MONDAY, MAY 25, 2015 SPORTS

EPL results/standings

Arsenal 4 (Walcott 4, 14, 37, Wilshere 17) West Brom 1 (McAuley 57) Aston Villa 0 Burnley 1 (Ings 6); Chelsea 3 (Costa 37-pen, Remy 70, 88) Sunderland 1 (Fletcher 26); Crystal Palace 1 (Chamakh 57) Swansea 0; Everton 0 Tottenham 1 (Kane 24); Hull 0 Manchester United 0; Leicester 5 (Vardy 16, Albrighton 43, Ulloa 51, Cambiasso 52, Kramaric 86) QPR 1 (Austin 57); Manchester City 2 (Lampard 31, Aguero 88) Southampton 0; Newcastle 2 (Sissoko 54, Gutierrez 85) West Ham 0; Stoke 6 (Diouf 22, 26, Walters 30, Adam 41, N’Zonzi 45, Crouch 86) 1 (Gerrard 70).

English table after yestrday’s matches on the final day of the season (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Chelsea 38 26 9 3 73 32 87 Newcastle 38 10 9 19 40 63 39 — champions Sunderland 38 7 17 14 31 53 38 Man City 38 24 7 7 83 38 79 Aston Villa 38 10 8 20 31 57 38 Arsenal 38 22 9 7 71 36 75 Hull 38 8 11 19 33 51 35 Man Utd 38 20 10 8 62 37 70 — relegated Tottenham 38 19 7 12 58 53 64 Burnley 38 7 12 19 28 53 33 Liverpool 38 18 8 12 52 48 62 — relegated Southampton 38 18 6 14 54 33 60 QPR 38 8 6 24 42 73 30 Swansea 38 16 8 14 46 49 56 — relegated Stoke 38 15 9 14 48 45 54 Note: top four teams qualify for next season’s Crystal Palace 38 13 9 16 47 51 48 Champions League; teams finishing fifth and sixth Everton 38121115485047 qualify for Europa League; team finishing seventh West Ham 38 12 11 15 44 47 47 qualifies for Europa League if Arsenal beat Aston West Brom 38 11 11 16 38 51 44 Villa in FA Cup final; bottom three teams relegated Leicester 38 11 8 19 46 55 41 to Championship. Newcastle avoid drop

Emmanuel Riviere, a disappointment since he LONDON: Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (right) and West Bromwich Albion’s Craig Dawson battle for the ball during the English Premier League soc- signed from Monaco last year. cer match at the Emirates Stadium. —AP Newcastle 2 It represented a gamble by Carver, but it almost paid off within 53 seconds of the start when Riviere should have capitalised on an opportunity created by Sissoko. Walcott hat-trick West Ham 0 Instead, he pulled his shot across the face of the goal from a sharp angle. Riviere was also responsible for Newcastle’s next threat with an overhead kick that flashed wide, while NEWCASTLE: Cancer survivor Jonas Gutierrez Daryl Janmaat went even closer with an 18th- sinks West Brom scored one goal and made the other as minute effort. Newcastle United secured their Premier But West Ham had demonstrated that they League status with a 2-0 win over West Ham would not make life easy for Newcastle and attempting to defend the FA Cup next Saturday. ing the recent goal droughts, his team should dis- United yesterday. Gutierrez crossed for even the home fans’ applause for , Arsenal had surprisingly failed to score in their pre- play more speed in their passing and more quality Moussa Sissoko to open the scoring early in the West Ham captain who once played for Arsenal 4 vious three home matches at the Emirates. in their finishing. the second half and then scored himself as a the club, failed to soften their approach. West Supporters, whose match tickets are some of the There were further celebrations on 37 minutes traumatic campaign ended with a huge sigh Ham might have been awarded a penalty most expensive in the country, had sat through when Walcott sealed his hat-trick. It proved to be of relief at St James’ Park. after only two minutes when Enner Valencia 270 minutes of football - against Chelsea, Swansea the easiest of the three as he remained onside But it was a nervy performance that illus- went down under a challenge from Mike West Brom 1 City and Sunderland - without the pleasure of cele- before converting Cazorla’s driven cross at the back trated why unpopular owner Mike Ashley will Williamson, who was recalled after serving a brating a goal. post. It was hard on West Brom given that, since need to honor his pre-match pledge, in a rare two-match ban for a red card at Leicester City In the fourth minute, following patient build-up became manager in January, the club television interview, to bolster his squad dur- that Carver had accused him of earning delib- on the edge of the penalty area, Santi Cazorla fed had enjoyed 10 clean sheets in their previous 17 ing the close season. erately. LONDON: A stunning first-half hat-trick from Theo in Walcott along the right channel and the league matches. Hull’s failure to beat Manchester United And Allardyce’s side created the best Walcott gave Arsenal the perfect Premier League unmarked winger hit a venomous right-footed This excellent defensive record is the reason lessened the importance of the win, as it opportunity of the opening half when Stewart send-off from the Emirates with a 4-1 victory over strike that Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill had little they are not embroiled in a relegation battle and meant Newcastle would have been safe in any Downing found space behind the centre- West Bromwich Albion yesterday. chance of stopping. Ten minutes later and that lead started the final afternoon 10 points clear of 18th case. backs and forced goalkeeper Tim Krul to block It ensured the Gunners would approach a was extended when Walcott showed great persist- place. In the opening 15 minutes of the second But Gutierrez’s 85th-minute goal was the his close-range shot. record 19th FA Cup final appearance on Saturday ence to skip past one challenge before poking a half, Pulis took off three underperforming players stuff of fairytales, since it came from a player Downing’s effort reflected how West Ham against Aston Villa, who lost 1-0 to relegated strike into the bottom corner. and changed the formation from a defensive 4-5-1 who spent 17 months battling testicular can- were growing in confidence as they retained Burnley, in confident mood. They were soon 3-0 up with West Brom shell- system to a more fluid 3-5-2. cer and who was almost certainly playing his possession with an ease that started to frus- Walcott may have reached an impasse with the shocked. After a corner was not properly cleared, Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe, who replaced final game for the club. trate the Newcastle crowd. club over the signing of a new contract - his cur- the ball broke loose to Jack Wilshere, standing 20 Swedish defender Jonas Olsson, had an immediate Newcastle could hardly have asked for That frustration only increased when rent £100,000-a-week deal expires at the end of the yards out, and the midfielder thumped it first time impact, forcing a save from Arsenal goalkeeper more accommodating visitors than West Ham, Janmaat headed high over the bar at the con- 2015-16 season - but the 26-year-old demonstrat- left-footed with extraordinary accuracy and power. David Ospina on 55 minutes. It was from the who had been assured of a mid-table finish for clusion of a quick break engineered by ed his talent and quality ahead of any summer It was a real stunner, a wonderful way to mark resulting corner, delivered expertly by Chris several weeks and who arrived in the north- Gutierrez and Jack Colback. negotiations with three superbly-taken goals his 100th Premier League appearance, and the 23- Brunt, that centre-back Gareth McAuley scored east without a win in 11 away games. But The anxiety levels within the stadium rose inside the opening 37 minutes. year-old celebrated with physiotherapist Declan with a header. A reminder for Wenger that manager Sam Allardyce, told minutes after the still further when Riviere somehow failed to With Champions League football already Lynch, who had been critical during his rehab from against Villa his side could be vulnerable at set- game that he will not be given a new contract, turn in a 51st-minute cross from Janmaat with secured for a 18th successive year, this rout - ankle surgery. Three goals in the opening 17 min- pieces. Yet West Brom were fortunate not to lose prepared his side properly nonetheless and the goal at his mercy. Arsenal’s joint second biggest victory this calendar utes was an unequivocal response to manager by more as had three brilliant they proved to be stubborn opposition for But they went ahead just three minutes lat- year - was arguably the ideal preparation before Arsene Wenger’s pre-match demands that, follow- chances in the closing minutes.—AFP more than half the game. er when Sissoko rose brilliantly to head home There were a few anxious moments for a left-wing cross from Gutierrez, who made the Newcastle coach John Carver, who may also game safe with a deflected strike five minutes be looking for a new job soon, and who from time. As St James’ Park rejoiced, West Lampard says stylish farewell to Man City sprang a surprise by leaving out Ayoze Perez, Ham’s challenge faded, their fans turning on one of his few successes this season. Carver Allardyce with a prescient chant of: “You’re get- went for the more powerful presence of ting sacked in the morning!” —AFP Man City 2 Tottenham take fifth place Southampton 0 Brendan Galloway was making his home debut for Everton and the teenage left-back Everton 0 suffered a little stage fright early on when he carelessly gifted possession to Christian MANCHESTER: Frank Lampard marked his final Eriksen, who set up Erk Lamela for a shot that game in English football in triumphant fashion forced a save from Tim Howard. as the Manchester City star’s goal ensured the Tottenham 1 That blunder sparked a response from deposed champions ended the Premier League Everton and Kevin Mirallas was sent clean campaign with a 2-0 victory over Southampton through on goal, but with only Hugo Lloris to yesterday. beat the Belgian forward shot straight at the With Sergio Aguero adding a late second goal LIVERPOOL: Tottenham secured a fifth place goalkeeper. at Eastlands, Manuel Pellegrini’s second placed finish in the Premier League as Harry Kane Mirallas showed more composure to carve team secured a sixth consecutive victory, a ended his breakthrough season with the out another chance when he juggled the ball strong end to an erratic season for City and their MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Frank Lampard (right) celebrates scoring against decisive strike in his side’s 1-0 win at Everton to work space for a shot that fizzed just over. Chilean manager, who is expected to hold immi- Southampton during the English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium. —AP yesterday. But, after a barren spell since marking his nent talks with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak Mauricio Pochettino’s side took the points England debut with a goal in March, Kane over his and the club’s future. chance to claim the opening goal had come respite from Southampton’s improved second at Goodison Park thanks to England forward looked a more lively presence up front and he Lampard, making his final English league after 20 minutes when skipped past half play. But the visitors, for all their pressure, Kane’s 31st club goal of the season in all com- opened the scoring in the 24th minute. appearance nearly 20 years and almost 900 Pablo Zabaleta before his low shot was stopped were struggling to convert possession into petitions and his 21st in the league. Eric Dier delivered a tempting cross into domestic games after his first, took just over half by Joe Hart. chances, with Long steering a weak shot directly That victory, combined with Liverpool’s 6- the penalty area and Kane’s clever movement an hour to open the scoring. Graziano Pelle, such an impressive performer at Hart after a James Ward-Prowse attack broke 1 defeat at Stoke, lifted the north Londoners and predatory instincts were on full display as It was the 259th goal of his domestic career for the Saints this season, had a chance to level down on the edge of the area after 67 minutes. two points above the Reds into fifth and he evaded two defenders to head in from and, like so many of those that came before it, before the interval but shot wide from 15 yards Mane and Long both failed to test Hart with ensured they will go straight into the Europa close-range for only his second goal in his last saw the 36-year-old former Chelsea midfielder in after Milner had halted Long’s advance. weak efforts that were comfortably saved by the League group stage in September, instead of eight appearances. precisely the right place at the right time follow- Pelle also produced an audacious flying back England goalkeeper. Fittingly, Pellegrini ended having to start the season in July with a quali- Mirallas should have equalised before half- ing a flowing City attack. David Silva fed the ball heel which fizzed wide from a Sadio Mane cross Lampard’s afternoon after 76 minutes, allowing fying round for Europe’s second tier competi- time when he dribbled around Lloris, only to wide to James Milner whose accurate, first-time soon after the interval. Lampard, with a far-post the Premier League legend to enjoy a standing tion. Everton finished 11th after a lacklustre clip his shot over from a tight angle with the cross reached Lampard unmarked eight yards header from a Milner cross which lacked any real ovation from a packed English stadium for one defeat that summed up their disappointing goal unguarded. from goal and the veteran produced an unstop- power to trouble Davis, offered City a brief last time. —AFP campaign. Pochettino recently told his play- Muhamed Besic came on for Ross Barkley pable finish. ers that few of them are guaranteed of a at the interval and the Everton substitute City wrapped up the points two minutes from place at the club next season and that warn- almost grabbed an immediate equaliser with time after a Jesus Navas shot was deflected high ing had the desired effect. a powerful strike that flashed past a post. into the air and headed back across goal by Pardew guides Palace Tottenham made a bright start, appealing Eriksen’s shot was deflected wide for a cor- Eliaquim Mangala for Aguero to nod over the in vain for a penalty when Ryan Mason went ner that produced a headed chance which line from point-blank range. The events of the to best ever EPL finish down under pressure from Phil Jagielka after Federico Fazio was unable to convert, but first half marked a fitting way for Lampard to say a quick exchange of passes with Christian Tottenham had already done enough to take farewell to the Premier League before his move and West Ham both lost. Eriksen. the points. —AFP to the MLS and New York City, although the There are significant financial rewards for home supporters at Eastlands were possibly Crystal Palace 1 each place gained in the final standings. The more interested in the fates of two other City 53-year-old Londoner, who played as a mid- midfielders. The futures of Yaya Toure and Milner fielder for Palace between 1987 and 1991 and are the subject of speculation, but both played memorably scored the winning goal in an FA their respective parts in an entertaining and Swansea 0 Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool in 1990, open final game of the season. was forced out of Newcastle just weeks after Toure set off on a breathtaking run deep from winning the manager of the month award in his own half after 37 minutes and eventually November 2014. squared a pass, misjudged by Jose Fonte, for LONDON: Alan Pardew guided Crystal Palace His former club needed a desperate 2-0 last Aguero to force a flying, reflex stop from goal- to a best ever 10th place finish in the Premier day victory over West Ham to avoid relegation keeper Kelvin Davis. League thanks to a 1-0 victory over Swansea while Palace have been guaranteed their top Earlier, Toure had sped away from Steven on the final day of the season yesterday. flight status for weeks. Davis to set up an attack which allowed David Moroccan international Marouane Swansea, who have enjoyed their best sea- Silva to send Aguero clear, although the Chamakh drove the ball home from inside the son since John Toshack led them to a tally of Argentina forward’s shot was uncharacteristical- penalty box on 57 minutes following a scram- 69 points in 1981-82, have flourished under ly well off the mark. ble to provide the only goal of the match in a manager Garry Monk and close out their cam- Then a Toure shot, from just inside the area, tight affair at Selhurst Park. paign in eighth spot on 56 points. Swansea, was parried by Davis although the Southampton It was the former Arsenal striker’s fourth who became the first Welsh club to play in the keeper made up for that slight error by produc- goal of the season and first since January. Premier League since its formation in 1992 ing a magnificent block to deny Aguero, who fin- Palace, who picked up their ninth victory since and won the 2013 League Cup under Michael ishes as the league’s top scorer, as he looked cer- former Newcastle handler Pardew took over in Laudrup for their first major trophy, came into tain to net the rebound from six yards. January, took their points tally to 48 and a the match having won five of their past eight LIVERPOOL: Everton’s Steven Naismith attempts an overhead kick during the English The period of City dominance followed a 10th place finish after closest rivals Everton matches on the road. —AFP Premier League soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park. —AP bright opening from the visitors, whose best