PREMIERSHIP ROUND 25
 
29 January 2003

Liverpool (0) 2 (Riise 52, Heskey 90)
Arsenal (1) 2 (Pires 8, Bergkamp 63)

A stoppage time goal from Emile Heskey denied Arsenal a fine win at Anfield,
however they remain five points clear at the top. The Gunners took an early lead
when Dennis Bergkamp sent Thierry Henry through and although his effort was
saved, Robert Pires followed up to fire into the empty net. Early in the second
half, John Arne Riise drilled home from the edge of the area after Heskey had
set him up to equalise, however shortly afterwards, the hosts failed to properly
clear a cross, allowing Bergkamp to score from the edge of the area, helped by a
deflection off Stephane Henchoz. The second equaliser arrived courtesy of the
head of Heskey, finding the corner after Salif Diao had crossed from the right.


Man City (1) 4 (Anelka 21, Benarbia 47, Foe 61, Wright-Phillips 70)
Fulham (1) 1 (Malbranque 2)

Manchester City destroyed struggling Fulham, despite going a goal down inside
two minutes. The scorer was Steed Malbranque who fired into the bottom corner
from the edge of the box, making it four in two games for him. City levelled
matters when Nik Anelka latched onto an Ali Benarbia through ball to slot home
and then early in the second half, Benarbia scored himself with a near effort
from Djamel Belmadi's cross. Marc Vivien Foe then added a third after Benarbia's
header was saved and Shaun Wright-Phillips completed a fine performance with a
late lob over Maik Taylor.


Spurs (0) 0
Newcastle (0) 1 (Jenas 90)

Newcastle edge into second place thanks to a very late winner at White Hart Lane
against Spurs. Jermaine Jenas was the man on the spot to scramble the ball into
the net after Craig Bellamy had been denied by Kasey Keller.


West Brom (0) 0
Charlton (0) 1 (Bartlett 60)

West Brom go back to the bottom after a narrow home defeat against Charlton.
The only goal arrived on the hour when Shaun Bartlett's header from a Claus
Jensen cross took a deflection into the net.


West Ham (0) 2 (Di Canio (pen) 58, Defoe 89)
Blackburn (1) 1 (Yorke 38)

West Ham recorded their first home league win of the season and move up to
within a point of safety after coming from behind to beat Blackburn. The
visitors took the lead when Dwight Yorke blasted in a cross from David
Thompson. Paolo di Canio equalised from the penalty spot after he'd been
fouled in the area and then with time almost up, Jermaine Defoe collected
a ball from Joe Cole and scored inside the near post.


28 January 2003

Bolton (0) 1 (Facey 90)
Everton (2) 2 (Watson 33, 39)

Goalscoring defender Steve Watson netted twice as Everton continued to remain
in a fight for a UEFA Cup place with victory over struggling Bolton. His first was
a superb looping overhead kick from the edge of the area after Brian McBride
had helped the ball on, and he then doubled his tally, and the lead, by firing
home after Gary Naysmith's shot was saved. Bolton grabbed a stoppage time
consolation when Delroy Facey scored after Per Frandsen's shot was blocked.


Chelsea (0) 3 (Gudjohnsen 57, Lampard 80, Matteo (og) 83)
Leeds (1) 2 (Kewell 18, Lucic 66)

Chelsea consolidate fourth spot after twice coming from behind to beat Leeds.
The hosts dominated the first half but were a goal behind at the break after
Mark Viduka helped on a long goal kick for Harry Kewell to sneak in and volley
home. The equaliser was a genuine goal of the season contender as Eidur
Gudjohnsen crashed an overhead kick tearing past Paul Robinson after Frank
Lampard had provided the cross. Leeds then regained the lead when Teddy Lucic
scrambled in at the far post after Kewell had helped on a corner, however
Chelsea levelled matters again when the visitors only half cleared a Boudewijn
Zenden cross, allowing Lampard to find the net via a deflection off Danny Mills.
Three minutes later, Gudjohnsen played Lampard in and although his shot across
goal looked to be off target, Dominic Matteo could only turn it into his own
net.


Middlesbrough (2) 2 (Maccarone 33, Greening 35)
Aston Villa (2) 5 (Vassell 24, 81, Gudjonsson 31, Barry 47, Dublin 90)

A freak result at the Riverside as Middlesbrough lost at home for the first time
this season, against an Aston Villa side who had previously scored just four
times on the road and were yet to win! The rout began when Darius Vassell
latched onto an underhit back-pass by Stuart Parnaby to slot coolly home. The
lead was doubled when debutant Joey Gudjonson cracked home a stunning
35 yard free kick, although keeper Mark Schwarzer should have done better,
appearing to spoon the ball into the net. Boro then drew level with two goals
in three minutes, firstly when Massimo Maccarone nodded in after Joseph
Desire Job had helped the ball on, and then Parnaby found Jonathon Greening
who wriggled into the area and slotted the ball into the corner. Villa took
control after the break and regained the lead when Thomas Hitzlsperger's
shot fell to Gareth Barry who fired home from close range. Vassell then
grabbed his second late on, blasting in off the bar at the near post after good
work from J.Lloyd Samuel and in stoppage time, Dion Dublin added a fifth,
heading in a cross from Barry.


Sunderland (0) 0
Southampton (0) 1 (Beattie 50)

Southampton's impressive season continued, as did the scoring form of James
Beattie, as Sunderland continued to feel the heat at the bottom. The only goal
came early in the second half as Beattie latched onto a through ball from
Michael Svensson, rounded the keeper and slotted in from a tight angle.


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it
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