LONDON — The shade of the shirt may have changed but Robin van Persie remains a red-hot Dutch master after marking his first Manchester United start with a goal in a 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham Saturday. Having swapped the crimson of Arsenal for the red checks of United's new home jersey, the $38million man dug United out of an early hole by firing in a trademark volley on 10 minutes to cancel out Damien Duff's well-worked opener. Japan's Shinji Kagawa also scored on his home debut, the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder tapping in after Mark Schwarzer had spilled Tom Cleverley's shot. Right back Rafael soon had the ball in the net again but was foiled by the offside flag only to head in the third with a rare goal on 41 minutes, the home side's rapid comeback witnessed by speed king and big United fan Usain Bolt. Fulham pulled one back in the second half through a bizarre Nemanja Vidic own goal to prompt a very nervy finish for cavalier United, who had Wayne Rooney carried off on a stretcher with a nasty wound. Van Persie was a substitute for United's opening 1-0 loss at Everton last Monday but this time it was the turn of expected strike partner Rooney to surprisingly start on the bench just two games into the season. Everton built on Monday's win with a 3-1 romp at Aston Villa and another headed goal from Marouane Fellaini, although Villa goalkeeper Shay Given should have done better. South Africa's Steven Pienaar had given the flying Liverpool side an early lead with a rocket from distance and Nikica Jelavic added to Fellaini's second to put pressure on new Villa boss Paul Lambert after an opening loss to West Ham United. Rampant Swansea City also made it two wins out of two to lead the fledgling table after promoted West Ham gifted them two goals in a 3-0 victory to follow up their 5-0 opener against Queens Park Rangers. QPR recovered slightly from Swansea's mauling to draw 1-1 at Norwich, also thumped 5-0 by Fulham first up, while Sunderland's game with promoted Reading was postponed before kickoff because of a waterlogged pitch. Tottenham Hotspur was held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion. Promoted Southampton lost again after a 2-0 home defeat by Wigan Athletic as the visitors showed they could do without winger Victor Moses. Bayern beats Fuerth In Berlin, Bayern Munich started its league campaign with a 3-0 defeat of promoted Greuther Fuerth, giving its Bavarian rival a rude welcome to the Bundesliga on Saturday. Another promoted side, Fortuna Duesseldorf, won 2-0 at Augsburg. Nuremberg won 1-0 at Hamburger SV, Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Hoffenheim 2-1, and Freiburg drew 1-1 with Mainz. Champion Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 2-1 in the league opener Friday. — Agencies
