Saturday's Sport Recap - 21/12/2024

Saturday 21st December was home to many unexpected results across all sports from Manchester City adding yet another defeat to their list this season, to 19-year old Moses Itauma defeating the experienced Australian in the first round. Here's a brief insight on what Saturday entailed:

League Two Football

Saturday's League Two football saw many shock results but one game gained more media attention for an unusual incident involving one of the players.

Doncaster Rovers Vs Tranmere Rovers (3-1)

Doncaster took the lead against Tranmere 7 minutes before half time with Joseph Olowu headed the ball into the goal following a free kick.

Whilst Doncaster mainly dominated the first half of the match, Tranmere pressed for an equaliser with Kristian Dennis having 3 attempts inside the box in the first 6 minutes of the second half. None managed to succeed as the first was saved, the second was blocked and the third attempt skied the crossbar.

In the 54th minute, Tom Davies received his second yellow card of the game, leaving Tranmere 1-0 down with only 10 men left.

Things worsened for Tranmere in the 66th minute where the hosts doubled their lead, as a result of Jordan Turnbull, Tranmere defender, losing his shorts mid pursuit allowing Patrick Kelly space to score.

In the 77th minute, Kyle Hurst added to Doncasters lead after blasting a low shot into the net.

7 minutes from the end of the match, substitute Sol Solomon scored his first league goal for Tranmere, but despite their efforts the game ended 3-1 to the hosts.

Championship Football

3 Championship League matches saw players being sent off after receiving 2 yellow cards in that game, 2 of which resulted in a loss for that team and one team that managed to hold on to the victory. However, there was also a late minute winner for one particular team and a team that managed to grasp victory after one player scored numerous goals.

Sunderland Vs Norwich City (2-1)

The match kicked off with the hosts seemingly more comfortable within the game until Norwich winger Borja Sainz and midfielder Marcelino Nunez settled into the game with chances developing for the visitors.

In the 21st minute of the match, Emiliano Marcondes left footed strike from the right side of the box is saved by Sunderland goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson, earning Norwich a corner. The corner is taken and Anis ben Slimane's initial attempt is saved by the keeper but he could not repel Slimane's up shot near the corner of the goal.

2 minutes into the second half, Sunderland were given a free kick which caused Dan Ballard to be able to head the ball into the high centre of the goal, guiding it past the keeper.

Jose Cordoba earned his second yellow card for Norwich in the 70th minute of the game as they dropped to 10 men all still in search of a winning goal.

Whilst 2 minutes after the Norwich defender was sent off, Jobe Bellingham scored an excellent late winner from a difficult angle on the left and guiding the ball into the bottom right corner, granting Sunderland the 3 points.

Queens Park Rangers Vs Preston North End (2-1)

In the 83rd minute, Liam Lindsay gained his second yellow card for Preston, leaving them with only 10 men and equal with the hosts after leading the first half by 1-0.

But the hosts were able to secure their win with Jimmy Dunne's 89th minute goal, extending Queens Park Rangers unbeaten run in the Championship to 7 matches.

Sheffield Wednesday Vs Stoke City (2-0)

Sheffield Wednesday defender Di'Shon Bernard was dismissed before the end of the first half after acquiring 2 yellow cards.

The hosts succeeded in the second half of the match at scoring 3 points in the league after Josh Windass scored in the 52nd minute and Callum Paterson scored in the 76th minute, securing their victory.

Millwall Vs Blackburn Rovers (1-0)

Blackburn Rover's Championship winning streak of 6 consecutive games and 5 games without conceding was ended by Millwall's 96th minute winner from Mihailo Ivanovic. A header from Ryan Leonard's cross.

Portsmouth Vs Coventry City (4-1)

Portsmouth's Callum Lang showed impeccable talent against Coventry with an impressive and essential four goals and 3 points stolen from Frank Lampard's team.

Portsmouth conceded within the first 3 minutes of the game from Coventry's Norman Bassette and should've almost immediately doubled their lead after Ben Sheaf had crossed the ball over the top of the defence. But it was the goal scorer who fumbled his one-on-one with Portsmouth's keeper, Schmid.

Lang scored in the 14th minute to equalise with Coventry which was seemingly gifted to the midfielder by the visitor's keeper, Bradley Collins.

Whereas his second goal was increasingly more skillful as he capitalised on a poorly judged defensive header from Jay Dasilva and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

The third goal that earned Lang his first career hat-trick was a header from the six-yard box following a corner, whilst his fourth was an easier finish as he hammered it into an open goal.

Premier League Football

Aston Villa Vs Manchester City (2-1)

Manchester City increases their ongoing crisis with yet another loss.

Jhon Duran scored in the 16th minute with Morgan Rogers ensuring their lead with his goal in the 65th minute.

Despite losing, City had managed to gain one goal back with Phil Foden scoring in the 3rd minute of the additional 4 minutes of the second half.

Another damaging defeat for the blues, this time by the hands of Aston Villa, means they now have 9 defeats in 12 games in all competitions, with a record of conceding 2+ goals in their previous 8 games.

City dropped to 6th in the Premier League being 9 points behind top of the league, Liverpool, having played an extra 2 games whilst Villa move up into 5th with this much needed victory to keep their top-four finishing hopes alive.

Crystal Palace Vs Arsenal (1-5)

The Gunners had an impressive scoreline against the Eagles with Gabriel Jesus, who made his 3rd Premier League start of the season, claiming yet another 2 goals against Palace. Totalling up to 5 goals for the Brazilian against them in the past week, after his hat-trick performance on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup Quarter Final.

Arsenal's Jesus scored within the first 6 minutes after the ball was deflected into his path from Bukayo Saka's cross.

Palace managed to level 5 minutes later with Ismaila Sarr with an excellent curl of the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Palace's hopes were cut short as Gabriel Jesus scored his second in the 15th minute and was joined by Kai Havertz in the 38th minute just before half-time.

In the second half, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice each scored for the reds, ending the game 1-5.

However, Arsenal were setback after Bukayo Saka picked up an injury in the 24th minute, later seen leaving the stadium on crutches before being confirmed he would be out for "many weeks" from a torn hamstring.

Brentford Vs Nottingham Forest (0-2)

Nottingham Forest were able to inflict a first home defeat of the season for Brentford, as they rose to the top four in the Premier League.

The Forest goals came from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga to help achieve their 3rd consecutive victory.

With Nottingham now maintaining their push for European football next season, a fabulous 31 point return from 17 matches which has not been seen for their club since 1987-88 when they finished 3rd.

World Darts Championship

The World Darts Championship day 7 results were home to a display of unexpected defeats with the likes of the 5 time world champion, Van Barneveld, being knocked out as well as Danny Noppert by the same margins.

Danny Noppert Vs Ryan Joyce (1-3)

Raymond Van Barneveld Vs Nick Kenny (1-3)

Luke Littler Vs Ryan Meikle (3-1)

Damon Heta Vs Connor Scutt (3-1)

Littler missed a D12 for a 9 darter in his fixture against Ryan Meikle, but managed to make an astonishing average of 140.91 in his 4th set.

PNC Golf Championship

Tiger Woods makes his return to golfing after his injury as he plays with his son, Charlie Woods, at the PNC Championship. Woods himself stated that he was not competitive right now but rather looking to regain the experience, especially since he can enjoy this championship with his son and the rest of their family.

Rugby Gallagher Premiership

Leicester Tigers Vs Bristol Bears (24-54)

Bristol Bears made Rugby Premiership history, setting a record of 10 consecutive away game wins after defeating Leicester Tigers 24-54, helping them to maintain position in their battle against Bath for top of the league.

With Ollie Hassell-Collins for the Tigers and Gabriel Oghre for the Bears each scoring 2 tries within the first 20 minutes, this match was surely set to be a must watch.

By the break, Bristol had a huge lead over the hosts of 12-40 with further tries coming from Viliame Mata, Rich Lane and Gabriel Ibitoye.

In the second half, Leicester was able to hit back early on with a try coming from Freddie Steward.

However, this momentum didn't last long as the Bears came back with a try from Benhard Janse van Rensburg and a second for Kalaveti Ravouvou following his first in the previous half.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Josh Bassett's late scoring had no effect on the overall outcome of the match which saw the Tigers new record of the amount of points gave up in a Premiership game at home.

Newcastle Falcons Vs Bath (15-40)

Bath extended their impeccable start to the season after defeating Newcastle Falcons 15-40 with a 6 try victory keeping them ahead of Bristol Bears at the top of the league table.

The first few minutes of the game were chaotic as Bath conceded as Jamie Blamire scored a try but sadly his teammate Brett Connon missed his conversation attempt.

The visitors then took the lead 2 minutes later when Alfie Barbeary scored and Finn Russell converted.

The six tries from Bath were divided amongst Alfie Barbeary, Tom De Glanville, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Finn Russell and Sam Underhill, who earned them the bonus point and indefinitely secured their win.

Sale Vs Exeter Chiefs (28-10)

Sale's 28-10 victory over winless Exeter Chiefs means Sale will move up to 4th in the league whilst the Chiefs remain at the bottom.

The first half of the game was very disjointed from both teams, but the hosts managed to secure the lead as Luke James and Joe Carpenter scored a try each.

10 minutes after the break Exeter conceded a penalty as Captain Dafydd Jenkins was sent to the sin-bin and left them with only 14 men left.

They were able to pull back a try as Jimmy Roots scored his first Premiership try, however former Exeter star Johnny Hill counteracted this and scored a bonus point for Sale, locking in their win.

Boxing

Johnny Fisher Vs Dave Allen

Johnny Fisher extended his unbeaten record with a controversial split-decision win against Dave Allen in an all British heavyweight fight.

Moses Itauma Vs Demsey McKean

Moses Itauma and Demsey McKean competed in the chief support fight for the Usyk and Fury face off.

The 19-year old, Itauma, won against much more experienced Australian McKean after the first round stoppage, needing only 2 minutes to claim his victory.

McKean's only other previous defeat was against Filip Hrgovic in a world title eliminator last year whilst Itauma has stopped his last 7 opponents in the first 2 rounds.

Oleksandr Usyk Vs Tyson Fury

In the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, Usyk managed to retain his heavyweight titles by defeating Fury.

Tyson found success in the first half of the fight with many eye-catching shots but the Ukraine fighter demonstrated a larger volume of punches and cleaner shots.

Ultimately all 3 judges scored the fight 116-112, a unanimous decision in favour of Usyk.