Three wins in a row for West Ham with success over Palace
LONDON, Dec 8, (RTRS): Lucas Torreira scored with a bicycle kick in the 82nd minute to earn Arsenal a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town in a scrappy Premier League game on Saturday.
The Uruguayan leapt to volley the ball from a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pass across the face of goal, securing all three points for the Gunners who otherwise only distinguished themselves by having three players booked for diving.
The first half was a comedy of errors for Arsenal, with strikers Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette missing clear scoring opportunities and midfield lynchpin Granit Xhaka frequently passing the ball straight to the opposition.
Referee Paul Tierney dished out seven yellow cards in the half, and nine in the whole match. Arsenal’s Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Matteo Guendouzi were all booked for simulation. Lacazette appeared to break the stalemate just before halftime, latching on to a sloppy backpass and sidestepping keeper Jonas Lossl to slot the ball into the net, only to be ruled offside. Lossl then tipped a Torreira shot from outside the area just over the bar.
Huddersfield, who have not beaten Arsenal since 1971, were unable to register a shot on goal.
In the end, it fell to a moment of acrobatics from the little Uruguayan to rob the visitors of a much-needed point.
Arsenal climbed to third in the table ahead of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur’s matches later on Saturday, while Huddersfield slipped back into the relegation zone, in 18th place.
West Ham United continued their fine recent form with a 3-2 comefrom-behind derby win at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Palace came into the contest having won once in their last 10 league games but got off to a perfect start with James McArthur breaking the deadlock with six minutes on the clock. However, the introduction of striker Andy Carroll at halftime revitalized West Ham, who turned the match on its head with goals from Robert Snodgrass — his first in the league for the club — and Javier Hernandez.
Close-season signing Felipe Anderson fired a stunning third in the 65th minute — his fifth goal in his last six league games — to calm the nerves around the London Stadium.
But the hosts had to hang on for their third successive win — the first time they have done so since December 2016 — with Jeffrey Schlupp getting Palace back in it with 14 minutes left.
West Ham climbed to 10th while Palace’s woeful run of form leaves them 16th, two points above the relegation zone.
Burnley earned a badly-needed three points to move out of the Premier League relegation zone with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
On a rainy, windy afternoon at Turf Moor, nothing was going to wipe away the smiles of manager Sean Dyche and the Burnley fans as James Tarkowski’s goal late in the first half proved decisive before they finished by soaking up late pressure.
Though the goal was credited to Tarkowski, it was Jack Cork who was responsible for the 40th minute breakthrough when his shot deflected
Crystal Palace’s Max Meyer (left), and West Ham United’s Robert Snodgrass battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer
match at The London Stadium in London on Dec 8. (AP)
off the England defender’s midriff into the net.
It was only what Burnley deserved though after they took control of affairs in the second part of the opening period with Chris Wood and Robbie Brady, who had already volleyed narrowly over, forcing fine saves from Mat Ryan.
Burnley, who had lost their last three fixtures at Turf Moor while conceding nine goals in the process, felt they should have earned a second-half penalty when Yves Bissouma’s extravagant bicycle kick in his own box caught Phil Bardsley.
It marked a special day for Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was making his 400th league appearance in English football and proved his quality in the late stages as the home side held on under severe pressure from mid-table Brighton.
Southampton began life under new manager Ralph Hasenhuettl with a tame 1-0 Premier League defeat at fellow strugglers Cardiff City on Saturday.
Makeshift striker Callum Paterson took full advantage of a defensive howler by Southampton centreback Jannik Vestergaard to slot in the winning goal in the 74th minute.
Vestergaard failed to deal with a ball forward and paid the price as the versatile Paterson, who can also play as a midfielder and full back, pounced to finish neatly past Alex McCarthy for his fifth league goal this season. Defeat meant Paul Sturrock is still the last Southampton manager to start with a victory, guiding them to a 2-0 win against Liverpool in 2004.
The Saints began brightly and were unlucky not to grab an early lead when Charlie Austin’s flick from Matt Targett’s cross went wide. Austin had another opportunity four minutes later but could not control his volleyed effort.
Cardiff took control of the game and secured their fourth win of the season to move to 14 points. Southampton are on nine points and remain in the relegation zone.