Liverpool Knocks the Baggies Out the Premier League

West Brom 0 - Liverpool 2 (Premier League, May, 17, 2009) The Baggies look bright in the opening exchanges of the match, but all their good work was undone when a horrible mistake from Shelton Martis so the centre-half lose the ball to Steven Gerrard as the last man and the Reds’ captain ran through to score.

The Baggies were staring relegation in the face on the hour mark when Dirk Kuyt got his head down and ran at the home defence before firing a low shot past Kiely. 2-up, match over, amazing scenes then broke out as Liverpool’s defenders Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa got caught up in an heated exchange on the pitch.

A brilliant header from Florent Malouda, meeting an Anelka cross on the ran, earned Chelsea a fourth minute over Rovers.

Serrabasa Gerard rose high in the Malaga box to head relegation-threatened Gijon into a 24th minute lead. Weligton brought Malaga level with a header off an inviting dead-ball.

Juventus 2 - Atalanta 2 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) Playing behind closed doors due to racism from the Juve fans, visitors Atalanta stunned the Old Lady  inside 120 seconds as Luca Cigarini saw his shot take a deflection on its way past Buffon.

Juve levelled midway through the half, Vincenzo Iaquinta nodding home a Nedved cross. The match moved in Juve’s favour when Cristiano Zanetti scored a tremendous dipping volley the way into the net off the underside of the bar. Back came Atalanta, Maximiliano Pellegrino heading home a corner to end the first half all-square.

Palermo 2 - Lazio 0 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) An early Fabrizio Miccoli penalty put Palermo ahead against the new Coppa Italia winners, Lazio. Migliaccio made the game safe by heading home Fabio Simplicio’s 87th minute free-kick.

Reggina 2 - Cagliari 1 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) A superb individual goal from Andrea Lazzari put Cagliari ahead at Reggina, the striker controlling the ball, spinning into the box and then producing the deft finish to score.

Starting the day rock-bottom, Reggina drew level through Fabio Ceravolo after 25 minutes. Relegation-threatened Reggina secured just a sixth league win of the campaign four minutes after half-time when Francesco Cozza set up Franco Brienza to score.

Bologna 2 - Lecce 1 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) In the winner-takes-all relegation match between Bologna and Lecce, it was Lecce who struck first as Simone Tiribocchi met a right-wing cross on the volley to fire home. Marco Di Vaio drew Bologna level in the 37th minute, and matters worsened for Lecce after Papadopoulos was sent off five minutes into the second half.

Just as it appeared a draw was on the cards, Sergio Volpi struck an injury time winner that keeps Bologna in the hunt for survival and sunk Lecce to the foot of the league.

Fiorentina 1 - Sampdoria 0 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) Alberto Gilardino converted a Vargas cross as the Viola moved ahead of Samp.

Napoli 1 - Torino 2 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) A well-taken goal from Inacio Pia handed Napoli a halftime lead over Torino. Rolando Bianchi equalised early in the second half from Roberto Stellone’s knock-down, before a crucial Torino winner arrived on 72 minutes when Alessandro Rosina found the top corner with a stylish free-kick.

Genoa 2 - Chievo 2 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) Giampiero Pinzi managed to get across his marker at the near post to put Chievo 1-up after 35 minutes. Diego Milito brought Genoa level from the penalty spot before the hour, and Ruben Olivera turned the match around with the hosts’ second with a stunning free-kick in the 72nd minute.

But Chievo refuse to go down without a fight and the man of the season, Sergio Pellissier, popped up five minutes from time to head an equaliser from a corner.

Second-bottom Nantes took the lead against Rennes just before the break when Mamadou Bagayoko ran through to confidently slot in the opener.

Anthony Modeste slid Nice into the lead at Lille.

Brief highlights of Saturday’s two Eredivise UEFA Cup playoffs—NAC beating Feyenoord 3-2 at home and Utrecht drawing 3-all with Groningen—can be seen here.

Zenit only had themselves to blame for falling behind at CSKA, Zhirkov was allowed to turn in between two defenders before picking out Ouwo Moussa Maazou in the box.

Tomsk 1 - Spartak Moscow 1 (Russian Premier League, May 17, 2009) Both goals arrived in seven first minutes, Aleksandr Kharitonov put Tomsk in front before Artem Dzyuba drew Spartak level with a header just after the half hour.

Rostov 1 - Spartak Nalchik 1 (Russian Premier League, May 16, 2009) Branimir Petrovic rescued a point for Rostov with a 90th minute leveller to cancel out Leandro’s opener.

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 - Bnei Yehuda 1 (Ligat ha’Al, May 16, 2009) After a shot cannoned back off the post, Maor Buzaglo was on hand to fire home the opener for Maccabi after 14 minutes.

Bnei Yehuda equalised 11 minutes before the break when slack home defending allowed Pedro Galvan to steal in and convert Oz Rali’s cross. Maccabi won the match at the death, Dan Roman striking a beautiful 25-yarder into the top corner to claim the points.

Aarau 0 - Young Boys 1 (Swiss Super League, May, 16, 2009) Seydou Doumbia pounced for the only goal of the game after 50 minutes, before Young Boys had David Degen sent off in the closing stages.

Ried 3 - Rapid Vienna 0 (T-Mobile Bundesliga, May 17, 2009)