Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/195525
53 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2013 FOOTBALL Easy victory for Arsenal as Man Utd are held ARSENAL retained their place at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 4-1 win over Norwich on Saturday afternoon. Jack Wilshere's maiden Premier League goal at the Emirates Stadium put them ahead at half-time as he scored his second in successive games, having gone almost three years without scoring in the league. Norwich threatened on a couple of occasions before Mesut Ozil struck his first Premier League goal for Arsenal just before the hour mark, the Germany international heading home Olivier Giroud's cross. Jonny Howson's driven finish from the edge of the area after a poor piece of defending from Per Mertesacker gave the Canaries hope. But any ideas of an unlikely comeback were ended by substitute Aaron Ramsey as he hammered home his ninth goal of the season before Ozil added his second late on. A late goal from Adam Lallana gave high-flying Southampton a 1-1 draw at Manchester United. Robin van Persie gave David Moyes' side the lead with his first goal in four games before both he and Wayne Rooney saw efforts hit the crossbar. But the hosts could not kill off the game and were made to pay as Lallana was on hand to tap in from a corner. Sergio Aguero scored two and set up a third as Manchester City climbed into the top four of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory against West Ham at Upton Park. The opening goal came in the 16th minute when Fernandinho's slide-rule pass was allowed to run by Alvaro Negredo, putting the West Ham defence on their heels and giving Aguero the opportunity to ghost into the box and finish with aplomb beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Argentina international then accepted a gift-wrapped second from the home side early in the second half as he was left unmarked eight yards out to power a header in at the near post. West Ham reduced the deficit when Ricardo Vaz Te's overhead kick found the bottom corner. But City's first away win in the Premier League this season was sealed with 10 minutes remaining as Aguero turned provider, setting up Silva to make it 3-1. Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Newcastle in the day's early kick-off at St James' Park. Yohan Cabaye fired the Magpies ahead with a fantastic long-range effort before Steven Gerrard notched up his 100th Premier League goal from the penalty spot to level the game before halftime. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off for pulling back Luis Suarez for the penalty and it was young defender Paul Dummett, who was introduced to sure up the Newcastle back line, who volleyed home a Cabaye free-kick 11 minutes in to the second half and put the hosts back in front. Daniel Sturridge again drew Liverpool level in the 72nd minute with a close-range diving header, but Brendan Rodgers had to settle for a point as Newcastle held firm. Samuel Eto'o opened his Chelsea account as Jose Mourinho's side the table. The visitors were in the game until two goals in the space of a minute gave Michael Laudrup's side the win. A Phil Bardsley own goal was followed rapidly by a fantastic strike from Jonathan De Guzman. The third Swansea goal came courtesy of a Wilfried Bony penalty after Craig Gardner had bundled Leon Britton over inside the box, with Chico Flores adding the fourth with 10 minutes remaining. Everton had substitute Steven Pienaar to thank for all three points at home to Hull as the midfielder grabbed the winning goal in their 2-1 success. Kevin Mirallas struck early on to give the hosts the lead at Goodison Park. The Belgium international was picked out from a disputed short corner and his low well-struck effort was unseen by Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor, going in off the post. Things went from bad to worse for Steve Bruce's side as striker Danny Graham was stretchered off shortly afterwards. But it was his replacement Yannick Sagbo who levelled for the visitors as he swept home Sone Aluko's cross from close range. Hull had a lengthy spell of dominance, but Pienaar marked his return from injury as a second-half substitute by putting the Toffees back in front having been on the pitch for under 30 seconds. Stoke continued to struggle in front of goal as they drew 0-0 at home to West Brom with Victor Anichebe close to a dramatic late winner for the visitors. Mesut Ozil scored twice in Arsenal's 4-1 win over Norwich came from behind to beat Cardiff at Stamford Bridge to win 4-1. Jordan Mutch had given Cardiff a shock lead on his first Premier League start for the Bluebirds after poor defending from the home side. David Luiz decided against collecting a pass from Ramires as he looked to leave it for goalkeeper Petr Cech but Mutch nipped in and was left to coolly put the visitors ahead. It was a mistake from his Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall that allowed Eden Hazard to equalise for Chelsea. Marshall looked to bounce the ball and Eto'o nicked it away from him, with Hazard taking full advantage of the Cameroon international's ingenuity. Eto'o then grabbed his first goal for Chelsea after 66 minutes as he beat two defenders before firing a shot past Marshall. Mourinho was sent off after leaving his technical area to vent his upset at a decision, but that did not stop Oscar and Hazard adding the gloss to the scoreline. Gus Poyet's first game as Sunderland manager ended in a heavy defeat as they slipped to a 4-0 loss at Swansea, the Black Cats remaining anchored to the foot of RUGBY Malta Origin topple Sliema for Maltese Championship felt the loss. "We enjoyed the game, it was tough and the loss is hard felt. Unfortunately a combination of a lack of match practice and too many first team players unavailable due to national and work commitments told the difference on the pitch" said Attard. Sonia Dorsett from Rabat, a rugby league administrator in Sydney where she has resided for 24 years, presented the coveted MRL Dove Men+Care Championship trophy to Malta Origin RL skipper Joe Paolella to conclude the afternoon's proceedings for the Malta Rugby League (MRL). PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW SCERRI A Gareth Barron inspired Malta Origin RL team has defeated Sliema RL to take out the 2013 MRL Dove Men+Care Championship at Melita FC this afternoon. The British prop who signed for his club only a month ago, scored three tries to help his young side win 4610. In doing so, the red and whites inflicted Sliema's first loss in two seasons. Sliema weren't helped by the loss of up to eight players from their usual squad but they didn't do themselves any favours either, making a mistake from the kick off that would eventually see Christopher Rulli cross out wide for the opening points after only one minute of play. Tempers frayed midway through the opening half, Malta Origin RL's Michael George was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a deliberate head butt. The teams got on with throwing the ball around, and it seemed it would be a good afternoon when Brenton Miller finished a nice move down the left side 10 minutes later and Christopher Rulli completed his brace of tries soon after as Joe Paolella's men headed into the break 14-0 up. Welshmen Darren Edmunds crossed early in the second half to continue the rout but Sliema skipper Malcolm Attard had other ideas when he grounded the ball for his side's first points. Not only solid in defence but Samuel Kawara showed his speed as he motored away for a 45 metre effort to put the match beyond reach for Sliema after 60 minutes. Malta Origin RL's Gareth Barron pictured with ball in hand Andrew Camilleri did peg one back for Sliema, but minutes later Malta international Sam Keep, unlucky with the boot, crossed for a four-pointer to all but seal the championship honours for his side. As holes appeared within the tiring defence, Malta Origin's Gareth Barron took full advantage with a brace and completing his at trick inside the last 90 seconds of play. Christopher Rulli was named player of the match, followed closely behind by Matthew Alexander as best on field for Sliema RL. Malta Origin RL prop and captain Joe Paolella said the match was great to be a part of, the 19-year-old com- mented, "It was a great game to play in, both teams gave it their all. An absolute pleasure to captain Malta Origin throughout this campaign and I look forward to us defending the title next year" Malcolm Attard, in his first game back since the Malta XIII's win over the British Army in July, said his team Malta Origin RL 46 (G.Barron 3, C.Rulli 2, B.Miller, D.Edmunds, S.Kawara, S.Keep tries; D.Edmunds 5 from 7, S.Keep 0 from 2 goals) Sliema RL 10 (M.Attard, A.Camilleri tries; O.Jones 1 from 1, M.Attard 0 from 1 goals) H-T: Orig 14-0 Ref: Mr A.Micallef Players of the Match: Christopher Rulli (Malta Origin RL) and Matthew Alexander (Sliema RL) Malta Origin RL: G.Barron, B.Bonello, M.Booth, K.Busuttil-Cordina, P.Debono, J.Dela, D.Edmunds, M.George, N.Horne, S.Kawara, S.Keep (vc), B.Miller, G.Mupimhidza, J.Paolella ©, A.Patamia, C.Rulli, J.Rulli. Sliema RL: M.Alexander, M.Attard, K.Azzopardi, M.Benson, A.Camilleri, M.Camilleri, J.Debattista, C.Delia, N.Galea, J.Grech, O.Jones, V.Leondiev, N.Maylor, B.Naudi, T.Parker, J.Pavanello, M.Spiteri, E.Willis.