Established 1961 15 Monday, December 14, 2020 Sports Everton overpower 1-0; end Chelsea’s long unbeaten run Victory lifts Everton up to seventh

LIVERPOOL: Chelsea spurned the chance to go Calvert-Lewin, signed for just £1.5 million from top of the as Gylfi Sigurdsson’s Sheffield United four years ago, who is keeping penalty earned Everton a vital 1-0 win in front of Everton’s European ambitions afloat. The Premier 2,000 fans at Goodison Park. A first defeat in 18 League’s top scorer failed to add to his 14 goals games, excluding penalty shootouts, leaves Frank this season, but was too quick for both Thiago Lampard’s men still two points adrift of Silva and Mendy to a loose ball and was wiped Tottenham and Liverpool at the top of the table. out by the Senegalese ‘keeper. They can extend that advantage to five points Richarlison had to be convinced to allow when they are in action on Sunday. Victory lifts Sigurdsson to take the penalty and the Icelandic Everton up to seventh and within just one point of international made no mistake. Chelsea were the top four. nearly level almost immediately as James’s shot Reece James and hit the post for from outside of the box was turned onto the the visitors, but they were made to pay for one inside of the post by Jordan Pickford. Kurt rash moment from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as Zouma then fired too close to the England num- he bundled over Dominic Calvert-Lewin and ber one, whilst was crowded out Sigurdsson coolly slotted home the resultant when the goal was gaping after Pickford crashed spot-kick. A £220 million ($291 million) spending into his own defender Yerry Mina from a long spree had seemingly transformed Chelsea into ball forward. title contenders, but the Blues badly missed the Everton had one just one of their previous sev- creativity of the injured Hakim Ziyech and en games after a blistering start had taken them to break Everton down once the top of the table in October. However, the limited Toffees went in front. number of home fans, returning to Goodison for Carlo Ancelotti’s men had slid down the table the first time since March, were given a huge win after a blistering start to the season and the need to cheer as the hosts held out with relative com- for Everton’s own big spending to finally pay off fort after the break. The closest Chelsea came to with European football was laid bare when the an equalizer was a Mount free-kick that came LIVERPOOL: Chelsea’s English defender Reece James slides in to foul Everton’s Brazilian midfield- er Allan during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea on club announced losses of nearly £140 million for back off the post after wrong-footing Pickford 10 December 12, 2020. —AFP the 2019/20 season on Friday. However, it is minutes from time. —AFP

goal and you get a group of guys that buy into that, no one is going to stop us from getting there,” an emotional hammer Seattle; Crew coach said after the club added a second MLS Cup to Kuwait Football win the MLS Cup the one they captured in 2008. Seattle, meanwhile, were denied a LOS ANGELES: Lucas Zelarayan third MLS title in five years, unable to League roundup scored twice as the Columbus Crew recover despite a determined second By Abdellatif Sharaa beat Seattle 3-0 to win the 2020 MLS half. Despite the body-blow of losing Cup on Saturday, denying the Nagbe and Santos, the Crew came KUWAIT: Qadisiya Sports Club football team Sounders a second straight Major out determined to take advantage of enjoyed being on top briefly after winning their League Soccer crown. Zelarayan, the their home-field advantage. 12th round match of Kuwait Football League Argentine m