This is why they are the champions and this is why they have finished on top of the league 19 times! Manchester United looked anything but brilliant at White Hart Lane but they went out and got what they had travelled to London for – a valuable three points! The result leaves them hot on the heels of neighbors City while also widening the gap to 11 points between them and Spurs. Tottenham would be hard done by the result as they dominated proceedings for most part of the hour but dogged defending by Ferdinand and Co. along with clinical finishing helped United clear a major hurdle as the race for the Premier League reaches its final stages.
Young's brace ensures three points for Manchester United
The games between the top five this season has yielded an average of nearly five goals per match and the fans would have expected another goal fest as the managers named attacking line-ups. Tottenham missed Bale, Van der Vaart due to injuries while Scott Parker was unavailable due to a suspension as Redknapp played Adebayor and Saha in attack. Ferguson, on the other hand, welcomed back Rooney into the line-up while Scholes and Carrick were handed the responsibility to man the midfield while Giggs started from the bench.
But it wasn’t until the 19th minute that a serious threat was posed. De Gea’s clearance was intercepted by Sandro who passed on to Adebayor as the striker skipped past defenders but his final shot was easily blocked by De Gea. Tottenham continued attacking and soon had the ball in the back of the net after Lennon motored into the box forcing a save from De Gea as Saha followed up and struck a shot that seemed goal bound before it struck Adebayor on his chest and eventually his hand before the Togolese flicked it into the net but the referee had already blown for handball.
Tottenham were left to rue the decision as the Reds went ahead on the stroke of halftime. Young’s dipping corner was headed home by Rooney as Walker left the striker run free in the box. The goal was Rooney’s 18th in the league this season as the teams went into the tunnel with the away team leading by a goal.
The second half saw more Tottenham attacks thwarted by De Gea. Firstly Livermore forced a save from the Spanish goalkeeper while Assou Ekotto’s freekick could only hit the top of the crossbar.
And then the Red Devils scored again!
A quick United throw-in saw Nani drill his way into the box and his low cross was met by a weak clearance by Walker as the ball looped to Young who acrobatically put the ball into the far corner with a perfect volley.
Any hope that Spurs had of a comeback were immediately put to sleep as Young doubled his tally with a lip smacking finish. From 25 yards out, the English international curled a shot past Friedel into the top corner to ensure three points for the champions. Tottenham were handed a consolation goal when United switched off with three minutes to go as Defoe, who came in for Saha, fizzed a shot past the unsighted De Gea from the edge of the box.
With eleven games to go, United are only two points behind leaders City while Tottenham find themselves in third place, just four points ahead of North London rivals Arsenal as the Premier League gears up for yet another grandstand finish.
Tags: Ashley Young, EPL, Football, Manchester United, Premier League, Red Devils
