© EuroFootball.com
On Saturday, eight matches of the 30th round were played in the English Premier League. After them, there were no major changes in the table - all the favorites achieved victories.
In the battle for the second place, "Man Utd" team won three important points by defeating "West Bromwich Albion" 2-1 away. The goals for the winners were scored by the striker Louis Saha, who demonstrated good sporting form.
For the first time, the Frenchman, who has scored 13 goals in total in 15 matches this season, stood out in the 16th minute, sending the ball into the net with a header after a pass from the flank by Tomas Kuszczak. Despite Manchester club's continued attacks, the hosts managed to create several dangerous opportunities, but goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar played excellently.
In the second half, the visitors managed to double the result - in the 64th minute, in a comfortable situation after accurate passes from Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, the same L. Saha calmly sent the ball into the net for the second time. Although the hosts softened the result after 15 minutes, they did not create any real opportunities to score later, and "Man Utd" celebrated the victory.
After this victory, "Man Utd" increased the gap from the third-placed "Liverpool" club and has played one game less. Meanwhile, "W.B.A." continues to balance on the edge - occupying 17th place, they are only three points ahead of the 18th-placed team "Birmingham" in the league. Note that the last three teams in the Premier League will be relegated.
The poorly started London "Arsenal" continues to perform well in matches. This time the "Gunners" crushed "Charlton" 3-0 with beautiful attacking football. From the start of the match, the hosts' advantage was evident, and the first goal, after missing several chances earlier, came in the 13th minute - Thierry Henry broke through the penalty area and passed the ball to Robert Pires, who sent it into the net from a few meters away.
In the 32nd minute, Emmanuel Adebayor pulled the ball from the goal for the second time, and in the second half, Belarusian Alexander Hleb, who played excellently, scored the last goal in the opponent's area after a penalty area scramble.
This victory further intensified the battle for the fourth place, which gives the right to play in the UEFA Champions League next year. Now "Arsenal" leads the sixth-placed "Blackburn" by one point, and seventh-placed "Bolton" by two points, although the latter has played two fewer matches. "Tottenham" team, currently in fourth place, are two points behind Arsene Wenger's proteges.
On Saturday, two other contenders also won matches with the same score of 2-0 - "Tottenham" defeated "Birmingham" and "Bolton" defeated "Sunderland".
All of Saturday's results:
4 - 1 15` [1 - 0] James McFadden 22` [2 - 0] Tim Cahill 45` [3 - 0] Leon Osman 64` [3 - 1] Gabriel Agbonlahor 90` [4 - 1] Tim Cahill
3 - 0 13` [1 - 0] Robert Pires 32` [2 - 0] Emmanuel Adebayor 49` [3 - 0] Aliaksandr Hleb
3 - 2 11` [1 - 0] Craig Bellamy 16` [1 - 1] Mark Viduka 28` [2 - 1] Morten Gamst Pedersen 62` [2 - 2] Fabio Rochemback 68` [3 - 2] Craig Bellamy
58` Robbie Savage was sent off the field ("Blackburn")
2 - 0 47` [1 - 0] Kevin Davies 85` [2 - 0] Kevin Nolan
0 - 1 55` [0 - 1] Lee McCulloch
1 - 2 16` [0 - 1] Louis Saha 64` [0 - 2] Louis Saha 78` [1 - 2] Nathan Ellington
2 - 4 19` [0 - 1] Tresor Lomano Lua-Lua 25` [0 - 2] Sean Davis 42` [0 - 3] Pedro Mendes 69` [1 - 3] Teddy Sheringham 77` [1 - 4] Svetoslav Todorov 90` [2 - 4] Youss Benayoun
0 - 2 65` [0 - 1] Aaron Lennon 77` [0 - 2] Robbie Keane
