© EuroFootball.com
Saturday saw the start of the 2005/06 English Premier League season with eight matches. The first round went better for the home teams, with only "Arsenal" and league debutants "Sheffield Utd" failing to secure victories against "Aston Villa" and "Liverpool". Impressive debuts were seen from the "Reading" club and "Portsmouth" striker Nwankwo Kanu, while wins were also celebrated by "Everton", "Newcastle", "West Ham", and "Bolton".
The competition started with a match in Sheffield between local team "Sheffield Utd" returning to the Premier League after a 12-year break and last year's third-place finisher "Liverpool". The hosts took the lead at the start of the second half with a headed goal from Rob Hulse, but later Sami Hyypia hit the crossbar, and in the 70th minute, a penalty awarded to Steven Gerrard was equalized by Robbie Fowler. Towards the end of the match, the visitors could have snatched a victory but failed to capitalize on their chances.
In another English clash, "Arsenal" at home in the "Emirates" stadium faced Birmingham's "Aston Villa". The hosts dominated for a long time but it was the visitors who took the lead with a headed goal from Olof Mellberg after a corner kick. However, the "Gunners" managed to equalize on the field after the debut of youngster Theo Walcott, who scored in the 83rd minute, helping the hosts secure a draw with a goal from Gilberto Silva.
A real thriller took place in Reading, where the local team made its debut in the championship against "Middlesbrough". After falling behind 0-2 with goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu in the 21st minute, David Kitson and Steve Sidwell equalized the score at the end of the first half. In the 56th minute after the break, an incredible victory for the "Reading" club was sealed by Leroy Lita's goal.
The biggest win was achieved by "Portsmouth", defeating "Blackburn" players 3-0. Two goals were scored by the team's newcomer Nwankwo Kanu, and one was added by Svetoslav Todorov. A two-goal margin secured a victory for "West Ham", who recovered after conceding an early goal in the first half and scoring three times against the team from Charlton playing with ten men, as well as for "Bolton", who forced the "Tottenham" club to surrender.
"Everton" and "Tottenham" teams won 2-1 at home against "Watford" and "Wigan" respectively. On Sunday, the league season will start for the two strongest teams of the previous season - defending champions "Chelsea" against "Man City", and vice-champions "Man Utd" against "Fulham".
