SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015 SPORTS Albion hand United third defeat in row

Man United 0

West Brom 1

MANCHESTER: United slumped to a third successive 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 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 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, wasted a 73rd minute penalty after 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 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, header directly at fifth placed 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. appeared the best early 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 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, , 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 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 , playing as left-back, found di Maria improved United’s fortunes and, in a SWANSEA: Ki Sung-yueng came off the tee 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. ’ side replied as after his lay-off. On 16 minutes he collected a Korea ’s late strike sealed short 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. 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 . 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 corner. ovation.—AFP

LIVERPOOL: 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. ’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 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 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 , LEICESTER: 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 ’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. The game started on a som- : Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (left) and Queens Park Rangers’ Leroy Fer battle for the only one point above Leicester, who ball during their English Premier League soccer match. —AP have won five out of their last six that just missed the head of Esteban bre note, with both sides wearing black arm- games. Cambiasso. bands as a mark of respect for the wife of QPR defender , Rebecca Ellison, who To complete another thoroughly dis- The game was up for the visitors within three minutes of the restart as died from cancer at the age of 34 on Friday appointing Newcastle performance, referee ’s eagle eye spotted a evening. Former England international Benteke brace sparks defenders Mike Williamson and Daryl push from Riviere on Marcin Wasilewski Ferdinand has not played a prominent role this Janmaat were both sent off in the sec- at another Albrighton corner. Ulloa con- season, with the last of his 11 league appear- ond half for two bookable offences. fidently stepped up to convert the ances coming almost two months ago. Villa’s survival hopes Leicester had gone into this match resulting penalty, slamming the ball But he remains an influential squad member with the focus on manager Nigel high to Krul’s right. and his personal loss must have been felt by his defeat in seven matches. Sherwood handed Pearson after he hit the headlines for Leicester were dominating and it team-mates ahead of a match from which they a first league start since 2012, with branding a journalist “an ostrich” imme- seemed a question of how many they needed to get some reward. Aston Villa 3 Brad Guzan dropping out, but the veteran History was not on their side, with QPR’s only diately after Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at would score, with Albrighton slotting Ireland goalkeeper had little to do in the first ever win at Liverpool having come back in 1991. home to Chelsea. just wide and Krul producing stunning half as the home team completely dominated. But despite that game appearing to , Villa’s 19-year-old forward, had saves to thwart Vardy and then Ulloa. PLANE PROTEST take a lot out of Pearson’s players, his With the game up, Newcastle lost Everton 2 garnered glowing praise for his performance in Rodgers had to witness a plane flying over the 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool side went on to produce a high-octane their discipline. Williamson’s ugly late Anfield at kick-off carrying a banner calling for and his dead-ball prowess provided the bedrock start thanks largely to Newcastle’s poor challenge on Vardy left Dean no choice his dismissal and the reinstatement of former kick-off at a boisterous King Power for the hosts’ success. After Grealish had trou- but to produce a second yellow card manager Rafael Benitez, and on the pitch his bled Everton with a corner that narrowly eluded Stadium. BIRMINGHAM: Christian Benteke continued his and subsequent red with 26 minutes side made a nervy start. QPR, with only two wins stunning resurgence with a brace as Aston Villa Benteke and , Benteke made the break- Ryan Taylor lost the ball straight still remaining. in their last 17 games, went close through crept closer to Premier League safety by sinking through in the 10th minute by out-jumping from the start and Leicester forced an The visitors then went close to ’s volley following a corner and a in-form Everton 3-2 at Villa Park yesterday. to head home ’s immediate corner that saw Ulloa head reducing the arrears when sub Siem de long-range shot from Fer that goalkeeper Simon The Belgium striker, revitalised since Tim left-wing cross. in from ’s delivery with Jong’s shot from the edge of the area Mignolet turned around a post. But calmness Sherwood’s appointment as manager in Villa continued to apply pressure and after only 36 seconds on the clock. was pushed around the post by was restored 19 minutes in when Liverpool went February, scored twice in the first half for the FA had repelled a long-range Charles It was the worst possible start for the Schmeichel. in front with a ruthless strike. Cup finalists to take his tally to 11 goals in nine N’Zogbia free-kick and Vlaar had come close to out-of-form visitors and Leicester went But Newcastle’s poor afternoon was Caulker’s error just inside his own half was games. His international colleague Romelu converting a corner from Grealish, they doubled close again when Ulloa’s diving header complete when Janmaat was shown a punished as fed Lukaku reduced the arrears with a penalty, but their lead on the stroke of half-time. from ’s cross flew straight second yellow card for a late tackle on to cross low for Coutinho, who took a touch struck what proved to be the win- Grealish was again the architect, whipping a at visiting goalkeeper . Vardy. before curling his eighth goal of the season in ner, with hitting back for Everton at corner into the box from the left, and Vlaar’s The chances continued to flow for It should have been 4-0, with Vardy off the crossbar. the death. flick-on enabled Benteke to steer the ball into an the hosts, with firing at the missing a free header from right in front Liverpool threatened to take complete con- Following victory in the 200th staging of the empty net at the far post. Everton did not trol, but could not find the second goal that Newcastle goalkeeper, and Pearson’s of goal, but that was no consolation for English top flight’s most-played fixture, Villa muster a single shot on goal in the first half, but side did not have long to wait until they would have killed off QPR’s hopes and were remain two points above the relegation zone, they rectified that statistic within three minutes Carver’s side, who were booed off by guilty of two appalling misses in the opening 10 scored their second goal. the visiting fans.—AFP with Everton slipping to 11th place after a first of kick-off in the second period.—AFP