SUNDERLAND, England (AP) ― Sunderland’s relegation fears worsened with a 2-1 home loss to West Ham in the Premier League on Monday.
Andy Carroll helped the visitors take a major step toward securing their own status for next season by powering in a header from a corner in the 10th minute, and Mohamed Diame doubled the lead five minutes into the second half.
Adam Johnson gave Sunderland hopes of a comeback when he pulled one back with a good finish in the 65th, but goalkeeper Adrian pulled off a double save to deny Ki Sung-yueng and Connor Wickham and protect the lead.
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Sunderland’s Ki Sung-yueng (right) and West Ham United’s Mark Noble vie for the ball on Monday. (AFP-Yonhap) |
Spain
Malaga scored twice in the final eight minutes for a 2-1 victory at last-place Real Betis, whose hopes of avoiding relegation took a blow after another disappointing Spanish league defeat.
Betis had a chance to salvage a point in stoppage time, but Ruben Castro sent his penalty kick off the crossbar to leave Betis ruing a missed opportunity that left it 11 points from salvation with seven rounds remaining.
Juanmi Jimenez canceled out Lolo Reyes’ first-half opener in the 82nd minute before Sergi Darder notched the winner with two minutes left to play as Malaga moved five points clear of the drop.
Italy
Inter Milan wasted a two-goal lead when a glaring error from Fredy Guarin led to a late equalizer by relegation-threatened Livorno in a 2-2 draw Monday.
Five minutes from time, Guarin’s ill-advised pass back to defender Walter Samuel was intercepted by Livorno forward Innocent Emeghara, who then did well to beat goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with a long shot.
Brazil playmaker Hernanes had opened the scoring in the 37th with his first goal for Inter since transferring from Lazio in January.
