The 35-year-old struck just after the hour mark with a piece of brilliance, cutting inside from the left flank, beating two men and finishing low past Robert Green.

The champions increased their consecutive clean sheet record to 13, but were made to work hard by an impressive, industrious West Ham side.

Gianfranco Zola picked the same team for the fourth consecutive match, while Alex Ferguson made three changes – bringing in Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rafael da Silva for Ji-Sung Park, Darren Fletcher and the unwell Gary Neville.

Carlos Tevez received warm applause on his return to Upton Park, but produced a quiet performance and will surely return to his familiar position on the bench when Wayne Rooney returns against Derby County in the FA Cup next weekend.

Carlton Cole might have celebrated his call-up to the England squad with a goal on 13 minutes, when he was released down the right channel and sprinted away from Rio Ferdinand.

But instead of shooting with power, Cole attempted a cute chip and Van der Sar made a comfortable catch.

The goal came when Giggs received a perfect crossfield pass from Scholes on the left, then turned inside beyond two flailing challenges and sent a right-foot shot into the bottom corner through a sea of legs.

It was Giggs’s first goal of the season, and ensured he has now scored in all 19 of his league campaigns.

Thereafter United were comfortable, passing the ball around with Dimitar Berbatov proving an unusually effective defensive influence.

Scholes and Giggs have had to put up with reduced playing time in the twilight of their careers, but they still possess match-winning quality and between them turned one point into three.

Those extra two points are the margin by which Ferguson’s side lead Liverpool with a game still in hand, to be played against Fulham in 10 days’ time.
Alex Chick / Eurosport

Bookmark This Post

Ronaldo is well aware of the price tag to obtain his services, and even with such an astronomical number Ronaldo told MUTV “I’m at the right club, playing with the right players and I learn things all the time,”

Bookmark This Post

The good news is Cristiano looks like he is back in form, and Vidic is set to return.
But not all is well, Nani is suspended and Rooney is not 100% but no need to panic United are 2-0-0 since losing Rooney to a hip injury.

Bookmark This Post

United without Wayne Rooney and Vidic. Evra, Ferdinand, Brown and Hargreaves started across the back. Park, Carrick, Scholes, and Nani in the middle. While Tevez and Ronaldo started up top.

West Ham started with Asthon and Zamora up top. Boa Morte, Parker, Mullins and Noble in the middle. McCartney, Neil, Tomkins, and Pantsil in the back.

 GOAL! Only 3 minutes in Cristiano Ronaldo cut inside from the right, Neil was left in Ronaldos dust. Ronaldo made his way to goal with no defensive pressure until he was 12 yards from goal, by that time is was to late. Ronaldo snuck it in near post, with a little deflection, Ronaldo made it 1-0

A corner from West Ham gave Van der Sar some trouble, A high header caused Van der Sar to fuble it a little. Luckily Evra was on the line and was able to clear it off the line.

Tevez is given a brilliant ball by Park out to the right side. Tevez took the defender on and released a shot, but it was a tight angle. Couldn’t tell if it was a shot or a pass.

Before the 24th minute United went up 2-0 with a great cross by Owen Hargreaves, As Hargreaves was set to center, West Ham attempted the offside trap, But Ronaldo timed his run flawlessly and  redirected the ball with his right thigh. It was a great finish, Most players would have been caught off guard, not expecting the ball to go through everybody.

2 minutes later, Carlitos Tevez unleashed a rocket from 25 yards with such power that the ball went up and dipped right over Green, who was positioned pretty well and made it 3-0 against his old club.

What a Goal for West Ham’s Ashton! Only a couple minutes after Tevez’s spectacular shot. Ashton performed an acrobatic Bicycle after Wes Brown failed to clear the ball.

Ashton receiving some treatment after the strike on goal.

Nani lost his cool in the 37th minute. And was involved in a confrontation with Niel. You could argue that it’s a lack of experience, but a similar scenario saw one of the best football players ever sent off in the World Cup Final and experience was not something Zidane lacked.

Second Half

United connected much more passes and possessed much more of the ball in the first half of this match. And that is the reason for the score line at halftime.

In the 59th minute Michael Carrick made it 4-1, Carrick had all the time in the world and all the space in the world. He carried for over 15 yards undisturbed before shooting from 25 yards out. Another deflection from West Ham to aid in the 4th goal.

In the 62nd minute Giggs came on for Park.
And 2 minutes later Ronaldo was subbed off for Fletcher.
You could see the disappointment in Ronaldo’s face, but he was booked and United still have the 2 most important games of the season. Sir Alex would be stupid to keep him on.

In the 71st Fletcher was denied by the post! A brilliant play from United. Evra gave a great ball to Giggs dished off to Fletcher, and from a tough angle Fletcher hit the bottom of the post.

Scholes came off for O’Shea in the 73rd minute.

The biggest Premier League crowed of the season, with 76,000 people in attendance.
United are one step closer to the title. Now United awaits the result of Chelsea and Newcastle on Monday!

Bookmark This Post

In the opening minute, Brown put United in trouble after a horrible back header, Kalou won the ball and passed it off to Essien at the top of the 18, but Essien put it over the bar

Disaster for United early on as Vidic took Drogba’s knee to his face, he would be subbed off for Owen Hargreaves. After the match it was confirmed Vidic needed a few stitches under his lip and also lost a tooth

In the 14th minute of play, Kalou attempted to fool the referee by collapsing just inside the 18, no call by the ref.
A counter attack would follow, with Nani as the creator, He creates enough space to take a shot, and he did but was it the right choice? He had two teammates out wide, anything would have been better then that shot.
Rooney looked furious with Nani!

Close call in the 21st , as Essien is denied by the woodwork! It was going top right corner. That should have been a wake up call for United!

In injury time, Ballack was completely unmarked and headed in a center from Drogba. A terrible way to end the 1st half!

I’m very disappointed in United starting line up! No Ronaldo! Giggs started! United have not won the Premier League yet! I understand maybe Sir Alex wanted to rest key players for Barcelona next week, But I think he has got to take it one step at a time. He had a chance to seal the Premier League Title, Why not try to do it? The Multi-Million $ Players need to MAN UP for the most important 7 days of the season!

No changes for United to start the second

It only took United 10 minutes into the second half to equalize after an incredible blunder by Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho. Ricardo accidentally passed the ball back to Wayne Rooney, thinking he was the last defender. Wayne Rooney made no mistake and finished like one of the greats.

Wayne Rooney is finally subbed off in the 64th, he had been limping since scoring the goal.
It was Ronaldo who came on for the hurt, Rooney.

Sir Alex was content with a tie, something he would later regret. He decided to sub off Anderson for a defender. Anderson came off for O’Shea!

Like a carefully thought out chess move, Avram Grant waited for Sir Alex to make his move before he made his. And sure enough, Nicolas Anelka came on for Paulo Ferreira.

Then a devastating call against United. A Penalty! The linesman flagged a handball against Michael Carrick.
Ballack would step up to take it. And in the 86th minute United go down 2-1.
Even more devastating, United had nothing but defenders on the field.

In the 89th minute United have a great opportunity, with Nani feeding the ball back into the middle for Ronaldo who fired a rocket, But Ashley Cole, made an amazing decision to drop back to the goal line and Ashley happened to be in the right spot at the right time and cleared the ball off the line.

Just minutes later Fletcher had a brilliant header that in any other circumstances would have gone directly in. But this time Schevchenko cleared the ball off the line, of all people…Schevchenko!

Absolutely no luck for United!

Sir Alex needs to start a game with the intention of winning, something he hasn’t done since he last won, against Arsenal!

Bookmark This Post

Both managers will choose their lineups with the Champions League semi-finals in mind. But Chelsea will have to do with out center attacking midfielder, Frank Lampard. Lampard was granted permission to take as long as he needed for grieving, following the untimely death of his mother.
United, with the exclusion of Louis Saha, has a full squad to work with. Vidic, Anderson and even Fletcher could make an appearance on Satudays match.

Bookmark This Post

Ferdinand’s existing contract ends next year, so United made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. £31.2 to be exact, for the next 5 years.

And we all know Crisiano Ronaldo, at the moment, is the best player in the world. He will not be earning £120,000 too much longer, expect Ronaldo to renew his contract for a much larger sum.

Bookmark This Post