EPL NEXT MATCH

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1st LEG SEMIFINAL RESULT

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1ST LEG SEMIFINAL RESULT

John O'Shea's first-half goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson the result he had asked for as Manchester United FC beat Arsenal FC 1-0 in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Deserved victory
Sir Alex said on the eve of the game that he would be "delighted" to win 1-0 and that is exactly what he got through defender O'Shea's close-range effort after 17 minutes. It was a deserved victory for the defending champions and leaves Arsenal requiring a big improvement in the second leg next Tuesday when they must try to defeat United by two clear goals for the first time in 20 matches.

High tempo
Both these teams are renowned for their fine attacking football but it was United who took the honours here. The defending champions flew out of the blocks and inside the second minute Wayne Rooney's looping header put Manuel Almunia at full stretch to make the save. Semi-finals can be cautious affairs but United veered from the script, their early high tempo typified by Carlos Tévez, racing around like a man with a point to prove on his first European start since December.

Reward
The hosts' urgent start earned its reward just after the quarter-hour. Moments earlier Almunia had denied Tévez at close range with a superb one-handed save when the Argentinian appeared certain to convert O'Shea's low centre. But the goalkeeper's good work went to waste from Anderson's ensuing corner. Although overhit, Michael Carrick drove the ball back in and it deflected off United old boy Mikaël Silvestre to O'Shea who crashed a first-time effort past Almunia. Evidence that things were not going Arsenal's way came soon after when Cesc Fàbregas sliced a shot out for a throw-in.

Almunia bravery
It was the Spaniard who had the visitors' best attempt of the half after 27 minutes when Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor combined to set up a shooting chance on the edge of the box, but Fàbregas fired straight at Edwin van der Sar. Urged on by the noisy home crowd, United could have had a second before the half-hour after they launched another attack down the right, Tévez running at Arsenal's 19-year-old left-back Kieran Gibbs before crossing to the far post where Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to direct his header past Almunia. Anderson – lively in an attacking midfield role – then slipped a ball forward for Tévez but Almunia saved bravely at his feet.

Giggs offside
Although Adebayor flashed a volley over the crossbar, United continued to look the likelier scorers in the second half. Rooney teed up Anderson on the edge of the box but the Brazilian miscued. Ronaldo revived memories of his long-range winner at FC Porto by leaving Almunia's crossbar trembling with a drive from 25 metres before Carrick sent a daisycutter just wide. Red shirts kept coming forward and it took a fine Silvestre header to stop Dimitar Berbatov turning in fellow replacement Ryan Giggs's cross. Giggs – making his 800th United appearance – then rounded Almunia and had the ball in the net but was ruled offside. At the other end Arsenal's own substitute Nicklas Bendtner beat Van der Sar to a high free-kick but the ball bounced wide. Arsenal will need better next week.

Uefa Champion League 1st Leg Semifinal

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1ST LEG SEMIFINAL

EPL RESULT

MANCHESTER United produced another one of those thrilling, magical and devastating comebacks to haul themselves to victory over Tottenham and surely to an 18th league championship.

Liverpool will carry the fight forward to the bitter end. But how

can United be denied if they can perform like this?

Two goals adrift at half-time and the worries of the world on their shoulders, Sir Alex Ferguson's men seized on a moment of good fortune provided by referee Howard Webb and ran amok.

Wayne Rooney scored twice and set up two others for Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov, who literally left his former team-mates on their knees when he tapped home 11 minutes from time.

It cannot have gone unnoticed either the half-time introduction of Carlos Tevez was the catalyst for the onslaught, even if the popular Argentina forward did not get his name on the scoresheet.

But as they headed south, bewildered at how what seemed certain to become their first Old Trafford win since 1989 should end so disastrously, Spurs – and Liverpool – were cursing Webb for his crucial 57th-minute decision on which an entire season could be shaped.

Heurelho Gomes will argue he got a touch to the ball when clashed with Michael Carrick. Carrick will always know he got there first. The man who matters decided it was a foul. Ronaldo strode up and powered home the penalty. The rest was the stuff of legend.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was not amused and laster accused referee Howard Webb of making a "terrible mistake" that robbed his team of victory. Redknapp could not see any way United were going to haul themselves back into the contest after Darren Bent and Luka Modric had given Spurs a deserved half-time lead. Instead, Webb entered centre-stage, ruling Gomes had brought down Carrick inside the box.

Redknapp and his players were incensed at the time. And after viewing the incident again on numerous occasions, the Spurs boss was still fuming long after the final whistle.

"The referee made a terrible mistake," said Redknapp. "The players can't believe it because it changed the face of the game. United were not going to win unless something like that happened."

Redknapp challenged Webb after the final whistle, although he got nothing better than the offer of an apology if the FA Cup final referee had got it wrong. You should have technology," Redknapp said. "The fourth official should be watching the TV monitor and talking to the referee. The guy has not done it on purpose, it is just a bad decision but it was the turning point."

Even Ferguson admitted United had benefited from a large slice of luck. However, given that United were dumped out of the FA Cup by Everton last weekend after being denied a spot-kick when Danny Welbeck was sent flying by Phil Jagielka, the Scot is making no apologies.

"We were a bit fortunate but football is a funny game," said Ferguson. "You get terrible decisions. We got one last week. You have to deal with them and get on with it."

Ferguson also had a special word of praise for Berbatov, the United sinner last weekend with a dreadful penalty in the semi-final shoot-out against Everton. "It was a fantastic performance from Berbatov," said Ferguson of yesterday's display. "I don't think he gave the ball away once. He was our best player in the first-half and in the second he produced some wonderful moments. He does things that are world class.

"All he has done is miss a penalty kick. It was a bad one, I make no excuses about that. But how many players have done that? It is only a missed penalty. We have to move on."

An upset looked on the cards at the interval with Spurs 2-0 up thanks to an opportunist strike from Bent and a neat control and finish from Modric.

United grabbed a lifeline in the 57th minute when Ronaldo held his nerve to convert from the spot. And after Rooney had slotted the equalised past Gomes at his near post in the 67th minute, the visitors crumbled.

Ronaldo headed a third from a Rooney cross a minute later and the England striker added a fourth just three minutes after that. Berbatov poked home number five after the sorry Gomes spilled his initial header.

BPL NEXT MATCH

EPL MATCH RESULT

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.

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

BARCLEYS PRIMIER LEAGUE NEXT GAMES

FINAL SCORE FA CUP

MAN UNITED TEWAS MISI 5 PIALA GAGAL



LONDON: Tindakan pengurus Manchester United, Alex Ferguson menurunkan barisan muda menentang Everton pada separuh akhir Piala FA mengundang kegagalan memburu lima trofi musim ini apabila tewas 2-4 menerusi penentuan sepakan penalti, awal pagi tadi.

Perlawanan terpaksa ditentukan menerusi sepakan penalti selepas kedua-dua pasukan gagal memecah kebuntuan terikat 0-0 selepas masa tambahan 30 minit di Stadium Wembley.

Danny Welbeck, Frederico Macheda dan Darron Gibson ternyata gagal memberikan impak berkesan kepada jentera serangan Red Devils.

Penyerang United, Dimitar Berbatov dan kapten, Rio Ferdinand, gagal menyempurnakan dua sepakan penalti pertama yang diselamatkan penjaga gol Everton, Tim Howard, selaku bekas penjaga gawang United.

Phil Jagielka memastikan kemenangan Everton apabila menyempurnakan sepakan penalti terakhir yang gagal ditepis Ben Foster, untuk membawa pasukan Merseyside itu mara ke final bertemu Chelsea, 30 Mei depan.

FA CUP SEMIFINAL NEXT GAMES

UEFA CHAMPION LEAGUE FINAL SCORE

WIN 3-2
ON AGGREGATE

Cristiano Ronaldo fired Manchester United FC into the last four of the UEFA Champions League as his breathtaking early goal broke the resistance of his compatriots from FC Porto.World-class effortUnited's Portuguese forward may have had a mixed season but his world-class talent has never been in doubt and he underlined it here with the 35-metre strike that secured a 3-2 aggregate victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side who – in the process – became the first English team to win at Porto. History has never been an impediment to Sir Alex Ferguson, who has rewritten the record books in over two decades at Old Trafford, and his quintuple-chasing team can now look forward to a semi-final against Arsenal FC with renewed heart having rediscovered their defensive solidity here with a first clean sheet in six matches.

UEFA CHAMPION LEAGUE 2ND LEG NEXT GAMES

Full Times Scores EPL

MACHEDA HERO UNITED

Federico Macheda climbed off the bench to snatch victory for the second time in a week as Manchester United clawed their way back to the top of the Barclays Premier League table.

The 17-year-old Italian needed just 45 seconds to claim three points for his side with a 76th-minute winner at Sunderland and send the reigning champions back above Liverpool, who had briefly headed them as a result of their 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

His intervention could not have been more timely with the Black Cats having dragged themselves back into the match courtesy of Kenwyne Jones' 55th-minute equaliser, his first goal since 7th February.

United looked to be in complete control when Paul Scholes capped a dominant start by heading the visitors into a 19th-minute lead, but they allowed the Wearsiders back into the match in front of a partisan crowd of 45,408.

Sir Alex Ferguson's troops will now regroup ahead of their testing Champions League quarter-final, second leg trip to Porto on Wednesday evening knowing they remain a point clear of Liverpool with a match in hand in the race for the Barclays Premier League title.

By contrast, Sunderland face a monumental home fixture with fellow strugglers Hull City at the Stadium of Light next weekend with their top-flight status very much in the balance.

real menace

For 20 minutes, United looked to be cruising with Scholes and Carrick in complete control in the middle of the park and Wayne Rooney a real menace wide on the left.

Rooney fired a shot across the Black Cats' bows within 16 seconds of kick-off when he curled a right-foot effort just wide, but as the match unfolded, it seemed only a matter of time before his side took the lead.

They would have done just that with 17 minutes gone had Danny Collins not hacked Nemanja Vidic's towering header off the line and then looked on as the Serbia international sent an overhead kick just wide with United laying siege.

Ferguson's men did not have to wait much longer to edge their way in front when Rooney cut inside on to his right foot to deliver the perfect cross for the unmarked Scholes to glance a deft header past the stranded Craig Gordon and into the top corner.

Sunderland went close to an equaliser twice within seconds on the half hour when first Djibril Cisse and then defender Calum Davenport, making his first start for the club, met Phil Bardsley crosses.

Then Kenwyne Jones fired just wide from another ball in from the right-back.

Keeper Ben Foster, deputising for Edwin van der Sar, had to tip Cisse's rasping 37th-minute effort from distance over, but he needed the help of the woodwork five minutes before the break.

Carlos Edwards, recalled on the right-wing, skipped past full-back John O'Shea and saw his driven cross flick off former team-mate Jonny Evans, only for the ball to come back off the foot of the post.

meant business

Park Ji-Sung smashed a shot across Gordon in first-half injury-time after United broke swiftly, but the visitors returned to the dressing room knowing the match was still very much alive.

United re-emerged looking as if they meant business with Rooney seemingly intent on securing the points single-handedly.

In the space of four minutes, he forced Davenport to cut out a cross and concede a corner, and also drilled a 25-yard effort inches wide.

The equaliser arrived with 55 minutes gone when Foster failed to claim Teemu Tainio's cross under pressure from Jones, and the striker stabbed the ball into the empty net to peg the visitors back.

Scholes smashed a volley wide and Carlos Tevez curled a free-kick over, and it took a fine block by Bardsley to keep out the Argentinean's 63rd-minute effort after Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov had combined to play him in.

The rested Cristiano Ronaldo eventually joined the fray as a 69th-minute replacement for Park, but Cisse shot into the side-netting within seconds of his arrival.

Berbatov had appeals for a penalty for handball against Grant Leadbitter waved away two minutes later, but it was Macheda's arrival as a 75th-minute replacement for the Bulgarian which changed the match.

The youngster had been on the pitch for just 45 seconds when he steered Carrick's shot past the helpless Gordon to further enhance his blossoming reputation.

NEXT GAMES

PRIMIER LEAGUE

Final Score UEFA Champios League

Manchester United draw Porto in Champions League

Manchester United will square off against Portuguese side Porto in the Champions League quarter-final. The draw was held earlier today and should United reach the semi-finals they would face the winner of the Arsenal v Villarreal. While Liverpool drew Chelsea and Bayern Munich drew Barcelona. It’s a great draw for United as they are positioned on [...]Readmore

Uefa Champion League 1st Leg QuarterFinal Game

Final Score

SENGAT MANCHEDA SUNTIK KEMENANGAN MAN UNITED UNTUK KEKAL TERAJUI TAKHTA LIGA

Keputusan penuh

Man utd 3 – 2 ast villa

Goal by: christiano ronaldo & macheda

GLORY MAN UTD

LONDON: Manchester United bangkit untuk menewaskan Aston Villa 3-2 dalam saingan Liga Perdana Inggeris di Old Trafford semalam dengan gol kemenangan pada masa kecederaan oleh pemain gantian berusia 17 tahun, Federico Macheda.

United mendahului liga dengan 68 mata hasil 30 perlawanan dengan satu perlawanan dalam tangan, satu mata di depan Liverpool yang sebelum itu berada di puncak, kelmarin hasil kemenangan 1-0 pada minit terakhir terhadap Fulham.

United dilihat bakal mengalami kekalahan ketiga berturut-turut sebelum Cristiano Ronaldo menyamakan kedudukan pada minit ke-80.

Dia juga memberikan United gol pendahuluan selepas 14 minit menerusi sepakan percuma yang diberikan kerana melakukan hantaran ke belakang.

Di antara dua gol itu, Aston Villa menjaringkan dua gol menerusi tandukan John Carew pada minit ke-30 dan Gabriel Agbonlahor pada minit ke-58.