Here’s what happened on the final English Premiership matchday over the weekend, in case you missed it…
Arsenal secures fourth place
Gerry Dobson, Craig Forrest and Danny Dichio wrap up the final day of the Premier League regular season, including Arsenal’s win away to Newcastle United to lock down the final Champions League berth.
Koscielny comes through for Arsenal
Arsenal’s Laaurent Kozcielny comes up with the SOCCER CENTRAL Play of the Day with his winning goal vs. Newcastle
West Bromwich Albion 5, Manchester United 5
The Baggies sure know how to spoil the party. Manchester United went to the Hawthorns looking to send Alex Ferguson off into retirement on a winning note, and when the Red Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 30 minutes, it looked as though everything was going according to the script. But the Baggies chipped away at the lead and took advantage of some shocking defending, with second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku netting a hat trick to complete an amazing comeback and spoil the occasion for United on the occasion of Ferguson’s 1500th match in charge. As the fiery Scot once famously said: “Football – bloody hell.”
Match facts: Paul Scholes collected his 97th Premier League yellow card in his final game before retiring for the second time in his career. Also, Robin van Persie is only the third player to win the Premier League golden boot for two different teams (Alan Shearer and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were the others).
Newcastle United 0, Arsenal 1
Needing a win to secure fourth place ahead of Spurs and claim the last Champions League spot, Arsenal went about their business in workmanlike fashion, but didn’t overawe the Magpies and lacked urgency in the opening 45 minutes. Like they have done for the second half of the season, the Gunners found a way through, Laurent Koscielny’s 52nd-minute volley giving Arsenal all it needed to win. Spurs nicked a late goal at home against Sunderland which meant Newcastle could spoil things with a draw. The home side furiously pressed for an equalizer, but Arsenal was able to grind things out and forgot about playing pretty, and did instead what was necessary. Maybe they finally learned their lesson, that sometimes less is actually more.
Match facts: All four of Laurent Koscielny’s Premier League goals since the start of 2011-12 have come away from home. Also, Newcastle has won just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Arsenal (with five draws and six losses).
Liverpool 1, Queens Park Rangers 1
This was Jamie Carragher’s last match before retirement and the Liverpool icon nearly bagged his first goal in six years, his long-range shot in the 62nd minute clanging against the post. It would have been a storybook ending to what was a marvelous Liverpool career. But as one club legend retires, maybe a new one has emerged in Phillipe Coutinho. The Brazilian has been sensational since coming in mid-season from Inter Milan, his creative and flair play giving Liverpool’s attack some edge. His wonderful strike from distance in the 23rd minute demonstrated great skill and ability, and it capped off a fine run for the Premiership newcomer. One can only wonder what kind of magic he’ll produce in 2013-14 when he has a full season ahead of him.
Match facts: Liverpool has scored in every one of its 12 Premier League games against QPR. Also, QPR won just four games in the Premier League this season — only Derby County (one in 2007-08) and Sunderland (three in 2005-06) have won fewer in a single campaign.
Tottenham 1, Sunderland 0
Tottenham needed a win to have any chance of beating out Arsenal for fourth spot, and though they pressed the visitors at White Hart Lane, it wasn’t until after Sunderland was reduced to 10 men that Spurs really began to turn the screw. Of course it was Gareth Bale who turned out to be the hero, the Welshman scoring a highlight-reel goal from 25 yards late in regulation to put pressure on Arsenal. But the Gunners held on against Newcastle, rendering Bale’s strike meaningless. Could this have been the Welshman’s last appearance for Spurs? With no Champions League to look forward to, you’d have to think Bale will make a push to be transferred out. Unless Tottenham can surround him with better talent and ink him a to a long-term deal, it’s best that Spurs sell off Bale this summer when his transfer value is at its peak.
Match facts: Gareth Bale earned four yellow cards for simulation in the Premier League this season, more than any other player. Also, Sunderland earned three red cards in seven Premier League games under Paolo Di Canio, after not being given any in their previous 31 league games this season.
Chelsea 2, Everton 1
David Moyes drew time on his lengthy tenure as Everton manager with a loss at Stamford Bridge before heading off to Manchester United to fill the considerable shoes of Alex Ferguson. Chelsea secured third place and a spot in the group stage of the Champions League through Fernando Torres’ winner with 14 minutes left in regulation. The goal was the Spaniard’s first in the league since December, although it had more to deft with Oscar’s perfect cross into the box and an unmarked Victor Moses chesting it down into the path of Torres to hammer home from in close.
Match facts: Only three of Juan Mata’s 12 Premiership goals this season came at Stamford Bridge. Also, Fernando Torres’ goal ended a run of 19 hours and 39 minutes without finding the back of the net in the Premier League.
Swansea City 0, Fulham 3
Dimitar Berbatov is cool personified, and has to have the softest pair of feet in the Premiership. Check out the video and watch his goal (Fulham’s second on the afternoon) and the way he deftly feinted with the ball glued to his foot as he went around Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm, all the while keeping his composure, to slot the ball home.
Match facts: Swansea conceded just two goals in the first 15 minutes of games all season, a league-low. Swansea scored the first goal of this Premier League season (Michu) and conceded the last (Urby Emauelson).
Manchester City 2, Norwich City 3
Fittingly, the post-Mancini era at Manchester City began with a tame performance by the Blues, who looked disinterested and lacked passion in their play for most of the season. Look no further than the opening goal by Norwich’s Anthony Pilkington in the 26th minute, the Canaries midfielder slotting home from in close after some comical defending by Manchester City on the edge of its box. The lack of commitment from the Blues players to clear their lines on the play was appalling, and the look of disgust on goalkeeper Joe Hart’s face as he picked the ball out of his net said it all.
Match facts: Manchester City has scored in 50 consecutive Premier League home games. Also, no side scored as many Premier League goals against Manchester City this season than Norwich (six).
West Ham United 4, Reading 2
This game featured notable performances by two players that don’t get the credit they deserve: Adam Le Fondre of Reading and West Ham’s Kevin Nolan. Le Fondre boosted his reputation as a super sub by scoring shortly after coming into the game in the second half, perfectly timing his run to latch onto a pass played across to the back post before side-footing it home to draw the Royals level. Nolan netted a hat trick for the Hammers, with his second goal the best of the bunch: he perfectly timed he run to beat the offside trap, controlled the ball as it came over his shoulder, took a touch and then slotted it home – all without breaking stride.
Match facts: Adam Le Fondre scored his eighth league goal off the bench this season to set a new Premiership single season record. Also, 18 of Kevin Nolan’s 22 Premier League goals since the start of 2010/11 have been at home
Wigan Athletic 2, Aston Villa 2
With 73 goals against, Wigan was tied with Reading for the worst defensive record in the Premiership this season, and we saw plenty of evidence on this one. The way Aston Villa’s Darren Bent was allowed to split through the centre of defence, without a player even near him, before scoring to put his side up 1-0 after only five minutes was criminal, and indicative of the porous defending from Wigan this season. Little wonder they are going down.
Match facts: No Premier League side has conceded more own goals this season than Aston Villa (five). Also, Wigan have failed to win any of their last seven home games in the Premier League against Aston Villa (three draws and four losses)
Southampton 1, Stoke City 1
Match facts: Along with Frank Lampard, Southampton’s Rickie Lambert finished as the top scoring Englishman in the Premiership this season with 15 goals. Also, Stoke ended the season with only 13 goals in their 19 Premier League away games.
(Due to technical difficulties, sportsnet.ca does not have video highlights from this match. We apologize).
And with that, the 2012-13 Premiership campaign is over. We hope you enjoyed Sportsnet’s TV and online coverage of the season. Be sure to check back with us in August as we’ll be launching exciting new initiatives ahead of our indepth coverage of the 2013-14 Premiership season.