LONDON:Manchester United suffered more woe from the penalty spot as they went down toa shock home defeat to Crystal Palace on an eventful Premier League yesterdaywhich saw Frank Lampard celebrate his first win as Chelsea manager.
On anotherdramatic day in England's top-flight, United's hopes of continuing a promisingunbeaten start to the campaign were undone by Palace's 93rd-minute strike fromPatrick van Aanholt in a 2-1 victory for Roy Hodgson's strugglers.
Daniel Jamesthought he had earned United a point by cancelling out Jordan Ayew's first-halfgoal in the 89th minute but United were left to rue their second missed penaltyof the week. After Paul Pogba had missed on Monday against WolverhamptonWanderers, this time it was Marcus Rashford who spurned the opportunity, hisshot hitting the inside of the post.
Once again, itseemed bound to call into question United's wisdom of having no designatedpenalty taker but just a pair who decide between them who should take the spotkicks. In the lunchtime match, Lampard was relieved to celebrate his firstmanagerial victory for the Blues at the fourth attempt as Tammy Abraham'sdouble inspired a thrilling 3-2 win at Norwich City for his youthful side.
Lampard, back atthe club he graced for 13 years as a player, fielded the youngest Chelsea sidein a league match for 25 years with an average age of 24. He was left delightedto see one of those young guns, 21-year-old Abraham, score his first goals forthe club. Abraham struck in just the third minute, and after Norwich had twicefought back from a goal down, he also proved the match-winner at Carrow Roadwith another superb strike in the 68th minute.
Another ofLampard's starlets, Mason Mount, also scored a fine goal while Teemu Pukkicontinued his dazzling start to the season for Norwich by netting aleague-leading fifth goal. The Finn's equaliser to make it 2-2 eventuallyproved in vain as Lampard got off the mark after a loss at Manchester United,defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup and a draw with Leicester City.
"Ourperformances haven't given us what we deserved so far -- but today itdid," said Lampard. Abraham, who became the youngest player to score twicein a Premier League match for Chelsea for 21 years, added: "It issomething I have always dreamed about doing, to score for my childhoodclub." Manchester United and Norwich were among those sides who missed outon the chance to temporarily take top spot before the League's top two clubs,Liverpool and Arsenal, put their perfect six-point records on the line inSaturday's late match.
Leicester Citymoved up to third place on five points after a first-half goal from Jamie Vardyand a thunderously struck winner from Harvey Barnes repelled the fightback fromSheffield United, for whom record signing Ollie McBurnie scored his first goal.Brighton & Hove Albion's encouraging start under Graham Potter also hit thebuffers after the 30th-minute sending off of Florin Andone allowed Southamptonto take control and win 2-0 on the road with second-half goals from substituteMoussa Djenepo and Nathan Redmond.
Watford saw theirpainful, pointless start to the season continue with a 3-1 defeat at VicarageRoad to West Ham United, for whom new record French signing Sebastien Hallerscored a second-half double. - AFP