European roundup: Man United make dismal start, Arsenal and Dortmund march on
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Man United's Harry Maguire reacts after their league loss to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Man United's Harry Maguire reacts after their league loss to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Manchester United's Premier League campaign began in faltering fashion as a double from their former player Wilfried Zaha gave Crystal Palace a 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday but Arsenal and Everton made it two wins from two.

For only the third time in the Premier League era United lost their opening game of the season and they could have few complaints even if Palace's second goal came from a controversially re-taken penalty.

Andros Townsend put Palace ahead early on and Zaha scored from the spot in the 74th minute after Jordan Ayew's original penalty had been saved by David De Gea but the Spanish keeper was adjudged to have moved off his line.

The penalty was awarded after referee Martin Atkinson used the pitch-side TV monitor to harshly judge that Victor Lindelof had handled a cross inside his own box.

United debutant Donny van de Beek came off the bench to pull a goal back for United but Zaha got the better of Lindelof to finish United off in the 85th minute.

"Today was a performance you don't see very often from this group," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose side did not play on the first weekend, said. "We should look at ourselves in the mirror. Everyone knows we can perform better than this."

Palace, who have won consecutive league games at United for the first time, followed up an opening day win over Southampton and look rejuvenated after ending last season in dismal fashion.

Granit Xhaka (C) of Arsenal is challenged by Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen of West Ham during their league clash at Emirates Stadium, London, England, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Granit Xhaka (C) of Arsenal is challenged by Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen of West Ham during their league clash at Emirates Stadium, London, England, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Arsenal labored to a 2-1 victory over West Ham United at The Emirates but needed a late goal against the run of play by Eddie Nketiah to hand the Hammers a second straight defeat.

Michail Antonio‘s first-half strike for the visitors had cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette's 50th goal for the Gunners.

Everton crushed newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion 5-2 with a hat-trick by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a first goal in an Everton shirt for new signing James Rodriguez.

West Brom, who had taken an early lead, were not helped by a red card for Kieran Gibbs for pushing Rodriguez shortly after the Colombian put Everton 2-1 in front just before halftime.

Leeds United, back in the top flight after a 16-year absence, claimed their first points of the season as they were involved in a seven-goal thriller for the second week running.

After losing at champions Liverpool 4-3 on the opening day, they beat Fulham by the same scoreline at Elland Road for their first Premier League win since April 2004.

Helder Costa scored either side of goals from Mateusz Klich and Patrick Bamford as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side went 4-1 ahead before Fulham rallied to set up a tense finale.

Dortmund star Erling Haaland impresses during their Bundesliga clash with Borussia Moenchengladbach at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Dortmund star Erling Haaland impresses during their Bundesliga clash with Borussia Moenchengladbach at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland scored twice and teenager Giovanni Reyna added another goal as they cruised past Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-0 in their season openery.

The 20-year-old Haaland scored a 54th minute penalty, awarded for a foul on Reyna, and bagged another with a sensationally quick counter-attack and a Jadon Sancho assist as Dortmund utilised their fearsome youthful attacking weapons.

Norway forward Haaland, who joined in January, took his tally to 15 goals in his 16 Bundesliga games so far this year.

Hertha Berlin beat hosts Werder Bremen 4-1 to earn their first win there in 14 years. Freiburg were made to sweat against VfB Stuttgart, eventually edging past them 3-2 having gone 3-0 up only to see their opponents score twice late in the game. Andrej Kramaric scored a hat-trick to hand Hoffenheim a 3-2 win at Cologne, who had equalized twice. 

In Spain, Unai Emery earned his first win as Villarreal coach after his side came from behind to beat Eibar 2-1 at home in La Liga. The evergreen Iago Aspas scored in either half to give Celta Vigo a 2-1 win at home to Valencia.

Roma's Henrikh Mkhitaryan (L) competes for the ball with Verona's Koray Gunter during their Serie clash at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona, Italy, September 19, 2020. /VCG

Roma's Henrikh Mkhitaryan (L) competes for the ball with Verona's Koray Gunter during their Serie clash at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona, Italy, September 19, 2020. /VCG

In Italy, Roma were held to a 0-0 draw at Verona in their opening Serie A game of the season as they began a new era under the ownership of the Texas-based Friedkin Group who took over the club last month.

Verona hit the woodwork in each half while Roma also struck the bar but otherwise gave a disjointed performance in front of billionaire owner Dan Friedkin and his son Ryan, who both saw the match on a balmy evening at the Bentegodi stadium.

The Veneto regional government had given permission for up to 1,000 fans to watch the game but the club did not have time to sell tickets, instead inviting a small number of friends and relatives of club employees.

Striker Edin Dzeko was left on the bench by Roma amid speculation that he could join Juventus while Pedro made his debut following his move from Chelsea.

In France, teenage midfielder Adrien Truffert capped a memorable Ligue 1 debut as he scored a stoppage-time winner for Rennes which gave his side a comeback 2-1 victory at home to Monaco and sent them top of the table.

Source(s): Reuters