Swansea 2-1 Manchester United

Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis help Swans come from behind to inflict first defeat on visitors

•  Ander Herrera replaced Adnan Januzaj in the Manchester United team for their match away at Swansea

•  Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis hit the post in the first half, while Gylfi Sigurdsson squandered a golden opportunity

•  Juan Mata opened the scoring for United in the second half, firing home at the back post after some poor defending

•  Andre Ayew levelled the scores just after the hour mark, before Gomis completed the comeback shortly after

By Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail

Louis van Gaal’s 50th game in charge of Manchester United proved to be much like his first.

Much like his 31st, too, for that matter, as Van Gaal watched his team lost 2-1 against Swansea for the third time in little more than a year.

Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis scored the goals which turned the game after Juan Mata had fired the visitors ahead, early in the second half.

 Smalling (left) looks to nick the ball away from the foot of Cork during the Premier League match between Swansea and Manchester United

Williams almost sliced into his own goal to make it two, moments later, but Fabianski was alert to the danger.

Shaw, who has had his problems with fitness and form since moving to Old Trafford, looked much more comfortable in this solid and unspectacular system and yet the goals conceded by United came from his area.

The young left-back was trailing back from an over-lap when Swansea levelled from a cross delivered by Sigurdsson.

Garry Monk deserves credit, too, responding to Mata’s goal by replacing Wayne Routledge with Ki Sung-Yeung and giving Sigurdsson more freedom. Almost immediately, the Icelander had created an equaliser for Ayew, who arrived late to convert with a header.

It was Ayew on the right who supplied the second for Gomis, four minutes later, shaping a low pass towards the near post which took Shaw and Blind out of the game.

Gomis beat Smalling across the ground to finish his fourth in four this season. It was his ninth in his last 10 Premier League appearances, a contrasting number to Rooney’s last 10.

 Bafetimbi Gomis (centre) slots the ball under the body of Sergio Romero to secure Swansea's comeback win against Manchester United

 France international Gomis celebrated in typical fashion, roaring at the Swansea fans after netting the home side's second goal

 Gomis wheels away in celebration after scoring Swansea's second - and match-winning - goal against Manchester United on Sunday

 As Luke Shaw (right) shuts his eyes in disappointment, Gomis raises a fist in celebration at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea

 Romero lies face down on the turf after conceding his second Premier League goal... the first had come just five minutes earlier

By the end, the crowd in south Wales felt confident enough to jeer United stars who ran out of idea and hit pass after pass into touch.

The thing for Van Gaal is that you take the thrill and flair from Manchester United at your peril.

Without the thrill and flair, you have to win, which they did against Tottenham and Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League, and against FC Bruges, in Europe. But which they did not against Newcastle.

Against Swansea, they neither won nor drew not entertained and functioned like two disconnected units – a solid back six and four up front, who were able to create very little against a well organised Swansea side.

By way of an escape plan, Van Gaal resorted once against to sending on Marouane Fellaini at centre-forward and launching it long.

Javier Hernandez did not come off the bench and, with the transfer market closing soon, there must be concern at Old Trafford.

Fellaini had the usual unsettling effect, but Swansea held out without too much fuss, but for one wonderful recovery tackle by Ashley Williams on Wayne Rooney.

Captain Rooney was isolated and frustrated for most of the game. He scored a hat-trick in Bruges but has now gone 10 games without a Premier League goal for the first time as a United player.

Buoyed by the trip to Belgium, United started well. Lukasz Fabianski was called into action to beat out a free-kick from Memphis Depay which skidded from the slippery surface.

Juan Mata lashed one over from just outside the penalty box and then screwed an excellent opening wide, midway through the first half. Ander Herrera poked a pass to Mata but, coming onto the ball from United’s right, he pulled it wide with his left foot.

MATCH FACTS

• Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Cork, Shelvey, Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Ki 58), Gomis

• Subs not used: Dyer, Nordfeldt, Tabanou, Eder, Rangel, Bartley

• Manager: Garry Monk

• Goals: Ayew 61, Gomis 66

• Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Schneiderlin, (Carrick 70), Schweinsteiger, Mata (Young 70), Herrera (Fellaini 77), Depay, Rooney

• Subs not used: Johnstone, Hernandez, Carrick, Young, Valencia, Fellaini, McNair

• Manager: Louis van Gaal

• Goal: Mata 48

• Referee: Martin Atkinson

• Stadium: Liberty Stadium
  

 Swansea new boy Andre Ayew (third left) powers his header past Romero as United pair Morgan Schneiderlin and Chris Smalling watch on

 Ayew wheels away after scoring his third goal of the Premier League season, which set Swansea on their way to victory over United

 Juan Mata fires high into the net at the back post, making the most of some poor Swansea defending to open the scoring for Man United

Swansea stirred, with Jack Cork and Jonjo Shelvey taking control in the centre of the pitch and overwhelming Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger who, for all his poise and experience still looks a yard short of Premier League tempo.

Schweinsteiger was dispossessed in midfield before Ayew released Bafetimbi Gomis, who missed the target.

Gomis ought to have done better, as should Gylfi Sigurdsson when he failed to test Sergio Romero followed an effective quick free-kick taken by Shelvey.

He had not conceded a Premier League goal when he arrived in Wales but Romero does not ooze calm and authority. His distribution was erratic and was almost made to pay when one clearance landed at the feet of Shelvey.

 Lukas Fabianski (centre) and Ashley Williams (right) do their best to stop Mata, but they are helpless to prevent the Spaniard scoring

 Mata wheels away in celebration after putting Manchester United 1-0 up, while Swansea pair Williams and Fabianski lie on the turf

 Mata (left) roars with delight after scoring the opening goal, as he is joined at the corner flag by his Manchester United team-mates

The Swansea midfielder quickly manufactured a long-range effort on goal but the Argentina goalkeeper had recovered to save on his line. He was beaten when Gomis hit a post after rolling clear from Daley Blind and Chris Smalling.

The home team were on top. Rooney smouldered up front, disconnected for long periods and yet, when Herrera found him before the interval, the United captain could produce nothing more than a tame stab at goal with the outside of his boot.

Another glimpse of goal vanished with a poor touch volleyed over by Rooney, but Mata eased some of the tension soon after the restart.

Luke Shaw’s powerful run down the left created the chance. Both Rooney and Neil Taylor missed Shaw’s cross at the near post and Mata beat Williams at the back-post to fire the ball high into the net.

 New Swansea man - and scorer of their first goal - Ayew screams in pain after picking up an injury, but he was okay to continue

 Bastian Schweinsteiger (centre) plays a pass in the driving rain at the Liberty Stadium, as Jack Cork (right) watches on

 Daley Blind (bottom) is sent tumbling to the turf as Chris Smalling (left) and Gomis (centre) rise to challenge for a header during the match

 Sergio Romero let in his first Premier League goals at the Liberty Stadium as Swansea came from behind to get a result against United

 Jonjo Shelvey (right), who has been tipped for a recall to the England squad this week, challenges Schweinsteiger for the ball

Williams almost sliced into his own goal to make it two, moments later, but Fabianski was alert to the danger.

Shaw, who has had his problems with fitness and form since moving to Old Trafford, looked much more comfortable in this solid and unspectacular system and yet the goals conceded by United came from his area.
 
The young left-back was trailing back from an over-lap when Swansea levelled from a cross delivered by Sigurdsson.

Garry Monk deserves credit, too, responding to Mata’s goal by replacing Wayne Routledge with Ki Sung-Yeung and giving Sigurdsson more freedom. Almost immediately, the Icelander had created an equaliser for Ayew, who arrived late to convert with a header.

It was Ayew on the right who supplied the second for Gomis, four minutes later, shaping a low pass towards the near post which took Shaw and Blind out of the game.

Gomis beat Smalling across the ground to finish his fourth in four this season. It was his ninth in his last 10 Premier League appearances, a contrasting number to Rooney’s last 10.

 Smalling (left) looks to nick the ball away from the foot of Cork during the Premier League match between Swansea and Manchester United

Kenyan athletes on top of the world Team makes history to claim maiden overall title at the World Championships in Athletics in Beijing.

Elijah Manangoi (left) congratulates Asbel Kiprop after he won the men's 1500m at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing on August 30, 2015. PHOTO | OLIVIER MORIN | AFP

In Summary

•  Kenya tops standings with 16 medals in total; seven gold, six silver and three bronze.

•  Heavyweights Jamaica finish second with 7-2-3, the United States third with 5-6-6.

By AYUMBA AYODI

It was a marvelous seven-star performance for Kenya as the country claimed its maiden overall title at the World Championships in Athletics on Sunday in Beijing, China.

A majestic Asbel Kiprop wrapped up the historic performance when he stormed to a third consecutive victory in the men’s 1,500m race, a feat that brought the packed 80,000-seater Bird’s Nest Stadium to its feet.

Kiprop, who was at the tail of the pack at the bell and with 200 metres to go, slowly worked his way up, hitting the front with less than 20 metres to go before winning in 3 minutes 34.40 seconds.

Elijah Manangoi wrapped up a 1-2 finish for Kenya just like in the 2011 Daegu championships, dipping his head ahead of Moroccan Abdalaati Iguider to snatch silver in 3:34.63. Iguider took bronze in 3:34.67.

Kiprop and Manangoi’s feat, which was preceded by Helah Kiprop’s silver medal in the women’s marathon in the morning, saw Kenya top the standings with 16 medals in total; seven gold, six silver and three bronze, finishing ahead of heavyweights Jamaica who were second with 7-2-3 and third-placed United States with 5-6-6.

STRUCK GOLD

Kenya’s previous best ever showing at the World Championships was during the 2011 edition in Daegu, South Korea, where the team claimed 17 medals; seven gold, six silver and four bronze, to finish third overall behind the US and Russia.

However, the haul from Daegu surpassed Beijing’s by one bronze.

The only other outing that came close to rivalling that performance was the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games where athletics won the country 14 medals; six gold, four silver and four bronze.

Vivian Cheruiyot gave Kenya its first gold medal when she recaptured the 10,000m title she won at the 2011 Daegu Worlds.

Olympic champion and World record holder David Rudisha would then strike gold after two previous injury-plagued seasons. Nicholas Bett then made history as the first Kenyan to win a sprint event at the World Championships with the 400m hurdles gold medal.

Ezekiel Kemboi then chalked an unprecedented four consecutive World 3,000m steeplechase titles as Julius Yego’s pioneering exploits in the javelin went a notch higher when he became the first Kenyan to win a major field event.

Hyvin Kiyeng was on top of her game to ensure that the women’s 3,000m steeplechase title won by Milcah Chemo for the first time in 2013 in Moscow was retained by Kenya.

Medallists:

Gold:

• Men: David Rudisha (800m); Asbel Kiprop (1,500m); Nicholas Bett (400m hurdles); Ezekiel Kemboi (3,000m steeplechase); Julius Yego (Javelin)

• Women: Vivian Cheruiyot (10,000m); Hyvin Kiyeng (3,000m steeplechase)

Silver:

• Men: Elijah Manangoi (1,500m); Caleb Mwangangi (5,000m), Geoffrey Kamworor (10,000m); Conseslus Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase)

• Women: Faith Chepng’etich (1,500m); Helah Kiprop (marathon)

Bronze:

• Men: Paul Tanui (10,000m), Brimin Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase)

• Women: Eunice Sum (800m)

Chelsea 1-2 Crystal Palace:

 Joel Ward nets winner just two minutes after Radamel Falcao had scored first goal as Jose Mourinho suffers second defeat in 100 home Premier League games

•  Bakary Sako puts Crystal Palace ahead host moments after clearing off the line at the other end

•  Falcao equalises 14 minutes later with a header from a Pedro cross

•  But Joel Ward makes it 2-1 to visitors just moments later to put Palace back ahead

•  Champions Chelsea fall eight points behind leaders Manchester City after just four games

By Oliver Holt For The Mail On Sunday

The internet was awash with advice and mock sympathy for Jose Mourinho on Saturday night. His thwarted quest for a centre-back and his club’s unexpected re-acquaintance with ordinariness were both the subjects of enough mirth to fuel the Chelsea manager’s conspiracy theories for months to come.

Everton fans, still glorying in their club’s rejection of Chelsea’s overtures to John Stones, said it was such a pity that Mourinho had missed out on Jonny Evans. Liverpool fans, fresh from their loss to West Ham, were quick to offer him Dejan Lovren. West Brom supporters chastised him for being beaten to the punch by Aston Villa for Joleon Lescott.

Everybody likes it when a big club fail to get their own way. Everybody likes it when money fails to talk. And everybody likes it when the champions show a little fallibility. Chelsea have four points from their first four games and are already eight points behind Manchester City. ‘In another league, I would say “game over”,’ Mourinho said.

Joel Ward sees his diving header creep inside the post as Crystal Palace stunned Chelsea with two second-half goals

Bakary Sako side-foots his second goal in successive games as Crystal Palace took a shock second-half lead at Stamford Bridge

Thibaut Courtois looks devastated as the Premier League champions fall behind at home against their London rivals

Yannick Bolasie, who crossed for Sako's 65th minute goal, celebrates with the Malian winger and Yohan Cabaye after Palace take the lead

MATCH FACTS, MATCH ZONE, PLAYER RATINGS AND LEAGUE TABLE

• Chelsea: Courtois 6; Ivanovic 4, Zouma 6, Cahill 5, Azpilicueta 4(Kenedy 6); Fabregas 5, Matic 5(Loftus Cheek 5); Pedro 7, Hazard 6, Willian 6(Falcao 6); Diego Costa 5

• Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Mikel, Remy

• Booked: Cahill

• Goal: Falcao 79

• Crystal Palace: McCarthy 7; Ward 7, Dann 7, Delaney 7, Souare 6; Puncheon 7, Cabaye 6, McArthur 6, Zaha 5(Bolasie 7); Wickham 5, Sako 8

• Subs: Mariappa, Hennessey, Gayle, Mutc

• Booked: Cabaye

• Goals: Sako 65, Ward 81

 It was scant consolation but in this ignominious home defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday, his team, obedient to the last, had at least provided irrefutable proof of why Mourinho was so desperate to sign Stones.

Chelsea’s defence, which has conceded nine goals in four games, was ripped to pieces by a man-of-the-match performance by Bakary Sako, a close-season free transfer from Wolves. There were times in the second half when they were reduced to a rabble.

Before Saturday, Mourinho had lost only one of his 99 league games at the Bridge. Now it is two out of 100. On this showing, he will be desperate to draft his suspended captain, John Terry, back into his team after the international break.

Then again, he may decide that desperate times require desperate remedies. Chelsea need to strengthen their back four, although on Saturday the most glaring problems appeared at full-back, where Branislav Ivanovic, once again, looked horribly vulnerable.

Radamel Falcao dives to head past the otherwise excellent Alex McCarthy and put Jose Mourinho's side level in the 79th minute

Falcao celebrates after scoring his first goal for Chelsea, equalizing with an excellent header, but Chelsea weren't level for long

Ward slides on his knees and points to the sky after netting the winner, just moments after Chelsea had drawn level

 Falcao and Diego Costa can't believe what they are seeing after Palace immediately retook the lead at Stamford Bridge

Mourinho said he was angry with himself for allowing one of his players to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes because he had played so badly. He said the player in question only survived because he had already used his three substitutes. He would not name names but the smart money was on Ivanovic.

If Chelsea really have given up on Stones, they need to look elsewhere. Quickly. Mourinho suggested that was unlikely and that he was happy with the central defensive performances of Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill.

But the back four’s defending for Palace’s second goal, in particular, was shambolic.

Stones, playing for Everton in north London on Saturday, rather than for Chelsea in west London, dominated the day even though he was not here. Chelsea found themselves under attack even before the game started.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez criticised their pursuit of Stones and said that Everton stood for ‘more important values’.

For many, it is a source of encouragement that a less affluent club like Everton have resisted Chelsea’s attempts to buy the central defender and have, in their own way, stood up to the might of the Premier League’s fabulously rich.

At the same time, it is hard to see why Chelsea are being vilified for trying to sign a player they think will strengthen their team. Transfers happen. Players move up the food chain. Everton plucked Stones from Barnsley two years ago, now Chelsea are trying to buy him from them.

There is certainly no need for Everton fans to make Stones fear for his safety. Chelsea made three bids for him, as is their right. Everton turned them down, as is their right. End of story.

When the game began, Chelsea took their time to mount an attack of their own. It was the 20th minute before Pedro cut in from the right and whipped in a curling left-foot shot that whistled just wide.

Now, suddenly, the game erupted. Diego Costa was singled out for rough treatment by Scott Dann and, as is his custom, responded in kind. After Costa was bundled over by the touchline, Mourinho berated the fourth official for his inaction.

The Chelsea manager tries to make a tactical adjustment to inspire his team but Chelsea fell to a second defeat in three games

Alex McCarthy pulls off a fine save to deny Cesc Fabregas as the Palace goalkeeper did his well to keep the champions at bay

Willian tries a shot from range as Palace throw bodies at the ball, but Chelsea felll to defeat in Jose Mourinho's 100th home game

Conor Wickham holds off Chelsea's holding midfielder Nemanja Matic as Crystal Palace made a strong start at Stamford Bridge

Mourinho appeals for a decision as his Chelsea side struggled to break down their fellow Londoners in the first half

Diego Costa showed his abrasive nature yet again, tussling with Scott Dann before squaring up to Damien Delaney

Costa does his best to get on the end of a cross as Delaney also slides in, but the Spain striker couldn't convert the chance

 The volatile striker harangues a linesman after he was not given the decision he desired, in another bad-tempered display

Zouma had a penalty appeal turned down when it appeared his shirt had been pulled as he leapt for a corner but Palace reminded their hosts that they posed a danger, too, when Thibaut Courtois had to save a fierce shot by Sako with his legs.

Chelsea’s problems are not just in defence. They are also lacking creativity and it was Palace who fashioned the best chance of the half when Wilfried Zaha turned beautifully past Nemanja Matic and rolled the ball into the path of Yohan Cabaye. He should have scored but he shot too close to Courtois and too tamely. It was a simple save for the Belgian keeper and a let-off for Mourinho and his team.

They finally posed a threat a few minutes before half-time when Costa lashed in a cross-shot that Alex McCarthy could only push back out. Cesc Fabregas was waiting to meet it and struck the follow-up cleanly but McCarthy was equal to it. He scrambled across his goal and blocked the ball with his right hand before it was hacked away.

Palace emerged the stronger after the break. Capitalising on the continuing uncertainty of Ivanovic, Sako waltzed past him and cut back a cross that Connor Wickham miskicked.

Gary Cahill, wearing a mask to protect his injured nose, wins the ball from Wickham as Chelsea failed to kick-start their season

Matic gets a toe to the ball to stop Palace's new winger Bakary Sako, but the hosts were frustrated in the opening exchanges

Former Barcelona star Pedro was impressive on his debut last week with a goal and an assist, but missed a good chance before half time

 Eden Hazard tries to win the ball ahead of Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward, but the Belgian struggled to find space at Stamford Bridge

Palace manager Alan Pardew had pulled on an overcoat at half-time but now, midway through the half, the game began to heat up and after Sako had headed off the line from Cahill, he went up to the other end and put Palace ahead.

Pape Souare played the ball down the line to substitute Yannick Bolasie, who cut the ball back into the path of Sako. His first effort was blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta but it fell kindly to him and he slotted it home, high past Courtois. Pardew took his coat off again and rolled up his sleeves.

Palace should have gone further ahead when the rampaging Sako delivered a perfect cross into the path of Bolasie, but he sliced his shot high and wide.

Chelsea seized on their reprieve and forced an equaliser in the 79th minutes. Pedro curled in a beautiful cross from the right, hit with pace and precision, and substitute Radamel Falcao flung himself at it at the near post, guiding it past McCarthy.

A few seconds later, Bolasie made amends for his earlier miss when he picked out Sako unmarked at the back post. Sako turned the ball back into the path of Joel Ward, who swept it into the net. The Palace fans erupted in disbelieving joy, the Chelsea fans yelled out their dismay.

Mourinho suggested after the game that it was too late to strengthen his team now. A hint of irritation crept into his voice when he said he had submitted his plans for the new season last April and that now it was the end of August.

He suggested Chelsea would have to fight with what they have got. Their plight is unlikely to elicit anything other than another barrage of that mock sympathy.

EA SPORTS DISTANCE STATS
	MINS	KM	MILES
Chelsea		111.3	69.2
Cesc Fabregas	90	11.9	7.4
Pedro	90	11.0	6.8
Eden Hazard	90	10.8	6.7
Crystal Palace		113.1	70.3
James McArthur	90	11.8	7.2
Connor Wickham	90	11.6	7.2
Jason Puncheon	90	11.5	7.1
Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League

 Palace's French midfielder Yohan Cabaye vies for possession with Chelesa's Brazilian winger Willian as Palace pulled off a shock result

 Fabregas attempts to turn away from James McArthur while is compatriot Pedro lies on the floor following a challenge

 Hazard looks to break away from McArthur but Palace continued to hold firm well after the hour mark away against the champions

 Delaney gets up above Costa, who cut a frustrated figure for long periods, to head the ball away for the visitors

 Costa puts in a full-blooded challenge on Palace's Senegalese full back Pape Souare during a hard-fought game at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea captain John Terry was forced to watch from behind the bench whilst serving a suspension for his red card against West Brom