Sport

Mourinho mad after 1-0 win

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho - reuters

LONDON (AP)

FOR 92 MINUTES, promoted Wigan was on the verge of an unlikely result - holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw on the opening day of their Premier League title defense.

But with 30 seconds remaining, Hernan Crespo curled the ball across the face of goal into the far top corner of the net to give Chelsea a 1-0 win yesterday over the winner of the Football League Championship last season.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was not happy with his team's display.

"During the game, you couldn't see who was the Championship champion and the Premiership champion," Mourinho said. "It was exactly the same.

"Because of their commitment and their spirit and their organization, they don't deserve to lose the game."

In yesterday's other match, Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-0. Thierry Henry converted an 81st-minute penalty and Robin van Persie added a second late goal.

Wigan, based in the northwest of England, has only been in the professional league since 1978. Wigan's rise to the top division can be traced to multimillionaire owner Dave Whelan, who has invested 75 million pounds (US$136 million; euro109 million) in the club.

The man who single-handedly transformed Chelsea, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, was also watching from the stands. He's spent around 280 million pounds (US$508 million; euro409 million) on Chelsea since buying the club two years ago.

The gulf in money between the two sides was clear - Chelsea's new left back Asier Del Horno, bought for eight million pounds (US$14 million; euro12 million), cost more than the six new players signed for Wigan in the offseason.

"Normally you lose a game, and that loss is the wake-up call," Mourinho said. "Today we can have this wake-up call without losing points."

Chelsea only troubled Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt just before half-time through a Damien Duff attempt. John Terry also headed close over the cross bar.

Wigan's Henri Camara forced Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech into a save and Alan Mahon chipped the ball over a clear goal.

Late winner

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole came on for Arjen Robben and Eidur Gudjohnsen at halftime and Chelsea looked more threatening. Crespo replaced Damian Duff after 59 minutes and had a shot cleared by Pollit's legs before scoring the late winner.

Mourinho criticised several unnamed players for thinking and playing too slowly, for not pressing Wigan players, for not chasing the ball enough and losing it too easily.

"Everything was against what we spoke and trained for during the week," Mourinho said. "Everybody is under pressure because we have a lot of good players and if you don't perform, probably you are out of the team."

At Highbury, Henry's penalty just got past the fingertips of Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, who had dived to his left.

The spot kick was given after Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg was brought down by Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia in the box.

"We were maybe a little bit fortunate to get the penalty, I can agree. But, in fairness, it looked like a goal was coming sooner or later," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Six minutes later, Ljungberg sent a cross in from the back line which substitute van Persie tapped in.

The goals marked the end of a long period of strong defending from Newcastle, which had Jermaine Jenas sent off in the 32nd minute for a two-footed tackle on Gilberto Silva by referee Steve Bennett.

Under new referee guidelines this season, any challenge likely to endanger the health or safety of an opponent will earn a red card. Newcastle players protested against Jenas' red card, with Jean-Alain Boumsong shown a yellow for dissent.

"We didn't want Jenas to be sent off, that was the referee's decision," Wenger said. "But when he brought his right leg into the tackle and took away the standing leg of Gilberto, I didn't like that."

Newcastle coach Graeme Souness wouldn't allow anyone from the club to discuss the match with the media.

On Saturday, Wayne Rooney scored against his former Everton teammates as Manchester United won 2-0 at Goodison Park. Ruud van Nistelrooy also scored.

Promoted West Ham came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 and Tottenham won 2-0 at Portsmouth. Champions League winner Liverpool was held 0-0 by Middlesbrough.

In other results, Aston Villa and Bolton tied 2-2 with all four goals in the first nine minutes, 10-man Charlton won 3-1 at promoted Sunderland, Manchester City were held 0-0 at home by West Bromwich Albion and Fulham and Birmingham drew 0-0.