Source: Eurosport
Rooney and Owen get five-star Manchester United back on track
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United made amends for their humbling by Burnley as Wayne Rooney's double and Michael Owen's first goal for the Premier League champions inspired a 5-0 win at Wigan on Saturday.[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson reacted to Wednesday's shock 1-0 loss at promoted Burnley by making seven changes and the United manager was rewarded with a superb second half display.[LNB]It took the revamped United line-up a while to find their rhythm but, after a goalless first half, Rooney struck in the 56th minute when he met a cross from former Wigan winger Antonio Valenica with a perfect header.[LNB]That was Rooney's 100th goal for United and it opened the floodgates.[LNB]Dimitar Berbatov put United in complete control in the 58th minute. The Bulgarian finished a flowing move by chipping over Chris Kirkland and shooting into an empty net.[LNB]Rooney ended any doubts about the result in the 65th minute when his shot deflected off Mario Melchiot and flashed past the wrong-footed Kirkland.[LNB]Owen, signed from Newcastle in the close-season, came off the bench to score for the first time since January with a sublime clipped finish.[LNB]Nani, who set up Owen's goal, got on the scoresheet himself in the 90th minute.[LNB]"You have to react to a defeat, that's always the challenge," Ferguson said. "We got a reaction, I thought our performance was really good.[LNB]"It's great for Wayne to get 100 goals. He's only a young lad and there are players who have been here longer who have got nowhere near that total.[LNB]"I'm pleased for Michael as well. He needed a goal, but he's one of the best finishers our country has had."[LNB]Arsenal maintained their impressive start to the season with a 4-1 victory over struggling Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium that sent them top of the table.[LNB]The Gunners had confounded critics who wrote off their title hopes by thrashing Everton 6-1 last weekend, then winning at Celtic in the Champions League in midweek.[LNB]Wenger still made four changes to the side that beat Celtic, but it proved a successful move as French midfielder Abou Diaby, brought into the team for his 100th Arsenal appearance, opened the scoring in the 18th minute from Eduardo's pass.[LNB]Diaby converted Emmanuel Eboue's cross for his second goal three minutes later but Portsmouth reduced the deficit when Younes Kaboul, out-jumping keeper Manuel Almunia, headed home in the 37th minute.[LNB]Any hopes of a fightback from Paul Hart's team were ended in the 51st minute through William Gallas's scrambled effort.[LNB]Aaron Ramsey confirmed Portsmouth's third successive defeat in the 68th minute with his first league goal for Wenger's team.[LNB]"We have had a brilliant start. It should create confidence and momentum," Wenger said.[LNB]"We now go into another week which will be another test against Celtic and then Manchester United. It looks to be exciting and interesting."[LNB]Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor repaid another slice of his 25 million pounds transfer fee as the Togo star's cool finish sealed a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton at Eastlands.[LNB]City handed Carlos Tevez his full debut and the former Manchester United forward's cushioned 17th-minute pass picked out Adebayor, who drove in his second goal in two games since joining City from Arsenal.[LNB]Trinidad and Tobago forward Kenwyne Jones fired Sunderland to a 2-1 victory over Blackburn.[LNB]Sam Allardyce's Rovers, without defender Stephen Warnock as rumours of a move to Aston Villa gathered momentum, took the lead in the 21st minute when French defender Gael Givet smashed a long-range effort past Marton Fulop.[LNB]But Sunderland equalised after 32 minutes as Jones took advantage of a slip by Christopher Samba to slot home.[LNB]Jones wasn't finished there. In the 53rd minute he met Lee Cattermole's cross with a bullet header to seal the points for Steve Bruce's team.[LNB]Hull won for the first time in 13 league matches as Algeria striker Kamel Ghilas's first goal for the club earned a 1-0 victory over Bolton at the KC Stadium.[LNB]Ghilas was making his first start for the Tigers after signing from Spanish club Celta Vigo earlier this month.[LNB]He marked the occasion in the 61st minute with a blistering volley from Jozy Altidore's pass.[LNB]Stoke recovered from their midweek thrashing by Liverpool by grinding out a 0-0 draw at Birmingham.
