updated Saturday, 25 April 2009
By Mark Ashenden
A controversial penalty and sensational second-half fightback helped Manchester United beat Tottenham and retain their grip on top spot in the Premier League.
Darren Bent smashed home from close range and Luka Modric converted Aaron Lennon's cross as Spurs dominated.
But then Ronaldo scored from the spot after Heurelho Gomes was harshly ruled to have felled Michael Carrick.
Wayne Rooney quickly equalised before further goals for Ronaldo, Rooney and a Dimitar Berbatov secured the victory.
With Liverpool top of the table following their 3-1 win at Hull, United, who chose to leave Ryan Giggs out of their squad, created precious little early on.
Instead it was Spurs, hunting their first win at Old Trafford for 20 years, who had the first real sight of goal.
With striker Jermain Defoe back in London following the death of his half-brother, Bent led the frontline and should have done better with a header at the back post.
Ronaldo, who had been forced to skip a shocking double-footed challenge from Wilson Palacios early on, went close with a header from a Nani cross.
But, for all United's possession, it was Spurs who took the lead.
Vedran Corluka curled in a cross from the right and Bent got the better of Rio Ferdinand to crash home his 17th goal of the season from the six-yard line.
Just two minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead, Modric converting Aaron Lennon's cross at the far post after the winger had jinked his way past Patrice Evra on the right.
With half-time looming and the Old Trafford faithful sounding increasingly anxious, a Ronaldo volley came within a Gomes fingertip of pulling a goal back.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson replaced the lacklustre Nani with the far more industrious Carlos Tevez at the break.
And the Argentine, who could leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, tested Gomes when one-on-one inside the hour.
Two minutes later, Carrick burst into the box and nipped the ball around Gomes, who was ruled to have felled the midfielder as he dived at the ball.
The Tottenham players were incensed with Howard Webb's decision, as was Spurs manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline.
But they were powerless to stop Ronaldo from reducing the deficit from the penalty spot.
If there was any doubt about the first goal there was none about the equaliser.
Rooney blasted home from outside the box after Rafael and Berbatov had combined to set up the striker.
Just one minute later, United were in front, Rooney crossing from the left for Ronaldo to head home their third.
It was a phenomenal turnaround, although not quite as grand as the recovery in 2001 at White Hart Lane when United won 5-3 after trailing 3-0 at half-time.
The misery continued for the shell-shocked visitors.
Rooney made it 4-2 when his volley from Ronaldo's delicate cross crept over the line despite the scrambled efforts of Jonathan Woodgate.
Having scored four goals in just 14 minutes, United, perhaps sensing an urgent need to improve their goal difference, poured forward in search of a fifth.
Remarkably it arrived, courtesy of the boot of former Tottenham player Berbatov.
His initial header was saved by Gomes, but the Bulgarian stabbed home the loose ball to cap a remarkable afternoon.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on the penalty:
"It was a bit fortunate. Football is funny like that. Last week we were knocked out of the FA Cup by not getting a penalty kick.
"It doesn't deflect from our second-half performance."
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp:
"The turning point was definitely the penalty. It turned the game in their favour without a doubt.
"At that stage I couldn't see us getting beat. It was a gift which wasn't deserved. It was a terrible decision. Howard (Webb) is supposed to be our best ref, but if he's the best I'd hate to see the worst."
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva (O'Shea 70), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher (Scholes 61), Nani (Tevez 46), Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Anderson, Evans, Macheda.
Booked: Tevez, Scholes, Ronaldo.
Goals: Ronaldo 57 pen, Rooney 67, Ronaldo 68, Rooney 71, Berbatov 79.
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Jenas, Modric (Bale 86), Keane (Huddlestone 87), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Hutton, Zokora, Bentley, Chimbonda.
Booked: Woodgate, Jenas, Gomes.
Goals: Bent 29, Modric 32.
Att: 75,458
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Man United's Wayne Rooney (8.52 on 90 minutes).
Source: BBC Sport
Looks like MU is still leading the pack, and MU's fate is in their hands.
Eventhough Liverpool won tonight ( in a game played earlier) I think the "mountains" suddenly rose higher ..... personally, I dont think L'pool can scale it.
But, let us wait until the Season comes to an end to really shout at the top of our lungs, "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!"
Bear with me, folks.
Cheerio.
SD
No comments:
Post a Comment