Heskey pegs back Arsenal, West Ham gains victory at last
Bill Barclay, Reuters, London
Emile Heskey headed a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer as Liverpool held champions Arsenal 2-2 at Anfield in the English premier league on Wednesday.
Arsenal dominated the match and twice led through goals by Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp but Heskey's fine header at the death, following a controversially-awarded corner, cost Arsene Wenger's side a valuable two points.
The draw meant Arsenal remained five points clear at the top with 53 points from 25 games. Newcastle United moved into second place on 48 points after Jermaine Jenas' last-minute winner gave them a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester United are third on 47 points, but with a game in hand, followed by Chelsea on 44. Liverpool are sixth on 39.
At the other end, West Ham United eased the pressure on manager Glenn Roeder when Jermain Defoe's late goal gave them a precious 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers. It was West Ham's first home league win in 13 attempts this season.
West Bromwich Albion slipped to the bottom of the table after losing 1-0 at home to Charlton Athletic, while Manchester City warmed up for the imminent signing of Robbie Fowler from Leeds United with a 4-1 home win over Fulham.
Arsenal, and its elusive French striker Thierry Henry in particular, was awesome in the first half at Anfield.
It went in front after only eight minutes when Pires stroked the ball into an empty net after Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek had saved an Henry shot following a superb Bergkamp through ball.
The home side needed a strong start to the second period and got it as Norwegian John-Arne Riise drilled in a 20-meter equalizer after 52 minutes.
Arsenal was rattled but then showed the resilience of true champion. Bergkamp cut in from the left and drove in a shot that deflected cruelly off Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz and past a despairing Dudek into the back of the net.
The champion could have added to its tally after that and was made to pay in time added on.
Liverpool's Milan Baros and Arsenal's Oleg Luzhny challenged for the ball, the linesman awarded a corner and, when Salif Diao eventually crossed the ball into the area, Heskey beat goalkeeper David Seaman with an imperious header.
In Madrid, Spain, Real Mallorca blasted its way into the King's Cup semifinals after a whirlwind 4-0 victory over an under-strength Real Madrid at Son Moix on Wednesday.
Wednesday's other quarterfinals between Osasuna and Sevilla, which had drawn 1-1 in the first leg, was a far more evenly balanced affair and it took a breathless period of extra time for the home side to claim a 4-3 aggregate victory.
With the score 1-1 at the end of normal time Osasuna skipper Cesar Palacios gave Osasuna the lead eight minutes into extra time.
The Andalucians fought back, though, and looked to be heading for an away goals victory when Francisco Casquero hit home to make it 2-2 early in the second period of extra-time.
But Osasuna finally claimed victory and a place in the semis when Inaki Munoz converted from the spot in the 115th minute after Sevilla keeper Antonio Notario had brought down Gorka Brit in the area.