arsenal win 3-1
Hull: Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal effectively secured Champions league football for an 18th straight year by beating Hull 3-1 on Monday in the Premier league. The win means Arsenal is nine points ahead of fifth-place liverpool, which has three games left to play. Third-place Arsenal also has a game in hand and a better goal difference.
Arsenal put the game away during a 20-minute span in the first half as Sanchez scored with a deflected free kick in the 28th minute and Aaron Ramsey doubled the lead when he ran onto Santi Cazorla’s long pass to score with another deflected shot in the 33rd. Ramsey then played Sanchez clear just before halftime and the Chile striker rounded goalkeeper Steve Harper to score into an open net.
Stephen Quinn pulled one back for Hull with a header in the 57th but Steve Bruce’s team remained just one point above the relegation zone.
Arsenal dominated the midfield in the first half with aggressive pressing and a fluid passing game, and the visitors took the lead after Sanchez was fouled by Jake livermore outside the area. The Chilean’s free kick deflected off Michael Dawson’s head to wrongfoot Harper and fly into the net.
Five minutes later, Cazorla’s perfectly lofted pass picked out Ramsey, who turned and fired past Harper with the aid of a heavy deflection off Robbie Brady’s leg.
The impressive Cazorla played in Sanchez again shortly afterward, but he failed in his attempt to lift the ball over Harper.
Robinho called up
SAO PAUlO: Veteran striker Robinho was summoned by Brazil for the Copa America, while an injured Oscar was left out of the squad on Tuesday.
Neymar and defenders David luiz and Thiago Silva also were included in coach Dunga’s list for Brazil’s first official competition after the disappointing World Cup elimination at home last year.
Brazil opens against Peru on June 14, then plays Colombia on June 17, and Venezuela on June 21 to close out the group stage of the 12-nation tournament.
Robinho was in Dunga’s team that won the Copa America in 2007, and the coach said he brought back the 31-year-old player to take advantage of his experience. The striker has been playing well since returning to Brazil from AC Milan.
AlMERIA HOlD CElTA T0 2-2
AlMERIA: Forward Thievy Bifouma scored one goal and forced a sending off as Almeria erased a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against Celta Vigo in a Spanish league match both sides finished with 10 men. Almeria inched two points away from the relegation zone with three rounds remaining, while Celta remained in ninth place in the la liga.