LONDON, 16 October 2005 — Chelsea’s marauding start to the Premier League season continued as they came from behind to thrash Bolton Wanderers 5-1 at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Manchester United moved up to third with a 3-1 victory at Sunderland but Arsenal’s problems increased with a 2-1 reverse at West Bromwich Albion that leaves them 14 points off the pace. Tottenham Hotspur maintained their best ever start to a Premier League season with a 2-0 win over bottom club Everton at White Hart Lane to go second.
Promoted Wigan Athletic also have plenty to celebrate after a 1-0 victory at home to Newcastle United that elevated them to the giddy heights of fourth.
Wayne Rooney’s classy finish gave United the lead at Sunderland just before halftime and Ruud van Nistelrooy made it 2-0 after the break only for Stephen Elliot to pull one back.
Italian teenage substitute Giuseppe Rossi sealed the points to keep United 10 behind Chelsea with a game in hand.
Arsenal looked on course for victory at West Bromwich Albion when Swiss defender Philippe Senderos volleyed in after 17 minutes to score his first goal for the club.
But former Arsenal striker Kanu came back to haunt the Gunners with an equalizer before the break and substitute Darren Carter got the winner from 20 meters in the 76th minute.
Wigan ended their match with 10 men after a late red card for Lee McCulloch but hung on grimly to Jason Roberts’ 40th minute opener against Newcastle.
Liverpool struggled to break down 10-man Blackburn Rovers after Georgia defender Zurab Khizanishvili was sent off for a professional foul at Anfield.
But France striker Djibril Cisse drove home a free kick 15 minutes from time to earn Liverpool their first win in five games. Aiyegbeni Yakubu headed an equalizer against his old club to earn Middlesbrough a 1-1 draw at home to Portsmouth in the day’s late kickoff.
Bremen Go Top as Bayern
Held to Draw at Schalke
In Frankfurt, Bayern Munich suffered further misery at Schalke 04 yesterday as a stoppage time penalty forced them to settle for a 1-1 draw and let in Werder Bremen to replace them at the top with a 6-2 win over Nuremberg.
Bayern had been set to end their away jinx thanks to a 19th minute goal from Roque Santa Cruz but Bastian Schweinsteiger gave away a penalty in stoppage time and Soren Larsen converted to level the scores.
The Bundesliga champions, beaten on all five of their previous visits to Schalke’s World Cup stadium, then had Martin Demichelis sent off in a frantic finale. Hamburg had Rafael van der Vaart sent off in a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to VfL Wolfsburg and slipped a place to third on 20 points. Schalke are fourth on 17.
Schalke had beaten Bayern in four league games and one Cup match dating back to their move into their 60,000-capacity Arena AufSchalke in 2001.
The venue’s recent change of name to the Veltins Arena, following a new sponsorship deal, seemed about to herald a change as Bayern made a brilliant start.
Ze Roberto had a shot blocked in the first minute after a swift passing move carved through the Schalke midfield. The Brazilian winger threatened again when he broke clear on the left only to shoot wildly when he might have picked out Santa Cruz for a simple chance.
Di Michele Hat Trick Gives
Udinese 3-2 Win Over Siena
In Rome, a hat trick by Italy striker David Di Michele gave Udinese a nervy 3-2 Serie A win over Siena as they finished the match with 10 men yesterday.
Udinese dominated the first half but slowly lost control of the contest and midfielder Christian Obodo was sent off in the 88th minute for apparently lashing out at a member of the medical staff sent onto the field to help him.
The victory gave the Champions League side 12 points from seven games, six points behind leaders Juventus who will aim to extend their 100 percent winning start to the season when they host Messina later.
Di Michele put Udinese ahead with a goal on the break in the 26th minute before poaching an easy second five minutes later when Siena goalkeeper Antonio Mirante parried Vincenzo Iaquinta’s shot into his path.
Hearts Draw 1-1 at
Celtic to Stay Top
In Glasgow, Hearts stayed top of the Scottish Premier League with a battling 1-1 draw at Celtic yesterday. Craig Beattie put Celtic ahead on 13 minutes but three minutes later Rudi Skacel took advantage of sloppy defending to equalize in front of 60,108 fans — the Glasgow club’s biggest home crowd of the season.
Hearts remain top with 26 points from 10 games. Celtic are second with 23, also from 10 games. Hibernian moved third with 19 points from 10 games courtesy of their 4-2 home win over Kilmarnock. Champions Rangers are in fourth with 16 points from nine matches and play Dundee United today at Tannadice. Livingston remain bottom with two points from 10 games following a 1-0 defeat at Motherwell where Richie Foran scored on 21 minutes.
