PREMIERSHIP ROUND 8
 
30 SEPTEMBER 2002

West Brom (0) 0
Blackburn (0) 2 (Yorke (pen) 72, Duff 76)

The visitors took the lead in controversial circumstances when Duff was
hauled down by Ronnie Wallwork on the left flank, however although contact
looked to be outside the area, referee Mark Halsey pointed to the penalty
spot, where Yorke converted with ease. Within four minutes, the lead was
doubled as Cole slotted Duff through the middle where the Irishman rounded
Russell Hoult and fired into the gaping net.


28 SEPTEMBER 2002

Birmingham (0) 0
Newcastle (1) 2 (Solano 34, Ameobi 90)

Newcastle warmed up for Juventus with a hard fought win at Birmingham. Nol
Solano grabbed the opener, shooting in from the edge of the area after
Laurent Robert had found him, albeit via Alan Shearer's dummy. Newcastle
wrapped it up in stoppage time when Shola Ameobi was found by Shearer and
slotted home with the help of a richocet off the keeper.


Bolton (0) 1 (Djorkaeff 90)
Southampton (0) 1 (Bridge 81)

Late drama at the Reebok with two goals in the final nine minutes. Wayne
Bridge gave Saints the lead, his deflected shot finding the net after a fine
solo run. However, deep into stoppage, Youri Djorkaeff snatched a point at
the far post after a long throw was headed on by Mike Whitlow.


Charlton (1) 1 (Jensen 43)
Manchester United (0) 3 (Scholes 55, Giggs 84, Van Nistelrooy 90)

Manchester United came from behind at Charlton to record their first away
win of the season. Claus Jensen gave the hosts the lead on half time,
curling home from the edge of the area after being found by John Robinson.
Paul Scholes equalised early in the second half, sliding in to convert Ryan
Giggs' cross and with six minutes left, Giggs got onto the scoresheet
himself, rounding keeper Dean Kiely, after good work from Ruud van
Nistelrooy. Roles were reversed in stoppage time when Giggs cross for the
Dutchman to head home.


Chelsea (1) 2 (Hasselbaink (pen) 21, Zola 73)
West Ham (1) 3 (Defoe 40, Di Canio 48, 84)

West Ham came from behind at Chelsea to record their victory of the season,
largely thanks to Paolo di Canio. Chelsea took the lead when Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink converted from the penalty spot after Robert Huth was judged to
have been held by Scott Minto. The Hammers equalised when Jermaine Defoe
followed up to tap home after Joe Cole's shot was saved and then Di Canio
took over. Early in the second half, the Italian flicked the ball into the
air with one foot and instantly lashed home a volley with the other from
fully 30 yards. Chelsea levelled when Gianfranco Zola curled in a free kick
from just outside the area, however this was Di Canio's day and he netted a
late winner when he fired in at the near post after Mario Melchiot failed to
clear a loose ball.


Everton (2) 2 (Campbell 44, Gravesen 45)
Fulham (0) 0

Two goals in a minute at the end of the first half decided this game with
Everton seeing off Fulham. Kevin Campbell broke the deadlock, finding the
net with a neat glancing header from Mark Pembridge's cross, and then Thomas
Gravesen doubled the lead from long range with a low drive.


Leeds United (0) 1 (Kewell 84)
Arsenal (2) 4 (Kanu 8, 86, Toure 20, Henry 47)

Arsenal consolidated top spot with a thumping win at Leeds. Nwanko Kanu
began the rout with a tap in from Kolo Toure's square ball and then Toure
doubled the lead with a crashing header from Sylvain Wiltord's cross.
Thierry Henry made it three early in the second half, latching onto Kanu's
through ball to slot home and although Harry Kewell pulled one back with a
volley after Lee Bowyer was denied by Seaman, Kanu added a fourth having
been sent clear by Jermaine Pennent. The Gunners have now scored in 47
consecutive league games, breaking the all-time English record, set 71 years
ago by Chesterfield.


Manchester City (0) 0
Liverpool (1) 3 (Owen 3, 64, 90)

Liverpool breezed past Manchester City courtesy of a hat trick from Michael
Owen, who hadn't netted from open play this season. His first came from
close range, blasting in after City failed to clear a corner. The rest was
typically Owen as he doubled the lead by outpacing the defence to latch onto
a through ball by Gerrard to slot into the corner and then in stoppage time,
he again used his pace to beat his marker and blast in off the post from the
edge of the area.


Sunderland (0) 1 (Bellion 70)
Aston Villa (0) 0

The pressure on Sunderland boss Peter Reid eased somewhat with a narrow home
win against Aston Villa. Forgotten man David Bellion scored the only goal,
latching onto a long ball by Julio Arca to fire across goal and inside the
far post.


Tottenham (0) 0
Middlesbrough (1) 3 (Maccarone 33, Geremi 54, Job 58)

Tottenham's 100% home record was destroyed by Middlesbrough and Massimo
Maccarone in particular. The Italian opened the scoring just after the half
hour from close range after a scramble, and then set up Geremi for the
second, the former Real Madrid star taking his time in the area to find the
bottom corner. Maccarone also had a hand in the third, playing Joseph Desire
Job through to slot home coolly.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk