LONDON — Jose Mourinho made a winning return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat promoted Hull City 2-0 in the Premier League Sunday after an early Frank Lampard penalty miss. Brazil's Oscar put Chelsea ahead on 13 minutes, slotting home low past goalkeeper Allan McGregor from Kevin de Bruyne's though-ball into the box. Lampard, who had his sixth-minute penalty and also a 15th-minute shot saved by McGregor, eventually got on the scoresheet with a free kick that dipped in under the keeper's bar for a 2-0 lead in the 25th. The newly installed goalline technology passed its first test when McGregor saved a header from Branislav Ivanovic on his line in first-half stoppage time and replays confirmed the keeper had clawed the ball out before it had fully crossed over. Earlier new signing Roberto Soldado proved there is life without Gareth Bale by giving Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win at promoted Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener. Bale, strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, was absent with a foot injury, but a 50th-minute penalty from $40.4 million club record signing Soldado meant Spurs did not miss him. Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas gave league debuts to Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli, and his side largely controlled the first half beneath bright summer sunshine at Selhurst Park. Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni had to tip a dipping Gylfi Sigurdsson shot over the bar and then thwart Soldado at his near post, while Chadli headed over from a deep Aaron Lennon cross in first-half stoppage time. The breakthrough arrived five minutes into the second half, with Soldado adroitly sending Speroni the wrong way from 12 yards after Dean Moxey blocked Lennon's cross with a flailing hand. Another of Spurs' new recruits, French midfielder Etienne Capoue, made his entrance as a 57th-minute substitute. Palace manager Ian Holloway threw on Jonathan Williams, new signing Marouane Chamakh and veteran striker Kevin Phillips, but Hugo Lloris saved from Damien Delaney and Kagisho Dikgacoi and the visitors survived. Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger apologized to the club's fans after a 3-1 loss at home to Aston Villa. — Agencies
