United close in with Hammers draw, City, Chelsea win

LONDON. Champions-elect Manchester United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at West Ham United on Wednesday and move a step closer to their 20th league title which they could clinch as early as next Monday.

Friday, April 19, 2013
John Terryu2019s double has boosted Chelseau2019s Champions League hopes. Net photo.

WednesdayFulham     0 - 3     ChelseaWest Ham     2 - 2     Man UnitedMan City     1 - 0     Wigan     LONDON. Champions-elect Manchester United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at West Ham United on Wednesday and move a step closer to their 20th league title which they could clinch as early as next Monday.Although second-placed Manchester City won 1-0 at relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic in an FA Cup Final rehearsal to close the gap on United to 13 points, United only need six points from their last five games to seal top spot.United have 81 points from 33 games and City 68 from 32, but if City lose to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and United beat Villa at Old Trafford on Monday, United will reclaim the crown.Chelsea, playing their seventh match in 19 days, showed no sign of fatigue as they won 3-0 at Fulham in a one-sided West London derby highlighted by a stunning 30-metre strike from David Luiz for the visitors’ first goal.John Terry scored the other two as Chelsea, for whom Frank Lampard made his 600th appearance, moved into third place on 61 points from 32 games, ahead of Arsenal on 60 from 33, Tottenham 58 from 32 and Everton 56 from 33."We were magnificent in our determination and courage to play and I am pleased with the result,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.OFFSIDE CALLHowever, West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was unhappy with United’s second equaliser from Robin Van Persie, claiming the linesman missed an obvious offside call."We could have had a famous victory over United today, but when the assistant referee takes it away from you, it leaves me feeling very angry,” he said.The FA Cup Final preview City and Wigan ended in a win for champions City with Carlos Tevez scoring the only goal seven minutes from time with a smart shot from the edge of the box after making room for himself.The result left Wigan, who meet City in the Cup final at Wembley Stadium on May 11, in the bottom three, three points from safety.Wigan have 31 points from 32 games and a three behind Sunderland, Stoke City and Aston Villa who all have 34 from 33 games.Queens Park Rangers and Reading prop up the table with 24 points from 33 games and look doomed to the drop.