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| Saturday, September 21, 2002 18:31 EST |
Arsenal holds two-point lead over Liverpool
[ESPN.com news services]
LONDON -- An injury-time winner from Nwankwo Kanu gave champions Arsenal a dramatic 2-1 victory over
10-man Bolton Wanderers in the English premier league on
Saturday.
The scrambled victory kept Arsenal on top of the table with 17 points, two ahead of Liverpool, who beat 10-man West Bromwich Albion 2-0.
Bisan Lauren, right, and Arsenal were able to equalize Gareth Farrelly's goal for Bolton at Highbury. |
Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur thanks to a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty, Newcastle United beat Sunderland 2-0 in the northeast derby and Middlesbrough kept up their good start
with a 1-0 home win over Birmingham City.
Tottenham dropped to third with 13 points, one ahead of Leeds United and Chelsea, who play on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
Arsenal knew it would be in for a battle against Bolton, possibly the league's most tenacious side and a team who had drawn at Highbury last season.
There was therefore some concern when Thierry Henry hit the post with an early penalty.
However, the French striker made amends in the 26th minute, running onto a pinpoint Fredrik Ljungberg pass, rounding the goalkeeper and rolling the ball in.
The goal made it 46 straight scoring matches for the
Gunners, equaling an English league record set by Chesterfield
in the old Third Division North 72 years ago.
Arsenal were in charge but the visitors equalized two minutes into the second half as a deep cross by Gareth Farrelly somehow flew in over the head of England goalkeeper David
Seaman.
Arsenal immediately returned to the offensive before Bolton was forced to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men after Spanish defender Ivan Campo, on loan from Real Madrid, was sent off for a second
booking -- throwing the ball away at a free kick.
They paid a heavy price deep into injury time when Henry's
header caused confusion in the box and Kanu flew in to touch in
the winner.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was bitterly disappointed after
his team again missed out at the death -- after Liverpool's 88th
minute winner against them last weekend.
"It's hard enough at the best of times -- but that's twice
on the trot now -- Liverpool last week and now Arsenal," he
said. "I don't think the lads deserved that, but that is why the
premier league is so cruel. It was a magnificent effort -- the
lads are distraught."
Man U escapes on penalty
U.S. goalie Kasey Keller made seven saves but allowed a goal on
Ruud Van Nistelrooy's penalty kick Saturday as Manchester United
beat Tottenham 1-0 in the Premier League.
Keller's Tottenham dropped from second to third place after its
ninth straight loss at United, which moved up to sixth in the
standings.
Keller made a series of good saves to
keep United at bay in the first hour at Old Trafford, including
one excellent stop to deny van Nistelrooy.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said his side's victory did not deflect their dominance.
"We missed so many golden opportunities today that it was
disappointing that we didn't get a good scoreline," he said. "As the game went on, I was worrying about the missed
chances and in the last 15 minutes Tottenham had a real go.
The injury-hit Spurs could have gone ahead when Dean Richards
shot straight at Fabien Barthez from point-blank range after 62
minutes.
Almost immediately, United went ahead when van Nistelrooy
scored with a penalty after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been
felled.
There was more good news for United with a first appearance
of the season for England defender Gary Neville, who broke a
bone in his foot late last season.
Liverpool keeps pace
West Brom's promising early moments at Anfield were undone
10 minutes before halftime when goalkeeper Russell Hoult was
sent off for bringing down Michael Owen.
The England striker took the subsequent penalty but
replacement keeper Joe Murphy saved it with his first touch for
his new club since signing from Tranmere Rovers in the close
season.
However, in-form Milan Baros showed Owen the way to goal
with a 56th-minute header and John Arne Riise completed the win
late on.
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier was just relieved his side
had recovered from watching Owen miss a penalty -- after
West Brom keeper Russell Hoult had been sent off.
"After missing the penalty it was just down to the players
to keep their heads up -- which they did," the Frenchman said
after his side moved into second place in the table. "The second half was better and once we scored the first goal it was a different scenario."
Middlesbrough edges Birmingham City
Middlesbrough are up to sixth place the after Franck
Queudrue's superb free kick gave them all three points against
Birmingham.
Craig Bellamy after two minutes and Alan Shearer after 39
had Newcastle in total control against Sunderland and never
looked like losing it against their shot-shy neighbors, who are
now second-last in the standings with just two goals to their
name this season.
"It disappoints me," said Sunderland manager Peter Reid. "I
try to protect my players - I can't today.
"That's a derby game, the biggest game for the supporters,
and we've let everyone down, it was sad.
"The last three games we've looked really weak," he said.
"I've just told my players that we are too easy to roll over.
Newcastle manager Bobby Robson was delighted with the
victory after a poor run.
"We needed to win, we've done it, so we'll have a nice
weekend," he said.
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