Manchester United used a brace from old stalwart Ryan Giggs and a beautiful chip from Nani to upend in-form Tottenham, 3-1, at Old Trafford to go two points ahead of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table. Chelsea host Stoke tomorrow.
Giggs expertly converted two penalties - one in the 58th minute, the other late in the game in the 86th - past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. The Brazilian, who played so well against both Arsenal and Chelsea in Spurs 2-1 wins over their London rivals, guessed correctly on both penalty attempts, but Giggs cooly converted each into the side-nettting to pile the pressure on Chelsea tomorrow.
The prematch news contained an exclusion for United and an inclusion for Spurs. United were without Wayne Rooney, who missed the match with a groin issue. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Rooney could miss the last two matches of the season as the injury could take 2-3 weeks to heal. It's not a serious injury, but with only two weeks left, he looks likely to miss the remainder of the season.
The big news for Spurs was the inclusion of captain Ledley King, who missed last week's win over Chelsea due to his frail knees, but played well against Arsenal 10 days ago. His inclusion would add to the Tottenham belief that they could end three astonishing streaks - a win over United for the first time since 2001, inflicting defeat on a big four side on the road for the first time since August of 1993 when they won at Liverpool (an incredible run of 20 draws and 46 losses), and become the first team to beat all big four sides in the same season since Leeds United did so in 1995.
The match started slowly for both teams, as it took nearly 30 minutes for either team to register a shot on goal before Roman Pavlyuchenko finally put a shot on frame for both sides. The game suddenly surged to life as Antonio Valencia, the much-maligned Dimitar Berbatov - denied by a solid diving stop by King - Patrice Evra, and Luka Modric all had chances in the last 15 minutes of the half.
Spurs had an immediate chance to star the second half. David Bentley sent a looping cross into the box for Jermain Defoe. The small forward chested down to Pavlyuchenko near the six yard box, but Evra made a key intervention to force the Russians shot wide off his shin.
United nearly responded five minutes later off a corner. Giggs played it short to Evra. The left back - vomiting on the field just five a few minutes prior - whipped in an inviting cross toward Berbatov. Berbatov headed back toward the box for Darren Fletcher, but the Scot couldn't get a touch on the ball to put United ahead.
United finally took the lead in the 58th. Berbatov's career at United can be described as a series of disappointments with moments of magic sprinkled in here and there. With real speculation that his time at United is about up, it's now or never for the big Bulgarian forward to make his mark, especially with Rooney likely out for the last two matches. This was one of those magic moments as Berbatov rode a tackle into the box and beautifully backheeled into the path of Evra. The left back was felled by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, and Giggs stroked his penalty past Gomes to put United ahead.
Spurs equalized in the 70th through King, who is making a strong case for inclusion in England's World Cup plans despite his injury-prone career. Off a corner, King climbed over Michael Carrick to head to the far post. Rafael was on hand at the post, but instead of chesting the effort down or heading off the line, he tried an intricate bicycle kick. He missed the ball, and Spurs were level to set up a dramatic final 20 minutes.
United would take the lead for good on a fantastic effort from Nani. The Portuguese winger has had his promising moments mixed in with his frustrating one's this season. This effort made everyone temporarily forget Cristiano Ronaldo.
Near midfield, Nani sent in a pass to Fletcher. Fletcher found Federico Macheda at the top of the box as Nani charged goalward. The young Italian whipped around and played Nani through. He calmly strode toward Gomes and chipped over the Brazilian with his right foot to send United back into the lead.
Nani also earned United's third. The winger took the ball in the center circle. He dribbled forward into the Spurs box, where he was taken down from behind by Wilson Palacios. Giggs stepped up again, and again hit a perfectly placed penalty into the side-netting to put United two points clear of Chelsea with two weeks left in the season.
The match could have been devastating to Tottenham's chances of earning a spot in the Champions League, but Manchester City could not take advantage of the opportunity as they drew away at Arsenal, 0-0. Arsenal controlled much of the match, but they only tested Shay Given a handful of times before the City goalkeeper left the match with a suspected broken shoulder, a damaging loss as City, Spurs, Aston Villa, and Liverpool go for the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Meanwhile at the bottom of the table, Hull City look set to be relegated with Burnley and Portsmouth as they fell at home to Sunderland, 1-0, on the back of a Darren Bent goal in the 7th minute. Hull were wasteful in front of goal throughout the match - a common theme throughout their season - and Jimmy Bullard missed a 41st minute penalty off the post. Hull still had a chance even after Jozy Altidore was sent off for head-butting Alan Hutton - who had thrown the ball off Altidore's head after a challenge, an action that earned him a red card as well - but the Tigers could not find a leveler, and they now sit 6 points behind West Ham United for the 17th spot in the league with a vastly inferior goal difference.
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