Bad Start

LONDON (AP) - Manchester City went top of the table after beating local arch-rivals Manchester United 1-0 at Eastlands on Sunday thanks to Geovanni's deflected first-half winner.

United dominated the play for long periods, but City held firm at the back to claim all three points and condemn Sir Alex Ferguson's side to their worst ever start to a Premier League season.

The Red Devils have taken only two points from their first three league games and dropped to 16th place in the standings.

A clearly happy and somewhat relieved City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson paid tribute to all his players after the match, but picked out defender Micah Richards for special praise as his side maintained its 100 percent start to the league season.

"Micah was incredible. He is so strong and quick. He was probably the man of match but the whole back line and goalkeeper were fantastic for us," Eriksson said. "United could have scored and maybe they should have done but we defended very well.

"We have won and I am very happy - nine points from three games is very good."

United started the stronger side and Nani twice forced young City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel into making good saves within the opening five minutes.

Richards, who has been playing at the heart of the defence under Eriksson, was absolutely magnificent throughout the game. He made one superb clearing tackle to deny Carlos Tevez and then stepped in to clear up the mess after Schmeichel had fumbled a Ryan Giggs cross.

England midfielder Owen Hargreaves made his long-awaited competitive debut for United and was in somber mood at the end.

"It was a big day for me and definitely not the way I wanted to start," said Hargreaves. "We expected to win the game, especially when you looked at the flow of the game in the first half.

"We were very comfortable and completely in control. We had the possession and the better chances to get in front and if we had been it would have been a different game.

It was all United in the first half-hour before City took the lead very much against the run of play on 31 minutes.

Elano fed the ball to Geovanni, who with the United defence retreating, struck a 25-yard shot that deflected into the net off Nemanja Vidic's back.

United increased the tempo at the start of the second half in desperate search of an equalizer, but Richards superbly marshaled the home defence as it stood its ground.

Vidic came close to grabbing an equaliser when he climbed well to beat Richard Dunne to Giggs' corner, but his header hit the bar. Richards then nipped in between two United players to clear a dangerous low cross from Giggs.

United kept up the pressure, and in the closing stages Tevez went close when he flicked another Giggs cross just wide of the post.

No team managed by Ferguson ever gives up, and United almost drew level in stoppage time when Giggs sent over another in-swinging corner from the right, but Tevez just failed to bundle the ball home at the far post.

Eriksson was full of praise for his players, but the Swede also believes his new side can get even better. He has players to come back from injuries and also hopes to bring in more new faces to the City of Manchester Stadium

"But I am sure there is much more to come from this team because we still have players who are not 100 percent fit and I hope we can sign one or two more players as well by the end of August," said the City boss.

"The two targets we have are very clear but we are still trying to get them and there are a lot of other clubs who want them as well."

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News: AP
Photo: REUTERS/Darren Staples
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United 1-1 Portsmouth

LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Champions Manchester United stumbled to their second successive Premier League draw on Wednesday when they were held 1-1 at Portsmouth and had Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for violent conduct.

Carlos Tevez marked his Manchester United debut by setting up Paul Scholes to drive in the opening goal at Portsmouth after 15 minutes.

United produced some lovely football but Portsmouth, who had beaten them in three of their four previous Premier League meetings at Fratton Park, stunned the champions with a 53rd-minute Benjani Mwaruwari header.

Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari was sent off in the 83rd minute for a second booking and Ronaldo followed him two minutes later for a headbutt with barely any contact made.

"I've looked at the replays and there's nothing conclusive. My take was that he was provoked," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "He's fallen into the trap and he's paid the penalty...it's his own fault really.

"It was a disappointing result but not a disappointing performance," he added. "There was a great contribution from Carlos Tevez, even though he had to endure a lot of tackles from behind, a lot of abuse, and he came through that."

RESURGENT CITY

Ronaldo will miss three games, including Sunday's derby against resurgent Manchester City.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's City followed up their impressive opening 2-0 success at West Ham United by beating promoted Derby with a well-taken goal by 19-year-old Michael Johnson.

That 43rd-minute effort brought to an end the longest home top-flight drought since the league was founded in 1888.

Reading earned a point from a goalless draw at Old Trafford last Sunday but on home soil had a real go at Chelsea.

They took the lead on the half hour through Andre Bikey after goalkeeper Petr Cech had failed to gather a high ball but paid a heavy price for missing further chances.

Jose Mourinho made two changes at halftime and it paid immediate dividends as Chelsea equalised with a typical surging charge from Frank Lampard in the 47th minute and secured their second successive win with a nicely-curled effort by Didier Drogba two minutes later.

"At halftime we were a little disappointed just to be 1-0 up," said Reading coach Steve Coppell.

"I knew they would make changes at halftime, it gave a different complexion to their play and for five minutes we fell asleep."
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News taken from Reuters (Yahoosports)
Photos: Chris Ison (AP)
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It was Becks

One of my favorite Manchester United player: David Beckham. Scored a goal from pitch's half in Man Utd 's game vs Southampton. Still remember it. Becks was wearing #10 jersey. Oh, I miss those good times.

The History

The history of this world's greatest club was begin in 1878. The club was formed as Newton Heath L&YR F.C. in 1878 as the works team of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath.

In 1892, the club had entered the Football League and began to sever its links with the rail depot, becoming an independent company, appointing a club secretary and dropping the "L&YR" from their name to become simply Newton Heath F.C.

Not long afterwards, in 1902, the club neared bankruptcy, with debts of over £2500. At one point, their Bank Street training and home ground was even closed by the bailiffs.

Before Newton Heat having to be shut for good, the help came from investor J.H Davies. Then, club's name were changed. At first, name of "Manchester Central" and "Manchester Celtic" were suggested. But Louis Rocca, an immigrant from Italy, suggest the name, "Manchester United".

Officialy, Manchester United were come into existence in April 26, 1902. Club's color were also changed from green and gold into red and white. The club's color were unchanged until present.