MANCHESTER: Manchester City launched their Premier League title defence in familiar fashion as the champions came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 thanks to Samir Nasri’s late winner at Eastlands on Sunday.
After an early missed penalty from David Silva, the champions appeared to be on course for another home victory thanks to a goal just before the interval from Carlos Tevez, only for Southampton substitutes Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis to each score within minutes of their introductions.
That sparked a frantic finale which brought back memories of the final day of last season when City scored twice in stoppage-time to beat QPR and win the English title.
They didn’t leave it quite that late this time as Edin Dzeko equalised with 18 minutes remaining before France midfielder Nasri struck 10 minutes from full-time to preserve City’s unbeaten home run, which now dates back to December 2010.
“It was like the last game of the season, we’ve started the same and I hope at the end (of the season) it will be the same result for us,” Nasri said.
“It was a difficult game but we didn’t panic. We said we can do it because we did it last year.”
Nasri’s winner eased the anxiety that had been building among City supporters during an entertaining encounter, particularly following an apparently nasty injury suffered by Sergio Aguero in the early stages.
The Argentinian, scorer of the goal that brought City the Premier League title on their last home appearance three months ago, was tackled cleanly by Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne, twisting his knee awkwardly as he went to ground.
After lengthy treatment, Aguero was stretchered off, and the mood around Eastlands was not helped by Silva’s appalling penalty miss after 16 minutes. The Spanish midfielder struck a weak shot that was easily saved by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.
With the score 2-2, the hosts upped the pressure on Southampton and their efforts finally paid off in the 80th minute. Danny Fox could only weakly head away a far-post cross from Clichy, presenting Nasri with the relatively simple task of converting from 12 yards.
Chelsea coast to win
Meanwhile, new Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, widely hailed as the next big thing, lived up to all the hype inside the first seven minutes of his Premier League debut after setting up both goals in a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic.
The Belgian, who joined the European Cup winners from Lille, quickly silenced doubters who suspected England would be far tougher than the modest French league.
First he expertly turned marker Ivan Ramis to release right back Branislav Ivanovic, who ran in and coolly slotted home in the second minute having been allowed to play despite a red card in the Community Shield last Sunday.
Hazard then danced his way into the box and was carelessly upended by error-prone Wigan debutant Ramis, leaving Frank Lampard to slam in the seventh-minute penalty.
Roberto Di Matteo’s side, only sixth in the Premier League last term despite their Champions League triumph, strolled through the rest of their season opener as Wigan barely troubled goalkeeper Petr Cech. (Agencies)