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Hamilton wins Lazio rout Chinese18 GP Empoli19 MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015 New Zealand upset Australia to lift Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Page 18 MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Chris Smalling (right) fights for theball against Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero (second right) during the English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium. — AP City blown away by Man United too late to prevent United ending a Newcastle United today. from the home fans, but it was to prove the with a hamstring injury and he gave way at sequence of four consecutive defeats On City’s last visit to Old Trafford, a 3-0 precursor to the equaliser. half-time, with Eliaquim Mangala coming Man United 4 against their neighbours. win in March 2014, it had taken less than a The Spaniard’s hoof downfield found its on. The win gave United a four-point cushion minute for Edin Dzeko to put the visitors way, via Fellaini, to Ander Herrera on the left There was a swagger to United’s play- over City in third place-the last automatic ahead, and they again attacked United with and his cross was turned in at the second Michael Carrick flummoxing Yaya Toure with Champions League qualifying spot-and an intensity that took the hosts aback. attempt by Young, after Gael Clichy had a swish of the hips on the edge of his own Man City 2 took them back to within a point of Arsenal David de Gea had to save at his near post made an initial block. box-and they continued to force City back. ahead of next weekend’s trip to leaders after Martin Demichelis’s pass set Jesus Young and Fellaini have been symbols of Joe Hart parried a free-kick from England Chelsea. Navas scampering through and with United United’s recent resurgence and they com- colleague Wayne Rooney and then saved City have now lost six of their last eight appearing bewildered, it came as no sur- bined for the 27th-minute goal that put the from Carrick in the penalty-area stramash MANCHESTER: Manchester United dealt games in all competitions and manager prise when City made the breakthrough. hosts ahead. that ensued, but the home side would not Manchester City’s Champions League quali- Manuel Pellegrini is likely to face renewed James Milner’s pass down the inside-left Daley Blind reached the byline on the left be deterred. fication hopes another blow by storming questioning about his ability to revive the channel found David Silva, who squared for and cut the ball back for Young, whose They extended their lead mid-way back from behind to trounce their derby team he steered to the title a year ago. It Aguero to tap in his sixth goal in seven trademark in-swinging cross was nodded in through the second half, with Mata running rivals 4-2 in the Premier League yesterday. was a fourth successive away league defeat league games against his team’s cross-town at the far post by the unmistakeable frizzy- onto Rooney’s pass and tucking the ball Sergio Aguero gave City an eighth-minute for City-their worst run since 2006 — and foes. haired head of Fellaini. between Hart’s legs despite replays show- lead at a blustery Old Trafford, but United hammered another nail in their title Having revelled in City’s recent misfor- It was a brilliant response from Louis van ing he had been offside. Smalling meted hit back through Ashley Young, Marouane defence, leaving them 12 points behind tunes, United’s fans were dismayed to see Gaal’s men and City’s frustration almost cost out further punishment in the 73rd minute Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling to Chelsea having played a game more. the script veer off in an unanticipated direc- them dearly when captain Vincent when he headed in Young’s free-kick and register a sixth successive league win. While they retain a five-point lead over tion. Kompany flew in on Blind, for which he after Carrick had gone off injured, Aguero Aguero claimed another goal at the fifth-place Southampton, Liverpool can A back-pass to De Gea from Phil Jones in escaped with a booking. reduced the damage by bundling in a cross death-his 100th in City’s colours-but it was close to within four points by beating the 14th minute drew a barrage of boos Kompany had been a doubt for the game from Pablo Zabaleta. — AFP Chelsea close in on title ing their more illustrious opponents for long EPL results/standings periods. QPR 0 With leading scorer Diego Costa sidelined by Manchester United 4 (Young 14, Fellaini 27, Mata 67, Smalling a recurrence of the hamstring injury and Loic 73) Manchester City 2 (Aguero 8, 89); QPR 0 Chelsea 1 (Fabregas Remy hampered by a muscle problem sus- 88). tained in training over the weekend, Mourinho had to deploy Didier Drogba as his lone striker. Playing today Chelsea 1 Liverpool v Newcastle Chelsea came close to taking a fortuitous lead in the seventh minute when Willian’s mis- English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, cued cross from wide on the right dipped in won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): LONDON: Cesc Fabregas fired Chelsea another front of QPR goalkeeper Robert Green and can- Chelsea 31 22 7 2 64 26 73 step closer to the Premier League title as the noned off the near post. Man-of-the-match Joey Barton was a constant thorn in the side of Arsenal 32 20 6 6 63 32 66 Spain midfielder’s late strike sealed a hard- fought 1-0 win over QPR yesterday. the Chelsea players and worked tirelessly only Man Utd 32 19 8 5 59 30 65 to agonisingly end up on the losing side. Man City 32 18 7 7 65 34 61 Jose Mourinho’s side were well below their best in a scrappy west London derby, but the Fabregas, wearing a protective mask after Southampton 32 17 5 10 44 22 56 leaders stole a vital three points when Fabregas breaking his nose against Stoke last weekend, LONDON: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic (left) goes airborne under a challenge Liverpool 31 16 6 9 45 36 54 converted their only shot on target two minutes was appropriately attired for such a physical from Karl Henry of QPR during the English Premier League soccer match. —AP Tottenham 32 16 6 10 50 46 54 from full-time at Loftus Road. The Blues are now encounter and his team-mate Thibaut Courtois Swansea 32 13 8 11 38 40 47 seven points clear of second placed Arsenal and was soon nursing a bruise as well when Charlie himself facing the wrong way and could only in the second half. West Ham 32 11 10 11 42 40 43 have a game in hand on the chasing pack, Austin left the Chelsea goalkeeper writhing on flick his volley wide. When Clint Hill drew a save from Courtois Stoke 32 12 7 13 36 40 43 meaning four more wins from their remaining the turf after a full-blooded challenge. Austin responded to an off-the-ball nudge moments later, Mourinho was quick to respond Crystal Palace 32 11 9 12 42 43 42 seven matches will see them crowned English Chelsea captain John Terry remains reviled from Terry by pushing the defender to the floor, to Chelsea’s lethargy, sending on Oscar in place at Loftus Road after he was banned by the much to the delight of QPR’s supporters. of Ramires. Everton 32 9 11 12 40 43 38 champions for the first time since 2010. While it was hardly a vintage performance Football Association in 2011 for racially abusing And Austin went close to exacting even Green had to be alert to tip over a scuffed Newcastle 31 9 8 14 33 49 35 then QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, and more satisfying retribution moments later when clearance from Hill, but it was the hosts who West Brom 32 8 9 15 30 46 33 in front of Roman Abramovich, who was watch- ing from the stands as the Russian marked his inevitably he was subjected to a torrent of his stinging drive from 25 yards forced a fine threatened to break the deadlock when Phillips Aston Villa 33 8 8 17 24 45 32 700th match as Chelsea owner, the gritty victo- abuse from the home fans on just his second save from Courtois. Fabregas had a chance to escaped Nemanja Matic’s attentions to fire in a Sunderland 32 5 14 13 25 48 29 ry was invaluable as it gives Mourinho’s men appearance at their ground since that ugly inci- end the stalemate on the stroke of half-time, close-range strike that Courtois brilliantly Hull 32 6 10 16 29 45 28 greater margin for error heading into their dent. but could only head Branislav Ivanovic’s cross pushed away. QPR 33 7 5 21 38 59 26 showdowns with Manchester United and Amid all the sound and fury, Chelsea were tamely over from close-range. Bobby Zamora There was a surprising lack of energy and Burnley 32 5 11 16 26 50 26 Arsenal over the next two weeks. labouring to break down QPR’s well-drilled was caught flat-footed by a Matt Phillips cross inspiration about Chelsea’s play, but to their Leicester 31 6 7 18 32 51 25 Defeat was cruel on third bottom QPR, who defence and even when Ramires got on the end which begged to be tapped in by the stat- credit they kept plugging away and stole the remain two points from safety despite match- of Drogba’s cross, the Brazilian midfielder found uesque QPR forward as it fizzed past him early points in the 88th minute.