Fernando Torres finally scored his first goal for Chelsea on Saturday as the champions beat West Ham United 3-0 to remain six points behind Manchester United after the leaders had beaten Everton 1-0.
The Spaniard came off the bench to score Chelsea’s second six minutes from time — his first goal in his 14th appearance for the west London club he joined from Liverpool for £50 million (US$83 million) in January.
“I have had 14 games waiting for a goal, which was not the beginning I was expecting when I signed for a massive team like this,” Torres told the BBC. “There will be less pressure on me now. Now we can try and finish the season as we all want.”
Photo: Reuters
It was a great response by Chelsea in the title race after a late header by Mexico striker Javier Hernandez ended Everton’s resistance six minutes from time at Old Trafford and briefly put United nine points ahead.
The day’s scorching heat was replaced by a thunderstorm for the evening game at Stamford Bridge and for long periods Chelsea struggled to cope with the awkward conditions and some spirited play by their lowly London rivals.
Chelsea grabbed the first goal at the end of the first half when Frank Lampard banged in a low cross from Ashley Cole.
Centerback David Luiz rattled the bar with a 25m piledriver, before Torres came off the bench in the 76th minute and, eight minutes later, swept in his first goal.
The Spaniard, who was mobbed by every one of his teammates, then set up Florent Malouda for the third.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said it had been a perfect day.
“Everyone expected Fernando to score and finally he scored, and for him from today will be a new life,” Ancelotti told ESPN.
Tottenham Hotspur wasted a chance to leapfrog fourth-placed Manchester City as West Bromwich Albion secured a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane.
Albion took the lead in the fifth minute through Peter Odemwingie.
Roman Pavlyuchenko equalized in the 27th minute and Jermain Defoe hit his 100th Premier League goal in the 66th minute to put Spurs ahead, but Simon Cox equalized for Albion in the 81st minute and Spurs are now one point behind City, who travel to Blackburn Rovers today.
Liverpool’s resurgence under Kenny Dalglish continued as Maxi Rodriguez’s hat-trick inspired a 5-0 win against Birmingham City at Anfield.
Dalglish’s sixth-placed team took just seven minutes to open the scoring through Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt increased Liverpool’s advantage in the 23rd minute.
Rodriguez got his second goal in the 66th minute and the Argentina midfielder completed his treble in the 73rd minute, before Joe Cole struck in the 86th minute.
Blackpool climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.
Peter Lovenkrands fired Newcastle United into a 17th-minute lead, but D.J. Campbell headed a 32nd-minute equalizer and Blackpool are now ahead of third bottom Wigan Athletic on goal difference.
Sunderland eased their relegation fears with a 4-2 victory over Wigan at the Stadium of Light.
Steve Bruce’s side had lost eight of their last nine games and they were heading for another defeat when Mohamed Diame put Wigan ahead in the 52nd minute, but Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan equalized three minutes later and Jordan Henderson netted in the 66th minute. Stephane Sessegnon scored a 73rd minute penalty and Henderson struck again four minutes later, before Franco Di Santo got one back for Wigan.
Second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers’ hopes of avoiding relegation were dented as Fulham drew 1-1 at Molineux.
Steven Fletcher put Wolves in front, but Andrew Johnson leveled in the 80th minute.
Aston Villa couldn’t give ill boss Gerard Houllier, who has been hospitalized with chest pains, a much-needed tonic as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke City.
Kenwyne Jones scored for Stoke, but Darren Bent equalized in the 43rd minute.
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