Leicester draws Larsson salvages 2-2 with Everton draw for on EPL return Sunderland SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 201419 19 Juventus thrash Singapore 5-0 Page 18 MANCHESTER: Swansea City’s Gylvi Sigurdsson (centre left) scores against Manchester United during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium yesterday. (Inset) Manchester United’s manager Louis van Gaal walks from the pitch after his team’s 2-1 loss to Swansea City. — AP Sigurdsson brings Van Gaal down to earth Swansea’s Ki scores first goal of new season first opening-day home defeat since 1972. After an underwhelming first half, in which lyóand perhaps illegallyóblocking Jonesís although Swanseaís debutant goalkeeper Lukasz Wilfried Bonyís quick free-kick enabled Jefferson they trailed to Kiís first goal for the Welsh club, attempt to close down Ki, the South Korean mid- Fabianski tipped it over his crossbar easily Montero to cross from the left and although Van Gaal brought on Nani to replace the ineffec- fielder had time and space to plant a left-foot enough. Man United 1 Wayne Routledge miscued his volley, the tive Javier Hernandez. Rooney operated as the shot into the bottom-right corner. At that point, it The second half, and the equalizer, brought unmarked Sigurdsson was able to finish from spearhead of the attack, slightly ahead of Juan was hard to envisage how United would find a about an improvement from the home side, with eight yards. Mata, and it took the England forward just seven route back into the game, so inept had they been Williams forced to make an excellent tackle fol- It was a goal that highlighted Unitedís defen- minutes of the second half to claim an equaliser, at turning possession into cutting-edge chances. lowing an equally impressive turn in the area by Swansea 2 sive frailties, exacerbated by a lack of fit defend- from Mataís right-hand corner. Phil Jones flicked Wing-back Jesse Lingard, one of three debu- Rooney. The same United man, suitably inspired ers that meant that winger Ashley Young had to the ball on from inside the six-yard box and tants along with fellow academy product Tyler by his new role, came up with a brilliantly execut- be pressed into action at left-back in the second Rooney struck with a clinical overhead kick from Blackett and new signing Ander Herrera, made a ed 20-yard free-kick on 65 minutes that clipped half. Until that point, it appeared that former close range. It was the first meaningful sight of bright start but limped off midway through the the outside of the Swansea upright on its way MANCHESTER: Gylfi Sigurdsson struck to give Netherlands manager Van Gaal was poised to goal for United, who had gone behind to Kiís first half with an injury sustained in a challenge behind. But the second Swansea goal sucked any Swansea City a 2-1 win at Manchester United in prove himself the ideal successor to David Moyes, 28th-minute effort. with Ashley Williams. That brought Adnan momentum out of United and Jones was the Premier League yesterday as the Louis van who was sacked in April after a dismal maiden Januzaj, the Belgian winger, into the fray and his required to make a superb tackle to deny substi- Gaal era at Old Trafford misfired. After new United campaign. One of the main criticisms of Moyesís Rooney clips post lack of defensive prowess would eventually force tute Bafetimbi Gomis. When a United penalty captain Wayne Rooney had cancelled out an reign concerned his tactical nous and it took Van Nathan Dyer cut in from the right before Van Gaal into his half-time tactical shift. Before appeal for a handball against Angel Rangel was opening goal from Ki Sung-yueng, Sigurdsson Gaal only 45 minutes to suggest that he offers a Sigurdsson helped the ball onto Ki, dead in front that switch, a mishit cross from Jones had been waved away by referee Mike Dean in injury time, scored in the 72nd minute to hand United their serious upgrade in that department. of goal on the edge of the area. With Bony neat- Unitedís only flutter of attacking excitement, the hostsí fate was sealed._ — AFP Ramsey ends Arsenal wait for opening win LONDON: Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal a 90th minute when Jason Puncheon received Dier gives Pochettino a winning start to the Premier League for the a second yellow card. Puncheon had set up Arsenal 2 first time in five years yesterday, grabbing a Palace’s opener in the 35th, whipping in a cor- stoppage-time goal in a 2-1 victory over ner that Brede Hangeland glanced in with a dream start with Spurs manager-less Crystal Palace. Ramsey header. But Arsenal equalized on the stroke of emerged as a scoring force in midfield last halftime, also with a defender heading in season, and carried on where he left off with from a set piece. Laurent Koscielny was Palace 1 his late intervention. The goal came just after unmarked when he met a free kick from off- Tottenham 1 Palace had been reduced to 10 men in the season recruit Alexis Sanchez. — AP Millwall add to Fulham misery West Ham 0 LONDON: Fulham’s dismal start to life out- with youngsters has its strengths and go down to 10 men, because they can get side the Premier League shows no signs of weaknesses. I decided to take young play- men behind the ball, but we were patient, LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s 10th improving as Millwall earned a 1-0 win at ers into the squad and I hope they will not kept the ball really well and eventually got manager in 14 years began the club’s lat- Craven Cottage yesterday. Felix Magath’s be too disappointed and lose confidence. the goals we deserved,” Adams said. est chapter with a 1-0 victory at London team are playing in the second tier for the “I’m sure we will develop with this team “Obviously the win means everything, but rivals West Ham United in the Premier first time in 13 years and so far they have and make our point. Today if we had scored it’s not about me, it’s about the team get- League yesterday thanks to their new found the Championship a distinctly it is sure we would have won the game.” ting the three points.” Cardiff, relegated central defender Eric Dier. Mauricio unfriendly environment. Magath com- Top of the table Bournemouth are the only along with Fulham and Norwich last sea- Pochettino’s side dug deep after having plained about Ipswich’s tough tackling other team with two wins from their open- son, cruised to a 3-1 win over Huddersfield. fullback Kyle Naughton harshly sent off in when Fulham crashed to a 2-1 defeat on ing two matches. Elsewhere, Leeds bounced back from their LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Eric Dier (left) goes round the first half for handball and rode their West Ham United’s Spanish goalkeeper Adrian to score the only goal of the the opening weekend of the season, to Eddie Howe’s side beat promoted opening day defeat to snatch a 1-0 win luck when West Ham midfielder Mark which Town boss Mick McCarthy replied Brentford 1-0 thanks to a 66th-minute over Middlesbrough through debutant English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Noble wasted the resulting penalty at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday. — AFP “welcome to the Championship”. strike from former West Ham midfielder Billy Sharp’s 88th minute strike. Upton Park. Millwall had only avoided relegation to Junior Stanislas. Neil Adams finally There has already been speculation West Ham, who beat Spurs three dismissed when he inadvertently blocked in training, but he took the goal very well,” League One on the final day of last season, recorded his first win as Norwich manag- over how long Leeds manager David times last season, also went down to 10 Kevin Nolan’s shot after 28 minutes. “The Pochettino said of the England under-21 but they have made a bright start to the er at the seventh attempt as the Canaries Hockaday would last given the controver- men when James Collins saw red just red card for Naughton was a surprise international who moved to Portugal new campaign, beating Leeds 2-0 last took advantage of an early Watford red sial antics of owner Massimo Cellino, but past the hour mark before Dier, who because the ball was not on target. It was when he was 10. Defeat, especially weekend, and they maintained their 100 card to secure an emphatic 3-0 success. the Elland Road chief said: “I am the head came through Sporting Lisbon’s ranks a penalty but not a sending-off and it is against Tottenham, was the worst possi- percent record when winger Martyn Adams picked up just one point in five coach at Leeds United-how tough is that? after moving to Portugal from England, possible the club will appeal,” Pochettino ble start for West Ham manager Sam Woolford side-footed home in the 12th games as he failed to prevent City from “I’ve been in football for 40 years and pres- struck in added time. “It is an important said. Spurs have been quiet in the transfer Allardyce, who is under pressure to win minute. Ian Holloway’s side needed a fine being relegated after replacing Chris sure is my middle name.” Charlton beat win. I will say congratulations to my play- window with Pochettino relying largely over the fans who criticized his brand of display from Republic of Ireland goalkeep- Hughton and then saw the Canaries beat- Wigan 2-1 courtesy of substitute Franck ers because it was a great performance,” on the squad that finished sixth last term.