Premier League - United still alive after late win
Paul Scholes headed a dramatic late winner to settle the Manchester derby and keep Manchester United's title hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Eastlands.
The veteran, who signed a one-year extension to his contract on Friday, celebrated his new deal with a precise header in the third minute of injury time to break the deadlock in a game that seemed destined to finish goalless.
The result saw United close the gap at the top of the table to a single point, after leaders Chelsea slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the late kick-off.
For City, the late goal threatens to derail their bid for a first top-four finish for 32 years. Roberto Mancini's side are now two points behind Spurs after their win over Chelsea.
For 90 minutes, the game at a sunny Eastlands was a far cry from the 4-3 thriller in the corresponding fixture earlier this season, yet as with the Old Trafford clash, there was incredible late drama.
Back in September Michael Owen had settled the game with a late, late winner, and this time it was Scholes, picked alongside fellow veterans Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, who provided the decisive moment.
Alongside that experienced trio, Sir Alex Ferguson gave youth a chance as well with Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson picked to start.
Wayne Rooney also got the nod from the start, yet clearly he was still not 100 per cent fit and, ploughing a lone furrow up front against the excellent central defensive pairing of Kolo Toure and Vincent Kompany, he largely cut a frustrated figure before he was eventually replaced by Dimitar Berbatov with 15 minutes remaining.
It took the England striker 41 minutes to cause any kind of major concern in the City backline, and when he finally did, he fluffed his lines. Antonio Valencia, United's most dangerous player during the first half, headed to Rooney, whose change of direction opened up a shooting opportunity.
It was the kind of chance he has been scoring for fun recently, but his 35th goal of the season would have to wait as he dragged his effort wide.
Four minutes later a second golden opportunity fell United's way, with Valencia again the architect on the right flank. This time the Ecuadorian winger teased Wayne Bridge - back in the City side from injury - before finding the late-arriving Giggs in the middle, but the veteran's flick with the outside of his left boot was tame and Shay Given was able to collect.
It was an encouraging end to the first half for United, who had just about edged the opening 45 minutes having enjoyed more possession and managed to keep the attacking threat of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy and Adam Johnson largely at bay.
United had also started the half brightly, with Darren Fletcher sending an early volley just wide after just four minutes, and the visitors may have won a penalty 20 minutes later when Bridge leaned into Scholes's cross and the ball pinged off the upper part of his arm. It was a similar incident to the John Terry one in midweek but, as at Stamford Bridge, the referee chose to ignore it.
At the other end, Tevez registered the hosts best effort on target after nine minutes - an excellent free-kick that drew an equally impressive save from Edwin van der Sar - but otherwise United's keeper remained untroubled during the first half.
After the break, City signalled their intention not to finish the game without all three points when Bellamy broke down the left wing and cut inside to shoot, but the Welshman's effort hit the side netting, when a cross to Tevez seemed the wiser option.
Gareth Barry then burst into the United box on 74 minutes but his final touch was poor and when United broke to the other end seconds later and Giggs wasted the chance, the deadlock seemed unlikely to be broken.
That view was reinforced when Berbatov headed wide on 82 minutes before United somehow survived a goalmouth scramble four minutes later.
City staged a late rally in a bid to find a winner, but it was Scholes who provided one at the other end to send United fans wild and heap the pressure on Chelsea.
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Scholes hidupkan peluang United
MANCHESTER - Paul Scholes muncul wira apabila membantu Manchester United mencipta kemenangan 1-0 ke atas Manchester City pada aksi Liga Perdana England malam tadi. Scholes menanduk masuk gol kemenangan United pada masa kecederaan babak kedua selepas menyempurnakan hantaran lintang pemain pertahanan, Patrice Evra.
Kemenangan tersebut telah menghidupkan kembali peluang United dalam usaha memburu kejuaraan liga musim ini biarpun jika pendahulu, Chelsea mencatatkan kemenangan ke atas Tottenham Hotspur.
Pengurus United, Alex Ferguson berkata, jika skuad kendaliannya tewas pada aksi di Stadium City of Manchester, ia sekali gus memadam terus impian The Red Devils bagi merangkul trofi liga buat empat musim berturut-turut.
"Jika kami tewas perlawanan sebentar tadi (semalam), ia akan menutup pintu buat kami untuk bergelar juara liga.
"Kami sememangnya berhak untuk memenangi perlawanan ini tetapi saya tidak menjangkakan yang kami akan memperoleh gol ketika perlawanan hampir tamat.
"Percaturan saya yang mahukan Scholes lebih banyak membantu jentera serangan ternyata berbaloi dan saya berasakan dia adalah pemain terbaik dalam perlawanan ini," jelas Ferguson.
United dijadualkan berdepan dengan Tottenham Hotspur di Old Trafford Sabtu depan.
SCHOLES (dua dari kanan) meraikan jaringannya bersama tonggak pertahanan United, Gary Neville ketika menentang City malam tadi. United menang 1-0.
Sementara itu, kekalahan yang dialami City menyaksikan mereka terlepas peluang terbaik bagi menjarakkan kedudukan dengan Spurs yang turut bersaing mengakhiri saingan di tangga keempat, sekali gus menempah slot ke kempen Liga Juara-Juara musim depan. "Sudah pasti kami berasa sangat kecewa dengan kekalahan ini. Kami tidak patut tewas pada perlawanan ini.
"Kami akan menghadapi satu perlawanan penting (menentang Spurs di sini (Eastlands) pada 5 Mei depan dan kami perlu memenangi kesemua baki empat perlawanan," kata pengurus City, Roberto Mancini. - AFP
Status : married with two daughter