Mallorca off to a dream start agains Arsenal

A 12th-minute penalty from Vicente Engonga earned Real Mallorca a 1-0 win over 10-man Arsenal and gave the local side a dream start in their debut Champions League campaign last night. The 35-year-old midfielder scored with a neat chipped penalty after Ashley Cole had brought down Alberto Luque in the box to take a surprise win over the group C favourites. The England defender was sent off for his action, becoming the third Arsenal player to be sent off in just five matches this season. Mallorca made the most of their numerical advantage with the outstanding Luque and Alejandro Campano proving a continual menace to the depleted Arsenal defence. Arsenal's forwards had to live off scraps for most of the match and the closest they came to troubling the Mallorca defence were desperate attacks at the end of each half with substitute Francis Jeffers missing the best chances just before the final whistle. 23 '000 fans packed Son Moix and very few Arsenal fans made the trip to Palma for the match. Watching the game was Arsenal Chairman David Dein accompanied by the England manager Sven Goran Eriksson keeping an eye on his international stars although he would not have been too impressed with Ashley Cole's antics. Arsene Wenger looked as tense as he did on arrival at Palma airport and he not only faces the decision about signing a new contract with the club, but also which titles Arsenal seriously intends to play for this season. In the other Group C match Schalke 04 conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes to lose 2-0 at home to Greek side Panathinaikos in a poor Champions League debut. The Gelsenkirchen club, who won the UEFA Cup in 1997, went 1-0 down in their opening group C match when substitute Goran Vlaovic scored from a free-kick from the edge of the area for the visitors in the 75th minute. Midfielder Angelos Bassinas converted a Michalis Konstantinou cross after a swift counter-attack five minutes later to complete an unexpected but deserved win for the Athens side. Panathinaikos, who moved past the qualifying round for their second successive Champions League campaign, looked competitive despite the fact that the Greek league has not started yet while Schalke showed very little to cheer their fans before collapsing. Arsenal host Schalke 04 on September 19 and Real Mallorca travel to Athens to play Group C leaders Panathinaikos.