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Stoke City 0-1 West Ham United
Match Reports, 17:13, May 2, 2009 ,
A stubborn West Ham defence shut out Stoke as a Diego Tristan wonder free-kick put the Hammers within touching distance of Europe.
The match started slowly and although both sides had a goal ruled out for dubious reasons it took a moment of magic to really bring the match to life.
Tristan placed the ball down following a foul on David Di Michele by Abdoulaye Faye around 25 yards out and struck a vicious free-kick which bent into the top left corner leaving Thomas Sorensen with absolutely no chance.
Both sides went in search of a vital goal following the restart and if it were not for a disciplined Hammers defence, Stoke would have not only levelled the match, they may well have snatched all three points.
Numerous efforts from Ricardo Fuller, Ryan Shawcross and James Beattie were all blocked and cleared bravely by Robert Green and his defence to hand the visitors all the points and keep them within a few points of a Europa League spot next season.