Fernandinho Seals City Win
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Rockets win, Neymar, Messi Raptors fall guide Barca to crucial win SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 17 18 West Brom dent Liverpool’s Champions League challenge Page 19 MANCHESTER: Aston Villa’s Dutch midfielder Leandro Bacuna (right) jumps for a header with Manchester City’s Brazilian midfielder Fernando during the English Premier League football match. —AFP Fernandinho seals City win with a Charles N’Zogbia corner. Guzan succeeded only in mis-hitting a Villa responded impressively to a nervy start The City left-back curled a brilliant shot, But with normal time running out, square pass across the face of goal directly with Christian Benteke heading over from a through a gap in the wall left by Leandro Man City 3 Aleksandar Kolarov’s left-wing corner to Aguero, who was left with the routine Jack Grealish cross and the Belgium striker Bacuna and Kieran Richardson, and past passed through a crowded Villa area and task of tapping the ball into an open goal then being denied by the legs of Joe Hart Guzan’s desperate dive. reached the unmarked Fernandinho, who from six yards. after latching onto Vlaar’s deflected shot. Villa’s response was swift and impressive, took a controlling touch before scoring with It was hardly a start in keeping with the Toure, whose future at the Etihad has however, as they reduced arrears from a Aston Villa 2 an acrobatic half-volley. Sergio Aguero, with recent form shown by Villa under manager been the subject of much speculation dur- Grealish free-kick just two minutes later. his 21st league goal of the season, and Tim Sherwood that has left them with a ing a disappointing title defence, was Eliaquim Mangala and goalkeeper Hart Kolarov had previously been on target for genuine chance of avoiding relegation, replaced at half-time, apparently because of failed to communicate properly, with the Manuel Pellegrini’s side although, after Tom along with a place in the FA Cup final fol- injury, and Frank Lampard exited early in defender heading to the edge of his area MANCHESTER: Fernandinho claimed a dra- Cleverley had pulled a goal back for Villa, lowing last week’s semi-final victory over the second half as Pellegrini attempted to matic 89th-minute winning goal for the visitors looked well capable of escaping Liverpool. gain control of midfield. where, after Fernando and Milner failed to Manchester City to secure a 3-2 victory over with at least a point. Guzan, who has surrendered his starting It scarcely worked, although Aguero had clear, Cleverley was on hand to lash an 18- Aston Villa yesterday, a result which could Victory saw reigning champions City place to veteran deputy Shay Given in the strong claims for a penalty turned down, yard shot into the goal. have major ramifications at both ends of the climb into second place, nine points behind FA Cup, then flapped embarrassingly at a and had Fabian Delph’s 18-yard snapshot In the frantic finale, Villa seemed about to Premier League. Chelsea but having played two games more Kolarov free-kick in the 16th minute with been a foot to the left after 55 minutes, Villa claim a winner with the game tied as It was the second goal in four minutes at than Jose Mourinho’s leaders. Fernando heading just wide of a gaping might have had an equaliser. N’Zogbia and Christian Benteke broke Eastlands after Carlos Sanchez appeared to City were gifted the lead in the third minute goal. City, playing with a confidence that Finally, after 65 minutes, Villa’s discipline upfield but the latter was flagged for offside have earned FA Cup finalists Villa a priceless following an extraordinary error by the United has been lacking for much of the year to wavered with Carlos Sanchez upending with only Hart to beat - a decision that point when he was on hand to skilfully hook States goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who panicked date, also threatened with Yaya Toure vol- Fernandinho, earning a caution in the proved all the more significant given the ball into the goal from 12 yards after in receiving a back-pass from Ron Vlaar as the leying just wide from the edge of the area process and presenting Kolarov with a free- Fernandinho’s winner followed within sec- City goalkeeper Joe Hart had failed to deal home side pressed high up the field. and Guzan smothering an Aguero shot. But kick 22 yards from goal. onds. -—AFP Spurs hold course Swansea see off Newcastle for Europa League eighth. Last week’s home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur had been marked by received a few jeers upon his arrival Newcastle 2 a boycott by several thousand Newcastle in the dug-out and was the target of fans and there were plenty of empty Southampton 2 taunts from the home fans. seats once again at St James’ Park on this The low-key reception was per- occasion. Many of those who did turn up haps due to the fact that both of Swansea 3 opted to protest against the way owner these sides find their seasons in dan- Mike Ashley is running the club by stand- Tottenham 2 ger of petering out. But Tottenham’s ing up and brandishing red cards in the quest for European qualification 34th minute, in reference to a reported remains in their own hands, while NEWCASTLE: Swansea City came from fund of £34 million ($51.6m) that is sit- Southampton are still in the mix to behind to inflict a record seventh straight ting in the bank while the team stag- LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur held join them as they close in on their defeat on Newcastle United yesterday, nates on the park. their course for a Europa League fin- highest top-flight finish in 30 years. winning 3-2 on another day marked by At that stage Newcastle were actually ish after head coach Mauricio The home team started purposefully protests at St James’ Park. in front, Ayoze turning the ball into the Pochettino left former club and moments after Spurs goalkeep- Ayoze Perez put the home side in net after Jordi Amat failed to deal with a Southampton with a hard-earned 2- er Hugo Lloris had foiled France LONDON: Southampton’s Graziano Pelle (right) in action against Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Mason (center) during the English front in the first half but Nelson Oliveira, Riviere cross from the left. 2 draw yesterday. team-mate Morgan Schneiderlin Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jack Cork turned from a James Ward-Prowse corner, Premier League soccer match. —AP However, Swansea were back level Graziano Pelle twice put the game around before Siem de Jong they took a 29th-minute lead just before half-time as Portuguese strik- Southampton ahead at St Mary’s, Tottenham were second-best, but control and saw Steven Davis squan- grabbed a late consolation for Newcastle. but a pulsating game saw Spurs through Pelle. er Oliveira headed in a corner, and they they hauled themselves level in der two golden chances before they The Magpies are now on their worst respond through Erik Lamela and It was all of Tottenham’s making seized the lead shortly after the restart as somewhat contentious fashion just regained their lead via Pelle in the run of consecutive defeats in the history Sigurdsson collected a Jefferson Montero Nacer Chadli to close on a return to as a catalogue of errors contributed 65th minute. before the break. of the Premier League and have won just cross and finished. European football next season. to their downfall. After slipping, Ryan Eric Dier’s right-wing cross was Following a driving run by Sadio Southampton remain on their Mason over-cooked a pass back to twice in 16 matches since John Carver The Welsh side struck again in the 71st glanced on by Harry Kane to Lamela, Mane, substitute Shane Long shaped replaced Alan Pardew as manager. As a coat-tails, but will see this as a team-mate Ben Davies, who hesitat- who guided the ball past a cross into the box from the right minute as Cork charged forward and result, they are only five points clear of missed opportunity not to just over- ed in clearing his lines, which Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin and Pelle rose to plant a magnificent found Oliveira before converting the cut- take their rivals in the Premier allowed Pelle to dart in and poke the Davis. Replays suggested the ball header past Lloris’s outstretched the relegation zone and have played a back that followed. They then held out to League table, but also gain revenge ball home. had struck Lamela’s arm, but it was right hand. game more than north-east rivals take the points and claim a third straight over their returning manager. The Spurs felt that Pelle had nudged missed by referee Jon Moss, who But the home side’s lead lasted Sunderland, who are 18th. win in Newcastle after De Jong, on his hostile welcome that some had pre- Davies in the back shortly prior to was selected to officiate the FA Cup only five minutes, as Ronald The nightmare prospect of the drop is first appearance since August, side-foot- dicted for Pochettino did not materi- scoring, but the goal was no less final earlier this week. Despite the Koeman’s men were once guilty of therefore still a possibility for Newcastle, ed home at the back post three minutes alise, although the Argentine than the home team deserved. setback, Southampton looked in letting their advantage slip. — AFP in contrast to Swansea, who remain from the end.