Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Football » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Spurs maintain lead over Arsenal
Get Sports updates:What's this?
Advertisement
April 16, 2006 16:38 IST

Brief reports of English Premier League matches played on Saturday:

ARSENAL [Images] 3 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1

Late goals from substitutes Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp kept Arsenal in the hunt for the fourth Champions League spot after Albion, now staring relegation in the face, had threatened to steal a point at Highbury.

It took Arsenal until 44 minutes to break through, Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb firing in after exchanging passes with Thierry Henry [Images]. Arsene Wenger's side failed to capitalise on their lead and were stunned when Nigel Quashie lashed in from 25 metres 18 minutes from time.

Albion's celebrations lasted barely five minutes before Frenchman Pires scored from Bergkamp's cross and the Dutch striker added a fine third in the last minute.

- - - -

BOLTON WANDERERS 0 CHELSEA 2

It wasn't pretty but Chelsea did enough to secure the points and move closer to a second successive league title with a workmanlike performance at the Reebok Stadium.

Ricardo Vaz Te struck the post for Bolton midway through the first half before Jose Mourinho's side nosed in front just before halftime, Didier Drogba [Images] and John Terry both connecting with a Frank Lampard [Images] free kick to head in.

England [Images] midfielder Lampard settled it from close range after a driving run on the hour.

- - - -

EVERTON 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

Fourth-placed Spurs maintained their four-point advantage over north London [Images] rivals Arsenal and moved a step closer to Champions League football next season.

Ireland striker Robbie Keane grabbed the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the first half, picking himself up to score after he was fouled by Alan Stubbs. It was Keane's seventh goal in his last seven games.

- - - -

FULHAM 2 CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1

Portuguese forward Luis Boa Morte scored twice to seal top-flight football for another season at Craven Cottage. The London side have their home form to thank, chalking up their 11th success while still awaiting a first win on the road.

Boa Morte curled a free kick around the wall on 15 minutes only for Jason Euell to head an equaliser from close range, his first goal since Nov. 2004. Boa Morte's second goal on the half hour restored the lead.

- - - -

NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 WIGAN ATHLETIC 1

Alan Shearer, retiring at the end of the season, scored twice to keep alive United's hopes of a UEFA [Images] Cup spot. United did it the hard way after trailing to Jimmy Bullard's well-struck free kick after just five minutes.

Wigan fell apart after losing defender Arjan De Zeeuw to a neck injury. Shearer levelled from the penalty spot on 28 minutes after Michael Chopra had been fouled and defender Titus Bramble headed in a corner eight minutes later.

Shearer sealed the points when he rounded John Filan to net a third midway through the second half.

- - - -

PORTSMOUTH 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 0

The great escape is still on for Pompey, now out of the bottom three and unbeaten in six games.

Gary O'Neil's third goal in four games, a clinical finish nine minutes after halftime, was enough to take the points at Fratton Park against a Boro side distracted by looming FA Cup and UEFA Cup semi-finals.

- - - -

WEST HAM UNITED 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0

A typical end of season tussle between two sides with little to play for. Bobby Zamora's fine run and cross was finished off by Shaun Newton after 15 minutes, condemning City to their fifth successive league defeat.



© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback