SERVICES

Tuesday April 29, 2009

Giggs Drives United Comeback

Bolton Wanderers 1 Aston Villa 1

Ashley Young scored his first goal in 18 matches but Aston Villa have still forgotten how it feels to enjoy that winning feeling.
Yet they had the perfect incentive after 11 matches without a victory in all competitions when the England prospect made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute.
However they let Bolton Wanderers back into it and Israel midfielder Tamir Cohen marked his first start of the season with the equaliser 16 minutes later.

Everton 1 Manchester City 2

British transfer record signing Robinho inspired Manchester City to a 2-1 win at Everton for their first League away victory since August.
The £32.5m Brazilian scored a 35th-minute opener after racing on to Elano's through ball and then turned provider for Stephen Ireland nine minutes after half-time.
Substitute Dan Gosling fired an injury-time consolation but it could not prevent City's first win at Goodison Park since October 1992 and ended a run of three successive away defeats for Mark Hughes' side.
Considering City's form on the road - eight points from 16 matches prior to this one - and their history on this ground few would have predicted this result.
But with Robinho finally putting in a performance outside of his Eastlands comfort zone the visitors were rarely troubled.

Fulham 1 Stoke City 0

Fulham's dream of European football moved a step closer thanks to a first-half matchwinner from substitute Erik Nevland.
Nevland, on for the injured Bobby Zamora, scored the decisive goal in the 29th minute when he collected a return pass from Andrew Johnson to fire home from eight yards.
The win pushed Fulham into seventh position and ahead of West Ham in the race to qualify for the UEFA Europa League next season.

Hull City 1 Liverpool 3

Dirk Kuyt struck twice as title-chasing Liverpool ground out a crucial away victory.
The Reds were given a rigorous test by the relegation-threatened Tigers, who were reduced to 10 men, but held on to keep the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table.
Kuyt put Liverpool 2-0 up after a Xabi Alonso strike in the first half but Hull battled hard and pulled one back through Geovanni after Caleb Folan was sent off. However, Kuyt sealed the win in the closing minutes from close range.

West Bromwich Albion 3 Sunderland 0

Chris Brunt continued his hot streak of goal-scoring form as West Bromwich Albion kept alive their faint hopes of avoiding relegation with a first win in 12 matches.
The Northern Ireland international struck the decisive second goal - his fourth in the last three matches - after Jonas Olsson had broken the deadlock.
Juan Carlos Menseguez's first goal for the club put the icing on the cake for Albion as fellow strugglers Sunderland slumped to a fifth defeat in their last six outings.
Albion also kept only their second clean sheet since their last victory - a 3-0 triumph over Middlesbrough in mid-January - as the Sunderland forward duo of Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse were kept under control.
The home side still have a mountain to climb if they are to repeat their Great Escape heroics of four years ago during the Bryan Robson era.
But at least they are showing signs of not going down without a fight and they were well worth the three points.

West Ham United 0 Chelsea 1

Chelsea warmed up for their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona with victory over West Ham United courtesy of Salomon Kalou's winner and Petr Cech's penalty save.
Kalou struck in the 55th minute at Upton Park but it needed Cech to save Mark Noble's spot-kick to keep them ahead and send them into European action in high spirits.
The Blues started the weekend six points behind Manchester United and Guus Hiddink, in charge until the end of the season, has given up hope on catching them.
With that in mind, this match served to tee-up their visit to the Nou Camp on Tuesday, with Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack on the bench.
Ashley Cole was also among the substitutes and, as he is suspended for the Barca tie, Jose Bosingwa was given a dry run in the position ahead of facing Lionel Messi.

Manchester United 5 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Manchester United staged a stunning fight-back to go back to the top of the League.
After being overhauled by Liverpool earlier in the day, United found themselves 2-0 down at half-time as Darren Bent and Luke Modric gave Tottenham Hotspur a commanding lead.
However the champions hit back to win with two goals apiece from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Dimitar Berbatov scored the fifth against his old club to put the Red Devils three points clear of the Merseysiders with a match in hand.

Blackburn Rovers 2 Wigan Athletic 0

Ryan Nelsen scored his first Premier League goal as Blackburn Rovers took a huge stride towards safety with victory over Wigan Athletic at Ewood Park.
The New Zealand defender headed home Benni McCarthy's free-kick on the hour after McCarthy had given Rovers the lead on the stroke of half -time.
Hugo Rodallega had hit the woodwork for Wigan in the third minute and the home side had Paul Robinson to thank for retaining their advantage in the second half.

Arsenal 2 Middlesbrough 0

Captain Cesc Fabregas scored both goals as Arsenal warmed up for their Champions League semi-final against Manchester United with a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are now all but safe in fourth place following a run of 20 league matches without defeat.
Andrey Arshavin, who smashed in four goals at Liverpool in midweek, was again inspirational, but will not be eligible for the European tie against holders United.
With leading scorer Robin van Persie still sidelined by a groin problem, the double salvo by Fabregas and the return to fitness of goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could not have come at a better time.

Newcastle United 0 Portsmouth 0

Newcastle United's League future is hanging by a thread after Portsmouth earned a 0-0 draw in a tension-filled encounter at St James' Park.
Alan Shearer is now without a win in four matches as manager, but he will know this is one that got away after his nervy side spurned at least two good openings to claim all three points.