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.