SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016 SPORTS Norwich joy as Olsson pushes Newcastle towards relegation

UNDER SEIGE Newcastle were under seige early on Norwich 3 and Jonny Howson crossed towards Mbokani, who fired home only to see his effort ruled out for offside. Norwich were thrashed 6-2 by Newcastle 2 Newcastle at St James’ Park in October, but the Canaries were the dominant force this time. Darlow denied Robbie Brady from the NORWICH: Norwich pushed Newcastle edge of the penalty area before instinctive- closer to relegation and boosted their own ly sticking out a foot to block Mbokani’s hopes of Premier League survival as Martin close-range strike from Naismith’s cut-back. Olsson’s last-gasp strike clinched a dramat- Norwich deservedly broke the deadlock ic 3-2 win yesterday. in first-half stoppage-time when Alex Neil’s side had twice squandered Newcastle’s sloppy marking allowed Swiss the lead in their crunch clash at Carrow defender Klose to rise unchallenged to Road, with Newcastle substitute head Brady’s free-kick past Darlow. Aleksandar Mitrovic levelling following Benitez responded by sending on Ayoze Timm Klose’s opener and then again with Perez at half-time and Newcastle looked re- four minutes remaining after Dieumerci energised as they threatened an equaliser Mbokani’s blistering strike. through Andros Townsend’s effort. But Sweden defender Olsson bagged his Benitez’s next move was to introduce first Norwich goal since September 2014 in Mitrovic and the Spaniard’s switch paid stoppage-time to send the Canaries six immediate dividends as the Serbian for- points clear of the relegation zone and ward leapt to meet Townsend’s superb leave second bottom Newcastle six points cross with a header that drew Newcastle adrift of safety with a game in hand. level in the 71st minute. Newcastle’s eighth successive away Parity lasted less than three minutes league loss means they are without a win however and Congo striker Mbokani did all BOURNEMOUTH: Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero makes a save during their English Premier League match against Bournemouth at in their last six matches and have taken one the damage himself, driving into the left the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, yesterday.— AP point from their three games since Rafael side of the area and smashing a powerful Benitez replaced the sacked Steve McClaren. shot high past Darlow. Norwich’s first home league win in six It was an emotional moment for Mbokani who, on his way home from inter- De Bruyne puts Man City attempts was perfectly timed with fixtures against relegation rivals Crystal Palace and national duty, was outside the Zaventem Sunderland in their next two matches. Airport terminal in Brussels when two ter- Benitez had made five changes after the rorist bombs exploded and killed 26 people in gear for PSG trip derby draw against Sunderland, with Karl last month. Darlow replacing Rob Elliot following the With four minutes left, Newcastle Republic of Ireland goalkeeper’s knee liga- thought they had rescued a point when Navas’s right-wing corner was hit with a low tra- ment injury sustained on international duty Norwich midfielder Gary O’Neil handled in jectory that took the ball past attackers and this week. It was just Darlow’s second the area after the ball bounced up awk- Bournemouth 0 defenders until it reached Fernando, who Matches on TV Premier League appearance and his first wardly and Mitrovic stepped up to slam hooked it past goalkeeper Artur Boruc from 12 since December, when he was at fault for home the penalty. But that set the stage for yards out. (Local Timings) West Brom’s winner. If he had any nerves a remarkable finale as Olsson tried his luck In the 12th minute it was 2-0. Charlie Daniels, with an angled shot that crept past several ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE on his return to action, there was early Man City 4 the Bournemouth left-back, was culpable when encouragement for Darlow as he dived low defenders before nestling in the bottom he tried to dribble out of defence, but once he Leicester v Southampton 15:30 to his right to keep out Steven Naismith’s corner to spark wild celebrations all around had given the ball away, City’s quality took over. beIN SPORTS low shot. Carrow Road. — AFP Man United v Everton 18:00 beIN SPORTS BOURNEMOUTH: Kevin De Bruyne scored on FERNANDINHO HITS BAR his injury comeback as Manchester City warmed Aguero flicked the ball over the back four to SPANISH LEAGUE up for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter- David Silva, who cushioned a lay-off for De Athletic de Bilbao V Granada 13:00 final against Paris Saint-Germain by crushing Bruyne to volley home. The Belgian nearly made beIN SPORTS 3 HD Bournemouth 4-0 yesterday. it 3-0 to City in the 17th minute, swerving a first- Malaga V RCD Espanyol 17:00 Short of form and goals before this match, time shot inches over the crossbar after Silva beIN SPORTS 3 HD City roared back from the international break had sent Gael Clichy scampering down the left SD Eibar V Villarreal 19:15 beIN SPORTS 3 HD looking well rested and produced a dominant to cross low. Sevilla V Real Sociedad 21:30 performance against a Bournemouth team who But a third did come two minutes later when beIN SPORTS 3 HD had no answer to their movement and craft. Aguero outjumped Adam Smith at the far post Three goals in the opening 19 minutes, from to nod Navas’s cross past Boruc, with Steve Cook ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE Fernando, De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, effec- just unable to clear. Udinese Calcio V Napoli 13:30 tively won City the game and they could have Next it was almost Fernandinho’s turn as he beIN SPORTS 4 HD had more before Aleksandar Kolarov scored a Atalanta V AC Milan 16:00 curled a shot over Boruc from 22 yards, only to beIN SPORTS 8 HD fourth in the final seconds. see the ball strike the crossbar. Fiorentina V Sampdoria 16:00 The result, and West Ham United’s draw at Bournemouth had some chances. Willy beIN SPORTS 9 HD home to Crystal Palace, strengthened City’s hold Caballero dived low to his right to scoop away a SS Lazio V AS Roma 16:00 on fourth place in the Premier League table. header from Cook, while Grabban headed over beIN SPORTS 4 HD It keeps them on course to return to the from Smith’s cross and Matt Ritchie saw a shot Chievo Verona V Citta 16:00 Champions League next season, which was beIN SPORTS 12 HD blocked after some neat juggling. Genoa CFC V Frosinone 16:00 beginning to seem unlikely after a run of four But City were never in danger and threatened beIN SPORTS defeats in six league games. to start the second half as they had the first, De Internazionale V Torino 21:45 Bournemouth have now failed to beat City in Bruyne’s volley forcing Boruc to save low to his beIN SPORTS 1 HD any of their six league meetings, and have yet to left. De Bruyne was withdrawn short of the hour GERMAN BUNDESLIGA score against them at home, but with their safe- and Silva followed shortly afterwards, but ty almost certain, they could regard this as a Manuel Pellegrini’s men continued to create Monchengladbach V Hertha 16:30 learning experience. City were without the beIN SPORTS 5 HD openings. TSG Hoffenheim V FC Koln 18:30 injured Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, Aguero just failed to reach a cross by Pablo beIN SPORTS 5 HD LONDON: Arsenal’s German midfielder Mesut Ozil (C) passes the ball during the Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling, but Belgium Zabaleta and Boruc had to block a shot by sub- English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Watford at the Emirates winger De Bruyne returned to the starting XI stitute Kolarov with his legs. FRENCH LEAGUE Stadium in London yesterday. — AFP after two months out with a knee problem. As City turned their attention towards Paris, Nantes V Lille OSC 15:00 The absences were hardly felt, although gaps opened in their defence, but Eunan O’Kane beIN SPORTS 6 HD Bastia V de Marseille 18:00 Bournemouth missed an excellent chance to was unable to take the best, scuffing his shot Arsenal beat Watford beIN SPORTS 8 HD take the lead after only five minutes when Josh into the advertising boards. Lorient v Lyonnais 22:00 King, sent clear by Lewis Grabban, pulled his Kolarov had the final word, dribbling into the beIN SPORTS 6 HD to stay in title hunt shot harmlessly across goal. penalty area and hitting an angled shot high Two minutes later, City were ahead. Jesus beyond Boruc. —AFP make the ideal start against Watford.

Arsenal 4 BRIEF REPRIEVE With Sanchez starting on the right, Gayle earns Palace 2-2 Arsenal immediately threatened to open up the visitors with the Chile international Watford 0 delivering a teasing cross that would have presented Danny Welbeck with a routine draw at 10-man West Ham chance to open the scoring but for a late intervention by Craig Cathcart. LONDON: Arsenal kept their slender Watford’s reprieve was brief, however. a knock on international duty with Premier League title hopes alive with a 4-0 Moments later Iwobi picked out Sanchez Togo, Bakary Sako started up front for victory over Watford at the Emirates and the winger rose above left-back West Ham 2 Palace and it was his free-kick that led Stadium yesterday that exacted some Nathan Ake to head goalwards, finishing at to the opening goal. revenge for their FA Cup defeat by Quique the second attempt after Watford goal- Sako’s cross appeared to be drifting Sanchez Flores’s side last month. keeper Heurelho Gomes blocked the initial away from danger, only for West Ham Alexis Sanchez’s fourth-minute goal set effort. Palace 2 goalkeeper Adrian to palm it back into the tone for a one-sided win that was com- Watford looked like a team with little to play, and Delaney headed home from a pleted by Alex Iwobi’s 38th-minute effort, play for and who had one eye on the narrow angle. Hector Bellerin’s strike early in the second upcoming FA Cup semi-final with Crystal half and Theo Walcott’s last minute tap-in. Palace. LONDON: Cheikhou Kouyate’s dismissal FIRST GOAL Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had Having proved formidable opponents in proved the turning point as West Ham It was the first goal West Ham had insisted before this game his side, currently last month’s cup tie at the Emirates, the United’s charge towards a Premier conceded at home in the league since in third place, could yet win the title if they Hornets were unable to halt the Gunners’ League top-four finish was slowed in a January, but they quickly composed won their remaining eight games. relentless attacking moves that should 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace yesterday. themselves and equalised three min- And this victory moved them to within have seen Arsenal out of sight by half time. After Damien Delaney had punished utes later when Lanzini rifled in from eight points of leaders Leicester City, 24 Iwobi drew a fine save from Gomes with a mistake by Adrian to put Palace ahead Diafra Sakho’s knock-down. hours before Claudio Ranieri’s side face a curling shot moments before Welbeck’s in the 15th minute, West Ham equalised The wind in their sails, West Ham Southampton. effort was deflected wide after the striker through Manuel Lanzini and then went twice went close to taking the lead, only Veteran French boss Wenger had was teed up by Ozil. ahead courtesy of another glorious for visiting goalkeeper Wayne Arsenal’s second goal finally came in the admonished Mesut Ozil earlier this week free-kick from Dimitri Payet. Hennessey to thwart first Sakho and 38th minute with Sanchez this time playing after the Germany international claimed But Kouyate was shown a straight then Payet. the role of provider, pulling a low cross Arsenal had “screwed up” their title chal- red card by referee Mark Clattenburg for Jason Puncheon squandered a glori- lenge. Having been clear favourites at the back towards the penalty spot where Iwobi a high foot on Dwight Gayle in the 67th ous chance to put Palace ahead when turn of the year, it was hard to disagree connected with a first time effort that beat minute and eight minutes later Gayle he miscued from Pape Souare’s cross, with Gunners playmaker Ozil’s contention Gomes. but Wenger insisted this was no time for Flores had seen enough and withdrew pounced on an error by Angelo before Sakho headed over at the other any of his players to allow their belief to the ineffective Etienne Capoue after just 41 Ogbonna to equalise. end after Hennessey failed to claim a weaken. minutes, sending the midfielder straight Slaven Bilic’s West Ham are now Payet corner. He knew better than anyone though down the tunnel and back to the dressing three points below Manchester City, Payet’s set-pieces have been integral that the only way to strengthen the view room. The Watford manager made a further who occupy the fourth and final to West Ham’s fine form and he gave that Arsenal might yet challenge for the change half-time, replacing Odion Ighalo Champions League qualifying berth, another display of his skill with a dead- championship would be to build on their with Ikechi Anya. with seven matches of the season ball four minutes from half-time by arc- impressive victory at Everton last time out. Flores’s switches had little effect and remaining. ing an inch-perfect free-kick into the That win, coming in the wake of the three minutes after the restart Arsenal Palace remain seven points above top-right corner. scored their third goal. Sanchez was again Champions League exit at Barcelona and the relegation zone, but although they Hennessey prevented Lanzini from UPTON PARK: West Ham United’s English midfielder Mark involved, exchanging passes with Bellerin the FA Cup defeat by Watford, prompted as are now without a win in 14 league swelling West Ham’s lead, before Aaron Noble (R) vies with Crystal Palace’s Welsh midfielder Joe before delivering a cross that was cleared much frustration. games, manager Alan Pardew will have Cresswell produced a brilliant goal-line Ledley during the English Premier League football match by Allan Nyom. The ball fell to Bellerin Nevertheless, the victory appeared to drawn encouragement from their sec- clearance to thwart Sako at the other between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at The Boleyn whose left-foot shot deflected off have lifted the squad and having named an ond-half fightback. end after Kouyate’s back-pass had sold Ground in Upton Park, in east London yesterday. The game Sebastian Prodl past Gomes. —AFP unchanged line-up, Wenger saw his side With Emmanuel Adebayor sustaining Adrian short.—AFP finished 2-2. —AFP