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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Rooney's lone strike wins it for United
Source: Agencies |
August 17, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WAYNE Rooney fired defending champion Manchester United to a 1-0 victory over promoted Birmingham City in its opening English Premier League game yesterday.
The England striker headed a cross from Nani against the post and the ball came back for him to tap into an empty net in the 34th minute at Old Trafford. United is trying to become the first top-flight English team to win the league title four seasons in a row.
Michael Owen should have marked his first Premier League appearance for United with a goal in injury time when he broke clear of the Birmingham defense from Rooney's flick-on but his shot was deflected wide by Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Yesterday's other game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool kicked off later.
Although Birmingham went close to scoring three times and United goalkeeper Ben Foster made a top quality one-handed save to keep out Christian Benitez's shot in the 78th, Alex Ferguson's team should have won by a wider margin.
Tripped inside
Darren Fletcher missed the target from close range just before halftime, Hart saved a 30-meter shot from Rooney and Lee Carsley cleared off the line from Berbatov in the second half before the Bulgarian was replaced by Owen with 16 minutes to go. Minutes earlier Berbatov, appeared to be tripped inside the area by Stephen Carr.
Arsenal's 6-1 victory at Everton was the highlight performance of Saturday's opening day, captain Cesc Fabregas netting twice and defender Thomas Vermaelen scoring on his debut.
"You have to accept that one game is only one game, what is important is that we have the desire and believe in our qualities," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"Everybody in our team can score goals and everybody likes to go forward so when things go for us like today, anyone can score."
Manchester City justified its big preseason spending with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers thanks to a third-minute strike by one of the new signings, Emmanuel Adebayor, while Didier Drogba scored twice for Chelsea in a 2-1 victory over Hull City.
The England striker headed a cross from Nani against the post and the ball came back for him to tap into an empty net in the 34th minute at Old Trafford. United is trying to become the first top-flight English team to win the league title four seasons in a row.
Michael Owen should have marked his first Premier League appearance for United with a goal in injury time when he broke clear of the Birmingham defense from Rooney's flick-on but his shot was deflected wide by Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Yesterday's other game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool kicked off later.
Although Birmingham went close to scoring three times and United goalkeeper Ben Foster made a top quality one-handed save to keep out Christian Benitez's shot in the 78th, Alex Ferguson's team should have won by a wider margin.
Tripped inside
Darren Fletcher missed the target from close range just before halftime, Hart saved a 30-meter shot from Rooney and Lee Carsley cleared off the line from Berbatov in the second half before the Bulgarian was replaced by Owen with 16 minutes to go. Minutes earlier Berbatov, appeared to be tripped inside the area by Stephen Carr.
Arsenal's 6-1 victory at Everton was the highlight performance of Saturday's opening day, captain Cesc Fabregas netting twice and defender Thomas Vermaelen scoring on his debut.
"You have to accept that one game is only one game, what is important is that we have the desire and believe in our qualities," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"Everybody in our team can score goals and everybody likes to go forward so when things go for us like today, anyone can score."
Manchester City justified its big preseason spending with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers thanks to a third-minute strike by one of the new signings, Emmanuel Adebayor, while Didier Drogba scored twice for Chelsea in a 2-1 victory over Hull City.
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