What a way to begin the year; 2014 gone, but dramas and upsets are still very much part of the English game. Sportbreeze recaps the talking points from the exhilarating Matchday 20.
STRUGGLING UNITED
It all started at the Britannia stadium where Stoke City played host to Manchester United, the Potters took an early lead through ex -United trainee Ryan Shawcross two minutes into the game. It obviously came as a shock for United; they passed the ball around and enjoy a lot of ball possession in search for an equaliser and on the 26th minute, Colombian international Radamel Falcao scored a goal to put the Red devils on level terms.
The Second Half started on a bright note but for 90 minutes both teams couldn't find a winner.
“I think it was a fair result as neither side deserved more than a point” United manager Louis Van Gaal said.
SUPER FRANKIE SECURE FULL POINTS FOR CITY
Man City welcomed Sunderland to the Etihad. City open the floodgate through Yaya Toure's Sensational goal and later added another via a Stevan Jovetic strike to preserve their lead, Sunderland came back into the game with equalisers from ex-city players - a header from Jack Rodwell and winger Adam Johnson hammers in from the penalty spot after Pablo Zabaleta was adjudged to have brought down defender Billy Jones.
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| Lampard rescues City |
On the foot of a home two-all home draw against Burnley on Matchday 19, Coach Manuel Pellegrini brought in Super Sub Frank Lampard, who restored City's lead connecting to a Gael Clichy's cross within few minutes of coming onto the pitch.
LIVERPOOL STUNNED
The kops, who took the lead from two Steven Gerrard penalties, put them in driving seat at half-time on New Year's Day.
Surprisingly, Leicester City came from 2-0 down to secure a point at Liverpool thanks to two goals in two minutes from David Nugent and Jeffrey Schlupp.
LONDON ON FIRE
In EPL, expect the unexpected! It was a big party in London, four top London based clubs came against each others. Southampton hosted Arsenal while Tottenham entertained league leaders Chelsea.
Southampton pounced on amateurish goalkeeping by Arsenal shot stopper Wojech Szczesny to cruise to a two goal lead thereby sitting pretty fourth on the EPL log.
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| The impressive Saido Mane continued from where he stopped.... |
Szczesny raced out of his area to hand Sadio Mane the chance to chip home, before a weak clearance led to Dusan Tadic's tap-in.
Later in the day at White Hart Lane.
Spurs humiliated Chelsea 5-3. The blues took the lead within 18 minutes via a strike by Diego Costa (which was his 14th league goal of the season) after some deft touches from Eden Hazard left defender Danny Rose gasping for life. Later on in the game, it was the English boy Harry Kane who equalised for spurs with a brilliant effort after 30 minutes and subsequently winning a penalty that Andros Townsend converted moments after Rose gave Tottenham a 45th-minute lead spurs took a 3-1 lead into halftime.
A 3-1 half-time lead became 4-1 eight minutes into the second period when Kane excelled once more to chalk up a sixth goal in his past six games and 16th of the season overall.
Eden Hazard reduced the deficit through an error by Argentine central defender Federico Fazio, but Nacer Chadli's strike put the game beyond the reach of the visitors, though John Terry did pull one back but it was mere consolation as the result means Chelsea have to share the top spot for the first time in the season.
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| "Harry Kane has got potentials but he is a present player too" |
“Harry Kane has got great potentials but he is a present player too,” Coach Mauricio Pochettino commended Harry Kane’s performance. The result means Chelsea and City now boast identical records on the EPL log.
In Other Results
On the back of away defeat to Newcastle United few days ago, Everton were disgraced at Hull City, beaten two nil. The toffees have lost their fourth straight matches this season. They have been underperforming recently.
Roberto Martinez said, “Four defeats on the trot is not something we need to accept and we must find solutions quickly.”
Ahmed Elmohamady opened the scoring on 33 minutes when he headed home Liam Rosenior's cross, and former Everton striker Nikica Jelavic doubled Hull's advantage just before the break. Antolin Alcaraz then picked up a second yellow card on 86 minutes to round off a miserable festive period for the Toffees.
However, West Bromwich Albion claimed a point against high-flying West Ham United in their first match since the dismissal of Alan Irvine. Diafra Sakho headed the Hammers ahead on 10 minutes, but Saido Berahino ended his goal drought to secure a point for the Baggies, who announced the appointment of ex-Crystal Palace bossTony Pulis early on New Year's Day.
There was drama at the St. James Park, Newcastle United played host to Burnley under caretaker manager John Carver and took the lead on three occasions, but we're pegged back by three Burnley equalisers. Sean Dyche's side had fought back from two goals down to take a 2-2 draw from champions Manchester City and once again displayed their fighting spirit in Tyneside.
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| Danny Ings |
The Magpies took the lead at the break through goals from Ryan Tailor but the clarets came back into the game through a Paul Dummett bizarre own goal, later on Jack Colback restored the lead for Newcastle with a ferocious long range shot. Burnley made all three changes at half time, hit the woodwork on four occasions, but finally levelled through a Danny Ings header.
Moussa Sissoko scored Newcastle united third goal in the 78th minute, only for the clarets to silence the home fans when George Boyd's low drive was too fierce for Jack Alnwick to stop, making it three all draw.
Player of Matchday 20: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Team of the day: Tottenham Hotspur
EPL TOP 10 SCORERS
Pos. Player Goals Team
1 Sergio Agüero 14 Manchester City
2 Diego Costa 14 Chelsea
3 Charlie Austin 12 Queens Park Rangers
4 Alexis Sánchez 10 Arsenal
5 Papiss Cissé 9 Newcastle United
6 Wilfred Bony 9 Swansea City
7 Graziano Pellè 8 Southampton
8 Eden Hazard 8 Chelsea
9 Wayne Rooney 8 Manchester United
10 Robin van Persie 8 Manchester United
EPL TABLE (Matchday 20)
Pos. Club P GD Pts
1 Chelsea 20 25 46
2 Man City 20 25 46
3 Man Utd 20 14 37
4 Southampton 20 19 36
5 Spurs 20 2 34
6 Arsenal 20 9 33
7 West Ham 20 7 32
8 Liverpool 20 1 29
9 Swansea 20 1 29
10 Newcastle 20 -6 27
11 Stoke 20 -2 26
12 Aston Villa 20 -11 22
13 Everton 20 -4 21
14 Sunderland 20 -12 20
15 Hull 20 -6 19
16 QPR 20 -13 19
17 West Brom 20 -10 1818 Crystal Palace 20 -10 1719 Burnley 20 -15 1720 Leicester 20 -14 14
Culled from Lagos Breeze
This is my article which was initially posted on lagosbreeze.com by Tolulope Olasoji, its cool. But i expected you guys to give credit (Ebenezer Adaramodu).
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