SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 SPORTS Graham breaks duck to give Sunderland hope

Graham, whose last goal threatening from corners, forc- came while on loan with Hull City in December ing Pantilimon into a sharp save on the second Everton 0 2013, has begun to seduce his team’s support- occasion. ers with his hard-working displays and his first Baines’s corners looked the most likely route goal for the club will only increase his populari- to goal at this point. Shortly afterwards, he ty. Until Graham made the breakthrough, picked out Lukaku from the left, but the Sunderland 2 Sunderland had seemed curiously low-key in Belgian’s poor headed effort flew high and their approach. wide. It was a stunning development, therefore, Perhaps mindful of manager Dick Advocaat’s when Graham put the visitors in front two min- target of four points from this fixture and next utes later. Sunderland might have added a LIVERPOOL: Danny Graham scored his first week’s home game with fellow strugglers quick-fire second when left-back Patrick van Sunderland goal since joining the club 28 Leicester City, the Wearsiders spent the first half Aanholt brilliantly wriggled between two months ago as they bolstered their Premier soaking up sporadic Everton attacks. Everton defenders inside the box, but he shot League survival hopes by winning 2-0 at After 13 minutes, Leon Osman’s through-ball wide from a tight angle. Everton yesterday. was met by Romelu Lukaku on a perfectly timed Sunderland were soon required to defend The English striker, signed from Swansea City run that took him past Wes Brown, but furiously, however, as Everton pressed for the for £5 million ($7.7 million, 6.9 million euros) in Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon raced equaliser. Everton right-back Seamus Coleman January 2013, had made 27 Sunderland appear- from his line to smother. Four minutes before almost scored a sensational goal after 64 min- ances without scoring, making the timing of his half-time, McCarthy was poleaxed by Brown utes, juggling the ball past two defenders and first goal as surprising as it was important. after releasing Lukaku with a perfectly weighted volleying fractionally wide with his left foot. It was fortuitous, too, with Jordi Gomez’s pass. Substitute Kevin Mirallas saw a dangerous 53rd-minute shot cannoning off Graham’s leg Referee Lee Probert played an excellent shot deflected behind and McCarthy unleashed and looping over the dive of Everton goalkeep- advantage that allowed Lukaku to run in on a thunderous 22-yard strike that struck the foot er Tim Howard before kissing the right-hand goal, but his shot was blocked by Pantilimon. of the left-hand post and flew to safety. upright and nestling in the net. After weather- Lukaku kept the move alive impressively by McCarthy also showed great strength and ing long bouts of pressure, Sunderland sealed collecting the rebound and crossing for Osman, poise to hold off a defender before shooting victory five minutes from time when Adam whose shot struck the outstretched leg of narrowly over from a difficult angle, but his LEICESTER: Leicester City’s Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa (right) and Johnson’s shot struck Everton’s James McCarthy Pantilimon once more. team’s need to commit players forward would Southampton’s English defender Ryan Bertrand compete for the ball during the before flicking over the line off visiting striker The second half opened in more promising lead to a second Sunderland goal before the English Premier League football match. —AFP ’s right thigh. fashion, with Everton captain Phil Jagielka twice end.—AFP Leicester on course for great escape Perez rescues point for Newcastle

OBVIOUS DISCOMFORT The joy of that goal was short-lived as Newcastle 1 Leicester 2 Matty James was stretchered off with a nasty looking injury five minutes lat- er after collapsing in agony while chasing Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand. West Brom 1 Southampton 0 James was in obvious discomfort when he left the pitch, but Leicester’s players managed to keep their composure and added a crucial second goal in the 19th NEWCASTLE: Ayoze Perez stopped the rot for LEICESTER: Leicester moved a step closer minute. Mahrez had only scored twice for Newcastle by scoring an equaliser in a 1-1 draw to completing their great escape from the Foxes all season and he doubled that at home to West Bromwich Albion yesterday. Premier League relegation as Riyad tally with a close-range effort that went in The result ended Newcastle’s run of eight Mahrez’s double sealed a vital 2-0 win over off the bar after Jamie Vardy took Leonardo straight defeats, their worst for 38 years, and Southampton yesterday. Ulloa’s flick and pulled the ball back to the left them two points above the Premier League ’s side had been bottom of unmarked Algerian. relegation zone with two games of the season the table for 140 days this season, but they Although Southampton still harboured left. are now three points clear of the relegation hopes of securing a Europa League place It had seemed the north-east side were zone with two games left after Mahrez via a top-six finish, there was little urgency heading for another loss when Nigeria striker from the lacklustre visitors. inspired their sixth win in their last seven Victor Anichebe gave visitors West Brom a In his role just behind the front two, matches. 32nd-minute lead at St James’ Park. Mahrez was the catalyst for all the best But the Magpies were back on level terms The Algerian playmaker struck twice in Leicester moments and his perfectly- the first 19 minutes at the King Power through Perez four minutes before half-time weighted pass to Vardy presented the strik- and held on for what could yet be a precious Stadium and a victory at relegation rivals er with a golden opportunity to make it point. Sunderland next weekend could guarantee three, but Saints goalkeeper Paulo In Saturday’s match programme, Newcastle Leicester’s survival. Gazzaniga denied kept out his low shot. captain Fabricio Coloccini insisted reports his It was an especially sweet result for A rare threat from the visitors saw Toby side fought with one another on the bus fol- Pearson, who was sacked by Southampton Alderweireld’s free-kick tipped over by lowing their 3-0 defeat at fellow strugglers in 2008 and has endured a barrage of criti- Leicester goalkeeper cism for some of his bizarre touchline and just before half-time. Leicester last weekend were “not true at all”. press conference antics this season. But Leicester’s relentless pressing kept Prior to Coloccini’s comments, Magpies Southampton’s fourth defeat in their last the visitors off balance in the second half manager John Carver had said he was “the best six matches leaves them in seventh place and had a powerful coach in the Premier League”, despite having as they limp to a disappointing end to a drive saved by Gazzaniga. presided over Newcastle’s worst run of results season that promised more. A dipping effort from Sadio Mane forced since 1977. Pearson’s team made their early pres- Schmeichel into action with an agile save, For yesterday’s match, Newcastle were with- sure pay in the seventh minute when while Cambiasso shot into the side-netting out the suspended Mike Williamson whom Mahrez evaded a weak challenge from at the other end. Ulloa limped off holding Carver had accused of getting himself deliber- Steven Davis and drove in a low long-range his hamstring late on, but Leicester had ately sent off against Leicester-and Daryl shot that bobbled into the corner for his done enough to keep their escape act on Janmaat. first Leicester goal since December. track. —AFP But Wales international returned from a hamstring injury to the heart of Newcastle’s defence alongside Coloccini. : Newcastle United’s English defender Ryan Taylor (right) challenges West Bromwich West Brom almost went ahead early when Albion’s English midfielder Callum McManaman during the English Premier League football Spurs’ CL hopes slump ’s header came back off the post, match. —AFP with the Newcastle defence blocking Youssouf with 3-0 loss to Stoke Mulumbu’s follow-up. Newcastle then nearly took the lead in the EPL results/standings 28th minute when Coloccini’s header looped up to who saw his initial effort Aston Villa 1 (Cleverley 31) West Ham 0; Crystal Palace 1 (Puncheon 57) Manchester United 2 (Mata 19-pen, Fellaini 78); Everton 0 Sunderland 2 (Graham 53, Defoe 85); Hull 0 Burnley 1 (Ings 62); Leicester 2 (Mahrez 7, 19) blocked and his follow-up shot cleared off the Stoke 3 Matches on TV Southampton 0; Newcastle 1 (Perez 41) West Brom 1 (Anichebe 32); Stoke 3 (Adam 21, N’Zonzi 32, Diouf 86) line by . Tottenham 0. (Local Timings) Moments later, Newcastle were behind when poor set-piece defending left Anichebe Playing today English Premier League free to head in ’s free-kick into Chelsea v Liverpool, Manchester City v QPR Tottenham 0 Man City v QPR 15:30 the box. Playing tomorrow beIN SPORTS But Newcastle were level when the ball fell Arsenal v Swansea Chelsea v Liverpool 18:00 invitingly for Perez and the Spanish striker’s beIN SPORTS LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of half-volley beat Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Champions League football next season Spanish League In the second half, went close to crashed yesterday with a 3-0 loss at Stoke end- scoring a winner for West Brom when, after his Chelsea 35 25 8 2 69 27 83 West Brom 36 10 11 15 34 47 41 Levante v Atletico 13:00 — champions Aston Villa 36 10 8 18 30 50 38 ing their bid for a top-four finish. header was blocked by Dummett, and with beIN SPORTS Man City 35 21 7 7 71 36 70 Leicester 36 10 7 19 41 54 37 First-half goals from and goalkeeper on the ground, his volley Villarreal v Elche 18:00 Arsenal 34 21 7 6 66 33 70 Sunderland 35 7 15 13 30 50 36 and a late from an awkward height off the ensuing beIN SPORTS Man Utd 36 20 8 8 61 36 68 Newcastle 36 9 9 18 37 61 36 effort gave Stoke all three points following a rebound hit the post. Almeria v Malaga 20:00 Liverpool 35 18 7 10 49 38 61 Hull 36 8 10 18 33 49 34 dominant afternoon at the Britannia Stadium. beIN SPORTS ’s West Brom side might have Tottenham 36 17 7 12 55 53 58 Burnley 36 6 11 19 27 53 29 Celta v Sevilla 22:00 Southampton 36 17 6 13 48 30 57 The defeat leaves Spurs seven points off been a man down nine minutes from time fol- — relegated beIN SPORTS Swansea 35 15 8 12 43 44 53 fourth with just two fixtures left, ending their lowing a studs-up challenge by James QPR 35 7 6 22 39 61 27 Champions League hopes. Tottenham never- Morrison on Newcastle’s Ryan Taylor. But the Stoke 36 14 8 14 42 44 50 Italian League West Ham 36 12 11 13 43 43 47 Note: top four teams qualify for next season’s Champions theless maintain their one-point advantage Scotland midfielder received a yellow card, League; fifth-place team qualifies for Europa League; over Southampton, who fell 2-0 at Leicester, in Chievo v Hellas 13:30 Everton 36 11 11 14 46 48 44 rather than a red, from referee Chris Foy. —AFP Crystal Palace 36 11 9 16 43 50 42 bottom three teams relegated to Championship. their tussle to clinch the last definite Europa beIN SPORTS League qualification spot. Citta v Atalanta 16:00 beIN SPORTS Danny Rose started on the bench for Preview Tottenham with Romanian defender Vlad Udinese v Sampdoria 16:00 Chiriches coming in for his eighth league start beIN SPORTS Cesena v Sassuolo 16:00 of the season and Jan Vertonghen moving to beIN SPORTS Liverpool aim to keep slim CL hopes flickering left-back. kept his place in goal for Empoli v Fiorentina 19:00 LONDON: Liverpool must reluctantly subject They’ve been the best team, but all we can do is encounters with Liverpool. “We have three diffi- Stoke, with Marc Muniesa and beIN SPORTS in for and Phil Bardsley. And Parma v Napoli 19:00 themselves to the after-glow of Chelsea’s control the last three games, look to win those cult games. We don’t need to win, but we want to Spaniard Muniesa missed Stoke’s first attempt beIN SPORTS Premier League title triumph today as they seek and see where we end up. I’m purely focused on try to win points. “For many months we had no after five minutes while a Marko Arnautovic Lazio v Inter 21:45 to keep their slim hopes of Champions League the game. “I congratulated (Mourinho). They’re defeats, but I can’t do anything. I can just enjoy volley after 18 minutes was also cleared by beIN SPORTS qualification flickering. the deserving champions and to win it with a the title, which is the most important thing.” in the Spurs’ goal. Midfielder Adam A year ago, the teams were vying for the title few games to go is obviously pleasing for him. Today’s game will be the final time Mourinho finally headed Stoke ahead after a blunder by German Bundesliga and despite Chelsea puncturing Liverpool’s late- “But it doesn’t take away from what we’re comes up against Steven Gerrard in a Liverpool Vertonghen after 21 minutes with Nzonzi dou- Paderborn v Wolfsburg 16:30 season momentum with a 2-0 win at Anfield, it looking to do and we want to finish the season shirt before the Anfield club’s captain leaves for bling their advantage after 32 minutes. beIN SPORTS was Brendan Rodgers’s side who finished higher strong.” Rodgers will take encouragement from the Los Angeles Galaxy at the season’s end. Spurs, who had Chiriches sent off five min- Koln v Schalke 18:30 in the table. Now, it is Chelsea who are champi- his side’s performance on their last visit to Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea 12 months ago utes after the break following a second yellow beIN SPORTS ons, after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Crystal Stamford Bridge, when Chelsea needed an sparked Liverpool’s finishing-straight collapse card, came closest when Stoke defender Marc French League Palace, with Liverpool a huge 22 points behind extra-time header from Branislav Ivanovic to and the 34-year-old has endured a frustrating Muniesa headed against his own bar. them and in the unfortunate position of having secure victory in the League Cup semi-finals. campaign, compounded by the recent loss to Diouf added the third following Arnautovic’s Lens v Montpellier 15:00 to give their rivals a guard of honor. Mourinho may also elect to rotate his squad, but Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals. But cross after 86 minutes to give Stoke their first beIN SPORTS Rodgers’s men go into the weekend four he has set his players the target of finishing the Mourinho paid a handsome tribute to the former double success against Tottenham after 2-1 win Etienne v Nice 18:00 points adrift of Manchester United. “We’re going campaign on 92 points by winning their last England skipper in his pre-match media confer- at White Hart Lane in November. Stoke are out beIN SPORTS Marseille v Monaco 22:00 into the game at the weekend looking to win,” three games. ence, describing him as “one of my favourite ene- of the running for Europe as they sit ninth with beIN SPORTS said the Liverpool manager. “We want to win our matches,” said Mourinho, mies” and revealing that he had tried to sign him 50 points.—AFP “Chelsea are obviously deserved champions. whose side are unbeaten in their last seven for Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.—AFP