LONDON, Sept 21: Middlesbrough chalked up their first win of the season on Sunday when an early strike from Joseph-Desire Job gave them a 1-0 win over Everton in the premier league at the Riverside Stadium.

It was a welcome victory for manager Steve McCLaren and his team after the club’s worst start for 19 seasons saw them draw one and lose four of their opening five league games. Their only previous point came from a goalless draw at Leicester on August 26.

The only goal of Sunday’s match came after six minutes when Job swept home a low cross from Malcolm Christie despite being surrounded by four Everton defenders.

Boro were denied a second goal after 39 minutes when Frank Quedrue, back in the side after a five-match ban, saw his header just cross the goal-line after bouncing down off the crossbar, but the “goal” was not given by either linesman or referee.

Everton came more into the game in the second half after a poor opening 45 minutes, but failed to convert any of the numerous chances they created.

match drawn

MANCHESTER: Ruud van Nistelrooy smacked a stoppage-time penalty against the bar as 10-man Arsenal escaped with a point from a battling 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Arsenal had skipper Patrick Vieira sent off after 80 minutes by referee Steve Bennett who then awarded United a penalty after 92 minutes of the game after he ruled Martin Keown had hauled down Diego Forlan in the box.

That controversial decision came soon after he showed Vieira the red card for the ninth time in his Arsenal career for reacting to a clumsy challenge from Van Nistelrooy after 80 minutes.

Results

Middlesbrough 1 Everton 0

Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0

Parma TRIUMPH

MILAN: Two goals from Australian Mark Bresciano, including an 89th-minute winner, gave Parma an impressive 3-2 victory at Lazio in Serie A on Sunday as the winning starts of the top clubs came to an abrupt end.

Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw at home to Sampdoria while AC Milan also had to settle for a point at Perugia after Greek striker Zisis Vryzas cancelled out Gennaro Gattuso’s opener for Milan.

Former European Player of the Year Roberto Baggio missed a penalty for Brescia as they drew 4-4 at home to Reggina, whose Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura scored twice.

Results

Bologna 2 Udinese 0

Brescia 4 Reggina 4

Inter Milan 0 Sampdoria 0

Lazio 2 Parma 3

Lecce 1 Chievo 2

Perugia 1 AC Milan 1

Saturday

Siena 4 Empoli 0

Ancona 1 Modena 1

—Agencies

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