Liverpool knock the Baggies out the Premier League; Chelsea breeze past Blackburn

West Brom 0 – Liverpool 2 (Premier League, May 17, 2009) (MOTD highlights here.) 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.

Chelsea 2 – Blackburn 0 (Premier League, May 17, 2009) (MOTD highlights here.) A brilliant header from Florent Malouda, meeting an Anelka cross on the ran, earned Chelsea a fourth minute over Rovers. The Blues doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Didier Drogba collected a Cole cross, squared to Nicolas Anelka, and the Frenchman scored to move to alongside Ronaldo on 18 goals for the season.

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Cambridge 0 – Torquay 2 (Conference play-off final, May 17, 2009) The deadlock was broken when a long ball was flicked on to Elliot Benyon and he laid the ball to Chris Hargreaves, who fired in from the edge of the area. Tim Sills then headed home to bring league football back to Plainmoor after a two-year absence.

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Mallorca 2 – Barcelona 1 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) Before the match Barca received an ovation for winning the league. Returning striker Samuel Eto’o met a Bojan cross with a fine header as Barca took the lead at Mallorca. A stunning free-kick from Juan Arango pulled the islanders level on 72nd minutes before Cleber Santana turned the match on its head with a second five minutes later. Samuel Eto’o saw a late penalty saved as the newly cropwned champinos fell to a rare defeat.

Atletico Madrid 1 – Valencia 0 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) A first half Diego Forlan penalty proved the difference between the sides.

Sporting Gijon 2 – Malaga 1 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) 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.

Espanyol 1 – Athletic Bilbao 0 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) Luis Garcia stroked home a 69th minute penalty to put Espanyol ahead against Bilbao.

Numancia 1 – Recreativo Huelva 0 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) Numancia moved off the bottom by beating fellow strugglers Recre thanks to a late penalty from Jose Barkero.

Real Betis 2 – Almeria 0 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) Real Betis also took a giant step towards survival with a 2-nil victory over Almeria which was far more convincing than the scoreline suggested. Mark Gonzalez and Arzu netted in each half although the visitors’ cause was not helped by the 20th minute dismissal of Chico.

Racing Santander 3 – Valladolid 2 (La Liga, May 17, 2009) Oscar Serrano got Racing off to a great start scoring after just four minutes, but Valladolid hit back with two quick strikes from Victor and Henok Goitom to go in ahead at the interval. Valladolid were reduced to 10-men three minutes after the break when Inaki Bea was sent-off and Jonathan Pereira levelled for the home side on the hour mark. Nikola Zigic struck with a header five minutes from time to give Racing a vital win, which sees them move five clear points of the drop zone.

All the goals from Sunday’s action in La Liga can be seen here.

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Inter Milan 3 – Siena 0 (Serie A, May, 17, 2009) Esteban Cambiasso (45), Mario Balotelli (52) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (76) secured a comfortable victory over Siena, who are comfortably midtable in 14th, ten points clear of relegation with two games remaining.

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.

All of Sunday afternoon’s goals in Serie A can be seen here.

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Marseille 1 – Lyon 3 (Ligue 1, May 17, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) OM had the better of the opening, but they fell behind to a Karim Benzema penalty on the half hour. Marseille were left stunned just before halftime when Benzema grabbed his second of the game, slipping the ball beyond Steve Mandanda at the near post. Sylvain Wiltord gave the hosts a lifeline in the 81st minute when he turned the ball home from Niang’s centre. But Lyon grabbed a late third, Juninho’s long-range free-kick took a bounce to deceive Mandanda.

Nantes 1 – Rennes 1 (Ligue 1, May 17, 2009) Second-bottom Nantes took the lead against Rennes just before the break when Mamadou Bagayoko ran through to confidently slot in the opener. Moussa Sow equalised for Rennes after a neat piece of close control in the 83rd minute.

Lille 1 – Nice 1 (Ligue 1, May 17, 2009) Anthony Modeste slid Nice into the lead at Lille, but LIlle rarely lose at home and it was no surprise when Yohan Cabaye eventually levelled 20 minutes from time.

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Heerenveen 2* – FC Twente 2 (Pens. 5-4) (KNVB Beker final, May 17, 2009) Twente twice came from behind, Eljero Elia cancelling out Goran Popov’s opener in normal time before Bonaventure Kalou restored Heerenveen’s lead only for Youssouf Hersi to score in the 117th minute. The match went to penalties, Hersi went from hero to villian blazing his effort over the bar and Gerald Sibon converted the winning penalty to win the cup.

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.

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Braga 1 – Benfica 3 (Superliga, May 17, 2009) Benfica were 2-up by the 13th minute after goals from Oscar Cardozo and Angel di Maria. Jonathan Urretaviscaya, an 11th-minute substitute, wrapped up the win two minutes into the second half. Hassan Yebda was sent off for Benfica in the 67th minute, only 11 minutes after coming off the bench and Braga managed a consolation through Luis Aguiar’s 90th minute penalty.

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CSKA Moscow 2 – Zenit St. Petersburg 1 (Russian Premier League, May 17, 2009) 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. Igor Semshov equalised early in the second half with a tidy finish after a superb team goal from Zenit. Vagner Love netted the winner from the spot late on.

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.

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Ankaragucu 1 – Besiktas 3 (Super Lig, May 17, 2009) Besiktas stormed back to the top of the table with a brace from Bobo and a 23rd minute Fabian Ernst goal.

Galatasaray 2 – Genclerbirligi 1 (Super Lig, May 17, 2009) Galatasaray are a further four points off the top after a home win over Genclerbirligi, with Harry Kewell opening the scoring for the Istanbul giants. Baris Ozbek made it 2-0nil to the home side after a Kewell cross found him at the back post just four minutes later before Carlos Kahe got one back for Genclerbirligi.

Trabzonspor 1 – Bursaspor 0 (Super Lig, May 17, 2009) Gokhan Unal grabbed the only goal as Trab hold third.

Antalyaspor 1 – Fenerbahce 1 (Super Lig, May 17, 2009)

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Hapoel Kiryat Shmona 2 – Beitar Jerusalem 0 (Ligat ha’Al, May 16, 2009) Kiryat Shmona’s Yuval Avidor opted for power instead of placement when he was sent clear by Guy Tzarfati’s searching ball and struck it straight at Tvrtko Kale in the Betar goal. The home side soon went ahead, though. Tzarfati again found Avidor, whose shot from a tight angle came back off the post for Yero Bello to fire in the rebound.

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.

Hapoel Petah Tikva 2 – Maccabi Petah Tikva 0 (Ligat ha’Al, May 16, 2009) Ze’evik Zeltzer recorded his first win as Hapoel Petah Tikva coach in a derby that was lit up by Junior Viza’s delightful goal seven minutes before halftime – the Peruvian beat four men on his way to goal. Shimon Abuhatzera sealed the victory nine minutes from time.

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FC Zurich 1 – Basel 3 (Swiss Super League, May, 17, 2009) Basel took a 37th minute lead when Marcos Gelabert connected with a free-kick from the left wing. Zurich tied the game within five minutes, Dusan Djuric’s heading home from close range. Basel regained the lead through Marco Streller in the 71st minute, and Eren Derdiyok netted with a powerful shot in stoppage time.

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.

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All the goals from the Croatian league on Sunday can be seen here.

Hajduk Split 2 – HNK Sibenik 0 (1. HNL, May 17, 2009)

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Ried 3 – Rapid Vienna 0 (T-Mobile Bundesliga, May 17, 2009) Ried went ahead after 35 minutes through Ignacio Rodríguez’s close-range effort, before the Spaniard added his 13th of the campaign with a back-heel two minutes later. Hamdi Salihi rounded off the scoring by heading in Stefan Lexa’s cross just before halftime.

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Hammarby 1 – Malmo 0 (Allsvenskan, May 17, 2009) Struggling Hammarby grabbed an important victory at home to Malmo thanks to Charlie Davies’ 57th minute goal.

IFK Gothenburg 2 – Kalmar 1 (Allsvenskan, May 17, 2009) Former Sunderland winger Tobias Hysen scored both goals for the home side with Abiola Dauda grabbing Kalmar’s sole reply.

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FC Copenhagen 4 – Brondby 0 (SAS Ligaen, May 17, 2009) Jesper Gronkjaer put the home side ahead after three minutes and two goals from Ailton put the result beyond doubt before Oscar Wendt added a fourth with 16 minutes to go.

Randers 1 – Aarhus 1 (SAS Ligaen, May 17, 2009) A last-minute goal from Luton Shelton denied struggling AC Horsens a vital win against AaB.

Esbjerg 1 – Midtjylland 0 (SAS Ligaen, May 17, 2009) Jesper Lange scored the only goal as Esbjerg beat FC Midtjylland.

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LA Galaxy 1 – Columbus Crew 1 (MLS, May 17, 2009) Guillermo Barros Schelotto gave the Crew the lead in the 70th minute, when he robbed the ball from Galaxy defender Tony Sanneh and sent an 18-yard shot inside the left post. Eddie Lewis equalised in second half stoppage time to help the LA earn a point.

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Boca Juniors 2 – Arsenal Sarandi 1 (Clausura, May 17, 2009)

Gimnasia J 0 – San Lorenzo 3 (Clausura, May 17, 2009)

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Internacional 2 – Palmeiras 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, May 17, 2009)

Sao Paulo 2 – Atletico Paranaense 2 (Campeonato Brasileiro, May 17, 2009)