LONDON - Manchester United made it two wins out of two in the fledgling Premier League season when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the only goal in a 1-0 home success against a toothless Aston Villa yesterday.
Tottenham Hotspur also made it two in a row, though for the Londoners it was the first time they had managed it for 11 years, beating Middlesbrough 2-0 at White Hart Lane.
European champions Liverpool beat Sunderland 1-0. Champions Chelsea host last season's runners-up Arsenal in the weekend's top game today.
Manchester United fully deserved the points against a Villa side who played with one striker, defended from the start and never looked likely to end their 22-year run without an Old Trafford victory over the hosts.
Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung had a shot tipped on to the crossbar by goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen in the first half as United were kept at long range for an hour.
But the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo turned the match with the Portuguese winger immediately stretching the game before crossing for Van Nistelrooy to tuck in the winner in the 66th minute.
Elsewhere, Charlton Athletic made it two out of two with a 1-0 home win over promoted Wigan Athletic, while Newcastle United could not break down 10-man West Ham United in a 0-0 St James' Park draw.
There were 2-1 wins for West Bromwich Albion over Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers against Fulham and Manchester City, who came from behind at Birmingham City.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Two from two for Man U
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