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EPL PIX: Ronaldo nets twice on second United debut

Last updated on: September 12, 2021 01:31 IST

IMAGES from Premier League matches played on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates on scoring his first goal against Newcastle United at Old Trafford

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates on scoring his first goal against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on second his Manchester United debut and his compatriot Bruno Fernandes added a screamer as the Red Devils crushed Newcastle United 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.

 

Ronaldo, who returned to United from Juventus last month, opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime, pouncing from close range after Newcastle keeper Freddie Woodman spilled out a low drive from Mason Greenwood.

Javier Manquillo brought Newcastle level in the 56th minute with a low right-foot drive after Miguel Almiron had led a swift counter from the visitors.

Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring 

IMAGE: Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Ronaldo restored United's lead with his second -- showing power and speed as he latched on to a through ball from Luke Shaw and fired through Woodman's legs before reeling off to celebrate with his team mates in front of an ecstatic Stretford End.

Fernandes made sure of the three points in spectacular style 10 minutes from time, collecting a square ball from Paul Pogba and unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25 metres which swerved at speed into the top corner.

Substitute Jesse Lingard added the to the celebration with a well-taken shot from inside the box after good work from Pogba.

Lukaku, Kovacic break Stamford Bridge ducks as Chelsea beat Villa 3-0

Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London

IMAGE: Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday for their 600th Premier League victory to move joint top of the standings alongside Manchester United after Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic scored for the first time at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku, who previously played for United, Everton and West Bromwich Albion, had never scored at the ground -- even during his first spell with Chelsea. But he got off the mark in his 15th appearance at the stadium when he opened the scoring.

In the 15th minute, Kovacic slithered past Villa's midfield and released Lukaku with a ball that split the away side's defence. The Belgian striker sent defender Axel Tuanzebe the wrong way before finding the bottom corner.

 

Lukaku got his second in stoppage time when Cesar Azpilicueta found the striker at the edge of the box where he unleashed a left-footed strike that gave Steer no chance.

"(Lukaku is) full of confidence and fully aware what he wants to do," Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel told Sky Sports.

"He takes the last decisions and is absolutely confident of scoring, so he's helped us a lot. We escaped with the perfect result, perfect evening for our striker."

Kovacic got his name on the scoresheet three minutes into the second half when the Croatian midfielder pounced on a poor back pass from Tyrone Mings, chipping the oncoming goalkeeper Jed Steer to double the lead.

Villa had their chances to score, especially in the first half, but Edouard Mendy had a stellar game in goal, making numerous saves to ensure he kept his third clean sheet in four matches.

Ollie Watkins nearly levelled the score when he rounded Mendy but had his shot blocked by Thiago Silva who threw his body in the way to deny a certain goal.

Mendy was kept busy as Villa pressed for a first half equaliser, with the goalkeeper making a fine double save when he first denied Mings' stinging effort before leaping off the floor to make another diving save off Ezri Konsa.

"It was a strong Aston Villa side. They were well prepared, they looked very sharp from the start and very confident," added Tuchel, who made six changes to the starting line-up from their draw with Liverpool.

"They caused us a lot of problems, particularly in the first half. They're dangerous from throw-ins, set pieces and corners, and gave us many situations you have to defend... The second half was better, we had more control."

Silva strike give Man City 1-0 win over Leicester

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva scores their first goal past Leicester City's keeper Kasper Schmeichel during their match at The King Power Stadium in Leicester

IMAGE: Manchester City's Bernardo Silva scores their first goal past Leicester City's keeper Kasper Schmeichel during their match at The King Power Stadium in Leicester. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Bernardo Silva scored the only goal as Manchester City grabbed a vital 1-0 win at Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday to climb to second place in the table behind rivals Manchester United.

Leicester defender Jannik Vestergaard missed a golden chance from an early corner, but he could not get a clean connection on his header and it sailed over the bar.

City striker Ferran Torres had a number of decent chances in the first half but Kasper Schmeichel managed to avert the danger.

Jamie Vardy had a goal ruled out for offside four minutes into the second half but it was Manchester City who finally broke the deadlock as Silva pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire home in the 62nd minute.

Leiecester piled forward looking for an equaliser and Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman both went close, but Ederson was alert and quick off his line to save.

Manchester City moved up second spot on nine points after four games, ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion on goal difference and one point behind Manchester United.

Debutant Edouard helps Palace outclass 10-man Spurs

Crystal Palace's Odsonne Edouard and James McArthur celebrate after the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in London on Saturday

IMAGE: Crystal Palace's Odsonne Edouard and James McArthur celebrate after the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in London on Saturday. Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters

Odsonne Edouard scored twice on his debut to help Crystal Palace to a comprehensive 3-0 Premier League win over 10-man Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Spurs centre back Japhet Tanganga was shown a second yellow card in the 58th minute for a foul on Jordan Ayew, five minutes after the defender was adjudged to have illegally blocked winger Wilfried Zaha.

Matters got worse for the visitors as Palace were awarded a penalty when Ben Davies handled from a Conor Gallagher cross in the 75th minute, and Zaha dispatched the spot-kick past Hugo Lloris.

"I think it was a really good team performance. We started the game quite well with a lot of energy. We competed quite well, managing to win the ball quite high," Palace manager Patrick Vieira said after his first win in the job.

Palace scored again six minutes from time through Edouard, who slotted home from Zaha's cross 27 seconds after coming on, and the Frenchman, who joined Palace from Celtic, completed his dream debut in stoppage time following a slick team move.

"I think it's a dream start for (Edouard)... We have to give credit to Christian Benteke who worked really hard in the first 70 minutes and when Edouard came on he took his goals well," added Vieira.

Earlier, Spurs, who were without the injured Son Heung-min and had to take off Eric Dier due to a suspected ankle problem after just 12 minutes, struggled to get going in attack and had just one shot on target in the game.

"It is a big concern, we had enough quality and talent to play better. We didn't do it, credit to Palace they were aggressive and they didn't allow too much time on the ball," said Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Spurs provisionally remained top of the table while Palace moved up to 11th place.

Aubameyang strikes to give Arsenal first league win

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang chases the ball down during the match against Norwich City at Emirates Stadium

IMAGE: Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang chases the ball down during the match against Norwich City at Emirates Stadium. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Arsenal moved off the bottom of the Premier League standings and scored their first goal of the campaign after captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's scrambled 66th-minute effort gave them a 1-0 home win over Norwich City on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta's side produced an improved performance after their opening three defeats but were made to work hard by a rugged Norwich side before Aubameyang, who missed two first-half chances, broke the deadlock.

The Gabonese striker fired wide in the 10th minute and was denied in the 20th by a superb save from visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul before Takehiro Tomiyasu volleyed over the bar for the dominant hosts on the stroke of halftime.

A timely intervention by left back Brandon Williams kept out a Nicolas Pepe sitter for Arsenal shortly after the break before the Ivorian played a major role in Aubameyang's goal, given after a VAR check for offside.

Pepe twice hit the post within a few seconds from a flowing move and the second rebound fell kindly to Aubameyang, who was perfectly positioned to tuck the ball into an empty net.

The result lifted Arsenal to 16th place on three points from four games while Norwich, who are still looking for their first point of the season, slipped to the bottom of the table.

Wolves claim first league win of season at Watford

Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed their first three points of the Premier League season at Watford on Saturday as Bruno Lage's side came away with a 2-0 victory after dominating the second half.

Wolves, who lost their first three games 1-0, moved out of the relegation zone and up to 13th in the standings, two places above Watford who tasted their third straight league defeat without scoring.

After a goalless first half, Wolves' constant pressure in the second period finally paid off in the 74th minute when Watford defender Francisco Sierralta attempted to clear a cross from a short corner but headed the ball into his own net.

"I think in the first half it was a very good level but after the goal we were a little down. We need to continue working hard," Watford manager Xisco Munoz told BBC Sport.

"The difference in the Premier League is in the box. If you create chances and don't score and they have chances and score. This is football, when you have the ball in your box, these things (the own goal) happen."

Wolves doubled the lead nine minutes later when new signing Hwang Hee-Chan pounced on a loose ball in a goal mouth scramble to prod home.

The game had been short of goalscoring opportunities but Moussa Sissoko had an early effort on his home Watford debut saved by goalkeeper Jose Sa while Wolves' wing back Nelson Semedo had an injury time shot palmed away by the goalkeeper.

Semedo had another glorious chance to give the away team the lead when Raul Jimenez neatly flicked the ball to release the Portugal international into the box but his shot flew wide of the far post, with manager Lage looking on in disbelief.

Up next for Watford is a trip to Norwich City while Wolves host Brentford.

Antonio sees red in West Ham's scoreless draw at Southampton

West Ham United's Michail Antonio is shown a yellow card by referee David Coote during the match against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium

IMAGE: West Ham United's Michail Antonio is shown a yellow card by referee David Coote during the match against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters

Southampton were held to a scoreless draw by ten-man West Ham United in their Premier League clash on Saturday after the Londoners had striker Michail Antonio sent off in second-half stoppage time for a clumsy challenge.

The first half offered little in the way of goalscoring chances as the two teams felt each other out, but the game opened up in the second half and the home side will be disappointed not to have taken all three points.

Jarrod Bowen had the pick of the chances for the visitors in the 72nd minute, but his shot was tipped over the crossbar by Alex McCarthy.

Two minutes later, substitute Armando Broja came off the bench and gave Southampton a shot in the arm, hitting the far post after an excellent run in the 82nd minute.

Broja had another superb chance in stoppage time as he connected with a superb header, but West Ham midfielder Declan Rice cleared the ball off the line to keep his side's clean sheet intact.

Antonio was shown a second yellow card for a bad challenge on Moussa Djenepo and sent off, meaning he will miss the league game against Manchester United.

The draw meant West Ham slipped to fifth place in the standings on eight points, two behind leaders Manchester United. Southampton are 14th on three points and their coach Ralph Hasenhuettl told the BBC he thought they should have recorded their first victory of the season.

"With a little bit more luck, we could have won it. We tried something a little bit different today, we tried to invite them to play a little bit more," he said.

"What was missing was the final punch in the chances we had. Armando showed he is a very good sub. He was immediately onto the opposition and had some threats that are new to this team," he added.

Late Trossard winner for Brighton stings wasteful Bees

Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring against Brentford at Brentford Community Stadium in London,

IMAGE: Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring against Brentford at Brentford Community Stadium in London. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Leandro Trossard scored a late winner with a curling shot from the edge of the box as Brighton & Hove Albion secured a 1-0 victory over wasteful Brentford in a lively Premier League game at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday.

Trossard’s goal was just the second shot on target for the visitors, but the piece of quality their play had been missing to that point as they inflicted a first defeat of the season on their newly-promoted hosts.

The Belgian forward picked up the ball on the edge of the box, skipped away from two defenders and curled his shot into the bottom corner to stun the home fans, who had watched their side waste a number of opportunities to win the game.

The best fell to Bryan Mbeumo, who was teed up on a number of occasions by the brilliant Ivan Toney, but could not find a first goal of the Premier League season.

Brighton climbed to third in the table after three wins from their opening four games of the campaign.

"It was a hard-fought match," manager Graham Potter told BBC Sport.

"First-half they (Brentford) were the better team and we had to stick in. Second half, we grew into the game and it is great to get the finish at the end. Away wins are always terrific."

Toney spotted Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez off his line early but his audacious effort from 40 yards sailed narrowly over the bar.

He then set up Mbeumo 10 yards out but the French forward fired wildly over the bar, before the same two combined for a similar result from further out.

It was Mbeumo getting into the good positions when Brentford might have wished it was Toney, and after the latter set up his team mate yet again, this time the shot from the edge of the area curled wide of the post as another chance went begging.

"Offensively, in spells we were good but we need to be better. We had chances to score. One moment decides the game and that is the Premier League," Brentford manager Thomas Frank said.

"It is football. We need to score some of these chances. But overall a solid performance. We could have edged it."

Source: REUTERS
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