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Home , Andy Carroll, Aron Gunnarsson, Jack Colback, Marc Muniesa, Sebastian Larsson, Steven Nzonzi

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 SPORTS Man United beaten as Sunderland eye safety

Man United 0

Sunderland 1

MANCHESTER: Louis van Gaal was served a timely reminder of the size of the re-building LONDON: West Ham’s Andy Carroll (center) heads the ball under pressure from job facing the club’s next manager as Seb Tottenham’s Michael Dawson (right) during their English soccer Larsson’s first-half goal secured Sunderland a 1- match. —AP 0 victory at yesterday. The result rel- egated Cardiff and Fulham while drastically improving Sunderland’s survival chances and West Ham down Spurs leaving United with a mountain to climb if they are to finish sixth in the Premier League and sharply in the hosts’ favor. secure Europa League football next season. Kaboul was sent off for clipping the Defeat also handed caretaker Ryan Giggs a West Ham 2 heels of the fleeing Downing and although harsh lesson in the unpredictable world of man- tipped over Andy Carroll’s agement and suggested his predecessor David thunderous subsequent free-kick, West Moyes may not have been solely to blame for Ham took the lead from the corner that the club’s painfully obvious current flaws. Tottenham 0 ensued. Carroll leapt to meet Downing’s The result also meant United, who are cross at the back post with a downward expected to appoint van Gaal as their new boss header and in attempting to head the ball next week, had lost seven home league games over the bar, Kane succeeded only in lifting in a season for the first time since the 1973/74 LONDON: West Ham United secured their it over Lloris and into the net. campaign, which ended with their relegation Premier League status after stemming a Spurs manager Sherwood responded by from the old First Division. run of four straight defeats with a 2-0 win introducing centre back Vlad Chiriches in OLD TRAFFORD: Scorer of the winning goal Sunderland’s celebrates after his By contrast ’s Sunderland side con- team’s 1-0 win against Manchester United in their English Premier League soccer match. —AP at home to 10-man Tottenham Hotspur place of Kane, but still West Ham came for- tinued an extraordinary run which had brought yesterday. ward. Lloris had to make a fine low save to a draw at Manchester City and victory at the Sunderland penalty area. Giggs had seen enough and, after 66 min- The early dismissal of Spurs centre back touch a Matt Taylor drive around the post, Chelsea in recent weeks after Larsson volleyed Carrick’s right-wing curling cross after 16 utes, made the most audacious move yet of his Younes Kaboul gave West Ham control and but in the 44th minute West Ham doubled home on the half hour at Old Trafford. Victory minutes almost led to a goal but it was from brief tenure as United manager, bringing on they prevailed through a Harry Kane own their lead. left the north-east side three points above the Sunderland’s former United defender John and van Persie, making his first goal and a free kick, his Downing’s 25-yard free-kick should have relegation zone with two games remaining. O’Shea who sliced a clearance just wide of his appearance since mid-March, in place of Young first goal for the club. Victory took West been blocked by the wall, but Adebayor , the goalscoring hero of own net and the right-hand post. Juan Mata and Mata. Ham to 40 points ahead of their trip to and Paulinho inexplicably stepped apart, Sunderland’s charge to safety, set up the goal had a sight of goal on the stroke of half-time However, it was the visitors who should have Manchester City on the season’s final day allowing the ball to pass between them with strong play at the right-hand corner flag but his long shot was smothered easily by scored the next goal as swung and will relieve some of the pressure on and into the bottom right-hand corner. and a cross which beat Darren Fletcher on its Sunderland goalkeeper . at Jozy Altidore’s cross and produced a shot manager , who has fallen out Carroll drilled a volley wide in first-half way to Larsson, who had slipped his marker Upon the restart, ’s timely which struck the foot of the United post, with of favour with some of the club’s fans. injury time and it was only the astonishing Michael Carrick. clearance denied Javier Hernandez a clear scor- Jack Colback striking the rebound into the side- Spurs, meanwhile, are now in danger of reflexes of Lloris that kept the scoreline The Sunderland then produced a ing opportunity as he shaped to convert an Evra netting. being pipped to sixth place, which brings respectable in the second period. perfect 12-yard volley which flew past the div- cross with Nemanja Vidic powering a header Van Persie gave United fans brief hope with a with it a berth in next season’s Europa After five minutes, the France interna- ing into the bottom left-hand cor- wide from the corner that followed. half-chance at the near post which he failed to League. tional produced an impressive double save, ner. Giggs introduced Adnan Januzaj in an effort get on target, Welbeck cut in for an 18-yard shot The defeat left Tim Sherwood’s men six parrying a spectacular overhead kick from It was a stunning development after the to add bolster United’s play in the final third of which cleared the bar and Hernandez shot dis- points above Manchester United, who have Mohamed Diame and then kicking the ball enthusiasm and support Giggs had enjoyed the pitch and the move brought about an appointingly over, unmarked from 12 yards, two games in hand and a vastly superior away from , before Taylor since taking over from sacked manager Moyes improvement with Wes Brown required to assist after being picked out by Evra’s cross. goal difference. steered the rebound wide. and winning his opening game 4-0 over Mannone after the keeper fumbled a Young cor- United were then almost caught on a classic Bidding for a third consecutive win, Moments later he came to Spurs’ rescue Norwich last week. ner. Another corner, this one from Januzaj him- counter-attack as Fabio Borini curled an impres- Spurs made an encouraging start at again, charging from his line to block with But with missing because of a self, also culminated in Phil Jones eventually sive attempt over de Gea but onto the crossbar, Upton Park, with Kane almost embar- his knee after Nolan had seized on a Carroll groin injury, and on the bench, chipping to the far post, from where with Santiago Vergini hurrying his follow-up rassing West Ham goalkeeper Adrian knock-down. Lloris was then obliged to United were lacking a killer touch in and around Sunderland cleared. effort over the goal from the rebound.—AFP by charging down a clearance inside save at his near post from Taylor, before the first minute. Emmanuel Adebayor opposite number Adrian got in on the act then shot meekly at Adrian after being in stoppage time with a superb one-hand- teed up by Christian Eriksen, but in ed save to thwart marauding Spurs left Stoke end Fulham’s the 25th minute the momentum tilted back Danny Rose.—AFP top-flight stay LONDON: Fulham were relegated from Cardiff relegated, the Premier League as Stoke 4 goals from Peter Odemwingie, Marko Newcastle win Arnautovic, Oussama Assaidi and Jonathan Fulham 1 defending as Newcastle took the lead in the Walters saw them lose 18th minute. 4-1 at Stoke City yes- Newcastle 3 French midfielder Moussa Sissoko surged terday. beyond Cardiff full back Declan John before The London club were never in the game against a side floating an inviting cross to the far post, where whose safety was already assured and trailed 1-0 at the Ameobi was unmarked to head home his sec- break before tamely conceding three times in the second Cardiff 0 ond league goal of the season. Moments later half. the increasingly influential Sissoko tried his It meant that their 13-year tenure in the top flight came luck from 25 yards only to see a fierce right- to an end in sorry fashion, despite Kieran Richardson scor- footed shot deflect off Icelandic midfielder ing at 3-0. Fulham struggled to get going early on and the NEWCASTLE: Cardiff City were relegated from and cannon off the far post. BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa’s Andreas Weimann celebrates scoring his side’s third goal, hosts came close to opening the scoring with just three the Premier League after just one season in the Zaha wasted two opportunities to equalise during their English Premier League match against Hull City. —AP minutes on the clock as Steven Nzonzi’s pull-back found top flight following a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle inside two minutes as his pace unsettled the Liverpool loanee Assaidi, who blazed over. yesterday. Magpies’ defence. Krul’s trailing right leg Assaidi’s inclusion in place of allowed The Magpies’ victory, coupled with denied the former Crystal Palace winger in the Odemwingie to play further forward and the Nigerian went Sunderland’s win at Manchester United, sent Weimann calms 29th minute before a last-gasp tackle by the close with a shot after a Stoke break, before left-back Erik the south Wales club into the Championship France defender Mathieu Debuchy prevented Pieters shot wide from ’s pass. The visitors on an afternoon when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s a second clear shot on goal. were struggling to create much in an attacking sense, but side spurned too many clear cut chances to Former Newcastle forward nerves at Villa briefly threatened when Lewis Holtby’s snapshot was keep their survival hopes alive. replaced the South Korean midfielder Kim Bo- deflected wide. Cardiff found themselves bottom of the Kyung at half-time as Solskjaer shuffled his Fulham were not helping themselves in defence either, Premier League table for the first time since offensive pack. Villa made two changes, with Matt Lowton and in for Leandro Bacuna and with Mahamadou Diarra giving the ball straight to Stephen January following a 4-0 defeat at Sunderland However, it was Campbell who flashed a Ireland on the edge of his own penalty area, but the Irish the previous weekend. Aston Villa 3 Karim El Ahmadi. For Hull, Maynor Figueroa cross-shot wide of the far post in the 54th midfielder saw his shot well saved by David Stockdale. And goals from , Loic Remy replaced Alex Bruce. minute as the home fans began to vent their The visitors were again indebted to Stockdale for foiling and Steven Taylor at St James’ Park sealed their Ashley Westwood put the hosts into a light- frustration at Pardew and United owner Mike Ireland minutes later and then he blocked a 20-yard effort fate with just one fixture remaining. Ashley. ning 58-second lead from the edge of the box Hull 1 from Assaidi. Newcastle’s first league win in seven A minority of Magpies’ supporters left their after a break down the left, only for Hull to level Fulham lacked urgency and manager Felix Magath took attempts was played out against a backdrop of seats after 69 minutes - the time designated by before the half hour when Jordan Bowery decisive action before half-time by replacing Holtby with fan unrest, but it slightly eased the pressure on members of the Newcastle United Supporters’ turned Liam Rosenior’s cross into his own goal. Ashkan Dejagah. under-fire manager and guaran- Trust to walk out in protest at the St James’ Andreas Weimann headed in from close BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa inflicted a 3-1 defeat It failed to help, and Stoke got the reward their efforts teed a top 10 finish for the Tyneside outfit. Park hierarchy - but many thousands more range in the 41st minute to put Villa back in on FA Cup finalists Hull at Villa Park yesterday to deserved on 39 minutes. Arnautovic’s persistence allowed Pardew made only one change to stayed on until the final whistle. charge, and the Austrian doubled up four min- give Paul Lambert’s side a massive boost in their him to cross for Ireland, whose shot was diverted onto the Newcastle’s starting line-up with Nigeria striker replaced Campbell in the utes later with a bullet header after being set up fight to stay in the Premier League. bar by defender John Heitinga. Odemwingie reacted quick- Ameobi replacing midfielder Dan Gosling. 73rd minute and the former Sunderland player by Bowery on the left. After taking only one point from the last 18 est to bundle home the rebound for his fifth Stoke goal in Solskjaer made five changes with on-loan forced Krul into a fine save with his first touch. Weimann, who hadn’t scored in 12 matches, available, this was a hugely welcome turn 14 appearances since leaving Cardiff City in January. Manchester United midfielder Wilfred Zaha As Cardiff fought desperately to preserve took his tally for the season to six goals. This was around in Villa’s flagging fortunes, almost guar- restored to an attack-minded starting line-up. their Premier League status Remy almost pun- a welcome result coming after last weekend’s 4- Stoke might have gone further in front before the break anteeing their topflight survival for another sea- And Cardiff almost enjoyed the perfect start ished the visitors on the break but his weak 1 rout by Swansea it was Villa’s first win since as Arnautovic’s spectacular effort after cutting in from the son. following an indecisive punch clear by shot was blocked by Cardiff captain Steven their March 15 upset of Chelsea, Lambert’s men right was brilliantly saved by a diving Stockdale. They moved up to 38 points and can only be Newcastle’s Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul. Caulker. having lost five out of their last six outings. Stoke manager left Fulham in 2011, citing relegated if third from bottom Norwich win Krul failed to deal with a sixth-minute Fabio French striker Remy, on loan from QPR, It was all the more important for them to a lack of ambition, and to the dismay of their large gather- their two remaining games against Chelsea and Da Silva cross but former Sunderland forward finally doubled Newcastle’s lead three minutes win this with their last two matches against ing of travelling fans, the visitors showed little sign of Arsenal and produce a major swing in goal dif- Frazier Campbell drove a right-footed shot from time following good work from Sissoko Manchester City and Tottenham. For Steve improvement in the second half. ference. Hull are one place behind Villa on 37 wide. and Cheick Tiote. He found himself free in the Bruce’s Hull, who face Arsenal in the FA Cup Instead it was Stoke who continued to press, with points and also look safe from Norwich, but Two saves inside a minute from Cardiff six-yard area to score a 14th league goal of the final on May 17, they have now failed to beat Nzonzi firing over following a free-flowing move involving their current poor form will not inspire confi- goalkeeper David Marshall preserved parity, season before substitute Taylor sealed victory Villa in the Premier league in the last seven Assaidi and Arnoutovic. dence ahead of their trip to Wembley. but the Bluebirds were guilty of dreadful in stoppage-time.—AFP attempts.—AFP Fulham’s fate was sealed nine minutes into the second period as Stoke were allowed to break with numbers. Fed by Assaidi, Odemwingie burst down the left and found Arnautovic, who hammered in his fifth goal for the Potters. Saints ensures eighth place finish Stoke continued to press, with pulling back for Assaidi, whose effort was again superbly saved by Lambert struck in bizarre fashion in the third Although defeat would have been a disap- lem, but was on the bench. Monk made one the wrong-footed Stockdale. minute of stoppage-time at the Liberty Stadium pointment for Swansea caretaker boss Garry change following last Saturday’s 4-1 win against Substitute was the next to go close as he sliced wide from an Odemwingie pass, but Stoke did get a Swansea 0 when Swansea captain Ashley Williams’ Monk, the former Swans defender is still in line Aston Villa as Dutch international Dwight attempted clearance looped over home goal- to be made the Welsh club’s new permanent Tiendalli replaced Angel Rangel, out with a third goal on 73 minutes. keeper Michel Vorm and the ball went in off the manager having already overseen Swansea’s groin injury. Again it came on the break as Arnautovic’s cross pre- Saints substitute’s back. successful campaign to retain their top-flight Swansea went closest to scoring early on sented Assaidi with a well-deserved tap-in. Southampton 1 Victory took Southampton to a tally of 55 status after replacing the sacked Michael when Pablo Hernandez’s shot was well-saved Richardson pulled one back 10 minutes from time by points, six more than ninth-placed Newcastle, Laudrup in February. by Artur Boruc, before Wilfried Bony glanced a converting on the half-volley after Stoke failed to clear with just one league game remaining for both Southampton produced the few moments header wide. Dejagah’s cross. clubs. But even though Manchester United suf- of quality that illuminated an otherwise highly However, it was not long before the Saints But the goal mattered little as Stoke went down to the SWANSEA: England striker Rickie Lambert left it fered a 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland yester- forgettable clash in south Wales, with England started dominating territory and possession, other end and scored a fourth within two minutes, Walters late to score the only goal of the game as day, the seventh-placed faltering champions World Cup hopeful Luke Shaw repeatedly although their attacking play lacked a cutting finishing well after being put through by Adam. Southampton assured themselves of an eighth- could no longer be overhauled by the Saints threatening the home defence. edge, with a free-kick from Dejan Lovren nar- Sunderland’s 1-0 win at Manchester United left Fulham place finish in the Premier League this season given they are five points in front of Mauricio Lambert was left out of Southampton’s start- rowly clearing the bar and Sam Gallagher four points adrift of safety, ahead of their final game of the with a 1-0 win away to Swansea. Pochettino’s men. ing line-up following a buttock muscle prob- wastefully heading too high.—AFP season at home to Crystal Palace next weekend.—AFP