Man Utd win penalty duel to close in on title

AFP - 5 May 2007 16:11

Manchester United´s Ronaldo (R) celebrates with Wayne Rooney after scoring a penalty against Manchester City during their Premiership match at The City of Manchester Stadium on 05 May 2007.

LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United moved to within touching distance of the Premiership title after Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty clinched a 1-0 win at crisis-ridden Manchester City on Saturday.

United are now eight points ahead of second placed Chelsea and will be crowned champions for the first time since 2003 if Jose Mourinho's men fail to beat Arsenal on Sunday.

Even if the Blues win at Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson's side can seal the league title on Wednesday if they avoid defeat against Chelsea.

United had been torn to shreds by AC Milan as they crashed out of the Champions League in midweek but, thanks to Ronaldo and a late penalty save from Edwin van der Sar, they produced the perfect response against their bitter local rivals at Eastlands.

The league leaders took the lead with a 34th minute penalty that was especially sweet for Ronaldo.

Michael Ball had been guilty of a vicious stamp on Ronaldo early in the first half, but the Portugal winger was quick to exact revenge as he drew the left-back into a rash lunge that earned a penalty.

Ronaldo picked himself up to send Andreas Isaksson the wrong way from the spot for his 23rd goal of a superb season that has seen him voted double Footballer of the Year.

City - who are subject to two rival bids to buy them out and also had to suspend their star midfielder Joey Barton earlier in the week after a training ground altercation with Frenchman Ousmane Dabo - hadn't scored a home league goal since New Year's Day, but they had a glorious chance to end that barren run in the 81st minute when Ball won a soft penalty after colliding with Wes Brown.

Former England international striker Darius Vassell took the spot-kick, but his shot struck van der Sar's legs and deflected to safety as United held on for a potentially decisive victory in the title race.

Manchester United

36

28

4

4

83

26

88

Chelsea

35

24

8

3

62

22

80

Liverpool

36

20

7

9

55

24

67

Arsenal

36

19

9

8

62

34

66

Bolton

36

16

7

13

44

47

55

Everton

36

14

12

10

48

35

54

Reading

36

16

6

14

49

42

54

Portsmouth

36

14

11

11

45

39

53

Tottenham

35

15

8

12

52

52

53

Blackburn

35

14

5

16

46

50

47

Aston Villa

36

10

16

10

38

39

46

Newcastle

36

11

9

16

37

44

42

Manchester City

37

11

9

17

28

42

42

Middlesbrough

36

10

10

16

40

48

40

Sheffield United

36

10

8

18

31

50

38

Fulham

36

7

15

14

36

57

36

Wigan Athletic

36

9

8

19

35

57

35