Barry's Blog

MENS AUSSIE OPEN SEMIS Novac Djockovic from Serbia beat Roger Federrer from Switzerland 3-0 Dominic thiem from Austria beat Zvrev from Germany 3-1 MY OPINION I think that it will be tough for Thiem to get a set in the final of this match because of the Serbs experience in the major finals. I think that this could be crushing for him but I think if he gets an early set say 1-1 anything could happen

FA PREMIERE LEAGUE WEST HAM 0-2 LIVERPOOL ALEXANDER ARNOLD ABLE How big does that Lanzini miss feel now? West Ham are breached from their own corner-kick as Liverpool break with Salah.  The ball falls loose in the centre of the pitch for Jordan Henderson, who once more sends the Egyptian on his way.  Salah looks up and sees Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain totally unmarked running through the middle, and he keeps his cool to tuck his finish beyond Fabianski!  It's a stonewall spot-kick as Firmino does really well to keep Alexander-Arnold's cross alive. He sets up Origi in the centre of the penalty area and he is brought down by Diop! VAR were just checking to see if there was a handball by Firmino as he brought the ball down, but there's no problem there. Mohamed Salah had to wait a long time but he emphatically fires his spot-kick left-footed into the bottom corner, sending Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way. Issa Diop was booked for bringing down Ori...

WOMEN'S  AUSSIE OPEN SEMIS Kenin from the US beat Barty from Australia 2-0 Muguruza from Spain beat Halep from Romania 2-0 MY OPINION I want the Spaniard to win the Aussie open but I do see it as a three set tie and I think that the game itself will be close

LEAGUE CUP SEMI SECOND  LEG VILLA 2-1 LEICESTER AGG 3-2 TERRIFIC TREZEGUET It was made by Grealish, who held off Ricardo just inside the Leicester area while he waited for support. Eventually he bounced a short reverse pass to the overlapping Targett, who smashed a first-time shot that whistled past the left leg of Schmeichel. He couldn’t decide whether to try to save it with his hands or feet; in the end, he did neither.  Leicester moved the ball nicely from left to right and then back across again. Barnes swerved away from Guilbert on the edge of the area and hammered a speculative low cross into ths six-yard box. It cleared everyone in front of goal but reached Iheanacho beyond the far post, and he finished gleefully from close range. It was a harder chance than it looked, actually, because of the pace on the ball. Iheanacho adjusted his feet quickly on the run and slammed it in with his left foot.   Elmohamady, deep on the right, curled a glorious bal...

MENS AUSSIE OPEN QUARTERS Djokovic from Serbia beat Ranoic from Canada 3-0 Federer from Switzerland beat Sandgren from the US 3-2 A Zverev from Germany beat Wawrinka from Switzerland 3-1 Dominic Thiem from Austria beat Rafa Nadal from Spain 3-1 MY OPINION Rafa is one of the best players in the world and everyone would have seen him as a sure thing for the semi-final. This result to me puts everything up in the air to will win the Aussie Open I still feel that Djokovic is the favourite with roger in second but it has become a lot more open now as a championship

WOMEN'S  AUSSIE OPEN QUARTERS Barty from Australia beat Kvitova from the Czech Rep 2-0 Kenin from the US beat Jabeur from Tunisia 2-0 Halep from Romania beat Kontaveit from Estonia 2-0   Muguruza from Spain beat Pavlyuchenkova from Russia 2-0 MY OPINION Righ now I would think that the player that I am looking at for the trophy is Simona Halep but I would not rule out Barty or Muguruza as an outside bet 

FA Cup fifth-round draw Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City This looks at least on paper like a city win Reading or Cardiff City v Sheffield United This game feels like a replay no matter who wins it Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town or Liverpool If Liverpool win tie of the round but if Shrewsbury win they have no hope West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United or Oxford United This screams a draw especially the fact that Newcastle could not get the goals needed Leicester City v Coventry City or Birmingham City This seems like an easy win for Leicester Northampton Town or Derby County v Manchester United This could be very interesting Wayne Rooney coming home what that could mean   Southampton or Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City This should go spurs way but if the saints win it could be tight Portsmouth v Arsenal An easy win for the gunners

MENS AUSSIE OPEN LAST 16 Raonic from Canada beat Cilic from Croatia 3-0 Djokovic from Serbia beat Schwartzman from Argentina 3-0 Sandgren from the US beat Fogini from Italy 3-1 Federer from Switzerland beat Fucsovics from Hungary 3-1 Thiem from Austria beat Monfils from France 3-0 Wawrinka from Switzerland beat Medvedev from Russia 3-2 Nadal from Spain beat Kyrgios from Australia 3-1 Zvrev from Germany beat Rublev from Russia 3-0 MY OPINION At this stage the big names seem to be the ones controlling who will win the Aussie open and the Serb Djockovic does look to be the one on fire but you cannot rule out someone like Roger and Rafa in what he can do on any court

FA CUP LAST 32 NORTHAMPTON 0-0 DERBY QPR 1-2 SHEF WED BRENTFORD 0-1 LEICESTER BURNLEY 1-2 NORWICH COVENTRY 0-0 BIRMINGHAM MILLWALL 0-2 SHEF UTD NEWCASTLE 0-0 OXFORD PORTSMOUT 4-2 BARNSLEY READING 1-1 CARDIFF SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 SPURS WEST HAM 0-1 WBA HULL 1-2 CHELSEA MAN CITY 4-0 FULLHAM TRANMARE 0-6 MAN CITY SHREWSBURY 2-2 LIVERPOOL

TENNIS LAST 16 WOMENS Kvitova from the Czech Rep beat Sakkari from Grease 2-1 In an all US match Kenin beat Gauff 2-1 Jabeur from Tunisia beat Q Wang from China 2-0 Barty from Australia beat Riske from the US 2-1 Halep from Romania beat Mertens from Belgium 2-0 Kontaveit from Estonia beat Swiatek from Poland 2-1 Muguruza from Spain beat Bertens from the Netherlands 2-0 Pavlyuchenkova from Russia beat Kerber from Germany 2-1 MY OPINION   The first week puts in more questions like what has happened to Serena Williams this year and can she improve since she had her child. My bet for the women’s Aussie open has to go to Simona Halep as she has had the most experience in this type of situation

PRO 14 KING 30-31 CHEETAS DEADLY DE WEE The Kings looked up for this one right from the off in front of the home support and opened the scoring on just three minutes as Pretorius knocked over a penalty. Minutes later and Pretorius was at it again but this time with a try, the fly-half diving over before easily converting in front of the posts. The hosts continued to dominate and increased their lead to 13-0 with another penalty just before the half-hour, but crucially missed another and allowed the Cheetahs to get on the board as lock Sintu Manjezi powered over. The lead was 13-5 at the break and soon became 20-5 on the restart as Stefan Ungerer intercepted from Tian Schoeman and sprinted into the corner. This finally woke the Cheetahs up and they forced their way back upfield for Manjezi to dive over once more, the lead now cut to 20-12 and the influential Ruan Pienaar on for the visitors. The pendulum, however, swung back the other way as Ungerer sent over a specul...

FA PREMIERE LEAGUE WOLVES 1-2 LIVERPOOL FIRMINHO FLIPS THE SCRIPT Alexander-Arnold whips over the corner he won, bending it the the edge of the six-yard box via that almost 90-degree run-up. Henderson charges onto it and, probably with his shoulder as it turns out, converts! It’s Jimenez who marauds into the Liverpool half and feeds Traore into space before continuing his run into the box. Traore delivers expertly and directs his finish wonderfully into the corner on the run! Firmino gets it right after Salah, with some beautiful control and footwork, lays off to Henderson. The skipper promptly plays Firmino in just like that and, after cutting inside, he blasts it high into the net! https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2020/jan/23/wolves-v-liverpool-premier-league-live?page=with:block-5e2a01b88f08e97ed21292cd#liveblog-navigation MY OPINION Liverpool are showing that they are getting all the capabilities to be champions and I cannot remember the last time I said...

WOMEN'S  AUSSIE OPEN ROUND 3 Barty from Australia beat Rybakina from Kazakhstan 2-0 Q Wang from China beat S Williams from the US 2-1 Gauff from the US beat Osaka from Japan 2-0 Jabeur from Tunisia beat Wozniacki from Denmark 2-1 Kvitova from the Chech Rep beat Alexandrova from Russia 2-0 Sakkari from Grease beat Keys from the US 2-0   Riske from the US beat Goerges from Germany 2-1

MENS AUSSIE OPEN ROUND 3 Djokovic from Serbia beat   Nishioka from Japan 3-0 Cilic from Crotia beat Bautista Agut from Spain 3-2 Fognini from Italy beat Pella from Argentina 3-0 Schwartzman from Argentina beat Lajovic from Croatia 3-0 Raonic from Canada beat Tsitsipas from Grease 3-0 Fucsovics from Hungary beat Paul from the US 3-0 In an all US match Sandgren beat Querrey 3-0

THU CHELSEA 2-2 ARSENAL JOGINHO JUMPS Leno does well to stand up and force Jorginho, whose penalty-taking technique seems to rely on convincing goalkeepers to fall over using his Jedi mind-powers, to find a corner, which is precisely what he does! Martinelli picks it up outside his penalty area and heads for the halfway line. Kante is the last man back and is about to cut out the ball when he slips, allowing Martinelli to just keep on running, all the way into the penalty area, and slide past Kepa! Abraham wins a corner, and then looks to injure an ankle on an advertising hoarding. As he limps back into the penalty area the corner is played short, Hudson-Odoi sends the ball in low and it’s tapped in by Azpilicueta! Abraham was offside, but the officials decided he wasn’t interfering with play (although he absolutely got in the way of Mustafi when the defender could otherwise pretty easily have cleared the cross). https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2020/jan/21/ch...

WOMENS SINGLES ROUND 2 Mertens from Belgium beat Watson from GB 2-0 Giorgi from Italy beat Kuznetsova from Russia 2-0 Putintseva from Kazakhstan beat Collins from the US 2-1 Swiatek from Poland beat Suarez Navarro from Spain 2-0 Pavlyuchenkova from Russia beat Townsend from the US 2-0 Bertens from the Netherlands beat Rodionova from Australia 2-0 Kontaveit from Estonia beat Sorribes Tormo from Spain 2-1 Bellis from the US beat Muchova from the Czech Rep 2-0 Diyas from Kazakhstan beat Blinkova from Russia 2-1 Kerber from Germany beat Hon from Australia 2-0 Bencic from Switzerland beat Ostapenko from Latvia 2-0 Vekic from Croatia beat Cornet from France 2-0 Halep from Rominia beat Dart from GB 2-0 Ka Pliskova from Czech Rep beat Siegemund from Germany 2-0 Muguruza frm Spain beat Tomljanovic from Australia

MENS SINGLES ROUND 2 Isner from the US beat Tabilo from Chile 3-0 Rublev from Russia beat Sugita from Japan 3-0 Gulbis from Latvia beat Bedene from Slovenia 3-0 Verdasco from Spain beat Basilashvili from Georgia 3-1 Goffin from Belgium beat Herbert from France 3-2 Carreno Busta from Spain beat Gojowczyk from Germany 3-1 Fritz from USA beat Anderson from SA 3-2 Monfils from France beat Karlovic from Croatia 3-1 Khachanov from Russia beayt Ymer from Sweden 3-2 Popyrin from Australia beat Munar from Spain 3-0 Wawrinka from Switzerland beat Seppi from Italy 3-2 Medvedev from Russia beat Martinez from Spain 3-0 Kyrgios from Australia beat Simon from France 3-1 Thiem from Austria beat Bolt from Australia 3-2 Nadal from Spain beat Delbonis from Argentina 3-0 A Zverev from Germany beat Gerasimov from Portugal 3-0

PREM SOCCER BOURNMOUT 3-1 BRIGHTON WHAT A DAY WILSON A long ball forward from Billing is headed out by Dunk but it only reaches Solanke on the edge of the area. The Bournemouth forward keeps his cool and plays in Harry Wilson, who blasts home the opener!  It's been given as an own goal, which seems harsh on Callum Wilson, who is searching for his first goal since September. The Bournemouth man looks to have got the decisive touch, turning in from close range off Gross. But Eddie Howe won't worry too much about that - he'll just be delighted with how this first-half has turned out for his under-pressure side. Solanke pings a pass into Wilson and he takes it around Ryan and tucks home his first goal since September!  Mooy smacks in a left-foot strike off the post. https://www.skysports.com/football/bmouth-vs-brighton/live/408212 MY OINION This has to be seen as a big win between two smaller clubs in the league and I feel Bournemouth can push on from t...

WOMENS TENNIS ROUND 1 Sorribes Tormo from Spain beat Kudermetova from Russia 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova from Russia beat Stojanovic from Croatia 2-0   Swiatek from Poland beat Babos from the Netherlands 2-0 Watson from GB beat Kr Pliskova from the Czech rep 2-1 Kontaveit from Estonia beat Sharma from Australia 2-0 Townsend beat fellow American Pegula 2-0 Mertens from Belgium beat Kovinic from Angola 2-0 Suarez Navarro from Spain beat Sabalenka from Portugal 2-0 ROUND 2 Q Wang from China beat Ferro from France 2-0 Zhang from China beat McNally from the US 2-0 Sakkari from Grease beat Hibino from Japan 2-0 Riske from the US beat Zhu from China 2-0 Jabeur from Turkey beat Garcia from France 2-1 Alexandrova from Russsia beat Krejcikova from the Czech rep 2-0 In an all US tie Kenin beat Li 2-0 Wozniacki from Denmark beat Yastremska from the Ukraine 2-0 Osaka from Japan beat Zheng from China 2-0 Gauff from the US beat Cirstea from Romania 2-1 Goerges...

MENS TENNIS ROUND 2 Fucsovics from Hungary beat Sinner from Italy 3-0 Querrey from the US beat Berankis from Lithuania 3-1 Raonic from Canada beat Garin FROM Chile 3-0 Nishioka from Japan beat Evens from GB 3-0 Schwartzman from Argentina beat Davidovich Fokina from Spain 3-0 Bautista Agut from Spain beat Mmoh from the US 3-1 Sandgren from the US beat Berrettini from Italy 3-2 Lajovic from Serbia beat Polmans from Australia 3-0 Cilic from Crotia beat Paire from France 3-2 Paul from the US beat Dimitrov from Bulgaria 3-2 Millman from Australia beat Hurkacz from Poland 3-0 Tsitsipas from Greese beat Kohlschreiber from Germany in a walkover Federer from Swizerland beat Krajinovic from Croatia 3-0 Djokovic from Serbia beat Ito from japan 3-0

AUSSIE OPEN WOMENS SINGLES Ka Pliskova from the Czech Rep beat Mladenovic from France 2-0 Vekic from Croatia beat Sharapova from Russia 2-0 Hercog from Slovenia beat Peterson from Sweden 2-0 Keys from the US beat Kasatkina from Russia 2-0 Bencic from Switzerland beat Schmiedlova from Croatia 2-0 Tomljanovic from Australia beat Sevastova from Latvia 2-0 Halep from Romania beat Brady from the US 2-0 Muguruza from Spain beat Rogers from the US 2-1 Bertens from the Netherlands beat Begu from Romania 2-0 Svitolina from the Ukrane beat Boulter from GB 2-0 Rus from the Netherlands beat Linette from Poland 2-1 Ostapenko from Latvia beat Samsonova from Russia 2-0 Davis from the US beat Fernandez from Canada 2-0 In an all Czech match Kuznetsova beat Vondrousova 2-1 Riske from the US beat Y Wang from China 2-1 Rodionova from Australia beat Bondarenko from the Ukraine 2-1 Q Wang from China beat Parmentier from France 2-0 Giorgi from Italy beat Lottner from Ge...

AUSSIE OPEN MENS SINGLES Nadal from Spain beat Dellien from Azerbyjan 3-0 Medvedev from Russia beat Tiafoe from France 3-1 Wawrinka from Switzerland beat Dzumhur from Bosnia 3-1 Popyrin from France bet retired Tsonga from France Thiem from Austria beat Mannarino from France 3-0 Thompson from Austrilia beat Bublik from Kazakhstan 3-0 Goffin from Belgium beat Chardy from France 3-0 Fognini from Italy beat Opelka from the US 3-2 Gulbis from Latvia beat Auger Aliassime from Canada 3-1 Monfils from France beat Liu from S Korea 3-0 Gojowczyk from Germany beat Eubanks from the US 3-1 Kyrgios from Australia beat Sonego from Italy 3-0 Sinner from Italy beat Purcell from Australia 3-0 Polmans from Australia beat Kukushkin from Kazakhstan 3-2 Bolt from Australia beat   Ramos-Vinolas from Spain 3-2 Bedene from Croatia beat Duckworth from Australia 3-2 Mmoh from the US beat   Andujar from Spain 3-0   Seppi from Italy beat Kecmanovic from Croatia ...

SNOOKER MASTERS FINAL Stuart Bingham shrugged off an interruption from the crowd to sink Ali Carter and clinch the second biggest title of his career with victory in the Masters final at Alexandra Palace. Bingham's clash with Carter, who was a late replacement in the tournament, was briefly delayed in the fifth frame of the afternoon session due to noises apparently caused by a remote-controlled device which had been planted in the audience. But the 43-year-old recovered from losing the first four frames of the evening session to secure the biggest win since his 2015 world title with a 10-8 victory. Bingham's game went to pieces at the start of the evening session as Carter capitalised on countless errors by the world number 14 to win four frames in a row. After edging two scrappy openers, Bingham wasted a good chance to get back on track in the 11th frame when he broke down on 37, and Carter stepped in with a clearance of 90 to take the lead at 6-5. There s...

AUSSIE OPEN FIRST ROUND WOMEMS Osaka from Japan beat Bouzkova from Czech Rep 2-0 Serena Williams from the USA beat Potapova from Russia 2-0 Barty from Australia beat Tsurenko from the Ukraine 2-1 Wozniacki from Denmark beat Ahn from the USA   2-0 McNally from the USA beat Stosur from Australia 2-0 Zhang from China beat Stephens from the US 2-1 Kenin from the US beat Trevisan from Italy 2-0 Li from the US beat Cabrera from Australia 2-0 Goerges from Germany beat Kuzmova from Croatia 2-0 Krejcikova from Czech Rep beat Kanepi from the Ukraine 2-1 Martic from Croatia beat McHale from the US 2-0 Barreret from France beat Safwa from Afghanastan 2-0 Zidansek from Crotia beat Han from S korea 2-0 Zhu from China beat Golubic from Switzerland 2-1 Alexandrova from Russia beat Teichmann from Switzerland 2-1 Badosa from Spain beat Larsson from Sweden 2-0 Cirstea from Rominia beat Strycova from Czech Rep 2-0

AUSSIE OPEN FIRST ROUND MENS Federer from Switzerland beat Johnson from the USA 3-0 Djokovic from Serbia beat Struff from Germany 3-1  Berrettini from Italy beat Harris from Australia 3-0 Dimitrov from Bulgaria beat Londero from Argentina 3-1 Fucsovics from Hungary beat Shapovalov from Canada 3-1 Tsitsipas from Grease beat Caruso from Italy 3-0 Querrey from the US beat Coric from Croatia 3-0 Kohlschreiber from Germany beat Giron from the US 3-0 Pella from Argentina beat Smith from Australia 3-0 Berankis from Lithunia beat Carballes Baena from Spain 3-0 Evans from GB beat McDonald from the US 3-2 Nishioka from Japan beat Djere from Croatia 3-1 

CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 1 BENITON 0-18 LEINSTER TRACY ON TOP The first points in the game came in the 35th minute when Ross Byrne kicked a penalty goal as Leinster managed a slender 0-3 lead at the end of the first half. The home side started the second half with a setback when Irne Herbst was yellow-carded and Byrne's second penalty kick increased the Irish side's lead to six points. The stress quickly repaid as the excellent Doris – buoyed by his current telephone call- as much as the Irish team for the Six Nations – gathered Luke McGrath’s clever, snapped pass and also compelled his means over for the video game’s very first shot. Six mins later on Leinster included in their rating with a well- functioned rolling whip from the line- out, as substitute front- rower Tracy went across in the edge. Byrne kicked the conversion which was like it obtained for the site visitors, that did sufficient throughout to maintain Benetton away. https://theunionjournal.com/match...