World Football Roundup: Championship-Bound Baggies Fall at Everton

Samir Nasri had Arsenal’s first chance against Fulham dragging a shot wide after two minutes, while at the other end Andy Johsnon saw his shot drift inches wide of Almunia’s post after turning Toure with ease. Ashavin sent a delicious cross over to Van Persie, but Mark Schwarzer made the point-blank save.

Arshavin continued to be the provider sending Van Persie clean through once more, but again Schwarzer made the smothering save.

On a rare first team start for Liverpool, Nabil El Zhar should arguably have scored when put through by Dirk Kuyt but the youngsters shot was too close to Boro keeper Brad Jones. Boro took the lead more by luck than judgment as Xabi Alonso inadvertently turned a Downing corner into his own net.

After Paul Scharner forced Petr Cech to make a smart save in the 20th minute, the Hiddink revolution continued for Chelsea against Wigan as captain John Terry brilliantly volleyed home a 25th minute opener after the Latics only partially cleared their lines.

The Blues could and should have doubled their lead at the break but Frank Lampard never got a shot away when he had a clean sight on goal.

Everton 2 - West Brom 0 (Premier League, Feb. 28, 2009) Everton broke the deadlock in the 35th minute by taking advantage of their tried and trusted goalscoring style, Baines whipped a free-kick into the box and an unmarked Tim Cahill rose to plant home a header to leave Tony Mowbray spewing fire. (First half highlights here.)

The Baggies look capable of pulling themselves back into the match but with 20 minutes remaining injury-prone Luis Saha marked his return to the first team with a fabulous turn and shot into the bottom corner. West Brom continued to plug away without success, and things are beginning to look daunting in the Black Country with Arsenal up next.

Hamilton 0 - Rangers 1 (SPL, Feb. 28, 2009) Captain Barry Ferguson steered Rangers into a halftime lead at Hamilton with a shot from the edge of the box which found the bottom corner.

Hertha Berlin 2 - Moenchengladbach 1 (Bundelsiga, Feb. 28, 2009) Looking to propel themselves back to the top of the league, Hertha’s Liverpool loanee Andriy Voronin was once again on the scoresheet against Glabach after 28 minutes. Pal Dardai added the second on the stroke of halftime. American Michael Bradley got the visitors back in the game with a penalty midway through the second half.

Borussia Dortmund 0 - Hoffenheim 0 (Bundelsiga, Feb. 28, 2009) Both Dortmund and Hoffenheim had chances to score in the first half (highlights here) but neither side were able to take advantage of their opportunities.

Bochum 3 - Energie Cottbus 2 (Bundelsiga, Feb. 28, 2009) Cottbus raced out the traps at Bochum with Ivica Iliev crashing home a well-struck left-footed shot across the keeper into the far corner. But the lead was short lived as Joel Epalle drew the hosts level after 11 minutes.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, Emil Jula restored the visitors’ lead with a header only for Bochum to equalise through Christian Fuchs’ cracking free-kick. And the hosts had the final laugh as Marc Pfertzel slotted home a penalty 10 minutes from time.

Hannover 1 - Bayer Leverkusen 0 (Bundelsiga, Feb. 28, 2009) Leverkusen fell behind in Hannover when Bruggink struck just after the half hour.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - Schalke 2 (Bundelsiga, Feb. 28, 2009) Jefferson Farfan teed up Rafinha to give Schlake the lead in Frankfurt. The match then ended on a frantic note as Fink drew the hosts level in the 81st minute only for Heiko Westermann to snatch a winner three minutes later.

Maciej Zurawski slammed home a rebound to give Larisa the lead over Ergotelis, but the visitors were level at the break thanks to Mauricio’s free-kick. Immediately after the restart Giorgos Fotakis followed up his own shot aftyer it hit the post to score a regain the hosts’ lead.

Melbourne Victory 1 - Adelaide United 0 (A-League Grand Final, Feb. 28, 2009) Melbourne Victory won a second A-League grand final in three years, Tom Pondeljak curled in a delightful winner on the hour mark against an Adelaide side who were down to 10-men for most of the game after Cristiano was sent off in the 10th minute.

Kashima Antlers 3 - Gamba Osaka 0 (Japanese Super Cup, Feb. 28, 2009) Kashima struck early through Shinzo Koroki in the 6th minute and doubled their lead just eight minutes later when Marquinhos scored from close range. The J-League champions killed the contest in the 39th minute as Koroki crossed for Takuya Nozawa to bag the third.

Ghana 1 - Libya 1 (African Nations Championship, Feb. 27, 2009) Libya took the lead on 26 minutes when a fabulously worked free-kick cleverly ended with Ahmed Osman slotting home. Edmund Owusu Ansah levelled 18 minutes from time with a header.