Evening Echo » National Sport

Bale’s brilliance fails to left Spurs to fourth

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:31:58 +0000

Tottenham 1 Sunderland 0
Tottenham suffered yet more Champions League heartache as they missed out on a top-four berth to Arsenal despite yet another wonder goal from Gareth Bale.

Referee Andre Marriner denied Tottenham two clear penalties before Bale fired home his 26th goal of the season right at the death to give the home side a 1-0 win over Sunderland.

Villas-Boas and his backroom staff were incensed at Marriner's decisions. Sebastian Larsson bundled Bale over in the box, but the 23-year-old was booked for diving, while Carlos Cuellar clearly handled Clint Dempsey's shot in the second half but the referee's whistle stayed silent.

Despite Bale's heroics, Tottenham will have to settle for a place in the Europa League again next season, as Arsenal's 1-0 win at Newcastle ensured that they finished in fourth position.

Viewed with a cold heart, it could be said that Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has failed this season. He was set the target of Champions League qualification but his team have fallen short.

After beating Arsenal here on March 3 Spurs held a seven-point gap over their biggest rivals, but a run of five wins in their remaining nine games allowed Arsenal to finish above their rivals for the 18th consecutive season.

To castigate the Portuguese would be extremely harsh, however, given that he has managed to collect 72 points a record haul for the club in the Premier League era despite the departure of key players and injuries to the likes of Sandro and Younes Kaboul.

Today Tottenham started positively amid a booming atmosphere inside White Hart Lane.
Emmanuel Adebayor gave John O'Shea the slip to latch on to Kyle Walker's header but Simon Mignolet tipped the Togolese's shot around the post.

Despite the pressure on him, Villas-Boas remained calm. Indeed it was Paolo Di Canio, swirling his arms around in annoyance as Sunderland struggled to get into the game.

Bale charged through on to Tom Huddlestone's through-ball and entered the box but he collided with Larsson, who used both his arms to bring the Welshman down in the box.

The home fans held their breath as Marriner put his whistle to his lips, but tension gave way to anger as the referee booked Bale for diving a decision which enraged the Spurs bench.

The harsh call galvanised Spurs, who went close to scoring through Huddlestone's 25-yard half-volley.

Sunderland stirred momentarily, Connor Wickham taking advantage of a mistake by Jan Vertonghen, but Hugo Lloris took the striker's shot on the chin at his near post.

Bale appealed for another penalty when his shot struck Jack Colback but Marriner waved play on again.

Just before the break Mignolet plucked the ball from the sky to deny Adebayor a chance to head into an empty net.

Huddlestone dallied on the ball, allowing Wickham to find Danny Graham, but Lloris pulled off a top save to deny the former Swansea man.

Tottenham raged against Marriner for the second time in the 51st minute when they were denied what appeared to be another blatant penalty.

The ball pinged around the Sunderland box and fell to Dempsey, whose shot was blocked by the outstretched arm of Carlos Cuellar.

Marriner again paused for a second before waving play on. The normally mild-mannered Villas-Boas shouted angrily at fourth official Phil Dowd while Spurs assistant Steffen Freund remarked that the defender's block was similar to that of a goalkeeper.

Spurs were riled by being denied another penalty, but the vibrant atmosphere inside the ground soon went flat after the Sunderland fans relayed the news that Arsenal had scored at Newcastle by singing 1-0 to the Arsenal.

The feeling that nothing was going Tottenham's way continued on the hour when, after a goal mouth scramble, Colback saved on the goal line from both Scott Parker and Aaron Lennon in quick succession.

Confusion swept through White Hart Lane with 20 minutes left amid false rumours that Newcastle had equalised.

Tottenham continued to pepper Sunderland's goal but Mignolet held strong. Villas-Boas brought on Mousa Dembele and Jermain Defoe for Parker and Dempsey - neither of whom were happy to come off.

Vaughan was then dismissed after picking up a second yellow for a late tackle on Lennon.

Bale drew two top-class saves from Mignolet as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes while the Sunderland stopper had to be at his best to stop Huddlestone from powering home a 25-yard strike.

Villas-Boas threw on Gylfi Sigurdsson and opted for a 3-1-6 formation. The nerves started to get to the Spurs manager, who started crouching, trying to envisage a goal that would at least give them a chance of making it into the top four.

Bale finally grabbed the goal with a fantastic 25-yard curler, but it was not enough to ensure Spurs qualified for the Champions League.

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Dawson: I thought we had done it

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:34:52 +0000

Tottenham captain Michael Dawson admitted he thought Gareth Bale's last-gasp winner against Sunderland had put them into next season's Champions League.

Spurs needed a win at White Hart Lane and for arch rivals Arsenal to drop points away to Newcastle to snatch fourth place away from the Gunners.

And for a few moments it seemed to Dawson as though Spurs had done just that when Bale found the top corner of Simon Mignolet's with a stunning 25-yard drive in the 90th minute.

Dawson had assumed that celebrations among sections of Spurs supporters earlier on had meant Arsenal, who had taken a 52nd-minute lead at Newcastle through Laurent Koscielny, were no longer winning at St James' Park.

However, Arsenal had not conceded and their 1-0 win in the north meant Spurs' victory by the same margin was only enough to earn Andre Villas-Boas' men fifth place.

Dawson felt it was going to be a different story following Bale's latest wonder strike though, telling Sky Sports News: "Yeah, I thought that was it (Spurs were in top four) because of the (earlier) celebrations around the ground from our fans.

"I didn't hear anything else, then towards the end after Gaz scored I sort of picked things up that the fans weren't as lively as we would've liked if we'd been in the top four, and you sort of got that feeling towards the end of the game."

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Wigan sign off with a draw against Villa

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:25:57 +0000

Wigan 2 Aston Villa 2

Wigan's eight seasons in the Barclays Premier League came to an end with an entertaining draw against Aston Villa.

Darren Bent took advantage of a rare start to put the visitors ahead less then five minutes in but Emmerson Boyce levelled in the 21st minute before an own goal from Nathan Baker just before half-time put the FA Cup winners ahead.

Wigan pushed for a third at the start of the second half but they were pegged back in the 61st minute by Ron Vlaar's brilliant volley, and that was the way it stayed.

For much of the season it looked like this game could be crucial in the relegation battle but Wigan's defeat by Arsenal on Tuesday meant their fate was already decided.
After the high of last weekend's FA Cup triumph, it has been a rollercoaster week for Roberto Martinez's men.

Martinez had called for this match to be a celebration of all the club have achieved in their time in the top flight, and the FA Cup was brought out onto the pitch before kick-off accompanied by soprano Laurie Ashworth singing 'Abide With Me'.

It was a slow start from the hosts, though, and Ali Al Habsi, brought back into the side in place of Joel Robles today, was called into action in the third minute to punch away Joe Bennett's free-kick.

With Christian Benteke suspended, Bent made his first start since January, and it only took the striker five minutes to make his mark.

Paul Scharner played Bent onside and the former England man netted his first Premier League goal in nearly eight months with a shot that went in off a post.

The game was held up while a flare thrown by the Villa fans burnt itself out in Al Habsi's six-yard box, and it was the visitors showing all the spark.

Wigan did not threaten until the 16th minute, when player of the year Shaun Maloney found Arouna Kone, who was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Baker.

Five minutes later the Latics did level things up as Roger Espinoza swung over a cross from the left and Boyce leapt above Bennett to head powerfully past Brad Guzan.

Both sides threatened to break the deadlock but a poor touch from Gabriel Agbonlahor allowed Al
Habsi to gather while Kone could not find James McCarthy when Wigan briefly had a three-on-one situation.

Maloney forced Guzan into a decent save from a 20-yard free-kick in the 40th minute, and in stoppage time the hosts went ahead for the first time.

Maloney's corner caused havoc in the Villa defence and, although Ashley Westwood cleared Ben Watson's shot off the line, he directed the ball against Baker, who could not stop it rolling into the net.

Wigan carried the momentum into the second half and might well have increased their lead on a number of occasions.

First, McCarthy's cross just evaded Kone before Watson tested Guzan, then Baker got the faintest of touches to the ball as McCarthy ran through to allow the Villa keeper to slide out.

Boyce scored twice on the final day of last season and the defender was close to a repeat in the 59th minute as he got on the end of an Espinoza cross but his first effort was headed away from in front of the line by Bennett while his second clipped the top of the bar.

Two minutes later Villa made Wigan pay for failing to take their chances as Bennett's long free-kick was pulled down by Vlaar and then volleyed sublimely into the top corner by the centre-back.

James McArthur thought he had scored an even better goal in the 79th minute with a volley from the corner of the area but it crashed against the bar and Kone was unable to turn in the rebound.

Wigan were desperate to sign off with a win, and half the crowd thought they had managed it in injury time but Roman Golobart's chip landed on top of the net

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Westmeath ease past Carlow to set up quarter-final against Dubs

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:24:43 +0000

Westmeath 3-15 Carlow 1-10
Westmeath barely had to get out of a canter at Cusack Park as they had too much power and pace for a game, but limited, Carlow to book their Leinster quarter-final date with Dublin in a fortnight.

Although it took them a little while to impose themselves on the scoreboard, the Lakesiders dominated possession and were comfortable in most positions.

The only place that Carlow prospered in was at full-forward, where Brendan Murphy did well, scoring three points and setting up a goal before adding another wonderful score after being rerouted further out the field.

Carlow manager, Anthony Rainbow said afterwards that he would like to have 15 Brendan Murphys and that was a clear difficulty, as his side could not win enough possession to feed the former AFL man.

Westmeath had three points on the board by the seventh minute, thanks to the reliable partnership of Denis Glennon and Dessie Dolan.

Dolan looked quite sharp and finished with five points from play, with two of them in particular redolent of the Garrycastle marksman at his very best.

The hosts did get a shock when Murphy's kick for a point dropped just short in the 11th minute. Gary Connaughton appeared to have command of the situation but Sean Glennon got a touch to flick the ball to the net.

With Ger Egan excelling in a play-making role, Westmeath gradually tagged on the points again, with John Heslin deadly accurate from frees.

They needed Kieran Martin's 27th minute goal to put doubt in the minds of the Carlow players and he finished well after receiving Dolan's lay-off.

Then the young Maryland player finished brilliantly into the same corner of the goal after Trevor O'Reilly's poor kickout was intercepted by Egan, with the ball finding its way to Martin via Glennon.

It was 2-8 to 1-3 at half time and though Murphy tagged on two quick points, the second a fantastic effort after a strong fetch, Westmeath responded with points from James Dolan and Heslin (free) before the former found the net towards the end of the third quarter.

O'Reilly denied Martin a hat-trick late on and Heslin, Kevin Maguire and Paul Sharry all added points as Westmeath cruised to victory.

Scorers - Westmeath: K Martin 2-0; D Dolan, J Heslin (fs) 0-5 each; J Dolan 1-1; P Sharry, K Maguire, G Egan, D Glennon 0-1 each

Carlow: Brendan Murphy 0-5(1 45); S Gannon 1-0; Brian Murphy, D Foley (fs) 0-2 each; E Ruth 0-1

Westmeath: G Connaughton; M McCallon, K Gavin, K Maguire; D Harte, P Sharry, J Gaffey; D Duffy, J Heslin; K Martin, C McCormack, J Dolan; G Egan, D Glennon, D Dolan. Subs: D Corroon for Egan (54); C Curley for D Dolan (54); D Daly for Duffy (62); D Dolan for Harte (65); L Smith for Martin (65)

Carlow: T O'Reilly; S Mernagh, C Lawler, BJ O'Molloy; K Nolan, S Redmond, B Kavanagh; D Foley, J Murphy; Brian Murphy, P Reid, Eoghan Ruth; S Gannon, Brendan Murphy, D Hayden. Subs: J Kennedy for Reid (56); M Doyle for Molloy (60); A Kelly for J Murphy (66); T Bolger for Hayden (67); C Moran for Ruth (69)

Referee: C Branagan (Down)

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United set up thriller for Fergie’s finale

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:15:59 +0000

West Brom 5 Man Utd 5

Sir Alex Ferguson was denied a winning send off into retirement as West Brom roared back from three goals down to snatch a draw in a quite staggering 10-goal thriller at The Hawthorns.

Only once in Premier League history has more goals been scored in a game. And never have both sides found the net five times.

Maybe it was destiny that after so many milestones, Ferguson's career should end in a manner that is unlikely to be forgotten either.

Not that the Scot looked hugely impressed as he chomped on his chewing gum, knowing his side could easily have lost when Markus Rosenburg spurned a late chance.

In the end though, not even four minutes of "Fergie Time" could yield a winner as referee Michael Oliver called time on the greatest career English football has ever known.

It was typical of Ferguson that his last team selection should be made with an eye on the future he will be watching unfold from the Old Trafford directors' box.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra might have a combined total of 40 Premier League title medals and shared in some of Ferguson's greatest days, but they were all named on the bench.

With them was 18-year-old Belgian Adnan Junzaj, the latest promising youngster to roll off the Red Devils production line.

For a short while, after the guard of honour and the jovial handshake with fourth official Chris Foy, it seemed Ferguson's team might let him down as West Brom started with a clear sense of purpose.

It soon became apparent however, that this was to be a day that will live as long in the memory as Ferguson's career.

With Wayne Rooney granted an absence due to the impending birth of his second child, the Scot had been saved a potentially tricky selection dilemma.

In Rooney's place the United boss chose Javier Hernandez, who chased a long ball down to the corner flag and quickly crossed to Shinji Kagawa, who had been left completed on his own on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Japan international has struggled for consistency during his debut campaign.

He evidently has lots of talent though. And he had no bother putting the visitors ahead.

On their next attack, United struck again.

This time Antonio Valencia found space out wide before drilling a low shot across the six-yard box which the hapless Jonas Olsson turned into his own net.

The start was in keeping with West Brom's lamentable end of season form.

With just one victory from their final nine games, the Baggies have put themselves in a position where a poor start to next term will trigger a revision of history that will have Steve Clarke's position as manager under scrutiny no matter what wonders he performed in the first half of the campaign.

When Alexander Buttner strode onto Tom Cleverley's pass and drove his first goal since September into the bottom corner, plenty of home fans headed for the concourses even though there was less than a third of the contest completed.

In addition to late goals, the other aspect of United's DNA Ferguson knows only too well is that they always seem to make life difficult for themselves.

It is what he meant in his on-pitch address last week when he declared he was looking forward to watching United play, rather than suffering with them.

And so, when James Morrison managed to pull one back just before the interval and substitute Romelu Lukaku struck immediately afterwards, it was as much in keeping with Ferguson's reign as Ferdinand's 87th winner seven days ago against Swansea.

Order was quickly restored though as Valencia crossed for Robin van Persie to set the seal on a second successive Golden Boot title, the difference being that this year, the Dutchman has a team prize to go alongside it.

By now the game had seen the introduction of Ryan Giggs, for his 941st appearance under Ferguson, and the veteran Welshman quickly crossed for Hernandez to touch home.

Amazingly though, West Brom refused to surrender.

First Lukaku, then Youssouf Mulumbu scored to give the scoreboard as surreal a look as the number of years Ferguson has been manager.

That old competitive instinct resurfaced as the Scot demanded to know how long was left.

Not long enough was the answer as Lukaku scored the final goal to take some of the sheen of Ferguson's day.

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Mayo set down marker for the season with crushing of Galway

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:20:31 +0000

Mayo 4-16 Galway 0-11
Red cards for both Garreth Bradshaw and Niall Coleman didn't help Galway, but Mayo tore them asunder before that in a comprehensive win at Pearse Stadium.

Cathal Carolan, Enda Varley and Donal Vaughan all hit the net for Mayo in the first-half, but their win was crowned by a goal from the returning Andy Moran in injury-time.

Galway can have no complaints about the manner of their defeat as they never tested James Horan's Mayo, who blitzed them from the off.

By the 11th minute Mayo had opened out a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage, but when Carolan made the most of a slip at the back by Johnny Duane to finish past Mauns Breathnach with a classy goal the writing was on the wall for the home side.

The lively Danny Cummins replied for Galway to pull his side within four points but last year's All-Ireland runners-up powered ahead to the break with 1-4 without reply.

Two of those points arrived from Cillian O'Connor, before Alan Dillon - who was a late inclusion for Darren Coen - again punished poor Galway defending with a well taken point from the right.

But Galway were well and truly buried when Varley rattled the roof of the net four minutes from the break after a slick move which featured Carolan and O'Connor after Tom Flynn was caught in possession.

Once again Cummins hit back with a point for Galway, but the final nail in the coffin was delivered in the 34th minute when Vaughan was handed the easiest of tasks to finish to an empty net after the Galway defence was caught napping once again.

The chances of a Galway win were very slim when they trailed 3-9 to 0-6 at half-time, but they disappeared three minutes after the restart when Bradshaw was sent off following an altercation with Carolan.

Galway responded to the sending off with three points in a row, but when Coleman followed Bradhaw to the sideline in the 51st minute after a clash with Dillon, Mayo knew they could start to play for a semi-final against Roscommon.

Mayo: D Clarke; K Higgins, T Cunniffe, G Cafferkey; L Kegan (0-1), C Boyle, D Vaughan(1-1); A O'Shea, S O'Shea; K McLoughlin, C O'Connor (0-6, 4f), C Carolan (1-0); E Varley (1-3), A Freeman (0-1), A Dillon (0-2).
Subs: S McHale for Cafferkey (half-time), R Feeney (0-1) for Freeman (54 ), D Coen (0-1) for Dillon (58 ), J Burke for Keegan (59 ), A Moran (1-0) for Carolan (61 ), J Gibbons for A O'Shea (68 blood).

Galway: M Breathnach; J Duane, C Forde, G Sweeney; G Bradshaw, K Kelly, G Sice; N Coleman, F Ó Curraoin; T Flynn, P Conroy (0-1), C Doherty; S Armstrong (0-2, 2f), M Meehan (0-5, 4f, 1'45), D Cum (0-2).
Subs: S Walsh (0-1, 1f) for Doherty (23), J Moore for Sweeney (half-time), G O'Donnell for Armstrong (54), E Concannon for Sice (61), M Martin for Meehan (61)

Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).

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Hammers entertain at Upton Park

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:20:14 +0000

West Ham 4 Reading 2

Captain Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick as West Ham signed off the Barclays Premier League campaign with an entertaining win over relegated Reading at Upton Park.

The Irons were in complete control after a mistake from new England call-up Alex McCarthy gifted Nolan the opener on 23 minutes, with Ricardo Vaz Te sweeping home a second following more good work from Andy Carroll, completing the final game of his season-long loan from Liverpool.

However, the Royals, who were relegated a couple of weeks ago, responded with two quick goals at the start of the second half through Garath McCleary and substitute Adam Le Fondre.

The Irons, though, made sure of a creditable top-10 finish when Nolan netted again and then completed his hat-trick with a header three minutes from time.

over to the far post, where Carroll linked with summer moves to both former club Newcastle and Monaco just could not get enough contact to steer the ball past McCarthy, called up by England manager Roy Hodgson for the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

The Royals, though, were not about to roll over and were almost ahead on eight minutes when Pavel Pogrebnyak's downward header was turned away at full stretch by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Chris Gunter was clear of the on into the penalty area, but his angled shot flew into the side netting.

It proved a costly miss as with more than a helping hand from the Reading keeper.

There seemed little danger as McCarthy went to clear a routine back- pass, but only managed to smack the ball into Carroll. Nolan was on hand to collect, sidestep the embarrassed Royals number 21 and roll the ball into an empty net.

McCarthy then showed just what he is capable of when pushing a bullet-header from Nolan up on to the crossbar.

But it was 2-0 on 34 minutes. Carroll was again involved, as the England centre-forward pulled down a deep cross from the left and laid it back into the path of Vaz Te, who drove the ball back into the bottom corner.

woodwork after darting into the right side of the penalty area once again, before Mohamed Diame drilled his 20-yard shot over the crossbar.

Reading made a double change at the start of the second half, when Le Fondre came on for Pogrebnyak and Hal Robson-Kanu was by replaced Nick Blackman.

The visitors had a goal back on 53 minutes as McCleary's shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected past the keeper off Noble.

Remarkably, Reading were level within 90 seconds. Blackman got away down the left and his ball floated right through the post, where Le Fondre arrived on queue to smash in the equaliser and leave Reading, though, remained dangerous and a low ball in from Gunter on the right flying through the six-yard box, where any touch would have put it in.

after Nolan latched on to a clever chip from Noble to hold off the Reading defence and slot past McCarthy.

And the Royals keeper was beaten again three minutes from time when Nolan headed in a cross from Modibo Maiga to complete his hat-trick.

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Torres strike leaves Moyes with defeat in his final Everton game

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:18:21 +0000

Chelsea 2 Everton 1
Fernando Torres scored his first Barclays Premier League goal of 2013 as Chelsea sealed third place with a victory which saw David Moyes' 11-year reign as Everton manager end in defeat.

Twelve months to the day since Chelsea's Champions League win in Munich, Juan Mata put the hosts in front, only for Steven Naismith to swiftly equalise for Manchester United-bound Moyes' visitors.

The Europa League winners were on top in the second half and sealed victory through £50million striker Torres' first league goal since December 23 as Rafael Benitez's seven-month spell ended with a 28th win from 48 matches.

Substitute Nikica Jelavic had three good chances for Everton, but Moyes' men were beaten in his 518th and last game in charge before his move to Old Trafford.

Victory for Chelsea ended the prospect of a play-off with Arsenal to determine the final automatic qualifying place for the Champions League and means they depart for the United States tomorrow for their post-season tour with Benitez's mission accomplished.

The Spaniard arrived in November with Chelsea in disarray, but he has steered the Blues through the turmoil and departs with both his and the club's reputation restored before handing over to his successor, who could yet be the returning 'Special One' Jose Mourinho.

Frank Lampard will be part of the future after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday which takes his spell at Stamford Bridge into a 13th season.

Lampard scored twice in the corresponding fixture at Goodison Park in December and also netted twice last weekend, the second at Aston Villa establishing the midfielder as Chelsea's record goalscorer on 203.

The England international, who will be 35 in June, was presented with a golden boot before kick-off by the man whose 43-year-old record he surpassed, Bobby Tambling.

Lampard was included in a side showing two changes following Wednesday's Europa League win over Benfica.

Nathan Ake made his first Premier League start and Demba Ba was restored, alongside Torres, who started alongside Mata and Oscar in the second offensive line. The triumvirate were each making their 64th Chelsea appearances of the season in the club's 69th game.

Ba had the first chance, but slipped and scooped over after intercepting Marouane Fellaini's aimless pass across goal before playing a crucial role in the opening goal.

Oscar surged through the middle and found Ba, whose shot from the angle on the right was spilled by Tim Howard and Mata followed up for his 20th of the season.

Naismith, the one change from the Everton team which featured in Moyes' Goodison Park farewell last week as Leon Osman was ruled out with a knee injury, went close before equalising when he capitalised on a mistake from David Luiz.

Luiz, playing in central defence, failed to control a regulation ball and Naismith nipped in, received a return pass from Victor Anichebe and clipped in over the advancing Petr Cech.

Darron Gibson went close from a shot which deflected off Ake, hit the post, Cech's head, then the post again before Luiz cleared.

The relentless pace continued, with Torres, Ake, Mata and Lampard, who sliced over, spurning opportunities for Chelsea and Kevin Mirallas firing straight at Cech with the best of Everton's attempts as the teams reached the interval level.

Chelsea had the better of the early second-half skirmishes, with a Gary Cahill shot saved by Howard and Branislav Ivanovic firing over, either side of a Fellaini effort straight at Cech.

Sylvain Distin deflected a Ba shot out for a corner after Phil Jagielka had gifted the striker the ball as Chelsea continued to press forward, but they also had to be alert defensively, with Oscar and Cahill making crucial interventions.

Ivanovic shot wide and Jelavic, on for Naismith, headed straight at Cech before fluffing a glorious chance when Leighton Baines crossed to the far post.

Chelsea went in front for a second time 14 minutes from time.

Oscar's cross from the right was met with a cushioned header by substitute Victor Moses, on for Ba, and Torres was clinical, his half-volley beating Howard at his near post.

Torres last scored in the top flight in the win over Aston Villa before Christmas and his 22nd goal of the season was his first in the Premier League in 19 hours and 39 minutes.

How timely it was, but so too was a late intervention from Cech.

The goalkeeper saved from Jelavic before making a stunning stop at point-blank range when the striker met a Baines cross as Chelsea held on for victory and third place.

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Fulham stun Swansea at the Liberty

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:14:07 +0000

Swansea 0 Fulham 3

Fulham rounded off their Barclays Premier League campaign with a first win in eight games as Swansea's memorable campaign concluded with a whimper at the Liberty Stadium.

The Cottagers, who had picked up just one point from their previous seven games, took the lead in the 22nd minute through Alex Kacaniklic, with Dimitar Berbatov and Urby Emanuelson sealing the win after the break.

Swansea enjoyed an extended spell of pressure during the second half but Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer frustrated them with fine saves from Pablo Hernandez, Wayne Routledge and Ashley Williams.

There was a party atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium at the conclusion of a campaign which has seen Swansea secure their first major silverware in the form of the Capital One Cup and claim a top-10 league finish.

A win here could have seen them finish eighth, but any suggestion Swansea were in for an easy ride were quickly dispelled and Bryan Ruiz should have given the Cottagers the lead in just the third minute.

Kacaniklic threaded a pass through the Swansea backline but Ruiz dallied after beating Chico Flores and the chance was lost.

Swansea settled after the early scare, and Routledge fired narrowly wide having linked smartly with Jonathan de Guzman and Nathan Dyer.

Hernandez then failed to make the most of a good opportunity as he dragged wide after picking off a misplaced pass from Philippe Senderos.

It proved costly as Fulham went up the other end to grab the opener.

Ruiz and Berbatov combined to put Kacaniklic through, with Williams playing him yards onside, and the Sweden international calmly slotted a left-footed shot low past Michel Vorm.

The same player should have doubled the visitors' advantage 10 minutes later.

Swansea were caught sleeping as Ruiz took a quick free-kick but Vorm deflected Kacaniklic's shot onto the post.

Swansea's first half was summed up seconds before the break when De Guzman beat Michu to a header from Angel Rangel's cross, with the Spaniard well placed to convert his 23rd goal of the season.

The hosts pressed for an equaliser upon the resumption and were fortunate not to be picked off on the counter.

Eyong Enoh broke up play to release Berbatov, only for the Bulgarian's ambitious outside-of-the-foot pass to prove too strong for the supporting Ruiz.

However, the visitors were soon forced into desperate defence, with Schwarzer finding himself heavily overworked.

The Australian saved a Williams header at the back post, before making further stops from Flores, De Guzman and Routledge.

Hernandez had Swansea's clearest sight of goal yet on the hour as Rangel turned a Leon Britton pass into the winger's path but Schwarzer was quickly out to make the stop.

The pair went head-to-head again moments later and it was again the Fulham man who came out on top, tipping the Spaniard's placed shot round the post.

And all Swansea's pressure came to nothing as Berbatov got Fulham's second 13 minutes from time.

Ruiz was the architect, catching Rangel lying deep behind the rest of his back four to send the former Manchester United man clear to laconically round Vorm and slot into an empty net.

Substitute Emanuelson rounded off the scoring in stoppage time by tapping home after Vorm could only parry Giorgos Karagounis' effort.

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Owen ends career with draw at Southampton

Echo Reporter — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:08:38 +0000

Southampton 1 Stoke 1
Michael Owen called time on his career today but there was to be no fairy-tale ending, as Stoke were held to a draw at Southampton.

After an illustrious career that has taken him to Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United, the former England striker announced in March that this was to be his last season.

Winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2001, a career that started with such brilliance tailed off in his latter years as injuries took their toll.

The fact Owen has not started a league match for Stoke since joining them last summer only highlights that and he began the final game of his career on the bench.

The clash got off to a blistering start with Adam Lallana hitting the post and Rickie Lambert having a goal chalked off for offside inside the opening 31 seconds.

That was as good as it got in a poor first half, with Stoke returning after the break with a bang as Peter Crouch headed them ahead within two minutes.

Lambert netted the 15th goal of his debut Barclays Premier League season to level and, with 16 minutes remaining, Owen came on to a standing ovation from all four corners of the ground.

There was to be no dream ending, though, as the match ended 1-1, leaving both sides looking forward to another season in the Premier League and the former England striker preparing for a life after football.

The big talk in the build-up surrounded off-field issues at both clubs.

Executive chairman Nicola Cortese ended speculation about his future yesterday by committing himself to Southampton, while Stoke were forced to a launch an internal investigation after a training-ground prank went wrong.

Kenwyne Jones smashed team-mate Glenn Whelan's car windscreen in a mistaken act of retribution after he found a pig's head wrapped in his clothes.

Jones did not travel to the south coast to face his former club, while Whelan continued to miss out through a groin injury.

Saints got off to a fine start at St Mary's and Lallana saw a fine low strike tipped onto the post by Asmir Begovic, with Lambert lashing home the rebound from a tight angle.

The top scorer wheeled off in celebration but his strike after just 31 seconds was rightly chalked off for offside.

Stoke were struggling to deal with Saints' early attacking intent and Lambert fired a long-range effort wide, before heading over when backpedalling to meet a Nathaniel Clyne cross.

Stoke were struggling to make an impression and, after Tony Pulis replaced Marc Wilson with Andy Wilkinson in the 20th minute, there were appeals for a spot-kick.

Jos Hooiveld slipped under pressure from Jonathan Walters, who looked set to get a shot away until Morgan Schneiderlin came back to barge him off the ball but referee Lee Probert waved away penalty shouts.

Stoke were beginning to threaten the hosts with increasing regularity and Matthew Etherington came close with a dipping half volley, before Kelvin Davis got down well to deny a low Walters shot.

There would be no breakthrough in the first half, but just 67 seconds after the restart came the opening goal.

Geoff Cameron swung in a fine right-wing cross to Crouch and the former Southampton striker headed past Kelvin Davis in front of the 2,767 travelling fans.

It was a great start to the half by Stoke but the goal seemed to kick-start Southampton into life.

A fine cut-back by Clyne was struck goalwards by Steven Davis, whose effort would have found the back of the net had it not been for Begovic's fine reactions.

The former Portsmouth goalkeeper did well to block a fierce Lambert shot shortly afterwards, but could not hold Saints at bay for long.

Begovic did excellently to stop a Steven Davis strike sneaking in but Lambert was alert to fire home the rebound, ending a 621-minute wait for a goal.

Were it not for the reactions of Ryan Shawcross, Saints could have turned the game on its head almost immediately.

Substitute Wilkinson directed the ball dangerously towards his own goal but the Stoke captain rose highest to head the ball clear away from danger.

Much of the attention was on Stoke's bench, though, and chants of "bring Michael Owen on" were followed by his 74th-minute introduction.

However, the former England striker was unable to cap his final match with a goal - much to the relief of Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose leg Owen admitted he took a tumble over at the 2002 World Cup.

The hosts came closest to nabbing the winner, but Begovic was a match for Jay Rodriguez and Jason Puncheon efforts before Emmanuel Mayuka fired into the side-netting.

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