English Premiership shows gap between the rich and poor
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): Late August, the season just three games old, and already the gap between the rich and poor in the English Premiership is clearly evident.
The harsh realities of life in the top flight came home to newly promoted Barnsley on Sunday as it was handed a six-goal footballing lesson by Chelsea. The game was a personal triumph for Gianluca Vialli who hit four. Gutsavo Poyet and Dan Petrescu added the others as Chelsea won with embarrassing ease.
Southampton fared little better at home Saturday to the aristrocats of Arsenal which won 3-1 with two goals from Dennis Bergkamp and another from Marc Overmars. The Dutchmen were just too good for the home team whose preferred method of defense strongly resembled that of assault and battery.
The physical side of football was in evidence too at Elland Road where visitors Crystal Palace beat Leeds United 2-0. The one incisive brain at work on an afternoon of stifling heat and flying tackles was Attilo Lombardo. The stylish Italian helped create the first for Paul Warhurst before teasing the ball past keeper Martyn for the second.
There was another Italian on the scoresheet at Selhurst Park where Paolo Di Canion gave Sheffield Wednesday its first point of the season with an equalizer a quarter of an hour from time. Wimbledon had earlier taken a 17th minute through Jason Euell.
Liverpool turned in its best performance of the season at Blackburn but only came away with a draw to make it two points from nine. Michael Owen, still deputizing for the injured Fowler, put Liverpool ahead in the 52nd minuted by out-pacing the home defense before calmly slotting it through keeper Filan's legs.
The equalizer spoke volumes for the new sense of cohesion and vitality at Blackburn this season. With seven minutes to go, Bohinen played a one-two with Sutton, the ball fell to Dahlin who placed it unerringly past James. Blackburn retains top spot on goal difference from Arsenal, Manchester United and Leicester City.
The latter two shared the points in an entertaining 0-0 draw at Filbert Street where the home side could have been 3-0 ahead in 15 minutes and United hit the woodwork three times. The contrast of Leicester's hustle and bustle to United's slower more measured continental approach made for a fascinating contest.
Defiance
Newcastle United relied on the very English virtues of defiance and determination at St James' Park in its 1-0 win over Aston Villa after being reduced to ten men early in the second- half with the sending-off of David Batty for a second bookable offense.
Nobody worked harder than Ian Rush, making an unexpected debut after Colombian air-traffic control delayed the return of Asprilla from World Cup duty. John Beresford hit the winner with a powerful, swerving left-foot volley in the 13th minute.
Bottom of the Premiership without either points and goals, Villa remains a shadow of last season's side. Yorke squandered what chances were created and, for a multi-million dollar striker, Collymore displayed a peculiar reluctance to enter the penalty area.
There was no such reticence on the part of Peter Beardsley who repaid his modest transfer fee in 36 minutes at Coventry. Brought on in the second half with Bolton 2-0 down to goals from Telfer and Huckerby, Beardsley changed the game.
Whether floating into midfield or drifting wide to take possession, he became the fulcrum of Bolton's attacks. Long or short, forward or back, his passes won time and space or created chances. Nathan Blake converted two and Bolton won a point.
There was no such luck for West Ham United which went one up with a 23rd minute Dave Watson own goal at Everton only for a Goodison Park club to take the points with second half strikes from Gary Speed and Graham Stuart.
Tottenham Hotspur kick-started its season Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Derby County thanks mainly to the efforts of Jose Dominguez. The young winger signed from Sporting Lisbon for US$2.5 million ran County ragged. Calderwood headed the winner from a Sinton free kick after one of the many fouls on the elusive Dominguez.
Elsewhere around Europe, Ajax leads the Dutch first division on goal difference from Feyenoord and Heerenveen after two rounds. The Amsterdam giants recorded it second 5-0 scoreline of the season away at Fortuna Sittard on Friday.
Feyenoord beat Sparta 3-1 in the Rotterdam derby with goals from Cruz, van Gastel and Bosvelt, both sides finishing with ten men. Meanwhile, champion PSV Eindhoven twice came from behind to salvage a 3-3 draw against NAC Breda.
Points
Four games into the new German season and newly promoted Kaiserslautern top the Bundesliga with 10 points after Saturday's 3-0 victory over Schalke. Two goals from striker Marschall and another from Swiss midfielder Sforza were enough to take the points against the UEFA Cup holders.
Borussia Dortmund head a group of six teams on 7 points following its 5-2 thrashing of neighbor Bochum, while Bayern Munich moves third after its 2-0 win in 30 degree heat at Hamburg with goals from Basler and Zickler.
Finally to Italy, where striker Filippo Inzaghi marked his home debut in a competitive match for Juventus with two second half goals as the Serie A champion outclassed Vicenza 3-0 to lift the Italian Supercup. Antonio Conte completed a comfortable victory nine minutes from time.