Didier Drogba scored a lucky goal Sunday to give Premier League champion Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Arsenal and three points against one of its main title rivals.
With 17 minutes left against last season's runner-up, the Ivory Coast striker failed to control the ball in front of goal and it bounced off his shin and past Gunners' goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
It took Drogba's tally to three goals in two games against Arsenal, coming after two efforts in the preseason Community Shield two weeks ago.
"The goal was a lucky one," Mourinho said of Sunday's matchwinner. "But this result doesn't make a champion or doesn't decide that the loser cannot be champion. It is just one game. We have dozens and dozens of matches to play.
"There's no reason for Arsenal to feel after this game that they cannot win [the title]. But I would love them not to do it and to give up now."
Chelsea's second 1-0 shutout means that Mourinho's team is level on points in the standings after two rounds with Tottenham, Charlton and Manchester United. Tottenham is top on goal difference.
After a win and a loss, the Gunners now have three points to make up.
"We feel we gave a very, very cheap goal away," Wenger said. "We basically gave the game away."
But the Arsenal coach was more worried about his team's self belief, usually its strong point.
"I feel the whole level of the game was not satisfying for me. I expected a much better game. We lacked a fraction of belief," he said.
"I hope the team goes home very frustrated. I hope that their disappointment is so strong and there is a realization that we can do much better and that there is more belief than that."
In Sunday's other game, Everton posted a 1-0 victory at Bolton to recover from last weekend's 2-0 home loss to Manchester United. Marcus Bent scored the only goal in the 52nd minute.
The early season showdown at Stamford Bridge was a letdown as enterprising play was stifled by a crowded midfield and creative players such as Frank Lampard, Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas struggled.
Chelsea almost went ahead in the second minute when John Terry headed a corner kick towards goal. Lehmann got a hand to the ball and Fredrik Ljungberg cleared it off the line.
Chelsea made a change at halftime, sending on Drogba for Hernan Crespo, who had few chances to follow up last weekend's 25-yard strike against Wigan.
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over