The Hindu : Sport / Football : `Blackburns' for Manchester United

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 26, 2005

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`Blackburns' for Manchester United

LONDON: Chelsea conceded its first goal in winning its seventh straight English Premier League match on Saturday, while Manchester United lost and Arsenal and Liverpool drew.

Luke Moore ended Chelsea's six-match league streak of clean sheets when he scored in the 44th minute at Stamford Bridge.

The lead lasted just a minute before Frank Lampard scored with a free kick. The England midfielder then converted a penalty in the 75th.

The win gave Chelsea 21 points. United lost 2-1 to visiting Blackburn, Arsenal drew 0-0 at promoted West Ham and Liverpool scrambled to a 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

Pedersen scores twice

At Old Trafford, Morten Gamst Pedersen scored twice to give Blackburn its first away win over Manchester United since 1962.

Pedersen scored in the 33rd with a swerving free kick. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes both shot over the crossbar in the first-half, while Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar made three saves.

Ferguson brought on Wayne Rooney early in the second-half and he was key to United's equaliser. Rooney's shot was parried by Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Van Nistelrooy scored from the rebound.

Pedersen scored the winner in the 81st when Scholes lost possession. Ferguson said Blackburn took advantage of his injury-hit defence. ``The weaknesses in our defending kept us on the edge and Blackburn capitalized on it,'' Ferguson said. ``I am concerned about the gap to Chelsea but not as concerned about making sure we get back on track.''

The results: English Premier League: Birmingham 2 drew with Liverpool 2; Chelsea 2 bt Aston Villa 1; Everton 0 lost to Wigan 1; Manchester United 1 lost to Blackburn 2; Newcastle 1 bt Manchester City 0; West Bromwich Albion 1 lost to Charlton 2; West Ham 0 drew with Arsenal 0; Bolton 1 bt Portsmouth 0.

Spanish League: Zaragoza 1 drew with Deportivo La Coruna 1; Valencia 2 bt Real Sociedad 1; Atletico Madrid 0 lost to Getafe 1; Espanyol 1 lost to Villarreal 2.

Serie A: Reggina 2 bt Udinese 0; Parma 1 lost to Juventus 2. — AP

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