Wiltord's hat-trick in Arsenal victory

Wiltord's hat-trick in Arsenal victory
Agencies

LONDON, March 4: French striker Sylvain Wiltord scored a first half hat-trick on Saturday as Arsenal swept to a 3-0 win over London rivals West Ham United in the English premier league. West Ham offered little resistance to an Arsenal side determined to atone for their 6-1 humiliation by leaders Manchester United last Sunday.

But United are still set for their third successive title despite a 1-1 draw at Leeds United. They have 67 points from 29 matches, 14 more than Arsenal who have already conceded the championship.

Leeds manager David O’Leary was convinced two controversial decisions cost his team victory. O’Leary said Manchester goalkeeper Fabien Barthez should have been sent off after kicking Ian Harte at the end of the first half. Barthez, who escaped with a booking, redeemed himself in his team’s eyes by saving the resultant Harte penalty.

In the 89th minute, Manchester United defender Wes Brown pushed the ball into his own net but Leeds were denied the goal when the linesman raised his flag for offside against Mark Viduka.

The Australian had earlier equalised for Leeds with a well-taken header after Luke Chadwick had opened the scoring.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose side took the field without captain Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, said Leeds had deserved their point.

Arsenal welcomed back captain Tony Adams and fellow-defender Lee Dixon but it was Wiltord, who has been publicly critical of manager Arsene Wenger for leaving him out of the starting line-up, who grabbed the limelight.

Wiltord exploited defensive errors by the veteran Stuart Pearce for his first two goals and added a third before he was substituted by Thierry Henry.

Belgian striker Branko Strupar, starting for only the fourth time this season after suffering a series of groin and hamstring injuries, scored twice for Derby County in an important 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool came down to earth after last Sunday’s League Cup triumph, losing 2-0 at Leicester City through goals from Ade Akinbyi and Muzzy Izzet.

Barcelona, Madrid draw
Madrid: Spanish League heroes Raul and Rivaldo both scored twice as leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona drew 2-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the world’s most prestigious derby here yesterday. Touted by many in Spain as the first real match of the new millennium, Madrid’s darling of the fans Raul and 1999 ’World Player of the Year’ Rivaldo took centre stage.

Second-placed Deportivo la Coruna fell 2-1 at Real Mallorca meaning Madrid, on 53 points, stretched their lead by one point to five over Deportivo, on 48.

Valencia drew 1-1 at Real Zaragoza to stay third on 46 points and Barcelona remain fourth on 44. In the night’s other fixture, Real Sociedad beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0. At the Bernabeu, Raul opened the scoring on seven minutes in front of the 75,000 crowd, mainly dressed in Madrid’s white colours. Brazilian Rivaldo equalised for Barcelona on 35 minutes, Raul put the home side back in front moments later, and Rivaldo brought the Catalonians level for the second time with just over 20 minutes to go.