Premiership: Man United close in on
title
Manchester United came out on top 1-0 in a derby-day battle of the
spot-kicks to move to within a single point of the Premiership
title.
BarryCoombs/Empics
Michael Ball fouls Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo for a
penalty.
Given Jose Mourinho's well-aired opinions on the 'new rules'
regarding penalties currently in operation in the top flight, there
was irony in the knowledge Cristiano Ronaldo's success from the
spot, and Darius Vassell's subsequent failure means Chelsea must
now win at Arsenal on Sunday if United's visit to Stamford Bridge
next Wednesday is not to become a Red Devils party.
Mourinho could have no complaints about United's award, which
produced Ronaldo's 23rd goal of the season.
The winger was clearly caught by Michael Ball, with the only
criticism surrounding the whole incident being that the City man
was still on the pitch after an outrageous stamp on Ronaldo much
earlier in the contest.
But for Mourinho the real knife-twister was that after referee Rob
Styles ruled Wes Brown had bundled Ball over 11 minutes from time,
Vassell could only drive his penalty straight into Edwin van der
Sar's legs.
It only maintained an unhappy scoring sequence for City, which
condemns them to start next season knowing their last league goal
on home soil came on New Year's Day.
Not that United will care a jot about that. The title may not quite
be won yet, but once the formalities are confirmed, it will forever
be remembered in Old Trafford folklore as the season they won the
league at City.
It is difficult to assess the precise impact the absence of
suspended midfielder Joey Barton had on the Blues, although given
the erratic state of mind which prompted the ugly training-ground
assault on Ousmane Dabo, which now leaves the England man facing
possible police action, it is probably just as well he was not let
loose in such a high-octane atmosphere.
The game was only two minutes old when Ronaldo went down amid a
pile of City players, clutching his stomach.
Had Styles seen Ball deliberately drive his studs into the man
voted both PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year, he would
have been instantly dismissed.
Instead, Styles missed it, although it did not take long for
Ferguson to view the incident again on a TV monitor.
The irate Scot came roaring out of his dug out to voice his
protests at a truly disgraceful act, which, given the bad publicity
City have already endured this week, the Blues could have well done
without.
Ball and Ronaldo exchanged brief and unpleasant words when they
tangled again shortly afterwards close to the City area and it was
hardly a surprise little was seen of the United winger for half an
hour or so afterwards.
Revenge, when it arrived, was very sweet indeed for Ronaldo as he
goaded Ball into an ill-advised tackle. A veteran of derby-day
clashes in both Liverpool and Glasgow, the full-back was not having
a very good day all in all and as he made no contact with the ball
and chopped at Ronaldo's legs, the penalty award was
automatic.
The home fans did their best to put the United man off, twirling
some of the 40,000 blue and white scarves handed out before
kick-off. But Ronaldo's resolve remained strong and he calmly sent
Andreas Isaksson the wrong way.
Not that it was vintage United by any means. The visitors enjoyed
plenty of possession, but the draining effects of their Champions
League defeat in Milan on Wednesday were obvious and it was City
who actually carved out the clearer chances.
Emile Mpenza and DaMarcus Beasley both drove shots straight at van
der Sar as City pushed forward on the counter.
In the absence of Barton, teenage Academy graduate Michael Johnson
showed great maturity to hold his own in the midfield exchanges and
Nedum Onuoha was equally effective in quelling the threat of Wayne
Rooney.
Given the appalling scoring record of Stuart Pearce's side, the
hosts - and Chelsea - must have feared one goal would be enough to
earn maximum points.
Paul Scholes blasted a shot straight at Isaksson at the start of
the second half as United looked to give themselves a bit of extra
breathing space.
Largely, though, Ferguson's team contented themselves with extended
keep-ball sessions, which were only interrupted briefly by City
who, in fairness, were not that far off levelling when Mpenza
nodded Sun Jihai's corner wide.
The big chance came near the end when Ball went down trying to
force his way past Brown.
Vassell struck his shot powerfully enough, only for Van der Sar's
long legs to get in the way.
Post Match Analysis on ESPN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VKGrJ9-hA4
Post Match Scenes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUUOLSfl_Y8
