Rooney to the rescue as United rallies for a point
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MANCHESTER United's comeback at Chelsea was not just a point saved but a point made to Manchester City that the champion has the spirit to scrap until the last second of the title race.
An own goal by Jonny Evans, a scorching Juan Mata volley and David Luiz's header six minutes into the second half put Chelsea in complete control at home but Rooney twice scored from the spot and substitute Javier Hernandez headed the equalizer seven minutes from time to earn the champion a point.
On paper it was a weekend where City broke two points clear at the top after a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham while its main rival lost ground, but beneath the surface there was a more significant message. "That point could win us the Premier League," Rooney said.
At Blackpool last season it came from two goals down to win 3-2, a result manager Alex Ferguson said had a "big impact" on the title, while the 2009 crown owed much to a 1-0 win at Stoke City eked out by players suffering from jet lag.
If City is in any way worried about United's knack of fighting back, though, it will take comfort from the fact its neighbor is still showing frailties at the back when Roberto Mancini's men can boast the best defense in the league. City has conceded just 19 goals in 24 games while it has also scored four more than Ferguson's men to give City a goal difference advantage of nine, which could prove as significant at the end of the season as United's draw at Chelsea.
Another major positive for City is the fixture list which throws up just one match against a team in the top half of the table between now and March 19.
An own goal by Jonny Evans, a scorching Juan Mata volley and David Luiz's header six minutes into the second half put Chelsea in complete control at home but Rooney twice scored from the spot and substitute Javier Hernandez headed the equalizer seven minutes from time to earn the champion a point.
On paper it was a weekend where City broke two points clear at the top after a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham while its main rival lost ground, but beneath the surface there was a more significant message. "That point could win us the Premier League," Rooney said.
At Blackpool last season it came from two goals down to win 3-2, a result manager Alex Ferguson said had a "big impact" on the title, while the 2009 crown owed much to a 1-0 win at Stoke City eked out by players suffering from jet lag.
If City is in any way worried about United's knack of fighting back, though, it will take comfort from the fact its neighbor is still showing frailties at the back when Roberto Mancini's men can boast the best defense in the league. City has conceded just 19 goals in 24 games while it has also scored four more than Ferguson's men to give City a goal difference advantage of nine, which could prove as significant at the end of the season as United's draw at Chelsea.
Another major positive for City is the fixture list which throws up just one match against a team in the top half of the table between now and March 19.
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