Tottenham 1 - 2 Manchester United
Monday 17th April 2006
White Hart Lane, London
United's win over Sunderland managed to force Chelsea to put the Champagne back on the shelves, (for another week or two at least!) Had United stumbled and Chelsea won, the title would have been over, but right now its still mathematically possible for the Reds to takes the Premiership trophy home - although this means Chelsea losing their next three matches, against Man Utd, Newcastle and Blackburn.
This game was all set (or so the media thought) to bring United's season to its knees, with a draw the most likely result given the huge blow to United's title hopes and confidence that had been doled out on the Friday, although someone really should have let the United youngsters have a look at the script.
Despite Tottenham pressure, United countered with speed. Van Nistelrooy held the ball up before playing it into our favourite Portuguese youngster's path. His first-time cross with the outside of his right foot was met by Rooney at the far post, who was left with the simplest of tap-ins.
If Wayne thought that one was easy, his second goal goes down as an absolute stroll of a goal. Park Ji SUng hassled fellow country-man Lee Young-Pyo, with the Tottenham player struggling to regain control, and the ball arriving at Rooney's feet, six yards out with all the time in the world to pick a spot and fire past Robinson.
Tottenham grabbed a lucky goal-mouth scramble break in the second half, but United held on to claim all three points, and the opportunity to push back Chelsea's celebrations further when we play them next - some two weeks away.
