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Chelsea maintain lead after tie with Leeds
Leeds, Dec 07: Chelsea stay ahead of English premier league after a 1-1 draw at Leeds United.
Leeds, Dec 07: Chelsea stay ahead of English premier league after a 1-1 draw at Leeds United.
Chelsea stayed top of the English premier league on Saturday (December 6) despite being held 1-1 by Leeds at Elland Road. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink could have put the visitors in front soon after the start but the Dutchman failed to beat Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robison from close range. Chelsea were second best against Leeds through the rest of the first half and the home side deserved their lead, secured after 18 minutes when Jermaine Pennant took advantage of a rare Claude Makelele error and beat both John Terry and William Gallas before firing home. The goal was Pennant's first for the club where he is on loan from Arsenal and ended Chelsea's run of seven games without conceding.
England international Frank Lampard just missed the target at the end of a good move between Joe Cole and Hasselbaink.
Leeds were playing with confidence but after Mark Viduka made a great turn on the edge Stephen McPhail sent a left foot shot over the crossbar.
Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who spent $ 180 million dollars on new players, stepped it up in the second half and equalised when substitute Damien Duff converted a rebound after Adrian Mutu's shot was saved.
Italian Claudio Ranieri would have prefered a win to open a bigger gap at the top of the table but Chelsea's manager was happy enough to stay one point clear of Arsenal, who conceded a late equaliser to also draw 1-1 at Leicester City.
Leeds caretake manager Eddie Gray had more reasons to smile as his club escaped from bottom, moving to 19th place in the 20-team league.
Match summary: Leeds United 1 - Jermaine Pennant 18 Chelsea 1 - Damien Duff 70 Halftime: 1-0 Attendance: 36,305
English premier league soccer standings after matches played on Saturday: 1. Chelsea 15 11 3 1 29 10 36 2. Arsenal 15 10 5 0 29 11 35 3. Manchester United 15 11 1 3 29 9 34 4. Fulham 15 7 4 4 26 19 25 5. Liverpool 15 6 4 5 22 16 22 6. Charlton Athletic 14 6 4 4 20 17 22 7. Newcastle United 15 5 6 4 21 20 21 8. Birmingham City 15 5 5 5 12 18 20 9. Middlesbrough 15 5 4 6 12 15 19 10. Manchester City 14 5 3 6 22 19 18 11. Tottenham Hotspur 15 5 3 7 18 20 18 12. Bolton Wanderers 15 4 6 5 14 21 18 13. Southampton 14 4 5 5 10 9 17 14. Blackburn Rovers 15 5 2 8 23 24 17 15. Leicester City 15 4 4 7 23 23 16 16. Portsmouth 15 4 4 7 17 20 16 17. Aston Villa 15 3 5 7 11 21 14 18. Everton 14 3 4 7 15 19 13 19. Leeds United 15 3 3 9 13 34 12 20. Wolverhampton Wanderers 15 2 5 8 11 32 11
Bureau Report
Chelsea stayed top of the English premier league on Saturday (December 6) despite being held 1-1 by Leeds at Elland Road. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink could have put the visitors in front soon after the start but the Dutchman failed to beat Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robison from close range. Chelsea were second best against Leeds through the rest of the first half and the home side deserved their lead, secured after 18 minutes when Jermaine Pennant took advantage of a rare Claude Makelele error and beat both John Terry and William Gallas before firing home. The goal was Pennant's first for the club where he is on loan from Arsenal and ended Chelsea's run of seven games without conceding.
England international Frank Lampard just missed the target at the end of a good move between Joe Cole and Hasselbaink.
Leeds were playing with confidence but after Mark Viduka made a great turn on the edge Stephen McPhail sent a left foot shot over the crossbar.
Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who spent $ 180 million dollars on new players, stepped it up in the second half and equalised when substitute Damien Duff converted a rebound after Adrian Mutu's shot was saved.
Italian Claudio Ranieri would have prefered a win to open a bigger gap at the top of the table but Chelsea's manager was happy enough to stay one point clear of Arsenal, who conceded a late equaliser to also draw 1-1 at Leicester City.
Leeds caretake manager Eddie Gray had more reasons to smile as his club escaped from bottom, moving to 19th place in the 20-team league.
Match summary: Leeds United 1 - Jermaine Pennant 18 Chelsea 1 - Damien Duff 70 Halftime: 1-0 Attendance: 36,305
English premier league soccer standings after matches played on Saturday: 1. Chelsea 15 11 3 1 29 10 36 2. Arsenal 15 10 5 0 29 11 35 3. Manchester United 15 11 1 3 29 9 34 4. Fulham 15 7 4 4 26 19 25 5. Liverpool 15 6 4 5 22 16 22 6. Charlton Athletic 14 6 4 4 20 17 22 7. Newcastle United 15 5 6 4 21 20 21 8. Birmingham City 15 5 5 5 12 18 20 9. Middlesbrough 15 5 4 6 12 15 19 10. Manchester City 14 5 3 6 22 19 18 11. Tottenham Hotspur 15 5 3 7 18 20 18 12. Bolton Wanderers 15 4 6 5 14 21 18 13. Southampton 14 4 5 5 10 9 17 14. Blackburn Rovers 15 5 2 8 23 24 17 15. Leicester City 15 4 4 7 23 23 16 16. Portsmouth 15 4 4 7 17 20 16 17. Aston Villa 15 3 5 7 11 21 14 18. Everton 14 3 4 7 15 19 13 19. Leeds United 15 3 3 9 13 34 12 20. Wolverhampton Wanderers 15 2 5 8 11 32 11
Bureau Report