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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 SPORTS Leicester outfox United

Leicester 5

Man United 3

LEICESTER: Louis van Gaal’s difficult start to his time as Manchester United manager continued as Leicester City sensationally came back from 3- 1 down to win 5-3 in a remarkable encounter yesterday. The visitors were on course to give the Dutchman his first away victory and second league win as United manager following last week’s 4-0 thrashing of QPR, another newly-pro- moted side, at Old Trafford. Goals from Robin van Persie, Angel di Maria and Ander Herrera had United winning by two goals after an hour. But David Nugent’s controversial penalty sparked a late revival by the Foxes. Further Leicester goals from Esteban Cambiasso, and another penalty, this time from LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian Erik Lamela (left) vies with , his second goal of the game West Bromwich Albion’s English defender Craig Dawson during the English Premier after a first-half effort, exposed the defensive League football match. — AFP weakness of a United side who had Tyler Blackett sent off in the incident that led to Ulloa’s success- Baggies climb ful spot-kick. Both sides matched each other up with a dia- mond midfield system. Wayne Rooney was in the hole for United with Radamel Falcao making his off the bottom first start for the club further forward alongside van Persie. Leicester had Nugent just behind Ulloa and Vardy, who made his first Premier Belgrade in the Europa League and this result League start. United took the lead in the 13th means they are now without a win in four minute, Falcao turning Ritchie de Laet down the games. By contrast, this result represented West Tottenham 0 Brom’s first win in five league games. left before crossing for van Persie who headed in The pre-season appointment of Irvine pro- via a deflection off Liam Moore. voked a muted response among Albion sup- Three minutes later came a moment of magic porters hoping to see a higher profile manager from Argentina winger di Maria. United’s British West Brom 1 take charge and the response to last week’s record £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million home defeat by Everton confirmed the Scot had euros) signing from Real Madrid collected plenty of work to do to win over the doubters. Rooney’s pass before unleashing a delightful LONDON: James Morrison headed the only goal But the manager’s standing will soon rise if his chip from 15 yards that left Leicester goalkeeper of the game to secure West Bromwich Albion’s side can conjure more displays like this one. -son of United shot-stopping first win of the season as they climbed off the Irvine was finally able to draw on the services of great Peter-stranded and revived memories of bottom of the Premier League table with a 1-0 Joleon Lescott who made his first appearance Karel Poborsky’s scooped effort for the Czech win away to Tottenham Hotspur yesterday. after leaving champions Manchester City at the Republic against Portugal at Euro 96. end of last season. Scotland international Morrison’s 74th- However, Leicester were back in the game just LEICESTER: Leicester City’s English midfielder (left) vies with Manchester minute header at White Hart Lane eased the And the centre-back almost made the per- 40 seconds later as Vardy’s pace allowed him to United’s English defender Chris Smalling (top) during a Premier League football match. — AFP pressure on Baggies manager Alan Irvine and fect start to his Albion career only for his goal- just about keep the ball in play before crossing condemned Spurs to a second successive home bound volley from a 10th-minute corner to be for Ulloa who produced an outstanding header the back with their all-round attacking threat and and beat di Maria before finding sub Andy King defeat. Yet while this result will inject some blocked by team-mate Craig Dawson. to make it 2-1. Leicester repeatedly threatened they were back in the match in the 62nd minute. who stabbed his shot just wide. More poor much-needed confidence into Albion’s cam- Albion midfielder Craig Gardner’s long-range United’s defence especially when Jonny Evans Vardy appeared to barge Rafael outside the box defending from the visitors then saw Vardy score shot drew an impressive save from Spurs keeper paign, it underlined the task confronting was forced off with a foot injury. But it was but referee Mark Clattenburg let play continue a deserved first goal of the season. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as he Hugo Lloris as the visitors continued to look the only to blow for a penalty when, with roles United substitute Juan Mata lost the ball to de more threatening of the two sides. Tottenham United who created the better chances. attempts to turn Spurs into a top four side. A Early in the second half, they could have reversed, the United full-back made far less con- Laet whose long ball picked out the former non- promising start to the campaign delivered four had no shortage of possession and took every opportunity to press forward. But they appeared scored again as Falcao shot against the under- tact with Vardy inside the area. Nugent made no league striker, who made no mistake from the successive wins before stalling in recent weeks mistake, blasting down the middle past diving one-on-one position to bring the King Power with Pochettino’s men suffering a comprehen- to run out of ideas in the final third, eventually side of the crossbar from the edge of the area. United keeper David de Gea. Stadium its feet. sive 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool before claim- provoking former Southampton boss ing a point at Sunderland. They came into this Pochettino to scream “wake up” at his players as PENALTY TURNING POINT Quite incredibly Leicester were level two min- It was to get even worse for United as Vardy’s clash on the back of a scoreless draw at Partizan half-time approached.—AFP They did, though, go 3-1 up in the 57th utes later. Rooney conceded the ball to Dean express pace took him past the United defence minute when Herrera cheekily flicked in di Hammond in a dangerous position and his shot again four minutes later with Blackett bringing Maria’s effort from just inside the area to leave was blocked by Vardy only for Cambiasso to fire him down. The United youngster was red-carded Schmeichel wrong-footed. home his first goal in England. with Ulloa scoring the penalty for his fifth goal in That should have been game over but United’s defence were nearly caught out five Leicester games to round off an incredible Leicester were always likely to trouble United at again as de Laet charged forward from right back match. — AFP Palace rally to sink Everton

Everton 2

Crystal Palace 3

LIVERPOOL: Yannick Bolasie starred for Crystal Palace as they came from behind to win 3-2 away to Everton yesterday and record LONDON: Manchester City’s English midfielder James Milner (right) vies with their first Premier League victory this season. Chelsea’s Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa (left) during the English Premier Neil Warnock’s men kicked-off bottom of League football match. — AFP the table after fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion had earlier beaten Old boy Lampard ends Tottenham Hotspur 1-0. And things looked even worse for the south London club when Romelu Lukaku gave Everton a ninth-minute Chelsea’s perfect start lead at Goodison Park. defender Kompany just managing to shrug off the But Mile Jedinak equalised from the penal- forward and earn a free-kick in a memorable tus- ty spot before Fraizer Campbell put Palace in sle. front in the 54th minute. Democratic Republic Man City 1 Chelsea were content to let City have the ball of Congo winger Bolasie capped a fine display and when Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross was blocked by giving Palace a two-goal cushion in the to the edge of the area, Fernandinho sliced wide 69th minute, with Leighton Baines’s penalty from a good position. Chelsea 1 seven minutes from time not enough to turn Sergio Aguero drove over on the half-volley the tide in Everton’s favor. after Chelsea failed to clear Silva’s cross, but the Samuel Eto’o started promisingly on his full hosts were being limited to half-chances. debut for Everton but the veteran Cameroon MANCHESTER: Frank Lampard scored against for- Chelsea finally showed some threat when Cesc mer club Chelsea to earn 10-man Manchester City Fabregas clipped in a free-kick from the right. Gary striker became an increasingly peripheral fig- a 1-1 draw with Jose Mourinho’s side at Eastlands Cahill won the ball in the air and the visitors had ure as the match went on. yesterday. sustained appeals for a penalty against Yaya Toure. But Everton manager Roberto Martinez Substitute Andre Schurrle put visitors Chelsea They also went close with another set-piece as would have been happy enough when ahead shortly after City’s was sent Cahill again got his head to the ball but Belgium striker Lukaku, following a neat lay- off for a second bookable offence. Fernandinho’s touch took the ball away from off by Leon Osman, beat Palace goalkeeper LIVERPOOL: Everton’s English midfielder Leon Osman (left) vies with Crystal Palace’s English Premier League leaders Chelsea looked set to Costa, who was waiting to turn in at the far post. Julian Speroni with a well-placed low shot. midfielder Jason Puncheon during the English Premier League football match. — AFP pull off a fifth straight league win in as many City continued to dominate after the break and Lukaku should have had a second goal four games this season to move eight points clear of had a penalty appeal themselves, when Toure ran minutes later but mis-kicked after being around Branislav Ivanovic and went down under the champions. But Lampard, on loan from New played in by Eto’o. Palace were barely in the York City after ending his 12-year stint at Chelsea, the Serbian’s challenge in the area. EPL results/standings turned in from James Milner’s cross five minutes City debutant Eliaquim Mangala laid off for game but seized their chance in the 30th Fernandinho and the Brazilian midfielder thumped minute when they were awarded a penalty from time-not long after coming off the bench. Everton 2 (Lukaku 9, Baines 83-pen) Crystal Palace 3 (Jedinak 30-pen, Campbell 54, Bolassie 69); The result left Chelsea three points clear of second- wide from the edge of the area. after Everton keeper Tim Howard fouled Leicester 5 (Ulloa 18, 83-pen, Nugent 62-pen, Cambiasso 64, Vardy 79); Manchester United 3 (Van placed Southampton. Much like their 1-0 win at Chelsea eventually struggled with the pressure James McArthur. Eastlands in February, Chelsea were prepared to and when Aguero’s shot was blocked by Courtois, Jedinak made no mistake and Palace were Persie 13, Di Maria 16, Herrera 57); Manchester City 1 (Lampard 85) Chelsea 1 (Schurrle 71); soak up City’s pressure and hope they took their Ramires pulled off a fine interception to deny level. The Eagles went ahead approaching the Tottenham 0, West Brom 1 (Morrison 74). chance when it came. And when Schurrle fired Dzeko. But Manuel Pellegrini’s side were reduced hour-mark when, after Howard flapped badly Played Saturday them ahead in the 71st minute, it was Chelsea’s to 10 men midway through the second half when at Martin Kelly’s cross, Campbell did enough Aston Villa 0, Arsenal 3 (Ozil 32, Welbeck 34, Cissokho 36-og); Burnley 0, Sunderland 0; Newcastle first shot on target. Zabaleta caught Costa and was shown a second to turn the ball over the line. Lukaku and 2 (Cisse 73, 87) Hull 2 (Jelavic 49, Diame 68); QPR 2 (Caulker 42, Kranjcar 88) Stoke 2 (Diouf 11, But Lampard, who was substituted at half-time yellow card. Gareth Barry missed chances to equalise for Crouch 51); Swansea 0, Southampton 1 (Wanyama 80); West Ham 3 (Reid 2, Sakho 7, Amalfitano in his first City appearance in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea responded almost immediately and a 88) Liverpool 1 (Sterling 26). Arsenal last weekend, made a crucial contribution. flowing move saw them cut through the hosts’ Everton and the Merseysiders paid the price defence before Costa fed the ball right for Hazard when Jason Puncheon dispossessed Osman After losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals League in midweek, City were determined to to cross for Schurrle to tap in at the far post. The and played a perfect pass to the unmarked against, points): make the early running, with Edin Dzeko planting visitors began to look even more of a threat on the Bolasie, who eased the ball in for 3-1. a header wide of goal from Aleskandar Kolarov’s counter-attack and when Schurrle found Costa the Everton substitute Steven Naismith missed Chelsea 5 4 1 0 16 7 13 Liverpool 5 2 0 3 7 8 6 cross. striker’s low effort was deflected on to the post. As a chance to cut Palace’s lead, while Lukaku Southampton 5 3 1 1 9 3 10 Man Utd 5 1 2 2 9 8 5 Aston Villa 5 3 1 1 4 4 10 Stoke 5 1 2 2 4 5 5 City attempted to claw their way back, Silva drifted was denied by a well-timed Scott Dann inter- Arsenal 5 2 3 0 10 6 9 Everton 5 1 2 2 11 13 5 COSTA-KOMPANY BATTLE in from the right and his low effort flew just past ception and an Osman effort was saved by Courtois’s post. But just as Chelsea looked set to Swansea 5 3 0 2 8 6 9 Crystal Palace 5 1 2 2 8 10 5 David Silva also picked out Yaya Toure at the Speroni. But then came Baines’s penalty, after near post with a corner but the Ivorian’s header cruise to victory, Lampard got on the end of Man City 5 2 2 1 8 5 8 West Brom 5 1 2 2 3 7 5 lacked the power to trouble Thibaut Courtois. Milner’s cross to score his first City goal. Lampard Dann had brought down James McCarthy in Leicester 5 2 2 1 9 8 8 Sunderland 5 0 4 1 5 6 4 Much had been made in the build-up of the then came close to snatching the win when his the box. Everton pressed for an equaliser, with West Ham 5 2 1 2 9 8 7 QPR 5 1 1 3 3 11 4 contest between Chelsea’s Spain striker Diego low effort was blocked in the area by John Terry, Lukaku going close, but Palace survived six Tottenham 5 2 1 2 7 6 7 Burnley 5 0 3 2 1 4 3 Costa and City captain Vincent Kompany. before Didier Drogba thumped well over with a minutes of injury-time as they clung on for a Hull 5 1 3 1 7 7 6 Newcastle 5 0 3 2 5 11 3 Their first battle did not disappoint with central free-kick at the other end. —AFP much-needed victory. —AFP