Manchester United kept its six-point lead in the English Premier League by beating Tottenham 4-0 on Sunday despite playing the final minutes without goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who broke his nose when hit by a knee.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a penalty kick, Nemanja Vidic added a goal with a header, Paul Scholes tapped in from close range and Ryan Giggs beat goalkeeper Paul Robinson one-on-one for United’s 20th win of the season.
”It was such a big result for us,” Scholes said. ”We thought Chelsea would win yesterday [Saturday] so this weekend we had the more difficult game so to come and win is a big result for us.”
The Red Devils ended the game with 10 men and defender John O’Shea in goal after Van der Sar was hit in the head by Tottenham striker Robbie Keane’s knee in the 83rd minute. Van der Sar walked off the field with medical staff holding his broken nose.
United had just made its final substitution with Giggs coming off for O’Shea.
Man United, which hasn’t won the title since 2003, leads the league with 63. Two-time defending champion Chelsea is second with 57 points, followed by Liverpool with 50 and Arsenal with 46.
”Zeros are the name of the game against your scoreline,” Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said. ”No goals against and going towards the title, that’s going to be very important to us.”
Ronaldo was brought down by Tottenham left back Lee Young-pyo, although TV replays suggested contact was minimal, and the Portugal winger scored his 17th goal of the season from the spot in the
45th.
Ronaldo had earlier sent a shot over the bar from close range after a header from United midfielder Michael Carrick was saved by Robinson.
Dimitar Berbatov had Tottenham’s best chance of the first half, but his 33rd-minute shot was tipped around the post by Van der Sar.
Wayne Rooney was shown a yellow card soon after for a tackle on Lee, which rules the England striker out of Manchester United’s FA Cup fifth-round game against Reading on February 17. Rooney was taken off in the 64th after he was injured in challenge and Ferguson said he was doubtful for England’s friendly against Spain on Wednesday.
In the 48th, Vidic ran into the box and leapt to head the ball past Robinson on a corner from Carrick, who was playing his first game at Tottenham, his former club.
Six minutes later, Ronaldo crossed the ball into the box, and with Robinson beaten, Scholes tipped the ball over the goal line.
Van der Sar palmed over a header from Berbatov, but Giggs then slotted the ball past the oncoming Robinson in the 77th.
Keane had a close-range shot saved by Van der Sar and his knee hit the Dutchman’s head when he attempted to jump over him.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was hurt in a similar tackle during a match in October and had surgery on a fractured skull. He returned on January 20 and wears a special helmet to play.
Ferguson praised O’Shea’s goalkeeping stint, and the Irishman said he was happy not to concede any goals.
”It was a bit nerve-racking, especially with a corner to defend straight away and every time they got the ball near the penalty area the crowd kept shouting ‘Shoot!”’ O’Shea said.
Chelsea beat Charlton 1-0 Saturday on Frank Lampard’s long-range shot. Liverpool was held to a 0-0 draw by Everton in the 205th match between the rivals. Thierry Henry scored an equaliser as 10-man Arsenal rallied to a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.
Also Saturday, it was: Aston Villa 1, West Ham 0; Blackburn 2, Sheffield United 1; Fulham 2, Newcastle 1; Manchester City 0, Reading 2; Watford 0, Bolton 1; and Wigan 1, Portsmouth 0. – Sapa-AP