THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 SPORTS Everton worsen United’s misery

Man United 0

Everton 1

MANCHESTER: Bryan Oviedo scored the only goal as Everton recorded a shock 1-0 win over a Manchester United side managed by their former boss that put a huge dent in the cham- pions title defense. Yesterday’s result left United 12 WEST BROMWICH: West Bromwich Albion’s English-born Scottish James points adrift of leaders Arsenal and Morrison (right) tackles Manchester City’s French midfielder Samir Nasri (left) during was the first time Everton, whom the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Moyes left at the end of last season Manchester City yesterday. —AFP to replace the retired , had won at since 1992. Moyes endured a mis- City beat West Brom erable evening, which began with him being jeered by his former City ahead in the ninth minute at The supporters. Hawthorns, setting Manuel Pellegrini’s United went close to taking the Man City 3 team on its way to only a second away win lead when ’s deflect- that keeps it six points behind leader ed shot came back off the post in the opening period before Danny MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Patrice Evra (bottom right) attempts to head past Everton’s Steven Arsenal. Pienaar (centre) during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium yesterday. — AP The only blot for City on a night that saw Welbeck headed on to the bar West Brom 2 captain return from 10 from close range in the second struggled to get the ball away from Sylvain Distin but the ball came attempt to kick and games out through injury were the late half. But Costa Rican Oviedo, the Steven Pienaar corner that fol- back off the inside of the post. Evra earning a yellow card. Everton sub- goals they conceded, with goalkeeper signed by Moyes in 2012, turned in lowed before was was in determined mood and stitute Gerard Deulofeu was played Costel Pantilimon turning the ball into his from close range to secure forced to tip over a powerful broke beyond Mirallas to see a firm in by Lukaku but could only come Everton’s win with five minutes left. WEST BROMWICH: Yaya Toure scored own net in the 85th and Victor Anichebe Mirallas shot. shot pushed away by Howard up with a disappointing shot Everton manager Roberto Martinez twice as Manchester City found a cure to its scoring in injury time. Toure had earlier fin- The home side finally played shortly after the interval. A poor straight at de Gea. had promised that the Blues would problems away from home by beating West ished off a classy team move to make it 2-0 their way into the match and a header from And United broke down the show that they are shedding a sup- Bromwich Albion 3-2 in the Premier League in the 24th before converting a 74th- spell of pressure resulted in the against his old club gifted Everton other end of the field for Januzaj’s posed inferiority complex against yesterday. Sergio Aguero put third-place minute penalty.—AP ball falling for former Everton for- possession in a dangerous area long-range effort to be palmed the Premier League’s top sides and ward Rooney, whose drive was and United’s Belgium midfielder over unconvincingly by Howard. from the start they were keen to turned away by . was relieved to see The home side were denied by the prove his point. Former United goalkeeper Howard divert Barkley’s shot wide of goal. woodwork once again when Southampton slump caused early impressed again when he pushed Moyes attempted to put some Howard was at full stretch to keep panic in the United defense as the away Kagawa’s close-range effort. energy into his team when he out Evra’s header from Rooney’s hosts scrambled to clear a cross And United went even closer to a threw on Nani and Adnan Januzaj corner before Welbeck headed on 3rd successive defeat from under pressure goal when found for Kagawa and Rafael just before to the bar from close range. from the striker. Lukaku thumped space down the right and clipped the hour. But when the ball fell for Mirallas went close to putting goal and they might have equalized on the wide from just outside the area over a cross that was glanced just Nani on the edge of the area the Everton in front when his free-kick half-hour mark, forcing a fine and then had an effort deflected wide by , playing for the Portuguese lifted his shot well over came back off the outside of the Southampton 2 save out of Brad Guzan. Rodriguez, who wide off Nemanja Vidic after Ross first time since turning 40 last the bar. After being fortunate not post. But shortly afterwards, won his first cap for England last month in Barkley stole the ball from Shinji week. to be sent off in the 2-2 draw at Everton got their breakthrough the friendly against Chile, did get the ball in Kagawa in midfield. United’s Howard was beaten when Giggs Cardiff last month, Rooney once when Lukaku scuffed a shot to the the net three minutes into the second half defense, with Chris Smalling play- picked out Rooney and the again allowed his frustration to get far post and Oviedo turned in from Villa 3 as his header from ’s cross ing alongside Vidic at centre-back, England striker’s shot deflected off the better of him, missing with an six yards.—AFP powered past Guzan. The hosts should have got a second shortly afterwards as Pablo Daniel SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton slumped Osvaldo’s deft backheel looked to have Tottenham ease pressure to their third successive defeat and first at beaten the impressive Guzan, but the home this season as they lost 3-2 to Aston American got down well to save. No sooner Villa in an absorbing Premier League tussle had that happened than Villa regained the yesterday. The hosts had twice fought back lead as Libor Kozak headed in Karim El on boss Andre Villas-Boas to level only for former Leeds United player Ahmadi’s superb cross-the scorer’s reward was to be immediately replaced by Belgian to score a cracking winner for manager Rene Meulensteen following Martin Defoe cut clear on the left after a deep clear- striker Christian Benteke, who had been left Villa, who extended their unbeaten run in Jol’s sacking at the weekend. ance, held up play well, and waited for Lamela’s on the bench after failing to score in the the Premier League to five matches. Fulham have lost six consecutive league well-timed delayed run into the box. The former past seven games. The Saints, though, Fulham 1 Southampton manager Mauricio matches and former Manchester United coach West Ham striker’s pass begged for a finish but showing the huge character that has sym- Pochettino had to hand a rare start to third Meulensteen faces a tough task to lift the third instead Lamela side-footed wide. Lamela was bolized their impressive Premier League choice ‘keeper 21-year-old Paulo bottom Cottagers out of the relegation zone. once again in action with a rising drive from the campaign thus far, leveled again as Osvaldo Gazzaniga-injuries to Artur Boruc and Paulinho and Erik Lamela, two of Villas-Boas’ edge of the area, but Fulham goalkeeper was on hand to head home after England Spurs 2 Kelvin Davis ruling them out-and the under-performing big-money signings, wasted Maarten Stekelenburg was easily equal to the striker had headed across Argentinean was picking the ball out of his gilt-edged chances for Spurs in a first half that challenge. Fulham took a surprise lead in the goal to set the Italian up. However, the pre- net after a quarter of an hour. Fulham shaded through territory and posses- 56th minute when Dejagah capitalised on fine viously rock-solid Southampton defense- It was rough justice on the hosts as they sion. Brazilian midfielder Paulinho fired wide work by Berbatov, cutting into the box after the who had only conceded 10 goals in the pre- LONDON: Tottenham eased the pressure on had barely allowed Villa a touch but had after Jermain Defoe had sent him clear on goal, Bulgarian’s sharp pass to slide the ball past Lloris. vious 13 Premier League games-allowed boss Andre Villas-Boas as Lewis Holtby’s strike failed to turn their pressure into a goal and spurning the first definitive opportunity of the But Meulensteen’s men were unable to hold Delph the freedom to run at them and then capped a dramatic late fightback in yesterday’s were hit by a counterattack and a fine goal match. out, with Romania defender Chiriches firing in unleash a superb shot from 25 yards to 2-1 win at Fulham. Villas-Boas’ team were in dan- by Gabriel Agbonblahor. Saints, though, The closest the home side came to a real with a first-time strike after a loose headed clear- were far from deflated by conceding that restore the visitors’ lead for good.— AFP ger of suffering another embarrassing setback when Ashkan Dejagah gave the struggling hosts chance was from Pajtim Kasami’s early through- ance from a Fulham corner in the 73rd minute. a surprise lead early in the second half. ball to Dimitar Berbatov. The former Tottenham Just as Fulham looked to hit back, Spurs struck But Vlad Chiriches’ first Tottenham goal and a striker, reportedly keen to quit Craven Cottage in again to steal the points when German midfield- cool finish from Holtby eight minutes from full- the January transfer window, looked well-placed er Holtby smashed home in the 82nd minute to PSG unbeaten run time spared Villas-Boas’ blushes and gave the to control and sneak through for a one-on-one claim his first Premier League goal since his sixth placed north Londoners their first win in with Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. But his first move from Schalke in January. Fulham pressed brought to an end five Premier League matches. While Villas-Boas touch let him down at the crucial moment and for an equalizer, but Berbatov clipped wide was able to celebrate a much-needed three the half-chance was gone. After that it was before Kasami struck the outside of a post with points, it was a frustrating start for Fulham’s new Spurs’ chance to turn wasteful once again. the final chance.—AFP PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain failed to equal sixth straight defeat. Elsewhere yesterday, the record for their longest unbeaten run veteran goalkeeper Mickael Landreau in France’s top flight as they suffered a broke the record for the most appear- shock 2-0 defeat away to Evian yesterday. ances by any player in France’s top flight Swansea thrash Youngster Clarck Nsikulu put Evian in as he started for Bastia in their Corsican front at the end of a counterattack with derby draw with Ajaccio. French interna- 15 minutes remaining in freezing Annecy, tional Landreau played his 603rd Newcastle 3-0 and on-loan Marseille winger Modou game, three days after equalling the pre- SWANSEA: Swansea Sougou made sure of the win for the vious record held by former Monaco City brought home side when he added another in the ‘keeper Jean-Luc Ettori, in a game played Newcastle United’s Swansea 3 87th minute. on neutral ground on the mainland at the four-game winning That goal came just seconds after Stade Parsemain, home of second-tier run in the Premier had missed a glorious club Istres. League to a juddering chance to bring the defending champions But Landreau, formerly of Nantes, PSG halt with a 3-0 victory Newcastle 0 level, and the result ends PSG’s unbeaten and Lille, was unable to help Bastia beat at the Liberty Stadium record under Laurent Blanc. Indeed, the their island rivals as the game ended in a yesterday. Substitute capital club’s sequence of Ligue 1 match- 1-1 draw, a late Eduardo strike for Ajaccio Nathan Dyer broke the es without defeat ends at 26, one short of cancelling out Florian Raspentino’s early deadlock with a volley the club record set in their title-winning opener. “It is fabulous to experience this on the stroke of half-time, with an own goal from 1993-94 campaign. And their overall run and to be able to share it,” said Landreau Newcastle right-back Mathieu Debuchy and a late Jonjo without losing in all competitions ends at after the match. “The game was played Shelvey strike completing victory. 36 matches, also one short of the club behind closed doors, but I prepare for It was only a second win in seven home games for record. every match in the same manner. Michael Laudrup’s side, who climbed two places to 11th in However, that sequence does not “I can feel what this represents, and it is the standings, while Newcastle slipped one place to sev- include a defeat to Evian on penalties in massive.” Saint-Etienne missed the enth. Swansea recalled goalkeeper Michel Vorm after a the quarter-finals of the French Cup last chance to reclaim fifth spot as they went knee injury, while Newcastle manager kept faith with the team that had started in Saturday’s 2-1 home season, and now the club from the shad- down 3-1 away to Rennes in Brittany, with win over West Bromwich Albion. Loic Remy has been ow of the Alps can claim to be PSG’s Argentine striker Silvio Romero scoring instrumental in Newcastle’s fine recent run, but the French bogey side. “This win is marvelous for all his first two goals in French football for striker was denied a ninth goal in 10 league games when our fans, the whole region. I have to con- the hosts. Bordeaux inflicted a first home Vorm produced a tremendous flying save to push away his gratulate my players,” said Evian coach defeat on Guingamp since the opening STOKE: Stoke City’s Marc Wilson (right) and Cardiff City’s Fraizer Campbell compete early header. Pascal Dupraz, who nevertheless admit- day of the season, winning 1-0 thanks to a for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match at the Britannia Stadium With Michu and Wilfried Bony still sidelined by injury, ted his frustration that his side were solitary Julien Faubert strike, while Lorient yesterday. — AP Alvaro Vasquez led the line for the hosts and he threatened unable to produce such performances on increased the pressure on beleagured to break the deadlock with an angled drive that flew nar- a regular basis. Montpellier coach Jean Fernandez with a rowly wide. It was to be the on-loan Getafe forward’s last Blanc’s side are now just a single point 2-0 victory at the Stade de la Mosson. Stoke and Cardiff stay significant contribution, however, as he was forced to leave clear of Lille at the top of the table, with Maxime Barthelme put Lorient ahead the fray shortly afterwards with an apparent groin injury. the northern side having beaten Marseille before Cameroon international forward above relegation zone Luckily for Swansea, Dyer proved a more than adequate 1-0 on Tuesday, with Nolan Roux scoring a Vincent Aboubakar scored his ninth goal replacement, volleying in the opening goal in first-half stoppage-time winner as Nigerian goal- of the season from the penalty spot at the relegation zone after playing out an unin- stoppage time after Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul could keeper Vincent Enyeama kept his 11th death after the home side had been spiring scoreless draw in the Premier only palm an Alejandro Pozuelo cross into the air. consecutive clean sheet. Meanwhile, reduced to nine men by the dismissals of Stoke 0 League yesterday. Stoke had a goal disal- Dyer and Shelvey both threatened early in the second Monaco are just one point futher behind Vitorino Hilton and Abdelhamid El- lowed at the end of the first half after Geoff half, with Vorm thwarting Shola Ameobi at the other end, in third after they won 3-0 away to Nice in Kaoutari. However, Montpellier’s plight is Cameron was caught offside. Cardiff had a before Swansea doubled their advantage in the 67th a Cote d’Azur derby on Tuesday, achieved not as serious as that of Sochaux, who chance earlier but Asmir Begovic denied minute. Pozuelo dispatched a through ball for Shelvey to without Radamel Falcao, as the remain rooted to the bottom seven points Cardiff 0 Jordon Mutch’s effort with a good save. chase and although Krul blocked the former Liverpool mid- Colombian missed a second successive from safety after losing 2-0 at home to Cardiff almost scored in injury time as fielder’s shot, the ball bounced off the unfortunate back- game due to injury. Reims. The midweek round of games con- teenager Declan John saw his shot toward tracking Debuchy and into the net. Shelvey would not be James Rodriguez, Emmanuel Riviere cludes today when mid-table duo Lyon the bottom corner saved by Begovic. Stoke prevented from writing his name on the score-sheet, how- and Lucas Ocampos got the goals for and Toulouse meet at the Stade de and Cardiff both have 14 points from 14 ever, and he capped victory in the 81st minute with a fine Claudio Ranieri’s men, as Nice fell to a Gerland.— AFP STOKE: Stoke and Cardiff stayed above the matches.— AP shot from 25 yards.—AFP