London, England – Juan Mata scored twice in three minutes and had a late assist, as Chelsea rallied for a 4-2 win over Tottenham on Saturday at White Hart Lane to remain unbeaten in the English Premier League.
Chelsea led at half through Gary Cahill, but Jermain Defoe and William Gallas put Tottenham in front with successive goals early after the break. It was all Mata from there as he scored in the 66th and 69th and set up a goal for Daniel Sturridge in stoppage time.
The Blues won their fourth straight and seventh through eight matches against one draw to remain four points clear of Manchester United and Manchester City. Spurs had their four-game win streak ended as it slipped eight points back.
Cahill struck first when a poor clearance from Gallas dropped to the Blues defender, who volleyed past Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel from about 12 yards for his second league goal this season.
Tottenham impressed out of the break, and Jon Vertonghen directed a free kick from Tom Huddlestone into the area for Gallas to head home from just feet off the line just over a minute into the second half.
Defoe followed with his 200th career goal off a pass from Aaron Lennon, as he beat Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech to hand Spurs the lead after 54 minutes.
Mata haunted his former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas from that point, and snatched the equalizer after another bad clearance from Gallas. Mata received a pass from Eden Hazard three minutes later to slot past Friedel again.
He finished his memorable performance with an assist for Sturridge, who sealed the fate of Villas-Boas, who coached Chelsea for eight months last season.
Manchester United 4, Stoke City 2
Manchester, England - Wayne Rooney scored twice to help compensate for his own goal and Manchester United downed Stoke City, 4-2, on Saturday at Old Trafford in the English Premier League.
Rooney headed the ball into his own net in the 11th minute, but equalized with 27 minutes played and, after Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck scored, sealed the match with his second five minutes after the hour mark.
United remained within four points of first-place Chelsea in second place, and Stoke City dropped 14 points off the pace in 13th.
After the own goal from Rooney, United were behind for the seventh time in 11 games in all competitions, but he began the comeback when he received a return from Van Persie and converted from deep inside the area.
Van Persie put United in front one minute from halftime when he met a cross by Antonio Valencia on the near side of the six-yard box and turned a shot toward the far post that left Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic no chance.
Welbeck add the third just one minute after halftime when Rooney delivered the pass, and Welbeck dove to glance a header to the far post.
Michael Kightly pulled a goal back for Stoke, which suffered just its second loss, but Rooney struck again to seal the win. Rooney converted from close range after a corner kick deflected to him at the back post, as he notched the clincher and his 200th goal for United.
Manchester City 2, West Bromwich 1
West Bromwich, England - Edin Dzeko rescued 10-man Manchester City with a pair of goals off the bench in the final stages of a 2-1 win over West Bromwich at The Hawthorns on Saturday in the English Premier League.
City lost James Milner to a red card just 23 minutes into the fixture and West Brom moved in front in the 67th through Shane Long. Dzeko was called off the bench and delivered goals in the 80th and two minutes into stoppage time.
On the pitch for Gareth Barry in the 79th, Dzeko announced his presence with a goal less than a minute after coming onto the pitch. He scored his first goal off a header from a Carlos Tevez free kick and slotted home a pass from Sergio Aguero in extra time.
City remained unbeaten with its fifth win against three draws, and stayed just four points off the top and first-place Chelsea. West Brom lost for just the second time and slipped eight points off the summit.
Liverpool 1, Reading 0
Liverpool, England - Raheem Sterling scored his first Premiership goal to lift Liverpool to a 1-0 win over winless Reading on Saturday and its first league win at Anfield this season.
The 17-year-old Sterling is the second-youngest player to score for Liverpool, behind only Michael Owen. He took a pass from Luis Suarez and slotted back to the bottom-left corner just before the hour mark.
Liverpool made the goal stand up, as it secured its second win this season and moved within reach of a top-half place after a poor start to the campaign. The Reds are unbeaten in three, with both wins in that span.
Reading is finding life in the Premier League tough, as the promoted side lost for the fourth time against three ties this season and remained just one point off the foot of the table.
Norwich City 1, Arsenal 0
Norwich, England - Grant Holt converted a rebound from close range in the 19th minute as Norwich City downed Arsenal, 1-0, on Saturday at Carrow Road for its first win of the season.
Alexander Tettey unleashed a long-range blast that Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone could only deflect inside the six-yard box, and Holt beat Gunners defender Per Mertesacker to the loose ball to slot home from close range.
Norwich had four losses and three draws through seven matches, but snapped a three-game losing streak to move clear of the bottom three. Arsenal lost for the second time and slipped 10 points off the pace of first-place Chelsea.
West Ham 4, Southampton 1
London, England - Mark Noble scored a brace as West Ham notched four goals in the second half of a 4-1 win over Southampton on Saturday at Boleyn Ground in the English Premier League.
Scoreless at halftime, Noble scored in the first minute of the second half to spark West Ham. Kevin Nolan doubled the lead in the 48th minute and, after the visitors pulled a goal back through Adam Lallan, Noble added a penalty.
Modibo Maiga capped the scoring three minutes from time, sealing a fourth win for West Ham. The Hammers remained within eight points of the summit.
Southampton lost for the sixth time this season as the promoted side continues to struggle.
Fulham 1, Aston Villa 0
London, England - Chris Baird scored six minutes from time as Fulham defeated Aston Villa, 1-0, on Saturday at Craven Cottage for its third win in its last five matches in the English Premier League.
Baird converted the lone goal of the match off a corner kick from John Arne Riise, as the got a slight touch on the near side to turn the ball past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Fulham was winless in its last two, but secured its fourth win to remain just nine points off the top after seven matches. Villa lost for the third time in a four-game winless streak and is just two points off the bottom.
Swansea City 2, Wigan 1
Swansea, Wales - Pablo Hernandez and Michu scored two minutes apart in the second half and Swansea City edged Wigan, 2-1, on Saturday at Liberty Stadium to snap a five-game winless streak in the English Premier League.
Hernandez scored his first goal for Swansea in the 65th minute after he took a pass from Jonathan de Guzman and converted a low shot. Michu notched his sixth goal this season two minutes later, depositing a corner from De Guzman.
Emmerson Boyce pulled a goal back in the 69th for Wigan to wrap up an exciting four-minute stretch, but the hosts held on to end their slide and leave Wigan without a win in six straight.
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