The Hindu : Sport : Figueroa’s late strike helps Wigan down Tottenham

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Figueroa’s late strike helps Wigan down Tottenham

— PHOTO: AP

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE: Wigan Athletic’s Maynor Figueroa (third from left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winner against Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday.

WIGAN: Maynor Figueroa scored his first goal for Wigan in injury time on Sunday to give his team a 1-0 English Premier League football win over an injury-hit Tottenham.

With Spurs defender Michael Dawson off injured and goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes labouring with what appeared to be a muscle problem, Figueroa — a Honduras defender who is on loan from Deportivo Olimpia — headed in a corner by Ryan Taylor at the near post.

The result kept Tottenham in the relegation zone and winless in five league matches, while Wigan consolidated its hold on seventh place and maintained its status as the Premier League’s most in-form team — with 18 points from the last seven games.

Tottenham had an opening in the first minute when Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland fumbled a header by Ledley King and just managed to clear the loose ball before the attacking Dawson could get to it.

But Wigan edged its way into contention as the first half progressed and controlled the second, with Spurs creating few chances despite the presence of Defoe — who rejoined the club this week for £15 million, a year after leaving.

Wigan striker Amr Zaki headed just wide from a first-half free kick by Taylor and Gomes saved efforts by Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey, before an injury sustained while clearing the ball limited his movement for much of the second half and meant he had to throw the ball instead of kick it.

With Bent and Aaron Lennon on as tactical substitutions and Jermaine Jenas having replaced the injured Dawson, Tottenham could not replace Gomes — who was labouring so badly that he could not even take goal kicks.

Wigan, though, was unable to test his mobility until the very end.

Zaki headed wide and then over the bar in the last five minutes of regular time before Figueroa scored late on.

Liverpool held

Earlier on Saturday, league leader Liverpool grounded out a 0-0 draw at struggling Stoke City, missing the chance to open up a six-point gap at the top.

Steven Gerrard came closest for Liverpool when he struck the woodwork twice in the last 10 minutes, but Stoke was well worth its point and created the best chances in a scrappy game.

Arsenal kept in touch with the top four as Nicklas Bendtner’s late goal secured a 1-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers.

The Gunners have 38 points.

The results:

On Sunday: Wigan 1 (Figueroa 90) bt Tottenham 0.

On Saturday: Arsenal 1 (Bendtner 84) bt Bolton 0; Everton 2 (Fellaini 18, Arteta 45) bt Hull 0; Middlesbrough 1 (Alves 45) drew with Sunderland 1 (Jones 82).

Newcastle 2 (Owen 19, Carroll 78) drew with West Ham 2 (Bellamy 29, Cole 55); Stoke 0 drew with Liverpool 0. — Agencies

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