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Arsenal defeats Tottenham 3-1

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Posted: Wednesday May 05, 1999 06:18 PM

Arsenal players celebrate after a goal by Petit (right). AP

LONDON (AP) -- Liverpool captain Paul Ince struck a major blow to his former club by scoring a late equalizer Wednesday against Manchester United and providing Arsenal with an unexpected bonus in the process.

United's treble title chase slumped as it gained just one point from the 2-2 tie, while defending titlist Arsenal grabbed maximum points witha 3-1 win over Tottenham to extend its lead in the league standings to three points.

Manchester United led 2-0 after anhour but Liverpool hit back with a penalty to Jmie Redknapp.

United was reduced to 10 men in the final 15 minutes after Dennis Irwin was sent off and Ince added the fairytale finish with his sliding goal two minutes from full time.

It was a reverse of fortunes for the England defender, who played for United in 1992 when Liverpool stopped them from winning the championship on the last day of the season at Anfield.

"I didn't think we could come back from 2-0 down," Ince said after the game.

"United is a world-class team and you don't expect to get two goals back...rilliant."

The Gunners now lead the standings with 75 points, followed by United with 72 and Chelsea on 71.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds all have two games to play but Manchester United has three games remaining.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea retained third place and confirmed its place in the European top flight next season with a 1-0 win over Leeds in a No. 3 vs. No. 4 clash.

The Blues' Uruguayan international Gustavo Poyet scored the clincher with an unstoppable header in the 68th minute.

Until then, Leeds 'keeper Nigel Martyn had kept his team in the game with a series of brilliant saves, including two against ace striker Tor Andre Flo.

At Anfield, Manchester United took a 2-0 lead after 56 minutes on goals to Dwight Yorke and a Dennis Irwin penalty before Liverpool hit back.

Yorke scored his 28th goal of the season in the 22nd minute when he headed a David Beckham cross past Reds 'keeper Brad Friedel.

Irwin, who missed a penalty against Aston Villa on Saturda, had no trouble converting a spot kick in the 56th minute but turned villain 20 minutes later when he was red carded.

In the North London grudge match, the Gunners grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first half-hour and seemed to be coasting before Spurs closed the gap on halftime through a David Anderton penalty.

French pair Gabriel Petit and Nicolas Anelka scored in the 17th and 33rd minutes before Anderton sent a curling penalty around a defensive wall and past England 'keeper David Seaman in the 43rd minute.

After a tense second half, Nwankwo Kanu added another spectacular solo goal in the 85th minute to give Arsenal an unbeatable lead.

In Wednesay's other Premier League match, Derby defeated Leicester 2-1 with Mikkel Beck scoring the winner in the 60th minute.

Dean Sturridge opened the scoring for Derby in the 17th minute before Frank Sinclair levelled in the 28th minute.

 

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