Premiership Goalfest! 10/16 In Review

Arsenal 2-1 Birmingham City

The Gunners go into second place for a day, coming from a goal down to win on a questionable penalty and a quick goal after the restart by Marouane Chamakh. They will need to weather a certain suspension for Jack Wilshere, though, as he saw red toward the end of the match for the kind of tackle Arsene Wenger usually bemoans with incomparable zeal.

Bolton 2-1 Stoke City

Ivan Klasnic managed to get both the Wanderers' winner in second half extra time, then followed that up with two yellow cards inside a minute to get tossed. The win moved Notlob up to 7th place.

Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tom Huddlestone's winner, which completed a fightback from a goal down (though Spurs were only behind less than a minute prior to Pavlyuchenko's equalizer), came with a bit of controversy over the "passive offside" rule. Nevertheless, the three points keeps Spurs in fifth.

Manchester United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

Liverpool's had such a horrid start that my only joy this season has been Red Devil schadenfraude. Luckily, Man U has provided enjoyment in spades, this time blowing a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to a Patrice Evra own goal and a flub by Edwin van der Sar that made Robert Green's World Cup efforts look heroic. The promoted Baggies remain in a surprising 6th position.

Newcastle United 2-2 Wigan

Bitten twice inside of a minute by cast-off Charles N'Zogbia, Newcastle fought back in the second half to earn a point in stoppage time through Fabricio Coloccini. The point apiece moved Wigan to 12th and the Toon to 13th.

Wolverhampton 1-1 West Ham United

A point each is not what either of the two bottom-table dwellers needed. Thanks for not pushing Liverpool further down ahead of tomorrow's derby, though!

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

The only game to go goalless in England certainly had its share of chances hit posts or crossbars, and the result is deserving for both sides. Chelsea's league lead stands at 5 points ahead of Manchester City's trip to Blackpool tomorrow.

Scottish Soccer Hooligan Weekly:

Rangers, behind 1-0 at halftime, stormed Motherwell after the break for a 4-1 victory to maintain their 100% record and take over first place. That is, until Celtic wins tomorrow. All other teams are already impossibly far gone. Yawn.

Spanish Inquisition:

The biggest match of the weekend saw league leaders Valencia visit two-time defending champion Barcelona, with a goal from Pablo Hernandez giving Los Che the 1-0 halftime lead. However, Barca stormed back with goals from World Cup hero Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol to get the 2-1 victory that drew them level on points and goal difference with Valencia. Real Madrid lead the late game 2-0 at halftime, and a win there will launch the new Galacticos a point above both into first.

Insert Cheap Italian Stereotype Here:

In the early game, AC Milan rode a brace from Pato past Chievo Verona for a 3-1 victory which sent the Rossoneri into first place, a point ahead of Lazio. In the late game, Roma beat Genoa at home to find their way back to the middle of the table in Serie A.

Das Boot:

The 7-for-7 run for pre-break table-topping Mainz came to an end at home to Hamburg, 1-0, which kept Borusssia Dortmund in first following their victory Friday over FC Cologne. Bayern Munich got a 3-0 win at home thanks to a Mario Gomez hat trick (I shit you not, Mario Gomez scored goals! Three of them! In one game!!). Schalke and Stuttgart, both sitting in the bottom two places in Bundesliga, played to a 2-2 draw.