LONDON, 18 September 2006 — A superb strike by Didier Drogba earned 10-man champions Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Liverpool, while Arsenal shattered Manchester United’s 100 percent record with a late 1-0 win at Old Trafford yesterday.
Chelsea, who had Germany midfielder Michael Ballack dismissed for stamping after 51 minutes, ground out their win after Drogba swiveled and struck an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area just before halftime at Stamford Bridge.
The day’s other showcase game was decided in the 85th minute of a pulsating encounter when Arsenal’s Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor steered the ball home off a defense-splitting pass by Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
United had won all four of their previous league games, while Arsenal, who missed an early penalty taken by Gilberto, kick-started their campaign with a first win of the season.
Blackburn Rovers beat Manchester City 4-2, Tottenham Hotspur were held 0-0 at home by Fulham and Glenn Roeder’s Newcastle United were 2-0 winners over his former club West Ham United in the day’s other games.
The weekend’s action left Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth as unlikely Premier League leaders with 13 points, one clear of both Manchester United and Chelsea, who are third on goal difference.
Though there was only one goal at Stamford Bridge, Ivory Coast striker Drogba’s effort will be an early candidate for goal of the season.
There was no waiting around in Manchester, where Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak made a memorable debut by tripping Adebayor in the area after 10 minutes but then saving the resulting penalty.
Gilberto, wearing the captain’s armband, slipped as he struck the spot-kick and his team were no luckier a minute later when a goalline clearance by Paul Scholes denied William Gallas a simple tap-in.
Arsenal, without injured Thierry Henry, had squandered several scoring chances before Adebayor stole in to prod Fabregas’s inviting through-ball beneath the advancing Kuszczak.
The strike moved Arsenal from 17th before the weekend to 10th place and will give Arsene Wenger’s side a much-needed lift.
Gimenez Double Takes
Hertha Top of Bundesliga
In Berlin, Argentine striker Christian Gimenez scored twice to send Hertha Berlin top of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win at home to Schalke 04 yesterday.
Gimenez converted a cross from Kevin-Prince Boateng for the first in the 39th minute and the former Olympique Marseille striker secured the points when he tapped in the second seven minutes after the break.
Schalke, who had been eyeing top spot themselves, created little in what was a one-sided game at the Olympiastadion.
Hertha have eight points from four matches and lead on goal difference from Nuremberg.
Bayern Munich, beaten 2-1 away to Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, are third on seven points, ahead of Borussia Dortmund, Energie Cottbus and Schalke on goal difference.
Hertha signed Gimenez before the start ahead of the new season as a replacement for the Brazilian Marcelinho.
Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to win 3-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in yesterday’s other game.
