LONDON: Manchester United kept its slim Premiership title hopes alive after two goals from Wayne Rooney secured a hard-fought 2-1 win at Tottenham. The result means Chelsea's victory party is on hold, at least for another fortnight.

Trailing Chelsea by nine points before the early kick-off with just four fixtures left, United knew it had to beat fourth-placed Spurs or else risk Chelsea take the title by beating Everton.

Despite intense pressure from Spurs — desperate to hold onto fourth place and a Champions League qualification — United just about held on for a Rooney-inspired victory.

The 20-year-old scrambled his first from point-blank range from Cristiano Ronaldo's low cross in a lightning counter-attack. Then, 10 minutes before half-time, Spurs's South Korean defender Lee Young-Pyo dawdled on the ball in his own penalty area and was robbed by Park Ji-Sung. Rooney grabbed the loose ball and shot fiercely past Paul Robinson for his 16th league goal of the season.

Jenas pulls one back

Tottenham came out furiously after the break and the pressure paid off in the 53rd minute with Jermaine Jenas poking the ball into an empty goal after United's defenders made a mess of clearing a Spurs corner. Tottenham fought desperately for an equaliser but United held on.

On Sunday, Robbie Fowler scored his fourth goal in five matches to help Liverpool beat Blackburn 1-0. Liverpool won its seventh straight match and dented Blackburn's hopes of overtaking Tottenham for fourth place and the final Champions League spot.

Fowler scored in the 29th minute when Fernando Morientes kept the ball in play and passed to his partner, who then side-footed past Brad Friedel. Blackburn players complained that the goal should have been disallowed because Djibril Cisse was offside, but the referee didn't agree.

"The ball's thrown in, and he makes movement towards the ball, so in my view he is interfering with play," Blackburn manager Mark Hughes said.

Madrid's woes continue

Real Madrid missed its chance to keep pace with Valencia in the Spanish league, dropping to third place on Sunday after a 1-1 draw with Getafe. Julio Baptista gave Madrid the lead with a goal in the 61st minute, but Manuel Tena equalised in the 83rd.

Madrid now has 60 points, two behind Valencia. FC Barcelona leads the league with 73 points.

Valencia easily beat Copa del Rey winner Espanyol 4-0, getting goals from David Villa, Roberto Ayala, Miguel Angel `Mista' Ferrer and Ruben Baraja.

Valencia scored its first goal in the 39th minute when Villa converted from the penalty spot after defender Moises Hurtado held him in the penalty area. In the 60th, Espanyol midfielder Eduardo Acosta was ejected for a second yellow card after a tackle on Valencia defender Amedeo Carboni.

Ayala headed in a free kick by Villa seven minutes later and Mista scored his first goal in nearly a year in the 70th minute. Baraja scored from a corner in the 86th.

The results:

English Premier League: Aston Villa 3 bt Birmingham 1, Blackburn 0 lost to Liverpool 1, Tottenham 1 lost to Manchester United 2.

Spanish Primera Liga: Valencia 4 bt Espanyol 0, Real Betis 0 lost to Celta Vigo 2, Zaragoza 1 lost to Cadiz 2, Osasuna 1 drew with Malaga 1, Getafe 1 drew with Real Madrid 1, Atletico Madrid 1 bt Athletic Bilbao 0. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail