Robin van Persie struck on his first start for Manchester United, as they beat Fulham 3-2 to record their opening win of the Premier League season on Saturday.
Chelsea stayed top with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United, Swansea City and Everton recorded their second wins of the season, while Tottenham Hotspur could only draw against West Bromwich Albion.
Wayne Rooney, apparently overweight after the summer, was left out of the United starting line-up for Van Persie, who opened his United account after 10 minutes, lashing a bouncing ball into the top corner.
It was only an equaliser, though, Damien Duff having tucked in a low Bryan Ruiz free-kick at the near post to give Fulham a third minute lead.
Another of United’s new boys, Shinji Kagawa, put United ahead after 35 minutes after Tom Cleverley’s shot had been saved.
And Rafael headed in an Ashley Young corner to make it 3-1 just before half-time. United were never secure, though; Mladen Petric had a shot turned onto the bar by David De Gea and then, 19 minutes into the second half, Nemanja Vidic headed a Ruiz cross into his own net.
Rooney then suffered a serious gash to the thigh and had to be taken off. “It’s a very bad gash,” said manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
“He’s been whisked off to hospital and I think he’ll be out for four weeks.
“It was a fantastic finish from Van Persie, absolutely brilliant.
That typifies the goal-scoring ability he has and it really lifted the place — we played very well from that moment.”
Chelsea were rarely troubled in recording a third straight win this season, beating Newcastle United 2-0.
Eden Hazard, having set up five of Chelsea’s first six goals this season, scored the seventh himself, converting a penalty after Fernando Torres had been felled by Vurnon Anita.
Hazard then set up the second, back-heeling a return pass to Torres who finished with the outside of his right foot.
Swansea City won their second game of the season, following up last week’s 5-0 defeat of Fulham with a 3-0 win over West Ham United.
West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen set them on their way, diverting an Angel Rangel effort into his own net after 20 minutes.
Michu capitalised on a short James Collins backpass to make it 2-0 nine minutes later and Danny Graham added a third from Wayne Routledge’s cross 19 minutes into the second-half.
Everton also have two wins, after thrashing Aston Villa 3-0 at Villa Park. Steven Pienaar lashed Everton into the lead after three minutes and Marouane Fellaini headed the second just after the half-hour.
Nikica Jelavic turned in a Leighton Baines cross to make it 3-0 before halftime, his eighth goal in eight Premier League games.
Villa’s day got even worse as Ciaran Clark was sent off for pulling Jelavic down after he’d been set through by Darron Gibson.
Karim El Ahmadi pulled one back.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto thumped in a half-volley after 74 minutes to give Tottenham Hotspur the lead against West Brom but after Gareth McAuley had hit the bar, James Morrison levelled in injury-time.
The battle of the two teams who lost 5-0 last week ended level, as Norwich City drew 1-1 with QPR.
Simeon Jackson gave Norwich the lead from Anthony Pilkington’s cross after 11 minutes. Bobby Zamora levelled eight minutes later, reacting first after John Ruddy had saved Djibril Cisse’s penalty.
“It was a game we should have won, we had the better chances and threatened more, and it was a really soft penalty which denied us the opportunity,” said Norwich manager Chris Hughton.
Franco di Santo fired in a Shaun Maloney cross after 51 minutes to give Wigan Athletic the lead at Southampton and Arouna Kone completed a 2-0 win after a fine run.
Sunderland’s match at home to Reading was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.
Keywords: English Premier League, Manchester United
