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| Saturday, October 19, 2002 17:40 EST |
Everton snaps Arsenal's 30-game unbeaten streak
[Reuters]
LONDON -- A brilliant last minute strike
from 27 yards by Everton's 16-year-old rookie Wayne Rooney ended
Arsenal's record run of 30 unbeaten premier league matches Saturday.
The goal condemned the champions to a 2-1 defeat, which meant
they also failed to re-take the league leadership from
Liverpool, 1-0 winners at Leeds United earlier in the day.
Wayne Rooney gets a lift from teammate Kevin Campbell after scoring Everton's winner. |
Rooney, one of the most exciting prospects in English
football and already seen as a future international striker, let
fly with an unstoppable shot.
Veteran England goalkeeper David Seaman, under fire after a
blunder in a 2-2 draw with Macedonia on Wednesday, was left
groping in the air as the ball flew in under the cross bar.
Rooney, who turns 17 next Thursday, had come on as substitute in the
80th minute. He is the youngest player to score a goal in the
premier league since its formation 10 years ago.
Liverpool led after a goal by Salif Diao gave the squad a victory at Leeds, while Manchester United's recent resurgence
stalled when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Liverpool has 24 points to Arsenal's 23 while United moved
up to third on 18.
The defeat was Arsenal's first in the league since Dec. 18, 2001, when they lost 3-1 at home to Newcastle United.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had nothing but praise for
Everton's battling performance and Rooney's moment of
brilliance.
"Everton fought well and gave everything. We will bounce
back, although the players are deeply hurt in the dressing
room," said the Frenchman. "This doesn't take anything away from what they have
achieved, they have been magnificent. We didn't deserve to lose.
"It was a special goal and he (Rooney) is a special talent.
He is the best English talent I've seen since I've been in
England. He is intelligent and has quick reactions."
Freddie Ljungberg had put Arsenal in front in the eighth
minute, making it the 49th consecutive match in which Arsenal has found the net. But Everton hit back through Tomasz Radzinski in the 22nd minute.
Manchester United had a lucky escape when Fabien Barthez
saved a second-half penalty from his France team mate Steve
Marlet who had earlier put Fulham in front.
Barthez was booked for gamesmanship after delaying Marlet's
penalty but United manager Alex Ferguson claimed the spot-kick
should never have been awarded.
"He (Barthez) got the yellow card so I don't think there are
too many complaints," the Scotsman added. "A draw was a fair
result, they are a very good side at home."
Earlier, Liverpool took advantage of a midday kick-off to go to the top of the standings with the win at Leeds, its fifth league victory in a row.
Senegal's Diao scored his first premier-league goal as Gerard Houllier's side maintained their unbeaten start to the
league campaign.
"I am very pleased because it is always difficult winning at Leeds," said Houllier. "It was a great performance and I think that tactically we were super. We had some injuries coming into the match but the squad we
have built is capable of beating anyone."
Alan Shearer scored twice to surpass 300 goals in club
football but could not stop 10-man Newcastle crashing to a 5-2
defeat at his former club Blackburn.
Chelsea, who had not enjoyed victory for over a month,
returned to winning ways with a thumping 3-0 win at struggling
Manchester City.
Striker Gianfranco Zola scored twice and Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink grabbed the other to leave Kevin Keegan's City
without a league win since Aug. 31.
Howard Wilkinson's first match in charge of Sunderland ended
in disappointment as they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to fellow
strugglers West Ham.
England midfielder Trevor Sinclair scored with a superb 23rd
minute strike after a 50-metre pass from Paolo Di Canio as the
Hammers moved off the bottom of the table.
Birmingham City had Olivier Tebily sent off for a second
bookable offense in a 1-1 draw at Midlands rivals West Bromwich
Albion.
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