Football: Arsenal extend lead, Newcastle up to second on Premier League's return

LONDON -- Arsenal opened up a seven-point lead with a 3-1 win over West Ham as the Premier League returned on Monday, while Newcastle climbed up to second thanks to an impressive 3-0 victory at Leicester.

Liverpool also made a winning return from the World Cup break by beating Aston Villa 3-1 and Harry Kane bounced back from his heartbreak in Qatar by scoring in Tottenham's 2-2 draw at Brentford.

Arsenal's momentum towards a first league title since 2004 could have been disturbed by the six-week mid-season break.

But Mikel Arteta's men passed another test of their resolve after going in 1-0 behind at half-time to Said Benrahma's penalty.

Two goals in five minutes from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli turned the game on its head at a jubilant Emirates before Eddie Nketiah stepped up in the absence of the injured Gabriel Jesus to seal the points.

"I'm delighted with the result and performance," said Arteta.

"We scored at the perfect time and the crowd was incredible, also in the moment we conceded the goal. They kept on believing. When we scored it got loud and we generated the momentum we needed."

- No stopping Newcastle -

Newcastle's charge towards a return to the Champions League was also not halted by the break as the Magpies scored twice in the first seven minutes at Leicester.

Chris Wood opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Miguel Almiron played a one-two with Bruno Guimaraes and slotted past Danny Ward for his eighth goal in his last eight league games.

Joelinton headed home from a corner in the 32nd minute as Newcastle made it six successive league victories -- their best run in the competition since 2012.

"We can do anything," said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on the possibility of a title challenge.

"The season is still young enough for all possibilities to exist for us. I want the fans to believe we can do anything."

In the first Premier League fixture since mid-November, Tottenham were in danger of a damaging defeat after Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney put Brentford in command.

But Kane netted with a 65th minute header to start the Tottenham recovery in his first game since missing a crucial penalty in England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against France.

Brentford have not beaten Tottenham since 1948 and their long wait for a victory over the north Londoners goes on after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg curled home with 19 minutes left.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte praised England captain Kane for his contribution following his World Cup disappointment.

"When he came back he was good. We know the importance of Harry for us, his personality, his character. He's the best player we have. I'm happy that he scored today," Conte said..

Tottenham stay fourth in the table, four points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

- Liverpool too good for Villa -

Liverpool closed to within five points of Spurs and with a game in hand to come by inflicting Unai Emery's first league defeat as Villa boss.

Mohamed Salah swept home his 15th goal of the season in a frantic opening with chances aplenty at both ends.

The Egyptian then teed up Virgil van Dijk to give Liverpool breathing space before half-time.

Ollie Watkins gave Villa hope with a towering header midway through the second half but Stefan Bajcetic's first senior goal secured a third consecutive league win for Jurgen Klopp's men.

At the other end of the table, Everton suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat against relegation rivals Wolves as Rayan Ait-Nouri struck in final seconds for the visitors at Goodison Park.

Everton are now just one point above Wolves in the final relegation place.

"We are in one (relegation battle)," admitted Everton boss Frank Lampard. "We've got to fight."

Fulham won 3-0 at nine-man Crystal Palace, who had Tyrick Mitchell and James Tomkins sent off.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Tim Ream and Aleksandar Mitrovic scored Fulham's goals.

Southampton slipped to the bottom of the table after a 3-1 home defeat against south-coast rivals Brighton.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Havertz seals controversial Chelsea win, Man City held by Villa

LONDON -- Kai Havertz scored the late winner as big-spending Chelsea fought back for a controversial 2-1 win against West Ham, while Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw after Leon Bailey snatched a late equalizer for struggling Aston Villa on Saturday.

Having embarked on a £250 million ($280 million) spending spree in the summer transfer window, Chelsea are expected to deliver on their new owners' eye-watering investment.

The early returns had been mixed as Chelsea crashed to defeats against Leeds and Southampton.

So when Michail Antonio gave West Ham a shock 62nd minute lead with a close-range finish, the critics were sharpening their knives at Stamford Bridge.

But Ben Chilwell equalized in the 76th minute, just three minutes after the England left-back replaced Marc Cucurella.

Chilwell headed Thiago Silva's lofted ball past his marker, spun around and poked his shot through Lukasz Fabianski's legs from a tight angle.

Havertz cleverly finished off Chilwell's cross to complete Chelsea's escape in the 88th minute of a thrilling finale.

There was still more drama as Maxwel Cornet appeared to equalize in stoppage time, only for the goal to be controversially disallowed by VAR for Jarrod Bowen's foul on Edouard Mendy.

Thomas Tuchel's side remain unconvincing but they are up to fifth place after their third win in six games, while West Ham boss David Moyes was livid with the officials for denying his team a point.

"The goalkeeper comes to take it, and actually fumbles it out of his hands five or six yards, so he could never recover it. Then he acted as if he had a shoulder injury. I'm amazed that VAR sent the referee for him to see it," Moyes said.

"But I thought even if he goes to the TV there's no way he's overturning this, because this is a goal. It was a ridiculously bad decision. The sad thing is this is the level of the weak refereeing at the moment."

Erling Haaland has been remarkably prolific since his £51 million move from Borussia Dortmund in the close season and he struck again in the second half at Villa Park.

The Norway striker's 10th goal in his first six Premier League games gave him a share of the record with Micky Quinn, who hit the same tally for Coventry in 1992.

But Pep Guardiola's side were punished for failing to build on their lead as Bailey's blistering finish left the champions frustrated.

- Spectacular Pickford -

In the goalless Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, there was more VAR intrigue as Conor Coady thought he had put Everton ahead against Liverpool with a close-range finish from Neal Maupay's shot in the second half.

But Coady's goal was correctly disallowed for offside after a VAR check.

There could easily have been goals aplenty but for a man of the match display from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford and some fine stops from his Liverpool counterpart Alisson Becker.

"Wow, what can you do? It was a great derby, super intense, with a lot of really spectacular saves," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.

"We hit the post three times and Pickford made so many saves."

Everton are now without a victory in their first six games this term, while Liverpool's momentum was checked after winning their previous two matches.

Unbeaten Tottenham made it four wins from six games with a 2-1 victory against Fulham in north London.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg broke the deadlock for Tottenham in the 40th minute, sweeping home from Richarlison's pass.

Harry Kane increased Tottenham's lead in the 74th minute from Ryan Sessegnon's cross to become the third highest goal-scorer in Premier League history, with 188 goals taking him past Andy Cole.

Only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) are now above Kane in the scoring chart.

Kane's goal also moved him level with Thierry Henry's tally of 43 in Premier League London derbies.

Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic curled home in the 82nd minute, but Tottenham held firm.

Managerless Bournemouth came back from two goals down to win 3-2 in a thriller at Nottingham Forest.

Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick as Brentford beat Leeds 5-2 at the Community Stadium.

Daniel Podence scored as Wolves beat Southampton 1-0 at Molineux for their first league victory this season.

Newcastle and Crystal Palace drew 0-0 at St James' Park.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Man Utd survive League Cup shoot-out, West Ham crash out

LONDON -- Manchester United survived a League Cup scare against third tier Rochdale as they won 5-3 on penalties, while West Ham suffered a shock 4-0 defeat at Oxford on Wednesday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's struggling side were held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford after 16-year-old Luke Matheson scored a 76th minute equaliser following Mason Greenwood's opener for United eight minutes earlier.

With United in danger of a humiliating exit, they held their nerve in the shoot-out, winning 5-3 as Daniel James converted the decisive kick after Sergio Romero saved Rochdale's second penalty from Jimmy Keohane.

Although United avoided the embarrassment of losing to a team 17th in League One, the sloppy manner of their performance will raise fresh questions about Solskjaer's ability to inspire his side.

United are languishing in eighth place in the Premier League after Saturday's dismal 2-0 defeat at West Ham left them with just two wins from six games.

"We go 1-0 up and you think 'come on, get a second'. It's a learning curve," Solskjaer said.

"At this club we don't sit back and think that's good enough. That's not what we want here."

Liverpool eased to a 2-0 victory at third tier MK Dons as Harvey Elliott became the youngest player to start a competitive match for the club.

The 16-year-old put in an accomplished display and twice hit the crossbar as James Milner profited from terrible goalkeeping from Stuart Moore to put the Reds in front before Ki-Jana Hoever wrapped up the win.

Frank Lampard got a first home win as Chelsea boss under his belt as his youthful side thumped fourth division Grimsby 7-1.

Ross Barkley opened the floodgates and Michy Batshuayi struck twice.

- Chelsea kids shine -

There were also goals for Pedro, Kurt Zouma, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi -- the England winger making his first appearance since suffering an Achilles injury in April.

Lampard handed debuts to four academy graduates as well as a first start for Billy Gilmour.

Gilmour was a stand-out performer in midfield and fellow rookies James and Marc Guehi also impressed.

"I'm pleased, some debuts and the young lads who came on improved the team which was nice. It's nice to get that first home win," Lampard said.

"I thought Gilmour ran the game from midfield. It says a lot about the academy, and nights like this give the opportunity to mix the team up and give them a chance."

At the Kassam Stadium, third tier Oxford reached the fourth round for the first time in 22 years thanks to a stunning victory against West Ham.

Second-half goals by Elliott Moore, Matty Taylor, Tariqe Fosu and Shandon Baptiste left West Ham shell-shocked.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini made nine changes and handed a full debut to academy graduate Nathan Holland, but the understudies weren't up to the task.

Max Power's superb 25-yard strike in the ninth minute fired third tier Sunderland to a surprise 1-0 win at Premier League side Sheffield United.

Bournemouth were the third Premier League club to crash out as third tier Burton -- semi-finalists last season -- won 2-0 in a match delayed three times by floodlight failure at the Pirelli Stadium.

Wolves beat second tier Reading 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw.

Debutant Bruno Jordao put Wolves ahead but Lucas Boye headed Reading level in the ninth minute of stoppage-time, setting up a shoot-out that the Premier League team won comfortably.

Aston Villa cruised to a 3-1 win at Brighton thanks to goals from Jota, Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Wimbledon shock West Ham, Millwall stun Everton in FA Cup

LONDON -- AFC Wimbledon revived memories of their Crazy Gang heyday as they knocked Premier League West Ham out of the FA Cup with a 4-2 win in the fourth round on Saturday.

Wimbledon may be bottom of League One, and 58 places adrift of the Hammers, but that didn't stop them being 3-0 up early in the second half, with Scott Wagstaff scoring twice after Kwesi Appiah's opener.

Hammers substitutes Lucas Perez and Felipe Anderson scored to make it 3-2, before Wimbledon's Toby Sibbick, not even born when the club won the 1988 FA Cup final against Liverpool, headed in the winner two minutes from time.

The Hammers were not the only top-flight side beaten by lower league opposition, with Everton losing 3-2 to Millwall in controversial fashion earlier in the day.

League One Shrewsbury, who play in the same division as AFC Wimbledon, came close to a Cup shock of their own before Wolves scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw at New Meadow.

Meanwhile, Manchester City's quest for four trophies continued with a 5-0 thrashing of Burnley.

AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans angry when the old Wimbledon FC was effectively relocated from south London to Milton Keynes, took a deserved lead in the 34th minute through Appiah's deflected shot from the edge of the box.

And they were 2-0 up before the break.

Wagstaff ran all the way to the edge of the box unopposed after dispossessing Pedro Obiang on halfway before calmly slotting the past Hammers keeper Adrian.

Then just seconds into the second half, Wagstaff made it 3-0 when, following an Apppiah cross, he scored from 12 yards.

Perez pulled one back in the 57th minute and before Anderson's free-kick raised hope of a Hammers equaliser

But teenage substitute Sibbick then headed in an excellent cross from Anthony Wordsworth to put the result beyond doubt.

"Today's performance shows that we can do it and hopefully now we can pick up some results (in the league). The boys were excellent and worked their socks off all game," Wagstaff told BT Sport.

- Silva bemoans lack of VAR -

Everton twice led at The Den, but were left to rue the lack of VAR at the game as Millwall's second goal, from Jake Cooper, was allowed to stand despite coming off the defender's arm.

However, Marco Silva's men only had themselves to blame after dire defending saw them concede from three set-pieces.

Richarlison's long range effort squirmed through Jordan Archer's grasp to give the visitors a lead that lasted just four minutes when Lee Gregory's header levelled in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Cenk Tosun restored Everton's advantage before the moment of controversy when the ball ricocheted off Cooper's arm and into an unguarded net.

But with VAR not in use, referee Michael Oliver had to uphold his original decision to give the goal despite Everton's furious protests as the incident was replayed on the big screen.

Worse followed for the Toffees, when Murray Wallace turned home another free-kick into the box in the 94th minute.

"If the competition has VAR for some stadiums then it has to have it in all," said Silva. "Because it doesn't make sense. It was a clear handball."

City boss Pep Guardiola labelled talk of a quadruple as "fantasy" earlier in the week but, after Saturday's performance, Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: "Who is going to stop them winning everything if they are in that mood?"

Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne left City on top before Kevin Long's own-goal and Sergio Aguero's penalty completed the rout.

Wolves knocked out Premier League leaders Liverpool in the last round, but needed a late fightback from 2-0 down to force a replay at Shrewsbury.

Greg Docherty fired Shrewsbury into the lead just two minutes into the second-half before Luke Waterfall's towering header made it 2-0.

Raul Jimenez came off the bench to give the Wolves a lifeline and Matt Doherty equalised three minutes into stoppage time.

Watford won an all-Premier League tie despite Javi Gracia making 11 changes as Andre Gray and Isaac Success scored in a 2-0 victory at Newcastle.

Newport County's fairytale continued as the League Two side, who beat Leicester in round three, equalised in stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Frank Lampard's Derby County moved into the last 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 win at League One Accrington Stanley as both sides ended with 10 men.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Lukaku hits double in United rout, Spurs also win

LONDON - Romelu Lukaku scored twice on his Old Trafford debut as Manchester United delivered their biggest Premier League win in nearly three years to rout West Ham United 4-0 on Sunday.

Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba also struck late on as United outshone all their rivals over the weekend to top the fledgling table, leading manager Jose Mourinho to salute their new-found confidence.

Sunday's other game saw Tottenham Hotspur win 2-0 at newly promoted Newcastle United whose captain Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a deliberate stamp on Dele Alli in front of the referee.

At Old Trafford, a United side inspired by Nemanja Matic, their 40-million-pound ($52.04-million) signing from Chelsea, provided another expensive newcomer, the 75-million-pound Lukaku, with the perfect service.

Lukaku, who also scored against Real Madrid in last week's Super Cup, netted 25 times in the league for Everton last season and looked equally deadly following his move to United.

The Belgian struck in the 33rd and 52nd minutes, first getting on the end of a perfect through ball from Marcus Rashford and then heading a second goal from a drifted Henrikh Mkhitaryan free kick after the break.

Martial and Pogba then ruined former City keeper Joe Hart's return to Manchester with further strikes that sent the crowd away confident that last season's problems of winning at home will not be repeated.

"It was a dream come true," said Lukaku. "The win was good, four goals and a clean sheet.

"Jose Mourinho wants me to be the leader and create as much as I can. The fans want to see attractive football. It is just the start."

Mourinho was not inclined to get carried away, pointing out that United also started last season well, but said: "The team was confident -- a word I like."

At St James' Park, Spurs' victory was almost as easy once Shelvey suffered his moment of madness in the 48th minute.

The spark point was Alli's refusal to give Shelvey the ball after the Tottenham midfielder was fouled. The 25-year-old Shelvey responded with a stamp that left referee Andre Marriner no choice but to give Newcastle's captain the third red card of his career.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez said Shelvey apologised to his team mates after costing Newcastle the match on their Premier League return.

Shelvey will now serve a three-match ban.

Goals by Ben Davies and Alli himself sealed the Tottenham win with Kyle Walker-Peters named man of the match on his Premier League debut.

Bizarrely, the full back was a replacement for the almost identically named Kyle Walker, who joined Manchester City in the off-season.

($1 = 0.7686 pounds) (Editing by Clare Fallon)

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Late Costa strike gives Conte winning Chelsea debut

LONDON - Animated Chelsea manager Antonio Conte launched his Premier League career with a battling 2-1 victory over West Ham United thanks to Eden Hazard's penalty and a last-gasp Diego Costa strike in an intense London derby on Monday.

Fiery Spain striker Costa, lucky to be on the pitch after a wild challenge on keeper Adrian, thumped a low shot into the net in the 89th minute, sending Conte jumping for joy and embracing his coaching staff and several fans behind the dugout.

"I think the team played a good game with a great intensity and spirit," said Conte. "It is important to find the right spirit and intensity, we know we can improve and we must improve a lot, but today I am pleased for my players."

Conte, 47, has worked his new squad hard in the run-up to the season, with double training sessions.

"I saw a lot of good things, lots of things they were working on in the last days," he said. "We have been working for only one month... I know we can improve through the work. But today it was important to get the victory."

West Ham's James Collins had threatened to spoil the Italian's debut with a fine half-volleyed goal in the 78th.

Hazard had given the home side a deserved lead straight after halftime, smashing the ball into the roof of the net from the penalty spot after Michail Antonio needlessly tripped up Chelsea's Spanish full back Cesar Azpilicueta in the area.

FURIOUS PACE

For Conte, who took Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, the match at Stamford Bridge offered a taste of the physical side of English football and his charges looked ready for it.

The contest had started at a furious pace, although first-night nerves sometimes got in the way of quality football.

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, signed from last season's surprise champions Leicester City, got an early yellow card for bringing down striker Andy Carroll in the fourth minute.

But there were also touches of brilliance from the 2015 league champions, who plunged down the table last season losing manager Jose Mourinho to the sack in the process.

Monday's Chelsea side looked leaner, fitter and more motivated than under Mourinho at the start of last season.

The lively Hazard proved a constant irritation to the east Londoners, who were missing several players through injury, and the Belgian international won the man-of-the-match award.

In the second half Bilic's Hammers side found it tough to string more than two passes together.

"Let's be honest. Apart from the first 15 minutes and the time we equalised, they were better than us," Bilic added.

The home team did suffer a scare when the bearded Costa, looking like a swashbuckling pirate, threw himself into a studs up challenge with Adrian and was lucky not to get a red card.

"I didn't see the situation," said Conte. "I saw him put the pressure on the keeper and then try to stop. In my opinion I think the referee took the right decision."

Costa's escape was certainly lucky for Chelsea after the Spaniard received a pass from new signing Michy Batshuayi and fired a low shot into the net for the late winner.

(Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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