Both Liverpool and Arsenal earned important victories away from home in the European Champions league qualifiers. Liverpool at Stade Muncipal, beat Toulouse 1-nil courtesy of a Andriey Voronin goal (sky sports match report). Meanwhile Arsenal on their away trip to to Sparta Prague, managed to secure a 2 nil win late into the game, with goals coming from Cesc Fabregas in the 72nd minute and Alexander Hleb in the 90th. (aculturedleftfoot.wordpress match report).
Portsmouth 1-1 Manchester United
In the premiership Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at Fratton park. Paul Scholes scored early in the first half. But Benjani managed to equalise 8 minutes after the restart. The game was marked by two sendings off on either side. Muntari got booked twice for two clumcy challenges while Manchester United winger Christiano Ronaldo got a straight red for a headbutt on Richard Huges. The match also heralded the debut of Carlos Tevez in a Manchester United shirt. (Telegraph match report)
Reading 1-2 Chelsea
On their away trip to Reading, Chelsea managed to overturn a 1-0 deficit . Bikey scored an easy tap in after uncertainty in the Chelsea defence when Petr Cech fails to punch the ball out of the area. However Frank Lampard equalises in the 47th minute as Reading fail to track his run. Then Didier Drogba seals the win with a thunderous shot from just outside the area. (Telegraph match report.)
Manchester City1-0 Derby
Out of all the foreigners Sven Goran Erikson had bought to this club, it was an English man that helped Manchester City make it two wins out of two. Michael Johnson’s first half strike had meant that Man City had broken the duck of 13 hours since the last home goal. At the other end Peter Schmeichel’s son Kasper, proved why he shared the same name as his father with some terrific saves. (Telegraph match report.)
Fulham 2-1 Bolton
Bolton Wanderer’s poor start to the season continued as they were humbled by Fulham. In extremly wet and difficult conditions, Fulham keeper Tony Warner appeared to have the ball safely in his hands when it slipped out and gave Helgusson the chance to open the scoring for the visitors into an unguarded net. However two goals for Fulham from Northern Irish international David Healy, and Alexander Smertin made sure the Wanderers left Craven Cottage empty handed. (Telegraph match report)
Wigan 1-0 Middlesborough
Asolitary strike from Antoine Sibierski earned Wigan a valuable win against Gareth Southgates side. (Telegraph match report)
Filed under: Champions league, football, premiership, soccer, sports
