the official website of the Universiade 2011 Aug12-23.2011
Rooney’s goal seals win for United
2011-02-14 08:37:50

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney scores against Manchester City from an overhead kick during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, on Saturday.SD-Agencies

WAYNE ROONEY’S perfectly executed overhead kick gave Manchester United a 2-1 derby victory over Manchester City on Saturday, putting the leaders four points clear of Arsenal.

Spotting Nani’s cross floating into the penalty area with his back to goal, Rooney leapt between two defenders and connected with a right-footed strike that flew past goalkeeper Joe Hart in the 78th minute.

“I was just trying to keep my eye on the ball and to get a good connection,” Rooney said. “Luckily it went into the top corner.”

The goal capped United’s immediate response to last weekend’s first loss of the league season at Wolverhampton Wanderers, who lost 2-0 Saturday at second-place Arsenal.

City is four points adrift of Arsenal and eight behind United as manager Roberto Mancini struggles to turn the league’s most expensive squad into league champions.

“It is a significant result and almost certainly rules City out of the title race unless a disaster happens,” Rooney said.

Dimitar Berbatov, United’s leading scorer, didn’t appear until the 67th when the score was 1-1.

Nani had put United in front in the 40th by controlling Ryan Giggs’ first-time pass before rolling the ball past Hart.

City equalized in the 64th when Shaun Wright-Phillips crossed for Edin Dzeko, whose shot went in off David Silva’s back.

Wolverhampton’s loss sent it back to the bottom of the standings in place of West Ham, which rallied from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at West Bromwich, which is only out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Wigan is the third team in the relegation zone despite putting the brakes on Liverpool’s recent revival with a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Blackpool is two points above the bottom three after ending a five-match losing run by drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa, which is just a point and a place further ahead.

Michael Bradley, son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, entered in the 73rd minute for Villa in place of goal scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Birmingham joined Villa on 30 points after beating Stoke 1-0.

In the race for the fourth Champions League spot, Tottenham rallied to beat Sunderland 2-1 and provisionally dislodge Chelsea from fourth place ahead of the champions’ match at Fulham today.

The teams in the middle of the standings — Newcastle and Blackburn — also met Saturday and neither side could find a breakthrough and drew 0-0.

Bradley wasn’t the only American to make his debut for an English club Saturday.

In the second-tier League Championship, right back Eric Lichaj started in Leeds’ 2-0 win at Bristol City and forward Eddie Johnson started in Preston North End’s 1-0 loss at Hull, which featured American goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Lichaj was loaned to Leeds from Aston Villa and Johnson to Preston from Fulham.

(SD-Agencies)

Source:ShenzhenDaily | Editor:王佳
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