Premier League - United return to summit

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Apr 09:22:00 2009

Goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory against Portsmouth at Old Trafford and returned the champions to the top of the Premier League.

Michael Carrick scores for Manchester United against Portsmouth in the Premier League, April 2009 - 0

Rooney steered home Ryan Giggs's left-wing cross on nine minutes to finish a flowing move and put United ahead.

The home side spurned a host of chances to increase their advantage, before substitute Carrick sealed all three points late on with an angled drive past David James.

The result sees United move three points clear of Liverpool and six points ahead of Chelsea, who have each played a game more.

Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes to the team defeated by Everton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, with Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo among nine players recalled to the starting line-up.

Scholes was among them, and the midfielder duly celebrated his 600th appearance for United with a typically dynamic and influential performance, which he capped by laying on the goal that sealed the win.

United started with real purpose and went ahead with a devastating breakaway goal.

Brazilian Anderson started it, releasing Giggs with an angled ball behind Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson. The United winger chested down, before laying on the simpliest of finishes for Rooney - who beat James with ease to put the home side ahead.

The goal acted as encouragement for United, who immediately began searching for a second and were dominant all over the pitch.

On 29 minutes John O'Shea saw his goalbound header cleared off the line by Nadir Belhadj.

Moments later Giggs was denied by James after being sent clean through by Rooney.

Half-time arrived with Portsmouth having failed to create a single meaningful opening, and Paul Hart reacted by introducing Jermaine Pennant for David Nugent.

The second half brought more of the same, however, with Anderson, Scholes and Darren Fletcher in complete control of the midfield.

But all the while United failed to increase their advantage, Portsmouth's faint hopes remained and when they eventually threatened, Pennant was involved.

The England winger got in behind Patrice Evra and delivered a cross to Peter Crouch six yards out, but the striker's improvised volley lacked power and direction.

It would prove the visitor's best opening of the night. And normal service soon resumed.

On 71 minutes Rooney's strength saw him clear of Johnson, only for James once again to come to Portsmouth's rescue.

United would not be denied, however, and fittingly it was left to Scholes to lay on the encore - inviting Carrick to run in on goal with an inch-perfect slide-rule pass.

Carrick took the ball in his stride and shot confidently past James to the relief of the United faithful - who must surely believe now the title is theirs.

It was not all good news for the home side, however, who saw both Gary Neville and O'Shea forced to withdraw with injuries.

The defeat leaves Portsmouth lingering six points clear of the relegation zone and Hart's side are far from safe on the evidence of what was a wholly lacklustre and unconvincing performance.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

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  1. As a Man Utd fan it is great to get the right result­ last night good play all round, but for you sad­ Liverpool and Utd fans with childish chat, you need to­ get a life both teams have played some great football­ this year its just Utd have been the most consistant­ throughout. Liverpool have played very well this year­ and have come on leaps and bounds but they have­ faultered at important times during the season and that­ has cost them.

    Utd have not been as good as they have­ in the last two seasons but they know how to win and­ thats whats making the difference at the moment. But i­ will say two of the best games this season have­ involved Liverpool so hats off to them for that.

    From hhowells1, on Thu 23 Apr 9:23AM

  2. PAUL B: Where is your, ahem "cup"?

    From Colonel K, on Thu 23 Apr 9:20AM

  3. WELL DONE UTD..BACK ON TOP WHERE YOU BELONG.

    From L H, on Thu 23 Apr 9:19AM

  4. whoop we are the champions watch out scousers we r­ gonna have 4 more trophies in our cabinet this season

    From dez, on Thu 23 Apr 9:03AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FAIR PLAY!! WE NEED FAIR PLAY NOW ON FROM FA. FAIR PLAY­ IN THE SENSE THAT MANU AND LIVERPOOL SHOULD BE PLAYING­ THEIR REMAINING MATCES AT THE SAME TIME SAME DAY.ITS­ NOT TOO LATE DO TO RESCHEDULE THE MATCHES.IF THIS IS­ DONE,THEY WILL BE FAIR PLAY TO ALL THE TEAMS INVOLVED­ AND ALSO THE REFS.

    From Michael, on Thu 23 Apr 9:02AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FAIR PLAY!! WE NEED FAIR PLAY NOW ON FROM FA. FAIR PLAY­ IN THE SENSE THAT MANU AND LIVERPOOL SHOULD BE PLAYING­ THEIR REMAINING MATCES AT THE SAME TIME SAME DAY.ITS­ NOT TOO LATE DO TO RESCHEDULE THE MATCHES.IF THIS IS­ DONE,THEY WILL BE FAIR PLAY TO ALL THE TEAMS INVOLVED­ AND ALSO THE REFS.

    From Michael, on Thu 23 Apr 9:02AM

  7. The count down to Man UTD's 18th EPL title has­ begun...Watch them as they close in slowly by slowly.

    From Edward, on Thu 23 Apr 9:00AM

  8. Paul B ha ha ha your team has won nothing again and if­ Man Utd are as bad as you say then your team must be­ worse cos you are way off the pace and cannot catch us­ ha ha ha. I love it when stupid people like Paul B­ shoot themselves in the foot with their own comments.­ Still its not too bad finishing behind the world­ champions.

    From elrosso, on Thu 23 Apr 8:56AM

  9. liverpool back in 2nd why man wooo i am so not happy­ dude

    From Cameron, on Thu 23 Apr 8:50AM

  10. jhr881 I don't belive you are real. You must be an­ alien or something!! No scouser has, in my living­ memory, ever given us due credit for anything!! If you­ were all like that I doubt there would be the intense­ rivalry that there is, it is refreshing to hear a­ scouser talk sense for once

    From XS, on Thu 23 Apr 8:49AM

  11. Hey guys go arsenal good playing young team soon will­ be thest team in the world.

    From habibu, on Thu 23 Apr 8:48AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    man u running on empty ronaldo waving his arms like a­ rapper...pass to meeeeeeee...berbatov a lazy get...and­ defenders dropping like flys....hahahahaha....wer your­ 5 cups now.....hahahaha

    From PAUL B, on Thu 23 Apr 8:37AM

  13. most prolific team in the last 10 - 15 yrs, yeah­ liverpool are MUCH improved, but united are just a­ different class on the pitch - I dont even support em,­ but they make cracking viewing, no matter who you­ support...........

    From james, on Thu 23 Apr 8:33AM

  14. Scouse olympic events (comment 146) hahahahahahahahaha­ feckin class mate lol thas the only way the bin­ dippers'll ever win anything hahaha

    glory glory­ man united

    u..n..i
    t..e..d
    united are the team for me

    From geezadood, on Thu 23 Apr 8:13AM

  15. Fair play to Man U on another win.As a Liverpool fan,I­ don't suppose I'm welcomed by all,but credit­ where it's due.Utd have been more consistant during­ the season when it's mattered most and although­ we've had some great games and results,looks like­ the team who's played best over the season is going­ to win the league,which is how it should be.

    From jhr881, on Thu 23 Apr 8:10AM

  16. good

    From n.murphy2, on Thu 23 Apr 7:54AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Are there televisions in Uganda?

    From Majoser, on Thu 23 Apr 7:54AM

  18. Torres can be our manchester united neighbor by joining­ manchester city and he will stand a chance of either­ winning something or being in the neighborhood of­ winners.

    Ah ah ah ah ah ah !...

    I can laugh my lungs­ out.

    From Majoser, on Thu 23 Apr 7:52AM

  19. who.are.you i think what LBgood mean...our team will­ meet the blues at rome final champs league...we should­ thx to him...he so realistic cuz he know united is real­ champs....:D

    From Addy N, on Thu 23 Apr 7:48AM

  20. post 160 it doesnt matter now liverpool arnt top man­ utd are and they play good football and dont always­ score mucj nedded goals in injury time.

    From Ian, on Thu 23 Apr 7:44AM
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