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MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Italian defender Matteo Darmian (up) vies with Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker during the English football match at Old Trafford. — AFP Walker gifts United opening win

close-season signings. was fragmented and passes went astray as tally poke it past Spurs goalkeeper Michel inside onto his right foot and drilled in a lot The visitors had chances of their own as they struggled for rhythm during a first half Vorm. Mata’s influence grew and he threat- shot that Vorm gathered. Darmian’s energy Man United 1 they rallied late in the contest, but ulti- in which none of their players managed a ened twice after cutting in from the right, down the right flank yielded another mately Walker’s own goal, in the 22nd shot on target. while Toby Alderweireld, Spurs’ only debu- chance moments later when he delivered a minute, proved to be the difference. Tottenham almost took the lead in the tant, saw a snap-shot from the edge of the high ball for Rooney, but the United skipper Van Gaal, as he had promised in his pre- sixth minute when Harry Kane scooped a area saved by Romero on the stroke of was not able to properly execute a spectac- Tottenham 0 match press conference, did not select clever ball over the top of the United half-time. ular acrobatic effort. United were indebted David de Gea, explaining that the Spain defence for Christian Eriksen, who lifted his United were marginally better after the to Romero in the latter stages as he denied goalkeeper was not “capable” of the focus effort over the crossbar. break as they initially played with more Spurs three times to preserve his clean required for the match amid speculation Despite their uncertain start United took intensity and purpose, although with Young sheet and ensure that Van Gaal’s side MANCHESTER: Manchester United secured linking him with a move to Real Madrid. the lead, albeit fortuitously, with an own and Mata largely stifled out wide, they banked the points. an unconvincing 1-0 victory over The Dutchman instead handed a debut goal from Spurs right-back Walker after struggled to create clear-cut chances. Van Denmark international Eriksen, arguably Tottenham Hotspur in their opening in goal to Argentina international Sergio Juan Mata had intercepted a lazy pass from Gaal introduced Bastian Schweinsteiger for Tottenham’s most accomplished performer, Premier League game of the season yester- Romero, signed on a free transfer following Nabil Bentaleb. on the hour, and four min- struck an angled shot that brought a smart day thanks to an own goal from Kyle his release from Sampdoria. Mata sent Ashley Young scurrying clear utes later the hosts managed their first shot reaction save from Romero. Walker. On manager Louis van Gaal’s 64th United also gave full debuts to forward down the right flank and his low cross on target. The Argentine then clawed away a birthday the hosts rarely threatened the Memphis Depay, midfielder Morgan picked out the unmarked Wayne Rooney, The impressive Darmian floated a cross deflected header from Kane before making Tottenham goal as the Old Trafford crowd Schneiderlin and right-back Matteo only for Walker, in his haste to deny the into the box in the direction of the German a low diving save to his right to push a got their first glimpse of some of United’s Darmian. With four new faces, United’s play United captain a shot at goal, to acciden- and the ball dropped to Young, who cut drive from Eriksen away from goal. —AFP Swansea stymie Chelsea Eagles devour Canaries side of the post. wake of last season’s success has prompted accusa- But Palace grew into the game and after tions the club risk standing still while their main rivals Norwich 1 John Ruddy had saved at close range from Chelsea 2 have strengthened. Mourinho defended the Glenn Murray, they took the lead in the approach in the build-up to this game, although he 39th minute when Jason Puncheon’s right- admitted he still wants to bring in a left-back to chal- wing cross was adroitly dispatched on the lenge Cesar Azpilicueta following the departure of Crystal Palace 3 volley by Zaha. Swansea 2 Filipe Luis. The south Londoners tightened their Initially it appeared to be business as usual on the grip on proceedings four minutes into the pitch, with the hosts quickly hitting their stride second half when Puncheon’s deep corner against a Swansea side anxious to avenge the two NORWICH: Yohan Cabaye marked his was headed back across goal by Pape Thibaut Courtois was sent off as Chelsea’s heavy defeats they suffered at Chelsea’s hands last LONDON: Crystal Palace debut with a goal as Alan Souare and Delaney tapped home at the title defence began in stuttering fashion with Jose season. ’s side shipped nine goals in those Pardew’s side opened the Premier League far post. Palace had a debutant in goal in Mourinho’s side held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge two games, but after finishing eighth last term, the season with a 3-1 win at promoted Norwich Alex McCarthy and he thwarted first by Swansea City yesterday. Welsh side are confident of making further progress, City yesterday. Dominant at home last season, the Premier particularly following the addition of Ayew from Bradley Johnson and then Whittaker as the Wilfried Zaha and Damien Delaney League champions found themselves in the unfamil- Marseille. An early header from Gomis flashed across hosts pushed for an equaliser. scored for Palace either side of half-time, iar position of having to hang on for a point after the face of Courtois’s goal to confirm the visitors’ Norwich manager Alex Neil sent on twice losing the lead, the second time to a 52nd- threat. but a strike had the visi- Redmond and Jerome for Grabban and minute penalty, converted by Bafetimbi Gomis and Then the Swansea striker was too slow to make tors living on their nerves until France Alex Tettey, and the changes had an instant conceded by Courtois for a foul that earned the goal- the most of a good 15th-minute chance after being international Cabaye, a £10 million ($15.5 effect. keeper a red card. Chelsea had taken a 23rd-minute set up by Jonjo Shelvey. But it was Chelsea who million, 14.1 million euros) acquisition from Redmond brought Norwich back into lead through Oscar and restored their advantage with began to dominate the game with Oscar, operating Paris Saint-Germain, found the net in stop- the game with a low drive from 25 yards in a Federico Fernandez own goal a minute after Andre behind Costa, at the heart of most of the home side’s page time. Norwich substitute Cameron the 69th minute and Jerome thought he Ayew had marked his competitive Swansea debut attacking moves. Jerome had an equaliser ruled out for a had claimed the equaliser moments later, LONDON: Swansea City’s Ghanaian striker with a goal. This was certainly not the way Mourinho And they took the lead when Gomis conceded a high boot, allowing the Eagles to kick off only for his acrobatic effort to be disal- Andre Ayew (front) vies with Chelsea’s had hoped to celebrate signing a new four-year con- free-kick on the left-hand angle of the Swansea their attempt to improve upon last season’s lowed. The Canaries laid siege to Palace’s Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic (back) tract, particularly in the light of an indifferent pre-sea- penalty area following a clumsy challenge on 10th-place finish with victory. goal in the latter stages, with Whittaker during the English Premier League football son. Azpilicueta. Oscar whipped in a low cross that eluded Norwich had two debutants in their XI, seeing a shot cleared off the line by Scott match. — AFP At least the Chelsea manager was handed the everybody and drifted inside the far post. Robbie Brady and Graham Dorrans, and the Dann and Sebastien Bassong being denied on level terms for more than a minute with Chelsea boost of seeing Diego Costa come through 90 min- Swansea responded positively and were level six later almost announced himself to Carrow a penalty after a collision with Connor restoring their lead when Willian’s left-wing cross was utes after another hamstring injury. minutes later when Jefferson Montero eased past Road in style with an early 20-yard shot Wickham. The inclusion of Costa-and Courtois, who recov- Branislav Ivanovic before crossing for Gomis, whose deflected into his own net by Swansea centre-back that whistled over. But Palace weathered the storm and ered after picking up a knee injury in the warm-up- header brought an excellent diving save from Fernandez. However, Swansea never allowed their The hosts went even closer shortly after after Ruddy had saved a late effort from meant the Chelsea starting line-up carried a familiar Courtois. Ayew was on hand to pick up the rebound belief to waver and were given encouragement by Montero’s complete dominance of Ivanovic, which when Steven Whittaker played a cross into James McArthur, Cabaye made sure of vic- look with new recruits Asmir Begovic and Radamel and he finished cleverly from close range after his ini- the box from the right, only for a stretching Falcao named among the substitutes. tial effort had been blocked by Gary Cahill. ensured that Chelsea were unable to close the game tory in injury time by converting a pass Lewis Grabban to toe the ball the wrong Chelsea’s failure to make more signings in the Unfortunately for the visitors, they did not remain down. — AFP from McArthur. — AFP