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After a short break, the English Premier League continues. Four matches of the 25th round took place on Tuesday. In those matches, the hosts secured two victories, the visitors got one, and one match ended in a draw.
In the main evening match, "West Ham," who couldn't find their way to victory, faced "Chelsea," who defeated "Liverpool" in the previous round.
From the first minutes of the game, the visitors took the initiative and controlled the situation on the field. However, they failed to score because crucial moments were successfully played by either the hosts' defenders or the shots missed their target. At the end of the first half, "West Ham" responded with several dangerous attacks. In the 34th minute, after a brilliant breakthrough and shot by Marlon Harewood, the ball missed the post closely. In the 38th minute, Pepe Reina saved his team from Luis Boa Morte's penalty kick, also blocking a dangerous shot by Yossi Benayoun just before the end of the half.
The second half for "Hammers" started very unsuccessfully. In the 10th second, a fantastic long-range shot by Dirk Kuyt led his team ahead. Before the hosts could recover, the second goal came - Peter Crouch sent the ball into the goal after a pass from John Arne Riise from 10 meters - 0-2. Craig Bellamy's shot soon missed just beside the post.
However, "Liverpool" seemed to slow down later and noticeably reduced the pace of the game. Taking advantage of this, "West Ham" gradually took control and began to storm the opponents' goal. In the 77th minute, the newcomer Kepa Blanco from "West Ham" scored during a quick attack, appearing after a substitution and scoring with his first touch. In the final minutes, "Liverpool" mostly defended, but managed to keep the lead, securing their fifth consecutive victory and cementing their third place.
In the last three games, "Middlesbrough" faced "Portsmouth" as guests, in search of victories only. The hosts constantly attacked and threatened with long shots. At the beginning of the match, Pedro Mendes and Nwankwo Kanu's long-range attempts were slightly off target. In the 33rd minute, Bradley Jones saved P. Mendes' penalty kick, and Benjamin Mwaruwari missed the goal with the subsequent header. A very similar attack was organized by "Pompey" at the beginning of the second half when B. Jones reliably blocked another long shot by P. Mendes, and then Matthew Taylor's attempt.
However, for most of the match, "Middlesbrough" players almost snatched a victory at the end of the game. In the 86th minute, Yakubu Aiyegbeni's shot was saved by the hosts' goalkeeper David James, but the striker rushed to the ball first, only to miss the target. After Stewart Downing's shot in the 90th minute, D. James saved his team again. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.
An important victory was also achieved by "Sheffield Utd," who moved slightly away from the relegation zone by defeating "Fulham" 2-0 at home. Both goals were scored in the middle of the first half. In the 24th minute, Jonas Stead scored after V. Montella's mistake, and five minutes later, receiving a pass from the flank, Michael Tonge found the net. Having quickly gained the advantage, the hosts later did not give the initiative to their opponents and secured the victory.
In the last match of the evening, "Reading" and "Wigan" faced each other, previously competing in the Championship division two years ago.
At the end of the table, "Wigan" started the match vigorously and broke ahead in the 3rd minute when Emile Heskey precisely shot after receiving a precise pass from Leighton Baines.
In the 14th minute, "Wigan" newcomer Calebas Folanas from "Chesterfield" hit the crossbar.
Later, "Reading" recovered. Leroy Lita missed narrowly from 6 meters in the 25th minute, and five minutes later, Iceland's Ivar Ingimarsson equalized the score after a pass from Lita. In the 51st minute, the hosts were in front when Shane Long corrected Stephen Hunt's shot.
In the remaining time, both teams exchanged dangerous attacks until Leroy Lita settled the fate of the match in the 88th minute. The "Reading" striker scored his 11th goal in the championship after a pass from Glen Little. In the final minute, the visitors (Denny Landzaat) softened the result.
Five matches of the next round will be played on Wednesday.
