Manchester City smash seven goals past Norwich
United overcome Fulham but Chelsea slump to shock loss at Newcastle
Manchester United overcame Fulham and Manchester City smashed seven goals past Norwich City in English Premier League soccer on Saturday, but Chelsea were dealt a shock defeat at Newcastle United.
The day also witnessed a freak goal by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and was set to be rounded off with a table-topping affair between leaders Arsenal and closest rivals Liverpool.
Despite a disappointing start to the season, United have now gone six games without defeat in all competitions following a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
I didn’t like it. I think we deserved to lose
David Moyes’ side went 3-0 up inside 22 minutes, with Antonio Valencia tapping in a ninth-minute opener from Wayne Rooney’s square pass.
Robin van Persie’s emphatic finish from Adnan Januzaj’s measured through ball made it 2-0 and the Dutchman then centred for Rooney to add a third.
Alex Kacaniklic pulled a goal back for Fulham in the 65th minute with a shot that deflected in off Rooney, but the champions saw out a victory that elevated them to within two points of the top four.
City moved into the Champions League places after bouncing back from a 2-1 loss at Chelsea last weekend by thrashing Norwich 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini created a stir by dropping goalkeeper Joe Hart following a succession of blunders, but all the action came at the other end as his forwards put Norwich to the sword.
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, the ball looping fortuitously into the net after Sergio Aguero’s shot was blocked by Michael Turner and hit Bradley Johnson before crossing the line for an own goal.
Aguero teed up David Silva for the second, with Matija Nastasic heading home from a corner before Aguero found Alvaro Negredo for the fourth goal in only the 36th minute.
Yaya Toure added a fifth with a sumptuous free kick on the hour before Aguero bludgeoned home in the 71st minute and substitute Edin Dzeko added a late seventh.
Chelsea could have gone top with a victory at Newcastle, but instead they went down 2-0 on a rain-soaked afternoon at St James’ Park.
John Terry twice went close for Chelsea in the first half, hitting the bar with a header from a corner and then seeing an effort cleared off the line by Davide Santon.
However, Newcastle took a 68th-minute lead when Yoan Gouffran converted Yohan Cabaye’s free kick with a diving header and Loic Remy sealed Chelsea’s fate with a minute to play.
“I didn’t like it. I think we deserved to lose,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
“We had a couple of good chances to score the equaliser, but they were in the game more than us, they fought more than us and they were much more committed than us.”
Chelsea’s defeat saw them slip to third place, with Liverpool overtaking them on goal difference, while Newcastle climbed to ninth.
Begovic claimed the quickest goal of the season to date with his first touch at the Britannia Stadium, sending a high ball down the pitch that bounced just outside the penalty area and looped over Southampton counterpart Artur Boruc.
However, Jay Rodriguez’s 42nd-minute header from a raking James Ward-Prowse cross gave Southampton a 1-1 draw that kept Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the top five.
Second-bottom Sunderland endured a miserable day at northeast rivals Hull City, whose manager Steve Bruce enjoyed a 1-0 win over his former club thanks to a 25th-minute Carlos Cuellar own goal.
It was an afternoon tinged with disgrace for Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, who saw captain Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena shown straight red cards for dangerous tackles shortly before half-time.
Goals from Saido Berahino and Gareth McAuley gave West Bromwich Albion a 2-0 win at home to bottom club Crystal Palace, while West Ham United and Aston Villa drew 0-0 at Upton Park.
