 20 years, her first win as an owner in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Race 7 #hollywoodbetskenilworth || CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi - Demanding Lady) has won the 2024 L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE for @bassracingstble ridden to victory by A Domeyer, congratulations to winning owner and breeder @DrakensteinStud. 🏆🏇 pic.twitter.com/V7v5w8wY37
— 4Racing (@4RacingZA) January 6, 2024
MAGPIES CROW IN FA CUP VICTORY
There are derbies and rivalries and then there are derbies and rivalries. Newcastle claimed bragging rights in the North-East after they dumped Sunderland out of the FA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win, a result that was expected given the gulf between the two sides.
However, there was plenty of friction and goading, on and off the ball. During the match, Newcastles’s Anthony Gordon had his shirt grabbed by a Sunderland defender and promptly told him. “if you want my shirt I’ll give it to you after the game,” and then after the match, the Newcastle players gathered for a team pic – on the pitch at the Stadium Of Light in front of the away fans!
Anthony Gordon: "If you want my shirt, I'll give it to you after the game." 😬
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 6, 2024
Sunderland's Trai Hume was seen ripping Anthony Gordon's shirt during their FA Cup match. pic.twitter.com/QOugdIEyrb
GUNNERS AND BURNLEY EXIT EARLY
What do Burnley and Arsenal have in common? Well, obviously, aside from the fact that they’re both Premier League sides, they’re also both out of the FA Cup at the earliest possible round, that being the third round when England’s “elite” enter the competition.
All of Tottenham, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Man City, Aston Villa and Liverpool are through to round four, while Crystal Palace, Wolves, Brentford, Everton, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Luton are involved in replays.
However, we say goodbye to the Gunners and Burnley. Both came up, unluckily, against top-flight opposition and lost: Burnley away to Tottenham (1-0) and Arsenal at home to Liverpool (2-0).
Arsenal now have three straight losses after heading into the New Year and supporters will be justified in hoping this is nothing more than a mid-season tremor.
𝐅𝐓: 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 0️⃣-2️⃣ 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 7, 2024
Luis Diaz and an own goal by Jakub Kiwior secure Liverpool's passage to the fourth round of the #EmiratesFACup against Arsenal at the Emirates ✅ pic.twitter.com/MZ4w40zwCO
SHARKS STILL BOTTOM-FEEDERS AFTER DEFEAT
Just when it looked as though Boeta Chamberlain would step up and kick a penalty that would give the Hollywoodbets Sharks a one-point win – yes, another one-point win involving South African sides – he missed.
That means that the Lions became the first team from Johannesburg to win at Hollywoodbets Kings Park since 2017. The Sharks also, inexplicably, threw away a 15-point lead, which means the expression “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” applies here.
This was the eighth defeat in nine URC matches, and it leaves the Durban-based side rooted to the bottom of the 16-team table. The Lions moved to 11th, while the Bulls and Stormers remain in sixth and seventh after having their feet up this past weekend.
Scenes at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium 🤯
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 6, 2024
The Emirates Lions recover from a 15-point deficit to win 👏🦁#SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/uLKlagFiom
BAFANA: SHOW US THE MONEY
An off-the-field development was perhaps even as important to note than any on-field activities. So often South African football has been beset by disputes over payment and payment structures, but player representatives from Bafana Bafana and Safa management met in Stellenbosch on Sunday to discuss upcoming Afcon arrangements.
According to news reports, Bafana Bafana players will receive R7 million each if they win Africa’s showpiece, and “nothing” if they don’t, and quote Safa supremo Danny Jordaan. I simply don’t believe players would have agreed to that – there has to be a detailed breakdown of remuneration and bonuses for reaching different stages of the tournament.
However, why the secrecy? You’ve already told us they’ll get R7m for winning, why not unveil the rest of the payment structures?
Signed, sealed, delivered! Memorandum of Agreement signed between @SAFA_net and players on performance incentives for #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 #AFCON2023 #CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/BwP48rHqyj
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) January 7, 2024
