sport

SCOLARI STARTS WITH A WIN

Deco in action during his Chelsea debut.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea reign began with a comfortable 4-0 win over Guangzhou Pharmaceutical as Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored to secure their victory over the Chinese Super League side.

The Blues dominated the opener of their five-game pre-season tour of Asia and Russia at Guangzhou Olympic Stadium, with the only concern for Scolari seeing summer signing Jose Bosingwa substituted after 20 minutes with a slight thigh injury after a brief but impressive debut at right-back.

Scolari fielded a strong side from the start, with Deco making his debut in midfield alongside Lampard, who played the entire game, with Joe Cole and Andriy Shevchenko not included in the squad due to minor injuries.

New signings Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil could not prevent Fulham from losing 1-0 to Busan L'Park in the club's first game of their pre-season tour to South Korea.

Busan, currently at the foot of the Korean K-League, took the lead 12 minutes into the second-half courtesy of Choi Ki Suk's deflected shot.

Scott Carson and Marek Cech enjoyed memorable debuts for West Brom in their 1-1 pre-season friendly draw away to Cheltenham.

Slovakia international Cech, signed for £1.4million from Porto, fired Tony Mowbray's side ahead in the 20th minute to cap an impressive 45-minute outing.

The Premier League newcomers missed a number of good chances and were punished when the Robins levelled 11 minutes from time as David Bird's superb free-kick found the back of the net.

Burnley rounded off their pre-season tour of Scotland with a 3-1 win at St Johnstone, with Martin Paterson, Ade Akinbiyi and Alex MacDonald on target.

Dexter Blackstock's first-half header was enough to clinch Queens Park Rangers a 1-0 victory at League One side Northampton Town.

Ashley Young's brother Lewis was on target as a youthful Watford side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Wealdstone.

Derby were held to a 1-1 draw at Oldham as the hosts' Chris O'Grady cancelled out Emanuel Villa's early goal for the Rams.

Dean Sinclair swept home the only goal of the night as Charlton posted a 1-0 victory at non-league Dover.

Tommy Miller's second-half penalty secured Ipswich a 1-1 draw at Gillingham, who had taken a first-half lead through Simeon Jackson.

Nick Wood notched a last-minute equaliser as an inexperienced Sheffield Wednesday side were held 1-1 at Stocksbridge.

Matt Thornhill, Garath McCleary, Adam Newbold and Emile Sinclair scored as Nottingham Forest won 4-1 at Telford.

Johannes Ertl netted his first goal for Crystal Palace in a 4-1 win over Bodmin Town. Carl Fletcher also scored before James Dayton poached a brace late on.

Leeds' trip to Ireland finished with a 1-1 draw against Shelbourne - captain for the night Paul Huntington scored the Whites' goal as trialist Luciano Becchio started up front.

Brighton included several trialists in their 3-1 win at Stanstead as Joe Gatting scored twice and Andy Pearson also found the net, while Adam Boyd scored twice as Leyton Orient came from behind to beat Dagenham 4-1.

Barry Conlon's goal after just four minutes gave Bradford a 1-0 triumph at Dundee, while Luke Medley's penalty was all Barnet had to show in their 3-1 defeat at Northwood.

Dundee United began life without Noel Hunt by beating Arbroath 2-0 in their latest pre-season test.

The Tannadice club sold Hunt to Reading earlier on Wednesday, and a United XI won at Arbroath thanks to goals in the first half from Garry Kenneth and Marco Andreoni.

Motherwell were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves at Fir Park, despite making a dream start.

New Scotland cap David Clarkson fed Steven McGarry, who fired home a third-minute goal for the hosts. However, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake equalised in the 20th minute for Well manager Mark McGhee's former club.

Both teams had the ball in the net again, but offside flags denied Chris Porter and Stephen Ward.

An under-strength Falkirk XI lost 2-1 to Berwick, with John Stewart on target for the SPL club.

St Mirren were comfortable 3-1 winners against Stirling Albion, however, with striker Jim Hamilton on target twice in the first half.

Midfielder Andy Dorman continued his fine scoring form from last season with St Mirren's third goal late in the game, after Steven Waddell had halved Stirling's arrears.