Zack Steffen conceded three goals in the space of 25 minutes in his second game in goal for Middlesbrough while Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams looked like the real deal for Jesse Marsch’s new-look Leeds.
Leeds United 2 – 1 Wolves
Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams started in the Leeds United midfield, Jesse Marsch handing both their Premier League debut.
Wolves started on the front foot, scoring the game opener in the sixth minute. Pedro Neto muscled his way on to the ball deep in Leeds territory, and found Hee-chang Hwang at the far post. His cushioned header found Daniel Podence who half-volleyed it over the head of Illan Meslier and over the line.
Aaronson and Adams (who will have their own, private two-man USMNT training camp for the next few months) had their first meaningful attacking combination after 12 minutes, Adams receiving the ball wide and dishing it off to Aaronson in the middle, who popped a shot just wide of the Wolves goal.
Leeds thought they had a penalty through Rasmus Kristensen moments later as Jose Sa destroyed the defender after a missed clearance on the outer perimeter of his box. A field player making the same connection would likely have resulted in a penalty kick. However, no foul said the referee.
The goal finally came on the 24th minute for Leeds through Rodrigo, a near post blast to find the equalizer. The goal, however, was created through Aarsonson’s tough defensive work on the edge of the Wolves penalty area to pop the ball loose for Rodrigo to score.
Aaronson would score what would be the game winner (although, it was ruled as an own goal in the end) after a fantastic Adams pass unlocked the Wolves back line in the 74th minute. Patrick Bamford squared the ball to Aaronson and Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri was lock step as the pair slid in to the ball, Ait-Nouri later being credited for the own goal.
Bamford nearly added a third just five minutes later, but Sa was equal to the challenge. Jesse Marsch made the headlines in the final scenes, after an exchange of words with Wolves manager Bruno Lage, and the American coach seemed to be making his point heard.
Aaronson and Adams will look to continue on winning ways in their next match, a trip to Southampton.
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Fulham 2 – 2 Liverpool
Tim Ream captained Fulham as he and Antonee Robinson went the full 90 against Premier League power house Liverpool and walked away with a much deserved point.
Robinson’s first important moment come in the 21st minute to deflect away a promising Liverpool attack at the back post with Mo Salah lurking. Ream was on the end of a 23rd minute free kick but was unable to make anything of it as he was muscled off the ball by Virgil Van Dijk.
Aleksander Mitrovic started life in the Premier League much as he ended last season, with goals. HIs first of the night came in the 33rd minute, leaping over Trent Alexander-Arnold to nod home. Liverpool hit the post in the 39th minute through Luis Diaz.
Fulham hit the woodwork themselves in the 56th minute as Ream stole the ball from Darwin Nunez, but the final shot wasn’t to be. Nunez, however, got his just reward in the 64th minute as Sala fed the new forward, and a cheeky flick was enough to equal Fulham’s lead.
Mitrovic earned a penalty in the 72nd minute, and the front man stepped up to dispatch the shot calmly. Liverpool would claw one back after Ream’s backwards deflected header found Nunez and Salah waiting, with the Egyptian slotting home the equalizer.
Ream and Robinson will look forward to a chance to win all three points against Wolves on Saturday.
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Everton 0 – 1 Chelsea
Christian Pulisic was a 65th minute substitute in Chelsea’s narrow win over Everton.
The first half was subject to a long injury delay as Tim Godfrey had to be stretchered off after a strong tackle saw the player immediately call for assistance.
Raheem Sterling thought he bagged his first goal as a Chelsea player in the 42nd minute, a poachers goal, but the flag immediately went up. However, Chelsea earned a penalty minute in the added time at the end of the first half, with Jorginho tucking it away easily.
Pulisic will be hoping to start in Chelsea’s next match up, when Tottenham visit Stamford Bridge.
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Queens Park Rangers 3 – 2 Middlesbrough
Zack Steffen gave up three first half goals to Queens Park Rangers, who were too strong for MIddlesbrough.
Steffen was high off of his line when Chris Willock battled through several Boro players to unleash a rocket that Steffen had no chance at saving in the 13th minute. The lead was doubled off of a corner kick that Steffen came out to deal with, only to parry it on to the head of Jimmy Dunne for a point blank range nod home in the 27th minute
Lyndon Dykes rounded out the goal scoring in the 38th minute as the front man got on to the end of a clever free kick, his header leaving Steffen stranded.
Matt Crooks would claw one back in the 41st minute to give the visitors some hope, his thumping header giving the home goalkeeper no chance.
Boro would score once more, this time a slotted chance from Marcus Forss in the 56th minute. However, it was too little too late for Boro, who ended the game with Darragh Lenihan getting shown a straight red card for his lunging tackle in the dying moments.
Steffen will hope for a better result on Wednesday when Boro play host to Barnsley.
Watch the highlights here:
Bristol City 2 – 3 Sunderland
Lynden Gooch went the distance for Sunderland in their five goal thriller of a win against Bristol City.
Elias Simms opened the scoring in the fourth minute after sloppy play out of the back from Sunderland, the front man able to get nearly a free shot from the edge of the area.
A Weimann helped Bristol City quickly find a rebuttal with a tenth-minute equalizer. The ball was expertly worked from outside to in before the goalscorer’s quick footwork helped him find the back of the net.
Chris Martin gave Bristol the lead in the 51st minute, bundling the ball home from two yards out. However, Simms would get his vindication, equalizing in the 53rd minute after beating two defenders and slotting through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Ross Stewart was able to bag the game winner in the 72nd minute with a poised header from six yards out.
Up next for Sunderland is Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.
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Burnley 1 – 1 Luton Town
Ethan Horvath was in between the sticks for Luton Town as they dropped two points against Burnley on the road.
Luton started brightly, a sloppy bit of defensive work from the home side saw Dan Potts available for a six yard box tap in for the opener just five minutes in.
Burnley took most of the shots from there on out, with Horvath having everything covered until the 50th minute when Josh Brownhill smashed home a shot from distance that left the American rooted to the spot.
Up next for Horvath is a visit from Newport on Tuesday.
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Crawley Town 0 – 1 Leyton Orient
Charlie Kelman got the start for Leyton Orient as the League Two outfit picked up a valuable three points on the road.
Kelman looked the part early on, nearly connecting with Pieros Sitiriou for a solid shot that went high of the goal. The goal eventually came in the 50th minute through Tom James, a strong shot from outside of the box. Kelman looked lively and strong in this first start of the campaign.
Kelman will hope to feature against Forest Green on Tuesday.
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Notes
Matt Turner was on the bench for Arsenal in their first game of the Premier League season, a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, which had Chris Richards on the bench for the home side.
Josh Sargent played the final 13 minutes for Norwich in their 1-1 draw at home to Wigan.
Duane Holmes played the final 14 minutes for Huddersfield who lost 2-1 to Birmingham City.
Vaughn Covil played the final 30 minutes for Hull City in their 0-0 against Preston North End, a game in which Matthew Olosunde did not suit up for PNE.
Daryl Dike and West Brom play host to Watford on Monday.