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26

2019 Two Harry Guardiola Galled By
Kane Leads Spurs to Opening Day Victory
14th, Kane goals in ‘Sloppy’ Performance
five
the
last
August minutes gave
T o t t e n h a m
Hotspur a 3-1
| victory over Despite Delight At Scoreline
EXAMINER p r o m o t e d Pperformance as six minutes into the second Nothing will be comparable

ep Guardiola enjoyed
Aston Vila.
half, before VAR threatened
to that.
the result but not the
Spurs had to
“Saying that we have to be
to overshadow proceedings
IRISH rally from a Manchester City opened when a second Jesus goal was strong. After 3-0 the game is
goal down after
ruled out.
their title defense with a
almost over, but at 2-0, 10
John McGinn latched on to Tyrone Mings’ long pass and fired
across Hugo Lloris to give Villa the lead nine minutes in. 5-0 thrashing of West Sterling had laid the ball minutes later Ederson had to
Kane headed over the crossbar as Spurs looked for an Ham. across for Jesus to tap in but make an incredible save, and
equalizer before the half-time interval. Raheem Sterling grabbed a after a lengthy wait – one of we’d have played the last 15
The hosts’ pressure told 17 minutes from time when Lucas hat-trick while Gabriel Jesus six VAR delays throughout minutes at 2-1. So when that
Moura teed up debutant Tanguy Ndombele to find the cor- and Sergio Agüero were also the match – replays showed happens, after celebrating,
ner with a thumping drive from 20 yards. on target in a match which the England forward was off- you have to refocus.”
Villa goalkeeper Heaton was superb throughout and witnessed the first VAR inter- side by the width of his own West Ham paraded their
tipped Christian Eriksen’s free-kick wide, but Kane gave vention in the Premier shoulder. new record signing, £45mil-
Spurs the lead from close range when the ball ricocheted into League. How the West Ham fans lion striker Sebastien Haller,
his path. But City only led by Jesus’ laughed, but the boot was on and gave a second-half debut
The striker then secured the win in the last minute with a strike at half-time and at 2-0 the other foot shortly after to £25m midfielder Pablo
composed finish into the bottom corner. C up were indebted to a stun- when Sterling lobbed Lukasz Fornals.
ning double save from Fabianski, VAR this time rul- But it was the same old
Ashley Barnes Brace Downs Southampton Ederson to deny Javier ing he was onside. story as Agüero buried his

Ashley Barnes struck twice as Burnley beat Southampton Hernandez and Manuel VAR intervened again second attempt before
3-0 with a dazzling second-half performance. Lanzini. after City were awarded a Sterling ran through to com-
Southampton had the better of the first half, with Che “Was it the perfect start? penalty, Fabianski saving plete another heavy defeat. In
Adams shooting wide early on, while Nick Pope produced a In terms of result, yes. from Sergio Agüero only for their five visits to the London
stunning save to deny Nathan Redmond. Performance, no!” said referee Mike Dean to be told Stadium, City have now
But Burnley opened the scoring after 63 minutes, as Barnes Guardiola. to order a retake after Declan scored 22 goals and conceded
latched on to Erik Pieters’ long pass and beat Angus Gunn “In the first half we were Rice was spotted encroach- just once.
with a low finish. sloppy in our passing. But ing. “In the first 45 minutes we
And it was the same two players who combined seven that’s normal. It’s the first Guardiola has, of course, played well, we didn’t ever
minutes later, Pieters crossing for Barnes to steer a volley past game, away, it was hot, the been on the wrong end of feel on the bench that City
Gunn. rhythm was not there. VAR decisions in the recent could score,” said manager
Johann Gudmundsson made it three with 15 minutes “The second half was bet- past. Manuel Pellegrini.
remaining, curling a superb shot into the corner of the net to ter, more calm, extra passes, He said: “After what hap- “We were very unlucky
secure an opening three points for the Clarets. C and after 3-0 the game was pened against Tottenham in with the first goal and then
over. I cannot deny I’m so the (Champions League) City are more dangerous. We
Dream Start For Graham Potter’s Seagulls delighted for 5-0.” quarter-finals, we scored in conceded the second goal too
Graham Potter can scarcely have wished for a better start West Ham had looked 95th minute and we were easily.
“After that we had a cou-
to his reign as Brighton & Hove Albion head coach as his side bright until Jesus nipped in there, 60,000 people were ple of chances to make it 2-1,
between two defenders to
jumping, dancing, and one
ran out 3-0 winners at Watford. convert Kyle Walker’s 25th- second later we’d lost but finally with space in the
Brighton went ahead on 28 minutes when Abdoulaye
Doucoure diverted Pascal Gross’ cross past his own goalkeep- minute cross. because it was offside, I’m last minutes they scored their
used to these situations.
Sterling doubled the lead
goals.” C
er.
Florin Andone converted Davy Propper’s cross to double
the visitors’ advantage 20 minutes into the second half.
Mat Ryan preserved his side’s lead with a fine save from
Watford’s Craig Dawson before substitute Neal Maupay
marked his Premier League debut with a goal to secure the
Seagulls’ victory with 13 minutes to play. C

Schneiderlin Gets Premier League Season’s
First Red Card As Palace and Everton Draw

Crystal Palace and 10-man Everton played out an enter-
taining 0-0 draw on the opening weekend of the season at
Selhurst Park.
Gylfi Sigurdsson fired an 18-yard strike just wide two min-
utes in before Seamus Coleman forced Vicente Guaita into a
fine save from close range.
Jordan Pickford was called into action twice in two min-
utes to deny Jordan Ayew and Max Meyer shortly before the
hour mark.
Morgan Schneiderlin was dismissed for a second bookable
offence with 14 minutes to play but neither team could find a
the breakthrough. C
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus gives his team a first half lead