Soccer Scene The Guvnor’s late goal is Gunners’ glee

By Dermot Clarke

When the last four or five fixtures for both Arsenal and Manchester United are analyzed, one stands out for each as being the game that could determine the title’s destiny this season. For United it was the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. For Arsenal, the game away to Leeds leaps from the page. Dave O’Leary’s high-flying youngsters against his former club, the club he grew with under the tutelage of his coaching mentor, George Graham.

Liverpool’s season has been disastrous by their standards. Without Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, they are even less formidable, but Liverpool versus United is different, always has been. When Liverpool were the greatest in Europe and United were in the doldrums of mid-division, the fixture would still be a headache for the Anfield side. The tables were turned on Wednesday. United were still on course for that most elusive of trebles, The English League, The F.A. Cup and the European Cup (Champions League). Liverpool were seeking a treble of their own — three wins on the trot — a rarity for them this season. Liverpool almost pulled off the big treble in ’77. Guess who stopped them from doing it? United, in the Cup final.

Anfield had it all on Wednesday night, the atmosphere electric in the home of atmospherics. Liverpool were by far the livelier early on, dangerous raids down the right by Rigobert Song being a feature of the opening spell. So often, though, the moves begged for a Fowler or an Owen on the end of them. United scored first, midway through the half. It was their first attack of note. Roy Keane set David Beckham free on the right and his inch-perfect cross found the head of Dwight Yorke on the far post, 1-0. Good move, poor defending, Anfield falls silent, familiar scenes.

United began the second half still a goal to the good. Ince had a chance to equalize early but volleyed over. Fifty-five minutes in, Jamie Carragher’s clumsy-tackle on Blomqvist earned United a penalty, which old reliable Denis Irwin converted to make it 2-0. You would be excused for thinking game over.

Two incidents turned the whole thing around, though, and at the heart of said incidents was, yes, that man again, the pride of Harrow-on-the-Hill, referee David Elleray. Elleray awarded a penalty against Blomqvist. It was a harsh decision, but in his mind it was only fair, because he had already given him one at the other end.

Six minutes after Jamie Redknapp had converted the spot kick, Elleray deprived one of the most honest players in world football a chance to play in what would probably have been his swan song Cup Final, when he sent Denis Irwin off for a second bookable offense. Irwin kicked the ball away in frustration, having carried it over the sideline. Most referees would have given Denis the old "now you’ve already been booked, be careful" line, not Elleray though. Straight out with the red card, no regard for the player or the circumstance. The whole of Anfield felt sorry for Denis at that moment. David Elleray had done his little nasty deed for the day and the Football League will continue to give him the big games to handle.

Liverpool took control after this, but it was not until the final minute of regular play that they equalized. The man the United fans called "the Guvnor," when he ran the rule over the middle of Old Trafford, Paul Ince was the man who put a severe dent in his former club’s title aspirations by scrambling the ball home in the 90th minute. Jamie Carragher could have won it for Liverpool in injury time when a superb cross from David Thompson found him unmarked in the area. Carragher, however, headed wide when scoring looked an easier task. The game ended 2-2.

Arsenal gun down Spurs

While all that was going on Arsenal were running out convincing 3-1 winners over north London rivals Spurs, sending them three points clear and slightly ahead on goal difference. United went away and took the points in their make-up game on Sunday at Middlesbrough. Yorke again the provider when he headed home on the stroke of halftime to give them a 1-0 win.

So it’s honors even, all-square on goal difference and everything to play for. More worries for United, though. Roy Keane had to leave the field after 25 minutes with an ankle injury. Keane was seen leaving the Stadium on crutches. His absence would be an obvious blow to United’s title hopes. Keane, remember already misses the Champions League final because of suspension. Arsenal’s big one against Leeds is next on the list.

Oft times the relegation battle throws up some classic encounters and such was the case on Saturday when Charlton defeated Aston Villa by 4-3 away from home. Danny Mills gave his side hope in the final minute when he cracked home a free kick. It was the fourth time Charlton had been ahead in this game of many incidents. They must now win their last game and hope that Southampton falter. Blackburn look to be heading down after defeat by already doomed Nottingham Forest.

Bradford, Sunderland promoted

Bradford join Sunderland in the premiership next year after a 3-2 victory over Wolves. The win also put paid to Robbie Keane’s side’s playoff hopes. Sunderland’s 2-1 victory gives them a record points total, it also tells the big boys to beware. Peter Reid’s side won’t be just there to make up the numbers next season.

FAI Cup

The FAI Cup finalists will have to do it all again. Finn Harps and Bray Wanderers played to an uneventful 0-0 draw at Tolka Park at the weekend. The replay is set for Sunday. UEFA have decided that the Ireland-Yugoslavia game will after all go ahead on June 5. Stating that they "reserve the right to reassess the developments in the Balkan region at its meeting in Barcelona on May 26."

The FAI have put Irish players based in England on alert after it received threats from a group known as Combat 18. Concerns are growing that the Irish community might become the latest minority group to come under threat amid the recent spate of bombings in London.

FAI president Pat Quigley said that he had received "some quite disturbing phone calls from people claiming to be members of the group. Quigley says that some of the high-profile Irish players, have been threatened.

"You are talking about the Keanes, Irwins and Townsends and such," he said.

Combat 18 are a National Front type group, the 18 being the first and eighth letter of the alphabet A and H the initials of a German politician prominent in the late 1930s and early ’40s.