Manchester United produced another one of those thrilling, magical
and devastating comebacks to haul themselves to victory over Tottenham
and surely to an 18th league championship.
Liverpool will carry the fight forward to the bitter end. But how can United be denied if they can perform like this?
Two goals adrift at half-time and the worries of the world on their
shoulders, Sir Alex Ferguson's men seized on a moment of good fortune
provided by referee Howard Webb and simply ran amok.
Wayne Rooney scored twice and set up two others for Cristiano
Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov, who left his former team-mates on their
knees when he tapped home 11 minutes from time.
It cannot have gone unnoticed either the half-time introduction of
Carlos Tevez was the catalyst for the onslaught, even if the popular
Argentina forward did not get his name on the scoresheet.
But as they head south, bewildered at how what seemed certain to
become their first Old Trafford win since 1989 should end so
disastrously, Spurs - and Liverpool - will curse Webb for his crucial
57th-minute decision on which an entire season could be shaped.
Heurelho Gomes will argue forever he got a touch to the ball when he
sent through Michael Carrick. Carrick will always know he got there
first. The man who matters decided it was a foul. Ronaldo strode up and
powered home the penalty. The rest was the stuff of legend.
Spurs' last Old Trafford matchwinner now analyses top-flight action in his role as presenter of Match of the Day.
And how much Gary Lineker would have loved the chances that fell the
way of Bent and Modric in a four-minute period around the half hour
which must have brought the widest of grins to Rafael Benitez's face as
the Liverpool team coach made its way back across the M62 from Hull.
Anyone at Wembley last month to witness a goalless Carling Cup final
between this pair that United eventually won on penalties could not
have failed to notice Aaron Lennon's bewitching performance on the
Spurs' right.
Indeed, Patrice Evra's subsequent dip in form was attributed in some quarters to the pounding he took from Lennon's direct runs.
Evra must have been experiencing an uneasy sense of deja-vu given
the way Lennon chose to attack him again. The United defence appeared
unnerved.
And when Lennon laid off a short pass to Vedran Corluka, the
returning Rio Ferdinand failed to deal with the cross and Bent lashed
home from six yards.
The goal must have had Lineker recalling his own halcyon days, as would Modric's similar effort on Tottenham's next attack.
This time Lennon provided the cross, to a far post station Rafael Da
Silva had left unattended. Give players of Modric's class time to
control and shoot and you are asking for trouble, which is exactly what
United were in as the Croat's close-range shot bulged the net.
Tottenham's lead was not the backdrop Tevez would have imagined
trying to make an impact from when he was once again named on the bench.
Still it offered the South American a heaven-sent opportunity, which
would have been snaffled within minutes had he been able to take
advantage when Ronaldo sent him through, rather than firing straight at
Gomes.
It just proved to be the prelude for an awesome display of attacking
power, United cutting loose once Ronaldo had given them hope from the
spot.
Tevez did not score but he was the man who emerged from the
maelstrom with the ball and set up Rooney, who cut in off the left
flank and beat Gomes at his near post.
Within two minutes, United were in front, Rooney crossing expertly
for Ronaldo, whose diving header was too powerful for Gomes to keep out.
By now Tottenham were dazzled and dazed by the power they were facing, the destination of the points no longer in doubt.
Another Rooney goal followed, Jonathan Woodgate unable to keep it
out as he slid across the line trying to block a shot that would have
gone in anyway.
A Gomes tangle with Jenas left Berbatov to scramble home number five against his old club.
After Liverpool's eight-goal thriller with Arsenal, it was another
example of why the Premier League is one of the most entertaining in
the world.
Liverpool got one point. United somehow managed three. That is
probably the reason why the title will once again end up at Old
Trafford.
Teams:
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).
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