LONDON, 13 March 2005 — Manchester United and Arsenal kept their seasons alive with clinical away victories over Premier League rivals in FA Cup quarterfinals yesterday.
Paul Scholes struck twice for holders United, who crushed Southampton 4-0, and an early Fredrik Ljungberg goal gave champions Arsenal a 1-0 win at 10-man Bolton Wanderers.
Manchester United captain Roy Keane put his side ahead after only two minutes with a rasping angled drive that took a deflection on its way into the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the advantage just before halftime with a neat finish from eight meters after Wayne Rooney had escaped down the left. Scholes added the third with a low shot just after the interval and the former England midfielder completed the rout with a stooping far-post header three minutes from time.
Arsenal, like United knocked out of the Champions League in midweek and lagging way behind league leaders Chelsea, were not quite as impressive but still dominated their game at Bolton.
Ljungberg dinked the ball over goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after three minutes to put his side ahead, and the hosts’ hopes plummeted six minutes later when Senegal striker El-Hadji Diouf was sent off for elbowing Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann off the ball.
Werder Held to Goalless Draw at End of Bad Week
In Frankfurt, Werder Bremen’s miserable week took a further turn for the worse when they were held to a goalless draw at home to FSV Mainz yesterday.
Last season’s double winners, beaten 7-2 by Olympique Lyon in the Champions League this week, attacked relentlessly against a side still fighting relegation but poor finishing cost them victory and a much needed boost to morale.
The result spells a virtual end to their hopes of a successful title defense and leaves them in a desperate fight for third place and a qualifying slot for next season’s Champions League.
Leaders Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 both have 50 points from 24 games, followed by Werder on 44 from 25. Werder will be nine points off the pace come Sunday evening unless Schalke’s home game against Bayern finishes in a draw.
The biggest winners yesterday were Hamburg SV, who climbed up to fourth on 43 points with a 4-3 win away to Arminia Bielefeld.
Bayer Leverkusen, who like Werder were beaten heavily in Europe this week, could only manage a 3-3 draw at home to 10-man Hertha Berlin.
Celtic Demolish Dunfermline to Close In on Rangers
In Glasgow, Celtic hammered Dunfermline Athletic 6-0 at home to narrow the gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League to one yesterday. Welshman John Hartson hit a double while Stilian Petrov piled in with two and Criag Beattie and Aiden McGeady also scored for the Glasgow side.
Fiorentina Fight Back for Point at Lecce
In Milan, Fiorentina fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Lecce and pick up a useful point in their relegation struggle.
Dino Zoff’s side fell behind in the 28th minute to a thundering free kick from former Chelsea midfielder Sam Dalla Bona which rattled in off the inside of the post.
Serbian Mirko Vucinic made it 2-0 for Lecce three minutes later when he showed excellent control to bring down a long pass from Crisitian Ledesma and then a cool finish to beat Fiorentina keeper Cristiano Lupatelli.
Danish winger Martin Jorgensen pulled one back for the Florence side just two minutes after the restart and then four minutes from the end Christian Maggio took advantage of some poor Lecce defending to slot home a late equalizer.
Govou Sends Lyon 11 Points Clear at Top of Ligue 1
In Paris, a second half goal by France international Sidney Govou sent Olympique Lyon 11 points clear in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 defeat of bottom club Istres yesterday.
The three-time champions, who thrashed Werder Bremen 7-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday, have 59 points from 29 games.
Olympique Marseille can reduce the gap later when they host in-form Racing Lens at the Stade Velodrome.
Lyon were made to fight for the three points and Istres could have snatched a point when striker Ibrahima Bakayoko missed a clear chance in the dying minutes.
