Goals by Mikel Alonso and Mark Gonzalez helped lowly Real Sociedad beat Champions League title-chasers Villarreal 2-0 in the Spanish league. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo defeated Zaragoza 4-0, and Atletico Madrid edged Alaves 1-0 yesterday. Uruguay goalkeeper Sebastian Viera was not able to hang onto midfielder Alonso’s long-range shot in the ninth minute, and South Africa-born Chilean Gonzalez scored from a free kick which stayed low and deflected off Villarreal’s defensive wall in the 27th minute. Sociedad were 12th in the 20-team standings, five points clear of the relegation zone, while Villarreal remained eighth on 49. FC Barcelona led the standings on 73 points, followed by Valencia (62) and Real Madrid (60). Fifth-placed Celta Vigo secured their 18th win this season when they beat Zaragoza 4-0. Uruguayan midfielder Nestor Canobbio pounced on a rebound from former Real Madrid goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez in the 30th minute. Jorge Larena scored in the 46th minute after Sanchez once again failed to control the ball, slipped and fell just outside the penalty area, leaving his goal unprotected. Jesus Pereda rose above the defence with an unstoppable header from a corner in the 80th minute, and two minutes later Canobbio deftly lobbed the ball over a hapless Sanchez.
West Ham reach FA Cup final Marlon Harewood fired the winner 12 minutes from time as West Ham beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Villa Park today to reach the FA Cup final for the first time in 26 years. In the 13 May final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, Mr Alan Pardew’s Hammers will face six-time FA Cup winner Liverpool who beat Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford yesterday. Ashton headed a left-wing cross against the top of the crossbar in the 55th minute before he set up the goal. Ashton won the ball in the air and he headed it down for Harewood to control it and fire a left footer past substitute goalkeeper Bradley Jones. |