Leeds, Aug 18: Leeds and Newcastle draw 2-2 in English Premier League. Two-goal Alan Shearer scored a late equaliser to give title aspirants Newcastle United a 2-2 draw at Leeds in their opening game of the premier league season on Sunday (August 17). Leeds had marginally the better of the opening exchanges. But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 21st minute when Alan Shearer beat Paul Robinson from the penalty spot after Kieron Dyer had been tripped by Lucas Radebe. Three minutes later Leeds were level when Senegalese Lamine Sakho, who is on loan from Marseille, set up Mark Viduka who hammered the ball past Shay Given. A terrible mistake from Oliver Bernard gifted Leeds a goal in the 57th minute. The French defender made a complete hash of his header and Alan Smith accepted the gift to put Leeds 2-1 up. Newcastle, who finished third in the Premiership last season, piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Leeds had to resort to some desperate defending as Radebe hooked Shearer's header away.


But two minutes from the end the South African defender failed get good contact on a cross and Shearer put the ball away.


P W D L F A Pts 1. Blackburn Rovers 1 1 0 0 5 1 3 2. Manchester United 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 3. Manchester City 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 4. Fulham 1 1 0 0 3 2 3 5. Arsenal 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 6. Chelsea 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 7. Portsmouth 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 8. Birmingham City 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 9. Leeds United 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 10. Leicester City 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 11. Newcastle United 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 12. Southampton 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 13. Middlesbrough 1 0 0 1 2 3 0 14. Aston Villa 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 15. Everton 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 16. Liverpool 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 17. Tottenham Hotspur 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 18. Charlton Athletic 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 19. Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 0 0 1 1 5 0 20. Bolton Wanderers 1 0 0 1 0 4 0


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