Tree leaders triumph in Premiership race
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): A weekend of intense football drama saw Chelsea book its place in the FA Cup final, minnows Chesterfield live to fight another day and the Premiership race remaining no less congested with all three front runners winning.
Anticipating an aerial assault at Highbury, Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit dropped Scott Minto, reverted to a flat back-four and brought in Erland Johnsen to play alongside Frank Leboeuf in the middle with Steve Clarke moving left back.
The revamped defense coped admirably with Wimbledon's long- ball game, Johnsen and Leboeuf matching Efan Ekoku and Marcus Gayle header for header.
With the war of attrition that doubled for a first-half coming to a close, Chelsea took the lead. A curling Dennis Wise cross was prodded into the body of Mark Hughes who volleyed home from two yards.
Committed to attack after the interval, Wimbledon became increasingly exposed in midfield. Reveling in the new found space, Gianfranco Zola scored in the 64th minute. Leaving his marker flat-footed on the edge of the box, the Italian danced to the right before firing into the bottom left-hand corner. Hughes added a third in the final minute to book a Wembley date on May 17.
An hour later, attention turned to Old Trafford where Middlesbrough and Chesterfield fought out one of the most enthralling ties in the history of the competition. At the mercy of Fabrizio Ravanelli and Juninho in the opening minute, Chesterfield, although stretched, held firm. Indeed, the match edged its way late in the first-half when Middlesbrough was reduced to 10 men with Vladimir Kinder red carded for two bookable offenses.
Scenting its opportunity, the second division side stunned its millionaire opponents by going two goals up midway through the second half, courtesy of a tap in from Andy Morris and a fiercely struck penalty from its captain, Sean Dyche.
Displaying a grit and determination rarely seen in its Premiership performances, Middlesbrough bounced back as Ravanelli reduced the deficit and then, after Juninho had been brought down by Dyche, Craig Hignet equalized from the penalty spot.
The Teedsiders appeared to have the game won when Gianluca Festa netted 10 minutes into extra time. But a looping header in the last minute from James Stewart gave Chesterfield a 3-3 draw and a replay at Hillsborough on April 22.
Premiership
In the Premiership race, Manchester United put the disappointment of defeat in Dortmund firmly behind it with a 3-2 victory at Blackburn Rovers to stay three points clear at the top.
Despite missing Peter Schmeichel, David May, Dennis Irwin and Ryan Giggs through injury, and with David Beckham on the bench, United was always in control against a competitive but ordinary Blackburn side.
Andy Cole opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, made the second for Paul Scholes five minutes before the interval and then completed his best game in a United shirt by setting up Eric Cantona to sweep home 10 minutes from time.
Fueled by championship ambition, Arsenal had a comfortable 2-0 win over Leicester City at Highbury. At the heart of almost every one of Arsenal's better movements and moments was Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutch international provided the decisive pass for Tony Adams to open the scoring and then combined with Ian Wright and Patrik Vieira to set up David Platt.
Liverpool, a 2-1 winner at Sunderland on Sunday, trails Arsenal on goal difference. Outplayed by Paris St. Germain on Thursday, this was another nervous, edgy performance by the Anfield club.
With Stan Collymore missing through injury, Steve McManaman partnered Robbie Fowler up front. The move paid off with both scoring. Paul Stewart later halved the deficit, but a mixture of home incompetence and sheer good fortune saw Liverpool muddle through.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United drew 1-1 at Hillsborough, Derby County and Everton ensured Premiership survival with wins over Aston Villa and Tottenham respectively and Southampton moved out of the bottom three for the first time in fifteen weeks with a 2-0 win over West Ham United.
Juventus
The biggest shock of the weekend was reserved for Italy where Serie A leader Juventus went down 3-0 to Udinese in its first home defeat of the season. A result made all the more remarkable as the visitors were reduced to 10 men after just three minutes with Regis Genaux sent off.
Parma cut the deficit at the top to three points with Hernan Crespo hitting the winner against Roma in the Olympic Stadium. Internazionale stand third a further four points adrift after beating AC Milan 3-1 in the San Siro derby.
The Dutch first division remains as close as ever with PSV Eindhoven leading on goal difference from Feyenoord. PSV brought Ajax's six-game winning sequence to an end Saturday with goals from Philip Cocu and John de Bilde. Feyenoord kept up its challenge with a 2-0 win at Willem II Tilburg.
In the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich moved six points clear at the weekend when they beat FC Cologne 3-2 and injury-hit Borussia Dortmund was beaten by the same score at Duisburg. Bayer Leverkusen, which beat Karlsruhe 3-1, is second on goal difference from VfB Stuttgart, a 5-1 winner at home to Hansa Rostock and Dortmund.
With nine games to go in Spain, Real Madrid consolidated its seven point lead at the top with goals from Victor Sanchez and Raul Gonzalez in its 2-0 win over Logrones.
Barcelona held on to its nerve and second place after a thrilling 5-2 win at Atletico Madrid. A Ronaldo hat trick and goals from Ivan de la Pena and Luis Figo completed the rout as the home side had Diego Simone and Santi Denia sent off.