There was wide gamut of sporting action over the weekend and 3news.com’s Yaw Ofosu Larbi picks his five major highlights.
- EPL title race thrown open
Conventional wisdom is that the English Premier League title is Chelsea’s to lose. Crystal Palace ripped that conventional wisdom apart on Sunday with a well executed comeback win over Chelsea. The Blues still sit pretty on the top of the standings with a seven point advantage over closest rivals Tottenham Hotspurs. But with games to come against Man City on Wedneday, plus Spurs and Manchester United later, it looks like there will finally be a proper title race worth the name.
- Some respite for Wenger
Had Arsenal lost this, it would have been almost certainly been a final goodbye to their top four ambitions which would have represented their worst season under Arsene Wenger. Instead they showed great fight to peg Manchester City back twice and regain some belief. Arsenal are still six points off fourth place behind City and Manchester United but at least the manner of their fight back buys Wenger a bit more time.
- Hearts, Kotoko stumble
Defeat for Hearts, draw for Kotoko and heat for the two foreign managers in charge of both clubs. The resumption of the Ghana Premier League was supposed to provide a hint on how the country’s top two clubs will react to their controversial meeting in Accra two weeks ago. Answer was not well. Hearts went down in Berekum to Chelsea, effectively throwing away the gains from the Kotoko win. Kotoko meanwhile were goal shy in Kumasi, increasing the pressure on coach Zradko Lagarosic. The Phobians are now 8th on the standings with only 12 points from nine matches, six behind Kotoko. The Porcupine Warriors are top of the standings but Aduana Stars have a game in hand on them
- Evergreen Federer
Roger Federer won his third title of the season on Sunday with a straight sets win over Rafael Nadal at the Miami Open. The 35 year old has now beaten Nadal three times this year, won a staggering 20 out of 21 matches, and is unbeaten against top ten opponents in seven meetings. He has won the Australian Open plus the Indian Wells and now Miami tour titles. Being old has never felt so good.
- Undertaker retires
One of Wrestling’s greats, The Undertaker retired from the sport on Sunday. Upon entering the ring on Sundaynight, the legend removed his gloves, coat and trademark hat and left it lying in the center of the ring. Taker received tributes from legends before him, colleagues and mostly from fans who have enjoyed his art for 27 years.
By Yaw Ofosu Larbi|3news.com|Ghana