Sport

Di Canio seals it

A cursory analysis of this game will paint two-goal Paolo Di Canio as the hero of West Ham's victory while Arsenal's Patrick …

By MARTIN THORPE
Mon Oct 04 1999 - 01:00

A cursory analysis of this game will paint two-goal Paolo Di Canio as the hero of West Ham's victory while Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, sent off and facing allegations of spitting, will be cast as the bad guy. Oh, if only life were that simple.

Di Canio, not for the first time, was also a villain. And let us not forget either the man in black. Mike Reid fell for two apparent dives by Di Canio which resulted in Vieira receiving the fourth red card of his Arsenal career. He also missed a handball in the build-up to West Ham's first goal, yet managed to spot enough other offences to see Marc Vivien Foe sent off in injury time for a second caution.

As for Vieira, having picked up his fifth yellow card and first sending-off this season, he now faces the possibility of further punishment after allegedly spitting in the face of West Ham's Neil Ruddock.

A great run on the half-hour by Di Canio past about five challenges ended with the ball squirting out to Trevor Sinclair on the right of the area. As David Seaman, back from injury, blocked the threat, the ball ballooned up and Sinclair appeared to control it with his outstretched hand. The ensuing cross was half-hit by Paulo Wanchope and Di Canio stabbed it home.

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After 72 minutes the Italian produced another piece of magic to extend West Ham's lead, lifting the ball past Martin Keown with his left foot and firing majestically past Seaman with his right.

Four minutes later Arsenal pulled a goal back when Steve Lomas's marshmallow defensive header fell straight to Suker, who this time found the net.

WEST HAM UNITED: Hislop, Potts, Ruddock, Stimac, Sinclair, Lomas, Lampard, Foe, Moncur (Margas 87), Di Canio, Wanchope (Kitson 80). Subs Not Used: Forrest, Keller, Carrick. Sent Off: Foe (90). Booked: Wanchope, Lomas, Moncur, Foe. Goals: Di Canio 29, 72.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Luzhny (Overmars 72), Keown, Adams, Silvinho, Henry (Kanu 72), Vieira, Grimandi, Ljungberg, Suker, Bergkamp. Subs Not Used: Manninger, Winterburn, Dixon. Sent Off: Vieira (84). Booked: Bergkamp, Keown, Vieira, Henry, Grimandi. Goals: Suker 77.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).