Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as Liverpool dominated Erik ten Hag's hapless Manchester United side, while the Springboks outlasted the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
MORE WOE FOR UNITED, MORE JOY FOR CITY
If you’re a Man United fan it’s best to stay under the duvet today. Chirps like, “United’s players will be kicking themselves but they’d probably miss as well” and “They’re only two points above the relegation zone” will be doing the rounds, but admittedly they were abysmal in their 3-0 shellacking by Liverpool at Old Trafford. It’s no surprise that after only three matches of the new EPL season, already Everton’s Sean Dyche and United’s Erik ten Hag are being tipped to win the annual “sack race” – the first manager out of the job.
At the other end of the table though it’s smooth sailing for Man City, and in particular Erling Haaland who is threatening to tear EPL records to shreds. He himself already has seven goals from three games, including two hat-tricks. He’s scored as many goals as Man United, Crystal Palace, Everton and Southampton put together.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe summarising the mood of the club's fans 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/GadgLnJpXY
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 1, 2024
BOKS DELIVER DESPITE ‘OFF DAY’
Four was the number. The Springboks again got their supporters chewing their fingernails and again they came up trumps in a tense Test match. This time it was four points, 31-27, although we’re still not quite recovered following those series of one-pointers during the World Cup. In reading the comments of experts and fans – how I continue to wish that one says we’ll see where the referee is not lambasted and we can talk about the actual rugby – I came across one that stuck.
“If the Springboks can beat the All Blacks with a 6 out of 10 performance, then how can they lose the second Test in a week’s time”. It certainly sounds like the Boks had the character and again a refusal to lose that makes them world No1’s. Even when not at their best.
KA-CHING1 SCOTTIE CASHES IN
Men’s world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler signed off an incredible year when he won the season-ending PGA Tour Championship. It was his seventh win of the season and the greatest year since Tiger Woods won eight times in 2006. The $25-million jackpot of the Tour Championship is the biggest first prize in golf. That pushed his season earnings to $62m. Who needs LIV, eh?
Christiaan Bezuidenhout was the only South African in the 30-man Tour Championship at East Lake and pocketed $555,000 (R10m) for finishing tie 29th. Across the pond at the British Masters, the consistent Thriston Lawrence finished runner-up to Dane Niklas Moller.
Scottie Scheffler is the 2024 #FedExCup champion! 🏆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 1, 2024
His win @TOURChamp is his SEVENTH this year, the most in a season since 2007. pic.twitter.com/UiZyzrkBrt
US OPEN DRAWS BLOWN WIDE OPEN
Men’s seeds Nos 1, 4, 5 and 9 survived through to the second week of the US Open and few could have predicted that both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz would have departed the scene before the round of 16. However, that’s what happened and there’s now only one former champion in the draw.
Daniil Medvedev is the No5 and he is on a quarter-final collision course with top seed Jannick Sinner. That match feels more like a final than a last eight and the eventual champion might well come from there. On the women’s side, No. 3 seed Coco Gauff was a casualty, which leaves the Nos 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 are still in the draw as we head towards the quarter-finals.
It wasn’t meant to be tonight. Well played, @AlexeiPopyrin99. Time for me to relax, regroup and move on. Until next time, NYC. 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wsh4F9YzEQ
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 31, 2024
RED BULL STILL MISFIRING AS PRESSURE MOUNTS
It’s been six races since Max Verstappen has been on pole and seven races since the world champion last won a Grand Prix. With eight grands prix remaining it’s not inconceivable that the seemingly unstoppable Dutchman could yet be caught, with Lando Norris doing the chasing. The famous Italian GP at Monza was won by Charles Leclerc in his fire-engine red Ferrari and there won’t have been a win celebrated by more people anywhere in the world on the weekend, including Liverpool’s.
Something seems amiss at Red Bull HQ and if ever there was a season to make a Netflix Drive To Survive, this one is shaping into it. The odds still stacked in favour of Verstappen, and the fortnight’s break before starting again in Azerbaijan could get the Red Bull back on track. Or not.
MHLONGO DELIVERS GOLD IN STADE DE FRANCE
Mpumelelo Mhlongo opened Team SA’s medals account at the 2024 Paris Paralympics when he claimed gold in the T44 100m at a packed Stade de France. T44 is for athletes with movement affected at a low or moderate degree in one lower leg.
They have unaffected knee joints allowing for controlled power delivery but they must focus harder to sense and grip the track surface. The South African, who was also flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, won in 11.16sec and was emotional afterwards as he spoke about what winning meant to him. His sprint teammate Puseletso Mabote marked himself as favourite to win T63 100m gold on Monday night after equalling the Paralympic record of 12.05sec.
🥇 GOLD for Mpumelelo Mhlongo! 🥇
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) September 1, 2024
Mpumelelo takes the Men’s 100m T44 Final in a season-best time of 11.12 seconds! ⚡️ A brilliant race for a brilliant athlete. Let’s celebrate this incredible achievement together! 💥🇿🇦#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #MpumeleloMhlongo #Gold pic.twitter.com/jWpPlqIbXo
AROUND THE WATER COOLER…
Brad Binder finished fourth in the Gran Premio De Aragon (Spain) Moto GP as Marc Marquez led home a Spanish 1-2-3. The South African is sixth on the world standings as the show moves to San Marino next …
The Bulls’ horns have been blunted in recent weeks and their 57-33 mauling to the Lions gave the Johannesburg-based side all the impetus needed entering the final round …
The MTN 8 final will be between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch, after they won their two-leg semi-finals over Cape Town City (3-1) and favourites Sundowns (2-0) …
England again won a cricket Test inside four days when they beat Sri Lanka by 190 runs at Lord’s …
The Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh was more precariously poised midway through into the penultimate day.
