A controversial penalty proved to be the turning point in Manchester United’s 5–2 come-from-behind victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The penalty gave United their first goal after being two goals down.
After getting the penalty kick goal, a barrage of attacks yielded four more goals in 12 minutes for the Reds Devils. United will now be confident ahead of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday against Arsenal.
Darren Bent put visiting Tottenham ahead scoring from close range and then Luka Modric got on the end of Aaron Lennon’s cross to make it two.
Then the tide turned when the Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes chased down an attacking run from Michael Carrick. The referee harshly gave the penalty kick when it looked like Gomes got the ball before bringing down Carrick. Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty.
Rafael and Dimitar Berbatov combined before Wayne Rooney blasted in from outside the box to the near post to score the equalizer.
Then a minute later, Rooney set up Ronaldo for United’s third. Soon after Ronaldo returned the favor to set up Rooney who volleyed in the United’s fourth. Berbatov made it five in the 79th minute.
“It was a bit fortunate. Football is funny like that. Last week we were knocked out of the FA Cup by not getting a penalty kick,” Sir Alex Ferguson was quoted as saying in an interview with the BBC.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told the BBC, “The turning point was definitely the penalty. It turned the game in their favor without a doubt.
“At that stage I couldn’t see us getting beat. It was a gift which wasn’t deserved. It was a terrible decision. Howard [Webb] is supposed to be our best ref, but if he’s the best I’d hate to see the worst.”
A great performance and two goals by Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas saw his team keep up its good form and push Middlesbrough deeper into the relegation battle.
Sir Alex Ferguson was at the Emirates watching the match ahead of their mid-week European clash against the Gunners and he will be happy that Andrei Arshavin is ineligible for the encounter.
Arshavin continues to bring his creative flair to the English Premier League and combined well throughout with Fabregas and striker Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal’s first goal came with Arshavin cutting in on the left side to then lay off to Fabregas who fired home ball at full stretch.
Stewart Downing did create some problems down Arsenal’s right side but Manuel Almunia was back in action and in form. He saved Middlesbrough’s best chance from former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere.
Emmanuel Eboue split the Middlesbrough defense with a precision pass for Fabregas. The captain fired home is second to secure the points in the 67th minute.
Arsenal seemed destined to finish in fourth place given that they are 10 points up on fifth-place Aston Villa and six back of third-place Chelsea with four games to play.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC, “We want to catch Chelsea and we will give absolutely everything in the last four games. We play Chelsea at home so you never know.
“Victory was important for us before we go to the semifinals of Champions League against Manchester United.”
“It’s important you put yourself in a strong position in the league. Every win makes you a bit stronger.”
“Arsenal are a class team. We knew it would be tough and in the end they have won it pretty comfortably,” said Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate.
“All the games are all crucial for us now. While there is hope we have to keep fighting and we will. One result changes a lot of people’s perceptions on things and if we get a result next week then it can turn things on its head.”
Liverpool kept up the pressure at the top of the Premier League as they defeated Hull in their own back yard pushing the Premier League newcomers dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Liverpool’s first goal came off a dubious free kick call. Xabi Alonso took the resulting free kick which was blocked by the wall but fell nicely again for Alonso to have another bite of the cherry and he blasted it sweetly into the net.
A defining moment of the game was Martin Skrtel obstructing Caleb Folan in the Liverpool area. Folan kicked out at the Liverpool defender and the referee had no hesitation in brandishing a red card.
Hull who are in free-fall and have only won one game in 16 kept their heads up and kept fighting even after losing a man.
For Liverpool, as ever Fernando Torres looked a threat and took shots from unexpected angles but didn’t score.
Yossi Benanyoun continued his run of good form and came close curling a ball which landed on the roof of the goal.
Dirk Kuyt made it two for Liverpool when he headed in a goal-bound ball from Alvaro Arbeloa.
Hull got one back in the 73rd minute when Giovanni was left unmarked at the far post and Daniel Cousin found the Brazilian who blasted into an open net. It looked like Hull was in with a chance.
But Kuyt got his second for Liverpool in the 89th and the game was killed off.
“We were having to pick players up at half-time after an injustice was done,” said Hull manager Phil Brown.
“We knew it was going to be tough and somebody has let them off the hook. I cannot see a free kick there.
“I have no excuses for the sending off. I feel it was justified and it will be dealt with in-house. That killed us, 10 against 11, and Caleb made it a little bit easier for them.”
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hailed Dirk Kuyt, “Everybody is very pleased for him.
“Kuyt is a fantastic professional and is always working hard to score. He was very positive and we are really pleased for him.”
“We were working very hard and we have to be satisfied. We were nervous because the pitch was terrible and difficult to pass on.”
Newcastle and Portsmouth played out a scoreless draw as Alan Shearer’s men continue to languish in the drop zone. They are three points back of 17th place Hull.
After getting the penalty kick goal, a barrage of attacks yielded four more goals in 12 minutes for the Reds Devils. United will now be confident ahead of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday against Arsenal.
Darren Bent put visiting Tottenham ahead scoring from close range and then Luka Modric got on the end of Aaron Lennon’s cross to make it two.
Then the tide turned when the Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes chased down an attacking run from Michael Carrick. The referee harshly gave the penalty kick when it looked like Gomes got the ball before bringing down Carrick. Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty.
Rafael and Dimitar Berbatov combined before Wayne Rooney blasted in from outside the box to the near post to score the equalizer.
Then a minute later, Rooney set up Ronaldo for United’s third. Soon after Ronaldo returned the favor to set up Rooney who volleyed in the United’s fourth. Berbatov made it five in the 79th minute.
“It was a bit fortunate. Football is funny like that. Last week we were knocked out of the FA Cup by not getting a penalty kick,” Sir Alex Ferguson was quoted as saying in an interview with the BBC.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told the BBC, “The turning point was definitely the penalty. It turned the game in their favor without a doubt.
“At that stage I couldn’t see us getting beat. It was a gift which wasn’t deserved. It was a terrible decision. Howard [Webb] is supposed to be our best ref, but if he’s the best I’d hate to see the worst.”
Arsenal 2, Middlesbrough 0
A great performance and two goals by Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas saw his team keep up its good form and push Middlesbrough deeper into the relegation battle.
Sir Alex Ferguson was at the Emirates watching the match ahead of their mid-week European clash against the Gunners and he will be happy that Andrei Arshavin is ineligible for the encounter.
Arshavin continues to bring his creative flair to the English Premier League and combined well throughout with Fabregas and striker Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal’s first goal came with Arshavin cutting in on the left side to then lay off to Fabregas who fired home ball at full stretch.
Stewart Downing did create some problems down Arsenal’s right side but Manuel Almunia was back in action and in form. He saved Middlesbrough’s best chance from former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere.
Emmanuel Eboue split the Middlesbrough defense with a precision pass for Fabregas. The captain fired home is second to secure the points in the 67th minute.
Arsenal seemed destined to finish in fourth place given that they are 10 points up on fifth-place Aston Villa and six back of third-place Chelsea with four games to play.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC, “We want to catch Chelsea and we will give absolutely everything in the last four games. We play Chelsea at home so you never know.
“Victory was important for us before we go to the semifinals of Champions League against Manchester United.”
“It’s important you put yourself in a strong position in the league. Every win makes you a bit stronger.”
“Arsenal are a class team. We knew it would be tough and in the end they have won it pretty comfortably,” said Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate.
“All the games are all crucial for us now. While there is hope we have to keep fighting and we will. One result changes a lot of people’s perceptions on things and if we get a result next week then it can turn things on its head.”
Hull 1, Liverpool 3
Liverpool kept up the pressure at the top of the Premier League as they defeated Hull in their own back yard pushing the Premier League newcomers dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Liverpool’s first goal came off a dubious free kick call. Xabi Alonso took the resulting free kick which was blocked by the wall but fell nicely again for Alonso to have another bite of the cherry and he blasted it sweetly into the net.
A defining moment of the game was Martin Skrtel obstructing Caleb Folan in the Liverpool area. Folan kicked out at the Liverpool defender and the referee had no hesitation in brandishing a red card.
Hull who are in free-fall and have only won one game in 16 kept their heads up and kept fighting even after losing a man.
For Liverpool, as ever Fernando Torres looked a threat and took shots from unexpected angles but didn’t score.
Yossi Benanyoun continued his run of good form and came close curling a ball which landed on the roof of the goal.
Dirk Kuyt made it two for Liverpool when he headed in a goal-bound ball from Alvaro Arbeloa.
Hull got one back in the 73rd minute when Giovanni was left unmarked at the far post and Daniel Cousin found the Brazilian who blasted into an open net. It looked like Hull was in with a chance.
But Kuyt got his second for Liverpool in the 89th and the game was killed off.
“We were having to pick players up at half-time after an injustice was done,” said Hull manager Phil Brown.
“We knew it was going to be tough and somebody has let them off the hook. I cannot see a free kick there.
“I have no excuses for the sending off. I feel it was justified and it will be dealt with in-house. That killed us, 10 against 11, and Caleb made it a little bit easier for them.”
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hailed Dirk Kuyt, “Everybody is very pleased for him.
“Kuyt is a fantastic professional and is always working hard to score. He was very positive and we are really pleased for him.”
“We were working very hard and we have to be satisfied. We were nervous because the pitch was terrible and difficult to pass on.”
Monday Night Football
Newcastle and Portsmouth played out a scoreless draw as Alan Shearer’s men continue to languish in the drop zone. They are three points back of 17th place Hull.
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