Manchester United Still On Top Premiere League

Mark Viduka scored in stoppage time to give Middlesbrough a 2-1 victory over defending English champion Chelsea, as Manchester United defeated Charlton 3-0 to top the Premiership standings.

Andrei Shevchenko's first league goal for Chelsea had given the Blues a first-half lead at the Riverside stadium. Emanuel Pogatetz tied the score with 10 minutes remaining before Australian striker Viduka claimed the winning goal. United has six points from two games compared with Chelsea's three.

Chelsea, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is eyeing a third straight Premiership title after adding the likes of Shevchenko, Michael Ballack and Salomon Kalou to its all-star squad. Middlesbrough is being coached by Gareth Southgate after Steve McClaren left to become England manager.

In other matches, Martin O'Neill got his first win as Aston Villa coach in a 2-1 victory over newly-promoted Reading, Blackburn drew 1-1 with Everton, Fulham tied Bolton 1-1, while Manchester City and Portsmouth played out a goalless draw.

Shevchenko, a 30 million pounds ($56.8 million) signing from AC Milan, converted a 16th minute cross from England international Wayne Bridge to give Chelsea the lead. Pogatetz scored a close- range header and Viduka came off the bench to make it 2-1.

United, which defeated Fulham 5-1 in the season's opening weekend, went into the game without Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, who were suspended after dismissals in a pre-season exhibition match.

Park Ji Sung missed a chance inside the penalty area before Ryan Giggs rattled a post with a free kick. Charlton goalkeeper Scott Carson tipped a curling Giggs effort around the post and Cristiano Ronaldo struck the crossbar just before half-time.

Three minutes after the break, Darren Fletcher gave United the lead with a right-foot shot past Carson. Louis Saha scored from 20 yards to double the lead before substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rounded off the win.

In Birmingham, Reading took the lead through a Kevin Doyle header after three minutes. Juan Pablo Angel leveled the score from the penalty spot after Luke Moore had been brought down by Ibrahima Sonko, who was dismissed for the foul. Gareth Barry scored the winner in the 61st minute.

At Ewood Park, Tim Cahill tied the scores in the 84th minute after Benni McCarthy had given Blackburn the lead on his home debut. El-Hadji Diouf put Bolton ahead at Fulham before Jimmy Bullard leveled from the penalty spot in stoppage time.