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Rooney, Nani power United
Source: Agencies |
December 12, 2011, Monday
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WAYNE Rooney and Nani ended lengthy scoring droughts with two goals each as Manchester United finished a bad week on an upbeat note with a 4-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday that took it to within two points of English Premier League leader Manchester City.
Having gone out of the Champions League following a meek defeat at Basel last Wednesday, United used Nani's first club goals in 14 games and Rooney's first in nine league games to restore some pride.
A superb volley by red-hot Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a 1-0 home win over Everton, while Liverpool beat Queens Park Rangers by the same score at Anfield courtesy of a Luis Suarez goal.
Early season pacesetter Newcastle United lost 2-4 at Norwich City, while Aston Villa won 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers, Swansea City beat Fulham 2-0 and Wigan Athletic climbed off the bottom with a 2-1 success at West Bromwich Albion.
From the opening exchanges at Old Trafford, United looked determined to shake off the baggage of its European reverse and the previous week's League Cup exit, and Wolves could do little to stop it.
Nani cut in from the left to fire in the opener after 17 minutes and Rooney advanced into the box before delivering a similarly emphatic finish 10 minutes later.
Wolves, who shocked United with a 2-1 win at Molineux in February, briefly got back into it with a Steven Fletcher header two minutes after the restart, but United roared back as Antonio Valencia set up Nani and Rooney for their second goals after 56 and 62 minutes.
It was the first time United had scored more than one goal in a league game in eight attempts since it beat Norwich City 2-0 on October 1.
"I was pleased with the attacking part, which was very, very good, though we also had to defend well as they kept crossing the ball into our box," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News.
The victory took United to 36 points, two behind City, which visits Chelsea today. Tottenham Hotspur, which was at Stoke City yesterday, is third on 31 with Arsenal up to fourth on 29, one ahead of Chelsea.
Newcastle's flying start to the season is starting to seem a distant memory for its fans after it was well beaten at Norwich having picked up only one point in its preceding three games - albeit against Chelsea, United and City.
Two goals for Grant Holt and one each for Wesley Hoolahan and Steve Morison had Norwich celebrating, while Newcastle replied with two by Demba Ba either side of a red card for Dan Gosling after 65 minutes.
Arsenal had most of the ball against Everton without creating much danger but it broke through in spectacular fashion in the 70th, when Alex Song floated a long ball to the far post, where van Persie crashed in a volley for his 19th goal of the season.
At Anfield, Liverpool missed several chances and was kept at bay by QPR 'keeper Radek Cerny before Suarez headed the winner two minutes into the second half from a cross by Charlie Adam. It ended a run of four successive home draws for Kenny Dalglish's side.
Having gone out of the Champions League following a meek defeat at Basel last Wednesday, United used Nani's first club goals in 14 games and Rooney's first in nine league games to restore some pride.
A superb volley by red-hot Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a 1-0 home win over Everton, while Liverpool beat Queens Park Rangers by the same score at Anfield courtesy of a Luis Suarez goal.
Early season pacesetter Newcastle United lost 2-4 at Norwich City, while Aston Villa won 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers, Swansea City beat Fulham 2-0 and Wigan Athletic climbed off the bottom with a 2-1 success at West Bromwich Albion.
From the opening exchanges at Old Trafford, United looked determined to shake off the baggage of its European reverse and the previous week's League Cup exit, and Wolves could do little to stop it.
Nani cut in from the left to fire in the opener after 17 minutes and Rooney advanced into the box before delivering a similarly emphatic finish 10 minutes later.
Wolves, who shocked United with a 2-1 win at Molineux in February, briefly got back into it with a Steven Fletcher header two minutes after the restart, but United roared back as Antonio Valencia set up Nani and Rooney for their second goals after 56 and 62 minutes.
It was the first time United had scored more than one goal in a league game in eight attempts since it beat Norwich City 2-0 on October 1.
"I was pleased with the attacking part, which was very, very good, though we also had to defend well as they kept crossing the ball into our box," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News.
The victory took United to 36 points, two behind City, which visits Chelsea today. Tottenham Hotspur, which was at Stoke City yesterday, is third on 31 with Arsenal up to fourth on 29, one ahead of Chelsea.
Newcastle's flying start to the season is starting to seem a distant memory for its fans after it was well beaten at Norwich having picked up only one point in its preceding three games - albeit against Chelsea, United and City.
Two goals for Grant Holt and one each for Wesley Hoolahan and Steve Morison had Norwich celebrating, while Newcastle replied with two by Demba Ba either side of a red card for Dan Gosling after 65 minutes.
Arsenal had most of the ball against Everton without creating much danger but it broke through in spectacular fashion in the 70th, when Alex Song floated a long ball to the far post, where van Persie crashed in a volley for his 19th goal of the season.
At Anfield, Liverpool missed several chances and was kept at bay by QPR 'keeper Radek Cerny before Suarez headed the winner two minutes into the second half from a cross by Charlie Adam. It ended a run of four successive home draws for Kenny Dalglish's side.
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