(Man Utd need one point to claim a third successive Premier League title after Michael Carrick's late stunner gives Sir Alex Ferguson's side a 2-1 win at Wigan.)
Wigan 1-2 Man Utd
By Phil McNulty
Michael Carrick's late winner moved Manchester United to within a point of a third successive Premier League title with a battling victory at Wigan.
Hugo Rodallega brushed off Nemanja Vidic to give Wigan a shock lead after 28 minutes.
Substitute Carlos Tevez's outrageous flick diverted in Carrick's shot to level for United after 61 minutes.
And Carrick sealed a crucial win to put United on the brink of glory with a 20-yard finish four minutes from time.
United struggled in the face of Wigan's resilient challenge - but Sir Alex Ferguson's celebrations after Carrick's winner emphasised the importance of these three points and how close his side now are to drawing level with Liverpool's record tally of 18 titles.
Wigan counterpart Steve Bruce can be proud of his team's efforts, and United's closest rivals Liverpool can also have no complaints as they attempted to throw the title race open.
Ferguson restored Wayne Rooney in attack with Tevez - whose Old Trafford future is the subject of fevered debate - dropping down to the bench.
Wigan were forced to make a change in goal, with Richard Kingson coming in for Chris Kirkland, who failed to recover from the back injury that forced him off at West Brom on Saturday.
Latics' boss Bruce insisted his side would make every endeavour to stall United's title bandwagon and they made their intentions clear as early as the second minute when Valencia burst clear of Vidic but shot wide.
United soon posed a threat of their own when Dimitar Berbatov slipped away from Titus Bramble, but Rooney directed his header wildly off target from point-blank range.
Carrick then stole in on Cristiano Ronaldo's cross, only to lift a close-range effort over the top.
United were holding sway in possession, but Wigan's attackers were energetic and they were rewarded when Rodallega put them ahead after 28 minutes, out-muscling Vidic before recovering his composure to shoot low past Edwin van der Sar at the near post.
Rooney wasted another opportunity to level for United two minutes before the break when Ronaldo created an opening, as he side-footed over the top from eight yards.
But Wigan delivered another warning to the title favourites in first-half stoppage time when Rodellega shot wide after some slick approach play from Valencia and Lee Cattermole.
United struggled to make an impact after the break, and it was no surprise when Ferguson made a change after 57 minutes, sending on Tevez for Anderson.
And within four minutes the Argentine had put United level with a finish of instinctive brilliance, although there was also a sprinkling of good fortune in the creation of the goal.
Carrick's shot was flying off target, but Tevez turned it to his advantage with a stunning flick that completely wrong-footed Kingson.
United then had penalty appeals rejected when Ronaldo tumbled under challenge from Maynor Figueroa, but referee Rob Styles waved away their appeals.
Wigan, predictably, were placed under constant pressure in the closing stages and finally cracked with four minutes remaining. John O'Shea set up Carrick on the edge of the area and he flashed a rising left-foot drive high past Kingson.
United now just need a draw from the home game against Arsenal on Saturday or the trip to Hull City on the last day of the season to complete the formalities of another title triumph.
Source: BBC Sport
Peaking at the right moment. Just 1 point left before the grand celebrations as "The English Premier League Champions" for the 18th times.
ReplyDeleteWow! Its mesmerizing, truly astounding record by today's standards.