United close in on league title

LONDON – Manchester United moved to within touching distance of the Premiership title after Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty clinched a 1-0 win at Manchester City on Saturday.

United were eight points clear of second placed Chelsea which was due to meet Arsenal late yesterday. Ronaldo’s spot-kick and a late penalty save from Edwin van der Sar gave United the win over their local rivals at Eastlands.The league leaders went in front in the 34th minute with a goal that was especially sweet for Ronaldo.Michael Ball had been guilty of a vicious stamp on Ronaldo early in the first half, but the Portugal winger was quick to exact revenge as he drew the left-back into a rash lunge that earned a penalty.Ronaldo picked himself up to send Andreas Isaksson the wrong way from the spot for his 23rd goal of a superb season.City hadn’t scored a home league goal since New Year’s Day, but they had a glorious chance to end that barren run in the 81st minute when Ball won a soft penalty after colliding with Wes Brown.Darius Vassell took the spot-kick, but his shot struck van der Sar’s legs and deflected to safety as United held on for a potentially decisive victory in the title race.At the other end of the table, West Ham moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a match-winning display from Carlos Tevez, who has been at the centre of a bitter row over his eligibility to play for the Hammers.West Ham’s relegation rivals are considering legal action against the Premier League after the London club were only fined rather than handed a points penalty for playing Tevez even though he was not registered properly.So it was inevitable that Tevez would play a major role in his side’s 3-1 win over Bolton at Upton Park.The Argentina striker opened the scoring with a 10th minute free-kick and added a second in the 21st minute.Mark Noble got the third and Gary Speed’s second half strike couldn’t stop Alan Curbishley’s side edging closer to a great escape with their sixth win in eight matches.Curbishley, whose team face Manchester United next week, said: “It’s given us a great opportunity and we’ve got to grab it.We’ve come this far and not to grab it would be devastating.We couldn’t wish to go to a tougher place but we are full of confidence.”West Ham’s victory plunged Wigan into the bottom three after Paul Jewell’s side lost 1-0 against Middlesbrough.Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has led the protests against West Ham and it is his side who are in danger of slipping into the Championship instead after Australia striker Mark Viduka’s 29th minute goal at the JJB Stadium.Clint Dempsey virtually secured Fulham’s Premiership status as his second half goal snatched a vital 1-0 win over Champions League finalists Liverpool.Dempsey turned in Liam Rosensior’s cross after 69 minutes at Craven Cottage to give Lawrie Sanchez’s side, who had Papa Bouba Diop sent off in the last minute, their first win in 12 matches.The American match-winner said: “We have put ourselves in a good position and hopefully it will be the goal that keeps us up.”The manager has come in and he is a man on a mission.He wants to get the job done and we have to believe in him.”Sheffield United missed a chance to confirm their survival as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa.Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa the lead in the 25th minute and goals from Ashley Young and Patrick Berger either side of half-time set up a crunch final match for Neil Warnock’s Blades at home to fellow strugglers Wigan.Mikel Arteta kept Everton on course for a Uefa Cup place as his second half penalty set up a 3-0 win against Portmouth.Arteta struck from the spot in the 59th minute, then Joseph Yobo added a second three minutes later and Gary Naysmith scored in the last minute to lift David Moyes’s team into fifth place.Benni McCarthy spoiled Michael Owen’s homecoming as his goal put Blackburn on course for a 2-0 win at Newcastle.Owen was making his first appearance at St James’ Park since December 2005 after recovering from a knee injury, but South African striker McCarthy scored in the 14th minute and Jason Roberts’ 73rd minute strike ensured Rovers stole the spotlight.Already-relegated Watford landed just their fifth league win this season as goals from Danny Shittu and Marlon King secured a 2-0 success at Reading.Tottenham travel to relegation-threatened Charlton today.Nampa-AFPRonaldo’s spot-kick and a late penalty save from Edwin van der Sar gave United the win over their local rivals at Eastlands.The league leaders went in front in the 34th minute with a goal that was especially sweet for Ronaldo.Michael Ball had been guilty of a vicious stamp on Ronaldo early in the first half, but the Portugal winger was quick to exact revenge as he drew the left-back into a rash lunge that earned a penalty.Ronaldo picked himself up to send Andreas Isaksson the wrong way from the spot for his 23rd goal of a superb season.City hadn’t scored a home league goal since New Year’s Day, but they had a glorious chance to end that barren run in the 81st minute when Ball won a soft penalty after colliding with Wes Brown.Darius Vassell took the spot-kick, but his shot struck van der Sar’s legs and deflected to safety as United held on for a potentially decisive victory in the title race.At the other end of the table, West Ham moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a match-winning display from Carlos Tevez, who has been at the centre of a bitter row over his eligibility to play for the Hammers.West Ham’s relegation rivals are considering legal action against the Premier League after the London club were only fined rather than handed a points penalty for playing Tevez even though he was not registered properly.So it was inevitable that Tevez would play a major role in his side’s 3-1 win over Bolton at Upton Park.The Argentina striker opened the scoring with a 10th minute free-kick and added a second in the 21st minute.Mark Noble got the third and Gary Speed’s second half strike couldn’t stop Alan Curbishley’s side edging closer to a great escape with their sixth win in eight matches.Curbishley, whose team face Manchester United next week, said: “It’s given us a great opportunity and we’ve got to grab it.We’ve come this far and not to grab it would be devastating.We couldn’t wish to go to a tougher place but we are full of confidence.”West Ham’s victory plunged Wigan into the bottom three after Paul Jewell’s side lost 1-0 against Middlesbrough.Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has led the protests against West Ham and it is his side who are in danger of slipping into the Championship instead after Australia striker Mark Viduka’s 29th minute goal at the JJB Stadium.Clint Dempsey virtually secured Fulham’s Premiership status as his second half goal snatched a vital 1-0 win over Champions League finalists Liverpool.Dempsey turned in Liam Rosensior’s cross after 69 minutes at Craven Cottage to give Lawrie Sanchez’s side, who had Papa Bouba Diop sent off in the last minute, their first win in 12 matches.The American match-winner said: “We have put ourselves in a good position and hopefully it will be the goal that keeps us up.”The manager has come in and he is a man on a mission.He wants to get the job done and we have to believe in him.”Sheffield United missed a chance to confirm their survival as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa.Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa the lead in the 25th minute and goals from Ashley Young and Patrick Berger either side of half-time set up a crunch final match for Neil Warnock’s Blades at home to fellow strugglers Wigan.Mikel Arteta kept Everton on course for a Uefa Cup place as his second half penalty set up a 3-0 win against Portmouth.Arteta struck from the spot in the 59th minute, then Joseph Yobo added a second three minutes later and Gary Naysmith scored in the last minute to lift David Moyes’s team into fifth place.Benni McCarthy spoiled Michael Owen’s homecoming as his goal put Blackburn on course for a 2-0 win at Newcastle.Owen was making his first appearance at St James’ Park since December 2005 after recovering from a knee injury, but South African striker McCarthy scored in th
e 14th minute and Jason Roberts’ 73rd minute strike ensured Rovers stole the spotlight.Already-relegated Watford landed just their fifth league win this season as goals from Danny Shittu and Marlon King secured a 2-0 success at Reading.Tottenham travel to relegation-threatened Charlton today.Nampa-AFP