The Hindu : Sport / Football : Arsenal, Portsmouth split points

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 14, 2006

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Sport - Football

Arsenal, Portsmouth split points

London: Portsmouth held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, denting the London club's bid to finish fourth in the English Premier League and qualify for next season's European Champions League.

Arsenal took the lead in the 36th minute through Thierry Henry, but Emmanuel Adebayor wasted two fine chances. Portsmouth equalised through Lomana LuaLua, who was replaced after his 66th-minute strike after suffering an ankle injury during his scoring celebration.

``We had more possession in the game but when you don't take your chances you don't get the result you want,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Middlesbrough advances

Middlesbrough advanced to the FA Cup semifinals for the first time in 59 years with a 4-2 win over Charlton. Fabio Rochenback, James Morrison, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka all scored for Middlesbrough in the quarterfinal replay at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough plays West Ham in the semifinal on April 23 at the neutral ground of Villa Park. Chelsea plays Liverpool at Old Trafford in the other semifinal a day earlier. The final is scheduled for May 13 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Middlesbrough is also in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup.

However, in the Premiership, Middlesbrough is in the 14th place.

The Gunners are fifth. Chelsea leads the league with 82 points, followed by Manchester United with 75 and Liverpool (having played an extra game) with 70. In the battle for fourth-place, Tottenham has 58 points and Arsenal and Blackburn have 54. There are five games left.

Arsenal plays Villarreal in the semifinals of the Champions League later this month. If it wins the tournament and finishes fifth or lower, the fourth-place team in the Premier League will be relegated to the UEFA Cup. Arsenal plays Villarreal at Highbury on April 19 and hosts Tottenham three days later. The Gunners then travel to Spain to play Villarreal in the second leg on April 25.

Thumping win

Espanyol put aside relegation worries to clinch a scintillating 4-1 win over favourite Real Zaragoza in the King's Cup final at the Bernabeu, Madrid.

Midfielder Ivan de la Pena masterminded the victory for the Primera Liga struggler by setting up three goals, while striker Luis Garcia weighed in with a classy double. Raul Tamudo and Ferran Corominas scored the other two for the winner, while Ewerthon netted one for Zaragoza.

It was the fourth time the Barcelona-based club had won the knockout competition, its last victory coming six years ago against Atletico Madrid.

Yesterday's victory sparked off wild celebrations from Espanyol fans who have spent much of the season worrying about the threat of losing their top flight status.

For Zaragoza, which was reduced to 10 men in the closing minutes after keeper Cesar was sent off, it was a disappointing end after its team had promised so much by eliminating Barcelona and Real Madrid in earlier rounds. — AP

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