Adobe Flash Player Required.
Download the latest version here.

Chelsea moves clear at summit

7 October 2012-PA Sport

Chelsea Premier League Norwich City

On top ... Chelsea players celebrate Eden Hazard's (left) goal (AAP)

Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League as it came from behind to run out a 4-1 winner over Norwich City at Stamford Bridge.

The Canaries took a surprise lead in the 11th minute when Wes Hoolahan's cross was nodded into the area by Leon Barnett and Grant Holt showed great technique to lash home first time.

The advantage lasted just four minutes, with Fernando Torres muscling his way beyond his marker to head Branislav Ivanovic's hanging cross into the far corner.

And with 22 minutes gone, Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front when he met a loose ball at the edge of the area and drilled past John Ruddy.

Eden Hazard made it 3-1 when he stroked home Juan Mata's perfect pass and Ivanovic closed the scoring when he struck a fierce volley with 15 minutes to play.

Defending champion Manchester City recovered some of its swagger as Aleksandar Kolarov, Sergio Aguero and James Milner fired it to a convincing 3-0 win over Sunderland in the day's early kick-off.

The scoreline barely reflected the host's dominance as it comfortably recorded its first clean sheet of the season in a one-sided contest at the Etihad Stadium.

There may have been some nerves with only Kolarov's fifth-minute free-kick to show for its first-half efforts, but the Black Cats were then overrun as they slipped to their first loss of the season.

Aguero came off the bench to add the second on the hour and Milner fired a free-kick through Simon Mignolet after 89 minutes.

Queens Park Rangers' winless run extended to seven matches at the Hawthorns, with a 3-2 win for host West Bromwich Albion piling the pressure on QPR boss Mark Hughes.

James Morrison headed the Baggies in front after six minutes and then set up Zoltan Gera for the second after 22 minutes.

The recalled Adel Taarabt put QPR back in contention when he collected Esteban Granero's pass on his chest before spinning and volleying home, but Youssuf Mulumbu made it 3-1 with five minutes left.

Granero grabbed an injury-time goal but there was no time to rescue a point.

Leighton Baines secured a 2-2 draw for Everton at former club Wigan Athletic, scoring an 87th-minute penalty.

Arouna Kone (10) and Nikica Jelavic (11) traded headed goals in a matter of seconds before Franco Di Santo converted Gary Caldwell's cross in the 22nd minute to put the Latics in front.

It looked like that would be enough until Kevin Mirallas earned the spot-kick and Baines stepped up.

Reading gave up a two-goal lead as it drew 2-2 with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

Michel Vorm made a rare howler as he allowed Pavel Pogrebnyak's 31st-minute attempt to squirm through him and Noel Hunt's volley doubled the lead moments before half-time.

Michu responded with a diving header in the 71st minute, the Spaniard's sixth goal of the season, and Wayne Routledge levelled seven minutes later as he added the final touch to a wonderful passing move.

Arsenal came from a goal down at West Ham United to secure a 3-1 win with a strong second-half display.

Mohamed Diame gave the Hammers the lead in the 21st minute when he got away from the Arsenal defence and produced a classy finish across goal.

Olivier Giroud got the Gunners back to 1-1 with his first league goal, a close-range finish in the 41st minute, before impressive strikes from substitute Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla.

ADVERTISEMENT
2013 AFC Champions League

2013 AFC Champions League

The run of Central Coast Mariners in Asian football's top club competition came to a thudding halt in a damp and miserable Chinese evening.

0 Comments

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Da Vinci Cup (DVD)

The Da Vinci Cup (DVD)

Join Pauly Falzoni of Fat Pizza fame as he takes us behind the secret conspiracy of the world’s biggest sport.

The Fabric of the Cosmos (DVD)

The Fabric of the Cosmos (DVD)

A mind-blowing new exploration of space, time, and the very nature of reality.

  • '09 #1 Sports Soccer Website, Hitwise
  • '09 #1 Television Program, Hitwise
  • '08 #1 Sports Soccer Website, Hitwise