SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015 SPORTS Albion hand United third defeat in row Man United 0 West Brom 1 MANCHESTER: Manchester United slumped to a third successive Premier League defeat for the first time in 13 years as Jonas Olsson deflected in West Bromwich Albion’s winner in their 1-0 vic- tory at Old Trafford yesterday. United’s latest lacklustre display means they have now failed to score in three consecutive league games for the first time since August 2007, statistics that hardly support manager Louis van Gaal’s claim that his side will challenge for the title next season. To make matters worse, 10 minutes after Chris Brunt’s free-kick took a huge deflection off Olsson for the 64th minute decider, Robin van Persie wasted a 73rd minute penalty after Saido Berahino was ruled to have handled an Antonio LONDON: Manchester United’s Robin van Persie (upper right) is tackled by West Bromwich Valencia cross just inside his area. The Dutch for- Albion’s Gareth McAuley during the English Premier League soccer match.—AP ward’s spot kick was saved superbly by Boaz Myhill, who dived low to his left to offer some the expense of a corner from which van Persie his effort struck team mate Marouane Fellaini LONDON: Swansea’s Ki Sung-Yueng (left) scores the second goal against Stoke City sense of justice to Albion players who claimed was presented with another half-chance, this who was promptly flagged offside. during their English Premier League soccer match at the Liberty Stadium. —AP Berahino had been outside the area. United’s time hooking his effort directly at the visiting Albion offered little threat apart from a defeat leaves them only four points ahead of goalkeeper. A few minutes after that attempt, Joleon Lescott header directly at David de Gea fifth placed Liverpool with three games left in Young was again the architect of a chance for and, early in the second half, Craig Gardner sent the race to qualify for the Champions League. van Persie, running with great purpose down an 18-yard attempt flying off target. Swansea down Stoke For Albion, their shock victory, achieved the left and crossing to the corner of the six-yard Blind crossed low and dangerously into the despite having only 20 percent of the posses- area from where the striker shot into the side- six-yard area without any end product and sion, took them seven points clear of the relega- netting. Fellaini’s lay-off allowed Herrera to side-foot an Wilson tripped Montero six minutes from tion zone and should guarantee their survival. Just before the half-time whistle, full-back attempt wide from 18 yards as the home side the end to collect a second yellow card. Ashley Young appeared the best early Antonio Valencia burst into the area and drilled a finally discovered some tempo. But that Swansea 2 The first opportunity fell to Swansea prospect of ending United’s goal drought as he low shot into the chest of Myhill, the ricochet fly- improvement had been found too late as when Montero crossed to the far post probed down the left, cut in from his wing, ing to the edge of the area to Herrera who hur- Paddy McNair brought down Darren Fletcher and Nelson Oliveira volleyed into the reached the area and unleashed a powerful shot ried the rebound high and wide of the Albion 22 yards from goal, handing Brunt the free- which deflected behind van Persie. net. And soon after the restart, Wayne Rooney, kick from which he handed Albion a most Stoke 0 side netting. Swansea lost Oliveira to injury but Neil back in a deeper central midfield role, chanced unlikely lead as his shot struck the unknowing Taylor made good progress down the left VAN PERSIE STRUGGLES his arm with a 20-yard effort that was far too Olsson and changed direction dramatically on to deliver a cross which saw Nathan Dyer Van Persie, whose Old Trafford future is the close to Myhill. its way past de Gea. The introduction of Angel subject of much debate, was appearing for the When Daley Blind, playing as left-back, found di Maria improved United’s fortunes and, in a SWANSEA: Ki Sung-yueng came off the tee Jonjo Shelvey up for a shot which flew straight at Stoke goalkeeper Jack first time in two months and appeared ring rusty himself in an advanced position soon after, a bit late flurry, van Persie saw his 20-yard shot bench to sink 10-man Stoke as the South of urgency and a shot on goal was just what superbly saved by Myhill before his injury- Butland. Mark Hughes’ side replied as after his lay-off. On 16 minutes he collected a Korea midfielder’s late strike sealed short Ander Herrera pass and shot on the turn, United needed. time shot from even further out soared inches Steven N’Zonzi forced Lukasz Fabianski Swansea’s 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium an effort which Myhill could only parry behind at But, unfortunately for the home supporters, over the crossbar. —AFP yesterday. to tip over the crossbar. Ki was introduced as a 78th minute The hosts needed to raise the tempo substitute with his side leading 1-0 and were almost rewarded for doing so through Ecuador winger Jefferson in the second half when Marko Montero’s goal just moments earlier. Arnautovic slipped to present Angel Gerrard sends QPR The 26-year-old side-footed home for Rangel with possession. his eighth goal of the season two min- Rangel squared the ball to Gylfi utes into stoppage-time and that was Sigurdsson and the Iceland international enough to seal mid-table Swansea’s sec- rattled the crossbar from 20 yards. It ond successive Premier League win. looked as if a draw was certain until the towards drop zone The win extends Swansea’s advantage 76th minute when Shelvey crossed to over ninth placed West Ham to six points the far post, where Montero beat Phil minutes of the second half. Adam Lallana shot With 11 minutes to go Liverpool had the per- with three games of the season remain- Bardsley to score with a diving header for wide with just Rob Green to beat, but that was fect chance to make amends, but after Onuoha ing and the Welsh club look on course for his first goal in English football. Liverpool 2 surpassed when Sterling somehow failed to hit had pulled back Martin Skrtel, Gerrard saw his their highest-ever Premier League finish. Stoke’s Wilson saw red in the 85th the target from inside the six-yard box following weak spot-kick saved by Green. Stoke offered precious little in attack and minute and in the final moments Shelvey a sublime pass from Jordan Henderson. Green But Onuoha was then sent off after scything were reduced to 10 men for the first time pulled the ball back for Ki to finish with then saved from Gerrard and Dejan Lovren, and down Sterling and Gerrard proved that he is in the league this season when Marc aplomb. —AFP QPR 1 Liverpool were made to pay for their wasteful- made of stern stuff when he headed in ness when Fer volleyed in an equaliser from a Coutinho’s corner before departing to a standing Joey Barton corner. ovation.—AFP LIVERPOOL: Steven Gerrard had a penalty Ulloa deepens saved but then headed in a late winner as Liverpool all but guaranteed Queens Park Rangers’ Premier League relegation with a 2-1 Newcastle gloom win yesterday. Philippe Coutinho’s first-half goal and Again it came from a set-piece as Gerrard’s 87th-minute effort, allied to results Albrighton’s 17th-minute free kick gave elsewhere, mean QPR are likely to make an Leicester 3 the visitors all kinds of problems and instant return to the Championship even if they enabled captain Morgan to stab home win their final three games. Chris Ramsey’s side, his second goal of the season. who levelled through Leroy Fer and had Nedum Pearson’s response to both opening Onuoha sent off for two bookable offences, are Newcastle 0 goals was muted, but his side had to go now eight points from safety. on the defensive to prevent any way The victory was Liverpool’s first in four match- back for Newcastle. es and eased some of the pressure that has been growing around manager Brendan Rodgers, LEICESTER: Leonardo Ulloa and Wes Emmanuel Riviere twice went close, first shooting wide on the turn from the who has seen his side’s hopes of Champions Morgan earned Leicester City a 3-0 vic- League qualification evaporate. Rodgers is confi- edge of the area and then losing his tory over Newcastle United yesterday, dent that he will be given further time and sup- moving them closer to Premier League footing when apparently clear on port by the club’s owners, the Fenway Sports survival and hauling their opponents Kasper Schmeichel’s goal. Group, to continue re-building next season. into danger. Jonas Gutierrez and Taylor both But he needs a positive end to the season to John Carver’s Newcastle have now offered long-range efforts, the latter support his case and, not for the first time, he lost eight league matches in a row-the forcing Schmeichel into a save. But was left indebted to Los Angeles Galaxy-bound club’s worst run since 1977 — and are Leicester rode that brief period of pres- captain Gerrard, who was playing in his penulti- sure and saw Matty James put in a cross mate home game.