..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

West Brom 1-2 Stoke City: Baggies safe despite defeat as Potters finish ninth

Stoke finished the Premier League season in ninth place after a brilliant late goal from Charlie Adam sealed a 2-1 win at West Brom on the final day.

The game looked to be heading for a draw after Stephane Sessegnon's strike in the second half cancelled out an own goal from Gareth McAuley after 22 minutes.

However, a fine run and shot from Adam ensured a win for Mark Hughes' men, while the Baggies will play another season in the top flight following Norwich's relegation.

The result caps off a good campaign for Mark Hughes' men, who have secured a first top-10 finish in the Premier League and surpassed the 47-point haul they recorded in 2010.

Despite knowing that only a mathematical improbability would see West Brom relegated, head coach Pepe Mel insisted that this game represented his side's "biggest test" of the season.

And the hosts looked to have a spring in their step in the opening exchanges, nearly taking the lead inside three minutes when a frantic goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall to Sessegnon, who cannoned an effort off the underside of the crossbar from two yards out.

However, Stoke, who arrived with a 100 per cent Premier League record at The Hawthorns, responded well and almost took the lead six minutes later when Jonathan Walters raced away from the defence, before stinging the palms of Ben Foster with a well-struck drive.

The Republic of Ireland forward was at the centre of proceedings again within two minutes, somehow contriving to head wide from six yards after some great work down the right from Geoff Cameron.

But the visitors were rewarded for their efforts when a neat one-two inside the area allowed Marko Arnautovic to break free of his man before fizzing a low ball across goal that was turned in by a despairing McAuley.

West Brom struggled to find any sort of rhythm in the opening half, but were level 11 minutes after the break.

>A sweeping counterattack ended with Craig Dawson crossing from the right for Sessegnon to apply a calm finish.

The hosts were nearly guilty of undoing their good work immediately, as Arnautovic got away a curling shot that narrowly failed to find the target.

Yet West Brom continued to press, with Sessegnon heading straight at Thomas Sorensen and Mulumbu clattering the post a minute later.

It looked as though both teams would be content to settle for a point, but Adam then struck with a powerful effort from the edge of the box, ensuring Stoke leapfrogged Newcastle United into ninth spot.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sunderland 1-3 Swansea: Swans rain on Black Cats' survival party

The 35-year-old was handed the reins on a permanent basis on Wednesday, having served as head coach since Michael Laudrup was relieved of his duties in February.

And, after picking up an impressive 2-1 win at Newcastle United in their last away fixture, Swansea made another fruitful trip to the north east – Nathan Dyer putting the visitors in front in the seventh minute on the final day of the Premier League season.


Marvin Emnes doubled the advantage seven minutes later, but Fabio Borini pulled Sunderland back into the game early in the second half.

The Wearsiders' joy was shortlived, however, as Wilfried Bony re-established the two-goal lead four minutes later to wrap up the points.

Both of these sides were already assured of their Premier League safety, but the result brought to an end to Sunderland's five-game unbeaten run.

Monk used the season-closing fixture to utilise several of the club's fringe players, with youngster Jay Fulton making his full debut, while Liam Bridcutt and Phil Bardsley replaced Lee Cattermole and Marcos Alonso for Sunderland.

And it was the supposedly weakened visitors who took the lead early on – Nathan Dyer applying a wonderful chipped finish after being played in by a precise pass from Wayne Routledge.

Swansea were doing all the early pressing and were two up soon afterwards, as Marvin Emnes turned superbly on the edge of the penalty area before smashing a left-footed effort beyond Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

There was no sign of either side taking their foot off the gas as the season neared its conclusion, making for an entertaining and open encounter at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland began to enjoy more possession in the opposition half and went close to reducing the deficit in the 27th minute, when Sebastian Larsson's dangerous cross was inadvertently headed onto the right-hand post by Swansea defender Jordi Amat.

Bardsley, whose future remains in doubt with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, then fired an effort narrowly over the crossbar shortly before the break.Gus Poyet's men got off the mark five minutes into the second half, when former Swansea loanee Fabio Borini beat visiting goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel at his near post with a powerful header from Adam Johnson's corner.

But Swansea soon had their two-goal cushion restored, as Wilfried Bony fired in a shot off the left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area for his 25th goal of the season in all competitions.

Larsson and Johnson’s failure to find the target with subsequent efforts did little to dampen the mood of the home supporters, who were busy celebrating the club's 'Great Escape' from relegation, with Sunderland having been bottom of the Premier League at Christmas.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hull City 0–2 Everton: Lukaku helps Toffees end on a high

McCarthy's strike was added to by Romelu Lukaku just after half-time for Roberto Martinez's side, who controlled the game against a Hull outfit with one eye on next week's FA Cup final.

Everton went in front after eight minutes when McCarthy finished a typically flowing move and they completely dominated, with Steven Naismith firing wide and Lukaku forcing a save just before half-time.Chances were at a premium for the home side, who saw a Jake Livermore effort go wide and Maynor Figueroa's deflected shot saved.

But any hopes of a Hull fightback were dashed within 60 seconds of the restart as Lukaku got on the end of a fine Leon Osman ball to confidently slot home.

The result means Everton finish a hugely impressive season with their highest points tally since their title-winning season of 1986-87 and 72 points equals Tottenham's record last season of the most a team have gained without finishing in the top four.
Hull end their season 16th in the league, improving on their previous best of 2008-09, and will head into the Wembley clash against Arsenal on the back of a five-game winless run.Steve Bruce welcomed Sone Aluko, Paul McShane and Allan McGregor back from injury to boost his options ahead of the Cup final.

However, the goalkeeper’s first contribution of note was to pick the ball out of the net as Hull were carved open after eight minutes when Naismith slipped in McCarthy and the Irishman’s drilled effort was too hot for McGregor to keep out.Naismith shot off-target and Livermore dragged an effort wide from 25 yards at the other end, though the game was played at a sedate pace.

Lukaku scored a hat-trick on the final day of last season and he ought to have added a second for Everton after 25 minutes when a wonderful Leighton Baines cross found the striker, but he could not get a telling touch and the ball was cleared.

Everton continued to impress and McCarthy's low cross was stabbed goalwards by Lukaku just before half-time but McGregor made a sharp low save.But they got the second goal their play deserved within a minute of the second half when Osman's fine slide-rule pass found Lukaku who brushed aside McShane before firing home inside the area for his 16th of the season.

Substitute Liam Rosenior, Curtis Davies and Robert Koren each passed up chances to score for Hull late on, as Everton secured a first win at the KC Stadium and consigned Bruce's side to a fifth defeat in their last seven home outings.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fulham 2–2 Crystal Palace: Late strike from Chris David sees Cottagers bow out with a draw

Neither team had much to play for heading into the climax of the campaign after Fulham's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed with a 4-1 loss to Stoke City last weekend.

But they provided terrific entertainment in a frenetic contest in the last top-flight game at Craven Cottage for at least a season.

Dwight Gayle - the hero of Palace's remarkable 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Monday that had huge ramifications in the Premier League title race - looked to have given his side the points with a double, which was separated by Cauley Woodrow's first goal for Fulham.

However, substitute Chris David came off the bench to ensure a share of the spoils late into added time with a magnificent curling effort that flew into the top corner.
Palace finish the campaign in 11th place, while Fulham, by contrast, end a depressing year second bottom.

Fulham created the first real chance after seven minutes, Alexander Kacaniklic's low drive drawing a near-post save from Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Palace crafted an opening themselves four minutes later, as Gayle played in Yannick Bolasie, only for Fulham shot-stopper David Stockdale to produce a fine save.However, Stockdale was beaten just a few moments later when Gayle flicked home from Joel Ward's low cross into the area.

The visitors continued to dictate matters, and would have doubled their advantage had Stockdale not pulled off another strong stop to keep out Scott Dann's header from Tom Ince's free-kick.Fulham did threaten an equaliser in first-half injury time, but FernandoAmorebieta's header was kept out by Hennessey at his right-hand post.

Amorebieta was heavily involved again as Fulham went agonisingly close to levelling early in the second half, the Venezuela defender's header back across goal nodded against the post by Hugo Rodallega.Palace were forced into a substitution in the 59th minute as Mile Jedinak was replaced by Kagisho Dikgacoi after suffering an injury.

And Jedinak's absence was felt two minutes later as Woodrow netted the equaliser with an excellent curling finish beyond Hennessey after collecting a clever reverse pass from Rodallega.

Tony Pulis' men responded well, though, and appeared to have claimed the points late on as Gayle struck with a terrific low free-kick into the bottom corner from some way out.Gayle then missed a glaring chance to claim his hat-trick, as he diverted the ball wide of an open goal after Glenn Murray had crashed an effort against the crossbar.

And that miss proved costly as Chris David - who had come on for the injured Kacaniklic in the 23rd minute - ensured that Fulham ended a disastrous year on a high with a magnificent maiden goal for the club.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham 3-0 Aston Villa: Spurs seal Europa League spot

Tottenham have secured a place in next season’s Europa League after ending their campaign with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Paulinho opened the scoring in what is likely to be Tim Sherwood’s final game in charge at White Hart Lane, while Nathan Baker’s own goal and Emmanuel Adebayor’s penalty put Tottenham in a commanding lead by half time.

The victory ensured Sherwood’s side finished in sixth, five points ahead of Manchester United but 10 behind Arsenal, who occupy the final Champions League spot.

Defeat means Paul Lambert’s men end their season on 38 points while the Scot’s future remains unclear with Randy Lerner, Villa’s owner, set to announce a decision over whether he will sell the club next week.

Tottenham started brightly and Brad Guzan was forced into action early on to deny Harry Kane on two separate occasions.

The hosts found a way past the American after 14 minutes as Gylfi Sigurdsson's pass was flicked into the path of Paulinho by Kane and the Brazilian slotted home at the second attempt.

Despite falling behind, Villa showed no appetite to draw level and found themselves two goals down in the 35th minute as Baker knocked Danny Rose's drilled cross past Guzan.

Three minutes later, Gabriel Agbonlahor made his side's position even worse as he blatantly blocked a shot inside the area with his elbow and Adebayor smashed in the resulting penalty.

With victory effectively secured by half-time, Spurs appeared rather more relaxed in the second half and Fabian Delph almost pulled one back in the 57th minute, but he fired wide from range.

Villa continued to see more of the ball than before the break, but still they struggled to craft many chances of note as Spurs remained solid at the back.

Sherwood's reportedly fractious relationship with Sandro has lingered throughout his time in charge, but neither showed any sign of ill-feeling as the Brazilian was replaced just after the hour mark.

Villa recorded their first shot on target in the 82nd minute as Delph tried his luck from distance but Hugo Lloris easily collected and Spurs claimed the three points to secure sixth, while their visitors end the season 15th.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cardiff City 1-2 Chelsea: Schurrle & Torres complete Blues comeback

Chelsea fought back from a goal down to defeat already-relegated Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.

The Blues, with nothing to play for, fell behind to the already-relegated hosts, with Craig Bellamy's shot deflected in by Cesar Azpilicueta, but second-half strikes from Andre Schurrle and Fernando Torres gave Jose Mourinho's side a season-ending victory and sent their fans back to London happy.

By contrast, Cardiff's supporters are left to ponder another campaign of Championship football after their first season in the top-flight following a 51-year absence ended in relegation.

That was sealed long before the season's last act, although defeat meant Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were unable to avoid the ignominy of finishing at the foot of the table.

A balloon-laden pitch - Cardiff fans littered the playing area with blue in the hope owner Vincent Tan will revert to the club's original colours - could not halt early Chelsea pressure, Oscar firing a warning shot when curling just over.

Their early verve did not yield too many more openings, though, and Cardiff took advantage in the 15th minute.

Bellamy picked up the ball, moved to the edge of the area and unleashed an ambitious pot-shot that deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta to wrong-foot Mark Schwarzer.

The visitors responded impressively, with Oscar seeing a deflected effort go just wide before Mohamed Salah missed the target from a tight angle.

Clear-cut chances continued to elude Chelsea and their opponents almost capitalised once more, Fraizer Campbell wriggling into the box and firing over.

Determined to get back into it, Mourinho's side pressed further forward after the break with Torres curling wide from just outside the area.

Yet, as was the case in the opening period, possession did not initially lead to goals - although the visitors came agonisingly close when Eden Hazard stuck the side-netting.

Chelsea did finally draw level in the 73rd minute. After Azpilicueta - having somehow found himself in the area - had forced a fine reaction save from David Marshall and hit the crossbar with the follow-up, Schurrle showed fine poise to power a volley into the net.

As is often the case, one goal immediately brought a second as Torres, who was just onside, chested down Branislav Ivanovic's header into the area and finished coolly.

Schurrle almost added further gloss when his effort was tipped over by Marshall, yet it mattered little as Chelsea signed off with a win.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Norwich 0-2 Arsenal: Ramsey nets stunner as Canaries suffer relegation

Norwich's Premier League relegation was confirmed as Arsenal warmed up for the FA Cup final with a comfortable 2-0 win at Carrow Road.

Norwich were effectively relegated after Sunderland's 2-0 win over West Brom on Wednesday but saw their drop into the Championship rubber-stamped four days later after second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson gave Arsenal victory.

Ramsey's goal – a stunning volley that crashed into the top-left corner – was truly special and Jack Wilshere's return from a broken foot after the hour-mark only added to Arsenal's joy.

Things were very different for Norwich, who after finishes of 12th and 11th under Chris Hughton, saw their three-year top-flight stay end.

A dreadful run of form, which saw them win just three of their last 25 Premier League matches and included the sacking of Hughton, was to blame for their relegation, and the gulf in class between the two sides on Sunday was evident.

Arsenal's fifth league win in a row is sure to boost confidence ahead of Saturday's FA Cup showpiece against Hull City, as they go in search of their first trophy since winning the same competition in 2005.

Both sides started slowly in what felt like a traditional end-of-season affair, but Norwich – who saw record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel reportedly storm out after learning he would not play a part in the match – eventually brought the contest to life through Nathan Redmond's 18th-minute strike.

Redmond cut inside from the left wing and had a fierce 25-yard effort palmed away by Lukasz Fabianski, making his first Premier League appearance of the season as Arsene Wenger rotated with next week's Wembley trip in mind.

Arsenal eventually found their groove but Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy was in inspired form ahead of Monday's announcement of England's FIFA World Cup squad.

Ruddy first kept out Lukas Podolski after Olivier Giroud's clever backheel played him in before he denied the Frenchman with an outstanding one-on-one save.

A slick move that involved several first-time passes – reminiscent of Wilshere's famous goal in Arsenal's 4-1 win over Norwich at the Emirates Stadium in October – set Giroud up but his shot was tipped over by the excellent Ruddy after 31 minutes.

Even the forward had to applaud the stop and after Ramsey's shot was well-blocked by Michael Turner, the goalkeeper again kept out Giroud, who this time tried a curling strike from distance.

Podolski nodded a header over six minutes after the interval but Ruddy was finally beaten with a piece of individual brilliance.

Ramsey provided it, producing an unstoppable volley from Giroud's ball that the goalkeeper could do nothing about.

And Arsenal quickly doubled their lead in the 62nd minute as defender Jenkinson was on hand to turn in Podolski's blocked shot for his first Arsenal goal.

That saw Wenger hand Wilshere his first appearance since March while team-mate Abou Diaby – and Norwich's Elliott Bennett – both returned from serious knee injuries as the game petered out.

Norwich battled for a late goal, with Robert Snodgrass and Bennett both having chances saved by Fabianski, but Neil Adams' side could not find one final Premier League goal.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal meh season 1keth performance hodai

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle: Agger & Sturridge ensure Reds sign off on winning note

Goals from Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory over nine-man Newcastle at Anfield on Sunday, but the Anfield crowd were left heartbroken come full-time, with Manchester City having defeated West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers' men went into the final Premier League match of the season on Sunday knowing that a win, combined with rivals Manchester City losing at home to West Ham, would see Liverpool crowned champions and end a 24-year wait.

As it transpired, City put the title out of their reach with a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium, but even with the disappointed news filtering through to Anfield, Liverpool managed to sign off with a hard-earned victory.

Martin Skrtel, a regular source of goals in important matches for Rodgers' side throughout the campaign, put through his own net on this occasion, turning Yoan Gouffran's centre past Simon Mignolet in front of a shell-shocked Kop after 20 minutes.

It looked as though the hosts were going to be frustrated, until two almost identical goals from set-pieces midway through the second half from Agger and Sturridge changed the game.

The visitors then saw Shola Ameobi sent off for dissent in the aftermath of Sturridge's winner, as Newcastle's dismal second half of the season ended with an eighth defeat in the last 10 league outings and was further compounded when Paul Dummett also saw red late on.

The hosts worked an opening in the 11th minute as Raheem Sterling got in behind the Newcastle backline, but Mathieu Debuchy recovered smartly to poke the ball away from the forward in the nick of time.

Liverpool thought they had gone in front in the 18th minute when Luis Suarez took a quick free-kick, bending a superb finish over the head of Tim Krul from wide on the right, but referee Phil Dowd brought play back as he was talking to a Newcastle player when the set-piece was taken.

Newcastle stunned the Anfield faithful by taking the lead two minutes later, Skrtel slicing Gouffran's cross from the left inside the far post off his right shin.

Agger, recalled to the side in place of Mamadou Sakho, ought to have equalised in the 24th minute, but the Denmark international sent a free header straight at Krul after meeting a Steven Gerrard corner from the right.

Gouffran could have extended the visitors' lead soon afterwards when played clear on goal by Ameobi's accurate throughball, but Mignolet rushed from his line to make a fine one-on-one stop from the Frenchman.

Suarez was a constant threat, evading the attentions of three Newcastle defenders in the 34th minute, but the finish did not match the approach play as he sent a weak shot into the arms of Krul from the edge of the area.

Sturridge wasted another glorious opportunity five minutes before the break as Jordan Henderson, back after a three-match suspension, got to the byline and delivered a perfect cross for the England forward, who headed wide of goal unmarked from eight yards out.

After a quiet start to the second period, Liverpool turned things around with two goals in as many minutes shortly after the hour.

Agger first stretched to prod home a Gerrard free-kick at the back post before Sturridge tapped in at the far post after yet another fine delivery from the Liverpool captain.

Ameobi was sent off by Dowd, receiving two yellow cards seemingly for dissent as Newcastle prepared to kick off after Sturridge's strike.

Substitute Dummett, only introduced in the 81st minute, was then given his marching orders three minutes from time for a rash challenge on Suarez as Liverpool ended a fine campaign with a win, albeit ultimately just falling short of champions City.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Southampton 1-1 Manchester United: Mata free kick earns point in Giggs' final game as temporary manager

Manchester United fell short in their bid for a Europa League place next season after a 1-1 draw at Southampton on Sunday.

United required a victory in the final game of the Premier League campaign and defeat for Tottenham against Aston Villa to steal sixth spot, but results transpired against Ryan Giggs' men.

Tottenham's win over Villa coupled with a share of the spoils at St Mary's Stadium means United miss out on Europe having played in continental competition for the past 23 seasons.

Juan Mata levelled for the visitors early in the second half with a sumptuous free-kick that gave Artur Boruc absolutely no chance in the Southampton goal after Rickie Lambert had broken the deadlock after 28 minutes.

Both sides pushed for a winner and were guilty of missing chances to seal all three points. The draw, combined with Tottenham's win over Villa, sees United finish the campaign in seventh, while Southampton are one position behind them.

The hosts, who named three potential FIFA World Cup hopefuls for the watching England coach Roy Hodgson to monitor from the stands, started the game with more attacking intent, but failed to test David De Gea.

Victor Wanyama was first to threaten the United goal with a low strike in the 10th minute and even Adam Lallana's flick in front of the Spanish goalkeeper was not able to find the back of the net.

Luke Shaw and Lallana both saw good chances wasted before Southampton took the lead just before the half-hour mark through Lambert, although there was controversy surrounding the goal.

An elbow from Lambert in the build-up left Nemanja Vidic on the floor, but play was allowed to continue and the burly forward emphatically fired past De Gea from close range after being played in by Steven Davis' neat pass.

United's players surrounded Mike Dean to bemoan the decision, but the goal stood, while Vidic – making his final appearance before joining Serie A giants Inter - received treatment on a bleeding nose.

The visitors, who left Tuesday's hero James Wilson out of their squad, only created their first sight of goal in the 34th minute as Chris Smalling met a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, but he skewed his low shot wide without testing Boruc.

Giggs' decision to introduce Michael Carrick at half-time had an immediate impact for the visitors as it released Mata into a more creative role.

And, in the 54th minute, the Spaniard curled a glorious free-kick over the Southampton wall and into the top corner to bring United level.

United's second-half revival continued and just after the hour they should have been ahead through Darren Fletcher.

After neat build-up on the right, Smalling delivered a perfect cross to the back post where the midfielder was able to escape the attentions of Davis, but the Scot placed his free header wide from seven yards.

Danny Welbeck came close to putting United ahead in the closing minutes, but was denied by Boruc, while Southampton struggled to create any chances of note as their season ended with a comfortable display.

With nine minutes remaining, Hodgson left his seat in the stands having seen his potential England players perform well and all come through the game without injury, with Lallana and Shaw both substituted to standing ovations.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!​

meh season 1ka purawatama godak dewal waraduna.
Mata,RVP,Januzaj,Rooney & De Gea ge thamai best performance thibbe meh season 1ke​

Anyway gone is gonemeh season 1ke unu hama mistake 1kakma hadagena next season 1ke hotama play karamu​

​

Good Luck Manchester United!

​

Manchester United for Ever​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 2–0 West Ham: Nasri & Kompany secure Premier League title

Manchester City wrapped up their second Premier League title in three seasons thanks to an impressively calm victory against West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

Manuel Pellegrini's side realistically only needed a point to secure the title and there was no repeat of the final-day drama of two years ago, when Sergio Aguero's last-gasp strike against QPR ensured they became champions of England for the first time in 44 years.

West Ham were simply unable to live with City in a one-sided encounter, and Samir Nasri gave the home side a thoroughly deserved half-time lead at the Etihad Stadium.

Captain Vincent Kompany doubled the advantage early in the second half to ensure the vastly experienced Pellegrini marked his first season in English football by winning both the Premier League and the Capital One Cup.

City's final-day victory ensured they won 17 out of 19 league games at fortress Etihad Stadium this season and took their goal tally to an outstanding 102 in the top flight during a superb debut season at the helm for their Chilean manager.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce had stated his intention to spoil the City party, but that never looked like happening and Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Newcastle United ensured that City ultimately won the title by two points.

Despite the obvious tension around the ground, City - who welcomed leading scorer Aguero back from injury - were brimming with confidence after four consecutive victories and wasted no time in stamping their authority on the game.

Pellegrini's side had already beaten West Ham three times this season, including a 6-0 hammering in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg, and David Silva spurned a chance to give them an early lead when he volleyed over the crossbar at the back post 10 minutes in.

The marauding Pablo Zabaleta then went down under a challenge from Mohamed Diame, but referee Martin Atkinson waved play on as City dominated.

News of Newcastle United opening the scoring at Anfield filtered through to the City fans and Aleksandar Kolarov almost raised the decibel level further when his venomous left-foot strike from long range was tipped over by Adrian.

West Ham sat deep and were proving difficult to break down, but showed no attacking threat of their own and rarely got out of their own half.

And it came as no surprise when Nasri opened the scoring six minutes before the break.

The France midfielder was afforded too much space 20 yards from goal and made West Ham pay, as Adrian failed to keep out a right-footed strike that nestled just inside the far post.

Any nerves City may still have had were eased just four minutes after the break, when Edin Dzeko tried to bring down Nasri's corner and the ball fell kindly for Kompany, who fired home from just six yards.

Pellegrini punched the air in delight and jubilant City fans marked their captain's strike with their now-familiar 'Poznan' backs-to-the-pitch celebration.

Liverpool turned their match on its head when Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge converted Steven Gerrard free kicks, but City carried on regardless; David Silva's goal-bound effort was deflected wide.

The impressive Zabaleta then provided a golden opportunity for Argentina team-mate Aguero to make it even more comfortable 67 minutes in, but the former Atletico Madrid man failed to get a decent contact on the ball from close range and the ball bounced back to a grateful Adrian.

The Spanish keeper then got down well to deny Nasri as City pressed for a third goal that would have equalled Chelsea's record of 103 Premier League goals in a season.

Yaya Toure was withdrawn late on with a hamstring injury while Aguero and Hammers midfielder Mark Noble were both booked for a late spat, but that did not dampen the hosts' celebrations.

The supporters whipped up a noisy atmosphere before flooding onto the pitch at the final whistle, which confirmed a second Premier League title in three years and City's second trophy of the season.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City crowned Premier League champions

Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions after their comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The result rendered Liverpool's 2-1 win against Newcastle meaningless and sees City lift the title for the second time in three years, having missed out to Manchester United last season.

The trophy marks Manuel Pellegrini's first league league title since leaving South America for Europe in July 2004, and is his second piece of silverware this term after guiding City to Capital One Cup glory earlier this year.

A goal in each half from Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany sealed the win over West Ham, while Liverpool went a goal down at Anfield and required second-half strikes from Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge to end their campaign with a victory.

Chelsea were also forced to come from behind in their final game of the season at Cardiff City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who were already relegated prior to the match, took the lead through Craig Bellamy but goals from Andre Schurrle and Fernando Torres secured the win for Jose Mourinho’s charges, who finished in third spot.

Ryan Giggs finished his stint in temporary charge of Manchester United with a 1-1 draw at Southampton after Juan Mata cancelled out Rickie Lambert’s opener.

Tottenham secured their place in next season’s Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

At the other end of the table, Norwich's relegation was confirmed; the Canaries were beaten by 2-0 Arsenal at Carrow Road and will join Cardiff and Fulham in the Championship next term.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester City!

Barclays Premier League Champions 2013/14

2013/14 season 1ka purawatama Manchester City performance pattaThey deserve thatSilva,Dzeko,Yaya Toure,Nasri & team 1ke hama kenekma wage agollange balaporotthu wena performance 100% team 1kata dunna

Congratulations City

Chesea,Liverpool,Arsenal,Everton & Tottenham lath niyamai

hodata play kalaGood Luck for the Champions League & Europa League

Ewagema thamai mid table teams wechcha Stoke,Southampton & Sunderland unath performance hodai

So EPL 1ke hama team 1kakatama wish karanawa 2014/15 season 1keth best performance walata yanna labewa kiyala

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Celta 2-0 Real Madrid: Charles double ends Ancelotti's men's title hopes

Celta have recorded a 2-0 surprise win over Real Madrid at the Balaidos in Sunday evening's La Liga encounter to end the away side's title dreams.

Charles opened the scoring shortly before the break after some sloppy defending from Sergio Ramos and the striker got his second goal of the game around the hour mark to effectively put the match to bed.Madrid were hampered from the off, with a thigh injury ensuring that Cristiano Ronaldo could not even take a place on the bench.

Fellow big-money recruit Gareth Bale was among the substitutes, while Sami Khedira started a game for the first time since damaging knee ligaments in November.

It was the visitors who started on the front foot, their first opening coming when Marcelo's powerful half-volley was deflected just wide.But Celta began to press thereafter, with Fabian Orellana looking particularly threatening.

Ancelotti's side defended impressively to weather that spell without giving up any real chances and gradually began to impose their will on the game.Their attacking intent almost led to an opener in the 35th minute, Isco forcing a superb reaction save from Sergio Alvarez with a low effort.

Another chance went begging when Alvaro Morata fired Marcelo's low cross wide - and Madrid were left to rue their profligacy as the home side took the lead three minutes before the break.Ramos was the culprit, his slip leaving Charles to round Diego Lopez and slide the ball into the empty net from a tight angle.

As expected, Real came out positively after the break and almost levelled matters when Luka Modric shot over in the process of being brought down in the area by Jon Aurtenetxe, the referee turning down strong penalty appeals.

Undeterred, the visitors pressed forward further, with Morata and Isco again testing Alvarez.But the latter's chance, in which he shot straight at the goalkeeper, prompted an immediate reply as Celta increased their lead.

Marcelo was at fault this time, selling Lopez short with an awful back-pass that allowed Charles to nip in and grab his second.Real pushed desperately to get back into it late on, but the inspired Alvarez combined with some dogged defending to keep them out.

All eyes will now turn to Camp Nou for next week, where defending champions Barcelona will host Atletico in a mouth-watering championship decider next weekend. Barcelona, who are three points adrift in second, will win the league with a victory while Atletico need only to avoid defeat.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Elche 0-0 Barcelona: Catalans miss chance to gain ground on Atletico

Barcelona missed the chance to gain ground on Atletico Madrid in the race for La Liga after being held to a 0-0 draw by Elche, meaning they must beat Atletico Madrid on the final day of the season to retain their title.

Gerardo Martino's side went into Sunday's game three points behind leaders Atletico and would have grabbed the three points were it not for an inspired goalkeeping performance from Manu, who made fine saves to tip away Andres Iniesta's volley, Lionel Messi's free-kick and another close-range effort from Barcelona's talisman.Elche rarely threatened and only had long-range efforts to show for their efforts, but a resolute defence that has only conceded twice at home in 2014 held firm.

Barca earned a reprieve as Atleti failed to win against Malaga, which means the Catalans will retain the title if they beat Diego Simeone's men next week.
The result gave Elche the point they needed to mathematically confirm their survival.

The home side were without the suspended Alberto Botia and would have been behind after 13 minutes but Iniesta - on his 30th birthday - saw a sumptuous volley tipped onto the bar by Manu.

But Elche boast a fearsome home record, having gone unbeaten on their own patch since December, and they went close to breaking the deadlock themselves after 22 minutes but Garry Rodrigues' cushioned volley was wild.Messi weaved away from the opposition a minute later but saw his shot palmed away by Manu, who then saved Alexi Sanchez's near-post header with ease.

Manu produced another wonderful save before half-time when Messi's cross evaded everybody but the goalkeeper got down to his right to tip behind and also thwarted a long-range effort from Alexis.

The personal battle between Messi and Manu resumed within two minutes of the second half when the Argentine sprung the offside trap, but the goalkeeper stood for as long as he could and blocked the shot.Elche's first attack of note in the second period came after 57 minutes when Carles Gil cut in from the right but his shot was too high to trouble Jose Manuel Pinto, and Rodrigues did the same from the other flank, with the same result.

The best chance of the second half fell to Dani Alves, 10 minutes later, when Pedro put in a delightful low cross but the Brazilian could not get a touch six yards out.

Martino's side could have seen their hopes go up in smoke had Rodrigues kept his close-range effort down as Elche broke at pace late on, but the point was enough to take the La Liga race into the final day.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Malaga: Alderweireld equaliser not enough to claim La Liga

Atletico Madrid remain in pole position to claim the Liga title after Toby Alderweireld's late header saw them come from behind to draw with Malaga.
Diego Simeone's side went into the clash three points clear of Barcelona, who could only manage a draw with Elche.That leaves Atleti needing just a draw from their clash at Camp Nou next week to win the title.

David Villa – replacing the injured Diego Costa (thigh) – came closest to scoring in the first half, hitting the bar when one-on-one with Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero.Atletico dominated the first hour but were made to pay for their profligacy when Samuel Garcia gave Malaga a shock lead in the 65th minute.

Alderweireld failed to deal with a long ball which allowed Samu to get in behind the defence and lob the onrushing Thibaut Courtois before heading in from an angle.

The defender then went from zero to hero when he headed in a 74th-minute corner, before Malaga went down to 10 men after defender Marcos Angeleri was sent off in the dying stages, before Adrian Lopez was sensationally denied by Caballero in stoppage time.The draw secures Malaga's top-flight status, while Atletico will go into their title showdown with defending champions Barca hoping they do not rue two dropped points.

Costa was not Atletico's only absentee, with suspended defender Diego Godin replaced by Alderweireld, but the Belgium international had little to do in the first half as the hosts dominated without scoring.Diego Simeone's side first went close in the fifth minute when Tiago's stabbed effort went out for a corner via the arm of Eliseu.

Atletico's penalty appeals were waved away and in truth Malaga would have been unlucky if referee Jose Teixeira pointed to the spot, given the close proximity of the defender to Tiago.

Villa's chance followed, but he could only hit the crossbar after being sent through by Raul Garcia's flick-on header.And the hosts headed to the break frustrated after they failed to convert two excellent Juanfran crosses.

The initial chance was poked wide by Koke, who preferred to use his right foot when it seemed easier to shoot on his left, before Garcia nodded a free header wide, although he was distracted by Alderweireld going for the same ball.Atletico's pressure kept coming after the break as Koke dragged an effort wide before Villa was kept out by Caballero from a tight angle.

With the hosts pouring numbers forward they were vulnerable to counter-attacks and Simeone had Courtois to thank for his excellent save to deny Roque Santa Cruz on the hour mark.The one-on-one chance served as a warning for Atletico and it was one they did not heed as Samu kept his composure to nod in the opener after lifting over Courtois.

Diego had a shot pushed wide with 18 minutes left and less than 60 seconds later Villa was denied by Caballero after a well-worked set-piece.Atletico's pressure eventually told, though, as Alderweireld made amends by rising highest to head a corner past Caballero and in.

The hosts could not find a winner despite Angeleri's second yellow card with three minutes left, meaning the stakes could not be higher for their trip to Barcelona.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 1katath pattama gemak dan thiyenne

May 18th Barcelona Vs Atletico Madrid match 1ken thamai decide wenne 2013/14 La Liga Champions la kawda kiyala

Barcelona win kaloth Goal Diffrence 1ken chance 1ka enawa Champions la wenna

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Torres has a future at Chelsea, insists Mourinho

Fernando Torres will still be a Chelsea player next season, according to Jose Mourinho.

Torres has been widely expected to leave the club this summer, with Goal revealing earlier this month that the Blues have agreed a €43 million deal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.

The former Liverpool frontman further fuelled speculation with a reluctant celebration after scoring Chelsea's winning goal against Cardiff City on Sunday, but Mourinho insists his No.9 still has a role to play.

"Yes he's in my plans [for next season]," Mourinho told reporters.

"He's a good player. He's not the kind of guy who will score goal after goal but the way he works and moves he contributes to the team. He's a player I like."

Torres has been a big disappointment for Chelsea since arriving in a £50 million deal from Liverpool in January 2011, scoring just 46 goals in 172 games in all competitions.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Camp Nou can win Barca La Liga, says Martino

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has called upon the club's fans to help the team deliver the Liga title when they host Atletico Madrid next week.

The Catalans sit three points behind the capital club but can clinch the Primera Division crown on head-to-head if they beat Diego Simeone's men at Camp Nou next Sunday.

Martino believes that the fans could be key but has admitted that he was left frustrated by the 0-0 draw with Elche this weekend.

"We’re going to need the fans’ support. And because, in short, it’s been a season where we haven’t shone and with the fans behind us we can win the league," he told reporters.

"In light of the other results we’ll take the draw. But it’s not what we wanted. Before the game we thought it wouldn’t be enough, but the other results leave us with a chance."We were always waiting to hear, particularly in the second half. We found it hard to break the deadlock.

"[Gerard] Pique calmed everyone down when he said the Atletico game had finished."At the end we didn’t know if we were taking too many risks or if they scored it would take us out of the race.

"I don’t know if we were lacking something but we gave it everything to win.”