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Tuesday December 10, 2008

Vidic Breaks Black Cats' Hearts At Old Trafford

Fulham 1 Manchester City 1
Jimmy Bullard scored his first league goal of the season to earn Fulham a point at home to City and extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
With England manager Fabio Capello watching from the stands, Bullard smashed home in the 27th to cancel out Benjani Mwaruwari's early header.
Midfielder Clint Dempsey and striker Bobby Zamora both missed good chances to seal a win for Fulham, although goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer saved well from City's Pablo Zabaleta late on.

Arsenal 1 Wigan Athletic 0

Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed the winner against Wigan Athletic as Arsenal earned the battling victory they wanted to prove they are title contenders.
Adebayor, making his second start after returning from an ankle injury, struck in the 16th minute at the Emirates and was denied further goals by Chris Kirkland and the woodwork.
Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger saw Samir Nasri limp off after a robust challenge from Wilson Palacios but could reflect on three points to build on last Sunday's win over Chelsea.

Blackburn Rovers 1 Liverpool 3

Yossi Benayoun's superb solo effort helped to keep Liverpool on top at Ewood Park.
The Israel midfielder latched on to a fine ball over the top from Dirk Kuyt in the 79th minute.
There was still work to be done but he skipped past Stephen Warnock before rifling a shot into the corner for his team's second.
That effectively sealed an important victory for Liverpool after Xabi Alonso had opened the scoring 11 minutes earlier.
Roque Santa Cruz got a consolation goal in the 86th minute only for Steven Gerrard to have the last word in stoppage-time.

Bolton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 2

Nicolas Anelka struck the 99th goal of his League career to help Chelsea to a place in the record books.
On his old Bolton Wanderers stamping ground 11 months after a £15m move, a diving header from Anelka gave the Blues an 11th consecutive away win in the league, with eight this season.
Deco's sumptuous scissor-kick 12 minutes later sealed the victory as Chelsea eclipsed the mark set 48 years ago by Bill Nicholson's Tottenham Hotspur side.
With leaders Liverpool winning at Blackburn Rovers, the win keeps perfect-on-the-road Chelsea hot on the heels of the Merseyside club at the top of the table.

Hull City 2 Middlesbrough 1

Hull produced a dramatic late comeback to snatch victory over 10-man Middlesbrough at the KC Stadium.
Boro looked on course for their first League win in four matches when Tuncay Sanli flicked his side ahead 11 minutes from time.
Yet Hull responded immediately with Bernard Mendy's drive hitting a post and rebounding in off Ross Turnbull and Marlon King scoring a penalty after David Wheater was sent off.
Wheater had brought down the dangerous Geovanni in the area and referee Steve Tanner had no hesitation in showing the red card.
All three goals came in the space of just six minutes in a pulsating end to an end-to-end encounter.

Newcastle United 2 Stoke City 2

Even Michael Owen's return to goalscoring form could not bring Newcastle a victory as former Magpie Abdoulaye Faye snatched a point for Stoke City.
Owen struck twice inside the opening 24 minutes to give his side the perfect platform at St James' Park.
Mamady Sidibe pulled one back on the hour and Faye levelled in injury time as a late onslaught finally paid dividends in front of a largely devastated crowd of 47,422.

Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0

Nemanja Vidic broke Sunderland hearts with a last-gasp winner for Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Three days after Roy Keane's shock exit as manager, it seemed the Black Cats would record a suitable epitaph for his time in charge as they mounted a brave rearguard action.
With Marton Fulop and Dean Whitehead outstanding, Sunderland reached the final minute with their goal still intact. But, as they have done so often, and as Sunderland have found to their cost before, United still came up with a killer blow.
With virtually their final attack, Carrick went for goal. His long-range effort struck Carlos Edwards and smashed onto a post.
Finally, Fulop was helpless and as the ball rolled across his penalty area, up stepped Vidic, who tapped into an empty net.

West Bromwich Albion 1 Portsmouth 1

Peter Crouch's second-half equaliser denied the Baggies their first win in nine matches and keeps Tony Mowbray's side rooted to the bottom of the League.
Jonathan Greening had given the Baggies a deserved half-time lead as Pompey looked to be suffering a hangover from their mid-week UEFA Cup defeat in Wolfsburg which confirmed their exit from the competition.
But Albion failed to make their superiority count and an improved showing after the break from the visitors earned a deserved share of the spoils.

Everton 2 Aston Villa 3

Ashley Young's winner deep into injury time took Aston Villa back into fifth place in the League.
Steve Sidwell had given Villa the lead after just 31 seconds, only for Joleon Lescott to put Everton level by the break.
Phil Jagielka's shocking backpass gave Young the chance to put Villa ahead again, before Lescott's injury time equaliser looked to have given Everton a point.
But 60 seconds later, Young broke clear to guide home the winner and leave Everton shattered.

West Ham United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Ledley King scored his first goal in three years as Tottenham Hotspur continued their revival under Harry Redknapp with victory at Upton Park.
King, whose last goal came on December 12, 2005, met a cross from the electric Aaron Lennon and powered his header past Robert Green.
Spurs wrapped up their victory with a long-range strike from O'Hara that took them above West Ham on goal difference.
Tottenham's win ended Green's run of three clean sheets but ensured another successful return to Upton Park for Redknapp.