Happy 700th for Scholes as United go second

Updated September 16, 2012 14:24:09

Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes marked his 700th appearance for the club with a goal in a 4-0 Premier League win over Wigan on Sunday (AEST) as champions Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke.

Elsewhere, Arsenal thrashed bottom-of-the-table Southampton 6-1 to leave the promoted Saints still searching for their first points of the season.

At Old Trafford, Scholes got the ball rolling for United before Javier Hernandez and debutants, Alex Buttner and Nick Powell, completed the scoring as the home side went second on the table.

United are a point behind Chelsea who were held 0-0 by Queen's Park Rangers.

United missed the chance to take an early lead when Wigan's Ali Al Habsi saved Hernandez's weak penalty.

It was a controversial spot-kick, won after Danny Welbeck dived in the box.

But after half-time Al Habsi could only weakly palm away Nani's cross, allowing Scholes to score his 163rd goal for United.

Hernandez then atoned for his spot-kick error by making it 2-0.

Dutch left-back Buttner, a recent signing from Vitesse Arnhem, then scored a superb solo goal, beating three men down the left before a shot from a tight angle went in off Al Habsi.

And eight minutes from time, midfielder Powell made it 4-0.

"We always remember Paul Scholes as someone who arrives late in the box," said United manager Alex Ferguson.

"But his role has changed over the years, playing a holding role.

"Buttner was rash at times but he has great enthusiasm and he is a great finisher."

At the Britannia Stadium, England striker Peter Crouch gave Stoke a 15th minute lead when he bundled the ball in from close range, having appeared to handle in the build-up.

But Manchester City were level 10 minutes before half time when Javi Garcia scored on his debut after heading in Carlos Tevez's free-kick.

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross's goal-line clearance late on ensured a point for the Potters.

"It was basketball -- not football," said City manager Roberto Mancini of Crouch's goal.

Arsenal, who are now third in the table, struck in the 11th minute at the Emirates when Kieran Gibbs's cross was turned in to his own net by Southampton defender Jos Hooiveld.

Lukas Podolski's long range free-kick then made it 2-0, Gervinho added Arsenal's third 10 minutes before half-time and another Gibbs-inspired own-goal, this time by Nathaniel Clyne, made it 4-0.

There was still time in the half for Saints to pull one back when Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny dropped a cross and Danny Fox scored.

But Gervinho netted again in the 71st minute when he tapped in from close range after substitute Aaron Ramsey's cross hit the post.

Two minutes from time, Theo Walcott scored against his old club to make it 6-1.

At Loftus Road, there was no pre-match handshake from Anton Ferdinand for Chelsea captain John Terry in what turned out to be a goalless draw.

The match was the first between the clubs since since Chelsea and England defender Terry was found not guilty of using a racial slur against the Hoops' Ferdinand in the corresponding fixture last October.

"Both sets of players played very professionally," said Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo.

"As far as we are concerned, our players offered it (a handshake) and if the other player doesn't want to receive it, then we move on."

Saturday's late game left Liverpool still searching for a first win under manager Brendan Rodgers after a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

Steven Fletcher gave Sunderland a 29th minute before a late equaliser from Luis Suarez rescued a point for the visitors in a match that came at the end of a week where an independent report exonerated Liverpool fans of any involvement in the death of 96 supporters during the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Aston Villa won its first league match under new manager Paul Lambert as it ended Swansea's unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 home win thanks to a goal from Matthew Lowton and a late own-goal by Christian Benteke.

Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov scored twice as Fulham beat West Brom 3-0.

Either side of Berbatov's first-half goals, the Baggies were reduced to 10 men when Peter Odemwingie was shown a red card for lashing out at Fulham defender Sascha Riether.

Steve Sidwell completed the scoring a minute from time.

Norwich and West Ham shared the points in a goalless draw.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, united-kingdom

First posted September 16, 2012 06:37:38

View the original article here

Scholes on target as Man Utd keeps pace

Updated January 15, 2012 10:01:30

Paul Scholes scored a fairy-tale goal as Manchester United outclassed Bolton Wanderers 3-0 to go level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday morning.

Playing his first game at Old Trafford since making a shock return from retirement in the FA Cup win over City on Sunday, Scholes fired United ahead in first-half injury time.

The 37-year-old's strike was his 103rd goal in the Premier League and came just under 18 years after his first, scored on his debut against Ipswich Town in September 1994.

Late goals from striker Danny Welbeck and Michael Carrick made sure of the points as United - who also had a Wayne Rooney penalty saved - ended a run of two league defeats to leave Bolton firmly stuck in the relegation quagmire.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted by Scholes' opener.

"He's a great player. Some of the press has been negative about his return but that's probably because it's United but he's still a fantastic player," Ferguson said.

"He's been in intensive training the last few weeks to get back to where he was today, and today he showed what he's had for the last 10 years. It was an important goal."

Tottenham, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to join United and City - who face bottom club Wigan Athletic on Monday - at the top after being held to a 1-1 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers at White Hart Lane.

Wolves stunned Spurs by taking the lead on 22 minutes, Steven Fletcher bagging his ninth goal of the season after Roger Johnson headed on Matt Jarvis' teasing corner.

Spurs ramped up the pressure after the restart and soon drew level, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric rifling in the equaliser from the edge of the area in the 51st minute.

Elsewhere, Chelsea clung on for a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge to remain four points clear of Arsenal in fourth place.

Chelsea took the lead on 13 minutes when Fernando Torres' volley thundered off the underside of the crossbar and rebounded into the net off Frank Lampard.

Chelsea was forced to work hard for its win, however, and survived strong Sunderland penalty claims in the second half when Nicklas Bendtner appeared to be shoved over by Ashley Cole.

"It is an important three points to get for the run of consistency we need in January," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said.

"It was important for the team bearing in mind Liverpool and Tottenham's results."

Liverpool's push towards a top-four finish suffered another setback when it was held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield by Stoke City.

The stalemate was Liverpool's seventh draw in 11 home matches this season, once again drawing attention to the Merseysiders' failure to find a reliable goalscoring threat this season.

"We had plenty of possession but we need a wee bit more of an attacking edge up front," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said.

"If you get an opening you need to take your chances and we could have been a little bit more creative with our possession."

An eventful game at Ewood Park saw Blackburn Rovers recover from the early dismissal of striker Ayegbeni Yakubu to cling on for a 3-1 win over Fulham which moved the club out of the relegation zone for the first time in four months.

Yakubu was given his marching orders for a wild tackle on Fulham's Danny Murphy mid-way through the first half, but Rovers shrugged off the setback to take a 2-0 lead with goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn.

Fulham was given hope when Damien Duff pulled a goal back against his former club on 56 minutes.

But Rovers striker Mauro Formica scored a late goal on the counter-attack to seal a win that moved Blackburn out of the relegation zone on goal difference at the expense of QPR, who play Newcastle on Sunday.

In Saturday's other games, promoted Norwich City dug out another vital win away from home with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Andrew Surman fired Norwich into the lead with a superb volley from Wes Hoolahan's cross before Shane Long equalised for the Baggies from the penalty spot on 68 minutes.

But Steve Morison popped up with a winner on 79 minutes to give the Canaries another impressive result.

Aston Villa and Everton battled to a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

England striker Darren Bent gave Villa the lead on 56 minutes but Everton hit back to level through Victor Anichebe in the 69th minute.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted January 15, 2012 07:07:48

View the original article here

Scholes hangs up the boots

Posted May 31, 2011 20:50:00

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect and will join the club's coaching staff.

The 36-year-old made 676 appearances for the club, with his last coming as a a second-half substitute as United lost 3-1 to Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final at Wembley.

The midfielder won 10 Premier League titles as well as two Champions Leagues and the FA Cup three times in a career spent entirely at United.

There had been growing speculation about his future in recent weeks as he grew dissatisfied with his increasingly bit-part role at Old Trafford.

Announcing his retirement, he said: "This was not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing."

"I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do," he said.

"To have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour.

"To have been part of the team that helped the club reach a record 19th title is a great privilege."

Scholes paid tribute to Alex Ferguson, calling him a "great manager".

"From the day I joined the club his door has always been open and I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership," he said.

His role within the United coaching set-up has still to be outlined, although there could be an opening available with the reserves, where Warren Joyce has been acting alone since the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Scholes will be granted a testimonial match in August.

"What more can I say about Paul Scholes that I haven't said before," said Ferguson.

"We are going to miss a truly unbelievable player.

"Paul has always been fully committed to this club and I am delighted he will be joining the coaching staff from next season.

"Paul has always been inspirational to players of all ages and we know that will continue in his new role."

Scholes was part of United's "Class of 92", from which David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville also emerged. Gary Neville also ended his United career this season.

Scholes won 66 England caps and played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, but retired from international football in a shock announcement in 2004 at the age of 29.

England coach Fabio Capello tried in vain to persuade him to return for last year's World Cup.

-AFP

Tags: sport, football, english-premier-league, united-kingdom, england

View the original article here