Heat Check

The Miami Heat have pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster deals in NBA history; getting superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks for a whole host of players & draft picks. Of course; this deal has been brewing for some time; with Giannis & the Bucks' relationship having soured after their historic NBA championship win back in 2021.

It's safe to say things haven't developed since then; to the point that previous head coach Doc Rivers & Giannis had some disagreements; leading to Giannis' frequent injury problems last season; the failed experiment with Damian Lillard; and now ultimately this.

But who gets the better of the deal? I dare say Milwaukee. At 31; Giannis' best days may be behind him; and his form & injury problems look set to mount up in the coming seasons. The Bucks on the other hand; acquire a legit superstar in sharpshooter Tyler Herro; someone you can surely build your team around; and a whole host of draft picks that may yet serve them well in the years ahead. Let's see how this one plays out.

That Kolek Moment

A rather bizarre scene happened at the New York Knicks' championship parade recently; one that surely doesn't happen very often. Tyler Kolek; a 6'2" reserve point guard of the Knicks; was mistaken by security to be a crazed fan trying to literally hop on the bandwagon.

Not sure who should be more ashamed; him or the security officer involved. I'm sure he wasn't best pleased; as it shows he is simply not famous enough lol. Averaging about 11 minutes per game; it is not like he doesn't play at all. Perhaps the security officers just weren't big Knicks fans.

Africa Calling

I just love Morocco. The reigning African champions are so pleasing on the eye it's untrue. Playing with a confidence & swagger that was unimaginable just 10 years ago; the Atlas Lions now look to build on their semi-final showing at the last World Cup.

It's safe to say they gave Brazil a real scare in this one. The record 5-time champions are used to having things their own way; but on this day; it was them who were making the mistakes. I didn't quite like their line-up to be honest. Igor Thiago of Brentford should not be their first-choice striker; and Roger Ibanez & Douglas Santos are nowhere near Cafu & Roberto Carlos at full-back. Also; the fact they are still relying on Casemiro & Fabinho in the middle of the park shows there's not enough good players coming through.

On the other side, Morocco are vibrant and looking good. Achraf Hakimi is the best right-back in the world; and on the other flank; Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui is not a bad choice either. On the right wing; you have the manacling flair of Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz; of which all good things seem to flow through. But the one that really excites me is 18 year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi in the center of the park. For one so young; he seems so composed and elegant in central midfield; with a good engine to boot. It's no wonder that Manchester United is now keeping tabs on him.

The Stars-Spangled Banner

32 years ago, when the USA last hosted the World Cup; they were almost a joke. It seemed that any team could beat them. Fast forward to now; and things could not be more different. Managed by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino; they are a team packed with stars; such as former Chelsea ace Christian Pulisic; Juventus mainstay Weston McKennie and Crystal Palace's outstanding defender Chris Richards.

And the way they played this morning; with a sharpness and pace that was just beautiful to watch; in their 4-1 hammering of Paraguay; meant that they have to be taken seriously. With a 4-2-3-1 formation that plays to their strengths; they rely on speed on the wings and penetrating passes to overlapping runners. And with wing-backs like Sergino Dest & Antonee Robinson; this suits them down to a tee. In striker Folarin Balogun; they also have perhaps the hottest striker in the world; as evidenced by his two confident strikes.

There is also a touch of nostalgia to their team; with no less than 3 sons of former legends. Giovanni Reyna; son of Claudio; capped off the night with an outstanding fourth; while Timothy Weah (son of Ballon D'Or winner George) impressed on the right wing and Sebastian Berhalter (son of coach Gregg) was another substitute. It will be very interesting to see how the US progresses in this tournament.

Mexico Wave

Mexico opened the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the best way possible; beating South Africa 2-0 in a style that could yet make them the dark horses for this tournament. Riding the wave of their frenetic fan support; they were confident & stylish on the biggest stage; proving too powerful for a South African team that always looked second-best.

South Africa made things difficult for themselves; with Sphephelo Sithole losing the ball in dangerous territory deep in his own half; allowing the impressive Julian Quinones to open the scoring with a low drive. Things got worse for the Africans when Sithole was sent off for a goal-denying foul on midfielder Brian Gutierrez.

Mexico basically sealed the win shortly after when Fulham legend Raul Jimenez headed home from Roberto Alvarado's cross. But there was still more drama to come when 36 year-old substitute Thema Zwane was dismissed for a careless slap on Alvarado; before Mexico captain Cesar Montes was himself sent off after another goal-denying challenge on Khuliso Mudau. There was also an appearance for 17 year-old Mexican prodigy Gilberto Mora; who became the second-youngest player to appear at a World Cup after the legendary Pele.

The Trump Card

With Donald Trump watching the game; the New York Knicks could not deal with the pressure & surprisingly lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a thriller at Madison Square Garden; meaning the series is now back on a knife-edge at 2-1 to the Knicks.

It was not just Trump; a whole host of celebrities were there such as Timothee Chalamet;; Spike Lee; Jay-Z; Derek Jeter and Tracy Morgan. It was perhaps all too overwhelming for the Knicks; who looked nervous in decisive moments and ultimately cost them the game.

On the other side; San Antonio played like their lives depended on it; and it showed. With a grit & determination facading a must-win game; they stayed cool under pressure and were simply more decisive in the pivotal moments.

The Spurs are a handful for anyone these days. With a young & athletic line-up such as De'Aaron Fox; Stephon Castle; Devin Vassell & rookie Dylan Harper; they are a tough match for anybody; and it was this exact line-up that they relied on to see them through the final crucial moments. Perhaps fittingly; it was Castle & then Fox who came up with the big shots to take the game beyond the Knicks' reach.

New York, New York

In 1999; the 8th seed of the Eastern Conference miraculously reached the NBA Finals behind the scorching play of Latrell Sprewell; only to meet a team too good to beat; Tim Duncan & the San Antonio Spurs.

27 years later; it is exactly the same but only reverse; the Knicks are now dominant over a supposedly-stronger Spurs side; and this could very well be a sweep if we aren't careful. The only difference of course; is that the Knicks are the underdogs; proving even more remarkable.

There have been some comparison to the 2004 Detroit Pistons; another unbelievable team that had no superstars but an incredible team ethic. Ditto now. The Knicks have Jalen Brunson; but who else? The likes of Josh Hart; Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are hardly household names; but man they are good.

With the Villanova combination and Anunoby's superb versatility; they are a handful for anybody; never mind their team chemistry already. But the key player right now is Karl-Anthony Towns. Long criticized & even ridiculed; he is proving everyone wrong & playing with a vengeance; at the same time nullifying the Spurs' biggest threat Victor Wembanyama.

So this much awaited Finals could be over before we know it; the Knicks are back on their home-court and it could well be a a sweep. Except this time - everyone is surprised.

Missing The Beat

For all its hype, 'Michael' turned out to be pretty disappointing. I'm just surprised it did so well at the box office & was rated the third-highest selling biographical movie of all time.

It started out pretty decently; with Michael Jackson starting out with his brothers in the Jackson 5 and seeing how his early brushes with his strict father might have impacted his future personality. However; as the movie goes on; it borders into mediocrity and does not tell anything about Michael which you don't already know.

Surprisingly; it delves almost all the positives of Michael's life & career; with no mention of his child pornography charges; his controversial ways or even his sister Janet. As such; it wastes a glorious opportunity to explore deep into his character and let people understand who he really is. In the end; some of the concert performances seem a tad long-drawn too; and you find yourself seemingly watching a second-grade Jackson concert instead.

It also ends rather abruptly at the Bad concert tour; which is still relatively early in his career. It does have a sequel though; but there is a lot of improvement it could reach out for.

Missing The Jackpot

In a rather surprising move; Liverpool have sacked manager Arne Slot after seeming to renew his contract. He has gone from hero to zero so quickly after just one season from leading Liverpool to an impressive Premier League title-winning campaign.

On hindsight though; perhaps he just had to go. Their title defence has been nothing short of shambolic. After a few lucky last-minute victories early in the season; they only papered over the cracks; as a stunning run of losses saw them out of the title frame pretty early on.

His signings have also been a big part of it. After having spent a British record £450 million in the transfer market; they were supposed to get better. Instead they got worse. Alexander Isak; the protracted £125 million signing was a huge disappointment; struggling with form & fitness; and basically looking a shadow of his former self at Newcastle United. Even worse was Florian Wirtz; perhaps the best player in Germany; that could not handle the transition to the Premiership and spent most of the season looking bamboozled.

Another problem was the team harmony. Mohamed Salah; so long a legend at the club; was reduced to 'interview chaos' as he couldn't get along with Slot and was amazingly benched for some high-profile matches. In the end; his impending departure proved a real bugbear for the club; with him either starting or not starting also proving a problematic scenario.

So I guess there was no other option. Andoni Iraola is the man most likely to get the job; and he has done an impressive job taking Bournemouth to 6th in the league and one of the most eye-watering sides. The question though will remain: if he can bring his success to Liverpool; or have it all erased in the blink of an eye.

To Hull & Back

The most expensive match in football history ended in dramatic fashion as usual; as Oli McBurnie poked home a 95th minute winner to send Hull City back into the Premiership at the expense of lucky 'Spygate' losers Middlesbrough.

Hull had only finished 6th in the Championship and were arguably the worst team in the Playoffs; but after an exhausting 46-game season and the Spygate scandal; they have finally achieved the unlikely. They are a team that excels more out of possession than in; with Boro unable to muster up any clear-cut chances despite having the lion's share of possession.

Thoughts will now turn to the new season; and whether Hull can survive in the top flight and maybe become another Sunderland. At first glance; they do not have much Premier League quality nor experience; with only John Lundstram; now 32; a former standout at Sheffield United.

Brave New World

Thomas Tuchel; no stranger to controversy; has done the unthinkable. He has left out a whole host of top stars for England's World Cup squad; something which simply has never been done before.

Phil Foden; Cole Palmer; Trent Arnold-Alexander; Harry Maguire; Luke Shaw; Morgan Gibbs-White; Jarred Bowen; Adam Wharton & Lewis Hall can now enjoy their summer in Barbados after being left off the plane to US; Canada & Mexico this June. All were considered near-certainties; as Tuchel stressed the preference of the 'team' over 'individual' selection.

In their place are some shocking additions such as John Stones; who has hardly featured for Manchester City this season due to injury; Ivan Toney, who seemed way off the radar in Saudi Arabia; Jarrel Quansah, a forgotten man now at Bayer Leverkusen; and Jordan Henderson, the Brentford midfielder thought way past his Liverpool best.

The pressure is now well & truly on Tuchel; as the country bids to end their long 60-year wait to win the greatest prize on Earth.

Gang Of New York

There's something special about New York basketball. Through the years; whether good or bad; the New York Knicks have always gained an oversized spectrum in our collective consciousness. Maybe it's the storied history; maybe it's Madison Square Garden; but there's something riveting and almost hallowed when we talk about this particular NBA franchise.

We remember that memorable run in 1994; when Patrick Ewing and his physical team nearly made it to the Promised Land; only to be denied by The Dream's Team; where no-one was about to stop Hakeem Olajuwon that season. We remember that 1999 run; when the Latrell Sprewell-inspired team defied all the odds and became the first 8th-seeded team to nearly win it all. We remember Allan Houston's long-hanging jumper that fell through as the Knicks upset the top-seeded Heat.

And now this season; there's finally a reason to believe again. It's not just a possibility; but this season the Knicks feel like they could really do some business. They weren't all-conquering in the Regular Season; but as the Playoffs have progressed; it seems the chemistry of this team is now reaching Championship proportions. As the Pistons and Cavaliers slug it out in a Game 7; the Knicks showed their mettle in demolishing the Philadelphia 76ers (not an easy team themselves) in a 4-0 sweep.

Jalen Brunson is the undisputed leader of the gang; but he is ably supported by center Karl-Anthony Towns and a trio of athletic wingmen: Josh Hart; OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. The favorites are of course still the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder; but if the Knicks can reach the Finals again; you never know what might happen.

It's A Kind Of Magic

The NBA Playoffs season is well & truly in the air; and there are exciting matches all round. None more so than in Orlando; as the surprising Magic have now taken a 2-1 lead over the much-fancied Detroit Pistons. This could be one of the greatest 8th seed v 1st seed upsets since the days of Baron Davis & the Golden State Warriors.

There's something about this Magic tram. They kind of underperformed in the Regular Season; falling to the dreaded Play-In Tournament where they just about made it out to secure the 8th seed. After stunning the Pistons in Game 1; they were beaten convincingly in Game 2. And in Game 3; they managed to build a substantial lead into the 4th quarter; only to see the Pistons come roaring back to take the lead themselves.

But this Magic team seems to perform best when the chips are down. With the multi-dimensional talents of Paolo Banchero; Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs; they are a match for anybody; and they reeled off the final points with some tough shots to take this even contest. They thought they could prove a handful when they get the chance; and that's exactly how things are shaping up now.

Deck The Dewsbury-Hall

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saved the day for Everton; rattling in an improbable 91st-minute equalizer at the end of a pulsating 2-2 draw with fellow high-flyers Brentford in the English Premier League.

It had all started so badly for Everton; as an innocuous long ball from Brentford somehow found its way to an advancing Kevin Schade; who was tripped by Jordan Pickford as he bore down on the Everton goal. Igor Thiago; now just behind Erling Haaland with 21 goals for the Golden Boot; rifled in an unstoppable penalty to put the Bees in front.

Everton are made of stern stuff these days though; and after some sustained pressure; it was main striker Beto who nodded them level after being picked up well by Idrissa Gueye's flighted cross.

Brentford came out energised for the second half though; and after their period of sustained pressure; it was Thiago again who put them back up after he rather fortuitously deflected in Michael Kayode's toe-poke shot. Things looked doomed for the visitors; until Dewsbury-Hall's late heroics rescued the day; and ensured both teams are still on course for European qualification.

Sing When You're Winning

Singapore wrapped up a successful Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh in front of 30,000 bouncing fans at the National Stadium. It was a night of celebration all round; with the host nation already qualified thanks to their nerve-wrecking 2-1 away victory of Hong Kong in the previous round of matches.

With Shazza performing 'Home' and even Iman Fandi performing as part of the pre-match festivities; the match certainly had an air of celebration about it; and Singapore played its part with a customary victory to ensure it finished top of Group C with an unbeaten record. It was right-winger Harhys Stewart who did the honors; steering home a pot-shot after the ball had broken neatly to him after Glenn Kweh's initial shot was parried by the Bangladesh custodian Mitul Marma.

Bangladesh; featuring Leicester City superstar Hamza Choudhury in their side; started a bit timid but grew into it as the match went on; and were actually the more dominant side in the second half. They had chances to equalize; notably when Safuwan Baharudin was forced to clear off his line in the first half; and their best chance came in the 79th minute; when substitute Mirajul Islam hit the post after latching on to Choudhury's cross.

City Of Angels

City have never looked this good. And Liverpool have never looked this bad. All this came to fruition in a supposedly-close FA Cup Quarter-Final that turned into an embarrassing 4-0 exhibition for City. Liverpool's previously invincible aura is now in smithereens; not helped by the ever-hanging cloud of legend Mohamed Salah's impending departure; that culminated in the former fan favorite's dismal game; first missing Liverpool's best chance that could have made this contest all so different; followed by a penalty miss when they were already 4-0 down in front of a half-empty stadium.

City; after a slightly shaky start; are now looking more ominous by the week; and this performance seemed to exemplify that return to supremacy; with their famed passing game now reaching overdrive. Part of that resurgence stems from their influx of new talent; not least 21 year-old Nico O'Reilly; who is looking greater with every passing week and is now surely a lock for the England starting spot at left-back for the coming World Cup 2026. Add to that the mercurial talents of Rayan Cherki and the indisputable wing-play of Jeremy Doku; and suddenly the world has a problem again.

Erling Haaland has not had the greatest form in 2026; scoring only 5 goals in 19 appearances; but alas; he was back to his best today; scoring a near-perfect hat-trick as the Liverpool defence just failed to keep up with the Norwegian's sublime movement. By the time van Dijk & company had woken up from their slumber; they were already 0-4 down and game over; cut open time & again by the marauding City attack.

Beto The Devil You Know

There are some nights where everything works like magic. Where every player plays well and everything goes according to plan. And the opposite happens for the opposition. Well this was exactly that. Everton; while going OK; were still decided underdogs against a powerful Chelsea side.

In the end though; it was the exact opposite. Chelsea; already reeling from 3 consecutive losses that saw them torpedoed out of the Champions League by reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain on a 2-8 aggregate; should have smelt something fishy happening. Liam Rosenior is in trouble and the team know it.

And the way they started was symptomatic of it all. Too casual; and too careless. Robert Sanchez looked a bundle of nerves in goal; and he wasn't helped at all by a sloppy defence and midfield that saw Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia also giving away cheap balls in possession.

Everton on the other hand; were everything Chelsea were not. Hungry and energetic in possession; they pressed well and found the moves when it mattered. The pleasant surprise was Beto; so lambasted this season for his lack of goals and commitment; came up trumps in both; first with a coolly-dinked finish; then a decisive shot that surely Sanchez had to take the blame.

By the time Iliman Ndiaye did his trademark run and jink and arrow into the top corner; it was done & truly dusted. It was one of the greatest Everton performances ever seen; one that made a superstar team like Chelsea look very ordinary indeed. Everton are now remarkably just 2 points behind Chelsea and 3 behind Liverpool; with Champions League qualification now a distinct possibility. While Chelsea stay mired in 6th and in danger of losing everything this season.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Arsenal's Ben White was the man of the moment; first prodding home at the far post to give England the lead; before turning villain by committing a rash foul on Federico Vinas in stoppage time to hand Uruguay a penalty and salvage a 1-1 draw in a glorified friendly at Wembley before the World Cup finals 2026.

Both teams were rather cagey in this one; as they seemed more intent not to lose than actually going for the win; but England did show some nice touches from their attackers such as Noni Madueke; Marcus Rashford and substitute Cole Palmer. Shoutout also to Everton debutant James Garner; who acquitted himself well in the middle of the park; covering ground and breaking up play; as he usually does at his club Everton.

For Uruguay; they would have been delighted to come away with a draw. Managed by El Loco himself Marcelo Bielsa; they looked slightly shaky while playing out from the back; and the general feel is they are a little too reliant on their main superstar Federico Valverde. As usual; they also have a tendency for over-aggressive tackles and may lose their composure when things don't go their way. On this night though; it did.

In The Nico Of Time

Nico O'Reilly - surely a lock-on to start for England at left-back in the coming World Cup 2026 - was the man of the moment; coming up with 2 decisive headers to power Manchester City to a much-needed Carabao Cup final win over heated rivals Arsenal.

While the first half was very much a close & tight affair; City found the energy to turn things up in the second half; and Arsenal inexplicably looked tired & withdrawn, It could be that the long-drawn pressure of going for all four competitions is taking its toll; plus an injury-stretched squad and the constant need to 'not bottle it'. Whatever it was; Arsenal looked out of it and were there for the taking.

Mikel Arteta should also look at himself. The right side of City's attack was looking dangerous; and he surely should have brought off the nervous Piero Hincapie for Riccardo Calafiori much earlier than he did; looking how the latter looked threatening and even hit the post with Arsenal's closest effort so far.

As it was; it was not a great surprise that both goals came from City attacks on the right; with Rayan Cherki lifting in a cross that was howled by the equally-nervous Kepa Arrizabalaga; who perhaps should have been dropped in favor of the steadier David Raya. The second goal was more of the same; with right-back Matheus Nunes this time crossing in a classic right-back to left-back combo that spoke volumes of City's domination.

In the end; the beating was so severe that Cherki resorted to doing the legendary keepie-uppies in the Arsenal half; surely the greatest humiliation any team could face. It was that kind of a night.

No Hollywood Ending

Wrexham; perhaps the team most in the news these days; nearly produced another miraculous upset; taking the lead twice against the best team in the world Chelsea; before finally falling short after going down to 10 men and fading off in extra time.

In an epic encounter at the Racecourse Ground, Sam Smith (not the singer) raced clear to put Wrexham ahead in the 18th minute; but Chelsea fought back & levelled 5 minutes before half-time; after an unfortunate goal-line clearance from George Thomason ricocheted off his own goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo into their own net.

In the second period; Wrexham found the wherewithal to take the lead again; when Josh Windass; son of the Hull legend Dean Windass; saw his long shot deflect in off Callum Doyle to set the stage for another major upset. Alas they would not hold the lead for long; as defender Josh Acheampong found a way & rocked the ball into the roof to bring Chelsea level again.

The turning point of the contest was arguably the sending-off of George Dobson in the 93rd minute. Wrexham seemed to fade after that; and goals from Alejandro Garnacho & Joao Pedro ensured there would be no fairy tale for Ryan Reynolds' men on this night. Chelsea will look forward to a slightly bigger team in Paris Saint-Germain in midweek; while Wrexham will continue their spirited push toward the Premiership.

Harden To Believe

One of the big trades coming out of the NBA recently is the high-stakes gamble between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers; with the Cavaliers acquiring superstar guard James Harden in exchange for young All-Star Darius Garland.

After the smoke had settled; I can see that both teams have benefited from this one. For the Cavaliers; it is a move for the now; with Harden instantly pairing up with another superstar guard in Donovan Mitchell; that instantly puts the Cavaliers into title contention. For the Clippers; it is one for the future; with 26 year-old Garland; at 10 years younger than Harden; setting them up nicely for things to come.

It is of course a bit sad to see Harden departing the Clippers; he is someone you always love to watch; and his excellent form this season has propelled the Clippers back into Playoff contention after a disastrous 6-21 start. However; perhaps the rumors of him not getting along with Kawhi Leonard are true; and with Garland representing a new wave of optimism; the Clippers surely had to bite at this one.

No Apology Needed

I'm not really a big OneRepublic fan; but this was a pretty good concert I must say. Even though we've seen them before; they seemed bigger on this one; more confident, more vocal and with that much more swagger. Maybe it is their added experience; that added prestige, but somehow there was considerably more energy to this one than before.

Ryan Tedder is a pretty decent singer; but I felt he was trying a bit hard to stretch his voice at times; which led sometimes to feeling it was in danger of being over-strained. The band got off to an early start with Good Life; before settling into a litany of their famous fast songs such as Rescue Me, Run & Something I Need. The problem with them is that some of their fast songs sound a little similar; which is OK if you're a big OneRepublic fan but not so much if you're just drifting along.

The high points, not unexpectedly, were their big songs such as Secrets, Apologize and Counting Stars. Especially Apologize; when the first beats come on; it really does signify their biggest song, even though it was their first. And while Counting Stars really brought everyone on their feet, it was an appropriate finale; the more measured If I Lose Myself that brought the night to a suitable close.

Taking It All

The latest documentary to roll out from Netflix is 'Take That'; a comprehensive 3-episode blockbuster of the greatest boyband in the world back in the 90s. The thing I like about this documentary is well; its completeness; it covers never-before-seen juicy details and doesn't hold anything back.

As such; we see things we never saw before; such as the rift between Gary Barlow & Robbie Williams that eventually led to the latter leaving; and the continued jealousy as Williams soared way over Barlow in what nobody really expected. In the end though; perhaps inevitably as they started to mature; true sense meant they got back together again.

My favorite is actually the final episode; when the story zooms in on their re-birth if you will. Just like Pet Shop Boys; Roxette and a host of others; I actually liked them more after their peak period; when I felt their songs were actually better and maybe less teeny-boppyish. U know what I mean ;-) the Patience days when they seemed to find a new level. I also struggled to hold back a tear when I saw Williams reuniting with the band again after years away... that was something to behold.

The Race Is Run

There were many juicy Champions League matches to choose from; but I chose the Real Madrid v Benfica one. Why? It was simply the hottest ticket in town; everyone was talking about it; and not just for football terms of course.

Real were already leading 1-0 from the first leg coming back to the Bernabeu. But you could never count this Jose Mourinho-led Benfica team out. As if to a tee; they even took the lead on this warm; tense night in Madrid. Veteran Rafa Silva; retired from the international game but very much still on the club scene; is regarded as something of a hero in his second stint at Benfica; and who else but him to prod home on the second attempt after a near-own goal from Marcos Asencio.

Just when the nerves were coming in though; up stepped Aurelien Tchouameni; who steered home brilliantly from Federico Valverde's cut-back to calm the Madrid nerves and put the match back on Real's terms. And it got better for them; when who else but Vinicius Jr latched on to another through-ball from Valverde; and passed brilliantly into the side netting after racing clear.

Real progress to the next round; where a mouth-watering clash with Manchester City awaits.

Point God

One of the big news coming out of the NBA recently is the retirement of Chris Paul; one of the greatest point guards in the history of the game. At 40 years old and playing in his 21st season; the man aptly named 'Point God' had defied the laws of longevity in recent seasons; but it looks like the time has finally come.

At 6'0", Paul was not the biggest; but he more than made up for it with his unparalleled court intelligence; heart and devasting elbow jumper. He played for a host of teams; but is perhaps best remembered for his time in the Los Angles Clippers as the chief protagonist of Lob City; when he threw alley-oops to Blake Griffin & DeAndre Jordan at will.

Not surprisingly; he was coveted by many teams; and his time in both the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets saw him come pretty close to winning the NBA championship. Sadly though; he could not quite achieve the ultimate accolade. Perhaps sadly too; his time at the end was perhaps an ignominious way to exit after a glorious career; with him perhaps antagonizing people the wrong way and ending up with an abrupt booting-out at the Clippers again, of all teams.

How does he rank overall in the pantheon of legends? For point guard; I rate him only behind Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton and Steve Nash. That's pretty high territory. His complete court coverage and leadership make him stand out. He was also in the All-NBA First Team 4 times; which means he was the best point guard in the world for 4 seasons.

A Lot Of Fight

The National Basketball Association (NBA) seems to be taking something of a resurgence in recent times. With stars and entertainment on a high; the league seems to be more high-profile than ever; and the competitiveness has taken on a new level. With that new level however, has come up a new level of fights and violence, exacerbated by the prevalence of social media.

Fights of course are nothing new to the NBA; back in 1977 we had the infamous Maurice Lucas v Darryl Dawkins boxing match; then came the Larry Bird v Julius Erving affair in 1984; when Dr. J seemingly couldn't take the dominant Bird's trash-talk. But it seems to be happening rather often in recent years.

Probably the greatest brawl of all time occurred in 2004 in the 'Malice at the Palace'; a fight so legendary it became a Netflix documentary. The defending champion Pistons were bring humiliated at home by the upstart Indiana Pacers; and with the game winding to an end; the touch-paper was lit by a hard foul by Ben Wallace on Ron Artest; which eventually led to everyone getting involved and players chasing down fans in the stands.

Another notable fight occurred around 2021-22 when LeBron James and Isaiah Stewart got into it; with blood streaming down Stewart's face and him not giving it up even when the situation seemed to have been diffused with coaches; referees and everyone else holding them back.

And it was Stewart who was again involved in the league's latest altercation; when the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons met the red-hot Charlotte Hornets; who were on a 9-game winning streak. What began as a hard foul by Moussa Diabate on Jalen Duren developed into an all-out brawl; with Miles Bridges & Stewart getting involved & all hell breaking loose. There used to be a saying that NBA players was soft. That is certainly not the case now.

Beto Late Than Never

Everton have been having a bit of a topsy-turvy season; with stunning away victories buffeted by lethargic home displays. Thus as they lined up for an away game with a talented Brighton & Hove Albion outfit; it was anybody's guess which version would turn up.

The match was rather cagey; with both teams seemingly scared of each other's good form rather than trying to go for the win. And it all looked like going wrong for Everton again; when Pascal Gross; something of a cult hero in these parts; swept home after a lovely dummy from substitute Charalampos Costoulas. It was a lovely homecoming for Gross; who made a romantic return to his former club after a sojourn in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.

Brighton looked like they had sewn it up when Kaoru Mitoma finished neatly; but it was disallowed for an offside on Joel Veltman. Just when it seemed Everton were doomed; up stepped substitute Beto to fire home after Jake O'Brien's shot was palmed out into the danger zone by Bart Verbruggen. In the end; Brighton would be disappointed to give up the victory in this late manner. But for Everton; their upswing continues on; with their unbeaten run now reaching 4 games.

Mile High Victory

This was shaping up to be a delicious match-up. The Denver Nuggets had the surprise return of their star player Nikola Jokic after 16 games out; and the Los Angeles Clippers were the hottest team in the NBA; going at a 16-3 clip after a dismal 6-21 start. And by and large; that was exactly what we got. The intensity was awesome; players fighting for every ball; true Playoffs-style.

In the end though; it was the Nuggets who proved too strong; utilizing their relentless offense and unbridled chemistry to suffocate the Clippers in the 4th quarter. Jokic had a stellar game on his return; looking like he was never away; but he was ably supported by sidekick Jamal Murray (who is looking more & more like a Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan); and supporting cast such as Peyton Watson; Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway Junior.

What makes the Nuggets more ominous is that they actually went 10-6 during the time Jokic was out; which even included absences to key starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson. That actually forced the rest of the team to play better; such as small forward Watson, Spencer Jones and even Bruce Brown. That's why they have such a deep & loaded squad now; with tremendous chemistry; that makes them a serious force to be reckoned with.

Past Tense

The latest movie blockbuster is 'Back To The Past'; a Hong Kong sequel to the seminal 2001 series 'Step Into The Past'; a science-fiction inspired trip back to the Qin Dynasty for a modern policeman. Kind of like an antithesis to Back To The Future; the film brings back the sterling cast of Louis Koo; Raymond Lam; Jessica Hsuan and others; thus ensuring its nostalgic appeal back to the good old days.

With its strategic premise; you get a sense that this film could have been more. But with a good dose of humor; a relatively fast-moving story-line and its nostalgic cast; this makes it just about a hit. However; its strength is also ultimately its failure. By relying on the sequel method and bringing back all the old stars; it more or less makes it a sure-fire hit. But that is exactly the problem it is trying to overcome. Honk Kong shows nowadays are more or less showing the same stars in every show such as Bosco Wong & Charmaine Sheh; and there is just not enough new talent recognized enough to make a breakthrough.

Garnering Attention

We need to talk about James Garner. From being a nobody at Manchester United; he was shipped off to Everton; like so many rejects before him; such as Phil Neville; Tim Howard; Darron Gibson; Tom Cleverley; Morgan Schneiderlin and Louis Saha. While some were good like Neville & Howard; some were bad like Cleverley & Schneiderlin. But now; he is looking like he could be the best.

His initial start at Everton wasn't great. He was only doing average and everyone was complaining he was yet another Man United reject who couldn't make the grade. Slowly but surely though; he has established himself as a hardworking player capable of expressing himself at both ends of the floor. Over the past season or so; he was formed an indelible partnership with the experienced Senegalese international Idrissa Gueye in the centre of the park; and a key component of Everton's rise this season.

What stands him out is his ability to play both sides of the park; thus influencing proceedings and controlling the tempo of the game. His outstanding stamina has allowed him to start every single game this season; surely an unheard of statistic. And nowhere were his traits better shown than in the recent 1-0 win at Villa Park; where he shone and broke up play at every opportunity. With Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands; there is even talk that he may have an outside chance for England at the coming World Cup. Now that would be something.

Up The Toffees

It was the most unexpected victory. The stage was all set for Aston Villa to win again and go a mesmerising 4 points behind league leaders Arsenal. This was after both Arsenal & Manchester City dropped points in a rare occasion. Villa had been the hottest team in the world; winning their last 11 straight matches at Villa Park (8 in the league); and having not lost at home in the past 15 months. Furthermore; Villa had never lost to Everton in their last 13 meetings in the league; winning 9 & drawing 4. Everton were also having a threadbare squad; with no less than 7 first-team players out; either through injury; suspension or the AFCON. Their bench only had 8 players; of which two were 'keepers and two unknown defenders in Reece Welch & Elijah Campbell.

So this made the victory all the more remarkable; on a par with that stunning 10-man upset at Man United earlier in the season. Their away form is actually better than their home form; and it's the style of David Moyes; tough & rugged away from home to squeeze out 1-0 results. Merlin Rohl had sounded the alarm after hitting the post after only 12 seconds; and it was an ominous sign of what was to come. Thierno Barry has been looking the part recently; and Everton perhaps don't need another striker now that he has come of age; scoring the winning chip and winning almost everything in the air.

For Villa; their fans looked aghast as if it couldn't quite be happening. They had expected an easy victory; but it was anything but. Morgan Rogers; the favourite for England at the coming World Cup; had one of his worst games ever; having about 8 chances but squandering them all; especially when he seemed to be skying them higher & higher. They tried to get back into the game but on this night; Everton's impressive willpower and tactical know-how proved too much to overcome.

Cry Wolves

We need to talk about the resurgence of Wolves! While attention has rightly focused on the top of the table; with all teams dropping points & whether Arsenal will bottle it again; a resurgence is happening at the other end of the table.

Wolverhampton Wanderers; looking so abject & hopeless earlier in the season; now look a totally different outfit. And they displayed this precisely in their latest match against a high-flying Newcastle United; themselves looking to intercept the Champions League places. With a confidence & poise belying their current basement position; Rob Edwards' men were well worth their goal-less draw.

Yerson Mosquera inexplicably found himself charging up the field from his centre-back position; while Hugo Bueno has suddenly looked like a decent left-back. But the clearest symbol of Wolves' rise is clearly 18 year-old Matheus Mane; who is looking mature beyond his years. Playing on the left-wing and looking threatening on the ball; he is displaying a new-found confidence & verve that has suddenly made the Wolves look threatening again.

Newcastle may have thought they could win this; but like several sides recently; they were left disappointed again. Their 6'5" beanpole Nick Woltemade had a few chances to win this; but in the end Wolves' defence proved resilient enough. Wolves still remain rooted to the bottom; but suddenly; it appears that hope is on board.

Back To Black

In 1989, Tom Chambers threw down a dunk on Mark Jackson that would change the world. It was the most electrifying dunk in history; with Chambers' knee almost at the top of Jackson's head in an extraordinary show of athleticism. Not surprisingly; that dunk became the calling card of the NBA; appearing on highlight reels and pre-game shows to no end.

Now; finally there could be a dunk to top that. Anthony Black; a 6'7" point guard from the Orlando Magic; took the ball on the fast break; slalomed his way to the hoop and threw down an emphatic dunk over 4 Memphis Grizzlies defenders. What's more; the game was held in Berlin; showcasing the feat to an international audience. Black; so far an unheralded name in the NBA; is having something of a breakout season; averaging 15.7 points while shooting 46.5% from the field. With this moment; his stock is set to soar even higher.

Crystal Clear

In 1988; the most one-sided final was taking place: Liverpool v Wimbledon. It was supposed to be a wash-out. Except Wimbledon didn't read the script. In perhaps the greatest upset ever; Lawrie Sanchez flicked home Dennis Wise's free-kick (a goal I can still see in my mind) and Dave Beasant saved John Aldridge's penalty to complete Wimbledon's fairy-tale win.

In 1992, Wrexham beat Arsenal 2-1 in another huge upset. Wrexham were in the lowly 4th tier; and Arsenal were the reigning league champions. It dun get any bigger than that. In 2015, Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were inexplicably beaten by Bradford City 2-4 at home after having gone 2-0 up. And in 1984; Third Division Bournemouth somehow beat Manchester United (with Bryan Robson) 2-0 in the 3rd Round.

Now there's an upset that beats them all. Unheard of Macclesfield; playing in the 6th tier of English football and a whopping 117 places below high-flying Crystal Palace; the defending champions no less; have beaten them 2-1 in the 3rd Round. Palace may nave rested some players but they still had the likes of England internationals Marc Guehi & Adam Wharton; USA international Chris Richards and Spanish international Yeremy Pino. What's more: they are managed by John Rooney; the younger brother of England legend Wayne; and Francis Jeffers; with a strong Everton connection. The magic of the Cup is very much alive.

Hollywood Stuff

With Ryan Reynolds watching on; Wrexham produced a Hollywood performance to stun Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties after a pulsating 3-3 draw after extra time in the FA Cup Third Round. Forest maybe took the Championship side too lightly; making no fewer than 8 changes from their last Premier League victory over West Ham United; and inevitably paid the price.

Wrexham; ninth in the Championship & going for their 4th straight promotion; are a more than decent outfit; and went up 2-0 and then 3-1 with goals from Liberator Cacace & Ollie Rathbone; and after Igor Jesus had pulled one back for Forest; Dom Hyam looked to have sealed it with a bullet header to restore their two-goal advantage. But substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi showed his quality; scoring two goals to haul Forest level and take the tie to extra time.

Forest looked the likelier in extra-time as their Premier League quality started to shine through; with Omari Hutchinson & Neco Williams going close for the visitors. The home side held on though and ultimately won the penalty shootout; with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo the hero with 2 vital saves. To make the fairytale complete; amongst the penalty scorers for Wrexham were 36 year-old Jay Rodriguez; the former England international; and Josh Windass; son of the Hull City legend Dean Windass.

The End Is Here

Ruben Amorim has been sensationally sacked by Manchester United. Once again; it gives rise to a situation whereby the manager was sacked one year too late; when everyone seemed to know the outcome; but were just hanging on; to no avail in the end.

Hailed a God at Sporting Lisbon; he is the latest world-class manager to end up a disaster at United. If even Jose Mourinho can't do it; who can right? It seems his stubborn use of 3-4-3 formation proved his ultimate downfall; with boss Jason Wilcox not impressed by his desire to keep using it no matter what the results. Well I think you need the players for it; and perhaps 2 better wing-backs than Diogo Dalot  & Patrick Dorgu. U aren't Crystal Palace my friend.

While the team seemed to have improved a little this season; results overall have not been good. A 3-1 loss at Brentford was the writing on the wall; as well as a shocking 12-11 penalty defeat to League Two Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup early on. But I think a true turning point was when they lost 0-1 to 10-man Everton recently at home; when it was obvious the 3-4-3 formation wasn't working.

At pressure to reach the Champions League; the team have struggled under the recent scrutiny; first drawing at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers of all teams; who before that had only 2 points and lost their last 11 straight. Eager to make up for that mess; the team fumbled again; scrambling a 1-1 draw at lowly Leeds in the much-hyped War Of The Roses contest. All that came to a boil as Amorim exploded at the ensuing press conference; basically telling his bosses to do their jobs while he does his; never a good sign in any situation. Amidst all the furore, Gary Neville may also have a part to play in some of his comments on Sky Sports lol

Kawhi!

As Indian Summers go; this could be one for the record books. Not since Gary McAllister's stunning revival for Liverpool has an old-timer brought up the past so much. But that is exactly what Kawhi Leonard has been doing.

I've always been following him. From defensive specialist at San Antonio; he has morphed into an all-out offensive threat; fueled by the stunning NBA championship win at Toronto Raptors and now lo & behold; landing in my favourite Los Angeles Clippers team with James Harden.

The Clippers did not start well; ending up with a dismal 6-21 record that no one expected; especially as they were considered one of the dark horses for the title. But like the proverbial phoenix out of the ashes; Leonard has suddenly woken up to take the league by storm.

Witness his 55-point outburst against the league's surprise team Detroit Pistons; and further 40-point performances as the Clippers went on a 6-game win streak; and suddenly their season looks rather promising again. His ability has always been there; but a litany of injuries and continuity issues had taken their toll over the last few years. Now we are finally seeing the best of Kawhi again; and maybe also for the Clippers.

Africa

This post is far from Toto's seminal 1982 hit (though it could be u know); but about this beautiful tournament called the Africa Cup of Nations. Maybe it's the fact that Zinedine Zidane's son is playing there; maybe it's the miraculous, carnival-like atmosphere in the stands; maybe it's just the cultural football being played out there. But there is something special about this tournament,

I should know. I just watched an absolutely inconsequential game between Equatorial Guinea & Algeria. No matter what happened; Guinea would be last & Algeria would be first in the group. And still it was great. Still both teams played like their lives depended on it. In the last edition; Equatorial Guinea were the talk of the town; stunning all by progressing to the knock-out stages & in fact upsetting Algeria in the process. This time; it couldn't be more opposite as Algeria have won all 3 group games and Guinea have lost all; in a way going according to the form book.

It is now the knock-out phases; and unlike past editions where there were shocks aplenty; this time there are none. That also means that the heavyweights are all in the knock-out stage; meaning many mouth-watering clashes ahead. The likes of Morocco; Nigeria; Ivory Coast; Senegal & Algeria will all be dreaming big; and there remains no clue as to who will come out on tops. Some of the best players in the world are also on show; with the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Ademola Lookman, Amad Diallo; Sadio Mane & Riyad Mahrez all strutting their stuff.

Out Of The Woods

Everton produced a gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance to come up with an impressive 2-0 away win at Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest. Forest tried their best to stamp their authority on the game; but their strategy of playing crosses in from the flanks was not a good one; as James Tarkowski & Jack O'Brien dealt with everything thrown their way. It also didn't help Forest's cause that their main striker was Igor Jesus; slightly smaller & less of a threat than the bigger Chris Wood.

The win was all the more impressive considering Everton were down to their bare bones due to injury issues & the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations; with their best players such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye; Carlos Alcaraz; Michael Keane & Idrissa Gueye all missing in action. Jack Grealish though; was fit enough to be on the bench & gave a useful outing in the final half-hour or so. Credit also to new boy Tyler Dibling; who gave a good account on the right flank & is now looking the part after his big-money move from Southampton in the summer.

Another new boy getting good is striker Thierno Barry. Far from the bumbling start he made; he is now looking strong; winning challenges in the air and even scoring goals such as this one. He even looks happy when substituted off. But Everton's most important player currently could well be James Garner. The former Manchester United man has slowly become their chief midfielder; orchestrating things both offensively & defensively. And his all-encompassing display today; with both a goal & assist; just added to his growing resume. At the end of the day; Everton's sterling display ensured they did not miss the Forest for the trees.

Ipswich Look Perfect Tonight

In 1987; in my first-ever season of watching football; there came a fairy-tale in the form of the FA Cup Final. Lowly Coventry City were pitted against giants Tottenham Hotspur; and it was a true David v Goliath story. It was my first-ever FA Cup Final; and what a great one it was. Against all odds; Coventry beat Spurs 3-2 and my love addiction with football was sealed. I can still see Keith Houchen's diving header in my mind; that was how epic it was.

38 years later; Coventry; languishing for so long in the lower reaches of English football; are back in prime-time. Leading the EFL Championship by a mile and dazzling all with their stunning brand of football; Frank Lampard's side have surprised all & sundry; as nobody saw it coming. Lampard; not having a very good reputation as a manager after failed stints at Chelsea & Everton; seems to have finally found the winning formula.

But not on this night. Facing third-placed Ipswich in a highly-expected top of the table clash; Coventry started off badly; and it stayed that way throughout. Ipswich came with a relentless style of passing football; and in all apsects of the game; they were on top. After a rather dominant first half from the Tractor Boys; you would expect Coventry to raise their game in the second; but it was more of the same.

At the end of the day; strikes from the impressive Jack Clarke and substitute Wes Burns condemned Coventry to a demoralizing home defeat. It ended their unbeaten record at home this season; and was even more impressive considering the Sky Blues had won their last 8 consecutive on home turf. Ed Sheeran may not have been around; but on this night; Ipswich were damn near Perfect.

Bend It Like Bendtner

This highly-regarded book of Nicklas Bendtner is just like the man himself: irreverent; inspired & just a tad bit shocking. Over the course of the book; you understand what type of player he is; but perhaps more importantly; what type of man he was.

It leaves you a taste of someone who was unnervingly talented; who was born for sports or football for that matter; but ultimately; you get a sense of someone who wasted it all; who never quite hit the heights that he could have.

Yes he had inspired seasons at Arsenal when he was at the top of his game; and a big plus for him was having Arsene Wenger believe in his talent. But almost before you knew it; he seemed to fade off the radar as well. He had inspired games for Denmark as well; when he was truly their No. 1 striker for a time; but that too didn't last for long.

Along the way; the fame seemed to get to him too fast too soon. He was engaged with a Baroness of Denmark; assaulted a taxi driver; had his pants down to take revenge on a sponsor and was caught in fisticuffs with his own teammate Emmanuel Adebayor.

In the end; you could sense the downfall of his game; as from the heights of Arsenal; he slowly became a player almost no one wants; begging for a job; and in the end ended up in the lower leagues of Norway & Denmark as his time slowly came to an end.

The Collective Good

Supergroups have always been around. The latest ones of F3 teaming up with Jay Chou & Ashin are certainly worth noting. As is the creatively-named Big Four starring Dicky Cheung; Andy Hui; William So & Edmond Leung that is making a comeback since 2009. But supergroups have always been a thing...

Perhaps the first supergroup ever created was Cream; the band that comprised superstar guitarist Eric Clapton; together with Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker of the Graham Bond Organization. Another top supergroup was The Power Station who were formed around 1984 as a revenge against Duran Duran kind of thing (lol); where Robert Palmer was rather weirdly paired with John Taylor & Andy Taylor of Duran Duran and famed Chic drummer Tony Thompson.

Not all supergroups turn out that super though. While the pairing of Marie Fredriksson & Per Gessle gave the world Roxette; many other groups turn out not so stellar and break up after a few tumultuous years. Perhaps the worst supergroup of all time is McBusted; a strange pairing that paired members of the bands McFly & Busted; two groups that were pretty good on their own actually. To no one's surprise; the band broke off after about 3 years and not many people hearing of them. I guess when you have to pair two boybands together; the writing is on the wall.

In sports; supergroups have not been left off the hook too. Perhaps the classic example is the Brooklyn Nets' supposed-championship winning trio of Kevin Durant; James Harden & Kyrie Irving. Surely no one would be able to beat those 3? Well we all know how that turned out eventually. Equally ill-fated was the supposed super-team of Los Angeles Lakers that put together Kobe Bryant; Shaquille O'Neal; Karl Malone & Gary Payton. Abit too old & past their peak; it didn't go according to plan.

City On Fire

I must admit: a part of me died when Kyle Walker left Manchester City. It was like an era had changed; a shifting of the times; if you will. Within a flash; it seemed that one of the greatest sides in world history was being dismantled before our eyes. Gone were Ederson; Manuel Akanji; Aymeric Laporte; Ilkay Gundogan; Kevin De Bruyne & Julian Alvarez. Things would never be the same.

But in true Pep fashion; it seems things are now becoming like the same. In came new recruits such as Omar Marmoush; the wily Rayan Cherki; the non-English speaking Abdukodir Khusanov and the former Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. But perhaps the thing that gets me most excited is the influx of new academy players now getting a chance in the team: the likes of Rico Lewis; Oscar Bobb; the talented Nico O'Reilly, Divine Mukasa and the fresh-faced Charlie Gray. Together; they are forming the 'new wave' at Man City that threatens to match the expectations of the previous era.

And it is with this backdrop hat they eased to a 2-0 win over Brentford in the EFL Cup Quarter-Final for their 6th consecutive victory in all competitions. It was the new boys that did the damage; Cherki with his lesser right foot; and Brazilian youngster Savinho; who got a huge deflection via Kristoffer Ajer. In contrast; Brentford are not the same this season. It seems a part of them died when charismatic manager Thomas Frank left for Tottenham. Their rather lethargic displays are perhaps a reflection of their new boss Keith Andrews. Symbolic of that is Matias Jensen; previously an energetic midfielder; now relegated to insipid displays and he was hauled off in this one was well.

Chelsea Find The Neto

Plucky Cardiff City - the runaway leaders of League One; came up just short against the best team in the world Chelsea - losing 3-1 in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on an inspired night in the Welsh city. Impressing with their passing football; they made Chelsea look insipid in the first half & in fact could feel rather aggrieved at not having gone ahead; such was their stylistic display in the first 45 minutes.

Alas; their passing football was also their undoing; as it was unlucky Welsh defender Dylan Lawlor who gave the ball away carelessly to Facundo Buonanotte; leading to a pass to substitute Alejandro Garnacho who converted expertly past Nathan Trott. It looked like it wasn't going to be Cardiff's night; but their spirit served otherwise; with David Turnbull stunning all & sundry with a superb diving header to take them level.

It looked like it might go to penalties; but another of Chelsea's substitutes Pedro Neto; did what he can by steering in an excellent shot from just inside the penalty area to break Cardiff hearts. Garnacho then doubled his tally for the season with a final flourish; latching onto fellow substitute Joao Pedro's lofted pass before prodding home again. It was indeed the subs who turned the game for Chelsea.

Cardiff though can leave with their heads held high. They gave a truly awesome account of themselves; and with Craig Bellamy watching from the stands; their Welsh contingent of Isaak Davies; Cian Ashford; Joel Colwill & Lawlor certainly put on a fine show out there.