Newcastle make their point at Old Trafford; Chelsea batter Pompey to show their winning intent; Agbonlahor scores 3 goals in 7 minutes for Villa; Parachutist & Burnley crash at Turf Moor

Manchester United 1 - Newcastle 1 (Premier League, August 17, 2008) (MOTD highlights here.) Manchester United came out the traps quickly against Newcastle, but they found Shay Given in inspired early form to deny them a goal. The Irish goalkeeper first saved Frazier Campbell’s header off the line with his head, before making a smart double save from Rooney and Scholes. Incredibly, it was the Toon who then took the lead, Obafemi Martins scoring a sweet header from Milner’s corner (what happened to Fletcher?). But the champions responded quickly, Giggs fired in a left wing cross which was turned home by Darren Fletcher. In the second half Frazier Campbell came close when he turned smartly and forced Shay Given into a save. But Newcastle proved themselves to be a hard nut to crack, and they also rode their luck when Vidic’s header came back off the bar. Keegan’s side saw out the final stages without too much bother, with United’s season starting on the back-foot.

Chelsea 4 - Portsmouth 0 (Premier League, August 17, 2008) (MOTD highlights here.) Chelsea dominated the early exchanges, Frank Lampard set about finding his range before the Blues moved ahead in the 12th minute when Ballack freed Joe Cole who beat David James on the angle. Chelsea doubled their lead soon after, Boswinga raced down the right, his cross was fed back in by Deco at the back post, and Nicolas Anelka had the simple job of nodding home. Anelka steered a shot just wide of post moments later. On the stroke of half-time Chelsea won a penalty after Joe Cole’s immaculate control brought down a ball which Distin then handballed, and Frank Lampard rolled in the third from the spot. After the break Anelka continued to look sharp, with Joe Cole also looking to bag his second. Deco opened his account with a fourth at the death, David James should have done better with the strike from distance.

Aston Villa 4 - Manchester City 2 (Premier League, August 17, 2008) After a goalless first half, John Carew was in the right place to head home Gareth Barry’s cross. But City hit back, Luke Young tripped Michael Johnson in the box, and Elano rolled home the penalty. Star of the show was than Gabriel Agbonlahor who netted a magnificent seven minute hat-trick with goals in the 69th, 74th and 76th minutes. Vedran Corluka netted a late consolation for City.

All the goals from Saturday’s action in the Premier League can be seen here.

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Burnley 0 - Ipswich 3 (Championship, August 16, 2008) Kick-off was delayed by 50 minutes after a member of the Parachute Regiment crash landed on to the roof of a stand instead of the intended target on the half-way line (see the eye-witness footage here). Jamie Trotter volleyed through a crowd of players to put Ipswich ahead before Kevin Lisbie scored a rebound. Stephen Jordan headed into his own net before Steven Caldwell hit the post to end a miserable afternoon for Burnley.

Barnsley 1 - Coventry 2 (Championship, August 16, 2008) Coventry moved in front after Freddy Eastwood’s cross evaded everyone to settle in the bottom corner. Brian Howard’s clinical finish on the stroke of half-time earned the hosts an equaliser. But Julian Gray’s 68th-minute strike won the game for the Sky Blues, who kept their 100% record in tact. Barnsley, who had Iain Hume sent off have now lost three games on the spin.

Bristol City 1 - Derby 1 (Championship, August 16, 2008) Nicky Maynard opened the scoring for City with his first goal for the club when he tapped in from close range in the 23rd minute, but Paul Green’s second-half strike gave Derby a share of the spoils.

Carlisle 4 - Crewe 2 (League One, August 16, 2008) Danny Graham helped himself to a quick-fire brace as Carlisle took control against Crewe before Chris McCready replied for the visitors. Scott Dobie and Simon Hackney added further goals for The Cumbrians before Tom Pope netted a late consolation.

All the goals from yesterday’s action in League Two can be seen here.

Macclesfield 0 - Bradford 2 (League Two, August 16, 2008) Peter Thorn’s double sunk Macclesfield.

York 1 - Histon 1 (Conference, August 16, 2008)

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AC Milan 4 - Juventus 1 (Trofeo Berlusconi, August 17, 2008) The home side scored from a swerving effort by Marek Jankulovski, Massimo Ambrosini’s header from a Clarence Seedorf cross, and a close-range finish from Filippo Inzaghi to go 3-0 up before reserve Cristian Pasquato netted for Juve. Ambrosini grabbed Milan’s fourth 11 minutes from time.

Real Murcia 2 - Ajax 1 (Friendly, August 16, 2008) Luis Suarez scored after a deflected free kick and Dario Cvitanich missed the only other serious opportunity for Ajax. Ranko Despotovic and Diabang were the goalscorers for the Spanish side.

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Dundee United 1 - Celtic 1 (SPL, August 17, 2008) Celtic led through a Paul Hartley deflected shot in the 54th minute before United’s Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza flicked in a neat equaliser with 11 minutes left.

Alloa Athletic 1- Raith Rovers 1 (Scottish League Two, August 16, 2008)

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Valencia 3 - Real Madrid 2 (Super Cup, August 17, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Real took the lead against the run of play thanks to a clinical finish from van Nistelrooy. Valencia drew level early in the second half, Mata smashing a low drive past Casillas. Three minutes later Mata turned provider, curling in a fine cross to the near post where David Villa headed home. Back came Real, Robben sped down the wing and his cross was turned in by van Nistelrooy, but Los Che got the win when Vicente stabbed home from close range after a neat one-two with Silva on the edge of the area.

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Borussia Monchengladbach 1 - Stuttgart 3 (Bundesliga, August 17, 2008)

Ahlen 2 - FSV Frankfurt 1 (Bundesliga II, August 17, 2008)

Nurnberg 2 - Augsburg 1 (Bundesliga II, August 17, 2008) (First half here, second half here.)

Ingolstadt 3 - Greuther Furth 2 (Bundesliga II, August 17, 2008)

Koblenz 3 - Oberhausen 0 (Bundesliga II, August 17, 2008)

Freiburg 2 - 1860 Munich 1 (Bundesliga II, August 17, 2008)

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Grenoble 1 - Rennes 0 (Ligue 1, August 17, 2008) Grenoble continued their impressive start to life in France’s top flight, Akrour Nassim scoring an absolute belter from 25-yards which rocketed into the top corner. Earlier the newly promoted side had seen Feghouli miss a penalty.

Marseille 4 - Auxerre 0 (Ligue 1, August 17, 2008) OM helped themselves to four goals in their first home game of the season. Niang, Grichting (og), Grandin (a fine individual goal) and Zenden (great free-kick) were all on the scoresheet.

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Nacional 2 - Trofense 0 (Carlsberg Cup, August 17, 2008)

Naval 3 - Estoril 2 (Carlsberg Cup, August 17, 2008)

Braga 4 - Leixoes 0 (Carlsberg Cup, August 17, 2008) Goals from Peixoto, Cesar, Linz and Matheus.

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Galatasaray 2 - Kayserispor 1 (Turkish Super Cup, August 17, 2008) Harry Kewell and Shabani Nonda grabbed the goals for Gala, Mehmet Topuz pulled one back in the 89th minute.

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Maccabi Haifa 1 - Maccabi Netanya 1 (Toto Cup, August 17, 2008) Netanya’s Orel Degani scored a spectacular goal in just the second minute. However, Haifa wasted no time in responding, Gustavo Boccoli knocked in the equaliser with an equally impressive shot just three minutes later.

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Amkar Perm 1 - Spartak Moscow 1 (Premier Liga, August 17, 2008) Bazhenov’s 9th minute opener for Spartak was cancelled out five minutes later by Volkov.

Zenit St. Petersburg 1 - Shinnik Yaroslavl 3 (Premier Liga, August 17, 2008) Zenit went ahead in the 25th minute, Konstantin Zyrianov finishing a piercing run with a powerful shot. However, the Russian champions and UEFA Cup holders were push on, and two well-taken goals in five minutes by Maxim Buznikin and Ricardo Silva, in the 52nd and 57th minutes respectively, put the the league’s bottom club ahead. Shinnik sealed the win late on, Dmitry Kudryashov racing away to fire home the third.

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Shakhtar 2 - Metalist 2 (Vyscha Liga, August, 17, 2008) First-half goals from Coelho (great free-kick) and Bordyan put the away side two-up, Brandao secured the draw with a second-half brace, the second coming from the penalty spot.

Illychivets 1 - Dnepr 2 (Vyscha Liga, August, 17, 2008)

Dynamo Kiev 2 - M. Zaporozhye 0 (Vyscha Liga, August, 17, 2008)

Kryvbas 1 - Karpaty 1 (Vyscha Liga, August, 16, 2008)

Kharkov 1 - Chornomorets 1 (Vyscha Liga, August, 16, 2008)

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Cercle Brugge 0 - Anderlecht 3 (Jupiler League, August 16, 2008) Goals from Jelle van Damme, Jonathan Legear and Thomas Chatelle (penalty) fired Anderlecht to the top of the early standings.

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Zurich 1 - Basel 4 (Swiss Super League, August 17, 2008) Christian Gross’ Basel side went 2-up through Stocker and Chipperfield, with Zurich pulling a goal back with a thunderbolt from Abdi. After the break Basel sealed the win with a brace from Carlitos.

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Levski 6 - Botev 0 (A Grupa, August 17, 2008)

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Rijeka 3 - Hajduk Split 1 (1. HNL, August 17, 2008)

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Vojvodina 2 - CZ Beograd 0 (Serbian Super Liga, August 17, 2008)

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New York Red Bulls 2 - Toronto FC 0 (MLS, August 17, 2008) Mike Magee put the Red Bulls ahead in the 37th minute after he ran down a long pass from Seth Stammler and beat Toronto goalie Greg Sutton from 10 yards out. Juan Pablo Angel netted the Red Bulls’ other goal, sealing the win when he scored off a breakaway pass from Dane Richards in the 92nd minute.

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Adelaide United 1 - Perth Glory 0 (A-League, August 17, 2008) Adeliade captain Travis Dodd scored a fine goal, playing a one-two before smashing home a shot into the near post.

Wellington Phoenix 1 - Queensland Roar 1 (A-League, August 17, 2008) Charlie Miller gave the Roar the lead in 46th minute, before Phoenix’s Shane Smeltz equalised in the 53rd.

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Toluca 3 - Puebla 1 (Mexican Apertura, August 17, 2008)

Necaxa 2 - Guadalajara 2 (Mexican Apertura, August 17, 2008)

Santos 3 - Indios 0 (Mexican Apertura, August 17, 2008)

Monarcas 1 - U.N.A.M. 0 (Mexican Apertura, August 17, 2008) (Longer highlights here.)

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River Plate 2 - Rosario 0 (Argentinean Apertura, August 17, 2008) Late goals from Tuzzio (’84) and Rios (’90) gave River the win.

Lanus 1 - Gimnasia La Plata 1 (Argentinean Apertura, August 17, 2008)

Huracan 1 - Racing Club 0 (Argentinean Apertura, August 17, 2008)

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Fluminense 1 - Atletico-MG 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008)

Palmeiras 1 - Coritiba 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008) Palmeiras remain third after a win courtesy of Alex Mineiro’s strike. Palmeiras’ Fernando Capixaba was sent-off after 70 minutes but five minutes later Mineiro was on target to secure the win.

Sport Recife 0 - Botafogo 1 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008)

Vasco 4 - Internacional 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008) The scoring was opened in the 19th minute with an own goal by Internacional’s Bolivar. Edmundo made it 2-0 in the 47th minute, and three minutes later Eduardo Luiz who made it 3-0. Jean completed the scoring for Vasco in the 88th minute.

Goias 3 - Nautico 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008) Paulo Henrique, Vitor and Paulo Henrique scored for Goias.

Gremio 1 - Sao Paulo 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008) Gremio strengthened their grip on first place in Brazil, Perea scored the only goal of the match in the 9th minute when he chested the ball into the net. Gremio now have a nine point lead over Cruzeiro.

Santos 2 - Flamengo 2 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 17, 2008)

Figueirense 2 - Portuguesa 1 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 16, 2008)

Atletico Paranaense 5 - Ipatinga 0 (Campeonato Brasileiro, August 16, 2008)