Everton Begin Post-Martinez Era with 3-0 Norwich Victory
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MONDAY, MAY 16, 2016 SPORTS Ibe secures a point for second-string Liverpool Cameron Brannagan tried to replicate West Bromwich 1 Leko with a strong, weaving run at the heart of the West Brom defence, but his low shot was tame and comfortable for Ben Foster in the home goal. But Ibe made no mistake on 23 minutes with a Liverpool 1 fantastic solo effort to level the scores. Testimonial pace WEST BROMWICH: Jordon Ibe’s superb He left Jonny Evans standing on goal gave a much-changed Liverpool halfway, close to the right touchline, side a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion before darting 50 yards, through the on the final day of the Premier League West Brom defence and past Jonas season. Three days before the Reds face Olsson. He then kept his composure to Sevilla in the Europa League final in place a firm, low shot past Foster. On the Basel, their manager Jurgen Klopp made half-hour, Allen tried to make amends for 11 changes for their final domestic out- his earlier error, but his long-range shot ing of the campaign. was dragged well wide. Then came a dis- They fell behind on 13 minutes to a appointing moment for another young- fine West Brom goal that was finished off ster as Liverpool full-back Brad Smith by Venezuelan international Salomon was booked for diving after a powerful Rondon. But Ibe’s solo effort levelled the run at the West Brom back four brought scores 10 minutes later as most of him one-on-one with Jonas Olsson. The Klopp’s likely European starters were second half also began at near testimoni- rested. Emotions were high before the al pace, with both sides lacking the game as West Brom paid a touching trib- urgency to create openings. ute to the victims of the 1989 Craig Gardner was first to try his luck Hillsborough stadium disaster following with a long-range shot that flashed well their families’ momentous inquest victo- wide. Then Rondon had the first of sever- ry. There were 96 empty red seats in the al chances as he met a fine free-kick from Gardner with a glancing header that LONDON: Leicester City’s English midfielder Danny Drinkwater (C) celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League football match away end, each bearing the name of a between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. —AFP fan who died, and before kick-off West struck the woodwork. It was Rondon Brom captain Darren Fletcher and former again who threatened to score when a Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert, now Gardner corner was flicked on to the far with Albion, laid floral tributes in front of post. The big striker failed to make a Drinkwater spares Leicester city the visiting supporters. There was little clean contact with his first shot, but he incident of note in the opening stages, recovered for a second, which Bogdan but the game was then enlivened by turned around the post superbly for From closing defeat at Chelsea three pieces of fabulous skill from young another corner. West Brom continued to attacking players. look more likely scorers as they pegged home ground chanted: “John Terry, we want you Pedro Rodriguez an opener from Willian’s low First Jonathan Leko, West Brom’s 17- Liverpool in their own half for long spells, to stay!” The former England captain, sitting cross. Ranieri sent on Jeff Schlupp and Shinji year-old wideman, created the opening but they could not force a breakthrough. Chelsea 1 behind the dug-outs, acknowledged the display Okazaki at half-time as Leicester reverted to their goal for Rondon. Leko pounced on Joe And in the closing moments Christian with a raised hand. familiar 4-4-2 shape, while Hiddink looked to the Perhaps with next season’s Champions future in the second half with the introductions Allen’s poor pass, rode two firm chal- Benteke should have made the most of a League campaign in mind, Ranieri used the of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 20, and 18-year-olds lenges to stay on his feet and then fed two-on-one break with fit-again substi- tute Jordan Henderson unmarked in the occasion to test out a new system that saw Riyad Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, who made Rondon with a perfect pass. The Leicester 1 Mahrez and Demarai Gray flank lone striker his debut. Fabregas broke the deadlock in the centre. But the big striker lost his way and Venezuelan then produced a fine, low Jamie Vardy in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Vardy put 66th minute, sending Schmeichel the wrong finish past Adam Bogdan. was tackled by Gareth McAuley. — AFP two efforts wide, while Gray worked Thibaut way from the spot after Schlupp had been Courtois with a firmly hit right-foot strike. penalized for flying in towards Nemanja Matic. LONDON: Danny Drinkwater struck a stunning But Chelsea finished the half on top, visiting But Leicester, fittingly, had the final say as late equalizer as Leicester City concluded their goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel twice denying Drinkwater gathered a pass from Schlupp and fairytale Premier League campaign with a 1-1 Fabregas and saving spectacularly from Willian hit a sweet drive that flashed past Courtois and draw against outgoing champions Chelsea at and Baba Rahman before an offside flag denied into the bottom-left corner. — AFP Stamford Bridge yesterday. Cesc Fabregas’s penalty put Chelsea ahead, but Drinkwater crowned his return from suspension by leveling with a dipping 25-yard effort in the 82nd minute Flores ends Watford tenure to ensure that manager Claudio Ranieri did not taste defeat on his return to his former club. with draw to Sunderland Beaten only three times over the whole cam- paign, Leicester finished the season 10 points er Jordan Pickford saved comfortably. clear of second-place Arsenal, with long-time For all Watford’s early pressure, though, pursuers Tottenham Hotspur a point back in Watford 2 it was the visitors, for whom manager Sam third. They also equalled a club record of 12 con- Allardyce had given a chance to several secutive league games without defeat. Chelsea young players, who took the lead. Rodwell finished 10th, 31 points off the pace, and while arrived unmarked at the back post to open the scoring on 39 minutes with a Guus Hiddink said his goodbyes after his second Sunderland 2 stint as interim manager, there remains uncer- simple finish. tainty over the future of captain John Terry. Two minutes later the visitors were harsh- Suspended for Leicester’s visit, the 35-year- ly denied a second from Duncan Watmore WEST BROMWICH: Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe, centre, scores his sides first goal during old was set to take part in the post-match lap of WATFORD: Watford failed to send off by a debatable offside flag. It took Watford the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and honour but has yet to reveal whether he will departing manager Quique Sanchez Flores only two minutes after the break to equalise Liverpool FC at The Hawthorns Stadium. — AP sign the one-year contract extension that the with a victory as Sunderland left Vicarage as Proedl headed home Adlene Guedioura’s club offered him this week. Leicester’s players Road with a 2-2 draw yesterday. Fresh from corner to score his first Watford goal. Yet just were granted a guard of honor by their hosts as securing their Premier League future in mid- three minutes after that Watmore broke they took to the pitch beneath bright sunshine week with a 3-0 rout of Everton, Sunderland clear from another Watford corner before ‘I want to stay here’ in west London, while Ranieri was presented twice took the lead through Jack Rodwell finding Lens, who fired past goalkeeper with a memento by Chelsea, the club who had and Jeremain Lens, but each time the Heurelho Gomes. sacked him 12 years previously. Hornets hit back with Sebastian Proedl and Sunderland had another effort from says emotional Terry Troy Deeney finding the net. Fans gave Dame N’Doye chalked off by an offside flag Hello again Ranieri Flores, who will leave the club after just a and, just 60 seconds later, John O’Shea LONDON: Captain John Terry told Chelsea’s The former England captain missed While the home fans said hello again to year in charge, a rapturous reception before brought down Jose Jurado in the box, allow- fans he wanted to stay at the club during Chelsea’s last two games of the season Ranieri, they also bade farewell to Hiddink, who kick-off and his side then played their part in ing Deeney to crash home the spot-kick. an emotional address following their 1-1 through suspension, but he was present at gives way to Italy manager Antonio Conte, and an entertaining fixture. Almen Abdi twice Two minutes from time Odion Ighalo had draw with Premier League champions Stamford Bridge yesterday as fans chanted implored Terry not to end his time at the club on came close to hitting the target when well the chance to snatch a winner but he placed Leicester City yesterday. Terry, 35, “John Terry, we want you to stay!” and held 703 appearances. On minute 26 — reflecting placed and when he finally did with a third his shot wide and Flores bowed out with a announced in January that he would be up signs showing “26”, his squad number. In Terry’s squad number-Chelsea fans in the Shed attempt for the hosts, Sunderland goalkeep- draw.