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Manchester United and Chelsea win

Chelsea Joe Cole vies for the ball with Leicester City Andy Impey at the Stamford Bridge Stadium during the Leicester City versus Chelsea match on Saturday. Chelsea won the match 2-1. PHOTO: AFP

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored in his 10th straight league game to tie a record as defending champion Manchester United rallied to beat Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday, while free-spending Chelsea downed Leicester 2-1 to also make it two wins out of two.

The only black mark on another triumphant day for United was the first half ejection of manager Alex Ferguson for protesting a referee's decision and verbally abusing the officials. After Alan Shearer had given the Magpies the lead, United turned the game around with Roy Keane making up for Ferguson's absence from the bench with another inspirational performance in midfield.

Minutes after missing on a breakaway, van Nistelrooy latched on to a Keane through ball in the 51st minute and shot past 'keeper Shay Given to tie the game. In 1987, Liverpool's John Aldridge scored in 10 straight games in the old division one.

Eight minutes later, Paul Scholes, who scored a hat-trick in United's convincing 6-2 win at Newcastle last season, chested home a Keane cross for the winner.

Manchester United has 17 wins and three draws in the league since last December.

New Jersey's Tim Howard had no chance on Alan Shearer's headed goal in the 26th minute. But he didn't have to make a difficult save as United dominated possession at St. James' Park. Defender Rio Ferdinand bailed Howard out in the first minute of injury time when he blocked substitute Michael Chopra's goalward shot.

Much of the first half focused on referee Uriah Rennie. Ryan Giggs appeared to be hauled down by defender Andy O'Brien as he sprinted towards goal. O'Brien, already on a yellow card, was let off the hook, prompting United manager Ferguson to protest from the bench.

Television replays showed Ferguson using abusive language, and Jeff Winter -- the fourth official -- called Rennie towards the bench. Ferguson was then ordered into the stands.

Keane was asked if the ejection bothered his team.

"Well, judging by the result, no," he said. "We're not sure what went on there. The team got on with it. We knew what we had to do, and we stayed focused."

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson made a triple substitution in the 72nd minute, but United continued to dominate until Chopra's last-gasp effort.

Chelsea has bought experience since Russian Roman Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge last month, acquiring eight established players for ?75 million (US$120 million).

One of the new arrivals, Romania's Adrian Mutu, scored the winner from 20m out just before the first half ended. After his free kick was blocked by the wall, Mutu's hard-hit shot beat Ian Walker at the far post. Mutu also dazzled the crowd with his flicks and tracked back to help the defense.

"He wanted to show everything with his dribbling and shooting, and he was nervous, but it was a special goal with his left foot," said Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri.

Lilian Nalis' own goal gave the home team the lead in the second minute, though James Scowcroft equalized in the 39th minute.

"We can play better, but that's okay because when you change a lot of players, it's normal that sometimes you play well and sometimes you don't," said Ranieri.

Another new Chelsea signing, Geremi, was one of three players sent off in the second half -- referee Rob Styles sent the Cameroon international to the dressing room for a two-footed challenge. Leicester's Alan Rogers and Riccardo Scimeca saw red later in the half.

Before the game, Abramovich was given a standing ovation as he shook hands with fans and signed autographs while touring Stamford Bridge in the club's home opener. Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, who should officially join Chelsea from Inter Milan this week, was also in the stands.

"You have been so warm since I arrived at Chelsea, and I want to thank everyone for making me, my family and my colleagues so welcome," Abramovich wrote in the match programme.

"I especially want to thank the shareholders who enthusiastically took up the offer to sell their shares so that we could move quickly in helping Chelsea Football Club become one of the elite clubs in Europe."

In other games Saturday, newly promoted Portsmouth is still undefeated after drawing 1-1 win at Manchester City. But Wolves, another promoted club, were crushed 4-0 by Charlton at home. Bolton and Blackburn played to a 2-2 draw, Everton topped Fulham 3-1, and Tottenham downed Leeds 2-1. Southampton and Birmingham played to a 0-0 draw.

Portsmouth, which beat Aston Villa last week, spoiled City's home opener at the new City of Manchester Stadium. Yakubu Ayegbini scored in the 23rd minute and Pompey would have had the win had David Sommeil not scored late in injury time.

"We had four or five players who were well below par today, and the only real plus was that we kept believing we could get back into it," said City manager Kevin Keegan.

Wolves, who returned to the top flight for the first time in 19 years, lost 5-1 to Blackburn in the opening round. Jason Euell netted in the fourth minute on Saturday to prolong the misery, Claus Jensen made it 2-0 10 minutes later and Shaun Bartlett's double before halftime completed the rout at Molineux.

Youri Djorkaeff and Kevin Davies -- against his former club -- scored first half goals as Bolton Wanderers took a 2-0 lead against Blackburnb. Matt Jansen pulled one back early in the second half and Dwight Yorke leveled in injury time.

"It was a concern we didn't score more and finish Blackburn off. We need to make this ground a fortress again," said Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, whose team squandered several late leads last season.

Frederic Kanoute, a second-half substitute, scored the winner for injury-hit Tottenham in the 71st minute.

On Sunday, last season's runner-up Arsenal and Liverpool see action. The Gunners, who beat Everton 2-1 last week, could have England defender Sol Campbell in the lineup for an away trip to Middlesbrough. Campbell missed his country's friendly against Croatia on Wednesday with a shoulder injury and faces a late fitness test. Creative Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta, signed earlier this week, could feature for 'Boro.

Liverpool would fall to 0-2 with a loss to Aston Villa. Influential England midfielder Steven Gerrard is back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension, while new signing Harry Kewell and England forward Emile Heskey, nursing Achilles and ankle injuries, respectively, are expected to play for the Reds at Villa Park.

In the first division Saturday, relegated Sunderland avoided an unwanted record by beating Preston 2-0. The Black Cats had lost 17 straight league games and another defeat at Deepdale would have tied Darwen's 104-year record of 18.

Crystal Palace beat Wimbledon 3-1 and is the only team in the division with a perfect record after three games. West Ham, the favorite to win promotion, lost for the first time, 1-0 to Rotherham. Former England international Paul Merson scored his third league goal of the season in Walsall's 1-1 draw with Stoke.
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