Manchester United overcame a floodlight failure to win 1-0 at Fulham through a late Wayne Rooney goal on Saturday as Alex Ferguson’s side went 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
An open first half saw the woodwork rattled four times, with Bryan Ruiz hitting the post for Fulham, while Patrice Evra, Fulham defender Brede Hangeland and Rooney all sent the ball against the frame of the hosts’ goal.
A floodlight failure in the 43rd minute plunged Craven Cottage into darkness and forced the players off the pitch, but they returned to complete the first half after the lights came back on.
Photo: AFP
Rooney netted the winner in the 79th minute, haring down the inside-left channel and steering the ball into the bottom-right corner to send United well clear of second-place Manchester City, who were to host Liverpool yesterday.
“It’s always difficult coming here and they made it hard for us,” Rooney said. “We hit the post and bar three times in the first half, but we had to keep believing. We know we can create chances.”
“We are in a good position of course, but we are not going to get carried away,” he said.
Photo: Reuters
Earlier in the day, new signing Moussa Sissoko completed a brace with a last-minute winner to give Newcastle United a 3-2 victory at home to Chelsea that prevented the visitors from making ground on the top two.
After Jonas Gutierrez put Newcastle ahead in the first half, Chelsea hit back through fine goals from Frank Lampard and Spanish international Juan Mata to take a 2-1 lead, but Sissoko equalized in the 68th minute before driving home his late winner.
“I don’t need to say anything because his performance said it all,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said of Sissoko.
“I remember watching him for Toulouse 14 months ago, and I thought he was the one for us. We watched him and set our sights on him for a long time,” Pardew said.
Defeat left Chelsea six points behind City and 16 points shy of Manchester United.
“There were too many mistakes,” Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez said.
“I could see a red card that was not shown for Fabricio Coloccini. We had a chance and Demba Ba received a broken nose, it is bleeding,” he said.
Arsenal left it late to beat Stoke City 1-0 and move to within a point of the Champions League places.
Substitute Lukas Podolski settled the game in the 78th minute with a low free-kick that deflected off Geoff Cameron to wrong-foot goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
At Goodison Park, Marouane Fellaini headed in an injury-time equalizer to earn Everton a 3-3 draw in a breathless game against Aston Villa, who once again failed to defend a lead and remain firmly entrenched in the bottom three.
A Christian Benteke brace and a goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor meant Villa were 3-1 up with 21 minutes to play, Victor Anichebe having replied for Everton, only for a second-half double from Fellaini to give Everton a share of the spoils.
“I thought we played well, but didn’t defend well,” Everton manager David Moyes said.
“Great credit to the players as they never gave up and kept going. We found ourselves chasing the game all the time and that makes for frantic football,” he said.
Villa are now two points below fourth-bottom Reading, who won 2-1 at home against Sunderland to keep themselves above the bottom three.
Jimmy Kebe scored both goals for the hosts, heading in an 85th-minute winner after Craig Gardner had cancelled out his early opener with a 29th-minute penalty.
Southampton were denied a precious victory after conceding a last-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic.
Gary Caldwell’s 25th-minute header put Wigan in front, with second-half goals from Rickie Lambert and Morgan Schneiderlin giving the visitors a lead they held until Shaun Maloney snatched a goal at the death.
Meanwhile, on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll scored only his second goal of the season to give West Ham United a 1-0 win at home to Swansea City.
Morocco’s Adel Taarabt had a second-half penalty saved as Queens Park Rangers were held to a 0-0 draw by Norwich City that left them six points from safety and four points adrift at the foot of the table.
“That’s how it goes. Adel was outstanding again,” QPR manager Harry Redknapp said. “It’s just one of those things. If we score, then we win the game, there’s no doubt.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely