Hammers stun United in title twist

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LONDON, Dec 30(AFP): West Ham threw the Premier League title race wide open Saturday by coming from behind to beat Manchester United 2-1 as the leaders lost for only the third time in the league this season.
Defeat at Upton Park left United just a point in front of Arsenal ahead of the Gunners' late kick-off match away to Everton.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 18th goal of the season looked like being enough to give champions United a win when he headed in a 14th minute cross from Ryan Giggs.
But the Portugal star was made to pay for shooting wide from the penalty spot in the 66th minute following a handball from Jonathan Spector.
Hammers substitute Anton Ferdinand, playing against his brother Rio, drew the home side level in the 77th minute with a header and, with eight minutes to go, West Ham were ahead when Matthew Upson headed in Mark Noble's free-kick.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose wide were without ill duo Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, said West Ham deserved their win.
"I have no complaints. We were beaten by the better team. We were not nearly up to our normal performance."
Dimitar Berbatov scored four goals, including his first hat-trick for Tottenham, as they beat Reading 6-4 in an extraordinary, see-saw match at White Hart Lane with boyhood Spurs fan Dave Kitson netting twice for the visitors.
It was the second time this season that Reading had lost after scoring four away from home following their 7-4 defeat at Portsmouth.
Chelsea heaped more pressure on Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge that meant the visitors had taken just one point from a possible nine. But Salomon Kalou's decisive goal three minutes from time appeared offside.
Sunderland moved out of the bottom three with a 3-1 win at home to Bolton while Middlesbrough won 1-0 away to Portsmouth as the home side went goalless in the league at Fratton Park for the sixth match in a row.