Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/823773
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 MAY 2017 57 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL MANCHESTER City enjoyed a huge let-off in their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League while Arsenal edged to within a point of fourth-placed Liverpool with an impressive vic- tory on Saturday. A freakish penalty 'miss' by Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez at the Etihad Stadium allowed Man- chester City to squeeze out a 2-1 victory that lifted them to third place, above Liverpool. Mahrez beat Willy Caballero with 13 minutes remaining but had slipped in his run-up and in- advertently struck the ball twice, once with each foot. Eagle-eyed referee Robert Mad- ley correctly applied the law and City breathed deeply before see- ing out the remainder of the game to stay on course for Champions League qualification. "When I saw the reaction from Willy, I understood immediately that it was two touches," City manager Pep Guardiola, whose side finish with matches against West Bromwich Albion and Wat- ford, told reporters. "The referee was so brave in making the decision. I've seen that happen before, a long time ago! It's not normal to see something like that, but it is what it is." With Chelsea having wrapped up the title on Friday and Sun- derland and Middlesbrough al- ready relegated, the final flurry of matches will decide which two clubs join the champions Totten- ham Hotspur in the Champions League and who becomes the third side to slide through the trapdoor. Arsenal maintained their late challenge with a classy 4-1 victory at Stoke City to keep the pressure on Liverpool who now sit just one point above the in-form Gunners. Olivier Giroud's brace and goals from the brilliant duo of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil sealed an emphatic victory for Arsenal who have won five of their past six games to jump right back into contention. "We had a difficult week but we've won convincingly so the fo- cus is there, the fighting spirit is there and we're pleased to win," manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC. "I believe when the team plays well we have the right individual talent to win. We just have to win our games." Peter Crouch scored Stoke's soli- tary goal -- though appeared to convert the ball with his hand. For much of a season in which they sacked two managers, Swan- sea have looked destined to return to the second tier after a five-sea- son stay in the top flight. But under Paul Clement they have improved dramatically and Saturday's 2-0 victory at hapless Sunderland means they will be safe if Hull City lose to Crystal Palace on Sunday. Fernando Llorente and Kyle Naughton were both on target for the Swans who have 38 points with one game left, the same as Crystal Palace who have a supe- rior goal difference. Hull have 34 with two games left. "It's a huge result for us. We've got ourselves into a strong posi- tion but the season is not over and we don't think it is done. Now have to look to next week," Clem- ent said. In the battle for south coast bragging rights Southamp- ton beat Middlesbrough 2-1 on Saturday with goals by Jay Rodri- guez and Nathan Redmond keep- ing them above Bournemouth who beat Burnley 2-1 thanks to Joshua King's late winner. Southampton are ninth and Bournemouth 10th with both clubs on 45 points. City, who have 72 points to Liv- erpool's 70 and Arsenal's 69, have their destiny firmly in their own hands although there were nerves aplenty against Leicester. David Silva scored a controver- sial opener, allowed to stand de- spite Raheem Sterling apparently being offside and interfering with play, before Gabriel Jesus' penalty. Shinji Okazaki's stunning volley just before halftime re-energised Leicester though and City could have had few complaints had Mahrez's penalty earned the visi- tors a draw. Liverpool play West Ham United today. Man City bolster top-four hopes, Arsenal close in on Liverpool FA Trophy Sliema Wanderers - T. Rainbows ....... 3-0 Floriana - SK Victoria ....................... 3-1 England - Premier League Manchester City - Leicester City ........ 2-1 AFC Bournemouth - Burnley ............ 2-1 Middlesbrough - Southampton ........ 1-2 Sunderland - Swansea City .............. 0-2 Stoke City - Arsenal ......................... 4-1 Today 13:00 Crystal Palace - Hull City 15:15 West Ham United - Liverpool 17:30 Tottenham H. - Manchester United Tomorrow 21:00 Chelsea - Watford Italy - Serie A Fiorentina - Lazio ............................ 3-2 Atalanta - Milan .............................. 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Leverkusen - FC Cologne .............. 2-2 Darmstadt - Hertha Berlin ................ 0-2 Freiburg - Ingolstadt ....................... 1-1 Mainz 05 - Eintracht Frankfurt .......... 4-2 RasenBallsport L. - Bayern Munich ... 4-5 Schalke 04 - Hamburger SV ............. 1-1 Werder Bremen - Hoffenheim .......... 3-5 Wolfsburg - Borussia M. ................... 1-1 Football Results & Fixtures Manchester City's Gael Clichy in action with Leicester City's Yohan Benalouane