BY Victor Akhidenor
A Kyle Walker own goal was enough to ensure Manchester United opened the Barclays Premier League season with a win.
Ashley Young broke down the right-hand side and picked out the unmarked Wayne Rooney in the middle of the box. The United captain took a touch and was just lining up to place his shot past Michel Vorm in the Spurs goal. But then Walker came flying in to make a last-ditch tackle, only to accidentally put the ball into his own net.
The visitors were the liveliest of the teams in the opening half hour, but both Walker and Christian Eriksen missed two good scoring opportunities.
They were made to pay with Walker mistiming a clearance only to tap the ball into his own net, making it the first time in the Premier League’s 23-year history that the first goal of the campaign is an own goal.
Juan Mata had a couple of chances to double the lead before the break, but a free kick from the Spaniard failed to clear the wall before he drove an effort wide soon after.
The home side continued to dominate early in the second half as Memphis Depay got a shot away, but he could only drill his left-footed finish over the bar.
In a match of few clear-cut chances, Rooney had one to get on the scoresheet inside the final 20 minutes but the captain’s finish was poor from Ander Herrera’s cross.
Tottenham started to show more intent in the final 10 minutes as they pushed for a late equaliser, but Toby Alderweireld’s delivery in for Eriksen was comfortably saved by Sergio Romero.
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