BEB Weekend Sports: The Juicy Gist!

Kane Denies Newport Shock Cup Win

Harry Kane's late strike earned Tottenham Hotspur a 1-1 draw with Newport County in their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

The League Two side had appeared on course for a huge shock when Padraig Amond broke the deadlock after 38 minutes, heading home Scot Bennett's cross.

However, Kane was on hand to spare Tottenham's blushes with an 82nd-minute equaliser, the striker's 12th goal in just his last seven matches.

As a result, Newport will head to Wembley Stadium for a replay in the week commencing February 5.

Ronaldo Scores Two Penalties In Victory At Valencia

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from the penalty spot as Real Madrid saw off Valencia to ease the pressure on boss Zinedine Zidane.

It saw fourth-placed Real close the gap on the hosts to two points, with a game in hand, although they remain 16 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Ronaldo converted after being fouled in the box and added a second following a push on Karim Benzema before half-time.

Valencia's Santi Mina pulled one back, before Marcelo added a third for Real.

Toni Kroos then put the game beyond the hosts with a superb long-range strike for Zidane's side one minute from time.

Wozniacki Wins Australian Open For First Grand Slam Title

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki beat Romanian Simona Halep to win her first Grand Slam title and regain the number one ranking at the Australian Open.

The second seed won 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 in punishing conditions to finally land a major title at the 43rd attempt.

Nine years after her first Grand Slam final defeat, and 17 months after she was ranked 74th, the Dane was overcome.

"I dreamt of this moment for so many years, and to be here today is a dream come true," said Wozniacki.

The victory means the 27-year-old will replace Halep as number one in the world rankings on Monday.

Twice a runner-up at the US Open, Wozniacki becomes the first Dane to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Halep, too, had been hoping to end the wait for a first major title to add to her number one ranking, but she has now lost in the Australian Open final as well as two French Opens.

Russian Athletes Cleared By IAAF To Compete As Neutrals

Eighteen Russian athletes have been cleared by the IAAF's doping review board to compete as neutrals.

The governing body has received more than 80 applications from Russian athletes, with priority given to those seeking to compete at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in March.

Russia is banned by the IOC following an investigation into allegations of state-sponsored doping.

It has also been excluded from this year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

A list of 389 Russians who could potentially compete as neutrals in South Korea has however been drawn up by the IOC, with a final decision on competitors to be made on 27 January - 13 days before the Winter games begin.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe said:

"Throughout this process, we have continued to support the aspirations of all clean athletes to participate in our major competitions. 

"With access to new information from WADA at the end of last year, the doping review board is assessing all applications against this information as well as existing information."

from Bola Esho's Blog