Premier League round-up: United extend lead; Spurs and Gunners share points
Table of Contents
| 0 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Ryan Giggs 62 |
A stunning solo goal from Ryan Giggs earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at West Ham and put the champions back on top of the Premier League.
Giggs is not the only golden oldie shining in a United shirt as goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is unbeatable.
Last night, the 38-year-old Dutchman set a new British club record of 1,312 minutes without conceding a goal as he racked up his 13th clean sheet in a row. He takes the record from Aberdeen keeper Bobby Clark, who went 1,155 minutes of league action without conceding a goal during the 1970/71 campaign.
With Fabio Capello and José Mourinho watching from the stands, the Hammers matched the title favourites for long periods as United were not at their best and struggled to create chances.
Dimitar Berbatov got the ball in the net on 20 minutes, though, but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
Giggs then cleverly pulled a free-kick back for Paul Scholes, whose drive was going wide until Cristiano Ronaldo deliberately stuck out his foot and forced Robert Green into a fingertip save over the bar.
And the 35-year-old Giggs showed that age is no hindrance to quality by completing a stunning solo run into the penalty area with the only goal after 62 minutes. Scholes sent a raking 40-yard ball out to the unmarked Giggs on the left and Giggs cut inside, jinking Carlton Cole and Scott Parker before curling a right-footed shot low past Green.
The strike means he has scored in every season since the Premier League kicked off in 1992.
With just two minutes left, Ronaldo went down just inside the box as Hammers defender Lucas Neill stuck out a foot, but Ronaldo’s reputation for falling rather easily goes before him and referee Phil Dowd erred on the side of the defender.
Arsenal's title dream appears to be over after a goalless draw at Tottenham left them 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester United.
The Gunners were on the back foot against a Tottenham side who pushed for their first league win in 19 attempts against the arch enemy.
Emmanuel Eboué had the ball in the net after 13 minutes but saw his effort chalked off for an earlier foul on Jonathan Woodgate.
Fifteen minutes later, Emmanuel Adebayor stopped in his tracks and was stretchered off with a pulled hamstring.
Before Arsenal could make a change, they were down to 10 men as Eboué saw red for a second yellow card. The Ivorian was cautioned for dissent and was handed his marching orders for kicking out at Luka Modrić.
Luckily for Arsenal, though, not even the return of striker Robbie Keane to Spurs could inspire the team to exploit their one man advantage.
Yet Alex Song might have sneaked all three points for Arsenal had he not diverted a volley the wrong side of the post from eight-yards out on 70 minutes.
Both teams could have then won it in added time. Nicklas Bendtner's strike was tipped over by Carlo Cudicini, while Modrić was clean through on Manuel Almunia but then fired his shot against the keeper’s legs.
While relieved to leave White Hart Lane with a point, the Gunners remain five adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in the chase for the Champions League spots.
Related links:
Also see:
Giggs is not the only golden oldie shining in a United shirt as goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is unbeatable.
Last night, the 38-year-old Dutchman set a new British club record of 1,312 minutes without conceding a goal as he racked up his 13th clean sheet in a row. He takes the record from Aberdeen keeper Bobby Clark, who went 1,155 minutes of league action without conceding a goal during the 1970/71 campaign.
With Fabio Capello and José Mourinho watching from the stands, the Hammers matched the title favourites for long periods as United were not at their best and struggled to create chances.
Dimitar Berbatov got the ball in the net on 20 minutes, though, but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
Giggs then cleverly pulled a free-kick back for Paul Scholes, whose drive was going wide until Cristiano Ronaldo deliberately stuck out his foot and forced Robert Green into a fingertip save over the bar.
And the 35-year-old Giggs showed that age is no hindrance to quality by completing a stunning solo run into the penalty area with the only goal after 62 minutes. Scholes sent a raking 40-yard ball out to the unmarked Giggs on the left and Giggs cut inside, jinking Carlton Cole and Scott Parker before curling a right-footed shot low past Green.
The strike means he has scored in every season since the Premier League kicked off in 1992.
With just two minutes left, Ronaldo went down just inside the box as Hammers defender Lucas Neill stuck out a foot, but Ronaldo’s reputation for falling rather easily goes before him and referee Phil Dowd erred on the side of the defender.
| 0 - 0 |
|
Arsenal's title dream appears to be over after a goalless draw at Tottenham left them 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester United.
The Gunners were on the back foot against a Tottenham side who pushed for their first league win in 19 attempts against the arch enemy.
Emmanuel Eboué had the ball in the net after 13 minutes but saw his effort chalked off for an earlier foul on Jonathan Woodgate.
Fifteen minutes later, Emmanuel Adebayor stopped in his tracks and was stretchered off with a pulled hamstring.
Before Arsenal could make a change, they were down to 10 men as Eboué saw red for a second yellow card. The Ivorian was cautioned for dissent and was handed his marching orders for kicking out at Luka Modrić.
Luckily for Arsenal, though, not even the return of striker Robbie Keane to Spurs could inspire the team to exploit their one man advantage.
Yet Alex Song might have sneaked all three points for Arsenal had he not diverted a volley the wrong side of the post from eight-yards out on 70 minutes.
Both teams could have then won it in added time. Nicklas Bendtner's strike was tipped over by Carlo Cudicini, while Modrić was clean through on Manuel Almunia but then fired his shot against the keeper’s legs.
While relieved to leave White Hart Lane with a point, the Gunners remain five adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in the chase for the Champions League spots.
Please subscribe to our RSS feed to receive more updates. You can also subscribe by Email and enjoy our latest posts sent directly to your inbox.
Related links:
Also see:
Post a Comment