Winners:
Manchester City, with American CLAUDIO REYNA going the full 90 in midfield, failed to notch its first win at Old Trafford in 31 years but did pull off a 1-1 tie with Manchester United to stay undefeated after five games. The Guardian called Reyna the game's outstanding midfielder and The Independent named him Man of the Match. Man City is in third place, four points behind leader Chelsea.
BRIAN McBRIDE scored his third goal of the season, helping Fulham tie Newcastle, 1-1. Compatriot Carlos Bocanegra started in defense and was yellow-carded for taking down Newcastle newcomer Michael Owen.
TAYLOR TWELLMAN notched a hat trick in New England's 3-1 win over Columbus as the Revolution maintained its grip on first-place in the East and MLS's best record. Twellman's first strike came on a diving header off Pat Noonan's cross.
The METROSTARS picked up a crucial win, 1-0 over Kansas City on a deflected Eddie Gaven shot, in its quest to move into a playoff spot. The win puts them five points behind third-place Kansas City and fourth-place Chicago. D.C. UNITED jumped into second place in the East with a 2-1 win over Dallas. Midseason acquisition Facundo Erpen of Argentina scored his first D.C. goal and Santino Quaranta notched his fifth of the season.
In Germany, U.S. defender STEVE CHERUNDOLO returned from injury to make his first appearance of the season, going the full 90 in a 2-0 Hannover win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Hannover is in 6th place, undefeated with one win and three ties. In the Second Division, defender GREGG BERHALTER went the full 90 as Energie Cottbus moved into seventh place with a 4-2 win over at Siegen.
Losers:
FC DALLAS continues to seem ungrateful for its shiny new stadium, its 2-1 loss to D.C. United in front of 15,263 fans giving it a 0-3-2 win-loss-tie record since moving into Pizza Hut Park.
Fears that the English Premier League is a one-horse race look justified as Chelsea remains perfect after five games while its most serious contenders dropped points last weekend: MANCHESTER UNITED tying at home to Man City, LIVERPOOL tying with Tottenham and ARSENAL falling, 2-1, to Middlesbrough. (Charlton, however, remains undefeated, trailing Cheslea by three points with a game in hand.)
In Belgium, STANDARD LIEGE lost its first game of the season, 3-1 to mid-standings Beveren, after reeling off four wins. American defender Oguchi Onyewu has started all five games for Standard Liege, which is in second-place, one point behind Anderlecht.