Manchester United made further ground between themselves and the chasing pack atop the English Premier League table. United beat Stoke 2-1 at Old Trafford, courtsey of goals from Javier Hernandez and Nani. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dean-Whitehead-c10729 got Stoke City level before United
got the winner.
Arsenal takes on Manchester City at the Emirates later on which would go a long way towards determining the 2nd and 3rd place in the Premier League table.
Manchester United have played 20 games this season and have not lost a single game. This is the 2nd longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, right behind the famous season of 2003-4 by Arsenal. However, it was not a 100% convincing performance
by the Red Devils, as after getting the lead, Ferguson’s team once again let the opposition get level and made things difficult for themselves.
Veteran keeper, Edwin van der Sar, center-back, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chris-c9006 Smalling, who was bought in the summer, was also given
his very first chance in the League.
As the game kicked off, the Red Devils were in complete control and, looking at their home form this season, it was not a big surprise. United have won 9 and drawn one at home this season. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254 was the first one to have a chance; the front man
tried a shot from the front of his boot as a deflected effort from Giggs luckily fell in his path.
Once again, Berbatov was involved when the first goal actually came; the Bulgarian got hold of the ball in the center of midfield and played a well weighed ball to Nani on the right. The Portuguese played a quick lay off from the wing along the ground. Hernandez
was steaming in and showed extreme skill and presence of mind to back-flick the ball past the goalkeeper. It was pure genius from the Mexican and the goal was even better as he had hardly more than a foot between the keeper and the post to get the ball in.
Later on, Chicharito was on the receiving end of a well placed cross from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robert-Huth-c31243.
The half time whistle could not have come any sooner for Stoke, who were being dominated by the home side in all areas of the field.
The 2nd half saw the away team come back strongly and there was much more sense of purpose to their approach. Turkish midfielder, Tuncay got his head to a cross and deflected it wide, but soon he was the one who sent in a cross in the danger area.
Dean Whitedead was unmarked and got his head to the ball to knock it in the far corner.
This season, whenever United have let in a goal late they have dropped points, but Stoke probably scored too soon and that gave United a new vigour to attack back. Whitehead could have turned from a hero to villain in a matter of minutes when he played a
careless backpass which Berbatov got hold of but was denied possession by a tackle from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ryan-Shawcross-c31996.
Manchester United got a well deserved winner after the hour mark, as Nani was played a pass by Hernandez on the edge of the area. The winger did not waste much time and let one fly from outside the box with his left foot. The ball had enough sting and curl
in it and ended up in the back of the net at the far post. United held on and got all 3 points to extend their lead at the top of the table and now they have 44 points from 20 games.
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