Approaching the midpoint of the English Premier League season, Chelsea is already way ahead of last year's record pace.
With its 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday, Chelsea won its 16th game in 18 matches and stayed nine points atop the league. A victory over Manchester City on Wednesday would maintain that advantage, which is nearly twice the five-point lead Chelsea had last season at this point before it went on to earn a record 95 points and finish 12 points atop the league.
Monday's victory gave some hope to the pursuers -- albeit faint -- that Chelsea can be caught. The Blues took a 2-0 lead within 24 minutes, but allowed a pair of goals before winning the match on Hernan Crespo's eye-catching volley in the 74th minute.
"They have a good manager who can motivate players and good players who can come out in the second half and fight. They did that," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said of Fulham.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham also won to keep pace. While Chelsea has 49 points, Manchester United is closest with 40, followed by Liverpool and Tottenham with 34 each.
Wednesday gives the pursuers hope of closing on the lead. With Chelsea facing eight-placed Manchester City, Manchester United will face 19th-placed Birmingham, Liverpool is at Merseyside rival and 16th-placed Everton and Spurs visit 17th-placed West Bromwich Albion.
On Monday, defender William Gallas and midfielder Frank Lampard had put Chelsea ahead 2-0, but American international Brian McBride drew Fulham within one in the 29th and Heidar Helguson equalized 11 minutes into the second half.
At Old Trafford, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand had Manchester United ahead by halftime before Ruud Van Nistlerooy added another in the 63rd to lead the Reds to a 3-0 victory over West Bromwich and its seventh win in eight league games.
Liverpool ruined former striker Michael Owen's first trip back to Anfield by defeating Newcastle 2-0. Steven Gerrard scored his 12th goal of the season in the 14th minute on an assist from Peter Crouch.
In the 44th minute, 2.01m striker Crouch's header was touched onto the post by Shay Given -- but rebounded in off the Newcastle goalkeeper's head.
At White Hart Lane, Ireland striker Robbie Keane converted a penalty in the 58th after he was held back by Birmingham defender Matthew Upson in Tottenham's 2-0 win. Substitute striker Jermain Defoe netted in injury time.
Arsenal ended a three-game losing run by beating Charlton 1-0 at The Valley and stayed 20 points behind Chelsea in seventh place. Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes scored in the 58th to consign Charlton to an eighth loss from its past nine league games.
"That was a crucial win," Henry said. "I have been here for a long time and we are used to being first or second -- we are not used to being in this position. You have to dig in and try to perform even when you are not having amazing days."
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
RSS