Friendlies: Premier League round-up

Friendlies: Premier League round-up

Teenager Jack Wilshere struck twice as Arsenal beat Scottish champions Rangers 3-0 to win the Emirates Cup.

The 17-year-old was rewarded for a man-of-the-match display when coming off the bench on Saturday with a place in Arsene Wenger's starting XI.

Wilshere grabbed his latest opportunity with both hands to fire the Gunners ahead inside two minutes.

Arsenal never looked back, as fit-again Croatia hitman Eduardo soon made it 2-0 before Wilshere, once more man-of-the-match, wrapped things up with another well-taken strike in the second half.

A 70th-minute equaliser from Ludovic Giuly salvaged a draw for Paris St Germain against Atletico Madrid in Sunday's other game.

The former Barcelona forward levelled following a fine run and cross from Stephane Sessegnon to earn the French side their first point of the tournament.

But the game's controversial moment came just before half-time when Sergio Aguero went down under a challenge from Albert Baning. Referee Alan Wiley pointed to the spot before showing the PSG man a red card.

Aguero dusted himself down to take the spot-kick himself to give the Spanish side the lead.

The spot-kick looked destined to decide the contest until Giuly popped up with 20 minutes left to grab a point for PSG.

But it was not enough to save them from the wooden spoon with Atletico in third place.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid target Xabi Alonso made a brief appearance as a strong Liverpool team suffered a 3-0 defeat against Espanyol in Spain.

Midfielder Alonso came off the bench with six minutes remaining as Espanyol officially opened their new stadium, and reports in Spain indicate it may be his final appearance for Liverpool.

Luis Garcia - a namesake of the former Liverpool player - put Mauricio Pochettino's side ahead after 19 minutes and former Chelsea reserve Ben Sahar scored a second-half double to give Espanyol an impressive win.

Tottenham's unbeaten run in Asia came to an end as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to South China in an exhibition match in Hong Kong.

A fine strike from Chan Siu Ki and a Li Haiqiang penalty were enough to hand the hosts victory over their Premier League opponents who, despite having beaten Hull and West Ham at the Barclays Asia Trophy last week, never really got going at the Hong Kong Stadium.

With the game being Tottenham's fourth in seven days, boss Harry Redknapp opted to give the younger players in his squad a chance with the likes of Jonathan Obika, John Bostock, Danny Rose and Jake Livermore all handed starts.

Everton fought out a 2-2 draw at Coventry at the Ricoh Arena.

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill gave David Moyes' side the lead in the 15th minute when Keiren Westwood failed to hold his initial shot.

Leon Osman went close to a second before Clinton Morrison crossed for Michael Doyle to slide in an equaliser.

Everton regained the lead just five minutes later when teenage substitute Jose Baxter fired into the bottom corner through a crowd of players.

But Aron Gunnarsson salvaged a draw for Chris Coleman's side and ensured Sky Blues veteran Marcus Hall's testimonial ended on a positive note when he headed a Doyle cross in at the near post.

Birmingham cruised to a 4-0 victory over Cheltenham in their latest pre-season friendly at Whaddon Road.

The Premier League newcomers made a flying start as Sebastian Larsson's pass allowed Garry O'Connor to lash home the opener from 20 yards.

Larsson then double the Blues' lead just before the half-hour mark having previously struck the woodwork with a free-kick.

The third goal followed just two minutes later as Kevin Phillips volleyed home before trialist Albert Fataki added a late fourth.

A late David Goodwillie penalty ensured Dundee United grabbed a 1-1 draw against Newcastle at Tannadice.

Andrew Carroll's strike on the hour mark gave the visitors the lead before Steve Harper saved a Danny Swanson penalty five minutes later after Kevin Nolan had handled in the box.

Newcastle, without a permanent manager and with owner Mike Ashley still looking for a buyer for the club after relegation from the Barclays Premier League last season, looked to be holding out for the win until referee Chris Boyle awarded a second spot-kick when Ryan Taylor appeared to man-handle Craig Conway.

Goodwillie made no mistake but there was a further moment of controversy when referee Boyle appeared to ask the Newcastle bench to replace the complaining Damien Duff, though it ended peacefully.

Substitute Matty Fryatt was the match-winner for Leicester in their 1-0 success at home to Real Valladolid.

Striker Fryatt, back after a leg injury, proved his goalscoring instinct is intact in the 84th minute.


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