EPL Scores & Highlights 2014: Manchester United Trounces Hull City, Chelsea Stays Unbeaten
Manchester United maintained their position in the top four of the English Premier League (EPL) standings, finishing the day with 22 points, rolling over Hull City 3-0 Saturday afternoon.
Chris Smalling opened up the scoring for the Red Devils after the Hull City defense failed to clear the ball out on a corner kick in the 16th minute before Wayne Rooney scored his fifth goal of the EPL season in the 42nd minute of the match to extend Manchester United's lead to 2-0. Robin van Persie, who was criticized by Man U head coach Louis van Gaal going into Saturday's game, scored his fourth goal of the year to put the game away for Manchester United by a score of 3-0.
"It was a beautiful goal," said van Gaal regarding van Persie's goal in the 66th minute after the Dutch striker's disappointing performance against Arsenal last week. "I'm very happy for him. He needed that goal."
The Manchester United victory did not come without a price after Angel di Maria went down with an injury, leaving the game in the 14th minute after feeling pain in his hamstring.
"[di Maria] shall be out at least Tuesday," said van Gaal. "It's too close the game against Stoke City. But we have to wait and see, I cannot say that now. Maybe [Sunday] we know more."
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While Arsenal managed to get into the UEFA Champions Round of 16 this week, the Gunners, losers of their last two EPL matches against Swansea City and Manchester United, bounced back this week thanks to Danny Welbeck. Welbeck defeated West Bromwich Albion, playing on the road at The Hawthorns. Welback nailed a header past West Brom keeper Ben Foster off a Santi Cazorla's cross into the box in the 60th minute to give the Gunners the 1-0 victory.
"The last 15 minutes, maybe we were a bit tired and we kept it together with solidarity and desire to win the game," said Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger. "We got a bit lucky on one or two occasions but overall, of course, we deserved to win the game."
EPL table leaders Chelsea stayed unbeaten this weekend, despite playing on the road in the Stadium of Light against a scrappy Sunderland club looking for the upset. Sunderland keeper Costel Pantilimon was kept busy, making six saves in the game. Jozy Altidore was brought off the bench in the 62nd minute for extra firepower up front as the Black Cats attempted to hand Chelsea their first loss of the season, only to finish the game with 0-0 draw.
"This was not a good result but I don't consider this a bad result because it's one more point and every point is a positive point, in a very difficult match," said Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho. "Only one team tried to win from the beginning but Sunderland defended a lot and well and I don't consider that a negative thing in football."
Results from the rest of Saturday's EPL games:
Liverpool 1 - Stoke City 0
Queens Park Rangers 3 - Leicester City 2
Burnley 1 - Aston Villa 1
Swansea City 1 - Crystal Palace 1
West Ham United 1 - Newcastle United 0
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