Swansea, Aug. 18: English champions Manchester United gave new manager David Moyes a win on the first day f the Premier League season with a 4-1 victory away to Swansea on Saturday.
Two goals apiece from strikers Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck secured United’s success at the Liberty Stadium. The forwards scored within two minutes of each other in the first half and van Persie sealed victory 18 minutes from time with a stunning second goal from 20 yards.
Welbeck added his second goal and United’s fourth in stoppage time after a Wilfried Bony consolation goal for south Wales side Swansea eight minutes from time.
In other games, Norwich City’s £8.5 million record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored a 71st-minute header to earn his new side a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road. Rickie Lambert, who scored the winning goal against Scotland on his England debut in mid-week, completed a memorable few days by snatching a 1-0 win for Southampton with a last-minute penalty at West Bromwich Albion.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City made a disappointing return to the top flight following a 51-year absence after goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan saw them beaten 2-0 at West Ham United, while a 52nd-minute header by Pajtim Kasami gave Fulham a 1-0 win at Sunderland.
Soldado gets spurs up and running
On Sunday, Roberto Soldado marked his Tottenham Hotspur debut with the only goal of the game at promoted Crystal Palace.
With Gareth Bale absent through injury and his proposed transfer to Real Madrid still hanging over the club, Tottenham were hoping the forward could make an instant impact. And the £26 million signing from Valencia did not disappoint, slotting home a second-half penalty to ruin the EPL homecoming for their rivals.