NST Online: Sports

Posted: 10 Sep 2011 05:58 PM PDT

SERGIO Aguero struck a hat-trick to shoot Manchester City to the top of the Premier League yesterday as Arsenal scored their first win of the season against Swansea.

Argentinian international Aguero took his tally for the season to six as Roberto Mancini's City outclassed Wigan 3-0 at Eastlands with a mesmerising display of attacking football.

The victory maintained City's perfect start to the season and saw them leapfrog to top spot ahead of Manchester United, who play Bolton Wanderers in yesterday's late kick-off.

City manager Mancini was purring with pleasure after the virtuoso display of Aguero, signed from Atletico Madrid this summer.

"They were fantastic strikes. He is an incredible player. He is young and scored three fantastic goals," Mancini said. "He always scored in his career and I hope that can continue here.

"We are in a good moment. It is important we continue to play well and improve our performance.

"We still need to improve. In the first half we had 15 chances to score and only got one goal."

In other results, Arsenal bounced back from their humiliating 8-2 defeat against Manchester United in their last outing to record a badly needed 1-0 win over Swansea at the Emirates.

An Andrey Arshavin goal on 40 minutes secured victory for Arsenal, the Russian international punishing a dreadful blunder by Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm to finish from a tight angle.

Chelsea moved up to second place after recording their third win in a row with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Blues skipper John Terry drove a deflected shot into the net to put Chelsea ahead on 18 minutes after Sunderland failed to clear.

Chelsea doubled their lead on 51 minutes when striker Daniel Sturridge latched onto a ball over the top from new signing Raul Meireles to score.

Sunderland's South Korean international Ji Dong-Won gave the Black Cats hope with a goal in stoppage time but Chelsea held on.

Liverpool's recent revival ground to a halt as they crashed to an unexpected 1-0 defeat at Stoke.

The Merseysiders appeared poised for a fruitful afternoon after dominating throughout the early exchanges at the Britannia Stadium.

But Stoke edged ahead against the run of play on 21 minutes after Jamie Carragher was adjudged to have hauled down City striker Jon Walters in the box.

Walters duly stepped up to convert the penalty and although Liverpool continued to carve out openings, including a glaring last-gasp miss by Luis Suarez, Stoke held on for the win.

Tottenham recovered from their 5-1 home mauling by Manchester City with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who joined Spurs on loan from Manchester City last month, struck on 67 minutes to put Tottenham ahead after being played in by fellow debutant Scott Parker. Jermain Defoe then made the game safe for Spurs on 80 minutes.

Everton and Aston Villa shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. — AFP

Rugby / World Cup: England survive thriller

Posted: 10 Sep 2011 05:29 PM PDT

Argentina's Gonzalo Camacho is tackled by England players in their match yesterday. England won 13-9. — AFP picture

DUNEDIN: Ben Youngs spared England's blushes as they came from six points behind to beat Argentina 13-9 in their opening World Cup Pool B match at the Otago Stadium here yesterday.

England were trailing 9-3 when, after wing Chris Ashton was illegally upended, they kicked a penalty to touch.

They won possession from the resulting lineout and replacement scrum-half Youngs, recently sidelined with a knee injury, went over for the only try of the match 13 minutes from time.

Jonny Wilkinson, who remarkably missed five of his eight goalkicks as he began his and England' quest to appear in a third successive World Cup final in uncertain fashion, added the conversion to make it 10-9 before landing a late penalty to extend his side's lead.

But there was still time for a last-gasp Pumas attack from their own line launched by replacement back Marcelo Bosch.

A brilliant handling move ended with replacement Juan Jose Imhoff kicking ahead only to be seemingly tackled late by Manu Tuilagi.

But referee Bryce Lawrence did not award a penalty and England hung on.

"I aged about 20 years," said England manager Martin Johnson. "We had to find a way to win and we did.

"It's not a fantastic performance by any means, but it's a fantastic win," added England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain.

"I always thought if we kept on going, we'd tire them out."

Argentina, third at the 2007 World Cup where England finished runners-up to South Africa, were made to pay for missing six out of nine penalties, a possible 18 points in total.

The Pumas, their forwards especially, performed brilliantly for a side that had played just one Test in 11 months -- a 28-13 defeat by Wales in Cardiff in August and England captain Mike Tindall said: "We are under no illusions about what Argentina can bring.

"You've got to give full credit to the Pumas, when they got the ball they controlled it," added the 2003 World Cup-winning centre, leading the team in the absence of injured skipper Lewis Moody. -- AFP

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Sabtu, 10 September 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan