LONDON: Ashley Cole’s first goal since May 2010 saw European champions Chelsea go three points clear at the top of the Premier League after they left it late to beat Stoke 1-0 at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
The Blues, who had to endure a midweek training ground visit from unhappy Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, were on course for a fourth straight game without a win in all competitions until England left-back Cole, following a flick-on from Juan Mata, struck from close range five minutes from time.
In Saturday’s early kick-off, Everton moved up into second place with a commanding 3-0 win away to 10-man Swansea.
David Moyes’s side surged into a two-goal lead at the Liberty Stadium thanks to first half strikes from Victor Anichebe and Kevin Mirallas.
Swansea’s hopes of avoiding a second successive defeat were in tatters when substitute Nathan Dyer was sent off in the second half.
Marouane Fellaini put the result beyond doubt with a late goal.
“Both the result and performance were very good but the result is the most important thing,” Everton manager David Moyes told the BBC.
Southampton climbed off the bottom of the table after coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1 at St. Mary’s.
The Saints were without a point after four straight defeats following promotion and they must have feared the worst when England striker Darren Bent put visitors Villa ahead in the 36th minute with his first Premier League goal since February.
But Southampton striker Rickie Lambert equalized in the 58th minute when, despite having three defenders around him, he scored with a well-struck shot.
And five minutes later full back Nathaniel Clyne gave Saints the lead when he started and finished a neat move.
Southampton made it 3-1 with a 72nd minute own-goal when Ciaran Clark deflected in a shot from Saints midfielder Jason Puncheon before Lambert wrapped things up with a last-minute penalty.
Hugo Rodallega scored against his old club as Fulham won 2-1 away to Wigan.
The Colombian striker broke the deadlock when he headed in Dimitar Berbatov’s 31st minute cross before Damian Duff’s 68th minute goal doubled the lead.
Arouna Kone scored a late goal for Wigan.
Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion’s a 1-0 win away to Reading put them level on points with Everton and left the Royals propping up the Premier League.
The Baggies had to wait until the 71st minute for the decisive goal when a shot from Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, found its way through a crowd of players.
An early goal from Sunderland’s £12 million striker Steven Fletcher gave them the lead away to West Ham before Kevin Nolan’s 90th-minute equalizer rescued a point for the Hammers in a 1-1 draw.
Sunday sees Liverpool face arch-rivals Manchester United, who started the weekend in second place, in the first match at Anfield since an independent report cleared the Merseysiders’ fans of any responsibility for the deaths of 96 of their fellow supporters during the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Meanwhile, champions Manchester City, fresh from their last minute defeat by Real Madrid, play a rejuvenated Arsenal at Eastlands as Norwich manager Chris Hughton returns to St. James’ Park for the first time since being sacked by Newcastle.
Tottenham Hotspur, following a goalless Europa League draw with Lazio, welcome London rivals Queens Park Rangers to White Hart Lane.
Cole fuels Chelsea title push
Cole fuels Chelsea title push
Al-Hilal win to re-establish 7-point lead at the top the SPL table
- The 2-1 victory over Neom came a day after Al-Nassr had reduced the gap with a home win over Al-Shabab
- Al-Taawoun and Al-Qadsiah recorded comfortable wins over Al-Riyadh and Al-Hazem
DUBAi: Al-Hilal on Sunday night defeated Neon 2-1 to re-establish their seven-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table after nearest rivals A-Nassr had reduced the gap with a win over AL-Shabab on Saturday.
Al-Hilal now have 41 points from 15 matches, with Al-Nassr second on 34 from the same number of matches.
Neom took the lead on 42 through Mohammed Al-Burayk, and managed to hold on to the lead until half-time. Simone Inzaghi’s men stepped up their play in the second period and levelled the score on 49 minutes through Hassan Al-Tambakti, who powered a header home from a Reuben Neves corner.
An identical corner routine ultimately brought about Al-Hilal’s second 15 minutes later. As another Neves corner was played into the Neon penalty area, Al-Tambakti was wrestled down to the ground and the referee had little hesitation pointing to the spot. Neves himself converted the penalty to secure the three points for Hilal.
Earlier on Sunday, Al-Qadsiah thrashed hosts Al-Hazem 5-1 with all six goal coming in the second half. Mateo Retegui opened the scoring for the visitors on 56 mnutes and Al-Qadisah quickly doubled their lead through Musab Al-Juwayr five minutes later.
Brendan Rodgers’ team were coasting, and despite a host of substitutions by Al-Hazem half way through the second half, the result was put beyond any doubt when Julian Quinones scored on 73 minutes before Ahmed Al-Nakhli’s own goal made it 4-0. With four minutes left, Aboubacar Bah scored a consolation for Al-Hazem, but their was still time for Al-Qadsiah to make it 5-1 through another own goal, this time by Mohammed Isaa in stoppage time.
The result leaves Al-Qadisah fifth in the table, while Al-Hazem sit in 11th.
Meanwhile, 10-man Al-Taawoun claimed all three points at after a 3-1 win at Al-Riyadh to climb back to third, having briefly lost the position to reigning AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli.
