Rooney powers United goal glut
- Source: Global Times
- [23:28 August 23 2009]
- Comments
Wayne Rooney reached the 100- goal milestone for Manchester United Sunday and Michael Owen opened his account for the defending champion who roared back to form with a 5-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic.
English striker Michael Owen celebrates his first league goal for Manchester United during their Premier League match against Wigan Athletic at DW Stadium, Wigan yesterday. Photo: AFP
United, surprisingly beaten 1-0 at promoted Burnley in midweek, were toothless before the break but Rooney's header early in the second half opened the floodgates for the visitors.
Abou Diaby led free-scoring Arsenal eased past Portsmouth, scoring twice in a 4-1 home defeat of Portsmouth to follow up last week's 6-1 rout of Everton.
Manchester City joined Arsenal and United on six points with a 1-0 home win over promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers while Sunderland also earned their second win of the season, coming from a goal down to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 with Kenwyne Jones twice on target.
Hull City defeated Bolton Wanderers 1-0, their first win in the Premier League since March 5, and Birmingham's 0-0 stalemate with Stoke City was the first draw of the season.
Former Wigan winger Antonio Valencia, the man tasked with filling the gap left by Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid, unlocked his old club's defense after 56 minutes.
With time and space to cross, he picked out England striker Rooney who made no mistake with a header to notch a century of goals for the club he joined from Everton in 2004.
United keeper Ben Foster made a fine save to deny Hugo Rodallega a minute later and in a frantic spell the visitors, going for a fourth consecutive title, doubled their lead through Dimitar Berbatov.
Rooney's second, a deflected shot, killed off Wigan before Owen struck with a shot that went in off the post. Nani made it 5-0 in stoppage time with a Ronaldo-like free kick.
Arsenal maintained their storming start to the season, which included a 2-0 Champions League playoff first leg win at Celtic in the week.
However, they enjoyed a large slice of luck that left Portsmouth boss Paul Hart fuming.
Trailing 2-1, Pompey had a good chance to level three minutes after the break when Nigerian John Utaka outpaced William Gallas and was through on goal before being brought down by the French defender.
Gallas escaped punishment and bottom club Portsmouth did not even win a free kick. Minutes later, he restored Arsenal's two-goal cushion.
“It was an amazing decision, a clear-cut penalty and red card,” Hart told the press. “Then Gallas scores. It shows you what a cruel game it can be. I'm mystified.”
Diaby opened the scoring in the 18th minute following a clever play from Eduardo down the left and the midfielder added his second after being played in by Emmanuel Eboue.
Portsmouth pulled a goal back before halftime through Younes Kaboul. After Gallas's escape and tap-in, substitute Aaron Ramsey capped a satisfying afternoon for the Gunners with a well-taken fourth.
Agencies
