lingzi
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LONDON —Manchester City fought back after a second-half collapse against
Southampton to open its title defence with a 3-2 victory against the Premier
League newcomers on Sunday. Kyle Williams Jersey . Substitutes Rickie
Lambert and Steven Davis put a dogged Southampton side 2-1 in front and wipe out
Carlos Tevezs opener for City. But Samir Nasri spared City from an opening
weekend upset by scoring an 80th-minute winner following Edin Dzekos equalizer.
“We showed great character,” Nasri told Sky Sports television. “We didnt panic.”
Chelsea had no such troubles overcoming Wigan in Sundays other match. New
signing Eden Hazard made an immediate impact, setting up Branislav Ivanovics
opener and winning the penalty from which Frank Lampard converted to clinch a
2-0 victory. For City, the new season picked up where the last one ended for
pulsating drama at Etihad Stadium. A 3-2 victory in May against Queens Park
Rangers—secured in the final seconds—ended Citys 44-year title drought.
“It was like the last game of the season, weve started the same and I hope at
the end it will be the same result for us,” Nasri said. Although City didnt
leave it until stoppage time on Sunday to produce the winner, manager Roberto
Mancini hopes every game wont be as tough. “It is important to have this
character, it is better the next time to close the game,” Mancini said. “We had
too many chances to close the game—we didnt.” City had to cope without Sergio
Aguero from the 14th minute after last seasons top scorer fell awkwardly
following Nathaniel Clynes challenge. The Argentina striker went to hospital for
a scan on his injured knee, but the results wont be known for another two days.
Citys fortunes didnt improve after Agueros injury. Even though Tevez won a
penalty two minutes later, after falling to the ground under Jos Hooivelds
challenge, David Silvas tame spot kick was easily saved by Kelvin Davis. Tevez
found the target five minutes before halftime. He was fed through by Nasri and
sneaked in front of Joe Fonte before sending the ball into the net at Davis near
post. City squandered chances to extend its lead after the break, with Gael
Clichy sweeping the ball over, and David Silva hitting the crossbar. City was
made to pay for those misses when Lambert, last seasons top scorer in the second
tier, scored his first topflight goal. Four minutes after coming off the bench,
Lambert seized on confusion in the City defence and Joleon Lescotts missed
clearance to side-foot the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart. Another substitute
also quickly delivered. Steven Davis had been on the pitch only three minutes
when he buried the ball into the bottom corner of the net in the 68th after City
debutant Jack Rodwell had lost possession to Southampton inside his own half.
But City recovered from its sloppiness, with Dzeko blasting in the equalizer
four minutes later. Nasri secured the three points after Southampton left back
Danny Fox inadvertently headed the ball to the France midfielder, who was booked
for lifting his jersey in the goal celebration to reveal a t-shirt with the “Eid
Mubarak” greeting to mark the end of Ramadan. “We deserved to win the game,”
Mancini said. “They didnt have any chances in the first half and we had four or
five incredible chances.” Chelsea made a surging start at Wigan following its
tepid league campaign last year in which it finished sixth but made amends by
winning the Champions League and FA Cup. Roberto Di Matteos side was in front
after just two minutes, with Hazard turning Ivan Ramis and slipping the ball
through for Ivanovic to race onto and dispatch into the Wigan net. “(Hazard) was
brilliant,” Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. “Its a young age to come into
the Premier League, no matter how good of a player you are.” Ramis was
struggling to cope with Hazard and gave away a penalty when he fouled the
Belgium international just five minutes after Ivanovics opener. Lampard scored
from the spot, but the Blues couldnt build on the margin of the victory as Wigan
finished with nothing to show for its domination. “They took their chances
really well, they punished us massively,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said.
“It couldnt have been a harder test … I thought Chelsea were happy to defend
well and run the clock down, and I took that as a real compliment to the side.”
Manchester Uniteds quest for a 20th title doesnt start until Monday, when former
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will hope to make his debut at Everton.
Evertons neighbour, Liverpool, was on the receiving end of the biggest shock of
the opening weekend, with Brendan Rodgers new side losing 3-0 at West Bromwich
Albion on Saturday. Aldon Smith Pink Jersey . —Top-seeded
Marion Bartoli rebounded from a poor first set for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over
qualifier Chan Yung-Jan on Saturday that sent her into the final of the Mercury
Insurance Open. Dashon Goldson Jersey . —Ricky Stenhouse
Jr. http://www.49erssuperbowl47teamstore.com/ronnie-lott-jersey
. —The Philadelphia Eagles have traded linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd
to the Indianapolis Colts for cornerback Kevin Thomas and a conditional
seven-round pick in the 2013 draft. Cheap
49ers Super Bowl Jersey . General manager Paul Holmgren revealed
the news through the Flyers Twitter account, stating Meszaros suffered the
injury training last week in his native Slovakia. Patrick Willis Youth Jersey .S. Open
semifinal that would be a rematch of their recent finals at Wimbledon and the
London Olympics.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Chinas Shanshan Feng shot a
5-under 67 Friday to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai
Ladies Masters. Feng, the LPGA Championship winner in June, closed with three
straight birdies for a tournament-record 198 total after three rounds at the
Ladies European Tours season-ending event. “I was a little nervous at the
beginning, but I made some birdies and had quite a comeback on the last three
holes,” Feng said. “Ive done pretty well for three days so Im going to stick to
the same game plan. Im still confident.” Dewi Claire Schreefel was in second
place at 203 after a course-record 63 at Emirates Golf Club. The Dutchwoman had
nine birdies, including four on herr last four holes. Ahmad Brooks Jersey. “That was the best round
of my career,” Schreefel said. “They come along every once in a while and I feel
another good round under par is definitely possible.” Gwladys Nocera (68) was
third at 204, with Cindy Lacrosse (69) and Caroline Masson (69) another shot
back. Defending champion Lexi Thompson (72) had two birdies and two bogeys and
was at 209. “It was frustrating. I didnt hit the ball bad, just didnt make
anything,” the American teenager said. “A few misreads with the putter, but its
been like that all week.” Michelle Wie (70) was 15 shots off the pace. Carlota
Ciganda, who leads the Order of Merit ahead of Masson, shot a 73 for 211. ’ ’ ’
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