/ 25 September 2006

Newcastle, Everton share the spoils

Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the English Premier League season with a 1-1 draw on Sunday at Newcastle. Tim Cahill scored the equaliser in the 40th minute with a header off a cross from Mikel Arteta. ''It was a brilliant game. We worked really hard after going behind to a dubious goal,'' Cahill said. ''Overall, a draw is probably a fair result.''

Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the English Premier League season with a 1-1 draw on Sunday at Newcastle.

Tim Cahill scored the equaliser in the 40th minute with a header off a cross from Mikel Arteta.

”It was a brilliant game. We worked really hard after going behind to a dubious goal,” Cahill said. ”Overall, a draw is probably a fair result.”

Shola Ameobi scored in the 14th minute for Newcastle, guiding a free kick from Emre Belozoglu past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Ameobi limped off with an injury 10 minutes later and was replaced by Antoine Sibierski.

Newcastle’s Titus Bramble was sent off in the 75th minute for a second yellow card. Two minutes later, Everton’s Tony Hibbert was also sent off for his second caution.

”Either team could have nicked it and we had a couple of great chances,” Newcastle captain Scott Parker said. ”But we played too deep and the gap between the midfield and defence was too big.”

Parker is favoured to be selected for England’s next round of European Championship qualifiers early next month after midfielder Owen Hargreaves broke his leg last Sunday.

”My main importance is Newcastle football club. If I perform for them then we’ll see what happens,” said Parker, whose last England appearance was in 2004.

The Toffees have won three and drawn three this season and moved up to fourth in the standings with 12 points. The team joins Portsmouth and Aston Villa as the only clubs that haven’t lost a match this season.

Newcastle moved up one place to 12th and have seven points.

Chelsea took over first place on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Fulham. Manchester United missed a chance to move level on points with Chelsea, settling for a 1-1 draw at Reading.

Both big-name English teams could be overtaken Monday if Portsmouth beat Bolton.

Chelsea lead with 15 points. Portsmouth and Man United have 13 points each.

Also Saturday, it was: Liverpool 3, Tottenham 0; Arsenal 3, Sheffield United 0; Aston Villa 2, Charlton 0; Manchester City 2, West Ham 0; Middlesbrough 0, Blackburn 1; and Wigan 1, Watford 1. — Sapa-AP