THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 SPORTS Everton worsen United’s misery Man United 0 Everton 1 MANCHESTER: Bryan Oviedo scored the only goal as Everton recorded a shock 1-0 win over a Manchester United side managed by their former boss David Moyes that put a huge dent in the cham- pions Premier League title defense. Yesterday’s result left United 12 WEST BROMWICH: West Bromwich Albion’s English-born Scottish midfielder James points adrift of leaders Arsenal and Morrison (right) tackles Manchester City’s French midfielder Samir Nasri (left) during was the first time Everton, whom the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Moyes left at the end of last season Manchester City yesterday. —AFP to replace the retired Alex Ferguson, had won at Old Trafford since 1992. Moyes endured a mis- City beat West Brom erable evening, which began with him being jeered by his former City ahead in the ninth minute at The supporters. Hawthorns, setting Manuel Pellegrini’s United went close to taking the Man City 3 team on its way to only a second away win lead when Wayne Rooney’s deflect- that keeps it six points behind leader ed shot came back off the post in the opening period before Danny MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Patrice Evra (bottom right) attempts to head past Everton’s Steven Arsenal. Pienaar (centre) during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium yesterday. — AP The only blot for City on a night that saw Welbeck headed on to the bar West Brom 2 captain Vincent Kompany return from 10 from close range in the second struggled to get the ball away from Sylvain Distin but the ball came attempt to kick Phil Jagielka and games out through injury were the late half. But Costa Rican Oviedo, the Steven Pienaar corner that fol- back off the inside of the post. Evra earning a yellow card. Everton sub- goals they conceded, with goalkeeper signed by Moyes in 2012, turned in lowed before David de Gea was was in determined mood and stitute Gerard Deulofeu was played Costel Pantilimon turning the ball into his from close range to secure forced to tip over a powerful broke beyond Mirallas to see a firm in by Lukaku but could only come Everton’s win with five minutes left. WEST BROMWICH: Yaya Toure scored own net in the 85th and Victor Anichebe Mirallas shot. shot pushed away by Howard up with a disappointing shot Everton manager Roberto Martinez twice as Manchester City found a cure to its scoring in injury time. Toure had earlier fin- The home side finally played shortly after the interval. A poor straight at de Gea. had promised that the Blues would problems away from home by beating West ished off a classy team move to make it 2-0 their way into the match and a header from Marouane Fellaini And United broke down the show that they are shedding a sup- Bromwich Albion 3-2 in the Premier League in the 24th before converting a 74th- spell of pressure resulted in the against his old club gifted Everton other end of the field for Januzaj’s posed inferiority complex against yesterday. Sergio Aguero put third-place minute penalty.—AP ball falling for former Everton for- possession in a dangerous area long-range effort to be palmed the Premier League’s top sides and ward Rooney, whose drive was and United’s Belgium midfielder over unconvincingly by Howard. from the start they were keen to turned away by Tim Howard. was relieved to see Chris Smalling The home side were denied by the prove his point. Former United goalkeeper Howard divert Barkley’s shot wide of goal. woodwork once again when Southampton slump Romelu Lukaku caused early impressed again when he pushed Moyes attempted to put some Howard was at full stretch to keep panic in the United defense as the away Kagawa’s close-range effort. energy into his team when he out Evra’s header from Rooney’s hosts scrambled to clear a cross And United went even closer to a threw on Nani and Adnan Januzaj corner before Welbeck headed on 3rd successive defeat from Kevin Mirallas under pressure goal when Antonio Valencia found for Kagawa and Rafael just before to the bar from close range. from the striker. Lukaku thumped space down the right and clipped the hour. But when the ball fell for Mirallas went close to putting goal and they might have equalized on the wide from just outside the area over a cross that was glanced just Nani on the edge of the area the Everton in front when his free-kick half-hour mark, Jay Rodriguez forcing a fine and then had an effort deflected wide by Ryan Giggs, playing for the Portuguese lifted his shot well over came back off the outside of the Southampton 2 save out of Brad Guzan. Rodriguez, who wide off Nemanja Vidic after Ross first time since turning 40 last the bar. After being fortunate not post. But shortly afterwards, won his first cap for England last month in Barkley stole the ball from Shinji week. to be sent off in the 2-2 draw at Everton got their breakthrough the friendly against Chile, did get the ball in Kagawa in midfield. United’s Howard was beaten when Giggs Cardiff last month, Rooney once when Lukaku scuffed a shot to the the net three minutes into the second half defense, with Chris Smalling play- picked out Rooney and the again allowed his frustration to get far post and Oviedo turned in from Villa 3 as his header from Nathaniel Clyne’s cross ing alongside Vidic at centre-back, England striker’s shot deflected off the better of him, missing with an six yards.—AFP powered past Guzan. The hosts should have got a second shortly afterwards as Pablo Daniel SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton slumped Osvaldo’s deft backheel looked to have Tottenham ease pressure to their third successive defeat and first at beaten the impressive Guzan, but the home this season as they lost 3-2 to Aston American got down well to save. No sooner Villa in an absorbing Premier League tussle had that happened than Villa regained the yesterday. The hosts had twice fought back lead as Libor Kozak headed in Karim El on boss Andre Villas-Boas to level only for former Leeds United player Ahmadi’s superb cross-the scorer’s reward was to be immediately replaced by Belgian Fabian Delph to score a cracking winner for manager Rene Meulensteen following Martin Defoe cut clear on the left after a deep clear- striker Christian Benteke, who had been left Villa, who extended their unbeaten run in Jol’s sacking at the weekend. ance, held up play well, and waited for Lamela’s on the bench after failing to score in the the Premier League to five matches. Fulham have lost six consecutive league well-timed delayed run into the box. The former past seven games. The Saints, though, Fulham 1 Southampton manager Mauricio matches and former Manchester United coach West Ham striker’s pass begged for a finish but showing the huge character that has sym- Pochettino had to hand a rare start to third Meulensteen faces a tough task to lift the third instead Lamela side-footed wide. Lamela was bolized their impressive Premier League choice ‘keeper 21-year-old Paulo bottom Cottagers out of the relegation zone. once again in action with a rising drive from the campaign thus far, leveled again as Osvaldo Gazzaniga-injuries to Artur Boruc and Paulinho and Erik Lamela, two of Villas-Boas’ edge of the area, but Fulham goalkeeper was on hand to head home after England Spurs 2 Kelvin Davis ruling them out-and the under-performing big-money signings, wasted Maarten Stekelenburg was easily equal to the striker Rickie Lambert had headed across Argentinean was picking the ball out of his gilt-edged chances for Spurs in a first half that challenge. Fulham took a surprise lead in the goal to set the Italian up. However, the pre- net after a quarter of an hour. Fulham shaded through territory and posses- 56th minute when Dejagah capitalised on fine viously rock-solid Southampton defense- It was rough justice on the hosts as they sion. Brazilian midfielder Paulinho fired wide work by Berbatov, cutting into the box after the who had only conceded 10 goals in the pre- LONDON: Tottenham eased the pressure on had barely allowed Villa a touch but had after Jermain Defoe had sent him clear on goal, Bulgarian’s sharp pass to slide the ball past Lloris. vious 13 Premier League games-allowed boss Andre Villas-Boas as Lewis Holtby’s strike failed to turn their pressure into a goal and spurning the first definitive opportunity of the But Meulensteen’s men were unable to hold Delph the freedom to run at them and then capped a dramatic late fightback in yesterday’s were hit by a counterattack and a fine goal match. out, with Romania defender Chiriches firing in unleash a superb shot from 25 yards to 2-1 win at Fulham. Villas-Boas’ team were in dan- by Gabriel Agbonblahor. Saints, though, The closest the home side came to a real with a first-time strike after a loose headed clear- were far from deflated by conceding that restore the visitors’ lead for good.— AFP ger of suffering another embarrassing setback when Ashkan Dejagah gave the struggling hosts chance was from Pajtim Kasami’s early through- ance from a Fulham corner in the 73rd minute.