Chelsea, Man City open Premier League season with victories; Aston Villa loses 2-0

Chelsea, Man City win as Premier League starts

LONDON — The Premier League season opened Saturday, with Chelsea rallying past Hull 2-1 as it began its bid to reclaim the title. Manchester City beat Blackburn 2-0 after a summer of heavy spending.

Didier Drogba scored his second goal of the game in the 90th minute to lead Chelsea, which is trying to capture its first league crown since 2006 and end Manchester United’s record-equaling run of three straight titles.

Drogba’s winning goal came on an attempted cross that floated over goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and into the goal at the far post from a sharp angle.

“We were lucky to score, but the desire is always there,” the Ivory Coast striker said.

Manchester City, which has not captured any trophies since 1976, won behind goals by Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland. City has spent almost $166 million on new players since the end of last season, with Adebayor one of the acquisitions.

Aston Villa finished sixth last season but was jeered from the field by its fans after a 2-0 loss to visiting Wigan.

In other results, it was: Sunderland 1, Bolton 0; Fulham 1, Portsmouth 0; Stoke 2, Burnley 0; and West Ham 2, Wolverhampton 0.

Manchester United hosts Birmingham on Sunday, when last season’s runner-up Liverpool is at Tottenham.