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Tuesday February 28, 2007

Chelsea Seize Their First Silverware Of The Year

While Manchester United Goes Nine Clear At The Top

Charlton Athletic 4 West Ham United 0

It turned out to be the most miserable return to The Valley for Alan Curbishley with his new club West Ham as Charlton easily claimed all three points. Charlton opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Marcus Bent crossed from the right and Darren Ambrose scored with a left-foot volley and Jerome Thomas added a second 10 minutes later. The Hammers' defeat was complete when Paul Konchesky was robbed of possession by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who passed to Darren Bent to score Charlton's third. The rout was completed by Thomas with 10 minutes to go.

Middlesbrough 2 Reading 1

Boro went ahead after six minutes when Emanuel Pogatetz headed down a free-kick and Mark Viduka's back-heel from close range beat goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. Their second arrived midway through the second half when Viduka passed to Ayegbeni Yakubu and the Nigerian turned and hit an unstoppable shot. John Oster's shot from Glen Little's cross halved the deficit, but Gareth Southgate's men claimed the three points.

Fulham 1 Manchester United 2

United moved nine points clear of Chelsea with a 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage thanks to a late winner from Cristiano Ronaldo. Brian McBride fired the hosts in front with his 12th goal of the campaign. Ryan Giggs pulled the visitors level when he scored from Wayne Rooney's cross with a miss-hit volley. But Ronaldo proved United's savior in the 88th minute, running from his own half and thumping a shot past Cottagers goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka with the aid of a deflection off Philippe Christanval.

Carling Cup Final

Chelsea 2
Arsenal 1
Drogba scored twice to give Chelsea their second Carling Cup in three years at the Millennium Stadium as they beat Arsenal 2-1. The Gunners went into an 11th-minute lead when England international Theo Walcott scored his first goal for the club. But Chelsea equalized nine minutes later through Didier Drogba and Drogba headed home a cross from Arjen Robben for his 28th goal of the season five minutes from time. The afternoon was marred by an accidental kick in the head to Blues captain John Terry and a late bench clearing brawl that saw red cards for Jon Obi Mikel, Arsenal skipper Kolo Toure and substitute Emmanuel Adebayor.

Liverpool 4 Sheffield United 0

Third-placed Liverpool took the lead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after Rob Kozluk was penalized for 'fouling' Steven Gerrard. Robbie Fowler converted it and had another to take five minutes later when Gerrard was again 'fouled' in referee Steve Bennett's opinion, this time by Nick Montgomery. Liverpool added a third with 20 minutes remaining as Sami Hyypia scored following a Jermaine Pennant corner and Gerrard added a fourth.

Watford 0 Everton 3

Everton strolled to a 3-0 victory at Adrian Boothroyd's bottom club Watford. Goals from Manuel Fernandes and Andrew Johnson midway through the first half knocked the stuffing out of the Hornets and substitute Leon Osman curled in a third from distance in stoppage-time.

Wigan Athletic 1 Newcastle United 0

In Sunday's Early game Paul Jewell celebrated becoming the longest-serving manager in Wigan's history with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle. Jewell, in charge for his 250th league game to surpass the record set by Bryan Hamilton, watched his side move six points clear of the relegation zone. Ryan Taylor scored the only goal of the game five minutes before half-time with a stunning free-kick, moments after John Filan had saved a penalty from Nobby Solano.

Tottenham Hotspur 4 Bolton Wanderers 1

Robbie Keane, Spurs' stand-in captain was on the field for 36 minutes and he scored either side of Jermaine Jenas' strike before being given a red card for handling on the line. Gary Speed tucked away the penalty but the visitors could not find another goal against 10-man Spurs. Aaron Lennon added a fourth in stoppage time.

Blackburn Rovers 3 Portsmouth 0

In Sunday's other game, Shabani Nonda sent Blackburn into the top 10 of the EPL as his two first-half goals helped them to a 3-0 victory over a poor Portsmouth at Ewood. Nonda not only scored twice, but he also unselfishly laid on a goal for Stephen Warnock, to seal the victory for Rovers.