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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. Malcom Floyd 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. Antonio Gates Womens Jersey . Hell have to
settle for a spot atop the AL Central. Porcello pitched brilliantly into the
ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers took over first place in their division
Saturday with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Antonio Gates Jersey . —Coach Bruce
Boudreaus shortened debut season with the Anaheim Ducks was good enough to keep
him around for a whole lot longer. http://www.chargersteamstore.com/ryan-mathews-jerseys
. In the 36-hole finish Sunday in the wind-delayed tournament, Shin took a
three-shot lead into the final round after shooting a 1-under 71 in the morning.
Eric Weddle Jersey . The six-foot-four,
300-pound Fulton was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2009
NFL draft. The 25-year-old Chicago native has also spent time with the
Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins practice
rosters. Ryan Mathews Womens Jersey . Armstrong, from
Kamloops, B.C., won with a season-best throw of 21.44 metres. Tomasz Majewski of
Poland was second and Rutger Smith of the Netherlands finished third. Armstrong
also won a pair of gold medals in the Czech Republic of over the week. KANSAS
CITY, Mo. —Tony Gonzalez boarded the first bus to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday,
eager to arrive as early as possible to start whats likely his final season in
the place where it all began. The Falcons made sure it was a happy return.
Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, one of them to the longtime
Chiefs tight end late in the third quarter, and Atlanta pulled away with a
dynamic second-half scoring outburst for a 40-24 season-opening victory over
Kansas City. “Its been like a homecoming for me,” Gonzalez said. “I just want
all the fans to know, I love you very much and thank you for letting this day be
special.” They didnt have much choice. Ryan also ran for a TD, and Julio Jones
caught six passes for 108 yards and two scores, both of them enjoying a Chiefs
defence missing four starters due to injuries and suspension. The highlight,
though, was Gonzalez, the five-time All-Pro who spent his first 12 seasons in
Kansas City. After making his TD grab, the ball squirted loose in the end zone.
Ryan tracked it down and pushed it into Gonzalezs hands, and as hed done so many
times, the former college hoops player dunked the ball over the goalpost—
getting mostly boos from a crowd that once cheered him. “Hes such a great part
of this organization, you know, probably the greatest tight end to ever play the
game,” Ryan said. “I think deep down in their hearts, Kansas City fans were
happy to see that one more time. “Maybe not at the time,” Ryan quickly added.
“Maybe in retrospect.” The Chiefs matched Atlanta most of the first half,
trailing 20-17 at the break, but a missed field goal by Ryan Succop early in the
third quarter proved to be the turning point. Atlanta scored 20 unanswered
points to put the game away. Matt Cassel threw for 258 yards and had touchdowns
running and throwing, but he also fumbled deep in Kansas City territory to set
up a short TD drive, and his two interceptions created short fields that the
Falcons turned into field goals by Matt Bryant. “Its only one game in a long
season,” Cassel said. “We obviously have to make a lot of corrections and get
better as a football team. Weve got to play collectively.” There was no
controversy surrounding the replacement officials. Both times that referee Mike
Shepherd went under the hood for a video review, the original call stood.
Jamaal Charles had 87 yards rushing, and Tony Moeaki had three catches for 37
yards, both providing a bright spot for Kansas City. The pair of them, along
with safety Eric Berry, played their first regular-season games since tearing
their left ACLs lasst season. Philip Rivers Jersey. There were still plenty
of injury woes to go along with the suspension of Pro Bowl linebacker
Tamba Hali, who missed the game after violating the leagues substance-abuse
policy. Starting safety Kendrick Lewis (right shoulder), cornerback
Brandon Flowers (right heel) and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio (right ankle)
were inactive due to injuries, and that seemed like chum in the water to one of
the leagues top passing offences. “The fact that they werent there, really no
one cares,” said Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel, “because all anyone wants to know
is did you win or did you lose, and we lost today.” Ryan set the tone with the
Falcons opening series, marching 80 yards behind pinpoint passing before an
8-yard pass to Jones made it 7-0 midway through the first quarter. The teams
swapped field goals before the Chiefs answered with their own TD drive. Cassel
was 4 for 4 on the series, including a 21-yard pass to Dwayne Bowe and a 22-yard
TD toss to tight end Kevin Boss, who was signed in the off-season to make
precisely the kind of finger-tip grabs down the seam that got him into the end
zone Sunday. The teams kept trading haymakers the rest of the half. Ryan
connected with Roddy White three times on the Falcons ensuing drive, and a
dump-off pass that Jones turned into a 14-yard score gave them the lead again.
But the Chiefs had another answer when Cassel weaved his way into the end-zone
from 5-yards out late in the second quarter. Bryant added his second field goal
just before half time for Atlanta, but Succop banged his own 40-yard try off the
upright early in the second half, shifting the momentum for good. The Falcons
potent passing offence marched down field, Ryan capping the drive with a 5-yard
scramble for a touchdown. Three plays later, Cassel was blindsided by
John Abraham and the ball squirted loose, and Stephen Nicholas pounced on it at
the 7. Ryan hit Gonzalez in the back of the end zone on the very next play for a
34-17 lead, effectively putting the game away. For the Falcons, in the most
fitting fashion possible. “Tony Gonzalez, without a doubt, is going to be a
first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. “We knew it was
going to be an emotional week for him and Im sure hes glad its over.” NOTES:
Atlanta CB Brent Grimes left in the fourth quarter with a calf injury. ...
Rookie DT Dontari Poe started in place of Toribio for Kansas City. ... Nicholas
had a game-high 12 tackles, recovered a fumble, picked off a pass and had two
pass deflections for Atlanta. ... Bryant finished 4 for 4 on FGs for Atlanta. ’
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