WIGAN: Wigan striker Amr Zaki showed Manchester City that money can’t buy success as the Egyptian sealed a 2-1 win over the Premier League’s big spenders yesterday. In the day’s other match, former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe scored against his old club yesterday to help earn Portsmouth a 2-0 Premier League victory at Fratton Park and keep Spurs bottom of the table. Defoe, who left Tottenham in January after failing to hold a regular starting place, put Portsmouth ahead from the penalty spot in the first half after a handball by Jermaine Jenas.
Peter Crouch, who was once on Tottenham’s books without making a first-team appearance, headed the second after the break when Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes was at fault.
City’s takeover by the billionaire-backed Abu Dhabi United Group has made Mark Hughes’s team arguably the world’s richest club, but unfashionable Wigan and cut-price talisman Zaki cut them down to size at the JJB Stadium.
Zaki, a loan signing from El Zamalek, outshone Robinho and company as he hit the winner from the penalty spot after City defender Vincent Kompany had canceled out Antonio Valencia’s stunning opener.
Hughes could feel slightly hard done by as Wilson Palacios was fortunate to win the decisive spot-kick, but City struggled to cope with Wigan’s high-tempo pressing game. Despite the arrival of British record signing Robinho on transfer deadline day, City are still light years away from fulfilling their new owners’ wish to win the Premier League.
Lazio, Roma score
In Rome it was a great day for Roman football fans yesterday as Lazio went back to the top of the table with a 3-1 win at Torino and AS Roma coasted to a 2-0 home success over Atalanta.
Lazio have been the surprise team of this season and their fourth victory in five matches took them ahead of Inter Milan and back to the top of the table.
Napoli proved that having their fans banned from traveling to support them is no hindrance as they moved up to second with Argentine forward German Denis scoring a late winner in a 1-0 success at Bologna.
Udinese are third as goals from Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe shot them to a 2-1 victory over Siena, whose reply came from Houssine Kharja.
The northerners are level on 10 points with Inter in fourth and Catania in fifth after the Sicilians enjoyed a 1-0 success against newly-promoted Chievo.
Rock-bottom Cagliari are still searching for their first win of the season following a 2-0 defeat at Lecce.
