Cardiff stun Man City, Spurs make it straight double

Two goals from Fraizer Campbell gave promoted Cardiff City a memorable 3-2 win on Sunday and left Manchester City nursing a first defeat of the Premier League season.

Although Edin Dzeko gave the visitors the lead with a rising strike from 25 yards, it was a day for the Bluebirds and their disbelieving fans, thanks to Aron Gunnarsson’s equaliser and Campbell’s late brace.

It was the worst possible start for City on their travels, but a dream opening for Cardiff in front of a crowd of more than 27,000.

In London, Roberto Soldado showed Tottenham Hotspur can thrive without Gareth Bale as the Spaniard’s penalty secured a 1-0 victory over Swansea City on Sunday.

Former Valencia striker Soldado, whose spot-kick heroics also gave Spurs an opening-day victory at Crystal Palace, took his tally to four goals in three games for his new club with a calmly converted second-half penalty at White Hart Lane after Andros Townsend had been fouled by Jonjo Shelvey.

With Wales winger Bale expected to join Real Madrid for a world record fee of around £85 million ($132.4m, 99 million euros) next week, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas can now turn his attention to strengthening his squad knowing his side have made an impressive beginning to the season.

Tottenham’s 100 percent start to the Premier League campaign also provided some consolation for Villas-Boas after being beaten to the signature of Brazilian playmaker Willian by Chelsea earlier in the day.

Villas-Boas is likely to continue spending after an already busy summer and has been linked with a £40 million move for Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk while also reportedly being interested in Steaua Bucharest defender Vlad Chiriches.

For Swansea manager Michael Laudrup, there was more frustration after his side’s second successive league defeat.

Bale is currently relaxing in Spain as Spurs and Madrid put the finishing touches to their transfer negotiations, but there was little sign his team are missing him at the moment.

Cardiff had worked tirelessly to close City down, withdrawing all 10 outfield players behind the ball whenever the visitors crossed the half-way line.

Dzeko had one tame header comfortably saved by David Marshall after 30 minutes, but other than that, Cardiff rarely allowed the visitors an inch of space.

David Silva’s shot from distance, five minutes later, was their only attempt on target of the first half, but once again Marshall was well placed.

Four minutes before half-time, Campbell spurned a good opportunity to break the deadlock, with City goalkeeper Joe Hart rushing from his line to save following a poor back-header from Garcia.

Manchester City began the second half with greater purpose and in the 52nd minute, Dzeko produced a shot of supreme quality to break the deadlock.

Sergio Aguero cleverly flicked Yaya Toure’s pass into his path and Dzeko unleashed an unstoppable drive from outside the box.

Pellegrini introduced Samir Nasri shortly after Dzeko’s opener and, buoyed by the goal, City stepped on the gas and began to ask searching questions of last season’s Championship winners.

However, within eight minutes of falling behind, Cardiff were level.

Kim Bo-Kyung escaped down the right flank and crossed for Campbell, and although his shot was blocked at the near post by Hart, Gunnarsson followed up and beat the England goalkeeper from five yards.

City’s close-season signing Alvaro Negredo was sent on for the final 22 minutes of the game, with Dzeko giving way.

The home side continued to live dangerously by inviting City to attack them, with Silva shooting over and Steven Caulker blocking from Nasri, but it was Cardiff who struck next.

Hart failed to claim Whittingham’s in-swinging right-wing corner and Campbell charged in to head home from barely two yards.

Three minutes from time, the same formula produced the same result, with Campbell heading past Hart from a Don Cowie corner, and although Negredo bagged a stoppage-time header, it was too little, too late.