Zain to participate Atletico thrash in 2015 EFG Sailing woeful Real 4-0 Arabia - The Tour in Madrid derby SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 17 18 Kane the bane of Arsenal with derby double Page 19 BIRMINGHAM: Chelsea’s Willian (left) is tackled by Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph during the English Premier League soccer match. — AP Chelsea extend lead at the top precisely the 11-hour mark after Jores Okore play of discipline culminated in Fabian Delph’s There was no repeat of that lethargy in this existence finally came to an end. Mourinho had cancelled out Eden Hazard’s opener, yet late strike. If Lambert had a similar game plan feisty encounter. While Villa struggled to cre- has had few fond memories to previously Aston Villa 1 Serbia defender Ivanovic had the final say with this time, however, it had imploded by the ate clear cut openings, Chelsea defender Gary recall at this stadium, yet his side at least had his winner midway through the second half. It eighth minute as Chelsea moved ahead. Cahill could count himself somewhat fortu- time on their side. was not until that goal had gone in that Villa Chelsea’s two Brazilian midfielders, Oscar and nate to escape when Gabriel Agbonlahor’s Swiftly, they reasserted their authority on manager Paul Lambert opted to introduce Willian, were at the heart of it, the latter mov- shot appeared to strike his arm inside the the match with Willian twice seeing efforts Christian Benteke, whom he dropped from his ing menacingly towards goal before his cross- penalty area. flash agonisingly wide before the break- Chelsea 2 starting line-up, but the Belgian striker shot was seamlessly swept home by Hazard. Mourinho’s team lacked their early fluency through arrived in the 66th minute. couldn’t stop his team sliding to within two It was a 13th strike of the campaign for the and it was Villa who made the more purpose- Okore, having failed to clear his lines, points of the relegation zone. Belgium international and only the second ful opening to the second half, with Andreas turned from hero to villain as possession was A positive afternoon for Chelsea was com- goal Mourinho had seen his side ever score at Weimann driving a shot narrowly over the gifted back to Cesar Azpilicueta, whose cross BIRMINGHAM: Branislav Ivanovic’s second- pleted when deadline day signing Juan Villa Park. crossbar. was emphatically converted by Ivanovic’s fine half goal earned Chelsea a 2-1 victory at Aston Cuadrado, a Colombia international, was Villa supporters struggled to contain their Then, finally, came the moment Lambert left-footed half-volley. Villa as the Premier League leaders moved sev- handed a 79th-minute debut as a substitute. mounting frustrations and a cluster of fans and Villa’s beleaguered support had been Within two minutes Benteke had been en points clear at the top yesterday. The corresponding fixture between these held up placards with big arrows which they waiting for. Carles Gil hoodwinked Oscar called upon, but he couldn’t make a differ- Manchester City’s draw against Hull sides last term was a tempestuous affair - two pointed towards Thibaut Courtois’ goal. before accelerating down the left channel to ence. Instead it was left, predictably, to enabled Jose Mourinho’s side to extend their Chelsea players, Willian and Ramires, and Lambert expressed his bitter disappointment cross to the far post where Okore escaped his Mourinho to take centre stage at the final lead in the title race as the Blues boss finally Mourinho were all dismissed - and this contest at the manner in which his team “threw the marker to head home. whistle as he ventured onto the pitch to claimed a first ever win at Villa Park in six was much the same. towel in” during their 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal Cue delirium at Villa Park as what will go orchestrate the visiting Chelsea supporters’ attempts. Villa’s goal drought had ended at Villa, of course, won that contest after a dis- last weekend. down as the worst run in the club’s 141-year celebrations. — AFP Man City lose ground Ledley strike leaves underlined just how much they have missed midfielder Yaya Leicester struggling Toure, currently on Africa Cup of Man City 1 chances they created and paid the price as Nations duty with the Ivory Coast, Palace eased their own relegation worries to who face Ghana in Sunday’s final. Leicester 0 move into 13th place, six points above the In six league games without drop zone. Toure, City have drawn five and Hull 1 Leicester are bottom, two points behind lost one, and the club have second-from-bottom QPR, who lost 1-0 in already declared that they do not injury time to Southampton, but five points expect him to return to England Crystal Palace 1 adrift of safety. MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s in time for their visit to Stoke City Palace, who have shown an impressive hold on the Premier League title on Wednesday. Hull shocked the run of form since former player Pardew took weakened further as James hosts with their 35th-minute LEICESTER: Joe Ledley’s second-half winner over from the sacked Neil Warnock, had Milner’s injury-time free-kick opening goal, but in terms of left luckless Leicester City firmly rooted to chances aplenty to increase their advantage, the foot of the Premier League table as but Jason Puncheon in particular spurned earned his side a 1-1 draw at chances if not possession, they MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko (centre) attempts to home to Hull City yesterday. had enjoyed by far the more pro- Crystal Palace continued their revival under more than one scoring opportunity. In the score during the English Premier League soccer match against Alan Pardew with a 1-0 victory at the King closing stages, Leicester rallied and nine min- Substitute Milner struck with a ductive first half even before Hull at the Etihad Stadium. — AP magnificent direct shot from the David Meyler struck. Power Stadium yesterday. utes from time were denied an equaliser In a lacklustre match with little to com- when two chances went begging. First, sub- edge of the penalty area after While City had enjoyed a glut The woodwork also played a City post, and Meyler slammed of possession, Steve Bruce’s side mend it to the uncommitted, Palace survived stitute Jamie Vardy’s header across goal was Tom Huddlestone had brought part when Hull eventually did the rebound past the stranded an early onslaught which saw David Nugent saved low by Julian Speroni and Marc down Sergio Aguero. had defended soundly and take the lead following a cata- Hart. It was a dismal start to pro- denied by the crossbar, to come away with all Albrighton shot wide from Esteban The result not only saw City fall looked threatening on the count- logue of City errors. Hart and ceedings for a City side who had three points. Cambiasso’s free kick. seven points below leaders er-attack. Vincent Kompany dithered in impressed in a 1-1 draw at Ledley struck with a header from close Leicster now enter a crucial period for Chelsea, but also represented Ahmed Elmohamady sounded defence and Martin Demichelis Chelsea last weekend. City striker range in the 56th minute after Brede their Premier League survival, with trips to their fourth consecutive league a warning after just a quarter of made a poor clearance straight to Edin Dzeko, starting for the first Hangeland headed on a corner, to leave Arsenal, Everton and Manchester City com- game without victory-the club’s an hour when he rose to meet Jake Livermore, whose 20-yard time since October, had a couple Leicester reflecting on what might have been ing up in quick succession and that demand- worst such sequence for over five Robbie Brady’s hanging cross and shot was well saved by Hart. of half-chances; notably an early had they taken their earlier chances. ing schedule may well determine their fate, years. thundered a header against the The ball fell to Gaston Ramirez, header that Allan McGregor held The home side had by far the majority of leaving manager Nigel Perason to rue the The loss of two points also crossbar with Joe Hart beaten. whose follow-up shot struck the comfortably. — AFP possession but failed to convert the few missed opportunities against Palace. — AFP.