United goes 15 clear as Rooney finds net
Source: AFP |
March 18, 2013, Monday
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MANCHESTER United capitalized on a slip-up by Manchester City to open up a massive 15-point lead at the English Premier League summit despite a labored display in a 1-0 win at home to Reading on Saturday.
City's defeat at 10-man Everton handed United a chance to further increase its lead and it grasped the opportunity through a solitary first-half goal from Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford.
Rio Ferdinand celebrated his recall to the England squad by creating the goal in the 21st minute, boldly striding forward before slipping the ball to Rooney, who beat Stuart Taylor with a deflected shot.
In response, Hal Robson-Kanu grazed the post with a crisp 20-yard strike for second-bottom Reading, which sacked manager Brian McDermott on Monday.
Taylor saved from Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs in a quiet second half, but although United was well below-par, its 20th English league title now seems only a matter of time.
"We don't do it (play badly and win) that often," United manager Alex Ferguson told ESPN.
"Most of the time we've played well this season. The performance today doesn't reflect the 15 points ahead we are - it's the previous six months, really."
Everton all but ended City's title defense earlier in the day with a gritty 2-0 win over the defending champion at Goodison Park.
Victory temporarily lifted Everton into fifth place, but it slipped back to sixth after Arsenal won 2-0 at Swansea City to move to within two points of fourth-place Chelsea.
January signing Nacho Monreal and Gervinho struck late in the game at the Liberty Stadium as Arsene Wenger's side responded in positive fashion to its mid-week elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, Liverpool lost ground in the race for European qualification after losing 1-3 at Southampton.
Queens Park Rangers were left seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table after losing 2-3 to relegation rival Aston Villa in a thrilling encounter at Villa Park.
Also, Stoke City drew goalless with West Bromwich Albion.
City's defeat at 10-man Everton handed United a chance to further increase its lead and it grasped the opportunity through a solitary first-half goal from Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford.
Rio Ferdinand celebrated his recall to the England squad by creating the goal in the 21st minute, boldly striding forward before slipping the ball to Rooney, who beat Stuart Taylor with a deflected shot.
In response, Hal Robson-Kanu grazed the post with a crisp 20-yard strike for second-bottom Reading, which sacked manager Brian McDermott on Monday.
Taylor saved from Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs in a quiet second half, but although United was well below-par, its 20th English league title now seems only a matter of time.
"We don't do it (play badly and win) that often," United manager Alex Ferguson told ESPN.
"Most of the time we've played well this season. The performance today doesn't reflect the 15 points ahead we are - it's the previous six months, really."
Everton all but ended City's title defense earlier in the day with a gritty 2-0 win over the defending champion at Goodison Park.
Victory temporarily lifted Everton into fifth place, but it slipped back to sixth after Arsenal won 2-0 at Swansea City to move to within two points of fourth-place Chelsea.
January signing Nacho Monreal and Gervinho struck late in the game at the Liberty Stadium as Arsene Wenger's side responded in positive fashion to its mid-week elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, Liverpool lost ground in the race for European qualification after losing 1-3 at Southampton.
Queens Park Rangers were left seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table after losing 2-3 to relegation rival Aston Villa in a thrilling encounter at Villa Park.
Also, Stoke City drew goalless with West Bromwich Albion.
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