United top again as Ronaldo strikes
LONDON, England — Cristiano Ronaldo finally converted after a string of chances to lift Manchester United back to the top of the English Premier League with a 1-0 win at rock-bottom Derby County on Saturday.
With his ninth of an astonishing 11 chances overall in the game, and in the 76th minute, Ronaldo finally broke Derby’s brave resistance as he scored expertly from a Wayne Rooney pass.
It left United leading on goal difference from Arsenal who were held 1-1 at home by Middlesbrough in the late kick off.
Jeremie Aliadiere scored in the 26th minute against his old club to put Boro ahead with Kolo Toure heading a last-gasp equalizer from a Cesc Fabregas corner with four minutes remaining.
Middlesbrough had striker Mido sent off for a high challenge on Gael Clichy but Arsenal could not take advantage in the dying moments.
Arsenal, who have drawn their last four league games, have played a game more than United.
The result is disappointing and I don’t think we got the result we deserved, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
We played against a side who ed very deep and defended very well. We were caught on the first goal and then it became very difficult, he added.
Chelsea scored a 1-0 win at relegation-haunted Sunderland with captain John Terry grabbing the only goal of the game after 10 minutes.
It leaves Avram Grant’s men only three points adrift of champions United and firmly in the title race.
Liverpool, the final member of England’s ‘big four’, came from a goal down to beat battling Reading 2-1 at Anfield.
Relegation-battlers Reading took the lead at Anfield after five minutes when Czech Marek Matejovsky scored from a brilliant volley.
Liverpool equalized in the 19th when Javier Mascherano lashed a similarly superb effort into the top corner for his first goal for the club.
Spanish striker Fernando Torres scored his 27th goal of the season and 20th in the league in the 48th minute, heading in from a free kick from Gerrard to wrap up the three points.
They lead Merseyside rivals Everton, who play at Fulham on Sunday, by three points having played a game more but with a far superior goal difference.
Elsewhere, Portsmouth continued their good run of form since beating Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals by beating Aston Villa 2-0 in the battle for UEFA Cup places.
Jermain Defoe scored his sixth goal for Portsmouth since moving from Tottenham in January in the 11th minute, when he chipped the ball over advancing Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Portsmouth went up 2-0 in the 38th through an own-goal from Nigel Reo-Coker.
West Ham had lost their three previous league games by a 4-0 scoreline, but beat Blackburn 2-1 with youngster Fred Sears’ marking his senior debut with the winner in the 81st minute.
Derby, who have won just one Premier League game all season after their surprise promotion, rode their luck at Pride Park as United duly dominated the opening proceedings.
Ryan Giggs sent a header into the arms of Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll and sent another two shots wide, Ronaldo curled a chance wide and struck the post and Wayne Rooney had a shot saved.
But Derby forced United goalkeeper Ben Foster into two saves near the end of the half, stopping shots from Mile Sterjovski and Kenny Miller.
It was Foster’s first start since he joined the club in July 2005 because Edwin van der Sar was sidelined with a groin injury and second-choice Tomasz Kuszczak was suspended.
Carroll, who played at United between 2001 and 2005, stopped Ronaldo’s free kick and a header in the space of a minute in the second half and the Portuguese winger then sent a free kick wide before he finally scored.
He took a cross from Rooney and volleyed the ball past Carroll for his 22nd league goal and 31st overall this season
I think the league now is bubbling up very nicely, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said before Arsenal played. It should be a fantastic finish to the season. E-mail to a friend
