The Hindu : Sport / Football : West Ham beats Fulham

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006

Sport

Sport - Football

West Ham beats Fulham

LONDON : Anton Ferdinand and Yossi Benayoun scored first-half goals and West Ham beat Fulham 2-1 in the English Premier League on Monday, ending a four-match home losing streak.

The victory moved West Ham past Manchester City into ninth place with 32 points, two behind eighth-place Blackburn Rovers and 30 behind league-leading Chelsea. The loss snapped a two-match win streak for Fulham, kept it without an away victory this season, and in 13th place, just ahead of Newcastle. Fulham dominated the early midfield play but Ferdinand gave West Ham the lead in the 17th minute. The Cottagers only managed to clear a corner to the edge of the penalty area, where Marlon Harewood nodded the ball into the path of Ferdinand. He spun and hit a first-time effort past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Despite Fulham regaining the better of possession, West Ham doubled its lead 12 minutes later.

From the edge of the area, Matthew Etherington crossed to Benayoun, who twisted American defender Carlos Bocanegra around and sent a chip over Niemi.

Fulham tried to rally in the second half with a 52nd-minute goal.

Heidar Helguson, who had a chance blocked by his own teammate in the first half, capitalised when Brian McBride flicked on a punt and centre back Danny Gabbidon failed to handle, sending an angled shot low off the right post for his fifth goal of the season. — AP

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