The Hindu : Sport / Football : West Ham upsets Man U

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Monday, Dec 18, 2006
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West Ham upsets Man U

London: Champion Chelsea took advantage of a rare slip from Manchester United on Sunday to move to within two points of Sir Alex Ferguson's side at the top of the English Premiership. Chelsea twice came from behind to win 3-2 in a dramatic match at Everton while United was beaten 1-0 at West Ham United, where Nigel Reo-Coker gave Alan Curbishley a shock win in his first game in charge.

At Goodison Park, Didier Drogba volleyed a stunning winner with three minutes to go to give Chelsea victory in a match it had struggled in for long periods despite plenty of possession. Mikael Arteta put Everton ahead from the penalty spot on 38 minutes after a foul by Khalid Boulahrouz on Victor Anichebe.

Ballack equalises

Four minutes after half-time, Michael Ballack equalised with a superb free-kick — which rebounded off the post and the diving Tim Howard, technically meaning it could be put down as an own goal for the goalkeeper — but Joseph Yobo headed Everton back in front from a corner (64).

The home side looked set to hang on for the win until Frank Lampard lashed in an 81st-minute equaliser before Drogba fired a dipping volley over Howard to secure the points.

``It's a very important victory,'' Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said. ``When we were losing 1-0 and 2-1 it was difficult but we did it.

``When Everton scored their second goal the game was completely in our hands and that can hit a team that is not mentally strong. But we scored two unbelievable goals from Lampard and Drogba and after that we defended with everything we had.''

United undone

At Upton Park, United dominated proceedings but was undone by a 75th-minute goal from Reo-Coker, who side-footed past Edwin van der Sar. Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha and Ryan Giggs all had chances but West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green saved them all in a superb all-round display. It was only United's second defeat of the league season.

The results: English Premier League: Everton 2 lost to Chelsea 3, Manchester City 1 lost to Tottenham 2, West Ham 1 bt Manchester United 0. Saturday's results: Newcastle 2 bt Watford 1; Reading 1 lost to Blackburn 2; Wigan 0 lost to Sheffield United 1; Aston Villa 0 lost to Bolton 1.

Spanish league: Real Sociedad 3 bt Gimnastic Tarragona 2, Levante 1 drew with Celta Vigo 1, Villarreal 1 lost to Osasuna 4, Recreativo Huelva 1 lost to Sevilla 3. Saturday's results: Mallorca 1 lost to Racing Santander 2, Deportivo La Coruna 0 lost to Athletic Bilbao 2, Zaragoza 0 lost to Valencia 1.

Italian League: AC Milan 2 drew with Fiorentina 2; Udinese 3 bt Cagliari 1. — Agencies

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