It is white knuckle-time in the soccer world again when the pressure-cooker environment of the knockout format hits the screens this weekend.
It is white knuckle-time in the soccer world again when the pressure-cooker environment of the knockout format hits the screens this weekend.
In South Africa it’s the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals and in England it is down to the last four in the fabled FA Cup in a desperate scramble for glory.
Manchester United stand out as one of the English giants in the semifinals but they are up against a side who will not take a step back in Everton on Saturday (SS5, 6.10pm). It should be a thrilling showdown with plenty at stake.
This is followed on Sunday by the second semifinal between Crystal Palace and Watford (SS7, 4.50pm). Veteran Palace striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 32, is desperate for some Cup glory, having failed to achieve the goal with such powerhouses as Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.
In South Africa, SuperSport United kick off the action against MP Black Aces on Friday (SS4, 7.30pm). Whoever wins will be able to relax for the remainder of the weekend as they watch the rest try to handle the heat.
Free State meet Wits on Saturday (SS4, 2.30pm), while the tension will grow appreciably when Mamelodi Sundowns meet Orlando Pirates later in the day (SS4, 7.30pm).
Polokwane City and Baroka FC round it off on Sunday (SS4, 2.30pm).
The Lions should consolidate their Super Rugby spot as the leading South African team against the Southern Kings on Saturday (SS1, 5pm), while the Stormers try to regain the winning touch against the Reds (SS1, 2.30pm).
On Friday, tough overseas matches loom for the Sharks against the Highlanders (SS1, 9am) and the Cheetahs versus the Rebels (SS1, 11.35am).
In the ring, East London fighter Simpiwe Vetyeka will put his skills on the line in a featherweight scrap with Japan’s Tsuyoshi Tameda, who has 11 stoppages in 15 fights, with just one loss (SS9, 7pm). It suggests a hard night for Vetyeka.
Overseas, middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, from Kazakhstan, puts his title up for grabs against Dominic Wade on Sunday (SS6, 4am).
