Mooy maintains Huddersfield’s dream start

LONDON: Australian international Aaron Mooy’s stunning second-half goal gave Huddersfield Town a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United and maintained their 100-percent record in their maiden Premier League season on Sunday.

Huddersfield signed Mooy full-time from Manchester City in the close season after he inspired them to promotion whilst on loan.And the 26-year-old struck in the 50th minute to condemn Newcastle to their second successive defeat, the first time since 1999 the Magpies have lost their opening two fixtures in the top tier.

Huddersfield, though, occupy the dizzying heights of second in the table, equal on points with Manchester United but with an inferior goal difference, only the third time a promoted side have won their first two games in the Premier League.

“The boss (David Wagner) has a saying to have no limits and we all stand behind that,” Mooy told Sky Sports.The hosts started brightly with Newcastle content to absorb the pressure and hit them on the counter-attack.

However, a dreadful clearance by the Magpies’ Christian Atsu fell to one of Huddersfield’s close-season buys Tom Ince, but his shot was easily saved by Rob Elliot.It was Newcastle who went closest to breaking the deadlock inside the first 20 minutes as Matt Ritchie unleashed a fine curling effort which was goalbound until Jonas Lossl produced a superb save to deny him.

Mooy, though, deservedly gave the hosts the lead five minutes into the second half with a stunning effort, curling it past Elliot after a neat exchange with Elias Kachunga.The goal rounded off an astonishing 14-pass move, the most thus far in the lead-up to a Premier League goal this term.

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez reacted by removing Dwight Gayle — who hadn’t looked like maintaining his habit of scoring every time the two sides met — and sending on new recruit Joselu.

The Spaniard — a £5m signing from Stoke in midweek — went close with his first shot on target but Lossl tipped it away for a corner.His compatriot Ayoze Perez should have done much better from the ensuing corner but he sent it over the bar from close range.

On Saturday night, Jese Rodriguez made a memorable start to life at Stoke City by scoring the only goal of a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the bet365 Stadium.The Spanish forward, a loan signing from Paris Saint-Germain, finished crisply in the 47th minute to bring Arsene Wenger’s side down to earth after their opening 4-3 win over Leicester City.

After driving at Arsenal’s back four from halfway, he swapped passes with Saido Berahino and then drilled a left-foot shot past the advancing Petr Cech.Arsenal, who remain without the injured Alexis Sanchez, thought they had equalised in the 72nd minute when Alexandre Lacazette lashed home, but it was chalked off due to a marginal — but correct — offside.

Sadio Mane struck in the 73rd minute to earn Liverpool a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace and get Jurgen Klopp’s side up and running after their 3-3 draw at Watford on the opening weekend.

Beaten 3-0 at home by Huddersfield Town in their first game, Palace produced a much more solid display, but were undone with 17 minutes to play when Mane seized upon a loose ball to fire home.

Leicester, the 2016 champions, bounced back from defeat at Arsenal to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at the King Power Stadium through Shinji Okazaki’s first-minute goal and a Harry Maguire header.

Charlie Austin scored a 93rd-minute penalty to give Southampton a last-gasp 3-2 home win over West Ham.

Goals from Manolo Gabbidini and Dusan Tadic, the latter a penalty, put Saints 2-0 up and West Ham new boy Marko Arnautovic was sent off in between for an elbow on Jack Stephens.Javier Hernandez’s first two West Ham goals drew the 10 men level, only for Austin to secure victory from the spot after Maya Yoshida was fouled by Pablo Zabaleta.

Hal Robson-Kanu was hero and villain as West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 at Burnley.The Wales striker came off the bench to score a 71st-minute winner, but was then sent off for leading with his arm in a challenge on Matthew Lowton.

Brazilian youngster Richarlison scored his first goal in English football and Etienne Capoue opened his account for the season as Watford claimed a deserved 2-0 win at Bournemouth.  —AFP