Tevez wins it for United
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 27, 2008 00:00
LONDON - Carlos Tevez scored with seven minutes left to give Manchester United a 1-0 win Friday at 10-man Stoke on what looked like a tired return to the Premier League by the defending champions.
United was far from its best on Boxing Day, following its a midseason trip to Japan for the Club World Cup and had rarely troubled Stoke until Tevez scored from close range after a pass by Dimitar Berbatov.
The best United had managed until then was when goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen saved a long-range shot by Paul Scholes and Berbatov headed over the bar.
Even after losing defender Andy Wilkinson in the 72nd to a second yellow card, Stoke kept troubling the Red Devils but could not respond to Tevez's goal. United simply played out the last few minutes by passing the ball deep inside its own half.
Chelsea stroke twice as it beat lowly West Bromwich Albion also on Friday.
Didier Drogba opened the scoring early in the second minute, while Frank Lampard scored the second on the 45th minute.
West Ham crushed Portsmouth 4-1 and the Tottenham-Fulham game ended in a goalless stalemate also on Friday’s early fixtures.
West Ham recovered an early goal by Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj, with Collison Jack leveled the game on the 19th minute. After the first half ended 1-1, a triple of goals in 16 minutes won the game for the Hammers.
Carlton Cole took West Ham in front in the 67th minute, before Craig Bellamy scored a pair of goals in 70th and 83rd minutes to give Portsmouth its third defeat in three weeks.
Mancheter United moved up to third place, although Aston Villa could reclaim the position if it beats Arsenal on a game which was still in progress when Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press.
The best United had managed until then was when goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen saved a long-range shot by Paul Scholes and Berbatov headed over the bar.
Even after losing defender Andy Wilkinson in the 72nd to a second yellow card, Stoke kept troubling the Red Devils but could not respond to Tevez's goal. United simply played out the last few minutes by passing the ball deep inside its own half.
Chelsea stroke twice as it beat lowly West Bromwich Albion also on Friday.
Didier Drogba opened the scoring early in the second minute, while Frank Lampard scored the second on the 45th minute.
West Ham crushed Portsmouth 4-1 and the Tottenham-Fulham game ended in a goalless stalemate also on Friday’s early fixtures.
West Ham recovered an early goal by Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj, with Collison Jack leveled the game on the 19th minute. After the first half ended 1-1, a triple of goals in 16 minutes won the game for the Hammers.
Carlton Cole took West Ham in front in the 67th minute, before Craig Bellamy scored a pair of goals in 70th and 83rd minutes to give Portsmouth its third defeat in three weeks.
Mancheter United moved up to third place, although Aston Villa could reclaim the position if it beats Arsenal on a game which was still in progress when Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press.