Eurosport - Sat, 30 Aug 19:53:00 2008
Amr Zaki netted a brace as Wigan Athletic thrashed Hull City 5-0 to claim their first Premier League win of the season at the KC Stadium.
Hull's fairytale start to Premier League life was emphatically crushed as Wigan pounced on some kamikaze defending.
Sam Ricketts sliced Kevin Kilbane's fifth-minute corner into his own net at the near post before Antonio Valencia burst clear of a wide-open Tigers defence to double the advantage just eight minutes later.
The impressive Zaki netted a third shortly after the hour mark while Emile Heskey pounced on Wayne Brown's woefully short backward header to make it four. There was still time for Zaki to grab his second before the close to inflict Hull's first top-flight defeat and send the visitors into the two-week international break in buoyant mood.
Hull boss Phil Brown opted to give Caleb Folan the nod up front ahead of Dean Windass with on-loan Wigan striker Marlon King ineligible to play against his parent club.
The only other change from the side which held Blackburn last weekend was the introduction of Brown in defence in place of Anthony Gardner. Chris Kirkland returned in goal for the visiting Latics as boss Steve Bruce also kept faith with the majority of the starting XI narrowly beaten by Chelsea.
Jason Koumas' ankle problem meant he was only worthy of a place on the bench as Kilbane stepped in.
Hull started at an upbeat pace amid an electric atmosphere at the KC Stadium.
Their grit and determination was mixed with a genuine attempt to play fluent football and that almost created the opening goal after just two minutes but Craig Fagan fired wide following good work from Geovanni.
Yet it was Wigan who took the lead in bizarre circumstances just minutes later.
Kilbane failed to get any height on his mis-hit corner and, in attempting to clear the danger at the near post, Tigers defender Ricketts slid and deflected the ball over a helpless Boaz Myhill and into an empty net.
The home fans were left stunned after 13 minutes as the Latics then doubled their advantage straight from a Hull corner.
Emmerson Boyce, who had almost put into his own net by giving away the set-piece, headed clear to Zaki and he flicked the ball on to Valencia near the halfway line.
The tricky forward man left a gaping Hull defence for dead before sprinting clean through to slot coolly under Myhill and hand Bruce a dream start.
Hull composed themselves as the half wore on and neat interplay in midfield set up both Geovanni and Folan but they failed to really test Kirkland.
A lack of conviction in the final third was preventing the hosts from gaining any immediate way back into the game, despite their promising approach play.
And with Wigan looking dangerous on the counter-attack, the home side could find no way to reduce the arrears before the interval.
Hull had previously come from behind in both of their opening two games of the season, and they started the second half determined to gain something from this encounter.
Michael Turner headed narrowly over just 60 seconds after the restart before Richard Garcia should have pulled one back, forcing a great parried stop from Kirkland from a promising position inside the area.
Windass was handed his 100th Premier League appearance after 55 minutes, but it was not long before the wind was well and truly taken from Hull's sails as Zaki netted Wigan's third.
A long cross-field ball found its way to Valencia by the touchline and he squared a ball past a static Tigers defence, who failed to react as the Egyptian took a touch and fired home his second Premier League goal of the campaign to date.
Comment 1 - 9 of 9
so far i think zaki iz the best player in the premiership so far
Hull just didn't have it today... hats off to the Latics, they played great.
very good win, wigan are becoming a good team now cant see any kind of religation battle this season, from what i seen on the extended highlights wigan are just as good as most of the established prem teams now, not a big fan if steve bruce because of other reasons but he is doing a good job up there.
It looks like Zaki was the piece that the club needed to complete the puzzles for a competitive team
great result and points on the board.
good work zaki
Wonderful!Wigan is stronger than ever!
this was about sheer quality from the wigan squad! people slag us off but weve got it were it counts!against westham and chelsea we were the better side and got nothing but today we showed the rest of the prem what we can do!!!
ohn that was unexpecced
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