Giggs spot on as United soars
Source: Agencies |
April 25, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
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MANCHESTER United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 yesterday to blast two points clear of Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League.
Chelsea was playing Stoke City today in a game the west Londoners must win to regain the initiative. United, which has two games left to play, is on 79 points to Chelsea's 77 with Arsenal third on 71.
After a goalless first half, with United striker Wayne Rooney absent due to a groin injury, the host romped home thanks to two Ryan Giggs penalties and a goal from Portuguese winger Nani.
The deadlock was broken in the 59th minute when Patrice Evra was downed in the box.
Evergreen captain Giggs, 36, stepped up to slot home coolly and the Red Devils were on their way.
Spurs hauled themselves back into the match with a 70th-minute header from Ledley King that threatened to derail United's hopes of a fourth successive title but their relief was short-lived.
Nani made it 2-1 in the 81st and then created the 87th-minute penalty for Giggs to seal the win.
Tottenham still occupies fourth spot, but big-spending Manchester City would move into the last Champions League place by winning at Arsenal later in the day.
Rooney could miss the final two games of United's season, manager Alex Ferguson said.
Ferguson said Rooney, a talismanic figure for England as it prepares for the World Cup starting in South Africa in June, had picked up the injury on Thursday, adding he could not say when he might return.
"It's difficult to say, groin injuries are groin injuries and I think it probably will maybe take two to three weeks to be honest," he told Sky Sports.
Asked whether he would play again this season, the Scot added: "We'll try. Obviously we'll give him every chance and Wayne will be desperate to play himself. But we'll just have to wait and see."
United had much to fear from Spurs, who may not have won at Old Trafford since 1989 but had beaten top-four rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in winning seven of their last eight league matches.
In the absence of Rooney, the onus was placed on record United signing Dimitar Berbatov to provide goals. But although he missed several chances against the team he left in 2008 for 30.75 million pounds (then US$55 million), the Bulgarian's backheel was instrumental in the first penalty.
It took United almost 30 minutes to threaten to score - Berbatov's shot being blocked by King after he had seized on Gareth Bale's mis-hit clearance from Nani's cross.
As United continued to press, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made his first save, denying Antonio Valencia's low shot. Evra and Berbatov both volleyed over shortly afterward.
Spurs were struggling to threaten despite a bright opening period when they confidently strung together passes on the slippery surface. Their best first-half scoring chances were Roman Pavlyuchenko shooting straight at goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Bale sending a free kick over.
Chelsea was playing Stoke City today in a game the west Londoners must win to regain the initiative. United, which has two games left to play, is on 79 points to Chelsea's 77 with Arsenal third on 71.
After a goalless first half, with United striker Wayne Rooney absent due to a groin injury, the host romped home thanks to two Ryan Giggs penalties and a goal from Portuguese winger Nani.
The deadlock was broken in the 59th minute when Patrice Evra was downed in the box.
Evergreen captain Giggs, 36, stepped up to slot home coolly and the Red Devils were on their way.
Spurs hauled themselves back into the match with a 70th-minute header from Ledley King that threatened to derail United's hopes of a fourth successive title but their relief was short-lived.
Nani made it 2-1 in the 81st and then created the 87th-minute penalty for Giggs to seal the win.
Tottenham still occupies fourth spot, but big-spending Manchester City would move into the last Champions League place by winning at Arsenal later in the day.
Rooney could miss the final two games of United's season, manager Alex Ferguson said.
Ferguson said Rooney, a talismanic figure for England as it prepares for the World Cup starting in South Africa in June, had picked up the injury on Thursday, adding he could not say when he might return.
"It's difficult to say, groin injuries are groin injuries and I think it probably will maybe take two to three weeks to be honest," he told Sky Sports.
Asked whether he would play again this season, the Scot added: "We'll try. Obviously we'll give him every chance and Wayne will be desperate to play himself. But we'll just have to wait and see."
United had much to fear from Spurs, who may not have won at Old Trafford since 1989 but had beaten top-four rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in winning seven of their last eight league matches.
In the absence of Rooney, the onus was placed on record United signing Dimitar Berbatov to provide goals. But although he missed several chances against the team he left in 2008 for 30.75 million pounds (then US$55 million), the Bulgarian's backheel was instrumental in the first penalty.
It took United almost 30 minutes to threaten to score - Berbatov's shot being blocked by King after he had seized on Gareth Bale's mis-hit clearance from Nani's cross.
As United continued to press, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made his first save, denying Antonio Valencia's low shot. Evra and Berbatov both volleyed over shortly afterward.
Spurs were struggling to threaten despite a bright opening period when they confidently strung together passes on the slippery surface. Their best first-half scoring chances were Roman Pavlyuchenko shooting straight at goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Bale sending a free kick over.
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