Mata fires Blues but United, City win to stay close
Source: Agencies |
October 21, 2012, Sunday
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CHELSEA cemented its position on top of the English Premier League as a superb double from Juan Mata clinched a 4-2 win over Andre Villas-Boas's Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.
However, Wayne Rooney ensured Manchester United remain hot on the leader's heels with a 4-2 victory against Stoke in a game where the England star scored at both ends.
Champion Manchester City was reduced to 10 men after James Milner was sent off at West Bromwich Albion before going a goal down but hit back with two late strikes from Edin Dzeko to snatch a 2-1 victory.
Chelsea has 22 points, with United and City both on 18.
Liverpool beat Reading 1-0 for a first home league win of the season. West Ham United overcame Southampton 4-1, Swansea City defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 and Fulham also enjoyed a home victory, 1-0 against Aston Villa.
Arsenal was facing Norwich City later yesterday.
Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea side was in danger of suffering its first league defeat of the season at the hands of former boss Villas-Boas, who was sacked after just nine months in charge last season, as Tottenham took a 2-1 lead in the second half at White Hart Lane. But Spanish midfielder Mata struck twice in the space of three minutes to secure Chelsea's seventh win from eight league matches.
"We lost our control at the start of the second half but for the rest of the match we took the initiative and deserved the win," said Di Matteo. "It was a test of our character to come here and play a team in form in a big derby. There have been a lot of issues around the team recently, but we responded perfectly."
Villas-Boas added: "Individual brilliance and the creativeness of Chelsea unlocked our defense and settled the game."
Gary Cahill, deputizing for the suspended John Terry, fired Chelsea ahead in the 17th minute with a powerful volley.
William Gallas equalized against his former club two minutes into the second half and Spurs went in front seven minutes later thanks to Jermain Defoe's predatory finish.
However, Chelsea staged a stunning fightback as Mata slotted home in the 66th.
Mata then produced a fine finish from Eden Hazard's defense-splitting pass three minutes later and the Spaniard set up the fourth goal for Daniel Sturridge in stoppage-time.
At Old Trafford, Rooney went from zero to hero with a double strike after the United striker initially gave Stoke a shock 10th-minute lead when he headed into his own net as he tried to clear from Ryan Shawcross.
Rooney was quickly back in United's good books with a headed equalizer - his first club goal of the season - from Robin van Persie's cross in the 27th. Van Persie put United ahead on the stroke of half-time as the former Arsenal forward turned in Antonio Valencia's cross to claim his eighth goal in 10 matches for his new club.
Danny Welbeck got United's third with a diving header from Rooney's cross in the 46th.
Michael Kightly's solo effort reduced the deficit 12 minutes later, but Rooney sealed the win with his second in the 65th.
However, Wayne Rooney ensured Manchester United remain hot on the leader's heels with a 4-2 victory against Stoke in a game where the England star scored at both ends.
Champion Manchester City was reduced to 10 men after James Milner was sent off at West Bromwich Albion before going a goal down but hit back with two late strikes from Edin Dzeko to snatch a 2-1 victory.
Chelsea has 22 points, with United and City both on 18.
Liverpool beat Reading 1-0 for a first home league win of the season. West Ham United overcame Southampton 4-1, Swansea City defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 and Fulham also enjoyed a home victory, 1-0 against Aston Villa.
Arsenal was facing Norwich City later yesterday.
Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea side was in danger of suffering its first league defeat of the season at the hands of former boss Villas-Boas, who was sacked after just nine months in charge last season, as Tottenham took a 2-1 lead in the second half at White Hart Lane. But Spanish midfielder Mata struck twice in the space of three minutes to secure Chelsea's seventh win from eight league matches.
"We lost our control at the start of the second half but for the rest of the match we took the initiative and deserved the win," said Di Matteo. "It was a test of our character to come here and play a team in form in a big derby. There have been a lot of issues around the team recently, but we responded perfectly."
Villas-Boas added: "Individual brilliance and the creativeness of Chelsea unlocked our defense and settled the game."
Gary Cahill, deputizing for the suspended John Terry, fired Chelsea ahead in the 17th minute with a powerful volley.
William Gallas equalized against his former club two minutes into the second half and Spurs went in front seven minutes later thanks to Jermain Defoe's predatory finish.
However, Chelsea staged a stunning fightback as Mata slotted home in the 66th.
Mata then produced a fine finish from Eden Hazard's defense-splitting pass three minutes later and the Spaniard set up the fourth goal for Daniel Sturridge in stoppage-time.
At Old Trafford, Rooney went from zero to hero with a double strike after the United striker initially gave Stoke a shock 10th-minute lead when he headed into his own net as he tried to clear from Ryan Shawcross.
Rooney was quickly back in United's good books with a headed equalizer - his first club goal of the season - from Robin van Persie's cross in the 27th. Van Persie put United ahead on the stroke of half-time as the former Arsenal forward turned in Antonio Valencia's cross to claim his eighth goal in 10 matches for his new club.
Danny Welbeck got United's third with a diving header from Rooney's cross in the 46th.
Michael Kightly's solo effort reduced the deficit 12 minutes later, but Rooney sealed the win with his second in the 65th.
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