After Manchester United’s dramatic extra time winner at Manchester City and Tottenham’s victory over Chelsea on Saturday, one point separates Manchester United from Chelsea at the top of the table with three games left to play.
Tottenham overpowered Chelsea at White Heart Lane in an emphatic win, which threw the English Premier League title race wide open.
Jermain Defoe opened the scoring from the penalty spot after John Terry’s handball and Gareth Bale topped the performance with a terrific second goal.
Defoe who has missed six penalties this year did not hesitate to bash this one in at the top left corner.
Terry was shown red after his second yellow card before Frank Lampard pulled one back in the dying minutes of the game, but it was too little too late for Chelsea.
Tottenham’s last two wins against Arsenal and Chelsea now sees them with a two-point cushion in the European Championship League qualification fourth spot.
Tottenham won the match in most areas of the pitch with Luka Modric pulling the strings in the center of the midfield. Gareth Bale was outstanding on the left wing and Michael Dawson was solid at the back.
“To beat Arsenal and Chelsea here this week, two teams that we rarely beat over the years here at Tottenham were two fantastic performances,” Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told the BBC.
“The first 30 minutes we came out, we got right on top of them, we were much the better team. And really, you look at the chances we didn’t score.”
Paul Scholes scored a leaping injury time headed winner to keep United’s title hopes alive.
Scholes, 35, signed a one-year contract on the day before this match.
“He controlled the ball and he controlled the game. He was probably the conductor of the orchestra at times and, we know his ability and it’s still there,” said Mike Phelan, assistant manager of Manchester United.
This Manchester derby was a scrappy affair and the winner was the third injury time decisive goal that had been scored against their fierce rivals this season.
For City boss Roberto Mancini, it was a shocking blow, which sees their chances of qualifying for the European Champions League wavering.
A partially fit Rooney was picked ahead of Dimitar Berbatov for whom he swapped places with 15 minutes to go for United.
Edwin van der Sar did well as he saved from Carlos Tevez, and Patrick Vieira and Nedum Onuoha both failed to covert after goalmouth scrambles. Craig Bellamy was also guilty of not delivering in the final third for Man City.
Wigan launched a historic comeback against Arsenal on Sunday after going two goals down at the JJB Stadium. The win looks to have nearly secured their Premiership status for next season.
Theo Walcott kept his feet well as he dribbled in on goal to score the opener. Mikael Silvestre then headed in the Gunners’ second.
But three Wigan goals in the final 10 minutes turned the game around.
Ben Watson slotted in the first. Then Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski failed to hold a cross and Titus Bramble was quick to pounce with a header to get the leveler.
Deep into injury time Charles N’Zogbia blasted one into the back of the net to send the home crowd wild.
Arsenal will now have to be content with another trophy-less season.
Tottenham 2, Chelsea 1
Tottenham overpowered Chelsea at White Heart Lane in an emphatic win, which threw the English Premier League title race wide open.
Jermain Defoe opened the scoring from the penalty spot after John Terry’s handball and Gareth Bale topped the performance with a terrific second goal.
Defoe who has missed six penalties this year did not hesitate to bash this one in at the top left corner.
Terry was shown red after his second yellow card before Frank Lampard pulled one back in the dying minutes of the game, but it was too little too late for Chelsea.
Tottenham’s last two wins against Arsenal and Chelsea now sees them with a two-point cushion in the European Championship League qualification fourth spot.
Tottenham won the match in most areas of the pitch with Luka Modric pulling the strings in the center of the midfield. Gareth Bale was outstanding on the left wing and Michael Dawson was solid at the back.
“To beat Arsenal and Chelsea here this week, two teams that we rarely beat over the years here at Tottenham were two fantastic performances,” Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told the BBC.
“The first 30 minutes we came out, we got right on top of them, we were much the better team. And really, you look at the chances we didn’t score.”
Manchester City 0, Manchester United 1
Paul Scholes scored a leaping injury time headed winner to keep United’s title hopes alive.
Scholes, 35, signed a one-year contract on the day before this match.
“He controlled the ball and he controlled the game. He was probably the conductor of the orchestra at times and, we know his ability and it’s still there,” said Mike Phelan, assistant manager of Manchester United.
This Manchester derby was a scrappy affair and the winner was the third injury time decisive goal that had been scored against their fierce rivals this season.
For City boss Roberto Mancini, it was a shocking blow, which sees their chances of qualifying for the European Champions League wavering.
A partially fit Rooney was picked ahead of Dimitar Berbatov for whom he swapped places with 15 minutes to go for United.
Edwin van der Sar did well as he saved from Carlos Tevez, and Patrick Vieira and Nedum Onuoha both failed to covert after goalmouth scrambles. Craig Bellamy was also guilty of not delivering in the final third for Man City.
Wigan 3, Arsenal 2
Wigan launched a historic comeback against Arsenal on Sunday after going two goals down at the JJB Stadium. The win looks to have nearly secured their Premiership status for next season.
Theo Walcott kept his feet well as he dribbled in on goal to score the opener. Mikael Silvestre then headed in the Gunners’ second.
But three Wigan goals in the final 10 minutes turned the game around.
Ben Watson slotted in the first. Then Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski failed to hold a cross and Titus Bramble was quick to pounce with a header to get the leveler.
Deep into injury time Charles N’Zogbia blasted one into the back of the net to send the home crowd wild.
Arsenal will now have to be content with another trophy-less season.
