FREE KICK: New York has the Mets and Yankees and Chicago offers the Cubs and White Sox, and both cities share a love of baseball but a hatred of their intra-city rivals. Several cities within the Premiership have ownership of more than one soccer club, but it’s in Manchester where the bad blood would make any street gang green with envy. On Sunday, the BPL’s top two teams settled their beef at City’s Etihad Stadium. Let’s kick start this thing.
MANCHESTER CITY vs. MANCHESTER UNITED: City started the game with guns ablaze but United landed the first bullet when Wayne Rooney wrong-footed Joe Hart from the top of the box. Rooney doubled United's pleasure when he slotted home a cross from Antonio Valencia, but once Roberto Mancini exchanged Carlos Tevez for a pouting Mario Balotelli, City were reborn. Goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta dead-locked the score at 2-2 and turned the Etihad into a cauldron, but when a draw seemed inevitable, Robin Van Persie's free kick found the back of the net for the United equalizer. What separates the great from the very good is the ability to deliver in the clutch. After the goal, a "fan's" projectile struck an unsuspecting Rio Ferdinand, and it was like putting a mole on the Mona Lisa; just a total buzz-kill that marred a pulsating game. With the win, MU is now six points ahead of second place City atop the standings. United 3, City 2
SUNDERLAND vs. CHELSEA: The Black Cats were starved, having just two wins to show for their previous 23 outings, while Chelsea had fashioned a loss and two draws since Rafael Benitez came aboard as captain. The Blues were in a groove following a six-goal outburst in their midweek Champions League fixture, and the hits just kept on coming over the weekend. Fernando Torres went “Kung Fu Panda” on the game's opener after just eleven minutes, nailing the volley with the bottom of his elevated boot after Eden Hazard sent a mid-air cross from the wing. The second tally was tagged controversial after referee Mark Halsey judged that Sebastian Larsson brought down Ramirez in the box. I thought Larsson was innocent of the charge, but no matter, as Torres' PK made it 2-0 visitors at intermission. Juan Mata delivered a conventional goal four minutes into the second stanza, and Chelsea were able to add up the three points. Adam Johnson's strike in the 66th was pure cosmetics, but all the eye shadow and lipstick in the world couldn't cover Sunderland's ugliness. And, with Frank Lampard and John Terry soon to return from injury, it appears that Chelsea is back in the hunt. Chelsea 3, Sunderland 1
ARSENAL vs. WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Winless in their previous three, Arsenal settled the frayed nerves of the home supporters thanks indirectly to the incompetence of referee Mike Jones. When Santi Cazorla fell to the turf, Jones pointed to the PK spot, convinced that the midfielder had been tripped. With the naked eye watching at home I could tell that Steven Reid swung and missed with his right foot, but umpire Jones still rang up the WBA defender. Mikel Arteta delivered the goods from the dot and Arsenal were off and winging, and to add the absurd to the injustice, Jones later failed to whistle Per Mertesacker for a clear handball. Arteta's second PK strike midway through the second stanza after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was tackled in the box was deserved, but by then the damage was done. To his credit, under cross examination, Arsene Wenger apologized for Cazorla's Tom Cruise imitation. Arsenal 2, WBA 0
WEST HAM UNITED vs. LIVERPOOL: Liverpool lifeguard Luis Suarez was off-duty on this day while serving a one-game suspension, but he was hardly missed, and The Hammers were also shorthanded with former Liverpool front-man Andy Carroll idle due to injury. Glen Johnson opened the scoring with a William Tell-like bullseye from 20 yards out, his right-footed arrow finding the top floor of the WH net after avoiding a goalie's gloves – an early Holiday spectacular to say the least, and despite an own-goal from captain Steven Gerrard, the Reds continued to travel down victory lane. The play of teen idol Raheem Sterling has been superb. Liverpool 3, West Ham 2
EVERTON vs. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Such a shame that this contest was relegated to the supporting card, what with the Manchester derby sucking all the air out of this weekend's BPL's room. The first 75 minutes didn't have a pulse, but the contest received a transfusion of energy in the 76th when Clint Dempsey went Rory McIlroy on fellow American Tim Howard with his chip shot; the Texan couldn't have been more accurate with a pitching wedge. But beware of the wounded animal, as Everton scored twice in injury time to pull it out; Steve Pienaar burned his former team when he nodded home a cross for the equalizer, with Nikica Jelavic starring in the role as hero when he beat an offside trap. To quote the late Jack Buck, "I can't believe what I just saw." Everton 2, Spurs 1
ASTON VILLA vs. STOKE: The title of a Billy Preston song aptly describes this snooze fest: nothing from nothing leaves nothing. AV 0, Stoke 0
SWANSEA CITY vs. NORWICH CITY: If the above game was "Silent Night," this game was a "Winter Wonderland” – presents all around with seven goals scored. The BPL's leading scorer, Michu, tallied twice for Swansea, but the home side had no answers for a balanced Norwich attack. An absolute slugfest won by the Canaries, their first away win of the season. Norwich 4, Swansea 3
SOUTHAMPTON vs. READING: Southampton traveled north out of the relegation zone with this blue-collar, 9-to-5 victory. Jason Puncheon slotted home the game's only goal in the 61st, and just seven days after putting up a three-spot against mighty Manchester United, Reading returned to their offensively challenged ways. Southampton 1, Reading 0
WIGAN vs. QUEENS PARK RANGERS: All Charlie Brown got for Halloween was a rock; all QPR wants in 2012 is a victory. They remain anchored at the bottom of the Premiership sea and are clearly in need of a life preserver, as incredibly it's now 16 matches and counting without a win – but to their credit, a third straight draw should be cause for a celebration. Wigan 2, QPR 2
