18 MARCH 2002

Tottenham (0) 0
Charlton (0) 1 (Powell 70)

Charlton move up to seventh after a surprise win at White Hart Lane against
Spurs. The only goal came when Graham Stuart hoisted a ball into the home
penalty area and as it went over the head of Jason Euell, there appeared to be
no danger. However, Ledley King failed to control the ball and as it struck his
stomach and bobbled between him and Sullivan, in nipped Chris Powell to
prod the ball, almost apologetically, over the goal-line


17 MARCH 2002

Leeds United (2) 3 (Fowler 5, 7, Kewell 71)
Blackburn (0) 1 (Jansen 49)

Leeds moved to within two places and five points of a Champions League
position after a spectacular start against Blackburn. Robbie Fowler netted twice
in the opening seven minutes, firstly latching onto a weak header from Tugay
to run clear on goal and slot home, and just two minutes later, he fired an Alan
Smith cross in at the near post. Rovers pulled one back early in the second half
when a weak back pass by Jon Woodgate sent Matt Jansen through and he
blasted into the corner. Leeds clinched the points when Robbie Keane's pass
found Harry Kewell, who drilled into the bottom corner from the edge of the
area.


Aston Villa (0) 1 (Dublin 69)
Arsenal (1) 2 (Edu 15, Pires 60)
MISSED PEN: Barry (Villa) 55

Arsenal moved into second place with a dramatic and hard fought victory over
Aston Villa. The Gunners took the lead when Peter Schmeichel spilled a free kick
from Robert Pires and although he smothered the follow up from Patrick Vieira,
Edu was on hand to slot the loose ball home. Villa blew a golden chance to
equalise when Lee Dixon upended Gareth Barry in the area, however although
the Villa man struck his penalty kick well, David Seaman made a superb one
handed save and reacted sharply to gather the loose ball. Five minutes later,
Robert Pires doubled the lead with a glorious piece of skill. He collected a
long ball from Dennis Bergkamp, flicked it over the head of George Boateng
and then lobbed Schmeichel perfectly. Villa have themselves hopes when
Dion Dublin powered home a near post header from Hadji's cross, but despite
late pressure, Arsenal held on.


16 MARCH 2002

Bolton (0) 1 (Gardner 46)
Derby (1) 3 (Christie 22, Ravanelli 53, Higginbotham (pen) 86)
RED CARD: Jaaskelainen (Bolton) 85

Derby gave themselves genuine hope of survival after beating the club
immediately above them in the drop zone, Bolton. Malcolm Christie have the
visitors the lead, taking advantage of an error by Paul Warhurst to find the
roof of the net from close range. Bolton levelled matters early in the second
half when Ricardo Gardner fired home from long range after a loose clearing
header, however within seven minutes, Fabrizio Ravanelli regained the lead,
looping a header into the net from Paul Beotien's cross. With Bolton pressing
for an equaliser, Lee Morris broke clear and rounded Jussi Jaaskelainen only for
the home keeper to bring him down. The stopper was red carded, and having
made all their substitutions already, Bolton put Nicky Southall in goal, and he
was instantly beaten by Danny Higginbotham's penalty decider.


Chelsea (1) 4 (Gallas 23, Gudjohnsen 73, Forsell 85, Dalla Bonna 90)
Sunderland (0) 0

Chelsea won their third successive match by 4-0 and moved themselves to
within touching distance of a Champions League place. Sunderland lasted just
23 minutes before William Gallas bundled home a corner from close range.
The game was put beyond reach with a late goal blitz as firstly Eidur
Gudjohnsen chipped over Sorensen having been sent clear by Gronkjaer and
then sub Mickel Forsell scored his customary goal, drilling into the net after a
neat one-two with Gronkjaer. In stoppage time, Sam Dalla Bonna made it
twelve goals without reply in seven days for Chelsea when he fired into the
bottom corner after Mario Melchiot's cross had been half blocked.


Everton (2) 2 (Unsworth 32 secs, Ferguson 13)
Fulham (0) 1 (Malbranque 52)
RED CARD: Gravesen (Everton) 28

New Everton boss David Moyes got off to a winning start, although his side
made is customarily difficult. They took the lead inside a minute when Tomasz
Radzinski set up David Unsworth who fired home from the edge of the box.
New captain Duncan Ferguson doubled the lead early on when he side-footed
home after visiting keeper Edwin van der Sar fired a clearance against the Scot.
In a niggly match, Thomas Gravesen was shown a second yellow card for a
tackle on Luis Boa Morte and early in the second half, Steed Malbranque scored
at the far post after Barry Hayles had done well on the left. An equaliser wasn't
forthcoming though and the home side held on for three vital points in their
battle against the drop.


Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Southgate 88)
Liverpool (1) 2 (Heskey 33, Riise 83)

Liverpool went temporarily top after this noon kick off, despite Boro having the
better of the game for long periods. Liverpool took the lead against the run of
play when Nik Anelka's cross found Dietmar Hamann at the far post, his shot
was saved but fell to Emile Heskey who lashed home from close range. Heskey's
touch on the edge of the box then found John Arne Riise, who drilled into the
bottom corner late on. Boro set up a grandstand finale when Gareth Southgate
headed home Carlos Marinelli's cross, but the visitors held on for the points.


Newcastle (0) 2 (Robert 60, Shearer 86)
Ipswich (0) 2 (Bent 49, 63)
MISSED PEN: Shearer (Newcastle) 90

Newcastle twice came from behind against relegation haunted Ipswich, and
then wasted a glorious stoppage time chance to clinch all three points. After a
goalless first half, Marcus Bent put Ipswich ahead, latching onto Marcus
Stewart's header to run clear on goal and score, but ten minutes later Laurent
Robert levelled matters, curling home a trademark free kick. Bent then struck
again, after Sereni's long clearance found him via deflections off of both
Dabizas and O'Brien, however with just four minutes remaining, Alan Shearer
headed home a Robert cross to make it 2-2. Amazingly, with just two seconds
of stoppage time remaining, Chris Makin pushed Acuna in the area, handing
Shearer a golden chance to win the game, however he somehow pulled his kick
wide to leave the home fans stunned.


Southampton (1) 2 (Pahars 29, (pen) 89)
Leicester (2) 2 (Deane 21, 25)

Bottom club Leicester lost a two goal lead at Southampton, but felt robbed
when a late penalty denied them victory. Brian Deane scored twice in five
minutes midway through the first half, firstly with a flashing near post header
and then netting one of the freak goals of the season, tapping into an almost
unguarded net after Muzzy Izzet had hit the post and bar from fully 30 yards
after keeper Paul Jones had come out of his area to head clear. Marion Pahars
pulled one back within four minutes, heading home Anders Svensson's fine
cross, and then with just a minute left, Matt Elliott was harshly judged to
have been pulling the shirt of Chris Marsden and Pahars levelled from the spot.


West Ham (2) 3 (Lomas 8, Kanoute 20, Defoe 78)
Manchester United (2) 5 (Beckham 17, (pen) 89, Butt 23, Scholes 55,
Solskjaer 64)

Man United regain top spot after twice coming from behind in an Upton Park
goalfest. Steve Lomas began the fun, powering a Labant cross home with a
fine header, however a delightful chip from David Beckham put things all
square after Paul Scholes had found him in space. Freddie Kanoute then put the
Hammers back ahead, firing in from the edge of the area from Schemmel's
pass, but the cheers had barely subsided when Nicky Butt made it 2-2,
heading home Beckham's free kick from close range. Paul Scholes then put
United ahead, converting a fine cut back by Ole Gunner Solsjkaer, before the
Norwegian added a fourth himself, scoring from close range after an almighty
scramble involving Van Nistelrooy. Jermaine Defoe set up a tense finale,
slotting home a Kanoute cross, however with time running out, Repka fouled
Scholes and Beckham converted from the penalty spot to finally clinch victory.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk