United and Arsenal Closing In

Wayne Rooney shifted from being a hero to a villain and again back to being a hero in the English Premier League champions when Manchester United overpowered Hull 3-1 on Sunday. This win made them second place, United is now just two points behind leaders Chelsea, who only manage a scoreless draw against Birmingham on Saturday, with Rooney the England striker involved in all four goals.

He managed to put United ahead on the stroke of half-time at the KC Stadium with a near finish after Giggs touched on Fletcher’s cross. But second to the cellar dweller Hull made it equal on the hour via a Craig Fagan penalty. Rooney’s back pass was cut off by Fagan and following his cross, Jozy Altidore was jammed at the far post by defender Rafael of United. Referee Alan Wiley which Sir Ferguson accused in October of not being good enough for Premier League football after siding 2-2 draw with Sunderland who signaled a penalty that Fagan sent Kuszczak far from the spot.

Manchester wins at Wigan

 

Manchester United improved its game from the shocking defeat midweek with a score of 5-0 Premier League win at Wigan.   And Arsenal won against visiting Portsmouth 4-1.  Michael Owen struck his first and Wayne Rooney hit his 100th and 101st club goals to help give defending champion United the win and it very much wanted after loosing 1-0 last Wednesday at newly promoted Burnley. 

You have to loose some, Alex Ferguson the manager of United said.  We had six chances in the first half and we didn’t deliver. The thing is to have patience and that is what we did.  The win kept United to the goal of chasing a fourth straight title record.  Arsenal has six points, but the Gunners have two games played to United’s three, ahead of the teams’ meeting next weekend.  Manchester City is within range with six points after Emmanuel Adebayor scored for the second straight match to lead his new team a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester Drops Birmingham

Manchester United draws first blood on their campaign for the English Premier League 2009-10 season.  Birmingham City is their first victim with a score of 1-0. In the 34^th minute, Wayne Rooney got the only goal of the game.  The header hit a post then the ball fell and he tapped it home.  On the 74^th minute Owen also came in for the action as a substitute had the ball on the net but it was ruled offside.

Liverpool’s expectation of a title match took an immediate delay with a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The goals came from an unexpected source of Benoit Assou-Ekotto the defender, just before half time.  But Steven Gerrard scored from a penalty on the 56^th minute after Johnson was fouled when he got the ball in the penalty area of Tottenham.  But after three minutes, Bassong, making his debut after moving in from Newcastle United last August restored their lead.  Sammy Lee, the Assistant Manager of Liverpool was banished with only a minute to go due to a protest that was too loud because his appeal for a second penalty was waved.

Manchester United’s Masterful Win

The Red Devils have inched closer to the English Premier League crown with a masterful 5-2 win over the Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford last Saturday.

There was pressure early on as Liverpool eased into the lead of the leader board on goal difference due to their win against Hull earlier in the day. And the lacklustre performance of Manchester United in their own match against the Spurs seem to let their title chances slip away. But the substitution of Carlos Tevez made all the difference as all the goals of the team were set up or passed through the Argentine’s sterling play.

Well, that was in the first half as in the second half showed the will of champions in front of their home crowd as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals apiece in a span of fifteen minutes which sealed the win with a penalty kick slotted by Cristiano Ronaldo finalized the score to the jubilation of the more than 75,000 Manchester United fans on hand.

Manchester United Up by Three Points

Manchester United’s 2 nil victory over Portsmouth has given them the upper hand to wrest the Premier League Cup championship. They went ahead three points clear after Chelsea was held to a goal less draw by Everton at home.

 

Wayne Rooney drew first blood but it was Michael Carrick’s late game stab at goal sent the Red Devils past Liverpool, with still one game to go on their schedules. Over-all Manchester United has 74 points with six matches while Liverpool has 71 with only five matches in their card. Liverpool was held to a four all draw by Arsenal in their own semifinals duel. Chelsea sits at third with 68 points but only has five more matches to go.

Wayne Rooney teamed with strike partner Cristiano Ronaldo to control the match from opening kick off. Ryan Giggs perfect pass to Wayne Rooney nine minutes in to the match opened the scoring for the Old Trafford club. There were scoring chances for Portsmouth but Michael Carrick sealed the three points with a forward volley from able midfielder Paul Scholes.

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