Brawl mars Rangers win

Celtic strolls to 5-0 victory over Dundee United

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- Defending champion Rangers gained a 3-2 victory at Aberdeen on Sunday in a bad-tempered game marred by brawling players and a home fan arrested for trying to kick Fernando Ricksen.

Big rival Celtic, meanwhile, had a trouble-free 5-0 victory over Dundee United for its first victory of the campaign.

At Pittodrie, Rangers hit back after conceding a 24th minute goal by Australian international David Zdrilic. Dutch forward Ronald de Boer leveled and Spanish star Mikel Arteta put the champion ahead just before the interval.

But the first half ended with a brawl after a foul on Rangers defender Christian Nerlinger. Phil McGuire and Michael Ball swapped punches and players from both teams joined in.

The game was held up briefly in the second half when a Dons fan ran onto the field and aimed a kick at Ricksen, police and security staff jumping on the spectator and hauling him away.

Michael Mols put Rangers further ahead in the 58th minute and Aberdeen was already staring at defeat by the time Eric Deloumeaux added a second in the final seconds.

Celtic, which surrendered its title on goal difference last season, cruised to victory at Parkhead.

Having been surprisingly held 0-0 by Dunfermline last week, Martin O'Neill's team outplayed United with five different players hitting the target.

Shaun Maloney and Didier Agathe scored in the first 27 minutes before Alan Thompson added a third just on half time. Jackie McNamara netted the fourth in the 67th minute and Henrik Larsson lobbed 'keeper Paul Gallacher seven minutes from the end.

The two matches kicked off three hours ahead of the rest of the program. Kilmarnock edged Partick 2-1 and Livingston downed Motherwell 1-0. On Sunday, Dundee hosts Dunfermline and Hibernian welcomes Hearts in the Edinburgh derby.

 

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