Clash of the Titans

The English Premier League is just under way and already, high-profile teams have clashed and shown fans that in football, anything can happen. Manchester United versus Arsenal, Chelsea versus Liverpool. These top level English teams are also prominent in the Champions League and their early meetings this season have packed the stadiums.

Manchester United's 4-win start of the season was halted by Arsenal last Sunday and it was the first time in nine meetings that Man U lost to Arsenal. On the other hand, Arsenal is on their worst start since 1994 and the win over Man U was their first Premiership victory this season in three starts, drawing two and losing one. Arsenal also failed to score in five of their previous six games against Man U.

Man U had good chances of scoring in the first half but didn't have enough to win the game. Their best player, Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, was a poor performer. He had the ball stolen by Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the 85th minute who then threaded a pass to Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor for Arsenal's 1-0 win.

Arsenal's first win at Old Trafford since 2002 was even more impressive as they did it without star striker, French international Thieryy Henry, who was out on injury. Man U's loss, before a record crowd of 75,595 paying fans prevented them from claiming top spot on the Premiership standings, keeping them in second place, one point behind surprise leader Portsmouth.

In the 12th minute of the first half, Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszcak, debuting for Man U in place of regular goalie Edwin van der Sar, was penalized when he took down Adebayor as he tried to dribble around the goalie, but redeemed himself when he dove to his right saving Gilberto Silva's penalty kick.

Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann stopped Ronaldo's strike in the 43rd minute with the ball hitting his face and bouncing off the post. Lehmann also blocked Ole Gunnar Solkjaer's attempt to equalize late in the game. Manchester United struggled most of the way, relying too much on Ronaldo for their attack. Man U's leading scorer Louis Saha made some noise in the second half.

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With Tiger Woods at the stands, Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba twirled and kicked a 20-yard shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina for a 1-0 Chelsea win, also last Sunday.

The Tiger will be competing at the Ryder Cup in Ireland but took some time to be on the front row at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium leading the roaring cheers. Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, a high-profile addition from Inter Milan, is a friend and golf partner of Woods, but he looked out of synch during the game and failed to shine.

Liverpool did not capitalize on their man advantage from the 51st minute when Chelsea captain, Germany's Michael Ballack was sent off for stomping in Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko's leg. Ballack later waited outside Liverpool's dressing room and offered his apologies to the Mali midfielder. It was the first straight red card of Ballack's career shown by referee Mike Riley for violent conduct. He will miss Chelsea's next three games.

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This sign was posted on one of the remote beach resorts in the country. Read and weep... Rules to be follows:

1 - Safety the important things. The management will not shoulder if anything is lost.

2 - Throw all plastic and cellophane in the sacks that hung in the tree.

3 - Throw the biodegradable in the rubber garbagge.

4 - Please don't throw anywhere the bones, candies, ice cream pop wrappers, waste of fruits and cigaret butts. Throw in the garbagge.

5 - Don't broke the bottle especially softdrinks, beer and hard liqour. Once you caught penalty P100.00

6 - Stay where you are occupied cottage.

7 - Once you caught stay other cottage, you should pay another for that cottage.

8 - During eating time, please don't stay or sit the other cottage so that we can identified cottage that are available for other customers come in.

Be dicipline ourself. This rules should be follow. Thank you very much.

Wowowee! That's english for you.

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