August 2006 in Sports - 19 August 2006 (Saturday)

19 August 2006 (Saturday)

• Football: 2006–07 FA Premier League Opening Games.
  • Sheffield United 1–1 Liverpool: Rob Hulse scores the first goal of the 2006–07 season, but the defending FA Cup holders force a draw in the Blades' first Premiership match in 12 years.
  • Arsenal 1–1 Aston Villa: Gilberto's 83rd minute goal saves the Gunners from losing their Premier League debut of Emirates Stadium.
  • Everton 2–1 Watford: The Hornets lose their first Premiership match in five seasons.
  • Newcastle United 2–1 Wigan Athletic
  • Portsmouth 3–0 Blackburn Rovers
  • Reading 3–2 Middlesbrough: The Royals come back from a 2–0 deficit early and win their maiden Premiership match at home over the UEFA Cup runners-up. Dave Kitson scores the first Premiership goal for Reading.
  • West Ham United 3–1 Charlton Athletic
  • Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur
• Rugby union: 2006 Tri Nations Series (Round 6); Bledisloe Cup (Match 3):
  • New Zealand 34–27 Australia
    • The All Blacks go down 20–11 at halftime to the Wallabies at Auckland's Eden Park, but storm back to win. With the win, the All Blacks clinch the 2006 Tri Nations with the South Africa leg remaining (3 more rounds), and also retain the Bledisloe Cup. The win was the All Blacks' 21st in a row undefeated at home. Both sides scored three tries apiece. Before the match, a moment of silence for recently passed Māori Queen, Te Atairangikaahu, was held. (BBC) (Sportal) (New Zealand Herald)
• Major League Baseball: The night game of a day/night doubleheader between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox breaks the Major League Baseball record for the longest 9-inning game, a 14–11 Yankee win lasting 4 hours and 45 minutes. The previous record was 4 hours and 27 minutes, an October 5, 2001 contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The day game, a 12–4 Yankee victory, was not a short one either at 3 hours and 55 minutes. (AP/Yahoo!)