Football Round Up

After successful Champions league games for Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, attention turned back to the league and FA Cup semi-finals.

Stoke took a giant step to securing their Premier league status with a hard fought home victory against Blackburn (1-0). It kept up Stokes incredible home form which is almost certain to keep them up as they moved 9 points clear of the bottom three. Blackburn however remain 3 points off safety, hovering in 17th. Middlesborough shared a stalemate with Fulham which did nothing to ease their relegation woes. They still remain 3 points behind Blackburn, whilst Fulham maintain their Europa league push- in 8th.

Aston Villa failed to win again after drawing with West Ham. The villains had taken the lead thanks to Emile Heskey and were a denied a second by the post. West Ham hit back in the 2nd half with Diego Tristan netting for the hammers to make it 1-1. Villa remain without a home league win since January. Portsmouth gained a valuable victory against Bolton at Fratton Park. Kanu grabbed the winner to give Pompey some much needed breathing space between and their rivals (1-0). Sunderland did the same, beating Hull (1-0).

Newcastle plunged further into oblivion with a slender (1-0) defeat to Tottenham. Darren Bent grabbed the winner, but Newcastle had a goal disallowed and chances to level. But the defeat left them 5 points adrift from safety. West Brom remain on the brink of relegation after a spirited performance against Man City (4-2). After going 2-0 down, West Brom fought back to level the game at 2-2, but threw the game away late on.

Chelsea will face Everton in the FA Cup final on May 30th after semi-final victories against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Chelsea defeated Arsenal after going a goal behind to clinch another FA Cup final appearance. Theo Walcott had given the gunners an early lead, but Chelsea fought back levelling with Malouda before half time. The blues mounted the pressure after the break and eventually got the breakthrough via Didier Drogba. (2-1)

Everton defeated Manchester United on penalties to reach their first final since 1995. United dominated the chances and had a penalty appeal turned down. United fielded a young team, starting with Macheda, Wellbeck, and Gibson and resting Rooney, Ronaldo, and Giggs. Berbatov and Ferdinand missed penalties before Phil Jageilka scored the winning penalty.

Premier League Round Up

This week produced the birth of a new star in the Manchester United crop of up and coming youngsters. 17 year old Federico Macheda scored a stunning winner to secure Uniteds first after two defeats. The goal gave United a 3-2 win over Aston Villa, who had earlier taken a deserved lead, coming from behind after Cristiano Ronaldo had given United an early lead. Villa replied with goals from John Carew and Gabrielle Agbonolahor. United seemed destined for a third straight defeat with 10 minutes remaining, but Ronaldo levelled before Macheda turned Curtis Davies and curled in a superb strike, raising the roof of Old Trafford.

Liverpool had been top of the league until Uniteds comeback after beating Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage. The kop hit the woodwork on 4 seperate occasions and looked to have been destined to draw, but a late winner from Youssi Benayoun gave Liverpool 3 points and now leave them a point behind leaders United. Chelsea kept the pressure on Liverpool by ruining Alan Shearers homecoming to Newcastle. The blues scored 2 second half goals from Lampard and Malouda. Arsenal moved 6 points clear of Villa by beating Man City 2-0 at the emirates stadium. A brace from Adebayor on his return from injury secured the points. Cesc Fabregas who also returned from injury assisted both goals.

Stoke City beat West Brom 2-0 to gain a valuable victory in their fight to stay in the premier league. Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie scored the goals. Middlesborough plunged 5 points adrift of safety after a crushing 4-1 defeat to Bolton. Blackburn came back from a goal behind to beat Tottenham 2-1. Wilson Palacios was sent of for Spurs. Hull and Portsmouth played out a stalemate at the KC stadium. Glen Johnson was sent off. Everton closed the gap on Villa to a single point after beating Wigan 4-0. Goals from Jo, Fellani and Osman gave Wigan their heaviest defeat of the season. West Ham beat Sunderland 2-0.