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Tuesday April 20, 2010

Arsenal's Title Hopes Evaporate

Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1

Paul Scholes' last-gasp goal stunned Manchester City as Manchester United caused their neighbours more injury-time heartbreak at Eastlands.
After Michael Owen's winner in the sixth-minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford in September, there were just 20 seconds of the three additional minutes left this time around as Scholes rose unchallenged to head home Patrice Evra's left-wing cross from 10 yards.
It was an amazing finish to a match which seemed destined to end goalless.
For Scholes, who signed a one-year contract extension on Friday, it was his 149th Red Devils' goal and the perfect way to retain the outside title hopes United still cherish.
Yet again after a meeting with the team they are so desperate to usurp, City must lift themselves off the floor after suffering the most shattering of blows, still believing a Champions League place can be theirs.

Birmingham City 0 Hull City 0

Hull City regained their pride by collecting a vital point in their bid to stay in the Premier League in a tame goalless draw with Birmingham City at St. Andrew's.
Iain Dowie's side had been thumped 4-1 by fellow strugglers Burnley in their previous outing at the KC Stadium.
But they were far more resolute against Blues in picking up a rare clean sheet and only their fifth away point of the campaign.
It was all the more meritorious given that Birmingham are unbeaten at home since September and have not been beaten by any of the current top six in front of their own supporters.
Hull remain in the bottom three but will be looking to capitalise on having three of their remaining four fixtures at home if they are to survive the drop.

Blackburn Rovers 2 Everton 3

Everton striker Ayegbeni Yakubu had a major impact in a 12-minute substitute appearance, scoring one and setting up a last-minute winner in the 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Mikel Arteta's fourth-minute penalty had been cancelled out by Rovers midfielder Steven Nzonzi's 30-yard drive midway through the second half before the introduction of the Nigeria international.
With his first touch seconds after coming on he put his side 2-1 up and although Jason Roberts lashed home an equalizer two minutes later Tim Cahill converted Yakubu's cross from close range late on.
It kept alive Everton's late bid for a European place, moving them to within two points of sixth-placed Liverpool, who play West Ham United on Monday.

Fulham 0 Wolves 0

Wolverhampton Wanderers edged a point closer to Premier League safety with a determined performance to earn a draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Bobby Zamora rattled the woodwork in the second-half but Roy Hodgson's side know they will have to put in a much-improved performance if they are to beat Hamburg in the Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
Kevin Doyle posed the greatest threat for Wolves, who had Christophe Berra and veteran Jody Craddock to thank for keeping Zamora, and a quiet Zoltan Gera, in check.
The win means Wolves remain six points clear of the relegation zone with three matches left.

Stoke City 1 Bolton Wanderers 2

Bolton Wanderers took a massive step towards survival thanks to Matthew Taylor's late brace at Stoke City.
Dave Kitson had given the Potters a first-half lead after latching onto Tuncay Sanli's pass and rounding Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 13th minute.
But Taylor turned the match around, drawing things level with a free-kick in the 85th minute before netting the winner three minutes later.
The win takes Owen Coyle's side - who had lost their previous four matches - up to 14th in the Premier League, but more importantly, they are now seven points clear of the drop zone with three matches to play.

Sunderland 2 Burnley 1

Darren Bent continued his rich vein of goalscoring form as Sunderland edged Burnley ever closer to relegation from the Premier League.
The England striker claimed his 24th goal of the season four minutes before the break to ensure the visitors did not collect a second successive away win.
Fraizer Campbell had put the Black Cats ahead with 25 minutes gone as the home side dominated until substitute Steve Thompson's strike eight minutes from time sparked a late flurry.

Tottenham Hotspur 2 Chelsea 1

Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale blew the title race open with goals against Chelsea - and also put Tottenham Hotspur back in the Champions League places.
Defoe tucked away from the penalty spot for his 24th of the season after John Terry handled in the area, then Bale followed up his midweek goal against Arsenal with another before the break at White Hart Lane.
Terry's miserable evening was capped off with a sending off for two bookings. Frank Lampard pulled one back but it was too late for Chelsea.
Television scheduling meant the match kicked off with Manchester United only a point behind Carlo Ancelotti's leaders, having defeated their rivals City with a last-gasp winner.
That result also favoured Spurs in their hunt for fourth place as they knew a victory would take them back above City - and within a quarter of an hour they were ahead.

Wigan Athletic 3 Arsenal 2

Three goals in the final 11 minutes gave Wigan Athletic arguably the most stunning victory in their Premier League history on Sunday morning and slammed the door shut on Arsenal's faint title hopes.
The Gunners appeared to be coasting to victory on the back of goals either side of half-time from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre, and with it hauling themselves to within three points of leaders Chelsea.
But after a run of eight defeats and a draw in the league against Arsenal, Wigan added to their maiden wins over Chelsea and Liverpool this season as Ben Watson,
Titus Bramble and Charles N'Zogbia conjured an astonishing comeback.
The remarkable result leaves Wigan seven points clear of the drop zone and seemingly safe, whereas Arsenal can now kiss goodbye to any hope they had of the title after back-to-back defeats in the space of five days.

Portsmouth 1 Aston Villa 2

Aston Villa substitute Nathan Delfouneso scored with his first touch to keep Martin O'Neill's European hopes alive with a well-deserved 2-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
David James saved John Carew's penalty before the break after the Norwegian had restored parity following Michael Brown's early opener.
The match looked to be heading towards stalemate but Delfouneso tapped home Emile Heskey's flick on to move Villa above Liverpool into sixth place in the Premier League.