LONDON, Oct 20: Two goals by Juan Mata helped Premier League leaders Chelsea to a 4-2 victory in a captivating London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and Wayne Rooney was among the scorers as Manchester United stayed in hot pursuit with a 4-2 win over Stoke City.

Champions Manchester City were reduced to 10 men at West Bromwich Albion before going a goal down but hit back with two late strikes from Edin Dzeko to snatch a 2-1 victory.

Teenage forward Raheem Sterling scored his first Liverpool goal to secure a 1-0 win over Reading and to give manager Brendan Rodgers his maiden home league victory against his former club.

Elsewhere, West Ham United overcame Southampton 4-1, Swansea City defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 and Fulham also enjoyed a home victory, 1-0 against Aston Villa.

Gary Cahill gave Chelsea a halftime lead at Tottenham but goals early in the second half by William Galllas and Jermain Defoe looked like giving Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas a win against the club who sacked him in March.

Mata then struck twice before Daniel Sturridge added a fourth in stoppage time to lift unbeaten Chelsea to 22 points from eight games, four more than United and City.

“It was a test of character today coming here to play a team in form with four consecutive wins,’’ Chalesea manager Roberto Di Matteo said.

Rooney scored an own goal to give Stoke the lead on the 10th anniversary of his famous goal as a 16-year-old for Everton against Arsenal that launched his career. He then scored two at the right end as United roared to victory.

Rooney gave Stoke a shock lead in the 10th minute when he headed into his own net as he tried to clear from Ryan Shawcross.

Rooney was quickly back in United’s good books with a headed equaliser — his first club goal of the season — from Robin van Persie’s cross in the 27th minute.

Van Persie put United ahead on the stroke of half-time as the former Arsenal forward turned in Antonio Valencia’s cross to claim his eighth goal in 10 matches for his new club.

Danny Welbeck got United’s third with a diving header from Rooney’s cross in the 46th minute.

Michael Kightly’s solo effort reduced the deficit 12 minutes later, but Rooney sealed the win with his second goal in the 65th minute.

City were reduced to 10 men after 23 minutes when James Milner was sent off and seemed set for defeat after Shane Long put West Brom ahead. Dzeko’s introduction turned the match City’s way, however, and he bagged a dramatic last-gasp winner.

Results: Fulham 1    Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 1    Reading 0 Manchester United 4    Stoke City 2 Swansea City 2    Wigan Athletic 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2    Chelsea 4 West Bromwich Albion 1    Manchester City 2 West Ham United 4    Southampton 1—Agencies

Opinion

A state of chaos

A state of chaos

The establishment’s increasingly intrusive role has further diminished the credibility of the political dispensation.

Editorial

Bulldozed bill
Updated 22 May, 2024

Bulldozed bill

Where once the party was championing the people and their voices, it is now devising new means to silence them.
Out of the abyss
22 May, 2024

Out of the abyss

ENFORCED disappearances remain a persistent blight on fundamental human rights in the country. Recent exchanges...
Holding Israel accountable
22 May, 2024

Holding Israel accountable

ALTHOUGH the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor wants arrest warrants to be issued for Israel’s prime...
Iranian tragedy
Updated 21 May, 2024

Iranian tragedy

Due to Iran’s regional and geopolitical influence, the world will be watching the power transition carefully.
Circular debt woes
21 May, 2024

Circular debt woes

THE alleged corruption and ineptitude of the country’s power bureaucracy is proving very costly. New official data...
Reproductive health
21 May, 2024

Reproductive health

IT is naïve to imagine that reproductive healthcare counts in Pakistan, where women from low-income groups and ...