August 25, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 22, 1429

LONDON, Aug 24: Chelsea maintained their 100 percent start to the season when a stunning free kick from new signing Deco was enough to give them a 1-0 Premier League win at Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Deco, who also scored on his league debut in last week’s 4-0 win over Portsmouth, struck with a beautifully executed free kick in the fourth minute after Wigan’s Lee Cattermole handled the ball just outside the penalty area.

The win took Chelsea back to the top of the table with six points, the same as Liverpool who have also won their opening two games although Chelsea have a better goal difference.

Wigan, who spoiled Chelsea’s hopes of winning the title last season with a late equaliser to force a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in April, continually pressed for an equaliser but were thwarted time and again by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.

West Ham United, who beat Wigan last week, failed to join Chelsea and Liverpool on six points when they lost 0-3 to at Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Norway captain Brede Hangeland scored a first-half goal to hand Fulham, who escaped relegation on the final day of last season, an upset 1-0 home win over Arsenal on Saturday.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored four minutes into stoppage time to cap a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield that gives his side maximum points after two rounds.

A header by substitute Michael Owen earned Newcastle United a 1-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers in his first game of the season while Tottenham Hotspur went down to a shock 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland, debutant Djibril Cisse netting the winner.

Fulham, who lost 2-1 at promoted Hull City on the opening day of the season, felt their surprise victory proved they were worthy of remaining among the elite.

Middlesbrough substitute Mido, who netted in their 2-1 victory over his former club Spurs last weekend, put ‘Boro ahead with a long-range strike 20 minutes from time on Merseyside.

Liverpool kept their fans on tenterhooks until Jamie Carragher’s shot was deflected by Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz into his own net in the 86th minute.

Gerrard then produced a late angled strike to earn the home side a dramatic last-gasp victory.

Former Liverpool striker Cisse, who has joined Sunderland on loan from Olympique Marseille, sent ambitious Tottenham slumping to their second successive defeat when he nodded the winner from Daryl Murphy’s left-wing cross in the 82nd minute.

Sunderland had gone ahead at White Hart Lane with a brilliant 25-metre drive from Kieran Richardson before Spurs, who left want-away Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov out of their squad, equalised through Jermaine Jenas in the 73rd.

Newcastle were lucky not to fall behind on the hour, goalkeeper Shay Given saving Kevin Nolan’s penalty.

Manager Kevin Keegan had intended to give Owen, returning from a calf injury, only a few minutes near the end but his hand was forced by injuries to forwards Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins during the match.

Mali striker Mamady Sidibe struck four minutes into stoppage time as promoted Stoke City beat visitors Aston Villa 3-2, while Everton won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers were held 1-1 at home by Hull.

Results:

Played on Sunday:

Manchester City 3 West Ham United 0

Wigan Athletic 0 Chelsea 1

Played on Saturday:

Blackburn Rovers 1 Hull City 1

Fulham 1 Arsenal 0

Liverpool 2 Middlesbrough 1

Newcastle United 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Stoke City 3 Aston Villa 2

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Sunderland 2

West Bromwich Albion 1 Everton 2

—Reuters